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SubscribeJefferson County Coroner’s office is seeking next of kin for Johnny C. Lacy, age 51, black male. Last known address was in the 4300 Block of Shady Villa Drive, Louisville, KY 40219.
Have information? Please contact Deputy Coroner Michael Haag at 574-0130.
Jefferson County Coroner’s Office seeking next of kin for Walter Frank Johnson, 62,
address unknown, who died August 19th at Brook and Liberty Streets.
Have information? Please call 574-6262.
Louisville Metro Government’s Office of Resilience and Community Services is inviting the public to participate in a meeting to kick off Phase II of the Louisville Resilience initiative on Monday, Sept. 10.
The meeting will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Louisville Free Public Library’s Main Branch, 301 York Street, and will include the Louisville Resilience team, business leaders, educators, non-profit organizations, members of the faith community, and residents.
Louisville was chosen in May 2016 to join the 100 Resilient Cities initiative pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation to help cities around the world become more resilient to the growing social, economic, and physical challenges in the 21st Century. Participating cities are provided with resources that include funding to hire a Chief Resilience Officer, expert support, access to a partner platform and a peer-to-peer network.
Louisville’s Chief Resilience Officer Eric Friedlander is overseeing the city’s development and implementation of a comprehensive Resilience Strategy to help prepare for, withstand, and bounce back from chronic stresses and acute shocks.
At the Phase II kickoff, participants will divide into working groups focused around four Discovery Areas identified in Phase I by residents and subject matter experts through community meetings, focus groups, interviews and an online survey.
The areas are: compassion and trust; resilience to trauma; financial capacity and economic opportunity; and the built and natural infrastructure to promote health and well-being. The working groups will identify specific actions recommended as a part of Louisville’s Resilience Strategy. View the Phase II flyer for meeting details and other pertinent information.
“Public input has been and will continue to be the cornerstone of developing Louisville’s Resilience strategy,” said Friedlander. “I’m excited to expand the number of individuals, partners and perspectives involved in this process that will help our community better address many of our biggest challenges and identify solutions.”
For more information about Louisville Resilience or on how to get involved, visit www.louisvilleky.gov/Resilience or call 574-8132. To learn more about 100 Resilient Cities, visit www.100resilientcities.org.
Mayor Greg Fischer and Louisville Parks Foundation CEO, Brooke Pardue were joined by Councilman Bill Hollander and the local skateboarding community to unveil the Breslin Park Skate Spot, the latest public park to receive added amenities funded by the Louisville Parks Foundation.
The $95,000 skate spot, built and designed by Hunger Skateparks, of Bloomington, IN, is the first of its kind in the region. Unlike larger skate parks, the skate-able art sculpture is designed for all levels, making it appropriate for beginners and experts alike. This completes the first phase of the Foundation’s Breslin Park 2.0 Project, which includes a state-of-the-art shade structure to follow.
“Many people aren’t aware of this, but Breslin Park was home to Louisville’s original skatepark.” Said Pardue, “There is a rich history of skating in this park and I have been overwhelmed with the positive response I have received from generations of street skaters in our community. I’m glad we listened and were able to provide them with something we can all feel good about.”
“This new skate spot, in conjunction with the Louisville Extreme Park, is going to put Louisville on the map for people looking for a quality skate experience.” Said Noah Hulsman, owner of Home Skateshop. “And we are committed to keeping Breslin Park clean and safe for all park users.”
Funding for the project is the result of a partnership between the Louisville Parks Foundation, a non-profit that supports Louisville Parks and Recreation, Home Skateshop, Councilman Bill Hollander, Grind Burgers, Spinelli’s Pizza, Vegan Jerky Company, and individual donors.
Louisville Parks and Recreation is offering an affordable family golfing package at its ten golf courses over the Labor Day Weekend.
For only $25, a family of up to four members can play nine holes at any Parks course. The $25 includes greens and cart fees, and families can take advantage of the deal after 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 1; Sunday, September 2; and Monday, September 3.
Families are encouraged to call in advance to book a tee time at the golf course of their choice.
Parks golf courses are open from daylight to dark seven days a week.
Bobby Nichols Golf Course, 4301 E. Pages Lane, 502/937-9051 (9 holes)
Charlie Vettiner Golf Course, 10207 Mary Dell Lane, 502/267-9958 (18 holes)
Cherokee Golf Course, 2501 Alexander Road, 502/458-9450 (9 holes)
Crescent Hill Golf Course, 3110 Brownsboro Road, 502/896-9193 (9 holes)
Iroquois Golf Course, 1501 Rundill Road, 502/363-9520 (18 holes)
Long Run Golf Course, 1605 Flat Rock Road, 502/245-9015 (18 holes)
Seneca Golf Course, 2300 Pee Wee Reese Blvd, 502/458-9298 (18 holes)
Shawnee Golf Course, 460 Northwestern Parkway, 502/776-9389 (18 holes)
Sun Valley Golf Course, 6505 Bethany Lane, 502/937-9228 (18 holes)
Quail Chase Golf Club, 7000 Cooper Chapel Rd, 502/239-2110 (27 holes)
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
The California Neighborhood is ready to come together with pride and unity as one of Louisville’s oldest communities when Councilman David James (D-6) hosts the Annual California Day Celebration on Saturday, August 25th.
“The people of the California Neighborhood take one day in August to show everyone what makes it a great neighborhood in Metro Louisville. It’s a spirit of togetherness pride and unity in the community,” says James. “So on this day there will be time for the community to enjoy that with local community vendors, fun for children of all ages, music, entertainment and food in the natural beauty of California Park.”
The 2018 California Day Celebration will be held from 12:00pm until 10:00pm. There will be fun activities for the kids and families with a bouncy house, tug-of-war and kick ball.
Free food will be served from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Local Food Trucks will be available, with separate business rates, for those who want something more.
As for music, DJ and the LFW Band from Nashville, Tennessee will be providing music and fun throughout the day.
There will be information vendors on hand from the Chestnut Street YMCA, Passport, Wheatley elementary PTA and Neighborhood Place. The Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness will be providing Hepatitis A vaccines as well.
“As the summer winds down, the California Neighborhood is ready to come together, kick back and relax and enjoy an old fashioned neighborhood get together.”
All events are free and open to the public.
California Park is located at 1104 South 16th Street
If you would like more information about California Day, contact Councilman James’ office at 574-1106.
Mayor Greg Fischer joined partners from across public and private sectors today to announce the development of Kentucky’s first Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, known as LEAD, to divert opioid addicted people from jails in favor of case management and treatment.
The LEAD program, which was first launched in Seattle in 2011, is an innovative pre-booking, community-based program focused on routing individuals suspected of committing low-level drug-related offenses away from jail and prosecution into treatment.
The Mayor announced the city has been awarded a $400,000 federal grant to fund a pilot project, serving 50 qualifying individuals who come into contact with police in the Portland and Russell neighborhoods over the next 18 months.
“The Opioid crisis remains a vital concern to public safety in this community,” said Mayor Fischer. “But incarceration cannot be the only option for those struggling with addiction. We must find ways to divert people to treatment and stem the tide of drug-related crime. This program is one more option for our community.”
For the past several months, the LEAD planning team has been putting together the framework for the pilot program, which is expected to be fully launched by Oct. 1.
Here’s how the program will work:
- LMPD officers working in the targeted beats in the Russell and Portland neighborhoods will use discretionary authority at the point of contact to divert eligible candidates into intervention for offenses driven by substance use disorder.
- The LMPD officer will determine eligibility for the LEAD program based on established offense criteria and criminal history exclusions. Eligible crimes will include felony possession of an opiate and possession of heroin under two grams, as well as low-level property crime stemming from opiate addiction.
- Instead of taking them to jail, officers will take those volunteering to participate to the Volunteers of America Mid-States triage location on West Broadway to be connected with a case manager.
- Within 72-hours a potential participant must complete an in-depth assessment before becoming one of the 50 pilot project participants to receive treatment and wrap-around services.
- Volunteers of America Mid-States will assume responsibility for the case management of the individuals.
- The Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky, housed at the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences, will conduct the evaluation of the program.
“So often, officers come into contact with members of our community who are committing crime as part of their addiction to opioids and other drugs,” said Col. Michael Sullivan, deputy chief for Louisville Metro Police. “This gives officers a tool to divert people into treatment, rather than taking them to jail, where they may or may not get to address the underlying issue leading them to crime.”
Volunteers of America Mid-States will work with pilot program participants to coordinate services they need to get themselves back to a healthy and productive lifestyle.
“We know that we can change people’s lives when we surround them with professional care and treatment and access to comprehensive support and services,” said Jennifer Hancock, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States. “Opioid use and addiction is a public health crisis and LEAD will be successful because it offers a public health solution.”
University of Louisville’s School of Public Health and Information Sciences joins the partnership to help ensure the program is working as it should. Liza Creel, PhD, and Susan Buchino, PhD, both scholars of the Commonwealth Institute of Kentucky, will conduct the evaluation.
“Our evaluation will aim to measure outcomes in the areas of recidivism, public safety, cost savings, and fidelity to the Seattle LEAD model,” Creel said. “By following an evidence-based intervention that has shown success in other communities and designing it to meet Louisville’s needs, the Louisville LEAD pilot has great potential to positively impact participant lives and our community.”
Members of the planning team working to set up the pilot include:
- Jamie Allen, Louisville Metro Criminal Justice Commission
- Debora McGill, Project Coordinator, DFM Consulting
- Todd Felty, Louisville Metro Police Department
- Lisa Langford, Jefferson County Attorney’s Office
- Ebert Haegele, Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
- Sarah Moyer, Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness
- Liza Creel, Commonwealth Institute, University of Louisville
- Susan Buchino, Commonwealth Institute, University of Louisville
- Mane Martirosyan, Louisville Metro Department of Corrections
- Margaret Pennington, REACH of Louisville
- Dan Goyette, Louisville-Jefferson County Public Defender Corporation
