Saturday November 15, 2025
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Trigg County High School emerged from the largest field in the 16-year history of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Kentucky state tournament to win the team competition on April 1 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
The two-day event drew a record 6,071 students from 295 schools across the state.
“The tournament was awesome,” said Lisa Frye, state NASP coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Over 6,000 smiling faces participating in a culminating event showcasing the skills they learned as part of their in-school NASP program. For most archers, it isn’t about competition. It’s all about participating together in a common sport.”
Elementary, middle and high school student archers competed for individual and team honors. After practice rounds, each competitor shot 15 arrows from 10 meters and 15 arrows from 15 meters for a total possible score of 300 points.
Lincoln County High School junior Roby Mullins won the boys’ overall title with a score of 298 and Hancock County High School sophomore Kayla Woodward won the girls’ overall title with a score of 296.
Trigg County’s overall team title was its fifth in the past six NASP Kentucky state tournaments. Madison Central High School and Lafayette High School finished second and third behind the Arrowcats in the high school division.
Pulaski Northern Middle School won the middle school division and Morgantown Elementary placed first in the elementary school division.
The top 10 seniors in the boys’ and girls’ divisions received $1,000 scholarships to apply to any post-secondary education.
Complete state tournament results are available online at nasptournaments.org. Click on “Tournaments” then select “Kentucky” and “Completed This Season” from the dropdown menus.
The next step for many of the archers who competed in the state tournament is the 2017 NASP Nationals scheduled May 11-13 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Photo: Louisville Metro Government
Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place will host its Second Quarterly Community Resource Fair for the Park Hill neighborhood this Saturday, April 8. Themed “Sowing the Seeds of Peace”, the event will be held at the Park Hill Community Center, 1703 South 13th St. from 12 – 4 p.m.
Focusing on residents who live in or near the Park Hill neighborhood — an area just west of Old Louisville which has experienced a disproportionate number of violent deaths – this event is open to all members of the public. More than 30 public, private and non-profit agencies will gather to meet with residents and share information about programs and services.
A giant Easter Egg Hunt will take place at the Park Hill Park directly behind the community center at 3 p.m. for children ages 2-10, sponsored by the Louisville Metro Community Policing Unit. DJ Samosa will spin tunes throughout the day and there will be several prize giveaways including an Easter basket valued at $50.00 and a Microsoft Application online training course valued at $295.00.
The Smile Academy of Kentucky, a mobile dental unit, will provide cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants for children 2-18 years of age during the event.
Resources and information will be provided in the following areas:
- Employment opportunities and career preparation
- Educational programs
- Housing
- Legal Issues
- Family services
- Mental and physical health
- Public safety
- Activities and employment for youth
- Community building
“We’re excited to host this great day of community building to once again bring together much needed resources and to support families in breaking the cycle of violence”, stated Nannette Dix, Administrator of Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place, located in the Park Hill neighborhood.”
The following groups plan to participate: Louisville Metro Government (including Community Services, Parks and Recreation, the Mayor’s SummerWorks Program, the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods and Community Policing Unit), REimage, Louisville Urban League, Exploited Children’s Help Organization (ECHO), KentuckianaWorks, Family Scholar House, Louisville Metro Housing Authority, Louisville Metro Healthy Start, Smile Academy of Kentucky and many others.
For more information about the Park Hill Community Resource Fair, contact Nannette Dix at 502-634-6057 or Nannett.Dix@louisvilleky.gov.
Valley High School has officially shed its status as a priority school, according to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE).
KDE Commissioner Stephen Pruitt notified the school this week that he had accepted the recommendation of the Accountability Appeals Committee and adjusted Valley’s performance judgement, “effectively removing Valley High School from Priority status.”
“I commend Valley High School and its students, staff and parents for its tireless effort in pursuit of continuous school improvement,” Commissioner Pruitt added.
“I’m tremendously proud of the entire Valley High School family,” said Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens. “This decision validates the work and progress that Valley has made – and continues to make – to improve the learning environment within the school, and boost student outcomes.”
Valley had asked the state to reconsider its status following the release of its most recent test scores which showed the school had made significant progress since it entered priority status in 2010.
In appealing its status, Valley Principal Rob Stephenson wrote that his school had met its goal for four consecutive years, was no longer in the lowest five percent based on overall score, and had a graduation rate of 79.8.
Valley is the third JCPS District school to exit priority status. Waggener and Fern Creek high schools have also shed the label.
Photo: Kentucky Derby Festival
Thunder Over Louisville fans making plans for a place to park their RV, pitch a tent or park their car have an option that’s close to the action. Metro Parks is selling passes for Thunder weekend at Eva Bandman Park, 1701 River Road.
Eva Bandman Park is located along the Ohio River near Frankfort Avenue, less than a 10-minute stroll from the eastern edge of Waterfront Park.
• Recreational Vehicles – RV parking is available beginning Friday, April 21, for $200. All parking spaces can accommodate a 40-foot vehicle with an awning. Additional cars are $15 each for both RV’s & Tents.
• Tents – Campers bringing tents may stay in Eva Bandman Park on Friday and Saturday nights for $50. This includes space for one car, not necessarily next to your tent. Additional cars are $15 each for both RV’s & Tents.
• Parking – On Saturday, April 22, parking spots at Eva Bandman Park will be available as long as space permits, at a cost of $20 per vehicle. Cash only, paid at time of arrival.
Overnight visitors in tents and RVs can stay through Sunday morning. Metro Parks’ staff will be available around the clock. A reservation form can be found here. After staging their site on Friday, those not wishing to camp overnight may exit the park using their extra vehicle and return on Saturday. Previous parking spaces are not guaranteed. Spaces may become limited as Saturday progresses; no other re-entry is authorized.
Advanced registration is highly recommended as the Louisville Police Department will be organizing street closures in the area.
For more information call 502/574-7275 (PARK).
Louisville has been chosen to host the 27th annual Congress for the New Urbanism, an international placemaking conference, in the spring of 2019. Recent Congress host cities include Seattle, Detroit, Dallas and Buffalo. The event will bring over 1,500 attendees–including urban planners, architects and landscape architects, environmental consultants, engineers and real estate developers–to Louisville from across the country and the world.
CNU’s annual Congress is the premiere international event on planning, designing, and building walkable communities, mixed-use development, and sustainable, equitable cities.
“The arrival of the Congress for New Urbanism could not come at a better time for Louisville,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “Many of the country’s most innovative and creative urban experts will be in our city and they can witness the renaissance happening across our neighborhoods while contributing their talents to areas of our city needing more attention.”
Each year, CNU members work with the host city to organize and to execute two to four Congress Legacy Projects which identify crucial roadblocks, engage local residents in visioning, and generate top-of-the-line design and placemaking strategies. Through multi-day workshops, CNU members engage with city officials, business owners, developers, neighborhood leaders, and members of the public to form a plan to enhance a corridor, section of a neighborhood, or other land use challenges chosen by the city’s host committee.
“Hosting CNU 27 is both an honor and a remarkable opportunity for Louisville,” Host Committee Chair David Tomes said. “Our city will have the chance to showcase New Urbanist neighborhoods like Norton Commons and Liberty Green, as well as dynamic redevelopment initiatives like Russell, Portland, NuLu, and SoBro, while also focusing worldwide attention on iconic places such as the Cherokee Triangle and Old Louisville. Most important, the visiting leaders of CNU will offer practical proposals to improve the livability of this city we love.”
Louisville’s host committee includes over 100 public officials, community leaders, academics, and representatives from the planning and urban design industries.
For more information on the Congress for the New Urbanism, please visit https://www.cnu.org/
Yesterday, Mayor Greg Fischer joined more than 4,500 city and county leaders nationwide in recognition of the National Day of Service.
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) sponsors this day of recognition to highlight the value of national service and the positive impact of Senior Corps and AmeriCorps.
Mayor Fischer said programs such as the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) and RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) are examples of Louisville’s decades-long commitment to service and volunteerism. Administered by the city’s Department of Community Services, FGP and RSVP connect residents 55 years and older with the people and organizations that need them most.
“Great cities have the social muscle that creates opportunities and overcomes adversities — and one way we build up that social muscle is through volunteerism and service,” Mayor Fischer said. “RSVP volunteers and foster grandparents are examples to our entire city of the impact that personal, selfless deeds can have when considered as a whole.
“As we prepare for the April 15th launch of our Give A Day Week of Service, I wanted to say thank you to RSVP volunteers and foster grandparents and all citizens who commit their time and energy to compassion.”
More than 130 FGP members serve about 135,000 hours annually, volunteer in area schools, after school programs and childcare centers to assist children who need additional help with age-appropriate reading or social skills. Volunteers also mentor troubled teenagers and young mothers, and provide care for premature infants and children with disabilities. During the summer, FGP volunteers help day camp participants stay academically engaged while enjoying the seasonal break.
The approximately 550 members of Louisville Metro RSVP serve nearly 71,000 hours annually at 60 active locations of public service, faith-based and community need agencies. Thirty members serve at the Robley Rex Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC). A hundred members serve with the Louisville Metro Senior Nutrition Program, packing and/or delivering lunches to other homebound senior adults including the Meals on Wheels Program.
“I am proud to be working with Louisville as we continue to strengthen communities through national service,” said Kim Mansaray, Acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “Mayors are leaders who get things done. They know first-hand the value of national service in tackling local problems. I commend Mayor Fischer for working with us to improve lives and strengthen communities through national service.”
People 55 or older who are interested in volunteering with either FGP or RSVP can go online to https://louisvilleky.gov/government/community-services/volunteer-help to complete an initial application for a follow-up call. Or, call (502) 574-1933 for FGP information and (502) 574-7305 for a no-obligation information packet from RSVP.
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Metro Parks and Recreation will be celebrating Arbor Day during the entire month of April. We know you love trees as much as we do!
Our city’s tree canopy includes approximately 270 species of trees found in the nearly 7,000 acres at Jefferson Memorial Forest and throughout 6,600 acres in 120 parks and six Olmsted-designed parkways.
We’ll be sharing interesting facts about trees throughout the month at our blog, Common Ground, where we’ve asked staff from our Forestry division to share their thoughts on trees and even asked them for their favorites. That’s where you come in! During the month of April, we’re also asking the public to share pictures of their favorite trees at our Instagram page (@loumetroparks). Those who do so can drop by our administrative offices afterwards at Joe Creason Park and pick up a free Tree Identification Poster, beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 5.
We’ll make the posters available until 5 p.m. Friday, April 28 – but you must participate (and share your picture/handle with us when you pick up). Also, only one poster per participant, please.
For more information, visit Common Ground here, and be sure to share your pics on Instagram.