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As fans plan for another Derby Season, Louisville Metro Emergency Services is offering a text message alert system for residents and visitors. LENSAlert, the Louisville Emergency Notification System, offers a text message sign up which will provide event goers real time notifications in the instance of an emergency. To sign up for notifications for any event throughout the Derby Season, just text “Derby” to 67283.
Should an incident occur, text message notifications are sent from MetroSafe, Louisville’s 911 Communications Center. MetroSafe stays in constant communication with the Incident Command System, the Emergency Operations Center, first responders, and LMPD’s Real Time Crime Center and maintains a high level of situational awareness during all events.
Attendees are encouraged to text “Derby” to 67283 prior to attending events, but you can sign up for the service at any point in time. If you are already signed up for LENSAlert, you can elect to receive event specific notifications through your safety profile, which can be accessed anytime at smart911.com.
Emergency Services Director Jody Meiman states, “We expect a safe and secure Derby Season and are doing everything we can to be prepared, including offering text alerts for the public. LENSAlert is meant to communicate emergency information only and will be the trusted source of information should a major incident occur.
Commercial anglers netted nearly 42 tons of invasive Asian carp from Kentucky and Barkley lakes during the inaugural Carp Madness tournament in 2013.
Carp Madness returns to the lakes in June with a new twist: it’s a tournament for bow anglers. The top prize is $10,000 for the team on the winning boat in each division, with total prizes of $23,000.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are partnering with the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Kentucky State Parks and the Bowfishing Association of America for Carp Madness 2. The tournament is set for the night of June 23-24.
The tournament is another way to remove carp from the lake while building awareness of the invasive fish.
“We anticipate that Carp Madness 2 will remove more than 100,000 pounds of Asian carp in a single night of bowfishing,” said Ron Brooks, fisheries division director for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “Proceeds beyond the cost of the tournament payouts and prizes will go to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which works with our department on fish and wildlife habitat, the Salato Wildlife Education Center and sponsoring the department’s summer conservation camps for kids.”
The Bowfishing Association of America is sanctioning the event.
The entry fee is $150 per boat. Contestants can pay an extra $25 for entry into the big fish contest. Teams may consist of 2-4 anglers, but no passengers.
The top three weights harvested per boat from each division (lake or river) will win prize money. First place pays $10,000 per boat, followed by $1,000 for second and $500 for third. The big fish payout will be combined for both divisions and depend on the number of entries.
Contestants who weigh in Asian carp will receive a commemorative “Carp Madness 2” T-shirt. Contestants weighing in at least 250 pounds of fish will receive raffle tickets for chances at donated prizes. The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation is providing support for raffles, t-shirts and donations to the tournament. The foundation will also sell “Carp-Madness 2” T-shirts to support Asian carp removal efforts.
The tournament begins at 7 p.m. (Central time) June 23 and continues until 7 a.m. the following morning. Launch is set for the Kentucky Dam Marina Boat Ramp, located at the Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park near Gilbertsville, Ky. Bowfishing anglers may harvest any of the Asian carp, including the silver, bighead, grass and black carp.
Pre-registration opens today on the Bowfishing Association of America website: baastore.bigcartel.com. Participants may also register at the event (cash only).
Photo: Division of Community Forestry
To celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day, the Louisville Metro Office of Sustainability, will give away 1,000 trees on Saturday, April 21 from 12-2 p.m. at the Hope Community Garden in south Louisville (1400 Bicknell Drive).
“In our growing city, we are always looking for ways to improve our community’s health and our environment,” Erin Thompson, Louisville Metro’s Urban Forester, said. “One of the best ways to do this is by planting a tree. We encourage all residents to join us in celebrating Earth Day and Arbor Day by planting a tree.”
At this giveaway event, any Jefferson County resident may take up to three trees on a first come, first served basis. A driver’s license or utility bill must be provided for proof of residence. All trees should be planted on private property.
All trees that will be given away are native to Kentucky and will be provided to residents in three gallon containers. Species available on Saturday include Allegheny Serviceberry, Redbud, Black Oak, Eastern Red Cedar, Pawpaw, American Hornbeam, Sugar Maple, River Birch, Tulip Poplar and Red Oak.
For more information, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/division-community-forestry
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
The third time is the charm and the forecast shows this Saturday will be good weather for the postponed Spring Cleanups in and around District 6.
“I want to thank everyone for their patience. It appears the weather is on our side this Saturday so I am asking everyone to come out and join us as we make District 6 a better, cleaner place for everyone,” says President James. “We are fortunate to always have great volunteers for these events and I am hopeful everyone will help us out.”
Volunteers need to show up at 12:00pm for the cleanup which is scheduled to last through 3:00pm.
There are three areas set for a cleanup this Saturday. One is Dumesnil between 17th and 18th Streets; the second is at West Ormsby between the 1500 and 1800 blocks and finally the California neighborhood. . Volunteers should meet at the corner of 18th and Dumesnil and then the cleanups will begin.
There will be a limited number of shovels, rakes and brooms, gloves and bags. If any volunteers have their own yard equipment please bring it with you.
“So if you have the time, come join us and have some fun and help us make a difference in our community,” says President James.
For more information about the cleanups, contact President James Office at 502-574-1106.
Photo: Secretary of State website
Ahead of next month’s Primary Election, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security to train county election officials across Kentucky on cybersecurity and threats to elections. The trainings are some of the first of their kind in the nation. The announcement came Thursday after a meeting of Kentucky’s Election Integrity Task Force, which Grimes created in 2012.
DHS officials trained Kentucky county clerks on Thursday on cybersecurity and best practices. Grimes announced that over the summer, DHS officials and other partners will conduct statewide cybersecurity briefings and trainings for Kentucky’s 15,000 precinct election officials and media.
The trainings are one piece in a host of security measures Grimes announced Kentucky has in place to protect the integrity of elections.
“Secretaries of State are now on the front lines of national security and protecting America’s democracy,” said Grimes. “Security and integrity has been at the forefront of my approach to elections as Kentucky’s chief elections official. I count our partnerships with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal and state law enforcement agencies as critical to that work. We work every day to monitor and fortify our defenses against any actor – foreign or domestic – that seeks to undermine our democratic process. Today’s trainings are crucial to protecting, defending and increasing confidence in our elections.”
Grimes initiated a partnership with DHS during the 2016 presidential election, shortly before the agency designated America’s elections as critical infrastructure. DHS provides cybersecurity tools and protections of Kentucky’s infrastructure.
“The Department of Homeland Security values our partnership with Secretary of State Grimes as we work together with Kentucky and other states to improve the security of the election process,” said Matt Masterson, senior cybersecurity advisor at DHS. “We appreciate the commitment and dedication that election officials across the state have demonstrated to ensuring secure and resilient elections for Kentucky voters. We look forward to our continued partnership with Secretary Grimes and state and local officials across the nation as we work to maintain the integrity of America’s election infrastructure system.”
Kentucky election officials, led by Grimes, are taking additional steps to protect election integrity.
Following Grimes’ recommendation, the State Board of Elections moved to require all future election equipment purchased in Kentucky to provide a voter-verified paper trail. Kentucky’s Election Integrity Task Force unanimously endorsed the recommendation, which echoes guidance from the Senate Intel Committee’s election security report released last month. Funding recently appropriated by Congress will assist Kentucky in transitioning to a fully paper-backed voting system.
The State Board of Elections is also working with an industry-leading cybersecurity firm, CyberScout, to strengthen the security of Kentucky’s election processes. The Board recently unveiled a new poll worker recruitment tool to assist county clerks in administering our elections with confidence.
“Make no mistake, foreign adversaries seek to do harm by creating doubt that democracy works. I am here today to say that it does, and we are protecting it,” Grimes said.
Details regarding future briefings and trainings with DHS will be forthcoming.
Solid Waste Management Services Enforcement has located and impounded its 2nd vehicle of 2018 after an alert citizen caught illegal dumping going on in the 2100 Block of Pirtle Street.
“I want to thank the people of area for their efforts to keep Pirtle Street from becoming a dumping ground and SWMS for their fast work with citizens to make illegal dumping a costly venture,” says Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4), who represents the area.
SWMS Enforcement was contacted by a citizen that confronted and photographed an individual dumping out of a pickup truck in the 2100 Block of Pirtle St. According to SWMS, the individual that dumped the material ignored the citizen and continued to dump.
Based on the images and the witness statement, SWMS Enforcement issued a citation and impounded the vehicle. The citation totaled $750, and the owner will have to pay approximately $250 for impound and storage fees.
For many years, the Metro Council has focused attention and resources to stop illegal dumping throughout Metro Louisville.
“The Council’s message has always been a simple one: if you decide to illegal dump in where in the city, you will pay,” says Sexton Smith.
More than 250 vehicles, including nearly 120 pickup trucks and SUVs, are being retired from the state motor pool and will be auctioned off April 24 at the State Service Garage, 513 Barrett Street in Frankfort.
The public auction begins at 10 a.m. Individuals can pre-register and inspect the vehicles from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, April 23 or register and view them the morning of the sale from 8 to 9:50 a.m.
“Each year the state rotates vehicles out of its inventory,” said Pete McDonald, director, Kentucky Division of Fleet Management. “This is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to buy a low-cost car, truck or van that still has a useful life.”
Vehicles range over years, makes and models, from 1996 to 2012. Vehicles are categorized with a status of either “runners” or “non-runners.” One of the oldest vehicles on the runner list is a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 4×2 with 70,800 miles. One of the newer runner status vehicles is a 2012 Ford Fusion with 220,400 miles. A 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 4×2 has the least amount of miles at 22,000. More than 20 vehicles are classified as non-runners and will be sold as salvage.
In 2017 the average sale price of running vehicles was approximately $2,200.
“People from all over the state buy vehicles at our surplus property auctions,” said Dewey Blevins, director of the Division of Surplus Properties. “Whether you are an individual or a non-profit, if you need a farm truck or a van, you may be able to find something suitable and affordable.”
Questions can be directed to Fleet Management Inventory at 502-564-2260.
Full payment is due within one hour after the last item is sold. Payment can be made with a credit card; cash; cashiers, certified, or travelers checks; money order or personal check with proper identification. Any check over $5,000 must be accompanied by a letter of credit from the bank; all out-of-state checks for any amount must have a letter of credit. Credit card transactions will incur a 2.75 percent fee. All items sold at the auction are subject to a 7 percent buyer’s premium. There is a $100 fee for returned checks.
Additional payment information and a list of vehicles are available online at surplusproperty.ky.gov.
