Archive for March, 2010

Many neighborhoods in District 25 are forming Block Watches.  The Block Watch Program is an active partnership between the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and area residents to increase community awareness and crime prevention. The Neighborhood Watch Program is a vital network that provides each resident with the knowledge and resources to fight crime.  In an effort to strengthen Block Watches, I will be sharing reported crimes that have occurred in the Third Division which protects District 25.  In addition, crime prevention tips will accompany the crime trends in an effort to fight crime.

If you are interested in forming a Block Watch, please call me at 574-1125.

Third Division Crime Trends

March 21, 2010 to March 27, 20010

03-21-10 TO 03-27-10

BEAT 1

There were 2 Robberies on Beat 1

8010020646

3/24/2010 2:10

3/24/2010 2:10

Robbery 2

RAGGARD RD

8010021445

3/26/2010 19:00

3/26/2010 19:25

Robbery 2

RAGGARD RD

There were 3 Burglaries on Beat 1

8010020060

3/21/2010 15:00

3/21/2010 23:59

Burglary 2

CLOVER ST

8010020550

3/23/2010 6:25

3/23/2010 17:00

Burglary 2

BROOKLAWN DR

8010021774

3/26/2010 9:00

3/27/2010 23:00

Burglary 2

INVICTA DR

There was 1 TBUT f/Auto on Beat 1

8010020360

3/23/2010 0:58

3/23/2010 0:58

TBUT f/Auto

JEFFREY DR

There was 1 Auto Theft on Beat 1

8010020455

3/23/2010 11:22

3/23/2010 11:22

Auto Theft

MANSLICK RD

BEAT 2

There were 2 Robberies on Beat 2

8010021405

3/26/2010 16:55

3/26/2010 17:10

Robbery 2

SOUTHSIDE DR

8010021773

3/27/2010 3:15

3/27/2010 3:30

Robbery 2

BROOKVIEW DR

There were 3 Burglaries on Beat 2

8010020292

3/22/2010 14:00

3/22/2010 18:00

Burglary 2

HALSEY CT

8010020294

3/22/2010 9:30

3/22/2010 18:30

Burglary 2

FAY AVE

8010020850

3/23/2010 8:00

3/24/2010 18:00

Burglary 2

WESTHALL AVE

There was 1 Auto Theft on Beat 2

8010020593

3/23/2010 19:00

3/23/2010 19:15

Auto Theft

MITSCHER AVE

BEAT 3

There were 2 Robberies on Beat 3

8010020354

3/23/2010 0:03

3/23/2010 0:03

Robbery 1

NATIONAL TPKE

8010020031

3/21/2010 20:30

3/21/2010 21:17

Robbery 1

TALLOW LN

BEAT 4

There were 2 Burglaries on Beat 4

8010020441

3/23/2010 8:05

3/23/2010 9:30

Burglary 2

LAURENT WAY

8010020866

3/22/2010 20:00

3/22/2010 23:00

Burglary 3

MARCITIS RD

03-21-10 TO 03-27-10

BEAT 5

There were 5 Burglaries on Beat 5

8010020236

3/22/2010 8:30

3/22/2010 15:15

Burglary 2

W PAGES LN

8010021032

3/25/2010 12:40

3/25/2010 12:51

Burglary 2

W PAGES LN

8010021152

3/25/2010 5:00

3/25/2010 17:00

Burglary 2

GREEN CREEK PL

8010021285

3/26/2010 9:42

3/26/2010 9:42

Burglary 2

COMBS LN

8010020102

3/21/2010 15:00

3/22/2010 7:20

Burglary 3

COLUMBINE DR

There were 4 TBUTs f/Auto on Beat 5

8010021506

3/26/2010 21:00

3/26/2010 23:30

TBUT f/Auto

DIXIE HWY

8010020675

3/23/2010 21:00

3/24/2010 8:20

TBUT f/Auto

MIDDLEROSE CIR

8010021557

3/26/2010 22:00

3/27/2010 3:30

TBUT f/Auto

DIXIE HWY

8010021723

3/24/2010 11:30

3/24/2010 17:00

TBUT f/Auto

DIXIE GARDEN DR

BEAT6

There was 1 Robbery on Beat 6

8010020337

3/22/2010 21:59

3/22/2010 21:59

Robbery 1

E ORELL RD

There were 3 Burglaries on Beat 6

8010019867

3/21/2010 4:45

3/21/2010 5:15

Burglary 2

TENNIS BLVD

8010020604

3/23/2010 4:00

3/23/2010 20:30

Burglary 2

DIXIE HWY

8010020763

3/24/2010 1:30

3/24/2010 11:00

Burglary 3

LAVENIA LN

Auto Theft Prevention Tips

1.      Lock your car doors and close your windows.

2. Don’t leave valuables in your car. If you do, make sure they are kept out of plain sight — hide them under a blanket, or better yet, lock them in your trunk.

3. When transporting valuables, place them in the trunk before you get to the location where you intend to park. Don’t transfer them at the parking place in open view of other people.

4. If you have a garage, use it.

5. Don’t leave your garage door opener on the dashboard or front seat. Put it in your glove box, hide it or take it with you.

6. Always park in a well-lighted area.

7. Use slide or portable mounts on add-on radios, citizens’ band radios (CBs), tape decks and telephones. When you leave your car, put them in the trunk or take them with you.

8. Mark radios, CBs, tape decks, telephones, batteries, wheel covers and tires with an Operation Identification number. If the stolen item is found later, the number can be traced back to you. To enroll in Operation ID, contact Community Crime Prevention/SAFE at 673-3204.

9. Remember: briefcases, sunglasses, clothing, keys, gyms bags and small change are all tempting to a thief.

10. Leave only the ignition key with the parking attendant in a commercial parking lot.

11. Keep your driver’s license and vehicle registration with you. Left with the car, the documents can be used by a thief to impersonate you when transferring the car’s ownership.

12. Car keys left at home (or at your business) should always be hidden. This will help prevent the theft of your vehicle if you are burglarized.

13. There are locks made for various marketable parts of cars. Battery locks, wheel locks and special tape deck lock mounts can save these items plus any damage that may occur in the process of stealing them.

14. Install a locking gas tank cap to help prevent gasoline theft and limit a thief’s driving range to one tank.

15. Park the front wheel turned sharply to the right or left, making it difficult for the professional thief to tow your car away backwards.

16. With front wheel drive cars: When you park, pull on the emergency brake and place your vehicle in Park. If you have a stick shift, pull on the emergency brake and shift into forward or reverse gear. All four wheels will be locked, making it difficult for a thief to tow your car.

17. Call 911 as soon as theft occurs.

Home Security Tips

For more information on tips for protecting your home, please click on the below links:

o   Alarms

o   Dogs

o   Doors

o   Fences, Walls, and Gates

o   Helping the Police Get to your Home

o   Identifying your Property

o   Landscaping

o   Lighting

o   Locks

o   Maintaining Your Property

o   Other Openings

o   Outdoor Storage

o   Protecting your Home While you are Away

o   Security Measures

o   Windows

Farnsley Middle School Needs Your Vote To Win A Hybrid School Bus

VOTE NOW!

Farnsley Middle School is the only school in Jefferson County participating in the 2010 America’s Greenest School Contest.  Ms. Buerger’s 7th Grade Class submitted an entry explaining what they’d do if they were in charge of making the school a greener, more eco-friendly place.

After weeks of judging, they made the top 10 finalists!

Now the students need your help!  Please visit http://www.americasgreenestschool.com/votenow.aspx and vote for Ms. Buerger’s class.

The poll allows you to vote daily up to April 2^nd per computer.

Encourage your family and friends to vote by forwarding this email to them.

Prizes the School will win with your help!

For Your School

The amazing, clean, green IC Bus™ Hybrid Bus (valued at $150,000)

School Audit by LEED Accredited Professionals and Green Makeover (valued at $20,000) for your school

A free concert by The Maine, the official band of America’s Greenest School

$3,000 scholarship for the winning student and/or classroom

For The Teacher

$500 in class supplies for the winning sponsor/teacher

For Voters

$100 Visa gift card to a lucky voter every day during the voting period

Principal encourages calling legislators

Due to the budget challenges in Frankfort, legislators are looking for ways to cut spending.   There is money in the state budget for $26 million for Valley High School’s construction projects.  Unfortunately, there is legislation that will prevent Valley High School from receiving the much needed funding.

It is critical that you call your representative and let them know that “you support the legislation that keeps the funding for construction improvements at Valley High School.”

You can remind them that:

Valley is one of the oldest high schools in Jefferson County and we’ve had no new construction in over 30 years.

The targeted renovations and construction are intended to benefit the entire Southwest Louisville community and will also support the 4,000
families coming into the area due to the Fort Knox expansion.

Frankfort Message Hotline 1-800-372-7181

When calling the message line, you will be asked to give your name, address, and phone number.

Please say, “I want my message to go to all legislators.”

If we all call and encourage two other people to call, then our legislators will have to listen!
Gary G. Hurt, Principal
Valley Traditional High School
502-485-8339

Louisville, KY (March 25, 2010) – The Department of Highways District 5 Office announces the temporary closure off Interstate 264 in both directions on Sunday morning, March 28th. Interstate 264 will be closed at 1:00 a.m. for approximately 30 minutes in each direction near mile point 7.7, which is between US 31W (Dixie Highway) and Taylor Boulevard. The roadway will be closed to allow for utility repairs of some wires damaged earlier this month.

During the closure, motorists on westbound I-264 will be able to exit at Taylor Boulevard (Exit 9).  The entrance ramp from Taylor Boulevard to westbound I-264 will be closed.

Motorists on eastbound I-264 will be able to exit at US 31W (Exit 8).  The entrance ramp from US 31W to eastbound I-264 will be closed.

The actual starting date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur.  Dial 511 or log on to 511.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Louisville, KY (March 23, 2010) – The Department of Highways District 5 Office announces the temporary closure of KY 1020 (National Turnpike) at the CSX railroad crossing (mile point 0.637) near South Park Road.  The roadway will be closed from 8:00 a.m. on March 23^rd until 6:00 a.m. on March 25^th to allow for repairs to the tracks and crossing.

The actual starting date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur.  Dial 511 or log on to 511.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

BBB warns basketball fans who want to follow the University of Louisville or Kentucky Wildcats along the road to the NCAA Final Four should use caution in order to avoid con artists when buying tickets and travel packages.

Fans could find it difficult to get tickets, and may be tempted by the secondary market, where tickets always pop up. The BBB warns fans to be careful if buying tickets from individuals online or from unfamiliar sources. If buying tickets from a brokerage, check the company’s BBB reliability report. If people buy from scalpers, or from individuals through classified ads or on the internet, BBB warns they are taking a big chance.  The tickets could turn out fake, and there isn’t anything a fan can do about it.

BBB also warns to be sure you are getting what you pay for when it comes to travel packages throughout the tournament. Check out the travel planner with the BBB. Be sure to verify reservations made in your name so that there are no surprises when you arrive. Find out what the cancellation or refund policies are in case you cannot go.

The BBB has these tips for fans who want to follow the teams:

• Use secure websites for online transactions. When buying tickets or making hotel and travel reservations on line, look for a padlock on the page, and the letter “s” in the URL (web address box) after the “http.” Example: https://www.xyz.com. Unsecure sites will only show http://… If neither is present, the site is not secure and your credit card or bank account information may not be safe.

• If buying online, beware of sellers leading you away from secure, reliable transaction methods such as PayPal or those who discourage using credit cards. If you use a credit card and something goes wrong, you can try to dispute the charge with the credit card provider. Beware of sellers that want you to wire money via Western Union – there is no way to trace the cash if something goes wrong.

• Buy at your own risk. You are better off buying from a reliable source. If you buy tickets from unfamiliar sources or scalpers, there is no guarantee that they will be legitimate. (Scalping laws vary from state to state.)

Remember, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Check out companies with the BBB at www.bbb.org or call 1-800-388-2222.

Spring Clean Week in Jefferson County is March 21-27

Volunteers will be out in force next week to spring clean Jefferson County’s highways. The Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announces that the Adopt-a-Highway Spring Clean Week will be held March 21-27.

“The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet appreciates the efforts of our Adopt-a-Highway volunteers who help keep our highways and communities beautiful and litter-free,” Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

More than 1,100 groups participate in Kentucky’s Adopt-a-Highway program, which was established in 1988. Volunteers clean approximately 8,800 miles of roadside annually, setting an example of responsible environmental stewardship. Approximately 26 percent of eligible Jefferson County highways are adopted.

“The increase in group enrollment in the program shows that Kentuckians place high value on maintaining and improving the scenic beauty of our state,” Hancock said.

The Adopt-a-Highway program promotes public environmental awareness and supports tourism. The program also creates a partnership between citizens, community and government, and establishes a sense of pride in the Bluegrass State.

GET INVOLVED!

How can you contribute to the community, make a difference, send a message and educate others – all while having fun with friends and family? Join Kentucky’s Adopt-a-Highway Program.  By taking responsibility for an area roadway, you set an example in your community.

The environment is everyone’s responsibility. Adopt-a-Highway provides the opportunity to be a part of the solution. Each year, the KYTC spends about $5 million and 200,000 worker hours to remove 96,000 bags of highway litter. Adopt-a-Highway volunteers help save thousands of taxpayer dollars and demonstrate that a clean environment is a shared responsibility.

Any permanently established business, association, community or public organization, or government entity can adopt a stretch of highway. A wide range of groups throughout Kentucky now participate, including homemaker clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high school organizations, service clubs, veterans, college fraternities and sororities, sports teams and church groups, among others.

Volunteers adopt two-mile sections of highway under a two-year, renewable contract with the Transportation Cabinet.

Adopt-a-Highway coordinators can explain the fundamentals of the program to volunteer groups, work with group members in locating an available highway, and keep them notified of news and upcoming events.

Litter pickups are held at least four times per year or as many times as necessary to keep adopted areas reasonably litter-free. The cabinet coordinates three annual clean-up efforts.

HOW DO I JOIN?

Groups interested in becoming members of the Adopt-a-Highway Program can find details and district coordinator information at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/.  Safety guidelines are provided to volunteers and should be reviewed prior to each cleanup.

The Adopt-a-Highway coordinators help volunteers get in touch with the county maintenance crew superintendent to arrange warning sign placement on the date of pickup. Trash bags and safety vests can be obtained at each state maintenance facility, and litter removal is provided by the state highway crews.

For more information, visit http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/ or contact area coordinator Amy Knipp at 502-210-5402 or e-mail amy.knipp@ky.gov.

Win Two Nights at the 21c Museum Hotel, a $200 Restaurant Gift Card, a Freelance Writing Contract and More

The Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched a contest with Trazzler.com. They are looking for people who are passionate about Louisville – and that would be YOU! –  to hone in on their favorite thing about the city and write a maximum of 160 words on that topic. More information about the contest is below.

Deadline: May 15, 2010.

Trazzler.com is an internet travel tool that helps users select destinations based on their “travel personality.” They’re looking to uncover the best places to visit in Louisville and want help. Write about what you know – in 160-words-or-less on the topic “Quintessential Louisville.” We’re looking for pieces featuring the kinds of places and experiences you can’t wait to share with a good friend visiting from out-of-town, or find yourself pining for when far from home.

For “Quintessential Louisville” contest rules, to enter a story or to vote visit: www.trazzler.com/contests/louisville.

High school students and their parents are often concerned about upcoming college expenses. The Better Business Bureau urges students and parents to be cautious regarding offers from scholarship services and organizations that require upfront fees to apply for or search for scholarships.
 
A local consumer says his son was contacted by Edifi-College Financial Aid Services. The company has an “F” rating with the BBB. The company says it assists clients in planning for college. Edifi mails prospective college students a letter advising them they have been selected for a personal interview. Students who call for the interview are scheduled for a financial aid seminar along with other students and parents. At the seminar, parents are given the option to purchase services at a charge of approximately $900. The company’s primary service is assistance filling out financial aid forms. For a complete report on the company, go to http://www.bbb.org/upstate-new-york/business-reviews/scholarships-and-financial-aid/edifi-college-financial-aid-services-in-albany-ny-24001253/.
 
 
There are varieties of scholarship scams. Here is what to look out for:
 
1.      Scholarship search organizations often fail to make good on promises.  In exchange for upfront fees, students may receive lists of possible scholarship sources but, in most cases, the organization does not assist students in obtaining the listed scholarships. In other instances, individuals never hear from the organization after paying the fee and supplying all requested information. Typically, scholarship search services send mailings to schedule “interviews,” usually targeting parents of high school students. These “interviews,” usually at a local hotel, are little more than sales pitches for scholarship information services costing $900 or more. Almost always, any information provided by these services is available free from other sources.
2.      Advance fee scholarship applications require an upfront fee to apply for a scholarship but, in some cases, the organization refuses to provide documentation that any scholarships are awarded. If you check the company, you’ll often learn that it has a bad record with the BBB. The companies will often collect application fees, but award no scholarship. 
Obtaining free scholarship information can begin with high school counseling offices, college financial aid offices, and research at public libraries, bookstores, or on the Internet. Consider all available options, including federal, state, and local aid programs, financial institutions’ loan plans; and a wide variety of scholarships, fellowships, or other programs offered by colleges. Many reputable and well-known private organizations and businesses also offer scholarships to students. 
Individuals interested in using a scholarship service are urged to investigate the background of a company using the Better Business Bureau’s website, www.bbb.org, or by calling the BBB at (502) 583-6546 or 1-800-388-2222 for a reliability report. Ask the company to put details of its services and promises in writing, including the refund policy. Finally, be suspicious of “guaranteed offers.” Any guarantee that “you will win a scholarship” or “your money back if not satisfied” is as good as the organization behind the guarantee. So even with a guarantee, it’s important to know that you are dealing with a reputable and reliable organization.