Latest news with #TelecommunicationsWeek
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Holy Name making push for pedestrian bridge in Henderson
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – The landscape near downtown Henderson could soon have a much different look with the help of a local church. Holy Name Catholic Church wants to help the downtown growth while making the area safer at the same time. 'We want to be good neighbors, and play our part in the life and development of this beautiful city,' says Holy Name Pastor Father Richard Meredith. Father Richard is pushing for the construction of a pedestrian bridge at 2nd and Adams streets in Henderson. The church, as well as Holy Name School, presented the results of a feasibility study to Henderson City Commission addressing the need for safer crossing options. 'I said, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a safe means of crossing 2nd street',' says Father Richard, 'which there's going to be an increase in traffic volume, and increased pedestrian traffic as this area develops.' Two chaplains join HPD for the first time in nearly 20 years Father Richard calls the estimate of $3.6 million 'conservative.' While the city gave the green light to move forward, funding sources are still to be determined. The school says over 400 students cross the busy intersection every week. 'Not just for the church and school,' explains Father Richard, 'and we certainly benefit from it, but WARM Center and various other activities that are growing up here on 2nd Street. Plus, it would look like a gateway!' The bridge is expected to have stairs and an elevator with a design matching the church and a soon-to-be constructed fire station. Traffic on the busy four-lane road is expected to increase when the new I-69 route is complete, as this area is considered the gateway into downtown Henderson. A timeline has not been nailed down, but Father Richard plans to meet with State Senator Robby Mills to discuss potential funding options from the state. 'Until we know the cost, the funding, is conceivable, it's really impossible to project the timeline,' says Father Meredith. 'But until we hit a brick wall that says you can't do any more, we're going to pursue the idea.' Holy Name making push for pedestrian bridge in Henderson Rain not slowing down Tri-Fest crowds United Way volunteers helping Henderson County flood cleanup Funds approved for Audubon Conference Center Henderson 911 honors dispatchers for Telecommunications Week Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
United Way volunteers helping Henderson County flood cleanup
HENDERSON COUNTY, Ky. (WEHT) – The view in eastern Henderson County is much different than that of earlier in April when much of Spottsville, Reed and Beals were under water. 'To see the devastation that water can cause is something that I never expected to need to see or see in the next little bit,' says Kelsi Johnston with the United Way of Henderson County. Johnston and the United Way have helped organize dozens of volunteers to help cleanup efforts. As of April 24, volunteers had clocked more than 140 hours of work and Johnston says more volunteers are needed. 'Just because the water is not in the road does not mean that the need is not still there,' says Johnston. 'It just means that you can get to the need a little bit quicker.' One volunteer came to Spottsville from Washington, Indiana to help residents like Mindy Veach. Her home was spared from flood damage, but her yard is littered with debris. Neighboring County lends a hand to flood victims 'Well no, not just debris, there's a whole boat dock,' says Veach, 'I've got a freezer and refrigerator and I got a john boat. I guess if nobody claims it, we'll go fishing in the john boat.' Now on the receiving end of help, Veach says she wants to pay it forward. 'I don't know a whole lot, but I know how to groom dogs,' says Veach. 'So, if they can't afford to take their dog to the groomer, I would like to say that I would do it for free.' The county is also stepping in. This week, the Henderson County Fiscal Court approved setting aside $1 million from the county's rainy day fund to cover the costs of recovery efforts in the event FEMA funds are not approved. 'We're confident we'll be eventually reimbursed for that through the FEMA programs, but we still haven't got a declaration from the president yet declaring this area and this situation an emergency,' explains Henderson County Judge Executive Brad Schneider. 'We can't wait on him, really, anymore. We need to be proactive.' Schneider says this will be a months-long recovery process. Residents needing assistance can contact the United Way at 270-826-2107, or the Crisis Cleanup Hotline at 270-887-4657. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the United Way. Volunteer operations will move to Reed, Kentucky on April 26, with a new command post located at St. Augustine Church. The United Way is also in urgent need of dehumidifiers, box fans, mold remediation sprays, bleach and general cleaning supplies. A relief drive is scheduled for May 2-3 at Walmart in Henderson from 7 AM to 6 PM. United Way volunteers helping Henderson County flood cleanup Funds approved for Audubon Conference Center Henderson 911 honors dispatchers for Telecommunications Week Four-year-old among those killed in Huntingburg dog attack Continued flooding puts parts of Grandview underwater Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Funds approved for Audubon Conference Center
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Officials at both the county and city level have approved just over $5 million dollars in funds towards a new conference center to be built at Audubon State Park in Henderson. The county's fiscal court approved $2.5 million, while Henderson City Commission unanimously approved $2.7 million. The project's total is $16.5 million, with the rest of the funds coming from the state. 'This is a huge community need in our opinion, and a huge park need, but I also argue that it's such a good investment,' says Andy Rideout with Friends of Audubon. The new center is set to be built on the former site of the beach house, giving up to 400 guests a lake-side view. Henderson tourism officials believe this will draw visitors and businesses to Henderson through conferences and banquets, and keep local couples in Henderson at a brand new wedding venue instead of crossing the Ohio River. Public input needed for roadway safety survey in western Kentucky 'Not only are we looking at this ballroom-style conference center,' says Henderson Tourist Commission Executive Director Abby Dixon, 'where you can have 400 people around roundtables, even more, classroom-style or like a cocktail reception, of course, but also looking at breakout rooms.' Henderson Mayor Brad Staton says the full $16.5 million price tag includes construction of a new access road, which will connect Audubon State Park to Watson Lane. 'The state has offered to pay for the road, and allow the locals to run the project,' explains Mayor Staton, 'as long as the city takes it into our umbrella for continuous maintenance purposes.' Mayor Staton says this center also strengthens the argument to keep both Twin Bridges in place once the new I-69 bridge is built. State Senator Robby Mills has also been a vocal supporter of this project. Mayor Staton says additional costs are likely as the project rolls along, and State Senator Mills promises to cover expenses that could exceed the expected total. 'I'm here for the long haul,' says Mills, 'not just to get this money up front. If there's monies at the end that need to be acquisitioned, I'll be fighting for those in Frankfort to make this something you can all be proud of.' A start date has not yet been determined, but once construction begins, Mayor Staton says it could take up to two years to complete. Funds approved for Audubon Conference Center Henderson 911 honors dispatchers for Telecommunications Week Four-year-old among those killed in Huntingburg dog attack Continued flooding puts parts of Grandview underwater Heavy storm damage along Indiana 65 in Vanderburgh County Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
Henderson 911 honors dispatchers for Telecommunications Week
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – They may fly under the radar or behind the scenes, but 911 dispatchers are often the first to address a potentially serious situation. 'We have to be ready for an emergency at any given moment,' says Jordan Webb, Henderson 911 Director. Webb has worked as the Henderson 911 Director for 5 years. In that time, she has heard thousands of calls ranging from the serious to the not-so-serious, yet her dispatch team remains ready for any situation. 'Our best opportunity is to help save a life, and that's what I kind of tell my dispatchers, is, you know, be ready to give CPR at any given moment,' says Webb. 'But, we also talk to a lot of elderly people who may have misdialed and we just need to help them get the right number.' Webb is using National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week to celebrate her dispatchers, while also shedding light on the day-to-day. Prospective dispatchers train for 20 weeks before heading to Richmond, Kentucky for an additional 4 weeks of training. Henderson 911 consists of 3 to 4 dispatchers per shift, each working 12 hours. Webb says a common misconception is that dispatchers ask too many questions, however she says those questions can be crucial. New options coming to Evansville 911 service 'From taking the call to giving the call out, all of the information fits together like a puzzle,' explains Webb. 'All of the questions that we ask, sometimes, will later help with an arrest in court. So it's very important information that we take and that we ask that can later help get the conviction that's needed to put away a bad person.' That teamwork is necessary, but this week, the spotlight is on those on the other end of the call. 'Your worst day is our every day. And after the emergency is over with, a lot of people don't think back on who answered the 911 call,' says Webb. 'That was our people. So this is just the opportunity for us to kind of thank our people.' Henderson 911 honors dispatchers for Telecommunications Week Four-year-old among those killed in Huntingburg dog attack Continued flooding puts parts of Grandview underwater Heavy storm damage along Indiana 65 in Vanderburgh County Posey County residents cleaning up with more storms on the way Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
