The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page B3

Time 09-28-2009 23:26 User: marjohnson PubDate: 09-29-2009 Zone: KY Edition: 1 Page Name: B3 Color: M'yimta BRIEFLY TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 Neighborhoods DAILY NEWS REPORT www.courier-journal.comneighborhoods Roller coaster being dismantled Chang to be moved to other theme park By Sheldon S. Shafer The Courier-Journal Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom is dismantling what park officials describe as one of their signature roller coasters, Chang, to make room for a new water park. Chang had remained popular with coaster fans, but the amusement park wanted room to expand its water-park offerings, said spokeswoman Carolyn McLean. Chang is being moved to another theme park, McLean said, but declined to say where. She did say, however, that the ride had not been sold and that it would be a "smart assumption" that it is being transferred to one of Six Flags' other venues.

The company has 19 amusement parks in North America. Chang opened inl997, and at the time newspaper accounts put the ride's construction cost at $12 million. When it opened, the ride was promoted as the world's tallest, longest, fastest coaster in which riders are in a standing position, McLean said. Chang's superlatives, including "the most inversions and the steepest drops," have been superseded by newer coasters. Crews began taking down Chang this month, and the job might last into November, McLean said.

Courier-Journal file photo Chang, which was promoted in 1997 as the world's tallest, longest, fastest coaster in which riders are in a standing position, is being dismantled at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom to make room for a new water park. Federal flood aid is near $19 will leave Kentucky Kingdom with six coasters, will clear the way for Bonzai Beach, which is to open in 2011. The existing Splashwater Kingdom at the Six Flags park at the Kentucky Exposition Center won't change, and Bonzai Beach will merely expand the water-themed facilities, McLean said. She said nomic recovery of communities after disasters." Flood victims have until Oct. 13 to register with FEMA for assistance.

People who register with FEMA and then receive an SBA loan application need to fill out the application and return it even if they do not want a loan. Those who do not qualify for a loan then will be considered for a FEMA grant. The loan applications also must be returned by Oct. 13. Only 1,156 of the 6,784 loan applications mailed out by the SBA have been returned so far, SBA spokesman Michael Peacock "Chang" means "long" in Mandarin Chinese.

It is a steel coaster that is 4,155 feet long and 154 feet at its highest point. It has a 121-foot-tall vertical loop, a 103-foot-tall diving loop, a 72-foot-high oblique loop and two corkscrew turns. The coaster has a top speed of 63 mph. The removal of Chang, which interest loans to individuals and businesses. The flooding occurred after Gi inches of rain fell in Louisville in just over an hour.

President Barack Obama declared a federal disaster, which cleared the way for federal financial assistance. The vast majority of the SBA loans $3.3 million have gone to individuals rebuilding their homes or replacing lost possessions. While the SBA has a mission to "aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns," its responsibilities also include "assisting in the eco Engineers set to inspect bridges across Ohio River Weather permitting, state transportation engineers for Kentucky and Indiana will inspect the Kennedy and Sherman Minton bridges across the Ohio River on Thursday, resulting in temporary lane closures. The inspection of the Kennedy, part of Interstate 65, will begin at 9 a.m., and that of the Interstate 64 Sherman Minton will begin at 1 p.m. The Brandenburg-Mauck-port bridge will be inspected Wednesday at 1:30 p.m, and the Milton-Madison bridge will be inspected Friday at 10 a.m The inspections are done for long-range maintenance planning, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Liberty Elementary reopens Tuesday in Oldham County An Oldham County elementary school that closed Friday and Monday because about 40 percent of its students were out sick with flu-like symptoms is scheduled to reopen Tuesday, school district officials said. Liberty Elementary closed after 160 of its 425 students called in sick Thursday, said Anne Coorssen, attorney for Oldham County schools. Some parents called to say their children had the HIM virus, or swine flu, but the majority weren't being tested, so the district only knows that it was some form of flu, she said. While the school was closed, the building's janitorial staff cleaned and disinfected it, she said. Also, bus drivers are being asked to wipe down the seats between runs for at least the next week, Coorssen said.

Ky. State Police plan safety checkpoints for October Kentucky State Police will hold safety checkpoints in Louisville and surrounding counties throughout October in an effort to cut down on impaired driving. Post 4 of the state police will run the checks in Jefferson, Bullitt, Nelson, Hardin, Breckinridge, Grayson, LaRue and Meade counties, according to a news release from state police. Most of the checks will be held on weekend nights when impaired driving is at a maximum, according to the release. Troopers also will be checking for seatbelt use and proper use of child seats.

Red Cross, Girl Scouts set Miley Cyrus blood drive The American Red Cross and Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana will hold a Miley Cyrus-inspired blood drive Saturday. The Hannah Montana Blood Drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m at Middletown United Methodist Church at 11902 Main according to a Red Cross news release. The event is named after Cyrus' character on the Disney Channel TV show of the same name. Everyone who donates blood will be entered in a drawing to win two tickets to Cyrus' concert at Freedom Hall on Halloween, the release said.

Organizers are encouraging teenagers and younger people who might be interested in the drive to recruit older people to donate in their name. There also will be a Hannah Montana look-alike contest at the drive. Contestants will be photographed with a Hannah Montana cutout, which will be awarded to the winner, according to the release. The contest will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Anyone who wants to make an appointment to donate ahead of time can sign up by going to www.givebloodgivelife.org. Preston Highway-Grade Lane exit of 1-65 to close Because of construction on Interstate 65, the Preston Highway-Grade Lane exit will close Tuesday at 8 p.m, when work will shift from the left lanes to the right lanes on the interstate. The ramp will reopen in mid-October. 1-65 is under construction for repairs of deterioration and the laying of a new asphalt surface between Fern Valley Road and the Watterson Expressway. The project requires the normal five lanes of traffic to be reduced to three.

Once the work on the northbound lanes is complete, work on the southbound lanes will last for 16 days. Highway officials have advised commuters to consider alternate routes during the People, businesses get grants, loans The Courier-Journal Federal disaster assistance to individuals in Jefferson County who were victims of the Aug. 4 flash flood is approaching $19 million. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued $14.7 million in grants that do not have to be repaid, while the U.S. Small Business Administration has provided $4.2 million in low- FALL FUN park-goers should be prepared to confront construction when the park opens next spring.

She said Bonzai Beach's opening will be part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Six Flags in the theme-park business. Reporter Sheldon S. Shafer can be reached at (502) 582-7089. million said. Anyone who needs help in filling out an application can go to one of two disaster recovery centers: the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage at 1701 W.

Muhammad Ali Blvd. or the South Louisville Community Center at 2911 Taylor Blvd. The centers are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m. on Saturday. To register with FEMA, call (800) 621-3362. Those with hearing or speech impairments can call (800) 462-7585. Registration also can be done at www.disaste-rassistance.gov.

Gaulbert, from Third to Fourth. 8 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Sunday: St. James, from Magnolia to Hill.

Magnolia, from Third to Sixth. Third (west side), Fourth and Sixth, from Park to Hill. Third (east side), from Burnett Street to Hill. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday: Hill, from Second Street to Sixth. Fourth (east side), from Hill to Gaulbert. 9 a.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday: Hill (north side) will be restricted to handicapped parking in the area of the show.

TARC SHUTTLES TARC buses to the art show will leave the Brown hotel garage on Third Street at Broadway every 15 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. Friday, and every 10 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m.

to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $6 per carload, which covers parking and the shuttle service. The parking pass is also good for free rides on the Fourth Street Trolley. Passengers may also board at any stop along the route and at an additional stop at Second and Breckinridge streets.

The fare for passengers boarding along the route is $1.50. For information, call 585-1234, TTY 213-3240, or visit www.ridetarc.org. KENTUCKY EXPOSITION CENTER Traffic on roads around the fairgrounds (Interstate 65, Watterson Expressway, Phillips Lane, Crittenden Drive and Preston Highway) is expected to be congested 6-11 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. Tuesday because of these events: "Get Motivated" Seminar, 8 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Attendees are urged to car-pool and arrive early. International Construction and Utility Equipment Expo move-in, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lots the north half of Lot and the north half of the South Wing Conference Center Lot A will be unavailable for parking.

COPING WITH THE COMMUTE INTERSTATE 65 The Preston Highway-Grade Lane exit will close at 8 p.m. Tuesday when work will shift from the left lanes to the right lanes of the interstate, northbound between Fern Valley Road and the Watterson Expressway. The closure will continue throughout the northbound work. Northbound 1-65 and the ramp will reopen about mid-October. ROAD CLOSING Chenoweth Run Road: Closed at 3907 Thursday through Oct.

5 to replace a culvert. DELAYS POSSIBLE Taylorsville Road (Ky. 155): Between the Gene Snyder Freeway and Tucker Station Road during construction to add a right-turn lane on the ramp from the southbound Snyder to Taylorsville Road. One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction on Taylorsville Road during most of the construction. ST.

JAMES ART SHOW STREET CLOSINGS 8 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Sunday: St. James Court, from Magnolia Street to the dead end. Magnolia, from Third Street to Sixth Street.

Alleys running from Magnolia to Hill Street, in blocks between Third and Fourth streets and Fourth and St. James. R. Chin Alley, from Sixth Street to Hill Street. 9 a.m.

Thursday to 6 p.m. Sunday: Gaulbert Avenue, from Third to Fourth. 9 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Sunday: Fourth, from Park Avenue to Hill.

NO-PARKING AREAS 8 a.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. Sunday: Park Avenue (south side), from Fourth to Sixth. By Bill Luster, The Courier-Journal Five-year-old Ella Mattes enjoyed herself Monday on playground equipment in Cherokee Park. She was playing there with her two sisters and her mother.

CRIME Louisville Metro Police Monday for REPORTS released no reports on major crimes. Go to www.courier-journal.comcrime to search for all the crime reports in your neighborhood..