Henderson Tennis Club is awarded state Community Tennis Association of the Year
The Henderson Tennis Club was awarded the Kentucky Community Tennis Association of the Year at a January ceremony in Louisville.
The award, presented by the United States Tennis Association of Kentucky, goes to the community tennis association that has done the most in the previous year to promote tennis in its community, said club member Melanie Humbert.
Humbert said the club’s membership has grown to 70 members, and indoor youth lessons can accommodate 30 players per session.
According to an email sent by Humbert:
“HTC’s dedication to youth programs has been acknowledged by the Henderson County School System, honoring the club as an Outstanding Community Partner. HTC provides free youth leagues, an annual Doc Hosbach Memorial Scholarship, and affordable summer lessons, even employing high school players to assist with youth activities. In 2023, the club hosted the Brett Jones Memorial Tournament, a Halloween-themed event for players of all ages, and continued its popular Independence Day Hat Tournament, adding a Memorial Day Hat Tournament in 2024 to honor active military and veterans.”
USTA of Kentucky also gave a $985 grant to HTC to continue its work of promoting tennis in the community, Humbert said.
In 2023, the Doc Hosbach Tennis Complex, home of the HTC, was honored as a USTA Facility of the Year, one of three small public facilities in the nation to be recognized for this award, Humbert said.
City applies for $500,000 grant that would improve infrastructure for those with disabilities
The city of Henderson has applied for a $500,000 grant to hire experts who would put together a report aimed at ways public infrastructure can be made accessible for those with handicaps.
The city’s public relations director, Holli Blandford, said if the federal grant is awarded, the partnered firm will take about 18 months to conduct research and create a report on how the city can improve its accessibility.
According to a memo from Jeannie Quattrochi included in Tuesday’s Henderson City Commission agenda packet, the focus of the project is “to ensure access for individuals with disabilities on City owned property. This project will identify barriers and create a plan to address non-compliance to improve accessibility including but not limited to sidewalks, curbs, public rights-of-way, parks, and city owned facilities.”
Additionally, the plan is also to focus on reducing disparities in accessibility for those with disabilities in historically disadvantaged communities, said the memo.
Break-in on Canoe Creek
Henderson police arrested a man on an active warrant after he was apprehended at a break-in in progress, said a Henderson Police Department release.
Police were called to a home in the 600 block of Canoe Creek Dr around 6 p.m. February 12 for a reported break-in in progress, said the release.
The caller told 911 a family member who did not live in the home was attempting to gain entry, the release.
Officers arrived and located Johnathin Pye.
While investigating the incident, officers learned Pye had an active warrant in Henderson County for first-degree sexual abuse—victim under 12 years old, said police.
Pye was taken into custody without incident and lodged in the Henderson County Detention Center on the listed warrant.
No charges were filed in connection to the original 911 call.
Man gets 35 years for shooting
Henderson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Herbie McKee announced that Shon Denton-Higgs was sentenced to 35 years in prison for a shooting and attempted shooting in June 2023.
Denton-Higgs’s charges included first-degree assault, attempted first-degree assault, first-degree wanton endangerment and fourth-degree assault, said McKee.
Because first-degree assault is a violent crime, Denton-Higgs won’t be eligible for parole until he has served 85% of his sentence, said McKee.
Beshear appoints Blanford and Anguish to HCC board of directors
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has appointed Hendersonians Holli Blanford and Danielle Anguish to serve on the Henderson Community College board of directors.
Blanford, the public relations director for the city of Henderson, replaces Eric Gardner, whose term has expired. Blanford will serve for a term expiring Feb. 5, 2031.
Anguish is the children’s services manager at the Henderson County Public Library. She replaces Jennifer Keach, who has resigned, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term expiring Dec. 6, 2025.