We’ve still got tickets for the Blues and Barbecue Festival this weekend! Win ‘em here. ['Ville Voice]

Ticketed Arrest: The former owner of Champions Sports Tours has been arrested and charged with stealing $478,000.  Ken Schonburg, after the C-J story was written, turned himself in and is out on bond. Word is a gambling problem is involved, but we’re investigating. [Courier]

Country Road: Mayor Abramson is off to West Virginia to tell Charleston business leaders how successful merger has been here.  His press release mentions the effectiveness of our lean government. [Mayor's Office]

Buzz About Branding: The city of Jeffersontown is considering spending $70,000 to create a branding strategy for the Bluegrass Industrial Park. But Mayor Clay Foreman’s plan is getting resistance from several directions. [Scuttlebutt]

JCPS Complaint: We’re with the Courier on this one. The local paper doesn’t think the JCPS board should be holding closed meetings, especially to talk about the evaluation of Sheldon Berman.  The AG’s office said the meetings should be open just two years ago. [Courier]

Funny Paper: We’re enjoying the last few days in the life of Gannett Blog. Today this gem: In announcing a new spokesflak, Gannett used nearly the exact same wording it had used six years earlier in a press release on the predecssor-flak, except for leaving out the word “success” in describing the company. [Gannett Blog]

Obviously: Gee, the Kentucky Labor Cabinet supported the police labor union position on charging officers for take-home police cars.  [WLKY]

Why We Enjoy Page One: Because Jake can bring up drinking Ensure and eating Cream of Wheat to illustrate what kind of party is planned by the Republican Party this weekend. [Page One]

If Al Franken Can Become a Senator: Then why can’t a Lexington TV reporter and comedian become a Kentucky Congressman. Lee Cruse of WLEX-TV is considering a run against Ben Chandler. [Kentucky.com]

Small World, Louisville Edition: In 1999 I wrote a story for Biz First about new Papa John’s president Blaine Hurst. I hadn’t seen him since, but ran into him today at WHAS Radio, where he was promoting his FireFresh Barbecue business. Hurst seems happier and is definitely thinner.