Boone community recorder 123115

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B OONE COMMUNITY RECORDER

Your Community Recorder newspaper serving Burlington and Hebron

2015

CONGRATS ALL-STARS 1B Recorder honors hard work, dedication

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS

The year in Boone County News

75¢

Your Community Recorder newspaper presents the top news stories of 2015 in Boone County. To compile this list, we relied on our staff’s knowledge of the issues: roads, business developments, schools, people and neighborhoods. Then we looked at the stats showing which articles you read the most on our website, Cincinnati.com. In 2016 the Recorder looks forward to introducing you to fascinating people and covering our county’s important challenges.

Driver charged in fatal Weaver Road wreck Amy Scalf ascalf@communitypress.com

FILE PHOTO

Florence’s Point Blank range and gun shop opened in March under the direction of Greg Turner, development manager.

FLORENCE – Nine months after a fatal crash that took the lives of a grandfather and twin toddlers on Weaver Road, the 22-year-old driver turned herself into the Florence Police Department for charges including three counts of manslaughter and two counts of assault. Jessica Hood of Erlanger was indicted in connection with the March 15 crash that killed Charles Napier, 52, and 13-month-old twins Samantha and Sean May. The children’s aunt Susan Elam and anoth-

er of Napier’s grandchildren Ethan May suffered minor injuries. Hood’s arraignment is set to take place Jan. 13. Investigators determined Hood was not paying attention when she left the roadway and fatally struck the family, according to Linda Tally Smith, Boone County Commonwealth’s Attorney. Hood faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted of all charges. The state, county and city are working together to get sidewalks along Weaver Road, a project that is expected to begin in the spring of 2017.

FILE PHOTO

The Weaver Road site where a grandfather and twin toddlers were killed in March is decorated with memorial gifts.

Business booms in Boone Co. in 2015 Fatal wreck changes students’ lives Amy Scalf

Amy Scalf ascalf@communitypress.com

ascalf@communitypress.com

FLORENCE – Throughout the year 2015, a variety of businesses moved into Boone County. Xhilaracing brought the excitement of go-karts indoors to 24 Spiral Drive. Owners Alex McCall and Brad Baell have more than two dozen 22-horsepower electric go-karts that go from 0 to 50 mph in five seconds. Point Blank gun store and indoor shooting range opened in March at 7551 Mall Road. Development manager Greg Turner said it was one of four locations and the first in Kentucky. The Florence CVS store moved approximately a half-mile south on U.S. 42 to the highway’s intersection with Gunpowder Creek Road. Burlington Coat Factory and First Watch opened in Florence Square across from Florence Mall. The Florence Heights development opened two of four new businesses including Costco and Planet Fitness.

UNION – A fatal car accident May 1 on Camp Ernst Road changed many Boone County lives. A car containing three Randall K. Cooper High School students crashed head on with a car driven by a 50-year-old Hebron man. The accident took place less than a mile from the school. No charges were filed in the accident, which was officially deemed the result of an over-correction by Paige Brickler, 18, of Burlington. The two other students were transported to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Travis Li-

versgowdy, 18, died May 7 from injuries sustained in the accident, and 19-year-old Andrew McMullen continues gaining strength since leaving the hospital in July. According to previous reports, Boone County plans to spend $524,640 on widening the half-mile of Longbranch Road from Camp Ernst to the high school. Nancy Wood, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 6 spokeswoman, said the state has been working on improvements to Pleasant Valley Road and the northern portion of Camp Ernst Road for the past four years. When funding becomes available, it will connect the work between those two projects along Ky. 237.

FILE PHOTO

A fatal car accident May 1 on Camp Ernst Road changed many Boone County lives.

Newlyweds rebuild home after fire Amy Scalf ascalf@communitypress.com

PROVIDED

Kelly Chapman and Rick Bowlin got married March 27 and lost their home in a fire on March 30.

NEW YEAR’S WISHES

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Readers share No. 1 hope for their community in Ch@troom. A8

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BURLINGTON - Newlyweds Rick and Kelly Bowlin lost their home in a fire the night after their wedding reception in late March, but they didn’t lose hope. “We feel so blessed to live in a community that has been so kind to us during a hard time in our lives,” Kelly Bowlin said. “We want to thank everyone who helped us out.” Bowlin said they rebuilt their home in Belleview Bottoms, and they are plan-

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ning a honeymoon for their one-year anniversary. The couple had planned a honeymoon cruise to the eastern Caribbean, but were unable to go because of the fire, which fire department personnel said started in the home’s fireplace. People from throughout Northern Kentucky helped the family with donations collected by employees of Boone County, where both Rick and Kelly Bowlin work.

Vol. 12 No. 10 © 2015 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Our New Year’s Sale offers an extra 7% of our already reduced prices of 20-50% off all in-stock items and special orders. Free Delivery with your purchase of $1000 or more within a 50 mile radius. Financing available to qualified buyers. See stores for details

Stores Open New Year’s Day Noon - 5pm

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