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N. Ky. libraries face lawsuit Class action lawsuits have been filed against the public library systems of both Kenton and Campbell counties, and the attorney filing the suits has promised to add Boone County’s libraries to the list. Cold Spring-based attorney Brandon Voelker filed a class action suit alleging the libraries’ boards have not followed Kentucky law when increasing property tax rates. News, A3
Your Community Recorder newspaper serving Bellevue, Cold Spring, Highland Heights, Newport, Southgate
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
Southgate hires police chief for new department By Amanda Joering Alley ajoering@nky.com
Spelling champ Madison Byrd knew all the words. Byrd won the seventh annual Campbell Ridge Elementary School spelling bee Thursday, Jan. 19, in the 20th round with the word “ponder.” The competition featured the top spellers from the Alexandria school’s nine different fourthand fifth-grade classrooms. Schools, A6
Need a laugh? Live comedy shows were once the exclusive domain of highticket clubs in the largest metropolitan areas, but across Northern Kentucky, they’re as close as the corner hangout. A dozen comedy shows are scheduled for family restaurants and neighborhood watering holes in Covington, Cold Spring, Crescent Springs, Latonia and Southgate during the next month, each with a different lineup of local comedians. Life, B1
Kimberly Grimm, manager at Safe Ship, a new business in the Newport Shopping Center, prepares a table for shipping. AMANDA JOERING ALLEY/THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
New businesses move into Newport shopping center By Amanda Joering Alley ajoering@nky.com
NEWPORT — New things are happening at the Newport Shopping Center Complex and Newport Plaza, giving customers even more options for shopping and services. While both locations have seen businesses leave in the past few months, new businesses are continuing to come in, said Jaimie Niemczura from American Diversified Developments Inc., the company that manages the center and plaza. Niemczura said while some of the businesses have struggled because of competition in the area, she feels that hasn’t been the big issue. “I think it has more to do with the economy,” Niemczura said. In the plaza, the former Sears Hardware location is the new home of Planet Fitness, which is scheduled to open in March. In the center, a lease has
been signed with Ace Hardware, who will be opening in the former A.J. Wright location in March as well, Niemczura said. While nothing else has been officially decided, Niemczura said interest has been shown by several businesses in some of the center’s other open locations, such as the site of the old Village Discount Outlet store, which closed late last year. “We have some things in the works, but nothing definite,” Niemczura said. A couple doors over from the old outlet store, the center’s newest business, Safe Ship, has opened its doors. Safe Ship is a one-stop-shop for packing, shipping and mailing services that covers everything from fine art and antiques to furniture, also offers copies, faxes and notary services. The new business is run by owner Kathy McNay and her daughter-in-law, manager Kimberly Grimm, both of Fort Thomas. McNay, who grew up in the
area, said she wanted to open her business in the center because it’s convenient and because she wants to be part of all the exciting things going on in the city. “There are just so many things happening here,” McNay said. “Newport isn’t like it used to be.” Their location within the center, in an end unit, is perfect for their needs, said Grimm. “We needed a location where delivery trucks could come in and out easily, and this spot works perfectly,” Grimm said. Niemczura said she is excitenewport, fort thomas, southgated about the opening of Safe Ship and thinks they’ll have success in their location. “There is a lot of traffic up there,” Niemczura said. “(Safe Ship) is a good addition to the center.” For more information about what Safe Ship offers, including house calls for shipping quotes, call 261-7447 or stop at the store at 1853 Monmouth St.
Campbell loses McKee in redistricting Contact us
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Vol. 15 No. 49 © 2012 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
By Chris Mayhew cmayhew@nky.com
Southern Campbell County will lose their longtime statehouse representative, 78th house district Tom McKee, DCynthiana, because of redistricting. The 68th district of Rep. Joe Fischer, R-Fort Thomas, will expand to cover most of the territory formerly served by McKee, a farmer and the head of the house agricultural committee. The house approved a statewide redistricting plan of areas
tion of Campbell County. The change also moves the boundary lines of the 69th district out of southwestern edge of Campbell County, according to the legislature website, Fischer McKee Keene served by representatives by a www.lrc.ky.gov. The 63-34 vote Jan. 12 in response to 68th district of Joe Fischer will the 2010 U.S. Census. take over most of those areas. A The changes redraw all the small area of the mid-section of house district boundary lines in the western edge of Campbell Campbell County. As part of the County near the the Tollgate changes, the 78th district Road area near Alexandria and boundaries will no longer encompass the southernmost secSee DISTRICTS, Page A2
SOUTHGATE — The City of Southgate has appointed the leader of their new police department. At a council meeting Wednesday, Jan. 18, city officials hired John Christmann, a retired deputy with the Boone County Sheriffs Department, as their new police chief starting Tuesday, Feb. 2. Christmann will lead the city's new police department, which is in the process of being formed because the city's merger with the Highland Heights Police Department into the Highland Heights Southgate Police Authority was dissolved late last year. Southgate Councilman Virgil Miller said the authority will be dissolved by Wednesday, Feb. 29, and that Southgate will have their department up and running by then. "I'm excited that we're coming back with our own police force," said Mayor Jim Hamberg. "This is a good thing for our residents." Miller said the city received 29 applications for chief, making it a hard decision. City clerk Jody Anderson said the city received close to 50 applications for officer positions in the new department. Interviews will be conducted this month and a decision on who to hire should be made by the beginning of February, Hamberg said. "We hope to have everyone on board by mid-February," Hamberg said. Hamberg said the city will host at least two open houses so residents can come meet the new department once it is formed. The new department will be housed in Southgate Community Center, the same place as the city's old department before the merger. During a special meeting Saturday, Jan. 21, city council voted to approve the budget for the police department for the rest of this fiscal year, which totals $373,025. City officials also met with representatives from Highland Heights to discuss the reallocation of property. Per the two cities' agreement to enter into the merger, both will leave the merger with the property and assets they brought in and will decide the division of any new assets and property acquired during the merger, which began in 2008. While the decision won’t be final until the cities receive their audit numbers, which will likely be in April, Southgate will be receiving eight fully equip cruisers, along with the weapons they brought into the merger, said Hamberg.
Attention Teachers & Principals
Come visit the TRI-STATE WARBIRD MUSEUM on your next FIELD TRIP! TRIP! View the largest collection of flyable WWII aircraft in the region and many exciting exhibits at the Tri-State Warbird Museum. Admission is free!!
We will reimburse your school for bus driver costs and bus rental • We offer free field trips for junior high and high school students! Please call us at 513-735-4500 to schedule your tour. CE-0000492793
4021 Borman Drive, Batavia, Ohio 45103 • www.tri-statewarbirdmuseum.org