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Resolution marks 100 years By Jason Brubaker jbrubaker@nky.com
Smart boards away
Students at Fort Wright Elementary will soon be enjoying a little more cuttingedge educational technology in their school. Each grade level will soon receive SMART boards that allow for more interactivity in learning. The boards are a gift of the hard work of the school’s PTA and a grant. Read more about the change. SCHOOLS, A7
Colonels tough
The Covington Catholic Colonels played hard in regional hoops action. With a tough schedule the boys team played hard against Newport, who would eventually defeat Holmes High School in the regional championship. Read more about local hoops actions. SPORTS, A9
A resolution honoring the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Fort Mitchell has been read and approved by the Kentucky General Assembly, as well as the Kenton County Fiscal Court and the Fort Mitchell city council. Councilman Will Terwort prepared the resolution, which included a timeline of various historic events in the city’s history, such as the building of Fort Mitchel in 1861 during the Civil War by General Ormsby Mitchel, the founding of Beechwood School in 1858, the building of Fort Mitchell Baptist Church in 1924, and the merging of Crescent Park into Fort Mitchell in 1999. The resolution also made mention to the day that the city was officially incorporated on Feb. 14, 1910. “I think it’s important for our residents to understand and know about the rich history of our city,” said Terwort. Additionally, the resolution included information about some of the city’s upcoming events to celebrate the centennial, including a dinner at the Fort Mitchell Country Club in June, a “Taste of Fort Mitchell” to allow residents the chance sample food from local restaurants, and even a Fort Mitchell Night at the Cincinnati Observatory, which was also founded by General Mitchel, who worked as a professor at the University of Cincinnati. “We’ve still got work to do to get everything together for the celebration, but it’s definitely going to be a good time,” said council member Vicki Boerger, who is heading the centennial committee. Per the resolution, the council adjourned their March 2 meeting in “honor of the city of Fort Mitchell and in celebration of the city’s 100th anniversary.” For more information about the centennial events, visit www.fortmitchell.com, or contact the city at 331-1212.
Don’t be cruel
JASON BRUBAKER/STAFF
River Ridge Assistant Principal Kelly Conner shows off some moves while donning her Elvis costume on March 5. As a reward for the students hitting their Accelerated Reader goals, the principals all dressed up and performed for the kids.
Cold shelter in summer By Regan Coomer rcoomer@nky.com
With a go-ahead secured from the Kenton County Fiscal Court, a local cold shelter is ready to start a selective summer program for the homeless. The Emergency Cold Shelter of Northern Kentucky will run the program from May 1 to Sept. 30 with 15 individuals at any given time at its current location in Covington, said Director Rachael Winters, who called the program an effort to “decrease homelessness.” The program will help individuals utilize social services, find employment or get the education needed to secure a permanent home, Winters said. “We are giving individuals who
are really working toward getting out of their homeless situation a place to stay, which should be a springboard to obtaining permanent housing,” Winters explained. Winters hopes to help more than 15 people over the summer, by inducting a new individual whenever another “graduates.” “Without a transitional place to stay, many of our citizens stay homeless longer and utilize more social services, hospitals, jails and shelters,” she said. Once the fiscal court and the city of Covington said they were behind the project, a potential stumbling block was the local neighborhood associations, but both Licking Riverside and Eastside residents have been supportive, Winters said. “I believe the summer program
model will be something that neighborhoods can be proud to claim and to be a part of. That has been our experience during the winter months and we can expect the same for the summer,” Winters said. Judge-Executive Ralph Drees praised the shelter’s success and efficiency. “It’s a matter of trying to help people who need a little help,” he said. The cold shelter is located at 634 Scott Blvd. in Covington.According to the cold shelter’s blog, since its inception the nonprofit has provided shelter to 197 people and helped 20 guests find permanent housing. For more information, visit the shelter’s blog on the Web at nkycoldshelter.blogspot.com.
City to host study’s last public meeting By Regan Coomer rcoomer@nky.com
Boy’s best friend
Jacob Clark will make a new best friend this summer, a dog trained to assist him in day to day activities. Thanks to the hard work of his family and school mates Jacob will be receiving a dog from 4 Paws for Ability, a Dayton, Ohio non-proft. Read about Jacob and the community that helped him. LIFE, B1
To place an ad, call 283-7290.
Resident input will be welcome at the final public meeting for the Crescent Springs small area study March 17 at the city building. The 38-acre area covered by the study is bound by I-75, the railroad and the Crescent Springs/Fort Mitchell city border north of the Staples building. Buttermilk Crossing, Hazelwood Drive and Ritchie Avenue are also included in the study. At the upcoming meeting, Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission staff will give a presentation about the plans for land use and transportation in the area, said Edward Dietrich, planner in charge of the project. Residents can then study displays about the plans and ask questions of NKAPC staff.
It’s important for residents to note these plans could take as many as 20 to 30 years to see fruition, Dietrich said. “We do these studies thinking 20 years in the future. This one could go 30 or 40 years - these are very big changes and a lot of things have to happen to make these occur. It’s expected to take a while,” he explained. Transportation plans include the construction of a continuous loop road in the Hazelwood Drive area and a bridge across the railroad from Buttermilk Crossing to Clock Tower Way, Dietrich said. A third transportation change would be changing Grandview Drive to right in and right out only. “This will allow for much better access to the entire area,” he said. Current land-use in the study area is a “real jumble,” Dietrich said, with residential, office and retail “scattered around.”
More information
Crescent Springs will host the final public meeting and open house for its small area study from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday March 17 at the city building, 739 Buttermilk Pike. Dietrich said land use plans, like those for transportation, are based on relieving traffic in the study area with the highest trafficdrawing use in the front, so vehicles exit quickly, going back to the third land-use, which will generate the least traffic. Land-use recommendations would include making the land bordering Buttermilk Pike to be Commercial Retail with gas stations and fast food restaurants, the middle of the area Mixed Use with retail, office and multi-family and the back light Industrial. “It’s always going to be a busy
area and what we’re trying to do is to plan for the redevelopment along with maintaining the best traffic situation that we can,” he said. Crescent Springs Council Member and co-chair of the study’s task force, Scott Santangelo, said feedback from residents is critical to ensure the study isn’t neglecting resident or business owner concerns. “I encourage people to participate. Certainly, the public meetings are opportunities for people to come and ask questions and learn about the study,” Santangelo said. Like Dietrich, Santangelo said the study could take years to fall into place. “The concept plans the task force has developed are a vision for the future development of that area and that may take decades to realize,” he said.