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The Kentucky Law Enforcement Explorer Academy, held in Bullitt County, featured about 50 Explorers from posts all over the state. It is modeled after the FBI Academy for law enforcement officers.
Villa Hills Explorers attend academy By Jason Brubaker jbrubaker@nky.com
A return
Beechwood High School’s Odyssey of the Mind teams returned from the competition’s world finals with a little more experience and confidence. Four teams went and each placed solidly in the upper half of the 50 teams attending from around the world. Read about their experience. SCHOOLS, A7
Joe Krull, Travis Hinkle and Broderick Schmeing aren’t the type of people to use their summer laying around the pool, watching
the hours slowly pass by. The three members of the Villa Hills Explorer Post recently returned from the Kentucky Law Enforcement Explorers Academy, a week-long training session held in Bullitt County. The academy,
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Villa Hills Explorers Joe Krull, Travis Hinkle and Broderick Schmeing attended the Kentucky Law Enforcement Explorer Academy.
modeled after the FBI Academy, allows the Explorers to participate in a variety of exercises and scenarios as they learn about the law enforcement field. “It’s definitely a great experience, and I’m planning on going again next year,” said Schmeing, 19. “I really feel like you learn things that make you a more wellrounded officer.” Krull, who was attending his third academy, said the format has been changed or tweaked each year to keep it interesting. The Explorers were treated to demonstrations from a bomb squad, a K9 unit and a SWAT team, as well as taking part in scenarios that included an active shooter, helping a downed officer in a crowd, and talking down a criminal without using force. “There’s a lot of information to take it, but it really does help you,” said Krull of the scenarios. “Once you get into a situation, they teach you to have tunnel vision and to just focus on what you’re supposed to do.” Schmeing said every morning
started with an hour of physical training, including running and calisthenics. Explorers who made mistakes throughout the rest of the week were often “rewarded” with extra pushups on the spot. He said the tough conditions even caused about five Explorers from other posts around the state to leave early. “It was a little intimidating at first, because you’re wondering if you’ll be able to get through it,” admitted Schmeing. “But after a couple days, it becomes a routine for you, and it’s not really that bad.” Villa Hills Officer Mel Wright said the three Explorers represented the post well at the academy, which had about 50 Explorers from around the state. “They did a really good job down there,” he said. “I think it’s a really great program for them, and I’m proud of how they handled everything and came through.” For more information about the Villa Hills Explorers, visit www.vhpdexplorers.net.
Park Hills gives tax increase the boot By Regan Coomer rcoomer@nky.com
Fourth of July
Check out our round up of patriotic celebrations happening in Kenton County and where the best places are to celebrate with community and fireworks. This year’s events are promising to be as big, if not bigger, than last year. LIFE, B1
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Park Hills City Council raked up resident approval when they cut the city’s leaf pick-up and four other items from the city’s 20092010 budget to avoid raising taxes. Mayor Michael Hellmann’s proposed budget included taking the 4 percent property tax increase allowed by the state, which would be $8 per $100,000 of assessed property, totaling about $16,000 in city revenue. Outcry from residents at the regular council meeting earlier this month on the tax increase were addressed at a special meeting Monday June 22 when city council passed the first reading of an amended budget that cut five items equal to the $16,000 taxes
would have raised. About 40 residents came the meeting, spending almost three hours going over line items in the budget and asking questions about city departments, property and practices. Besides leaf pick-up, which would have cost $12,000 this year, council also cut the city’s newsletter fund ($1,000), parttime public works overtime ($1,500), the city clerk’s cell phone ($600) and the fire department’s alpha numeric pagers ($1,000). “I think it really shows civic responsibility for this council to be one of the few cities to not be asking for more money from the citizens at this time,” said resident Stuart Morrison. “I think they should be proud of that.” However, some citizens, as
Budget cuts Park Hills City Council made up the $16,000 that would have been generated from a 4 percent property tax increase by cutting several items from the city’s 2009-2010 budget in a first reading Monday June 22. These cuts include annual leaf pick-up ($12,000), city newsletter fund ($1,000), part-time public works overtime ($1,500), the city clerk’s cell phone ($600) and the fire department’s alpha numeric pagers ($1,000). Council will hear the second reading of the budget June 29. well as Hellmann and council member Christopher Sudbrink, felt cutting leaf pick-up isn’t the best move.
Leaf pick-up makes “Park Hills unique,” said resident Denise Mortfort. “They removed something that makes us a unique community.” As for Hellmann, he doesn’t mind the “nickel and dime” cuts, but the leaf pick-up is a “needed service our citizens have gotten used to.” Sudbrink, who was against raising taxes and even created his own budget with department cuts, said he hopes to discuss other possible cuts from the budget besides leaf pick-up between now and a second reading scheduled for Monday June 29 at the city building. “I’m hoping we might take a look at other areas before we make a final decision and try to keep the leaf pick-up if possible,” he said.