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COMMUNITY RECORDER
Your Community Recorder newspaper serving Covington, Independence, Latonia, Ryland Heights, Taylor Mill E-mail: kynews@communitypress.com T h u r s d a y, J u l y 1 6 , 2 0 0 9
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Sisters hope house becomes home By Regan Coomer rcoomer@nky.com
Volume 11 Issue 39 © 2009 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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The Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburg Monastery brought the Benedictine tradition of hospitality to life Saturday July 11 when they presented the keys to a brand-new “House of Blessing” to a local family. The sisters raised $103,000 to build the house to celebrate their beginnings in Covington 150 years ago on 12th Street. A blessing on the house, a song and many prayers dedicated the home last weekend. The sisters also presented the Beamon family with crocheted afghans and a hand-carved wooden cross. “We just think this is a very fitting ‘Thank you’ to the community who welcomed us,” said Sister Deborah Harmeling. The sisters, now located in Villa Hills, partnered with the Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK) to build the home. HONK served as the general contractor and construction manager of the project and chose a family from its program to live in home. Christopher and Michelle Beamon and their five children will live in the home located on Trevor Street. “I want to thank HONK and the sisters of Benedictine for the opportunity for us to have our first home,” Christopher Beamon
REGAN COOMER/STAFF
The Beamon family bowed their heads in prayer during a blessing of their future home by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburg Monastery Saturday, July 11. The dedication of the House of Blessing marked the sisters’ 150th year in Northern Kentucky. told the assembly of sisters and the community Saturday. “I want to give you back the same energy you gave us.” HONK builds and rehabilitates homes for low-income families to
promote home-ownership locally, said Office Manager Marcia Jennings. “I’m very proud to say that in the past 17 years we’ve only had one foreclosure,” Jennings said.
As for the sisters, they are also “really proud,” Harmeling said. “We feel like we are contributing to the future of that neighborhood and the future of that family,” she said.
Local firefighter arrested for attempted murder By Regan Coomer rcoomer@nky.com
A tradition
It is that time of year again, yes the Kenton County Fair takes off July 20-25 with a host of activities for residents to enjoy. Check out the demolition derby, agriculture displays, rides, and other activities. LIFE, B1
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A former Independence firefighter is being held in the Kenton County Jail on a $200,000 bond after being charged last week with attempting to kill his wife, police said. Richard Noah, 38, of Independence, is charged with attempted murder related to a domestic situation at his home at about 3:45 a.m. Monday July 6, said Independence Assistant Police Chief David Nichols. Noah, who had worked as a
firefighter/EMT for the Independence Fire District since 2003, appeared in district court Thursday July 9 where his bond was raised to $200,000 from $50,000, Nichols said. Nichols was unsure when Noah’s preliminary hearing would be, but estimates it should happen soon. In a release, the Independence Fire District said Noah told his shift captain July 3 he would be resigning to pursue another unspecified job. The district received his formal and immediate resignation July 9.“This is not the
mally have a history of domestic disturbances. “There’s none of that here,” he said, adding Noah’s wife couldn’t shed light on what caused the incident. The Independence Professional Firefighters Local 3945 also released a statement announcing their support of Noah, a member of the local. The local said while it does not “condone” the charges brought against Noah, it will allow the judicial system to work and “meet the needs of his family” in the meantime.
Kenton, Erlanger dispatch merger talks continue By Regan Coomer rcoomer@nky.com
Judge-executive Ralph Drees hopes to consolidate 911 dispatch services by the end of his term in 2010. Commissioner Dan Humpert, who has chosen not to run again in the 2010 election, proposed the “goal” for himself and Drees. “I’d like to see the groundwork laid out in a year and half. That would be my timeline,” Humpert
said. Kenton County and Erlanger have been talking about a 911 dispatch merger. Initial discussion has focused on Kenton County becoming a customer of Erlanger’s, with the ultimate goal being the creation of an “oversight board” made up of representatives from the county and member cities. At a meeting earlier this month, Erlanger proposed Kenton County become a member munici-
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Rich Noah we all know and worked with for the past six years,” the release stated. Police said Noah’s wife called 911 July 6 from their driveway and said Noah had tried to suffocate her using plastic wrap. During the altercation, Noah dropped the plastic wrap and used a pillow, his wife stated. Both Noahs had minor injuries and were checked into St. Elizabeth Medical Center, where they were released July 8. Noah was arrested upon his release. The Noah case is unusual, Nichols said, because couples nor-
pality by raising its monthly dispatch fee through telephone service to county residents from $2.76 to Erlanger’s $4.25 as well as the county paying an additional $300,000 for operating expenses. The operating fee would cause Kenton County to break even rather than save, which Drees said is his No. 1 priority. “Otherwise, what’s the reason for us to do it?” he asked. Currently, the county earns about $800,000 in fees, but has
to add general funds to run the 911 dispatch. The fee resulted from the number of employees in the proposal, Drees said, which he said is “overloaded,” but would most likely be taken care of through attrition. “We need to be more efficient, but in no way does it make any sense for us to pay $300,000 additional on top of $4.25 a month fee for all the telephone subscribers,” Drees said.