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, A u g u s t 2 7 , 2 0 0 9
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Deters vs. Kenton cop in cage fight Volume 13 Issue 45 © 2009 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
School days
Private and public schools are back into full swing this week after a long and lazy summer. Whereas some might expect a little doom and gloom from students heading back into the classroom, most classrooms rocked out with smiles, bubbles and balloons. See photos from around Kenton County as students and staff get back into gear. SCHOOLS, A6
Father Lou
Read what Father Lou has to say in his regular weekly column relocated into the A section for this week. This week Father Lou discusses how crises arrive in our life and what we can do about them. A7
Explorers
Another batch of youths got an inside look into how the Covington Police Department works with its latest graduating classs of the department’s Explorer program. Students learn what it takes to be a police officer in the course through hands on exercises and shadowing. Read more about it. NEWS, A4
Welcome back
Secretary of State Trey Grayson is greeted by Turkey Foot students Katherine West, Walker Engelhard and Patrick Haney on August 18 as Kenton County Superintendent Tim Hanner looks on. Grayson, a Turkey Foot alum, was in town to tour the new school, which is currently under construction.
To place an ad, call 283-7290.
By Regan Coomer
If you go
rcoomer@nky.com
It will be a showdown of almost epic proportions – lawyer vs. cop. Independence attorney Eric “Bulldog” Deters, well-known for his hard-to-miss personality and alleged police misconduct cases, will engage in a mixed martial arts cage fight with Kenton County police Sergeant Larry “K-9” Shelton Aug. 29 at the Dearborn County Fairgrounds. The fight, promoted by Intimidation Cage Fighting of Cincinnati, will be three three-minute rounds on the same bill with four cops vs. four convicted felons. The fight is not endorsed by the police department. “It’s almost like the ultimate good guy, bad guy fight,” said Deters, who has dubbed his opponent the “Poodle.” “Who’s the bad guy? I’m the bad guy in this. I’m the big mouth lawyer he’s the good guy because he’s the police officer,” Deters chuckled. The self-described “laid-back” Shelton gets a laugh out of Deters’ nickname. “Of all the names. I look nothing like a poodle, I’m bald. But, hey, you know what? If it draws a crowd in there and gets us more money for charity, I don’t care what he calls me.” The ensuing battle, proceeds from which Deters plans to donate to disabled veterans and Shelton the Make-A-Wish foundation, came about when Deters, a talk show host for 700 WLW, joked on air about fighting a police officer
The Intimidation Cage Fighting of Cincinnati’s fight between attorney Eric Deters and Kenton police officer Larry Shelton will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Dearborn County Fairgrounds in Indiana. Tickets can be purchased from Shelton, who will donate his proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, by calling 513-720-2525 or by calling Eric Deters, who will donate his proceeds to disabled veterans, at 250-2527.
REGAN COOMER/STAFF
Independence attorney Eric Deters.
Kenton County police Sergeant Larry Shelton.
in a cage match. “To my surprise, no police officer accepted the challenge,” said the 5-foot-8-inch tall, 46-year-old Deters. That changed when Shelton, who is 34 years old and 5 feet 11 inches tall, was chosen by the Kenton FOP to face off with Deters. Both men have been training hard since the challenge was issued and both say they’re in the “best shape” of their lives. Deters has practiced martial arts since the age of 19 while Shelton has back-
ground in boxing and has experience sparring with professional fighters. Although ticket proceeds are set to go to local charities, Deters and Shelton are not above some trash talking. “He needs to remember that I’m older and wiser and used to high-risk situations and to not hyperventilate and pass out,” said Deters, who claims he will knock out Shelton in 30 seconds. “That won’t happen,” Shelton replied, shaking his head. “Out of the two of us, I’m the one used to
getting hit in the face.” Whoever wins, the two have agreed to be good sports about the outcome. “This is basically for charity,” Shelton said. “I told him I would have fought anybody for Make-AWish.” As for Deters, he knows it’s going to “be a tough fight, but I think there will be good sportsmanship. If he’s helpless, you’re not going to see me do anything to seriously injure him.” Besides his work as a police officer, Shelton is also a practicing lawyer, something that makes Deters smirk a little. “There wasn’t a real full-blooded cop to fight me,” he laughed. “I think people who either love me or hate me should come out and see the fight.” Shelton takes Deters’ jibes in stride. “They had to have somebody that if he sues me I can sue him back,” he laughed. “I just want to see a good showing.”
Readers’ Choice Awards announced By Jason Brubaker jbrubaker@nky.com
The people have spoken. In June, The Community Recorder presented readers with a ballot of 100 categories so they could choose their favorites ranging from American vehicles to produce to women’s clothing. And readers responded, filling out newspaper and online ballots with their choices. You can find the complete list of Readers’ Choice favorites in today’s special section. We’ve talked with some of our readers’ top choices about how they keep their customers coming back. • Jenny Engelhart, General Manager of Barleycorn’s Restau rant, 2642 Dixie Highway, Lakeside Park (Friendliest Restaurant) “What an honor,” said Engelhart. “We go out of our way to meet new people and develop new relationships.” Engelhart said it wasn’t unusual for regular customers to visit the restaurant once or twice a day. Great service, relaxed atmosphere, quality food and live music keep them coming back, Engelhart said. “We just go out and get to know our guests and make them feel like they’re a part of our fam-
Navigate your way to the right car for you.
JASON BRUBAKER/STAFF
Derrick Cregar works on a car at Don's Garage in Elsmere on August 19. Don's Garage was voted the best auto-repair specialist in Northern Kentucky. ily,” she said. For more information on Barleycorn’s Restaurant, visit barleycorns.com • John Goderwis, Manager of Don’s Garage, 39 Erlanger Road, Elsmere (Best Auto Repair Shop) Goderwis, one of four brothers to work at the garage, attributed their success to a family atmosphere that has grown up with the community. Started in 1961, the shop has become known for its great service and friendly staff. “I think because we’re a part of
the community, people feel comfortable coming in here,” he said. “We get to see a lot of family and friends in here, and it’s great for us to see people keep coming back to us because they had a good experience.” As for the vote of support from the public, Goderwis said they’re honored. “It’s pretty awesome to know that people voted for us,” he said. “Customer service is huge for us, so it feels great to be recognized.” • Daniel Nikolich, Manager of
Furniture Fair, 2932 Dixie Highway, Erlanger (Best Furni ture Store) Nikolich likes to say the store has been “selling to generations,” citing their long relationship with the community. The Erlanger location opened in 1963, and there are now six locations in Greater Cincinnati. “We see a lot of people who used to come in with their parents now coming back in with their own kids, and it’s neat to see that,” said Nikolich, adding that he remembers his parents buying furniture when he was younger in the store he now runs. “I think people are just really familiar with us because we’ve been here for so long and we really enjoy being a part of this community.” He said the store emphasizes customer service above all else. “Our best advertisement is people out there talking about us,” he said. “To be voted to best furniture store is really an honor for us, and that speaks to how we try to do business around here.”
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