SOUTH KENTON RECORDER
Your Community Recorder newspaper serving Independence and Taylor Mill
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014
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PIGSKIN PREVIEWS B1 A look ahead at the high school football season.
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
White’s Tower school welcomes new principal By Amy Scalf ascalf@communitypress.com
INDEPENDENCE — Excited before his first day at White’s Tower Elementary School, Tony Procaccino could not sit still. Unlike the nearly 500 students who carried new backpacks and lunchboxes on the morning of Aug. 13, Procaccino was headed in for his 35th consecutive first day of school. He was named as the school’s new principal in July, and has most recently spent four years as Latonia Elementary School’s principal. “I’ve never been out of school,” said the Kenton County native. “I walked in for kindergarten and have been in school ever since. For a while, I was teaching during the day and going to school for my master’s degree at night, so I was doing double duty, but I love it.” Procaccino is one of only two new principals throughout all18 Kenton County schools this year. After several years at Summit View Elementary, Sara Callahan recently became the principal at Ryland Heights Elementary. Before the bell rang, Procaccino darted in and out of the school’s office, making sure the rest of the Bearcat faculty and staff were in place as he greeted parents and high-fived students. “I love seeing their faces on the first day of school,” he said. Procaccino said he fell in love with the area right away. “It’s a really tight-knit community. I appreciate having that closeness with parents and students, and it really teaches children the meaning of community,” he said. “I came in and it feels like home. Really.” Parents of White’s Tower students said they welcomed the new principal with open arms. Kambie Thomas-Perkins, who has three children in the school, said Procaccino seemed
Margaret Lee Whaley, left, an incumbent Kenton Vale City Council member, gets information on completing the election filing form from deputy clerk Samantha Johnson in the Kenton County Clerk’s Office in Covington. THE ENQUIRER/PATRICK REDDY
NKY candidates line up for Nov. 4 ballot By Terry DeMio, Chris Mayhew and Melissa Stewart tdemio@enquirer.com, cmayhew@enquirer.com, mstewart@enquirer.com
New Principal Tony Procaccino high-fives students on their way in to the first day of school at White’s Tower Elementary in Independence on Aug. 13. AMY SCALF/THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
“kind but stern,” and referred to him as having an “old-school” character. “I have heard all positive things about his past work while showing results,” she said. “I’m excited to see what he does with the colossal talent at White’s Tower in the future.” Thomas-Perkins’ neighbor Gina Wilcoxson also has a daughter at the elementary school. “I think that he is going to be a great addition to our school,” she said. Procaccino admitted he does have some high standards he
COLLECTION TIME In the next few days, your Community Recorder carrier will be stopping by to collect $3.50 for delivery of this month’s South Kenton Recorder. Your carrier retains half this amount along with any tip
you give to reward good service. This month we’re featuring Sam Cunningham who attends Summit View Middle School. In his free time he plays baseball and soccer.
FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT
expects students to meet. “The biggest thing I’m bringing to White’s Tower is high expectations. I expect them to perform at top level,” he said. “There’s no excuse for that not to happen.” He said he has a lot to look forward to this year. “We have a 3-D printing presentation coming up. It directly ties into our career studies and career readiness pathways,” said Procaccino. “I can’t wait. I want to see it. It’s going to be exciting.”
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If you would like more information about the junior carrier program, call Melissa Lemming, ComCunningham munity Recorder district manager, at 442-3462.
RITA’S KITCHEN It’s time of year to make pesto, when basil is abundant. B4
Readers share photos from first day of school. A8
Several Northern Kentucky communities will have new mayors next year, and some mayors’ races could get contentious. Villa Hills Mayor Mike Martin filed to run for reelection a day before the filing deadline Tuesday. He will face former longtime Covington mayor Butch Callery and Ernie Brown, a local radio personality and former president of the Villa Hills Civic Club. The challengers have said they are running to restore dignity and transparency to city government, which has been plagued by controversy Martin’s first term. Fort Mitchell Mayor Chris Wiest did not file for re-election. Instead, current Councilman Jim Hummeldorf and former councilman Jude Hehman are competing for the city’s helm. Incumbent mayors of Cold Spring, Crescent Springs, Fort Wright, Fort Thomas, Independence and Union had already announced they are not running for re-election. Below is the list of all candidates in the November election as provided by the Kenton County clerk. *indicates an incumbent
KENTON COUNTY
County Attorney (elect one) Stacy Tapke–R County Clerk (elect one) Christopher Robinson–I *Gabrielle Summe–R County Commissioner District 1 (elect one) *Beth Sewell–R County Commissioner District 2 (elect one) *Jon Draud–R
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County Commissioner District 3 (elect one) Joseph Nienaber Jr.–R Constable District1 (elect one) Danny Cope–R Constable District 2 (elect one) Gregory O'Gorman–R Constable District 3 (elect one) *Michael Moffitt–R Coroner (elect one) David Suetholz–R Jailer (elect one) *Terry Carl–R Judge-executive (elect one) Kris Knochelmann–R Magistrate District 2 (elect one) *Stephen Hoffman–D Magistrate District 2 (elect one) *Mary Lou Blount–R Magistrate District 3 (elect one) *Katherine Shumate–R Property Valuation Administrator (elect one) Darlene Plummer–R *Mark Vogt–D Sheriff (elect one) Marc Chapman–D *Charles Korzenborn–R Surveyor (elect one) Gregory Barker–D *James Shumate–R
Kenton nonpartisan offices
Beechwood Independent School Board (elect five) *Jeanne Berger *Bradford Hood Norine Sullivan Anisa Willis Richard A. Zellen Bromley City Council (elect six) Rob Couch *CharlesFoulks Nancy Kienker Kaleb Miller *Gail Smith Bromley Mayor (elect one) Donald Jobe Greg Rechtin Covington City Commissioner (elect four) Warner Allen Christi Blair *Chuck Eilerman *Steve Frank Jordan Huizenga *Mildred Rains See BALLOT, Page A2 Vol. 4 No. 10 © 2014 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED