COMEDY GAINS AUDIENCE IN NKY B1
Hebron comedian John Bernard says, "Everything is so negative in the world, comedy is something that makes people feel better for a little while and it doesn't cost a dime."
Junior newspaper carriers needed Hey kids! Become a Community Recorder carrier and earn your own spending money and still have time for other fun activities since delivery is just once a week on Thursday. It’s your own business where your neighbors rely on you to deliver information about their community. You’ll learn valuable business skills and gain experience in customer service and money management. You’ll also be able to earn bonuses, win prizes and participate in special carrier events. Call 781-4421. Find out more about the junior carrier program at NKY.com/carrier.
Union Recorder is now on Facebook Get a sneak peek at breaking news in Union and read what your neighbors have to say by “liking” The Union Recorder on Facebook. Go to facebook.com/TheUnionRecorder and hit the “like” button.
Sage advice from grandpa Ryle High School’s Blake Hamilton, recently named Cincinnati Enquirer boys golfer of the year Jan. 19, credits his success to advice from his grandfather, Lewis Fowler – a member of the Midwest Deaf Golfers Association Hall of Fame. Sports, A8
Food for your Super Bowl festivities Rita Heikenfeld shares recipes for her favorite game-day sandwiches. Food, B3
UNION
RECORDER THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012
50¢
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
Redistricting to up costs
New precincts likely under changes By Stephanie Salmons ssalmons@nky.com
Proposed legislative redistricting has some Boone County officials concerned. The plan, which calls for two additional representatives in Boone County, now awaits approval by Gov. Steve Beshear. The plan would extend the 47th District represented by State Rep. Rick Rand, a Democrat from Bedford, into southern Boone County,
which is currently represented by Rep. Sal Santoro of Florence. Santoro’s district gained the most population of any House district. Part of Fort Wright Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington’s 63rd House district would extend into Boone County in parts of Hebron, Burlington and around the airport. Rep. Adam Koenig of Erlanger, who already represents a small portion of the county, will now represent a large part of Florence under the new plan. Boone County Clerk Kenny Brown said the plan is more about political calculations than census calculations.
“They’re trying to divide up a stronghold Republican county,” he said.
Concerns about cost
The plan will cost local taxpayers money. “We’ve been working on the possibility of what the ramifications Brown would be if this plan, as passed by the House, gets implemented,” Brown said. With voting equipment and everything that goes along with it – like stand-up booths, signage, and the cost of poll workers – Brown said the See COSTS, Page A2
Santoro
Moore
Wuchner
Fire destroys carpet store Six departments respond to blaze
Multiple fire departments responded to a scene of a fire at Bill's Carpet Store on Longbranch Road. THANKS TO TERRY REYNOLDS
By Scott Wartman swartman@nky.com
UNION — Six fire departments battled a blaze for hours Saturday night at a carpet store in Union. The Union Fire Department was called to Bill’s Carpets Store, 2012 Longbranch Road, off of US 42, and called for other units to help after they found dangerous conditions at the standalone building. The business was closed at the time and no one was injured. The rolls of carpet and harwood flooring stacked inside the building are flammable and were shifting around, Union Fire Chief Michael Morgan said. “There was dark brown smoke conditions all the way through when we made entry,” Morgan said. “It was a very deep-seated fire.” Units from Union, Florence, Burlington, Walton, Hebron and Erlanger responded to the fire. Firefighters responded at about 4:30 p.m. and continued battling the blaze at 8 p.m., though by then, the fire had died down and was under control.
Hebron firefighter spokesman Mike Fronimos expected the firefighters would continue fighting the fire past midnight.
“When the units first got here, they had a lot of smoke showing” Fronimos said. “The fire was basically contained in
the building. Shortly thereafter, once we started to gain entry, the fire came through the roof. So it had a lot of headway before the units had been dispatched.” The cold also posed challenges to the more than 50 firefighters who responded. The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky provided buses for firefighters to stay warm, Fronimos said. “Anytime we’re in this type of weather there’s water that gets in the ground,“ Fronimos said. “It’s going to freeze. We’ve had several people slip and fall, but no injuries at this point.” Bill’s Carpets Store had been in the community for more than 30 years, he said. “This business has been here for years and years, a stable part of the community," Fronimos said. “So it is tragic to see. They’ve been here over 30 to 40 years.” Firefighters didn’t have an estimate on the damage and the cause remained under investigation.
Leaders OK contract amendment Consultant to study dispatch merger By Stephanie Salmons
Vol. 1 No. 11 © 2012 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Your Community Recorder newspaper serving Union, Richwood and Walton
ssalmons@nky.com
Boone County leaders Jan. 10 voted unanimously to amend an agreement concerning a consultant hired to research a potential dispatch merger. Last summer, officials ap-
proved a professional services agreement with Minneapolisbased Paul Linnee for consultative services regarding such a system. According to county administrator Jeff Earlywine, the amendments are “rather housekeeping in nature,” the first of which better defining what will be deliverable “in form of a written report on the scope of work he’s been retained to per-
form.” Linnee was retained by the fiscal courts of Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, who would share the costs. The second amendment caps the payment for services at $10,000 per county. According to Earlywine, the contract originally had a $25,000 cap for payments which was taken out. “Upon reflection, everybody
felt more comfortable having that in there, so we’re offering that as an amendment,” he said. To date, the amount spent totals a little less than $5,100, Earlywine said. Split three ways, the cost comes to some $1,694. “Work is progressing and these are just two housekeeping amendments that will really not change the scope of work,” he said.
Attention Teachers & Principals
Come visit the TRI-STATE WARBIRD MUSEUM on your next FIELD TRIP! TRIP! View the largest collection of flyable WWII aircraft in the region and many exciting exhibits at the Tri-State Warbird Museum. Admission is free!!
We will reimburse your school for bus driver costs and bus rental • We offer free field trips for junior high and high school students! Please call us at 513-735-4500 to schedule your tour. CE-0000492793
4021 Borman Drive, Batavia, Ohio 45103 • www.tri-statewarbirdmuseum.org