kenton county news briefs

Dewey’s Pizza officially opens inside Braxton’s Covington taproom

Braxton’s Covington taproom hours are Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Holmes High School teacher arrested at school for child porn charges

A teacher at Holmes High School in Covington was arrested on March 28 at the school and will face charges tied to child pornography, according to Wilmington, Ohio police.

Additional evidence that was discovered by investigators is being examined by a computer forensic analysis, police said.

Juillerat said Morren was employed at the high school until March 28, when he was arrested by police “at his place of employment.” operating with the investigation.

Alvin Garrison, superintendent of Covington Independent Schools, released a statement March 29.

Counselors will be on hand at the district for students and staff who may need them.

Group wants minority contractors included in Brent Spence project after fears they’re being sidelined

After months of anticipation, Dewey’s Pizza has opened inside of Braxton Brewery’s Covington taproom.

In October of last year, Braxton announced Dewey’s would be opening a space inside their taproom on Facebook.

“With Dewey’s Pizza as our new neighbors, we feel we’ll be able to continue bringing a one-of-a-kind taproom experience to locals who already know and love this iconic Cincinnati brand,” said Jake Rouse, Braxton co-founder and CEO, in a press release.

Police said Samuel Morren was arrested and will face two counts of pandering obscenities involving a minor. He will be extradited back to Wilmington as his case continues, police said.

“The initial cyber tip reporter was the company Reddit Inc., where child pornography was being reproduced and possessed,” wrote Detective Codey Juillerat with the Wilmington police in a press release. “Numerous search warrants were served to identify Mr. Morren as the suspect.”

According to Garrison, Morren has been employed in the district since 2021, teaching Spanish and serving as an assistant soccer and e-sports coach. Garrison said Morren resigned from his position that same morning.

“Please note that it is the district’s policy that any prospective employee must be subject to a criminal background check before their hiring,” wrote Garrison in the statement. “A background check was conducted on this individual and no criminal history was found.”

The district is taking the allegations against Morren seriously, Garrison said, and is co-

“We want the bridge to be built, we know the bridge needs to be built, but we must be inclusive.”

An Ohio organization wants to make sure minority contractors are included in the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.

The American Center for Economic Equality and The Black Contractors Group sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg over their concerns that minority contractors are allegedly being excluded.

“We’ve been excluded in the construction industry. We have been left out of the construction industry. These are our tax dollars. The contractors have to listen that we are not going to take it anymore,” said President of ACEE/The Black Contractors Group Norman Edwards.

In response to Edwards’ claims, Matt Bruning with the Ohio Department of Transportation sent this statement on behalf of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project team:

“This is a historic project, and we are committed to ensuring minority-owned businesses will participate in the opportunities provided by this $3.6 billion project. The project team established a Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee and has hosted several outreach events targeted directly at minority-owned companies, the latest of which drew more [than] 250 people. We want the people building this project to reflect the people who live by and will use this vital link for decades to come. We appreciate the passion Mr. Edwards has as a champion of minority-owned contractors and look forward to continuing to work with him and others in the minority-business community to meet our goal.”

No one has been awarded the contract for this project.

Edwards attended the latest meeting on March 7 hosted by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. He described it as a meet and greet event where smaller contractors could try to get on a team of larger contracting companies that would submit a bid on the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.

Edwards said he was told by representatives that the larger companies in attendance would be working together and submit one bid.

“I’ve never seen that before. You had no Blacks or minorities participating at that top level,” Edwards said. “When I talked to several contractors and business owners who attended the meeting, everybody left from there with the same feeling that they’d been cheated. You know when they talk to the different people at the booths and tables, you know, they come away with we’re getting nothing again.”

If this is true, Edwards doesn’t believe anyone else will submit a rival bid and there will be little to no room for minority contractors.

Cincinnati City Councilmember Meeka Owens read the letter submitted by Edwards. She said diversity and inclusion are key to the bridge’s success.

“I have seen the letter and it’s something we want to focus on of course. It’s important that with almost a $4 billion project that we understand these dollars are going to minority communities, women, people of color, Black, Brown, and so I am definitely looking forward to seeing what those goals are and really how those goals can increase based on the magnitude of the project,” Owens said.

Edwards noted he is ready to protest if he feels like minority contractors are not being represented fairly in this project.

“I would like to see 10% of the contracts be awarded and that’s not asking for too much and I’d like the workforce to be at least 2025 percent Black or minority on the project,” Edwards said.

Officials are asking the public for their feedback on the project.

Former head football coach named grand marshal of Fort Mitchell’s Independence Day parade

Former head football coach of Beechwood High school

Noel Rash has been named grand marshal of Fort Mitchell’s Independence Day parade, per a statement from the city.

Rash became an assistant coach at Beechwood High School in 2000 and was promoted to the head coach position six years later. He led the team to 200 wins and eight state titles during his tenure.

The parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. on July 4 at the DCCH Center for Children and Families campgrounds on Orphanage Street. The parade will proceed through town before concluding at the Beechwood Schools central office on Beechwood Road.

For more information, email City of Fort Mitchell Programs & Communications Coordinator Joe Christofield at jchristofield@ fortmitchell.com, or call him at (859) 3311212. You can also view event information at the city’s event page.