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VOLUME 4, ISSUE 37— AUGUST 14, 2026

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101 Flock devices are watching Northern Kentucky roads. Are they in your neighborhood? By Nathan Granger

here are currently 101 Flock Safety devices approved for use in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, with more on the way.

Flock Safety is a company that makes automatic license plate readers and other surveillance technology. The devices have created tension in Northern Kentucky because some people are worried about how the information obtained is stored and to whom it’s available. With nearly 30 departments in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, it can be difficult to keep track of the departments that actually employ the devices. LINK nky made public records requests to each department to learn who has them, how many they use, how much they cost and the complete details of the contracts. Continues on page 3

A Flock ALPR in Bellevue. Photo by Ethan Bloomfield | LINK nky

Melbourne’s Forgotten Gods invites visitors to discover mead By Haley Parnell

ason Catanzaro taught himself how to make mead when he was 10.

Catanzaro is the owner of Forgot ten Gods Meadery, located in Melbourne. Mead is made similarly to beer or wine, but instead of fermenting grains or grapes, it’s made by fermenting honey, water and yeast. When Catanzaro was 10, he owned a Mr. Root Beer kit, which he used to brew his own root beer at home and then distribute it to friends and family. Eventually, though, the kit ran out of ingredients.

Forgotten Gods Meadery in Melbourne. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

Catanzaro said he begged his mom to call for more ingredients (you couldn’t hop on

Amazon for that kind of thing then), but it never happened. “I was really into all the fantasy genre type stuff, ” Catanzaro said. “I was reading the story of ‘Beowulf’ at the time, mainly because people said it would be too much for me as a 10 year old. I’m like, I can do it. I’ll figure it out.” While reading those stories, he was introduced to mead. Catanzaro said he thought to himself, if he couldn’t make more root beer with his kit, he would make mead, not understanding at the time that it was a type of alcohol. He went into his mom’s pantry, got all of her honey bears out, squeezed them into a big two-liter bottle, added some water and

What’s closed during construction at AJ Jolly Park? p5 Tutoring program brings together NKY English, Spanish speaking students p6 Independence strikes down zoning for 336-unit development p7

Continues on page 4

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The agencies in NKY that use the technology are shown in the table to the right.

PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling EXECUTIVE EDITOR Meghan Goth COMMUNITY EDITOR Christian LeDuc SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison LINK nky Kenton Reader is published weekly by LINK Media LLC, 31 Innovation Alley, Covington, KY 41011. Periodicals Postage Paid at Covington, KY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to LINK nky Kenton Reader, 31 Innovation Alley, Covington, KY 41011. ISSN 3064-7460 859-878-1669 | www.LINKnky.com

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Automated license plate recognition systems, or ALPRs, are mounted at fixed angles on poles and use a combination of computer software and cameras to read a vehicle’s license plate, make, model and color as it passes by. The software then converts that information into searchable data that law enforcement agencies — and sometimes private customers — can use to track vehicles. Flock Safety isn’t the only company that makes the devices, but it’s the only one active in NKY, according to public records. The Newport town hall revealed the central tension between police departments, who find the technology useful as an investigative tool, and members of the public, who have expressed concerns about mass surveillance, data security and breaches of constitutional protections against unwarranted search and seizure. The Kenton County Sheriff’s Office uses ALPRs but was not able to locate pricing information related to its contract. Kenton County Sheriff Jude Hehman did not respond to two direct requests for more information. Some departments, such as the Covington Police Department, do not have any ALPRs but still employ conventional security cameras to monitor government buildings and other public spaces. Several departments, such as the Taylor Mill Police Department, have expressed interest in getting the devices but have not yet secured a contract. The following departments do not have any contracts for ALPRs: • Alexandria Police Department • Campbell County Police Department • Campbell County Sheriff • Cold Spring Police Department • Covington Police Department • Erlanger Police Department • Fort Wright Police Department • Kenton County Police Department (NOTE: Kenton County Police Department has asked the fiscal court to begin bidding for contracts, but the court has not voted on it, as of this story’s publication) • Ludlow Police Department • Newport Police Department (NOTE: Newport had trialed Flock devices but recently decided not to seek a permanent contract)

Flock camera. Photo provided | Mother Flocker via Unsplash

Department or authority

Company

No. of devices

Cost

Bellevue PD

Flock Safety

$43,200

Boone County Sheriff

Flock Safety

$198,000

Dayton PD

Flock Safety

$12,800

Edgewood PD

Flock Safety

$42,000

Elsmere PD

Flock Safety

11 (includes moving cameras)

$75,000

Florence PD

Flock Safety

$69,100

Fort Mitchell PD

Flock Safety

$34,000

Fort Thomas PD

Flock Safety

4 (with four additional budgeted for the the future)

$29,000 (not including recent $12,000 budget allocation)

Highland Heights PD

Flock Safety

$11,500

Independence PD

Flock Safety

15 (with five more approved for future installment)

$128,900

Kenton County Sheriff

Flock Safety

unknown

Lakeside Park/Crestview Hills PD

Flock Safety

$19,550

Southgate PD

Flock Safety

$28,750

Villa Hills PD

Flock Safety

$33,250

Wilder PD

Flock Safety

$15,600

• Northern Kentucky University Police • Park Hills Police Department • Taylor Mill Police Department (NOTE: Taylor Mill has set aside money for ALPRs in the future but had not secured a contract, as of this story’s publication)

agreement, which is “perpetual” and “subject to automatic renewal,” unless mutually modified by all parties, on Dec. 18, 2025. Erlanger’s city administrator confirmed the city signed the agreement before it ceased using ALPRs.

LINK nky’s records requests have also turned up an agreement between the Kenton County Sheriff’s Office and the cities of Erlanger, Independence, Villa Hills, Dayton, Highland Heights, Southgate, Fort Mitchell, Lakeside Park and Edgewood for cost sharing of services provided by a subcontractor called Tyler Technologies — billed to Independence — which provides call interfacing services for Flock systems. The heads of those respective departments signed the

Tyler Technologies is the company that provides the technology used by dispatchers in the Kenton County Emergency Communications Center, which all fire and police departments in Kenton County use to communicate. Independence was the first department to contract with Tyler Technologies and initially paid to integrate its Flock Safety hit list (i.e., the records of vehicles flagged on an ALPR reading) into the dispatch network.

NOTICE Please take notice that, no sooner than August 14, 2026, Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc. will apply to the Kentucky Public Service Commission for approval to revise its Demand Side Management (DSM) rate, KYPSC No. 2, Sheet No. 78 for electric service for residential and commercial customers, proposed to become effective on and after September 14, 2026. Duke Energy Kentucky’s current monthly DSM rate for residential electric customers is $0.005514 per kilowatt-hour and for non-residential customers is $0.001154 per kilowatthour for distribution service and $0.000053 per kilowatt-hour for transmission service. Duke Energy Kentucky seeks approval to revise these rates as follows: Duke Energy Kentucky’s monthly DSM rate for residential electric customers would increase to $0.005612 per kilowatt-hour and for nonresidential customers would increase to $0.001195 per kilowatt-hour for distribution service and would remain at $0.000053 per kilowatt-hour for transmission service. The rate contained in this notice is the rate proposed by Duke Energy Kentucky. However, the Public Service Commission may order a rate to be charged that differs from this proposed rate. Such action may result in a rate for consumers other than the rate in this notice. The foregoing rates reflect a proposed increase in electric revenues of approximately $0.24 million or 0.05% over current total electric revenues. A typical residential electric customer using 1000 kWh in a month will see an increase of $0.09 or 0.1%. A typical non-residential electric customer using 40 kilowatts and 14,000 kWh will see an increase of $0.56 or 0.0%. Non-residential customers served at transmission voltage will see no change. Any corporation, association, body politic or person may by motion within thirty (30) days after publication or mailing of notice of the proposed rate changes, submit a written request to intervene to the Public Service Commission, 211 Sower Boulevard, P.O. Box 615, Frankfort, Kentucky 40602, and shall set forth the grounds for the request including the status and interest of the party. The intervention may be granted beyond the thirty (30) day period for good cause shown. If the Commission does not receive a written request for intervention within thirty (30) days of the initial publication of the notice, the Commission may take final action on the tariff filing. Written comments regarding the proposed rate may be submitted to the Public Service Commission by mail or through the Public Service Commission’s website. A copy of this application filed with the Public Service Commission is available for public inspection at Duke Energy Kentucky’s office at 1262 Cox Road, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018 and on its website at http://www.duke-energy.com. This filing and any other related documents can be found on the Public Service Commission’s website at http://psc.ky.gov and are available for inspection at the Commission’s offices at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

AUGUST 14, 2026 3

Continued from page 1

some yeast, and followed the same process for the root beer kit. Just like that, Catanzaro had his first batch of mead. “The problem was I’d never had alcohol before,” he said. “I wouldn’t know what it was supposed to taste like. If it was good or not. So I waited for my dad to get home. I’m like, ‘Dad drinks beer. Dad’s had wine before. He knows what it should taste like.’” His dad gave it a try, not understanding what mead even was, and said it tasted like honey beer. Catanzaro said he knew it had worked after that. “In the back of my head, I’m thinking, ‘Oh my God, am I in trouble now? What did I just do?’” he said. “But he just took the cup, walked into the other room, and drank it with his dinner. Never heard another word from him, so I kept making it.” Forgotten Gods opened its tasting room in May 2025. Catanzaro makes all of the meads himself. The branding of Forgotten Gods stems from his love of mythologies and old stories from his childhood. “I’ve always liked things that were really, really old in school,” he said. “I loved learning about Greek mythology and all the different gods and goddesses. It was all just so fascinating to me, and just learning how people used to think thousands of years ago.” Catanzaro comes up with a flavor for every god he can think of. The meadery has 30 meads on tap. If someone is new to mead and walks through the door, Catanzaro said he usually recommends their “Blood Oath,” a cherry and spice mead that he said tastes like cherry pie. Or he might recommend their flagship mead, which is “Odin,” a clover mead aged on French and American oak. Catanzaro grew up in Western Hills and now lives in Florence. He chose Melbourne as the location for his meadery after hearing about the opportunity by chance. Catanzaro said at the time he concluded that if you want to start a winery, brewery or meadery in the area, you need to have family land, or at least a million bucks. He didn’t have either. Catanzaro said he was sitting on the patio at Fabled Brew Works in Erlanger having a flight of mead with his brother, and they were talking about how difficult it was to open a meadery. “You go to a bank, and you ask them to invest $1 million into a meadery, and most of them are like, ‘What is mead? Are you making hamburgers and steaks?’” he said. Catanzaro said he left their table, and when he came back, another couple was sitting there speaking with his brother. They had overheard the conversation about mead and honey and told him to go to Camp 4 AUGUST 14, 2026

Forgotten Gods Meadery in Melbourne. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

Springs Winery and check out its honeysuckle wine — and by the way, it was closing. He started emailing the owners asking if they would consider renting the space to him. Catanzaro said they were usually short in their responses, telling him no “thankyou.” He tried calling them, but could never reach them. He gave it one last shot and decided to show up in person during the closing weekend. Catanzaro and his wife stood at the bar, tried all the wines they offered and bought a case. “So the bartender’s in a good mood, and we just had a bunch of wine,” he said. “We’re getting ready to leave, and I say, ‘Hey, you know that guy that keeps calling and emailing you about helping out with the winery or taking it over? Yeah, that’s me.’” The bartender was the owner’s son, and Catanzaro secured a meeting with them

and won them over to rent the location. Forgotten Gods Meadery originally started as Allfather’s Meadery, but Catanzaro ran into trademark issues with the name. He said there is another meadery in Texas that had a trademark on one of its mead flavors called “Allfather.” Catanzaro said the name change almost broke the business because he had it branded on everything. Catanzaro said he and his wife Lori Catanzaro have been through a lot with the endeavor. He joked that he has fired her at least a dozen times so far, but she keeps coming back. Lori Catanzaro said the most rewarding part about the business has been seeing people discover a passion for mead and become part of their community. She also said she was especially proud of her husband for making his dream a reality. “We spent so many years pouring our time,

energy and love into raising our kids,” Lori Catanzaro said. “Now that they’re independent, he’s had the opportunity to refocus on his creative side and build something that’s truly his own. My favorite part is seeing the joy it brings him and the meaningful connections he’s made with people who share the same passion for mead.” Her favorite mead that Catanzaro makes is “Hel,” the meadery’s Blackberry Merlot Mead. Lori Catanzaro said she and her husband want Forgotten Gods to be a place where people can relax, connect and share an experience that they’ll want to come back to. Those wanting to try Forgotten Gods mead can do so at the meadery’s tasting room located at 6685 4 Mile Road in Melbourne. Or give them a try at River Valley Viking Festival, which will be at the Kenton County Fairgrounds, 2836 Harris Pike in Independence, the weekend of August 21 to 23.

Headed to AJ Jolly Park? Here’s what’s closed during construction By Haley Parnell

ters, playgrounds, sports fields, tennis and pickleball courts and the open holes of the disc golf course will stay available, though some areas near active work zones may be restricted for safety. Signature events will continue with scheduling adjustments as needed, including Jolly Thursdays, Music Nights, the Sun Valley Bluegrass Festival, Festival on the Lake and Spooktacular.

ork is now underway on the safety project at AJ Jolly Park.

As of July 31, portions of the park are closed to public access as crews begin lake dredging operations and spillway reconstruction. Most of AJ Jolly Park will remain open throughout the work. Areas now closed in the park: • Lake access road: Closed beyond the turnoff to the pavilion and maintenance garage. This closure applies to all traffic, including vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians and joggers. • Equestrian area and horse trails: Closed until further notice. • Disc golf course: Holes 7 and 8 will be closed. The remaining holes will stay open. • Dam and spillway: Access is closed on both sides. New safety signs and fencing are being installed in AJ Jolly Park and the dam area to restrict access to contracted construction crews. Visitors are asked to observe all posted signage, plan their visits accordingly and use caution around work zones. Camping and park admission remain closed. Lake access for fishing, kayaking and other recreation is suspended for the duration of construction. Park admission is free.

AJ Jolly Lake project closures started on July 31, 2026. Graphic provided | Campbell County

AJ Jolly Lake is a 200-acre fishing and recreational lake within the 1,000-acre AJ Jolly Park, the largest county park in Kentucky. The lake’s dam was constructed in 1960, and in 1983, a spillway (a structure that allows excess water to pass over or around a dam) and a bridge were built. Since then, sediment and other natural factors have gone unmaintained, lowering water levels in some places to inches. Crews will repair concrete and foundations, improve the system that controls lake levels and fix drainage to preserve the dam’s strength for decades to come. The dam is safe today, but the county said that proactive repairs are necessary to keep it that way for the future. Lowering the AJ Jolly Lake water level was necessary for safe dam work and also enabled the county to complete other significant improvements simultaneously. As part of that work, the Campbell County Fiscal

Court accepted a bid from Prus Construction for the AJ Jolly Spillway Reconstruction project for $3,518,256.50 at its meeting on May 6. Elberfeld said at the May meeting that the project has been a long time in the making, something he has worked on for about 10 years. “The spillway is not at any imminent risk of failure,” he said. “We don’t want anyone to get that impression, but it is inspected annually by the division of water, and over time, there’s been some voids and deficiencies in the concrete that make it prudent to replace that.” Crews will dredge the lake to remove builtup sediment and replace the culvert near Flatwoods Road Cove with a new bridge. Most of AJ Jolly Park will remain open during construction.

The county said it will follow environmental guidelines throughout the project to protect wildlife and natural habitats. Removing sediment and deepening the lake will improve water quality, reduce harmful warming in shallow areas and create better fish habitat. “This project builds on steady upgrades since 2021, when outdoor spaces became even more important for families,” said Campbell County in a news release. The county has added amenities to the park in recent years, including new campsites, yurts and shelters, along with bathrooms and shower houses. Recreation was expanded with upgraded playgrounds and several new kayak amenities. Trails and lake access were improved, including a longer, safer boat ramp. A new RV waste disposal station was installed to support campers. Through a partnership with altafiber, free public Wi-Fi now covers AJ Jolly Park, the golf course and Pendery Park. The project is funded through county, state and grant resources, with no new resident fees being added.

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FIESTA tutoring program brings together English- and Spanish- speaking students By Lia Salvatierra This story was written by Lia Salvatierra, our new education reporter. Do you have an NKY education story? Email lsalvatierra@ linknky.com

grinning soon-to-be second grader fished through a lasagna tray, grabbing squares of cardboard etched with words.

It was a game he was playing with another student who was learning English and two high school Spanish students to practice reading and sounding out words. They were at a free, weekly tutoring program at FIESTA, a nonprofit founded to support Northern Kentucky’s growing Hispanic population. The classroom was filled with rising first and second grade English-learning students and rising sophomore and junior Spanish students from Notre Dame Academy. Theresa Cruz, FIESTA’s founder and chief executive officer, launched the program after hearing from parents concerned about their student’s ability to pass Kentucky’s new end-of-year reading tests. Passed in 2025, House Bill 240 created new requirements for holding back kindergarteners and first graders if they don’t pass those tests. Cruz said the law hit English-learning students and their families especially hard. She called up Notre Dame Academy Spanish teacher Sister Maria Francine Stacy, a regular FIESTA volunteer who’d mentioned her students were interested in more opportunities to work with Spanish-speaking communities. Hearing about the situation from Cruz, “I said ‘OK girls, we’re going out there,’” Stacy said.

Notre Dame Academy junior Taylor Murphy reads with an English learning student during weekly tutoring at FIESTA, a nonprofit providing resources to Northern Kentucky’s Hispanic community. Photo by Lia Salvatierra | LINK nky

With the help of another Notre Dame Academy teacher, they got to work arranging a reading tutoring program that started before the end-of-year testing and has run through the summer. One of the first parents to register her English learning students has rising second and third graders at Kenton County Schools. She applauded her sons’ English as a second language teachers, but said her youngest still needed more help getting on the same level as his peers. “I’m really grateful because, in reality, extra classes are really expensive,” she told LINK nky in Spanish.

bigger than practicing phonics and pronunciation, or preparing for tests, Cruz said. “It’s also the benefit of having people come together that are completely different, and having them work toward the same goal,” Cruz said. Frances Maier, a junior at Notre Dame in the tutoring program, told LINK nky she enjoys using her language skills to teach others. She also tutored adults in English at the Kenton County Library’s Covington Branch.

She said she’s already seen her sons improve.

“I think it’s important because a lot of these families are struggling, and I’d like to help them in any way possible, to make them feel welcome and to foster more community,” she said.

But the program has become something

Stacy said the program brings immense

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value to both sides. “Hardly ever do our students ever see it as one way,” Stacy said. “It opens them up more linguistically, and it opens them up to the human experience,” she said. Cruz said though the program was created for kindergarten to third grade students with Notre Dame Academy students, it’s open to all interested students and volunteers. Lia Salvatierra is a journalist with Report for America, a service program that helps boost coverage of underreported topics and areas throughout the United States. To help LINK nky continue to provide this kind of reporting, you can make a tax-deductible donation.

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Independence strikes down zoning for 336-unit development By Nathan Granger

ndependence is not getting a 336-unit mixed-use development.

The Independence City Council voted to strike down zoning requests for the project in a 4-2 vote the night of Aug. 3. Greg Waite and Tom Brinker were the only council members to vote against the denial. “We’re disappointed…,” said Kate Brandy, vice president of leasing and site acquisition at Brandicorp, the Bellevue-based company behind the development. “But we still love Independence and think that it’s a great community, and so we respect what their decisions are, and we hope to listen more.” Brandicorp is also among the companies developing the new Ormsby retirement community in Fort Mitchell. The area in question was a roughly 40acre tract of land, located on the east side of State Route 17, south of McCullum Pike and north of Centennial Boulevard. The Independence Publix is just to the south. The land itself houses an old family farm and is mostly open space, except for a single building and a pond. It’s currently zoned for residential rural estates. Brandicorp had submitted the zoning requests on behalf of the land’s owners, Mark Smock, Angela Smock and John P. Hanrahan. The plan was to divide the land into two

new parcels: one spanning about 17 acres, designated as a community commercial zone, and another spanning about 23 acres, designated as a planned unit development, or PUD, zone. The development plan went before the Kenton County Planning Commission on June 8. Although some commissioners showed trepidation about the plan, the commission eventually recommended in favor of the zoning changes. The city council performed a first reading for the zoning changes on July 6. The apartments would have been spread throughout 14 three-story buildings. The plan called for 84 one-bedroom units, 240 two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units. Rents were expected to range between $1,400 and $1,800 per month, depending on the unit’s size, and the developers touted the apartments as serving an underserved market in the city. The concept plan had room for 669 parking spaces within the PUD zone. Finally, the proposal called for a large open space with a public park in the southwest corner of the development. The proposal listed overlooks, grilling and fire pit areas, outdoor kitchens and seating areas, as well as numerous walking paths as amenities of the park. Two residents spoke out against the development before the planning commission, but no one spoke, either in favor or against,

A map showing the land to be developed. Map provided | Kenton County Planning and Development Services

before the city council in July. The Aug. 3 hearing, on the other hand, was packed, and people lined up along the council chamber’s walls to add their names to the speaker list.

they’ll look at it from a countywide perspective, and it meets countywide need for apartments. Well, it might not be what’s good for Independence. I’m really torn on this.”

Council Members Chris Vogelpohl and Carol Franzen had asked for the public hearing, and seven residents expressed concern, if not outright opposition (not everyone who signed up to speak ended up taking the dais). Concerns included the development’s effect on traffic, infrastructure, school population and emergency access. Several residents and council members worried the development would erode Independence’s small-town feel.

Brinker inquired with the developers if there was possibly a way to reduce the density of the development and possibly reach a compromise. This led to a brief discussion, but it had little effect on the final result.

“It is truly slipping away with every zone change,” said Council Member Greg Steffen. He would eventually be the council member who motioned to deny the zoning changes.

After over two hours of presentations and discussions, Steffen made a motion to deny the ordinance that would have allowed the zoning change (this was a little unusual as motions are usually to approve, for which legislators then vote accordingly). The council finally cast its split vote denying the zoning change.

Residents also questioned the development’s purported improvement of the housing market, questioning if apartments would have served the city’s demographics. “There’s a lot of baby boomers out here right now, and they would want to stay where their children are, so that they can look after them,” said Jane Kramer. “So my opinion is we need a senior living place for that, and that would be a prime place to do that.”

People wait to sign in to speak at the public hearing in Independence on Aug. 3, 2026. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

“We get hamstrung sometimes with the ability to make these decisions because of (recommendations) when it gets to the county first,” said Vogelpohl, “because

Marketing renderings of the apartments. Renderings provided | Kenton County Planning and Development Services

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kenton county briefs Teachers can stock up on free classroom supplies at Kenton County Public Library

U.S. News & World Report rated St. Elizabeth Edgewood as ‘High Performing’ in 21 out of 24 evaluated categories. Some of the categories include advanced cardiac procedures, joint replacement and lung cancer surgery, among others.

Calling all teachers! Getting your classroom ready for the new school year doesn’t have to break the bank. Join the Kenton County Public Library’s free teacher supply store on Sunday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Covington Branch, 502 Scott St. Browse donated and some gently used classroom supplies and take home what you need to help your students succeed this school year. Attendees must provide a valid school/facility ID or a homeschool letter of intent.

St. Elizabeth Edgewood ranked No. 1 hospital in Kentucky, Greater Cincinnati U.S. News & World Report ranked St. Elizabeth Edgewood as the top hospital in Greater Cincinnati and across Kentucky in its 2026–2027 Best Hospitals list.

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St. Elizabeth Edgewood, located at 1 Medical Village Drive, is among six hospitals within St. Elizabeth Healthcare, the largest healthcare system in Northern Kentucky. It’s the hospital’s second consecutive year being named Kentucky’s best and the first time it has been recognized as the best in

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St. Elizabeth Edgewood. Photo provided | St. Elizabeth

Kentuckians can weigh in on state’s four-year transit improvement plan

the region. “To be recognized as the No. 1 hospital system in Kentucky for a second consecutive year, and now as No. 1 in Greater Cincinnati, reflects the extraordinary dedication of our team and the trust our patients place in us,” St. Elizabeth CEO Garren Colvin said in a news release. “It is a powerful reminder that nationally recognized care is available close to home. This achievement belongs to every provider, associate and volunteer whose skill, compassion and relentless commitment make exceptional care possible each and every day.” U.S. News & World Report rankings evaluate measures such as risk-adjusted patient survival rates, preventable complications, patient safety, nurse staffing and quality, patient experience and the hospital’s ability to care for medically complex patients. Specialty rankings, such as cancer, cardiology, orthopedics and neurology care, are also considered.

A rendering of the Brent Spence Companion Bridge. Rendering provided | Brent Spence Corridor Project

The Kentucky Department of Transportation, or KYTC, is offering the public a chance to provide feedback on some of the state’s largest infrastructure projects. Now through Aug. 30, KYTC will open a monthlong review period for its Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, a four-year listing of scheduled transportation projects funded by federal transportation funds. Individuals can submit comments either by email or phone.

Comments should be directed to State Highway Engineer James Ballinger at KYTC’s Department of Highways, located at 200 Mero St., Sixth Floor, Frankfort, KY 40622. Alternatively, comments can be emailed to selena.curry@ky.gov or by phone at 502-564-3730. The program includes projects involving highways, bridges, public transit and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Megaprojects such as the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project are included within the list. “The draft 2026 STIP includes federally funded projects of all sizes across many modes of transportation, all with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for Kentuckians and supporting the economy through safe and efficient connections to what matters most,” KYTC Secretary Rebecca Goodman said in a news release. “The plan offers the public a look at where we expect federal investments to be made in Kentucky over the next four years.” The STIP links to Kentucky’s nine Metropolitan Planning Organizations, or MPOs, each of which identifies federal projects in its transportation improvement plan. MPOs represent the following urbanized areas: Bowling Green, Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky, Clarksville-Oak Grove, Evansville-Henderson, Huntington-Ashland-Ironton, Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro and Radcliff-Elizabethtown.

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kenton county briefs Covington eyes early exit from $1.14 million bond debt

for their meeting next week, meaning it will likely pass. Once complete, said Interim Finance Director Jerome Heist, it “will take about 30 (to) 45 days to inform the bondholders.” The commissioners did not ask Heist any follow-up questions or discuss the repayment at the Aug. 4 meeting.

Covington City Hall. File photo | LINK nky archives

Covington is considering paying off $1.14 million of its municipal debt early. On Aug. 4, the board put the repayment on the consent agenda for the following week. That amount is the remainder of a bonding package originally worth $9.185 million, not including interest. Paying back the loan early will prevent additional interest accrual on the bonds’ remaining balance. An affirming vote will enable the city to use a combination of remaining money in the city’s dedicated bond payment fund and money from the city’s general fund to pay back the package’s remaining principal and interest without incurring extra fees for early repayment. On Aug. 4, the board put the repayment on the consent agenda

The bonds to be paid off are general obligation refunding bonds. These bonds are a form of municipal debt cities take out to refinance earlier debt packages. Essentially, it’s new debt to pay back old debt. A city may do this to improve its cash flow, freeing up more money for operations, or to get a better interest rate. City documents indicate that Covington was originally set to pay off the 2016 bonds at predetermined payment intervals between 2027 and 2031. A spokesperson from the city informed LINK nky that the bonds were taken out to cover three earlier debt packages, taken out in 2002, 2009 and 2010, respectively. The first was a package the city took out in 2002 to finance the construction of the Bill Cappel Youth Sports Complex and Eva G. Farris Complex, two youth sports facilities in the city. That debt package was issued by the Kentucky League of Cities, which issues bonds to help cities bankroll capital projects. The second was a 2009 lease-to-purchase loan for the building at 501 Main St., which

now contains a restaurant. Branch Banking and Trust Company, which merged with Sun Trust Bank in 2019 to form what is now Truist Bank, issued that debt. The third package came in 2010 in the form of recovery zone bonds for improvements at the Rivercenter garage and plaza. Recovery zone bonds were a form of debt issued by the federal government during the Obama administration to help fund economic development. Those earlier bonding packages had either variable interest rates or were taxable (or both), according to a city spokesperson. The general obligation refunding bond package in 2016 consolidated the package into a single payment schedule with a fixed interest rate. Roughly $14.8 million has been set aside in the city’s debt obligation fund for debt service for this fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

A Newport on the Levee favorite is heading to the Ohio suburbs One of Northern Kentucky’s favorite bars is branching out across the river to the suburbs. Beeline, the popular cocktail joint at Newport on the Levee, is opening a new location at The District at Deerfield. It will be the fourth Beeline, joining locations in Columbus and Naples, Florida. The brand is

The Smokestack cocktail at Beeline. Photo provided | Four Entertainment Group

owned by Cincinnati’s largest bar operator, Four Entertainment Group, or 4EG. The newest Beeline, located at 5200 District Park Drive, will feature both indoor and outdoor seating alongside the upscale cocktails the bar is known for. “We’re excited to introduce Beeline to the community of Deerfield Township,” said 4EG Managing Partner Bob Deck. “The energy and growth happening at The District made Deerfield an easy choice. We look forward to contributing to that momentum and continuing to do what we do best: creating places where people genuinely enjoy spending time and turning neighbors into regulars.” Beeline’s Deerfield location plans to open later this month. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Saturday from 2 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., and Sunday from 2 p.m. to midnight, with happy hour deals every Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.

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AUGUST 14, 2026

50 greatest NKY prep sports teams in 50 days: Day 32-40

e gave you the 50 greatest sports icons from Northern Kentucky last summer. Since we had so much fun with that, we’re bringing you another list of the 50 greatest things this summer: The 50 greatest prep sports teams from NKY. Over the course of 50 days, we’ll release one of the area’s 50 greatest prep sports teams. It began June 22 and runs into August. This is not a ranking from No. 1 to 50, it’s just a collection of the 50 best sports teams ever assembled. We’ll preface this by saying you may or may not agree with all 50 and that’s fine. Sports editor Evan Dennison assembled a panel of dedicated NKY sports fans to weigh in and give their takes on who should be on the list. We trust those people because of their history and knowledge of the game in NKY. We compiled numerous lists and identified

the most certain candidates for inclusion.

Day 32: 1981 Simon Kenton boys basketball

Some of the traits we sought in these teams were state championships (almost certainly a requirement), dominance and standout players and coaches. We may have cheated a little by lumping some dominant teams together that achieved numerous consecutive state titles, but that gives a few more teams an opportunity to be recognized. I hope you enjoy this, as summer is the off-season for high school sports. This list serves as a way to remember the past a little and keep you entertained daily as it continues. Another note, while we respect and give coverage to golf, tennis, track and field, wrestling, cross country, bowling and others, we consider those individual sports, so any of those teams will not make the list. Here we go!

killed a student in the art room next door and hurt several others on Oct. 9, 1980. The Pioneers had no gym and had to practice anywhere they could find gym time. They eventually made their way to Rupp Arena and the Sweet 16, winning it all in 1981, the first NKY school to claim a boys’ state basketball title. McKinley was the tournament MVP and later went on to play at the University of Kentucky.

The Year of the Pioneer! The 1980-81 Simon Kenton Pioneers produced one of the most memorable championship seasons in NKY basketball history. When Simon Kenton needed a community to rally, Troy McKinley and Simon Kenton’s basketball team came through. A gas explosion in the basement boiler room

Larry Miller was the head coach and it took a lot of coaching to win it all. They didn’t dominate the Sweet 16, they won four games by a total of 11 points at the state tournament. They downed Knott County Central 64-62 in the first round, Virgie 8483 in the quarterfinals, Moore 71-70 in the semis and won by what could be portrayed as a blowout in their standards with a 70-63 championship victory over Mason County.

CASE NUMBER 26-CI-00163 DIVISION 2 PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC VS. CODY S. GLENN, ET AL. BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 6/26/2026 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR. To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 9/1/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit:

COMMISSIONER’S SALE CAMPBELL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

26 Dorothy Drive, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076 Group No: 70376/LL4 PIDN: 999-99-17-876.00

CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00603

CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00495

CASE NUMBER 23-CI-00339

DIVISION 2

DIVISION 1

DIVISION 2

LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

VS.

RUSTY DIETZ, ET AL.

HERBERT E. BISHOP A/K/A HERBERT EARL BISHOP JR., ET AL.

JILL FROMMEYER, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 3/2/2026 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 12/10/2024 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 11/9/2023 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 9/1/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit:

45 17th Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071

621 Fifth Avenue, Dayton, Kentucky 41074

2445 Alexandria Pike, Southgate, Kentucky 41071

Group No: 30472/A1

Group No: 30565/A2

Group No: 20084/A1

PIDN: 999-99-03-304.00

PIDN: 999-99-08-502.00

PIDN: 999-99-10-750.00

10 AUGUST 14, 2026

They almost never even made it to Rupp, but Simon Kenton played like a team of destiny. They had to make up an eightpoint deficit in the last two minutes to win the 33rd District semifinal in double overtime. McKinley came up huge in the quarterfinals against Virgie, Billy Meier hitting the game-winning shot against Moore in the semifinals. With the community behind them, thousands of Simon Kenton fans ushered into Rupp and the Pioneers finished off the deed, becoming the first in NKY to claim a state basketball title. McKinley, Meier and the rest — most notably, Dave Dixon, Greg Ponzer, Alan Mullins and Sean Dougherty — etched their names in history. Day 33: 1946 Holmes football

Fresh off battle from World War II, the 1946 Holmes Bulldogs football team claimed a mythical state championship.

During the 1946 season Holmes went undefeated. Several players returned from World War II to continue battle on the football field for the Bulldogs. The team helped bridge two eras. Many of the players had come of age during World War II and some returned from military service before rejoining the Holmes program. An interesting tidbit during this time is you were eligible to play high school sports until the age of 21. The Bulldogs were led by legendary coach Tom Ellis (the name of the current stadium and basketball gym), who was one of the last in Kentucky to serve as head coach of football, baseball and basketball and Athletic Director — all at the same time at Holmes. The team featured standout players like former Boone County Judge Executive Bruce Ferguson and 1947 state discus champ Al Linneman, who later went on to play at Indiana. Don Davis was the quarterback. Russell Knorel went on to play at Kentucky. Their undefeated season came at a time when Kentucky high school football was still operating before the modern playoff era, making Holmes’ claim to a mythical state championship a product of the rankings reputation and statewide recognition of the day.

The return of veterans to the Holmes roster was part of the broader transition from wartime service back into school, work and athletics. That makes the 1946 Bulldogs more than simply an undefeated team: they represented a community and generation returning to normal life after World War II. Day 34: 2014 Covington Catholic basketball

It had been 47 years since Covington Catholic, one of Kentucky’s premier basketball programs, had reached the KHSAA Sweet 16 championship game. Despite their rich tradition, the Colonels were still searching for the program’s first state title. That changed in 2014. Covington Catholic rallied from an eightpoint fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Scott County and legendary coach Billy Hicks, the winningest coach in KHSAA history, 59-51 in overtime and capture the program’s first

CASE NUMBER 21-CI-00577

CASE NUMBER 19-CI-00568

DIVISION 2

HIGHLAND MEADOWS CONDOMINIUM OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 8/15/2022 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR. To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 9/1/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 25 Highland Meadows Circle, Unit 5, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076 Group No: 30766/Q2

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 9/1/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 445 Muinn Road, Butler, Kentucky 41006 Group No: 70137/Z

CASE NUMBER 25-CI-01256

DIVISION 2

KENNETH WILLIAMS

US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE LB-TIKI SERIES VI TRUST

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 9/1/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 8 Tammy Lane, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076 Group No: 30204/C1 PIDN: 999-99-22-727.00

Continues on page 12

VS. CASEY CUSICK, ET AL. BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 6/26/2026 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR. To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 9/1/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 889 Belle Ridge Loop, Bellevue, Kentucky 41073 Group No: 41347/B10 PIDN: 999-99-11-878.50

THE COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS MORE PARTICULARLY SET OUT IN THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF SALE ENTERED IN THIS CASE. Subject to conditions, covenants, restrictions, right of ways and easements in existence, including but not limited to those in prior instruments of record; legal highways, and zoning ordinances. SAID PROPERTY SHALL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO REAL ESTATE TAXES DUE AND OWING FOR THE YEAR OF SALE AND THEREAFTER PRIOR YEARS UNPAID TAXES SHALL BE PAID FROM THE PROCEEDS IF THE PURCHASER IS NOT THE PLAINTIFF. IF THE PURCHASER IS THE PLAINTIFF, PRIOR YEARS’ UNPAID TAXES SHALL BE PAID BY THE PLAINTIFF, IN FULL OR PRO RATA, PROVIDED THE SALE PURCHASE PRICE EXCEEDS THE COURT COSTS.

CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00371

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 7/28/2026 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

Covington Catholic’s only two losses came

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 7/13/2026 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

PIDN: 999-99-22-230.00

RONALD EDWARD ZEIS, ET AL.

Ruthsatz, VonHandorf and Schult were named to the Sweet 16 All-Tournament Team, with Ruthsatz earning tournament MVP honors. Ruthsatz averaged 21.8 points per game during the state tournament and 20.2 points per game for the season before continuing his career at the University of Findlay. VonHandorf went on to play at Fairmont State University, Schult at Wittenberg University and Schuh at Transylvania University.

RICKY TEEGARDEN, ET AL.

PIDN: 999-99-31-165.00

VS.

Coached by Scott Ruthsatz, CovCath was led by his son, Nick Ruthsatz, who became the program’s all-time leading scorer before his record was later broken by teammate Cole VonHandorf. VonHandorf became the first player in school history to surpass 2,000 career points and still holds several program records. The Colonels also featured another 1,000-point scorer in Bo Schuh, along with standout Mark Schult. Cooper Theobald, Ben Heppler, Nate Wichmann, Parker Keller, Matthew Shumate and Will Heppler each played key roles, appearing in more than half of the team’s games.

VS.

VS. APRIL S. HOSKINS, ET AL.

state championship. The Colonels finished 33-2 and featured one of the most accomplished rosters in school history.

THIS PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD TO PRODUCE THE SUMS OF MONEY SO ORDERED TO BE MADE IN THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF SALE ENTERED IN THE WITHIN CASE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO COURT COSTS, AD VALOREM TAXES, IN THE SUM OF $4,271.16; AND OTHER LIENS, INTEREST, ATTORNEY FEES AND/OR OTHER SUMS AND JUDGMENTS THAT MAY BE AWARDED BY THE COURT. THE SALE SHALL BE MADE TO THE HIGHEST AND BEST BIDDER(S). ANY PURCHASER OTHER THAN PLAINTIFF WHO DOES NOT PAY CASH IN FULL SHALL PAY 10% CASH AND SHALL BE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE A BOND AT THE TIME OF SALE, WITH SURETY ACCEPTABLE TO THE MASTER COMMISSIONER AND PRE-APPROVED BY THE MASTER COMMISSIONER AT LEAST BY NOON, TWO (2) BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE THE SALE DATE, TO SECURE THE UNPAID BALANCE OF THE PURCHASE PRICE, AND SAID BOND SHALL BEAR INTEREST AT THE RATE OF 12% PER ANNUM FROM THE DATE OF SALE UNTIL PAID, AND SHALL HAVE THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS A JUDGMENT AND SHALL REMAIN AND BE A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY UNTIL PAID THE BOND SURETY MUST BE PRESENT AT THE SALE AND EXECUTE SALE BOND AND THE AFFIDAVIT OF SURETY THE PURCHASER(S) SHALL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF PAYING ALL THE BALANCE OF THE PURCHASE PRICE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE THIRTY (30) DAY PERIOD. THE DEPOSIT SHALL BE WAIVED IF PLAINTIFF IS THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER. THE MASTER COMMISSIONER SHALL SELL THE REAL ESTATE BY PUBLIC SALE ON A DAY AND TIME TO BE FIXED BY HIM, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR OF THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY. BIDDERS MUST BE PREPARED TO COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS. THE COSTS OF THE SALE SHALL BE PAID WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS OF THE SALE. JOSEPH F. GRIMME, MASTER COMMISSIONER 859-291-9075

AUGUST 14, 2026 11

Continued from page 11

against Fairfield (Ohio) and district rival Holmes, who defeated the Colonels 72-62 in the 35th District championship game. CovCath avenged that defeat a week later with a 56-51 victory over Holmes in the 9th Region championship before completing its historic run to the state title. Day 35: 1951 Bellevue football

be enshrined into the Bellevue High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The list includes Jim Schneider, Guy Tracy, Uebel, Jerry Walburg, Dan Sullivan, Steele Harmon, Jim Fulmer, Pete Dougherty, Ray Maines and Cliff Swauger. Six of these players received All-Conference and All-State recognition. The entire coaching staff — including Flora and assistants Bob Miller, Bob Himmler and John Schaar — are members of the Hall of Fame and the NKY Athletic Directors Hall of Fame. In their end-of-season banquet, they were addressed by AB “Happy” Chandler, former Kentucky governor, U.S. senator and commissioner of Major League Baseball. Day 36: 2020-21 Highlands boys basketball

The 1951 Bellevue football team just pummeled everyone. They outscored opponents 443-50 in going 11-0 and winning a mythical state title. They were guided by Ben Flora and averaged 40.3 points per game while allowing just 4.5 points per game. Fullback Pat Uebel was one of the stars on the team and would later be recruited by assistant coach Vince Lombardi of Army and signed with them following graduation. Uebel was just one of many that made their mark. A total of 10 players went on to

Highlands had long been synonymous with football dominance in Kentucky, but in 2021 it was the Bluebirds’ basketball team that made program history. After opening the season 9-4, including three losses to 9th Region opponents, Highlands caught fire. The Bluebirds won their final 21 games while posting a perfect record against the remainder of their region schedule. The historic run ended with the program’s first KHSAA Sweet 16 state championship as Highlands finished 30-4

overall and 15-3 against 9th Region competition. The Bluebirds didn’t just win, they dominated. After their fourth loss, they defeated 9th Region opponents by an average of 25.7 points, and only two of their final 21 victories were decided by single digits. Highlands was equally impressive on the state’s biggest stage, winning all four Sweet 16 games by double digits with an average margin of victory of 18.3 points, capped by a 79-60 victory over Elizabethtown in the championship game. The Bluebirds also put together one of the greatest 3-point shooting performances in Sweet 16 history. Highlands set the state tournament record with 38 made 3-pointers, including 12 in the opening-round win over Muhlenberg County, 11 in the quarterfinals against McCracken County and 10 in the championship game against Elizabethtown, averaging 9.5 made 3-pointers per game. Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year and 9th Region Player of the Year Sam Vinson earned Sweet 16 Most Valuable Player honors after averaging 22.3 points and 9.4 rebounds as a senior. He went on to play at Northern Kentucky University before beginning his professional career in Australia. Luke Muller averaged 16.9 points and later played golf at NKU, while William Herald and Zachary Barth also averaged double figures in scoring. The Bluebirds were coached by current head coach Kevin Listerman, who had a solid playing career at both Covington Catholic and NKU.

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12 AUGUST 14, 2026

Day 38: 2017-18 Covington Catholic basket-

ball Four years after winning the program’s first KHSAA state championship, Covington Catholic added another trophy to the case. The Colonels ended the season on a 23game winning streak, capturing both the 9th Region and KHSAA Sweet 16 state championships. It was the program’s second state title, following the 2014 championship, as CovCath finished 35-4. The Colonels’ four losses all came during their first 16 games of the season, but CovCath got revenge for two of them. In backto-back regular-season games, the Colonels fell to Fern Creek and Cooper, their only loss to a 9th Region opponent. In the postseason, Covington Catholic got Cooper back in the 9th Region semifinals before avenging their loss to Fern Creek in the Sweet 16 quarterfinals. The Colonels then rolled past Oldham County 67-28 in the state semifinals before defeating Scott County, the team they beat for the 2014 state title, 73-55 in the championship.

Day 37: 1940 Newport baseball The first-ever KHSAA state baseball champion hails from Newport. The Wildcats claimed the title in 1940, the first year the KHSAA sanctioned the sport for state championships.

WE OFFER

Jim Connor was one of the standouts on the diamond. He was “the fire behind the team.” He lettered all four years in baseball and basketball and eventually went on to play at St. Bernard Junior College in Alabama and Villa Madonna (now Thomas More) before a highly successful coaching career, most notably at Newport Catholic. He later became an athletic director at both Bellarmine and Thomas More. The Saints named the Connor Convocation Center after him, where Thomas More’s gym stands.

They did so in dominant fashion, outscoring their opponents in the postseason by a combined score of 67-9, including a 17-4 victory over Daviess County in the state championship. It was the start of a repeat as the Wildcats claimed the title in 1941 as well. Newport was the center of the state baseball stage from 1940 to ’56, as the Wildcats claimed two titles, Newport Catholic with four. The Wildcats were led by W.J. “Blue” Foster, guiding them to titles in 1940 and ’41. He also coached football and basketball at the school starting in 1930. He led Newport to mythical state football titles in 1936 and ’41. He also guided the Wildcats to over 250 victories in basketball, reaching the state championship game three times.

Head coach Scott Ruthsatz captured his second state championship at Covington Catholic, while CJ Fredrick led the Colonels. Fredrick earned Sweet 16 Most Valuable Player honors after scoring 32 points in the championship game. He went on to play collegiately at Iowa, Kentucky and Cincinnati and is now a graduate assistant for the University of Miami men’s basketball team. Scott Ruthsatz’s son Aiden averaged 14.9 points after older brother Nick Ruthsatz helped win the 2014 state title. Nick Thelen, Jack Davin, Tyler Fleek, Casey Nowak and brothers AJ Mayer and Michael Mayer — both standout football players — also played key roles. CovCath ranked among the state’s best in fewest points allowed, average margin of victory, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and 3-point percentage. Miss Days 1-31? Check out the July 3, 24, 31 and Aug. 7 edition of the LINK Reader! We’ll bring all 50 to you over the next couple of weeks.

obituary

Respected Northern Kentucky Home Builder, Founder of Toebben Companies, passes Away at 95

atthias “Matth.” Toebben, of Villa Hills, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Aug. 3, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Matth. was born on May 16, 1931, in Lorup, Germany, to Anna and Rudolph Többen. He had eight siblings, including a twin brother, and was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, LaVerne and son-in-law, Scott Marx. They were the proud parents of five children: Susan Ellison, John Toebben, Diane Marx, Bill Toebben and Elizabeth Heist. At fourteen, Matth. moved to Borger, Germany where he studied the fine art of woodworking. His outstanding craftsmanship would become a trademark throughout his years of homebuilding. After studying as an apprentice carpenter, he journeyed to America with $10 in his pocket and unable to understand a word of English. Matth. was sponsored by builder, George Kreutzjans, with whom he worked as a carpenter on new homes in Fort Wright, Kentucky, until starting what is now Toebben Companies — the fifth largest commercial real estate owner/developer in Greater Cincinnati and builder of nearly 1,000 luxury estate homes in the region. He found the United States to be a land of immense opportunity for anyone ambitious enough to work hard and make his dream a reality. His strong German accent — or as he referred to it, his “southern accent” — alwaysmade him an unforgettable presence but never swayed him from success.

Matth. had a passion for quality education and found immense joy in providing education scholarships for those in need throughout the community. One of his notable contributions was the creation of “The Toebben House” on the Holy Cross campus, which houses the academic enhancement program for students needing assistance. Also notable is the Matth. and LaVerne Toebben Scholarship at Thomas More University. His generosity also included Gateway Community and Technical College, Springer School Scholarship, Covington Catholic High School Scholarship, St. Henry Scholarship, Redwood Rehabilitation Center, New Perceptions, Welcome House of N. KY and Interfaith Hospitality Network. His legacy continues with the third generation of family members (grandsons Jacob, Zachary and Nick Toebben) now joining his sons, Bill and John, in the company. Matth. was a true entrepreneur — from luxury home building, commercial real estate development, residential land development to coal mining, natural gas and electric (Stand Energy Corp.), assisted living facilities (Highland Crossing) and numerous other business startups throughout his long career. Matth. served as president of the Home Builders Association for numerous terms, board member of Chamber of Commerce, received an honorary degree from Thomas More University, and was recipient of the

Northern Kentuckian of the Year award in 2008. Matth. followed his passion for farming by raising his prized Black Angus cattle herd. Triple T Ranch produced numerous top North American breeder winners in the Black Angus program. He was awarded Best Cattle Breeder Award for the U.S. by the National Cattle Breeders Association. Several years ago, with the help of T. Milton Mayer, he embarked on writing his autobiography, “The Immigrant”, which is now a top seller on Amazon and required reading in several schools. His legacy of struggle and accomplishments was beautifully captured and was one of his proudest achievements. Matth. was a renowned Republican political figure in the community and beyond, and often pushed for fair government practices and changes in legislation. He is survived by longtime companion Pat Runge, his children Susan Ellison, John Toebben (Dana), Diane Marx, Bill Toebben (Judy), Elizabeth Heist (Tom), his sisters Agnes Wessels and Tekla Rieken, 18 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. The visitation was held Sunday Aug. 9 from 4-7 p.m. at Linnemann Funeral Home, 1940 Burlington Pike, Burlington KY 41048

The funeral mass was held Monday Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 2474 Lorraine Court, Crescent Springs, KY 41017 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross High School Academic Enhancement Program (AEP), 3617 Church St., Covington, KY 41015

THE WEEKLY COMIC by Andrew Buchanan

AUGUST 14, 2026 13

real estate

A steal in Kenton County Address: 336 Bristow Road, Independence Price: $157,000 Bedrooms: Two Bathrooms: One Square footage: 740 School district: Kenton County School District County: Kenton Special features: This charming cottage in Independence sits on a half-acre lot and offers a peaceful, wooded setting just minutes from shopping and dining. Features include vaulted ceilings with exposed beams, an open living area, a spacious yard, patio and off-street parking, making it an appealing opportunity for buyers looking to add their own personal touch.

The exterior of this Kenton County home. Photos by Randi Winterhalt of Keller Williams Realty Service

This home has an open living room with tall ceilings.

The kitchen inside this Independence home.

Kentucky now allows for Public Notices to be published digitally on LINK nky’s website. You can find public notices for the following organizations on our site at https://linkreader.column.us/search

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SUDOKU

The Weekly Edited by MargieCrossword E. Burke

Difficulty: Easy

7 6

2 6 1 7 5 4 2 6/1/26 -36/7/26 1 5 7 9 2 3 4

7 4 1 6

HOW TO SOLVE:

Each row must contain the 8 numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

7 4 6

Answer to Previous Sudoku:

2 7 1 3 8 4 9 5 6 6 3 5 9 2 1 7 4 8 8 9 4 6 7 5 3 2 1 4 5 9 1 6 2 8 7 3 1 8 2 7 5 3 4 6 9 3 6 7 4 9 8 2 1 5 5 1 3 2 4 9 6 8 7 7 4 8 5 3 6 1 9 2 9 2 6 8 1 7 5 3 4

by Margie E. Burke

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ACROSS 1HOW ChurchTO bell SOLVE: 15 16 14 sound Each row must contain the 19 17 18 5 Takes offeach column numbers 1 to 9; must 10 Tiny fraction of contain the numbers 1 20 to 9; and 21 22 min. each aset of 3 by 3 boxes must 24 14 Startthe to bat? contain numbers 231 to 9. 15 Commercial 25 26 27 28 29 creator Answer to Previous Sudoku: 16 Wistful words 33 30 31 32 17 Thanksgiving 2 7 centerpiece 1 3 8 4 349 5 6 35 36 37 6 3 5 9 2 1 387 4 8 39 19 "The Amateur" 40 41 actor Malek 8 9 4 6 7 5 423 2 1 43 20 Set straight 4 5 9 some 1 6herbs 2 8 7 443 21 Like 45 46 47 48 49 23 More popular 1 8 song, 2 7usually 5 3 504 516 9 52 24 Soon, 3 6 7 4in old 9 8 532 1 5 54 55 times 5 1 3 2 4 9 566 8 7 57 58 25 Declared 7 27 4 Missionary 8 5 3 6 591 9 2 60 61 Junipero ____ 9 30 2 Airport 6 8vehicles 1 7 5 3 4 Copyright 2026 by The Puzzle Syndicate 33 Puzo and Cuomo 34 Mother ___ DOWN 30 Mets' old 41 Cardinals' home 35 "Lent" body part 1 Rainforest stadium 43 Pirate's pet 36 Washed out rodents 31 Name on toy 45 Grins widely 37 Allow 2 Reason for a fuel trucks 47 'Who did this?'' 38 Digitally food recall 32 Unrestricted reply, maybe endorses 3 Right Guard rival 33 Wise Men 48 Persian Gulf 40 Samoan seaport 4 1974's and 36 Naval officers' ship 42 Equally irate 2005's "The hangout 49 Reach by plane 43 Diocese division ____ Yard" 39 Diving 50 Old TV problem 44 Dappled, as a 5 Animal pouch maneuvers 51 Letter sign-off horse 6 Dashboard 40 Sicilian seaport 55 Opening 46 Like a ___ bricks gauge 50 More thin 7 Current units Answers to Previous Crossword: 52 Use more 8 Made a surprise T R A M C O N C H S W A T WD-40 on attack O V U L E K I L O R O C A 53 Lymph ___ 9 Slow mover E A C H D E T E R M I N E D 54 Haughtily 10 Seattle slugger A M E N D E D K R I E G E R 56 Radio trans11 Place of bliss D R A W S T R I N G mission 12 Jane Austen A B E P O L O T U R I N 57 Jason of "The heroine S I N C E R E S T S A L O N Wrecking Crew" 13 Top off a room D E T E R F L O E A C T A 58 TV's "How ___ 18 Neglected P E A S E P A L E S T I N E Your Mother" 22 Sicilian Mafia P L E A T D E A L T E D S T R E A M L I N E 59 Makes one 26 "Oh, woe!" A M A T E U R E N T E R E D 60 Defeat 28 "The Witches" W A N E R E M U N E R A T E decisively director Nicolas S O A R S S T O P P A I D 61 Prefix with 29 Regarding, in a T R A Y S Y E L P A N D Y -graphy memo

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