LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 2, Issue 4 - December 15, 2023

KENTON

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4 — DECEMBER 15, 2023

THE VOICE OF NKY

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Landscape of addiction in Northern Kentucky: ‘You’re not just seeing one thing that people are addicted to’

By Haley Parnell

W

here Adam Pendleton grew up in Ohio’s Clermont County, drug addiction was generational.

“My mom and dad are both drug addicts; it’s a rite of passage,” Pendleton said. “Everybody in my neighborhood was a drug addict. All my friends were drug addicts, and we normalized that type of f***ed-up thinking from a pretty early age.”

By 12, Pendleton said he knew how to weigh “powder” on a digital scale, and it just progressed from there. In 2000, during what Pendleton said was the OxyContin craze, he started using the narcotic at age 14. By 15, he had started “shooting dope,” also known as heroin.

Over 20 years later, drug trends have changed. Heroin has moved down to No. 4 on the list of most-seized types of drugs across Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, according to data collected by the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. The

drug that NKY organizations like the Life Learning Center, BrightView Health and the NKY Office of Drug Control Policy said is most prevalent today?

Fentanyl.

Data that the NKY Drug Strike Force collected since Jan. 1 of this year show that fentanyl is the most-seized drug in the three NKY counties, followed by methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and crack cocaine.

A significant issue that has come up with the rise in popularity of fentanyl is other types of drugs being laced with it. A continuing trend, according to the NKY Drug Strike Force, is counterfeit pills containing fentanyl or methamphetamine. The pills are pressed to look like OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin and other medications.

Even with fentanyl being the most-seized drug in the area, according to the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy’s Fatality Report, the state saw a 5% decrease in overdose deaths in 2022.

Continues on page 3

Life Learning Center in Covington helps the at-risk population with a variety of services, including providing meals at Pillars Cafe. Photo provided | Life Learning Center

Covington resident calls for City Commission to support ceasefire in Gaza

M

ohammad Ahmad, a Covington resident of Palestinian descent, called upon the Covington Board of Commissioners to pass a resolution supporting a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip at meetings in November and December.

Mohammad Ahmad speaks at the Covington Commission meeting on Dec. 5. Photo by Sydney Bellm | LINK nky contributor

“I’m a proud Palestinian American Muslim,” Ahmad said in his address to the commission members on Nov. 21. “So as you can imagine, I’ve been living through a nightmare, to say the least, in the last month-and-a-half because I don’t think myself or anyone in this room with a conscience can comprehend the level of death, destruction, violence and suffering that we have witnessed in Gaza.”

Ahmad, who’s originally from Lexington and who has lived in Covington for about a year-and-a-half, said that he did not represent any particular group or organization.

He spoke on his own on Nov. 21 but put out calls on social media for people to attend the Dec. 5 meeting to show their support for his proposed resolution.

Supporters with signs filled the commission chambers on Dec. 5.

Ahmad’s initial proposal called on the city commission to disavow ethno-nationalism, ethnic cleansing and collective punishment, all of which he argued Israel was committing against the people in Gaza. He Continues on page 7

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Breaking the Stigma Around MOUD: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Help Campbell Residents Regain Hope mother gave her some medication for pain. While Cat’s OUD began with prescription opioids, it eventually escalated to using heroin and fentanyl with friends in late high school and college.

“I was in college. I was getting ready to graduate and I started using fentanyl and all of that went away for me. I lost college. I lost my house. I lost my kids. I lost my life. I lost everything.”

Belew tried to stop using drugs on her own and tried 30-day stints in residential rehab facilities. These were not enough to manage her disorder. Cat needed the help of MOUD treatment. Cat tried MOUD once before, but it was not until she fully committed to an MOUD treatment plan, that she began to see results.

The opioid epidemic has wreaked havoc on communities across the United States, and few places have been more severely affected than Kentucky. The state suffered 1,658 deaths due to opioid overdoses in 2022 alone, according to the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center. One crucial aspect of combating the opioid epidemic is ensuring that individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) have access to effective treatment options. Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), like buprenorphine and methadone, are FDA-approved and a gold standard treatment for OUD. These medications play a vital role in reducing risk of overdose, managing cravings and withdrawal symptoms, preventing return to use, and helping people enter remission and stay in long-term recovery.

To battle the opioid crisis and help those suffering from OUD begin their recovery process with MOUD, the University of Kentucky partnered with the National Institutes of Health Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative. The initiative provides scientific solutions to the opioid crisis and offers new hope for individuals, families, and communities affected by this devastating crisis.

Campbell County native Cat Belew was one of those individuals seeking help with this disorder. Cat began using opioids in middle school, when a friend’s

“When I first started taking medications for opioid use disorder, I did not take it seriously. I stopped taking my medication because I would not stop taking fentanyl with it. And then, I don’t know what happened to me. I was coming across the bridge from Cincinnati, and I had just got some fentanyl and I had used it. I threw the rest of the fentanyl out the window and I looked at my best friend and I told her that if she didn’t get me help that I was going to die. So, she took me to the methadone clinic. I talked to my counselor there, we got started back on methadone, I went to rehab, and I haven’t looked back.”

Cat has now been in remission and recovery for 2.5 years. She is back in college working toward a bachelor’s degree and has a wonderful relationship with her children and family. She now works as a Peer Support Specialist in Campbell County and helps others connect to and stay in MOUD treatment.

the stigma surrounding OUD and MOUD like her family was able to.

“I wish people in the community knew more about MOUDs and how they work and how it’s not trading one drug for another. They work with your brain chemistry and can help people put one foot in front of the other and live a productive, successful life.

MOUDs are a way to sustain recovery and to keep people in long-term recovery. There’s a way to sustain recovery for a little while, but if you don’t have that extra boost, some people can’t make it.”

To learn more about OUD, MOUD, local resources available, and the work UK is doing with the NIH HEAL Initiative, visit the website at www.healtogetherky.org/Campbell or visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/kyhealcampbell.

There are three FDA-approved medications that can lower the risk of relapse and overdose. These medications improve a person with opioid use disorder’s function, productivity, and participation in treatment. These medications include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.

Evidence shows that these medications: • Reduce opioid use and opioid use disorder-related symptoms.

• Increase the likelihood that patients will stay in treatment.

One important part of Cat’s job is reducing the stigma around MOUD, which keeps many people from using this life-saving treatment. She shares with clients that her family was against her using methadone when she first started treatment, but changed their minds when they saw the difference it made in her life.

• Reduce criminal behavior associated with drug use.

• Reduce the risk of infectious diseases, including HIV and hepatitis C transmission.

“When I first started MOUD, my mother and my father and my family were all against it because they thought that I was trading one drug for the other.

But once they saw that the medications were working for me and I was the child for them that I used to be, it really opened their eyes.”

• Increase the likelihood of employment.

• Block the effects of opioids that can cause overdose death.

Cat wishes more people were willing to look past

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Continued from page 1

Director of NKY Office of Drug Control Policy Amanda Peters said she is cautiously optimistic about those statistics because, though the state saw a decrease in overdose deaths, Peters is predicting more accidental overdoses this year.

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“Our drugs are changing,” Peters said.

“We’re getting different drugs; everything is laced with fentanyl, and so I think we’re going to see a lot more accidental overdoses this year, which is scaring me.”

Peters said what drug dealers do is buy a pill press off Amazon for $5, take whatever product they have, press it into a pill, and sell it for whatever someone thinks it is – Adderall, Ritalin or Xanax, for example. Since Jan. 1 of this year, the NKY Drug Strike Force has seized 20,079 counterfeit pills valued at $662,607.

Our region is logistically in a power position, Peters said, for how drugs are coming in.

“We’re getting them from every highway,” she said. “They come down from Michigan, they come down from Columbus, they come up from Georgetown, up from Louisville. They’re up from Tennessee – any way that they can come in.”

Peters said they have also seen a resurgence of methamphetamines in the area over the last couple of years and said a lot of it is laced with fentanyl.

“So, we now have folks that have never typically had any kind of history of substance use disorder with opioids or drugs get some kind of pill, and they think it’s something else, and some of them are lucky, but some of them are overdosing,” she said.

In 2022, according to the state’s fatality report, there were 41 overdose fatalities in Boone County, 35 in Campbell County and

65 in Kenton County. Those numbers are out of population numbers of 139,093 residents in Boone, 93,300 in Campbell, and 170,313 in Kenton, according to the 2022 Census.

The NKY Office of Drug Control Policy also tracks EMS calls to Boone, Kenton, Campbell and Grant counties, and Peters said it is seeing at least three runs a day. She said the runs are typically for non-fatal incidents, but not always.

“That doesn’t include the folks that self-administer Narcan to their friends or family members or the folks that go to the emergency department,” Peters said. “So that’s just part of the data. That’s kind of the sticky part about this. We don’t quite have accurate data.”

She said pushing out Narcan is wonderful because it saves lives, but officials miss the intervention or interception point where they can reach folks for help.

The “it doesn’t affect me” mentality goes out the window, Peters said, when it comes to fentanyl.

“If you’re not a person who has been in that realm and is really thinking about that,” Peters said, “or maybe you’re a college student, just trying to get through your tests to study, and you’ve taken Xanax before to help … they could end up dying, and it’s hard to get that information out there.”

A nurse practitioner at the Erlanger Branch of BrightView Health, Summer Trenkamp, said the top two drugs she sees at the addiction treatment center are fentanyl and methamphetamine. Trenkamp said she doesn’t see a lot of heroin anymore.

“You’re not just seeing one thing that people are addicted to, because they keep getting other things in the stuff they feel like they’re purchasing,” Trenkamp said.

She echoed what Peters said in that someone aware of current drug trends is more cautious of their drugs being laced with fentanyl.

“They’re aware that there’s fentanyl pressed in Percocets and Xanax and everything,” Trenkamp said. “What they’re doing is getting fentanyl test strips, seeing what they’re taking, but we’re also seeing a lot of patients overdose because of the magnitude of how strong the fentanyl is. It’s a sad thing. You’re not just getting one thing anymore.”

At the height of his addiction, Pendleton said, he and his friends were “shooting really good-quality heroin,” but at the end of his run, he said friends were starting to die.

“I started going out because the heroin was starting to get more and more cut with it (fentanyl),” Pendleton said. “But that fentanyl sent me out a couple of times. That was heroin cut with fentanyl. Now, things are changing where it’s fentanyl cut with heroin. The heroin is just the cut. It’s not even the main thing.”

Pendleton said “going out” is like a whiteout version of an overdose. He said you pass out, and someone puts ice down your pants or smacks you to bring you back.

Now, the region is starting to see people using fentanyl mixed with xylazine. Xylazine is a drug used for sedation, anesthesia and muscle relaxation in animals such as horses and cattle. It allegedly enhances the fentanyl high.

“We’ve seen it in the jails; they’ve seen it in the recovery community centers like Life Learning Center,” Peters said. “Our emergency department has seen it. They’re seeing it at our harm reduction syringe access programs.”

President and CEO of Life Learning Center Continues on page 4

A client shops in the Hanger Clothing Closet at Life Learning Center. Photo provided | Life Learning Center

DECEMBER 15, 2023 3

Continued from page 3

Alecia Webb Edgington said the center has seen two episodes.

“Your body should not be consuming drugs that were made for an animal, so your body begins to repel that in different ways, killing nerve endings and resulting in open wounds, and they are horrific,” she said.

Peters said though xylazine may not be in the region at the level it is being seen in the Northeast – particularly in Philadelphia – it will be here soon. She said if the Northeast is seeing a drug trend, then it will hit the NKY region in roughly six months.

“We keep seeing these pills out on the market, and the market is so flooded right now

with just very potent, cheap drugs that you can get it really kind of anywhere,” she said.

People can access fentanyl test strips through the NKY Office of Drug Control Policy’s Syringe Service Programs — though Peters said the strips are not foolproof.

Not only are people getting access to Narcan and test strips through the program, Peters said they also receive education and vaccines and are getting tested for things like hepatitis C and HIV. “What’s interesting about our Syringe Service Programs is that this is the first time many of these folks are making a positive step in their health care,” she said. “What we know is it’s about five times more likely for folks to go to treatment if they’re en-

gaged in a syringe access program.”

The number of fatalities from overdoses from 2021 to 2022 increased in Boone (from 35 to 41) and Campbell (from 24 to 35) but decreased from 91 to 65 in Kenton County. Peters attributed that to Narcan distribution but also to more diversion efforts happening in Kenton County.

While she said some diversion efforts have happened in other counties, they’ve been occurring longer in Kenton and are building momentum.

Life Learning Center, based in Covington, has aided in those efforts. Its mission is to help the at-risk population — whether it is someone struggling with addiction, poverty, mental health issues or a combination — with an education and care continuum.

Webb Edgington said Life Learning Center utilizes a 12-week course that focuses on essential skills built on the five pillars of life — physical, financial, emotional, relational and spiritual (non-ideological). She said those pillars have been recognized as the key areas for individuals to build recovery capital.

Recovery capital includes building essential skills, reducing risk, building resiliency, getting money back into their pocket, finding a place to live and rebuilding relationships.

People at the Life Learning Center work on their vision boards. Photo provided | Life Learning Center

7047065_100_sehada_print_ad_womens_ob_10.375x3.389V1.pdf 1 10/25/23 12:37 Center PM Tattoo removal is one of the services at Life Learning Center. Photo provided | Life Learning

4 DECEMBER 15, 2023

The organization collects data from every person who walks in the door, whether they qualify for enrollment or not, and from that, it does weekly aggregate data reviews. From those reviews, 83% of the people it is seeing right now suffer from substance use disorder. About 77% struggle with mental health issues, and 81% have a criminal background. Webb Edgington said everyone who enters the door is 200% below the poverty level. Further, she said many people there have not drawn a paycheck in a year.

Life Learning Center social workers first work with individuals on what Webb Edginton calls the “big five” — safety and security, food, clothing, transportation and habits.

She said that within the first hour, social workers are helping individuals complete paperwork to regain identification, birth certificates and Social Security cards.

“We start getting those things, because if you don’t, then when it does come to an opportunity for employment, you can’t fill out an I-9 (form to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired) without two forms of identification,” Webb Edgington said. “So, you can’t get a legitimate job even if you want one.”

The organization has over 130 partners that help it do everything from tattoo removal to getting people glasses and contacts.

When someone gets checked into the program, they get a hot meal right then and there and then get a food box to take back to their sober living facility. Life Learning Center coordinates sober living with Kentucky Access to Recovery dollars.

Those who are on medically assisted treatment and have been released from detention continue their treatment with Journey Recovery Center.

From head to toe, hygiene, clothing, permanent housing, food, bus passes and other essentials are provided, Webb Edgington said.

The organization connects with individuals through detention centers, courts, public defenders, prosecutors, intensive outpatient programs, other nonprofits in the community, faith-based organizations, walk-ins and word-of-mouth from other graduates.

The organization’s demographics are 56% male and 44% female, with an average age of 38. About 83% of the people it sees identify as Caucasian, 8% identify as African American, and 2% identify as Hispanic.

When it comes to ethnicity, Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy data shows a decrease in fatalities among white Kentuckians but an increase in fatalities among Black and Hispanic Kentuckians. Peters said there has been a lot of outreach to Caucasians, but others aren’t consistently engaged due to the different ways that different ethnic groups consume drugs.

“One thing Kentucky has done is some great work on harm reduction,” Peters said.

“But we know that our folks that are people of color and different ethnicities, they use drugs differently. So, Syringe Services works great for those who are using drugs

intravenously (more common among Caucasians), but if you smoke them or do them in a different way, or if they’re doing crack cocaine and it’s laced with fentanyl, those folks aren’t showing up at syringe programs.”

As far as the younger population struggling with substance abuse, Peters said they are seeing it less often.

“I think prevention is working,” she said.

“The data is showing less adolescents going into this.”

Peters said that addiction is a multigenerational issue — something Pendleton is all too familiar with.

When Pendleton was 18, he went to prison for the first time.

“It’s just what happens where I’m from,” Pendleton said. “All my friends are dead, have been to prison or are in prison. My little brother’s doing life right now for heroin.

I buried my dad 10 years ago from heroin.

My stepdad died a few years ago from heroin. My mom is doing eight years in a joint right now for manslaughter because she was with her best friend last year, and they were shooting dope, and her friend died.”

During his addiction to heroin, Pendleton was attending high school. He said he would tape a “rescue kit” to aid his addiction underneath a toilet tank lid in a secluded bathroom in the school where he could go.

“You got to think how f***ing deluded and addicted and sick do you have to be, at 16 or 17 years old, and that be your life?” he said.

Pendleton did not graduate from high school. His senior year, he said, he was doing $300 worth of heroin a day. He was funding his addiction through an embezzlement scam he ran with a woman.

She was caught, and Pendleton said that although she didn’t give him up, it was one of the few times he realized he didn’t want that to be his life anymore. He took a job and got on a Greyhound bus to Las Vegas, intending to get clean.

One thing about addiction, though, Pendleton said: The Devil is on your shoulder anywhere you go. Before he ever made it to Las Vegas, he ended up in Denver, where

he shared a needle with a stranger and got hepatitis C. He said he spent about 90 days in Las Vegas but ultimately came home because the heroin quality was better in the Cincinnati region.

Shortly after returning home, he found himself in prison at 18 and again at 19.

“My best friend, childhood best friend, died (from an overdose) while I was down (in prison) the second time,” Pendleton said.

“Super, really f***ing hard, really hard to come home to, you know – missed the funeral. And this is how sick you can be.

Imagine you go to prison, and you have nine months clean. And they release you with a $135 Greyhound ticket, and you take the Greyhound money straight downtown and call your drug dealer.”

Adam Pendleton struggled with addiction for years. Photo provided | BrightView Health

ple who weren’t put in seats?

When people enter Life Learning Center, Webb Edgington said, often they have nothing, especially when coming from the detention centers.

“If you put yourself in their scenario, and you’ve just been released from detention, with whatever clothing you had on your back when you were arrested, and people say, ‘Well just go home,’” she said. “Well, let’s say there is no home to go to because while you were in detention, either the person you might have been living with is gone, or they are telling you, ‘You can’t come back.’ So, you’re homeless, you’re penniless, you’re foodless. The anxiety is exponential.”

The organization also immediately conducts a behavioral test for grit, hope, resiliency, leadership and ostracism.

“If we can start to rebuild resiliency, it lowers risk exponentially,” she said.

Webb Edgington said they also measure recidivism rates. They base those rates on whether one of their program graduates has been rearrested. She said their graduates’ recidivism rate is 8% versus the national average of 83%.

This year, Life Learning Center has had 1,107 individuals referred to it; it has conducted 718 enrollments, and 353 were accepted. Of the 353 people who were taken, 261 were put in seats.

So, what happened to the almost 100 peo-

“It’s called free will,” Webb Edgington said.

“And that free will of them saying, ‘I don’t care that I’m court-ordered. I don’t care if it would be the best thing for me.’”

Of the 261, she said 237 are on track to graduate. Webb Edgington said if people refuse to go into post-secondary education or start a career, they can’t graduate.

“Accountability and discipline involve drug testing, it involves having conversations, we want to lay eyes on you, we want to keep up with you,” Webb Edgington said. “Not because we’re trying to be ‘Big Brother,’ but these folks are very vulnerable, and we’ve got to know where you are because you’ve made some bad decisions historically.”

Over at BrightView, the Erlanger branch treats roughly 700 patients a year.

“We help them medically with medicines, if appropriate, we have case management services that help them with their social needs and can be a good liaison between probation and parole and things like that,” Trenkamp said. “They also get individual or group counseling with every visit.”

BrightView also sets up case management with its patients to work with them if they don’t have insurance. Trenkamp said BrightView can work with patients to get on Medicaid or figure out a payment plan.

After Pendleton got out of prison for the second time, he said, things started really going downhill for him.

“I didn’t have the hustle,” Pendleton said.

“I didn’t have all the licks; the game had changed a little bit, and for whatever reason, s**t was not easy for me. So now I was finally getting to experience what it was like to be dope sick. Not just running around getting money and being able to stay high all the time.”

During this time, he said he began shooting cocaine with heroin, which caused him to “go out” a lot.

Pendleton said he had one friend throughout his whole life whom he called a saint.

He said she came from the same background as he did but remained on the straight and narrow. Pendleton said she was the only one who wrote to him while he was in prison, and he always stayed in contact with her.

“This is the second time after getting out of the penitentiary, my friends are dying, having the worst struggle I’ve ever had,” Pendleton said. “I’ve been addicted to dope for years and years at this point. I look like s**t, I feel like s**t, my existence is f***ing awful. I have about a $500-a-day addiction.

I’m doing scandalous s**t to get money, and this girl was such a pain in the a** because she was like the one person in my life who was like, ‘I believe in you.’”

That friend is the reason he went to rehab.

Pendleton said she made it a mission to glue herself to him. She used her own money to get him into rehabilitation centers.

Pendleton said one time he sat through five Continues on page 6

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Continued from page 5

hours of intake at a methadone clinic and then left and took his friend’s money and went and bought drugs with it.

“She had to go through some real s**t, and she tried that again, a second time, and the craziest thing happened because I went through with it,” Pendleton said.

In 2006, Pendleton got clean, and he has now been sober for 17 years. His friend who supported him through it is now his wife of 16 years, and they have two children.

Webb Edgington said that once people get treatment, they have to build recovery capital.

“Every time you do that, it’s like watering a plant, and it’ll grow a little more, and then it grows a little more, and then the next thing you know, you don’t have to worry so much,” she said.

In the first week of staying clean, Pendleton said everyone he thought was his friend, including family members, vanished.

“It was like, this time in my life, I’m like two weeks, a month sober wanting to have somebody to tell, somebody to be proud of me, and there was f***ing nobody,” Pendleton said. “Except for my one friend.”

Center serves have their GED or some college, and these disorders cut across all socioeconomic demographics.

Peters said they see a lot of people who are already in the workforce struggling with addiction.

“These folks are dealing with multigenerational trauma and probably a history of mental illness and drug misuse in their own families,” Peters said. “So, the internal family system is all out of whack.”

When people ask her what she does, Trenkamp said, they get a picture in their mind of someone who is suffering from substance abuse as a homeless person or thief and that they don’t care about themselves or other people.

“It’s actually the opposite,” Trenkamp said.

“These people, most of the time, are trauma-driven from childhood or domestic violence. Things make them just squash down those memories and traumas they’ve experienced.”

Webb Edgington said addiction is a severe brain illness.

“We as a society have to understand that with these serious illnesses, people are going to relapse,” Webb Edgington said. “Not everybody, but there will be relapses, and we can’t just give up on people when they do that.”

vent more generations from going into it,” Peters said.

Since the early 2000s when he received treatment, Pendleton said he has seen many treatment centers pop up, especially in rural areas. He would drive to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, from Clermont County, Ohio, to receive treatment. Whether people like it or not, Pendleton said, addiction has to be treated like a disease.

“Some people are never told they can get right, that it can be OK,” he said. “And that’s f***ing huge. You don’t have to believe it.

Just get them to believe it. Looking back on how paramount it was for my wife to be that person in my life. Who was like, ‘Yo, I think you can do this. I think you can not be like this. I think you can work this out. I think you can kick this. I think you can live differently. I think you can become something.’ Approaching addicts with that type of approach is really huge. We already don’t see ourselves as people, so you have to remind us that we got a fighting chance.”

One of the biggest problems in the region when it comes to addiction, Peters said, is stigma. She said the NKY Office of Drug Control Policy has treatment on demand, re-entry programs, attorneys on standby to help people with legal issues, Narcan, prevention efforts and community partners.

Still, people are afraid to reach out because of the stigma.

“This is not going to be solved in my lifetime, but I think we can reduce a lot of the harm, we can reduce the fatalities, we can do better with our families, and we can pre-

Now, Pendleton does things like co-hosting relapse prevention sessions and sponsoring students.

“I always tell people if you can step out on faith, if you can embrace the suck — and it’s so hard to do, it’s just easy to say — but if you have really been hitting it hard, you’ve really been living in a black hole, if you can get two or three days under your belt, if you can get five under your belt … the whole world opens,” Pendleton said.

“We just don’t do that as opioid addicts. We don’t get there because it’s such a physically addictive drug. So, f**k all the mental s**t before you even get to the mental s**t, you have a lot of physical issues to address.”

When it comes to addiction, those who work around people with substance use disorders say it is not just the guy on the street corner struggling. Webb Edgington said a lot of people who struggle with substance use disorders are educated people.

She said 65% of those that Life Learning

Life Learning Center participants celebrate their graduation in 2022. Photo provided | Life Learning Center

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6 DECEMBER 15, 2023

Some people, Pendleton said, need a hug and a pat on the back and to be told that it’s OK, like his wife did for him 17 years ago.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance use disorder, you can contact the NKY Office of Drug Control Policy’s helpline at 859-415-9280. Contact BrightView Health at 888-502-4571 or go to BrightViewhealth.com. Or contact the Life Learning Center at 859-431-0100.

Continued from page 1

The crowd was not pleased with Craig’s statement. Boos and jeers filled the chambers, and Mayor Joe Meyer banged his gavel to try and quell the noise.

also called upon the commission to oppose both current and future U.S. military aid to Israel. Finally, he asked the commission to support a ceasefire.

“We’re treating everybody with respect here,” Meyer said. “Everybody listened, and we’re not going to have a reaction.”

Ahmad revised his original proposal for the meeting on Dec. 5, where he added language to include disavowals of antisemitism, expanding his remarks to include condemnations of “all conflicts causing harm to innocent human beings in Israel, Palestine and many other nations suffering from violent conflicts all across the world.”

He also added language asking the city to recognize that “our Palestinian, Muslim and Jewish communities in the city of Covington are all impacted by the ongoing violence” and asked the commission to support the release of prisoners on both sides.

Municipal resolutions have little concrete power; they’re not binding pieces of legislation like a city ordinance or state law. But they can be a way for cities to demonstrate support for a particular policy or send messages to lawmakers at the state and national level.

One other Covington resident, Thurman Wenzl, a regular fixture at public meetings who frequently speaks on issues of housing and tax policy, spoke in support of the resolution. Wenzl’s statement drew particular attention to U.S. military support of Israel.

He also argued that criticism of Israel or Zionism wasn’t the same as antisemitism.

“What we’re here to oppose [is] not Judaism or Jewish people,” Wenzl said. “We’re

The commission members did not discuss the comments, but attendees shared their thoughts with LINK nky after the meeting adjourned.

“I’m disappointed with how things are going in terms of government action that’s being taken, but it gives me hope to see people come together like this, even just on a small level,” said Tess Grant, a Westwood resident who learned about the meeting on social media.

A meeting attendee holds a sign at the Dec. 5 meeting. Photo by Sydney Bellm | LINK nky contributor

opposing antisemitism and opposing U.S. military aid to perpetuate what’s going on.”

One person, Rob Craig, an attorney who lives in Fort Mitchell but who works in Covington, spoke out against the resolution.

“I have to ask, first of all, the city deeply consider whether it’s appropriate to take up this proclamation right now,” Craig said.

Craig argued that the city ought not to take any position on international issues and described the proposed resolution as “one-sided.”

“The ceasefire that was in effect last week would have continued if Hamas had chosen to continue to release hostages,” Craig said. “But they refuse to do that. Israel has a right to protect itself. It’s not a question of Zionism. It’s a question of if a lawful state has a right to protect itself.”

“They’re actual people that are getting massacred,” said Sarah Wood, a Palestinian American who lives in Cincinnati. “And they just don’t want to say ‘massacre.’ They don’t want to say ‘genocide.’ They don’t want to say ‘ethnic cleansing,’ but when is it enough?”

LINK nky reached out to Craig for additional comment, but he had not responded by the time this article was published.

Craig called for the resolution to be reconsidered and rewritten and offered to help Ahmad do that if he wished. Craig left the meeting shortly after he spoke, but Ahmad told LINK nky that they had exchanged phone numbers.

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Holmes High School ventilation project cost climbs to $7.1 million

By Nathan Granger

T

he Covington Independent Public Schools Board of Education approved a $7.1 million ventilation project for Holmes High School at its Nov. 30 meeting.

The project will see improvements to the ventilation systems throughout the entire building. The new system will draw fresh air into the building and circulate it throughout. It also includes attendant electrical infrastructure, masonry, framing, lighting and other construction. Finally, the construction will replace the building’s boilers.

The board had sent the project out for bid at the end of September, following a tax increase aimed at enhancing the district’s ability to build and improve its facilities.

The hike was framed by confusion and invective, and eventually, one board member, Hannah Edelen, even publicly expressed remorse for casting her vote in favor of the increase.

The ventilation project approved in the recent meeting is unrelated to the potential air conditioning improvements on the Holmes campus that occupied the board and public’s discussions during the tax hearings.

Statements from district staff at the board meeting in September indicate that the ventilation project’s original cost estimates clocked in at about $4.2 million, but the lowest project bid from Schrudde & Zimmerman Construction put the project’s cost at about $7.1 million, largely due to costs associated with the boilers. The district had planned to use COVID-19 emergency funds to finance the project, but the new cost estimates forced the district to reappropriate funds from other parts of the budget, including the district’s general fund.

Although the board eventually voted unanimously to approve the project, some members weren’t pleased. Board member Stephen Gastright even went so far as to say that he wouldn’t vote to approve any more construction projects in the future unless the district could provide updated cost estimates on those projects.

“After tonight, I’m not going to vote for another [project] until we have updated cost estimates on all of them,” Gastright said.

“This is not any way to run a railroad, as they say, right? Because we’re not going to have enough money.”

Gastright estimated the cost of other proj-

ects in the works to be about $20 million.

He expressed dismay that the board was, in a way, compelled to accept the bid as the federal government would retract the COVID-19 money dedicated to funding the project if the board didn’t dedicate it to a project by the end of the year.

He was also frustrated that the increase in project costs would entail an increase in the contractor’s fee, which is 10% of the total cost of the construction project, whatever that figure ends up being.

Board President Tom Haggard, on the other hand, expressed concern that the project would eat up much of the district budget’s building cash, $1.13 million, for fiscal year 2024.

“That concerns me,” Haggard said, asking how the district would mitigate building damage in the event of an emergency without the cash. For example, “a pipe bursts at Latonia Elementary or some other capital need happens, like, what are we going to do?” he asked.

“If you had an emergency project or something like that, we would have to look in other funds to be able to do that,” Burtschy said.

“There’s an inherent risk here,” Haggard said. “It’s a calculated one that you all have made. This is probably the best path forward, [but] there’s a risk there.”

Burtschy said the district would get more building cash in July at the start of the next fiscal year. What’s more, she said, the district had money allocated in its contingency funds to deal with unexpected expenses.

“We’ve never had to really dip into contingency a lot of times for building projects, but it’s there that you could if you wanted to,” Burtschy said.

Eventually, Haggard called for a motion to approve the project. Gastright made the motion, and the board cast unanimous votes in favor. District staff expects the construction to be completed by the end of next summer.

Annette Burtschy, the district’s director of finance, said the district could reallocate the cash because it didn’t need it for bond payments.

A $7.1 million project will improve the ventilation system and related masonry, electrical and other structures at Holmes High School. Photo provided | Holmes High School

8 DECEMBER 15, 2023

Holiday events in Northern Kentucky for the whole family

I

t’s the holiday season, and Santa Claus has lots of toys for every good girl and good little boy. And Northern Kentucky has lots of fun for the whole family.

Whether you’re looking for something to do with your kids while they’re off school, need somewhere to take out-of-town family, or you’re looking for a Christmas-y date night, there are plenty of options for festive fun in NKY. From ice skating to visits with the big man himself to light displays and more, there’s something for everyone. Read on to find an NKY holiday event for you: Deck the Ya’lls Lightfest - Thomas More Stadium Thomas More Stadium is decked out in over 2 million lights in celebration of the festive season. This is the second annual iteration of this holiday extravaganza, and this year, there are eight immersive themed displays, plus an ice skating rink and more. Select nightly events include fireworks displays, date nights, kids free skating and “lights and leashes” for pet parents. Open daily through Dec. 31. Tickets start at $9 for kids, $13 for adults and $11 for military/seniors; kids under 3 are free. Find more information at decktheyalls.com.

Scuba Santa’s Water Wonderland - Newport Aquarium Head over to the Newport Aquarium to see Santa don a scuba suit and take a dip in the Surrounded by Sharks tank to visit with the tank’s three rare shark rays, Denver the loggerhead sea turtle and the rest of their fishy friends. While he’s diving, visitors can take the opportunity to tell him what they want him to bring them this holiday season. Wish-makers will also be able to color their own magic bubble to make sure their requests make it right to Santa’s ears. Open daily through Dec. 23. Scuba Santa is included with a general admission ticket for the aquarium, which starts at $22.99 for ages 13 and up. Find more information at newportaquarium.com.

The Reindeer Farm - Bowling Green While it is a bit of a drive, The Reindeer Farm in Bowling Green promises to get the whole family in the holiday spirit. Visit with live reindeer (yes, they are real animals),

play games on the farm, enjoy the indoor playground and spend time at the petting zoo. Food trucks and free hot chocolate are available every day, and adults can enjoy tastings with wine from local Carriage House Vineyards. On select days, there will be visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, plus book a reindeer encounter where guests can get in the pen with some reindeer.

Open daily through Dec. 23. General admission tickets are $15. Find more information at thereindeerfarm.com.

Winter Nights & River Lights - Purple People Bridge Walk the Purple People Bridge from Newport to Cincinnati and experience thousands of holiday lights, projected lighting, seasonal music, wreaths and views of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The bridge also features a 25-foot-tall Christmas Wish Tree, which connects with the community to provide gifts for individuals in need.

Winter Nights & River Lights is free to the public and is available through Jan. 7.

Winter Nights & River Lights on the Purple People Bridge features thousands of Christmas lights and projected lighting. Photo provided | Purple People Bridge

A Window Through Time - Behringer-Crawford Museum Celebrate Christmas past at the Behringer-Crawford Museum’s “A Window Through Time” exhibit. Visitors can view vintage feather Christmas trees, antique German ornaments, toys and more donated by Mary and Pat Ashcraf. Guests can check out the displays of British cottages and scenes, then take a trip to the “A Christmas Carol” display with Dickens-themed decor. Finally, stop at the classic “Holiday Toy Trains” display, which has been ongoing since 1992, featuring eight O-gauge Lionel model trains circling over 250 feet of track, with 30 moving accessories. The exhibit is available during museum hours through Jan. 7. Tickets are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors 60 and older, $5 for children ages 3-17. Find more information at bcmuseum. org.

Light Up The Fair - Boone County Fairgrounds Drive through over a million lights throughout the Boone County Fairgrounds during the sixth annual Light Up The Fair at the Boone County Fairgrounds. Visitors can enjoy the 2-mile drive-through route from the comfort of their warm cars by tuning their car radios to 97.7 FM and watching the show, which lines up with the broadcast music. Open daily through Dec. 30. Tickets are $7 per person or $25 per car (up to eight passengers); children under 3 are free. Find more information at lightupthefair.com.

Scuba Santa swims with sand tiger sharks at the Newport Aquarium. Scuba Santa’s Water Wonderland is open daily through Dec. 23. Photo provided | Newport Aquarium

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LINK nky Team of the Week for Nov. 20-26

Cooper football team Photo provided | Ed Harber

ChristmasTown 2023 - Creation Museum

Live reindeer are the star attraction at The Reindeer Farm in Bowling Green. Photo provided | The Reindeer Farm on Facebook

Walk through the Creation Museum’s botanical gardens, which have been lit up with thousands of lights, creating the Garden of Lights this Christmas season. This free event includes access to a petting zoo and children’s playground, plus performances at Legacy Hall. Open Tuesday through Sunday through Dec. 30. ChristmasTown is free with the cost of parking; tickets to the museum are separate. Find more information at creationmuseum.org.

As a reminder, our honor is available to any athletics team from any sport at any level – from high school and collegiate to youth to recreational and beyond. Readers can scan the QR code to head to linknky.com to vote for the next Team of the Week.

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DECEMBER 15, 2023 9

kenton county briefs Kenton County votes to allow members of public to examine voting machines The Kenton County Board of Elections voted Dec. 4 to allow the public and news organizations to view the internal mechanisms of the voting machines the county will use in the 2024 election at a special demonstration early next year.

The board set a preliminary date and time for the event as Saturday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m., the exact time of which may change in the coming months depending on the board members’ schedules.

Gabrielle Summe, the chair of the board of elections and the county clerk, proposed the idea as a means of allaying worries about election fraud. Republican Representative Board member Scott Kimmich said he would like to invite the county’s mayors to attend the event, as well, in case they had questions.

“I don’t know if we’ll change people’s minds, but I would rather be real open about how the equipment functions and what’s inside,” Summe said at the meeting.

In October, the board voted to disallow the use of portable Wi-Fi detectors at polling places for fear the devices could be used to pilfer voters’ data or otherwise interfere with polling security.

Voting machine vendors vary from county to county, but each vendor must pass strict

federal and state guidelines before the machines can be used. Per Kentucky statute, all voting machines in the commonwealth are air-gapped, meaning they lack the technology for internet connectivity.

The only three vendors certified in Kentucky are Hart InterCivic, Election Systems & Software and MicroVote. Kenton County uses Election Systems & Software machines, the marketing materials of which state that they’re never connected to the internet.

The next Kenton County Board of Elections meeting is scheduled for 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11.

Covington commissioner Washington announces his mayoral campaign

cus on economic and workforce development and other measures to build out Covington’s business and cultural landscape.

Meyer announced his retirement at the Nov. 28 City Commission meeting.

“It’s time,” Meyer said. “It was a difficult decision. I love this city. Of all the jobs that I’ve had, my favorite has been mayor.”

Meyer’s last day as mayor will be Dec. 31, 2024.

Thomas More working to revamp theater program, bring in other arts elements

Prior to sitting on the commission, Washington worked in Florence, where he was the city police department’s first African American officer. He also worked for the Kenton County Sheriff’s Office.

Washington said he hopes, if elected, to fo-

“What we’re trying to do is to broaden your idea of what a career in the arts could look like,” Webster said.

Webster said all of those elements may fall under dramatic media, but they don’t necessarily comfortably fall into theater. In the past, Thomas More’s theater program focused on training traditional theater generalists and teachers.

The university already offers things like podcast production courses, but Webster wants to combine expertise between programs. He said they are trying to figure out how to give students the skills without them necessarily having to take a course.

Covington Commissioner Ron Washington threw his hat into the ring for mayor on Dec. 1, three days after Mayor Joe Meyer announced his retirement.

“We have accomplished quite a bit in the past several years,” Washington said in a press release. “But we need to make decisions and take actions that keep the momentum going. I’m ready to do that.”

The university’s new theater director, Phillip Webster, is looking to put his own stamp on the program after starting as the director in August. He has begun to reconceptualize the curriculum to not just a theater program but what he calls “dramatic media,” which would include elements of film, podcasting and game design.

A production of “Twelfth Night” took place at Thomas More in October. The university is revamping the theater program. Photo by Amber Konerman | Thomas More student photographer

Thomas More University’s theater program is working toward exposing its students to other aspects of arts and entertainment that can open their experiences after they graduate.

“We’re trying to combine our brains (a faculty member in podcasting) with taking her technical expertise, my experience in storytelling and acting, and moving toward being able to do film stuff,” Webster said.

“And the same with podcasting. I think all the podcasting projects they’re doing are more essayistic journalism-type things, and I want to move toward radio dramas.”

Another area that Webster said was important to him was the use of film in the program. He said many theater programs

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offer an acting-for-the-camera type of class, but they might not actually sit down and make a movie.

“They might have a class dedicated to that, but it isn’t really folded into their artistic practice in the same way,” Webster said.

He is setting up plans for the next school year to start offering a class that would teach students some of those skills with the end goal of creating a film that would premiere in the theater. The program already has three to four big plays it puts on each year, and a movie would replace one.

Webster said theater is really tough, and not everyone goes on to success.

“You should be thinking about film, television, making your own YouTube series, or making your own podcast as an actor, you’re crazy,” Webster said. “If you’re not thinking about how I can do voiceovers, can I do voiceovers for video games and audiobooks. Two of my most successful colleagues from NKU, whom I went to undergrad with, do audiobooks.”

One of those colleagues from Northern Kentucky University, Webster said, trained as an opera singer. All that studying refined her speaking voice, and now she does a lot of voiceover work.

Deadline to apply for small-business incentives for Covington ends Dec. 29 The deadline to apply for small-business incentives through the city of Covington is Dec. 29. There is currently about $128,000 remaining in the program’s funding allocation, according to a recent announcement

from the city.

The small-business incentive program began as a way of attracting and investing in local businesses in Covington.

“The program helps new businesses get off to a strong start by reducing operating costs in their first year in a brick-andmortar space,” said Covington Business Attraction Manager Susan Smith in the announcement. “It’s a game-changer to help businesses find a home, sooner rather than later. Existing businesses in Covington are eligible if they have substantial expansion plans.”

The deadline in December is for the second round of incentive awards for this fiscal year, for which the city has allocated $150,000. Incentives include rent subsidies of up to $500 a month for first-year rent for 12 months for new and expanding businesses; a forgivable loan of up to $6,000 to match dollar-for-dollar investments in façade improvements to a commercial building, such as for paint, lighting or windows; or a 3-to-1 match of a forgivable loan up to $7,500 to repair historic electric signage.

Go to thecovky.gov/incentives-resources for more information on the incentive program.

Urban Garage: Covington shows off newest historic building restoration Another historic downtown Covington building has received a face-lift after years of vacancy.

Dubbed the Urban Garage, 429 Greenup St. was transformed from a dilapidated mechanic’s shop into a new space for Covington-based video production company The PPS Group. The building will be used as the new home for The PPS Group’s film and video archival division.

On Dec. 7, Covington city officials attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the business.

“We’re here to celebrate the grand reopening of a warehouse,” Covington Mayor Joe Meyer said. “But it’s not just any warehouse.

It’s the magnificent addition to a gem of a company.”

Developer Al Haehnle was in charge of the restoration project. Haehnle has worked on other building restorations in Covington, including the $11.3 million Monarch Building project — now the home of DBL Law. At the ceremony, Meyer praised Haehnle as “inventive, creative and high-energy” and said his projects have helped contribute to Covington’s resurgence.

The PPS Group moved to Covington in 2008 after decades in Cincinnati. The company was founded in 1981.

Covington Mayor Joe Meyer, center, helps cut the ribbon with Paul Calardo, sales manager of Scene Savers, left, and Jim Bird, president of The PPS Group, at right. At far right is Patrick Duffy, business retention and expansion specialist with the city’s Economic Development Department. Photo provided | City of Covington

Previously, 429 Greenup Street housed Level 3 Auto Works, a car detailing and window tinting business. It moved to a different space at 2317 Donaldson Ave. in 2021.

The building was last sold on July 17, 2022, for $675,000, according to Kenton County property records. The Kenton County Property Valuation Administrator’s website lists 429 Greenup Street LLC as the building’s owner. Constructed in 1900, the building is one story tall and covers 4,512 square feet.

Some of the services The PPS Group company provides include shooting video, creating motion graphics, 3D animation and color grading for video projects. The company has created commercials for the Kentucky Lottery, Ohio Lottery and Agave & Rye. Currently, the company’s headquarters is located just a short distance away from the Urban Garage at 424 Scott Blvd.

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DECEMBER 15, 2023 11

news from other places Under settlement, Ky. jail must let inmates access medications to treat opioid use disorder LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Inmates at an eastern Kentucky jail are guaranteed access to medication for opioid use disorder under a settlement between the U.S. Justice Department and the Big Sandy Regional Jail Authority.

The Americans with Disabilities Act protects people in recovery from the disorder, and the settlement requires Big Sandy Regional Detention Center to ensure that medically appropriate treatment with any FDA-approved medication is available, U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier said in a Dec. 4 statement.

"Access to medications that treat opioid use disorder saves lives, and we are pleased we were able to reach a settlement with the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center to better ensure access to this important treatment for the people in its custody,” Shier said.

The agreement follows an investigation by the Justice Department that stemmed from a complaint by a medical provider on behalf of an inmate. The complaint alleged that the jail refused to provide an inmate with lawfully prescribed buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder.

Two babies infected by bacteria sometimes found in formula; FDA says no recall, no evidence of link

Infant Mira White, of Sikeston, Missouri, suffered brain damage after falling ill with bacterial meningitis. Lawyers representing her mother, Asian Davis, allege that the infection was tied to powdered infant formula contaminated with cronobacter sakazakii. Photo by Michael Thomas | Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The dangerous bacteria that sparked powdered formula recalls and shortages last year has infected two babies this year, killing a Kentucky child and causing brain damage in a Missouri infant.

Federal health officials confirmed on Dec. 7 that two cases of invasive infections caused by cronobacter sakazakii have been reported in 2023, both in infants who consumed powdered infant formula made by Abbott Nutrition, the company at the center of the 2022 crisis.

Food and Drug Administration officials said there was no evidence that the infections were linked to manufacturing and no reason to issue new recalls. The bacteria are found naturally in the environment and also can make their way into infant formula after the packaging is opened.

12 DECEMBER 15, 2023

“There is no indication of a broader public health concern related to this product at this time,” the FDA said in a statement.

Kentucky health officials notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Nov. 15 that a child who consumed Similac Total Comfort powdered formula died after being infected with cronobacter sakazakii.

The FDA said it “has not found evidence” of contamination after a Nov. 21 inspection at an Abbott plant. Officials did not identify the child or the location of the plant.

In Missouri, 6-week-old Mira White, of Sikeston, was diagnosed in early March with a brain infection caused by the bacteria, which was detected in an open container of Similac NeoSure formula in her home.

Earlier this year, the CDC warned parents to wash their hands and to sterilize equipment and the environment before feeding newborns.

Country star Tyler Childers, a Ky. native, set to perform at inauguration of Gov. Beshear FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Country music star Tyler Childers was scheduled to perform at Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's second inauguration, while health care workers and public school educators served as grand marshals of the parade as details of the daylong ceremonies on Dec. 12 came into focus on Nov. 30.

Other inaugural events in Kentucky's capital city included a breakfast reception, worship service and nighttime ball as Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman began their second four-year terms. Beshear laid out themes for the second half of his governorship during his inaugural speech.

The Democratic governor defeated Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron in the Nov. 7 election to settle one of the nation's most closely watched campaigns of 2023.

The inauguration ceremony in the afternoon was scheduled to include a performance by Childers, a native of Lawrence County in eastern Kentucky. Beshear said he got to know Childers when the singer performed at an Appalachian Regional Commission conference.

otter who was found alone and malnourished in the remote town of Seldovia in October and taken to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward.

Sam Randazzo, former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, faces a litany of charges in connection with a $60 billion bribery scheme that has been called the worst case of corruption in Ohio’s history. He has pleaded not guilty. File photo | Associated Press via Ohio governor’s office

lic Utilities Commission of Ohio, faces an 11-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury Nov. 29 centered on allegations that he accepted bribes from Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. in exchange for regulatory favors, U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker's office announced. Randazzo made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.

The long-awaited indictment is the latest development in what has been labeled the largest corruption case in Ohio history, and while the $1.3 billion bailout was partly repealed after the scandal broke, advocates say the stunning and systemic disdain for utility consumers that was displayed has yet to be addressed with adequate new safeguards.

Randazzo, 74, resigned in November 2020 a month before Republican Gov. Mike DeWine nominated him as Ohio’s top utility regulator. He faces one count of conspiring to commit travel act bribery and honest services wire fraud, two counts of travel act bribery, two counts of honest services wire fraud, one count of wire fraud and five counts of making illegal monetary transactions. If convicted as charged, Randazzo could face up to 20 years in prison.

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was sentenced in June to 20 years in prison for his role in orchestrating the scheme, and lobbyist Matt Borges, a former chair of the Ohio Republican Party, was sentenced to five years. At least five FirstEnergy executives were fired as a result of the scandal. None has been charged.

Found alone, malnourished in Alaska, 8-week sea otter finds new home at Chicago aquarium

“You could tell how important home and place is to him,” he said.

Former top Ohio utility regulator pleads not guilty in case called state’s worst corruption ever COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s former top utility regulator pleaded not guilty to charges announced Dec. 4 in connection with a $60 million bribery scheme related to a legislative bailout for two Ohio nuclear power plants that has already resulted in a 20-year prison sentence for a former state House speaker.

Sam Randazzo, former chair of the Pub-

The 8-week-old sea otter is being called Pup EL2306 for now but will receive a proper name at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. Photo by Erin Hooley | Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — An 8-week-old arrival from Alaska chirps loudly before devouring ice chips in the nursery at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. He is Pup EL2306 — proper name to be determined — a northern sea

Shedd, one of only a few facilities in the United States with the resources to care for rescued otters, was contacted by the SeaLife Center and the aquarium’s otter team made the cross-country journey with the fluffy brown marine mammal who arrived in Chicago at the end of November.

“Caring for a little otter pup is just like caring for an infant,” including round-theclock feeding, said Lana Gonzalez, a manager of penguins and otters at Shedd.

The pup will remain in Shedd’s Regenstein Sea Otter Nursery for a few months, building bonds with the staff, and he will eventually be introduced to the otter habitat and the five other otters at the aquarium.

In Ohio, recreational marijuana is now legal, but there’s no place to buy it as legislators debate

Ohio voters approved the right for adults to sell and grow marijuana in November. It became legal on Dec. 7, but the governor and legislators are delaying implementation with debates and arguments over details. File photo by Tony Dejak | Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio's recreational marijuana users are officially in a state of limbo.

Growing and possessing cannabis became legal for adults in the state on Dec. 7, but there's still no legal way to buy it. That's because Gov. Mike DeWine and state lawmakers have yet to agree on legislation surrounding the rollout of a citizen-initiated statute that voters passed in November.

The state Senate passed a bill on Dec. 6, but the Ohio House adjourned without taking action. Representatives are vowing to uphold voters' will as they decide how much cannabis people should be allowed to have, what THC levels are legal and what the tax rate should be.

Rep. Jamie Callender said there's "no dropdead date” for implementing a legal sales plan and that growing marijuana at home or allowing possession can proceed according to the voters' wishes. He said he wants "to make sure we're thoughtful, that we've had adequate time to look at it and deal with the things that don't go into effect immediately.”

Lawmakers had four months last year to act. As a citizen-initiated statute, Issue 2 had to be submitted to the Legislature first.

After the GOP-controlled Legislature chose to do nothing, the measure was placed on the Nov. 7 ballot and passed with 57% of the vote.

calendar

December Friday

Saturday 15

Sunday 16

Happy Cov Holiday Party, 5-7 p.m., Commission Chambers at City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., Covington. Sponsored

by Covington Parks and Recreation Department.

Celebrate the season, decorate an ornament, enjoy refreshments and play games. Free. Please register at covparks@ recdesk.com.

Monday 17

Basque Brunch: Hamaiketako!, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Conserva tapas bar, 225 Elm St., Ludlow.

Celebrate the traditional brunch ritual from the Basque country of Spain. Visit conservatapasbar.com.

Tuesday 18

Campbell County Board of Education meeting, 6-7 p.m., Alexandria Educational Center, 51 Orchard Lane, Alexandria Edgewood City Council meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., City Building, 385 Dudley Road, Edgewood Fort Thomas City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., City Building, 130 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas

Wednesday 19

Florence City Council caucus meetings, 6-7 p.m., City Building, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence Covington Commission caucus meeting, 6-7 p.m., City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., Covington Highland Heights City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., City Building, 176 Johns Hill Road, Highland Heights

Thursday 20

Campbell County Fiscal Court meeting, 5:30 p.m., County Administration Building, 1098 Monmouth St., Newport

21 Alexandria City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., City Building, 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

Campbell County Fiscal Court, 5:30-6:30 p.m., County Administration Building, 1098 Monmouth St., Newport Fort Wright caucus meeting, 6-7 p.m., City Building, 409 Kyles Lane, Fort Wright Villa Hills City Council meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., City Building, 719 Rogers Road, Villa Hills Southgate City Council meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., City Building, 122 Electric Ave., Southgate Boone County Planning Commission meeting, 7-8 p.m., County Fiscal Court, 2950 Washington St., Burlington

For more events, scan the QR code or visit: https://linknky.com/events/

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DECEMBER 15, 2023 13

real estate

Contemporary Covington home features luxury finishes Address: 330 Pike St, Covington Price: $638,000 Bedrooms: Three Bathrooms: Two (plus two half-baths) Square feet: 2,860 School district: Covington Independent County: Kenton Special features: Plenty of unique finishes define this contemporary Covington property. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom home offers nearly 3,000 square feet of living space. Luxury finishes throughout the home include heated concrete floors on the first floor, plus the kitchen offers custom cabinets and dolomite countertops.

Outside offers a fenced-in backyard, a concrete patio, plus a one-car garage.

Luxury finishes at this property include heated concrete and solid oak floors. Photo provided | Christine Wesdorp with Sparen Realty

This modern-style Covington home features plenty of living space. Photo provided | Christine Wesdorp with Sparen Realty

This kitchen offers custom cabinets and dolomite countertops. Photo provided | Christine Wesdorp with Sparen Realty

Top Sales of the Week Address

WHO

YOU’RE WITH

MATTERS

Deron G. Schell Senior Sales Executive

HUFF REALTY 859.640.5149 dschell@huff.com

14 DECEMBER 15, 2023

City

Price

2512 Arla Court Crescent Springs $1,200,000 20 Mayo Avenue Fort Thomas $535,000 1121 Carpenters Villa Hills $530,000 4550 Elderberry Court Burlington $485,000 3103 Alderbrook Drive Independence $375,000 6222 Whitebark Court Independence $375,000 1158 Fawnwood Drive 266WW Independence $374,900 9640 Soaring Breezes Union $355,000 10771 Crown Pointe Drive Union $329,000 6262 Fox Run Lane Florence $295,000 9104 Timberbrook Lane C Florence $294,000 112 Creekstone Court Cold Spring $273,000 3915 Arrow Court Florence $247,000 30 Pine Hill Drive Highland Heights $230,425 579 Rivers Breeze Drive Ludlow $230,000 470 Independence Station Rd. Independence $220,000 6915 Parkview Drive Florence $192,000 4025 Cider Mill Court 102 Burlington $189,900 145 Saddlebrook Lane 608 Florence $169,000 13 Meadow Lane 3 Highland Heights $167,000

Recent NKY Home Sale Data Sale Date

Address

City

Price

Sale Date

12/1/23 11/30/23 12/1/23 12/1/23 11/30/23 12/5/23 12/4/23 11/30/23 11/30/23 12/1/23 12/1/23 11/30/23 11/30/23 11/30/23 12/1/23 11/30/23 11/30/23 12/1/23 12/4/23 12/1/23

1102 Troopers Crossings 12032 Blue Ash Lane 153AL 10339 Sharpsburg Drive 1335 Brisbane Court 106 S Main Street 301 Snow Shoe Drive 131 Electric Avenue 170 North Street 132 Fort Beech Drive 410 Bracht Piner Road 107 S Main Street 10741 Clearlake Way 340 Timber Ridge Drive 7 1364 Meadowcrest Circle 1374 Meadowcrest Circle 1003 Saratoga Street 730 Maple Avenue 1 10204 Scarlet Oak Drive 3126 Windermere Hill 629 Washington Avenue AE

Independence Independence Independence Independence Crittenden Southgate Southgate Southgate Southgate Crittenden Crittenden Independence Wilder Independence Independence Newport Newport Independence Independence Newport

$260,000 $357,500 $319,900 $275,000 $215,000 $345,000 $280,000 $292,000 $270,000 $215,000 $100,000 $229,900 $115,000 $434,782 $395,998 $340,000 $675,000 $296,000 $489,900 $840,000

11/9/23 11/9/23 11/9/23 11/10/23 11/13/23 11/14/23 11/15/23 11/16/23 11/20/23 11/22/23 11/29/23 11/29/23 11/29/23 11/30/23 11/30/23 11/30/23 12/1/23 12/4/23 12/4/23 12/5/23

features

Streetscapes munches empanadas, ‘dive’ food on West Pike Street

By Maria Hehman

on the Anchor for more than 75 years.

his Streetscapes explores some of the most iconic dives in all of NKY and some new(ish) additions to West Pike Street in Covington.

From American classic burgers and beers to pocket-size pastries with flavors from all over the world, this Streetscapes explores some of the overlooked spots along West Pike Street.

Guests step back in time to the 1950s, when cash was the only currency and jukeboxes were in every diner. The Anchor Grill is still a cash-only establishment and has the decor to rival any ‘50s restaurant.

T

The charm and nostalgia of the Anchor have landed it recognition nationally among dive restaurants, a title it wears with pride. The Food Network and The New Yorker have tasted and raved about the Anchor; but we NKY natives get to experience this greasy spoon any time we may please.

The Empanada’s Box With a name like the Empanada’s Box, one would guess that the offerings stop short of anything outside of Mexican cuisine.

However, the Empanada’s Box gives guests flavors from all over the world, in handheld savory pastries.

The majority of its empanadas are named after a different city, state or country to reflect the flavors traditionally found there, with a few simply named after their ingredients. The Buenos Aires features ground beef, onion, bell pepper and green onion, while the Kentucky features bourbon smoked pork belly, bell pepper, mozzarella and Tabasco.

Options at The Empanda’s Box include the Jamaica, the Capri and the Jaipur. Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

The menu is broken down into five empanada categories; beef, pork, chicken, veggie and vegan, with ample choices in each category. Everyone, regardless of dietary choices and restrictions, has plenty of options. Vegans have choices of a savory Mumbai, a potato-and-pea samosa, or a sweet apple empanada with green apple, brown sugar, raisins and cinnamon.

The Cinci Chili is a fan favorite, with all the flavors of Cincinnati-style chili in a portable pastry.

Sides also cover the spectrum of flavors, with corn esquites, Asian noodle salad and yellow rice. These additions create a full meal with any empanada. The sides and empanadas all come in under $5, making for quick, cheap on-the-run options perfect for lunch breaks.

The Empanada’s Box has dine-in options, both inside and out.

At The Empanada’s Box, bold flavors come in pocket-size pastries. Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

Anchor Grill One of the most iconic places in all of NKY has been serving customers breakfast, lunch and dinner at all hours of the day.

Hungry travelers have been able to count

charming as your grandparents’ basement, you can pull up to the bar, order a burger and cold beer, and let the nostalgia wash over.

Have a street, city or business you want to see covered next? Email Maria Hehman at mchehman@gmail.com and it could be featured on the next installment of LINK Streetscapes.

Regardless of inflation, Anchor Grill is still able to keep menu prices low. Guests can find a plethora of options under $10. The menu consists mostly of breakfast, burgers and home-cooked classics. Seeing as it’s only a stone’s throw away from Glier’s goetta factory, it’s only fitting that its most famous dish is the GLT — goetta, lettuce and tomato.

This savory sandwich is good any time of day. And at the Anchor, they may doze, but they never close, so that’s truly an option for any hungry soul.

Herb and Thelma’s Tavern On the other end of West Pike Street sits another “dive” with a completely different atmosphere. Herb and Thelma’s is a tried-and-true burger joint. Much like the Anchor, it’s been in business over 75 years, is cash-only and has great food for cheap prices. It has more of a bar atmosphere and is a great spot for watching Sunday football.

Herb and Thelma’s Tavern serves tasty, classic cheeseburgers. Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

What to Know If You Go: The Empanada’s Box Location: 212 W. Pike St., Covington Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Website: theempanadasbox.com Phone: 859-279- 3297

Outside of its famous burgers, Herb and Thelma’s is best known for its bratwursts, fried bologna, chili and soups. The soups change seasonally and in the winter are the best pair to any sandwich.

The Anchor Grill

Check this place out on Coney Wednesdays, quite possibly the best way to celebrate making it halfway through the week.

Herb and Thelma’s Tavern

Every patron is warmly welcomed like they’re a familiar face, even on their first visit. With decor that is as quirky and

Location: 438 W. Pike St., Covington Hours: Sunday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

Phone: 859-431-9498

Location: 718 W. Pike St., Covington Hours: Sunday, noon-6 p.m.; MondaySaturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Website: herbandthelmas.com Phone: 859-491-6984

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16 DECEMBER 15, 2023

Rebels with a cause: Boone County seniors hope for winning basketball season

By Marc Hardin

ably from his average of 10 last season.

t’s the second week of the high school basketball schedule, and co-captains Maddox Jones and Eli Bodkin and fellow senior Mason Hall are discussing Boone County’s promising start. They are standing in the lobby that leads to the gymnasium at the school. Inside the gym, the girls basketball team is beginning practice.

The boys just completed a two-hour practice, and they’re feeling pretty good about themselves.

“He’s letting the play develop and taking more open shots,” Jones said of Hall, a 6-foot-4 swing player.

I

Hall also has expanded his game.

“I’ve been working down low, too,” Hall said.

“I feel like I’m bigger and stronger this year after playing football.”

“Everybody here feels like we have a good team,” Jones said. “We’re playing good team basketball.”

The Rebels revved up their confidence with a surprising bolt out of the gate that featured home wins against traditional powers Newport Central Catholic and Highlands, which have 19 regional titles between them. They added a road win against Tates Creek. The Rebels beat NewCath by 13 points. They beat Highlands by 22. They beat Tates Creek by eight for an average victory margin of 14.3. It added up to Boone County’s first 3-0 start in 10 years.

The Rebels didn’t win their third game last season until Feb. 2.

Boone County coach Nathan Browning (kneeling) goes over strategy in the win over Highlands. The Rebels moved to 2-0 with the 82-60 victory and won their first three games. Photo provided | Kristin Morvik

“That shows how much we’ve improved,” Bodkin said. “We came out with a chip on our shoulder, and our confidence is higher than ever before.”

Against the same three teams to start last season, the Rebels lost to NewCath by seven, they lost to Highlands by 27 and lost to Tates Creek by four. That’s a 49-point turnaround against Highlands, the 2021 state champion and winner of 23 games last season, 18 more than the Rebels.

By contrast, Boone County hasn’t had a winning season since 2017-18. Head coach Nathan Browning was a Rebels assistant that season. Entering 2023-24, the Rebels had lost 94 of their last 134 games.

“They’re all friends, and they have great chemistry. But this year, it seems like a light switch went on. It’s hard to explain. They’re just different this year,” Browning said. “We do have a new level of leadership. That’s part of it, but they’re also getting after it.”

Boone County’s Maddox Jones (31) averaged 15.4 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Rebels last season.

He’s one of nine seniors this season. G. Michael Graham | LINK nky contributor

Browning, a Boone County graduate in his fifth season as Rebels head coach, has had

previous success. He compiled a 103-20 record and won three district crowns while coaching the Ockerman Middle School eighth-grade basketball team. Browning was previously boys soccer coach at Boone County, where he led the Rebels to the state tournament semifinals in 2012.

There were some silver linings inside last season’s 5-20 basketball finish. The Rebels went 4-3 over their last seven regular-season games and were expected to return a bunch of seniors hungry for a winning season in their last chance for one. Eight seniors returned, and one was added.

“We’ve lost a lot of kids who went somewhere else, and these guys stuck it out,” Browning said. “They stayed despite not having a lot of success. It’s another reason why we want to win.”

A further delving into the numbers reveals why Boone County is better. The Rebels were statistically balanced the first three contests. Jones, a 6-5 post player, averaged 15 points per game. Bodkin, a 6-2 guard, averaged 13 points. Williams, a 6-foot point guard, averaged 12 points followed

by Moore (6 ppg) and Burks (5 ppg). Jones led with 11 rebounds per game, followed

by Bodkin (7 rpg), Hall (6 rpg), Burks (6 rpg) and Williams (5 rpg), who led the team with an average of 4.6 assists followed by Bodkin (4.3).

The Rebels are shooting at a better overall clip in the motion offense. Jones was shooting 60% from the field. Moore made four of his first five 3-point shots, helping the Rebels shoot 37% from long range. The Rebels shot 29% last year on 3-pointers. Hall made his first 11 free throws as the Rebels shot 77% from the line, up from 70%.

Other big differences were scoring, defense and rebounding. It’s early, and these are small sample sizes, but the Rebels pulled down an average of 30 rebounds the first three games. They averaged 25 rebounds last season. The Rebels averaged 73 points, up from last year’s average of 60. They yielded 59 points per game, down from 71.

“I’m really happy for our seniors,” Browning said. “They’ve worked hard for these improvements. They deserve to win.”

In addition to Jones, Bodkin and Hall, there’s also seniors Thomas Williams, Hunter Moore, Izaiah Burks, Brayden Clos, Marvin Bryant and Ahmed Abdulahi. Hall led the team in scoring during the early going with 18 points per game, up consider-

DECEMBER 15, 2023 17

NOTICE Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc. (“Duke Energy Kentucky” or “Company”) hereby gives notice that, in an application to be filed no sooner than December 11, 2023, Duke Energy Kentucky will be seeking approval by the Public Service Commission, Frankfort, Kentucky to revise KYPSC No. 2 Sheet 89 and to create KYPSC No. 2 Sheets 83 and 84, proposed to become effective on and after January 11, 2024.

Duke Energy Kentucky seeks approval to revise these rates as follows: Net Metering I Rider (Electric Tariff Sheet No. 89) This rider is renamed from Net Metering Rider to Net Metering I Rider. This rider will be grandfathered for current participants. Current interconnection requirements are not changed but they are deleted from this tariff sheet and placed into the separate new Electric Tariff Sheet No. 89, as described below.

The AVAILABILITY section will be revised, in accordance with KRS 278.465 through 278.468, to close the rider to new participation, specify that the rider will terminate 25 years after the effective date of KYPSC Electric No. 2 Sheet No. 84, or January 11, 2049, and to add that customers electing to terminate their participation in this rider will not be able to rejoin. Additionally, a provision will be added that customers who alter their generating facility beyond like replacement of equipment resulting in a material increase in the generating capacity will be removed from participation in this rider and will be required to reapply for interconnection under current applicable options for customer-generators. Finally, a provision will be added prohibiting customer-generators from simultaneous participation in this rider and any Distributed Energy Resource Aggregation or with any Distributed Energy Resource Aggregator, as those terms are defined by PJM or subsequent Regional Transmission Organization, other than an aggregation formed by Duke Energy Kentucky acting as the aggregator.

Rider Net Metering II (Electric Tariff Sheet No. 84)

Proposed New Service: AVAILABILITY Net Metering is available to eligible customer-generators in the Company’s service territory, upon request, and on a first-come, first-served basis up to a cumulative capacity, including capacity participating under KYPSC Electric No. 2 Sheet No. 89 Rider NM I, of 1% of the Company’s single hour peak load in Kentucky during the previous year. If the cumulative generating capacity of net metering systems reaches one percent (1%) of the Company’s single hour peak load during the previous year the Company’s obligation to offer net metering to a new customer-generator may be limited. This Rider NM II will be effective and available to eligible Customer-generators on January 11, 2024. An eligible customer-generator shall mean a retail electric customer of the Company with a generating facility that: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Generates electricity using solar energy, wind energy, biomass or biogas energy, or hydro energy; Has a rated capacity of not greater than forty-five (45) kilowatts; Is located on the customer’s premises; Is owned and operated by the customer; Is connected in parallel with the Company’s electric distribution system; and Has the primary purpose of supplying all or part of the customer’s own electricity requirements.

Eligible Customer-generators taking service under Rider NM II and a standard rate schedule with a two-part rate structure may continue to take service under a two-part rate structure for 25 years after the start of service under Rider NM II. Customers served under this Rider NM II will not be eligible for the Company’s Rider AMO, Advanced Meter Opt-out. In addition, customers receiving temporary service are not eligible for this Rider NM II. The term “Customer” hereinafter shall refer to any customer requesting or receiving Net Metering services under this tariff.

Regarding the net metering generating facility, Customer-generators are prohibited from simultaneous participation in both this Rider NM II and any Distributed Energy Resource Aggregation or with any Distributed Energy Resource Aggregator, as those terms are defined by PJM or subsequent Regional Transmission Organization, other than an aggregation formed by Duke Energy Kentucky acting as the aggregator.

Customer-generators who desire to participate in PJM markets through a third party aggregator must contact the Company and terminate participation in this Rider NM II prior to such wholesale market participation.

METERING The Company shall provide net metering services, without any cost to the Customer for metering equipment, through a standard kilowatt-hour metering system capable of measuring the flow of electricity in two (2) directions. This provision does not relieve Customer of his or her responsibility to pay metering costs embedded in the utility’s Commission-approved base rates.

The standard kilowatt-hour metering system shall use one of the following methods, as determined solely by the Company: (1) A single standard kilowatt-hour meter capable of measuring the flow of electricity in two (2) directions and registering the amount of flow in each direction in two separate registers, one measuring the flow of electricity from the Company to the Customer and the other measuring the flow of electricity from the Customer to the Company.

(2) If method (1) is not feasible, two standard kilowatt-hour meters may be used, one measuring the flow of electricity from the Company to the Customer and the other measuring the flow of electricity from the Customer to the Company or a single standard kilowatt hour meter capable of measuring the flow of electricity in two (2) directions and registering the net amount in one register, as determined by the Company.

Any additional meter, meters, or distribution upgrades needed to monitor the flow in each direction shall be installed at the Customer’s expense.

BILLING The Company shall measure the amount of electricity delivered by the Company to the Customer during the billing period, in accordance with one of the methods listed under “METERING”. The Customer bill will be calculated in accordance with the Customer’s standard rate schedule. Bill charges will be in accordance with the same standard tariff that would apply if the Customer were not a customer-generator. Billing for Customer demand is as described in the Customer’s standard tariff for receiving electric service.

The Company shall measure the amount of electricity delivered by the Customer to the Company during the billing period, in accordance with one of the methods listed under “METERING”. The Company will provide a bill credit for each kWh Customer produces to the Company’s grid. The dollar-denominated bill credit will be applied to the customer’s electric bill subject to minimum bill provisions of the standard rate schedule.

For each billing period, the Company will net the dollar value of the total energy consumed and the dollar value of the total energy exported by the Customer. Any bill credits not applied to a Customer’s electric bill in a billing period are “unused excess billing-period credits.” Any unused excess billing-period credits will be carried forward and drawn on by Customer as needed. Unused excess billing-period credits existing at the time Customer’s service is terminated end with Customer’s account and are not transferrable between Customers or locations. For joint accounts, unused excess billing-period credits will be carried forward as long as at least one joint account holder remains in the same location.

Excess generation purchases by the Company will be recovered in Company’s Fuel Adjustment Clause.

EXCESS GENERATION AVOIDED COST CREDIT RATE The Company will provide a bill credit for each kWh Customer produces to the Company’s grid using the rate below.

Excess Generation Avoided Cost Credit per kWh (Residential): $0.057132 Excess Generation Avoided Cost Credit per kWh (Non-Residential): $0.057463 APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS

18 DECEMBER 15, 2023

sports Covington Catholic, Cooper come up short in football state title games

Covington Catholic ran into a buzzsaw on Dec. 1 against Boyle County in the KHSAA Class 4A state championship game. Photo by Brandon Wheeler | LINK nky contributor

For the first time since 2015, a football state championship trophy won’t be coming back to Northern Kentucky.

Covington Catholic and Cooper were NKY’s hopefuls over the weekend on Dec. 1-2, but both came back home with losses.

The Colonels dropped the 4A title game to Boyle County, 41-0, while the Jaguars lost to Bowling Green, 28-14, in the 5A title game.

The Colonels were outclassed in all facets of the game and outgained 413-64. They trailed 20-0 at halftime and were never able to gain an ounce of momentum. It put an end to a 14-1 season, as they were undefeated going in. CovCath showed poise throughout the year with comeback victories over Highlands, Beechwood and Paducah Tilghman while persevering late in wins over Dixie Heights and Ashland.

CovCath will graduate 23 seniors that went 42-10 in their four years in Park Hills. The long list of seniors includes some of the

team’s most productive players, including Josh Flood, Owen Leen, Braylon Miller, Evan Pitzer, Ben Reeves and Willie Rodriguez.

The Jaguars struggled to convert turnovers into points in the 14-point loss to the Purples, unable to avenge the loss to Bowling Green in the 2012 state championship as well. Cooper had its chances but was unable to finish drives in the fourth quarter.

Cooper’s path to the title game included three wins against district champions on the road starting at Scott County, then winning at Southwestern before taking down Highlands in the semifinals.

Cooper’s future is extremely bright, as it will return the majority of its production next season. It graduates 12 seniors, most notably Mason Baesel, Lucas Hughes, Jack Lonaker and Carson Taylor.

NKU basketball standout Warrick gets Horizon League Player of the Week honors After leading the Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball program to a 2-0 start in conference play, guard Marques Warrick was named the Under Armour Horizon League Player of the Week, announced by the league office on Dec. 4.

Warrick and the Norse collected wins over Robert Morris and IUPUI. The senior started the slate off with 25 points on a 9-of-13 night from the field, to go with four rebounds, three assists and a game-best three steals as the Norse knocked off the Colonials 77-59 on Nov. 29. He followed it

up with 24 points, two assists and a steal in a 71-55 win over the Jaguars on Dec. 2.

For the week, Warrick averaged 24.5 points per game off an 18-of-28 shooting performance from the field (64.3 percent), which included a mark of 5-of-8 (62.5 percent) from beyond the arc. For his career, Warrick has played in 100 career games and scored 20-plus points in 42 of them.

The Lexington native is now slotted fourth in the Horizon in both scoring average (18.5 points per game) and points overall (148).

He is also third in the conference in made free throws (30), sixth in made three-pointers (18) and ninth in made field goals (50).

Griffin Elite Classic will show off top area, national basketball talent Dec. 15-17 The Griffin Elite Basketball Classic that runs Dec. 15-17 at Griffin Elite Sports and Wellness will feature the top talent in the area, while some national talent will also be making its way to Erlanger.

Local teams include Newport, Cooper, Lloyd Memorial and Covington Catholic taking on some of the top prep school programs in the country.

On Dec. 15 at 9 p.m., the Wildcats will face Huntington Prep out of West Virginia for the nightcap. Newport features Division I prospects in Taylen Kinney and James Turner, while Huntington has the No. 2 ranked player in the country for the Class of 2025 in Darryn Peterson.

On Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m., the Juggernauts will square off with IMG Academy out of Florida. Lloyd features a Top 100 player for the ’25 class in EJ Walker, while IMG won a high school national championship in 2019 and always has a loaded team, including four Division I recruits for the Class of 2024.

Cooper plays on Dec. 17 at 2:30 p.m. against Legacy Charter out of Florida. The last game of the day on Dec. 17 is Covington Catholic vs. La Lumiere out of Indiana. La Lumiere has arguably the best Class of 2025 back court in the nation, featuring 5 stars Jalen Haralson and Jerry Easter and 4 star Darius Adams. The Colonels feature Caden Miller, drawing offers from numerous Division I schools. Tickets can be purchased at https:// GEBC2023.eventbrite.com. A portion of the proceeds will go to a 16-year-old high school football player who was recently diagnosed with cancer .

Simon Kenton, NewCath, Dixie Heights winners at NKAC bowling tournament The Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference held its bowling tournament on Dec. 2 at Bellewood Lanes.

Team winners were the Simon Kenton boys and Dixie Heights girls in Division I, while Newport Central Catholic swept the boys and girls team titles in Division II. On Nov. 30, Dixie Heights eighth-grader Alyssa Bechtol rolled a perfect game in a match against Boone County, scoring a perfect 300.

DECEMBER 15, 2023 19

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