LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 3, Issue 6 - December 27, 2024
NKY shows up for mom after double lung transplant
By Haley Parnell
After 20 years of managing pulmonary fibrosis, Andrea Hall is breathing anew.
Hall was diagnosed as a 17-year-old Dixie Heights senior. Hall lived with the disease for 22 years – until Nov. 17. That’s when, at age 38, she received a double lung transplant.
According to the Mayo Clinic, pulmonary fibrosis is the scarring and thickening of the tissue around and between the air sacs in the lungs. These changes make it harder for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream. According to the American Lung Association, most people develop pulmonary fibrosis symptoms between 50 and 70 years old.
Hall’s mother, Rhoda Gross, told LINK nky that, when her daughter was diagnosed, she was the youngest patient with the disease in Northern Kentucky. She said Hall was losing 5 pounds a day, throwing up all the time, had headaches, and was misdiag-
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And the ‘Oscar of education’ goes to … Union teacher
By Nathan Granger
enna Stewart had no idea when she went to Longbranch Elementary’s gym the morning of Dec. 11 that she was about to win an “Oscar of education.”
JTeachers, district administrators, students, reporters, state leaders – including Kentucky first lady Britainy Beshear and Kentucky Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher – and many others packed the Union school’s gym. Then her name was read from a navy blue envelope, Academy Awards-style.
Cheers erupted, cameras flashed and the fifth-grade teacher came forward to accept the Milken National Educator Award. The recognition comes with a $25,000 prize.
The award, which recognizes excellence in education, was established by Lowell Milken, a California-based businessman and philanthropist. It’s awarded annually through the Milken Family Foundation, which Milken founded in 1982. The foundation does not accept nominations for the awards, and there’s no application. Winners are selected through a secret process and then reviewed by state blue ribbon panels.
This year, 45 educational professionals across the country were honored. Stewart was the only recipient this year from Kentucky.
Jane Foley, the Milken Educator Awards senior vice president (and previous recipient of the award), spoke at the Longbranch Ele-
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Andrea Hall, left, with her mother, Rhoda Gross. Photo provided
Jenna Stewart celebrates receiving the Milken National Educator Award with her students Dec. 11. Photo by Joe Ragusa | Kentucky Department of Education
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Continued from page 1 nosed at the first hospital she visited. Gross then moved her to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. After roughly six weeks, Children’s was able to diagnose Hall after a biopsy of a muscle in her leg.
Because of her age, Gross said Hall’s story traveled the world. She received letters from New York to Australia. At 17, Hall’s story was featured in the Kentucky Post and Cincinnati Enquirer.
“She pushed through it for 22 years with the same illness,” Gross said. “She’s a single mom. She’s got a daughter that’s 16 years old, and she made sure that she cared for her daughter. She worked every day since she was 17 years old.”
Before last month’s surgery, Gross said Hall wasn’t feeling well. Her oxygen level, which should have been at 99 or 100, was 37. Gross said she could hear the fluid in her lungs.
Hall was drowning from the fluid buildup.
“She was suffocating because she couldn’t breathe, and I said I’m calling 911,” Gross said.
Two days after being put on the transplant list, the family received a call that Hall would receive her new lungs.
Gross said her daughter is a fighter.
“When she was having her surgery, it started at 4 a.m., but they let me see her before
she went back, and I said, ‘Andrea, if the door tries to shut on you, you push that door open. You kick it – don’t let that door shut. You have something to fight for, yourself and your daughter.’”
Hall received treatment at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. She is in a long-term facility there, where she must remain for a few months. Hall, who turned 39 in the hospital on Dec. 7, must take anti-rejection medication for the rest of her life to ensure the lungs she received continue to work.
Gross has been commuting back and forth from Crescent Springs to Columbus weekly to see her daughter. “It gets expensive going back and forth with gas and hotel rooms,” Gross said.
She has also been caring for Hall’s daughter, Dior, while Hall is in the hospital.
‘One of our own’
Three Spirits Tavern in Bellevue is holding a fundraiser to help cover the family’s expenses while Hall is recovering. “We wanted to create an opportunity for our community to come together and support Andrea’s recovery while also having a fun time with family and friends,” said Charlie Zimmerman, a friend of the family and Three Spirits’ owner. “This event is a way for us to show our support for one of our own.”
Leslie Blair, Zimmerman’s wife, has been a friend of Gross and her family since the
1990s. “We have for sure shared some tears at the kitchen table as moms,” Blair said.
“I can only imagine how overwhelming it can be. A mother feels her daughter’s pain. I can’t wait for this to be behind her, and I pray for healing and progress each day.”
Prayer and faith are things Gross has leaned into through her daughter’s journey. She said that, without trust and faith, you won’t get anywhere.
“Andrea is a very strong lady who has fought to get to where she’s at today,” Gross said. “When Andrea got to the hospital, she was half gone, and she’s back.”
Gross laughed, “I can tell she’s back because she gives me mean looks again.”
Three Spirits Tavern is holding a fundraiser to help cover Gross’ expenses while Hall is recovering.
• When: 4-9 p.m. Dec. 28.
• Where: 209 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue.
• Who: Open to all who’d like to help.
• What: Silent auction, split-thepot raffle and portion of night’s drink sales go to Gross and her family.
The story of Hall’s diagnosis was featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer in 2004. Provided | Leslie Blair
Continued from page 1 mentary event.
“We recognize excellence in the other professions,” Foley told the students. “Athletes have most valuable player awards. Entertainers have Golden Globes and Oscars. In science and medicine, Nobel Prizes. But our educators, who have the most important job of all – they are teaching the people who are getting all the other awards; they’re teaching all of you – they don’t have that kind of a celebration. That’s just wrong. And the people at the Milken Foundation set out to change that.”
After additional remarks, Foley opened the sealed envelope and read Stewart’s name. The gym erupted as Stewart came forward.
Stewart is in her 11th year of teaching, nine of them at Longbranch. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2014 and is pursuing a master’s degree in counseling at the University of the Cumberlands.
Her students have achieved 90% proficiency or higher on state benchmarks. She cochairs the district’s Student Job Committee. She also hosts so-called porch pop-ins at students’ houses at the beginning of the
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school year, at which she encourages students to do their best in the coming year.
“I couldn’t be the teacher I am today without the support from the other teachers and staff members,” said Stewart, holding back tears, “and my students are what make me want to continue being a teacher.”
Stewart also spoke about the importance of fostering deep relationships with her students. “I want to get to know them beyond the campus,” she said. “I want them to see that they’re capable of doing anything.”
Stewart celebrated with her students at the end of the ceremony. She and other award winners will travel on an all expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles in April to receive their monetary awards and celebrate with a red carpet event. Stewart can spend the money however she wants.
Dr. Lauren Castellini Oncology
Longbranch Elementary fifth-grade teacher Jenna Stewart stands with her class at the ceremony on Dec. 11. Also pictured is Kentucky first lady Britainy Beshear (back with white coat). Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky
Officers honored for aid to accident victims
By Kenton Hornbeck
Five Kenton County police officers were presented this month with a Lifesaving Award – one of the department’s highest honors.
Kenton County Police Chief Spike Jones, who presented the awards during the Dec. 10 fiscal court meeting, recounted the officers’ actions.
Officers Jacob Brown, Jason Deacon, Travis Bryson, Michael Whitford and Sgt. Charles Duncan responded to a single-vehicle wreck June 30 near the intersection of Decoursey Pike and Alexander Road in south-
ern Kenton County. Upon their arrival, they saw two individuals who had been thrown from a motorcycle and were lying at the bottom of an embankment. Both had sustained critical injuries.
The officers sprang into action, assessed the patients and provided life-saving treatment. Jones said the officers placed tourniquets to seal open chest wounds, in-line stabilization for possible neck injuries, acted to control bleeding and to keep their airways clear. They continued life-saving care even as paramedics from the Piner-Fiskburg Fire District and Independence Fire Department arrived.
“Even after paramedics arrived on the scene, the officers continued to play an instrumental role in providing life-saving critical care until the patients were able to be transported up the embankment,” Jones said.
Both patients were retrieved from the embankment and transported to the hospital. Jones said both have since recovered and were even in the audience to witness the officers’ award ceremony.
Jones read a statement from Piner-Fiskburg Fire Chief Jason Schleue that recognized the officers’ critical life-saving actions. “There is no doubt in our mind that
these officers greatly contributed to the overall care and thus the chain of survival these patients needed to reach the outcome they have today,” Schleue wrote.
After the awards presentation, Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann praised the officers and thanked them for their service to the county.
“I know we don’t really get you to say thank you enough, but please know we’re always here to support you, and all the times you don’t get the appreciation [you] deserve, we want to just acknowledge your great service,” he said.
Five Kenton County police officers were honored Dec. 10 for acting quickly to treat two accident victims in June. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky
Business leaders: Invest in growth, growth, growth
By Kenton Hornbeck
Economic leaders from Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati in general are calling for a greater emphasis on growth heading into 2025.
Speaking at the final Covington Business Council luncheon of the year, Brendan Cull, president of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, and Brent Cooper, CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, implored business leaders to make growth-oriented investments, such as in infrastructure, housing and amenities, to secure the region’s future.
“I am unabashedly pro-growth. Our strategic plan is focused on growth,” Cull said. “We have three principles to it. It is making sure that we have a growing population, a growing economy and growing cultural vibrancy so that we create a community where everyone feels like they belong, and we should all be doing that.”
Cull said that, 75 years ago, the Cincinnati metropolitan area was the 12th most populous in the United States; it has since fallen to 30th. He said other metropolitan areas have surpassed Cincinnati by undertaking initiatives like investing in new infrastructure.
“Most of those cities that have jumped
above us were small cities, and they do not have to reinvest in their old infrastructure,” Cull said. “They were just constantly building new infrastructure.”
Cooper said Northern Kentucky must be proactive about large-scale projects that can spur economic growth. He noted that Northern Kentucky is facing a teaching,
nursing and housing shortage, which will only get tougher to solve as the region’s population ages.
Additionally, Cooper called out “anti-growth voices” in Northern Kentucky that he said could stymie growth the region needs. “I have experienced traffic and some of the disruptions that come from
high growth,” he said, “and I’ve also experienced no growth, and I can tell you that no growth is worse.”
One problem Cull sees hindering economic growth is the community’s tendency to focus on one specific project at a time instead of undertaking multiple projects at once. This, he said, can limit development and, thus, economic growth.
“Part of having a pro-growth mentality is to realize as a community that we have the capacity, the companies, the civic leadership to be able to do three and four and seven big things at a time, and we limit ourselves,” said Cull.
Cull and Cooper said Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky also must continue to lobby their respective state governments to invest more in local infrastructure and development projects. Both said each state’s government often invests more resources into cities like Louisville or Cleveland, despite Greater Cincinnati’s larger economic impact.
“If you think that Frankfort and Columbus, if you think that they’re paying as much attention to this metro area as they are Columbus or Louisville, you’re not reading the papers,” Cull said. “We’ve got to make sure that they see us and see the kind of growth that’s happening here, and not let everything happen in the backyard of where the state capital has to be.”
The Roebling Suspension Bridge is symbolic of Greater Cincinnati’s shared economic fate on both sides of the Ohio River. Photo by Hailey Roden | LINK nky contributor
Col. Sanders of
Nathanael Nunemaker didn’t grow up farming, despite his company’s name.
Nunemaker taught himself to grow peppers and other vegetables out of sheer curiosity during the pandemic. He started on a small patch of dirt in his Covington backyard. That curiosity has spawned Farmer Nate’s, a food company that sells hot sauce, spice mixes and branded merchandise.
“I’ve always wanted to grow my own food with some sort of self-sustainable aspect,” he told LINK nky. “I decided that was the time.”
The story of Farmer Nate’s is one of growth and abundance. He entered farming as a newcomer, eager to learn from any medium, whether trial and error or watching YouTube videos.
As he fell further down the rabbit hole, Nunemaker received an opportunity to work on a farm in Piner in southern Kenton County. The experience accelerated the learning process and gave him access to more land and resources. Nunemaker said the farm’s owner allowed him to grow anything he wanted. He chose peppers.
Nunemaker didn’t plan on making hot sauce until he became interested in preserving and jarring. After another session with YouTube, he realized that making his own custom hot sauces would be a fun way to preserve his peppers. That’s when he got the idea for Farmer Nate’s.
“It really opened my eyes to how many different flavors you could put into a small
bottle of hot sauce,” he said. “The rest is history. Now my bourbon cabinet has turned into a hot sauce cabinet.”
Nunemaker markets his sauces as natural and flavorful, emphasizing homegrown sustainability. The brand offers four flavors: Kentucky Tang, Curry Jalapeno, Smokehouse Habenero and a Louisiana style. Additionally, Farmer Nate’s sells Covington Gold Dust taco seasoning, which Nunemaker said is one of the brand’s most popular items.
In addition to its online store and Amazon, Farmer Nate’s products are sold in over 30 retailers in seven states, including Kentucky, Ohio, Colorado, Arizona, California,
“I think one of the core values of the brand is recognizing the conversations and relationships that can happen around food that tastes amazing and the impact that can have on someone’s life,” Huizenga said.
Both men want the brand to bring people together, providing them with the opportunity to connect over shared experiences through food. They believe their hot sauce can be at the center of this process.
This mentality can also be seen through the brand’s Farmer Nate character. Farmer Nate is a fictionalized version of Nathanael, who Nunemaker and Huezinga see playing the same role as a Col. Sanders-type mascot for the brand. They want Farmer Nate to connect with potential customers by portraying him as hard-working and down-toearth.
Tennessee and Washington. The company also reached an agreement with HomeGoods, a national retailer, to sell its products in stores across the country.
Building relationships is at the center of Farmer Nate’s success. Nunemaker and Jordan Huizenga, the company’s sales and customer relations director, want to convey this in the brand’s marketing.
While they’re not exactly the same person, Nunemaker shares the character’s aforementioned qualities, along with the signature hat and beard.
“We do see Farmer Nate as a personable kind of story and brand,” Huizenga said. “We want to continue to grow that over the next five to 10 years.”
Nathanael Nunemaker, the founder of Farmer Nate’s.
Three of Farmer Nate's signature hot sauce flavors. Photos provided | Farmer Nate's
Couple closes two Covington restaurants as unsustainable
Co-owners Bill and Morgan Whitlow posted the news on Rich’s Proper’s Facebook page. In the post, they said the businesses were no longer sustainable.
“There is never a good time to make such a difficult decision,” they wrote. “As owners, we have used every resource available to continue these concepts for our team, especially through the holidays, but we can no longer sustain. Our hearts are with our team as we push through these final days of business.”
Rich’s Proper, on the corner of Seventh Street and Madison Avenue, featured a diverse array of brunch, sandwich and dinner options, in addition to a deep selection of bourbons.
Hangry Omar’s served different types of sliders, including popular traditional and West Coast offerings. The restaurant operated out of a storage container kitchen on the outdoor campus of the Covington Yard.
The Whitlows thanked their employees for their dedicated service to both restaurants.
“It has been an honor to be part of such an amazing team, sharing our passions for great food, bourbon, memorable moments, and heartfelt connections with all of you,” they wrote.
The Whitlows also own the Opal Rooftop restaurant on the seventh floor of the Republic Bank building at 535 Madison Ave.
City seeks applicants for panel to help create strong mayor government
Covington is taking applications for a committee on changing the city’s government from its current city manager form to a mayor-council form.
The committee, officially the Committee on Form of Government Transition, will consist of nine yet-to-be-appointed Covington residents who will give recommendations to the city commission on how to go about the transition.
The city announced Dec. 10 it is seeking applicants. Mayor-elect Ron Washington, who will chair the committee and eventually make appointments from the pool of applicants, encouraged people to apply.
“We’re asking our citizens, take a look at that article,” Washington said. “If you’re signed up for our emails, you should have received an email on it. You can find it on social media. There’s a link within the article that will take you right to the application page.
“If that’s not your cup of tea, we have several other boards that we would love to have your expertise or your interest. I think the [mayor] would agree that that’s probably one of the hardest things to do, is to fill the many slots on our boards. So, we do encourage people to take a look and participate in their government.”
The commission voted to establish the transition committee at its Dec. 10 meeting. The action comes following a vote from Covington residents in November to change the government from its current
form to a mayor-council form, which is more common in Kentucky. About 7,500 Covington voters, roughly 61% of the votes cast, voted in favor of the switch.
Broadly speaking, the mayor-council form places more executive authority with the mayor, granting him or her greater latitude in running the city on a day-to-day basis. As a result, the mayor-council form is sometimes referred to as a strong mayor form of government.
In addition to Washington, City Attorney Frank Schultz, City Manager Ken Smith, City Clerk Susan Ellis and the newly-elected city commissioners will also serve on the committee, but as nonvoting members.
The mayor will appoint an administrator, who also will not have voting power, to coordinate meetings and handle other clerical duties. The group will meet once a month beginning in 2025.
Mayors group receives public service award for regional cooperation
The Kenton County Mayors Group, an informal group of Kenton County’s mayors who meet once a month to discuss how to coordinate their efforts better, has been honored with a public service award.
Called the Cincinnatus Government Cooperation Award, it recognizes the work of cooperative entities where multiple government jurisdictions work together for a broader regional purpose.
The award was actually given out for 2020 through a partnership with the Cincinnatus Association and the Greater Cincinnati chapter of the American Society of Public Administration, but the group wasn’t informed about the award until Dec. 14.
The Kenton County Mayors Group first convened in 1994. Although not an official government entity, the group serves as a way for the county’s elected leaders to coordinate, share information and advocate for countywide interests. They meet on the third Saturday of every month, except December.
St. E Physicians to launch at-home care pilot next year
St. Elizabeth Physicians, the primary health care wing of St. Elizabeth Healthcare, will launch a paramedicine pilot program next year with Covington and Florence. The program aims to reduce the number of avoidable emergency room visits and inpatient hospital stays among certain patient populations.
The program will provide at-home visits to certain patients in the St. Elizabeth Physicians’ network, particularly those dealing with chronic diseases like diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney diseases and heart problems.
The pilot program will seek to provide the patients with routine medical maintenance and advice in lieu of in-office visits. About 300 patients are expected to be served in 2025, according to a release from St. Elizabeth.
“As health care providers, we need to find ways to meet people where they are – and that includes in the home,” said Dr. Heidi Murley, president and CEO of St. Elizabeth Physicians, in the release.
Social workers from St. Elizabeth and paramedics from Florence and Covington will staff the program. Visits “will assess the patient’s needs, including safety of the home, mental health, food and transportation, and link patients to community resources when necessary,” the release said. “Community Paramedicine associates and team members will work with primary care to
St. Elizabeth Physicians will pilot a paramedicine program in Covington and Florence. Hailey Roden | LINK nky contributor
The sign outside of Rich’s Proper. Provided | Rich’s Proper on Facebook
reintegrate the patient back into a practice.”
The program will then collect data to determine its effectiveness by measuring the number of emergency room visits, follow-up appointments, and referrals.
A $175,000 grant from the Copic Medical Foundation is funding the effort.
No NKY licenses from final round of cannabis lottery
Kentucky awarded 12 additional medical cannabis dispensary licenses through a final drawing held Dec. 16 at the Kentucky Lottery Corp. in Louisville. No licenses were awarded in Northern Kentucky.
Sam Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis, said there were 4,075 applications for dispensary licenses.
In late November, the state awarded its first 36 medical cannabis dispensary licenses. Previous lottery winners were cultivators and processors.
While this is the final drawing for the program, Gov. Andy Beshear said that could change.
“Our hope is that, certainly, there will be additional conditions added later, whereby other Kentuckians will have access to treat chronic or difficult conditions,” he said. “If that’s the case or we see more people qualifying than the initial projection suggested, that will give us an opportunity to expand this medical cannabis program.”
In 2023, the legislature legalized medical marijuana for Kentuckians suffering from chronic illnesses. Then, the bipartisan House Bill 829 that became law during this year’s legislative session moved up the medical cannabis licensing timeline from January 2025 to July 1, 2024.
During the application period, from July 1 through Aug. 31, the state received 4,998 applications for medical cannabis business licenses, including 918 cultivator and pro-
cessor applications.
Patients who qualify for medical cannabis are those with a history of post traumatic stress disorder, cancer or other approved medical conditions.
Starting Dec. 1, the Office of Medical Cannabis launched a directory so qualifying patients can search for a provider near them that can write a certification for medical marijuana.
“It’s important to note that physicians and advanced practice registered nurses do not issue medical cannabis cards,” Flynn said. “Rather, they write certifications into our electronic monitoring system so when a patient applies for a card – which allows purchase of medical cannabis – their written certification will populate and the patient can click on it to associate the certification with his or her card application.”
So far, Flynn said, there are 230 registered practitioners in the state directory.
Fort Wright considers potential aesthetic changes to Kyles Lane overpass
Fort Wright is considering what to do about potential changes to the design of the overpass slated to go over Kyles Lane as part of the Brent Spence Corridor Project.
Discussions on new design alternatives the project had submitted to the city took place at a special meeting Wednesday night. The discussions piggy-backed off of discussions and presentations the city undertook
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in November, where the project pitched a plan to incorporate roundabouts on both the Fort Wright and Fort Mitchell overpasses.
While the roundabouts were mentioned on Dec. 18, they were not the focus of the discussion. Instead, the city council, mayor and city staff members discussed proposed changes to the aesthetic design of the overpass. Representatives from the Brent Spence Project did not attend the meeting, but the council hoped to begin summarizing their preferences on the design alternatives so they could submit them to the project early next year.
The project pitched its original design ideas last summer. The project has final say over the design, but they’re incorporating feedback from cities to inform their choices. It will be responsible for building the overpass, but once complete, the city will maintain it.
This became a central question on Dec. 18.
“From a long-term maintenance standpoint, I think, perhaps makes [the new design] better and less expensive for us, because that was one of my original concerns, even though [the original designs] looked awesome,” said Mayor Dave Hatter. “You know, there was a lot of potential maintenance that was going to come with this. We are going to be responsible for the maintenance of this when it’s done. So, I think in some ways it’s better from that perspective, but the overall look and feel, in my opinion, is nowhere near as good as the original design.”
There were some key differences from the designs shown last year. 2023’s designs featured taller and thinner support columns than the new recommendations. The sign affixed to the new design is smaller, only containing the words ‘Fort Wright’ rather than ‘City of Fort Wright,’ like the original design. The new design’s columns are shorter and stubbier, and the support beams are less elaborate. There are also various other changes to colors, lighting and other features.
“I can see that this is a less expensive version,” said City Councilmember Bernie Wessels.
The council discussed what their preferences were. Some liked the new columns as it seemed they would be easier to maintain than the taller columns of the original design.
There was disagreement about the color of the new building materials: Hatter and others liked the fortress-like aesthetic of the original design as it seemed to play into the city’s identity more. Most also preferred the overpass sign simply saying ‘Fort Wright’ instead of ‘City of Fort Wright,’ although Hatter expressed revulsion at the new sign proposal’s use of Times New Roman font.
There was also discussion about the fencing atop the overpass. Several council members believed it needed to be made out of aluminum to prevent corrosion. There was also broad agreement that the safety fencing cordoning off the expressway should be a decorative white color.
The second design recommendation featured the city’s shield emblem around the overpass at various points. By the end of the discussion, the council had begun considering potentially contracting out sign design to a third party.
As it related to the lighting, City Administrator Jill Cain Bailey recommended: “something that’s consistent with the light fixtures that are out in our community already, that we use in front of City Hall, so there’s that… feel of public space and a sense of cohesiveness.”
No final decisions were made at the meeting. The council will continue its deliberations next month and hopes to submit a list of preferences and recommendations to the corridor project early next year.
A bird's eye view of the proposed design changes to the Kyles Lane overpass as presented to the Fort Wright City Council in 2024. Image provided | The City of Fort Wright
By Maria Hehman
TBourbon, burgers, pizza: On the road in Augusta
his week, we’re taking a little road trip to Augusta.
For families who need a reason to get out of the house for a short trip, or anyone looking to keep the holiday season alive, Augusta offers small-town comfort with stunning river views and – most important – plenty of places to eat and drink.
Augusta is less than an hour from most Northern Kentucky residents, making it the perfect fun and festive day trip.
Augusta Distillery
There’s no better way to warm up in the winter than with a bourbon tasting.
There are many ways to enjoy Augusta Distillery’s single barrel creations: The place offers a variety of tours, a standard tasting and exclusive launch tastings. Guests can even create and bottle their own custom bourbon.
If you’re visiting on a whim or don’t have time for a full tour, you can visit and order drinks at the bar. Neat, on the rocks or blended in a slushie, there’s a bourbon-based drink for everyone from newbies to connoisseurs.
The distillery’s employees do an excellent
job of learning guests’ preferences to ensure they get a beverage they like. There is also lots of merch available for holiday or other shopping.
Beehive
Augusta Tavern
The Beehive is one of the cutest places Streetscapes has ever visited. It offers an elevated interior, with stunning views both inside and out, while still maintaining Augusta’s cozy and quaint charm.
The rainbow bar will catch your eye as soon as you enter. The rest of the space is equally beautiful, with both inside and, weather permitting, outside dining available. Outdoor balcony seating offers gorgeous river views, but we had to save that for a warmer day. Inside there are fireplaces with candles to create a cozy ambiance.
The menus offers farm-to-table takes on traditional tavern-like choices with a Southern influence. To keep with the Kentucky spirit, opt for the Kentucky hot brown or the honey bourbon fried chicken. Or go all in with steak, salmon or pork chops. End the evening with either honey pie, a chocolate martini or even both (we won’t judge!).
The Augusta Pub
For a more casual experience, check out the Augusta Pub, just a few doors down from the Beehive. You’ll find pub fare like fish and chips, as well as burgers, sandwiches and steaks. Choose among 10 rotating beer taps, or from bottles, cans, cocktails, wine and (of course) bourbon.
Pair any beverage with the pub’s famous giant Bavarian pretzel for an authentic pub experience.
Like many Augusta businesses, the pub pays homage to Augusta’s heritage with an old-school small town look. Indoor seating at the bar is perfect for relaxing with a beer on cold days, while the outside patio is ideal for enjoying live bands on summer days.
Carota’s Pizza
Taking a trip with kids? Try Carota’s Pizza, a casual eatery with food sure to please kids and adults. Parents with picky little ones can customize a pizza exactly to their liking, or more adventurous eaters can opt for a specialty pie.
The ranch pizza is a kid (and adult’s) dream, with a ranch dressing base, bacon, onions,
tomatoes, green peppers and both mozzarella and provolone cheese. It’s sure to hush even the hangriest member of your group.
Hoagies, sandwiches and pastas complete Carota’s Italian offerings. The restaurant’s indoor seating is picturesque, like an oldschool diner, while the majority of the seating is outside. On days the sun shines, there’s no better view than an outdoor pizza along the riverfront.
Location: 115 Main St., Augusta Hours: Sunday-Saturday, 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Phone: 606-756-2343
Beehive Augusta Tavern bar is decorated for the holiday season.
Carota’s Pizza has a menu to please young and old appetites.
Find a casual, small-town atmosphere at Augusta Pub.
Warm up in the winter with a bourbon tasting at Augusta Distillery. Photos by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor
Holly Jolly Days: From holiday toy trains to Lego displays, including a vintage Christmas collection, immerse yourself in Christmas memories at Behringer-Crawford Museum. Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: 1600 Montague Road, Covington. Cost: Free for members, children under 3; $9 for adults; $8 for 60 and over; $5 for children 3-17. More info: bcmuseum.org.
Deck the Y’alls Lightfest: More spectacular than ever, featuring a breathtaking interactive light display of holiday cheer. Stroll through illuminated paths, marvel at themed installations and capture unforgettable memories. Time: 5:30-10
p.m. Location: 7950 Freedom Way, Florence. Cost: $11 to $15; ice skating additional $5-7. More info: decktheyalls.com.
Mojo Blues Cats: The Bluesiest Cats around: Come out for an evening with one of Cincinnati’s premier blues bands – the Mojo Blues Cats. Time: 8 p.m.-midnight. Location: 502 Washington Ave., Newport. Cost: Free. More info: mansionhilltavern.com.
For more events, scan the QR code or visit: https://linknky.com/events/
The Workshop: The region’s best comedians work out their best new material every Monday. Time: 7 p.m. Location: 522 Fifth Ave., Dayton. Cost: Free. More info: commonwealthsanctuary.com.
Kids New Years Eve Celebration at Velocity Newport: Ring in the new year with a party for the whole family. Time: 12:30-2:30 p.m. Location: 1 Levee Way, Newport. Cost: $35$125. More info: bit. ly/4flfJTW.
Family New Year’s at Bircus Brewing: Ring in 2025 with a family-friendly New Year’s Eve Party. Time: 6-8 p.m. Location: 322 Elm St., Ludlow. Cost: $25$100. More info: bit. ly/3P10OUi.
Gilded Eve/New Year’s Eve at Second Story: Lavish celebration at Second Story with open bar, delicious food and golden memories. Time: 7 p.m. Location: 100 W. Sixth St., No. 2, Covington. Cost: $125. More info: bit.ly/4gjcUUG.
New Year’s Eve in Downtown Bellevue: Support local and make your New Year’s Eve unforgettable. Time: 7 a.m.-midnight. Location: 200-700 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue. Cost: Free. More info: visitbellevueky.com.
Tall Bedroom dresser
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Kenton County Fiscal Court is seeking sealed bids for self-service kayak rentals for Doe Run Lake, located at 1501 Bullock Pen Road Erlanger, Kentucky 41017. Bid documents are available on the Kenton County website at www.kentoncounty.org or may be picked up at the Purchasing Manager’s Office, located within the Kenton County Administration Building at 1840 Simon Kenton Way, Suite 5100, Covington, KY 41011. All bids must be submitted to the Purchasing Manager’s Office and received by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2024.
KENTON COUNTY FISCAL COURT
KRIS A. KNOCHELMANN, JUDGE/EXECUTIVE
SCAN THIS QR CODE TO GO TO OUR DIGITAL PUBLIC NOTICE PAGE
CIRCUIT COURT CASE NO.: 24-CI-01406
FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF CINCINNATI VERSUS} RICHARD E. SIZEMORE, ET AL
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered NOVEMBER 19,
Kentucky now allows for Public Notices to be published digitally on LINK nky’s website. You can find public notices for the following organizations on our site at https://linkreader.column.us/search
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NOTICE OF THE BOONE COUNTY MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE DIVISION I BOONE CIRCUIT COURT CASE NO.: 24-CI-00518
BBI PROPERTIES, LLC VERSUS}
JEFF T. LOVELL, ET AL
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered NOVEMBER 19, 2024 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
• Planning & Development Services of Kenton County
• The Baker Firm PLLC
• The Hidden Chapter Bookstore LLC
NOTICE OF THE BOONE COUNTY MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE DIVISION I BOONE CIRCUIT COURT CASE NO.: 24-CI-01300
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC VERSUS} TERRY SENECHAL, ET AL
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered DECEMBER 16, 2024 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
rebounds in Lloyd’s 4-0 start. Anthony Blaackar has been a solid complement, averaging 19.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Three coaches earn first wins with programs
Highlands girls basketball coach Jaime Richey was recognized Dec. 10 in the Bluebirds’ contest against Holy Cross for earning her 450th win as head coach. She notched that milestone with Highlands’ 47-43 victory Dec. 7 over Walton-Verona. Hours later, Richey and the Bluebirds won a double-overtime thriller over the Indians, 62-61.
Richey was also recognized as Teacher of the Year at Highlands, where she teaches business.
Highlands is off to a 5-1 start to the season, doing so without standout Marissa Green for a few games as she dealt with an injury. Later in the week the Bluebirds defeated Scott and Valley. Green returned to action for both.
Yet another triple-double for E.J. Walker
Lloyd Memorial’s E.J. Walker recorded his second consecutive triple-double in the Juggernauts’ 81-53 victory Dec. 10 over Newport Central Catholic. Walker went for 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. He also had a triple-double in the Juggernauts’ Dec. 6 victory over Ryle.
Walker is averaging 21.2 points and 12.2
He’s been a part of plenty of wins on the Holmes coaching staff, including a 2009 state championship, but the Dec. 12 win over Boone County was special to Bulldogs head boys basketball coach Sam Elsbernd. The one-point, 57-56 victory was his first as head coach.
Elsbernd took over the program in April. After an 0-3 start to the season, the Bulldogs broke through for win No. 1 on the season and followed it up with a 68-53 victory over East Carter over the weekend. The short streak was broken Dec. 17 with a 6561 home loss to Bishop Brossart.
Ludlow girls basketball coach Ryan Bowman got his first win with that program Dec. 10 in a 69-53 win over Oldham County.
Bowman took over the program in May, and the Panthers have won two in a row after an 0-3 start, also defeating Villa Madonna 57-42 on Dec. 12. Bowman was the Boone County girls coach from 2017-21, leading the Lady Rebels to their last winning season in 2020-21.
Bellevue ended hopes for a third straight win, beating the Panthers 56-33 on Dec. 17.
Meanwhile, Villa Madonna’s Tony Fields
earned his first win with the girls basketball program on Dec. 13 in a 58-46 victory over St. Patrick. They then followed it up with a 55-31 victory Dec. 14 over Newport.
Fields formerly served as the varsity assistant coach for the boys basketball team and has served as the varsity softball coach the past two seasons.
Cooper standout to play for Belichick with UNC Tar Heels
Cooper High School football star Austin Alexander smiled Dec. 17 as he walked around his graduation party and college signing ceremony.
Alexander, a defensive end and outside linebacker that also played tight end at Cooper, signed with the University of North Carolina. That marked the completion of a decision that drew attention in the past week after UNC hired Bill Belichick as its head coach.
It was a recruiting journey that adapted to UNC staffing changes since Alexander verbally committed to the Tar Heels this past April. Alexander, who is 6-foot-3 1/2 and 241 pounds, said he relied on his faith this month in preparing to sign with UNC.
It’s been less than a week since UNC hired Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach. While the week was a whirlwind for those connected to the UNC program, Alexander was confident as he prepared to join his teammates in Chapel Hill.
Alexander and his family spoke with Belichick by phone for nearly 30 minutes Dec. 15. The longtime former NFL coach explained how he likes Alexander’s versatility.
Alexander completed his high school career Dec. 20 and was to meet the UNC team Dec. 22 in Chapel Hill. He plans to practice with the Tar Heels as they prepare to play the University of Connecticut in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Dec. 28.
Alexander will start classes Jan. 6 in Chapel Hill.
While circumstances have moved quickly for Alexander as he prepares for his journey in North Carolina, Dec. 17 was an opportunity to celebrate the impact he’s made in football and beyond in Northern Kentucky.
Alexander, who was a part of back-to-back Class 5A state runner-up teams, said he’ll never forget his time at Cooper.
Robinson 10th at NKU to score 1,000 in Division I
Northern Kentucky University senior Trey Robinson joined Sam Vinson as current 1,000-point career scorers with the Norse.
Robinson surpassed the milestone Dec. 7 at IU Indy, scoring 19 points. He’s the 10th member in NKU Division I history to accomplish the feat.
Robinson has been torching the nets in December, averaging 24.7 points per game on 70% shooting to go with six rebounds per game in their first three contests.
Sam Elsbernd collected his first win with the Holmes boys basketball program on Dec. 12. Photo provided
Cooper High School senior defensive end/outside linebacker Austin Alexander signed with the University of North Carolina Dec. 17. He planned to join the team Dec. 22. Photo provided | Phillip Lee, WCPO
NKU senior Trey Robinson scored his 1,000th point for the Norse Dec. 7. Provided | NKU
Highlands girls basketball coach Jaime Richey was recognized for her 450th victory and Teacher of the Year at the high school prior to their Dec. 10 game with Holy Cross. Photo provided | Allen Ramsey
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The Simon Kenton archery team won the first LINK nky Team of the Week for the winter sports season the week of Dec. 1-7. Photo provided
Custom Edgewood home has in-ground pool
Address: 3302 Kruer Court, Edgewood
Price: $875,000
Bedrooms: Three
Bathrooms: Two (plus two half-baths)
Square footage: 4,800
School district: Kenton County
County: Kenton
Special features: This custom-built home offers 4,800 square feet of living space. It features two offices, a great room, formal dining room, butler’s pantry, family room, game room, wet bar, mud room and firstfloor laundry room. The backyard features an in-ground pool. Also includes a custom-built BBQ grill and bar, sprinkler system, security system and invisible dog fence in yard.
An exterior view of this Edgewood home. Photos provided | Robert Johnson with Huff Realty
