LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 2, Issue 6 - December 29, 2023 by LINK nky

KENTON

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 6 — DECEMBER 29, 2023

THE VOICE OF NKY

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Disasters: How prepared is Northern Kentucky for the next big one? By Robin Gee

or a good portion of the country, 2023 will go down as one of the worst for natural disasters. In Kentucky, residents choked on smoke from northern fires, but otherwise counted themselves lucky. After all, two natural disasters were still fresh in their minds — within a span of seven months not too long ago, the commonwealth received a double whammy from Mother Nature: A devastating tornado hit several western counties in December 2021, followed by extreme flooding to the east in July 2022. Northern Kentucky has had its share of disasters – especially floods. The most recent major flooding happened in 2018, a flash flood that took the river over 60 feet for the first time since 1997. That year, the river crested at 64.7 feet and backed up water into creeks and streams, flooding large swaths of land. Yet, the big one, the one the old-timers still talk about, happened in 1937. Continues on page 3 People on Scott Street in Covington assess the damage during the flood of 1937. Photo provided | Kenton County Public Library photo archive

Kentucky certificate of need task force says issue may need ‘further study’ By Rebecca Hanchett

legislative task force deferred proposing any changes to the state’s certificate of need program, instead recommending possible “further study” of the issue in 2024.

Rep. Marianne Proctor (R-Union) is expected to file new certificate of need legislation in 2024. Photo provided | LRC Public Information

The one-sentence recommendation came after six months of meetings of the state Certificate of Need Task Force, established by the Legislative Research Commission back in April. Considerable testimony during the meetings centered around Northern Kentucky, where St. Elizabeth Healthcare holds four of NKY’s seven required certificates of need for hospitals Continues on page 7

Local faith leaders take a page from the Bourbon Trail p8 Audit reveals Covington Schools’ reliance on state funding p9 Time for Streetscapes Wrapped … Round 3 p15

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The 1937 Ohio River flood began in the middle of winter and lasted from Jan. 18 to Feb. 5. Communities were hit hard, with hundreds dead and thousands left homeless all along the river, from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Illinois. The river crested at a whopping 79.9 feet. PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Mark Collier MANAGING EDITOR Meghan Goth SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison The LINK nky Kenton Reader is a weekly newspaper. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending, permit number 32 in Covington, Kentucky. The LINK nky Kenton Reader office of publications and the Periodical Pending Postage Paid at 700 Scott St., Covington, KY 41011. For mailing address or change-of-address orders: POSTMASTER: send address changes to The LINK nky Kenton Reader: 31 Innovation Alley, Covington, KY 41011 859-878-1669 | www.LINKnky.com

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The lessons of the past Local filmmaker Cam Miller told the story of the Depression-era disaster that he titled, simply, “The Flood.” It provides a blowby-blow timeline of events, accompanied by on-the-scene radio broadcasts. “I guess the most interesting thing is how quickly it came,” Miller said. “You think of a flood, you’re usually thinking it’ll be March, April, May, the spring when heavy rains come. This was in the thick of winter … a massive snowfall that melted and then on top of that the rains just kept coming in. Nineteen straight days of rain, and the flood waters kept rising.” “The emergency response was just amazing to me. … in that time of no internet. Nothing where you can get out a message quickly via mobile phone. It was neighbors and word of mouth,” he said. In fact, the only mass communication available was radio. Locally, WLW took over to broadcast information about rescue efforts, shelters and aid, but the power was out in many places, and radios didn’t work. A lot of people were just on their own, relying on providence and neighbors for help. “When your first floor is under water and you’re hunkered upstairs with your family

with no communication, you’re just kind of waiting for the neighbor to come by with their rowboat to help you,” Miller said. “So it’s just incredible to read some of the stories of heroism that were going on at that time.” In the aftermath of the floods, citizens and officials called for an overhaul of flood protections, and, in fact, this is the main event that led to development of the flood walls, gates and pumping facilities in Northern Kentucky. Construction of the flood wall and other protections was interrupted by World War II but was completed by the 1950s. In addition to the flood wall, there are now 15 pumping stations along the Kentucky side of the river. But how prepared is Northern Kentucky for the next disaster? Disasters know no boundaries The state requires each county and municipality to have its own emergency management plan. Yet, Northern Kentucky officials have taken a unique approach. Through an agreement between cities and county governments, the counties have taken the lead.

“Our regional approach to local emergency planning has been much more beneficial and advantageous to us, because it brings everybody together to plan and coordinate,” Hensley said. “We’re really the only model right now doing this. It involves Boone, Campbell, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton, Grant, Robertson, Bracken, Gallatin, all together, and we plan regionally. We conduct exercises regionally.” The counties receive and monitor reports from and about their partner counties across the region. Sometimes, Turner said, one county’s response team might actually be closer to an incident in a neighboring county and can respond quicker. “If something happens in the southern part of Kenton County, say Visalia, we in Campbell County are about three to five minutes away from that,” Turner said. “The guys up in Covington may be 10 or 15 minutes away, so we can get there faster than they can. If something happens up in Newport, they’re going to beat us there. So, if it’s something major that happens, we’ll go ahead and head that way. We don’t draw our county lines in any dark color.” Regional responsibilities

“There is a lot of regionalization. I don’t think you find that anywhere else in the state,” said William Turner, director of Campbell County’s Office of Emergency Management. “Everybody helps each other. But among the three upper counties, Boone, Kenton and Campbell, it is at a whole new different level.” Steve Hensley, director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for Kenton County, agreed.

One cannot talk about Northern Kentucky’s regional efforts without mentioning the recent public safety communication system upgrade. The project not only replaced old equipment with new technology, it also drastically improved the speed and ability of communication between first responders across all disciplines and counties in the area. Continues on page 4

No part of this publication may be used without permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions. If, however, an error comes to your attention, please let us know and accept our sincere apologies in advance.

Members of the Campbell County Search & Rescue Team. Photo provided | Campbell County Search & Rescue Team

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Continued from page 3

The region also supports specialized teams that work together across Northern Kentucky. Boone County Water Rescue is housed within the Boone County emergency management office but serves all the Northern Kentucky counties. The team of trained divers has additional training in water search and recovery. The Northern Kentucky Technical Rescue Team is trained for special search-andrescue missions, including building collapse, confined space, trenches, heavy vehicle extraction, high- and low-angle rope rescue, large animal rescue, swift-water rescue and missing persons searches. The Campbell County LandSAR team is a group of trained volunteer search-andrescue professionals that assist in searchand-rescue operations. They are available upon request throughout the region and state.

The aftermath of a tornado in Piner, Kentucky. Photo provided | Kenton County Public Library photo archive

The Northern Kentucky Emergency Planning Committee works on planning for chemical-related emergencies, preparing for spills of all kinds, including hazardous materials. Both Boone and Kenton counties also run training programs for Community Emergency Response Teams. Citizen volunteers train in emergency preparedness on the neighborhood level. They can assist professional responders in disaster situations. While no prior education in emergency management is needed, the training is intense and requires a time commitment for both initial training and follow-up training. Emergency management in Northern Kentucky What do county, and for that matter state and national, emergency management departments do? The short answer is: They plan, they prepare and they respond. Then, they evaluate and plan some more. Listing out all the responsibilities that fall to these departments is a tall order.

7047065_100_sehada_print_ad_womens_ob_10.375x3.389V1.pdf 1 10/25/23 12:37 PM The aftermath of the Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club after a barge hit it in 2019. Photo provided

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Emergency management personnel respond to floods, tornadoes and other natural disasters, but they also respond to reports of missing children and adults. They respond to highway crashes and spills. They also often have the responsibility of pulling vehicles and bodies out of the river.

They provide support in high winds, freezing temperatures and intense heat waves. Weather is only one factor. These departments also plan and respond to man-made emergencies, such as the recent bomb threats on the Roebling Suspension Bridge or the workers trapped under the collapsed mine operation in Martin County. Active shooters have become an increasing threat. Departments work closely with first responders, elected officials and local administrators. They work with practically anyone who has any responsibilities in dealing with disasters – hospitals, transportation officials, public health personnel, schools, social service agencies, housing and food support organizations, volunteer groups, businesses and economic development groups. Staff is actually quite small at county emergency management offices. Each is led by a director and one or two full-time deputies and a handful of part-time personnel. Budgets are tight. This is one reason the counties rely so heavily on each other, said Turner. On a day-to-day basis, the staff works on the county’s many emergency operations plans, overall plans and specific plans for different types of emergencies and conditions. They review and update those plans and meet regularly with all stakeholders. “In Boone County, we call ours the Disaster and Emergency Services Group — a multidisciplinary meeting of all of the partners that make up our comprehensive emergency management program. The best way to describe it is: If somebody has a role in an emergency and disaster response, they have a seat at the table,” said Mark Ihrig, director of the Boone County Emergency Management Department. “There are meetings at the county level and at the larger city level. And, there certainly are regional meetings. Some are for single disciplines like the fire service; some are multidisciplinary.” Getting the word out Weather emergencies start with an alert from a federal agency charged with monitoring weather patterns. For tornadoes, thunderstorms, hail and high winds, the

People in a boat during the flood of 1937. Photo provided | Kenton County Public Library photo archives

National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, provides alerts called “watches,” when conditions seem favorable for tornadic or storm activity. They monitor the situation and, if a tornado is spotted, the watch becomes a “warning.” For floods, the National Weather Service local office in Wilmington, Ohio, monitors the situation in 12 Kentucky counties. The three big Northern Kentucky counties participate in the federal StormReady program, designed to promote community preparedness. The weather service issues forecasts, watches and warnings for flash floods and river floods. When it looks like the river is nearing flood level stage at 52 feet, the service keeps a careful eye. Once the river hits 56 feet, it can cause backwater flooding into creeks and streams. A flood warning can trigger the closing of flood gates and activation of pumping stations. While the weather service monitors and issues the alerts, flood protection operations are the responsibility of several local, state and national agencies. The flood gauge, located near the Roebling Suspension Bridge, is owned and operated through a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Kentucky’s Sewer District 1, known locally as SD1, handles the 15 flood water pumps located along the river. SD1 has a system of

The Campbell County Emergency Management Office uses this specially equipped trailer when needed during an emergency or disaster. Photo provided | Campbell County Emergency Management Office

triggers to activate different pumps in different locations depending on river levels. The municipalities are in charge of closing their flood gates. The National Weather Service is in constant contact with the county emergency management departments. Hydrologist/ meteorologist Julia Dian-Reed outlined how the process unfolds. Dian-Reed works at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “When we issue a watch, we also provide briefings to our county emergency management agency, and they share that information among their municipalities and anybody involved in decision-making,” Dian-Reed said. “The county central dispatch has multiple means of receiving those watches.” The service also shares the information with local weather stations, on social media and on its website. Citizens can sign up for alerts on their phones, and weather radios are relatively inexpensive and available. “So what we’re saying is … the conditions are favorable, the ingredients are there,” Dian-Reed said. “And then when the decision is made to issue a flood warning, the flooding is imminent or already occurring. ... The information is pushed out through multiple means to make sure that it gets as wide of a distribution as possible.” The first notice from the weather service

might come as an email alert that conditions are favorable, Ihrig said. As the risk rises, officials may receive a phone call briefing. The office will then provide a briefing to public safety officials and city administrators. The next step may be a conference call. As things ramp up, the office will start to make decisions on locating and preparing personnel to respond. Incident management teams Perhaps the most important extension of the county emergency offices is the Northern Kentucky Incident Management Team. The team includes 55 specially trained individuals. They help in local emergencies but, when needed, the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management may request a team to be deployed to disasters across the state. Depending on the needs, a team can include a variety of professionals in addition to first responders. In recent deployments, explained Turner, he’s sent animal care experts, engineers, a housing expert and even an economic development director. Attention to detail and the ability to think ahead is key. Turner said there’s no substitute for experience. He’s been on the job for 37 years and has learned what it takes to be fully prepared. His department has two truck trailers loaded with shelter supplies, one with special needs equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs and special cots. The department can bring another trailer that

is full of cages for displaced pets. The deployments can last several days or weeks and usually involve 10 to 20 people. Northern Kentucky incident management teams were deployed to help with both the tornadoes in western Kentucky and the floods in the eastern part of the state. The federal government offers specialized training for the teams in what is known as the National Incident Management system. In the field Greg Buckler is one of two deputy directors at the Campbell County Emergency Management Office. He started his career in 1979 as a firefighter, worked in law enforcement and then served as the county’s jailer for 14 years before joining emergency management. He led incident management teams to both western and eastern Kentucky. He said the deployments start with a request through the state emergency management department. “When you have a major disaster, no single agency or county can handle it on their own,” Buckler said. “We found that out in Western Kentucky when we went down to Mayfield for the tornadoes. There were eight of us who went down. … The tornado came through on a Friday night, Saturday morning. We went down on Monday. And there were four other people from the state already down there. They were overwhelmed.” Continues on page 6

January Monthly Luncheon

State of the County Address Thursday, January 25th, 2024 | 11:30 - 1:00 PM The Grand Ballroom | 6th East 5th Street; Covington Pricing: $35.00/Members | $60.00/Future Members Thank You to our Sponsors

with Kenton County Judge Executive

Kris Knochelmann

DECEMBER 29, 2023 5

Continued from page 3

“We weren’t there 15 minutes, and we were working,” he said. “We were assigned to the EOC, the Emergency Operations Center. The EOC gets the needed resources for the people in the field. So if they needed search teams, it was up to us to find a search team. If they needed lighting to continue their search at night, it was up to us to find the generators for that,” he said. His team would receive requests for personnel, equipment or supplies from the local first responders and others in the field and relay the request to the state emergency management office. The state would then accept or deny the request or ask for additional information. Once the request was granted, Buckler’s team would go about securing whatever was needed. It was up to the team to locate personnel and equipment. They would find housing and whatever else was needed. They secured generators for lights at night but also had to set up a system to fuel the generators. Since all the road signs were wiped out, the crew put temporary signs on the corners so people could find their way. Anything that was needed, the crew secured and managed.

detail and think ahead, always preparing for the next 12-hour shift, Buckler said.

Hensley explained the chain leading to increased levels of support. Local police and fire service departments at the city or town level are first on the scene, but if they need help, they reach out to their county emergency management office. The county steps in first and may reach out to nearby counties for help. Then, the state may get involved, he said. If a disaster affects much of the state, the governor may request a presidential declaration. That declaration brings help from the National Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or other agencies. It also triggers federal reimbursement programs, badly needed for the recovery phase. While state and federal attention may continue for some time, recovery and rebuilding comes back to the counties and municipalities directly involved. “All emergencies start locally and end locally,” Hensley said.

The team members had to think of every

School officials from around Northern Kentucky participate in a disaster preparedness training class. Photo provided

NORTHERN KENTUCKY –THE #1 REGION BUSINESSES CALL HOME.

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Some tips for being prepared

Ending Locally

Change “CERT training” to “Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) training

In a large-scale disaster, you may be on your own for a while. It’s a good idea to protect yourself and loved ones with a little preparation. • Talk to your family about what they might do in an emergency. Where will the family meet if they get separated? Does someone in your home know how to use a fire extinguisher? • Practice a fire or emergency drill. • Sign up for alerts on your phone. Campbell County uses the Smart911 app. Boone and Kenton use an app called CodeRed Weather Warning. • Prepare an emergency preparedness kit or kits. You can keep one at home, at your workplace and in your car. • Have a NOAA weather radio on hand with batteries and/or a hand-powered crank. • A good rule of thumb is to have the ability to sustain yourself for at least a few days without power. This includes water for every individual; food that can be prepared without power; medical supplies, especially

if a person relies on a medication such as insulin; generator and fuel; first aid kit; batteries; flash light; blankets, manual can opener, etc. • Put aside some emergency cash. If the power grid goes down, you may need cash to make purchases when you cannot access your bank. • CPR training, and some AED training as well, may be available through your local fire or police department. • For more, go to ready.gov/kit To get more involved Boone and Kenton counties provide training to join their Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Check their websites for information. You can become a weather spotter. The National Weather Service offers both online training and in-person training at the Wilmington location. Go to weather.gov/iln/spottertrainingschedule for dates. Online training is available nationally at weather.gov/SKYWARN.

Continued from page 1

that begins Jan. 2.

and about 8 percent of the region’s 109 total certificates of need for health facilities and services.

Certificate of need program in Kentucky broader than in some states

Written verbatim, the recommendation adopted by the task force on Dec. 14 says: “The task force recommends that further study may provide additional information to guide statutory and regulatory changes in Kentucky’s certificate of need program.” Two Northern Kentucky lawmakers – Sen. John Schickel (R-Union) and Rep. Marianne Proctor (R-Union) — were among those who voted to accept the recommendation report. But Schickel told LINK nky after the meeting that the task force report does not preclude lawmakers from proposing changes to certificate of need in bills during the 2024 legislative session or beyond. “It doesn’t preclude that at all,” Schickel said. Before the Dec. 14 vote, Schickel emphasized in comments before the task force that he will “continue to be an advocate for the issue in the future.” Proctor – who filed legislation in 2023 that would have repealed certificate of need in NKY — told LINK nky that she intends to once again file certificate of need reform legislation in the 2024 legislative session

viders and creating a burdensome approval process for establishing new or expanding health services and facilities, and that there is little evidence that certificate of need laws control costs, improve quality, or ensure access to healthcare.”

Certificate of need is a statutory requirement in Kentucky that mandates state approval for new or expanded health care services statewide.

• “Healthcare service delivery does not operate in a free market, thus certificate of need laws are necessary to control costs, improve quality, and ensure access to healthcare for all people in all geographic areas. The existing certificate of need program may be improved with modifications for some healthcare facilities and services.”

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, certificate of need programs “aim to control health care costs by restricting duplicative services and determining whether new capital expenditures meet a community need.” Currently, 35 states and Washington, D.C., have certificate of need programs, although some laws are more restrictive than others. For example, Kentucky’s certificate of need law requires certificates of need for 18 types of health care facilities. Neighboring Ohio and Indiana only require certificates of need for long-term care facilities. The recommendation of the legislative Certificate of Need Task Force for further study was based on opposing positions on the state’s existing certificate of need law and regulations. Those positions are: • “Certificate of need laws limit competition by protecting incumbent pro-

The recommendation for further study may allow Kentucky lawmakers and stakeholders – including those in NKY – to find room for agreement, or not. As stated in the recommendation, more study “may provide additional information to guide statutory and regulatory changes.” A rural versus urban issue? Sen. Donald Douglas (R-Nicholasville), who co-chairs the task force, presented the recommendation for approval. Douglas, a physician, said the future study may include “listening to more information or at least taking a deeper look at who, and how, (change) is going to affect people. I think we need to look at what components need to be continued or what components need modification or what components need to be eliminated on an individual basis.” Douglas said he wants to ensure that the solution works for everyone in the state “regardless of whether they are in an urban setting or in a rural setting.” The issue of rural versus urban access to health care has been central to Kentucky’s certificate of need debate. Rural lawmakers have expressed some concern that doing away with certificate of need would allow new facilities to “cherry-pick” or siphon off private pay patients, straining services for the uninsured and Medicaid patients.

Representatives from St. Elizabeth say the hospital is a safety net hospital, while others claim certificate of need hurts health care overall. Photo provided | St. Elizabeth Facebook page

So-called safety net hospitals, including those in urban areas that receive majority funding from non-private-pay patients, have also cited cherry-picking as a poten-

Outgoing Sen. John Schickel (R-Union) was among those who voted to accept the recommendation report. Photo provided | Legislative Research Commission

tial outcome of certificate of need reform or repeal. St. Elizabeth Healthcare Senior VP Sarah Giolando told the task force at its Aug. 21 meeting that 75.5% of her company’s market share in 2022 was from Medicaid, Medicare and self-pay. Only 24.5%, she said, was from commercial insurance. “St. Elizabeth is a safety net hospital,” she said. Others claim, however, that certificate of need hurts health care overall by inflating health care costs and access. University of Kentucky Professor Emeritus of Economics John Garen testified at the August meeting that his “assessment, after reviewing the evidence, the arguments in favor of (certificate of need) do not rebut its anti-competitive harmfulness.” Schickel said he thinks the rural versus urban health care issue is something that lawmakers should continue to look at more closely. The senator said testimony he’s heard over six months of task force meetings this year has revealed more about “the difference between rural and urban problems in health care and how the solutions may be very different. So that’s one thing to continue looking at in the future.”

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New Kentucky Faith Trail leads visitors to NKY By Haley Parnell

orthern Kentucky has a new faith-based attraction.

The new Kentucky Faith Trail extends from Wayne County to Bardstown to Northern Kentucky. It includes the local stops Creation Museum, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Mother of God Catholic Church and the Ark Encounter. The trail has 11 faith-based experiences throughout the state that allow travelers to explore the commonwealth’s religious heritage, while lingering longer in the Kentucky towns to experience what else they have to offer. President and CEO of meetNKY, Julie Kirkpatrick, said the state of Kentucky challenged some of its counties to develop a collaborative tourism idea. Kirkpatrick said the collaborative aspect is a wonderful thing for tourism. Working with counties like Grant, Wayne and Mercer, to name a few, Kirkpatrick said they began thinking about what they all had in common. “So, we knew that we could do something good around the idea of faith, bring more visitors to Kentucky, kind of have them go out and explore areas that they may not really get to,” Kirkpatrick said. “You know, not a lot of people know where Monticello in Wayne County is, but it’s right there on Lake Cumberland. It’s a beautiful spot, and they’ve got this amazing historical site there.” She said they took a lot of inspiration from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail when creating the faith trail. “The Kentucky Bourbon Trail brings visitors that spend more time in the states, they spend more money, and they go to all parts of the state,” Kirkpatrick said. “So why couldn’t we also do that with something like the faith trail, which, if you really go back and look at history, Kentucky was settled for a couple of reasons, and religious freedom was one of them.” Jamie Baker, director of tourism/economic development and The Chamber in Grant

The Ark Encounter in Grant County is featured as part of the new Kentucky Faith Trail. Photo provided | Scooter Media

County, said the Ark Encounter is drawing thousands of visitors already. Being included as part of this new project may not draw any additional visitors, Baker said, but it gives them the opportunity to partner with other attractions and get their message out to faith-based travelers. “Any time we can find ways to work cooperatively with other partners across the state is good for all of our attractions,” Baker said. “It gives travelers, who may have been thinking of Kentucky as just bourbon and horse country, another reason to check out many other attractions that Kentucky has to offer.” The trail will put more eyes on Northern Kentucky, Kirkpatrick said, as a family and faith visit. The Ark Encounter in Grant County and the Creation Museum in Boone County are significant draws for family and faith travel. Still, Kirkpatrick said that Mother of God Catholic Church and Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, both located in Covington, need more attention. “You have so many docents who work for

both of those facilities and are just so proud of the history and the tradition, and we’re really looking forward to bringing in more visitors to take advantage of that,” she said. The counties also wanted to look into how to keep folks in the area longer. “How do we show them more Kentucky, show off some of the more rural areas of our state, get them going deeper into the commonwealth — spending more money, of course, but really kind of just falling in love with the whole entire Kentucky experience?” she said. From an NKY standpoint, Kirkpatrick said, if people are coming up through Nashville and making their way through Bardstown and Harrisburg, they could potentially spend five days in the state now, as opposed to three for just the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. Travelers can find a trail map at kentuckyfaithtrail.com, and Kirkpatrick said they are also getting ready to roll out a digital app so people can take pictures and upload them, plan an itinerary and so on.

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington is part of the trail experience. Photo provided | Scooter Media

8 DECEMBER 29, 2023

On the Kentucky Faith Trail website, a “Plan your Visit” section offers recommendations for other local attractions in the cities along the way. “I want Kentucky Faith Trail people to be coming to Libby’s Southern Comfort in Covington, going out to 859 (The 859 Taproom and Grill) in Florence, just staying here longer, seeing our aquarium, seeing BB Riverboats, exploring some of the great outdoor opportunities that we have here in the state,” Kirkpatrick said. She said the places selected for the trail are excited to be involved. “Foremost is that they’re places of worship and places of faith, but at the same time, they’re about opening people’s hearts and minds,” Kirkpatrick said. “So, bringing in new visitors, this just kind of gives them an opportunity to shine. We really like that it’s a collection that kind of weaves together a Kentucky experience. So, all of that was a real win for us.”

Audit reveals Covington Schools’ reliance on state funding By Nathan Granger

udit documents and discussions surrounding them in November and December shined a light on Covington Independent Public Schools’ reliance on state funding. Attention to rising compliance costs and costs related to facility construction also stood out in the board’s talks on district finances. “I’m mad,” said Board of Education President Tom Haggard at the December meeting. Haggard’s comment occurred during a discussion of additional expenses associated with the district’s contract with financial services firm Barnes Dennig, which has a Kentucky office based in Crestview Hills. Barnes Dennig prepared the district’s legally required financial audit for fiscal year 2023.

District Finance Director Annette Burtschy presented the new expenses to the board: an additional $5,100 for the implementation of new software necessary to furnish data analysis required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, or GASB, a private, nongovernmental professional organization that sets the go-to standards for accounting and auditing in the U.S. “Fortunately or unfortunately, we have had new GASB standards that the accounting [and] auditing board passes down to auditors,” Burtschy told the board, “which they pass down to us.” Haggard’s comment wasn’t directed at Burtschy herself — he made that very clear — but rather at what he said is the “crazy system that we have to deal with.” “From our original [fiscal year 2022] auditor quote, our price has gone up 49%,” Haggard said.

Haggard talked about conversations he’d had in the district’s budgetary committee meetings, where he learned that the timing of information released by the Kentucky Department of Education on reporting standards can sometimes prevent local districts from having enough time to seek competitive bids for auditors. Burtschy affirmed this and added that the number of auditors overall has declined, making it Covington Independent Public Schools officials have even harder to secure a good deal. had many discussions about rising costs. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

“I think Barnes Dennig does a great job; I’m not saying they don’t do a great job, but I do feel a bit held hostage that we can’t try to competitively bid this, with a contract that’s gone up 49% in one year,” Haggard said. This conversation happened in the shadow of the district’s November meeting, where the board was informed of the winning bid for a ventilation project at Holmes High School that clocked in at $7.1 million, about $3 million more than the project’s original estimate of $4.2 million. The board voted to approve the project, but not before board member Stephen Gastright told district staff that he would not approve any more building projects without seeing updated cost estimates. Moreover, the struggle to find competitive bids for building and maintenance projects came up in board discussions earlier in the year. In May, for instance, board member Kareem Simpson drew attention to the district’s bidding practices after the board approved repairs to the district bus depot and the gym at Glenn O. Swing Elementary. Simpson said the district needed to shore up its bidding procedures to ensure that maintenance costs didn’t become unmanageable. The results of the audit itself revealed a mixed picture.

Kentucky Board of Education President Tom Haggard said that he is mad about the rising costs. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

One of Barnes Dennig’s accountants, Daniel Damonte, presented the audit at the November meeting. By Barnes Dennig’s reckoning, the district had stable accounting practices, and the audit yielded no evidence of fraud or other crime. But the report also shined light on the district’s recent reliance on state and federal funding rather than local tax dollars. The revenues for the district’s general fund, which is the district’s primary operating fund, only began exceeding its expenses in fiscal year 2021. In fiscal year 2023, Damonte said, the main reason revenues continued to overtake expenses was “related to increases in federal and state revenues.” The next meeting of the Covington Independent Public School Board of Education will be at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at Glenn O. Swing Elementary on W. 19th St.

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kenton county briefs Two workers who died at SD1 facility in Bromley identified; an investigation is ongoing

Two workers died on Dec. 14 at the Sanitation District 1 facility in Bromley. Photo provided | WCPO by Ray Pfeffer

The two workers who died after an incident at the Sanitation District 1 facility in Bromley on Dec. 14 were identified as Mason Neises, 23, of Alexandria and 26-year-old Josh Mason of Moscow, Ohio. Police responded to the SD1 site on Steve Tanner Street just before noon on Dec. 14 for a reported drowning. A preliminary investigation found three Building Crafts employees were working on a project when some kind of failure occurred, entrapping them. One person was accounted for and taken to a nearby hospital by family members. Emergency crews searching for the two remaining employees recovered one body just after 6 p.m. By midnight, police said

they’d recovered the second worker’s body. “All of us at Building Crafts, Inc., wish to express our extreme sorrow for the loss of our co-workers and friends, Mason Neises and Josh Mason,” said the company in a statement. “Both were hard working young men who were taken from their families far too early. Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Mason and Josh. Their passing brings about profound grief, especially at this time of year. Grief counselors have been made available to our employees who are dealing with the loss of their beloved co-workers. We continue to cooperate with the authorities who are investigating the incident.” Anyone with any information that might aid in the investigation should contact Kenton County Emergency Dispatch at 859-356-3191.

Fort Wright police chief says population growth likely behind problems with traffic

gut says [Fort Wright] is the main artery for people south of the city to Cincinnati,” Butler said at the city’s Dec. 15 meeting. “That’s a part of Kenton County that has seen a lot of population growth over the years.” Additionally, traffic slowed, along with everything else, during COVID, Butler said. As traffic returns to normal levels, he said, drivers may have gotten the impression that things have worsened quickly. The traffic issues talked about at the December meeting include the intersection of Highland Pike and Kyle’s Lane, where high traffic volume at rush hour creates a bottleneck. That leads to drivers making illegal turns to avoid the traffic, Butler said. Another problematic area, Butler said, is at the junction of old Kyle’s Lane and Kyle’s Lane headed toward Interstate 75. Though a right-hand turn on red is illegal during certain times, Butler said the police de-

Census Bureau data agrees with Butler’s theory about more drivers being on the road. U.S. Geological Survey maps from 1950 show that the intersection at Highland and Kyles dates back at least to then, but the shape of it has changed very little.

Kentucky Career Center to host career coaching event in Erlanger in January The Kentucky Career Center will host a job-hunting event called the New Year, New Career Expo at the Erlanger branch of the Kenton County Public Library on Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Career coaches will be on-site to provide advice on job hunting, resume writing, interviewing and other skills for job seekers. Learn more at kentonlibrary.org.

Ludlow school renovations approach finish line with new contract approvals

There are many things contributing to traffic issues in Fort Wright, said Police Chief Ed Butler, but he told LINK nky that he suspects the culprits may be an increase in population and a tendency to compare traffic to earlier days of COVID-19, when many people worked from home. “Without directly looking at the data, my

partment has noticed more drivers turning right illegally.

Fort Wright officials have been discussing the city’s traffic snarls. Photo by Kathleen Bryant | LINK nky

Ludlow Independent Public Schools approved 16 contracts for districtwide school renovations at the meeting of the Board of Education on Dec. 14, bringing the project’s funding and administrative framework into its final stages.

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“The contractors aren’t waiting on [the board] to do anything,” said Bill Cobb, a project manager from Codell Construction, the firm responsible for managing the construction. “They’ve got what they need to do their work. It’s essentially a formality to get the signatures on it. … Things are moving.” The district broke ground on the project in October. The facility improvements will include a new cafeteria, new library, new band room, updated maker space, new art rooms, technological improvements, additions to the auditorium, improvements to ventilation systems, as well as general improvements to the flooring, walls, ceilings and other internal infrastructure. The contract approvals solidify the necessary legal and administrative prerequisites for carrying out the majority of the construction, with the exception of some potential additions to the auditorium, which would be funded with a nickel tax. A nickel tax is a special kind of school-levied property tax designed to fund improvements and additions to school facilities Superintendent Mike Borchers said he was confident the district would get the money, but it wouldn’t be available until after the close of next year’s state legislative session. “These are all 16 contracts that will get the entire project done,” Borchers told the members of the board. “We had the [auditorium alternate] that we’re waiting for till the spring, and once we finalize that, once we get the funding, we’ll come back and do the final contracts on those.”

The next meeting of the Ludlow Independent Schools Board of Education will take place on at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Jon E. Draud Administrative Center on Elm Street.

Facility services provider City Wide Facility Solutions to move into Covington Station City Wide Facility Solutions, a Fort Mitchell-based commercial facility service provider, will relocate its headquarters to local landmark Covington Station on Pike Street next year. “I love the history behind the building,” CEO and President Brent Degenhardt told LINK nky. “Our intent is to maintain that history.” City Wide provides various facility management services to businesses in the region, including janitorial, maintenance, painting and pest control, among other facility services. Degenhardt declined to share the identities of specific clients, but he said the company contracts with institutions in the automotive, health care, logistics and light manufacturing sectors. It also works with various corporate offices throughout the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati region. Its current offices are in Fort Mitchell, but it also has offices in Lexington and Dayton, Ohio. Degenhardt said he was familiar with the building before learning it had gone on the market earlier this year. He added that the location in Covington would be more con-

ducive to recruiting than its current headquarters in Fort Mitchell. “That was the biggest attraction,” Degenhardt said. “I want to fill every seat in that building.” The new office will hold the company’s fulltime management, administrative and direct sales staff. If all goes according to plan, Degenhardt said, the company should move into the building in the first quarter of next year and begin hiring in the second quarter.

Taylor Mill OKs contracts to secure bids for needed work on city’s firehouse

Taylor Mill City Commission provided an update on the firehouse project at its Dec. 13 meeting. “I’m happy with the way the progress is going; it’s actually moving faster than we anticipated,” Fire Chief General Fernbach said at the meeting. Photo by Joesph Frye | LINK nky contributor

will be prepared by the end of December.

City commissioners provided an update on the ongoing firehouse update project in Taylor Mill at their bimonthly meeting on Dec. 13. The firehouse, which has been a controversial topic as of late, is currently under the planning process to fix issues that were first noticed in 2020. The issues plaguing the building include structural issues, water damage and asbestos. At its meeting, the commission voted to approve two contracts for Hub + Weber and Mark Spaulding. The contract with Spaulding will allow the company to provide the city with bid-ready documents that will let the city “put this firehouse out to bid,” according to the commission. The commission anticipates the documents

“I’m happy with the way the progress is going; it’s actually moving faster than we anticipated,” said Fire Chief General Fernbach at the meeting. “It’s really good for the community. It’s also good for the department.” The commission also approved a reimbursement of $1,925.20 to Margaret Freeman for a private cost-share to address a stormwater issue. Other matters discussed at the meeting included several promotions and onboarding within city services, such as Fernbach being promoted from assistant fire chief to fire chief and assistant foreman. Taylor Mill’s next City Commission meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Jan. 10. The public is invited to attend.

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• City of Silver Grove • City of Southgate • City of Union • City of Villa Hills • City Of Walton • City of Wilder • City of Woodlawn • Covington Public Independent Schools • Cresent Springs Board of Adjustment • Family Dollar Store • Fort Mitchell Board of Adjustment • Fort Thomas Independent Schools • Highland Heights Planning & Zoning • Keating, Muething & Klekamp PLL • Kenton County Fiscal Court • Kenton County Joint Board of Adjustment • Northern Kentucky Port Authority • Northern Kentucky Water District • Planning & Development Services of Kenton County • The Baker Firm PLLC • The Hidden Chapter Bookstore LLC

DECEMBER 29, 2023 11

news from other places Kentucky Lt. Gov. Coleman undergoes double mastectomy days after being sworn in again

last episode. “I’m sad, but everything has to end at some point, and this is the right time for this to end.” Gumbel is 75, at the end of a contract, and HBO is now controlled by a company, Warner Bros. Discovery, on the hunt for cost savings. While the show’s exit makes sense, the fear is that a form of sports journalism is leaving for good, too.

Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman said she has “a significant family history of cancer.” Photo by Timothy D. Easley | Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman underwent a double mastectomy on Dec. 18 after concerns were raised during a routine medical examination, her office announced. She said she expects to make a full recovery.

“It has been the gold standard in sports journalism on TV for the last three decades, and it really is quite a loss,” said Mark Hyman, director of the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism at the University of Maryland.

Pope formally approves blessings for same-sex couples, not to be confused with ritual of marriage

The surgery occurred less than a week after Democrats Coleman and Gov. Andy Beshear were sworn in for second terms, having run successfully as a ticket again in the Bluegrass State. In a statement, Coleman thanked her family for its loving support and said she would see Kentuckians again soon. “With a significant family history of cancer, I made the decision to have a double mastectomy,” Coleman said. “I am happy to report that a successful surgery was performed today, and I expect to make a full recovery.” Beshear said in a separate statement that Coleman is a friend and “critical part” of his administration. “My family and Kentucky families are standing with her during this time,” he said. Coleman, 41, was a fixture on the campaign trail throughout the hard-hitting campaign that featured Beshear and Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron at the top of the ticket. She debated her Republican rival for lieutenant governor in a televised debate late in the campaign.

Bryant Gumbel’s ‘Real Sports’, ‘gold standard in sports journalism,’ airs its final episode, ends an era NEW YORK (AP) — Bryant Gumbel’s “Real Sports” aired its final episode on HBO on Dec. 19 after 29 years, and an era in sports journalism ends with it. The newsmagazine used sports as a lens to look through all manners of social issues and won awards for stories on concussions, children forced to be jockeys in camel races, and labor abuses in Qatar. For its last few years of operation, it taped episodes on the same Manhattan block that houses the offices of CBS’ “60 Minutes,” with which it shares a sensibility.

Pope Francis announced a radical change in Vatican policy by allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples. File photo by Alessandra Tarantino | Associated Press

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.

Circuit Court Judge Christopher Papile said the sentencing guidelines did not take into account the shooting’s physical and psychological toll on first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner or the emotional trauma it has wrought on other students and staff at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News. Zwerner was critically injured when the boy fired a single shot at her, striking her hand and chest, breaking bones and puncturing a lung. She spent weeks in the hospital, had five surgeries, and says she is so mentally scarred by the shooting that she does not plan to return to teaching. In admonishing Taylor, the judge said a parent’s ultimately responsibility is to “protect the child, to keep them from bad influences, to keep them from dangerous situations, to keep them healthy and nurtured. Ms. Taylor has abdicated most, if not all, of those responsibilities.”

Governor of Hawaii wants 3,000 vacation rental units converted to housing for fire survivors

The Vatican issued a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God’s love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” to receive it. The document from the Vatican’s doctrine office was released on Dec. 18. It elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals and published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse it with the ritual of marriage. But while the Vatican statement was heralded by some as a step toward breaking down discrimination in the Catholic Church, some LGBTQ+ advocates warned it underscored the church’s idea that gay couples remain inferior to heterosexual partnerships. The new document reaffirms that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman. And it stresses that the blessings in question must not be tied to any specific Catholic celebration or religious service.

Mother of boy, 6, who shot his teacher in Va. classroom gets 2-year sentence for child neglect

At age 75, Gumbel takes pride in never having missed a taping and, like many athletes, he said he’d rather leave the field too early than too late.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher in a Virginia classroom was sentenced on Dec. 15 to two years in prison for felony child neglect by a judge who chastised her for abdicating her responsibilities as a parent.

“I’m OK,” Gumbel said before taping the

Deja Taylor’s sentence was much harsher

12 DECEMBER 29, 2023

than the maximum six months prosecutors had agreed to recommend as part of a plea deal and also surpassed the high end of advisory state sentencing guidelines. Taylor, 26, pleaded guilty to a single count of felony neglect in August. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to drop a misdemeanor count of recklessly storing a firearm.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said there is an urgent need for more housing for people displaced by the Aug. 8 wildfire that wiped out historic Lahaina. Photo by Audrey McAvoy | Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said he wants 3,000 condos and homes normally rented to Maui tourists converted to long-term housing for displaced wildfire survivors who are still living in hotels. Green said on Dec. 15 that he’s prepared to use the “hammer” of post-fire emergency orders to make sure owners of short-term vacation rentals extend them to long-term units if enough spaces aren’t converted voluntarily by mid-January. The governor said there were nearly 6,300 residents still living in hotels more than four months after the Aug. 8 wildfire wiped out historic Lahaina. The vast majority haven’t had anywhere else to go, given Maui’s extreme housing shortage. Green said a combination of county tax incentives and generous rent subsidies offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should help. FEMA sent letters to 13,000 short-term rental operators across Maui informing them the agency would pay them the same rent they earned during the previous year for their

units, Green said.

Supreme Court to hear challenge to EPA rule limiting downwind power plant pollution WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will hear arguments in February on whether the Environmental Protection Agency can continue enforcing its anti-air-pollution “good neighbor” rule in 10 states, an effort to restrict smokestack emissions from power plants and other industrial sources that burden downwind areas with smog-causing pollution. The high court put off a decision on whether to halt enforcement of the rule on Dec. 20, allowing it to stay in effect at least until after it hears arguments during its February session. The rule is being challenged by three energy-producing states — Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia — as well as industry groups and individual businesses. The EPA declined to comment on Dec. 20, referring questions to the Justice Department. The Justice Department also declined to comment. The environmental agency said power-plant emissions dropped by 18% in 2023 in the 10 states where it has been allowed to enforce its rule, which was finalized in March. Those states are Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. The rule is on hold in another dozen because of separate legal challenges. The other states are Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. In California, limits on emissions from industrial sources other than power plants are supposed to take effect in 2026. States that contribute to ground-level ozone, or smog, are required to submit plans ensuring that coal-fired power plants and other industrial sites don’t add significantly to air pollution in other states. In cases where a state has not submitted a “good neighbor” plan — or where EPA disapproves a state plan — the federal plan was supposed to ensure that downwind states are protected. Ground-level ozone, which forms when industrial pollutants chemically react in the presence of sunlight, can cause respiratory problems, including asthma and chronic bronchitis. People with compromised immune systems, the elderly and children playing outdoors are particularly vulnerable. Environmental and public health advocates have praised the pollution-cutting plan as a life-saving measure for people who live hundreds of miles away from power plants, cement factories, steel mills and other industrial polluters. Industry groups criticized the plan as having an anti-coal bias that would drive up the cost of electricity.

calendar

December Friday

Saturday 29

Sunday 30

Chippie’s New Year’s Eve Party, 11 a.m.-noon, Behringer-Crawford Museum, 1600 Montague Road, Covington. Art, crafts and educational program for preschoolers and their caregivers. $3 materials fee per child, plus museum admission. Register at least three days in advance at 859491-4003.

January

Monday

31 75th Aniversary New Year’s Eve celebration, 7 p.m.-1 a.m., Jimmies Rollerdrome, 115 Main St., Elsmere. $10. For more information, email jimmiesrollersk8@gmail.com or call 859-342-9848.

Tuesday 1

Wednesday

Thursday

Union City Commission meeting, 6-7 p.m., City Building, 1843 Bristow Drive, Union

Florence City Council caucus meetings, 6-7 p.m., City Building, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence

Campbell County Fiscal Court, 9-10 a.m., Alexandria Courthouse, 8352 E. Main St., Alexandria

Edgewood City Council meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., City Building, 385 Dudley Road, Edgewood

Covington Commission caucus meeting, 6-7 p.m., City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., Covington

Campbell County Fiscal Court meeting, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Alexandria Courthouse, 8352 E. Main St., Alexandria

Wilder City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., City Building, 520 Licking Pike, Wilder

Dayton City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., Dayton Community and Meeting Center, 625 Second Ave., Dayton

Southgate City Council meeting, 6:30-8:30 p.m., City Building, 122 Electric Ave., Southgate

Highland Heights City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., City Building, 176 Johns Hill Road, Highland Heights

Boone County Planning Commission meeting, 7-8 p.m., County Fiscal Court, 2950 Washington St., Burlington

Kenton County Board of Education meeting, 7-8 p.m., Kenton County Sanitation Department, 1045 Eaton Drive, Fort Wright Independence City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., 5409 Madison Pike, Independence

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

Erlanger City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., Municipal Building, 505 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger

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

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real estate

Charming 1970s Erlanger home sits on 8 acres of land Address: 3781 Narrows Road, Erlanger Price: $720,000 Beds: Four Bath: Four (plus one half-bath) Square Footage: 4,380 School district: Kenton County County: Kenton Special features: This 1970s Erlanger home sits on nearly 8 acres of property. The interior features high ceilings spotted with skylights, letting in plenty of natural light. The home features great views of the nature surrounding the property. While the woodwork, two stone-surround fireplaces and more original details still remain, there are also modern updates, including stainless-steel appliances and updated bathrooms. With over 4,000 square feet of living space, five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and three finished levels, this home is asking for a big family to move in.

This 1970s Erlanger home is surrounded by great views. Photo provided | Liz Jacobs with Coldwell Banker Realty

The interior of this property features high ceilings with tons of skylights, as well as stone-surround fireplaces. Photo provided | Liz Jacobs with Coldwell Banker Realty

This Erlanger home sits on nearly 8 acres of land. Photo provided | Liz Jacobs with Coldwell Banker 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 29, 2023

City

240 Walker Lane Edgewood 11184 Trumpeter Court Walton 2713 Claiborne Court Crestview Hills 18 Amherst Court Florence 1309 Galveston Court Independence 2137 Silverwood Court Florence 520 Walker Court Walton 3079 Elmwood Drive Edgewood 8465 Bridle Court Florence 1214 Oriole Court Edgewood 3903 Archer Court Florence 2715 James Avenue Covington 1406 -1408 Banklick Street Covington 3609 Concord Drive Erlanger 106 Goodridge Drive Florence 4232 Lafayette Court Erlanger 3417 Cherry Tree Lane Erlanger 69 Crowell Avenue Fort Thomas 11199 Big Bone Road Union 3515 Carlisle Avenue Covington

Recent NKY Home Sale Data

Price

Sale Date

Address

City

Price

Sale Date

$950,000 $385,000 $350,000 $340,000 $339,900 $332,500 $325,000 $271,000 $246,900 $245,000 $239,900 $233,000 $230,000 $225,000 $225,000 $220,000 $215,000 $169,000 $164,000 $126,340

12/15/23 12/18/23 12/12/23 12/15/23 12/15/23 12/15/23 12/15/23 12/15/23 12/12/23 12/12/23 12/13/23 12/13/23 12/15/23 12/14/23 12/15/23 12/12/23 12/15/23 12/15/23 12/18/23 12/15/23

2719 Valley Trails Drive 851 Rogers Road 1121 Carpenters 662 Lakeshore Drive 270 Van Voast Avenue 321 Division Street 229 Prospect Street 203 Glazier Avenue 1927 Mount Vernon Drive 1233 Upland Avenue 14 Edna Lane 2675 Van Deren Drive 47 Carran Drive 119 Carran Drive 30 E Lakeside Avenue 3609 Concord Drive 445 Forest Avenue 3417 Cherry Tree Lane 4178 Farmwood Court 604 Perimeter Drive

Villa Hills Villa Hills Villa Hills Villa Hills Bellevue Bellevue Bellevue Bellevue Fort Wright Fort Wright Fort Wright Lakeside Park Lakeside Park Lakeside Park Lakeside Park Erlanger Erlanger Erlanger Erlanger Erlanger

$279,900 $316,500 $530,000 $330,000 $265,000 $232,000 $220,000 $389,789 $348,000 $249,900 $290,000 $230,000 $298,000 $249,000 $275,000 $225,000 $194,700 $215,000 $275,000 $255,000

11/20/23 11/27/23 12/1/23 12/15/23 11/24/23 11/29/23 12/6/23 12/7/23 12/4/23 12/5/23 12/14/23 12/18/23 12/7/23 12/11/23 12/11/23 12/14/23 12/14/23 12/15/23 12/15/23 12/15/23

features

LINK Streetscapes - it’s time for Streetscapes Wrapped … Round 3

n the two years that this Streetscapes series has been around, we’ve covered hundreds of local businesses.

in the MainStrasse district. Juniper’s was an early addition to an evolving bar scene in MainStrasse this year.

To commemorate the top discoveries we’ve found this year, several issues of Streetscapes have been highlighting some of our favorite finds in this series — coffee shops, restaurants, bars and bakeries, just to name a few.

Its decor and atmosphere match more of a speakeasy, quiet lounge vibe to simply enjoy a few drinks after work, as opposed to many mainstays in the area with loud club music and dancing. Juniper’s atmosphere certainly sets it apart from traditional bars, but its drink selection does, as well.

Every year, Spotify — a music streaming service — gives users a personalized breakdown of their top listening, aptly called Spotify Wrapped. Retailers and businesses all over the world have adopted this idea, so here at LINK we are doing our own version, Streetscapes Wrapped. We will break down the top places discovered from this series this year – not necessarily new businesses, just new to this series and potentially new to readers. This week, we revisit the top bars and breweries discovered this year.

The majority of its drinks are gin-based cocktails, from traditional gimlets (gin, lime juice and simple syrup) to more creative drinks, including the Voyager, with barrel-aged gin, rose vermouth, coriander, clove and orange. Juniper’s is the perfect backdrop to catch up with a friend or listen to live jazz music. It pulls at the heartstrings of old souls and gin aficionados, making it one of the top bars in NKY.

Works rewrote the formula for breweries and has found huge success in doing so. For starters, its interior is out of a fantasy novel, intentionally so. It was founded to be a nerd’s and beer lover’s paradise. We’ve seen a lot of interiors that are impressive, but nothing quite compares to the detail at Fabled Brew Works. Its bathrooms are reminiscent of small cottages; behind the bar is a large cut-out tree; and fairy lights and fake clouds are just some of the other decor elements that make it a happy hobbit home. Those not in the know of the fantasy world will still be impressed with the unique setting and ample beer and mead options. Outside of beers, it also serves mead, a less-available alcohol in this area. Mead is made from fermented honey, water and yeast.

For classy craft cocktails with an atmosphere that Ernest Hemmingway would have envied, head to Juniper’s in Covington

Breweries tend to stick to the same formula of their own craft beer, walls of TVs with the sport of the season on screen and, traditionally, a crowd of young adults. Fable Brew

Drinks are playfully named after fictional characters and novels, another nod to the fun theme. Witchhazel, a blonde ale with hazelnut and coffee, is a perfect starter beer, while Oh Gnome You Didn’t IPA is great for beer connoisseurs. Those new to beer and mead are best to go with a flight

Spanish Olives are among the many rotating tapas options at Junipers. Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

Gimlet from Junipers in Covington in their classy atmosphere. Photo by: Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

Bohemian decor elevates Second Story’s rooftop for a truly relaxing environment. Photo by: Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

Fabled Brew Works Juniper’s Gin and Tapas

to sample four beverages. Along with alcoholic drinks, there’s a nice selection of non-alcoholic beers and beverages. Fabled Brew Works is also familyand pet-friendly, so everyone in the family can experience a little magic. Guests can find this mythical masterpiece in Erlanger. Second Story Apparently, putting trees indoors was the decor move for bars and breweries this year. What’s even more impressive about Second Story’s interior tree is that it’s, well, on the Second Story and was created to be the centerpiece of the bar. The bohemian bar is adorned in greenery — both in actual plants, as well as in color — and rattan chairs and velvet couches merge modern decor with a ’70s feel. Second Story was very highly anticipated among bargoers. Located a few streets over from the heart of the Covington bar scene, Second Story was the hottest bar this summer. In an old firehouse on West Sixth above Flying Axes, Second Story is truly stepping into anoth-

Mother of God Church creates a beautiful backdrop for Second Story’s already picturesque rooftop. Photo by: Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

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er world. The space offers both indoor and outdoor seating, with stunning rooftop views. Beverages are beautiful in both look and taste. The menu rotates seasonally; Columbines in Your Hair, a pretty purple cocktail, was one of the featured drinks of the summer. For the colder months, the chai espresso martini is a great pick-me-up beverage. Second Story also always features two mocktails that rotate with the season. Tend your gardens and Columbines in your hair cocktails from Second Story in Covington. Photo by: Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

The rooftop features swings and stunning sunsets, but the interior shouldn't be overlooked. It’s a cozy space that transforms from a laid-back lounge in the early evening to an energetic atmosphere with music in the late evening. The Post Taps and Bottle Shop What’s unique about the Post is that it isn’t quite a brewery and it isn’t quite a bar; it’s somewhere in the middle. But regardless of how it’s classified, it’s a spot that brings community together, with good drinks at the center. The Post Taps and Bottle Shop serves a variety of beers, from its own creations to craft beers from around the world.

Interior of Junipers in Covington exudes class in their intimate environment. Photo by: Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

However, many of its beers originate from either the Cincinnati area or Kentucky. The tap options rotate; a seasonal Cookie Exchange Milk Stout is the perfect beverage

to get into the holiday spirit. Those wanting familiar favorites may like the canned offerings better, including High Noon hard seltzers. Guests who find a new favorite beer don’t have to visit the original brewery to take it home with them. The Post offers options to purchase beers to enjoy at home. Located in a former dairy house, the Post wanted to highlight the history of Fort Thomas while adding a place for people of all ages to gather. It’s a family-friendly place and even has a play area where kids can have their own space. Kentucky Local When one thinks of a hometown bar, with beer buckets and TVs featuring every football game imaginable, Kentucky Local is the epitome of that hometown bar. It’s without a doubt the most traditional idea of a bar – cheap beer, plenty of sports and a laid-back atmosphere.

This is a beloved bar for locals of Boone County. However, those on the outskirts shouldn’t worry about not being welcomed. Across the wall-to-wall TVs reads a message, “Welcome to Kentucky Local. You are family now.” The place exudes Kentucky hospitality and offers a welcoming face to locals and weary travelers. Kentucky Local offers old-reliable beers of Bud and Miller always on tap, as well as other rotating popular picks.

It has daily deals, from buckets or beer to draft speciality and Bourbon pours. This is the atmosphere guests want when watching the final seconds of a Bengals game or March Madness — a lively bar where you talk to strangers about Calipari’s coaching like you’re old friends. For guests looking for a true hometown-bar feel, Kentucky Local is one of the best spots in NKY.

What to Know If You Go: Juniper’s Location: 409 W. Sixth St., Covington Hours: Monday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m.-midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Website: junipersginbar.com Phone: 859-291-4466

Fabled Brew Works Location: 331 Kenton Lands Road, Suite 300, Erlanger Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday and Wednesday, 4-9 p.m.; Thursday, noon10 p.m.; Friday, noon-11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Website: fabledbrewworks.beer Phone: 859-727-2337

Second Story Location: 100 W. Sixth St., Covington Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-midnight; Friday, 4 p.m.1 a.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m.-1 a.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.-midnight Website: secondstory.bar Phone: 859-669-2270

The Post Taps and Bottle Shop Location: 1136 S. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday-Thursday, 3 p.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-7:30 p.m. Website: thepostft.com Phone: 513-546-0197

Kentucky Local

Cold draft beer and plenty of TV’s can be found at Kentucky Local in Hebron. Photo by: Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

Exterior patio at Kentucky Local, a classic sports bar. Photo by: Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

NOTICE APPLYING FOR ABC LICENSE NCNB 2 LLC dba Cork n Bottle hereby declares its intention(s) to apply for an NQ Retail Malt Beverage Package License and an NQ4 Retail Malt Beverage Drink License no later than January 21, 2024. The licensed premises will be located at 2939 Terminal Dr, Hebron, KY 41048. The sole owner is Thomas L. Neyer, Jr., 646 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Any person, association, corporation, or body politic may protest the granting of the license by writing the Department of Alcoholic Beverages, 500 Mero Street 2NE33, Frankfort, KY 40601, within thirty (30) days (pursuant to KRS 243.430) of the date of legal publication. 16 DECEMBER 29, 2023

EACH WEEK, NORTHERN KENTUCKY SELECTS

Location: 2030 Northside Drive, Hebron Hours: Monday, 3-8 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Website: thekylocal.com Phone: 859-534-0178

LINK nky Team of the Week for Dec. 3-10

Ryle archery team

Photo provided | Ryle archery

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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Coach Peebles has a lot of people preparing blue-collar Pioneers for wrestling work By Marc Hardin

arrod Peebles has been involved with aspects of the Simon Kenton High School wrestling program since he was 12 years old. He has seen how the program works from the ground up as a wrestler and assistant coach. As head coach, he's making sure the Pioneers are running smoothly from the top down. With more than a quarter of a century of Simon Kenton wrestling in his background, Peebles has the Pioneers working hard to uphold the team's tradition of excellence. “We’re a blue-collar team,” Peebles said. “And we've had great history." Simon Kenton won a KHSAA state championship in 1987 with a runner-up finish in 1984 and has had two most outstanding wrestlers at the state meet. The Pioneers have produced 27 individual state champs and 112 state placers. Peebles wrestled for the Pioneers in the upper weight classes. He was a two-time state qualifier and graduated in 2003. While attending Northern Kentucky University, Peebles started helping the Simon Kenton wrestling program on a part-time

basis. He was eventually asked to be an assistant. Peebles was promoted to head coach in 2019. Peebles is receiving a big helping hand from the Blevins family, and the Woosleys and the Ocasios, for a great family atmosphere at Simon Kenton. Sophomore Braydan Blevins won last season's state championship at 106 pounds and finished with a record of 55-10. He is ranked first in Kentucky at 120 pounds this season at Kentuckywrestling.com. “He’s a very tenacious wrestler,” Peebles said. “The best part about him is his brain. He almost has a 4.0 grade-point average. He’s a second-generation guy. His dad also wrestled.” Blevins’ father, Dan Blevins, is head coach of the Simon Kenton Middle School wrestling team, Simon Kenton Elite, which sends its best wrestlers to coach Peebles at the varsity level. Dan Blevins wrestled at Holmes. “It’s been pretty sweet to have my dad coach me," the younger Blevins said. “I definitely feel like I can be a step ahead in a match.”

Simon Kenton won the 2023 Kenton County team championship. Photo provided

Coach Peebles and Coach Blevins are not only on the same page, they’ve also been on the same mat. Their prep careers overlapped while Peebles was a Pioneer and Blevins was a Bulldog. They battled in 215-pound and heavyweight matches, once for the conference title. “He and I were competitors, and now we’re on the same side,” said Peebles, who has another assistant, Jon Woosley, whose son also wrestles for the Pioneers. Other helpers include longtime assistant Nathan Gilbert, Rick Daunbaugh and Joey Parrott. With so many eyes on his wrestlers, Peebles is counting on a lot of people to help the Pioneers get what they want. They were eyeing a spot in the state rankings and got it. Simon Kenton was ranked 19th in Kentucky just days before Christmas. The Pioneers were ranked third in Region 5 behind Ryle and Walton-Verona. The Pioneers finished 15th at last season’s state meet. They placed fourth at the regional meet. The Pioneers boasted six state-ranked wrestlers in late December. In addition to Blevins, there was junior Jonah McCloskey, ranked No. 4 at 126. McCloskey was last season’s regional runner-up at 120 pounds. He finished sixth at state. “Another tenacious wrestler who’s wrestled most of his life,” Peebles said. “Jonah was in one of the deepest weight classes in the state last season, but he's at 126 now.”

The Pioneers have seven wrestlers for girls head coach Scott Smith and assistant Migdoel Ocasio, including Ocasio's daughter, senior Gabriella Ocasio.

That puts McCloskey in another tough weight class as a pair of state champions, Union County's Jayden Raney and Ryle's

Landon Evans, plus Paducah Tilghman’s Jayven Williams, ranked 1-2-3 at the top of 126. Raney won last season's state title at 120 pounds. Evans won state at 113. Williams was last season’s 126-pound state runner-up. McCloskey has experience against all of them. He beat Williams in middle school. “I’m ready,” said McCloskey, 43-11 last season. “I feel like I’ve put in the work.” Other state-ranked Pioneers were No. 20 Haydn Walters at 190 pounds, No. 25 Frank Armstrong at 157 pounds, No. 27 Ian Lawrence at 132 and No. 30 Ben Woosley at 160. “They’re all working to place at state for the first time,” Peebles said. “I expect Lawrence to stay at 132. Armstrong is working his way down to 150. Woosley has wrestled at 144 in two meets already. Walters hasn’t wrestled yet. He’s recovering from an ACL injury in his knee. I expect him to eventually be at 175. He was one win away from qualifying for state last season.” The Pioneers have seven wrestlers for girls head coach Scott Smith and assistant Migdoel Ocasio, including Ocasio’s daughter, senior Gabriella Ocasio. She won an unsanctioned girls state crown as a 138-pound sophomore. This is the first season for KHSAA-sanctioned girls wrestling. “She’s really good,” Peebles said. “In our first four meets, she was most outstanding girls wrestler three times.”

DECEMBER 29, 2023 17

sports Five NKY football players sign to play Division I in early signing day period Dec. 20 is the early signing day period for Division I in NCAA football, and five student-athletes from Northern Kentucky took advantage of it. Covington Catholic’s Willie Rodriguez, Highlands’ Brody Benke, Simon Kenton’s Aba Selm and Dixie Heights’ Brach Rice and Kabanza Mwamba all inked to continue their football and academic careers. Rodriguez and Selm are headed to the University of Kentucky, Rodriguez as a tight end, Selm as an offensive lineman. Benke is headed to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to play for Middle Tennessee State University, Rice to Miami (Ohio) and Mwamba to Tennessee-Chattanooga.

Rodriguez was a two-way player for the Colonels at tight end and outside linebacker. He corralled 29 passes for 488 yards and 12 touchdowns in his senior season to go with 48 tackles and three sacks defensively. He was a vital piece for the 14-1 Colonels, who finished as state runner-up in Class 4A. Coming down to the last minute and strong pushes from Tennessee and Auburn in recruiting, Rodriguez stayed firm to his commitment that he made with the Wildcats over the summer. Benke did it all for the Bluebirds offense in 2023. He played quarterback, was the second leading rusher and gave the Blue Raider coaching staff glimpses of what his college position is going to be at tight end. Benke accounted for 3,333 total yards and 55 touchdowns in his senior campaign for the 12-2 Bluebirds, making the state semifinals in Class 5A. He threw for 1,849 yards and 26 touchdowns, ran for 1,176 yards and 23 touchdowns and caught 14 passes for 208 yards and six touchdowns. He also served as the team’s long snapper. Selm was a menace along both offensive and defensive lines in his time in Independence. He made his commitment in early 2023 and shut his recruitment down after that. Selm helped pave the way for the Pioneers rushing attack that amassed 2,188 yards in 10 games. Defensively, Selm had 59 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Highlands senior Brody Benke signed his national letter of intent to continue his football and academic career at Middle Tennessee State University. Photo provided | Highlands football

Rice was the leading tackler in the state in his senior campaign all the way until the final week of the postseason, despite playing three less games than Owensboro

Catholic’s Vince Carrico, who ended with 197 tackles to Rice’s 181. Rice committed to Miami over the summer and held firm from that point, wanting to get his college decision out of the way before his senior season. He was the backbone for the Colonels defense, constantly involved as he also racked up 32.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. He also recovered two fumbles and filled in offensively when the team needed him to with 270 rushing yards and five touchdowns and caught seven passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Mwamba was a shutdown corner for the Colonels, picking off four passes and recovering a fumble in his senior season to go with 48 tackles. He added 12 receptions for 239 yards and three touchdowns on offense.

Pair of NKY hoopers earn Horizon League honors in back-to-back weeks Simon Kenton and Lloyd Memorial grads are already making the Horizon League take notice. Youngstown State’s Gabe Dynes and Northern Kentucky University’s Jeremiah Israel won Under Armour Horizon League Freshman of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks. Dynes won it for his play during Dec. 4-10, and Israel collected the award for his action the week of Dec. 11-17. Dynes was an important factor in the Penguins’ 2-0 record Dec. 4-10 in their road

victories over Mid-American Conference opponents at Ohio and Western Michigan. The Simon Kenton grad averaged 6.0 points per game and shot 75% from the field. He also had four rebounds and posted a block in each game. Dynes ranks second in the Horizon League in total blocks with 17 and 1.7 blocks per game. Israel put up a pair of solid performances off the bench in wins over University of Cumberlands and Eastern Kentucky University to earn the honors. The Lloyd Memorial grad started off the Norse’s 2-0 week with 10 points, three rebounds and an assist in a 94-59 victory over University of the Cumberlands. He followed that up with a 15-point, five-rebound and one assist performance over EKU on Sunday. Israel shot it well, knocking down 9-of-12 shots in the two games and 5-of-7 from the 3-point line. Over the two games, Israel averaged 12.5 points, four rebounds and an assist, doing so in 38 minutes of gameplay. The 15-point performance against EKU was a career-high in points, also setting career highs in field goals made (five), 3-pointers made (three) and rebounds (five). He’s scored in double figures three times this season. Israel is the second NKU student-athlete to earn a weekly conference honor so far this season as he joins Marques Warrick, who was named the Horizon League’s Player of the Week back on December 4.

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