LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 1, Issue 14 - February 24, 2023

On the Edge:

When making more means you end up with less

Father and son cornhole kings p6

Streetscapes visits Ft. Mitchell, Crescent Springs p13

This Covington home is a suburban castle p12

We are grateful to all LINK’s Partners - those organizations in the community who believe strongly in what we are doing, and have thrown their full support behind us. These NKY institutions are helping bring a voice back to our community.

PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Mark Collier

MANAGING EDITOR Meghan Goth

PRINT EDITOR Kaitlin Gebby

SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison

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On the Edge: Food assistance is first to go in benefits cliff

BY KAITLIN GEBBY AND GRACE TIERNEY | LINK NKY

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.

on the cover

A student at Northern Kentucky University fills a shopping basket at the Fuel NKU pantry on campus. Photo by Alecia Ricker | LINK nky contributor

For Northern Kentucky University student Elena Song, even buying the basics from bargain stores like Walmart is too pricey for her college budget.

So she shops at the campus food pantry, where students can go for free supplies twice a week.

“I shop here for tissues, toilet paper, ramen, even laundry detergent,” Song said.

“If I buy toilet paper or detergent from a place like Kroger or Walmart it’s so much money. But here, it’s free and it’s so good. I just swipe my student ID and they scan the barcode of the things I’m buying.”

Tara Assad, also an NKU student, has trouble finding affordable food because of her gluten intolerance. Those specialty items tend to be more expensive than others on the shelf, eating up more of her limited budget.

“For me, this place is very beneficial especially with inflation,” Assad said. “These items are like four, five, maybe six dollars at a regular grocery store. Places on campus unfortunately don’t have places for me to eat. They have a salad bar, but everytime I eat there I get sick because of touch, cross contamination. But people can come here, grab some snacks or food to cook at home at no cost at all.”

Song and Assad are what the Brighton Center calls “opportunity youth” – the population of 16 to 24-year-olds in Northern Kentucky who struggle to make ends meet, usually while in school and working part- or full-time. Brighton Center, a local nonprofit with nearly 50 programs that assist those in need with navigating federal programs like SNAP and creating a path from homelessness to self-sufficiency, estimates more than 7,000 Northern Kentucky residents are opportunity youth.

Making things more complicated, these students – who would otherwise be eligible to receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as SNAP – can be claimed on their parents’ or guardians’ tax returns, preventing them from individually receiving SNAP benefits that they may need.

The program provides nutritional benefits to supplement the food budget of low-income individuals or families. Find out if you are eligible for SNAP at fns.usda.gov/ snap.

Students who need assistance from NKU’s food pantry, Fuel, can go to the Albright Health Center on campus Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A volunteer at Be Concerned packs a grocery cart with a client’s order during open food pantry hours. Photo by James Robertson | LINK nky contributor

Continued from page

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities explains that the federal government pays the full cost of SNAP, and splits the cost of administering the program with states. Requirements are set at the federal level, so by and large, every state has the same setup, though there are aspects of SNAP that states can tailor. For example, many states, Ohio and Kentucky included, exclude the value of household cars when calculating a family’s income level and net assets.

SNAP eligibility rules are based on monthly gross income, which must be at or below 130% of the poverty line. For a family of three in Kentucky, that’s $2,490 a month or up to $29,939 a year before taxes. Those who are 60 and older or have a disability don’t have to meet this limit, the Center explains.

SNAP is also based on net monthly income after deductions are applied, like the cost of housing and child care. After deductions, if the amount is less than or equal to $1,830 a month or $21,960 annually for a three-person household, they may qualify for SNAP.

There are limitations, though. While someone might qualify for SNAP, it’s not clear how much assistance one may receive. And those convicted of a drug-related felony are barred from SNAP in some states. In Kentucky, felons are allowed to use SNAP but may have to join a treatment program to do so.

As earners see more income, SNAP is the first resource benefits cliff. As earners climb back to earn more income, they face similar cliffs in child care assistance and health care assistance.

A benefits cliff refers to those who, for example, work part-time and can't afford to take on more hours, or sometimes can’t take a raise at their full-time job because it would disqualify them from benefits.

As it stands, the program reduces the assistance it offers by more than one’s increase of income, meaning individuals and families who take a raise can ultimately end up with less money than when they started.

For a single parent earning $14 an hour to support two children, that comes out to $29,120 earned in a year – under the $29,939 threshold for a family of three in Kentucky to qualify. But at just 50 cents more, that parent is earning $30,160 a year, which is above the maximum threshold to qualify. That bump in pay may increase a paycheck by $40 before taxes are removed, but it can result in a loss of thousands of dollars in benefits granted by SNAP.

“It’s a financial shock. People wonder, ‘How did this happen? What do I do now?’” said Melissa Hall Sommer, the senior vice president of the Brighton Center.

SNAP is also based on net monthly income after deductions are applied, like the cost of housing and child care. After deductions, if the amount is less than or equal to $1,830 a month or $21,960 annually for a three-person household, they may qualify for SNAP.

KentuckianaWorks is a Louisville-based organization that seeks to place workers in high-paying, sustainable jobs, and work with employers to ensure they are providing them and that they are filled with reliable employees.

out

The organization addressed benefits cliffs and the living wage gap in a January 2021 article.

“Within the Louisville region, a single mother with two children would need to earn more than $60,000 per year to cover the costs of basic needs for her family,” and the organization suggests a living wage that breaks even without public assistance is $27 an hour, or about $55,000 a year.

Sommer pointed out that employers benefit from SNAP, particularly when they aren’t paying a livable wage.

“You know, sometimes it's a conversation about the cliff and how people navigate the cliff. But what folks don't realize is that employers benefit from SNAP benefits, because they sometimes are subsidizing lower wages,” Sommer said.

She added that many people jump to the conclusion that those on SNAP or other benefits simply aren’t working or don’t want to work.

“I think we are in a place now where employers are doing a lot to look at their job quality, so I give a lot of employers credit, but there are a lot of folks who don't even realize that the people working for them have to rely on those SNAP benefits,” Sommer said. “They think it's only for people who don't have jobs but these are truly acting as work supports for folks who are trying really hard that don't have the income yet to bridge to the next point. It's those smooth bridges that we need.”

Check

is signed up for SNAP benefits. That number is as high as 20% in Newport, and in Florence up to 9% of the population receives SNAP benefits.

The Atlas also shows that between 65% and 73% of individuals in poverty across Northern Kentucky’s three counties qualify for SNAP but aren’t signed up.

When this data was presented to experts at the Brighton Center who are familiar with SNAP and those it serves, they said the circumstances of these individuals could vary.

One could be an elderly resident receiving social security income and unaware that they also qualify for SNAP. Perhaps some of those the Atlas data points to qualify for SNAP, but they missed their recertification date or the quantity of monthly assistance given isn’t worth navigating the system to get it, in their eyes.

NKU’s Song and Assad are two of about 1,600 students that the university said uses Fuel to supplement their pantries. That’s about 10% of the student population, and about 95% of the students who use the food pantry once return.

At Gateway, 1,396 students utilize their pantry, making up one-third of the student enrollment there, and their pantry is by appointment only.

“Recently we’ve seen an increase in students using the pantry,” said Sarah Young, Gateway’s Community Resource Success coach. “That is definitely via word of mouth between students that this is an added support that they can tap into.”

Though the Atlas data doesn’t clearly show what population is being most impacted by this benefits cliff, legislators in Frankfort are trying to remedy the program’s pitfalls.

In 2022, legislators formed the Benefits Cliff Task Force. Chaired by Sen. Jason Howell and Rep. Jason Dixon, the task force spent the break between annual sessions evaluating cliffs and formulating recommendations to smooth transitions off of benefits. Kentucky has several programs that address the benefits cliff, such as the transitional benefits policies that exist in Kentucky’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and K-TAP program, which allow recipients who are no longer eligible for benefits to continue receiving them at a reduced level for several months in order to have time to adjust their family budgets. The Family Resource Simulator, operated by the Kentucky Center for Statistics, also allows families to evaluate the impact a wage increase would have on their benefits.

In December 2022, the task force released its report and recommendations. To mitigate the cliff’s effects, they suggested reviewing the income-based tiers of the program; conducting a study on the cost of maintaining pandemic-era changes to the Child Care Assistance Program; integrating a user-friendly benefits calculator into outreach programs and benefits websites; and creating new partnerships to help reduce the impact of the cliff.

On Feb. 16, the House Committee on Families and Children met and passed a joint resolution directing the governor’s cabinet to further the work of the task force by continuing to research benefits cliffs in Kentucky, and establishing some of the recommendations from the task force like an integrated benefits cliff calculator.

KentuckianaWorks

“There was a substantial amount of money, federal money, that came down during the pandemic and that money is being used. So, with this resolution we're asking them to take a good hard look at that and see what that future looks like when that money is no longer there,” Dixon said.

Jennifer Wiley, who has served in various roles at the Brighton Center across 10 years, said KYConnect, the state’s benefits enrollment site, has seen improvements during Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration but still has room to grow.

“There are two sides to it, a benefits side and a resources side,” Wiley explained. “On one end, you can upload your documents and apply for SNAP, and then on the other you can look up resources and make referrals. So, say I signed up for SNAP but I need food now while I’m waiting for my benefits to come through, so I could look up pantries nearby and get help that way. That’s still being rolled out, but I think when it’s finished it’s going to be great.”

At the local level, food pantries like those at NKU, Gateway and beyond, offer a means to fill in the gap until public programs catch up.

“When someone comes in and they are in need every month … they are having trouble getting a job or, more often than not, are in a low-wage job and need to get on a career pathway, then we need to offer something more than a bag of food,” Som-

mer said. “Sometimes, that’s all people need and they can be on their way, but we believe that we need to offer more on top of that bag of food.”

Sommer said her teams see clients walking through the door as an opportunity to ask about their hopes, dreams, and forge a path to sustainability.

Northern Kentucky food pantries:

Fuel NKY

Location: Albright Health Center on NKU’s campus

Website: inside.nku.edu/fuelnku.html

Hours: Monday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 11 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hope Ministries of Northern Kentucky

Address: 263 Main St. in Florence

Phone: 859-371-1887

Website: hopenky.org

Hours: Items can be picked up by appointment only on Wednesday evenings and Thursday and Friday mornings.

Be Concerned

Address: 1100 Pike St. in Covington; 525 Graves Ave. in Erlanger

Phone: 859-291-6789 for Covington location; 859-727-0300 for Erlanger location

Website: beconcerned.org

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A chart created by KentuckianaWorks shows the different income levels at which benefits cliffs occur in Kentucky, as well as the threshold for breaking even. Photo provided |

Baskets of snacks at the FUEL NKU Pantry. Photo by Alecia Ricker | LINK nky contributor

Kings of Cornhole rest their crowns in Alexandria

BY KENTON HORNBECK | LINK nky REPORTER

Bret Guy's eyes were locked in on the ground. His hands juggled the beanbag up and down, feeling the individual resin pellets through the fabric with his fingertips. He took three steps forward and adjusted his footing.

Similar to a major league hitter's routine before stepping into the batter’s box, Bret’s mannerisms resembled that of a seasoned veteran with experience operating in the clutch.

"It was nothing but pure adrenaline at that point," Bret said.

Anxiously watching in the crowd is Matt Guy, widely considered to be the greatest cornhole player of all time. Some people refer to him as the GOAT of the sport, a colloquialism meaning 'greatest of all-time.' For Bret, the GOAT goes by another name: Dad.

"This slide shot is for the win for Bret Guy and Erick Davis to win their second straight Pro Shootout Championship in doubles," proclaimed the CBS Sports play-by-play broadcaster.

Bret’s gaze shifted from the ground to the opposite board, locking his eyes onto the target. His right arm swayed backward, then forward, launching the beanbag into the air.

An $100,000 purse was on the line. At the time, it was the largest prize in the history of cornhole. Bret said he believes a championship cornhole purse could reach up to $1 million in the future.

Days earlier, Bret and Matt boarded a plane from CVG to Los Angeles after the completion of their work week. They both work for Stigler Supply Company, a custodial supply company in Cincinnati. Matt works as a sales representative while Bret is his assistant. Both are residents of Alexandria.

Like Babe Ruth in the Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, Bret Guy called his shot. The bean bag was on its way, but Bret knew his shot was going in.

He busted out a premature “let’s go” as the beanbag hit the board, sliding over the Johnsonville Brats logo and disappearing into the hole.

He immediately shed his stoic competitive persona, getting louder in his celebration. Several aggressive first pumps were thrown, like Tiger Woods winning the 2005 Masters.

For Matt, watching his son win was a full-circle moment. His own father, Art Guy, was a horseshoes enthusiast.

"I was crying like a baby," he confessed.

He told LINK nky that he traveled around the Midwest with his father for 27 years.

“It was me and my Dad, and we just traveled basically around the Midwest pitching in horseshoe tournaments,” he said. “I got like sixth in the world, so I was pretty good at horseshoe pitching at the time.”

It was 1995 when Matt first discovered cornhole at a party. He took to the game instantly, and his muscle memory from years of pitching horseshoes made for a seamless transition.

In 2000, Matt was driving a bread route for Butternut in Cincinnati when he passed by the Western Hills Sports Mall. He noticed a sign that piqued his interest. Curious, he went in and picked up a flier advertising a cornhole tournament.

Matt contacted his brother to be his partner. That weekend, they won two matches, but also lost two. Although his first tournament finish wasn’t as illustrious as the ones that would follow, he was hooked.

“I started looking for tournaments after that, and sure enough, I started finding them,” Matt said. “Before you know it, I was just running around Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Cleveland winning money at tournaments.”

In the early 2000s, the sport of cornhole was more rudimentary.

There was little institutional infrastructure, and the sport lacked a strong governing body. Tournaments were arranged by individuals or small groups of people. The prize money was often small, with first place purses topping out at $200 to $300, according to Matt.

In many ways, Matt is a pioneer within the sport. He was able to watch his professional career blossom alongside the American Cornhole Organization. Founded in 2005 and based in Milford, Ohio, the ACO is one of the two largest professional cornhole leagues in the United States.

Bret, too, can lay claim to the pioneer moniker. Both Matt and Bret participated in the first ACO Cornhole World Championship, which in Bret’s eyes, makes them “the last OGs of cornhole.”

While Bret may refer to them as OGs, they also share another title: kings. More specifically, Kings of Cornhole.

In 2006, King of Cornhole founder Matthew Grey and his business partner Doug Hopkins created the “King of Cornhole” television show. The show was inspired by the “King of TV Bowling” which aired from 1964 to 2009. Both Gray and Hopkins partnered with the ACO to create the first-ever cornhole show in television history.

Matt went on to win the first two installments of the television series, cementing

Bret (L) pictured with his Dad, Matt (L) in front of two cornhole boards. | Photo provided | ACL Pro Matt Guy Facebook

him as an early face of the sport. The world title winner of the ACO is also referred to as '”The King of Cornhole.”

So what makes Matt the GOAT? For starters, Matt won five straight ACO World Championships from 2006 to 2010. After a dry spell, Matt went on to reclaim the ACO world title three more times in 2015, 2016 and 2019.

Bret has his own ACO World Championship title, taking home the hardware in 2014 in front of a friendly home crowd at Turfway Park in Florence. That year, the ACO World Championships were broadcast on ESPN. It was also featured on the network's Wider World of Sports, hosted by former SportsCenter anchor Kenny Mayne.

Mayne referred to Bret as “Heir to the Cornhole Throne.” After he secured the championship, Bret told Mayne he was going to cel-

ebrate his victory by eating at the Florence Red Lobster.

The duo has since departed the ACO. Both Matt and Bret now compete in the American Cornhole League which was founded in 2015.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ESPN aired the ACL for six straight weeks in order to fill timeslot vacancies caused by the in-season suspension of professional sports leagues like the NBA and MLB. It was this run on ESPN that helped the ACL grow feverishly, setting the organization up with a broadcasting rights deal with CBS Sports. The league is seen as a direct competitor to the ACO.

Besides competing on television, Matt’s and Bret's professional cornhole careers have opened them up to opportunities they could have never expected. Cornhole allowed Matt to cross paths with former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Doug Flutie.

The ACL puts on an event called Superhole which pits pairs of celebrities and professional cornholers against each other in a tournament. Matt was paired with Flutie.

"I got a call saying, 'Hey, so apparently Doug' s really competitive and he doesn't really play cornhole that much so he wants to know if you'll fly down to Florida and train him before the tournament," said Matt.

It was an easy 'yes' for Matt who was able to coach Flutie in the days leading up to the tournament. For a beginner like Flutie, having the GOAT teach you how to play is a special way to learn the game.

Matt and Flutie went on to win back-to-back tournaments in 2021 and 2022, forging a formidable duo in the process.

During the pandemic, Matt realized he could use his skills to reach different audiences, and used cornhole to become a content creator.

"When COVID started, I'd come home and watch TV or sit around and do nothing. After I got bored, I decided I was going to go throw. I had nothing else to do," Matt said. "I noticed some guys started doing some trick shots on Facebook. I saw it and thought, 'I can do that too.'"

He created a TikTok page where he posts trick shots, vlogs and clips from tournaments. His most viewed TikTok, amassing 1.3 million views, is of Matt sinking four beanbags in one throw.

For all their competitive accomplishments, celebrity encounters, social media engagement and television appearances, one thing remains completely apparent when speaking with Matt and Bret: they are two regular guys who just so happen to be exceptional cornhole players.

"I'm a normal dude," Matt said. "I'm just really good at cornhole."

They both work ordinary day jobs, enjoy spending time with friends and family, and drinking a beer or two, but on the weekends, they assume their roles as professional athletes.

When Matt wants to train, he heads to his father Art's barn to train in privacy. At his home, Matt's wife Beth allowed him to install a 40 foot deck with two regulation length cornhole boards.

Bret practices one day a week operating primarily off muscle memory. Although he did admit he may have to start practicing more, as the next generation of younger players are highly talented.

"People are just so good nowadays that I should practice more," Bret said. "There are people that just do cornhole for a living, and they do nothing but throw."

Bret's son could be one of those next generation players. The six-year old is already throwing beanbags with his father and grandfather.

"My son shows interest in it," Bret said. "When we get out and play outside, he'll get out and play with us every now and then."

If Bret's son chooses to pursue the path of professional cornhole, it will be the family's fourth generation of horseshoe or beanbag throwers. In many ways, the Guy's are the foremost family in cornhole, similar to the Manning's in football or the Williams' in tennis.

So who is actually better at cornhole? Matt or Bret?

In a 2022 video posted on the ACL's official YouTube page, Bret said he looks at Matt as a father and role model.

"I don't look at him as the GOAT," said Bret. "He's Matt Guy. To everybody else, he's the GOAT. To me, he's just my Dad. All the pressure that you think would happen when you're the son of the GOAT and all that, I don't feel none of it. I've been doing this game way too long to feel that type of pressure."

Although when asked, Bret conceded that the GOAT might have the edge. Matt humbly offered more context.

"I mean, (Bret’s) got days where he's just not going to be beat. I'm consistent. I don't always win, but I'm always there. That's what makes me the GOAT."

Matt Guy in the midst of a different cornhole competition. Photo provided | ACL Pro Matt Guy Facebook, ACL Pro Bret Guy Facebook

Will East Palestine train derailment affect NKY’s drinking water?

The Northern Kentucky Water District is monitoring water intake valves on the Ohio River after an East Palestine, Ohio train derailment and subsequent toxic plume caused concerns that chemicals could be finding their way into local drinking water.

Northern Kentucky does not need to worry about contaminated water right now, said Water Quality Manager Mary Carol Wagner. She said water is safe to drink and being closely monitored.

Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky get water from the Ohio River through water intake valves downstream. That water is then pumped into two reservoirs in Northern Kentucky that hold it until it’s needed. In instances like this, Wagner said, “we can actually shut our intakes from pulling water in from the Ohio into the reservoirs and feed off of the reservoirs and let the con-

taminated water flow downstream.

About 50 train cars, including 10 carrying hazardous materials, derailed Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, according to the Associated Press. Vinyl chloride was later released into the air from five of those cars before crews ignited it to get rid of the highly flammable, toxic chemicals in a controlled environment, creating a dark plume of smoke.

Residents from nearby neighborhoods in Ohio and Pennsylvania were evacuated because of health risks from the fumes but have since been allowed to return.

Covington schools consider consolidation

Covington residents are voicing their opposition to a proposal from the school district to close 9th District Elementary, a move the district said would save almost $1 million in 2024.

If the schools were consolidated, the district said in a presentation to the school

board last week, class sizes wouldn’t go up past the current 24 student-per-teacher ratio, and no teachers would lose their jobs.

Students at 9th District would be redistributed mostly between Latonia and Glenn O. Swing elementary schools.

Bill Wells, whose grandchildren attend school in the district, said at a school board meeting last week he was worried about how closing a school would impact the students’ education in the face of Covington’s growing population.

“By reducing schools it will probably increase the number of students per teacher,” Wells said, “and I feel in no way that that’s going to improve the student’s education.”

Mike Brosmere said his worry when it comes to consolidating the schools is that his granddaughter could become a statistic if her school closes. He expressed concern about overworked teachers.

“She’s getting offers from all over the country because of Holmes High School, because of the administration and because her grandfather is on her butt and will not accept anything but excellence,” he said. “I hope you guys [the board] don’t close the school and overload the teachers.”

Ken Kippenbrock, the district’s executive director of Human Resources and Operations, presented the plan at last week’s meeting.

“It’s a difficult subject,” Kippenbrock said, elaborating that this was not the “Kippenbrock plan” but rather the joint recommendation of the superintendent, who was not present at the meeting, and every member of the superintendent’s cabinet.

The proposal was based on trends that Kippenbrock’s office has observed in student enrollment and attendance over the last 40 years. According to the data presented, the district is at its lowest for both measures during that time period.

Projections from the data, which Kippenbrock expressed confidence in, suggested that enrollment and attendance was likely to drop further in the coming years.

This presents a problem for the district, as its funding from the state is tied to attendance rates, per the Support Education Excellence in Education in Kentucky (SEEK) program, which was put in place by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1990. Lower numbers of students means lower funding, which makes it harder to maintain all of the schools in the district, Kippenbrock argued. He said that the elementary schools were currently operating at about 71% capacity and still receives funds based on attendance numbers from before the onset of the pandemic.

Kippenbrock predicted that closing 9th District school would lead to an estimated savings of $961,000 for the district in 2024. He was quick to add that all of the students currently going to 9th District would be retained.

Plus, Kippenbrock stated, no teachers would lose their jobs if the school closed. He said the money freed up from the closure would make it easier to provide teachers and other staff with raises and benefits.

No votes took place at the meeting, so a decision on consolidation still hangs in the balance.

Taylor Mill moves forward with for funding new firehouse

Taylor Mill will build a new firehouse to replace the current one, which is in poor condition and needs to be repaired or replaced.

Two commissioners and Mayor Dan Bell voted in favor of a motion to issue a design-build proposal for a new fire department building with a maximum budget of $4 million at the Feb. 8 City Commission meeting.

Bell and commissioners Daniel Murray and Caroline Braden voted for the motion. Commissioners Mark Kreimborg and Ed Kuehne voted against it.

Taylor Mill’s firehouse is said to be functionally obsolete. The firehouse was not

designed to house firefighters. Over the years, the city made accommodations to make the firehouse livable, but by low standards.

The city employs nine full-time and 16 part-time fire, paramedic, and EMT personnel who work on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to housing the on-duty fire staff, the new firehouse will occasionally provide accommodations for maintenance crews who need them.

“The firehouse project is planned to replace our 50-plus-year-old firehouse that was built at a time when the entire program was manned by volunteers who would respond to the firehouse from their homes, jobs, or wherever they might be when the call was made to respond,” City Administrative Officer Brian Haney said. “The new firehouse will be built with the next 50 years in mind, accommodating our current contingent of employees and addressing growth as the city looks to the future.”

Details on when construction will begin were not mentioned in the meeting.

Crescent Springs wins grant to improve sidewalks

The Kentucky League of Cities has issued a 2022 Liability Grant to the city of Crescent Springs in Kenton County.

The city intends to use the funds from the grant to improve the sidewalks and apron that serve as the entrance and exit to the city building. The grant will also enable the city to bring the same area closer to standards set by the American Disabilities Act.

Crescent Springs Mayor Mike Daugherty said he is thankful for the improvements it will bring.

“‘The replacement work will ensure that our sidewalk and apron are safer and more accessible to everyone in the city, whether they are walking or driving,’” the mayor said. “‘We are always looking for ways to bring the most benefit to our citizens while still being fiscally conservative and responsible with taxpayer money.’”

Rash retires after leading Beechwood for 17 seasons

BY G. MICHAEL GRAHAM | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

After 17 seasons at the helm of Beechwood’s football program, Noel Rash has decided it’s time to step down.

Rash announced his retirement on Feb. 13 in a meeting with the players and his assistant coaches, citing health reasons.

The 56-year-old Rash wants to spend more time with his family. Rash and his wife have a daughter who lives in California and a son who lives in Columbus, Ohio. He considered hanging it up before the 2021 season.

“I want everyone to know that nothing is drastically wrong with me health-wise,” Rash said. “But the time and stress involved in coaching football can take its toll and I want to make wellness a priority in this next phase of my life.”

The Tigers finished 193-46 during his tenure as head coach that started in 2006. Beechwood won eight state championships, 15 region championships and finished undefeated in district play all 17 seasons under Rash. Rash certainly went out on top, with the Tigers winning the last three Class 2A state titles.

Beechwood finished 9-3 in his first season, losing to Newport Central Catholic in the second round of the Class A playoffs. The Tigers never lost earlier than that since.The only other season the Tigers did not win a region championship in Rash’s tenure came in 2013 when Beechwood finished 8-5, losing to Frankfort in the region championship game.

Rash joined the staff in 2000 before receiving the promotion to head coach.

“There is nowhere quite like Beechwood. The Friday nights are special, and so too is the community support of everything that goes on at school, both academically and with extracurricular activities. I am so humbled to have been part of such a special place,” Rash said. “Beechwood is my home and without these players and families, we don’t accomplish any of this. I’m a product of the sport.”

Senior Konner Huljak completed his last season as an offensive lineman and linebacker in 2021. Huljak said playing football for Beechwood has helped him grow leaps and bounds as a person and as a player.

“I couldn’t thank them enough,” Huljak said. “I feel like coming in there as a sophomore, (the coaches) all saw me and they kept believing. Maybe I didn’t get a lot of time early, but they knew that there was going to be something eventually. They just kept me positive through all those times. They kept believing in me even though I wasn’t the star out there. It helped me be who I was as a senior and it helped me lead the team.”

The best season came two years ago when the Tigers finished 15-0 for their lone undefeated season under Rash. After clearing the Covington Catholic hurdle, Beechwood also took down arch-nemesis Mayfield in Fort Mitchell in the Class 2A state semifinals for the first time in school history. Then, they beat Lexington Christian in the state championship game. Beechwood had not won against Mayfield in eight previous meetings. The Cardinals beat the Tigers

in the Class A state championship games in 1995 and 2002 and four straight years in the state semifinals from 2009-12 then again in ’14 and ’19. The win over CovCath snapped a six-game losing streak.

Covington Catholic ended Beechwood’s 27game winning streak in Park Hills on Sept. 16 this past season. But the Tigers drove back to the state championship game and beat Mayfield for the first time in three state championship game meetings, finishing 14-1 and completing the best threeyear run in program history at 39-3 overall. “It’s an honor. History is history. I remember going into that (2021) game it doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past,” Huljak said. “We were going to do what we came here to do. But knowing that it was the first two times we beat them just adds a little sprinkle to the top.”

Rash most valued his relationships with the players, often crediting families in the Fort Mitchell community for raising good kids. Rash said that allowed him and his staff to focus on the game hoping the players carry those lessons into adulthood.

“I am just overwhelmed with gratitude because Beechwood means so very much to me and my family. I love it here,” Rash said.

“To everyone who has been associated with and supported our program, thank you. And especially to the wonderful players I’ve coached —you all are amazing. We created great memories on the field. But watching the impact you’ve had long after leaving Beechwood is the true measurement of our success together.”

Beechwood High Principal Justin Kaiser noted Rash is leaving the program in ex-

cellent shape with more talent coming through the pipeline. Kaiser said the position will be posted immediately wanting to find a coach that will “build upon that culture of brotherhood.”

Beechwood loses 18 seniors from last year’s team, including their leading rusher in Mitchell Berger at 1,119 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Clay Hayden returns after completing 106-of-157 passes for 1,822 yards, 21 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

“Coach Rash galvanized an entire community to rally around a special group of young people every fall during football season,” Kaiser, a 1998 Beechwood graduate, said.

“Beechwood football is more than a program or individual, it is a culture of commitment, sacrifice, and brotherhood that Coach Rash inherited and enhanced in his time here. Combine that with an incredibly successful run as head coach, for mentoring our student-athletes the right way, and for representing Beechwood in a first-class manner on and off the field – you have a coach that ventures into legendary status. Coach has solidified that legendary status over the past 20 years.”

Rash played football at nearby Lloyd Memorial, graduating in 1985 before playing at Thomas More.

Rash still plans to keep his role as a social studies teacher at Beechwood.

The Tigers own 17 state championships in school history which is third most in the state behind Trinity (27) and Highlands (23).

Noel Rash won 193 games in 17 seasons as the Beechwood head coach. Photo provided

Beechwood coach Noel Rash was one of four NKY coaches recognized as NFHS State Coach of the Year honorees this past season. Brandon Wheeler | LINK nky contributor

Laverne Neltner dies weeks after celebrating 64th wedding anniversary

Life-long Campbell County resident Laverne Neltner, age 83, passed away Friday, Feb. 10, at Carmel Manor Nursing Home in Fort Thomas.

Neltner was admitted into Carmel Manor’s mental care facility in May 2022 for stage seven Alzheimer’s Disease. Her caretaker said she passed away peacefully with 18 family members by her side.

Neltner is survived by her husband of 64 years, Jerry Neltner, and her seven children and their spouses, Barbara Dykes, Margie Arnold, John Neltner, Thomas Neltner, Rob Neltner, Amy Leicht, and Beth Guidi. She is also survived by her two sisters, Sister Mary Agnes Hemmerle Notre Dame and Mary Momper, her 20 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Neltner was born in Southgate in 1939, and before being admitted into Carmel Manor, she lived in Alexandria with her husband. The couple recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on Jan. 3, and allowed LINK nky to share the story of how they met and had a happy marriage across six and a half decades.

Neltner was laid to rest at Saint Mary Cemetery in Alexandria on Feb. 15.

Family recovers car, wheelchair in time for field trip

After her car was stolen with her son’s wheelchair inside, Chelsey West said both have been recovered just in time for her son, Branson, to make it to a field trip to a glass making company.

West said the road wasn't easy for her and her kids, and realizing her car had been stolen was a gut punch.

“My life just sucks. I’ve had really bad luck,” West said.

One week ago, she left an unhealthy situation. She and her three children temporarily moved in with a friend in Covington. On Thursday, she was hit with another burden.

“She walked in bawling her eyes out screaming, crying, ‘The car’s gone, the car’s gone,'” said 11-year-old Branson.

It was what was inside the car that mattered most to West — Branson’s wheelchair.

“I’m not going to be able to go anywhere anytime soon,” Branson said.

Back in 2015, a car crash left Branson and another child paralyzed. He’s been in and out of the hospital ever since.

West said her loved ones have gotten her through life’s twists and turns.

“The people around me — my mom, my best friend, these three … they smile through it all,” she said. “(Branson) cracks jokes when he’s on his way to surgery number seven in three months. They’re the ones that keep me from being totally lost.”

For Branson, it’s his mom who is his source of strength.

“If I’m ever down, like in a situation like this, she’ll comfort me and she’ll help me out,” he said.

West said she was going to do whatever she can to get her son’s wheelchair back.

“He physically cannot walk,” West said.

“He has a spinal cord injury. He absolutely needs that chair. It’s his legs.”

Her message to whoever took her car was clear: “If you have my car, just park it somewhere and let us find it. I don’t even care who you are, at this point. Just leave the wheelchair.”

It’s unclear how or where the car was located, but West said the wheelchair was safely inside and ready to accompany Branson on his field trip.

How to help Welcome House collect items for those experiencing homelessness

The Independence Volunteer Corps is leading a month-long donation drive to benefit the Welcome House, an emergency shelter and service provider with several facilities in Covington.

Anyone from the community can drop requested donation items into the marked barrel at the Independence City Building, seven days a week, 24 hours a day all throughout the month of February. The city building is located on Madison Pike.

Requested items include the following:

• Non-perishable snacks and drinks

• Small, travel-size hygiene items like toothpaste, bars of soap, deodorant and similar items

• Cleaning supplies like dish soap, laundry detergent, bleach, dryer sheets and similar items

All donations will supply residents and programs at one of Welcome House’s locations.

Founded in the early 1980s, Welcome House provides emergency sheltering services to help people escape poverty. These services include rapid-rehousing services and other emergency housing programs. Visit its website, welcomehouseky.org, for more information.

The Independence Volunteer Corps is a team of local Independence residents who perform various philanthropic deeds around Northern Kentucky. Visit the city’s website, cityofindependence.org, to learn

more about them and sign up to volunteer.

Newport High School Special Olympics Team take home six medals in winter games

Newport High School’s Snow Cat ski team won six medals in the Kentucky Special Olympics Winter Games held at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Ind.

Athletes competed in alpine skiing and snowshoeing events, winning two gold and four silver medals.

The gold medal winners were:

• Kelsey Turner (Beginner Giant Slalom Division F10)

• Marty Varias (Intermediate/Advanced Slalom Division M03).

This year’s silver Medal winners were:

• Autumn Ingguls (Beginner Giant Slalom F10)

• Ricky Tomlinson (Beginner Giant Slalom)

• Zachary Howard (Beginner Giant Slalom M03)

• Marty Varias (Intermediate/Advanced Giant Slalom Division M04)

• Marty Varias also won gold and silver medals in last year’s winter games.

Earning participation medals were:

• Madison Ledbetter (10 M Glide and 20 M Glide)

• Chyanne Hunter (10 M Glide and 20 M Glide)

• Kelsey Turner (Beginner Slalom Division F01)

• Autumn Ingguls (Beginner Giant Slalom F01)

• Ricky Tomlinson (Beginner Slalom Division M01)

• Zachary Howard (Beginner Slalom Division M01)

The Special Olympic Winter Games in Kentucky have taken place for 43 years. There were 16 delegations with more than 100 athletes from all over Kentucky participating in the three-day event.

Laverne Neltner.

Photo provided | Alexandria Funeral Home

Chelsey West and her children. Photo: provided | Chelsey West

This Covington home is a suburban castle

Address: 10141 Miller Lane, Covington

Price: $699,000

Beds: Five bedrooms

Bath: Three full bathrooms, one half bathroom

Sqft: 4,954 on A 1.85-acre lot

School district: Kenton County Public Schools

County: Kenton

Special features: Built in 2005, this home greets guests with a chandelier in the foyer, tray ceilings, arched entryways and soaring windows throughout. On the first floor is a primary suite with double walk-in closets, large tub and a step-in shower. Other suites with large closets are located upstairs. The home also features a fireproof room in the basement, which the listing agent suggests may be ideal for a wine cellar, gun safe or storm shelter.

Home Sale Data

The exterior of the home, located in Covington on Miller Lane. Photo provided | Realty Executives Select

A rear view of the exterior of the home on Miller Lane. Photo provided | Realty Executives Select

A chandelier hangs in the entryway of this Covington home, which is listed for nearly $700,000. Photo provided | Realty Executives Select

Streetscapes: Fort Mitchell and Crescent Springs

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIA HEHMAN | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

This week, Streetscapes visits Fort Mitchell and Crescent Springs to visit three restaurants that offer live music, spacious patios, great food and atmosphere.

Grandview Tavern

Creole-inspired pastas are among their most-requested dishes, and they serve more than nine different options.

The capellini Behle Street is among them. It’s an angel hair pasta tossed with olive oil, basil plum tomatoes, garlic and oregano for a light, flavorful dish. Those searching for more than pasta can find meatloaf and shepherd’s pie on Behle’s menu as well. The interior of Behle Street is cozy, with additional seating created on the patio. During cold months, diners are warmed by heaters above and festive blankets on each seat. The restaurant is located nearby train tracks, so servers will offer beer to guests for $1.99 if ordered while a train passes the dining room.

and porch for a peek at Pee Wee’s volleyball league.

When the weather is too cold to sit outside, they offer plenty of indoor seating. During March Madness, Pee Wee’s fills with excited Kentucky fans, standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Even during those peak hours, there always seems to be at least one table available for the newcomer.

While Pee Wee’s is best known for its bar offerings, it’s not common knowledge that they are also open for breakfast. During the morning hours, they serve staples like eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, hashbrowns and cups of coffee – transforming from a neighborhood bar into a hometown staple for any season, any time of day.

Upon entry, a bench with a statue of Jim Beam welcomes guests.

Grandview offers dishes ranging from pizza to filet mignon. Their black and bleu salad has earned its fame in Northern Kentucky, with blackened flat-iron steak, mixed greens, tomato, green apple, bleu cheese crumbles, onion straws all tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette.

For those hungry for more than a salad, Grandview’s bowls are a hearty and healthy option come lunchtime.

For visitors looking for a happy hour, they offer a generous cocktail and wine menu, as well as numerous draft beer options. And if you prefer to drink your dessert, Grandview serves a snickerdoodle cocktail, made with vanilla and cinnamon vodkas, Frangelico, Kahlua and cream. It’s a sweet and strong drink to end the evening.

In addition to its food and relaxed atmosphere, Grandview Tavern offers live music alongside regular specials as the menu changes throughout the week.

Behle Street by Sheli

Behle Street combines Cajun tradition with home-cooked comfort food. Their

With live music every night and some of the best food in NKY, this quaint restaurant may have guests contemplating a trip to New Orleans.

Pee Wee’s Place

What to know before you go:

Grandview Tavern

Location: 2220 Grandview Drive, Fort Mitchell

Hours: Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Website: grandviewtavern.com

Phone: (859) 341-8439

Behle Street by Sheli

Location: 2220 Grandview Drive, Fort Mitchell

Hours: Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Website: behlestreetbysheli.com

Nearby Behle Street is Pee Wee’s Place, the epitome of a hometown bar. Their slogan, “great fun, great food, great friends,” succinctly describes the Pee Wee’s experience.

They serve American classics like burgers, wings, and fried sides ranging from tater tots to fried pickles. Guests can pair their meals with a beer bucket as well. During warm weather, visitors can sit on the patio

Phone: (859) 341-8888

Pee Wee’s Place

Location: 2325 Anderson Road, Crescent Springs

Hours: Monday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Website: peeweesplace.net

Phone: (859) 341-4977

Grandview Tavern’s patio.

Capellini Behle Street.

Kemper, Coyle, Neuhaus, Volpenhein and Akers join NKY Sports HOF

The Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame inducted five new members on Feb. 15 at the Gardens in Park Hills. This month’s class included Robert (Bo) Kemper, Glenn Coyle, Eric Neuhaus, Ted Volpenhein and Gary Akers.

Kemper is a 1962 Covington Catholic graduate and a standout baseball and softball player. He played area softball for 24-plus years, but says his greatest accomplishment came as a coach and organizer. He was instrumental in developing the instructional basketball program for first and second-graders at Villa Madonna.

Coyle graduated from Dixie Heights in 1969 and was an All-Region, All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State player during his senior campaign. Coyle helped the Colonels to a district title during his junior year and was later inducted into the Dixie Heights Hall of Fame.

Neuhaus ran on three state cross country championship teams while at St. Henry High School, graduating in 1997. He attended Wilmington College where he was a three-time Academic All-American. As a runner in Cincinnati’s Flying Pig Marathon, he won his age group in 2006 – a year later competing in the Boston Marathon. Neuhaus also coached cross country at St. Henry, leading them to five consecutive state titles and named Coach of the Year twice by the Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Association. He later went on to coach at the University of Cincinnati. Volpenhein was a two-sport athlete at

Covington Catholic in basketball and softball and later went on to play at Thomas More as a walk-on in basketball. As a member of the Saints basketball team, he was named team MVP twice where he was the leading scorer and rebounder and hit the game-winning buzzer-beater against Xavier in 1972, the Saints first ever win over a Division I team.

Akers, a 1961 graduate of Betsy Layne High School, arrived at Bellevue High School in 1969 to coach basketball. He started out as a JV basketball coach from 1969-73, becoming the varsity coach in 1973-79. He guided the Tigers to the semifinals in the region in ‘76, the first time the program did so since ‘49. Akers was named Ninth Region coCoach of the Year that season.

John Erardi, a Northern Kentucky resident and former sports writer and columnist for the Cincinnati Enquirer, served as the guest speaker.

Ryle wins Region 5 wrestling title

The Ryle wrestling team captured the Region Five title at Walton-Verona on Feb. 12. The Raiders edged out host Walton-Verona in advancing to the state tournament at George Rogers Clark starting on Feb. 24.

Landon Evans (113 pounds), Rider Trumble (132), Caleb Duke (175) and Travis Steiber (190) claimed individual titles as the Raiders racked up 233 points.

Like Ryle, Walton-Verona claimed four individual titles and finished with 218 points. TJ Meyer won at 120 pounds, Hunter Isaacs at 138, Mason Schweitzer at 144, and Luke Hyden at 215.

Campbell County was third with 210 points. Christopher Ferraro turned in the Camels’ lone individual win at 126 pounds by defeating Conner’s Maalik Washington, 8-2. Highlands junior Rilan Pinkston improved to 33-0 by pinning Simon Kenton’s Gaven Pugh for the 150-pound championship. This is Highland’s first wrestling region title.

Holmes senior Emauryon Arnold won the meet’s Most Valuable Wrestler award along with the 285-pound title, an 8-7 win over Covington Catholic’s Willie Rodriguez.

Meyer the Ninth Region Scoring King

With all the history and talent in the Ninth Region, Holy Cross guard Jacob Meyer can now claim something no one else can.

Meyer passed Beechwood’s Scotty Draud to break the Ninth Region scoring record on Feb. 12 against Dixie Heights. Meyer entered the contest needing 16 points to break Draud’s mark of 3,128 career points. The senior broke the record on a dunk in the second quarter with 2:31 to play. Play paused shortly after, with Meyer getting the game ball, a handshake, and hug by his coach Casey Sorrell before he was mobbed at midcourt by a pool of photographers and cameramen.

Meyer came to Holy Cross as a freshman playing under Brandon Grammer. He certainly didn’t wait for his time to shine, scoring 498 points as a young gun and leading the team, averaging 17.8 points per game. He scored 606 points during his sophomore season that was shortened to 24 games due to COVID.

Meyer ended up leading the nation with 38.2 points per game and scoring 1,109 points during his junior year. He’ll end up with over 1,000 points scored in consecutive seasons if his senior year scoring stays on pace. The top four scorers in Ninth Region history are now Meyer, Beechwood’s Scotty Draud (3,128 points), Dixie Heights’ Brandon Hatton (3,045 points) and Highlands’ Scott Draud (2.865 points).

Beechwood No. 1 in NKBCA preseason poll

The Northern Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association has released their preseason top 10 high school baseball teams.

Three-time defending Ninth Region champion Beechwood starts the year off at No. 1. Conner was ranked second, coming off a 29-7 season. Back-to-back 10th Region champ Campbell County is third, Highlands fourth, Ryle fifth and Covington Catholic sixth. Ninth Region runner-up from last season St. Henry is seventh. Rounding out the top 10 is Dixie Heights, Simon Kenton and Newport Central Catholic.

The first day of games for the KHSAA baseball season is March 13.

Knopf, Roman Furuta, Garrett Dennis, and Blake Koenigsknecht won the 200 medley relay (1:38.22). A couple of hours later, Furuta, Pleiman, Koenigsknecht, and Zach Stephens won the 200 freestyle relay (1:28.48), and Pleiman, Stephens, Dennis, and Knopf won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:16.55. Both advance to the KHSAA state swim meet in Lexington starting on February 17.

Presented by:

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.