LINK Kenton Reader Volume 1, Issue 8 - January 23, 2023

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

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MANAGING EDITOR Meghan Goth

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SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison

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Having a baby in Kentucky is deadlier for moms: Why?

BY ROBIN GEE | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

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

President Joe Biden speaks during a visit to Covington on Jan. 4, 2023. Photo by Alecia Ricker | LINK nky

Having a baby in Kentucky is more deadly for mothers than nearly all other states in the country.

Not only do birthing mothers in Kentucky have to deal with the same issues as the rest of the country – hypertension, heart disease and poor overall health – they are also contending with high rates of substance use disorders and opioid addiction.

With 37 women in 100,000 dying during or within 42 days after childbirth, Kentucky has the second-highest maternal mortality rate in the country, per CDC data.

“Substance use disorder-related deaths are the number one cause of maternal mortality in the state of Kentucky, when you look at any reasons a mother dies within the first year of birth,” said Dr. Alanna Oak,

lead physician for the Obstetrics and Labor group at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.

She pointed to a 2021 report by the state’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee, which used the pre-pandemic data available from 2018 and early 2019. It lists substance use disorder as the known cause of 53% of all maternal deaths in Kentucky. Drugs also were suspected to contribute to an additional 14% of maternal deaths.

According to the World Health Organization, the U.S. has one of the highest rates of maternal deaths among developed countries at 23.8 deaths per 100,000 women. For Black women, the maternal mortality rate more than doubles. CDC data shows 55.3 Black women per 100,000 in the U.S. die during or shortly after giving birth.

Experts say nearly all maternal deaths in the U.S. are preventable.

The advocacy group Every Mother Counts lists the leading causes of maternal death in the U.S. as lack of access to healthcare, including a shortage of caregivers; lack of insurance; inadequate postpartum support; socioeconomic disparities; the stress of racism and discrimination.

“In the U.S. we have a problem where the social determinants of health really play a big role in the outcomes of pregnancy and birth,” said Sister Kay Kramer, a family nurse practitioner and certified midwife at St. Elizabeth Edgewood.” And so where a woman lives, her income, her skin color, her access to good obstetrics care providers, that all has a role to play.”

Continues on page 4

Nurse Practitioner Sr. Kay Kramer and lead obstetrician Dr. Alanna Oak demonstrate how they care for their smallest patients. Photo by Joe Simon | LINK nky

The Edgewood facility is the only hospital in the system with a maternity ward.

Kramer pointed out that many of her patients are dealing with additional health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, even poor dental health as well as substance use disorders, which are exacerbated by a lack of access to adequate healthcare. In some cases, women with substance use disorders fear what may happen to them or their babies if they do see a doctor.

Kentucky’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee report takes a broad look at maternal deaths up to a year after childbirth and includes all maternal deaths from any cause.

In close to half of maternal deaths, the mothers had fewer than four prenatal visits and many had no prenatal care at all.

“With the substance use disorder crisis, we see a lot of patients who just don’t get that prenatal care because of their concern about what will happen to their baby, to them,” said Dr. Connie White, deputy commissioner for Clinical Affairs at the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

“When you’ve got this age group enthralled in substance use disorder, the domestic violence that is blended in with that, you’re going to have a lot of what the death certificate calls ‘accidental death.’”

She also noted that the committee suspects there are more suicide deaths than are reported due to how state coroners

are permitted to record those deaths, “and when you’ve got an overdose, you don’t know if this was an accidental overdose or if this was intentional.”

Contributing risk factors

High blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, stroke, and other heart conditions are leading causes of maternal death in Black and African American women.

Recently, the CDC also recognized the overall toll that racism and discrimination can have on women of color, which can impact maternal health in a number of ways. Experts are calling it “weathering:” the years of subtle and not-so-subtle bias that can contribute stress that leads to heart conditions and other medical issues for people of color.

Poverty also takes its toll. When pregnant people lack access to many of the basic needs like nutritious food, reliable transportation, childcare, education and access to comprehensive health care, the physical and emotional strain of pregnancy can make health matters worse.

The Maternal Mortality Review Committee is part of the state’s Public Health Cabinet Division of Maternal and Child Health. Members of the committee include experts in obstetrics and fetal health, cardiologists, state public health officials, law enforcement and the Attorney General’s office, the chief medical examiner, the Kentucky Hospital Association, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and others from across the state.

The committee is not new, said White. In fact, it’s been around for 40 years, but in 2018 the General Assembly passed a statute that added “and maternal” to the state’s

Child Mortality legislation, giving the committee greater legal protections and access to more detailed information.

The committee is working on a new report that will look at the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other data from late 2019 and 2020.

A new group, the Perinatal Quality Collaborative, has developed a task force to take the recommendations in the committee’s report and turn them into actionable items.

“So we have one arm working on the pregnancy related deaths, the natural causes because of pregnancy, and the other arm is going to be looking at the other deaths, system failures,” White said. “How can we put our arms around these women and develop programs where they are most likely to succeed? That’s a direction where a lot of work in the cabinet is going now.”

“We’re just getting started with a lot of new initiatives that are trying to determine all the different players who need to be at the table ... to take our data, find evidence-based interventions and incorporate those statewide.”

Some good news for Kentucky

A lack of insurance or financial resources has long been an issue for many mothersto-be. Until April 2022, a woman in Kentucky without insurance coverage would only be covered by the state’s Medicaid program for six weeks after birth.

“When I was practicing years ago, when you had your baby and you came in for that follow up checkup, I was trying to schedule every visit I could for you,” White said. “A cardiology visit, an endocrinology visit for gestational diabetes, a dental exam, what-

St. Elizabeth physician Dr. Abby Loftus-Smith checks in with a patient and her baby. Photo provided | St. Elizabeth Healthcare

ever you needed because I knew in a week or two you would be losing your insurance … But in Kentucky now, you will have Medicaid coverage until the child is one year of age.”

White said that was a big step in the right direction.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy with a decision the state of Kentucky has made as when they expanded Medicaid coverage,” Oak said. “What we have are women with medical problems coming into their pregnancy who previously did not have coverage. They now have coverage for that first year to optimize their diabetes care or their high blood pressure or even start on weight management.”

Dr. Kristin Satterwhite, a women’s health physician at St. Elizabeth Fort Thomas and Burlington, said the healthcare system’s Women’s Health Initiative is exploring causes of maternal deaths and recently became certified in the Mama Certified program.

“African American women, with the same education, socioeconomic status, are still more likely to have complications during labor than a white woman,” Satterwhite said. “So the question is, how do we fix this?”

The Mama Certified program is an effort designed to reach out to African American parents-to-be to provide support and care.

St. Elizabeth signed onto the program with other area providers in February 2022. To be Mama Certified, healthcare providers are assessed for their efforts in four categories: infant care, maternal care, staff, and community care. Progress and results are shared publicly with the community.

The Women’s Health Initiative is also look-

ing hard at what can be done to detect and treat hypertension and other heart diseases.

The issue of substance use disorder is addressed through a special program associated with St. Elizabeth’s Journey Recovery Center called Baby Steps. The program provides direct support for pregnant women who are dealing with substance use. The goal of the program is both to support recovering mothers but also to decrease the number of newborns suffering from withdrawal, known as Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal or Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

Many of St. Elizabeth’s maternity patients come through one of the six HealthPoint Clinic locations in Boone, Campbell, Kenton and Jessamine – south of Lexington – counties, said HealthPoint CEO Sally Jordan.

HealthPoint clinics handle 45,000 individuals a year throughout Northern Kentucky, including 3,800 obstetrics and gynecology patients, she said.

Dr. Beth Myers is a St. Elizabeth physician who works with many of the HealthPoint maternity patients and babies. HealthPoint takes a strong “no judgment” approach to all their patients, she said.

“We treat substance abuse as a chronic medical condition, and not a moral failing or weakness,” Myers said. “Our protocol is to ask all patients about any history of substance abuse and do a toxicology screen at every first prenatal visit. We make it clear to our patients that this is something we do for everyone, like screening for diabetes, and is not a character judgment.”

HealthPoint works with the Baby Steps program and also provides mental health

counseling and other support. The clinic also works to follow their patients to provide comprehensive care after delivery.

“Slightly more than half of all pregnancy-related deaths occur after the day of delivery,” Kramer said. “Maternal mortality is disproportionately elevated among women of color. In response to this, we’ve evolved our approach to postpartum care into an ongoing process. We consider this time ‘a fourth trimester’ that requires ongoing care rather than a single encounter. Patients have very different needs with regards to postpartum care, so care must be individualized.”

Healthcare providers, state health officials and others working to address mater-

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nal mortality have a full plate of potential causes, risk factors and concerns. Research is ongoing on a number of fronts. Kramer said screening women for high-risk issues, like hypertension, diabetes, and daily diet is one approach. Other barriers to healthcare, like fear of repercussions for pregnant women with substance abuse disorders and lack of access to affordable medical services, are harder to overcome at the local level.

White agreed it’s a community-wide effort.

“We have so many small communities in Kentucky and we need to put our arms around these women, making sure they understand that they’re supported,” White said, “and then actually support them.”

Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife Sr. Kay Kramer said many of her patients at St. Elizabeth Labor and Delivery come with additional health issues including heart conditions, diabetes, obesity and substance use. Photo by Joe Simon | LINK nky

Biden’s visit marks historic moment for Northern Kentucky

BY KENTON HORNBECK | LINK nky REPORTER

Standing on a platform nestled underneath the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge on the banks of the Ohio River, a riverboat floating off to his side, President Joe Biden touted the $1.6 billion in federal funding for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project, and the elbow grease it took to make it happen.

The return of American manufacturing, federal investment in infrastructure, restoring jobs and bipartisan cooperation were all themes of Biden’s speech. While he was speaking, semi-trucks whizzed in the background on the Brent Spence Bridge, illustrating the important economic relationship the bridge shares with the region.

“I wanted to start off the new year at this historic project here in Ohio and Kentucky with the bipartisan group of officials because I believe it sends an important message to the entire country. We can work together. We can get things done. We can move the nation forward,” Biden said.

The bipartisan messaging was hammered home as the president was joined by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, former Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

“The bridge I think symbolizes coming together,” McConnell said. “It was something that both sides thought was important.”

The visit was significant to Northern Kentucky, not only because the visit was the culmination of years of work to secure

funding for the Brent Spence Bridge, but also because Biden’s visit was the first time a sitting president had visited Covington since July 8, 1938. Then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was joined by former Kentucky Gov. Happy Chandler and Sen. Alben Barkley, gave a speech at the Latonia Racetrack.

“I am glad to come to this beautiful spot today,” Roosevelt said. “I know about Latonia by reading the sporting pages of the papers. You live on a great river, the Ohio. And, by the way, the first steamboat that ever navigated this river was built and run by old Nicholas Roosevelt, my great grandfather’s cousin.”

Roosevelt’s visit was 25 years before the completion of construction for the Brent Spence Bridge in 1963. Today, the bridge carries around 3% of the United States yearly gross domestic product, a fact not lost on Portman.

Portman, a Cincinnati native and former US Representative for OH-2, said he had been working on funding for the Brent Spence Bridge for around 30 years.

“Over those 30 years, I spent a lot of time working on the Brent Spence Bridge. We had got some funding for some parts: Environmental Impact Statements, engineering, but we could never get the money for

Presenting Sponsor:

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President Joe Biden smiles from behind the podium during a visit to Covington on Jan. 4, 2023.

Photo by Alecia Ricker | LINK nky

Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks during a visit from President Joe Biden regarding a bipartisan effort to secure federal funding for the Brent Spence Corridor project. Photo by Alecia Ricker | LINK nky

Then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt speaks during a visit to Latonia Racetrack in July 1938. His visit marked the last time a sitting president visited Covington until President Joe Biden visited on Jan. 4, 2023. Photo provided | Kenton County Public Library Archives

construction,” Portman said. “30 years is a long time to wait. I guess it took me retiring from the Senate to actually see it.”

Federal funding for the bridge came from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which McConnell, Portman and Brown voted for. Biden signed it into law. The $1.6 billion in federal grant money will go toward paying the estimated $3.3 to $3.8 billion price tag of the project.

Both the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Ohio Department of Transportation collaborated on the planning for the project, having jointly applied for federal funding and outlined terms to move the project into the construction phase.

Outlines for the project detail the plans to revitalize the original Brent Spence Bridge, reconfigure its traffic flow for specifically local traffic, and then build a brand new companion bridge directly next to it. The new companion bridge will carry regional and national traffic.

Construction for the project is scheduled to begin this year with its estimated completion being in 2029. The new bridge will not be tolled, something Covington Mayor Joe Meyer had publicly advocated for.

McConnell, Brown, Portman, Beshear, DeWine and Biden all touted how the project will improve the economy of the region and nation as a whole. Biden specifically brought up his support for the project’s construction to create more union jobs for people that are laborers, steelworkers, electricians and cement workers.

“Union jobs are good jobs that you can raise a family on, most don’t require a college degree,” Biden said. “All this involves mak-

ing an investment in America, and America’s people and America’s future.”

Another point some speakers emphasized was that the new bridge will improve driver safety. Biden brought up how the traffic bottleneck of the Brent Spence Bridge is the second worst in the country. When the bridge was first constructed, it was estimated the bridge could carry 80,000 vehicles every day. Last year, the bridge carried approximately double that.

“It’s the second most congested traffic bottleneck in the entire United States,” Biden said. “It doesn’t take an engineer to tell anyone in this neck of the woods that’s a recipe for dangerous accidents, delayed shipments and notorious gridlock.”

He cited the chemical fire that shut down the bridge in November 2020 as a safety event that caused negative downstream effects which impacted the entire region.

“The bridge was closed for weeks because of damage from the crash,” Biden said. “Lost revenues for local businesses, congestion on alternative routes. One company called it what everyone else felt: total chaos.”

Biden concluded his speech by saying he was optimistic about the future of America, and Congress’s ability to work together to pass legislation.

“Folks, let me tell you this. After years of politics being so divisive, we have bright spots across the country,” Biden said. “The Brent Spence Bridge is one of those.”

A Covington crowd listens to dignitaries speaking during a visit from President Joe Biden in Covington on Jan. 4. Photo by Alecia Ricker | LINK nky

President Joe Biden exits Air Force One at CVG on Jan. 4, 2023 before heading to Covington to discuss infrastructure, jobs and bipartisanship. Photo by Joe Simon | LINK nky contributor

Thomas More University professor joins Diocese of Covington School Board

Thomas More professor Christy Petroze, a department chair of the University’s School of Education, joins the Diocese of Covington School Board.

On the board, Petroze will act as a consultant to the bishop of Covington, the superintendent of Catholic schools, and the director of catechesis and evangelization by working on educational programs of Catholic and parish schools of religion.

process, according to the diocese. Representation in the fields of education, health, legal, finance, and safety, creating a diverse perspective to better serve the organization.

Covington FOP Lodge offers Fallen Officer Scholarship

The graduating class of 2023 still has time to earn extra cash for college with a scholarship from Covington’s Police Union.

the best

Petroze, who has been at Thomas More since 2009, follows in her late mother’s footsteps who served on the original board.

The Diocesan Board of Education was established in the 1990s under Bishop William A. Hughes. In 2002, a shakeup of how the Board selected members came with the installation of Bishop Roger J. Foys.

To bring a variety of individuals with varying backgrounds to the Board, members were selected through a recommendation

Upcoming Covington high school graduates headed off to college are encouraged to compose an essay detailing what living in Covington means to them. The chosen essay will award them $500 from the annual Covington FOP Lodge #1 Fallen Officer Scholarship.

Eligible students must be residents of the City of Covington. A completed application can be downloaded here, and must be submitted by July 1. With that application, students are required to compose an original, previously unpublished essay of 400 to 700 words answering the question: “What does Covington mean to me?” in order to com-

pete for the $500 Covington FOP Lodge #1 Fallen Officer Scholarship.

Applications should be emailed to CovingtonFOPScholarship@gmail.com, or mailed to:

FOP Scholarship

516 E. 18th St. Covington, KY 41014

Covington’s Bourbon Haus 1841 announces permanent closure

After six years in operation, Bourbon Haus 1841 in MainStrasse is closing permanently.

Bourbon Haus was a featured bar on the B-Line, Northern Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail, and was one of America’s Best Bourbon Bars by Bourbon Magazine for six consecutive years. Though the bar could not renew its liquor license, the owners took the Facebook to share the news and some of the blame with feuding neighboring bar Paddy’s on Main.

“It is with a very heavy heart that we share

the news that Bourbon Haus will permanently close,” co-owner Dave Brumfield’s post said. “We have operated successfully for the past 6 years due to your loyalty and patronage! Unfortunately, we were forced to close due to a series of malicious occurrences.”

The post accused Paddy’s owner Chris Estano of “terrorizing” their business, employees and customers.

“We had operated peacefully in the community for the five prior years, but this guy (Estano) insisted on putting us out of business from the day he showed up — he terrorized us, our employees, and customers. The laundry list of unethical behavior is too lengthy to get into,” Brumfield said.

In response to the accusations, Paddy’s owner Chris Estano told LINK nky the claims are completely false.

“You’re going to find out that the things they’ve said in that post are blatant lies,” Estano said.

In March, a noise dispute between Bourbon Haus and Paddy’s owners played out during

the public comments period of a Covington City Commission meeting. Bourbon Haus co-owner Tammy Brumfield accused Paddy’s of hosting a live music performance in which they felt the music was too loud.

Paddy’s general manager Brooklyn Koebke, a former employee of Bourbon Haus, said Bourbon Haus had also hosted live music events on their patio and reiterated that Paddy’s was committed to being mindful of Covington’s noise ordinances.

Thomas More University acquires Northern Kentucky Five Seasons Family Sports Club

Thomas More University is ringing in the new year with the acquisition of the Northern Kentucky Racquet Club, also known as the Five Seasons Family Sports Club facility.

The club, located at 345 Thomas More Parkway in Crestview Hills, will continue to operate under the Five Seasons brand name. The acquisition comes as part of initiatives to expand the university’s geographic footprint and enhance student spaces. Adding Five Seasons increases Thomas More’s acreage by 9% and its facility’s square footage by 24%.

This expansion also creates university cohesion by uniting Thomas More’s south campus. In November 2022, the University announced the relocation of the Education and Psychology departments to the newly named Cabrini Hall at 365 Thomas More Parkway, which borders the Five Seasons club.

Thomas More University will maintain its partnership with Five Seasons, and business will continue at the club as usual.

Suspects sentenced to combined 44 years for armed drug trafficking

Two Northern Kentucky men have been sentenced to a combined 44 years in federal prison for drug trafficking following an incident at a Dayton Circle K store.

Anthony Michaelis, 34, of Covington, and Blake Barnes, 23, of Alexandria, were sentenced to 21 and a half years and five years in federal prison, respectively, on Jan. 3 by U.S. District Judge David Bunning.

The two men were charged with possession of controlled substances, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, with

intent to distribute as well as brandishing a firearm, per the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Kentucky.

According to Michaelis’ plea agreement, individuals at a Circle K store in Dayton approached police and told officers that two men, later identified as Michaelis and Barnes, had approached them at a gas pump and offered to sell them controlled substances. Michaelis pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the group, the agreement said. Law enforcement located Michaelis and Barnes and recovered the gun.

Prescription Drug Drop Boxes

Keep loved ones safe, dispose of old medicine

Democratic

lawmakers take

three-tiered approach to cannabis in Kentucky

Democratic legislators are taking a threetiered approach — legislation, executive action, and constitutional amendment — to cannabis in Kentucky in 2023.

On the first day of the 2023 Legislative Session, Northern Kentucky Rep. Rachel Roberts (D-Newport) filed a near duplicate of the bill she filed in 2022 which seeks to fully legalize recreational cannabis in Kentucky.

In addition to Roberts’ bill, a Louisville lawmaker also filed a bill to put a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot to permanently decriminalize personal possession and use.

Both of these bills are in addition to the executive action taken by Gov. Andy Beshear in November to legalize small amounts of cannabis for approved users.

“We have patients in the state of Kentucky right now that we’re making criminals out of who are having to access the only medicine to help them or help their children,” Roberts said.

Roberts refiled the L.E.T.T.’s Grow Cannabis Legislation that seeks to legalize sales, expunge low-level possession crimes, treat those who deserve to benefit from medicinal properties, and tax sales from those who want to buy it.

The ultimate goal of Roberts’ legislation is to control marijuana in Kentucky from “Seed to Sale.”

In 2022, the legislature failed to pass cannabis legislation. In response, Gov. Beshear formed the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee, which traveled around the state to solicit feedback.

That’s why you should regularly check and, if needed, properly dispose of prescription medications that are expired or unneeded.

If you have leftover prescriptions:

• Do not flush medicine down the sink or toilet unless the label or patient information that accompanied the medicine specifically instructs you to do so.

• Safely dispose of the medications using a prescription drug drop box. There are 26 in Northern Ken-

tifying information on the vial to make it unreadable to protect your privacy. We’ve made it easy to find a drop box near you. Simply scan this QR code to access an interactive map on Interact for Health’s web site.

Disposing of your medication is easy, free and helps prevent abuse or theft. It’s one simple step we can all take to protect the ones we love.

www.interactforhealth.org

Northern Kentucky has 26 prescription drug drop boxes at government buildings, police departments and pharmacies.

Neltners celebrate 64th wedding anniversary

To submit event, birthday, anniversary, or engagement announcements, email LINK nky at towncrier@linknky.com.

Jan. 13 to Jan. 21

Note: City and county offices are closed on Monday, Jan. 16, for the Martin Luther King holiday.

Boone County

Jan 21: Boone County Fiscal Court Caucus Meeting (Planning Session), 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Boone Links Golf & Event Center, 19 Clubhouse Drive, Florence

Florence

Jan. 17: Florence City Council Caucus Meeting, 6 p.m., Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence

Campbell County

ing, 7 p.m., Highland Heights City Building, 176 Johns Hill Road, Highland Heights

Southgate

Jan. 18: Southgate City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Southgate City Building, 122 Electric Avenue, Southgate

Kenton County

Jan. 18: Kenton County Parks and Recreation Meeting, noon, Kenton County Government Center, 180 Simon Kenton Way, Conference Room 5070, Covington

Covington

Jan 13: Devou Night Rides, 7 p.m., Devou Park in Covington. The Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance and Devou Park Trail Collective will hold an evening ride. Check “Devou Park Collective” on Facebook for details. May repeat on Jan. 16 and 20.

When Jerry Neltner attended a wedding with a friend in 1956, he had no idea his future wife of 64 years, Laverne Hemmerle, would be there, too.

Neltner said he asked her for her number at the wedding, “and she gave it to me,” he told LINK nky on the date of the couple’s 64th wedding anniversary.

He recalls waiting two weeks before calling her. The couple officially started dating in December 1956. Neltner went on to join the Army the following year and was sent to Germany in January 1958.

Upon his arrival back in the states, Neltner and Hemmerle married on Jan. 3, 1959, when both were 19 years old. Today at 83, their wedding photo resides in a glass case outside Laverne Neltner’s room at Carmel Manor in Fort Thomas, where she is cared for due to her stage seven Alzheimer’s.

The Neltners spent the first 11 months of their marriage in Germany while Jerry finished his Army service. After their time in Germany, they settled in Campbell County, where Jerry worked as a truck driver, and Laverne stayed at home until she took a job in the cafeteria at Bishop Brossart, where all their children attended school.

They eventually traveled back to Germany three more times, as well as traveling to Italy, where they visited Laverne’s sisters, who were Notre Dame nuns.

The couple has seven children, 20 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, with four more on the way.

Jan. 18: Campbell County Fiscal Court Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Campbell County Administration Building, 1098 Monmouth St., Newport

Alexandria

Jan 17: Alexandria Planning and Zoning Meeting, 7 p.m., Alexandria City Building, 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

Jan 19: Alexandria Finance Committee Meeting, 6 p.m., Alexandria City Building, 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

Jan 19: Alexandria City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Alexandria City Building, 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

Dayton

Jan. 14: Dayton Heritage Museum, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 718 6th Ave., Dayton

Jan. 18: Dayton VFW Post 2899 Bingo Night, 5 p.m., 828 Sixth Ave., Dayton (every Wednesday)

Fort Thomas

Jan. 18: Fort Thomas Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Fort Thomas Community Center (Mess Hall), 801 Cochran Ave., Fort Thomas (Location could change, please check Fort Thomas website at ftthomas.org)

Highland Heights

Jan. 17: Highland Heights City Council Meet-

Jan. 17: Covington Board of Commissioners Caucus Meeting, 6 p.m., Covington City Hall, 20 Pike St., Covington

Jan. 18: Housing Authority of Covingtoin, 4:30 p.m., 2300 Madison Road, Covington

Jan. 21: Covington Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Braxton Brewery, 27 W. 7th St., Covington

Edgewood

Jan. 17: Edgewood Senior Cards, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Edgewood Senior Center, 550 Freedom Park Drive, Edgewood (open to all, card games).

Erlanger

Jan. 15: Erlanger Ice Skating Party, 5:15 to 7:15 p.m., Northern Kentucky Ice Center, 2638 Anderson Road, Crescent Springs

Jan. 17: Erlanger City Council Committee Meetings, 7 p.m., Erlanger City Building, 505 Commonwealth Avenue, Erlanger

Fort Mitchell

Jan. 19: Fort Mitchell Garden Club Meeting, 7 p.m., Fort Mitchell City Building, 2355 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell

Fort Wright

Jan. 18: Fort Wright City Council Caucus Meeting, 6 p.m., Fort Wright City Building, 409 Kyles Lane, Fort Wright

On the left is the wedding photo from Jerry Neltner and Laverne Hemmerle’s wedding on Jan. 3, 1959, and on the right is a recent photo of the couple. Photos provided | Jeanie Greenwell

Here’s what’s next in Northern Kentucky’s ongoing charter school saga

BY MARK PAYNE | LINK nky REPORTER

Questions are looming after Northern Kentucky University in December declined to be the authorizer of the region’s pilot charter school, and the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that a key charter school funding element was unconstitutional.

In 2022, House Bill 9 established the Kentucky Charter School Pilot Program and created a funding mechanism for charter schools. The bill listed Northern Kentucky University and gave the university the option to be the authorizer. The university’s Board of Regents decided not to vote on a resolution to be the authorizer of the future school, effectively declining the role altogether.

Now, the responsibility of authorizer will fall on local school districts, which will be required to put forward two board members from districts located in a county that contains four or more local school systems

– ruling out areas like Boone County, which has just two public school districts. Kenton and Campbell counties currently qualify.

These members will become the substitute pilot project authorizer. It’s unclear when a decision has to be made on who will sit on this authorizing board, but the substitute pilot authorizer needs to approve a charter school application by July 1, 2024, according to House Bill 9 language.

Critics of public charter schools have argued that the schools are allowed to deny some students enrollment while still receiving public school dollars. Meanwhile, those who want charter schools feel the existing public school systems would improve with competition beyond parochial schools.

“All you do in charter schools is create potential haves versus have nots,” Gov. Andy Beshear told LINK nky in an end-of-year

interview in Frankfort.

In the state report card released in October, Northern Kentucky schools did not fare well. For the first time since 2019, the state reported federal statuses for individual schools, such as Comprehensive School Improvement and Targeted School Improvement.

Multiple Northern Kentucky schools were rated as CSI, which the state describes as those in the bottom 5% of student performance. The Kentucky Department of Education stated that about 50 schools would be identified as CSI on a yearly basis.

In Northern Kentucky, Grandview Elementary in Bellevue; Holmes High School and Ninth District Elementary in Covington; and Newport’s middle school grades received the designation, putting them in the bottom 5% of schools in the state.

As a supporter of public education, Beshear blamed the Republican legislature for issues with the state’s education system.

In response to lower test scores in recent years, Campbell County residents formed the Newport Education Task Force. It’s a watchdog group that wants to see improvements in the Newport Independent Schools system. For the last two years, the group has released its own report that analyzes the school system, its performance, and other factors like budget and teacher pay.

In its most recent report, it shows the Newport Independent School District has some of the highest paid administrators in the area paired with the lowest academic performance.

Test scores are a common thread among parents who want to send their children

What sports do you wish we had in Northern Kentucky?

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Jen Hoffman: Indoor climbing facility

Peter Freeman: Hockey

John Kim: NBA

Note: The Northern Kentucky Wolfpack will be NKY’s new semi-professional football team.

Ryan Glover was recently named the Wolfpack’s head coach for the 2023 season. He has worked with the Dayton Hornets, King Comets, Cincinnati Royals, and some youth football teams.

Megan R. Scott was named the owner of the Wolfpack after running the NKY Titans, a youth football team.

Tryouts for the team were held on Jan. 8.

Continued from page 11

elsewhere, and leaders of the Newport Education Task Force have shared with LINK nky that it’s why many residents are eager to see a charter school – they welcome the possibility of more public school options in the area.

Charter school advocates have also promoted the idea that competition for the area public schools will garner better results all around.

Between NKU declining its authorizer role and a recent ruling by the Kentucky Supreme Court, how the Commonwealth will launch its pilot charter school program is a question that remains unanswered.

A tax credit scholarship program written into House Bill 563 would have sent tax credits from the state to donors who donated to scholarship-awarding organizations. The scholarship money would then be given to disadvantaged students to attend private or charter schools.

The tax credit program was recently ruled unconstitutional by the Kentucky Supreme Court, just days after NKU declined its authorizer role, because it would send taxable funding to private schools, the court argued.

Proponents of the program said it gives parents school choice, while opponents said that common schools are important because it gives students a chance regardless of their circumstances.

The idea of equitable common schools comes from a 1989 decision — Rose v. Council for Better Education — by the Kentucky Supreme Court that found inequity in Kentucky’s public school system and that the General Assembly must “provide an efficient system of common schools throughout the state.”

But, the legislature has whittled away that ruling over the years, according to Dr. Randy Poe, executive director of the Northern Kentucky Education Council and former Boone County Schools superintendent. He said legislation such as House Bill 563 and House Bill 9 have chipped away at the equitable schools precedent set in 1989, and argued that lawmakers are tipping the scale in charter schools’ favor rather than investing in the existing public schools.

In an interview with LINK nky, Beshear said both political parties should consider setting politics aside to uphold public education.

“Charter schools are out there because of the amount of money we put in our public school system,” Beshear said. “The answer isn’t to starve our public school system of even more dollars.”

The president of EdChoice Kentucky, which has lobbied the legislature for school choice in Kentucky, said that the Supreme Court decision will hold back thousands of Kentuckians from reaching their potential.

“Courts across the nation – from state supreme courts all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court — have universally upheld similar school choice programs as legitimate expressions of parents’ fundamental rights over their children’s education,” said EdChoice Kentucky President Andrew Vandiver.

He further argues that more than 30 states have school choice programs, and the number of enrolled students continues to grow yearly.

The Supreme Court’s decision could set up a future precedent for cases involving charter schools in Kentucky, which could eliminate options for charter advocates.

LINK streetscapes: Madison Avenue

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIA HEHMAN | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

Madison Avenue in Covington is a busy street packed full of eateries, bars, small businesses and everything in between, and it’s worth visiting over and over again.

Walking into the dining room, the senses are immediately struck by the aroma of Taj Mahal’s complex cooking spices like cardamom, coriander, cumin and turmeric that fill the air.

The menu includes classic Indian dishes that feature chicken, fish, lamb, and shrimp to pair with rice. Taj Mahal understands American palates may be deterred by spicy dishes, so they let guests choose their heat level for each dish.

Since Coppin’s is based inside Hotel Covington, it’s recommended that guests who are not staying at the hotel make a reservation to ensure a seat. Coppin’s brunch menu changes with the seasons. For those who want to skip the sweet breakfast entrees and opt for something savory, Coppin’s serves a frittata with optional fillings that change based on what’s in season. Coppin’s currently offers bacon, brussels sprouts, gouda and other fresh produce to spice up custom frittatas so that each bite is filled with something new.

For guests who aren’t shy about their sweet tooth, Coppin’s serves light and fluffy pancakes. They also offer a full coffee and cocktail bar, meaning guests can take their espresso as a martini or latte. Brunch is just one of the restaurant’s options, though. Coppin’s is also open for lunch and dinner.

Agave and Rye: 635 Madison Ave.

When Agave and Rye first opened, no one could get enough and they’re still just as popular. Their creative tacos, spiked spirits and overall atmosphere are a trio as amazing as their guacamole, queso and

salsa. Diners can go for an American-style taco with seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, aged white cheddar, diced tomatoes and sour cream; or order one of Agave and Rye’s epic tacos – huge tacos that require two hands to eat and a fork to pick up what’s left. It’s a challenge to eat more than two. A favorite at Agave and Rye is the Bang Bang, with crispy cauliflower, corn fritters, spicy crispy carrots and topped in their iconic queso. They also offer the Queen E with crispy Mahi Mahi and malt vinegar, French fries, chipotle remoulade, pickled red onions, radish habanero slaw, and guacamole. It’s enough to make guests forget they’re eating a taco.

Another Agave and Rye favorite is the Rooster, which comes with fried chicken, mac and cheese, Nashville hot sauce and sweet pickles. Wash it all down with a margarita frozen or on the rocks.

The atmosphere seeks to outdo the tacos as guests are welcomed by a mix of bright bold murals, chandeliers, and sugar skulls on nearly every surface.

Taj Mahal Bar and Grill: 726 Madison Ave.

A newer addition to Covington’s Madison Avenue dining scene, locally-owned Taj Mahal is a must-visit. Taj Mahal sits in a large space right by the Madison theater, and offers a casual atmosphere with a full-service bar where the television usually has a Bollywood film on.

Popular dishes served at Taj Mahal include chicken tikka masala – grilled chicken in a creamy orange curry sauce served over rice. Another favorite is the saag paneer – a dish that features cheese cubes cooked in spinach and cream. The green appearance may not win any beauty contests but the dish holds its own in flavor. Of course, no Indian meal is complete without naan. For those unfamiliar, naan is a thick, fluffy flatbread served plain or flavored with garlic, chicken, cheese, potatoes, spicy red pepper or even nuts and raisins. Taj Mahal’s naan is made in-house and probably could win a pageant prize, as it looks as good as it tastes.

From upscale dining in Coppin’s to eccentric tacos at Agave and Taj Mahal’s classic Indian flavors, this is just the beginning of what this street has to offer.

Have a street, city or business you want me to check out next? Email me at mchehman@gmail.com and it could be featured on the next streetscapes.

Coppin’s at Hotel Covington: 638 Madison Ave.

The frittata from Coppin’s changes with the season to ensure the freshest ingredients.

The Cheesy Amigo and The Plain Jane, two of Agave and Rye’s giant tacos from its epic tacos menu.

Saag paneer, cheese cubes cooked in spinach and cream, served with jasmine basmati rice.

St. Catherine ad coming

Five inducted into NKY sports HOF

and senior seasons at Newport Central Catholic consisted of a 13-3 record and led the team in batting average. Meyers had 123 strikeouts and 1.32 ERA in his senior campaign. Meyers went on to make his mark at Louisville. He was an All-Conference selection in 1991, ’92 and ’93. By the time his Cardinals career was done, he had become the school’s all-time leader in strikeouts and second in career wins.

for May 15.

What’s the difference in this game compared to a regular baseball game? Banana Ball.

The Bananas, who used to play in the Coastal Plain League, use the basic fundamental rules of baseball as a guideline, but over the years Savannah has developed its own twist on America’s Pastime.

Meyer is once again leading the state in scoring with 35.5 points per game. Ludlow’s Jaxson Rice is third with 30.8, while Covington Catholic’s Evan Ipsaro is 10th with 25.4. Beechwood’s Cameron Boyd is fourth in free throw shooting, hitting 90.6% of his attempts. Newport Central Catholic’s Coby Kramer is fifth in the state with 3.9 made 3-pointers per game. Holy Cross senior Sam Gibson is sixth with 12.6 rebounds per game.

The Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame welcomed five new members during its December induction meeting at the Gardens of Park Hills

December’s class included Mick Abner, Highlands; Victor Brown, Dayton; Glenn Meyers, Newport Central Catholic; Mark Wehry, Holy Cross; and Dennis Wright, Covington Catholic.

Abner was involved in the Fort Thomas Junior League Football Program for 18 years and is a current assistant football coach for Highlands’ freshman team. Abner has also partnered with former NFL player Merrill Hoge to coach USA Football’s under-15 national team.

Brown was a two-way football starter at Dayton High School in the 1960’s, earning Class A All-State honors as a senior. Brown then went on to play in college at Anderson University, where he was a four-year starter on the offensive line.

Meyers’ baseball career during his junior

Wehry is the founder of (859) Sports Radio, which streams area high school games over the internet. He mans the camera and updates the on-screen score, all while doing the play-by-play. He got his start delivering high school athletics to the masses with the Covington Catholic Internet Radio Broadcasting Network in 2004. Prior to that, he had been the PA announcer for Thomas More basketball from 1994-2004.

Wright and his broadcast partner Mike Tussey began calling NKU men’s and women’s basketball games in 2000. After years on the mic for the Norse, they then teamed up in the booth to call Thomas More football. Wright got his start in broadcasting in the mid-to-late 1960’s, working in television and radio. In 1972, he became track announcer at Latonia Race Course. Wright also served as Elder High School PA announcer for 40 years.

Florence Y’alls going Bananas in 2023

The Florence Y’alls have added a game to their 2023 slate and it won’t be any ordinary game. They’ll travel to Savannah, Georgia in mid-May to take on the Savannah Bananas in a showcase game. The game is set

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“Banana Ball” began in 2018 and has evolved to feature a two-hour game time limit; no bunting; no walks; stealing first base; and counting a foul ball as an out if the fan makes the catch, just to name a few rules.

Other in-game antics include players performing choreographed dances; players wearing kilts as uniforms; teams sending batters to the plate with a bat set on fire; and hitters batting against a pitcher standing tall on stilts.

The Y’alls open the season May 11 against the Gateway Grizzlies at Thomas More Stadium.

NKY sporting some of the top stat stuffers

If you access the stats leaders across the state on the KHSAA website, you’ll see a lot of NKY players and teams on the lists.

Whether it be scoring, shooting, defense or rebounding, there’s plenty of standouts from around the area.

On the boys’ side, Holy Cross senior Jacob

Five of the top 10 scoring teams in the state are from NKY, Highlands is second with 82.4 points per game, Walton-Verona third at 82.3, Holy Cross sixth with 78.5, Covington Catholic eighth at 75.4 and Campbell County 10th at 75.3.

Defensively, Simon Kenton and Cooper rank in the top 10 for points allowed per game, the Pioneers fifth at 47.5 points per game, the Jaguars tied for seventh at 48.3.

Covington Catholic’s plus-16.7 margin per game is eighth.

Beechwood’s 80.6% from the free throw line as a team is second, Covington Catholic’s 78.2 is fifth.

Conner’s 41.6% from 3-point land is fifth, Simon Kenton’s 41.2 seventh, Highlands 40.9 10th.

Holy Cross’ 36.7 rebounds per game is fourth, Campbell County’s 35.3 ninth.

We’ll send out the girls’ NKY state stat leaders in next week’s edition.

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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.

The Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame welcomed five new members during its December induction meeting at the Gardens of Park Hills on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Mick Abner, Victor Brown, Glenn Meyers, Mark Wehry, and Dennis Wright.

Photo by Dan Rieffer | LINK nky contributor