LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 2, Issue 32 - July 12, 2024
NKY counties in top 10 of state’s housing shortage
By Rebecca Hanchett
Anew study shows Northern Kentucky accounted for about 12% of the state’s housing gap in early 2024, putting the northern tip of the state’s “golden triangle” near the top of a list of 10 Kentucky counties with the greatest housing needs.
The study, which shows a gap of 206,207 homes statewide split almost evenly between rentals and owned homes, was released in mid-April by the Kentucky Housing Corp., a quasi-governmental agency that offers affordable housing programs statewide.
Boone County was third on the top 10 list, followed by Kenton County at No. 4 and Campbell at No. 8. Leading the top 10 were Jefferson and Fayette counties, which form the other two vertices of the so-called golden triangle – the area bounded by NKY, Louisville and Lexington. The area is known as a center of Kentucky’s population growth and wealth. Louisville’s Jefferson County was first on the list, accounting for 19.4% of the overall shortage, with Fay-
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Cracking the case: NKU students help detectives on cold cases
By Haley Parnell
Select Northern Kentucky University students this spring were given the opportunity to work with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office cold case unit to help crack unsolved cases.
The students submitted resumes and interviewed to be part of a class that worked in tandem with detectives in the cold case unit. Six students out of 24 who applied were selected to take the class. The students spent eight hours each week during the semester at the sheriff’s office, bringing cases from the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s and 2000s up to 2024 standards – and bringing the cases closer to getting solved.
“This is a rare opportunity for a sheriff’s department to open their doors and invite students in to review confidential, sensitive information and be open,” said Melissa Moon, professor of criminal justice at NKU. “I mean truly open. Given their experience level, to listen to what a college kid has to say and recommends – it’s very rare.”
Boone County Detective Coy Cox, who worked with Moon and the students, said this is the first time a class like this has been held in Kentucky.
“It is extremely rare in Kentucky; no one’s ever done this before,” Cox said. “But it’s also rare in the United States. There are only a few agencies out there across the
country that have done this, and I haven’t found one yet that said, ‘Yeah, I wish I would have never done that.’”
He brought the partnership idea back to Northern Kentucky after attending an international homicide conference in Oklahoma City and hearing that the Michigan State Police had done something similar.
Cox said that, as he nears retirement, there are cases in boxes that needed to be looked at and scanned so that there would be a digital copy for the person who follows him; he thought some interns could help. After connecting with Moon, she suggested they turn the idea into a cold case class.
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Continues
woman walks by The Kimberly, a short-term rental property in Covington’s Mainstrasse neighborhood.
Photo by Alecia Ricker | LINK nky contributor
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NKY’s housing gap
The gap in housing across Northern Kentucky’s three counties by number of units needed and percentage of Kentucky’s overall gap, according to a spring 2024 study by the Kentucky Housing Corp.
Boone: 11,350 (5.51%).
Campbell: 4,194 (2.03%).
Kenton: 9,157 (4.44%)
NKY total: 24,701 (11.98%)
Continued from page 1
ette next at 10.9%.
Those counties, combined with NKY’s three, make up 42.2% of the state’s housing gap, based on the analysis.
Wendy Smith, deputy director of housing programs with the Kentucky Housing Corp., presented the study to state lawmakers June 24 at the inaugural meeting of the state legislative Kentucky Housing Task Force, created earlier this year. According to Smith, the housing gap is a supply issue with not nearly enough low-rent housing for the lowest income earners and not enough owner or “for-sale” housing across all income levels.
‘Most urgent issue’
In NKY, the study showed the greatest forsale housing gap in Boone County (6,925 units) followed by Kenton County (4,342) and Campbell County (2,243). For rentals in NKY, the housing need was greatest in Kenton County (4,815 units) followed by Boone County (4,425), then Campbell County at 1,951, per the study.
“In our view, the housing supply shortage is Kentucky’s most urgent issue,” Smith told the task force. “I’m an affordable housing professional. I am not here to ask you to invest more money in affordable housing. I do not think that is the solution that Kentucky needs.
“If we had enough supply,” she continued, “not even affordable, Kentucky would have lower average housing costs. We would have higher homeownership rates. We would have more workforce housing. We
would have lower eviction rates. We would have fewer homeless Kentuckians and increase household stability.”
The task force was led by co-chair Rep. Susan Witten. The Louisville Republican was one of 75 Kentucky House members who voted to outlaw undesignated homeless encampments under 2024 House Bill 5, also called the Safer Kentucky Act. HB 5 passed by a vote of 75-23 in the House on March 28 and passed the Senate 27-9.
Gov. Andy Beshear later vetoed the bill, but the House and Senate overwhelmingly voted to override the veto.
All members of the NKY Senate delegation and most members of the NKY House delegation voted in support of HB 5. (Voting against the bill were Reps. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, Rep. Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, and Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge.)
Not just in cities
Unsheltered homelessness – what Smith referred to as “visible homelessness,” or street homelessness seen in public places like parks or public roadsides – is on the rise statewide, she said. That’s based on what Smith called a federally required “point-in-time” homeless count taken across the state in one day last January. Sheltered homelessness, or people in shelters with a bed, is also at high levels in Kentucky, although that number has been pretty steady over the past two years.
Statewide, Smith said the total number of homeless persons (unsheltered and sheltered) from the 2024 point-in-time count
was higher than it’s been in years, reaching 5,321.
Neither is homelessness an issue just in urban areas. Smith said rural areas are seeing more homeless people than they have since at least 2019. The unsheltered homeless count, she said, “has really gone up, in particular for the balance of the state, or everywhere but Louisville and Lexington.”
In Frankfort, lawmakers debating homelessness during the 2024 legislative session frequently flagged mental illness and addiction as factors in rising homeless numbers. However, Smith said those factors are peripheral, not structural or core issues behind homelessness. A lack of housing, or lack of supply, is the biggest problem, she said.
“Contributing causes may be substance use disorder, mental illness, divorce, job loss, etc., but they don’t always dictate that a person or family ends up homeless,” she told the task force. “The structural factor is the environment in which a contributing factor is more likely to make you homeless.”
Regarding the total number of people experiencing homelessness statewide last winter, Witten asked how that number fits with the number of people who can’t find housing in Kentucky.
“The homeless number was a little over 5,000 in Kentucky on any given night, and then you tell us that we’re 206,000 units short – help me understand where are those people now?” Witten said.
Smith said some of those people are spend-
ing over 50% of their income on housing, some are sharing or “doubled up” in housing units and some are living with others, such as family members. “There’s a lot of overcrowding. Some of that is by choice,” she said. “The 200,000 isn’t meant to mean we have 200,000 people homeless; it’s people who are not in a housing solution matched to what they want.”
Turning away vouchers
Middle-, moderate- and low-income people in Kentucky are competing for the same housing units, particularly rental units, because of a supply shortage, Smith said. A
gap in low-rent housing complicates the situation for those who may lose out on an apartment and not be able to find or afford another one, Smith explained – including those who may have a housing voucher but can’t find anyone to take it.
Kentucky lawmakers passed HB 18 last session, which allows landlords to turn away potential tenants who rely on federal housing assistance vouchers, like Section 8, to pay rent.
Without specifically citing HB 18, Smith said that, if a landlord doesn’t accept a housing voucher within so many days (generally 120 days and up to 210 days max-
imum for some vouchers), that voucher must be turned back in, and the person still looking for housing has to go to the bottom of the waiting list, said Smith. “That is so demoralizing,” she told the task force.
Back to the 200,000, Witten said she wants to make sure lawmakers are looking at real numbers.
“I’m sure there are a lot of people who live in a house that would rather live in a different ZIP code or have a bigger house,” said Witten. “I don’t know if that’s what I would consider a housing crisis. I just don’t want to conflate those numbers.”
Senate Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, who also serves on the task force, said she believes the housing gap goes beyond supply. “I wish it was almost as simplistic as just being a supply issue. But, as you know, there’s just so much that goes into that supply,” said Adams.
The next meeting of the Kentucky Housing Task Force is scheduled for July 29. Findings and recommendations of the task force are expected to be submitted to the Legislative Research Commission of the Kentucky General Assembly for potential committee review no later than Dec. 1.
The Boone County Assisted Housing Department. Boone County tops the region with the largest housing gap. Photo provided
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“I wasn’t real keen on that in the beginning just because the last thing that I would ever, ever, ever want to do is to re-victimize our victims’ families,” Cox said. “The last thing I would want to do was – if I were a family member of someone who was murdered –I wouldn’t want to sit and think that someone, some kid, knows more about what happened to my family member than I do.”
Moon said she wanted the partnership to be a class because she wanted to put the lessons in a real-world setting to address real-world problems. Moon said she is always trying to find ways to bridge the gap between students’ classroom and real-world experiences.
The students in the class were in majors ranging from criminal justice and law to biology.
“So, very unique academic backgrounds,” Moon said, “which I think contributed overall to their learning and understanding how to process case files, understanding
The students were divided into pairs but sat in adjoining cubicles so they could ask questions about different interpretations and how they would organize things.
Due to the nature of their work, the students had to remain anonymous, were not allowed to speak about the cases they looked at outside of the sheriff’s department, and had to leave all electronic devices, including phones or smartwatches, in their vehicle before coming to class. Further, students had to sign an agreement that they understood that they were giving their permission to be searched if detectives thought they had something they shouldn’t have on them.
Cox said concealing the students’ identities was vital because they are working on murder cases whose perpetrators might still be free. “Someone is out there going free, and they have gone free for years, and they’ve never been held accountable for the worst crime that can possibly be committed,” he
said. “So, if their identities were known, that would be subjecting them to someone who is willing to kill people.”
That was why students could work on the cases only at the sheriff’s office and couldn’t talk about their work outside the class. “They had to think about it there, discuss it there,” Moon said, “but the minute we left and those double doors closed behind us, no discussion. Period. I was just amazed at how they were able to synthesize all the information and provide multiple concrete recommendations.”
Cox said that not only did the class turn out well but that the students were remarkable. “They were amazing. They offered a lot more than what I wanted to use for the scanning. However, they did that, and that was something that was very tedious.
“At a minimum,” Cox said, “the smallest case that we had given them had at least 1,000 pages of documents that had to be scanned. Audio recordings, as well as some video and audio recordings of interviews
that they sat for hours and listened to, made notes, but, most importantly to me, they copied those from being on a microcassette tape and put them in digital form into a case file.”
The students also brought a different perspective to the cases. Cox said he has worked in the business for 40 years, and some human experiences can’t be ignored when examining a case.
When the students finished the case they were working on, they presented it to the detectives. Cox said he would have them tell him the top five things they would do if they were working on the case today. He said their notes and conclusions give detectives a good place to start when they review them.
“It was interesting to see some of their comments and what they saw when they looked at evidence compared to what we would see and maybe some of the things that were jaded by our human experiences,” he said.
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the information in the case files.”
A class last spring at Northern Kentucky University gave six select students a unique opportunity to work with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office on cold cases. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is Kentucky’s only law enforcement agency with a full-time cold case unit. Cox said this is because it is a real commitment. He said most agencies are not willing to make that commitment and allow someone to work on those cases when, in their mind, it’s more important to work on cases coming in today.
Working on something real
One of the participating students, whose anonymity LINK nky is protecting, said they were interested in the class because many of the internships and classwork they have done are straight from a textbook or hypothetical.
“Especially from the law backgrounds that I’m getting ready to start, I really wanted to see the police perspective, but also getting the chance to work on something real that’s not just something that a professor came up with for an exam or a class project was really neat and really interesting,” the student said. “A lot of my friends who did internships through police departments and stuff like that are just sitting up front, saying hi to people and doing ride-alongs. You’re not really getting to work on anything real.”
The student said they had already planned to practice criminal or constitutional law before taking the class but now also had the police’s perspective.
“A lot of my professors were either staff attorneys that work for judges or they’re defense attorneys,” the student said. “So it was nice getting to actually work with the police, because that’s something you don’t really get a lot in undergraduate law classes.
Even in law [school] classes, almost all of my professors that I’m getting ready to have this semester are prosecutors, staff attorneys. So it was definitely a missing perspective that I got to add that solidified what I want to do.”
Moon said the class allowed students to network with the detectives and sergeants. They received professional references, and one student has already secured a job that Moon said was directly related to taking the class.
Cox said he would hire any of the six students from the cold case class.
“Someone had asked if we think that maybe they helped any of the cases to get closer to being solved, and I said they helped all of them,” Cox said. “They are in a much better spot than they were before because they got to put eyes on it for an extended period of time, and we have not had that opportunity to do that with all of the cases.”
Cox said they intend to continue the class with at least one more that has been officially contracted.
Photo by KFRK IAI | Unsplash
Childhood sports card collecting led to Hit Seekers’ success
By Kenton Hornbeck
Greg Rouse fell in love with collecting baseball cards while growing up in the 1970s.
At the time, his hometown Cincinnati Reds were a dominant force in Major League Baseball, winning two World Series championships, four league championships and six divisional titles through the decade. The Reds’ on-field success helped cement his love for collecting off the field, which he continued over the decades.
Now 59, Rouse co-owns a sports card shop in Fort Mitchell with his sons, Jake and Evan. The business is booming, including a substantial online following in the sports card industry and a kiosk at Great American Ball Park. The kiosk is thought to be the first sports card shop in a major league stadium.
Despite the success, Rouse as a younger collector never envisioned opening a sports card shop. His mind changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which ushered in a resurgence of interest in trading cards.
“During the pandemic, I mean, let’s face it, everybody in the world had two things: time and money,” Rouse told LINK nky.
People were feverishly buying card packs online and in big box stores, and watching online card-related content, such as live pack openings. The Rouses were enthralled by the pack openings and routinely watched them, too. That’s when they wondered, Rouse said, “what if we could do that too?”
The question led to the birth of Hit Seekers – no, not the brick-and-mortar store, but the Facebook group. In 2020, the Rouses created the group for buying, selling and opening sports card packs. The Hit Seekers name is a double entendre, referring both to looking for a hit while playing baseball and “hitting” on a valuable card as part of a pack opening.
The Facebook group quickly gained popularity, and many members began to ask for more frequent pack openings. The influx of requests piqued the trio’s entrepreneurial senses.
“We started thinking about expanding it into a real business,” Rouse.
The Rouses bought out Planet Collectables, a sports memorabilia shop in Florence. Their goal: create a space for the Hit Seekers burgeoning online streaming business to grow. Rouse said online sales now account for approximately 80% of the business’s annual revenue.
Rouse hired two people to livestream opening packs for five-hour daily shifts. He said there was nothing more difficult in his business career than finding streamers. His prerequisites were enthusiasm about all sports and understanding of the online streaming business.
“You are talking into a phone into a microphone, and there are times during your stream where you may be talking to yourself, and you have to be able to do that,” Rouse said. “You have to be entertaining, right?
“Anybody can sit down and open a box of cards on a camera, but you have to be entertaining. You have to have your passion, and your enthusiasm has to come through. You have to leave people wanting more. That’s a hard thing to find.”
Matt Stephens fit Rouse’s description perfectly. He had been collecting sports cards since childhood and refound his love for the hobby around the pandemic. As an added bonus, Stephens was a professional wrestler for 10 years and understood how to entertain audiences. Upon a chance meeting with Rouse, he was hired to stream for Hit Seekers.
“So COVID happened – I didn’t have a way to entertain,” Stephens said. “I was able to take the entertainment piece and take my love for sports cards and the entertain-
ment that I’d learned for the last 10 years, put them together and do a thing that I really enjoyed.”
Stephens compared streaming to working as a baseball broadcaster. Instead of reacting to the game or a crowd, though, he’s reacting to words on a screen.
Rouse now employs multiple streamers who open packs on Loupe, a 24-hour online sports card platform, and Fanatics Live. They stream anywhere from 12 to 16 hours a day every day of the year, Rouse said.
Still, to be truly relevant, Rouse said Hit Seekers needed a brick-and-mortar store. When the Fort Mitchell storefront at 2501 Dixie Highway became available, they pounced.
Hit Seekers officially opened in June 2022. Rouse’s primary focus was running a modern card shop. Essentially, Rouse wanted the store to be organized and accessible, have highly knowledgeable employees and sell the best card boxes.
Upon entering Hit Seekers, patrons see multiple card cases against the walls to their left and right. The cases are divided into different sports: basketball, baseball, football, etc. Each case features several prominently displayed rare and valuable cards.
The back of the store features a U-shaped desk where employees can help customers. To the left of the table sits a magnifying glass to grade cards. The instrument resembles something one might see in a jewelry store.
The store saw immediate success, garnering recognition from local and national collectors. It’s been especially popular with younger customers and families.
Carson Grizovic, a customer, told LINK nky that he enjoys the community aspect of Hit Seekers and appreciates the accommodating staff as a newer collector. “This place has been great,” he said. “I’ve been coming
here for probably about two or three weeks consistently now – every time, I always seem to walk out with something I’m really happy with.”
Regardless of the success, Rouse said his favorite aspect of the business is introducing the joy of collecting to younger people while simultaneously reintroducing collecting to older people – rekindling the flame, as he calls it.
The Hit Seekers kiosk at Great American Ball Park gives Rouse the opportunity to speak with a variety of potential collectors, both young and old. “I love the diversity of the people that we get to meet down there and the stories that we hear are just amazing.”
One of the passion projects he’s most proud of was developing trading card clubs at three local schools. Rouse said the clubs allow kids to immerse themselves in the joy of collecting while also developing proper etiquette and respect for the hobby.
“We essentially form a relationship with generally a parent liaison at a school who wants to do this so that I can manage the club from the Hit Seekers side, and they manage the parents,” Rouse said. “It has turned out to be probably the coolest thing that we’ve done since we opened Hit Seekers.”
Hit Seekers is poised to celebrate its twoyear anniversary with a blowout event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 22 at the Fort Mitchell store. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in doorbuster sales, hourly giveaways – including Reds tickets and collectibles – PSA gradings, and the potential to snag a limited-edition Hit Seekers second anniversary T-shirt.
In addition, Reds center fielder T.J. Freidl will be at the store from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. to sign free autographs for the first 100 visitors, along with one of the Reds’ three mascots. RSVPs through hitseekerscardbreaks. com are required to secure a spot for an autograph.
Co-owner Greg Rouse standing behind the counter of Hit Seekers flagship store in Fort Mitchell. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky
Greg Rouse standing behind the counter at Hit Seekers grand opening at Great American Ball Park. Photo provided | Pat LeFleur
A sure sign of summer, the Boone County Fair ran June 24-29 at the county fairgrounds in Burlington with a lineup of fun, food, entertainment and agricultural competitions. The fair dates to the early 1930s. Photos provided by Charles Bolton.
The fair offered live country music most nights. Fiddler Brooke Way performed June 27 with the Derek Alan Band.
The Boone County Fair served up plenty of traditional fare, like funnel cakes and corn dogs.
The fair’s activities, like this ride, catered to family fun.
Some of the rides appealed more to thrill seekers than others.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday offered evening horse shows.
There were happy faces all around on the fair’s carnival rides.
This young rider has her eyes on the road – and on the prize – in the ATV drag race.
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the fair, with 4-H events all week.
The fair offered live country music most nights, including Derek Alan and his band on June 27.
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NOTICE OF THE BOONE COUNTY
MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE DIVISION I
BOONE CIRCUIT COURT CASE NO.: 24-CI-00029
KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VERSUS}
DELISA GREEN, ET AL
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JUNE 18, 2024 the above case, shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JUNE 18, 2024 the above case, shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
• Planning & Development Services of Kenton County
• The Baker Firm PLLC
• The Hidden Chapter Bookstore LLC
KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VERSUS} ROBERT J. FELDKAMP, ET AL
NOTICE
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER VERSUS} LEE A. BRUCE, ET AL
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JUNE 11, 2024 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
ADDRESS: 7208 HIGHPOINT DRIVE FLORENCE, KY 41042
PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 049.14-12-078.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $149,464.68
Covington wins $16.3M for infrastructure work at former IRS site
Covington announced it has received a $16.3 million federal grant to aid in the redevelopment of the former IRS processing center site.
At the end of June, Covington was informed that it received a federal RAISE grant to be used for Phase II public infrastructure at the Covington Central Riverfront site, including wide sidewalks, a land bridge that reaches to the top of the Ohio River levee, and a public parking garage topped by a podium structure that will support festival and park space.
Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE, grants are awarded under the U.S. Department of Transportation Department’s discretionary grant program that must be invested in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives.
City Manager Ken Smith announced the award during the city commission’s June 25 meeting. He noted the program was highly competitive.
“We had applied twice before,… but this time, with Elizabeth Wetzel and a lot of folks contributing, we were successful. And I have to tell you, I had no idea how competitive this was until we got the debrief after applying last year. There are literally hundreds of applications and a very rigorous review process. That $16 million is going to go a long way to helping us complete Phase II of that project.”
Wetzel is the city’s director of special projects and intergovernmental affairs. Commissioners each thanked her for her efforts in securing the grant.
Earlier this year, Covington Mayor Joe Meyer visited the White House to lobby President Joe Biden and his staff regarding the development. The opportunity to speak directly with officials was key, he said.
“This grant is going to help us regrid that area,” said Commissioner Tim Downing. “We’ve talked a lot about how important this is for our city. This is a major step forward for us. And it helps make sure that our city is not carrying the entirety of that financial burden. So thank you again to our staff for working hard to make sure that we could secure this.”
Qualifying for a RAISE grant requires a rigorous application process. Covington’s application details how the city plans to address an array of issues, namely safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, mobility and community connectivity, economic competitiveness and opportunity, partnerships and collaboration and innovation.
The RAISE grant announcement follows a separate $10 million investment in that infrastructure by the Kentucky General Assembly.
Ground broken on new Master Provisions facility in Independence
Master Provisions, a Florence-based nonprofit specializing in surplus food and clothing distribution, has broken ground on its new distribution facility in Independence.
Officials from the nonprofit said the organization outgrew the Borland Family Distribution Center – a 17,500-square-foot facility that’s served as its base of operations since 2011. The center, at 7725 Foundation Drive in Florence, was donated to the nonprofit by the Clifford R. Borland Sr. family.
Joining Master Provisions’ officials and staff at the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday were Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann, Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore, Campbell County Judge-Executive Steve Pendery and Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President Brent Cooper.
The new 30,000-square-foot warehouse, at 10205 Toebben Drive, will allow for increased vertical racking capacity and more refrigeration and storage space. Master Provisions raised $5.2 million from 172 various donors to build the facility, according to President Shane Armstrong.
Armstrong, who was named to the role in 2023, said that, across the country, approximately 44 million people, including 13 million children, didn’t know where their next meal was coming from.
“That number continues to go up,” Armstrong said. “Our goal is to do everything we can to see that number go down, but it takes a lot of work.”
For Master Provisions founder Roger Babik, the new building is a culmination of years of work in the nonprofit sector. Babbitt, a devout Christian, exited corporate America in the 1990s, anxious for a more fulfilling opportunity.
In 1994, he founded Master Provisions to help impoverished people internationally by providing them with access to food and clothing. Master Provisions started by sending supplies and clothing to Ukraine. By 2000, the nonprofit sent as many as 93 containers loads of clothing.
Master Provisions has partnered with missions to provide aid in Kosovo, Honduras, and central and west Africa. Domestically, Master Provisions works with 270 nonprofit partners to feed over 80,000 people
monthly across Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana and Ohio.
Final beam tops off OneNKY Center at foot of Suspension Bridge
Construction workers on June 26 placed the final steel beam on top of the OneNKY Center – the soon-to-be home of Northern Kentucky’s regional growth organizations.
Several politicians and regional leaders were on hand at the topping off ceremony, where they gave remarks regarding the building’s construction progress and what its expected completion next year will mean for the region. Attendees included Corporex Chairman Bill Butler, Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann, Covington Mayor Joe Meyer, state senators Chris McDaniel (R-Ryland Heights) and Shelley Funke Frommeyer (R-Alexandria), and state Rep. Stephanie Dietz (R-Edgewood).
“This building is a sign of the fact that we can do great things when we cooperate and work together,” Knochelmann said.
The center is being built at 209 Greenup St. in Covington at the foot of the historic John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. Fort Mitchell-based Hemmer Construction is the project’s general contractor. Covington-based Corporex was chosen as the project’s design-build contractor. The building is expected to be completed in 2025.
The OneNKY Center already is 100% leased, according to a release from BE NKY Growth Partnership. Several Northern Kentucky growth organizations will call the building home, including the NKY Chamber of Commerce, OneNKY Alliance, meetNKY, the Catalytic Fund of Northern Kentucky, BE NKY, Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky and the Northern Kentucky Bar Association.
The building will also be home to the Covington Life Science Lab, which will provide early-stage companies with research and development facilities, shared equipment, office space and various educational and
Bray Construction building out Phase 1 of the public infrastructure on the 23-acre site. Photo provided | Bray Construction Services, City of Covington
A rendering of Master Provisions soon-to-be constructed facility in Independence. Photo provided | Master Provisions
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training opportunities. In 2023, the Covington Life Science Lab inked a 99-year, $12 million lease with the Port Authority for 15,000 square feet of space.
Zoning change may lead to development of fifth Publix store in NKY
There’s no confirmation yet, but the developer behind the Cold Spring Pointe development, which will include a Publix grocery store, has received a zoning change to make way for a development called the Shoppes at Hebron Pointe that could include another Publix store.
The Boone County Planning Commission on July 3 approved a request from Cincinnati-based Midland Atlantic to change
the designation of 53 acres near Hebron from residential and commercial to commercial/planned development. The three properties involved are at the intersection of Graves Road and Worldwide Boulevard. The change must receive final approval from Boone County Fiscal Court
Midland Atlantic’s plans call for a 55,325-square-foot anchor grocery store, along with four smaller retail spaces ranging from 3,200 to 22,080 square feet, and additional parcels for two restaurants, a convenience store and an additional retailer. Midland Atlantic specializes in grocery-anchored, mixed-used developments.
When asked by planning commission members, Midland Atlantic’s development
NOTICE
Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc. (Duke Energy Kentucky or Company) hereby gives notice that, in an application to be filed no later than July 1, 2024, Duke Energy Kentucky will be seeking approval by the Public Service Commission, Frankfort, Kentucky, of an adjustment of its Pipeline Modernization Mechanism (Rider PMM) rates and charges proposed to become effective on and after January 1, 2025. The Commission has docketed this proceeding as Case No. 2024-00191.
DUKE ENERGY KENTUCKY PRESENT AND PROPOSED RATES
The present and proposed rates charged in all territories served by Duke Energy Kentucky are as follows:
These rates reflect an increase in gas revenues of approximately $8,772,358 for 2025 to Duke Energy Kentucky. The allocation of this estimated increase among rate classes is as follows:
Rate RS – Residential Service
$7,625,98786.9%
Rate GS – General Service $1,097,07112.5%
Rate FT-L – Firm Transportation Service (Includes DGS)$ 29,9140.4%
Rate IT – Interruptible Transportation Service $ 19,3870.2%
The average monthly bill for each customer class to which the proposed rates will apply will increase(decrease) approximately as follows:
Rate IT – Interruptible Transportation Service $ 29.90 0.05 %
The rates contained in this notice are the rates proposed by Duke Energy Kentucky; however, the Commission may order rates to be charged that differ from the proposed rates contained in this notice. Such action may result in a rate for consumers other than the rates in this notice.
Any corporation, association, body politic or person with a substantial interest in the matter may, by written request within thirty (30) days after publication of this notice of the proposed rate changes, request leave to intervene; intervention may be granted beyond the 30-day period for good cause shown. Such motion shall be submitted to the Kentucky Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 615, 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky 406020615, and shall set forth the grounds for the request including the status and interest of the party. If the Commission does not receive a written request for intervention within thirty (30) days of the initial publication, the Commission may take final action on the application.
Intervenors may obtain copies of the application and other filings made by the Company by requesting same through email at DEKInquiries@duke-energy.com or by telephone at (513) 287-4366. A copy of the application and other filings made by the Company are available for public inspection through the Commission’s website at http://psc.ky.gov at the Commission’s office at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am. to 4:30 p.m., and at the following Company office: Erlanger Ops Center, 1262 Cox Road, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018. Comments regarding the application may be submitted to the Public Service Commission through its website, or by mail at the following Commission address.
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manager, Clayton Riney, declined to confirm the names of the project’s tenants, but he shared the developer’s tentative timeline for the project. “We will plan to close early ’25 and start construction thereafter,” he said. “It would be an early ’26 opening.”
The prospective Hebron location is among five the chain has announced in Northern Kentucky. Public Supermarkets Inc., the grocer's corporate parent, on July 2 announced it will build a store in Florence at the northeast corner of U.S. 42 and Farmview Drive. That 55,325-square-foot Publix Super Market is to be part of the Farmview Commons complex. The announcement said the plans also include a Publix Liquors store that will offer beer, wine and spirits.
The Florence announcement followed a July 1 confirmation of plans for a store at the intersection of Harris Pike and Madison Pike in Independence. That store is set to be around 48,000-square-feet and will employ about 140 people, according to a Publix news release.
Publix previously announced plans to open stores at Triple Crown Shopping Center in Walton and in Cold Spring at Alexandria Pike and Ky. 9, the AA Highway.
Kentucky OKs incentives for Thermo Fisher Scientific expansion in Covington
A new 146,000-square-foot industrial building in Covington officially has its first tenant – Thermo Fisher Scientific.
In late June, Kentucky unveiled a financial incentive package for Thermo Fisher, a publicly traded biotechnology company based in Massachusetts. The company pledged to move into the recently completed industrial building at 135 W. 38th St. in Covington’s Latonia neighborhood.
Specifically, Thermo Fisher Scientific will move its sample management and biorepository operations into a 65,000-squarefoot space within the building. In addition, the company also plans to expand its Highland Heights-based central laboratory operation. In total, the company pledged to invest $47.8 million and create more than 250 new jobs at both sites over the next eight years.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear touted the company’s investment in Northern Kentucky. “I am thrilled to see Thermo Fisher once again choosing Kentucky to locate and expand its business,” Beshear said in a news release. “I look forward to the company’s continued success here in the commonwealth.”
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority gave preliminary approval to a 10-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The agreement can provide up to $1.9 million in tax incentives if the company hits certain annual performance targets.
Thermo Fisher Scientific must create and maintain 69 full-time jobs for Kentucky residents across 10 years, as well as paying an average hourly wage of $42.50 including benefits across those jobs. If Thermo Fisher Scientific hits those benchmarks, the company is eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates.
Additionally, the finance authority approved Thermo Fisher for up to $250,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act, which allows companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures and equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.
It has been challenging to construct new industrial buildings in Covington due to a lack of viable space. This didn’t stop Covington-based developer CovCor.
Last June, Covington and CovCor hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the project, at which they unveiled plans to construct a 146,000-square-foot industrial building in Latonia – directly behind the revamped Latonia Commerce Center.
CovCor owns the eight acres on which the building was put up, according to Kenton County property records. Cincinnati-based ARCO National was the project’s general contractor. Overall, the project cost around $17.6 million.
Covington Economic Development Director Tom West teased the news of the incentive package during the Covington Business Council’s monthly luncheon on June 27. “The city offered an incentive to Josh Niederhelman [CovCor’s principal] for the first new industrial spec development in Covington in several decades,” West said.
In April, Covington’s city commission approved a 15-year, $18 million industrial revenue bond package for CovCor that included reduced property taxes in exchange for the prospective increase in payroll taxes generated from prospective tenants of the industrial building.
Behind the new industrial building sits the Latonia Commerce Center, formerly Latonia Plaza. In 2021, a group of investors led by Niederhelman purchased the site for approximately $3.75 million.
The new industrial building joins Keller Logistics, Enzweiler Building Institute and the Covington Academy of Heritage Trades in reorienting the complex around construction trades, logistics and industrial development.
The new 146,000 square feet industrial building that Thermo Fisher Scientific will call home. Photo provided | BE NKY Growth Partnership
Crosstown Comedy Festival: Mark Chalifoux, 7-8:30 p.m., Commonwealth Sanctuary, 522 Fifth Ave., Dayton. Rookies and veterans of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky comedy scene compete to win coveted paid spots on shows at Commonwealth Sanctuary and Bomb’s Away Comedy in the fall. Admission $10. Information: programming@ commonwealthsanctuary.com or commonwealthsanctuary.com.
NKY Chapter, Kentucky Public Retirees meeting, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Golden Corral, 4770 Houston Road, Florence. All retirees from state, local and county governments who receive a pension from KERS or CERS; support staff from Kentucky state universities and independent school systems; state police; and spouses may attend to learn about issues that affect their retirement, show support with other public retirees, and participate in group activities and events.
Comedy @ Commonwealth: Kieron Harrell 7 p.m., Commonwealth Sanctuary, 522 Fifth Ave., Dayton. Kieron Harrell, a Chicago comedian born and raised in Ohio, headlines the one-year anniversary celebration for the club. Admission $15. Information: programming@ commonwealthsanctuary.com or commonwealthsanctuary.com.
Good People Festival, 1-7 p.m., Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. One-day, family-friendly event to benefit the nonprofit Incubator Kitchen Collective. Information: incubatorkitchencollective. org/blog.
Campbell County Board of Education meeting, 6-7 p.m., Alexandria Educational Center, 51 Orchard Lane, Alexandria. Information: campbell.kyschools.us/ board-of-education.
Edgewood City Council meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Edgewood City Building, 385 Dudley Road Edgewood. Information: edgewoodky.gov/administration/agendas.
Fort Thomas City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., Fort Thomas City Building, 130 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas. Information: ftthomas.org/mayorcouncil/ meetings-information.
For more events, scan the QR code or visit: https://linknky.com/events/
Providing You and Your Business
Space to Grow
Florence City Council caucus meeting, 6-7 p.m., Florence City Building, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence. Information: florence-ky. gov/our-government/ minutes-archive.
Covington Commission caucus meeting, 6-7 p.m., Covington City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., Covington. Information: onboard.covingtonky. gov.
Evolution of the Big Boy, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Boone County Public Library, Scheben Branch, 8899 U.S. 42, Union. The American Sign Museum shares how Frisch’s Big Boy has grown and changed through the years. Information: 859342-2665 or boone.libnet.info/event/10374187.
Highland Heights City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., Highland Heights City Building, 176 Johns Hill Road, Highland Heights. Information: hhky.com/city-council-minutes.
Campbell County Fiscal Court meeting, 5:306:30 p.m., Campbell County Administration Building, 1098 Monmouth St., Newport. Information: campbellcountyky.gov.
Fort Wright Caucus meeting, 6-7 p.m., Fort Wright City Building, 409 Kyles Lane, Fort Wright.
Southgate City Council meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Southgate City Building, 122 Electric Ave., Southgate. Information: villahillsky.org.
Villa Hills City Council meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Villa Hills City Building, 719 Rogers Road, Villa Hills. Information: villahillsky.org.
Boone County Planning Commission meeting 7-8 p.m., Boone County Fiscal Court, 2950 Washington St., Burlington. Information: campbell.kyschools.us/ board-of-education.
Alexandria City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., Alexandria City Building, 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria.
1920s Lakeside Park home with modern upgrades
Address: 2604 Dixie Highway, Lakeside Park
Price: $589,000
Bedrooms: Four
Bathrooms: Two (plus one half-bath)
Square footage: 2,441
School district: Kenton County
County: Kenton
Special features: Built in 1928, this updated Lakeside Park home combines classic architecture with modern amenities. The home features four bedrooms, two and a half baths plus a detached two-car garage and a corner lot. Original features include hardwood floors, built-ins and moldings. The updated kitchen features stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, a large pantry and a gas cooktop.
An exterior view of this 1928 Lakeside Park home. Photos provided | Venus Bertucci, Cindy Shetterly Team with Keller Williams
This home’s kitchen has been updated with modern appliances.
Many of this home’s original features have stuck around.
By Maria Hehman
TErlanger’s long and winding Stevenson Road
his Streetscapes we check out some eateries in Erlanger along winding Stevenson Road – a tiny taqueria, a mom-and-pop coffee shop and a favorite brunch spot. Join us as we visit El Ocho Loco, the Coffee Bean and the Hive.
El Ocho Loco, Mexican Restaurant
El Ocho Loco is a perfect example for not judging a book by its cover. This restaurant is tucked next to a Mexican convenience store in a small-scale strip. Unless you’re looking for it, one can easily miss it from busy Stevenson Road. Once one finds it, though, a tiny taqueria with patio seating and some of the best authentic Mexican food in the area awaits.
Guests can order from their menu favorites of burritos, quesadillas and street tacos. Each comes with ample options of veggies or proteins, including some unique ones not found at area restaurants, like lengua, i.e., beef tongue. Specials offer a variety of other authentic dishes: chimichangas, enchiladas and fajitas.
All of the dishes come in generous portions and cost about the same as fast casual choices. Guests on the go can order online and pick up just as easily as from fast casual alternatives and get a meal they’ll actually love. (No skimping on portions of your burrito bowl … cough, cough, Chipotle.)
Ocho Loco’s flavor and ambiance make it a must visit. Visit in person to get a true cantina experience, whether you dine inside or on their perfect patio with a margarita or Modelo in hand.
The Coffee Bean
Only a few doors down from Ocho Loco, the Coffee Bean boasts a sizable space for either groups to catch up or independents looking for a quiet work space. Inside, the Coffee Bean’s bright interior is accented with pops of blue and white featuring
statement chandeliers that illuminate the space. There’s abundant seating, couches that face a TV and fireplace to relax with a signature latte – or opt for bistro seating and enjoy one of many candy choices.
The Coffee Bean carries espresso-based drinks along with brewed choices, teas and refreshers. There’s a drink for every age and palate on the menu. The coffee flavor selection is one of the largest Streetscapes has seen. Pumpkin, marshmallow and lavender, just to name a few. The best part: This unique selection is available yearround.
The Coffee Bean also doubles as a candy and sweets shop. It sells flavored coffee syrups used in the drinks, along with chocolates, gummies and even small gifts like tumblers. With plenty of parking and just about the cutest environment a coffee shop has to offer, there’s always a reason to visit the Coffee Bean.
The Hive
The Hive has become a staple in the Er-
langer community, but it has garnered interest from across the region thanks to its wide variety of breakfast and lunch staples. The Hive uses its unique space by splitting the former house into two parts, restaurant and cafe. The main level is home to the restaurant, serving brunch favorites, while upstairs is dedicated to a cafe and coffee bar.
Those dining in can choose among savory omelets, sandwiches or bowls to start the day. The BeeKeeper’s Breakfast Bowl with Glier’s goetta, potatoes, scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese is one of the most popular items. The Hive features an entire biscuit menu, from simple biscuits to classic biscuits and gravy to a biscuit “flight” with a sampling of jellies. The flight makes for the ideal breakfast appetizer.
On the sweet side, the Hive has pancakes and waffles in countless flavors. The star of the show is bourbon spiked French toast. If a little Bourbon for breakfast is wrong, we don’t want to be right (this is Kentucky, after all).
For lunch, choices include soups, salads, sandwiches and sides. Guests can order coffee drinks from the cafe menu or opt for
a boozy brunch with a mimosa or bloody mary.
The cafe offers a quiet workspace or a more casual catch-up spot to indulge in coffee creations. The menu covers barista basics, and there are always seasonal drinks for added fun. To ensure a seamless working experience, Wi-Fi and AC outlets will power your devices while croissants and cappuccinos fuel you.
Coffee and cocktails make the perfect pair for brunch at the Hive.
Forgotten eight: Major league ballplayers from Newport
By Marc Hardin
Kentucky has been the birthplace of more than 340 major league baseball players, with nearly 50 of those hailing from Northern Kentucky. Eight were born in Newport, according to Baseball-Reference.com, a database of baseball statistics.
In the annals of major league history, the Newport Eight stand as a largely overlooked ensemble of ballplayers. All hail from a bygone era. Kid Baldwin, John Dolan, Alamazoo Jennings and George Miller carved out their entire careers in the 19th century. Rudy Hulswitt and George Textor concluded their careers before 1920. Tommy Reis and Frank Williams graced the field in the 1930s and ’40s, respectively. Several played for the Reds. A few were catchers. Some became umpires.
Here’s a closer look at the Newport Eight.
Kid Baldwin, star-crossed catcher
Clarence “Kid” Baldwin was the most accomplished defender among the eight. He led his league in caught stealing percentage in 1890 and twice ranked third in fielding percentage while playing other positions. Most of Baldwin’s seven-year career – from 1885-90 – was spent with the Reds. He batted .221 lifetime. The 5-foot-6 Baldwin hit seven career home runs. He was a brash 20-year-old when he joined the Reds in 1885 but hit just .135 due in part to practice habits.
“Baldwin says the chances of some of the Cincinnatis dropping dead or breaking a leg are very slim, indeed, and that while he is resting, he will join Tony Mullane in the grandstand,” wrote Sporting Life in 1885. “He says there is no use to practice when he does not have the opportunity to play.”
Baldwin once hit an umpire while arguing a call in a spring training game. He was out of baseball at age 25. He died at 32 in 1897 at Longview Asylum in Cincinnati after being committed by a judge of the probate court and was buried in the asylum’s cemetery.
According to the New York Times, Baldwin was a “hopeless wreck from dissipation.”
Rudy Hulswitt, starting shortstop
Hulswitt led the Newport Eight with 2,426 plate appearances over seven seasons from 1899 to 1910. Accumulating 564 hits, he maintained a .253 batting average. He homered off Covington native Howie Camnitz, who won 133 games. Hulswitt’s defensive record is marred by a National League single-season record-setting 81 errors at shortstop in 1903.
Hulswitt played one season, 1908, with the Reds as the team’s regular shortstop. He also starred for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hulswitt transitioned into scouting and coaching. In 1923, he managed the Danville Veterans of the Three-I League. After scouting for the Red Sox, he joined their coaching staff in 1931.
Alamazoo Jennings, one-game wonder
Born Alfred Jennings, he made one appearance as a catcher in 1878 with the Milwaukee Grays in Cincinnati. He had four errors and allowed 10 passed balls. In three plate appearances, he had a walk. There is no known photo. The only known depictions of Jennings are drawings. He later gained minor celebrity as an umpire, sports promoter and Cincinnati police officer. He died at age 43 in Cincinnati during surgery and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate.
“As an amateur he played with the Ludlows,” said Jennings’ Nov. 10, 1894, obituary.
“His title (Alamazoo) was bestowed by O.P. Caylor. He’s carried it ever since the day that he accumulated more passed balls than any catcher.”
Frank Williams, Negro Leaguer
Williams was a 5-foot-7 left-handed first baseman and outfielder in the Negro Leagues. He was posthumously acknowledged as a major leaguer following MLB’s recognition earlier this year of the Negro Leagues’ players. Williams, known for his nicknames – Shorty, Lefty and Wizard –played in 35 career games. He combined for 30 games in 1946 with the Homestead Grays (originally based in Homestead,
Pennsylvania, outside Pittsburgh, and then increasingly in Washington, D.C.) and the Chicago American Giants. He hit .276 lifetime in 123 at-bats.
Extension
John Dolan, one decent year
Dolan, a right-hander, logged the most innings among the eight, totaling 286.2 from 1890-1895. His peak was 1891 with the Columbus Solons of the American Association. He pitched 203 innings with a 12-11 record and a 4.16 ERA. Dolan’s five-year career spanned five teams, including a stint with the Reds in 1890.
George Textor, switch-hitting catcher Textor played two years in the Federal League and got into 25 games. He hit .333 in limited duty in 1915 for Newark, where he was a teammate of future Reds Hall of Famer Edd Roush.
George Miller, catcher turned umpire Miller’s major league career spanned 17 games across two seasons seven years apart with the Reds. He hit .250 in 1884. One of his teammates was Hall of Famer Candy Cummings, widely credited with inventing the curveball. Miller also umpired.
Tommy Reis, the reliever
Reis’s sole major league season came in 1938 with the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Bees. He was 0-1 in eight appearances with a 12.27 ERA. He was the last surviving player who appeared at the Baker Bowl, home of the Phillies until 1938.
The University of Kentucky is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from minorities and women.
NOTICE
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on June 21, 2024, Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc. filed its Integrated Resource Plan (“IRP”) with the Kentucky Public Service Commission under Case No. 2024-00197. This filing includes Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc.’s most recent load forecast and a description of the existing and planned conservation programs, load management programs, and generating facilities it intends to use to meet forecasted requirements in a reliable manner at the lowest possible cost. Any interested person may review the plan, submit written questions to the utility, and file written comments on the plan.
A copy of the IRP, as filed, is available for public inspection through the Commission’s website at http://psc.ky.gov, at the Commission’s office at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, KY; Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and during regular business hours at Duke Energy’s Erlanger Operations Center at 1262 Cox Road, Erlanger, KY 41018.
Newport-born George Textor managed a semipro baseball team in the 1920s in Massillon, Ohio, after his baseball playing days. Public domain image
The Reds’ Rudy Hulswitt, right, beats a Cubs fielder to the bag in a 1908 game at West Side Grounds in Chicago. Photo provided | Old-Time Baseball Photos on X
A Kid Baldwin baseball card from his time playing for the Cincinnati Reds. Marc Hardin | LINK nky
Father succeeds son as head girls coach at Simon Kenton
Brenden Stowers took over for his father in 2022. He led Simon Kenton to a 19-15 record. That included a sixth 8th Region title for the Pioneers and a berth in the state tournament his first season. The Pioneers finished 21-11 in 2023-24 and won their first district title since 2018.
The younger Stowers, a 1999 Simon Kenton graduate, was his father’s assistant for 13 years. Like his father, Brenden starred as a player at Northern Kentucky.
Holmes playing vet takes on girls team as new head coach
recognition at Boone County, where she averaged 5.9 points and 6.8 rebounds as a senior.
Hill, from Covington, finished her college basketball career at Lincoln University after earning first team all-conference honors at Volunteer State Community College, then earning first team all-region and all-conference recognition at St. Louis Community College.
Newport names Reinhardt as AD heading into big year
Jeff Stowers is back as head girls basketball coach at Simon Kenton High School. Stowers, 69, was promoted from his assistant position on June 19.
Stowers’ reappointment follows a reshuffling of women’s coaches at the local college level that’s had a ripple effect on Simon Kenton.
Stowers served as top assistant to Pioneers head coach Brenden Stowers – Jeff’s son – the past two seasons. Brenden Stowers resigned in May to accept a position as assistant coach for Northern Kentucky University’s women’s basketball team. He’ll be working under new head coach Jeff Hans. Hans resigned as head coach at Thomas More University to take the NKU job.
Before his brief stint as Simon Kenton girls assistant, Jeff Stowers served as the Pioneers’ head coach for 20 seasons. He won an impressive 70% of his games, posting a 427-180 record. He’s on a short list of Northern Kentucky girls basketball coaches with 400 high school wins or more, ranking fourth all-time.
Stowers has won 527 games in his coaching career. Prior to Simon Kenton, he won 100 games as Seven Hills High School boys basketball coach in Cincinnati.
The elder Stowers began his Simon Kenton coaching career in 2002. His teams won five 8th Region championships and added six runner-up finishes, going 29-11 in region tournament games. The Pioneers won 10 32nd District crowns under his guidance.
New Holmes High School girls basketball coach Zuri Hill should be a familiar name to Bulldogs fans. Hill previously coached the seventh-grade girls basketball team at Holmes Middle School.
She began her high school basketball career at Holmes and played for the Bulldogs as a sophomore. She concluded her career at Boone County, where she played alongside area great Sydney Moss for legendary coach Nell Fookes.
Hill replaces Tracy Pope, who parted ways with the program after two seasons. The Bulldogs finished 3-28 last season, beating Dayton and Williamstown twice. The Bulldogs are very young; just one senior graduated. One senior is expected to return along with two juniors. Top players are expected to be leading scorer India Tye (12.5 ppg) and rebounding leader Mya Long, both rising freshmen.
Hill was a Northern Kentucky Girls Basketball Coaches Association East-West senior all-star for Boone County in 2012. She earned all-9th Region and all-33rd District
Newport High School’s next athletic director will be Kevin Reinhardt, the school announced June 24. Reinhardt succeeds Michael Hunter, who retired.
Reinhardt, who had been the behavior interventionist at Newport Intermediate School, will now take over as the district’s full time AD.
His athletic background comes mostly in basketball. He was a Hall of Famer at Campbell County High School in the early 2000s. By the time he graduated in 2002 he was the program’s all-time leader in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, helping to lead the Camels to the 10th Region title in 2002 under Dan Sullivan.
After Campbell County, he went on to letter at Northern Kentucky University in basketball for three years and was Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. He finished his college career at Georgetown College and was team MVP in 2007 and First Team All-Conference in the MidSouth Conference.
Reinhardt later went on to play professionally for the Georgia Grizzlies in the American Basketball Association.
He’s been a basketball head coach at Nicholas County and South Dearborn, Indiana, and has served as an assistant at Newport, Campbell County and Holmes.
Newport has a big year ahead. They’re projected to have their home football stadium back in operation. They’ve had to play home games either on the road or at neutral sites the past two seasons because the stadium was condemned in April 2022. Repairs are in progress.
The Wildcats boys basketball team is the back-to-back 9th Region champion and is projected to be one of the top teams in the state headed into 2024-25. The baseball program restarted after canceling the 2023 season.
Reinhardt was born in Newport and raised in Wilder. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations, advertising and communications from NKU and a master’s degree in special education and teaching from Georgetown. He’s pursuing a second master’s degree in administration from the University of the Cumberlands.
Nonconference matchup pits Norse men against Boilermakers in Nov.
Northern Kentucky University’s men’s basketball team has added a nonconference game in West Lafayette, Indiana, against Purdue on Nov. 8, NKU announced June 20.
Purdue finished 34-5 in 2023-24, winning the regular season Big Ten title, and advanced all the way to the national championship before a loss to two-time reigning champ UConn. The Boilermakers finished the year ranked second in both the AP and Coaches Poll Top 25.
This will be the second meeting between the two: Purdue escaped at home with a 7776 victory in 2013.
NKU will be in the conversation once again as one of the top teams in the Horizon League, coming off an 18-15 season in 2023-24 and returning six of their top eight rotational players. They’ll also get Sam Vinson and Hubertas Pivorius back from injury.
The date with Purdue is one of three nonconference games that reportedly have been scheduled. The Norse will also face the University of Cincinnati Nov. 13 at Truist Arena and play at Akron on Dec. 7.
New Holmes girls basketball coach Zuri Hill played at three colleges, starring at each. Photo provided | Lincoln University
Jeff Stowers, front, is taking over for son Brenden Stowers, back, as Simon Kenton head girls basketball coach. It’s the elder Stowers’ second stint as Pioneers head coach. Photo provided | Marc Figgins
Florence • Fort Mitchell • Crestview Hills • Union
Newport has named Kevin Reinhardt as its next athletic director.
Photo provided | Newport High School
Rhonda Massie, wife of congressman, was 51
By Dennis K Brown | The Lewis County Herald
Rhonda Kay Howard Massie, 51, of Garrison, died June 27, 2024, at her home.
She was born March 20, 1973, in Portsmouth, Ohio, a daughter of Wayne Howard of Garrison and Erma Kansas Meadows Howard.
Rhonda was witty, intelligent, practical and kind. She graduated in 1991 as valedictorian of her class from Lewis County High School, where she met her high school sweetheart, Thomas Massie, whom she married Aug. 28, 1993. She was accepted into both Harvard and MIT and went to MIT, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1995. While still an undergraduate, she played an integral part in starting the company SensAble Technologies in Cambridge, Massachusetts, alongside her husband.
Shortly after having children, the Massies moved their family back from New England to her family’s farm at Garrison, where she enjoyed homesteading and building their home together. She cooked and played music with and for the people she loved. Her family was the thing she was most proud of. Rhonda relished being a wife, mother, daughter and mamaw.
Always most happy to be behind the
scenes, she was her husband’s closest adviser and more importantly his peace away from politics. She devoted her time to taking care of her children, assisting her parents, managing the family farm and helping the people around her.
Rhonda never had a bad day. She was always positive, never spoke ill of others and remained humble. Her passing was a shock to everyone, but she had fought through years of health struggles so well and without complaint that most wouldn’t have known she had any.
She is survived by her father; her husband; two daughters, Elizabeth (Collie) Crawford of Louisville and Sarah (Carter) Moore of Garrison; two sons, Mason (Sofia) Massie of Manhattan, New York, and Justin (Katelyn) Massie, stationed in Washington State; one grandson, Norman Crawford; three brothers, Michael (Traci) Howard of Spring Hills, Tennessee, Jeff (Pam) Boggs of Garrison, and Robert (Tana) Boggs of Lucasville, Ohio; and a sister-in-law, Patty Howard of Garrison. Many other family members, friends and neighbors also survive who will sadly miss her.
She was preceded in death by her mother and a brother, Phillip Howard.
Services were private. Globe Family Funeral Chapel at Garrison handled arrangements. Condolences may be sent at globefamilyfc.com.
Union fire captain dies after battle with lung cancer
By Molly Schramm | WCPO
Family, friends and firefighters in Northern Kentucky are gathering after a longtime Union firefighter died.
Capt. Travis Ransom with the Union Fire Protection District died June 21 after a two-year battle with lung cancer. He was 49.
According to Ransom’s obituary, he is survived by his wife, Lisa, and three children, Hunter, Hannah and Kayleigh.
The UFPD announced Ransom’s death on social media, saying he was “a great friend, tremendous leader, mentor and officer.”
Ransom started at the department part-time in 2017 and moved to fulltime in 2019. During his time there, he held many roles, including fire inspector, paramedic, lieutenant, captain and, most recently, training captain.
Outside of his work with UFPD, Ransom was a U.S. Air Force veteran, where he
began his firefighting career. According to his obituary, after he was honorably discharged in 1997, he held a firefighting position with CVG Airport for 20 years before retiring in 2017.
“Travis had a passion for firefighting and mentoring young firefighters,” his obituary reads. “He loved his profession, his community, and his country. He was truly an American hero.”
Visitation was held June 28 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Covington. Mass of burial followed at the church.
Mourners lined U.S. 42 on June 29 for a funeral procession organized by the Union Fire Protection District. It ran from UFPD Station 71 to Highland Cemetery. Portions of U.S. 42 and Dixie Highway were closed for the occasion.
Donations are requested to go to Travis' Triumph Tour Memorial Scholarship. Send to 50 E. Rivercenter Blvd., Suite 431, Covington, KY 41011, or make a donation online at horizonfunds.org/fund/ travis-triumph-tour.
Rep. Thomas Massie with his wife, Rhonda Massie. Photo provided | Thomas Massie
Travis Ransom, a captain with the Union Fire Protection District, died June 21 after a two-year battle with lung cancer. Photo provided
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