LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 1, Issue 34 - July 21, 2023

VOLUME 1,ISSUE34—JULY21,2023

Northern Kentucky employers find solutions during workforce market shortage

Remembering ‘The Bob Braun Show’ p7

Local companies respond to break in supply chain p9

Streetscapes takes a bite out of Madison Pike p15

Trading up: Northern Kentucky employers find solutions during workforce market shortage

PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Mark Collier

MANAGING EDITOR Meghan Goth

PRINT EDITOR Kaitlin Gebby

SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison

The LINK nky Kenton Reader is a weekly newspaper. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending, permit number 32 in Covington, Kentucky. The LINK nky Kenton Reader office of publications and the Periodical Pending Postage Paid at 700 Scott St., Covington, KY 41011.

For mailing address or change-of-address orders: POSTMASTER: send address changes to The LINK nky Kenton Reader: 31 Innovation Alley, Covington, KY 41011 859-878-1669 | www.LINKnky.com

HAVE A TIP? News@LINKnky.com

WANT TO ADVERTISE? Marketing@LINKnky.com

WANT TO SUBSCRIBE? Send a check for $31.80 ($25 trial rate plus 6% Kentucky sales tax) to our principle office or scan this QR code below

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

Trayvon Powell laughs while picking up recycling. He said this opportunity has helped him learn an exciting, new long-term trade. Photo by James Robertson | LINK nky

It’s an early Wednesday morning in late June, and Cranston Jones sits behind the steering wheel of a large Rumpke recycling truck, stopping every 10 feet or so to collect recycling waste from residents on Autumn Lane near the edge of Erlanger and Edgewood in Elsmere. He’s suited up with a lime-green T-shirt, dark jeans and a ball cap, which is helping keep the rainy mist off his face.

“I love working outside,” Jones said. “The weather don’t bother me. We have rain now, but you can always dress for the cold.”

He rises before the sun, at 4 a.m each workday, to arrive at Rumpke for his shift at 6, “grabbing recycling bins and taking care of the neighborhoods.” He works the route until about 10:30 a.m., then shifts to a new section of town. When Jones is finished there, he’ll help in another area if needed before his workday ends around 3:30 p.m.

“It helps me feel like I’m a part of something,” Jones, 46, said of his career as a Rumpke truck driver. “You can see the happiness in the people. Sometimes, people will come out and tell us we are doing a great job. They offer us water and Gatorade when it’s warm out. They love our service. They show appreciation for what we do and make it easier.”

As Northern Kentucky companies find their tradespeople aging out of their careers, several local companies are looking to manufacture their own employees. This trend, called upskilling, is proving successful when it comes to replenishing the jobs left behind by the retiring generation, teaching workers and turning them into public-facing employees.

Jones began his career with Rumpke four years ago. He applied twice, but only when he finally got the job did he understand that it would be a bit different than he anticipated.

BY NOAH JONES | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

“I didn’t know I was going to become a driver,” he said. “I was just looking to grab the cans.”

The recycling truck is a 15,000-pound metal monster. The average total body length is nearly 60 feet, and they’re typically 8 feet wide and about 8 feet tall. Third-graders would call this a perfect rectangle, but new drivers would call it daunting.

“I was scared and nervous to drive the truck,” Jones admitted.

Luckily, Rumpke taught him everything he needed to know, allowing him to learn about the truck’s maintenance, earn a commercial driver’s license and master safe maneuverability.

“The trainers were good,” Jones said. “It took me about two months (to go through the training).”

Rumpke, like most trades, is finding it harder to find qualified candidates for its work. The company, along with others, is

From left, Cranston Jones, 46, poses with Trayvon Powell, 28, in front of the side of the Rumpke Recycling truck. Photo by James Robertson | LINK nky

Continued from page 3

focused on creating skilled employees not by hiring already qualified workers but by training them at work. This style of work training, called upskilling, is taking some of the pressure off of trade schools and allowing prospective employees to learn about these careers and gain the certifications needed while earning a livable wage in the process, setting them up for greater financial stability.

A new beginning

According to a 2021 Gallup poll that surveyed 15,000 people, participation in upskilling is particularly high for workers who are Black, with 64% having done so in the past 12 months, followed by 63% of

Hispanic workers. Asian workers (51%) are substantially less likely to have attended an upskilling program in the past year, while white workers are among the least likely to have done so, with less than half (46% ) saying they have participated.

Lauren Allhands, director of Kentucky Career Center Operations, said people of color historically have been marginalized from pursuing higher education, while people who are white are more likely to attend a college or university after graduating high school.

But with the current labor shortage, job seekers are seeing a chance at more universal life equity and a chance to create

generational wealth, Allhands said. Employers needing laborers are no longer as concerned about backgrounds or turned off by the prospective employees’ pasts.

A shift in the job force

In the wake of digitalization, automation and higher standards of living, the number of applications for trade schools has been decreasing. Between 2020 and 2022 in the United States, this rate dropped by 49%, according to NPR. But Rumpke has reported seeing a dip in skilled workers for some time.

“This started way before COVID,” said Molly Yeager Broadwater, Rumpke’s corporate communications manager.

“We saw the importance of what we do during the pandemic. No one wanted to go without garbage disposal,” Broadwater said. “I ask my children all the time, ‘What would happen if we didn’t have garbage cleaned up? Where would that go?’ It’s such an important part of our civilization. We have to keep filling these jobs. It’s important for our public health, for the environment — there are so many important factors behind it.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor market has a shortfall of 3.2 million employees following the COVID pandemic. Nearly 63.4% of the civilian population in the workforce was older than 16 before the pandemic. Currently, that number has fallen to 62.1%.

The workforce landscape is poised for a crisis. Blue collar employers are searching for a solution to fill the gaps as their current employees are nearing retirement, Allhands said. Because of this hole, employers are turning to new demographics to fill these jobs, whereas they used to have more applicants than available positions.

“That’s just not the case anymore, and now, upskilling is part of the equation,” she said. “The conditions of the market are really helping employers understand the importance of job quality, and that means offering quality wages, benefits — all of those things. They are incredibly important in terms of retention as the (pool of potential employment continues to drain).”

“They can go to Rumpke and learn from people like me who can keep them focused,” Jones said. “I can show them it’s a good life to work here. You can buy nice cars and a home.”

Graphic illustration by James Robertson | LINK nky contributor

Upskilling also offers an opportunity for displaced workers to move into other career fields, and potentially for businesses to attract employees during the current hiring crunch.

As Jones pulls through Autumn Lane, his protegé for the day, Trayvon Powell, 28, hangs on to the back of the truck, learning the ins and outs of the waste management vehicle and its controls.

At the moment, Rumpke hires people like Jones and Powell, who may have never otherwise driven professionally, and helps them with learning the trade, earning their CDL and finding a better living.

Rumpke had 17 drivers earn their CDL in the region this year. Twelve of those new drivers now work in Northern Kentucky.

“We are solving the issue with drivers by doing this drivers’ training program,” Broadwater said.

The length of education varies depending on the individual, but the typical outcomes are within two months of training. Broadwater added that participants in this program earn livable wages from the start. Driver trainees start off at around $17-$19.50 an hour, depending on whether they have any driving experience. Once they obtain their CDL, pay bumps up to a minimum of $24 an hour. Rumpke trainees qualify for health benefits and a 401(k).

Powell had a background in driving delivery trucks for food service companies as a temporary job, but he didn’t have a CDL. For him, the opportunity to earn a CDL and find a job that paid him to learn a new longterm trade was exciting. He completed his classroom training in about a month.

“I’m not big on school,” Powell said with a laugh. “The class, you get paid to learn about the job. It’s pretty cool.”

Douglas Beard, workforce innovation director at the Kentucky Career Center, said upskilling programs can change the lives of participants.

“If they worked jobs 90 days at a time, because that’s temporary employment, after 90 days they’ll change careers. They can never get ahead in this way,” Beard said. “So the idea is if the company can provide them with the credentials needed, they can keep these employees full-time.”

Retention rates for Rumpke drivers are high, mimicking Beard’s assessment. Nearly 71% of CDL earners stay at Rumpke to get the training, according to its human resources department, proving that the early investment in drivers is paying off, Broadwater said.

“The majority of the team members will finish the training,” she added. “The turnover happens within the first year.”

Jones, who worked night shifts in a bakery before his first shift with Rumpke, said the opportunity to grow has been one of the most significant advantages for him.

“Not going to a trade school and still getting a CDL has helped me out a lot,” said Jones, adding that he wishes he had participated in this drivers’ training program sooner. He recently became a training supervisor for Rumpke; it’s why he now is showing the ropes to Powell.

“To watch them become a driver after not having a trade is life-changing,” he said. “Some don’t have a job; they can’t take care of their families. So, for me to be able to do that – I love being able to teach them. I love this job. Sometimes people struggle to make it, and they don’t have no one to guide them.”

Demographic drought

This shift in the labor force has been a long time coming, Allhands said. The national surge of baby boomers aging out of their careers and the simultaneous decline in the millennial generation participating in the blue-collar workforce has left a smaller-than-ever pool to fill those vacant jobs.

Beard said that 15 years after the 2008 recession, the employment market is completely different.

“We went from 2008 to 2010 when people were knocking door to door for employment, and now it’s the complete opposite,” he said. “It’s like, ‘Where are these people?’ It used to be if you had a felony or court date, you weren’t hireable. Now, companies are saying, ‘We’ll work with you.’ It’s completely different from what employers used to need.”

Now, it’s up to the employers to attract workers and prove why they should work for them.

“The economic state we are in right now

Trayvon Powell, 28, a Rumpke trainee, grabs a Rumpke Recycling bin and brings it to the back of the recycling truck. Photo by James Robertson | LINK nky

has unemployment crazy low,” Allhands said. “Employers are in a new reality. There is a demographic drought, birth rates are low and workforce trends are changing in terms of how people choose to work.”

She added that during the pandemic, companies were forced to shift from working in the office to working from home, creating a better work-life balance for those lucky enough to participate.

“When they were working from home on Zoom calls, employers saw their workers’ homes, their pets, their children,” Allhands said. “Employers realized these were people, not just workers, and they deserved to be treated as such.”

Many white-collar employees began working from home or went to a hybrid schedule, sharing work hours from home and at the office. But one can’t weld, fix a car or pick up trash from their home office, which furthered the workforce shortage crisis as folks shifted their job preferences.

Employers like Rumpke started their drivers’ learning courses to turn anyone into an eligible hire.

“We started this program because we struggled to find drivers,” Broadwater said. “People just aren’t going to the trades anymore.”

Nearby, Arlinghaus Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning also started a 10-week training program to teach prospective employees about its services.

The company’s training wing, Arlinghaus University, teaches at maximum 10 prospective employees at a time, helping them

to learn the rules of the trades, then letting them practice with supervision before going on house calls alone.

“There’s a big market for plumbers and HVAC workers,” said Liz Krenshaw, a job recruiter for Arlinghaus. “They all make more than me, and I have a master’s degree.”

Krenshaw added that Arlinghaus employees start at $16 an hour, more than double Kentucky’s minimum wage. As they leave the classroom and start completing jobs, they earn a 6% commission.

Both plumbers and HVAC workers can make between $40,000 and $80,000 their first year, Krenshaw said.

During their second year, Arlinghaus helps the rookies earn their journeyman’s license, a critical license to have for this kind of work in Kentucky, Krenshaw said.

“In Ohio and Indiana, it doesn’t really do much,” she said. “But in Kentucky, it’s vital. It allows you to take on certain jobs and take on jobs by yourself.”

Owners Heather and Brian Arlinghaus opened Arlinghaus University in 2020 as a way to create more certified candidates and teach them before they can pick up bad habits, Krenshaw said.

“A lot of employers are doing their own training. ‘If you come and work for us, you’ll earn (credentials),’ ” Beard said. “They want to work, and they’ll learn how to work on HVAC systems or plumbing. They’ll earn the certification by working and training with (the employer).”

The city of Erlanger is taking an alternative but similar approach. In early June, Kenton

County committed $3.5 million to train 640 residents in the skilled construction trades through an agreement between the Enzweiler Building Institute and Kenton County. This training promises to provide skilled trades training to 240 Kenton County public and private high school students and 400 Kenton County adults over the coming years.

“We are excited about this amazing opportunity to introduce Kenton County residents to the skilled construction trades,” said Brian Miller, executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky. “As we have been experiencing accelerated increases in construction wages, coupled with what seems an insurmountable challenge to fill the industry’s workforce impacted by the pandemic, this is an outstanding opportunity for those in Kenton County to establish a lifelong career with rewarding living wages. In the seven core components of construction that we teach, there is a need in Greater Cincinnati to fill over 65,000 career positions in the coming 10 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

Miller added that construction jobs can provide a lucrative lifestyle that is debtfree, unlike with many modern collegiate career paths. The construction skills program offers a learn-while-you-earn opportunity.

“This allows for today’s skilled trades professionals to pass along their knowledge, handiwork and craft skills to those willing to enter the industry and enjoy the benefits of this lifelong lucrative career opportunity,” Miller said.

For Jones, Rumpke has given him something to smile about. He’s grateful to be

EXACT SAME COVERAGE UP TO HALF THE COST.

able to work outside, helping his community and his peers. Of course, he enjoys the benefits of his hard work, too.

“It’s a good life working here. That’s something others haven’t had the chance to do, but I’m here to teach.”

833-601-0503

The Rumpke Recycling truck is a 15,000-pound metal monster, with a total body length of nearly 60 feet. They’re typically 8 feet wide and 8 feet tall. In this photo, the truck pulls through a neighborhood in Elsmere. Photo by James Robertson | LINK nky

July 1968: The rise and fall of ‘The Bob Braun Show’

BY RICK ROBINSON | GUEST AUTHOR

Rick Robinson is a local author who is writing a book based on life in Northern Kentucky in 1968 and what we can learn now. LINK is publishing his book chapter by chapter in a recurring series.

The Kentucky Post and Times-Star was not the only source of news for Northern Kentuckians in 1968. Television news from the three local network affiliates covered the events of the day. WLW, WCPO, and WKRC all had robust news departments. The Greater Cincinnati media market was small yet innovative, utilizing advanced technologies of the day and employing local programming relevant to the region.

However, those old enough to remember dialing in to hear from anchors like Al Schottelkotte may have griped about the thin coverage of news from Northern Kentucky. And while Northern Kentuckians often felt ignored by local news broadcasts, there was one place in 1968 where viewers on the south side of the Ohio River felt at home –“The Bob Braun Show.”

The grandson of German immigrants, Bob Braun was born and raised in Ludlow, where his father owned a local grocery store. Braun first appeared on radio at age 13, hosting a game show on WSAI-AM where two teams of Little Leaguers competed against each other in baseball trivia.

As a young man, Braun did everything

from hosting radio dance shows to singing live at local night clubs. After a stint in the military, Braun’s big break came when he gained national recognition by winning “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts” television show (the era’s answer to “America’s Got Talent” or “The Voice”).

Within weeks of winning, Braun was signed by WLW-TV and became co-host to the legendary television pioneer Ruth Lyons on her popular noon talk show. He would eventually have his own afternoon talk show, when in 1967, Lyons retired, and Braun took her place in the noon time slot.

Braun’s first cousin, Ludlow artist Tom Gaither, remembered his relative’s popularity.

“Everyone in Northern Kentucky knew Bob,” Gaither said. “He made everyone feel like they were his best friend. People trusted Bob. He was one of us, and he never forgot where he came from.”

Braun’s time hosting radio dance clubs led to one of Gaither’s many colorful stories. Braun gave Gaither some money to take one of his guests – Brenda Lee – to lunch before an episode of his show.

“I told everyone in Ludlow I was dating Brenda Lee,” Gaither said with a laugh.

“The Bob Braun Show” was broadcast across a regional network of stations covering Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, West

Virginia and Indiana. In the network cities (Dayton, Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, Lexington, Huntington, Charleston, Nashville and Knoxville), local productions – like “The Bob Braun Show” – led network broadcasts in ratings. Commercials were done live, without a teleprompter or script. Northern Kentuckian Richard “Dick” Murgatroyd produced “The Bob Braun Show.”

“Bob seemingly possessed an internal clock, knowing exactly when to move on from a 60-second spot,” Murgatroyd recalled. “And if we endorsed a product, it sold.”

This unique platform and multimarket penetration opened the door for many high-profile guests to visit the show. Comedians, entertainers, singers, actors and actresses all wanted to be part of it. Politicians looking to cast a wide net salivated for exposure to Braun’s loyal viewers.

“We had a regional network that spread across several cities,” Murgatroyd said. “And our regular viewers trusted us. So, when national politicians visited, they all wanted to be on the show.”

In 1968, the campaign to replace President Lyndon B. Johnson in the White House made an interview by Bob Braun ideal exposure for candidates. Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Sen. Eugene McCarthy, California Gov. Ronald Reagan and former Vice President Richard Nixon all appeared on “The Bob Braun Show.”

In years to come, presidents Gerald Ford,

Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush would all make appearances. From the south side of the Ohio River, Kentucky Govs. Julian Carroll and John Y. Brown Jr. would also be guests.

Murgatroyd was particularly fond of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, who appeared on “The Bob Braun Show” shortly after his election as governor of California.

“He stood out among the rest,” Murgatroyd said. “He had a presence unmatched by anyone else.”

Murgatroyd also remembered Humphrey as being particularly enthralled by the

Continues on page 8

Bob Braun. Photo provided | Kenton County Public Library archives

“If the people of Campbell, Kenton and Boone counties really get in there and work together, they can exert a lot of power.”

Gov. Louie Nunn

singing voice of one of Braun’s singers, an operatic soprano, Marian Spelman.

“Humphrey absolutely loved Marian.” Murgatroyd said, pausing before laughing. “But then again, who didn’t love her?”

Reagan’s July appearance on the show accentuated his commanding Hollywood persona. Kentucky Post and Times-Star reporter Clay Wade Bailey opined that if Richard Nixon stumbled at the Republican National Convention in Miami, Florida, the Kentucky delegation was likely to back the affable California governor. Kentucky Gov. Louie Nunn apparently understood Reagan’s appeal. Even though he was backing Nixon, Nunn held a lavish dinner for Reagan during the National Governors Association gathering in Cincinnati.

In Northern Kentucky, there was apparently very little support for the presidential candidate and New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. Whether by Nunn’s influence or the former vice president’s popularity, nearly all local Republican leaders supported Nixon.

Despite the backing of Kentucky’s two senators, it appeared that Rockefeller had a mere four of Kentucky’s 24 delegates to the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami.

The battle for Northern Kentucky Democratic convention presidential delegates was much more raucous.

When Johnson decided not to seek another term as president, his vice president, Humphrey, jumped in. The assassination of Bobby Kennedy left many torn over whom to support – Humphrey or the anti-war candidate, McCarthy.

As Kentucky Democrats readied for the local conventions used to nominate delegates to the district and state conventions, a dispute arose regarding what was known as “unit rule.” Simply put, the procedure was a winner-takes-all-process, which would cause the top vote-getter at any level of the Democratic convention to receive all the votes.

Humphrey supporters were in favor of unit rule, while McCarthy supporters opposed it. The divide was generational, pitting the Old Guard against the youthful “McCarthy Army.” The headline of the story describing the conflict said, “Novice Dems Battle Old Pros.”

Leading McCarthy’s Army into political battle was young Ed Winterberg of Erlanger. A 22-year-old law student and McCarthy supporter, Winterberg was opposed to the process.

“We would oppose the unit rule even if we win the majority of the delegates,” he said.

Future Kenton County District Judge Chaz Brannen was just out of law school and a McCarthy supporter. Brannen remembers it being a very frustrating time for young people opposed to the Vietnam War.

“Major cultural changes were taking place across the country,” Brannen said, “but they had not reached here (Northern Kentucky), yet. It was a stable community. We didn’t appreciate, until later, the changes taking place.”

On the other side of the Democratic candidate divide, lawyer Phil Taliaferro had just returned to Northern Kentucky from a stint in the Navy, where he had been deployed to Vietnam and the Philippines. He was chosen to be chair of Young Kentuckians for Humphrey. Even though he was

supporting the establishment candidate, Taliaferro confirmed the conflict in the local party.

“The local Democrat Party was very, very cliquish. And if you were in the clique, you were expected to keep your mouth shut.” He paused and laughed. “I had trouble keeping my mouth shut.”

Still, Taliaferro ended up on the side of the Old Guard.

“I thought McCarthy was too far left … too extreme,” he said. “Of course, I also thought a Nixon presidency was about the worst thing that could ever happen to this country. I was left with Humphrey.”

Prior to the local conventions, McCarthy made a stop at the Greater Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport and spoke to about 1,000 supporters about “peace abroad and justice at home.”

When the local conventions were held in Northern Kentucky, McCarthy won two districts, but the news focused on the 66th District convention that ended up electing two separate delegations to move on in the process. At the state convention, party leadership attempted to calm the McCarthy folks by offering to seat a handful of their delegates at the national convention. Many of McCarthy’s Army walked out of the convention in protest.

Even as politics and the war in Vietnam would soon collide on the streets of Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Northern Kentuckians were about to face an issue still being spoken of today –Newport’s steamy underbelly of gambling, prostitution and organized crime.

U.S. Sen. (and 1968 presidential hopeful) Eugene McCarthy holds a campaign rally at Greater Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport. Photo provided | Kenton County Public Library archives

How did NKY companies respond to supply chain issues brought on by pandemic?

BY KENTON HORNBECK | LINK nky BUSINESS REPORTER

Alabor force crunch. Rising costs. Geopolitical uncertainty. These pandemic-induced problems forced two of Northern Kentucky’s most vital economic sectors to adjust on the fly.

On July 11, logistics and manufacturing industry leaders from around the region gathered at Eggs ‘N Issues, a panel discussion hosted by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. They discussed how their businesses adapted to the radical circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and what they’re doing to acclimate their operations to better suit market demands.

The event’s featured panelists were Perfetti Van Melle North America CEO Sylvia Buxton, Verst Logistics President Todd Johnson and Kentucky Association of Manufacturers CEO Frank Jemley III.

Nationally, 72% of executives surveyed reported that the pandemic had a negative effect on their company, according to research conducted by global consulting firm Ernst & Young.

Their research also found that the pandemic exacerbated supply chain issues that previously existed. Companies were already integrating automation into their supply chain operations.

One of the pandemic’s negative effects was its damage to the Northern Kentucky labor pool.

“Previous to COVID, we would basically just hire people with prior manufacturing experience,” Buxton said. “They’re just not available.”

As a result, companies accelerated their investments in technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotic automation.

Ernst & Young’s research found that 92% of surveyed companies did not halt their technology investments during the pandemic. This highlights the important role of technology in responding to volatile supply chain conditions swiftly.

Buxton cited a maxim regarding Northern Kentucky’s future workforce often expressed by Janet Harrah, senior director at Northern Kentucky University’s Center for Economic Development, which states, “Your next generation of workers have already been born, and there aren’t enough of them.”

This line of thinking is shared among many of Northern Kentucky’s business leaders. Demographic drought, and the aforementioned pandemic labor force crunch, caused many regional companies to focus on technological investment.

“One of the things that we need to think about as far as business leaders is how we’re going to make sure that we can run our businesses effectively with staff or without them,” Buxton said. “So certainly, that brings into play a lot of the investments that we’ve been making in our facil-

ities, which is related to automation.”

So far, automation technology is oftentimes implemented into the operations of lower-level jobs, or what Johnson called “jobs that no one wants to do really anyway.”

“The warehousing and logistics side, there was some automation, but particularly the use of robots was unheard of,” Johnson said. “Now, it’s almost every major competitor in our industry has some form of robots out there picking orders — used to be a very human function.”

Johnson said this shift has caused manufacturers to upgrade those roles into “something more technical.” These roles require workers to have more advanced training.

Buxton said Perfetti Van Melle has adjusted its training programs to better serve new workers hired into these roles.

“We had to completely retool our training programs to be able to bring in nonmanufacturing-experienced folks — be able to train them with not only on-the-job learning but also technical training.”

Adequately communicating these roles to the current and next generations of workers is one way companies can potentially recover workers lost during the pandemic.

“A vocational and technical career is what America needs a whole lot of,” Jemley said. “It’s (communicating) a huge challenge, and we’ve got to do a much better job here in Kentucky.”

Coming out of the pandemic, Johnson thinks Northern Kentucky is well-positioned to grow its logistics and manufacturing sectors due to its industrial real estate market and the region’s road, rail and air networks.

“We’ve got lots of good infrastructure, and it’s grown remarkably over the last five years,” Johnson said.

Autonomous machines move packages at a Verst Logistics facility. Photo provided | Verst Logistics website

NKY exhibit highlights art of Asian American, Pacific Islander residents

exhibit is free and open to the public.

The library branch in Erlanger is the second stop on the exhibit’s statewide tour. The first stop was in Frankfort at the Capitol building. Created by a partnership between the Kentucky Arts Council, Asia Institute-Crane House and the Kentucky Chinese American Association, the exhibit initially honored Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.

DESERVE the best

Shay Spisak, Erlanger branch’s programmer, said the exhibit dovetailed nicely with the library’s summer reading program, called “Find Your Voice,” which provides a variety of learning and recreational activities for elementary school students throughout the summer.

Eriko Whittaker, Jefferson County resident and one of the showcased artists, on the Kentucky Arts Council’s website.

The works on display range in styles and techniques, with some committing to realistic depictions of nature and everyday life and others experimenting with open-ended forms and abstraction.

Several pieces also deal with political and social themes, such as the resurgence of racist attitudes against Asians and Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and the practice of Americans adopting babies from Asian countries.

The exhibit will continue until the last day of July. You do not need a library card at the Kenton County Public Library to view the artwork.

Police: Covington officer fatally shot

man ‘during a violent struggle’

Northern Kentucky residents can view artwork from Asian American and Pacific Islander Kentuckians at the Erlanger branch of the Kenton County Public Library during the month of July.

Called “Continent to Commonwealth,” the exhibit showcases the work of Kentuckians of Asian and Pacific Island descent, who submitted works in a variety of media. The

The arts council has not determined where the exhibit will go in August.

“As an Asian American, it is important for me to depict myself or other individuals who identify as Asian in my paintings as well, further pushing the notion that we belong to and are participating in our local communities while also retaining our greater Asian heritage and culture,” said

“I find empowerment through being able to fully own, celebrate and share my personal narrative through my art forms,” said Mahalia Xiaoqi, whose work is also showcased in the exhibit. “Too often in today’s world, I find myself or my experiences becoming intertwined or overwhelmed with narratives and retellings that others choose for me. Through my art, I reclaim what is and always has been wholly mine.”

Some even have poems and other text accompanying their pieces.

A man is dead after being shot by a Covington police officer, according to Kentucky State Police, who are investigating the incident.

KSP said the shooting happened around 12:20 p.m. on July 9.

The Erlanger branch of the Kenton County Public Library will feature the art exhibition “Continent to Commonwealth.” Photo provided | Google Maps

The scene of the shooting on July 9. Photo by Brandon Wheeler | LINK nky contributor

A man was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. A Covington officer was treated for minor scrapes, KSP said.

Covington police said the shooting happened around the 1900 block of Glenway in Covington, near 21st and 20th streets. Officers were called to a report of a suspicious person on Glenway Avenue at around 12:04 p.m. Sunday afternoon, according to a press release from Covington police.

“An officer located a suspect in the area and, during a violent struggle, the officer discharged his duty weapon,” reads the press release.

Some neighbors said they saw the man lunge at the officer after the officer tried to talk to him. One resident said she saw the man push the officer to the ground and appear to reach for the officer’s gun.

The officer involved has been placed under administrative leave pending KSP’s investigation.

Police are asking anyone who lives in the area to check surveillance cameras to see if any footage of the incident was captured. Those with information to report can call the department at 859-292-2222.

“Nothing like that happens around here,” said Mesha Richardson, who lives near the site of the shooting.

“Really just sad in general that that happened,” said another neighbor, Angela Lathrop.

TiER1 Performance acquires D.C.-based consulting firm

Northern Kentucky consulting firm TiER1 Performance is expanding its reach with the recent acquisition of Washington, D.C.based firm THRUUE, according to a press release from the company.

THRUUE describes itself as a culture, strategy and leadership consulting firm that works with CEOs, executives and boards of directors.

“We know the power that aligning culture and strategy has on an organization’s business performance, which is why we have always valued it in bringing strategy to life,” Greg Harmeyer, CEO of TiER1 Performance, said in the release. “We were attracted to THRUUE’s history of accelerating business results for clients.”

Founded by Daniel Patrick Forrester in 2012, the company has grown its client list to include the likes of Labcorp, AARP, Johns Hopkins Medicine, the American Society of Association Executives and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

From TiER1’s perspective, the acquisition increases its presence in Washington, D.C., and grows its workforce by 10 employees. TiER1 operates out of the RiverCenter in Covington.

Covington police searching for vehicle of interest in catalytic converter thefts

Covington police are asking for the public’s help in locating a vehicle of interest in a string of recent catalytic converter thefts.

Police said the problem is happening across Northern Kentucky, and Ludlow resident Lisa Mcnee has some firsthand experience. Mcnee said she knew something wasn’t right when she started her car to head to work one morning recently.

“I mean, it really sounded like a freight train driving down the street,” she said. “It’s also very violating. I mean, the car was parked right there, right in front of the house, and then when we find video and we see people, and we’re like, ‘That is very violating.’ ”

Mcnee and her family said their surveillance video shows the same car they saw on the Covington Police Department’s Facebook page.

Covington police said many of the thefts are happening overnight between 1 and 4 a.m.

“If anyone sees a vehicle like that kind of circling in an area, especially during those late-night hours, (we ask) that they report that to the police,” said Lt. Justin Bradbury of the Covington Police Department.

He said the thieves seem to be targeting Prius models and other hybrids.

“If you have one of these cars, you should definitely invest in some sort of security system or surveillance system so that may be you can catch what happens and see who it is that’s taking them,” Bradbury said.

Mcnee said while she is glad she and many on her street have security cameras to spot the thefts, she’s hoping police will catch the person responsible.

news from other places

Indiana opens South Korea business office to attract foreign investment

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Economic Development Corp. said the state has opened an office in Seoul, South Korea, to attract foreign investment to the state’s energy, electric vehicle and semiconductor sectors.

Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers said on July 11 that the new office “underscores the importance of the state’s deepening relationships with Korean companies and their increased interest in a dynamic Hoosier workforce and economy.”

The Indianapolis Business Journal reported that the office opened on July 1. Fourteen South Korea-based companies have operations in Indiana, while six Indiana-based businesses operate in the Asian nation. The Seoul office is the eighth overseas for the Indiana Economic Development Corp.

Threats of strike even before UAW began negotiations with automakers

set its sights on a more consequential goal: It’s determined to secure a foothold in the plants that will manufacture electric vehicle (EV) batteries in the years ahead.

As the industry undergoes a historic transition from internal combustion engines to EVs, the automakers will likely need many thousands of workers to staff electric-battery plants. The UAW sees this year’s contract as an opportunity to ensure representation in the industry’s jobs of the future.

Railroad industry sues to block limit on crew sizes imposed by Ohio after derailment

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The railroad industry has sued to block a new minimum crew-size requirement that Ohio imposed after a fiery train derailment in East Palestine in February. Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the new rule in March as part of the state’s nearly $13.5 billion state transportation budget. It mandated a two-person crew for freight trains.

The railroad industry said Ohio lacks the authority to impose such a rule. The Association of American Railroads filed the lawsuit on June 29. The association argued that federal law broadly gives federal agencies exclusive jurisdiction to regulate rail transportation.

Election on constitutional amendments in Ohio could impact abortion rights measure

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Early voting has begun in Ohio in a high-stakes Aug. 8 election on whether to make it tougher to amend the state constitution. Boards reported steady-to-robust first-day turnout on July 11.

Since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion was overturned last summer, amendments protecting access to abortion in other states have passed handily — but generally with less than 60% of the vote.

Ohio lawmaker accused of domestic violence, faces calls for resignation

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Republican Ohio Rep. Bob Young has been arrested and charged with domestic violence, accused of assaulting a family member.

According to court records, police say Young struck the person in the face on July 6 and threw her phone into a pool to prevent her from calling 911. Young appeared in court on July 8. He is subject to several protection orders, meaning he cannot be near or make contact with the person he allegedly assaulted.

Young’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and he could not be reached by phone. No lawyer has yet been listed on court documents for him. Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens has called for Young’s resignation.

Suspect arrested in Cleveland shooting that sent 9 to hospital, police say

CLEVELAND (AP) — Authorities say a suspect has been arrested in an early-morning shooting in a nightclub area of downtown Cleveland that sent nine people to the hospital.

Federal marshals and city police arrested the 25-year-old suspect in Lorain in the Cleveland suburbs just after 3:45 p.m. on July 11.

DETROIT (AP) — Whenever the United Auto Workers union begins negotiating a new contract with Detroit’s three automakers, threats of a strike are typically heard among union members. This year, the talk is a little louder.

Besides the usual haggling over wages, pensions and health care, the union has

If approved, Issue 1 would raise the threshold for passing constitutional changes from a simple majority, the standard in place since 1912, to a 60% supermajority. The higher bar would have immediate consequences for an abortion rights amendment in the works for fall.

Police are still searching for the weapon and investigating a motive. Police said the shooter opened fire on a group of people standing outside a bar in the Warehouse District shortly before 2:30 a.m. July 9, as the clubs were closing.

Seven men and two women between the ages of 23 and 38 were struck, but their injuries were non-life-threatening.

New vehicles sit in a parking lot waiting for transport at the former Fiat Chrysler Auto Plant, now owned by Stellantis, on July 10, in Belvidere. Ill. Contract talks began on July 13 between the United Auto Workers and automakers. UAW President Shawn Fain wants to halt any plant closings in the wake of Stellantis’ plan to shutter the factory. Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast | Associated Press

Learn more about nature with the Arboretum on Wheels

Enjoy ‘Art After Hours’ at Campbell County Library in Fort Thomas

Celebrate the end of summer reading with “Art After Hours” at the Carrico/Fort Thomas branch of the Campbell County Public Library from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, July 28.

Enjoy the fun, beauty of AJ Jolly Park? Snap it in a photo!

Tepe, also a member of the Ballyshannon faculty, teaches eighth-grade math.

Summer reading and summer learning continue on Wednesday, July 26, with The Book Bus on Tour: Arboretum on Wheels at the Alexandria Community Park. Yes, that’s right. Two opportunities at one stop. The Boone County Arboretum mobile environmental education lab brings nature-focused activities for families to enjoy. It will be at the park, along with the Campbell County Book Bus, from 10-11 a.m. Alexandria Community Park is located at 3965 Alexandria Drive in Alexandria. For more info, go to cc-pl.org (book bus) or bcarboretum.org (Arboretum on Wheels).

View the work of 16 regional artists while listening to music by the Ken Foltz Quintet. You can also sample macarons by Little Spoon Bakery & Café and enjoy floral arrangements by Fort Thomas Florist & Greenhouses. Selected works will be available for purchase. The event also offers opportunities to meet and connect with the artists.

While you’re there, don’t forget to cast your vote for the Tiny Art Show. Participants create artwork on 3-by-3-inch canvases, and attendees at Art After Hours can vote for the best overall work and the art with the best summer reading theme.

For more info, including ways you can contribute your own tiny art, visit cc-pl.org/ art-after-hours-2023. The branch is located at 1000 Highland Ave.

How do you spend time in AJ Jolly Park? The Campbell County Parks Department wants to know. It is on the lookout for photos from park-goers that show the many scenes and activities the park offers. Send in a photo of fun at the park for an opportunity to be featured on the park’s social media pages. Email photos and a brief description to parks@campbellcountyky.gov. AJ Jolly is located at 1501 Racetrack Road.

3 NKY educators win Teacher Achievement awards for 2024

The Kentucky Department of Education has announced its 2024 Teacher Achievement Award winners. Three Northern Kentucky teachers received the honors and are eligible for consideration for the 2024 Kentucky Teacher of the Year award to be announced in September.

Deanna Landrum is a K-8 library media specialist at Southgate Public School. Kevin Dailey teaches U.S. history at Ballyshannon Middle School in Boone County. Maegan

Got the acting bug? Falcon Theatre holding auditions for new season

Falcon Theatre has announced its upcoming season, with performances starting in August. The company also has announced that auditions for the upcoming season are open. Interested actors are invited to fill out an audition form and include a headshot and digital résumé to get started. In-person auditions follow, with cold readings from the script.

The theater officials note that the company practices open casting. In other words, “unless specified by the script, all actors of any race or gender are encouraged to audition for all roles.” With that said, each production has its own audition form. The site lists upcoming performances, open roles and the dates and times of in-person auditions and production dates.

For more on Falcon’s upcoming season, visit falcontheater.net. A link to audition information is found on the homepage. Falcon Theatre is located at 636 Monmouth St. in Newport.

The Arboretum on Wheels will meet the Campbell County Library Book Bus in Alexandria on July 26. Photo provided | Boone County Arboretum

Mainstrasse duplex is steps from dining options

Address: 806 Main St., Covington

Price: $485,000

Bedrooms: Three

Bathrooms: Two

Square feet: 2,200

School district: Covington Independent

County: Kenton

Special features: This duplex in Covington’s historic Mainstrasse neighborhood is only a few steps away from many of the area’s best dining and entertainment options and a short drive across the bridge to downtown Cincinnati. Live in one unit and rent the other for an additional income opportunity. Both units of the property include private entrances, off-street parking and in-unit laundry. The shared backyard space is fenced in and includes a pergola-covered patio.

This duplex property at Eighth and Main streets in Covington’s historic Mainstrasse neighborhood is steps from popular dining and entertainment. Photo provided | Christina Kasle with Pivot Realty Group

The backyard of the Covington duplex property in the heart of the city’s Mainstrasse entertainment district features a pergola-covered patio. Photo provided | Christina Kasle with Pivot Realty Group

Both units of this Covington duplex include in-unit laundry as well as off-street parking. Photo provided | Christina Kasle with Pivot Realty Group

LINK Streetscapes: Take the scenic route along Madison Pike

Powered by Merk and Gile, Injury Attorneys

PHOTOS AND STORY BY MARIA HEHMAN | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

Madison Pike seems to weave into every nook and cranny in the area and leads many to larger city hubs in NKY.

For this week’s Streetscapes, we’re taking the scenic route and heading in the opposite direction – away from the city to the country, where traffic is nonexistent and Kentucky hospitality is ingrained in each of these businesses. Come with us on a long, windy road as we explore the other side and streets off of Madison Pike.

Atwood Hill Winery

Truly tucked away off of Madison Pike hides one of the best places to spend a summer evening. Atwood Hill Winery is a taste of Tuscany in Kentucky. Atwood boasts not only some tasty wines but also beautiful views that guests may not have even known exist in the area. It’s a nice reminder that outside of the bustling cities, NKY still has the rolling hills that make this state famous.

At Atwood, there’s a tasting room with a large outdoor patio that overlooks the vineyard. A tasting here gives guests a

sample of five wines for $5. Even for those who don’t typically drink wine, it’s well worth a try. With dry, semi-sweet and fruit wines, this vineyard has a healthy selection to please all pallets.

For larger groups, you can also rent out the space. Depending on the party size, there are several options, all of which have breathtaking views of the stunning fields. From family gatherings to weddings, Atwood has the perfect setting to enhance the experience.

Crewitts Creek Kitchen and Bar

This family restaurant has a sports bar atmosphere with top-of-the-line home cooking, a match made in heaven. Before even entering, guests will notice this isn’t just a typical sports bar vibe; it specifically pays homage to the Kentucky Wildcats. Although the owners support Cincinnati sports, as well, their dedication to UK sports makes this one of the most fun spots to catch a college basketball game.

Much of the menu is Southern-style, but there’s hardly anything it doesn’t cover. It runs the gamut – from burgers to sandwiches and salads – and features creations one could only dream of. A new Elvis burger, with peanut butter, fried plantains and bacon, is something guests need to taste to believe.

Crewitts also has an entire menu dedicated to Madison Pike, with culinary options of Mexican, Greek and American fare. It truly has something for everyone.

Crewitts may be most famous for its macand-cheese menu, the epitome of quality home cooking and creativity.

With a menu this large and diverse,

guests could come every day and order something new. The restaurant also features specials that never even make it onto the menu. Its social media is the best way to stay up to date on all the delicious offerings.

For guests who want a break from the TVs, there’s an outside patio perfect for having one final beer before sunset.

Log Cabin Inn

For those who truly want to experience an escape from the city, there’s no better place for cheap, quality country food than the Log Cabin Inn.

As the name implies, the restaurant is built into an old log cabin, which is evident as soon as you see the exterior. The interior has modern touches for functionality but still pays homage to the history of the building. Although it serves lunch and dinner, breakfast is an all-day affair. Its offerings are among the best on the menu, even at 3 p.m.

If you’re craving something not from the griddle, Log Cabin Inn offers a traditional Kentucky hot brown and Southern staples of fried green tomatoes and frog legs.

Although many come for the ambiance of sitting inside the log cabin admiring the history, there’s also an outdoor patio for guests who just can’t leave the sunshine. I almost always opt to sit outside whenever possible at restaurants, but this would be the one time I highly recommend sitting inside. The ambiance is so unlike anything in this area that it truly takes guests a step back in time. Log Cabin Inn even has the original stairs still intact for patrons to view. It’s truly one of the best hidden gems in Northern Kentucky.

Have a street, city or business you want to see covered next? Email Maria Hehman at mchehman@gmail.com and it could be featured on the next installment of LINK Streetscapes.

What to Know If You Go:

Atwood Hill Winery

Location: 1716 Spillman Road, Morning View

Hours: Monday-Thursday, closed; Friday, 5-9 p.m.; Saturday, 1-9 p.m.; Sunday, 1-6 p.m.

Phone: 859-356-1936

Website: https://atwoodhillwinery. com

Crewitts Creek Kitchen and Bar

Location: 2037 Centennial Blvd., Independence

Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday-Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Phone: 859-359-5121

Website: https://crewittscreek.com

Log Cabin Inn

Location: 322 Madison Pike, Covington

Hours: Monday-Sunday 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Phone: 859-356-9141

Fruit wine and a sunset at Atwood Hill Winery add up to a picture-perfect evening.

One of the stunning views from Atwood Hill Winery.

New ads, big spending in Kentucky governor’s race: ‘He’s got my vote this time around’

BY MARK PAYNE | LINK nky POLITICS & GOVERNMENT REPORTER

Anew ad from Gov. Andy Beshear’s campaign hit the airwaves recently, featuring a Republican who didn’t vote for the Kentucky governor in 2019 but is planning to this time.

Beshear’s campaign is spending big this week, but so is a PAC supporting his opponent, Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

In Beshear’s new ad, Jim, a Republican small-business owner, opens the ad saying that he’s worked in Kentucky his whole life and there are more jobs now than he’s ever seen in the state.

“Gov. Beshear’s been great for business,” Jim says in a small library before he appears on screen with Beshear as they converse in front of heavy machinery. “The magnitude of industries that’s come to southern Kentucky — companies are coming in, and there’s so many job opportunities.”

On the bottom third of the screen, headlines from state newspapers highlight the state’s low unemployment rate and other strong economic indicators — something Beshear is quick to take credit for in his weekly press conferences. The Republican Legislature also takes credit for the state’s economic success.

State Budget Director John Hicks released numbers this week that show the state with a $1.4 billion budget surplus — the third one in a row — though those numbers are helped by record windfalls from COVID-19 pandemic funds from the federal government.

In a gubernatorial election year, however, Beshear will continue to take credit for the state’s financial windfalls, and the latest ad shows support from across the political aisle regarding the economy.

“I’m a Republican,” Jim says in the ad. “I did not support Andy Beshear the first time.

He’s got my vote this time around.”

Beshear’s campaign spent $330,000 for the week of July 11 to the 17, according to Medium Buying, which tracks ad spending for political races.

A political action committee supporting Beshear through the Democratic Governors Association, Defending Bluegrass Values, went dark that same week for the first time since May.

Two PACs supporting Cameron — Bluegrass Freedom Action and Kentucky Values, which is affiliated with the Republican Governors Association — also spent big during the week of July 9-15 to fill the airwaves.

Bluegrass Freedom Action, which is mostly funded through a dark money group called The Concord Group that was previously known as the Judicial Crisis Network, spent $380,000 on a new ad that tries to tie Beshear to President Joe Biden.

A dark money group is a 501 (c)(4), or a social welfare organization; that designation allows them not to report who donates money.

Kentucky Values placed $292,000 in ad spending in June.

The ad opens with a picture of Biden and

Beshear, with Vice President Kamala Harris in the background, set in front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

“Andy Beshear backs Joe Biden’s failing agenda,” the ad says. “But, what about Beshear’s own far-left record?”

The ad then lists what it calls a partisan takeover of Kentucky schools, which is a reference to Beshear’s actions to change the Kentucky Board of Education when elected in 2019 — something that’s no longer possible under a new Kentucky law passed in 2021. The ad then says he packed the board with his political donors. Further, it says, Beshear allowed the release of 1,900 convicts.

Spending from both camps has already hit nearly $7 million in the general election, according to Medium Buying.

Beshear’s campaign has spent $2.5 million, and the Defending Bluegrass Values PAC, affiliated with the Democratic Governors Association, has spent nearly $2.1 million.

The two PACs supporting Cameron have also spent big so far this year. Kentucky Values has spent $1.97 million, and Bluegrass Freedom Action has spent $380,000 overall.

Daniel Cameron, left, and Andy Beshear. Photos provided | Cameron and Beshear campaigns

Steczynski’s Dixie Heights journey awakens memories for coach

BY MARC HARDIN | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

Leadoff-hitting shortstop Ella Steczynski brought back a lot of fun, sepia-toned memories for Dixie Heights coach Sarah Osborne last month. Steczynski was named Northern Kentucky Softball Coaches Association Division I player of the year 18 years after the coach was similarly honored.

“Ella brought that recognition back to Dixie Heights,” Osborne said. “We’ve had some of the same experiences.”

To say the least.

Osborne thought of Steczynski’s humble beginnings with the team as a seventh-grade emergency catcher. She pondered just how far her only 2023 senior had come to be considered the best among her softball peers. As one of many coincidences would have it, Osborne forged her way at Dixie Heights as a catcher.

“It’s been hard for me to put a seventh-grader in the starting lineup. We want them to get that hunger first,” Osborne said. “But our catcher got hurt when Ella was a seventh-grader, and I put Ella back there. She was tiny back then, going up against an Ohio team with freshmen and up. She wound up making a play at the plate.

“As a former catcher, it was a scary moment, but she made a great defensive play. When we needed Maggie Fields in the outfield, we moved her from shortstop and put Ella at short. The rest is history.”

A history very similar to Osborne’s.

The coach hearkened back to a time when she was considered the area’s best when known as Sarah Gronefeld.

“I had a lot of fun when we were successful back when I was a player,” said Osborne, a 2005 Dixie Heights graduate. “And we had a lot of fun this season.”

Steczynski’s stellar senior year is nearly without peer in the program’s rich history. You have to go all the way back to when Osborne was a senior for a similarly seismic all-around season at Dixie Heights.

Steczynski hit .473 and led the Colonels with 56 runs scored during a remarkably efficient effort for the 9th Region tournament runners-up. She had 15 stolen bases in 15 attempts and struck out twice in 130 plate appearances while putting together a .538 on-base percentage. She made one fielding error in 176 chances.

“She was the foundation of our team, and we built around her,” Osborne said. “When Ella got on base, the chances that we were going to win increased substantially. That’s why we put her at lead-off. She hit third as a junior.”

Steczynski’s previous-season batting averages were .457 as a junior and a rare .531 mark as a sophomore.

Osborne hit .423 as a junior for the 2005 9th region champion Colonels and .541 as a sophomore, becoming the first player in Dixie Heights history to hit at least .500 in a season.

Both former catchers hit over .500 as sophomores? What are the chances of that happening? Well, the similarities don’t end there.

Gronefeld, the first player in Dixie Heights history named first-team all-state in 2004

and 2005, was named firstteam all-Northern Kentucky three times.

Steczynski also was named first-team all-Northern Kentucky three times.

There’s more.

While Steczynski was gearing up for softball in the spring, she was playing for the Dixie Heights girls basketball team during the winter. She was named a Northern Kentucky Girls Basketball Coaches Association Division I all-star as a senior.

Osborne was also a two-sport standout. While bashing the ball on the diamond for Dixie, Osborne was also splashing a path in the pool for the Colonels’ successful swimming team.

It’s almost as though Steczynski and Osborne lived in parallel universes 18 years apart.

Osborne continued her softball career at a smaller nearby Kentucky school when she went on to play at Georgetown College.

Steczynski is heading to smaller nearby Transylvania University to play softball.

“She’s a great athlete, obviously, playing well in both softball and basketball. But she works very hard. And she’s a smart athlete,” Osborne said of Steczynski. “She has a special connection with basketball because of her dad (Dixie girls basketball coach Joel Steczynski), but I feel like softball has always been her sport. She’s a winner in both.”

Here’s a comment former Colonels softball coach Dean Fookes made about Osborne in 2005 when Osborne was named a LaRosas’s MVP.

“Sarah is a champion. Her work ethic in the classroom as well as the athletic field is second to none,” Fookes said. “She has a passion for the fast-pitch game that few other players experience.”

Those are very similar coach appraisals, 18 years apart.

But Osborne insists Ella Steczynski is not Osborne reincarnated. Steczynski’s height is 5 feet, 8 inches. Osborne is 5-3.

“She’s a basketball player,” Osborne said. “We did have the conversation among the softball coaches that Ella could also play basketball at Transy, if she wanted to. I don’t think I could have done that.”

Dixie Heights’ Ella Steczynski was selected as the NKSCA Division I Player of the Year. Photo provided | Bob Jackson

Kentuckians can start betting on sports in less than 50 days

In less than 50 days, Kentuckians will be able to make their first sports bets in the state.

Retail locations are set to open on Thursday, Sept. 7, and mobile applications launch on Thursday, Sept. 28. Florence’s Turfway Park is among the 15 eligible locations for sports betting, according to the governor’s office.

The announcement came after a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission meeting, where members unanimously approved emergency administrative regulations that will govern sports wagering.

Gov. Andy Beshear immediately signed the regulations at the Red Mile Racetrack in Lexington.

Beginning July 11, each of Kentucky’s licensed horse racing facilities were permitted to apply for a retail sportsbook at their main location or at a licensed satellite location. The state anticipates that each facility

will open a retail location.

Other eligible locations can be found at governor.ky.gov.

Each licensed facility will also be permitted to partner with up to three marketing platforms for mobile wagering, which launches on Sept. 28.

Boone County youth fall flag football league registration now open

Flag Football Fanatics registration for the fall is open for potential participants residing in Florence, Union and Burlington.

Find registration information at playfanatics.com. The league is offering co-ed play for participants age 4 and older.

Organizers say the activity provides a safe and positive football atmosphere – adding the game of football provides unique opportunities for children to grow both emotionally and physically. For more information, call 859-449-3456.

Baseball coach Coleman steps down at Walton-Verona after successful eight-year run

Clint Coleman said he consistently talked about priorities in the preseason meetings with the Walton-Verona Bearcats baseball team.

Coleman said he made it clear his relationship with God is his top priority, then family, with everything else falling underneath that. Recently, Coleman said his son wished he’d come watch him and his team play more. That led to Coleman’s decision to step down as the head baseball coach of the Bearcats.

“Certainly during baseball season, baseball takes high priority. But it never replaces the relationship with God and with my family,” Coleman said. “While I’m stepping down

NOTICE TO BOONE COUNTY TAXPAYERS

from coaching high school baseball, I am looking forward to shifting my priorities from the little bit higher level to the lower level of baseball and just putting more time and effort with (my son) and his team.”

Coleman came on staff as an assistant in 2001 before taking over the program in 2016. He served as head coach for eight seasons, including the 2020 season that the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out.

“It’s one of those things where everyone looks at wins and losses and always thinks about those things,” said Kyle Bennett, Walton-Verona director of athletics. “He had such a major impact on all the kids he coached. You cannot find a better person. That’s the God’s honest truth. He’s a great human being. The things they did on and off the field – he’s been nothing but firstclass.”

The Bearcats finished 139-72-3 in Coleman’s tenure as head coach. Walton-Verona made the 8th Region Tournament six times, including back-to-back trips to the region semis the past two seasons. His tenure also included a 32nd District championship in 2021.

I, Justin Crigler, Boone County Clerk, pursuant to KRS 424.130, announce that the following is a list of the 2022 Delinquent Real Property Tax Bills (Certificates of Delinquency). The list of Certificates of Delinquency is also available for public inspection during the hours of 8:30am – 4:30pm at the Boone County Clerk’s office located at 2950 East Washington Street. Burlington, KY 41005. This list may also be inspected on the Boone County Clerk’s website at www.boone.countyclerk.us. The tax sale will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, beginning at 7:30 am. All interested participants must register with the Boone County Clerk’s office starting Tuesday, August 8, 2023, and ending by the close of business on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. Please go to www.boone.countyclerk.us if you need additional information about the tax sale registration process and/or the required registration fees. Taxpayers can continue to pay their delinquent tax bills to the Boone County Clerk’s office any time prior to the tax sale. Please contact the County Clerk’s office prior to making payment as amounts listed in this ad are subject to change. Please Note: All payments MUST BE cash, certified funds, or credit cards after July 15, 2023. All payments must be received in the Boone County Clerk’s office prior to the tax sale date listed above. Payments received for bills that were sold during the tax sale, will be returned. Some delinquencies – although they have been advertised – will be excluded from the tax sale in accordance with the provisions of KRS 134.504(10)(b).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Boone County Clerk’s office at 859-334-3624.

Walton-Verona head baseball coach Clint Coleman talks to the team during the season. Photo provided | Pete Coleman

2022 DELINQUENT REAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS

2022 DELINQUENT REAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS

2022 DELINQUENT REAL PROPERTY TAX BILLS