LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 1, Issue 35 - July 28, 2023

One last adventure (before summer ends)

‘Dark money’ group joins health care fight

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NKwhy?: How our bridges earned their names

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Pit stops off the beaten path to Big Bone Lick

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PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Mark Collier

MANAGING EDITOR Meghan Goth

PRINT EDITOR Kaitlin Gebby

SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison

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One last adventure (before summer ends)

BY SHANNON PAUL | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

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

on the cover

An illustrated map of the TriState area. Illustration by James Robertson | LINK nky contributor

With the end of summer and the start of another school year on the horizon, many Northern Kentuckians may be looking to squeeze the last bit of joy out of the vacation season. Whether they’re short on patience, or cash — having spent the bulk of their travel budget on Taylor Swift tickets — NKY residents live near unique road trip destinations within a fivehour drive. Getting away for one short road trip before the end of summer is not only doable, but also advisable.

Maysville, Kentucky

Maysville was recently voted No. 1 by USA Today for “Best Small Town in the South” for 2023. This city proves it’s possible to spend just one hour on the road to feel like a tourist. Maysville is home to two historic districts: its downtown district, chock full of architectural inspiration, restaurants, res-

idences, artisan boutiques and galleries; and Old Washington, a well-preserved early American settlement that has connections to Daniel Boone and George Washington.

Maysville is also where actress Rosemary Clooney got her start and where George and Amal Clooney are said to still visit. Clooney even debuted his movie “Leatherheads” in downtown Maysville’s Opera Theater in 2008. The quaint locale also has a fairness ordinance, which has been on the books since 2018 and prohibits discrimination in accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, making it a preferred destination for families with LGBTQ+ members.

The Old Washington historic district is a 1780s frontier village, consisting of historic log cabins and other early U.S. architecture. Old Washington is noted to have had the

first postal station and waterworks system west of the Allegheny mountains and includes the Harriet Beecher Stowe Slavery to Freedom Museum. It’s a place where the rapid evolution of architecture in the United States can be studied in the span of a few city blocks. Old Washington guided tours are offered seasonally through November. Make sure to add extra time to your visit to explore the neighborhood’s shops and galleries, or sit down for lunch at the eclectic LilJumbo cafe – a spot loved by locals for its coffee, brunch and pizza.

Maysville’s Kentucky Gateway Museum Center is home to the world’s second-largest museum-quality miniatures exhibit, as well as the Old Pogue experience and gift shop. At Old Pogue, guests can taste bourbon and tour the bourbon history gallery to learn about the pre-Prohibition heyday of bourbon-making in Mason County. A short

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The Old Pogue Experience at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center offers education on the origins of bourbon and tastings of Old Pogue Master’s Select and Old Maysville Club rye. James Robertson | LINK nky

drive from the museum is the distillery itself, which is one of the only pre-Prohibition distilleries still in operation. Tour the facility and visit the Pogue family home, a family estate overlooking the Ohio River where it all began.

Tours of The Old Pogue Distillery are by appointment only. Bourbon lovers may also enjoy a visit to Kenton Stories with Spirit, a local bar and restaurant that boasts over 50 bourbons from distilleries across Kentucky.

No trip to Maysville is complete without a stop for breakfast downtown at the Parc Café. The gorgeous little café was modeled after one of the first cafes in France, according to Parc Cafe chef Amy Fry. Visitors should note the popular breakfastand-brunch spot is only open from 7 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday, so plan accordingly. Get your fill and explore the town, or get your nature fix down the road at Cummins Nature Preserve. The 110-acre recreation area is less than a 10-minute drive from downtown and offers great hiking all year round and primitive camping options March through November.

Here are some other great small-town destinations, all within a five-hour drive or less.

Horse Cave, Kentucky

Horse Cave is a town that was literally built on a cave and is only a 15-minute drive from Mammoth Cave National Park. The cave the town was built on, Hidden River Cave, is located in the heart of the city’s downtown. Visit the Historic Hidden River Kentucky Cave and American Cave Museum and enjoy Kentucky’s Best Burger at Five Broke Girls restaurant. Kentucky Living magazine selected the burger at Five Broke Girls as the state’s best in 2022.

Berea, Kentucky

Home to Berea College and the Artisan Center, which is dedicated to celebrating and preserving traditional Appalachian crafts, Berea offers a plethora of gallery and shopping experiences. Visitors can search for one-of-a-kind items like locally crafted pottery, jewelry, paintings, wooden crafts and more. Berea is also home to the Berea Pinnacles, recognized in 2019 by Outside magazine as the best hike in Kentucky. Check the events calendar for upcoming

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house. Photo provided | Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

Downtown Maysville’s Parc Cafe serves breakfast and brunch six days a week in a beautiful French-style cafe setting. James Robertson | LINK nky

A sign outside the entrance of the Ohio River Valley Artists Guild located in the historic Old Washington neighborhood of Maysville. James Robertson | LINK nky

festivals, like the upcoming Spoonbread Festival in September.

Marietta, Ohio

The city of Marietta is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers near the West Virginia border and is the oldest city in Ohio, making it a great place to learn all about the westward expansion of the United States while taking in a lot of architectural and natural beauty. Guided trolley tours are offered, as well as ghost tours that depart Friday and Saturday evenings from the fountain near the Lafayette Hotel. There are also several museums and historic homes to take in, in addition to the Marietta River Trail and Marietta Trail Network that leads to miles of off-road hiking and mountain biking options. When you’re finished exploring, enjoy a local beer from the Marietta Brewing Co.

Put-in-Bay, Ohio

Known as the Key West of the North, Putin-Bay is an island just north of Sandusky, Ohio, and the popular Cedar Point amusement park. Take the ferry from Sandusky to the island, visit the Butterfly House and Put-in-Bay or Heineman’s wineries. Golf cart rentals are common and the vehicle of choice for getting around. Put-in-Bay is home to many attractions, including the South Bass Island Lighthouse, Perry’s Cave and the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society.

Nashville, Indiana

Nashville, Indiana, is a beloved weekend getaway for many in the region, known as an artists community and the center of the Brown County Art Colony, with plenty of unique shops and galleries as well as wineries, distilleries and entertainment. See a show at the Brown County Playhouse

and Performing Arts Center, and dine at Big Woods at Hard Truth or Artists Colony Restaurant. Nashville is also home to Brown County State Park, nicknamed the “Little Smokies” in reference to its resemblance to the Great Smoky Mountains. A host of camping and lodging options exists, including log cabins and hotels as well as many short-term rentals on Airbnb and VRBO.

Mill Run, Pennsylvania

Mill Run is home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house, which is now a National Historic Landmark. Tours and educational workshops of the architect’s most iconic home are offered year-round. The American Institute of Architects declared Fallingwater as the “best all-time work of American architecture.”

The surrounding Bear Run Nature Reserve offers hiking, backcountry camping, hunt-

ing and fishing opportunities. Fans of Fallingwater and Wright’s work can also take the trip a few miles down the road to Chalk Hill, Pennsylvania, to tour another example of his work at Kentuck Knob. Adventurous travelers can get their fix at Pennsylvania’s Ohiopyle State Park, which encompasses over 20,500 acres of rugged terrain and is known for its whitewater rafting on the Youghiogheny River.

Saugatuck, Michigan

Saugatuck is recognized for its beaches on the beautiful coast of Lake Michigan, its sand dunes and golf. Enjoy surf and sand at Oval Beach; take an off-road adventure and enjoy the ATV trails around Saugatuck Dunes; and visit the galleries, shops and restaurants on Butler Street – Saugatuck’s main thoroughfare. Visitors can also enjoy a round of golf at Clearbrook or Ravines golf clubs nearby.

NKY's Premier Dining Destination

The Old Pogue exhibit at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center in Maysville, Kentucky. Photo provided | Kentucky Gateway Museum Center

Member artist of the Ohio River Valley Artists Guild, Michael Dickman. James Robertson | LINK nky

National conservative ‘dark money’ group joins fight over certificate of need in Kentucky

BY MARK PAYNE | LINK nky GOVERNMENT & POLITICS REPORTER

Anational libertarian-leaning conservative group known for its connections to the Koch brothers and their “dark money” network is weighing in on the certificate of need debate, which is expected to heat up in Kentucky over the ensuing months as some seek to repeal or reform the decadeslong program.

The Koch brothers, David and Charles, controlled Koch Industries, an energy conglomerate based in Wichita, Kansas. David Koch died in August 2019. His brother Charles still leads the organization. The brothers spent their vast fortune on libertarian causes, specifically through the use of dark money, which is a term describing a group that does not have to disclose its donors.

Both sides of the argument — those seeking to reform or repeal certificate of need and the health care groups in favor of keeping it — have spent large sums of money lobbying Congress and the Kentucky Legislature in 2023, so the issue could impact election and lobbying spending in Kentucky for the foreseeable future.

Speaking in Florence in mid-July, representatives from Americans for Prosperity, which waged a similar campaign in South Carolina against certificate of need — the program that dictates who provides specific health care services in a given area — told audience members that it’s one of their key policy issues.

“Certificate of need is a hot-button issue here in Northern Kentucky, as it has been in all the states that it happened,” said Liam Gallagher, the grassroots engagement director for Americans for Prosperity Kentucky.

Gallagher noted that the group fought a 10year battle in South Carolina, and it recently passed a full repeal of certificate of need.

“That’s what we’re hoping to do here in Kentucky,” Gallagher said.

In Northern Kentucky, the discussion over certificate of need reform has moved into the mainstream, with legislators filing bills this past legislative session that either would reform or repeal the program altogether.

One of those legislators, Rep. Marianne

Proctor, R-Union, spoke at the Americans for Prosperity event on July 18. Proctor, a freshman legislator, said that certificate of need reform is her passion, and she wants competition for health care in the area.

Originally from Texas — “…but don’t worry, we come out of the womb with the Bible and a rifle” — Proctor noted that there was no certificate of need when she worked as a speech pathologist in the Lone Star state.

“To have competition always breeds excellence,” Proctor said. “The hospital that I worked with was top three nationwide for all the years that I worked there.”

The legislation that Proctor filed in the spring would allow any health care provider to operate in the three northernmost counties — Boone, Campbell and Kenton — without first requiring a certificate of need. In other words, it would fully repeal the certificate of need for the region.

“What I’m looking to do is reduce the amount of services that are regulated by the certificate of need,” Proctor said earlier this year. “In Kentucky, we have 23 regulations that require permission from the state to open, such as ambulatory care services, dialysis centers, substance abuse, mental health services.”

The legislation specifically targeted NKY because some think that St. Elizabeth Healthcare holds a monopoly over health care in the region. The organization argues that it legally is not a monopoly but,

Americans for Prosperity, a libertarian conservative group, is funded by brothers Charles and the late David Koch, seen here speaking at an American Dream Summit in 2013. Photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack | Associated Press

instead, has been designated to have dominant health care status.

St. Elizabeth CEO Garren Colvin said that when the hospital group merged with St. Luke in the mid-2000s, it went through an analysis with the federal government to determine there weren’t any anti-trust issues.

“So as far as the status of monopoly, there is no monopoly,” Colvin said.

According to Kentucky’s state health plan, certificates are issued by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and there are currently 21 medical services that require certificates of need.

In the Northern Kentucky counties of Boone, Campbell and Kenton, there are 109 certificates of need, and St. Elizabeth holds nine of them.

Regarding hospitals, it holds four of the NKY counties’ seven total certificates, for St. Elizabeth Florence, St. Elizabeth Ft. Thomas, St. Elizabeth Edgewood and St. Elizabeth Covington.

Dean Clancy, the senior health policy fellow for Americans for Prosperity, said that

it sounds like semantics, and if it “looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it is a duck.”

“If there is a dominant player in these parts that lacks sufficient competition, then we should call it what it is,” Clancy said.

Clancy, who lives in Florida but works in Washington, D.C., is no stranger to the health care industry. He has more than 20 years of experience working on policy in Congress, the White House and within the industry, according to his bio from Americans for Prosperity. He also regularly pens op-eds about health care issues.

“Local health care monopolies are a problem all over the country, not just in Kentucky,” Clancy said. “We are trying to repeal certificate of need and enact other reforms that will basically put patients in charge. We’re very excited by this effort here in Kentucky, and we look forward to seeing it succeed and replicating it around the country.”

Clancy joined Americans for Prosperity three years ago.

Known for its connection to the Koch brothers, the organization was born in the

early 2000s and became one of the driving forces behind the Tea Party Movement, which advocates for limited government and has 35 state chapters.

“We have a stated policy position in every single one of our states against certificate of need,” Gallagher said.

The group also spends big when it comes to policy and supporting limited government issues. So far this year, it has spent $507,000 on total lobbying expenditures to Congress, according to the campaign finance website OpenSecrets. It spent $1,463,000 in 2022.

The network with the Koch brothers also includes the Americans for Prosperity Action Super PAC and the Americans for Prosperity Foundation.

The super PAC spent nearly $80 million in the 2022 midterms, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

As a 501(C)(4), Americans for Prosperity is not required to disclose its donors. The group can’t donate directly to candidates, however, and can only operate for the “promotion of social welfare.” As part of that classification, it also can’t spend more than

50% of its budget on politics. Regarding groups supporting health care in Kentucky, the Kentucky Medical Association spent $98,182, and the Kentucky Hospital Association spent $95,946 lobbying the Kentucky Legislature during the first quarter of 2023, according to the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission.

Colvin thinks that Kentuckians should be the ones making health care policies for Kentuckians.

“I think the people in Kentucky should be making the health care policy for the state of Kentucky, and I trust that our legislators in Frankfort will do what’s right,” Colvin said.

Americans for Prosperity Kentucky now has six full-time and 20 part-time employees in Kentucky who are dedicated to fighting for their policy positions — this includes certificate of need, which is one of its top priorities.

“It is one of our priority initiatives in the scope of this session,” Gallagher said. “It will be for the foreseeable future until we see repeal.”

Development of former Willie’s Sports Cafe site in Covington hits roadblock

BY NATHAN GRANGER | LINK nky KENTON COUNTY REPORTER

ACovington homeowner has challenged a zoning change that would allow for the development of townhomes at the former site of Willie’s Sports Cafe in Covington.

The Kenton County Planning Commission recommended a zoning change for the land at its meeting on June 1. After a county resident appealed the approval, the zoning request went before the Covington Board of Commissioners, who did a first reading and heard public comments on the potential change at their legislative meeting on July 18.

The matter came before the Covington commissioners at the previous week’s caucus meeting, where City Attorney David Davidson discussed the issue with the board members.

Located along Crescent and Western avenues, the land is owned by Corporex, which purchased it in 2017 before demolishing the building that housed Willie’s the following year.

The land is mostly vacant, with only a parking lot and the skeleton of the old restaurant, which closed in 2014, occupying the space. Corporex hopes to build 25 townhomes divided between four buildings on the land.

At the planning commission meeting in June, people from the neighborhood came out to speak either for or against the development. Opinions were mixed. Some residents were pleased to have something other than the ruins of an old building on the

site, but others expressed concerns about parking and the potential for the townhomes to block their hilltop view.

Chad Conrad, who submitted the appeal for the zoning change, spoke against the development at the meeting.

“My concern is more the height of the building,” Conrad said, adding that if the current residents lost their view, it could affect their property values. Other residents at the meeting expressed similar concerns.

For his part, Davidson recommended that the commissioners approve the zoning change based on the opinions of the professional staff at both the county and the city.

“Our suggestion, and staff’s suggestion, is that you approve it based on the record that has been provided from the planning commission,” Davidson said.

Several members of the Covington Board of Commissioners had questions about the development, which were fielded by Corporex attorney Greg Scheper.

Commissioner Tim Downing asked Scheper about Conrad’s concerns, and Scheper affirmed that Conrad was worried about losing his view.

Commissioner Nolan Nicaise asked about land slippage along the road, which has occurred in an area near the development. City Manager Ken Smith said that particular area of land slippage wouldn’t affect this development, but Nicaise had follow-up questions.

“If there are condos there, that would make such a slippage of Western (Avenue) more difficult to access and repair,” Nicaise said. “Is this something that we are concerned about as a city?”

“It would be catastrophic, I suppose, to the development,” Smith said. “So I’m fairly confident Corporex would install a foundation system, a footer system that would prevent that from happening.”

Finally, Nicaise had a question about the height of one of the proposed buildings and the methods that Corporex used to determine it, given how sloped the hillside was.

The Kenton County Planning Commission members also asked county staff members about this at their meeting in June. The method and written rationale for how the developers ascertained the height was opaque.

“The building height is to be measured as the vertical distance measured from the average elevation of the finished grade, adjoining the building at the front of the building to the average height level between eaves and ridges of the gable,” said the county staff member at the June 1 meeting.

“I’m an engineer, and I’m not sure I understood that,” Kenton County Planning Com-

The developers used an averaging formula to estimate how tall the buildings would end up.

One building exceeded the maximum 35 feet allowed by the city’s neighborhood development code by 4 inches, so Corporex requested that the planning commission grant it an exception.

The county concluded that the extra 4 inches would not threaten the neighborhood’s safety or character and recommended allowing the exception.

None of the commissioners objected to adding the zoning change to the board’s docket for a first reading at their next meeting on July 18 at Covington City Hall on Pike Street. That meeting included a segment for public comment.

The city has made available documents related to the development through its website, cityofcovington.gov.

missioner Greg Sketch replied.

A rendering of the prospective townhomes. Produced by Corporex & Reztark. Image provided | Kenton County Planning Commission

NKwhy?: How our local bridges earned their names

BY MAGGY MCDONEL | LINK nky DIGITAL EDITOR

With Cincinnati just across the river, many Northern Kentuckians traverse one of the bridges that span the divide each day for work.

In Campbell County, 37% of workers cross state lines for work. That number is 27% in Kenton and 18% in Boone, according to the Northern Kentucky Atlas.

Even those without jobs across the river travel back and forth to restaurants, bars and shops, to visit friends and family and even to watch sports and place bets.

Needless to say, the bridges that cross the divide into Cincinnati get a lot of traffic.

For those from the Greater Cincinnati area, you know the names of each of the bridges by heart – sometimes maybe not by the official name, but a name nonetheless.

This made us wonder: Where do their names come from?

Brent Spence Bridge

Working left to right as we look into Ohio, let’s start with the Brent Spence Bridge. The Brent Spence, often shortened to BSB, is a very popular item of discussion on both sides of the river and has been for decades.

It has gained national recognition in the past few years after it closed in 2020 for about six weeks when a truck carrying chemicals was involved in a wreck with another semitruck, causing a fire in the middle of the bridge.

President Joe Biden even stopped by earlier this year to tout the $1.6 billion in federal funding being promised to create an entirely new companion bridge, which will carry much of the traffic that the 60-yearold bridge currently carries.

Originally opened in November 1963, the double-decker structure carries travelers on Interstates 71/75 from Covington into downtown Cincinnati and vice versa. The bridge’s namesake is Kentucky’s longest-serving congressman, Brent Spence.

Spence was a native of Newport who was both an attorney and banker. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, the Democratic congressman was in office from 1931 to 1963.

Clay Wade Bailey Bridge

Right next to the Brent Spence sits the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge, which carries U.S. Routes 42 and 127 over the Ohio River. This small bridge mainly carries local traffic, avoiding much of the craziness on the Brent Spence.

Built in 1974 for $13.5 million, the bridge gets its moniker from a Kentucky Post reporter. Clay Wade Bailey spent much of his 46-year reporting career as a Frankfort correspondent.

John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge

This historic bridge has spanned the great Ohio River for over 150 years, bringing car and pedestrian traffic from Covington into Cincinnati and back.

It was the longest bridge in the world when it was built in 1867, at 1,075 feet. Its eye-catching blue color and tall spires make it a truly iconic landmark.

The bridge was named after the civil engineer who designed it, John A. Roebling, who went on to design the Brooklyn Bridge.

According to the Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridge Committee, a group focused on preserving the bridge, when it was built, the Roebling was considered an “engineering marvel” that used state-ofthe-art engineering techniques, including its double cables that were “spun” and imported from England.

Taylor–Southgate Bridge

Moving across the Licking River into Campbell County, we’ve got the Taylor–Southgate Bridge, which crosses from Newport into downtown Cincinnati.

The construction of this structure was a bit complicated, with it originally being proposed for Covington in the mid-1980s. Issues between the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the city of Cincinnati stopped the progress until 1991. Funding problems came into play, which slowed things even further, but it was eventually built in 1995.

The name combines two prominent Newport families, the Taylors and the Southgates.

James Taylor Jr. was a wealthy banker and slave owner who came to Newport in the 1700s from his father’s plantation with three enslaved men, who worked to develop the land that is now Newport.

Appointed the commonwealth attorney for Campbell County in 1798, Richard Southgate moved to Newport from Virginia in 1795; he became a state representative in 1803 and was a Kentucky senator from 1817-1821.

Purple People Bridge

Formerly the Newport & Cincinnati Bridge, the Purple People Bridge was originally a railroad bridge built in 1872. It was the first railroad bridge to span the Ohio River.

The historic structure has changed names several times. In 1904, its moniker was changed to the L&N (Louisville and Nashville) Railroad Bridge. Soon after, part of the bridge was paved for cars, and in 1987, it was closed to railroad traffic.

In 2001, it became a pedestrian-only bridge, and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2002, the Kentucky Legislature agreed to spend $4 million on restoration. At the time, the CSX Railroad and the state owned the bridge. The state donated its portion to Southbank Partners, and CSX Railroad donated its to the city of Newport.

Newport and Southbank Partners created the nonprofit corporation The Purple People Bridge Co., which maintains the bridge to this day.

The organization chose the color purple after it showed computer-generated images of the bridge in various colors to focus groups. It said that green and purple were the top choices; and after some thought,

the group ended up going with purple.

Daniel Carter Beard Bridge

The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge carries eight lanes of Interstate 471 traffic from Newport into Cincinnati.

Built in 1976, the bridge’s official name comes from one of the Boy Scouts of America founders, Daniel Carter Beard. Beard was a Cincinnati-born author, illustrator and youth leader who originally founded the Sons of Daniel Boone, which eventually merged with the Boy Scouts of America.

Much to the chagrin of the Boy Scouts, the structure is often colloquially referred to as the “Big Mac” bridge. This nickname comes from its double yellow arch structure resembling the McDonald’s “golden arches” logo.

Allison Rotella’s winning photo of John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge from 2019. Photo provided | Allison Rotella

Foursome wins 33rd annual Point/Arc Golf Classic – again

event, which supports the Covington-based nonprofit organization The Point/Arc.

The Point/Arc was founded in 1972 to assist people diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The nonprofit organization serves more than 1,400 people annually through its programs and services.

Kenton County leaders to meet with state legislators about road projects

A foursome that has won previous Point/ Arc Golf Classic titles again walked away with the hardware.

The foursome of Dave Wurtenberger, Rick Hoblitzell, Gary Hanser and Dank Theissen shot a 12-under par and was crowned champions at The Point/Arc’s Golf Classic held at Triple Crown Golf and Country Club in Union on July 17.

A record 27 teams attended the daylong

Mayors and other public officials from Kenton County identified several road improvement and expansion projects to focus on and set a date to meet with state legislators during a meeting on July 15.

Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette broke down the projects into three categories: road expansion projects already on the books, possible future road projects and the maintenance of existing roads.

The group discussed several projects, including the expansion of KY 536, work at I-275 and Turkeyfoot Road, and ongoing

maintenance on Madison Avenue in Covington and Dixie Highway in Lakeside Park. Group members also talked about potential projects, and the attendees shared different roads in the region they’d like to see improved.

“One of the roads that really gets overlooked is River Road,” said Villa Hills Mayor Heather Jansen, as an example, “because it’s falling into the river.”

Jansen said she hoped investment into maintenance on River Road could help drive economic expansion by creating opportunities for ports and connections to Boone County.

The attendees discussed strategies for bringing their desires to the state.

They talked about a former consensus group through the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and a municipal government league. However, many believed that such groups were too broad in their focus, at least for the issue of roads in the county.

“This is about Kenton County,” said Taylor

Mill Mayor Daniel Bell, who had previously served in both groups and claimed they weren’t effective for securing local interests.

Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman thought so, as well, and many in the group thought it would be better to have everyone on the same page regarding what they would lobby the state for.

“I like the idea of keeping this a local government initiative,” Reinersman said.

“Taylor Mill won’t get a dime out of (KY) 536,” Bell said, as an example of a project he thought was worth focusing on. “I know that it will generate revenue for the county and jobs for all of us.”

He also said the county needed greater east-west access, which he said would drive economic growth.

“Stevenson Road – our east-west access is terrible,” Bell said. “Traffic is horrendous. 275’s not going to get less traffic. It’s going to get more traffic, so we need alternative corridors to handle this kind of traffic that we have coming through Kenton County.”

From left: Judi Gerding, president and founder of The Point/Arc, Dave Wurtenberger, Rick Hoblitzell, Gary Hanser and Dank Theissen.

Ultimately, the mayors agreed to meet with several state legislators at the Erlanger city building on July 28.

The meeting will be unofficial and not an open meeting. Likewise, no official action will be taken at the meeting.

The next meeting of the Kenton County Mayors Group will take place on Aug. 19 at the city of Ludlow’s General Offices on Elm Street.

Worker seriously injured after pole fell on him in Covington

A worker was in the hospital with serious injuries after a pole fell on him near Taylor Mill Elementary in Covington on July 18, police said.

Covington police said they are considering the incident a workplace accident.

A spokesperson with Kenton County Schools said the worker who was hurt was not an employee of Kenton County.

A construction site is located near the elementary school, but officials did not confirm whether that’s where the pole fell.

Man gets life-plus-20 sentence for 2022 murder, robbery of Covington man walking home

Zachary Ron Holden will serve life in prison and an additional 20 years for his part in a robbery that resulted in the murder of a 60-year-old man in Covington in 2022.

A judge sentenced Holden on July 17 to life in prison for the murder charge and an additional 20 years to serve consecutively for the first-degree robbery charge.

Holden is one of two people who were arrested for the death of Virgil Stewart, who was shot and killed on the 15th Street Bridge while walking home from work in September 2022.

Latoya Dale was also arrested and charged with first-degree robbery and murder. When investigators traced Stewart’s death back to Holden, he was already being held in the Boone County Jail on a separate robbery charge.

At the time of Stewart’s murder, Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders said Holden and Dale appeared to

“execute a strong-arm robbery” and Stewart was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Witnesses described seeing two people standing over him … demanding that he give it up, give the money, or something of that effect,” Sanders said. “He unfortunately died of his injuries.”

Sanders said the suspects got away with $6 from Stewart before he died.

“Absolutely tragic that someone would lose their life over $6. I wish I could say it’s shocking. It’s only shocking in the enormity of the loss,” Sanders said.

Investigators were able to identify a suspicious vehicle they believe was fleeing from the scene after poring over Ring doorbell camera footage from the area for over a month. That ultimately led police to Dale, Sanders said.

Dale is scheduled to reappear in court in August. She has been held on a $1 million cash bond since her arrest in September 2022.

City of Covington seeks part-time receptionist

The city of Covington is seeking a receptionist to work the front desk at Covington City Hall on a part-time basis, according to a recent announcement on the city’s Facebook page.

“The primary responsibility of this position is to provide day-to-day secretarial, clerical, and administrative support to ensure that municipal services are provided in an effective and efficient manner,” the announcement said. “Receiving and routing incoming calls, greeting visitors to City Hall and providing general information and assistance to the public.”

The shift that the city is hiring for is Monday through Friday from noon to 4:30 p.m.

The city is offering $16.55 an hour for the entry-level position. A full description of the role and an application portal are available on the city’s website, covingtonky.gov.

news from other places

Ohio lawmaker indicted on domestic violence charges, has no plans to resign

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Republican state Rep. Bob Young has been indicted on misdemeanor domestic violence and assault charges against his wife and brother. Despite the charges, Young does not plan to resign, even as House Speaker Jason Stephens has called for it.

According to court records, police say Young struck his wife in the face July 7 and then threw her cellphone into a pool to prevent her from calling 911. He then followed her to his brother’s home, where he struggled with his brother and fell through a glass door, according to the report. Neither Young nor his lawyer returned messages seeking comment.

Hall of Famer Johnny Bench apologizes for antisemitic remark at Cincinnati Reds event

CINCINNATI (AP) — Hall of Famer Johnny Bench apologized for an antisemitic comment made at an event to honor former Cincinnati Reds general manager Gabe Paul, who was Jewish, and others.

Bench made the remark on July 15 at an event attended by Paul’s daughter, Jennie Paul. Paul, who died in 1998, and former Reds pitchers Danny Graves and Bronson Arroyo were being inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. When Jennie Paul joked about the “cheap” contract her dad negotiated with Pete Rose, Bench responded: “He was Jewish.” He issued a statement the next day to apologize and said his comment was insensitive.

Phone of man who killed 3 at Ind. mall had Hitler photos, ‘extremely graphic’ videos

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Police say the cellphone of a 20-year-old man who fatally shot three people last year at an Indianapolis-area mall contained photos of Adolf Hitler, Nazi propaganda and firearms and also “extremely graphic” videos of previous mass killings.

Greenwood police said July 13 that the FBI was able to unlock the phone, which Jonathan Douglas Sapirman dropped into a mall toilet before he opened fire at Green-

wood Park Mall on July 17, 2022. Police say there was nothing on the phone about the mall or plans for last year’s mass shooting, but it contained what appeared to be a suicide note Sapirman had written more than two years before the attack.

2 officials are out at Indiana addiction center after 3 recent deaths

MISHAWAKA, Ind. (AP) — Two leaders are out at an Indiana addiction treatment center after three recent deaths and calls by police to yank its license. The executive director and director of nursing are no longer working at Praxis Landmark Recovery, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation site for men near South Bend. The Tennessee-based company says other managers are supervising the facility around the clock.

No new patients are being admitted. Authorities say three men have died since July 4 and another man was revived with multiple doses of Narcan. Local police say there have been more than 200 calls to police or fire departments in 2023. Landmark Recovery says a national accrediting agency found that its “care model is sound,” but the full report was not available at the time of publication.

Linn Grant wins first LPGA title at Dana Open, beating Allisen Corpuz by 3 shots

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) — Linn Grant has won her first LPGA Tour title after an outstanding start to her career in Europe. The Swede endured a charge from U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz and closed with a 3-under 68 for a three-shot victory in the Dana Open in Sylvania, Ohio.

The 24-year-old Grant has five victories in Europe but didn’t play in the United States until this year because she is not vaccinated against COVID-19. Grant took a six-shot

lead into the final round and closed it out after Corpuz got within two on the back nine. She finished at 21-under 263 at Highland Meadows.

Cleveland Browns swapping logo-less orange helmets for white in 3 games this season

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns

will shelve those classic logo-less orange helmets for three games this season. With a nod to the team’s storied past, the Browns will wear white helmets for the first time since 1951.

Cleveland will break out the all-white retro look — white helmets, jerseys and pants — Week 2 in Pittsburgh, at home in Week 6 against San Francisco and again in Week 17 against the New York Jets. The Browns wore white helmets during their first six seasons in the NFL before switching to the orange shell for the 1952 season. Last year, the NFL began allowing teams to wear an alternate helmet.

Tourists, residents warned to stay inside as deadly heat hits Europe

MILAN (AP) — Officials are warning residents and tourists packing Mediterranean destinations to stay indoors during the hottest hours as the second heat wave in as many weeks hits the region and Greece, Spain and Switzerland battle wildfires.

In Italy, civil protection workers monitored crowds for people in distress from the heat in central Rome on July 18. In Greece, volunteers handed out drinking water, and in Spain they reminded people to protect themselves from breathing in smoke from fires. The U.N. weather agency said that temperatures in Europe could break the 48.8-degrees Celsius (119.8 degrees Fahrenheit) record set in Sicily two years ago.

Cleveland Browns player Marion Motley is shown on Dec. 5, 1948. The Browns will shelve their classic logo-less orange helmets for three games this season. Photo by Harry Hall | Associated Press

Linn Grant of Sweden poses with the winner’s trophy after the final round of the Dana Open golf tournament at Highland Meadows Golf Club on July 16. Photo provided | AP

Florence Y'alls

Game 1 in series vs. Schaumburg Boomers

7 p.m. at Thomas More Stadium. Fireworks after the game.

Girl Scouts Night at Thomas More Stadium

Calling all Girls Scout troops to enjoy a campout on the field after the game. Contact Gabe Parsons at gabe@ florenceyalls.com.

Florence Literary Salon: A gathering of like-minded individuals who explore intellectual topics together, often sharing their writing, 2-3 p.m. at Roebling Point Books & Coffee in Covington.

Active Shooter Awareness Seminar: Training to give individuals strategies and skills to survive an active shooter incident, whether they carry a concealed weapon or are unarmed, from 5-8 p.m. at 7492 Turfway Road, Florence.

Florence City Council caucus meeting, 6-7 p.m. in the Florence City Building at 8100 Ewing Blvd.

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

Dayton City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., 625 Second Ave., in Dayton.

Highland Heights City Council meeting, 176 Johns Hill Road, Highland Heights.

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

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

Stuff the Bus and earn a free Chick-Fil-A sandwich. Bring five or more school items to any NKY Chick-fil-A location and receive a free chicken sandwich. Supplies needed include pencil boxes/pouches, dry-erase markers, crayons, highlighters, one-half-inchring or one-third-inchring binders.

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

Fort Mitchell estate has Old World charm, modern amenities

Address: 27 Leathers Road, Fort Mitchell

Price: $2.2 million

Bedrooms: Four

Bathrooms: Five

School district: Beechwood Independent Schools

County: Kenton

Special features: This home can be described as “a new old house” that “blends historic aesthetics with modern amenities.”

Architectural features like the 8-foot mahogany doors from an Italian manor house, etched glass from France and wrought iron from Argentina give this house richness. The home features a gourmet kitchen with two islands, and outside is a terraced backyard, stone patio and large inground pool with waterfall.

An aerial photo shows the grandeur of this Fort Mitchell home. Photo provided | Susan Huff of Huff Realty Florence

The pool features a waterfall and is surrounded by a terraced patio. Photo provided | Susan Huff of Huff Realty Florence

In the kitchen are two islands, and above them are exposed beams. Photo provided | Susan Huff of Huff Realty Florence

LINK Streetscapes goes off the beaten path on the way to Big Bone Lick Powered by Merk and Gile, Injury Attorneys

PHOTOS AND STORY BY MARIA HEHMAN | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

Summer summons a range of outdoor activities. But when the pools are crowded and the pickleball courts are full, sometimes a trip off the beaten path is the best solution. This Streetscapes heads to Big Bone Lick, with some tasty stops along the way.

The Black Goose

The first stop for any road trip, big or small, should always be coffee. Luckily, The Black Goose is one of the first places past the growing hubs on U.S. 42. It serves coffee from Cincinnati-based Deeper Roots, gelato from Covington-based Golden Gelato and a selection of baked goods.

The quaint interior is decorated head to toe with vintage signs and antique goods. For a tiny coffee shop, its offerings are immense. For traditional coffee lovers, it offers brewed, as well as cappuccinos and lattes. When the summer is in peak heat, the best pick-me-up is an iced cold coffee. The Black Goose serves it on tap, which creates a smoother finish than a traditional iced coffee.

It even has nitro cold brew, coffee infused with nitrogen to create a sweeter and

creamier coffee than the traditional cold coffee. No need to head to Starbucks, The Black Goose has your coffee needs covered.

It also has a small selection of seating inside, as well as some tables out front, decorated with flowers in watering cans. The Black Goose doubles as a gift shop and antique vintage store. It’s impossible to leave here empty-handed. In fact, most will leave with a coffee in one hand and a unique gift, or two, in the other.

Boonedock’s Pub and Grub

Other than the Black Goose, Boonedock’s Pub and Grub is one of the first businesses seen by guests who travel out to the boondocks. The workers at Boonedock’s know how to satisfy hungry travelers with country cooking. Cod, country-fried steak, pot roast and chicken will fill up even the hungriest patrons after a long day of hiking.

Burgers and wings are never a bad option at a pub-and-grub joint – with an ice cold beer, there’s truly nothing better. The Tex-Mex eggrolls are a savory starter to guests’ meals, while the cinnamon sugar pretzel bites are a sweet end to any meal.

For those who just can’t say goodbye to the sunshine, there is an outdoor patio, where a Boonedock’s Long Island cocktail will refresh even the weariest travelers.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site

Many NKY natives have made a trip or two here, but for those who have yet to adventure to Big Bone, there are plenty of reasons to make the trek. Ample hiking trails, campgrounds, mini-golf, playgrounds and pools are some of the added adventures Big Bone has to offer.

What makes Big Bone a standout among other camping and hiking destinations is one thing: bison. Big Bone educates travelers on prehistoric times and shows off the largest land mammals. This is a destination both kids and adults will enjoy.

Beaverlick Trading Post

These can usually take some time to make, especially on hot summer days when all of NKY is racing here to order. Waiting guests can shop at the convenience store, rock on the front porch in rocking chairs or hang out on the side patio. After a day in the sun, there is nothing more refreshing than these shakes. For anyone in need of a dairy-free ice cream, the regular soft-serve is lactose-free, so everyone can have a treat post-hike. 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:

The Black Goose

Location: 10829 U.S. 42, Union

Nearly every visitor here comes for one thing: monster milkshakes. Although Beaverlick Trading Post has so much more to offer than just massive milkshakes, it’s a calling card, and a sweet one at that.

Beaverlick Trading Post is one of the last stops before heading to Big Bone. It’s a convenient shop that doubles as a fast-casual eatery. The husband-andwife duo who own the trading post serve up breakfast, burgers and pizza, along with their famous shakes.

The monster milkshakes come in six flavors and are topped with everything under the kitchen sink. The “death by chocolate” is a chocolate shake, topped with chocolate whipped cream, two cookie sticks, a ho-ho cake, a chocolate bar and an entire drumstick ice cream cone. Yes, an ice cream to top the ice cream – there’s a reason they’re called monster milkshakes.

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Website: blackgoosegifts.com

Phone: 859-534-1643

Beaverlick Trading Post

Location: 2009 Beaver Road, Union

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m.10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Website: beaverlickpost.com

Phone: 859-493-4155

Boonedock’s Pub and Grub

Location: 11984 U.S. 42, Union

Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.midnight.

Phone: 859-493-0100

Big Bone State Historic Site

Location: 3380 Beaver Road, Union

Hours: Sunday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Website: parks.ky.gov/union

Phone: 859-384-3522

Iced coffee from The Black Goose.

Scandalous S’more, Death by Chocolate and Outrageous Oreo monster milkshakes from Beaverlick Trading Post.

Ryle quarterback Logan Verax gearing up for fantastic final act

BY MARC HARDIN | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

Senior Logan Verax is working out with the Ryle High School quarterbacks during a sunny, 90-degree day in Union. He’s zipping spiraling passes to Raiders receivers who are running routes on the sizzling hot artificial playing surface during practice at Clifford R. Borland Sr. Stadium.

With a blue sky overhead and three years under his belt at quarterback, Verax is calmly orchestrating a virtual clinic on how to complete a pass to the right receiver at the right spot at the right time. Except for the rising temperature, it’s a beautifully idyllic scene for the 6-foot-3 signal caller, who clearly is in his element inside a comfort zone that can only be described as cushy.

But it wasn’t like that when Verax made his first start as an injury replacement for the Raiders in the final regular season game his freshman season.

“We were playing on a dirt grass field at Conner in the pouring rain,” Ryle coach Mike Engler said. “The field was muddy. But Logan passed for almost 300 yards and three touchdowns, and we won.”

Verax, subbing for starter Bradyn Lyons, completed 14 of 29 passes and didn’t throw an interception. Few realized it, but it was Verax’s coming-out party as a future Raiders star, obscured by the fact that Lyons was back as starter the next week in what would be a season-ending loss to Dixie Heights in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.

The party, the playoff wins and pursuit of all-time Raider records would have to wait until the following fall. That’s when Verax kick-started his tenure as permanent starter with a 16-for-29 passing performance for 224 yards, three touchdowns and 71 rushing yards in a narrow, season-opening loss to a Lexington Catholic team that finished the year 9-3.

After Verax’s first six starts, coach Engler knew he had something special on his hands. Verax was 5-1 with 1,073 passing yards and 12 touchdowns with just two interceptions. Verax completed his sophomore season with a 9-4 record and a trip to the state tournament quarterfinals. Verax passed for 2,395 yards, 18 touchdowns and a 57% completion rate. He added 327 rushing yards and four rushing scores.

“Coach just came up to me the Thursday before that game as a freshman and told me I was starting on Friday,” Verax said. “After that, the seniors came up to me and said they had my back. That meant a lot to me. I knew those guys wouldn’t mess up their jobs, so that allowed me to just go out there and play. It helped calm me down.”

The prep gridiron has no fury like a relaxed Verax. That’s why Ryle coaches have spent so much time trying to slow the game down for the dual-threat QB while giving him a chance to be successful on every play.

The fruits of their labor will hopefully be a finished prep product by the time Verax wraps up his career, and a state championship, something that’s eluded every Ryle quarterback who’s come before Verax. That list includes Tanner Morgan, the University of Minnesota star who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after this year’s NFL draft.

Morgan passed for a Ryle record 398 completions, 5,421 yards and 48 touchdowns, but those marks are under siege.

Here are some fun facts about Verax, who is beginning to receive college offers. He has 369 career completions, 4,714 passing yards and 38 TDs, all within range of the mighty Morgan, who put up his career numbers in two seasons at Ryle after transferring from Hazard High School.

“Just me coming up on that is amazing,” Verax said. “But what I’m focusing on is winning games. The rest will come.”

Verax holds the program’s single-game record with five passing TDs. He’s No. 2 behind Morgan with 429 single-game passing

yards. He’s been threatening Morgan’s single-season passing yards record of 2,747. Coach Engler believes Verax could have a 3,000-yard passing season and a 1,000yard rushing season in the tank this fall.

Coming off a junior season with 2,018 passing yards, 17 TDs, 605 rushing yards and 12 rushing scores, Verax is Northern Kentucky’s active passing yards leader by more than 1,000 and second in passing TDs. In that way, he’s a Raider of a lost art. Morgan was never that high on local active leader boards because of the prior two seasons at Hazard.

“I think Logan is the best quarterback in Northern Kentucky, and I would probably put him in the top five in the state,” Engler said. “We just went 6-0 and won The Battle on Boonesborough 7-on-7 Tournament, and our offense was stopped once. Logan was at his best when he was out of the pocket. If you give him those opportunities this season, he’s going to take advantage.”

Ryle High School quarterback Logan Verax has 369 career completions, 4,714 passing yards and 38 TDs, all within range of program record-setter Tanner Morgan. Photo provided | Raider Sports Network

Odom moves from Beechwood to lead Ryle softball program

Mary Beth Odom has been the head coach for the Beechwood Tigers the past two years and recently accepted the Ryle High School head coaching position.

The Ryle job came open in June, and the administration just named the 2015 Dixie Heights High School graduate its new head coach.

Ryle is the only team in the current 9th Region to win a fast-pitch softball state championship in 2006. The Raiders won the 9th Region seven times out of eight years between 2005-12. They last won the region in 2018.

Odom played softball at Thomas More University after graduating from Dixie Heights. She took over as Beechwood High School head coach in 2022 after serving as an assistant.

The Tigers finished 29-33 during her two years, losing to Notre Dame in the 35th District Tournament championship games both seasons. But Beechwood won the first All “A” 9th Region championship in school history and first-ever All “A” State Tournament game in Owensboro in April.

Odom takes over for Jarret Goddard, who stepped down after two years and had been an assistant at Ryle prior to that. Goddard’s daughter Maddie will be a key returning player next spring, along with the likes

of catcher Laney Schuster and Zoe Coop. Maddie Goddard started 21 games this past spring, posting a 14-9 record in 139.1 innings, 1.51 earned-run average to go with 126 strikeouts, 119 hits, 30 earned runs and just 21 walks.

Ryle finished 36-27 the past two seasons, winning consecutive 33rd District championships and making it to the 9th Region semifinals, losing to Dixie Heights both times.

Ryle isn’t the only program in the 33rd that will have a new coach. Boone County High School also has an opening after Andy Petridis stepped down after 14 seasons and led the Rebels to a 9th Region championship in 2021.

Petridis took over the program in 2010. In his 14 years, the Rebels finished 228-157 and made the 9th Region Tournament six times, with four appearances in the region semifinals.

Four schools in the area are looking for softball head coaches. The other two are 37th District neighbors Calvary Christian School and Scott High School after Orlando Donaldson stepped down from the Cougars post and Lisa Brewer retired as the Eagles leader.

Thomas More approved for two-year provisional spot for NCAA Division II

Thomas More University will move forward with two years of provisional membership to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC). This move transitions the Saints from the MidSouth Conference (MSC) in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

(NAIA), where they have competed for the past four academic years. The Saints are set to compete in their first official Division II contest at Republic Bank Field with men’s soccer taking on Salem University at 7 p.m. Aug. 31.

During their time in the NAIA, the Saints earned several major accomplishments and notable records, including one team National Championship, two team National Runner-Ups, two individual National Runner-Ups and one National Team Semi-finalist.

In preparation for applying to return to the NCAA, the university approached and was unanimously approved in summer 2021 for provisional membership to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC). With the successful bid in 2022 to rejoin the NCAA as a Division II competitor, the university looks forward to competing in the Great Midwest and being eligible for conference championships and tournaments in the upcoming 2023-24 academic year. Following the mandatory transition period, Thomas More would then become eligible for NCAA championships during the 202526 year.

KHSAA realigns cross-country, track-and-field; some NKY schools affected

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association held its first Board of Control meeting of the academic school year on July 18, with cross-country and track-and-field realignment being one of the main points discussed.

The board approved the new draft realignment, which affects some Northern Kentucky schools.

Here is a look at the realignment of regions that include Northern Kentucky schools. Class 1A, Region 4: Beechwood, Bellevue, Bishop Brossart, Holy Cross, Ludlow, Newport, Newport Central Catholic, St. Henry, Villa Madonna, Walton-Verona, Williamstown

Class 2A, Region 4: Bourbon County, Covington Catholic, Franklin County, Harrison County, Holmes, Lexington Catholic, Lloyd Memorial, Pendleton County, Western Hills

Class 3A, Region 5: Boone County, Campbell County, Conner, Dixie Heights, Grant County, Highlands, Notre Dame, Ryle, Scott, Simon Kenton

Cooper basketball standout Rondon selected to join Puerto Rican U-17 team

Cooper High School rising junior Yamil Rondon will get a chance to show his talents on the international level.

Rondon was selected to the Puerto Rican U-17 national basketball team after trying out in June. He’ll compete with the team in the FIBA Centrobasket Championship in Belize starting on July 26.

Cooper High School’s Yamil Rondon has been selected to the U-17 Puerto Rican national basketball team. Photo provided | Bob Jackson

One of three children of parents from the island, Rondon is Puerto Rican. But he’s not from Puerto Rico. He was born in Cincinnati and has lived in Northern Kentucky his entire life.

Rondon was the lone 16-year-old trying out for the U-17 team.

Beechwood High School head softball coach Mary Beth Odom took the same position at Ryle High School after guiding the Tigers the past two seasons. Photo provided | Bren Murphy

Remembering Northern Kentucky brothers Chase and Cole Fischer

Chase Thomas Fischer, 18, and Cole Patrick Fischer, 14, of Villa Hills, passed away in a tragic boating accident on Lake Cumberland on July 14 while making the most of every moment.

Chase was a recent graduate of Villa Madonna Academy, where he played tennis and ran cross-country and was preparing to attend the University of Utah in the fall. He was easy-going, with great hair and a warm smile. He and his Jeep were the perfect vibe.

Chase had a deep relationship with his best friends, enjoying skiing, mountain biking, pickleball, golf, a day at the farm, a latenight video game or plenty of other escapades. Often, the evening would start with a couple coneys from Skyline or a chocolate malt from Graeter’s Ice Cream and would end with a story to share at the Fischer house. He was just discovering his ability to connect with children as he taught ski lessons at Perfect North and volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Kentucky.

Cole had just graduated eighth grade at Villa Madonna Academy and was beginning to engulf himself into the culture at Elder High School. He loved cross-country; he loved the camaraderie and the friendly competition.

Cole had a great smile, was outgoing and a friend to everyone. He was always ready for a conversation about anything from Roman history to sports to Pokémon. Cole absolutely loved life, the Erlanger Putt-Putt, a good back scratch, no-tie shoelaces, paint-

ball, sporting events, flag football, YouTube Shorts, football cards, gel blasters and animals, especially his pretty cow, Clarabelle, and his dogs.

Cole was ready for any game, especially cards, video games, chess and Monopoly. The first suggestion for every dinner out led to mater paneer and a mango lassi at Guru India. He and his best friends were having an amazing time selling car washes door-to-door this summer on their bikes in Villa Hills.

Chase and Cole are deeply loved by their family, including parents, Greg and Amy Fischer; sister, Isabelle “Izzy” Fischer; grandparents, Henry and Elaine Fischer

The boys loved their time with family, whether it was jumping on the trampoline, going to the card shop, dinners at Mama’s, trips to Florida or the lake, fireworks, pickleball, a movie, cheering on Izzy, going to a game, Memorial Day parades, Easter egg dyeing, family vacations, Yahtzee, the annual hayride, Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, or an epic ski trip.

We had an action-packed 14 and 18 years full of love and are so thankful to have had them in our lives.

FREEDOM. TO

A visitation was held on Sunday, July 23 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Crescent Springs. Mass of Christian Burial was on Monday, July 24 at 10 a.m. at the church. They were laid to rest at Highland Cemetery in Fort Mitchell.

The family encourages friends and family to share a story or picture online to help celebrate their lives.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Boys and Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati, 600 Dalton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45203, or the Boone County Animal Shelter, 5643 Idlewild Road, Burlington, Kentucky, 41005.

Chase Thomas Fischer and Cole Patrick Fischer. Photos provided | The Fischer family and George “Tony” and Pam Adams; aunt, Angie and Mike Waugh; uncle, Tony and Kristin Adams; and cousins, Tristan and Jaden Waugh and Lucia and Ben Adams.

Owners Lisa and Kris Knochelmann