LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 2, Issue 29 - June 14, 2024

Small cities, big communities: Bellevue, Dayton set example for NKY

By Gracie Reed, Daisie Perez and Isabella Zinchini, special to LINK nky

This story was reported in partnership with the University of Cincinnati’s reporting and writing class, with additional help from UC’s student newspaper, The News Record.

Ben Baker and Charlie Cleves have each other’s backs.

The mayors of Dayton and Bellevue, respectively, readily admit that they are in this together. The two river cities, separated by O’Fallon Avenue, have their own mayor and city council but have created strong connections with each other to inspire and lead change in their communities. Whether it’s a snow emergency, passing ordinances like smoking bans or collaborating on events, the cities’ collaboration has thrived under Baker and Cleves’ leadership.

“When they fail, we fail,” Baker said. “When they succeed, we succeed.”

Bellevue’s Cleves agrees.

“We go to a lot of events for each other,” Cleves said. “When you have this back and forth, it helps both cities.”

Ryan Salzman, who serves on Bellevue’s city council, applauds the way the mayors work together.

“Bellevue and Dayton, at this moment, have a very strong working relationship with one another,” Salzman said. “I credit the people who are leading those cities.”

The cities’ similar sizes – they both have just under 6,000 residents – and their proximity to each other and the river help when it comes to working together, both mayors told LINK nky.

Northern Kentucky has long been brainstorming ways to

Continues on page 3

Welder, Miss Kentucky hopeful champions women in trades

By Haley Parnell

Adisyn Donk is two sides of the same coin.

Growing up, Donk eyed the crown her mother won at a local county pageant and put it on her bucket list to win one of her own. While competing in her first Miss Kentucky pageant in 2023, Donk attended Gateway Community & Technical College for welding.

Though Donk is relatively new to pageantry, competing in her first one in 2022, she placed in the top 10 in the Miss Kentucky pageant last year. This year’s pageant in June will be Donk’s second time compet-

ing for the Miss Kentucky title, but with a different approach. Now, she plans to focus her service initiative on advocating for women like herself in the trades.

“It was one of the things that I had on my bucket list to do a pageant and hope to win so that I get a crown, hoping I have a daughter so I can do the same thing,” Donk said. “I was so obsessed with my mom’s crown I wanted to get one myself.”

Her first time competing was in the Boone County Fair pageant, where she lost, but encouragement from a friend’s mom got her to try again. Donk then competed in Miss Alexandria, where she won her first crown. After winning the Miss Alexandria

Continues on page 5

A closer look at the new visitor map highlighting businesses in Bellevue and Dayton. It was created by artist Sue Watson of TownArtist. Copies of the map are available at Dayton City Hall and other places in the two cities. The flip side of the map gives more information on featured businesses. Photo by Robin Gee | LINK nky contributor

Adisyn Donk and her family after her first pageant, Miss Boone County Fair. Photo provided | Adisyn Donk

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help its 36 municipalities across three counties address issues associated with siloed local governments. In 1996, an organization called Forward Quest published a document intended to identify inefficiencies across the region. The work Forward Quest conducted helped form the basis of other future-oriented strategic planning under the names of Vision 2015, later Skyward, and now the OneNKY Alliance.

The main question leaders have sought to address: How does Northern Kentucky create a regional identity beyond an extension of the big city across the Ohio river? While consolidation of the region is a consistent topic of conversation among regional leaders, most agree that a stronger regional identity would at the very least help the region get state funds for various projects or nonprofits.

“We hear people complain about too many governments in our counties, but then the responses are often workarounds that create new governments atop the existing governments and make it more complex and difficult,” Covington Mayor Joe Meyer said. “One of the big problems that we have here is that we have no government in Northern Kentucky that’s responsible for the big picture.”

Meyer said NKY’s city governments have very broad general responsibilities within their jurisdictions. “Counties and state-run special districts generally have a more limited focus, so who do you go to for issues related to affordable housing for the region, for example?” he said. “The reality is that no such regional institution exists.”

Meyer said some leaders in the region assume his city can solve social issues, such as affordable housing, for the entire region.

“We have been doing way more than our share for a long time,” Meyer said. “The simple fact is that Covington can’t do all that for this entire region, and the reality is there are more people in need of social services in Kenton County outside of Covington than inside Covington, and more people in need in Boone County than Covington.

“Yes, we are welcoming here, but the region collectively is not meeting the needs of the people by pushing all these services into Covington,” he said.

Meyer said that, for regionalism to work for Northern Kentucky, it should have institutional responsibility for the big picture and include a way to resolve inevitable conflicts.

“I’m very much for regionalism, and I believe Northern Kentucky would be so much better off if it developed a true vision of regionalism that was institutional, not personality- or interest-driven,” Meyer said. “It has to be responsible for the entire region, have regional funding sources and a conflict-resolution mechanism built in.”

Another roadblock to regionalism is that many of the more urban cities and municipalities along the river have conflicting values and priorities, he said.

“We are not comfortable with the idea of regional entities imposing their vision on Covington, but we’re perfectly willing to cooperate with regional motion so long as our vision and values and interests are respected,” Meyer said. “We very much believe that our uniqueness, our history and social attitudes are what make us unique, and those attributes aren’t shared with much of the rest of Northern Kentucky.”

In order for Northern Kentucky to consolidate, legislation would need to be introduced at the state level, which most agree is unlikely. But that doesn’t stop the region from wondering how to become one place – without technically being one place.

“I will tell you, if Northern Kentucky was one city, we would be more effective lobbying for resources,” said Brent Cooper, president and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “We would be more effective in our economic development efforts. We would be more effective in bringing talent here.”

In fact, Cooper said, if Northern Kentucky

– Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties –were one city or county, it would rival Lexington as the second-largest population base in the state behind Louisville

An example for the rest of NKY?

Since consolidation is unlikely in the near future, it’s all the more important for cities to find ways to work together, Salzman said. He thinks Bellevue and Dayton are a great example for the rest of the region.

“They’re always willing and eager to celebrate each other’s successes and then lend a hand when that is needed,” he said.

The Bellevue council member is also project director at OneNKY Alliance,

Both cities’ mayors decided to go into public service – albeit at very different times in their careers – because they weren’t happy with how things were being run.

Baker described an incident leading to his decision to run for office involving an effort to create more murals in Dayton. City council overrode the mayor’s approval of the murals, Baker said, and it seemed to be motivated by council members’ opinion of the mayor personally.

“When I ran for city council, everybody knew why I was running for council,” Baker said. “To stop the silliness.”

Similarly, Cleves’ involvement stemmed from his dissatisfaction with how Bellevue was being run. With free time after retiring from his jewelry business, Cleves thought it was the right time to enter politics.

“They weren’t doing it as well as I knew I could do it,” he said.

Since taking on public service roles, Baker and Cleves have worked to improve their cities and enhance the lives of both cities’ citizens.

In 2022, Dayton enacted a smoke free ordinance, banning smoking and the use of vapes in its public spaces and places of employment. Kentucky does not currently have a statewide smoking ban in place. Bellevue followed suit, passing the same ordinance in 2023.

“We saw the smoking ordinance that Dayton did first, and we saw that it went over very easily,” Cleves said.

The 501 Salon & Spa on Fairfield Avenue in Bellevue. The street is the commercial hub of both Bellevue and Dayton, where it’s named Sixth Avenue. Photos by Lydia Schembre | LINK nky contributor

New apartments have been built in Dayton in hopes to attract more people in hopes of attracting new residents to the river city.

Going further back, in 2019, Bellevue adopted a designated outdoor refreshment area, commonly known by its abbreviation, DORA. This allows residents to walk freely with alcoholic beverages on designated sidewalks so long as the drink is in a district-specific cup.

Dayton created its DORA in 2023.

“One person doesn’t have to do all the testing out and the other one just steals their ideas,” Cleves said. “They test ideas and we come up with ours. It’s like a 50-50 deal with them. We’re always helping each other.”

Bellevue and Dayton also share resources such as police and fire departments.

Even when resources are less formal, the mayors help each other out.

“So if Bellevue needs a salt trucker during a snowstorm, I got their back,” Baker said.

In 2023, Bellevue and Dayton passed an interlocal resolution that allows residents to drive golf carts on some city streets.

The resolution states, in part, that “the cities of Dayton and Bellevue believe it is convenient and prudent to allow the use of golf carts to travel to, through and from both cities.”

Embracing new, fresh ideas

Breathe Easy’s goal is to adopt a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance in all public

areas and workplaces throughout Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. Its strategy for enacting smoking bans across Northern Kentucky was a direct result of the region’s fragmentation, said Karen Finan, OneNKY Alliance’s CEO.

“As we put the strategy together, it was very important that we were able to find courageous political leaders and elected officials who were willing to take this on and find the support among these councils to push a smoke-free ordinance,” Finan said.

While it would be much easier were Kentucky to pass a statewide ban, Finan said the state hasn’t made many inroads on that front. “So it falls back to the cities,” she said, “and that’s been part of the strategy.”

Enter Bellevue and Dayton.

“The most important piece in Bellevue and Dayton was finding the elected leader who had the courage to bring this on,” Finan said. “And then also the council folks. I think there were many similarities between Bellevue and Dayton.”

Finan said both mayors supported the idea of going smoke free.

“If you go back and look, they have embraced a lot of new, fresh ideas,” Finan said. “So it wasn’t abnormal for them to decide to embrace this.”

But that doesn’t mean Breathe Easy NKY hasn’t faced challenges. Just one other Northern Kentucky city – Highland Heights – has passed a smoking ban. While Kenton

County has a smoke-free ordinance, it still allows smoking after a certain time in bars and restaurants.

“That fragmentation really has an impact not just on this effort, not just on the health effort, but across the board,” Finan said. “And, in Northern Kentucky, we have some great elected officials who understand how to work around that. But it just makes it tough when you have that many in a small geographic area. So, to our coalition, that was probably the biggest challenge.”

Alternatively, some smaller cities with small budgets and staff just don’t have the capacity to work effectively with other cities.

“Sometimes it’s not that you’re not cooperating or collaborating because you don’t want to,” Salzman said. “It’s just not happening because you don’t have that ability or you don’t have that sort of institutional memory to be able to tap into that.”

Salzman said he wouldn’t describe himself as pro-consolidation. Actual consolidation is an institutional hurdle, though, he said, and there are many opportunities short of that to act in a more collaborative way.

“I think that all opportunities for cooperation between cities and counties should be on the table, regardless of how institutionalized they are,” Salzman said.

At the end of the day, Dayton’s Baker said, it’s about looking out for your neighbors. “If your neighbor’s house burns, your house is in trouble too,” he said.

For Cleves, who is retired and in what he calls his “give-back stage,” he is more than happy to share ideas or things he comes up with that Baker, who has a full-time job and less time to spare, may not have had the time to address.

“I’m working on all these things that he doesn’t have time to do, and I’m willing to share anything I come up with,” Cleves said.

Baker did admit that there are two days out of the year he doesn’t like Bellevue. “That’s when we are playing them in football.”

University of Cincinnati students Caleb Brewer, Camilo Chaves-Galeano, Alex Givens, Ella Moyer, Harry Peterson, Raymon Render, Lydia Schembre, Taania Sukumar, Juanito Tavares and Lucas Griffith contributed to this report.

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“Of course. We’ll find the option that best fits your needs.”

Dr. Kevin Bonfield Sports Medicine

Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves decided to run for office after retiring from his family’s jewelry business.

Dayton Mayor Ben Baker posed this spring in front of a new mural in the city.

Continued from page 1 title, Donk said she had to compete in the state pageant.

That’s where a Miss Kentucky scout found her.

“I immediately was like, no, because one of the things that you have to do for Miss Kentucky is a talent, and I sing, but it’s not something I love to do on stage,” Donk said. “But my mom really really wanted me to do it for the point of her seeing me sing on stage.”

At the state level, Donk won the Miss Heart of Bourbon County title, which got her to compete for Miss Kentucky.

Last year, Donk won the evening gown award in one of the preliminary nights, which got her into the top 10. Though she didn’t win, Donk still received a scholarship for making the top 10. She also won the Newcomer’s Award, which means she scored the highest out of all the new people for that year, earning her a scholarship. Donk also won the Spirit of Kentucky Award, voted on by the board of directors, and received another scholarship.

“I knew going into it, if I won, I would not have made a good Miss Kentucky that year because I didn’t even really know what the organization was all about,” she said. “I just kind of ended up there.”

Donk said she wasn’t even sure if she would return to Miss Kentucky this year, but judges from the competition encouraged her to return. One of those judges was Miss Kentucky 2003, MacKenzie Mayes, who reached out to Donk and told her she would help her if she returned.

Earlier this year, Donk won Miss Monticello, taking her back to compete for Miss Kentucky.

Donk said one change Mayes encouraged her to make was to showcase her skills as a welder and advocate for women in trades. Donk said she wasn’t even sure any judges knew she was a welder in last year’s competition.

“Throughout that entire process, everyone would always ask me why I didn’t advocate for the trades because I was going to school

for welding. I had a welding job at the time,” Donk said.

“At Gateway, I was a keynote speaker and did a few speeches for them. I was already advocating for the trades and was so afraid that people would think that was my whole personality.”

Donk said she asked her mom and her boss for their thoughts on her competing in a pageant as someone who advocates for the trades. Their response was: Why not?

Donk graduated from Gateway with an associate degree in welding and business and is attending Northern Kentucky University in the fall for engineering. She started a coop at Mazak – a Japan-based machine tool builder – in the fabrication department on the floor welding but recently moved to the engineering department.

“It’s been really refreshing; most of our workforce, especially my department, is men, so the pageant things that she does are very different from what we’re used to, but it’s very cool,” said Jason Kinman, fabrications assistant manager at Mazak.

“Everybody has been very supportive and asking her questions.

“Just yesterday, some guys asked her what would happen when you win different types of questions, so everybody is very supportive,” he said. “I think she brings that out of people because she’s such a positive, fun person, but she’s not just that; her hard work backs that up. It’s hard not to be on team Adisyn.”

Donk attended vocational school for welding while attending Conner High School. She said she decided the day before classes started and the only thing left open was metal fabrication. Donk’s mom, Chasity Donk, said Adisyn has always been a busy bee and needed to be doing something.

“She did really well,” Chasity Donk said. “She actually won a metal fabrication thing that they had building ductwork. They had to build something in a certain amount of time, and everything had to be measured right and cut right, and she won and was supposed to go to state, but COVID-19 happened.”

Continues on page 6

Adisyn Donk welding and competing for Miss Monticello. Photos provided | Adisyn Donk.

Adisyn Donk with her classmates at the end of the semester on shop clean up day.

Donk said she doesn’t advocate for the trades just as for public relations; it’s something she’s passionate about.

“I will speak to anyone about the opportunities in the trades and especially in my experience, the path that I took I never would have expected to excel as quickly in the trades, and a lot of people don’t know about it,” she said.

Chasity Donk said seeing her daughter advocating for something she is passionate about is fantastic.

“Adisyn has a strong personality, and you know it’s a tough world, a man’s world, and you have to be able to stand your ground, and she does,” Chasity Donk said.

Typically, Miss Kentucky visits elementary schools around the state, but Donk said she intends to visit high schools to speak to students who don’t yet know what they want to do. The Kentucky Work Ready Scholarship essentially allows students to attend a Kentucky community and technical college, like Gateway, for free if they are learning a trade. Donk said she wants to highlight those types of things if she wins Miss Kentucky.

“I was one of those people; I had no idea what I wanted to do, which is inevitably why I went to trade school,” Donk said. “In my position, wearing a crown and sash, people are already listening, and then you start talking about the trades, and it’s even more like, what? It’s great; it gets a lot more people to listen.”

Donk said she loved going to school at Gateway, but it wasn’t without some tears and frustrations. She said her teachers were her No. 1 fan. When it came time to graduate, her teachers introduced her to the mechanical and manufacturing engineering technology bachelor’s degree pro-

gram through NKU. If she wants to go further, she could pursue a master’s degree in welding engineering.

Her teachers also strongly encouraged her to work at Mazak. After working in the welding department for roughly seven months, she had the opportunity to move to the engineering department because she was continuing her education in engineering.

Donk worked with Kinman in the fabrication department before she moved departments.

“She really has a strong passion and energy and excitement for the things she does,” Kinman said. “She’s very good about following through when someone gives her a task. I still work with her quite a bit now that she’s in engineering. She comes over and helps us with a lot of different tasks. So her dedication and hard work always shine through. If Adisyn says she’s going to do something, she does it.”

Donk said she has no plans to leave Mazak.

“They have been so incredibly supportive of everything that has to do with Miss Kentucky,” she said. “It’s not that I get embarrassed, but I don’t come out and tell people about that.”

She said that, once people at work found out about her pageants, they were interested in her competing.

“It makes me feel so comfortable that they’re not judging or reacting how I expect people to react, like ‘Oh, she’s a welder, but she does pageants,’” Donk said. “That’s always what I feared people would think, but I was so off with that assumption. It’s exactly the opposite.”

Adisyn Donk being announced as the winner of the Miss Alexandria Fair pageant, 2022. Photo provided | Adisyn Donk

NKY weighs pros, cons of cannabis-related businesses

Medical cannabis will be legal in Kentucky starting Jan. 1, and cities and counties across Northern Kentucky have been mulling whether to allow these businesses to operate.

Each city is responsible for creating zoning regulations to make way for (or not allow) those types of businesses to operate.

According to the Office of Medical Cannabis, they will be accepting applications for licenses between July 1 and Aug. 31.

“If they get more applications than the licenses they want to issue, there will be a lottery,” said Sharmili Reddy, the executive director of Planning and Development Services of Kenton County. Reddy has been giving presentations to cities across Kenton County as they discuss their thoughts on the matter. “Based on this timeline, the earliest it will be is this fall before we will see the first set of licenses issued.”

Local governments have until Jan. 1 to take action on whether they want to allow businesses to operate in their cities and counties. But, if they want to allow enough time for residents to petition their decision and get it on the November ballot, Reddy said local governments need to act soon. The petition has to be certified by the county clerk by Aug. 13 in order to go on the November ballot.

If a county opts not to let businesses operate, but a city within that county opts in, the bill allows businesses to operate within that city’s jurisdictional boundaries.

Across all of Kentucky, the state will issue up to 10 licenses for cannabis processors and up to 48 licenses for dispensaries. Those licenses will be issued in 11 regions across the commonwealth.

Each region will initially be granted at least four dispensary licenses, but no more than one dispensary can be located in each county – the exceptions being Kentucky’s two largest counties, Jefferson and Fayette.

Here are the conversations happening in the cities and counties across Northern Kentucky.

Editor’s note: These are the most up-to-date decisions or conversations as of publication. For the most recent information on whether

your city will allow voters to decide on marijuana-related businesses, go to linknky.com.

At the city level:

Crestview Hills voters to decide in November on cannabis businesses

Voters in Crestview Hills will get to decide this fall whether the city should allow medical cannabis businesses within the city limits.

City council voted 4-2 on June 3 to place the question on the November ballot. Council members Bill Dorsey, David Kramer, Tim McKinley and Larry Ruehl voted in favor, and council members Tom Lehman and Ed Wise voted against.

The ballot measure will pitch the idea of whether the city should allow any medical cannabis businesses – not only dispensaries but also one of the other allowable facilities: processing centers, cultivation centers, production centers and safety compliance centers – in Crestview Hills. It will not guarantee that one will be set up in the city, although City Administrator Alex Mattingly said at least one medical cannabis business owner had contacted the city to inquire about available zoning in the Thomas More Office Park.

Council member David Kramer discussed the results of a recent meeting of the city’s economic development committee, which had also cast a split vote on the issue: Four members were in favor of sending the issue to the ballot, two were in favor of approving zoning for cannabis facilities and one was against allowing it at all.

In a roughly 35-minute discussion, the council members expressed mixed attitudes about the possibility of a dispensary or other cannabis business appearing in the city. Some asked about timelines for setting up zoning if voters decide in November to allow the businesses. Others were concerned about the prospect of a dispensary showing up in Crestview Hills and what it might say for the city’s character. Still, others thought that it would be wise to open the city up to a new source of tax revenue.

“It’s a little hard for me to sit up here and guess what the general population – vot-

ers and residents – of Crestview Hills really want to do,” said Ruehl, “and so that’s why I think it should go to vote, simply because I don’t know what they would want to do.”

After more discussion, Kramer moved to put the issue on the ballot, and council approved.

The city must now prepare the necessary documents and send them to the county election board by Aug. 13 to ensure the measure appears on the ballot in November. If voters approve allowing cannabis businesses, the city will need to establish zones where the businesses may and may not operate. If voters reject the measure, the city must pass additional legislation affirming that decision.

Union commissioners to put cannabis measure before voters in Nov.

City commissioners at May’s monthly caucus meeting were faced with an important decision: With Kentucky’s 2025 legalization of medically applied cannabis set for Jan. 1, where will Union stand?

When the state announced that the city would need to make a decision by June 30,

city officials said they were divided. City Attorney Greg Voss acknowledged that marijuana was still recognized by the federal government as an illegal substance; the initial ordinance proposed would’ve outright banned medical cannabis dispensaries in Union.

However, city commissioners such as Brian Garner were opposed to banning medical marijuana dispensaries immediately and thought they should leave this decision to the citizens of Union. He said that would be an effective way to gauge public opinion.

Commissioners agreed to that course and went back to the drawing board to consider a revised ordinance and resolution that would temporarily cease the distribution of licenses in Union while allowing the residents to vote in November on a referendum.

Union resident Ryan Turner, a long-time user of medically applied CBD products, is a supporter of medically applied cannabis. “I wholeheartedly believe medical cannabis is a good form of treatment,” he said.

He also agrees that the city made the right choice by allowing these businesses in Union and leaving the decision to the residents.

Continues on page 8

Marijuana plants. Photo provided | Richard T via Unsplash

Elsmere City Council discusses medical cannabis licensing

Elsmere City Council listened to a presentation on medical cannabis licensing at its June 4 caucus meeting.

In a presentation, Sharmili Reddy, executive director of the Planning and Development Services of Kenton County, told council members about the timeline connected to the coming legalization of medical cannabis businesses under state law. Reddy said the council has three options: Elsmere may follow the state legislation via the ballot process and subsequently work with PDS to determine zoning for cannabis operations within city limits; it may reject the legislation by enacting its own ordinances ahead of the Jan. 1 deadline or put the issue on a ballot for the general public, for which Aug. 13 is the deadline.

Medical cannabis operations comprise five types of permit use: indoor cultivation, which requires agricultural permits and is divided into four tiers according to the cultivation area; processing and production, both of which require industrial permits; dispensary, which is covered by retail permits; and safety compliance facilities.

Reddy assured the council that all phases of medical cannabis operations must take

place indoors and that such businesses must not be located within 1,000 feet of schools or day care facilities. While local governments can prohibit businesses from operating in their jurisdictions, they cannot regulate cannabis use of cardholders –people who have been prescribed medical cannabis by a physician – within city limits.

According to Reddy, medical cannabis use will be restricted to a few types – edibles, oils and gels. Smoking is prohibited. It also is limited to a treatment for specific conditions that include cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Elsmere City Council did not signal its intention to approve or reject cannabis licensing at the caucus meeting. However, council member Gloria Gubbs spoke in favor of its medical use while expressing concern about zoning and storage.

“As a retired nurse of almost 30 years, I would say I’m in favor of this for medical purposes,” she said. “It should have been done a long time ago, because there are ill people that need that and [medical cannabis] has helped them.”

Florence faces decision on medical cannabis

City officials at Florence’s first June caucus

meeting were faced with a decision that all of Kentucky’s local municipalities are grappling with: the question of whether to allow medical cannabis licenses within their city or to outright ban it.

Officials gathered to hear a presentation of the first proposals for legislation from City Administrator Joshua Hunt.

Hunt’s presentation provided a detailed look at the current status of medical cannabis in Kentucky, what the options the council has, detailed zoning texts (if the city council decides to allow the sale of cannabis), and where they could potentially expect to see these dispensaries pop up in the city.

In terms of zoning, the city is doing something slightly different than what the Kentucky legislation requires. While the state legislation requires dispensaries to be outside of a 1,000-foot radius of primary and secondary schools and day care centers, the proposed legislation from Florence would extend those prohibitions.

The legislation proposed at Florence’s caucus meeting on June 3 would also prohibit these facilities from going within 500 feet of churches, synagogues, mosques or other places of worship, as well as public parks or playgrounds and sexually oriented businesses.

Hunt’s legislation would also add an additional 1,000 foot buffer between medical cannabis dispensaries.

“This is to prevent clusters,” Hunt explained. “Similar to what you’d see in every shopping center if you go out to Colorado.” Currently, only two dispensaries are permitted within the three county area of Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties.

“I don’t know if there’s going to be a cap for the Northern Kentucky region, but eventually there will be more dispensary licenses that are issued, for sure,” Hunt said.

When questioned by fellow city officials about concerns for medical cannabis, Florence Police Chief Jeff Mallery said he had no concerns about medical cannabis.He said he’s heard of no issues from other police departments where their state legalized medical marijuana.

Now, if it goes recreational, then there’s issues. But, as far as medical cannabis, I haven’t,” Mallery said.

Independence council to place cannabis question on Nov. ballot

Independence City Council voted to send the question whether to allow medical cannabis businesses in the city limits to the November ballot after a long discussion June 3.

The ballot resolution passed, 4-2, with council members Chris Vogelpohl, Greg Waite, Carol Franzen and Tom Brinker voting in favor of the ballot measure and members Greg Steffen and Dave Shafer voting against.

Independence’s vote followed a similar vote in Crestview Hills earlier in the day. Like the discussion at Crestview Hills, there were questions about the timing of furnishing zones for the different businesses, whether a yes vote from residents meant the city had to allow all forms of medical cannabis facilities or only some, and whether the city could revisit the issue in the future as circumstances changed.

“This is all new for everybody,” said Independence City Attorney Jack Gatlin.

Discussion continued after the resolution was passed. Council members, Mayor Chris Reinersman and Gatlin wondered how the zoning for the businesses would work out, and eventually Shafer even moved to rescind the initial resolution; that motion failed.

Although the ballot measure does not guarantee that medical cannabis businesses will eventually come to Independence, Reinersman recommended working with Kenton County Planning and Development Services to begin the zoning planning process. A yes vote in November would give the city only about a month to establish zones before legalization takes effect Jan. 1.

The council’s next meeting is set for 7 p.m. July 1 at the Independence City Building on Madison Pike.

Erlanger council prepares zoning rules for potential medicinal cannabis businesses

At its June 4 meeting, Erlanger’s city council brought forth a resolution for the city’s medicinal cannabis zoning.

The proposed amendment to the city’s zoning code would add medical cannabis as “a

Sharmili Reddy, executive director of the Planning and Development Services of Kenton County, makes a presentation at the June 4 caucus meeting. Photo by Mildred Nguyen.

permitted use for cultivation, processing, production, dispensary and safety compliance in all the employment zones, or the old industrial zones,” according to City Attorney Jack Gatlin. It also would place all dispensaries in the commercial zones. Other information added to the zoning document included definitions for terms used in the article.

Each city is responsible for creating zoning regulations to make way (or not allow) medicinal cannabis businesses to operate. If cities do not have those regulations in place by June 30, the state can begin issuing licenses, and, if those businesses start operations, they will be grandfathered against any future regulation.

These facilities must also adhere to the regulations proposed in the Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 218B, which were discussed in the Kentucky General Assembly’s 2023 session. Some regulations for these facilities include basic business requirements, like record keeping and being subject to a reasonable inspection by the cabinet if necessary.

Gatlin also mentioned that the county’s Planning and Development Services is looking at a ban on medicinal cannabis in the county. In April, PDS suggested potential restrictions in a memo, including limiting the number of established cannabis business operations within a zone and specific hours of operation. With a possible ban on the table, it could alter or delay the zoning ordinance proposed by the city.

“This is just sending [the document] to a public hearing, so the public hearing PDS is anticipating is gonna be September [or] October. With what’s going on with the county that timeline might change a little bit,” he said, “but this is just getting it kinda in the chute for there to be a public hearing.”

PDS is requesting a countywide approach for the cities that will allow medicinal cannabis, Gatlin added.

At this time, there is no set date to reopen discussion on medicinal cannabis in the city. Gatlin said the ordinance will return to the council for a first and second reading sometime in the fall.

At the county level:

Campbell County opts out of cannabis business operations

Campbell County voted to opt out of allowing cannabis business operations in the county – at least for now.

The state will begin issuing licenses to businesses on July 1, so they have six months to get up and running and gather inventory before Jan. 1. Applications will then be approved through a lottery.

The county chose to prohibit medical cannabis businesses to give each city more time to develop its own regulations. Individual cities and the county have the option to opt in in the future.

“A lot of our cities only meet once a month, or their planning commissions maybe once a month; they just don’t have the time to put together the zoning and any regulations they would want on the businesses,” Campbell County Administrator Matt El-

berfeld said. “So this really just buys everyone more time to think through and each city to make their own decision.”

The county’s opting out has nothing to do with the coming Jan. 1 legalization of medical cannabis as approved by the General Assembly.

“All we’re doing here is saying that we’re opting out – there aren’t going to be applications made for businesses in Campbell County to produce cannabis for medical purposes,” said Judge-Executive Steve Pendery. “We’ll see what happens in the future, but nobody’s prepared to react as swiftly as the legislature, which left everybody scrambling with this thing.”

“I think it’s also something to consider in that this is not like gas stations opening up on corners and they’re everywhere,” Commissioner Geoff Besecker said. “These are already regulated in terms of numbers.”

Besecker said that, due to the regulations, one given community can’t decide how many licenses operate through their zoning. “I believe that the cabinet made it so that no person would be within greater than an hour’s drive to a distributor,” he said. “So, for Northern Kentucky to even get a couple would be a consideration through the lottery system.”

Kenton County cities mull medical cannabis business zoning

Kenton County cities must decide whether medical cannabis businesses can operate in their jurisdiction.

At the April Fort Mitchell city council meeting, Sharmili Reddy, executive director at Kenton County Planning & Development Services, presented the options from a zoning perspective. PDS is helping local cities make those decisions by providing necessary information as an authority on zoning.

“Our role is to make sure our communities are informed about the legislation and the upcoming deadlines on that legislation when local governments have to take action,” Reddy said.

“[PDS is] not taking a position on medical cannabis in general. We are advising, not promoting.”

Dr. Keshar M. Ghimire, a marijuana law expert at the University of Cincinnati, told LINK nky, “Kentucky has passed a pretty comprehensive medical cannabis law. They have a long list of qualifying conditions.”

Meaning that it will not be too easy for a person to acquire medical cannabis or for a cannabis business to operate. “Just about every step of the way, there is oversight,” Reddy said. “On the side of those dispensing and those receiving.”

There are conditions for any medical cannabis user, any cannabis business and the municipalities those citizens and businesses reside in. Reddy explained the zoning regulations and state-mandated restrictions that impact how and where cannabis businesses could operate within the city. For example, the current zoning map of Fort Mitchell entirely disallows some cannabis operations.

“Fort Mitchell does not have any industrial

zones,” Reddy said. “That leaves them with dispensaries. But when you overlay the 1,000-foot buffer requirement, that limits it even further.”

Reddy referred to one of the restrictions built into the state law: A required 1,000foot separation between a cannabis business and an “existing school or day care.”

As Reddy explained to the Fort Mitchell city council, a city basically has three options. The city can:

• Opt to allow cannabis business operations in the city according to the state statute.

• Apply its own regulations in addition to the state’s.

• Decide to prohibit cannabis businesses from operating within city limits.

If a city chooses to apply its own regulations, PDS suggested some restrictions to consider in an April memo. Those include limiting the number of cannabis business operations within a zone, establishing onsite parking requirements and establishing specific hours of operation.

Also, prohibiting cannabis businesses from operating within city limits doesn’t mean that people in that city could not get medical cannabis.

“Regardless of whether local governments prohibit or allow medical cannabis businesses within jurisdictional boundaries, if there is a medical reason, a person will still have access,” Reddy said. “This decision only has to do with where the businesses can be located.”

Additionally, citizens could organize a petition to overturn this decision. Cities also can leave the decision up to their citizens by putting a measure on the ballot. Either way, a decision must be made before the end of the year if cities want to exert control over the regulations.

Boone County weighs allowing medical cannabis businesses amid legislation

Like Campbell County, Boone County leaders are exploring the possibility of opting out of permitting cannabis-related businesses in the county, instead passing the decision to the cities of Florence, Union and Walton.

During a recent fiscal court meeting, Boone County Administrator Matthew Webster said the county has a bevy of options but must begin to act to comply with the state’s regulatory timeline.

“The (fiscal) court can choose to prohibit the substance in its entirety in terms of cultivation, dispensary, etc.,” Webster said. “We can choose to allow it, and if we do nothing, we are allowing it, and we can look to enact regulations through zoning and our regulatory scheme; or the court could decide ultimately to place it on the ballot and let the voters decide.”

Webster said Boone County was advised to take action by June 30 to prevent confusion.

“What we have been advised in terms of a best practice if the (fiscal) court so chooses, and they want to prohibit it and opt-out, that it would be advisable to do that by June 30 just so, for the business community, there’s no confusion about where the court stands,” he said.

Boone County staff recommended presenting an ordinance that would opt out and prohibit cannabis-related businesses in Boone County. This way, the cities of Florence, Union and Walton would have more time to opt in on their own accord and then create their own cannabis-related business regulations.

“Understanding that cities may opt back in – that’s a local control issue,” Webster said.

“The county and your (fiscal court) action can opt-out; any of our three cities could choose to pass an ordinance and opt back in within the incorporated city limits.”

If Boone County chooses to opt out in June, it can still opt in at a future date, he said.

“It would preserve your ability to think this through, do your due diligence, and keep all options on the table,” Webster said.

Boone County Attorney Jordan Dallas Turner noted that Kentucky is “only issuing so many licenses,” so not every county will have medical cannabis businesses.

Boone County will address the issue at its next fiscal court meeting on June 18.

Haley Parnell, Kenton Hornbeck, Nathan Granger, Rebecca Hanchett, Mildred Nguyen, Evan Bales and Gracie Vanover contributed to this report.

A person measures medical marijuana. Photo provided | Budding via Unsplash

By Haley Parnell

NISE lays cornerstones of inclusive society

“We took that no and said, ‘All right, that door closed, and we’ll find a window that opens,’ and you’re now sitting in what that became,” said Elise Carter.

Carter is co-founder of Northern Kentucky Inclusive Students In Education, a nonprofit educational initiative specializing in diversity, equity and inclusion. NISE was incorporated in August 2021 after its founders, Carter and Trinity Walsh, were denied by Fort Thomas Schools District to start a program in the district.

Carter is a business teacher by trade, and Walsh is a guidance counselor.

“We worked at Highlands High School together,” Carter said. “I tried as a teacher to

always make safe spaces for students or faculty or friends to come to me and ask questions, whether it be Black and brown or just about marginalized people in general. So we would eat lunch and have conversations about her experiences with her son and my experiences with my son. And then it grew into students starting to ask questions, and I would go to her like, ‘You’ll not believe what so and so just asked me.’”

Carter said, though they had the idea of starting a program like NISE, they didn’t have the time to implement it. Then George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were killed and COVID-19 struck, and the pair got to work.

They went before the site-based decision-making council. Carter said that, even though not all classes have to go through the council, they knew that, because their

class topic could be seen as controversial, they wanted to go through all of the correct protocols.

“The population of Fort Thomas has changed,” Carter said. “It’s not just, you know, Christian cis[gender] males. We have families that have transgender children or Black and brown children, whether that be natural or adoption or whatever it might be, so recognizing that our community was changing, the superintendent wanted to start conversations to support those students in the classroom.”

During this time, Carter said the controversy around critical race theory, commonly known as CRT, was being discussed, especially whether it belonged in a classroom. “So even though we had come out and stated that we weren’t doing anything with that, it was just too much in the media that educators are teaching CRT,” Carter said.

By May 2021, when the next site-based decision-making council meeting was held, Carter said 200 people were there both for and against their class. The board of education and site-based council ultimately decided not to proceed with Carter and Walsh’s class idea.

“We were devastated,” Carter said. “I think by June, after we had cried, got over all those emotions, said, ‘Well, what’s next? What can we do?’ And so, somehow, I don’t know if it was her, myself or someone else whispering in our ears, we were like, ‘Let’s start a nonprofit.’”

The result is NISE, which works with students across Greater Cincinnati to develop critical thinking, reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, as well as the ability to apply those skills in diverse academic and non-academic situations.

NISE started with about 11 students and has grown to 15 to 20. It finds its students mainly through word of mouth. NISE currently serves grades 10-12 but is planning to start serving 9-12 and college students. The organization puts all its money back into its operations; Carter and Walsh do not take salaries.

“Our group demonstrates to the community that embracing your true self and standing as an ally to underrepresented individuals are vital for collective growth and progress,” said Pam Schultz, community outreach coordinator for NISE. “We believe that authenticity and support for diversity are the cornerstones of a thriving, inclusive society.

Carter said the biggest need creating NISE addressed was the growth of Black and brown kids in the Fort Thomas Independent School District as well as those who identify as LGBTQ-plus.

“I still am the only Black educator in our district – and for many [students], the only Black person they’ve ever had a conversation with,” Carter said. “And so, their opinions or stereotypes or biases are formed from what they either hear from family

members that can be biased, or they’re seeing what’s on TV, and I always joke like, I don’t judge white people based off ‘Jersey Shore’; you can’t judge me based on what

She also said they wanted to create a safe space for kids who may be recognizing they are not heterosexual and exploring what that looks like, or who have identified as

Carter said NISE is also welcoming to all

Walsh said that, as a counselor, she would have kids coming back from their first year

es with people who didn’t look like them and didn’t know how to talk to them. “They versation,’ and I was like, ‘Well, they’re a person. Just talk to them, and they’re like, “I

“So, lots of kids coming back saying, we live in this wonderful community, but it’s very, very homogeneous,” Walsh said, “and so they weren’t able to see and understand that they could have conversations with

other people and not be offensive. They felt like they were going to be offensive. So, I think that was another thing that kept resonating with me.”

Walsh now works for the Council on Postsecondary Education, which is based in Frankfort. She said she was recently on a call about what current students want at universities.

“One of the things that [colleges] have found over the last couple of years that kids are asking them for is what organizations do you have on your campus where I can get involved and learn more about other people and give back. If they don’t have a good answer, they choose a different university. They’re looking for outlets to experience other things and to make connections with other people.”

Walsh said NISE is giving high school students that experience, which they can then apply when they go on to college.

The program at NISE starts with intersectionality, which helps students learn more about who they are. They also talk about understanding social constructs and the history of race. They try to hit on all LGBTQplus groups and spend time with the Holocaust and Humanity Center, based at the Museum Center in Cincinnati's Union Terminal.

NISE also tries to bring in guest speakers, such as a transgender man and a mental health expert.

“We recognize that our voice is not the endall be-all,” Carter said.

The ribbon cutting of the NISE building in Bellevue.

Trinity Walsh and NISE students at NKY Pride. Photo provided | NISE

NISE founders Trinity Walsh, left, and Elise Carter.

Master Provisions breaks ground in June on Independence facility

Master Provisions is scheduled to break ground on its expanded facility on June 27.

The ceremonial groundbreaking will take place at the 3.7-acre building site on 10205 Toebben Drive in Independence from 4 to 6 p.m. The event will include a celebration of Master Provisions’ 30th anniversary of service.

Originally started in 1994 to assist Ukraine after the fall of communism, Master Provisions has now grown to partner with over 270 local nonprofits. This collaborative approach ensures over 81,000 people across Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia are fed each month.

Master Provisions also supports nine international partners with needed clothing and supplies.

So far, Master Provisions has raised $5.2 million to enable them to build an expandable facility starting with approximately 30,000 square feet. Increased vertical racking capacity and more efficient workflow designs will expand warehouse operations and storage space.

EducateNKY hires

Calvo as new CEO; Haggard joins as VP

A local education nonprofit in Northern Kentucky is making a few internal changes.

EducateNKY announced June 4 that its consultant, Cheye Calvo with C Squared Strategies in California, will become the nonprofit’s president and CEO, taking the reins from Tim Hanner, a former Kenton

County Schools superintendent who has served as EducateNKY president and CEO since July.

Hanner will retire in July, and Calvo will start his new position effective Aug. 1. He will relocate with his family to NKY from San Jose, California.

Also joining EducateNKY is Tom Haggard. The Covington School Board chairman started April 15 as EducateNKY’s vice president of community engagement, development and advocacy.

EducateNKY Chairman Greg Fischer, also chairman of Fischer Homes, told LINK nky that Calvo and Haggard will continue the nonprofit’s mission of education innovation in the region.

“The leadership commitment and the broad community involvement to set a strategic direction both reflect our dedication to the children and families of Northern Kentucky and promise to continue our pursuit of educational innovation and excellence,” said Fischer. “With these changes, we are not just planning for the next chapter in our story: We are preparing to redefine what’s possible in education across our region.”

Calvo, a native of Maryland and a former mayor of Berwyn Heights there, has worked for numerous government organizations, most notably the National Conference of State Legislatures, where he was a policy expert in federal affairs. He also has partnered with communities nationwide, including Cincinnati, on education innovation as a leader of the nonprofit SEED Foundation.

“Having worked closely with Cheye over the

past 10 months, I am confident that he has the background, determination and disposition needed to enable powerful outcomes across schools, businesses, nonprofits, agencies and cities,” Hanner told LINK nky in a statement. “Cheye brings a wealth of relevant experience, but improving outcomes for young people is at his core.”

Haggard most recently served as executive director of the Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance, dedicated to quality afterschool and summer learning. He also oversaw afterschool and summer programs in Covington as the associate director of Covington Partners.

“I am thrilled to be joining the team at Educate NKY,” said Haggard. “If we are going to improve educational outcomes for all young people, we have to take a holistic, community-based approach, and that’s exactly what this organization is committed to accomplishing.”

Public works department in Fort Mitchel moves into bigger digs

Interior construction on the new public works building in Fort Mitchell is complete, and the Public Works Department has begun moving into the new space. It will settle in over the next month.

In the meantime, public works laborers may be less active on the streets and roads. Mayor Jude Hehman and Public Works Director Nick Tewes explained to LINK that they wanted to be methodical and organized in moving to the new space.

“Residents, council, please be patient with Public Works,” Hehman said at the June 3 council meeting. “They moved all of their equipment out of the old building, and now

they’ve got to put it back in the new one.”

The department long ago outgrew the space in the old public works garage, built in the 1980s, according to Tewes. For several years, the department has kept some equipment outdoors, exposed to the elements, because it didn’t have enough space inside.

“We were crammed in there,” Tewes said.

Construction began on upgrades to the old building in January. Those included adding 3,200 square feet of storage space to the garage, along with a break room for employees and four bay doors for easier loading. Additionally, there is a storage shed behind the building that adds another 400 square feet. This allows for all of the department’s equipment and materials to be inside.

Hehman and Tewes are enthusiastic that the new building will allow them to get the most out of their equipment and operate with more efficiency.

“Hopefully, we’ll be moved in by the end of the month,” Tewes told LINK. “We won’t be doing any major road projects right now. Any emergencies still take priority, but we’ll be reactive rather than proactive over the next month.”

Independence honors Thayer for service as he prepares for private life

Independence City Council on June 3 passed a proclamation honoring state Senator Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown) for his service in Frankfort. Thayer, the Senate’s floor majority leader, announced in December that he would not seek reelection.

“In seven elections, I’ve never lost a precinct in Independence,” Thayer said upon accepting the proclamation. “Never, never even came close to losing a precinct, and so I hope this community feels like its loyalty to me has been returned.”

Originally from Michigan, Thayer has represented Kentucky’s 17th Senate District, which includes a chunk of Kenton County, for over 20 years and has served as the

Continues on page 12

Learn more at NKYChamber.com/EncounterNKY

Interior of added storage to Fort Mitchell Public Works building. Photo by Kathleen Bryant | LINK nky

Master Provisions. Photo provided | Master Provisions

Cheye Calvo, new President/CEO of EducateNKY. Photo submitted by EducateNKY

floor majority leader since 2013, the longest tenure of any legislator in the position. His influence has led to the passage of significant economic policies in recent years, including right-to-work and repeal of the state’s prevailing wage. More recently, Thayer supported the passage of legal sports betting, which launched statewide and at retail locations in September.

In a December statement, Thayer said he made the decision not to seek reelection “after conversations with my adult children, close friends and colleagues.”

“There are exciting private sector opportunities I wish to pursue that will require more of my time and energy, which I am currently not afforded with the great responsibility that comes with being a member of our citizen legislature,” the veteran state lawmaker said at the time.

Kiana Fields (D-Georgetown) and Matt Nunn (R-Sadieville) will compete for the 17th District seat in November.

Independence’s proclamation lauded Thayer for his service as an advocate for Independence and highlighted his commitment to conservative principles, having been awarded various honors from the Kentucky League of Cities, the National Rifle Association and the Kentucky Travel Industry Association, among others.

In a brief speech after the proclamation,

Thayer highlighted some local successes, such as the expansion of Ky. 536 and other road projects.

Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman and city council members complimented Thayer’s reliability and accessibility for their communications and requests.

“I would text the senator, I mean, it might be 6:37 in the morning,” Reinersman said. “I’m driving to Frankfort, but I would send a text and say, ‘Hey, sorry about the last minute, but I really need to talk to you,’ and he would find a place within his very busy schedule, and I’d be in his office within a couple of hours.”

Disgraced NKY homebuilder

Bill Erpenbeck released from federal prison after 21 years

Disgraced Northern Kentucky developer and convicted felon Bill Erpenbeck has been released from prison.

Erpenbeck, 63, was released May 24 from a federal prison in Florida, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Erpenbeck, who was considered an upstanding member of the community in the early 2000s, pleaded guilty to defrauding banks of $34 million in April 2003. He was sentenced to 30 years in 2004, but a judge later cut some of that sentence off. He

served a little more than 21 years in total.

The homebuilder funneled proceeds from home closings back to his company and himself, allowing the developer to live a lavish lifestyle. Erpenbeck’s schemes led to hundreds of homebuyers on the hook for millions in unpaid mortgages. Some homeowners had to foreclose on their new homes, and subcontractors along with banks also saw major losses.

Erpenbeck’s convictions also led to the conviction of then-People’s Bank president John Finnan for his role in the fraud.

Years later, Erpenbeck’s protege, Michael “Mick” Kennedy, also pleaded guilty to the same crimes that put his former boss behind bars.

Learning Grove receives $125,000 grant to support outdoor learning space

Learning Grove was awarded a $125,000 grant to support a new, nature-based classroom in west Covington to encourage outdoor play and enrich students and families.

The PNC Foundation’s funding for the outdoor classroom is aligned with a grant pool that supports the development and enhancement of high-quality outdoor play and learning environments.

The funding is going toward a natural playscape that offers age-appropriate equipment and activities such as water and sensory tables, an interactive nature-based stone path, and a rolling hill and climbing area. Construction is anticipated to wrap up in the fall.

“Our outdoor spaces are so much more than playgrounds, which is why this grant from PNC Foundation is hugely important to us and to the children here,” said Shannon Starkey-Taylor, Learning Grove CEO. “Running, jumping, climbing, lifting, sharing, exploring – self-guided active play serves as a major component of physical and cognitive development, and we are tremendously grateful to PNC for their investment in the development of our children.”

Bridges Nepali Cuisine now open in Covington

Bridges Nepali Cuisine is now open in Covington, and the 7th Street restaurant held a soft opening on June 10.

“Covington, a taste of Nepali has arrived,” Bridges said in a Facebook post. “Join us for an unforgettable dining experience.”

The Covington location’s address is 11 W. 7th St. To order online, go to bridgesnepalicuisine.com.

now allows for Public Notices to be published digitally on LINK nky’s website. You can find public notices for the following organizations on our site at https://linkreader.column.us/search

• City of Ryland Heights

• City of Silver Grove

PUBLIC NOTICE

The City of Erlanger is accepting bids for the 2024-2025 Concrete Sidewalk Replacement Program. The bid advertisement may be viewed in full on the City’s website at erlangerky.gov and plans and specifications may be obtained from the office of the City Engineer, 466 Erlanger Road, Erlanger, KY 41018, 859727-3293, ext 2011.

•

• Campbell County Fiscal Court

• Campbell County Planning & Zoning

• Campbell County Public Library

• City of Alexandria

• City of Bellevue

• City of Cold Spring

• City of Covington

• City of Cresent Springs

• City of Crestview Hills

• City of Dayton

• City of Edgewood

• City of Elsmere

• City of Erlanger

• City of Florence

• City of Fort Mitchell

• City of Fort Thomas

• City of Fort Wright

• City of Highland Heights

• City of Independence

• City of Lakeside Park

• City of Ludlow

• City of Newport

• City of Southgate

• City of Union

• City of Villa Hills

• City Of Walton

• City of Wilder

• City of Woodlawn

• Covington Public Independent Schools

• Cresent Springs Board of Adjustment

• Family Dollar Store

• Fort Mitchell Board of Adjustment

• Fort Thomas Independent Schools

• Highland Heights Planning & Zoning

• Keating, Muething & Klekamp PLL

• Kenton County Fiscal Court

• Kenton County Joint Board of Adjustment

• Larry Dillon Boone County Master Commissioner

• Northern Kentucky Port Authority

• Northern Kentucky Water District

• Planning & Development Services of Kenton County

• The Baker Firm PLLC

• The Hidden Chapter Bookstore LLC

Movies in the Park, 7 p.m., Florence Nature Event Center, 7200 Nature Park Drive, Florence. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for a free showing of “Barbie.” Free popcorn available. Food also available from multiple food trucks. Information: 859-6475425, victoria.riley@ florence-ky.gov or florence-ky.gov.

Comedy @ Commonwealth: Michael Ian Black, 7 and 9:30 p.m., Commonwealth Sanctuary, 522 Fifth Ave., Dayton. Black is a multimedia talent who’s starred in numerous films and TV series, written or directed two films, is a prolific author and commentator, and regularly tours the country. Admission $25. Information: programming@commonwealthsanctuary.com or commonwealthsanctuary.com.

City-wide Yard Sale, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., across Fort Thomas. If you are interested in participating, email Melissa Beckett at mbeckett@ ftthomas.org to be added to the map.

Community @ Commonwealth: Summer Yard Sale, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Commonwealth Sanctuary, 522 Fifth Ave., Dayton. Presented in conjunction with the Bellevue/Dayton City Wide Yard Sale. Vendors, re-use backdrop for selfies, food, drinks and a rockin’ playlist to dance to. Information: programming@commonwealthsanctuary. com or commonwealthsanctuary.com.

Campbell County Board of Education meeting, 6-7 p.m., Alexandria Educational Center, 51 Orchard Lane, Alexandria. Information: campbell.kyschools.us/ board-of-education.

Edgewood City Council meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Edgewood City Building, 385 Dudley Road, Edgewood. Information: edgewoodky.gov/administration/agendas.

Fort Thomas City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., Fort Thomas City Building, 130 N. Fort Thomas Av., Fort Thomas. Information: ftthomas.org/mayorcouncil/ meetings-information.

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

Boone County Fiscal Court meeting, 5:307:30 p.m., Boone County Administration Building, 2950 Washington St., Burlington, 1st floor.

Florence City Council caucus meeting, 6-7 p.m., Florence City Building, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence. Information: florence-ky. gov/our-government/ minutes-archive.

Covington Commission caucus meeting, 6-7 p.m., Covington City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., Covington. Information: onboard.covingtonky. gov/board/5268.

Single mom meeting, 6-7:30 p.m., Fairlane Baptist Church, 12898 Herringer Road, Alexandria. Twice monthly meetings focus on health and wellness, budgeting and parenting. Meeting includes meal and child care.

Campbell County Fiscal Court meeting, 5:306:30 p.m., Campbell County Administration Building, 1098 Monmouth St., Newport. Information: campbellcountyky.gov.

Fort Wright caucus meeting, 6-7 p.m., Fort Wright City Building, 409 Kyles Lane, Fort Wright.

Villa Hills City Council meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Villa Hills City Building, 719 Rogers Road, Villa Hills. Information: villahillsky.org.

Southgate City Council meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Southgate City Building, 122 Electric Ave., Southgate. Information: southgateky.org/mayor-city-council.

Boone County Planning Commission meeting, 7-8 p.m., Boone County Administration Building, 2950 Washington St., Burlington.

NKYP Happy Hour, 5-7 p.m., DBL Law, 109 E. Fourth St., Covington. Joint networking event with Emerging Leaders of NKY. Information: 859-578-8800 or nkychamber.com/events.

Alexandria City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., Alexandria City Building, 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria.

Comedy @ Commonwealth: Ever Mainard, 7 p.m., Commonwealth Sanctuary, 522 Fifth Ave., Dayton. Mainard, a nonbinary, award winning actor, writer and comedian, performs at this fundraiser for QueerKY. Admission $20. Information: programming@commonwealthsanctuary.com or commonwealthsanctuary.com.

Renovated 1970s Fort Mitchell home

Address: 2437 Hampton Place, Fort Mitchell

Price: $750,000

Bedrooms: Five

Bathrooms: Three (plus one half-bath)

Square footage: 2,876

School district: Beechwood Independent County: Kenton

Special features: Built in 1970, this newly remodeled home offers plenty of natural light, high vaulted ceilings and open-concept living space. The home includes five bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms in its nearly 3,000 square feet of finished living space. It features a private setting on a little over a half-acre lot. The home offers a relaxing private space on the composite deck that wraps around the back of the house.

This remodeled Fort Mitchell offers nearly 3,000 square feet of finished living space. Photos provided | Brett Slusher with Huff Realty Sitting

By Maria Hehman

TCovington’s West Pike Street has options all day

his Streetscapes we head to West Pike Street in Covington for some sweet treats and casual eats. We’ll sample gelato at Golden Gelato, fried wings from the Red Bird Deli and omelets from Pike Street.

Golden Gelato

Sunny days should always start with a coffee and end with a sweet treat. Golden Gelato has Northern Kentucky covered on both fronts. Golden Gelato has nailed everything one wants from a dessert destination. Their small-batch gelato is thick, rich and creamy, with choices for all diets, including vegan and dairy-free gelatos and sorbets. Flavors rotate daily as well as with the season, but there are a few staples guests can always find, including a Biscoff and vegan dark chocolate sorbet.

Along with creamy dessert choices, Golden Gelato also serves Cincinnati-based Deeper Roots Coffee. This can be added to any gelato to create an affogato. Replace your post-night out espresso martini with an affogato and thank me later.

The ambiance is similar to a coffee shop’s, with ample seating both inside and outside that encourages guests to sit and chat while enjoying their treats.

The Red Bird Deli

The Red Bird Deli is a new spot for food that features burgers, sandwiches, salads and, most famously, wings. It joined the Cov-

ington food scene earlier this year. The Red Bird may catch a few passerbyers thanks to its bright red sign, or the smell of smoked meats may lure in a hungry guest or two.

The casual eatery’s simple interior has the basics: tables and chairs for seating, a chalkboard menu and a few pieces of artwork. The interior is neither divey nor diner; it gives off a vibe of eating in a good friend’s kitchen, warm and inviting. The food matches that level of love as well.

Red Bird’s meats are its main attraction –wings, ribs, steak, and chicken sandwiches and burgers to name a few. Meatless eaters can choose from salads, veggie and fried sides as well as “The Best Grilled Cheese Of Your Life,” a grilled cheese with tomato, onion and their special sauce. Add fries, fried Brussels sprouts or cheesy potatoes for a tasty meal.

It’s a great grab and go option for those needing a quick lunch or an easy weeknight dinner.

Pike Street is the third member of the Cedar and Yuka brunch family. Cedar, just down the road on Covington’s Main Street,

and Yuka on Fairfield Avenue in Bellevue, have flawlessly been serving Northern Kentucky “one hour vacations” for breakfast and brunch. It’s no surprise when Pike Street joined the fleet that they have been giving guests another place to relax for a midmorning meal.

Yuka and Cedar have nearly identical menus, but Pike Street’s small menu differs and matches its diner atmosphere. The ambiance is more laid back, with home cooked flavors to match. There’s barstool seating for those who want a quick bite or who’d like to watch their meals being made, and there’s ample seating for those wanting to throw on their comfiest clothes and indulge in their pancakes.

Pike Street’s biscuit bowl – biscuits, gravy, sunny egg and green onion – or their Pike Street hash – hash browns, house pork sausage, sauteed onions and bell peppers, remoulade, sunny egg and green onion – are options for a savory start to the day. Waffles, pancakes and French toast soothe the sweet tooth. Lunch features sandwiches and salads.

Pike Street serves breakfast cocktail favorites as well as coffee. Yuka and Cedar seem to have better ambiance for a boozy

breakfast, more lively and bustling, while Pike Street seems to give off a casual coffee breakfast vibe. But, hey, who am I to judge?

What to Know If You Go

Golden Gelato

Location: 130 W. Pike St., Covington

Hours: Monday closed; Tuesday-Thursday, noon-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.

Website: goldengelatocov.com

Phone: 859-360-3709

The Red Bird Deli

Location: 329 W. Pike St., Covington

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

Phone: 859-360-0416

Pike Street

Location: 9 W. Pike St., Covington

Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Phone: 859-279-3858

Pike Street

Coffee from Pike Street, a cozy diner along Pike Street.

Classic diner seating at Pike Street lets guests watch meals being prepared.

Fried Brussels sprouts and French fries from the Red Bird Deli.

“The Best Grilled Cheese of Your Life” from the Red Bird Deli. Photos by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

By Marc Hardin

N2024 a banner year for local high school softball

orthern Kentucky boasts the high school softball player with the highest batting average in the commonwealth. Two other locals are among Kentucky’s top 15 hitters. Two more rank among statewide leaders in home runs. The area features a player in the top 10 in triples, slugging percentage, RBI and ERA. There are two local pitchers ranking among the top 10 in strikeouts.

Who are these Northern Kentucky softball standouts, and where do they play? We provide the answers while putting a bow on the 2024 season. The year wraps up with the state championship game June 15 at the University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium. Three-time defending 9th Region champion Highlands is the lone local team appearing in the state tournament.

The eye-popping stat this softball season

belongs to Walton-Verona’s Dani Oldfield. She hit .711 to lead Kentucky, sending officials to the record books. The 8th Region star’s nearest local competitors: Scott’s Emerson Morman at .582 and Highlands’ Michele Barth at .578.

The KHSAA lists Knott County Central’s Heather Click as the single-season record-holder with a .709 batting average in 2006. But that hasn’t been updated. Model’s Anniston Bray batted .750 in 2022.

Oldfield’s 22 doubles rank third statewide and first in Northern Kentucky. Her slugging percentage of 1.276 ranks sixth in Kentucky and leads the area. Oldfield is a Northern Kentucky Softball Coaches Association Division II first-team selection as a senior. The Bearcats haven’t had a losing season with her under three-year coach Natalie Meadows.

Simon Kenton advanced to the 8th Region

tournament for the ninth straight season, but the Pioneers and Bearcats were upstaged in the 32nd District tournament by champion Grant County. The Braves feature NKSCA Division I player of the year Brianna Knochelman. Simon Kenton’s Emilie Young, Landrey Dance, Taylor Jones and Larkin Mitchell are NKSCA all-Division I selections.

“It was exciting to see the growth of our program in the 8th Region,” coach Chris Young said. “We have turned the corner and started to compete with some of the top teams who are also top teams in the state. Our program will have a hard time replacing Dance and Young. The return of Jones and Mitchell will be a big step in filling that void and continuing our program’s growth.”

Campbell County won a seventh straight 37th District title. The Camels advanced to the 10th Region tournament for the 12th straight year thanks in part to Hope Hamilton, among state leaders with a .531 average. She’s one of three Camels who are D-1 all-stars.

“The 10th region definitely had some outstanding pitching. Each of these teams also possesses high powered offenses,” Camels coach Sandi Kitchen said. “Our offense was no slouch, and leading for us was Hope Hamilton. She also did an outstanding job in the circle. Sam Perry was outstanding at shortstop. Josie Feebeck is a key ingredient to our success. The best part is these girls will be returning for us next season.”

Also in the 37th District, Bishop Brossart’s Maddie Kremer is the local Division III player of the year. She ranks among state leaders with 15 doubles. Teammates Leah Robinson and Rachel Shewmaker are D-3 first-team picks.

The 9th Region showed its power in 2024. Dixie Heights’ Skylar Mitchell belted an area-high 13 home runs, ranking 13th statewide. Payton Brown from Highlands was right behind with 12 homers. Brown ranks fifth statewide with 10 triples. She’s 13th in runs, 14th in slugging percentage, 15th in RBI and 18th in homers.

Highlands’ Michelle Barth ranks third in Kentucky in RBI, 13th in batting average, 14th in hits, 16th in slugging, 26th in doubles and 35th in homers. Barth is the local Division II player of the year. Coach Milt Horner features five Bluebirds on the all-Division II team. They include Brown, Barth, Bailey Markus, Cam Markus and pitcher Kaitlyn Dixon. Horner thinks the 9th Region upped its game this year and is impressed by the region tournament semifinalists.

“Chris Schreiber got a lot out of Notre Dame, a team that hasn’t been that far in the regional in a few years,” Horner said of the finalist. “Rusty Scott and Cooper did a great job after they lost their top pitcher. Shawn Sproles took Conner to the regional for the first time in several years.”

Conner pitcher Mollie Sharp ranks fifth in Kentucky with a 1.03 ERA. Notre Dame’s

Abby Turnpaugh is 11th. Highlands’ Dixon ranks 18th. Dixon is 14th with 21 wins. Sharp and Dixon are in a tie for eighth with 284 strikeouts. Turnpaugh, Villa Madonna’s Cam Kratzer, Evie Thomas of Holy Cross and Ryle’s Maddie Goddard also rank among strikeout leaders.

“There’s a lot of great talent up here,” coach Horner said. “I don’t think the rest of the state appreciates Northern Kentucky teams. They’ll fight you tooth and nail.”

Pitcher Mollie Sharp with her microscopic ERA winds and delivers in the circle for the Conner Cougars. Photo by Sally Schaefer | LINK nky

Highlands standout Michelle Barth, in catcher’s gear, leads the three-time defending 9th Region champion and its fleet of local all-stars. Photo by Ray Schaefer | LINK nky

Dani Oldfield of Walton-Verona is an 8th Region softball standout and Kentucky’s leading hitter, according to KHSAA statistics. Photo provided | Walton-Verona Softball

Simon Kenton head coach Chris Young, right, stands next to daughter Emilie Young during a Pioneers softball game. Photo provided | Simon Kenton softball Facebook page

Ryle, Highlands, Simon Kenton claim regional titles

The Ryle and Simon Kenton baseball teams and the Highlands softball team were winners of their respective regions and advanced to the state tournament.

For Ryle, it was their first 9th Region title since 2013, taking out Dixie Heights, 2-1, in the June 1 championship game. Sam Eppley was named tournament MVP.

Simon Kenton claimed its first 8th Region title since 2017 with a 6-2 victory over Woodford County on June 1. Logan Cones was named tournament MVP.

Highlands earned a three-peat in the 9th Region with a 6-2 victory over Notre Dame on May 29. Michelle Barth earned tournament MVP honors.

All three teams advance to their respective state tournaments in Lexington.

CovCath a repeat state tennis champ with wins in Lexington

The large banner proclaimed the University of Kentucky’s Back-2-Back Southeastern Conference men’s tennis tournament championships and the Wildcats’ regular season title.

Covington Catholic repurposed it June 4.

The Colonels won their second straight boys team title at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. CovCath beat Louisville St. Xavier 3-1 in the semifinals and shut out McCracken County, 3-0, in the finals.

CovCath not only won its second title in school history – the Colonels became the first school besides St. Xavier to win at least two in a row since Louisville Trinity did it from 1991-1993 – it did it with only 10 players on the roster. Pretty impressive considering St. Xavier lists 33 players and McCracken has 17.

The tournament featured a return to a team format that featured three singles players and two doubles teams; the first to win three takes the match.

CovCath clinched the 2023 team title when Kalei Christensen and Alex Yeager won the doubles. Christensen thought this year’s win was much more satisfying.

The Colonels didn’t need state singles runner-up Brady Hussey to take down St. Xavier – not when Yeager beat Mac Bowman (6-0, 6-0) in No. 2 singles, Christensen and Blake Hussey defeated Aditya Shah and Walker Bush (7-5, 6-2) in No. 1 doubles, and Jacob Kramer and Will Tribble bested Henry Wagner and Nolin Underhill (6-3, 6-1) in No. 2 doubles.

Brady Hussey won the first set over Will Lewis, 7-5. He broke Lewis’ serve for a 2-0 lead in the second set when CovCath clinched the win.

St. Xavier’s lone victory came in third singles; Jacob Ray beat Owen Erpenbeck, 6-1, 6-1.

McCracken County was a surprise finalist; Hertsenberg thought North Oldham would be the opponent.

From the opening serve, it seemed as if either a CovCath player, parent or other grown-up hollered “Let’s Go Colonels!” every 10 seconds. It forevermore worked against the Mustangs.

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Start with Brady Hussey. In his final high school match, he took down Aaron Lundberg, 6-1, 6-0.

Tribble and Kramer beat Conner Campbell and Jack Thompson, 6-0, 6-1, for the second point. At around 1:09 p.m. Christensen and Yeager, who claimed their second straight individual state championship last week, gave the Colonels the team title when they beat Wyatt Crabtree and Hayden Taylor, 6-0, 6-1.

CovCath graduated four seniors – Brady Hussey, Scheper, Erpenbeck and Jacob Brown.

Newport’s Kinney going international on USA U17 team

Newport High School basketball standout Tay Kinney has been invited to participate at the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s U17 National Team training camp. It’s a 36-player camp at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Kinney is a rising junior for the two-time defending 9th Region champion Wildcats. He averaged a team-best 17.5 points per game his sophomore season.

Camp begins June 15. A 12-member team will be announced later in June. Team USA plays in the 2024 FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup June 29-July 7 in Istanbul.

Training camp participants represent high school graduating classes of 2025 and 2026. Selections are made by the USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team Committee. Camp will be led by 2024 USA Men’s U17 National Team head coach Sharman White (Pace Academy, Georgia). He’s assisted by Scott Fitch (Fairport High, New York) and Chet Mason (Brush High, Ohio).

Team USA has won the gold medal at each FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup. This dates back to 2010. The U.S. has not dropped a game in tournament history, going 44-0 all-time with six consecutive gold medals. The seventh FIBA Men’s U17 World Cup features 16 teams worldwide. All advance to the single-elimination tournament following group play.

Team USA plays France in its opening game June 29 at 10:30 a.m. EDT. Team USA faces Guinea July 1 at 8 a.m. EDT. Group B play closes for the team against China July 2 at 5:30 a.m. EDT. The U.S. is 4-0 all-time against China.

Walton-Verona introduces new football coach

Gary Pence was introduced as Walton-Verona’s new head football coach June 4 at the high school commons. Pence, a longtime Cooper assistant, replaces 15-year coach Jeff Barth, who recently resigned.

Pence’s 10 years as Cooper assistant were punctuated by last season’s Class 5A state championship game appearance by the Jaguars. He held roles as freshman head coach and junior varsity head coach while also acting as varsity assistant. As an assistant, he was special teams coordinator and helped with the offense.

Barth won a school-record 117 games with a .650 winning percentage. He put together 13 straight non-losing seasons at Walton-Verona. A 6-6 finish in 2015 was the only year he didn’t have a winning record in that span.

Highlands catcher Michelle Barth leads the Bluebirds’ celebration of their third straight 9th Region title. Ray Schaefer | LINK nky contributor

Covington Catholic beat St. Xavier and McCracken County to claim its second straight title. Ray Schaefer | LINK nky contributor

Newport’s Tay Kinney is trying out for the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s U17 National Team in Colorado. Photo provided | Jenna Richey

Gary Pence is the third head football coach in Walton-Verona program history. Photo provided | Walton-Verona

By Rebecca Hanchett

KKy.’s GED pass rate beats U.S. average

entucky is ahead of the nation when it comes to the percentage of students passing the GED test, state lawmakers heard June 4. State education officials say more progress is needed, though.

The state had a 79% pass rate for the general educational development test – the GED – in fiscal year 2023 compared to a pass rate of 75% nationally, the Kentucky Office of Adult Education told the state legislative Interim Joint Committee on Education on June 4. Although the commonwealth was ahead of the nation, adult education officials said the state pass rate needs to be at least six percentage points higher to maintain GED attainment goals.

“Where we really need to be is 85% and up in order for us to continue to reduce that number [who don't pass],” state adult education executive director Dr. John Gregory told the committee.

Kentucky is currently at 72.3% of its GED attainment goal for fiscal year 2024, Gregory said, with 2,602 GEDs attained so far. The statewide goal this year is 3,600. That goal was set by state officials after considering baseline data from other states.

“Hopefully, we can get north of 3,300” for 2024, Gregory told lawmakers, although it may be a challenge.

In Northern Kentucky, Gateway Community and Technical College adult education met 48.6% of its recent GED attainment goals – or 106 GEDs attained versus a goal of 218, according to a state adult education feedback report overseen by the Kentucky Center for Statistics. (The report dashboard says the data was up to date as of May 15; most data on the dashboard dates to 2022). Although the report doesn’t list specific GED attainment barriers, Gregory said the cost of the test – $144 for the full test or $36 for each of four subtests – has been a barrier in the past.

The state covers the cost of an individual’s first GED test in each subject area, plus

limited retakes while funding is available. To qualify, individuals must pass the GED Ready Official Practice Test (which is free).

Eliminating what is a hefty test fee for many is having an impact, Gregory said. “That has been a significant windfall because that is no longer a barrier,” he told lawmakers. “That’s going to be one of the stepping stones for us to exceed and go beyond our goal.”

There are other barriers, too. Having a low income was the most reported barrier to employment overall (not specifically to GED attainment) among those enrolled in Gateway’s adult education programs, and statewide between 2019 and 21, according to the feedback report data from 2022.

For those enrolled in Gateway adult education, 23.8% that were enrolled during the 2019-21 time frame reported a low income as a barrier to employment. Being a single parent (13.7%) was the second most reported barrier.

National research has shown a correlation between poverty and employment barriers. A 2019 report in the Economic Review (Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City) shared by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2020 found individuals living in poverty are less likely to work than people in higher income areas due to a lack of resources and access to decent paying jobs.

Getting a GED is a first step in the adult education process for those without a high school diploma, Gregory told lawmakers, calling it a “bridging strategy” for what’s possible.

“There is a significant piece as far as persons who have not completed the high school process. But that is a bridging strategy to transition into the college space –whether you are trying to go the traditional route or get some kind of vocational training,” Gregory said. “It is GED and beyond.”

For more information about GED testing in NKY, contact Gateway Adult Education at the email addresses or phone numbers listed at gateway.kctcs.edu.

A student celebrates receiving a diploma. Photo provided | Albert Vincent Wu via Unsplash

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