LINK Kenton Reader, Volume 4, Edition 40 - September 4, 2026 by LINK nky

KENTON

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 40 — SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

THE VOICE OF NKY

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How a Boone County sewer project could end up before the KY Supreme Court

Boone County naturalist’s attempt to prevent Sanitation District No. 1 from taking her land for a massive sewer project could end up before the Kentucky Supreme Court. The legal battle focuses on SD1’s use of eminent domain, wherein a government agency takes private property for a public use in exchange for compensation, to expropriate chunks of land it needs for the sewer construction. The land belongs to Gayle Pille, a naturalist and writer who has contributed to, and even led, various environmental projects in the region over the last 35 years. “I love nature, I love wildlife, and this cuts right through my soul,” Pille said. “This cuts just right in the heart.” Now, after two years of legal battles, Pille is hoping the Kentucky Supreme Court will take up her case. The fight demonstrates the tensions that can arise when issues of public infrastructure, environmental risk Continues on page 3

Gayle Pille weeds a bed of wildflowers she planted. Photo taken in 1993. Photo by Joe Munson | Kentucky Post, provided by Kenton County Public Library

Want to live with 1,400 dummies? This Fort Mitchell ventriloquist museum is hiring By Nathan Granger

ent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, which touts itself as “the world’s only museum dedicated to ventriloquism,” is seeking a new curator. The museum has roughly 1,400 dummies and puppets in its collection, plus thousands of books and photographs. “We still get about 20 to 25 donated a year, and so it’s a constantly growing collection,” said Lisa Sweasy, the current curator, who is retiring.

W.S. Berger outside of his garage in 1947. Photo provided | Vent Haven Museum

Sweasy’s primary profession is actually teaching, but she began working at the museum in 2000. She’s served on the museum’s board of directors for 13 years and will continue serving on the board once

she steps away as curator. The curator position is officially the only employee of the museum. As curator, she has to “wear all the hats of caring for the residence, which is here on site, and the building itself, caring for the collection, cataloging all of the items,” she said. “I’m a librarian, and I’m a documentarian, and I do preservation of everything. I’m also the public face, so I’m the one giving the tours.” The museum is open from May through September every year, and admission is entirely tour based; there are no walk-in hours. “I give tours four days a week, usually two a day,” Sweasy said. “I get people from all over.” Continues on page 5

How one woman is building bridges through travel p6 Independence to remove Flock cameras p7 Saying goodbye to one of the world’s greatest performers p10

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and private economic expansion meet. If the state’s highest court ever takes the case up, it could set a precedent for how government agencies employ eminent domain in the future. The master plan PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling COMMUNITY EDITOR Christian LeDuc SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison The LINK nky Kenton Reader, (ISSN 3064-7460) is published weekly except 1st Friday in Jan & July by LINK Media, LLC., 7766 Ewing Blvd., Suite 350, Florence, KY 41042. Periodicals postage is paid at Florence, KY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The LINK nky Kenton Reader, 523 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor, Covington, KY 41011. 859-878-1669 | www.LINKnky.com

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Pille owns about 45 acres of land in central Boone County. The property contains a section of Woolper Creek, a large tributary of the Ohio River, which will run adjacent to the new sewer project. Pille purchased the land, she said, to protect the watershed and local wildlife. She hoped to bequeath it to the Boone Conservancy as a nature preserve when she dies. Pille began contacting SD1 and its leadership in 2021 when she first heard about the potential for a sewer project in the central county, at first pointing out that many of the residents in that area relied on septic tanks and had no need for sewers. She also elaborated on what she hoped to accomplish with the land. “I bought the property because it was mostly wooded with this beautiful stream running through it, however parts of the stream were badly impacted by livestock,” Pille writes in a 2021 letter to the SD1 Board of Directors. “I worked hard, planting well over 1,000 trees, native grasses and wildflowers, native shrubs and River Cane to restore the riparian habitat. The stream, as it runs through my property and others, is absolutely beautiful. I don’t want to see that damaged in any way.” SD1 is under a federal mandate to improve waste water infrastructure in its service area. Many of the region’s sewer networks use old combined sewer systems, which convey both waste water and storm water in the same system. This can lead to flooding. Many of SD1’s projects focus on addressing this problem. The agency has been considering ways to address sewer overflow in central Boone County since at least 2017. A report from that year pitched a handful of alternatives for addressing sewer overflow, one of which resembles the current sewer plan. Another alternative considers upgrading SD1’s Bullittsville Pumping Station to better handle overflows, a plan that was elaborat-

A map showing the portion of the sewer project approved on July 21, 2026. Map provided | Sanitation District No. 1

ed upon in the agency’s subsequent 2021 Updated Watershed Plan. The Bullittsville Pumping Station upgrades were eventually discarded, however. This is notable because the Bullittsville Pumping Station upgrade alternative would have left Pille’s land untouched while still satisfying the federal decree. This would later become a point of contention in the legal fight. The plan SD1 eventually went with has been dubbed the Central Boone County Sewer Master Plan. The fourth and likely final construction phase of the master plan project was approved at the SD1 Board of Directors meeting on July 21. The phase approved in July is the northernmost phase of the project and measures about 17,250 linear feet, according to board memos. Phases 2 and 3 of the project are already under construction, and the first phase has been sent out to bid with construction scheduled to begin in October. Documents from SD1 put the most up-to-date projected cost for the entire project at just under $40 million. Once complete, the master plan project will “relieve future capacity pressures on existing pump stations by re-directing flows from Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (in Villa Hills) to Western Regional Water Reclamation Facility (in Pe-

tersburg) while also supporting Boone County’s growth priority areas,” according to a memo presented to the board before July’s meeting. “With the four phases, we will eliminate 1.2 million gallons of sanitary sewer overflow,” said SD1 Project Manager Craig Frye. It’s clear from the text of Pille’s petition to the Supreme Court, however, that she suspects private development pressures may have had a hand in the current plan. It even becomes an argument in the petition. Continues on page 4

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 3

Continued from page 3

pipe cracks or leaks, it could discharge raw sewage into the stream for weeks, months or even years before it’s detected. Furthermore, fixing a buried pipe involves heavy construction within the stream, causing more negative environmental impact. This would also cause tremendous loss of wildlife habitat for the aquatic life and animals that use the stream for food and water.”

“[SD1] has no power to condemn private property to engage in residential or commercial development itself nor to assist others engaged in residential or commercial development,” the petition reads. The expectation of future economic development in the central county at the very least contextualizes the project. The 2021 Updated Watershed Plan marks that area as among the county’s projected areas for future growth for 2040. The area in question is set off in blue on the map below.

Her correspondence also referenced SD1’s work along Banklick Creek, which, according to Pille, “resulted in multiple leaks, manhole lids being blown off by storms and sewage overflows, manholes collapsing, landslides (with one landslide restricting the width of the creek to only about a foot wide), and about a half-mile of sewer pipe laid above-ground for at least 10 years.”

One of the region’s major real estate developers, Arlinghaus (and its subsidiaries), owns several large, undeveloped land parcels within the Woolper Creek watershed, according to Boone County property records. The land is set off in blue on the map below. One of SD1’s board members, Jill Bezold, is a manager for Arlinghaus. She recused herself from July’s vote.

A map marking areas of future economic growth in Sanitation District No. 1’s service area by 2040. Map provided | Sanitation District No. 1

Cost also contextualizes the plan’s current form.

phase approved in July will be paid for entirely out of SD1’s pocket.

inates the need for several future capital projects.”

A June 2021 letter from Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore to the Northern Kentucky Area Development District, to which SD1 Executive Director Adam Chaney is CC’d, describes how the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority had put out a call for sewer and clean water projects. A subsequent memo to the SD1 Board, put out only a month later, indicates the federal government had disbursed about $4.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funding to the infrastructure authority specifically for Boone County to be used for sewer and water projects.

Ellerman admitted cost played a role in the plan taking shape, but he argued it’s not the only reason.

In order to build the sewer, SD1 had to secure seven easements to build on parts of Pille’s property. It tried to convince Pille to give them up willingly at first by offering her a payment of $22,100 to purchase the easements, according to a letter sent to Pille by the agency’s law firm in July 2024.

Moore’s letter indicates a proposal to use the ARPA funds as a match for an even larger grant to bankroll the early parts of the sewer project. SD1’s attorney Brian Ellerman stated SD1 had received about $10.6 million in ARPA funds to date for the project, although that funding isn’t evenly distributed across the project’s phases. The

“Rather than continuing to rely on a series of interconnected pump stations and force mains through established neighborhoods, the selected alternative redirects flows through a regional conveyance system to the Western Regional Water Reclamation Facility, where treatment capacity is available,” Ellerman said. “The plan also elim-

“After considering constructability, lifecycle costs, long-term operations, environmental impacts, system resiliency and regulatory requirements, SD1 determined the Central Boone County Master Plan provided the best overall solution,” Ellerman said. Ellerman also explained the current plan is less structurally complicated than the alternatives.

When Pille didn’t respond one way or another, SD1 took her to court. Condemnation SD1 sued Pille in Boone County Circuit Court in August 2024 to condemn her property in order to take the areas marked for easement, according to court records. Pille requested a hearing to unpack the evidence in early January 2025. During the hearing, Pille performed a long cross-examination of Lydia Watkins, SD1’s senior director of engineering, mostly about the 2017 report detailing the various options for addressing sewer overflow in the central county, especially the Bullittsville Pumping Station plan.

Reporting from LINK nky‘s content-sharing partner WCPO in 2017 references a spill in Bancklick Creek that same year, which “happened because a temporary pump, installed when a pipe was being repaired in the creek, failed. The spill killed fish and left sewage in and around the creek in late summer.” The appeals court also ruled in SD1’s favor in April of this year. Ellerman responded to the environmental concerns in an email to LINK. “Restoration plans have been developed for each stream crossing, and the temporary construction corridor was reduced from approximately 100 feet to 40 feet in many locations to minimize vegetation impacts and tree removal,” said Ellerman. “The project has been coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Kentucky Division of Water and other regulatory agencies, with environmental review and permitting incorporated throughout the design process.” There is no guarantee that the Supreme Court will hear Pille’s case, and the project will move forward while everyone waits. “If the court determines that the public entity has the right to take, then the public entity can continue with the project,” Ellerman said at the July SD1 board meeting.

Boone County Circuit Court Judge James Schrand ruled in favor of SD1 on March 21, 2025, essentially stating that the public need for the sewer was enough for SD1 to condemn Pille’s property. “Court finds SD1 has proven a public need to condemn Ms. Pille’s property,” Schrand writes in his opinion. “It is not arbitrary the Defendant has not provided the Court with evidence of fraud, bad faith or abuse of discretion to the extent necessary to challenge such a taking. Monetary damages are a matter to be determined by a Jury and do not rise to the level necessary to disrupt the right to take.” Pille appealed the following April and continued to send letters to SD1 highlighting her environmental concerns.

The Western Regional Water Reclamation Facility in Petersburg. Photo provided | Sanitation District No. 1

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“Stream crossings run major risks,” Pille writes in an August 2025 letter. “If a buried

A map showing land owned by Arlinghaus or its subsidiaries, set off in blue, along Woolper Creek. Map provided | Boone County GIS

Continued from page 1

The collection was started by a man named W.S. Berger, a commercial tile maker who died in 1972. He’s buried in Highland Cemetery. He was not a professional ventriloquist himself, but his father was a stage actor. Thus, Berger had been exposed to Vaudevillian entertainment, including ventriloquists, throughout his youth. He bought his first dummy from a New York magic shop in 1910 and by the time of his death he had amassed a collection of about 500 dummies and puppets, plus other materials that came with them. Berger had hoped to bequeath the collection to his grandson, but his grandson actually died before he did. So, the collection went to his attorney, John Brooking, who helped set up a charitable trust to manage Berger’s assets. The museum itself opened in June 1973. The collection has only grown since Berger’s death. Today the total count of dummies and puppets stands at 1,377. “[Berger] kept carbon copies of his own letters, so we have all of his correspondence for acquisitions,” Sweasy said. “We have a library of over 2,000 books on ventriloquism and magic. We have 27,000 photographs in our database. It’s just this massive collection.”

“It’s such a unique situation, and it’s a little gem in Fort Mitchell,” said Annie Roberts, who formerly served as curator and is now on the museum’s board of directors. Like Sweasy, Roberts has a background as a teacher and compared the position of curator to being an educator. “We’re looking for someone who maybe has a teaching background to teach the public about ventriloquism,” Roberts said, “but also someone who has organization skills because behind the scenes there are the museum tasks of archiving and organizing the databases and maintaining the collection.” Full disclosure: The position isn’t paid, but the curator is provided free housing, a four-bedroom house in Fort Mitchell, no less. “We’re looking for someone who is excited to learn about ventriloquism [and] excited to share how awesome this collection is with people who don’t know anything about it,” said Roberts. You can learn more about the museum, book a tour and read the full job description for the curator position at venthaven. org.

Museum goers admire the Vent Haven collection. Photo provided | Annie Roberts

But a small portion of the roughly 1,400 dummies at the Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum in Fort Mitchell. Photo provided | Annie Roberts

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 5

From Northern Kentucky to Morocco:

How one woman is building bridges through travel By Riley Ginn

olling hills and river towns in Northern Kentucky may not reveal miles of sand dunes stretching into the sea. However, one local woman, Nancy Yee, has silently worked behind the scenes to create a cultural bridge connecting NKY’s rolling hills to the sunkissed Sahara Desert of Morocco. Yee, founder of Open Doors Morocco, LLC, based in Edgewood, has spent over 10 years guiding American and European travelers to Morocco. She focuses on authentic experiences, often arranging visits to living rooms, kitchens and mountain villages.

However, before she guided travelers across Morocco, she grew up in rural Indiana. Raised in Roachdale, Indiana, she graduated from North Putnam Junior-Senior High School, where her graduating class numbered only 86 students. She then attended the University of Kentucky and earned a degree in elementary education. Afterward, she completed a graduate program in education and community clinical counseling in Cincinnati. Her early career included working in classrooms and in educational publishing, fields she says helped shape her understanding of culture, human development and connection.

Yee’s educational background later shaped her approach to tourism. Instead of a transactional business-customer relationship, her company prioritizes creating genuine connections, giving clients an authentic experience with the people and culture. Her turning point came in 2014 during a visit to a friend in Morocco. What began as a simple trip quickly became something more — a completely new life in a different country. “I love this country. I love the people,” said Yee. She maintained contact with her original Moroccan guide, who accompanied her on her first visit. After leaving Morocco, she discovered what she calls systemic issues in the tourism industry. “Most companies are not even legal,” she said. “Drivers aren’t paid fairly. They survive on commissions from tourist shops.” Unwilling to support that model, she and her Moroccan partner Raseed — who guided Nancy on her first trip — created a legally compliant U.S.-based company. This company contracts with a Moroccan transport firm and emphasizes fair wages, local sourcing and authentic community experiences, with a special focus on empowering women and single mothers.

Nancy Yee (middle) beside two Moroccan men, dressed in traditional Moroccan desert clothing, Photo provided | Nancy Yee

Nancy Yee in Morocco. Photo provided | Nancy Yee

Her client base, mainly Americans, Canadians and Australians, has steadily expanded through referrals and social media. A notable partnership with The Giving Lens, which involved photographers teaching children in Moroccan villages, stands out. This collaboration also had a personal impact on her life: she met her future husband, Australian photographer Andy, during one of these tours. As demand increases, she is broadening her destinations to include Egypt, Jordan, Greece and Portugal, while Morocco remains her primary focus.

“We provide amazing experiences for foreigners while paying fair wages,” she said. “Responsible tourism is huge for us.”

“I basically go by what people say they want to do,” she said. “But the heart of it will always be Morocco.”

Open Doors Morocco, LLC usually takes 10 to 14 days to guide travelers from Marrakech through the Atlas Mountains and south to the Sahara Desert near Merzouga. Guests enjoy cooking traditional meals, hiking in villages, and occasionally sharing dinner at a local host’s home.

Although her tours take place thousands of miles away, she emphasizes that her core work is rooted in NKY. Her experience in education and counseling influences how she equips travelers for authentic cultural exchanges.

“People aren’t getting dragged around to tourist traps,” she said. “They’re getting authentic, real experiences.”

“When people from here experience another culture deeply, it changes how they see the world,” she said. “And that always comes back home with them.”

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Independence to remove Flock cameras

Flock camera. Photo provided | Mother Flocker via Unsplash

Staff Report

he mayor of Independence announced in a written statement Aug. 24 that the city would “immediately begin the process of removing the Flock Safety cameras from the City of Independence.” “Good government requires more than simply making the decision we believe is best,” writes Mayor Chris Reinersman. “It also requires listening to the people we were elected to serve.” Independence was one of the first cities in Northern Kentucky to employ Flock Safety products, trialing them for the first time in 2023. The police department contracted with Flock Safety for 10 automatic license

plate readers in 2024 and then added five more in 2025, according to contracts LINK nky obtained through a public records request. The city contracted for another five in June of this year. Independence Police Chief Brian Ferayorni said that 17 were recently in use.

ers expressed worries about the security of the collected data, as well as broader concerns about mass surveillance and privacy.

The city council recently held a public meeting to get residents’ input on the use of the devices. Although the police and mayor believed they were useful tools for investigating crime, none of the numerous residents who attended the meeting favored their use. Many residents didn’t take personal issue with the Independence Police Department but worried the devices’ use could expand in the event of a contract change, a new slate of city council members, or if Flock Safety gets bought out. Oth-

In his statement, Reinersman says that his position on the use of the devices has not, in fact, changed, in spite of the public outcry.

Three city council members also came out explicitly against the devices at a recent meeting.

“I want to be clear that my position on the cameras themselves has not changed,” Reinersman writes. “I continue to believe our original decision to utilize this technology was a sound one. I do not believe the cameras pose the threat to personal privacy or potential for widespread abuse that

has sometimes been portrayed, particularly on social media. More importantly, they have proven their value on multiple occasions over the past few years as an effective tool for our law enforcement officers, with none of the feared consequences.” “While I personally continue to believe the cameras can be a valuable and appropriate law enforcement tool, I also believe strongly that elected officials must respect the will of the people they represent,” Reinersman also writes. “We were elected to serve the residents of Independence, and when our community speaks this clearly, we have an obligation to listen.”

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

kenton county briefs KY Rep. Stephanie Dietz honored as ‘Friend of Kentucky Cities’

in the region are either members of the league or employ its services. “We are pretty picky,” said Gracie Kelly, the league’s director of government affairs. “You either have to sponsor one of our bills, be a key member of leadership or help us with a very important issue or issues throughout the legislative session.” Dietz had sponsored two of the league’s bills, one about first responder funding and another about occupational taxes, in the most recent legislative session, but neither of them was passed into law. Of the league’s bills, 15 passed through the legislature this year, Kelly said.

From left to right: Covington City Commissioner James Toebbe, Covington City Commissioner Tim Acri, KLC Director of Government Affairs Gracie Kelly, Kentucky Rep. Stephanie Dietz, Covington Mayor Ron Washington, Covington Vice Mayor Shannon Smith and Covington City Commissioner Tim Downing. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Kentucky Rep. Stephanie Dietz, a Republican from Edgewood, was honored as a “Friend of Kentucky Cities” Aug. 25 in Covington. The award was issued by the Kentucky League of Cities, a membership-based advocacy organization that lobbies for legislation that favors cities. Most of the cities

“Sometimes it’s not necessarily about getting the bill passed, but it’s maybe a message that’s sent when we filed the bill,” Dietz said. Dietz represents Kentucky House District 65, which includes a chunk of central Kenton County.

Elsmere, Norfolk Southern seek fix for bridge that fire trucks can’t cross The City of Elsmere and Norfolk Southern announced Aug. 21 that they had established a new partnership to address ongoing concerns about the Garvey Avenue Bridge.

The bridge recently had its weight rating reduced by the state, making it impossible for the city’s fire trucks to use the bridge. “The City of Elsmere and Norfolk Southern share a New signage for updated responsibility to Garvey Avenue Bridge bring this matter to weight capacity. Photo a close, and we are by Astrid Coste | LINK nky contributor working together with urgency and purpose,” said Mayor Marty Lenhof in the announcement. “Our residents deserve dependable access and safe infrastructure. We appreciate Norfolk Southern’s partnership and remain committed to taking the steps necessary to reach a permanent and responsible solution. We also thank our community for standing with us as we navigate this challenge, your patience and support make a tremendous difference.” The bridge’s weight rating was reduced from 27 tons to 13 tons by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in late July, following a recent structural analysis. At the time, city leaders expressed worry the weight limit reduction would restrict emergency vehicles’ ability to move through the city quickly as Garvey Avenue is one of the city’s main thoroughfares. The announcement states the city is re-

viewing records related to the bridge, “some dating back to the 1940s,” to better their evaluation and remediation efforts. “Through coordinated planning and ongoing discussions, Norfolk Southern and the City are jointly advancing engineering assessments, defining corrective actions and working toward full restoration of the bridge’s operational integrity,” the announcement reads.

Kenton County Police Chief Spike Jones voted in as new Covington assistant city manager Michael “Spike” Jones, current Kenton County police chief and former Covington police chief, was voted in as Covington’s assistant city manager Aug. 25. Michael “Spike” Jones as Kenton County police chief. Photo provided | Kenton County Police Department

Jones will work under City Manager Sharmili Reddy, and will conclude his role as the Kenton County police chief on Sept. 11. Jones has had a long career in law enforcement. He has a master’s degree in executive leadership and organization change from Northern Kentucky University. Jones formerly worked for the Covington Police

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kenton county briefs Department and served as the city’s police chief from 2012 to 2015 when he retired. It was short lived; he came out of retirement the same year to become the Kenton County police chief. He is currently the chair of the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council Executive Committee.

Villa Hills Council swears in new public works director

lowing the swearing-in ceremony. Yelton retired after nearly four decades with the city. His retirement marked the end of a long tenure overseeing Villa Hills’ public works operations. Schalk’s appointment puts him in charge of the department as he takes over responsibilities Yelton previously handled. His years of experience with the city’s public works department give him extensive familiarity with its operations. The council then continued with other routine municipal business following the swearing-in ceremony.

Covington Public Works to buy 10 new vehicles Swearing in of Corey Schalk. Photo provided | Villa Hills

The Villa Hills City Council appointed Corey Schalk as the city’s new public works director during its Aug. 24 meeting, following the retirement of longtime director Derick “Buck” Yelton after 38 years of service. Schalk, who has worked in the city’s public works department for 26 years, was formally appointed through a municipal order and took the oath of office during the meeting.

The Covington Board of Commissioners voted to purchase ten new vehicles for the city’s Public Works Department Aug. 25. The money for the vehicle purchases had previously been set aside during the city’s yearly budgeting process.

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THE WEEKLY COMIC by Andrew Buchanan

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Tennessee’s Dolly Parton dies at 80 after a life of music and giving By Sam Stockard | Kentucky Lantern Dolly Parton was from a neighboring state, but Kentuckians loved her music and her philanthropy, Gov. Andy Beshear said on Aug. 25. He ordered state flags at half mast for a week to honor her. “Dolly Parton was an American icon who brought people together and spread joy,” Beshear said in a social media post. “In Kentucky, she shared her love of reading through her Imagination Library, sparking brighter futures for thousands of children across our commonwealth.” Since 2001, more than 6 million books have been delivered to Kentucky through the Imagination Library. More than 132,000 children currently receive books in the state.

olly Parton, the personification of Tennessee music, died Aug. 25 at age 80 after decades of entertaining the world.

Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, delivered the news of her death in a video for the family, sparking mourning from her birthplace of Locust Ridge in the mountains of East Tennessee across the state to Nashville, where she found fame, and around the world, where her name brought people happiness in her deeds and passion for life. “Sadness lies with us, but not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light, and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by (husband) Carl, her parents and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens,” said Seaver, who led her security detail for a decade. Parton opened doors for generations of singers and songwriters from all walks of life, giving people hope that “anything was possible,” Seaver said. “She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history.” The daughter of a sharecropper and farmer, Parton asked that she be buried in a field of cotton, he said, “because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee called her “Tennessee’s favorite daughter” after learning of her death.

Dolly Parton on stage in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 20, 2025, at the premiere of “Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony.” Hailing from East Tennessee, Parton’s songwriting, savvy, charm and philanthropy made her a beloved figure globally. Photo by Jason Kempin | Getty Images

“Dolly Parton was one of a kind, who loved people, her work, her family and her Lord. Tennessee has forever been changed — enhanced — by her, and will never be quite the same without Dolly,” Lee said in a statement. Through her business network, Parton has an estimated net worth of $650 million and used her considerable wealth for philanthropic causes. “I’m kind of addicted to the feeling of giving,” she told People magazine in 2021, “knowing that I’m doing something good for someone else.” The Dollywood Foundation created Dolly’s Imagination Library in 1995, which donates some 10 million books to children each year to bolster literacy. “They call me the Book Lady,” she said in a 2006 interview with The Washington Post. She started The Buddy Program in the

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1990s, offering $500 to Sevier County middle school students to stay in school and graduate in Tennessee, eventually lowering the dropout rate. The foundation also offers $15,000 scholarships annually to five Sevier County High School seniors “who have a dream they wish to pursue and who can successfully communicate their plan and commitment to realize their dreams.” Parton raised $12.5 million to help the victims of a 2016 wildfire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that devastated cities such as Gatlinburg and $1 million in response to Hurricane Helene in the East Tennessee mountains. She also gave $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center during the COVID-19 pandemic to support development of the Moderna vaccine and filmed herself receiving a shot to encourage people to get vaccinated. Parton received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2022 for years of charitable work, which included putting together a team to help her support favorite causes,

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such as the Imagination Library. Early this year, officials renamed the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in her honor after she made a donation described as “generational and transformational.” The fourth of 12 children, the country music icon debuted on the Grand Ole Opry at age 13 after growing up singing in church. She moved to Nashville and broke in with Porter Wagoner on his show in the 1960s, then went out on her own and recorded hits such as “Joshua,” “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Here You Come Again,” “9 to 5,” and “Islands in the Stream.” Her songwriting skills and unmistakable voice enabled her to win 10 Grammys and earn a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. Parton starred in movies such as “9 to 5,” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and “Steel Magnolias” before opening Dollywood theme park in Sevierville, which led to the creation of a network of theme parks.

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Early in her career, Parton’s appearance caught people’s attention, but she also displayed a business acumen that led her to an RCA contract and the decision to protect the publishing rights to her song catalogue, allowing her to collect millions of dollars in royalties over the years. Parton opened Dollywood in 1986, saying in her biography, “I always thought that if I made it big or got successful at what I had started out to do, I wanted to come back to my part of the country and do something

great, something that would bring a lot of jobs into this area.” The Dollywood Company has multiple parks, including Dollywood’s Splash Country, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, the Dream More Resort and Spa, and her 50% share of the company was believed to be worth $165 million, Forbes reported in 2021. In addition to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Parton was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, an honor she turned down at first because she didn’t think she “earned that right” but then relented after finding out that musicians outside the rock genre received the recognition. Parton was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than half a century and Time magazine named her to its list of 100 most influential people five years ago.

Dolly Parton performs in 1974, about a year after she wrote her smash hit songs “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.” Her time in the spotlight spanned over six decades. Photo by Michael Ochs Archives | Getty Images

This story was originally produced by Tennessee Lookout, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Kentucky Lantern, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Fans of Dolly Parton placed flowers on her star at Nashville’s Walk of Fame outside the Country Music Hall of Fame after the legendary singer. songwriter, actor and businesswoman died Aug. 25, 2026, at a Nashville hospital. Photo by John Partipilo | Tennessee Lookout

DIVISION ONE

CASE NO.: 25-CI-02060

CASE NO.: 26-CI-00761

CENTRAL BANK & TRUST CO.

AMERIHOME MORTGAGE COMPANY, LLC

VERSUS

TIMOTHY D. EHN, ET AL. By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JULY 16, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 1182 CHESAPEAKE TRAIL, UNION, KENTUCKY 41091 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 064.18-07-052.00 & 064.18-07-052.01 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $526,287.25 GROUP NO.: PARCEL 1 - 4794, PARCEL 2 - 2064

DIVISION ONE CASE NO.: 25-CI-02262 KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VERSUS AUTUMN STORM BENAVIDEZ, ET AL. By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JULY 7, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 137 ROGER LANE, FLORENCE, KY 41042 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 061.09-24-018.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $235,653.00 GROUP NO.: 337

MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

The complete legal description is particularly set out in the Judgment and Order of Sale entered in this case.

CARL W. FOX, ET AL. By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JULY 7, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

TERMS OF SALE: The property shall be sold as a whole. The purchaser may pay all or part of the purchase price in cash, and may pay the balance of the purchase price on a credit of 30 days after date of sale; said credit shall be granted only upon the execution by the purchaser of bond, with surety thereon, and said surety shall be a lending institution authorized and doing business in Kentucky, or a reputable fidelity or surety company, authorized and doing business in Kentucky, and only if said surety be acceptable to the Commissioner of the Boone Circuit Court; and an authorized officer of the surety must be present at the sale or must have given the Commissioner adequate assurance of its intent to be surety prior to or at the sale; and said Bond shall be, and shall remain, a lien on the property sold as additional security for the payment of the full purchase price, and shall have the full force and effect of a Judgment; and said Bond shall bear interest at the rate provided by the Judgment up to Twelve (12%) Percent per annum until paid. The purchaser shall be required to pay the sum of 10% of the bid amount in cash or certified check on the purchase at the time of sale.

ADDRESS: 9681 CAPRI COURT, UNION, KENTUCKY 41091

The successful bidder at the sale shall, at bidder’s own expense, carry fire and extended insurance coverage on any improvements from the date of sale until the purchase price is fully paid, with a loss payable clause to the Commissioner of the Boone Circuit Court. Failure of the purchaser to effect such insurance shall not affect the validity of the sale or the purchaser’s liability thereunder, but shall entitle, but not require, a lien holder herein, after giving notice to the Commissioner, to effect said insurance and furnish the policy or evidence thereof to the Commissioner, and the premium thereon or the proper portion thereof shall be charged to the purchaser as purchaser’s cost.

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST

The property shall be sold subject to ad valorem taxes for the year 2026 and all subsequent years thereafter; easements, restrictions and stipulations of record; assessments for public improvements levied against the property, if any; existing zoning ordinances, statutes, laws, or regulations; and any facts which an inspection and accurate survey of the property may disclose. BIDDERS SHALL BE PREPARED TO COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS. All sales are “as is” and the Plaintiff, the Master Commissioner, and the Court shall not be deemed to have warranted title of the real estate to the purchaser. FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THESE SALES AND OTHER UPCOMING SALES CAN BE FOUND AT www.boonecountyky.org (Link to Department/Agencies to Master Commissioner) PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS ARE ADVISED AND ENCOURAGED TO REFER TO THAT WEBSITE FOR ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTIONS.

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 063.00-16022.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $313,708.23 GROUP NO.: 3490

DIVISION ONE CASE NO.: 25-CI-01773

VERSUS HEATHER R. HAMILTON By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered AUGUST 4, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 156 BELAIR CIRCLE, FLORENCE, KENTUCKY 41042 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 072.00-05082.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $95,135.57 GROUP NO.: 1095

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 11

sports 10 takeaways from Week 1 of high school football

— Boone County’s Malik Johnson picked up right where he left off from a season ago. After rushing for 1,188 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025, the senior tallied 232 yards and two touchdowns in their win over Holmes. — A wild one in Alexandria as Bishop Brossart saw a 21-0 lead evaporate into a 2221 deficit before rallying for the final nine points in the fourth. It gave Jake Martin a victory in his coaching debut with the Mustangs.

Simon Kenton High School’s Grant Webb was one of two Northern Kentucky passers to clear the 200-yard mark on Friday. Photo provided | Marc Figgins

— Cooper’s season opening win at Christian County was impressive in a variety of ways. First, it was a four hour drive to Hopkinsville. Second, it was Christian County’s first official game, as Hopkinsville and Christian County merged to form one school with over 2,000 students. Third, the Jaguars trailed 14-0 early and came back for a 28-21 victory in Michael Begley’s coaching debut. — Campbell County’s Alex Riedinger recorded not one, not two, not three, not four, but five sacks in their 32-7 victory over Scott. Not sure how to even find that in the program’s record book, but that single game performance has to be up there as an all-timer for the Camels. Now he’s on pace for 50 sacks in the regular season. Unfortunately there’s not a sacks ledger in the KHSAA record book, so LINK nky is unable to tell where that performance would rank all-time in the state. Riedinger’s performance helped give Rick Honaker a win in his coaching debut with the program. The Camels defense in total registered eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss with an interception returned for a touchdown and forced a fumble. — Take Highlands’ defeat with a grain of salt. Frederick Douglass is most likely the second best team in Class 6A and could very well end up at Kroger Field and finish runner-up to Trinity (sorry, but no one is touching Trinity this year in the state). They were tied at 20 going into the fourth before the Broncos scored 21 unanswered for the victory. It was also the first career start for quarterback Bryce Armstrong, who handled himself well with 157 yards passing and 80 yards rushing against a stout Broncos defense. They get Cooper and Campbell County before reigning 4A champ Boyle County comes to Fort Thomas on Sept. 11. — Shout out to Bellevue. When you have to replace 19 of 22 starters at a Class A school from a season ago, that’s not an easy task for anyone. The Tigers put up 42 points in their win over Trimble County, a 42-36 victory. They also nearly surpassed their 2025 season passing total as Evan Brooks threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns. In 2025, the Tigers threw for 239 yards all season.

— Beechwood was the lone NKY team on bye to open up the season. They’ll get underway on Aug. 28 against Indian Hill (Ohio). Should be a good one as the game features two Division I players at quarterback. Beechwood’s Emmett Queen is committed to Wake Forest while Indian Hill’s Devlin Daniel is committed to Mississippi State for baseball. — Brotherly love. The Reeds (Miller and Deaken) for Ludlow both rushed for over 100 yards in their 21-12 victory over Newport. It’s a solid win for the Panthers, beating a Newport team that’s reached the third round of the playoffs the past two seasons. — Covington Catholic’s special teams are back at it. After returning four kicks (three kickoffs, one punt) for touchdowns last season, they opened up with two on Friday as Brandon Smith took the opening kickoff for six and Mac Cogswell later returned a safety kick for a touchdown. The Colonels were dominant in all three phases in the 50-6 victory over Ryle. Yes, Ryle lost a bunch of production from a season ago, but so did CovCath. — Thanks to the coaches and admins! Looks like 16 of 21 teams that played submitted stats. Three of the five that didn’t have first-year coaches, so we’ll give them a pass.

KHSAA commissioner to retire at end of school year

He’s the seventh commissioner in KHSAA history, starting his career with the KHSAA in 1984 as a sports information director. From his first position with the KHSAA to the commissioner’s office, Tackett has played a central role in the growth and evolution of high school athletics across Kentucky. His career progression included serving as sports information director from 198491, business affairs director from 1991-95, assistant commissioner from 1995-2008, executive assistant commissioner from 2008-10 and commissioner from 2010 to the present. As commissioner, Tackett has overseen football and postseason basketball while also managing constitution and bylaw interpretations, Board of Control meetings and agendas, Association finances, state event sites and contracts, legislative relations, the Association calendar, sports medicine, the KHSAA Hall of Fame, KHSAA Foundation, Annual Meeting, Regional Meetings, athletic director initiatives and strategic planning.

Perhaps his most lasting impact can be seen in the expansion of opportunities available to Kentucky student-athletes. Under Tackett’s leadership, the KHSAA added bowling and competitive cheer in 2012, archery and bass fishing in 2013, field hockey in 2014, unified sports opportunities in track in 2015, dance in 2017, esports in 2018, indoor track and field in 2024, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse in 2025 and boys’ volleyball in 2025. The Association has also adopted pickle ball and girls’ flag football, which are scheduled to begin with the 2027-28 school year. When he retires, Tackett will be the longest-tenured full-time employee in KHSAA history and one of the three longest-tenured state association executive directors in the country.

Senior Associate Commissioner Butch Cope has also announced his retirement, effective July 1, 2027, ending a 32-year career with the association.

KHSAA commissioner Julian Tackett (left) is retiring at the end of the school year. He handed out the game ball on Friday for Newport Central Catholic High School’s first football game at their new complex. Photo provided | Newport Central Catholic High School

Kentucky High School Athletic Association, or KHSAA, Commissioner Julian Tackett is retiring at the end of the 2026-27 school year.

His KHSAA career began as sports information director from 1995-02, followed by positions as promotions and media relations director from 2002-08, assistant commissioner from 2008-13, associate commissioner from 2013-25 and senior associate commissioner and chief of staff from 2025 to the present. When Cope retires, he will be the second-longest-tenured employee in KHSAA history and the second-longest-tenured associate director among the nation’s 51 state high school associations. Together, the retirements of Tackett and Cope will mark the departure of two of the most experienced leaders in the KHSAA, closing a combined career of more than seven decades dedicated to Kentucky high school athletics.

Five show up from NKY in first KHSGSCA coaches poll

Over the course of his KHSAA career, Tackett has also managed wrestling, baseball, track and field and business affairs.

And Tackett won’t be the only longtime KHSAA leader stepping away.

Tackett, who has spent more than four decades with the organization, made the an12 SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

nouncement on Aug. 24.

Cope currently oversees girls’ and boys’ volleyball, regular-season basketball, archery and baseball. He also manages the officials division and student services, including the HYPE student conferences, and serves as the liaison with the Association’s marketing agent, TPG. Over his KHSAA career, Cope has also managed competitive cheer, dance, boys’ and girls’ golf, boys’ and girls’ swimming and diving, and boys’ and girls’ tennis.

The full KHSGSCA Coaches poll. Graphic provided

The coaches across the state have made their selections for the first Kentucky High School Girls Soccer Association coaches poll. The poll is typically released bi-weekly throughout the season. Five Northern Kentucky teams show up in the initial poll, released on Aug. 24. Notre Dame is third. The Pandas own victories over No. 2 team Sacred Heart, No. 4 South Oldham and No. 17 Ryle. Bishop Brossart is No. 7. They’ve defeated No. 6 Paul Laurence Dunbar and have a loss to No. 15 Highlands and a tie with No. 10 Lexington Catholic. Highlands is next up at No. 15. Ryle is No. 17 and one of the surprises of the early season after finishing 9-11-1 last year. They’ve knocked off Highlands with tight, one-goal losses to both Notre Dame and Sacred Heart. Simon Kenton is the last of the ranked NKY teams at No. 21.

Opinion: Democrats don’t have a grassroots problem. They have a leadership problem. By Carolyn Wolfe

eventy-five days before a general election is a fascinating time for a political party to start dismantling pieces of its own infrastructure.

Democratic leadership talks constantly about rebuilding county parties and growing the grassroots, but growth doesn’t mean finding new people to maintain the same old system. It means new leaders, new networks and new ways of organizing. Inevitably, it also means challenging people at both the state and local levels who have controlled party infrastructure for decades. That may be uncomfortable, but comfort is a strange priority for a party that has been losing ground election after election. At some point, longevity stops being evidence of experience and starts raising questions about why the same people and structures keep producing the same results. So what does state leadership actually want county parties to be? Genuine grassroots organizations will develop their own leaders, strategies and political identities. They will experiment, disagree and occasionally challenge the structure above them. If what the state actually wants are regional offices that provide volunteers, raise money and execute directives without questioning them, that’s something entirely different. This isn’t about one county. The same fractures are showing up across county parties, social clubs, Young Democrats organizations, individual campaigns and other grassroots groups. At some point, they stop being isolated disputes and become ev-

idence of a larger organizational failure. When the same cracks keep appearing throughout the house, eventually somebody needs to inspect the foundation. And that raises the bigger question: What exactly is the Kentucky Democratic Party trying to become? Is it building a party influenced by the generation that will inherit it, or creating something that looks increasingly like conservatism-lite? Democrats should make room for everyone, including Independents and Republicans who no longer recognize today’s GOP. But expanding a coalition does not require abandoning the party’s identity in hopes that voters will find a slightly softer version of Republicanism irresistible. Younger voters and organizers bring different expectations about economic opportunity, housing, education, healthcare, civil rights, technology and government accountability. They are also less impressed by hierarchy and much more willing to ask why systems that aren’t working deserve to be preserved. That is where grassroots organizing becomes a fight over the future of the party. Local organizations and candidates trying new ways to reach people and build community should be viewed as laboratories for what comes next, not threats to what came before. Yet the message increasingly seems to be that innovation is welcome only until it challenges the people and structures already in place. That’s a hell of a message for a party that says it wants the next generation.

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And Kentucky Democrats aren’t protecting a winning model. Republicans dominate the legislature, Democrats struggle to field candidates in parts of the Commonwealth, and Democratic infrastructure desperately needs to grow. Protecting the status quo from change isn’t a strategy when the status quo keeps losing. Then there is the issue of due process. Rules and accountability are necessary, but consequential decisions made without adequately hearing from the people inside the system being punished invite decisions based on incomplete information and one-sided narratives. Leadership isn’t simply knowing what authority the bylaws give you. It is knowing enough about the organization and the people affected to use that authority intelligently. You don’t dismantle part of an organization first and introduce yourself to the survivors later. Doing it roughly 75 days before a general election makes the strategic judgment even harder to understand. At this point in an election cycle, every major decision should be measured against one question: Does this leave Democratic candidates stronger or weaker in November? Because grassroots politics isn’t ultimately about party infrastructure. It’s about people. It’s neighbors organizing neighbors,

Carolyn Wolfe. Photo provided | Carolyn Wolfe

candidates listening to communities, volunteers solving problems and ordinary people deciding that the government can make their lives better. The party is supposed to be the vehicle for that work, not the reason the work exists. Democrats can spend the final days before November fighting over internal authority if they want. Republicans will happily let them. They might even send refreshments. But the purpose of a state political party isn’t to prove it can control its county organizations. It is to build an organization capable of winning elections and improving the lives of the people it asks to believe in it. And after decades of declining Democratic power in Kentucky, perhaps accountability shouldn’t flow only downhill. If state leadership expects county parties, candidates and grassroots organizations to answer for their performance, it’s fair to ask a much more uncomfortable question: Who is holding state leadership accountable for theirs?

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real estate

Large property in Kenton County Address: 3780 Visalia Road, Morning View Price: $835,000 Bedrooms: Two Bathrooms: One Square footage: 1,400 School district: Kenton County School District County: Kenton County Special features: This Morning View property offers more than 32 acres of cleared and wooded land with scenic ponds and plenty of room for farming, pasture, hunting or fishing. The property includes a ranch home with hardwood floors and a covered front porch, a separate cottage and an expansive warehouse with five garage doors, workshop space and two additional living spaces.

The exterior of this Kenton County property. Photos by Caldwell Group and Kayla Andrews | eXp Realty, LLC

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Kentucky 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

LEGAL NOTICE Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to collocate wireless communications antennas at a top height of 135 feet on a 198-foot water tower at the approx. vicinity of 715 Tower Drive, Covington, Kenton County, KY 41011. Lat: 39-3-21.39, Long: -84-30-57.24. In accordance with the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the FCC regulations implementing Section 106 review, public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted to: Trileaf Corp, Frank Irovic f.irovic@trileaf.com 1515 Des Peres Road, Suite 200 St. Louis, MO 63131 314-997-6111

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO GO TO OUR DIGITAL PUBLIC NOTICE PAGE

14 SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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SUDOKU

The Weekly Edited by MargieCrossword E. Burke

Difficulty: Medium

3 6

HOW TO SOLVE:

Each row must contain the 1 numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

5 3 4 3 2

Answer to Previous Sudoku:

2 4 3 5 7 6 8 9 1 9 7 8 4 3 1 5 6 2 6 5 1 9 8 2 4 3 7 3 9 2 8 6 7 1 4 5 8 1 4 3 9 5 2 7 6 7 6 5 2 1 4 9 8 3 4 8 6 1 2 3 7 5 9 1 3 9 7 5 8 6 2 4 5 2 7 6 4 9 3 1 8

by Margie E. Burke

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ACROSS 1 HOW Torah teacher TO SOLVE: 15 16 14 6 Dick Tracy's Each row must contain the 19 17 18 love numbers 1 to 9; each column must 10 Charity contain the numbers 1 20 to 9; and 21 22 14 Honda's luxury each set of 3 by 3 boxes must 24 25 line the numbers 1 to 9. 23 contain 15 Israeli airline 28 29 26 27 16 Kind of drop Answer to Previous Sudoku: 17 Madam or mom 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 19 Scandinavian 2 4 3 5 7 6 378 9 1 38 39 capital 9 20 7 Mud 8 deposit 4 3 1 405 6 2 41 42 21 Enabling 6 5 1 9 8 2 4 3 7 43 44 45 46 23 Load movers 3 25 9 "Holy 2 8cow!" 6 7 471 484 495 50 51 26 Maine college 8 1 4 3 9 5 522 7 6 53 54 55 56 town 7 28 6 Remnants 5 2 1 4 579 8 3 58 59 4 30 8 Tasseled 6 1 2cap 3 607 5 9 61 62 31 ___ chic 1 33 3 Churchill's 9 7 5 8 636 2 4 64 65 5 2 follower 7 6 4 9 3 1 8 37 Expands upon, Copyright 2026 by The Puzzle Syndicate with "out" 39 Contract signing 3 Earth-moving 39 Water storage 51 CBS forensic 40 Damascus machine tanks series denizen 4 London native, 41 Talk like Porky 53 Set price 41 Fodder building e.g. 44 Figure eight 55 Tara of the 42 Bleacher bum's 5 Actor McKellen figure "Sharknado" shout 6 Home-wrecking 46 Prove to be films 43 Tops insects false 56 Fashion 45 Lengthy lock 7 Running mates? 47 Banister post designer in "The 47 Minaj of music 8 Indian turnover 48 Massey of old Incredibles" 50 Acting Ashton 9 Whole bunch movies 59 Dickensian cry 52 Expands (on) 10 Romantic ones 49 Native 54 Bus rider's fee 11 Corrective eye Trinidadian 57 Had on surgery Answers to Previous Crossword: 58 Ascribed (to) 12 Pooh's creator L A S S C A A N R A S P S 60 Tennyson lady 13 Drudges O I L Y U R D U A D I E U 61 Numerical suffix 18 Dover's state: A D U L T E R E R W O M E N 62 Had a homeAbbr. A N S W E R I N G N E R V E cooked meal 22 Upper canine E A S Y E A S E L 63 Places for 24 Lady-killer B R A S S Y T M N T I R A experiments 26 Slays, in slang S T O P L E T T E R H E A D 64 Miscalculates 27 Lean (on) A E R I E C U B A A N T E 65 Ibsen's "___ 29 Summon S E E R C A R D R E A D E R Gabler" 32 Artist Magritte T E N B U R Y E R N E S T 34 Emancipated D E I S T F R E T DOWN 35 Hazzard deputy F R A N C E S C O C I V I L 1 Emulates Drake 36 Inflatable things I L L A T E A S E R I N S E C A I N S L I T A C T U P 2 Antioxidant-rich 38 Patients' resting N O S E S K N O T T E S S berry places

WE START

WITH YOU.

Florence • Fort Mitchell • Crestview Hills • Union

Member FDIC

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

WE’RE TURNING

FIVE

Y FI F

• E

ST. 2020 •

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, 2026 | Join us as we celebrate five years of telling Northern Kentucky’s stories — and the community that has made it all possible. WENZEL DISTILLERY 412 MADISON AVE. COVINGTON, KY 41001

TICKETS $55 PER PERSON

INCLUDES DRINK TICKETS AND LIGHT BITES. EVERY TICKET SUPPORTS THE NKY COMMUNITY JOURNALISM FUND.

BE THE FIRST TO HEAR WHAT’S NEXT

SCAN FOR TICKETS

BE AMONG THE FIRST TO HEAR A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT THAT MARKS AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER FOR LINK NKY.

STORIES .

I M PACT. HERE’S TO WHAT’S NEXT.

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