Atkins hangs up the mic after 41 years

BY EVAN DENNISON | LINK nky SPORTS EDITOR

He’s done it for 41 years in what started out his senior year of high school.

If it were up to John Atkins, he’d be the public address announcer for Newport High School home basketball games for 41 more.

Unfortunately, his body won’t allow it. Atkins is dropping the mic after more than four decades of being the PA for the Newport High School boys and girls basketball teams.

“It’s hard to swallow. Something I really love doing,” Atkins said. “I do this for the kids.”

Atkins’ health over the years has deteriorated. In 2011, he had a pulmonary embolism. A mini-stroke followed in 2012, and over the years he’s developed a degenerative disk in his neck that’s turned into scoliosis, and he has arthritis all over his body. Atkins is on blood thinners, so other prescriptive options are limited.

“I’m a Wildcat, I’ve got nine lives. Fighting through all that, I’m not letting it keep me down. I used to walk five miles a day. It’s just hard to move now and sitting at a scorers table for three to four hours is tough,” Atkins said. “This isn’t my doing, it’s just the man upstairs telling me it’s time.”

Atkins was asked to announce by then-Newport principal George Frakes in 1982. He gave it a shot and loved it. He was handed the script by Steve Cunningham, and as they say, the rest is history.

Atkins’ value to the Newport program is unmatched. Not only did he do PA, he’s also kept the scorebook during games, a double task during a game that’s not easy. Other hats he’s worn at the school include coaching the softball team, helping run the booster club, operating the clock during football games and keeping the scorebook for volleyball.

“I was one person the school could count on,” Atkins said.

He also helped run concessions with his wife Rhonda, who works with children with disabilities at the school. The two will be married for 40 years in August.

“That’s really time consuming. He’d go to Sam’s and buy all the stuff,” current Wildcats coach Rod Snapp said. “The Atkins family is one-of-a-kind for sure. When you think about John, it’s all positive. He’s been such an important piece to our program and not the kind of guy that you replace. He’s like Marquez Miller to our current team. He’s put his heart and soul into it.”

Atkins has done this long enough that he remembers all the coaches through the years, and now he’s announcing the kids of those coaches.

Newport has been fortunate to not have as much coaching turnover. The Wildcats had seven coaches over the 41-year span: Rod Snapp, Aric Russell, Bob Jones, Scott Draud, John Patterson, John Gross and Mark Krebs.

“I’ve known John and his family since I was a kid,” said Russell, who coached the Wildcats from 2001-10. “You never had to worry about anything and he always took care of stuff. He’s just a great guy to have in your program and such a good person. He’d give his own money if a kid needed shoes or food to eat and a real selfless guy.”

He was there for the 2010 team coached by Russell that won the Ninth Region title and made the state tournament. The success helps, but that year is one that certainly sticks out.

“They won the region All ‘A’ and the Ninth Region title that year, beating Holmes by 30. That was amazing. Going to Richmond and Rupp for the first time was really neat. That’s something neat for anyone to do,” Atkins said.

Being cemented in the area for so long, there are tons of talent he’s seen on the floor; the Demarko Foster led team in 2010, Keith Green back in the 80’s, both Draud’s, Scott and Scotty and Newport Central Catholic’s Drew MacDonald, just to name a few that Atkins recalls. But what made the decision to step away now even harder is the talent the Wildcats have on the roster today. Miller is the lone senior on the team and the future is bright.

Atkins thinks freshman Taylen Kinney is one of the more special players he has seen. The Wildcats definitely have the capability to make some runs over the next few years, in his opinion. Recently, Atkins got to cut the nets at Highlands when the Wildcats won the district championship in Fort Thomas, a sweet moment for him, Snapp and the program.

“He mentioned that recently. That’s one of the things we really wanted to do this year.

He asked to cut the net afterwards and that was a really cool moment we got to share,” Snapp said. “We’d love to send him off to Rupp,” Snapp said.

Atkins is retired, working for Cincinnati Bell over the years. His next task is trying to find a ranch house, so he doesn’t have to deal with steps.

“I enjoyed it. I’ve always wanted to be around the kids. There’s kids that don’t have parents or those figures in their lives and those kids need someone to talk to and be around. I just try to help out if I can. My wife has been great through all this and so supportive. This osteoarthritis is nothing to play around with. It’s time to go, everything hurts,” Atkins said.

Atkins’ last game at Newport came on Feb. 17 against Ludlow, where he was recognized for his dedication to the school’s athletic programs at halftime with a plaque. The Wildcats sent him off a winner, as Newport took down Ludlow 94-59.

Walton-Verona Honor Band students visit Asbury University

Nine of Walton-Verona Independent Schools students participated in the Asbury University All-Star Honor Band Clinic.

The students were among the top high school students in the group with the following placements for each student:

Icarus Brune, Allyson Meredith, Lyndsey Meredith, Ella Meyers first chair tenor saxophone; Logan Pronk, first chair trumpet; Mady Ryan, second chair French horn; Kennedy Straub, first chair trombone; Trinity Sturgeon; first chair bass clarinet; Ben Turner, second chair trumpet.

Florence Y’alls to host open tryouts

Open tryouts for the Florence Y’alls are scheduled for April 17 at Thomas More Stadium. Signup will begin at 2:30 p.m. and tryouts will start at 3:30 p.m.

The team made the announcement via social media on March 1, but did not disclose how many positions it was looking to fill.

Community Meetings Calendar

Here’s a list of meetings coming up this week and city-sponsored events in Northern Kentucky. Please note: Meeting times and dates are subject to change.

March 10 to March 18

Boone County

March 18: Quilters Day Out, presented by the Stringtown Quilters Guild at the First Church of Christ in Burlington, KY. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. More details are available at stringtownquiltersguild.com.

Walton

March 14: Walton Planning Meeting, 6:15 p.m., Walton City Hall, 40 N. Main St., Walton

March 14: Walton City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Walton City Hall, 40 N. Main St., Walton

Campbell County

March 14: Campbell County Planning and Zoning Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Campbell County Administration Building, 1098 Monmouth St., Newport

Alexandria

March 11: Alexandria Spring Craft Show, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Calvin A. Perry Community Center, 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria (More than 50 crafters; kids free, small fee for adults)

March 16: Alexandria City Finance Committee Meeting, 6 p.m., Alexandria City Building, 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

March 16: Alexandria City Business Retention and Development Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Alexandria City Building, 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

March 16: Alexandria City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Alexandria City Building, 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

Cold Spring

March 13: Cold Spring City Council Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Cold Spring City Building, 5694 E. Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring

Dayton

March 15: Dayton VFW Post 2899 Bingo Night, 5 p.m., 828 6th Ave., Dayton (every Wednesday)

Fort Thomas

March 13: Fort Thomas Independent Schools Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Fort Thomas City Building, 130 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas

March 14: Fort Thomas Tree Commission Meeting, 6 p.m., Fort Thomas City Building, 130 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas

March 15: Fort Thomas Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Fort Thomas City Building, 130 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas

Highland Heights

March 14: Highland Heights Planning and Zoning Meeting, 7 p.m., Highland Heights City Building, 176 Johns Hill Road, Highland Heights

Newport

March 15: Newport Code Enforcement Board Meeting, 5 p.m., Newport City Building, 998 Monmouth St., Newport. (Meets “as needed.” Call 859-292-3637 to confirm meeting)

March 16: Newport Board of Adjustments Meeting, 4:30 p.m., Newport City Building, 998 Monmouth St., Newport. (Meets “as needed.” Call 859-292-3637 to confirm meeting)

Southgate

March 15: Southgate City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Southgate City Building, 122 Electric Ave., Southgate

Kenton County

March 14: Kenton Fiscal Court Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Kenton County Courthouse, 5272 Madison Pike, Independence

Covington

March 14: Covington Board of Commissioners Legislative Meeting, 6 p.m., Covington City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., Covington

March 15: Covington Board of Devou Properties Meeting, 4 p.m., Devou Golf & Event Center, 1201 Park Drive, Covington

March 15: Housing Authority of Covington Meeting, 4:30 p.m., Housing Authority of Covington Office, 2300 Madison Ave., Covington

March 15: Covington Board of Architectural Review and Development Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Covington City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., Covington

March 15: Covington Devou Park Advisory Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Devou Golf & Event Center, 1201 Park Drive, Covington

Edgewood

March 14: Senior Cards, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Edgewood Senior Center, 550 Freedom Park Drive, Crestview Hills (open to all, card games).

Elsmere

March 14: Elsmere City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Elsmere Community Center located at 179 Dell Street, Elsmere