LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 2, Issue 24 - May 10, 2024

NKY’s geology makes development a slippery slope

By Nathan Granger

April saw two notable land slippages in Northern Kentucky, both of which coincided with periods of exceptional rainfall early in the month.

The first occurred in Ludlow at the access point to a Fischer Homes development in the hills above the city. The second, along Ky. 8 in Campbell County, led to the road’s closure to allow state workers to clear the debris.

No one was hurt in either incident, but the slippages highlighted a peculiar aspect of NKY’s geography, one that frequently comes up in conversations on infrastructure and developmental expansion.

The Hillside Trust is an advocacy group that studies hillside topography and geology in Greater Cincinnati. It has consulted with various governments and institutions on both sides of the Ohio River. LGBTQ+ event brainstorms ways to help addiction recovery

Continues on page 3

Florence nonprofit fills service gaps for NKY’s Latino community

By Haley Parnell

Theresa Cruz started working at Learning Grove in 2019, and that’s when she realized there was a glaring need for an organization to provide food, clothing and resource coordination to Latino families.

Cruz’s role with Learning Grove was to get parents more involved in their children’s education.

“We realized that these families – not that they weren’t interested, but other things were occupying their mental space, their bandwidth,” Curz said. “Like they needed help finding jobs, they needed housing;

they needed food, they needed basic necessities.”

After the grant under which Cruz worked ended in September 2023, Cruz started Fiesta NKY to help fill that gap in services to Northern Kentucky’s Latino community. The doors officially opened Jan. 3, though Cruz unofficially started services on Nov. 20. Fiesta operates out of Florence, at 7536 U.S. 42, and primarily serves Boone County.

In roughly three months, Fiesta has provided clothing to over 300 people, started an on-site emergency food pantry, coordinated resources, partnered with local agencies, and held food distribution events and other community events.

Continues on page 5

Rory was the queen of Covington on St. Patrick’s Day at Covington Yard. Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

The land slippage at the access point of Cityview Station in Ludlow on April 11. Photo provided | Ginger Roberto

Effective Conservative Leadership for NKy

PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling

MANAGING EDITOR Meghan Goth

SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison

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

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

HAVE A TIP? News@LINKnky.com

WANT TO ADVERTISE? Marketing@LINKnky.com

WANT TO SUBSCRIBE?

Send a check for $31.80 ($30 non-auto-renewing rate plus 6% Kentucky sales tax) to LINK nky

31 Innovation Alley, Ground Floor Covington, KY 41011 or scan this QR code below

Love what we're doing? Want to support public-interest journalism in Northern Kentucky? Make a tax-deductible donation to support our work. Scan the QR code below, or mail a check payable to the Northern Kentucky Community Journalism Fund to 50 East Rivercenter Blvd. Suite 431, Covington, KY 41011.

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

Eric Russo, the trust’s executive director, said landslides tend to be more common from early winter to mid-spring, when the region sees high amounts of water runoff from rain and melting snow.

Russo spoke out against the Ludlow development in June 2021, arguing that early geotechnical work indicated a history of landslides. Moreover, he said, the kind of tree clearing that accompanies development can exacerbate problems with flooding and run-off.

The development, called Cityview Station, has been a point of contention from the beginning. Proponents argue it’s beneficial for the city’s economic health, but others are concerned that the construction might lead to slippages and flooding. This tension is reflected even in government

actions surrounding the development: The Kenton County Planning Commission recommended against allowing the development, but the Ludlow City Council voted to overrule them.

Russo said much of the region’s topography undergoes a phenomenon called creep, which is a sagging of land down a hillside, often over a long period, like the movement of a glacier. It manifests in tilting trees, leaning utility poles and buckled infrastructure.

“Even though you may not be able to see the movement taking place, they can move rather imperceptibly throughout the year,” Russo said. “You might see a few inches moving a year.”

Usually, when one hears about loss in relation to a landslide or slip, it’s economic loss

rather than loss of life. Tracking landslides and slippages is haphazard and decentralized, though, so accurately measuring total losses over time is difficult. Still, the 2018 Kentucky Hazard Mitigation Plan pulled estimates from the state’s area development districts, which gave rough monetary estimates for the amount of damage caused by slides up to that year.

According to the plan’s section on landslides, the estimated losses incurred due to landslides in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties as of 2018 were roughly $15 billion, $30 billion and $11 billion, respectively.

Tracking the number of slides and slippages often falls to the Transportation Cabinet, as slips on major roadways are easier to spot. Jake Ryle, a public information officer with the cabinet, told LINK nky that

Continued from page 3 six slide-repair projects have occurred in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties since Jan. 1, 2023. The costs for these repairs are forthcoming.

In addition, the Northern Kentucky Area Development District’s most recent hazard mitigation plan mapped out recorded landslides in the region as of January 2023.

Seeing these numbers, it would be easy to be pessimistic, but not everyone is all doom and gloom. Greg Sketch, an engineer with Fort Wright-based engineering contractor Berling Engineering, said that, with proper preparation, the risk of slides and slips is minimal.

“You can construct on anything if you construct it properly,” Sketch said.

Sketch serves as the Crescent Springs representative on the Kenton County Planning Commission and served as the Boone County engineer for about 20 years. He voted in favor of the Cityview Station development when it came before the commission.

Berling Engineering is contracted as the

city engineer for Ludlow, and its experts regularly inspect the development. SD1 also performs regular erosion control inspections.

Sketch, who did not characterize what happened in Ludlow as a full-on slide but rather a minor slip in the area’s topsoil, was broadly complimentary of the geotechnical and grading work on the hill and said that proper grading and geological compaction are crucial for avoiding slippages and slides.

“As long as it’s constructed properly, you won’t have any problem,” Sketch said.

When it came to development, Russo stated that it was important for all involved parties to be well-informed so that everyone could make good decisions and mitigate the dangers. Given the region’s geography, this was not something that developers could ignore or side-step.

“If we lose these wooded hillsides, as time goes on, it will become more expensive to try to make up for that loss of hillside by having to build infrastructure that can detain stormwater, etc.,” Russo said.

A Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crew member clears mud from Ky. 8 following an April 12 slippage.

Photo provided | KYTC District 6

The county landslide maps were created using information from KYTC, PDSKC (formerly NKAPC), KGS and other sources. Each county in the region

that they experience the same issues.

“The cool thing about what we do is that everything is culturally relevant,” Cruz said. “So the food that we give them is culturally relevant; we don’t give them SpaghettiOs or mac and cheese or, you know, Hamburger Helper that they don’t know what it is. We give them rice, beans, lentils, things that they use.”

The organization also helps people understand things like how to obtain utilities, looking for housing, enrolling their children in school, and understanding documents they get in the mail and need clarification on.

“Fiesta recognizes the lack of bilingual outreach provided by many nonprofit organizations to the Spanish-speaking community, leaving this population without access to essential services such as education, health, jobs, development and citizen participation,” said Cory Hernandez, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission Financial Empowerment TBRA-Home Ownership counselor. “Fiesta aims to bridge this gap by providing individualized support to families in their native language, empowering them to navigate these systems and improve their lives.”

Fiesta NKY also works with organizations like EC LEARN to help with early childhood experiences.

“I have worked with the Fiesta offices and Theresa Cruz to reach families that have young children,” said Kim Ross, early childhood community engagement specialist with EC LEARN. “I have met several families and have been able to help them with information regarding early childhood education. I have conducted ages and stages evaluations, a tool that helps parents understand their child’s development. Theresa has a heart for families and is a great support to the Hispanic community with young children.”

Getting more involved

Cruz said she has been organizing events for the Latino community since she worked at Learning Grove. One of those events is the Hispanic Parent Leadership Conference, held at the Ignite Institute in Erlanger. The event aims to get parents

more involved in their child’s education by offering workshops, a keynote speaker and community resources to help them understand why it is important to be involved.

The first year they held the event, in 2021, 29 people showed up. In the second year, they included new mental health and financial literacy resources and had 79 people attend. Last September, when they held it, Cruz said 341 people came.

The event always provides lunch and childcare to reduce barriers to attending.

“I met Theresa in the fall of 2021 when I hosted a table in one of her first family events at Ignite Institute, and she invited me to be part of the monthly Fiesta community partner meetings,” said Dagmar Morales, a programmer at the Kenton County Public Library’s Independence branch. “When I attended that first meeting, her energy, charisma and compromise to help the Hispanic and Latino community inspired me to support her in any way possible.”

They have also held a community resource fair at the Kenton County Library with 40 different agencies. That event had 25 interpreters that volunteered to go to each station with each family.

Fiesta NKY is holding a job fair in July on two different dates and times to accommodate folks.

“That’s specifically for the Hispanic community,” Cruz said. “So, these are employers that know and are aware of the fact that these are going to be limited English-speaking individuals. But we wanted to give these people the opportunity to meet employers and to be able to have a choice.”

Fiesta NKY is also hosting a Celebration of Hispanic Families in May at the YMCA in Burlington. Families will participate in rock climbing, rope courses, slingshots, archery, fishing, soccer, etc. Cruz said that, this year, the YMCA is allowing them to expand the event to 400 people.

‘OK, go talk to Thersa’

Cruz said she has been doing this work for eight years, and most people find her through word of mouth.

“We didn’t just open our doors and be like, ‘OK, come in,’ because they wouldn’t know who you are,” Cruz said. “It is showing up to events. It’s showing up in the community. It’s helping people. It’s showing up at Mass and just talking to families about things

that are happening, and when they see you enough, and they trust you, then it’s like, ‘OK, go talk to Theresa. She can help you.’”

Cruz said that roughly 10 years ago there were hardly any Latino people in NKY, but that started to change around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When I got pulled into my specific role, we were already seeing the face of Northern Kentucky change,” Cruz said. “It wasn’t as much as it is now. Now, it has just boomed.”

Cruz said it’s hard to tell precisely how many Latino people live in the area because of the fear behind filling out paperwork and giving out personal information.

“Organizations like Fiesta are so important in our community not only because of the needs it relieves, but because it is important to keep the cultures and traditions alive and share them with everyone so we may understand,” said the library’s Morales. “The work that she does is contributing to change the future of our people it serves, and this will help to change the distorted image of our community.”

Volunteers for Fiesta NKY. Photo provided | Fiesta NKY

Newport’s Carnegie Hall undergoes major renovation

By Maggy McDonel

The historic Carnegie Hall in Newport is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation and is expected to reopen as an event space this October.

The space, on the corner of Fourth and Monmouth streets, was built in 1898 and funded by steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie; it was the city’s first public library and the first of 23 Carnegie libraries to open in Kentucky, according to Campbell County Public Library Communications Manager Stephanie Class.

Carnegie gave $20,000 toward the project (about $650,000 in 2024 dollars), which cost $25,000 in total, and on June 25, 1902, the Carnegie Free Library opened its doors. In 1970, Class said the Campbell County Public Library purchased the building that was being operated as a city library and took over library operations.

In 2004, the Campbell County Public Library’s Newport branch opened, leaving the historic space vacant. Since then, the library has operated on and off as an event space.

Renovations on the building are expected to begin in the next few weeks, according

to Bobby Woolwine, chief information officer of DelightMore. Woolwine said DelightMore, a Cincinnati-based event production and catering company, was approached about operating the space by the previous owners, the Eliassen Group.

At first, he said they weren’t sure. “We toured the venue, and it just didn’t have the amenities that we needed to operate the venue correctly.”

However, DelightMore was looking for an event space in Northern Kentucky, and Woolwine had a special connection with the space. The Fort Mitchell native’s first job was as a dishwasher at Carnegie Hall. “It came full circle for me,” he said.

After some discussion, DelightMore agreed to buy a majority stake in the building and to share the cost of what Woolwine said will be a multimillion-dollar renovation to get the space up to the standard they needed.

Woolwine said they were drawn to Carnegie Hall because it’s an eclectic and historic space, similar to the other venues they operate, like the Transept in Cincinnati’s Over-The-Rhine neighborhood.

As a Northern Kentuckian, Woolwine said he’s happy to bring customers to the area. “A fair amount of clients come from NKY to

spend money in Cincinnati for these types of places. And it’s just gonna be nice to be able to create that space for that market in Northern Kentucky.”

He said he is happy NKY is “getting the recognition it really deserves. It’s got a rich cultural background.”

While the building is undergoing renovations, Woolwine said it was in the best shape of any property they have ever taken ownership of. He compared it to the Transept, the long-closed former St. John’s Unitarian Church, which he said didn’t have a roof and that you could see through the floors into the basement when they bought it.

“The exciting part of it is, we don’t feel like it needs this huge rip job. You know, it’s more accentuating the architectural detail,” said Woolwine.

The renovations include a two-story addition to the back of the building, including elevators, a plating kitchen on the first floor and a full commercial kitchen on the second. White oak flooring is being added throughout the first floor as well as a large bar. The patio is also getting a full renovation, and the basement is being transformed into bridal and groom lounges complete with vanities, dressing rooms and lounge spaces.

Shelley Evans, sales and design manager at DelightMore who will be taking over operations at the site, said the acquisition and renovation of the space has been “an exciting journey.”

“Thankfully, our team is well-versed in venue renovations.” she said. “Our aim is to revive the timeless charm of the building, while enhancing its functionality for events.

Evans has been showing clients around the pre-renovated space, and she said, “It can be a lot for clients to grasp from a simple 20×20 rendering.” However, she said they have all been really excited for the space to reopen.

“With a new kitchen, we can serve exceptional cuisine, and, with a brand new bar, we will serve top-notch drinks,” said Evans.

Renovations are expected to be completed by Oct. 1, according to Woolwine, with the group hosting an open house on Oct. 3 and the first client event, a wedding, set for Oct. 12.

Renderings of the renovated entryway and lounge, left, and the upstairs dance floor at Newport’s Carnegie Hall. Renderings provided | DelightMore

Queer Kentucky event brainstorms ways to help addiction recovery

By Nathan Granger

Queer Kentucky, a nonprofit aimed at storytelling and wellness for the state’s queer community, hosted an event April 29 at the Center for Great Neighborhoods in Covington. Community members brainstormed ways to build resources for queer Kentuckians in addiction recovery.

Queer Kentucky had already held a similar event in Louisville, and Missy Spears, the organization’s executive director, said she was hoping to expand services into Covington. Moreover, the event dovetailed with the organization’s most recent magazine issue, which focused on the theme of home. The magazine solicited submissions that asked queer Kentuckians to describe where they felt the most at home.

Home sometimes had a different meaning for queer people than it did for others, Spears said, as they were often prompted

to seek belonging and safety outside of conventional home and family environments. She noticed a pattern when reading through the submissions, though, one that presented a challenge for queer people in addiction recovery.

“What we noticed when we accepted submissions from folks all around Kentucky was that a lot of folks identified their home as a bar or a club,” Spears said. As a result, she said, people sometimes lost their support systems as they entered recovery. Thus, it was necessary to come up with alternatives that ensured people in recovery could get help they needed in a way that was also welcoming to their identities.

Attendees included business owners and community members from around Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. Representatives of the Northern Kentucky Health Department also attended with supplies and information about various public health and harm reduction services they offered.

Spears opened the room for discussion, and attendees shared their thoughts around what is working well and what could be improved. A moderator wrote ideas on paper sheets and stuck them to the wall for people to read. Several key themes emerged.

The first was that there needed to be more visibility for organizations that provided queer-friendly addiction services. Steven S. (he declined to give his full last name) said that such organizations existed, but they were hidden. For a queer person seeking help, it wasn’t always clear which treatment providers would be safe to enter.

Steven said that it was important for someone to “find places where you can go where you’re going to feel welcomed.”

Spears asked attendees to list some places, besides bars and other places where alcohol and substances were available, where they felt accepted and safe. Some places people listed were fitness clubs, schools and arts organizations, among others.

A similar problem brought up by attendees is that many pride and queer-friendly events and spaces feature alcohol. In fact, many rely on selling drinks to raise money.

To mitigate this, several attendees pitched the idea of doing outreach with local bar owners to encourage them to stock – and advertise – nonalcoholic beverages more frequently. Likewise, several attendees, some of whom owned businesses where drinks were served, recommended reaching out to beverage distributors and suppliers to encourage them to provide more nonalcoholic beverages.

There also was a discussion of hosting sober, queer-friendly events with a “club atmosphere,” as one attendee put it, where people could meet and have fun without the incursion of alcohol and other substances.

The latter parts of the discussion focused on the idea of harm reduction, which broadly refers to creating public resources to help people deal with addiction and other problems, often through the use of freely available protective devices, rather than insisting on outright abstinence. The goto example of a harm-reduction measure is a free needle exchange, through which people using heroin can get clean needles rather than reusing old ones, which might expose them to infection. Wall-mounted automatic defibrillator devices and Naloxone boxes in public places are also forms of harm reduction.

Darnell Pierre-Benjamin spoke about “expanding the conversation on what harm reduction means.” He said that, if bars and other businesses were aware of harm-reduction measures, they would often stop at having condoms on hand, but it was important to have other measures as well, such as HIV testing kits. Other attendees discussed easy access to fentanyl testing strips and the aforementioned Naloxone

boxes, one of which the Northern Kentucky Health Department had on hand.

By the end of the meeting, the attendees had created a list of steps they or other volunteers could take after the meeting to help address these problems. These included developing relationships with local businesses to build queer-friendly competency, expanding access to harm-reduction measures in public places, compiling lists of queer-friendly treatment providers, hosting educational events about addiction and sobriety, and being more deliberate about putting on sober-friendly events.

Spears concluded by saying she hoped to host more events like this in the future, provided Queer Kentucky could secure proper funding.

“So, in six months, we can get back together, hopefully with more folks, talk about what we’ve already nailed out of this list, what new ideas we have and how we can pivot and keep doing a little bit of work to make this place a little bit better,” Spears said.

Missy Spears speaks at the Center for Great Neighborhoods on April 29. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

The cover of Queer Kentucky’s periodical. Photo provided | Queer KY

news from other places

Democratic mayor joins GOP state lawmakers to celebrate Louisville funding

The amount of state funding headed to Kentucky's largest city to support downtown renewal, education, health care and other priorities shows that the days of talking about an urban-rural divide in the Bluegrass State are “now behind us,” Louisville's mayor said on April 29.

The new two-year state budget passed by the Republican-dominated legislature will pump more than $1 billion into Louisville, reflecting the city's role as an economic catalyst that benefits the entire state, lawmakers said.

Republican legislators and Louisville's first-term Democratic mayor, Craig Greenberg, spoke of the collaboration they achieved during the 60-day legislative session that ended two weeks ago.

“For far too long, folks have talked about this urban-rural divide that has divided Louisville and the rest of the state," Greenberg said at a news conference attended by a number of lawmakers in downtown Louisville. “Well those days are now behind us.”

“We may not agree on every issue,” he said. “What we have shown this session is that’s OK. There is so much common ground. There is so much that we do agree on.”

There was no mention of divisive issues — past and present — that prompted some Democratic lawmakers and others to proclaim that the predominantly rural GOP legislature was waging a “war on Louisville.” During the just-ended session, Republican lawmakers enacted a measure to make mayoral elections nonpartisan in Louisville, the state's most Democratic city. And lawmakers undid efforts in Louisville and Lexington to ban landlords from discriminating against renters who use feder-

al housing vouchers.

Perhaps the most explosive issue is still pending. Lawmakers agreed to create a task force to review the public school system that encompasses Louisville. The review could potentially lead to efforts next year to split up Jefferson County Public Schools, the state's largest school system.

Sen. Gerald Neal, the state Senate's top-ranking Democrat, noted at Monday's event that there remain “some unanswered questions” regarding the legislature's relationship with Louisville. But Neal praised his colleagues for approving the funding for his hometown, referring to the $100 million over two years for downtown Louisville as a “home run."

Pennsylvania moves to join states that punish stalkers who use Bluetooth tracking devices

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania took a step on April 30 toward becoming the latest state to punish someone for using a Bluetooth-connected device to track someone without their permission.

The state House of Representatives voted 199-1 to approve legislation that would make using a tracking device to secretly track another person part of Pennsylvania's laws against stalking.

The crime would be punishable as a third-degree misdemeanor, or up to 90 days in jail.

The bill goes to the Senate, where a separate bill is pending that would make the crime a second-degree misdemeanor, or punishable by up to two years in jail.

Most states have a provision in state law that prohibits remote tracking, while others are adding it. Ohio is considering such legislation, Florida is increasing penalties for using such a device and Kentucky approved a new law last year.

Bluetooth-controlled devices made by various tech giants or digital apps installed on a mobile phone can secretly track the movements of another person.

The House bill's April 30 passage comes a few weeks after a federal judge denied Apple’s motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit contending that the tech giant hasn’t

done enough to prevent stalkers from using its AirTag devices to track victims.

Apple’s $29 AirTags have become popular items since their 2021 release, helping users keep tabs on the location of anything from lost keys to wallets and luggage.

But stalkers have also taken advantage of AirTags and similar tracking devices, and dozens of plaintiffs sued Apple in 2022, contending that AirTag users had stalked them. They said its safety features are inadequate and that Apple should have done more to protect victims after AirTags “revolutionized the scope, breadth, and ease of location-based stalking."

Apple has condemned any malicious use of the product. It argued in court that it “took proactive steps" to deter misuse and that it shouldn't be liable for damage caused by third parties.

Last year, Apple partnered with Google to set standards for fighting secret surveillance with tracking devices.

Ex-Ohio House speaker to be arraigned from prison on state charges as scheme’s impact persists

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former Republican Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder will be arraigned from federal prison on the 10 new felony counts recently brought against him by the state, as revelations mount surrounding the scandal that landed him there.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Brendan Sheehan this week agreed to allow Householder to appear at the May 13 proceeding by video stream from Elkton Federal Correctional Institution south of Youngstown, where he is serving 20 years for his role in the largest corruption case in state history. The permission follows post-

ponement of an earlier arraignment on the state's charges where Householder was to appear in person.

A jury convicted Householder, 64, on a federal racketeering charge in June for his role orchestrating a $60 million bribery scheme funded by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. in exchange for passage of a $1 billion bailout of two nuclear plants owned by one of its subsidiaries.

He has appealed that conviction, arguing that federal prosecutors overstepped the limits of their authority. His lawyers contend that the $60 million, while undisclosed, amounted to legal campaign contributions permitted under federal law.

“Unlike most other bribery prosecutions, Householder did not receive an envelope of cash or extravagant gifts or trips. Rather, the government presented evidence that Householder helped raised money into a 501(c)(4) organization, Generation Now," his lawyers wrote in February, contending “there is nothing criminal about that.”

It turns out the dark money payments flowing from FirstEnergy to benefit powerful Ohio politicians as it was pushing for the nuclear bailout didn't stop with those raised as part of the Householder prosecution.

Recently released records tied to the scandal have revealed that the utility gave $2.5 million to State Solutions, a 501(c)4 benefiting Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's 2018 campaign, and $1 million to a nonprofit called Freedom Frontier that backed Lt. Gov. Jon Husted gubernatorial bid that same year. The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau and The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com, respectively, first reported the sums. DeWine has said he didn't know of the contributions and that his positions are not impacted by political donations. Husted's spokesperson has said he was not affiliated with the dark money group.

Judge clears Grimes of ethics charges tied to voter data access

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Former Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes has been cleared of ethics charges stemming from allegations that the onetime Democratic rising star abused her access to voter registration data to benefit

A cyclist rides the Clark Memorial Bridge over the Ohio River into downtown Louisville. Photo by David Goldman | Associated Press

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, convicted in June on federal racketeering charges, is to be arraigned May 13 on 10 new counts. Photo by John Minchillo | Associated Press

herself and fellow Democrats.

Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd ruled April 29 that Grimes legally accessed the data while “acting in the scope of her public duties” as secretary of state.

“It is unclear how the commission can penalize the commonwealth’s chief election official for having access to voter data, or downloading it to a flash drive when it has failed to identify any illegal or unethical use of such data,” Shepherd said in his order.

Grimes had faced a $10,000 fine after the state Executive Branch Ethics Commission said that she committed ethics violations by improperly ordering the downloading and distribution of voter registration data. The judge's reversal of the commission's order means Grimes won't have to pay the fine.

Jon Salomon, one of Grimes' attorneys, said Tuesday that the ruling vindicated Grimes.

“Secretary Grimes should have never been investigated for simply doing the job that Kentucky voters twice elected her to do, and the court has appropriately cleared her of all charges,” he said in a statement.

The commission said Tuesday that it is reviewing the matter.

Grimes was seen as a rising political star when she was first elected secretary of state in 2011.

She launched a high-profile challenge against longtime Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2014 but was soundly defeated. She rebounded to win reelection as secretary of state in 2015, when Republicans claimed most statewide offices. The only other Democrat to win that year was

Andy Beshear, who was elected attorney general then and is now in his second term as governor.

The ethics commission's allegations against Grimes stemmed from activity in 2015 and 2016. Grimes was accused of failing to follow government processes in downloading and sharing voter information.

She was accused of acting unethically by instructing her employees to download voter information onto flash drives while she was running for reelection and sharing voter registration information for state House districts, all without complying with open records rules or collecting fees.

Shepherd ruled that the allegations were “arbitrary and without the support of substantial evidence.” The judge said there is no law or regulation that prohibited her from accessing or sharing the information.

Kentucky man on death row for killing three children,

raping their mother has died

EDDYVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A western Kentucky man on death row for killing three children, raping their mother and setting their home ablaze has died, officials said April 30.

Kevin Wayne Dunlap, 51, died April 28 after being transported to a hospital from the Kentucky Penitentiary in Eddyville, Kentucky Department of Corrections spokeswomen Lisa Lamb said.

She said federal regulations prevented her from releasing any further information.

Dunlap pleaded guilty in 2010 to attacking the woman in 2008 and killing her children at the home in Roaring Springs before burning it to the ground. A jury recommended a death sentence.

Dunlap approached the victim as she worked in the yard and asked to see the house, which was for sale, on Oct. 15, 2008. Once inside, he pulled a gun and zip-tied her hands and ankles. When the children came home, he tied them up and put them in a different part of the house.

The children killed in the attack were ages 5, 14 and 17. A medical examiner deter-

mined each of the children died from multiple stab wounds.

After being raped and stabbed, the mother faked her own death and escaped the burning home.

Defense attorneys sought to have the death sentence vacated, but the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld it. Justices found that a judge committed no errors in allowing Dunlap to admit to the killings and have a jury decide only if he would be condemned to death or face a lesser sentence.

Ind. congresswoman, raised in Ukraine, voted against U. S. aid for her homeland

SHERIDAN, Ind. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, the first and only Ukrainian-born member of Congress, emerged early on as a natural advocate for supporting her native country in its war with Russia. But when $61 billion in additional support for the war effort came up for a vote in the House recently, she voted against it.

Instead she has called for better oversight of U.S. funds and opposed giving “blank checks” to the Ukrainian cause. She says U.S. border security should be a bigger priority.

That puts her more in line with conservative House Republicans and more notably with voters in her deeply conservative central Indiana congressional district. She's locked in a tough reelection fight in the May 7 GOP primary, made all the more complicated by her public announcement more than a year ago that she wouldn't seek another term, a decision she later reversed.

The aid package, part of a larger bill that also included assistance for Israel, Taiwan and other global hot spots, was approved by the House on April 20, the Senate on April 23 and signed into law by President Joe Biden on April 24.

Spartz said she is “kind of appalled” at the notion that her heritage should dictate support for the Ukrainian cause if she feels the money would be wasted.

“My responsibility is the protection of American people,” she said during a recent interview.

Spartz spoke at an event hosted by the Hamilton County GOP at a community center in Sheridan, Indiana, a town of a few thousand people. The event in a hall just off of the town's main street was attended by eight of the nine GOP primary candidates, who were able to make their case to voters and county Republican officials one at a time during a meet-and-greet that also included short speeches by the candidates.

Mike Murphy, a former Indiana state representative and political commentator, said in a phone interview that funding for Ukraine isn't much of a priority for Republican voters these days.

Concern about the southern border is a greater catalyst for participation, which isn't lost on candidates in the conservative district. Most of Spartz's opponents for the 5th district seat have said protecting the U.S.-Mexico border should be a bigger priority than sending money to Ukraine.

“They’re all gunning to be as Trump-like as possible,” Murphy said.

Border security has been hammered in the campaign by state Rep. Chuck Goodrich, the most well-funded of Spartz's eight challengers. He has attacked Spartz on her original support to Ukraine, saying she puts “Ukraine first.”

Goodrich, who attended the Sheridan event, acknowledged that Indiana is far from Mexico but said illegal drugs such as fentanyl enter the U.S. through the southern border and pose a threat deep in the heartland.

“Every state is a border state,” he said in an interview.

Spartz beat a crowded 2020 primary field, winning nearly 40% of the vote and receiving former President Donald Trump's general election endorsement. She ran unopposed in the 2022 primary.

Spartz made things harder for herself when she announced in early 2023 that she would not run again, citing fatigue with Washington politics and her desire to spend more time with her family.

She also threatened to resign if the national debt was not addressed.

Alison Lundergan Grimes. Photo by Timothy D. Easley | Associated Press

Southside Strength Co. fosters community through fitness

Congrats, Mom!

By Kenton Hornbeck

John and Kayla Pasquale believe that gyms are places that can build community.

The two hope to immerse themselves further in the Covington community with their new gym, Southside Strength Co.

“It really is a community-driven, family-oriented spot, and we’re just really lucky and really blessed to be here,” Kayla said.

Southside Strength Co., at 319 Madison Ave., opened in October. Since then, the gym has seen a steady stream of clients looking for private training, small group training or dietary programming.

“We train a lot of high performers in the real world, and our philosophy of training is performance strength training, which kind of covers all the goals that someone normally would have, whether it be longevity, to feel better, to be in better shape, to rehab an injury,” John said.

John got his start in the business across the Licking River in Newport at NewCov Crossfit.

Last week, Covington held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate Southside Strength’s opening and the transformation of one of the city’s historic buildings. “We’re right here in the inner-city, right here near Fourth and Madison, and this building has turned over and it’s beautiful,” said Covington Vice Mayor Ron Washington.

Washington also mentioned that the city was able to assist Southside Strength financially. In February, the commissioners approved a $6,000 rent subsidy, which reimburses a business for up to half of its monthly rent.

The interior of Southside Strength is divided into two: one side for training, the other for Pilates. The training side features fitness equipment you’d find in most commercial gyms, such as dumbbells, kettlebells, squat racks, benches, bumper plates and treadmills. It also features less typical equipment, such as multiple Keiser Infinity Series Functional Trainers, that allow gym-goers to train various muscle groups using cables. The machine’s weight can be adjusted digitally.

Southside Strength offers three types of group training packages: strength-focused, conditioning-focused and a hybrid of the two. The gym also offers semiprivate training, where small groups of participants work with a coach. One-on-one, private training sessions are included in the gym’s premium package. Earlier classes generally kick off at 5:15 a.m.; later classes begin at 5:30 p.m.

John said their building at 319 Madison Ave. was at the “epicenter” of their client base. “We have realized how great this location is based on our clients and our clientele being so close to the city of Covington but also Newport, downtown Cincinnati,” he said.

Southside Strength is housed in the former Covington Power Building, across the street from the historic Trinity Episcopal Church. It was constructed in 1929, according to Kenton County property records. It includes a parking lot, rooftop terrace and is minutes from downtown Cincinnati.

“We knew it was the right space size-wise, but really character-wise, it reminds us of an old gymnasium,” John said.

The building is where John and Kayla continue to raise their own community, one based on fitness and family.

Southside Strength Co. owners John and Kayla Pasquale with Covington commissioners Steve Hayden, Shannon Smith and Ron Washington. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

The inside of the Southside Strength Co. gym. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

Notre Dame Academy president resigns amid questions about finances

Notre Dame Academy’s President Trish Miller resigned unexpectedly over the weekend, according to an email sent April 27 to parents of the school’s students.

The resignation comes less than a year after she began as head of the all-girls Catholic school, on July 1.

“While Mrs. Miller’s departure comes as a surprise, we want to express our deepest gratitude for her dedicated service and contributions to the advancement of NDA during her tenure,” said the email, which came from Mark Hausfeld, chair of the school’s board of directors.

The board will oversee the search for a replacement, according to the email. “We understand the importance of this process and are fully committed to identifying the best candidate to lead our school forward,” the email says.

The resignation comes amid questions about how the school’s governing board is managing its finances. A petition from concerned parents has begun circulating asking the school for more transparency.

“The recent resignations of the President and Principal of Notre Dame Academy over the past month have caused great concern across the Notre Dame community,” the petition reads. “These events bring into serious question the leadership of the Board and the governance of the organization.”

The petition goes on to ask for adding at least two parents as nonvoting members to the board.

The school is governed by the Sisters of Notre Dame, an independent order of nuns that operates separately from the lo-

cal diocese. In February, one of the order’s schools, La Reina Catholic School in Thousand Oaks, Calif., closed amid declining enrollment and a $1.4 million budget deficit, an act that led to pushback from the local community. It is unclear if the situation at Notre Dame is similar.

In a letter sent April 27, the school announced that Jane Kleier, the school’s chief communications officer, will serve as the school’s interim president until June 30 while the school searches for a permanent replacement. The letter also said Jack VonHandorf, who previously resigned as the school’s principal of the school, had rescinded his resignation and will serve as principal in the coming school year.

Word of Kleier’s and VonHandorf’s appointments were met positively, the letter said.

Neither Millier nor the school responded by deadline to LINK nky’s request for comment.

Kroger breaks ground on new store at former Kmart site in Edgewood

Kroger broke ground April 26 at a new location on Dixie Highway in Edgewood. The location formerly was the site of a Kmart store.

“The new Kroger will be 101,000 square feet and feature expanded offerings in all departments, Kroger PickUp, a Kroger Wine and Spirits shop and a seven-pump fuel center,” according to a Kroger release. “The location will employ more than 250 associ-

ates and offer additional leadership opportunities for career advancement.”

The company stated that the store represents a $25 million investment. Exact construction timelines have not yet been established, but Jenifer Moore, a corporate affairs representative from Kroger, told LINK nky that the company aims to finish construction sometime next year.

University of Cincinnati ROTC members replace flags atop Roebling Bridge

Members from the University of Cincinnati’s ROTC program took part April 27 in the annual flag replacement ceremony atop the Roebling Bridge. The ceremony, sponsored by the Covington-based Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridge Committee, saw new U.S., and Kentucky and Ohio state flags raised.

The ceremony also saw the swearing in of new committee officers Mary Damas, Joseph Gallagher, Jason Keith and Sam Wyche.

“It sent shivers down my spine during the swearing-in ceremony,” said Don Jones, member of the bridge committee, in a release.

Ludlow council discusses city’s options for legalizing medical use of cannabis

Ludlow is joining the conversation about medical marijuana in Kentucky.

During an April city council meeting, Mayor Chris Wright discussed the benefits and drawbacks of legalizing medical cannabis. This discussion comes after the passage of House Bill 829, which legalized the sale of medical marijuana in the state.

Wright announced that Planning and Developing Services of Kenton County will make a presentation about medical cannabis at the May caucus meeting.

Wright said at the April meeting that there are usually two reasons people oppose legalizing medical cannabis: the smell and the risk of drivers’ driving under the influence.

He said that the smell of cannabis is not an issue since it would be used only for medical purposes and only in its ingestible form or essential oils.

As for concerns about impaired driving, that would be illegal just like alcohol or any other drug, Wright said.

Legalization of medical cannabis could bring in tax revenue, he said.

“So I’m hoping as we continue to learn more about it, we would have a better idea of what it might bring in, but right now I think we’re all just in the fact-finding portion of it,” Wright said. “I’m happy that the General Assembly has made this happen and they’ve passed medical cannabis so that the people that can benefit from it, have access to it.”

The council needs to evaluate whether moving forward with industrial cultivation, a commercial dispensary or allowing it in pharmacies is the right option for Ludlow, said Wright.

Scam alert: Covington PD warns against callers impersonating its officers

Covington Police released a statement April 27 on the department’s social media channels to warn residents against callers claiming to be police officials and soliciting payments for alleged fines, bonds and war-

Continues on page 12

Trish Miller. Photo provided | Notre Dame Academy

State and local officials break ground at the new Kroger site in Edgewood on the morning of April 26, 2024. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

ROTC members raise flags atop the Roebling Bridge. Photo provided | The Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridge Committee

rants over the phone.

Scammers have claimed to be Sgt. Daniel Mitchell, Justin Bradbury, who is the department’s public information officer, and other members of the force.

“Neither Sgt. Daniel Mitchell, [Bradbury], or any other member of our agency will EVER tell you to pay any fine, warrant, or bond over the phone,” the post reads.

The post notes that some of the scam callers are able to spoof the department’s phone number so it looks as though the call actually is coming from an officer.

Erlanger family calls for city barrier on cleared hillside

Following the removal of trees on a city hillside, one Erlanger resident and his family who live atop the hill are trying to get the city to add a barrier.

Don Niceley, 89, remembers falling into the tree near his driveway, which is also on city property.

“I lost my grip and went over,” he said.

Earlier this month, Duke Energy removed the trees to protect the power lines overhead. The city says the lines serve more than 8,000 local customers.

The move, though, left the 18-foot drop on the hillside completely empty.

“The city should have had a plan in place for a fence or guardrail,” Diana Niceley told council at an April 16 meeting. Although she is a sitting city council member, she presented the issue during the meeting’s public comment portion.

City Administrator Peter Glenn told the meeting he started the process to get the legally required three bids for the project, and that a temporary orange barrier was installed in the meantime. “We will be moving forward in making sure that’s a safe situation,” Glenn said.

Jeff Niceley, Don Niceley’s son, said he came away from that meeting thinking the matter was resolved.

“Two days later, they came out and said they changed their mind. They took the fence down,” he said.

Niceley said the city told them its lawyer determined the city isn’t liable for what happens on the hill, and thus can’t spend money on the project.

Mayor Jessica Fette said public dollars can’t be used since the project would primarily benefit a public property owner. Council members “have to be able to show a public purpose in order to use taxpayer dollars,” Fette said. “That is the most important

piece of the puzzle.”

Jeff Niceley wants to know what defines public benefit. “In my opinion, if it’s a handful of people or one person, that matters,” he said.

Fette said the city has “tried to bend over backward. We’ve talked about the city beautification idea and plan that we could go forward with, but it takes time,” she said.

Time is something the Niceleys say they don’t have. “Something needs to be done now,” Jeff Nicely said.

The family is planning to bring up the issue at the next city council meeting. Council members could direct the city to spend money on the project, but there are ethical considerations to consider. In addition to Diana Nicely’s position, Don Niceley is a former council member.

26-year-old bicyclist killed in crash involving charter bus in Covington

A 26-year-old bicyclist is dead after he was hit by a charter bus on the morning of April 25, according to Covington police.

Police said that, when officers responded to the intersection of 12th and Scott streets at around 8:59 a.m., they found bicyclist Jonathon Hussing, who had been struck by a bus operated by Cavalier Coaches Inc. The bus was traveling from Iowa to Northern Kentucky.

Hussing was taken to UC Medical Center with “serious injuries,” where he was later pronounced dead.

Police offered no information on what led to, or may have caused, the crash. Bob Barnes, safety director of Cavalier Coaches, said the company is cooperating with police, but it doesn’t yet have enough information to provide an official statement.

Anyone with information about the crash can call Covington detectives at 859-2922234 or Crimestoppers at 513-352-3040.

Annual list names Covington one of best places to live in US

Money.com, which each year releases a list of the best places to live in the United States, named Covington as among this year’s honorees.

“Covington has a style all its own,” said the website’s profile on the city. “Its Mainstrasse Village boasts murals – including one of KFC’s Colonel Sanders in outer space – and the German-style Chimes Clock Tower, which features a mechanical puppet show every hour in certain months. Nearby, residents can enjoy a stellar view of the Cincy skyline at Devou Park or sample one (or two, or three) of the dozens of bourbons served at The Globe.”

“I think many of us know that our city is a pretty good place to live,” said Covington Commissioner Tim Downing at the commission’s recent meeting, “but it’s good to know that national publications are recognizing it, too.”

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

• AJ’s Towing & Recovery

• Boone County Clerk

• Campbell County Clerk’s Office

• Campbell County Fire District #1

• Campbell County Fiscal Court

• Campbell County Planning & Zoning

• Campbell County Public Library

MEETING NOTICE

The City of Southgate Community Center Inc. will be holding an annual meeting on Wed. May 15 at 5:30pm at City Hall 122 Electric Ave. Southgate, KY If you have questions, please contact the City Clerk’s office at 859-441-0075.

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO GO TO OUR DIGITAL PUBLIC NOTICE

• 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 Thomas

• City of Fort Wright

• City of Independence

• City of Lakeside Park

• City of Ludlow

• City of Newport

• City of Silver Grove

• 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

• Northern Kentucky Port Authority

• Northern Kentucky Water District

• Planning & Development Services of Kenton County

• The Baker Firm PLLC

• The Hidden Chapter Bookstore LLC

Don Niceley walks down his driveway. Photo provided | Andrew Rowan of WCPO

Comedy @ Commonwealth, 7-10 p.m., Commonwealth Sanctuary, 522 Fifth Ave., Dayton. An evening of laughs with comedian Hannah Roeschlein and friends. Doors open at 6 p.m. Show starts at 7 p.m. Admission $15. Information: commonwealthsanctuary.com.

Mainstrasse Village Food & Culture Tour, 10

a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Cedar, 701 Main St., Covington. Explore Covington’s Mainstrasse Village and savor some of the delicious local foods. Admission $6-$65. Information: riversidefoodtours.com/tours/ mainstrasse-village

NKY chapter of Kentucky Public Retirees meeting, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Golden Corral, 4770 Houston Road, Florence. Admission: Free

Adventures in Folktales, 2-3 p.m., Boone County Public Library Hebron Branch, 1863 North Bend Road, Hebron. Listen to action-packed Kentucky folk tales through story and song with Paul Strickland, 2023 National Storytelling Festival Featured Teller. Admission: Free

Legislative recap breakfast 2024, 7:30-9

a.m., Boone County Enrichment Center, 1824 Patrick Drive, Burlington. Event will include members of the Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus and will review legislative successes of the recent Kentucky General Assembly based on the NKY Chamber’s legislative agenda. Cost $40-$60. Registration required at https://bit. ly/4ahCMNb.

SINGO at Barleycorn’s Brewhouse, 7 p.m., 402 Licking Pike, Wilder. Free to play for friends and family. Kids welcome. Admission: Free

St. Elizabeth Hospice Night to Remember, 6:30-9 p.m., Drees Pavillion, 790 Park Lane, Covington. St. Elizabeth Hospice is making more meaningful moments possible for families who may be faced with a terminal illness. Admission: Free

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

THE URBAN RESORT Developed by

Ovation is an urban mixed-use development that sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking Rivers in Northern Kentucky. It is a vibrant riverfront destination that bridges the cities in the region, connects residents and the community directly to the rivers, and enables everyone to be transformed by the incredible river views combined with a boardwalk that transcends time and activates all your senses.

1970s custom-built home in Edgewood

Address: 3081 Ashley Drive, Edgewood

Price: $599,900

Bedrooms: Three

Bathrooms: Three (plus one half-bath)

School district: Kenton County

Square footage: 2,780

County: Kenton

Special features: This 1978 custom-built home features hardwood floors, three fireplaces, a finished basement with a custom bar, new carpet, wood floor and a walkout. Updates include a new gas furnace and electric heat pump, a new water heater, dishwasher, and garage door opener, and exterior updates, including new concrete, gutters, downspouts and freshly painted siding.

An exterior shot of this

home. Photo provided | Donna Mink with Mink Realty

This home sits on a little less than an acre of land. Photo provided | Donna Mink with Mink Realty

This Edgewood home has been maintained over the years. Photo provided | Donna Mink with Mink Realty

By Maria Hehman

Streetscapes eats up tradition along Alexandria Pike game

This Streetscapes heads to Campbell County to visit some small businesses along Alexandria Pike. Although historic Lou Lou’s Cafe closed earlier this year, there are still several worthy independent businesses to patronize.

Honey Hole Bar and Grill

Honey Hole is a bit hidden and often overlooked by the numerous chains and fast food eateries directly across the road. Honey Hole serves traditional bar food – wings, burgers and all the fried sides one can dream of. Its laid back atmosphere is the ideal spot for a bucket of beers, watching a game and chatting with friends.

Nothing pairs better with a bucket of beer than Honey Hole’s famous wings. There are traditional bone in, boneless and cauliflower, with an impressive 16 sauces. Burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads and pizza all add to their menu ensuring options for everyone. The Joey B burger is a must during a Bengals game. With a Cajun-seasoned burger, Cajun shrimp, pepper jack cheese and homemade remoulade sauce, it’s all the sustenance one needs to get through

day.

Honey Hole also has an exterior patio tucked behind the building that conceals much of the noise of a very busy section along Alexandria Pike.

Empress Chili

Cincinnati chili has been in the news lately, thanks to Skyline’s announcement that it would switch from Pepsi to Coke. When the food is as good as Empress’, patrons forget about what soda they serve. (It’s Coke, by the way.)

Cincinnati and NKY natives have the founders of Empress Chili to thank for the everlasting debate of the best Cincinnati style chili. As the place that created it, there’s no doubt that Empress Chili is always a front runner. Originally located in Cincinnati, the Alexandria location is the last one left of a chain that started the craze.

The Empress interior is frozen in time and is the perfect complement to the timeless recipes. Guests can stick to the classics –coneys, three-, four- or five-ways – or indulge in newer creations, like a chili pizza. It’s all the favorite flavors of Cincinnati style

chili on top of a crispy pizza crust.

Empress’ menu doesn’t end at chili. It also has a wide selection of salads and sandwiches. Whether it’s a classic turkey sandwich, a Reuben or a chef salad, they have tasty choices for all occasions.

The original chili parlor is worth the visit for both history and foodie fans.

Traditions Family Restaurant

This mom-and-pop breakfast and lunch joint is farther back from the main hub along Alexandria Pike. Locals and onetime visitors experience classic homestyle foods, including one of the area’s most legendary breakfasts. Guests can never go wrong in ordering biscuits and gravy.

Other savory options include breakfast burritos, skillet bowls, omelets and eggs. Those with a sweet tooth have pancakes and French toast for decadent options. Burgers, chicken and fish take up the majority of the lunch menu, with salads, sandwiches, soup and chili rounding out the options.

The interior at Traditions is simple, just

like eating your grandma’s cooking in her kitchen. This breakfast and lunch spot has drawn celebrity from all over the region for its simple and classic dishes and cheap prices.

What to Know If You Go

Honey Hole Bar and Grill

Location: 7501 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria

Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight. Phone: 859-694-4018

Empress Chili Location: 7934 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria

Hours: Sunday, closed; Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Website: empresschilialexandria.com Phone: 859-635-5900

Traditions Family Restaurant

Location: 11500 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Phone: 859-635-3663

Exterior patio of Honey Hole Bar and Grill ready for summer evenings. Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

Empress Chili exterior, the last location of the region’s original chili parlor. Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

By Marc Hardin

TBalanced Walton-Verona continues winning ways under new coach

he early-week baseball practice at Walton-Verona High School features a lot of fielding, throwing and sliding. It’s a luxury afforded to a team batting .338, one of the top marks in Kentucky.

“It was a little windy but a fun day,” sophomore Bronson Corpus said. “We had some batting practice, but we’re really working on bunt coverages and turning double plays.”

In preparation for the most important district game of the season, first-year head coach Andrew Sien wants to ensure that his Bearcats are comfortable with as many playing scenarios as possible. This includes wild pitches and passed balls.

“We want to help our pitcher out and execute a good play at the plate in case something like that happens,” Corpus said. “As a pitcher and third baseman, I’m definitely a part of that.”

Under Coach Sien’s leadership, everybody is a part of everything. As a result, the Bearcats have continued their winning ways following the resignation of Sien’s highly successful predecessor, Clint Coleman, who coached for eight seasons.

By the end of April, the Bearcats held a 15-7 record. They secured the No. 2 seed in the 32nd District tournament after a dominant 14-2 victory over Grant County, thanks to a complete-game pitching performance from sophomore Will Hurles.

“We emphasize getting involvement from everyone. Fortunately, we have a lot of good players, and expectations are high,” Sien said. “We believe we can beat teams in a lot of ways, and we need everyone prepared.”

Aiding the cause are eight seniors, among them Cayden Smithers. He and Corpus form one of the more imposing power tandems in Northern Kentucky. After six weeks, both Bearcats ranked in the state top 30 in home runs.

Corpus launched five homers in his first 52 at-bats, hitting .327 and sharing the team lead with 21 RBI and 22 runs scored. Smithers had four homers, hitting .364 with 20 RBI and 20 runs.

“With a new coach, we’ve got new energy,” said Smithers. “We want to keep that winning environment, and coach Sien has done that.”

The Bearcats thrive offensively under Sien’s guidance. Their objective: get on base by any means necessary and keep the line moving.

At one point in late April, 13 Bearcats were batting .300 or better. Eight hitters coaxed at least 10 walks and 10 had been hit by pitch. Twelve players had at least one extra-base hit and 17 had driven in at least one run.

The on-base strategy worked at the 8th Region All “A” Classic where the Bearcats repeated as champions. They flat-out dominated the competition. The scores: 22-0 over Cornerstone Christian, 19-3 against Williamstown and 19-0 versus Gallatin County in the final.

The Bearcats won an All “A” sectional con-

test over Kentucky Country Day 12-1 before bowing out in the state tournament quarterfinals with a 3-2 loss in nine innings to Owensboro Catholic.

In between the region and state All “A” events, the Bearcats buried Highlands, 147, one of their 12 outings scoring at least 10 runs. Earlier, they beat Mason County, 10-0. They beat Conner, 12-0.

At the end of April, the all-for-one Bearcats were among state leaders in batting average, runs, home runs and RBI.

Walton-Verona’s low-yield pitchers complement the high-average hitters. The Bearcats also rank among state leaders in team ERA, maintaining an impressive 2.86 with seven shutouts at the end of April.

Three starters posted an ERA below 3.00: senior Mason Howard at 0.99, Corpus at 1.69 and Hurles at 2.51. Sophomore Cole Dryden contributed with a 2.71 ERA across his first seven relief appearances. Corpus struck out 43 batters in his initial 29 innings, while Howard fanned 36 in 35 innings. Both pitchers secured three wins by May, trailing only Hurles, the leader with five wins.

Hurles, like Corpus, excels in multiple facets of the game. He led or co-led the Bearcats in runs, triples and stolen bases, and ranked second in hits and RBI.

Senior Sawyer Webster led all those .300 hitters, boasting an impressive average of .391. Fellow senior Julian Dixon was batting .354, contributing to the team’s offensive prowess. Junior Aiden Kerns maintained a .321 batting average and led the team in runs and doubles. Two more seniors, Bryce Corpus and Landon Bach, play crucial roles.

Coach Sien believes that a balanced team, combining all players’ skills, forms a stable and equitable group that truly shares in the team’s success. He learned a lot of that at Ryle High School, where he spent seven years as an assistant.

The fusion of the Ryle approach with Walton-Verona’s style has been a skillful move by the new coach. Smithers hopes it leads to the program’s first 8th Region tournament championship.

“That’s the goal: go deep in the region and win it,” Smithers said confidently. “I know we can do it.”

Sophomore Bronson Corpus is a big threat on the mound and at the plate for the small-school Bearcats. Photo provided | Pete Coleman

Head coach Andrew Sien guided Walton-Verona to a repeat championship at the 8th Region All “A”

Classic baseball tournament. Photo provided | Pete Coleman

St Henry Crusaders football gets underway year ahead of schedule

The St. Henry High School football team held its first-ever practice April 23 at the school. The Crusaders have a football team for the first time under coach Tim Odom, who played prep football at Cincinnati Moeller and college ball at Ohio State.

St. Henry planned on a 2026 start for football, but it moved up the timeline to 2025 due to the interest it generated. St. Henry starts middle school and junior varsity football this year.

Odom previously coached in the Cincinnati area at Moeller, Glen Este and Lakota West. He was head coach at Simon Kenton from 1990-94, and he led the program to its first playoff victory in 1993.

Norse make splash with first swim coach, 3-year Barton vet

NKU hired its first swimming coach April 25, selecting Kevin Woodhull-Smith as men’s and women’s head coach. Woodhull-Smith was previously head men’s and women’s swimming coach at Barton College in North Carolina for three years.

He was Conference Carolinas coach of the year three times, both men’s and women’s coach of the year in 2022 and women’s coach of the year in 2021. He led his teams to one conference championship, a women’s title in 2021 and three runner-up finishes.

Woodhull-Smith’s swimmers broke more than 25 Barton school records and totaled over 100 all-time top-8 performances. Before Barton, Woodhull-Smith was an assistant at East Carolina University for eight years.

Woodhull-Smith graduated from North Carolina State in 2010. He lettered four seasons for the nationally-ranked Wolfpack and qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 200-meter individual medley in 2008.

The swimming, triathlon and stunt teams will join the Norse varsity sports lineup during the 2024-25 academic year. Men’s volleyball will be added the following year.

Thomas More’s Gels smashes softball

strikeout record

Thomas More University fifth-year pitcher Annika Gels is the softball program’s new career strikeout leader with 533. She surpassed former record-holder Alix DeDreu, who struck out 527 batters from 2016-19. Gels, second-team all-Mid South Conference last season in Thomas More’s final year in NAIA, entered the Saints’ first year in NCAA Division II ranked sixth in strikeouts.

She moved inexorably to the top, breaking the record April 26 by fanning four in a Great Midwest Athletic Conference loss to Trevecca Nazarene. Gels has struck out a career-best 148 batters this season.

Saints softball coach secures win No. 400

Thomas More University softball coach Lindsay Eagan earned her 400th career victory with a Saints sweep of a doubleheader against Ursuline on April 13. Eagan, the softball program’s all-time victory leader, is in her 16th season as head coach at Thomas More.

Eagan set a program single-season record with 36 wins her first year in 2009. She put together four straight 30-win seasons from 2016-19. The Saints closed the weekend with a record of 15-35 in their first season in NCAA Division II.

Hall brings Dayton’s girls hoops program 31 years’ experience

After coaching 31 years, mainly at the middle school level, Laura Hall will take her experience to the Dayton High School girls basketball program.

Hall was named the new head coach recently, replacing Dave Hinton after he spent the last three seasons as head coach of the Lady Devils. Hinton amassed a 24-63 record over those three seasons.

On top of the experience, Hall brings a pedigree of multiple undefeated seasons, numerous Northern Kentucky Middle School Athletic Association championships and is a graduate of Dayton High School with the Class of 1986.

Dayton finished 8-21 last year. Their last season above .500 came during the 201819 season when Jeff Trunick was the head coach. The Lady Devils will graduate just two seniors, one of them being leading scorer Zoe Sparks. They return five of seven players that played in at least 23 games this past season.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that the Kentucky Public Service Commission has scheduled a public hearing in a case styled “An Electronic Application of Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc. for an adjustment to Rider NM Rates and for Tariff Approval,” Case No. 2023-00413, beginning Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, in the Richard Raff Hearing Room at the offices of the Public Service Commission, located at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky for the purpose of taking evidence on Duke Energy Kentucky’s application. Public comments may be made at the beginning of the hearing. Those wishing to make oral public comments may do so by following the instructions listed on the PSC website, psc.ky.gov. This hearing will be streamed live and may be viewed on the PSC website, psc.ky.gov.

Fields, with plate full, leaves Dixie boys head coaching job

Dixie Heights High School’s Chad Fields loves teaching history at his alma mater. He loves coaching Dixie Heights student-athletes, and he loves his family. As his children get older and family and school schedules become more crowded, though, something had to give.

The Dixie Heights boys basketball coach needed to make a tough decision. The 1998 Dixie grad made that decision April 24: Fields stepped aside as head of the boys basketball program after two seasons.

Two years ago, Fields, a longtime assistant, took over a Dixie Heights program that was losing eight seniors, including four of its top five scorers. The Colonels made it to the 9th Region tournament championship game before losing to Covington Catholic in coach Roddy Stainforth’s final year. They finished 22-7. Stainforth, a Dixie classmate of Fields’, resigned after the season to concentrate on school administrator duties as assistant principal. He’s now the Dixie Heights principal.

The Colonels finished 7-18 with just four seniors in Fields’ first season but showed well late. They won four of their final seven regular-season games, including a double-overtime classic at Cooper that gave them momentum for the next season.

Dixie Heights more than doubled its win total in Fields’ second year with winning marks across the board. The Colonels finished the 2023-24 schedule with a record of 18-14. They were 10-9 against 9th Region opponents and 4-2 versus 34th District foes. Dixie lost by just two points to Lloyd in the district final. The Colonels made the region tournament after its first absence in 22 years and lost to CovCath by two in the first round.

Senior Hudson Blank, a key catalyst for the Colonels in Fields’ two seasons at the helm, is graduating. Second-leading scorer Griffin Derry, second-leading rebounder Max Rubemeyer and fellow starter Owen Niehues are expected to return.

Fields teaches Advanced Placement U.S. history and is head of the Dixie Heights social studies department.

Fields’ departure creates a second opening for a 9th Region head boys basketball coach after Holmes recently filled the position with Sam Elsbernd. Boone County is also looking for a new coach after Nathan Browning headed over to coach district foe Conner.

The newly formed St. Henry High School football team held its first practice April 23. Photo provided | St. Henry Athletics

New NKU swimming coach Kevin Woodhull-Smith once qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials. Photo provided | NKU athletics

Pitcher Annika Gels is an all-time fan favorite at Thomas More University. Photo provided | TMU athletics

Dixie Heights boys basketball coach Chad Fields resigned from the position recently. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

County approves changes to plans for Union Marketplace

By Kenton Hornbeck

The Boone County Planning Commission unanimously approved changes to the Union Marketplace’s concept development plan, allowing the project to proceed.

The planning commission voted on the changes during a regularly scheduled meeting on May 1. Phillip Drees, co-owner of Terrace Holdings, the Northern Kentucky-based real estate developer behind Union Marketplace, submitted the plan change application. Drees was present at the meeting and thanked the commission for their work.

Planning Commission Director Charlie Rolfsen described the details of the development during the meeting.

“The approximate 2.88-acre area is located along the southeast side of U.S. 42 between Braxton Drive and Old Union Road approximately 400 feet southwest Braxton Drive,” Rolfsen said during the meeting. “It is currently zoned Commercial-2/Planned Development. The submitted request is to allow the construction of a 2,200 square foot building for retail, service or office use.”

The concept development plan changes include adding the 2,200-square-foot building, a free-standing monument sign along U.S. 42, and a driveway connecting the site to the neighboring Kroger. Oberer’s Flowers, a florist with locations in Ohio and Indiana, will be the building’s occupant.

Boone County Zoning Director Michael Schwartz said the commission approved the changes to Union Marketplace’s concept development plan.

“The proposed change of concept plan is consistent with the future land use map with the comprehensive plan which identifies the area for commercial uses and the submitted plan indicates the development of a 2,200-square-foot building addition,” Schwartz said.

The planning commission stipulated that

the monument sign along U.S. 42 should be no higher than 8 feet, have a sign area no greater than 50 square feet and not have an electronic message board.

“The committee concluded that the proposed freestanding sign along U.S. 42 is appropriate provided that it was consistent with other freestanding signage along the same side of U.S. 42,” Schwartz said.

Union Marketplace was first announced in December 2022 by Braxton Brewing Co. — one of Northern Kentucky’s most prominent breweries. Braxton’s plan was to construct a two-story brewery and taphouse that would also house Dewey’s Pizza. A Graeter’s scoop shop was planned to be built across from the brewery.

Other amenities included in Union Marketplace include 20,000 square feet of

Since the initial announcement, the Graeter’s has been completed and opened, but little progress has been made regarding the combination of brewery and pizzeria.

In February 2023, Union adopted an ordinance allowing two additional eating and drinking establishments, Braxton and Dewey’s, a central plaza area, and interconnected parking facilities.

Adam Cheney, the other co-owner of Ter-

EXTENSION ASSISTANT FOR 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

CAMPBELL COUNTY

RE45110

Deadline: 5/19/2024

Apply online at: https://ukjobs.uky.edu/524448

For assistance call: 859-572-2600

The University of Kentucky is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The address of the Equal Opportunity Office is MartinGatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Room S-105, Agriculture Science Building North, Lexington, Kentucky 40546.

race Holdings, presented a revised version of the concept development plan to the planning commission on April 4. Chaney told the commission the developer has an established working relationship with Dewey’s and Graeter’s.

Chaney compared Union Marketplace’s scope and feel to one of Terrace Holdings’ existing commercial complexes – The Pointe – in West Chester Township north of Cincinnati.

“The concept is going to be very similar to what we’ve done in West Chester,” Chaney said during the April 4 meeting.

PLEASE PICK SIZE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Public Service Commission of Kentucky issued an order on April 11, 2024, scheduling a hearing to be held on May 23, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, in the Richard Raff Hearing Room at the offices of the Public Service Commission located at 211 Sower Boulevard in Frankfort, Kentucky, for the purpose of direct and cross examination of witnesses in Case No. 2023-00422. This is an examination of the Electronic Investigation of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company Service Related to Winter Storm Elliott.

This hearing will be streamed live and may be viewed on the PSC website, psc.ky.gov.

Public comments may be made at the beginning of the hearing. Those wishing to make oral public comments may do so by following the instructions listed on the PSC website, psc.ky.gov.

Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company 220 West Main Street Louisville, Kentucky 40202

Braxton Brewing Co., Graeter’s Ice Cream and Dewey’s Pizza combo location. Rendering: provided | Braxton Brewing green space between the two buildings. The addition of one more retail tenant will not diminish that green space.

Like what you see and want to subscribe?