LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 1, Issue 27 - May 26, 2023

Fewer teens are working. What does that mean for NKY?

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PRESIDENT

CHIEF

Fewer NKY teens work. What does this mean for our labor force?

& CEO Lacy Starling

OPERATING OFFICER Mark Collier

MANAGING EDITOR Meghan

PRINT EDITOR Kaitlin

Goth

Gebby

SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison

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BY KENTON HORNBECK | LINK nky REPORTER

Covington’s Goebel pool sits empty, waiting for the start of the summer season. Photo by James Robertson | LINK nky contributor

Jacob Baird was raised with the expectation that he would get a job as a teenager, just like his parents did before him.

Baird, 18, is a student at Northern Kentucky University where he majors in political science. Outside of school, he works as a general laborer at Building Crafts, a contractor in Wilder.

Growing up in what he described as a lower-middle-class, rural area in northern Pendleton County, Baird told LINK nky, meant that getting a part-time job from age 16 to 19 is intertwined in the culture of the area, passed down from generations prior.

“I’d say it’s the rural culture, and we’re lower-middle-class for the most part of my life,” Baird said. “That kind of encourages everybody to teach their kids to work for what they want to accomplish in life, rather than getting things handed to them – and that usually involved them working from a young age and working hard.”

However, Baird is part of a bloc of adolescents today who are increasingly becoming the exception rather than the rule. While many teenagers still participate in the workforce, the percentage of them who do has steadily declined since the 1970s.

“I don’t do the social side of this, but there was clearly a change in societal expectations and norms around how many teenagers were going to work and participate in the labor force,” said Janet Harrah, senior director of the NKU Center for Economic Analysis and Development.

As the labor force participation rate among teenagers declines, it begs the questions: Is this a bad thing, or is it just a natural shift in economic priorities? What does the declining number of adolescent workers say about the state of Northern Kentucky’s workforce?

In 1978, the labor force participation rate among people age 16 to 19 in the United States reached as high as 58%, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of

St. Louis. In fact, from 1971 to 2001, the percentage did not dip below 50%. Today, the rate sits at 37.1%, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The NKU Center for Economic Analysis and Development found that, if teenagers worked at the same rate today as they did in 1989, there would be 3.2 million more workers in the labor force.

The phenomenon also is seen at a regional level. As of March 2023, the labor force participation rates of people age 16 to 19 in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties all hovered around 37%, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Each of the three counties had teenage labor force participation rates above 50% in 1990.

Typical jobs for adolescents include parttime gigs such as working as a lifeguard at the community swimming pool during the summer, mowing neighborhood lawns,

The opening of Goebel Park pool near MainStrasse Village was delayed in 2022 because of a lack of lifeguards. Photo by James Robertson | LINK nky contributor

Continued from page 3

babysitting the children of busy parents and manning the drive-thru window at a fast-food restaurant.

As teenagers participate less in the labor market, employers are struggling to find potential employees who can fill roles like lifeguard. Last June, the City of Covington Parks & Recreation Department faced a “lifeguard crisis.”

“At this time last year, we were at about 10 to 15% fully staffed across all three of our aquatic facilities,” Covington Parks & Recreation Manager Ben Oldiges said when asked about the department’s pool staffing issues in 2022.

Covington has three aquatic facilities: Goebel Park pool near MainStrasse Village, Randolph Park pool in Eastside and Latonia water park/splash pad at the Bill Cappel Youth Sports Complex. The lifeguards staffing the two city pools are generally anywhere between 15 to 21 years of age, according to Oldiges. Due to staffing short-

ages, Covington was nearly forced to postpone opening its facilities last summer.

“We’re just desperate,” Oldiges said in a June 2022 press release. “If we’re not at full strength, the hours our pools are open might be curtailed, or the schedule will have to be shifted, meaning that one or both pools might be closed a day or two each week. That’s the hard truth.”

Luckily for Covington, a last-second marketing and hiring blitz averted the crisis. Additionally, the City Commission voted to raise the hourly wage of lifeguards to $13 an hour. In May 2021, the hourly starting wage for a Covington lifeguard was $9.50.

Oldiges said the lifeguard hiring process “has gone a lot more smoothly this year.” At the time of publication, Covington had filled approximately 75% of lifeguard positions across all three facilities – far greater than what it was at the same time last year.

“We’re not in the clear yet, but we’re definitely not sweating as much as we were last

year,” Oldiges said.

Covington’s hiring difficulties are a microcosm of a nationwide lifeguard shortage. Bernard Fisher, director of health and safety at the American Lifeguard Association, told ABC last May that part of the reason there are fewer lifeguards is due to the decline in teenagers working summer jobs. Oldiges told LINK nky he personally feels as though lifeguarding has decreased in popularity among teenagers compared to when he was that age.

“I know originally when I was in that age bracket many years ago, everybody’s fighting to work for the municipal governments and fighting to be lifeguards,” Oldiges said. “That’s what was a really desirable job. I think as times have changed, it’s become less so.”

Teenagers in the region are completing more education and spending more time participating in extracurriculars and less time working, according to Lee Crume and David McAleese of BE NKY, the economic development company for Northern Kentucky. Crume is the organization’s president and CEO, McAleese its research director.

“I think part of the reason … has really been the shift in priorities,” McAleese said. “It’s a function of young people: They’re focusing on education. They’re focusing on extracurriculars. They’re involved in sports. There’s really not as much of that emphasis in terms of getting that part-time job while you’re finishing high school.”

According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data in 2020, in all three Northern Kentucky counties, at least 34% of the population has at least a bachelor’s degree. In

Boone County, that number is 38.7%. By comparison, 23% of people had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2000, according to a Boone County Planning Commission demographic study published in 2013.

“It’s kind of an old paradigm of 16- to 19-year-olds working,” Crume said.

Harrah shared Crume and McAleese’s sentiment, telling LINK nky that postsecondary education statistically provides people with higher lifelong earnings. The Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities published a report finding that college graduates make $1.2 million on average more over their lifetime compared to those who didn’t graduate from college.

“Seventeen- 18- and 19-year-olds in the past may have graduated from high school and gone straight into the workforce. (They) are now going into college or other postsecondary educational institutions and are concentrating on their education at this age rather than on getting that first job,” Harrah said. “In the long run, that’s going to make them much more productive employees.”

Baird said there is an apparent generational gap in what older adults were told to prioritize when they were teenagers as compared to contemporary teenagers.

“At least in my experience, a lot of the older generations tend to value their work, not even what they’re doing, but the fact that they do work and they work hard. They value that,” he said. “My generation has been pushed to pursue things like higher education.”

Employers also dictate what type of jobs are most desirable for prospective employees.

Covington Parks & Recreation Manager Ben Oldiges at Goebel Park pool near MainStrasse Village. Photo by James Robertson | LINK nky contributor

Four of Northern Kentucky’s most important industry sectors are life sciences, information technology, advanced manufacturing and supply chain management. As the region’s economy continues to evolve, requiring a more educated workforce to fill important positions in these critical sectors, many teenagers will gravitate toward the pathway that offers them the best opportunity for employment.

“Say we had just record-high participation for 16- to 19-year-olds,” Crume said. “That doesn’t change the equation for St. Elizabeth and what they need in nurses and skilled staffing or any of the manufacturers that are in our community that are needing a skilled workforce. That number could be off the charts, and it doesn’t change that need.”

Harrah also attributes part of the teenage labor market decline to a “labor market mismatch.”

“There’s a mismatch between the number of people that want to do this work at the wage rate that employers even can or will pay,” Harrah said.

Despite the labor shortage, Harrah said, the declining teenage labor force participation rate is neither good nor bad. It’s part of a changing regional economy, affected by increasing educational attainment and technological advancements. Establishments like fast-food restaurants and gas stations must adjust to the changing workforce environment to fill open jobs left by the shrinking teenage labor force.

Some organizations have already adapted by raising hourly wages which, in turn, have attracted older workers to jobs typically occupied by teenagers and young adults.

“Many jobs that used to be filled by teenagers are now being filled by people who are anywhere from five to 10 years older,” Harrah said.

Over the past year, average hourly earnings for retail jobs rose 5%, while for restaurants and bars it rose 7.5%, economics reporter Paul Davidson wrote in USA Today. In addition, the share of 30-and-older job candidates hired in fast food last year increased to 7%, up three percentage points from the end of 2021.

It’s about adapting to the current circumstances rather than assigning values to the labor force then vs. now, Harrah said.

“It’s just a change,” she said. “The labor market itself – employers themselves are rewarding young people for getting additional education beyond high school. That also means that certain employers are having to adjust their labor force to accept the reality that fewer young people are working until after they get that postsecondary educational experience.”

FIND YOUR SIPPING POINT

Despite the evidence that higher education creates better opportunities and outcomes for younger people looking to enter the workforce, that doesn’t mean that working as a teenager doesn’t have value. Teenage workers can develop soft skills such as time management, networking and customer service skills – all of which are transferable to careers.

Baird, for example, said he acquired a great deal of personal value from working a parttime job as a teenager.

“I think it’s really important to at least get on the path to finding your place in the world and learning how to integrate into society, before you get to the point where you have to be thrown into it,” he said. “I voluntarily worked at a very young age, and I think it was beneficial. Being in the workforce that young actually taught me social skills but also a work ethic and integrity. There’s a lot of value that people oftentimes don’t see when they skip out on the workforce.”

Regional nonprofits have developed initia-

tives and programs to help teenagers better transition into the workforce. BE NKY Workforce Development Manager Kim Spreder told LINK nky her organization is working to increase the number of teenage workers in the regional workforce by coordinating with nonprofits, schools and employers to increase awareness and opportunities.

“(It’s about) those internships and apprenticeships and having the employers come into high schools or even postsecondary schools to talk about, ‘This is what we do, this is what we offer, this is how we can prepare you for that line of work once you graduate,’ ” Spreder said. “The schools are also working diligently to have those pathways and those programs.”

Increasing awareness can play a big role in closing the teenage labor gap. Part of the reason Covington was able to fix its lifeguard staffing shortage was due to a targeted marketing effort from the Parks & Recreation Department. According to Oldiges, the utilization of social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook helped them spread their job openings to a broader audience – parents and teenagers included.

“Engaging their parents to help spread the word so that parents can engage their kids – that worked out really well but really, it was a lot of social media,” Oldiges said.

One thing is clear, according to the experts interviewed by LINK nky: As the Northern Kentucky labor market continues to evolve, all stakeholders in the workforce – including employers and the employees and future employees who make up that labor force, both teenagers and beyond – will need to continue to evolve, as well.

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Jacob Baird. Photo by James Robertson | LINK nky contributor

Primary results come in quickly on Election Day; here’s how the NKY candidates did

BY LINK nky STAFF

Primary election results started coming in soon after the polls closed on May 16 – by 7:11 p.m., the Associated Press announced that Attorney General Daniel Cameron would be facing off against Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in the November race for governor.

“To anyone who looks like me, know that you can achieve anything,” Cameron told his supporters the night of the election. “Know that in this country and in Kentucky, all that matters are your values.”

But Beshear blasted the tone of the GOP gubernatorial primary after taking hits for months from the Republican candidates.

“Right now somewhere in America, there is a CEO deciding where to move their business and they’re considering Kentucky,” Beshear told a gathering of supporters. “Let me ask you: Is seeing people talk down our state and our economy, insult our people and stoke divisions going to help that next company choose Kentucky? Of course not.”

Other results came in shortly thereafter, with incumbent Michael Adams winning the Republican nomination for secretary of state; attorney Mark Metcalf winning the nomination for treasurer; and incumbent Allison Ball getting the GOP nomination for auditor.

Agriculture commissioner numbers took the longest on what turned out to be a short election night. Democrat Sierra Enlow will face Jonathan Shell in November for the role that, among other things, oversees the

gas pumps throughout Kentucky.

Northern Kentucky gubernatorial candidate Eric Deters said the night of the election that even though he didn’t win, he would support Cameron.

Deters said he expected Cameron to win based on the polls, and that it was his first statewide race and he had no statewide press.

“I started out at 1%,” Deters said. “I went from 5% to 6% in the polls, and then I got up to 10% in the last poll, and I hope I finish 10%. So, I’m going to beat Mike Harmon. I’m going to beat Alan Keck. And I literally got no statewide press.”

Deters ended up with just under 6% of the vote. David Cooper, Northern Kentucky’s other gubernatorial candidate, ended with 0.8% of the vote.

And while long lines became the story of the November election in Northern Kentucky – at least in Kenton County – that problem didn’t appear to re-emerge with the 2023 primary.

Turnout in NKY fell in line with figures from previous primaries with ballot cast percentages clocking in at 11.52% for Boone County, 12.96% for Campbell County and 11.77% for Kenton County.

Boone County Clerk Justin Crigler said the day went smooth, adding that the staff and poll workers did a great job.

Dave Meyer, vice chair of the Kenton Coun-

ty Democrats, described the day’s events as very low drama. Shane Noem of the Kenton County Republicans expressed similar sentiments.

Both agreed that lower turnouts for primary elections, even in constitutional races like these, were not unexpected. Data from the previous constitutional seat election in 2019 supports this.

Meyer added that people should not “draw conclusions about the general election” from primary election turnouts. Furthermore, Noem pointed out that constitutional primaries like this inevitably pale in comparison to midterm and presidential elections.

Much of the night’s attention was on the Republican contest, and Democrats generally turned out in much lower numbers

throughout the region.

In Boone County, only 5,290 Democratic ballots were cast to the Republicans’ 45,406. In Campbell County, meanwhile, 6,455 Democrats turned out, whereas 29,507 Republicans cast ballots. Finally, in Kenton County, Democrats saw a turnout of 5,468 ballots cast compared to the Republicans’ turnout with 11,403 ballots cast.

At the state level, despite spending $11 million on the primary and having one of the most high-profile national political consultants working on her campaign, Kelly Craft lost her bid to win the Republican nomination and instead placed third.

The plan brought to Kentucky by Craft and Axiom Strategies worked in Virginia on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s campaign but failed to resonate with Kentuckians and led Craft

Signs for Eric Deters on a lawn on election day. Deters lost his bid to be the Republican candidate for governor. Photo by Alecia Ricker | LINK nky contributor

to finish third behind Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles.

One main talking point throughout Craft’s campaign was the education system in Kentucky, specifically addressing “woke” ideologies and critical race theory.

Craft’s campaign, which spent more than $4 million on TV and radio ads through AxMedia, a division of Axiom Strategies — a national political consulting firm — launched an ad in April that featured “woke bureaucrats” parachuting into a school to teach critical race theory. Further, a teacher with a nose ring requests a student to use her pronouns.

“Our schools are under attack,” Craft says in the ad. “Woke bureaucrats parachuting in to hijack our children’s future, forcing woke ideology into the classroom — it’s immoral. I’m Kelly Craft, and as governor, I’ll dismantle the Department of Education and start fresh.”

But, Youngkin was able to come in on the back of President Joe Biden’s win and tap into the backlash along with the themes emerging from that victory, such as “wokeness,” according to Ryan Salzman, Northern Kentucky University associate professor of political science. That wasn’t the case for Craft.

“Kelly Craft tried to key on that, but that’s a tough place to break through in a primary with those kinds of arguments,” Salzman said, though he noted she did a good job getting her name out there.

Cameron dominates Northern Kentucky

Former Gov. Matt Bevin cruised to victory in 2015 and received a strong showing in Northern Kentucky.

In Kenton County, he received 56% of the

vote, and in Campbell County, 54%.

In 2019, Beshear flipped both Campbell and Kenton counties. In Campbell, Beshear received 52% of the vote, and 49.5% in Kenton County.

But, politics in Northern Kentucky shifted after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Northern Kentucky attorney Chris Wiest noted a significant shift in state politics in 2022 when prominent NKY state House Reps. Adam Koenig, Ed Massey, and Sal Santoro lost their primary races to liberty-aligned candidates and current Reps. Steve Doan (R-Erlanger), Steve Rawlings (R-Burlington) and Marianne Proctor (R-Union).

Wiest spoke in Boone County last summer when liberty-aligned Rep. Savannah Maddox (R-Dry Ridge) announced her gubernatorial bid. Maddox dropped out of the race, and Wiest threw his support behind Cameron — someone Wiest said he’s worked with on fighting Beshear’s office over COVID-19 shutdowns and Biden lawsuits.

“I don’t think we get people that have walked the walk elsewhere in this field,” Wiest said in April.

At a campaign event in April, Cameron said that Beshear is out of step with Northern Kentuckians, and the showing he received in Northern Kentucky might indicate how well Cameron’s message resonated in the region.

On election night, Cameron won Boone County with 48% of the vote, Campbell with 44% and Kenton with 45%.

“Cameron is coming out of the primary hot,” Salzman said. “His win was strong enough to reset a lot of people’s expectations.”

Daniel Cameron delivers an acceptance speech on May 16. He will face off against Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in November. Photo by Timothy D. Easley | Associated Press

Despite spending $11 million on her campaign, Kelly Craft came in third place in her bid to be the Republican gubernatorial candidate. Photo by Timothy D. Easley | Associated Press

Covington school district joins statewide lawsuit against social media companies

BY NATHAN GRANGER | LINK nky REPORTER

Members of Covington Independent Public Schools’ Board of Education unanimously voted to join litigation against several social media companies at its May 11 meeting.

The lawsuit, which was initially instigated by Fayette County Public Schools and later joined by Boone County and Jefferson County schools, among others, alleges that social media platforms have indelibly and deliberately undermined students’ mental health, according to federal court documents.

It seeks damages in the form of funds to build out mental health infrastructure in schools. Similar lawsuits have occurred in other parts of the country, as well.

Board attorney Mary Ann Stewart introduced the proposal at the end of a Board of Education meeting on April 27, comparing the action to similar class-action lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies for regionwide problems with opioid addiction.

“The train has left the station, and I think we should get on that train,” she said.

A trial likely would not take place in Kentucky, Stewart said, adding that she would not financially benefit from the case.

The lawsuit filing contains nearly 90 pages of arguments, with citations from numerous sources describing how social media functions, its prevalence in students’ lives, its detrimental effects on students’ mental health and the risks of online bullying and harassment.

It also contends that social media companies deliberately fashioned their platforms to be addictive and capture the attention of chil-

One cited study, by the Pew Research Center in 2022, included nearly 1,400 pairs of parents and children from around the country. Its findings suggest that large numbers of teenagers use social media platforms nearly all day or at least regularly throughout the day.

The lawsuit was filed against the following companies:

Meta Platforms Inc.

Facebook Holdings LLC

Facebook Operations LLC

Meta Payments Inc.

Facebook Technologies LLC

Instagram LLC

Siculus Inc.

Snap Inc.

Tiktok Inc.

Bytedance Inc.

Alphabet Inc.

Google LLC

XXVI Holdings Inc.

Youtube LLC

The resolution to join the lawsuit passed with little discussion. Stewart said the district likely would not see any disbursements of money for several years.

Covington Board of Education attorney Mary Ann Stewart introduced the proposal at a May 11 meeting. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky dren and adolescents.

A 2022 Pew Research Center study included nearly 1,400 pairs of parents and children. Data and chart provided | Pew Research Center

Fort Mitchell native accepted into competitive U.S. Presidential Management Fellows program

BY HALEY PARNELL | LINK nky REPORTER

Growing up without cable, Brandt Coleman found entertainment by watching Bill Nye the Science Guy, frequent visits to the Cincinnati History Museum, and walking next door to his grandma’s house to hear her stories about his grandpa’s time in Germany during World War ll.

Those combined formative experiences, Coleman said, sparked his interest in history and later, his interest in heritage management and archaeology. Today, Coleman is four months into the Presidential Management Fellows program, also known as the PMF—a competitive two-year program that helps match graduate students with federal opportunities.

The PMF class of 2022, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, had 1,100 finalists, the largest class of finalists in history out of roughly 8,000 applicants.

The program operates in a six-month rotation through different positions within the fellowship, and at the end, candidates have the chance to convert to working in a government agency.

Coleman’s current course is as a special uses administrator in U.S. Forest Service in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in California.

He works with communication sites on land, like cell phone towers, utility lines, and water lines. There is also a recreational side where he works with recreational residents and different activities that might happen on the land, such as charity runs.

“There’s never a dull day in special uses,” Coleman said. “We get to do a lot of public engagement and talk with people about their proposals and how the public sees us administering their lands.”

Coleman said he is most interested in the rotation that will allow him to work in archaeology or heritage management.

His background is in heritage management, drawing on practices like cultural conservation, restoration, museology, archaeology, and history to protect cultural heritage.

Coleman is a Beechwood High School graduate who attended the University of Louisville, where he did an individualized major in anthropology and geoscience. He also attended the University of Bayreuth, Germany, where he got his master’s in Global

Change Ecology.

“I liked that it was an interdisciplinary program (in Germany) where I felt like I could learn a lot of different facets about global change, ecology, and climate change,” Coleman said.

He visited Germany following his college graduation, which also sparked his interest in studying there.

“I had traveled to Germany with my mother when I graduated high school,” Coleman said. “My family heritage is German. And my grandpa fought in World War ll in Germany, and he always talked about how much he loved the country despite the conditions that he was in.”

He then received another master’s from the University College Dublin in world her-

itage management and conservation from the College of Archaeology and Anthropology. Coleman said he thought Ireland was a great place to learn archaeology because of its heritage sites.

He said these experiences helped him get into the PMF program. He was able to learn in other cultures, which made him more open to different ideas and perspectives on how to do things.

He also had to conduct his thesis in Germany at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A lot of the latter half of the program in Germany and the entire program in Ireland was during COVID-19,” Coleman said. “I conducted my thesis research in Germany, which was in person during COVID-19 restrictions. So, I think that made me very adaptable.”

Aside from his experiences, he said he also had to submit an application, letters of recommendation, resumes, transcripts, and take a personality quiz.

When the program ends, Coleman said he hopes to convert to a position that works with heritage management or archaeology, though he said he had yet to give much thought to where he wants to work.

“I’m really just looking into how much I can learn,” Coleman said. “How can I get better at my job? So, I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. I’m really just thinking about how I can improve myself and how I can help the forest.”

Coleman at the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in California. Photo provided | Brandt Coleman

Brandt Coleman at the German Bundestag. Photo provided | Abbey Smith

kenton county news briefs

Despite objection, Covington school board OKs bid to repair bus garage, gym

include the addition of a vapor barrier beneath the floor and new bleachers, according to documents from the district.

A lack of applicants and the project cost were points of contention among board members.

Kareem Simpson, the only board member to vote against accepting the bid from construction contractor Schrudde & Zimmerman Inc., said the district needs to shore up its vendor selection process.

Simpson was troubled by the contractor’s bid amount, which he said was “60% higher than what was estimated.”

Visiting authors include Jane Simon Ammeson, Mary Barry, Peter Bronson, P. Faye Collins, Bill Koch, Annette Lackner, Jessica Lemmon, Shannon Richard, and Kathy Witt.

Cincinnati horse owner pleads guilty to cruelty charges in Kenton County

A Cincinnati woman accused of neglecting nine horses she owned and housed in Kenton County pleaded guilty to nine counts of cruelty to animals on May 7, according to Kenton County Animal Services.

their neglect.”

The Covington Independent Public Schools Board of Education voted to accept a bid to repair the district’s central school bus garage and parts of the gym at Glenn O. Swing Elementary at a meeting on May 11.

The garage, located on Eugenia Avenue in Latonia, is over 100 years old. The building has multiple structural problems, including rotted roof support beams, roof holes and metalwork bent from age and stress.

The repairs to Glenn O. Swing’s gym would

The

Roost

Latonia to host book fair with popular authors

The Roost Latonia, a local coffee shop, will host a book fair at its main location in Latonia on June 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The fair will feature eight visiting authors of popular book genres, including mystery, true crime and romance, among others. The event is free and open to the public.

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In December, officials said officers discovered the horses suffering from abuse and neglect on the property. Two horses were in a pasture, and the rest were inside a barn. Two of the horses in the barn were housed in a stall designed for one.

“The horses were severely underweight, some with visible hip and rib bones,” Kenton County Animal Services said in a release. “Several were overdue for teeth floating and hoof trimming. One of the nine horses perished due to the severity of

All eight surviving horses have been placed in new homes.

Brandie Hart is not allowed to own horses for two years and has to reimburse the county for the cost of the horses’ care as a condition of her plea.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our Animal Control team, especially Officer Billy Ray, who pursued this investigation and saw it through to the end,” said Kenton County Animal Services Director Kelsey Maccombs.

All-Time Grilling Faves

Covington schools’ aging central bus garage complex will be repaired. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Brandie Hart of Cincinnati pleaded guilty to cruelty to animals after nine horses she owned and housed in Kenton County were found neglected. Photo provided | Kenton County Animal Services

Pilot project to address ‘pandemic slide’ in Northern Kentucky schools

As students, parents and schools continue to see the effects of learning loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a three-year Northern Kentucky pilot program could be the key to reversing that trend locally.

That’s according to Nancy Grayson, president and CEO of Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky, which established the NKY Student Success Fund.

“The NKY Student Success Fund addresses a significant and well-documented issue stemming from the pandemic,” Grayson said. “The impact COVID has had on students is substantial – our goal is to reverse this learning loss and drive improved academic performance.”

The pilot program aims to increase the annual academic performance of elementary students participating in the initiative in kindergarten through fifth grade.

“The goal is to raise $2.7 million to support Northern Kentucky youth across Covington Independent Schools and two additional Northern Kentucky school districts, and ultimately expand into more local districts towards the end of the three-year pilot,” according to a release from Horizon Community Funds. “The districts are selected based on highest academic need, greatest potential impact regarding students served, federal grant funding opportunity, and district commitment to the partnership. A third-party evaluation will be conducted to assess outcomes as well as the fidelity of the expansion.”

The Student Success Fund was developed in partnership with educational nonprofit Covington Partners.

“Covington Partners is excited to share our theory of change and highly effective systems with partnering school districts to improve outcomes for all students,” said Covington Partners Executive Director Stacie Strotman.

Sanitation District 1 employs new technology to reduce costs

Sanitation District 1, or SD1, the public agency responsible for sewer manage-

ment in much of the region, recently began using trench-less technology to make repairs to sewer pipes, according to a recent press release from the agency.

“SD1 began implementing this method last year on specific regional sewer projects and the district estimates average cost savings of $2,000 to $5,000 per project compared to conventional repair methods,” according to the release.

The technology employs a flexible epoxy that technicians insert from manhole openings. The epoxy moves through a damaged pipe, molding to its shape, before being allowed to harden. This method of repair allows the district to make repairs without digging trenches.

It also enables technicians to make repairs in a few hours, compared to the several days it takes when using older repair methods. The agency hopes to train more workers on this technology moving forward, which it says will do more to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Silicon Valley satellite navigation company to open new office in Fort Wright

San Jose-based satellite navigation receiver manufacturer JAVAD GNSS announced it is opening an office in Fort Wright.

The facility will focus on research, development and engineering design for satellite navigation receivers. It will serve as a creative center for engineers in firmware development and electronic design. The expansion is expected to create 20 new engineering jobs in Fort Wright, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

The company’s decision to establish a new office in the United States is driven by its desire to increase domestic manufacturing and engineering capabilities. Additionally, JAVAD says it is looking to accelerate its product development and research and development.

“This expansion of our engineering capabilities into Kentucky is a deliberate step in our growth and vision to produce firstclass products in the USA,” CEO Mitra Ashjaee said. “JAVAD is excited to work in Fort Wright and participate in the high-tech community for engineering innovations.”

Beshear, Ky. legislators mourn the passing of state Rep. Lamin Swann

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky state Rep. Lamin Swann died May 14, days after he was hospitalized with a medical emergency.

The Lexington Democrat suffered a “significant medical emergency,” his mother, Pamela Dixon, said in a statement released by the Kentucky House Democratic Caucus.

Swann, 45, was elected last year. He was a member of the committees for transportation, health services, economic development and workforce investment; and elections, constitutional amendments and intergovernmental affairs, according to the General Assembly’s website.

“Beyond our faith, what comforts us is knowing the positive and lasting impact he had on so many,” Dixon said. “Those include his loved ones and friends; those he advocated for throughout his life; and, now, those whose own lives will forever be strengthened by his decision to be an organ donor.”

Swann was a strong advocate on issues ranging from social justice to expanding disability rights, caucus leaders Derrick Graham, Cherlynn Stevenson and Rachel Roberts said.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, posted on Twitter that his heart is heavy with the news of Swann’s passing.

“Lamin was always smiling, leading with kindness while working to build a better Kentucky for all,” Beshear said.

Ohio high court: Records must be public in opioid settlement case

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The state panel that will decide how Ohio distributes more than half of the money it will receive from a nationwide settlement regarding the opioid addiction crisis must make its records publicly available, the state Supreme Court ruled.

In their unanimous ruling, the justices rejected the OneOhio Recovery Foundation’s claim that it was a private nonprofit corporation and therefore not subject to the

state’s open public records law. The justices found the foundation “misstates its function,” noting it’s not responsible for providing treatment, education or prevention services, but rather giving settlement money to those who do provide such services.

The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit brought by Harm Reduction Ohio, a drug policy reform group that has sought documents related to the panel’s board meetings and “numerous” committee meetings involving “hiring, finances, bylaws and other matters.” The reform group also said its president was not allowed to attend the panel’s initial meeting in May 2022, even though officials had said it would operate as if it were subject to Ohio’s open meetings law.

The 29-member panel consists of state representatives, local government leaders, addiction treatment experts and others from around the state. It will decide how to distribute more than $440 million of an $808 million settlement reached last year with the nation’s three largest pharmaceutical distributors and drugmaker Johnson & Johnson.

OneOhio has maintained that it’s trying to follow what the settlement mandated –that it be a private nonprofit organization – and that openly saying it’s a public body would jeopardize that status.

“The decision doesn’t change things,” said Connie Luck, a spokesperson for OneOhio. “Consistent with its mission, the foundation operates in a transparent fashion and will continue to do so.”

Indiana sheriff’s deputy killed in dog attack; son, 8, wounded

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A sheriff’s deputy died after being attacked in her Indianapolis home by a dog that also bit and wounded her 8-year-old son, authorities said.

Tamieka White, 46, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after Indianapolis police officers responded to her home on May 10, officials said. She had been a dep-

uty with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office since 2007.

Her young son was also bitten in the dog attack and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, The Indianapolis Star reported.

Indianapolis police said the attacking dog charged at a responding officer, who fatally shot the animal.

A spokesperson with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said the dog was not owned by White, and police have identified the owner. They declined to release further information about the owner.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said White had served as a deputy sheriff in the Judicial Enforcement Division, which oversees the transportation of inmates to and from courts, collecting delinquent taxes and serving legal process papers.

“Deputy White was a bright light to all that knew her,” Sheriff Kerry Forestal said in a statement. “We are immensely grateful for her nearly 17 years of service to our agency.”

Churchill Downs horse death is eighth recent fatality

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A horse died after a race at Churchill Downs on May 14, making it the eighth fatality in recent weeks at the home of the Kentucky Derby.

Rio Moon “suffered a catastrophic injury to his left foreleg a few strides after the wire,” according to notes in the Equibase chart for the sixth race.

The 3-year-old colt ridden by Martin Garcia was euthanized, the chart said. Rio Moon was trained by Dale Romans and was winless in six career starts with earnings of $11,621.

The latest death follows a recent spate of fatalities at Churchill Downs. Two horses were euthanized after being injured in races on the Kentucky Derby undercard on May 6. Five others were euthanized after training and racing incidents at the track in the days leading up to the Derby.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was indefinitely suspended by Churchill Downs during Derby week after two of his horses collapsed on the track and died.

Tamieka White, 46, a deputy sheriff with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, was killed in a dog attack in her home. Her young son was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Photo provided | AP

Two Odyssey of the Mind teams from St. Agnes to compete in world finals

tions, students apply classroom learning and personal interests to solve challenging open-ended problems, reinforcing skills in teamwork, budgeting, time management, public speaking and more.

Take the summer reading challenge at Campbell County libraries

The Campbell County Public Library’s summer reading program starts June 3 and is open to adults, teens and kids. This year’s theme, “Roar, soar, read,” is all about dinosaurs. Every branch will be packed with fun activities, giveaways and chances to win prizes (for all age levels).

ticipants have additional opportunities to earn entries into midsummer and grandprize drawings.

Visit the library’s website, cc.pl.org, for more information, or pick up a brochure at any Campbell County branch.

The Point/Arc grads celebrate pre-employment transition graduation

Hills. Students, their families and care teams attended the event, where graduates shared their achievements and excitement about taking the next step into employment. The Zembrodt Education Center provides opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach their highest potential educationally, socially, residentially and vocationally.

Villa Hills, Crescent Springs to hold annual community yard sale

Two teams from St. Agnes School in Fort Wright will compete in the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Michigan State University from May 24-28. The teams are composed of 13 third- through fifth-graders who placed first and second in their divisions for the Kentucky State Tournament. In Odyssey of the Mind competi-

Register at your favorite branch or online at cc-pl.org/beanstack to track your reading and enter to win prizes. Books, graphic novels, comics and audio books all count.

For every five hours of reading, adults and teens receive an entry into prize drawings that take place at the end of June and July. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade receive prizes for every four hours of reading and for finishing 40 books. All par-

Students who have completed the pre-employment curriculum through The Point/ Arc Zembrodt Education Center celebrated May 10 in a transition graduation and awards ceremony at The Gardens in Park

It’s the season for yard sales and garage sales, and Villa Hills and Crescent Springs are hosting their huge combined event. It will take place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 26 and 27, throughout the community. Organizers caution, however, that some households may choose to end their yard sale before the event’s official ending.

Pick up copies of the yard sale map and address list starting May 24 by going to villahillsky.org. You can also pick up maps at the Crescent Springs and Villa Hills city buildings.

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Graduates from The Point/Arc Zembrodt Education Center celebrate their graduation at a May 10 ceremony. Photo provided | The Point/Arc Zembrodt Education Center

St. Agnes School’s Odyssey of the Mind team members and coaches raised money for their trip to the world finals by serving as course monitors for the Flying Pig. Photo provided | St. Agnes School

Unique opportunity to live in historic Covington church

Address: 114 E. 15th St., Covington

Price: $399,900

Bedrooms: Two

Bathrooms: Three (plus one half-bath)

Square feet: 5,819

School district: Covington Independent Public Schools

County: Kenton

Special features: This one-of-a-kind historic home built in 1892 in Covington’s Opportunity Zone offers more than 5,800 square feet of space and includes many historic details such as soaring ceilings, a pipe organ and large stained-glass windows throughout. In addition to the unique historic details, the home includes an updated kitchen. Both bedrooms are on the main floor, and the primary bedroom includes an adjoining bathroom. The lower level includes laundry and an additional 2,000 square feet of recreation and living space.

Recent NKY Home Sale Data

This converted church in Covington was built in 1892. Photo provided | Daniel Day with RE/MAX Realty

The historic converted church home in Covington features the original pipe organ. Photo provided | Daniel Day with RE/ MAX Realty.

Historic details from this Covington home’s former life as a church include stained-glass windows throughout.

Photo provided | Daniel Day with RE/MAX Realty.

LINK Streetscapes – Buttermilk Crossing in Crescent Springs

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIA HEHMAN | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

Streetscapes has visited Buttermilk Crossing in the past. This week, we revisit the strip in Crescent Springs for some places we missed the first time around, taking a trip to sample cuisines from across the globe and our own backyards.

Guru India

Osaka Ramen House

Osaka Ramen House, originally opened in Cincinnati in 2019, created such loyal customers that – even with the strain that the pandemic put on restaurants – it was able early last year to open a second location in the Buttermilk Crossing shopping center.

it would be one of the buns. These flour dough buns – steamed and filled with either pork or chicken, tofu skin and lettuce – are soft and savory and pair well with any ramen or soup.

Guru India has been a staple in the Buttermilk Crossings shopping center and first introduced many NKY locals to the deliciousness of Indian cuisine. Specializing in authentic Northern Indian food, it is best known for its tandoori oven dishes and flavorful curries.

Guru India offers a variety of dishes, but its chicken tikka masala remains one of its most popular, along with its beloved naan bread. The menu is broken down into vegetarian, chicken, lamb and fish dishes, making it easy for guests to order something they’re sure to love. The portions are always very generous, whether you’re dining in or ordering to go. The vegetable samosas, deep-fried pastries stuffed with spiced potatoes and green peas, are a savory start to any meal. And the lassi, which are yogurt-based drinks, will break up the spices with some sweetness.

Visiting Guru India with friends offers the perfect excuse to sample lots of menu items.

Osaka Ramen House offers traditional ramen dishes, which are nothing like the stove-top variety that many locals ate growing up. Its authentic ramen is served in pork, chicken or vegetable broth and can be ordered with a variety of ingredients. Typical choices include a meat; veggies such as corn, bok choy and bamboo; and a soft-boiled egg. Ramen noodles are then added to the guest’s broth base of choice. The dish is served with chopsticks and wooden spoons so patrons can savor every last sip.

Outside of its ramen menu, Osaka Ramen House also offers an ample appetizer selection, including fan favorites edamame (soybeans) and gyoza (dumplings). If there were one item guests absolutely must try,

For guests wanting something a bit heartier, there are a variety of rice dishes, such as chicken teriyaki with chicken, carrots and bok choy.

With its recent arrival to the area, Osaka is focused on its dine-in experience and does not yet offer online ordering. For guests who prefer to dine at home, it does take carry-out orders over the phone.

Cancun Mexican Bar and Grill

Local chain Cancun Mexican Bar and Grill offers traditional Mexican cuisine that patrons know and love. When enjoying a meal at Cancun, it’s practically required that you start with tortilla chips and salsa washed down with a jumbo margarita.

With options like fajitas, burritos, quesadillas and tacos, everyone in your group will leave satisfied. The food is both authentic and affordable, with huge portions so guests can bring home the extras.

This location has plenty of space for large parties, and guests rarely have to wait for a table. Mural paintings transport guests to sunny Cancun while they taste delicious dishes from Mexico. The next time you’re looking for a fun fiesta, Cancun is the perfect dining option.

Have a street, city or business you want to see covered next? Email Maria Hehman at mchehman@gmail.com and it could be featured in the next installment of LINK Streetscapes.

What to Know If You Go:

Guru India

Location: 2303 Buttermilk Crossing, Crescent Springs

Hours: Monday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3:30-9 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.

Website: www.guruindiarestaurant. com

Phone: 859-341-5858

Osaka Ramen House

Location: 2331 Buttermilk Crossing, Crescent Springs

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-9:30 p.m.; Monday, closed

Website: www.osakaramenhouse. com

Phone: 859-331-6888

Cancun Mexican Bar and Grill

Location: 2313 Buttermilk Crossing, Crescent Springs

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Website: www.cancuncrescentsprings.com

Phone: 859-331-0345

Buttermilk Crossing offers so many tasty food choices, Streetscapes had to pay it a second visit.

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At 19, he earned a D-1 basketball scholarship

STORY AND PHOTOS BY EMORY DAVIS | SPECIAL TO LINK

Nineteen-year-old Jeramiah Israel received a Division I basketball scholarship to Northern Kentucky University after averaging 21 points his senior year of high school. He starts in the fall. While his scholarship was earned through his basketball skills, he had to face a number of roadblocks to get there.

When he was younger, Israel used to watch mixtapes and highlights of NBA superstars like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant and try to copy their moves in front of his house.

“I got my first basket when I was 5,” Israel said. “Before that, I would watch my older brother play, but I couldn’t because I was too young. A year later, I was finally able to play, and I just fell in love. I remember, I decided I wanted to do something with basketball, it was like sixth grade, and I would come up here (to the local park) over the summer at 6 a.m. and prop my phone up and get some shots up.”

During summers, neighbors would see Israel at the courts in the mornings on their way to work and again on their drive home from work.

“He always would either be in his driveway shooting his basketball or up at Capital (the park next to Israel’s house) shooting his basketball from morning to night. There’s not a time where you drove by and didn’t see him,” said neighbor Gwen Williams, whose sons grew up with Israel and attended Lloyd Memorial High School with him.

Williams, who lives a few houses down from Israel, would sometimes watch Israel shooting hoops outside her window, and he would often come over to borrow her air pump when his basketball got low on air.

“I even go watch him play even after my son has graduated. I like to go up and will tell him I’m proud of him, because I know that can make a difference,” Williams said.

Israel’s neighbors aren’t the only ones who have noticed his work ethic. Faculty at Lloyd also took notice, including some of his teachers and administrators.

“His dedication to get better was incredible,” said Kyle Niederman, the assistant principal and head football coach at Lloyd. “I would open up the weight room before school even started. Jeramiah was always one of the guys that was there at 7 a.m.”

Israel was named to the Tom Leach, All-Resilient Team earlier this year. The award is given to several high school athletes in Kentucky who have endured and overcome adversity within the year the award is offered.

Niederman said there are not many adults, let alone teenagers, with the work ethic and drive that Israel has. But what pushes a 19-year-old to have that kind of drive in the classroom and on the court?

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At 14, he was

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Jeramiah Israel in front of his childhood home. Neighbors and teachers say Israel works hard and maintains an optimistic outlook despite challenges life has thrown his way.

“I’ve got a lot of respect (for Israel). I really do,” he said. “He didn’t get dealt the best hand in life, and I always tell the kids that you’ve got to play the cards. You can’t fold a bad hand, and he certainly hasn’t.”

Niederman thinks many people would crack under the kind of pressure Israel endured.

“I think my sophomore year, I would ride my bike or walk in the cold before school just to try and get some (practice) in,” Israel said. “I used to prop the back door open to the weight room so that way we could still get in on the weekends.”

Israel has had to support his family since he was 14 and said playing basketball has provided an escape since he was a child. He has two younger siblings, who are both diagnosed with autism, and has been living with his grandmother for several years.

She was awarded custody because of his parents’ financial struggles and personal hardships. If not for his grandmother, Israel said, he would have more than likely ended up in foster care. Adapting to and accepting his circumstances has been key to surviving and thriving, he said.

After the COVID-19 pandemic left his grandmother sick and unable to work, Israel and his older brother took care of themselves and supported each other financially by working several part-time jobs. Israel said he worked at two jobs every day, heading to the second one after finishing up at the first.

“Everything seems to work out. Sometimes it’s harder than others, whether it’s transportation or just food. Basketball has been my escape from all of that,” he said. “I just

wanted it bad. Just for freedom, peace, being able to do what I love.”

There have been several times in life when he needed to find that peace more than others. A series of challenges made 2018 particularly hard, he said. His grandmother’s house burned down, and the family lived in a hotel for six months. Once the home was habitable again, it was the target of a shooting while he and his siblings were present with his baby nephew. Shortly after, his uncle passed away.

“That was probably the second-scariest time of my life,” said Israel.

The scariest occurred when his younger sibling fell in the bathroom and sustained serious wounds to his back. After hearing a loud bang followed by shrieks from his grandmother, he found his brother with his back severely lacerated after slipping in the shower and shattering the glass door. His brother spent several months in the hospital.

Despite Israel’s hardships and some tough memories, he is persistent in making the best of his situation. His upbringing gave him the mentality to push beyond what anyone believes he is capable of. His goal is to “break the financial chain” and become the first in his immediate family to graduate from college.

“I just see myself hooping at the highest level. It doesn’t matter how I got there or anything like that. I just have to get there. It doesn’t matter what the journey is,” Israel said. “I haven’t done anything much, I’m just getting started, but hopefully I can show these kids around here to stop putting limitations on themselves.”

While he receives plenty of support from those who know him well, Israel said that wasn’t always the case. He said he was never on the Advanced Placement track and sometimes got flak from peers who didn’t believe he could attend a Division I college. “People say college is gonna be hard. I’m prepared for it,” Israel said.

While some peers may have doubted his academic prowess, some of the teachers at Lloyd have faith that he will still succeed.

“He’s a sweet kid. I like any kid who has a goal and is driven. He hadn’t been on the AP track going into year five but he doesn’t give up, he keeps trying, and he knows that if he wants to be successful in basketball he

needs to be successful in the classroom,” said Mary Brady, an English teacher at Lloyd Memorial.

She said Israel mostly keeps to himself in the classroom, especially since other students may not be able to relate to his home life. But that doesn’t stop him from actively engaging in the class and striving for success. Israel has responsibilities that far exceed what some adults may face, Brady said, but pushes on a daily basis to be a better version of himself.

“Every time I work out, I think about being the underdog. … I tell myself: As long as someone takes a chance, it’s gonna be great,” Israel said.

Jeramiah Israel, a basketball standout, goes up for a dunk.

Shot clock not coming to Kentucky high school basketball anytime soon

In the last KHSAA Board of Control meeting of the school calendar year, data pulled from a coaches survey showed the state is no closer to a shot clock in basketball. In fact, it’s trending the other way.

Boys and girls high school basketball coaches across the state were surveyed and asked to respond with a “yes” or “no” on the implementation of a 35-second shot clock. The boys coaches voted no by a tally of 137-100; the girls coaches voted no by a tally of 141-91. The same survey was sent out last year, with the boys coaches voting no by 115-97 and the girls coaches voting no by 117-88.

As it stands right now, 17 states have a shot clock for high school basketball; before last year, eight states had a shot clock. The National Federation of State High School Associations announced in May of 2021 it would allow individual states to decide if they wanted to add a 35-second shot clock. Other matters discussed at the Board of Control meeting:

• Boys and girls team tennis championships will be introduced for the 202324 school year and boys volleyball for 2024-25. Those two sports are added on to girls wrestling in 2023-24 and boys and girls lacrosse in 2024-25.

• KHSAA will go back to a one-weekend tournament for state wrestling to be held at Kentucky Horse Park (Alltech Arena) in 2024 and ‘25. In a survey to wrestling coaches, the coaches prefer going back to 32 wrestlers per class at one final site. The way things are set up now is a sectional that leads to

the state tournament, which had been held at George Rogers Clark the past few years.

• The release of proposed cross-country and track and field realignment for the next four seasons. The proposed alignment can be found on the KHSAA website.

Albrinck takes over Newport Central Catholic girls basketball program

Dan Albrinck is coming into a good situation on the Hill as the new head coach of the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds girls basketball team.

Albrinck takes over a team with a proud history that finished 17-11 last year and lost in the 9th Region quarterfinals to eventual two-time defending region champion Cooper. All but two seniors from that team in guard Joelle Kinnett and forward Natalie Haigis return.

The Thoroughbreds finished 89-57 the previous five years under head coach Ralph Meyer, winning All “A” 9th Region titles in 2020 and 2021 in his stead. Meyer resigned after the season to spend more time with his family.

Albrinck does not have any varsity head coaching experience, but has coached youth basketball teams at all levels for more than 20 years.. He’s a 1984 NewCath alum and graduated from Thomas More University in 1988 after playing basketball for two years there. Albrinck helped the Thoroughbreds to the 9th Region title his senior year.

Albrinck has experience raising teenagers, having five kids of his own, including an eighth-grade daughter Alaina, who saw action in 18 games last year.

The Thoroughbreds return the region’s leading scorer in sophomore Caroline Eaglin. She averaged 24.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

The likes of junior guard Delaney Green along with sophomore twin forwards Jaylee and Katelyn Brannen also return. Green averaged 7.1 points per game and Jaylee Brannen averaged 7.0 a contest. The Brannen twins are the returning leading rebounders as they both pulled down 5.2 boards a contest.

Albrinck said NewCath has its largest freshman class in recent years coming in next year. The school recently launched a $13 Million Looking Up Capital Campaign with $7.9 designated for the construction of a new multipurpose on-campus athletic complex.

NewCath last won the region championship in 2014. The Thoroughbreds hope to better compete with the Highlands Bluebirds in the 36th District Tournament. Since that 2014 region and district championship, NewCath has only beaten Highlands three times, including twice in the 2021-2022 season with region player of the year Rylee Turner, who just completed her first year at Thomas More. The Thoroughbreds won the district in ’22, the first since ’14.

Albrinck is following in his father Ron’s footsteps as a head basketball coach at NewCath. Ron Albrinck coached the NewCath boys for five years, leading NewCath to the region championship in 1973 before taking the principal job at St. Henry.

Newport High School taps Harris as next girls basketball coach

Harris comes over after being on Ludlow’s boys staff last season under Aaron Stamm and previously served as an assistant coach with the Holy Cross girls team that won the 2015 KHSAA state title.

He replaces Beau Menefee, who resigned after three seasons with the team and a 3732 record.

Harris is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and works as an instructional assistant with the Kenton County School District. He believes his experience and learning from other coaches have taught him the essential traits of building and running a successful program.

The Wildcats finished 11-15 last season and fell in the district semifinals to Newport Central Catholic. Their last region tournament appearance was in 2016. They had just one senior on the roster in 2022-23, Elexis Litton, who led the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game. It was a fairly young Wildcats team with four juniors, two sophomores, four freshmen and two eighth-graders.

Marcus Harris has been named the new girls basketball coach at Newport High School.

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As a reminder, our honor is available to any athletics team from any sport at any level – from high school and collegiate to youth to recreational and beyond. Readers can scan the QR code to head to linknky.com to vote for the next Team of the Week.

EACH WEEK, NORTHERN KENTUCKY SELECTS Scott High School Softball Team

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Owners Lisa and Kris Knochelmann John Knochelmann, Sr. Rudy Schneller