LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 2, Issue 50 - November 15, 2024

KENTON

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 50 — NOVEMBER 15, 2024

THE VOICE OF NKY

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Voters across state reject Amendment 2

By Kenton Hornbeck

K

entucky voters soundly defeated Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment that would have allowed public money to fund private schools.

That result echoed across the state. No county gave the measure a majority, and Northern Kentucky voters rejected it by about a 2-1 ratio in both more urban counties – Boone, Kenton and Campbell – and more rural counties – Gallatin, Grant and Pendleton.

The amendment, also titled the Allow State Funding for Non-Public Education Amendment, was hotly debated before the Nov. 5 election. Support and opposition to the proposal lined up largely along partisan lines, garnering heavy support from Republican lawmakers, activists and influencers. Democrats statewide and teachers unions largely opposed the amendment.

Brigitte Blom, president and CEO of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, told LINK nky the vote was an expresContinues on page 3

The exterior of the Kenton County Library in Covington during Election Day 2024. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

Covington votes for change to strong mayor

By Nathan Granger

C

sion while they seek to institute the transition over the next two years.”

ovington voters strongly endorsed changing the structure of the city’s city manager government to a mayor-council form. The newly elected city commission will begin the twoyear transition process next year.

The ballot asked a simple yes-or-no question: “Are you in favor of the proposal entitled ‘Petition for the City of Covington to adopt a Mayor-Council Plan’?” It passed with just over 60% support.

“I’m very happy for the people of Covington,” said restaurant owner Richard Dickmann, who also served as chair of Covington Forward, the committee that worked to get the question on the ballot. “We felt very strongly that the mayor-council form of government will create an environment of growth and prosperity, and we’re going to remain committed to whatever we need to do to support the newly elected commis-

The conversion had many advocates among both the business community and the city’s leadership. Mayor Joe Meyer, sole mayoral candidate Ron Washington, both of the city incumbent commissioners – Tim Downing and Shannon Smith – as well as several commission challengers supported the measure. The Kenton County branch of the Democratic Party also came out in favor of the measure.

Covington’s current government is a city manager form of government. Under it, a city manager manages most day-to-day city business and departments. Four elected commissioners plus the elected mayor, who has relatively little direct authority, appoint the city manager.

Under the current model, both the commissioners and the mayor have a vote in local policies. Mayors are responsible for running meetings, signing contracts and acting as the public face of the city, but they share executive and legislative power with commissioners. The mayor cannot veto legislation.

In other words, executive and legislative power is spread evenly between the comContinues on page 4

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Vandalism jumps at Independence park p5 Voters OK all cannabis business measures p7 New dining discoveries on Madison Avenue p12

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PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling EXECUTIVE EDITOR Meghan Goth SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison LINK nky Kenton Reader is published weekly by LINK Media LLC, 31 Innovation Alley, Covington, KY 41011.

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How Kentucky voted

sion of faith in the state’s public education system. “Kentucky voters have expressed their strong preference to invest deeply in public education as the great equalizer and public good in the state,” she said.

Amendment 2 was soundly defeated by voters statewide:

On the other side, Kentucky Students First, a pro-Amendment 2 nonprofit organization, released a statement expressing its disappointment with the results.

No Kentucky county voted in favor of the proposed amendment. In Northern Kentucky:

For: 706,591 (35.2%) Against: 1,298,333 (64.8%)

Boone (66,056 votes) • For: 39% • Against: 61%

“Our coalition of parents, educators and concerned Kentuckians fought hard to change the status quo protected by Kentucky’s education special interests,” read the statement. “Though the results may not have been in our favor, this campaign has been a powerful force for standing up to the Kentucky education bureaucracy.”

Campbell (47,280 votes) • For: 37% • Against: 63% Kenton (78,436 votes) • For: 40% • Against: 60%

Had it passed, the amendment would have added the sentence, “The General Assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools,” to the Kentucky Constitution. The term “common schools” refers to public schools.

Three sections of the state constitution govern public education spending. Section 183 tasks the General Assembly with providing “an efficient system of common schools throughout the state.” Section 186 outlines how the public school system shall accrue funding, while section 189 effectively prevents public funds or taxes from being appropriated to, used by or in aid of any church, sectarian or denominational school.

Essentially, the amendment would have eliminated these funding boundaries.

(more than 95% of votes counted)

use public funds to send their children to the school or learning environment of their choice. High-profile Republicans and other school-choice advocates and activists endorsed Amendment 2, including Sen. Rand Paul and his spouse, Kelly, and former Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

lead to laws siphoning money from public schools, allowing it to be sent to private schools and prospective charter schools in the years following. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, a former public school teacher, came out against Amendment 2.

Additionally, diocesan school districts and other religious and nonreligious private schools backed the amendment. Many Northern Kentucky Catholic schools governed by the Diocese of Covington had signs in front of their buildings encouraging support of Amendment 2.

During an Oct. 31 rally in Lexington, Beshear argued that Amendment 2 would authorize Republicans in the legislature a “blank check” to move public money away from public schools, reported the Kentucky Lantern.

While changing the constitutional language wouldn’t have led directly to a significant change this year – such as creating or enabling a voucher program or funded charter schools – it would have given the Republican supermajority in Kentucky’s General Assembly the power to change the law to do so.

The Diocese of Covington also had a webpage dedicated to supporting the amendment. It claimed passing the amendment would help increase teacher pay and enhance opportunities for low-income, minority and disabled students while simultaneously protecting public schools.

Proponents argued that its passing would allow Kentucky parents and students to

Opponents and other public education advocacy groups argued that its passing could

The vast majority of Kentucky’s private schools are concentrated in its three largest population centers: Northern Kentucky, Lexington and Louisville. Further, most Kentucky counties rely on public school systems which are often the largest employers in those counties. Opponents of Amendment 2 argued it would disproportionately benefit parents and students living in large population centers.

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.

A voting sign in Wilder during Election Day 2024. Photo by Haley Parnell

NOVEMBER 15, 2024 3

Continued from page 1

missioners and mayor. Neither has unilateral power; the commission and mayor can exercise power only as a group. In addition, many personnel decisions are subject to a commission vote.

Broadly speaking, the mayor-council form – sometimes referred to as a strong mayor system – places more executive authority in the mayor’s seat, granting the mayor greater latitude in running the city on a day-to-day basis. Under the mayor-council form, for example, the mayor has more authority to hire and fire city workers, although key department heads, like police and fire chiefs, are still subject to confirmation by commissioners.

The mayor-council form is the more common form of government in Kentucky. Over half of the municipalities in the commonwealth use it, according to the Kentucky League of Cities. Nationwide, however, larger cities tend to use the city manager form: 54% of the nation’s cities with populations of 10,000 or more use it, according to the International City Managers Association.

Debate over the measure intensified leading up to the election. The Covington Forward committee spent about $65,000 in marketing and gathering petition signatures, about $53,000 of which went to Hazlitt Industries, a political consulting firm. It also sought donations from several large regional businesses and business leaders, such as Corporex and Greg Fischer, chair of Fischer Homes. Dickmann himself contributed about $15,000.

A contingent of Covington residents took up opposition to the conversion. J.T. Spence, a Wallace Woods resident and professor of political science at Thomas More University, along with Covington residents Robert Horine and Dan Burr, spent about $4,500 producing their own advocacy mailers against the conversion.

Efficient or too concentrated?

Proponents of the conversion touted mayor-council government as more straightforward, efficient and agreeable to economic development. They also argued it would make the city more effective in dealing with other government entities. Oppo-

4 NOVEMBER 15, 2024

The new holders of these Covington commission seats will soon begin crafting details of a new city government. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

nents worried that a conversion could lead to an overconcentration of power in the office of the mayor or that it could serve as a vehicle for the municipal government to be captured by special interests.

Covington Mayor Joe Meyer summarized the proponents’ point of view at a meeting of the Covington City Commission on Oct. 22.

“Based on my experience, one of the major changes that we need is a mayor who is empowered to speak on behalf of the city government as a whole when he’s negotiating with national leaders, with state leaders, with other regional leaders,” Meyer said. “We cannot hold ourselves hostages to what used to be irreverently referred to as the ‘rule of three,’ and that risk is always there with the structure that we have.”

The “rule of three” refers to the practice in commission-style government that requires three of five votes from a city commission to enact policy. Meyer and others have characterized the current government as opaque, sluggish and unaccountable to the electorate because so much day-to-day power falls under the purview

of the city manager, who is not popularly elected.

Opponents, meanwhile, argued that the city manager form was a way of preventing corruption and overly powerful executives.

“I don’t even really think the people that wanted to pass this have any idea about what they’re trying to accomplish other than solidify power in one person,” Spence said.

Now that voters have approved the conversion, the newly elected city commissioners will be responsible for writing ordinances outlining details of the new government – including how many council seats the city would have – by the end of their twoyear terms, at which point the commission seats will be abolished. Residents will then vote to fill the new council seats in 2026.

Spence wondered what the future might hold, especially as it related to how the transition would occur. Dickmann, meanwhile, was more optimistic.

“The single most important question now is to ask, what is our goal?” Spence said.

“Where on the spectrum between account-

ability and efficiency, where would we be happy as a community? And that wasn’t something that was addressed in the ballot election itself. There’s going to have to be a lot more energy spent on structure and how the council will work with the mayor.”

“I am pretty excited about the future of the city,” Dickson said, “and I’m excited for Ron Washington and the new commissioners to get their opportunity to tailor this form of government to the city. Not every city runs a form of mayor-council the same.

You need to tailor it to the city and make sure that we’ve got everything we need, all the tools in our toolbox, to make the city the best place to live in Northern Kentucky.”

Vote breakdown Voters strongly supported changing Covington’s government.

Percentages don’t add to 100 because of rounding.

• •

For: 7,498 (60.7%) Against: 4,839 (39.2%)

Vandals target Memorial Park in Independence

Playground equipment at Memorial Park in Independence. Provided | City of Independence

A damaged nature trail bridge in Independence. Provided | Arron Cope

By Nathan Granger

was perhaps close to identifying suspects.

There are cameras around the parks, but Brock admitted that recent poor weather had degraded the quality of some of the security footage.

I

ndependence is weighing measures to prevent increased vandalism at Memorial Park. The park has suffered several incidents of criminal damage since August.

“Every city that has public parks, they get vandalized,” said Independence Police Capt. Mike Brock.

Arron Cope, the city’s parks and recreation director, said that, while the problem has existed for years, there’s been an increase in the past few months. Most of the problems have occurred at Memorial Park, Cope said, but there have been incidents at other parks, as well.

Most of the problems are targeted at the parks’ bathrooms, Cope said.

“They will bust up the sinks. They will rip the sinks off the wall. They will bust up the toilets. They rip the doors off the stalls,” said

Cope. “Anything that’s not vandal-proof, they will try to remove it from the wall or break it.”

Cope said some of the bridges on the nature trails also had been destroyed. “The bridge one time was completely torn apart, and then, two weeks after we replaced it, someone went back out there and ripped boards off again.”

The people doing it are likely teenagers and other juveniles, Cope and Brock said. A juvenile had been caught jumping on a sink in one of the bathrooms earlier this summer, for instance. A resident spotted him and called police before any damage was done.

“I don’t know why kids would be motivated to damage public property,” Brock said, other than that perhaps they or their friends found it funny.

Brock couldn’t share details of ongoing investigations, but he said the department

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Understandably, there aren’t cameras in the restrooms, Cope said, which makes them “an easy target.”

“Typically it’s a very small percentage of our teenagers,” Brock said, who engage in that sort of activity.

At a forum for city council candidates earlier this week, all of the candidates expressed the importance of the city’s parks to Independence’s well-being and appeal as a place to raise a family.

The park’s restrooms will soon be locked and closed for the winter, depending on the temperature. Brock said the department has stepped up police presence in the area, especially right after school lets out.

They’re also considering adding new cameras around the parks. Cope added that the parks department is considering buying special anti-graffiti paint for park structures. The paint contains nonstick chemicals, making removal of graffiti easier.

“This is the crown jewel of our city, this park right here,” said council member Carol Franzen about Memorial Park. “We’ve added so many things to it since I first was on council. It’s amazing.”

Although the vandalism is frustrating, Brock qualified his statements by saying that teenagers as a group weren’t responsible for the bad actions of only a handful.

Anyone who spots anything suspicious or who has knowledge about the vandals can make an anonymous report to Kenton County Dispatch at 859-356-3191.

“I’m 110% behind supporting the parks, keeping them going, maintaining them,…” said council member Dave Shafer. “To the vandals out there, you’re going to get caught.”

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Republicans retain control of most NKY legislative seats

By Meghan Goth

T

he Republican stronghold in Northern Kentucky’s legislative leadership continues, but some races may have been too close for comfort, as evidenced by a $40,000 donation made by a Mitch McConnell affiliated PAC to incumbent Stephanie Dietz’s campaign less than two weeks before the general election.

Dietz did come out on top in her race, beating out Democrat Aaron Currin for the House District 65 seat.

“Thank you #65 for trusting me with another two years,” Dietz said Nov. 5 on Facebook.

“I’m incredibly thankful to so many people for their support.… [I]t takes a village to run a race like this.”

Dietz had been seen as one of three of the GOP’s most vulnerable incumbents, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader’s Austin Horn. That prompted the Oct. 24 donation by the McConnell-supporting super PAC Kentuckians for Strong Leadership.

It paid for television advertising through Spectrum.

In her Facebook post, Dietz noted that she won two years ago by fewer than 300 votes; this year, though, she cruised to victory with just over 56% of the 20,027 votes cast.

Dietz’s House District 65 includes parts of Covington, Edgewood, Fort Wright, Lakeview and Park Hills. In her campaign, Dietz

Stephanie Dietz, Marianne Proctor and Mike Clines all won their legislative races. Photos provided

was careful not to take a hard-line stance on most issues, instead vowing to listen to her constituents and make decisions based on what they want.

Other races went as expected, with Republican incumbents Matt Nunn and Chris McDaniel taking NKY’s local senate seats, beating out challengers Kiana Fields and Jennifer Sierra.

An automatic recount was triggered in the House District 67 race between Matt Lehman and Terry Hatton after the two were separated by just 30 votes, with Lehman coming out on top. If he wins after the recount, Lehman will be the lone Democrat representing Northern Kentucky. He will replace Democrat Rachel Roberts, who

announced in 2023 she’d be retiring at the end of her 2024 term.

"I don't have any reason to expect the outcome of the election would change," Lehman told LINK nky.

In 2022, Lehman ran and lost against 4th District U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican. Lehman’s 2024 campaign promised to address the “significant work” that he said remains to “ensure all of us have access to opportunities in our region.”

Union’s Rep. Marianne Proctor, Taylor Mill’s Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, Alexandria’s Rep. Mike Clines, Rep. Steven Doan and Rep. Mark Hart, a Republican from Falmouth, all held their seats.

T.J. Roberts is the only NKY non-incumbent Republican to win a seat in the Kentucky House. That seat was previously held by Rep. Steve Rawlings, a Burlington Republican who is ran unopposed for state Senate this year. Roberts defeated Peggy Houston Nienaber, a former accountant and real estate agent from Boone County.

“Part of what I’m focused on is not what I’m going to do but more so what I’m not going to do,” the fourth-generation Boone countian told LINK nky before the election.

“I’m not here to run your life; I don’t know how to raise your family. The constitution doesn’t give me the authority to run your life or raise your family, and, even if it did, I wouldn’t be comfortable doing that.”

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

PUBLIC NOTICE City Heights Property Divestment, National Historic Preservation Act Review : The Housing Authority of Covington (HAC) was granted Section 18 Disposition by HUD on 9/30/21 for City Heights, a 1952-1954 public housing development, located in Covington, KY. HUD’s approval for disposition enables HAC to sell/divest the property. This undertaking may result in an Adverse Effect, as defined at 36 CFR 800.5(a)(1), since the property is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and may ultimately end in demolition.

Any questions or comments regarding this undertaking or negotiations to resolve Adverse Effects may be emailed to procurements@hacov.org through 12/7/24. Responses will be returned within 5 working days.

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

6 NOVEMBER 15, 2024

• 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 • Campbell County Sheriffs Office • City of Alexandria • City of Bellevue • City of Cold Spring • City of Covington • City of Cresent Springs • City of Crestview Hills • City of Dayton • City of Edgewood • City of Elsmere • City of Erlanger • City of Florence • City of Fort Mitchell • City of Fort Thomas • City of Fort Wright • City of Highland Heights • City of Independence • City of Lakeside Park • City of Ludlow

• City of Newport • City of Ryland Heights • 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 • Larry Dillon Boone County Master Commissioner • Northern Kentucky Port Authority • Northern Kentucky Water District • Planning & Development Services of Kenton County • The Baker Firm PLLC • The Hidden Chapter Bookstore LLC

NKY cities vote to OK medical cannabis operations Applications for cards can be submitted starting Jan. 1. Before applying, those seeking a card must get a “written certification for medical cannabis from an authorized medical practitioner,” according to the Office of Medical Cannabis.

By Haley Parnell

T

he results are in, and all of the Northern Kentucky cities that put medical cannabis operations on the ballot have approved them.

“The residents of Florence have clearly supported the location of cannabis related businesses in our city,” said Florence Mayor Julie Aubuchon. “City staff have put in countless hours to prepare for this outcome.”

While some cities across Northern Kentucky have allowed or banned medical cannabis operations already, 10 cities left the decision up to voters.

“I believe city council made a wise decision in deciding to put this issue on the ballot,” Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman said. “While I believe we are elected to make decisions, this is not something the voters anticipated when they elected their city council. Now that they have affirmed their choice, we will continue to move forward with the zoning and other preparations to make sure we’re ready to go Jan. 1.

“On a practical level, I believe it’s unlikely we’ll see anything in the near term based on the limited number of licenses the state is issuing.”

Cannabis business will be legal beginning Jan. 1. Fourteen NKY cities have now approved accepting them.

Provided | Unsplash

were issued to medical cannabis businesses in Boone, Kenton or Campbell counties in the state’s first license lottery, the results of which were released Oct. 28.

Starting Jan. 1, medical cannabis will be legal in Kentucky. Each city is responsible for creating zoning regulations to make way for or not allow those types of businesses to operate.

In total, 16 cultivator licenses and 10 processor licenses were issued during the state’s first license lottery round. No licenses for dispensaries, where someone can buy medical cannabis with their state-issued card, were issued anywhere. New rounds of licensing will occur in the future.

All three NKY counties passed bans on medical cannabis facilities, so municipalities that have not taken separate action fall under those bans.

Local governments have until Jan. 1 to take action on whether they want to allow businesses to operate in their cities and counties.

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

“It remains uncertain at this time whether Alexandria will see any medicinal cannabis businesses as a result of this next licensing process,” Alexandria Mayor Andy Schabell told LINK nky. “In the meantime, the Al-

exandria Planning Commission is actively developing zoning recommendations to facilitate the integration of these businesses within our community in a safe and structured manner. We are committed to ensuring that all developments align with the interests and values of Alexandria.”

To qualify for a medical card, according to the state Office of Medical Cannabis, applicants must be Kentucky residents, have committed no disqualifying felony offenses and be diagnosed with at least one of these medical conditions: • ​Cancer.

• ​Chronic or severe pain.

• ​Epilepsy or other intractable seizure disorder.

• ​Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms or spasticity.

• ​ Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome.

• ​Post-traumatic stress disorder.

The city scheduled a special meeting for Nov. 6 to consider zoning and business regulations to regulate such businesses. “Our city administration aims to be responsive to our citizens’ wishes to incorporate these changes in a timely manner,” Aubuchon said.

NKY cannabis laws Here are where jurisdictions in the region stand on allowing medical cannabis: APPROVED EARLIER: Covington, Dayton, Erlanger, Fort Wright.

BANNED: Boone County, Campbell County, Kenton County, Taylor Mill, Walton.

VOTER APPROVED: Alexandria, Bellevue, Crestview Hills, Elsmere, Florence, Independence, Ludlow, Southgate, Union, Wilder.

Provided | Florence City Council and Joshua Hunt

NOVEMBER 15, 2024 7

kenton county briefs Covington commission: Smith, Downing return; two new members join

People voting at the Covington branch of the Kenton County Library during Election Day 2024.

Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

Members of the Covington Board of Commissioners were elected Nov. 5. Incumbents Shannon Smith and Tim Downing have maintained their seats, dominating the field, much as they did in the primary. Two new commissioners will take the remaining two seats: Tim Acri and James Toebbe.

Five incumbents, one challenger join Independence council

Familiar faces dominate winners on Erlanger council

Erlanger’s city council meets in the city building.

Provided | Erlanger on Facebook

Erlanger’s city council was elected Nov. 5.

Incumbents Diana Niceley, Jennifer Jasper-Lucas, Tom Cahill, Renee Wilson, Tyson Hermes, Renee Skidmore and Rebecca Reckers will rejoin the council. Challengers Chris Farmer and Michele Fields will fill the remaining open seats.

The expansion will eventually allow for the so-called stacking of cars, generally referring to quickly getting as many cars as possible off the main road onto the campus to reduce traffic and safety problems along the intersection turning into the school.

Additionally, the city of Edgewood plans to realign Dudley Road, Charter Oak Road and Tupman Drive, the last of which leads into the school, into a more conventional fourway intersection. Removing the tanks will then allow that work to take place. Timelines for the road construction were not discussed at the meeting.

Region’s front door: OneNKY Center work passes halfway mark

A rendering of the OneNKY Center under construction in Covington. Provided | NKY Port Authority

Voters chose six members to serve on Independence’s city council from nine candidates.

Of those elected, Christopher Vogelpohl, Carol Franzen, Tom Brinker, Greg Waite and Greg Steffen are incumbents. Newcomer Matthew Fehler took the final seat.

Among the remaining candidates, one, Dave Shafer, was an incumbent.

The Kenton County Schools Board of Education has approved a $58,387 bid from M&M Service Station Specialists to remove two, large underground fuel tanks on a Dudley Road property near R.C. Hinsdale Elementary.

The bid was accepted as part of the consent agenda at a Nov. 4 school board meeting.

The project is expected to be completed by Feb. 28.

The tanks are part of an old gas station, which the district purchased with the intent of expanding parking at R.C. Hinsdale.

The project is funded by a $15 million state grant to Covington Life Science Partners and up to $10 million in construction bonds, backed by rent revenue from tenants.

The first floor of the OneNKY Center will house conference rooms and meetNKY’s offices.

Sitting next to the Ohio River, just feet from the Roebling Bridge, is what BE NKY President and CEO Lee Crume calls the region’s future.

People waited in line Nov. 5 to vote at the Independence Senior Center. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

“This center is about growth. It’s about bringing together the growth organizations, giving us a place to really kind of plant the Northern Kentucky flag,” he said.

“We are a place where, if you’re a company looking to build, expand, grow your business, you can do it in Northern Kentucky.”

Crume said that, as of now, the development has stayed within its $27 million budget.

County schools to remove underground fuel tanks for parking at Hinsdale

A school bus. Photo by Element5 Digital | Unsplash

Crume said the project is now past the halfway mark, with construction crews anticipating finishing the exterior of the building by winter. “We’re about 60% finished, with the bulk of the remaining work being inside, finishing out the office spaces and the finish-work,” he said.

“You’ve got the resources of the entire community right at your footsteps,” he said. “We like to think it will be the future front door of Northern Kentucky.”

The OneNKY Center on Greenup Street in Covington broke ground in August 2023.

The four-story, 47,000-square-foot building will house several growth organizations, including the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, BE NKY Growth Partnership, OneNKY Alliance, EducateNKY, meetNKY and the Catalytic Fund. “I think the biggest feature of the building is bringing together the growth companies all in one space,” Crume said.

One floor up, the entire space is reserved for what will soon be the Covington Life Science Lab. Crume said it’s the only wetlife science laboratory between Lexington and Columbus, Ohio.

“So as people are looking to innovate in the life science space, create new technologies, new molecules, new science, this is a place where they can land and have the resources they need to create their business,” he said.

By working with researchers and startup companies, Crume said the center will look to generate job growth in a region where the life sciences industry is already growing.

“So as people are looking to innovate in the life science space, create new technologies, new molecules, new science, this is a place where they can land and have the resources they need to create their business,” he said.

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kenton county briefs Retirement community construction begins at former Drawbridge site Linda Vila Passione wants to go out in style and have peace of mind as she ages.

In her opinion, The Ormsby, a yet-to-beconstructed mixed-use retirement community in Fort Mitchell, will be the best place for her to do that.

“I’ve been hearing about aging in place and my final years and this is a good thing,” Vila Passione said during a groundbreaking ceremony for the development. “Aging in place has different mindsets; I want to go out in style, and that’s what The Ormsby is for.”

The Ormsby will be built on the former site of the Drawbridge Inn at I-71/75 and Buttermilk Pike. The dual-use hotel and convention center closed in 2012 after 42 years in operation. After the building’s demolition in 2014, Fort Mitchell community leaders sought to redevelop the barren land.

St. Elizabeth Healthcare; Greenbriar Development, a Dallas-based senior housing developer; and Bellevue-based real estate developer Brandicorp LLC are working on the project. Architecture firm Perkins Eastman is in charge of design. St. Elizabeth formed a not-for-profit corporation to own and operate the retirement community.

On Nov. 1, representatives from Fort Mitchell, Kenton County, the General Assembly, Greenbriar Development, Brandicorp and St. Elizabeth Healthcare held a groundbreaking to mark the start of construction.

“As the anchor of this development, The Ormsby, named after General Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel, whom this city is named after, will redefine retirement living and care, not only for Fort Mitchell but the entire region,” Mayor Jude Hehman said. “It will stand as a model for the future of senior care.

The Ormsby, which is to feature 203 modern residences, will be open to those age 62 or older. Residents will have access to catered living, memory care, skilled nursing, a 400,000-square-foot parking garage,

smart home technology and communal gathering spaces.

The development will encompass nearly 25 acres along Buttermilk Pike, Grace Court and Royal Drive, which is set to be demolished and then reconstructed into a new roadway that offers better connectivity. In addition to the primary residences, it will boast other commercial buildings, including an office building and restaurants.

Josh Wice, community manager of the county’s Planning and Development Services, presented the initiative to the fiscal court Oct. 15. On Oct. 29, Wice presented it again, adding context and details to the public.

Perfetti Van Melle’s Americas head inducted into candy hall of fame

Mike Brady, president of Brandicorp, said the firm plans to announce specific restaurants and other businesses opening at the development in the coming months. Residents are anticipated to be able to move in by 2026.

well-deserving colleagues for induction into the NCSA Candy Hall of Fame,” said Buxton in a news release. “This recognition is not just a testament to individual achievement, but a celebration of the collaboration, innovation and passion of the entire industry.”

Buxton is active in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky community, serving on numerous boards. She was honored as one of the 2022 Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky by the Women’s Initiative of the NKY Chamber and recognized as the 2024 Woman of Influence by the National Confectionery Association Women’s Leadership Group.

Dunkin’ to replace former Liquor City on Covington’s Fifth Street

Fiscal court backs plan to boost manufacturing in county’s southwest

Sylvia Buxton at the candy hall of fame event. Provided | Perfetti Van Melle Americas Business Unit

One of Northern Kentucky’s own has been inducted into the National Candy Sales Association Candy Hall of Fame.

The Kenton County Government Center. Provided | Kenton County on Facebook

Reports indicate that Kenton County is running out of land to develop, and leaders have agreed to continue with a plan that they hope will mitigate the effects of that.

At a meeting Oct. 29, the fiscal court passed a resolution officially acknowledging the legislative body’s support and endorsement of the Kenton County Site Readiness Initiative. The initiative is a plan to prepare land in the southwest part of the county for light manufacturing development.

“We really just wanted to make sure that everyone understands that this is the start of a process,” Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann said. “We wanted to make sure that we went through the next steps, first of all with the fiscal court, to say, ‘Hey, are we on the right track to look at this?’”

Sylvia Buxton, president and CEO of Perfetti Van Melle Americas Business Unit, was inducted Oct. 26 to the hall. This honor recognizes lifetime career achievements, loyalty to the industry, and going above and beyond job requirements.

Buxton has more than 30 years of experience in the sweets industry and has led Perfetti Van Melle’s Americas business unit since 2018. She leads more than 2,000 employees across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

She is the only woman on the company’s global executive team and is an advocate for women’s leadership, mentoring aspiring professionals and actively contributing to industry events.

The company’s products include Airheads and Mentos.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to have been selected alongside several other

A Covington Dunkin outlet recently celebrated its grand opening. Its owner, One Holland, also operates the Dunkin in Fort Wright, seen here. Photo provided | One Holland on Facebook

Covington is officially getting a Dunkin’.

A Dunkin’ is being built on the site of the now-demolished Liquor City store, One Holland Group announced Nov. 8. The new store, which will serve breakfast sandwiches and coffee drinks in addition to doughnuts, will be at the northeast corner of Bakewell and West Fifth streets.

The entity behind the store is One Holland Group, a Taylor Mill-based restaurant franchisee that owns and operates several Dunkin’ stores in Northern Kentucky.

The new Dunkin’ will be drive-through only, similar to One Holland’s Dunkin’ location that opened recently at 1826 Dixie Highway in Fort Wright.

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NOVEMBER 15, 2024 9

real estate

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This home features an updated kitchen.

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calendar

November Friday

Saturday 15

Flower design class, 5-7 p.m., Metropolitan Club, 50 E. Rivercenter Blvd., 19th floor, Covington.

Create an arrangement with guidance from Oberer’s Flowers designers. Includes flowers, vase, supplies, light bites, two drinks.

Information: 859-4912400 or metropolitanclub.net.

“Fall Blue Jay” paint and sip, 7-9 p.m., Hidden Chapter, 118 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas. Create a seasonal classic painting. Hosted by the Paint Sesh. Ages 13 and up (underage must be accompanied by adult).

Information: 859-4420118 or thepaintsesh. com.

Sunday 16

Trail Dig Day, 9:3011:30 a.m., Tower Park Mountain Bike Trailhead, Cochran Avenue, Fort Thomas. Help with trail maintenance and improvement. Wear appropriate clothing.

Information and registration: mobilize.us/ coratrails/event/604783.

Monday 17

Blues jam, 7-10 p.m., Mansion Hill Tavern, 502 Washington Ave., Newport. Sunday blues jam brings together some of the best players in the area to play with Mansion Hill house band. Information: 859360-0667 or info@mansionhilltavern.com.

Tuesday 18

Women’s Initiative Connect Hour, 4:306:30 p.m., Rising Star Casino Resort, 777 Rising Star Drive, Rising Sun, Indiana. Monthly NKY Chamber-sponsored networking event.

Information: 859-4263651 or business.nkychamber.com/events.

Wednesday 19

Thursday 20

Erlanger City Council caucus, 7-8 p.m., Erlanger City Building, 505 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger. Information: erlangerky.gov.

21 Florence Business Council meeting, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m., Turfway Racing and Gaming, 7500 Turfway Road, Florence. Hear NKY Chamber regional update. Brent Cooper, NKY Chamber president, will speak. Information: 859-578-6399 or business.nkychamber.com/ events.

“Start Making Sense”: A Tribute to Talking Heads, 8-11 p.m., Madison Theatre, 730 Madison Ave., Covington.

Help with trail maintenance and improvement. Wear appropriate clothing. Information: 859-491-2444 or madisontheater.com.

Business After Hours, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Barleycorn’s Brewhouse, 402 Licking Pike, Wilder.

Free networking event sponsored by Frost Brown Todd. Information: 859-578-6399 or business.nkychamber. com/events.

“Mindgame,” 8-10 p.m., Falcon Theater, 636 Monmouth St., Newport.

Final weekend of this black comedy thriller.

Also 8 p.m. Saturday.

Information: 513-4796783 or falcontheater. net.

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streetscapes

More discoveries on Madison Avenue

By Maria Hehman

C

ovington’s Madison avenue boasts endless spots to eat, drink and shop. Visits there yield discoveries time after time – both hidden, hole-in-the-wall gems and legendary places. This week, we start with dessert before delving into sushi and ending with Indian.

Del Gardo’s

rotating flavors of tiramisu, brioche and cookies. Because the menu changes weekly, it’s best to follow Del Gardo’s social media pages to stay up on current offerings.

Who needs Crumble’s flavors of the week when you can have Del Gardo’s cannoli flavor of the week?

In addition to its storefront, Del Gardo’s offers catering and cannoli classes that can be booked. (The Cannoli Guy – yes, that’s his official name – comes to your event and guides groups through crafting their own cannoli.)

Wabi Sabi

spicy tuna, avocado, lettuce, crushed doritos, cilantro, spicy mayo and jalapeno sauce. Those wanting something more mainstream may find a Philly roll, California or salmon skin and cucumber roll more to their liking.

Although most come for the sushi, Wabi Sabi’s other offerings shouldn’t be overlooked.

Besides traditional edamame, gyoza and tempura, it offers some unique starters, including lobster rangoon, fried green beans and haemul pajun (a Korean seafood pancake with calamari and shrimp). Noodles, hot stone bowls and platters – bulgogi or bibimbap, anyone? – complete the menu.

Of course, no Indian meal is complete without naan bread, whether you want to keep it simple with plain or add extra flavor with a stuffed bread – choose from garlic, chicken, cheese, potatoes, spicy red pepper or even nuts and raisins. There are plenty of options for the perfect pairing with your meal. Make your meal even more memorable by ordering one of their tandoori dishes made from their charcoal clay oven.

Wabi Sabi has a full service bar, too, with beer, wine and sake along with an ample cocktail menu.

Taj Mahal Bar and Grill

Veggie pad thai from Wabi Sabi. Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

What to Know If You Go Del Gardo’s Location: 621 Madison Ave., Covington Hours: Sunday-Wednesday, closed; Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, 2-10 p.m.

Website: delgardos.com Phone: 859-300-3456

Del Gardo’s cannolis are the perfect way to end a night out with a sweet treat. Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

Del Gardo’s joined the Madison Ave family a little less than a year ago, bringing its famous Italian desserts with them. This storefront operates as the No. 1 grab-andgo dessert destination in Covington.

The beauty of the cannoli is portability: Grab a few before grabbing some drinks at Braxton or Hotel Covington. Del Gardo’s cannoli come in over 100 flavors, and each week it features between four and five that best match the season. First timers may opt for a traditional chocolate chip, but choices have included Biscoff cookie butter crunch, red velvet, black raspberry chip and espresso martini.

If you’re not enticed yet, there also are

12 NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Wabi Sabi is a staple of Covington’s food scene.

Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

Wabi Sabi has repeatedly been named the top sushi restaurant in Greater Cincinnati, so needless to say its sushi is good. There is no shortage of options; in fact, there are so many that the restaurant has broken its menu into three parts: classic rolls, specialty rolls and sushi/sashimi for those wanting a little taste without committing to an entire roll.

The Lov the Cov roll comes with spicy tuna, avocado, salmon and is lightly deep fried.

The less traditional Drunken Taco includes

Taj Mahal offers a friendly ambiance for full-service Indian dining. Provided | Taj Mahal via Facebook

Many Indian restaurants in NKY only offer carryout, but Taj Mahal is a dine-in restaurant, making it a great spot for those wanting a full-service atmosphere. It has ample seating, along with a full-service bar to pair with classic Indian dishes.

The menu includes a mix of traditional Indian dishes featuring chicken, fish, lamb and shrimp to pair with rice. Chicken tikka masala will please even the pickiest eaters, and vegetarians will love their saag paneer with cheese cubes and spinach cooked in a cream sauce.

Wabi Sabi Location: 508 Madison Ave., Covington Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.- 9:30 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon8:30 p.m.

Website: wabisabisushinky.com Phone: 859-399-6503

Taj Mahal Location: 726 Madison Ave., Covington Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-midnight; Thursday-Saturday, 10-1 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Website: tajmahalbargrill.com Phone: 859-655-9111

NOVEMBER 15, 2024 13

sports Class A cross country: Beechwood’s Parke, Villa Madonna boys win

Villa Madonna won the Class 1A boys cross country title Nov. 2 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Georgetown. Provided | KHSAA

Beechwood junior Lily Parke won her first girls individual title Nov. 2 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. About an hour later, Villa Madonna’s boys took the team title – the first in any boys sport in school history – with a 108-173 win over St. Henry.

Parke covered the hilly 3.1-mile course in 19 minutes, 1.72 seconds. Lexington Christian dethroned Beechwood for the girls team title. Both had 53 points, but the Eagles’ Ruby Karls finished nearly 41 seconds ahead of the Tigers’ Julia Moore.

Beechwood’s Annie Harris finished eighth in her final high school race. Isabel Ginter was 11th, Nora Wilke was 18th and Charli Gerrein was 23rd.

Villa Madonna’s boys followed a proven strategy – place five runners in a tight grouping. Senior Mark Antrobus was the first Viking in, placing 11th in 17:04.15. Villa’s Brendan Ramdass was 14th (17:09.03), Ethan Martin was 18th (17:32.99), Alex Chadwick was 27th (17:59.57) and Ethan Barker was 60th in 18:42.30.

St. Henry’s boys added to the quality of Northern Kentucky running with a runner-up finish. Colin Glasgow led the Crusaders in 17th (17:29). Glasgow was followed

by Kayden Durrett in 39th (18:18), Logan Vaniglia in 48th (18:26), Bryson Colyer in 53rd (18:31) and Anthony Crawford 77th (19:08) for their top five scores.

CovCath claims back-to-back 2A cross country titles It’s almost as if Covington Catholic is bored with being in Class 2A.

Covington Catholic cruised to another Class 2A boys KHSAA state cross country title, winning for the second straight year at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Colonels won by 18 points with 51 points. Bourbon County, the lone team within any sort of striking distance, finished with 69 points.

Campbell County’s Olivia Holbrook posted top 10 finishes. Close friends and soon to be college teammates, Kopser finished sixth in a time of 18:42.77, Holbrook in 10th at 18:59.33. Both have recently committed to continue their academic and running careers at Ohio State University.

Two sequences were especially noteworthy. Minor (the region KVCA Player of the Year) and Ryann Grigsby blocked Neltner to give Scott an 8-1 lead, and when Minor’s serve forced a weak return, Brooklyn Helm tapped down the easy winner for a 12-2 advantage.

Will Sheets and Joe Mayer were certainly lobbying to get back up with the big boys in Class 3A. Sheets and Mayer finished second and third, five Colonels finishing in the top 21 in the meet. Sheets ran in a time of 15:42, 20 seconds off three-time reigning state champion Riku Sugie of Thomas Nelson. Mayer’s third place finish came in a time of 16:01.

Cooper senior Alexandra Rooney also reached the podium, finishing 14th in a time of 19:12.64. It was her season best, according to KYMilesplit.com’s times.

Scott survived the third set because of Payton Grigsby’s kill and Minor’s block. There was little suspense in the fourth set. Jaeda Menfee’s block gave the Eagles an 18-6 lead.

Notre Dame just missed out on the podium, finishing fifth with 205 points, four points shy of fourth place.

Brossart finished the season at 26-12.

From there it was the Colonels’ Luke McLane in eighth at 16:38, Jackson Germann in 19th at 17:13 and Braden Franxman in 21st at 17:16. Jack Salyers was 28th (17:37) and Joel Barczak 39th (17:57) to round out the Colonel runners on the day.

This was Covington Catholic’s fourth state cross country title in program history.

They’ve won titles in 1982, 1994 and the past two seasons.

3A state cross country: Cooper’s Van Laningham wins in a family tradition Thirty-four years after his father, Eric, and 32 years after his mother, Michelle, were state cross country champions, Cooper’s Paul Van Laningham followed suit. The Jaguars junior took home the boys Class 3A KHSAA state title Nov. 2 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Georgetown.

Van Laningham won the meet in a time of 15:19.87, his sprint down the final 200 meters separating himself from the field by nearly 10 seconds.

Cooper finished sixth as a team, missing out on the podium by two spots. They do return everyone next year.

Conner placed 11th as a team, Campbell County 13th, Dixie Heights 24th and Ryle 30th.

In the girls meet, Ryle’s Allison Kopser and

10th Region volleyball: Scott snags sixth trophy in win over Brossart

Scott won its sixth 10th Region title since 2014 and first since 2020. Provided | Charles Bolton

Scott dropped the first set but rebounded to take down Bishop Brossart, 3-1 (16-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-11), for the 10th Region title at Bracken County High School.

It’s the Lady Eagles’ sixth 10th Region title – the others were from 2014-2017 and 2020.

Minor was a large part of the reason Scott is still playing – she had 20 kills and six blocks. She was not the only reason: Ryann Grigsby added 34 assists, her sister Payton had seven kills, and Elise Manhardt added 20 digs.

Brossart senior Kate Neltner and sophomore Chloe Hershey gave Scott early problems. Hershey’s block, Neltner’s kill and Hershey’s two aces helped close out the first set with a 6-0 run.

Whatever Sullivan, the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association 10th Region Coach of the Year, told her team after the first set worked. Scott ran away to a 13-3 advantage.

Pandas three-peat as 9th Region volleyball champs

Notre Dame won a third straight region volleyball championship over St. Henry on Oct. 30. Provided | Charles Bolton

Notre Dame continued its dominance in 9th Region play Oct. 30 with its third straight region championship, taking down St. Henry in Erlanger, 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 2826).

The Pandas made it through the season without dropping a set to a region opponent. The dominance was on full display in the first two sets, tallying 16 kills in the first set – tournament MVP Ava Tilden with six and Audrey Dyas adding five.

They’d add 17 kills in the second set, Grace Portwood making her mark on the match with five kills and an ace, Dyas adding four kills and a block.

A young St. Henry team with just two seniors on the roster wasn’t going to lie down easily. The Crusaders rallied from a 20-16 deficit in the third set to earn a set point at 26-25 after a Elizabeth Casey ace. But an error followed by Tilden’s two of her 16 kills

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The Cooper football team won LINK nky Team of the Week honors for Oct. 20-26. Provided | Cooper Athletics

COOPER FOOTBALL 14 NOVEMBER 15, 2024

sports on the night gave the Pandas the championship.

St. Henry’s season ends with a 33-6 record.

Corrine Blackburn and Casey are the lone seniors, so the team will bring back a solid nucleus keyed by Madi Demler, Violet Main and Kenadi Sieg in hopes of ending the Pandas run. Blackburn departs as the team leader in blocks at the middle hitter position, while Casey led the team in aces.

Coaches association announces region player, coach of year winners The Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association released its region player and coach of the year awards.

The 9th Region Player of the Year is Notre Dame’s Julia Grace. The Xavier commit helped carry the Pandas to the No. 1 ranking in the state. She leads the team in digs (608) and aces (49). Grace also was named the 35th District Tournament MVP and named to the 9th Region All-Tournament team.

The 9th Region Coach of the Year award went to Ryle’s Tasha Tanner-Lovins. Tanner-Lovins led the Lady Raiders to their fifth straight 37th District Championship and the 9th Region semifinals for her fifth straight season. The Lady Raiders finished their season with a 24-9 record.

Scott swept the 10th Region awards, Andrea Sullivan taking Coach of the Year and Milyn Minor grabbing Player of the Year for the second straight season.

Minor is the team’s leader in kills (402), while also having 55 blocks, 22 assists, 257 digs and 42 aces. She was named to the 37th District and 10th Region All-Tournament teams, surpassing 1,000 digs this season as well.

Sullivan received Coach of the Year recognition for the first time since 2019. She led the Lady Eagles to back-to-back 37th District tournament titles and the 10th Region title. The Lady Eagles are 30-11 and 12-0 in region play. Under Sullivan’s guidance, they have won 10 district titles and six 10th region championships.

Final football poll lists 10 NKY teams among best in state The 10th and final edition of the Kentucky High School Football Media Poll is out, and 10 Northern Kentucky teams ranked to close out the regular season. The postseason runs through Dec. 7.

Undefeated Cooper (5A) was the lone NKY team to finish at the top, while Beechwood, which received one vote for first place, came in at No. 2 in Class 2A. Two other top five teams were Ryle, which grabbed the No. 5 spot in Class 6A, while Highlands wasn’t far behind Cooper at No. 4 in Class 5A. Covington Catholic (Class 4A) and Newport Central Catholic (Class 1A) found their way at the sixth spot in their classes. The ’Breds’ district foe, Newport, came in right behind them at No. 7.

Teams finishing out the top 10 were Bishop Brossart (No. 10 in Class 1A), Lloyd Memorial (No. 9 in Class 3A) and Conner (No. 10 in Class 5A). Ludlow was just outside, receiving 10 total votes in the Class 1A poll.

The poll is conducted by 16 sports journalists across the state, with one representative for each of the 16 basketball regions to provide geographical balance.

KFCA names District Player, Coach of the Year awards The Kentucky Football Coaches Association has weighed in with its District Player and Coach of the Year awards.

These selections are voted on by the KFCA, with only KFCA members able to cast a vote.

Northern Kentucky has at least one team in the six classes in the state and teams from Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties were well represented.

Here are the award winners in those respective districts.

Player of the Year Class 6A, District 6: Jacob Savage, Ryle Savage has been the “Macho Man” for the Raiders this season. He leads Ryle in rushing yards, tackles, touchdowns scored and points scored. His 731 rushing yards has him 10th in 6A, 16 touchdowns scored fourth in 6A, 122 points scored second in 6A and 94 tackles 12th in 6A. Class 5A, District 6: Wyatt Hatfield, Conner Hatfield leads the Cougars in rushing yards and touchdowns scored, points scored and interceptions. Despite being limited in his first three games of the season, the senior quarterback is third in 5A in rushing with 1,325 yards, first in 5A with 22 touchdowns scored, third in points scored with 144 and tied for fifth in 5A with four interceptions.

Class 4A, District 5: Cash Harney, Covington Catholic Harney is on the brink of being a 1,000-yard rusher and passer if he can throw for 77 yards in the Colonels first postseason game against Boyd County on Nov. 8. Meanwhile, his 1,002 rushing yards has him 11th in 4A, also 11th in 4A with 15 rushing touchdowns.

Harney has been efficient in the passing game, completing nearly 60% of his passes while throwing 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions in 105 attempts.

Class 3A, District 5: Kaleb Evans, Lloyd Memorial Evans helped guide the Juggernauts offense as he amassed 1,665 passing yards and 21 touchdowns this season. His passing yards are good for sixth in Class 3A, passing touchdowns tied for third in 3A. Class 2A, District 5: Clay Hayden, Beechwood Hayden’s 1,961 yards passing this season is good for sixth in 2A, 35 passing touchdowns tops in 2A. He’s the all-time record holder in northern Kentucky for passing touchdowns with 106 in his career. In 180 pass attempts, he’s thrown just four interceptions this season.

Class 1A, District 3: Kaleb Cole, Newport

Central Catholic Cole has been the bellcow and all-around player for NewCath. He leads the team in rushing yards, touchdowns, tackles and tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries and second in interceptions. His 766 rushing yards is 19th in 1A, 18 rushing touchdowns second in 1A, and 64 total tackles 33rd in 1A. He has two fumble recoveries to go with two interceptions.

Class 1A, District 4: Dameyn Anness, Ludlow Anness is another do-it-all player. He leads the Panthers in rushing yards, touchdowns, points scored, second in receiving yards, tied for third in tackles and second in tackles for loss. His 1,299 rushing yards is tops in 1A, 14 rushing touchdowns tied for eighth in 1A. His 116 points scored is seventh in 1A. His 14 tackles for loss registered is tied for second in 1A. Coach of the Year Class 6A, District 6: Mike Engler, Ryle Engler has led the Raiders to an 8-2 record, a top five ranking in Class 6A and the second rated team in 6A in RPI. He became the program’s all-time winningest coach with a win over Highlands earlier this season, his 74th victory at the time. He’s 79-50 all-time

as the Raiders coach.

Class 5A, District 6: Randy Borchers, Cooper Borchers cleared the 100-win total with the program this season in a win over Campbell County. He guided the Jaguars to their first undefeated regular season in program history this year and Cooper enters the postseason as the No. 1 ranked team in Class 5A in both the Kentucky High School Football Media Poll and the Class 5A RPI ratings.

Class 1A, District 3: Stephen Lickert, Newport Central Catholic Lickert is 27-0 against district opponents since being the coach with the Thoroughbreds in 2018. NewCath is 7-3 this season and Lickert is 58-28 in seven seasons with the program.

Class 1A, District 4: John “Woody” McMillen, Ludlow McMillen is 15-8 in two seasons with Ludlow, winning district titles in both seasons.

If they can win two playoff games this year, the nine wins would be the most for the program since pre-2000.

NOTICE

Please take notice that Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc. has applied to the Kentucky Public Service Commission for approval to revise its Demand Side Management (DSM) rate for gas service and electric service for residential and commercial customers. Duke Energy Kentucky’s current monthly DSM rate for residential gas customers is ($0.010030) per hundred cubic feet and for nonresidential gas customers is $0.000000 per hundred cubic feet. Duke Energy Kentucky’s current monthly DSM rate for residential electric customers is $0.001352 per kilowatt-hour and for non-residential customers is $0.003503 per kilowatt-hour for distribution service and $0.000514 per kilowatt-hour for transmission service.

Duke Energy Kentucky seeks approval to revise these rates as follows: Duke Energy Kentucky’s monthly DSM rate for residential gas customers would increase to $0.001249 per hundred cubic feet and for non-residential gas customers would remain at $0.000000 per hundred cubic feet. Duke Energy Kentucky’s monthly DSM rate for residential electric customers would increase to $0.002418 per kilowatthour and for non-residential customers would decrease to $0.003409 per kilowatthour for distribution service and would increase to $0.000674 per kilowatt-hour for transmission service.

The rate contained in this notice is the rate proposed by Duke Energy Kentucky. However, the Public Service Commission may order a rate to be charged that differs from this proposed rate. Such action may result in a rate for consumers other than the rate in this notice. The foregoing rates reflect a proposed increase in electric revenues of approximately $1.45 million or 0.32% over current total electric revenues and an increase in gas revenues of approximately $0.7 million or 0.54% over current total gas revenues.

A typical residential gas customer using 70 ccf in a month will see an increase of $0.79 or 0.8%. A typical residential electric customer using 1000 kWh in a month will see an increase of $1.16 or 0.9%. A typical non-residential electric customer using 40 kilowatts and 14,000 kWh will see a decrease of $1.49 or (0.1%).

A non-residential customer served at transmission voltage using 10,000 kilowatts and 4,000,000 kWh will see an increase of $640.00 or 0.2%. Non-residential gas customers will see no change in their bills from this application.

Any corporation, association, body politic or person may by motion within thirty (30) days after publication or mailing of notice of the proposed rate changes, submit a written request to intervene to the Public Service Commission, 211 Sower Boulevard, P.O. Box 615, Frankfort, Kentucky 40602, and shall set forth the grounds for the request including the status and interest of the party. The intervention may be granted beyond the thirty (30) day period for good cause shown. Written comments regarding the proposed rate may be submitted to the Public Service Commission by mail or through the Public Service Commission’s website. A copy of this application filed with the Public Service Commission is available for public inspection at Duke Energy Kentucky’s office at 1262 Cox Road, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018 and on its website at http://www.duke-energy.com. This filing and any other related documents can be found on the Public Service Commission’s website at http://psc.ky.gov.

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Estimates on Sewer or HVAC replacements are

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