By Haley Parnell
Ky Girl Hemp tracks CBD products from seed to sale
ose Seeger is a farmer by trade. She still owns the family farm in Pendleton County where she was raised.
Seeger went to engineering school and then worked for a telephone company for over 20 years. When the company started laying people off, she had already learned about rooftop gardening. She combined engineering, construction and agriculture and started Green City Resources in 2008. After suffering pain from the physical demands of her work on the rooftop gardens, Seeger was led to start her hemp business, Ky Girl Hemp, in 2015.
Ky Girl Hemp sells cannabidiol products, also known as CBD, produced from hemp grown and processed in the Bluegrass State. CBD is an active ingredient in cannabis that is derived from the hemp plant – a cousin of the marijuana plant. CBD does not cause a high by itself.
Construction manager picked for UK-NKY center in Covington
“Hemp helps a lot of people,” Seeger said. “It’s in that healing kind of scenario for me. Burlington eateries have hometown charm p12 NKY in photos: Trump Jr. speaks at Deters’ Patriots Day Freedom Fest p6 NKY in NFL: A century of gridiron history p14
By Kenton Hornbeck
Engineering firm HDR Inc. has been selected to manage the development of an academic center planned as part of Covington’s Central Riverfront project.
The Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence project will relocate Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s Northern Kentucky campus to a block in the 23-acre development on the former IRS site in downtown Covington. Both would move from NKU’s main campus in Highland Heights. The port authority is considered the owner of the project.
is a national firm that offers architec-
ture, engineering, consulting, construction and related services. The company has over 200 offices across the United States, including one in Cincinnati.
Christine Russell, executive director of the Northern Kentucky Port Authority, announced the news Sept. 10 at a Kenton County Fiscal Court meeting. “The Port Authority took action today to accept that bid and to authorize me to begin contract negotiation with them,” she said.
The port authority and Kenton County posted a request for proposal to their respective websites on July 29. The RFP sought consultants to provide project manager services for developing the education complex. Bids for the contract were due Aug. 19.
Russell said a selection group of represen-
Ky Girl Hemp owner Rose Seeger sells her CBD products at the Fort Thomas Farmers Market on Sept. 4. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky
HDR
Bray Construction loaders working at the former IRS processing center site in Covington. Provided | City of Covington
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Continued from page 1
I think that probably was another reason I was drawn to it. It helped me so much, and then I wanted to show other people: ‘Try this for that.’”
Seeger’s cousins in Cynthiana as well as neighboring farms raise hemp for her business, allowing her to track her product from its growth to final production.
Her two manufacturers are in Louisville and Bedford.
“I know every step of the way where this hemp has been, where it’s gone to, where it’s been processed, how it’s been processed, what products it’s going into,” Seeger said. “That’s important for me. Just like organic gardening, growing and not knowing where those things come from. I think that’s why our hemp stands out.”
Certified organic
Bedford, in Trimble County, is a little over an hour southwest of NKY on the way to Louisville. Her manufacturer there, Pharm CBD, grows hemp and also processes and formulates Seeger’s and other brands’ products.
“We specialize in manufacturing products for different brands and companies, chiropractors, Rose and other people that have stores, anyone that’s really looking for products,” said Michael Yates with Pharm CBD. “We do special formulas for certain clients.”
Pharm CBD raises its hemp plants from seedlings. They plant the seeds in late March and early April; by June, they are ready to go into the ground. The plants then grow until late September or early October until they are ready to harvest.
“When we harvest, we buck the flower or the bud off the plant stem,” said Evan Ogburn with Pharm CBD. “That makes our products more potent.
“It’s not diluted necessarily [with other producers], especially on a large scale; when it comes to hemp processing and farming, they’ll just essentially do a silage chopper or break it down to where they’re getting stalk and stem included. We don’t do that. We take time to buck the flower off, and then, once it’s bucked, it’s ready to be extracted.”
There are two walk-in coolers where the hemp is dried. Within about a week, with dehumidifiers, the hemp is ready for extraction.
Ogburn said their grounds are USDA-certified organic, meaning everything they raise from a hemp perspective is certified as organic. Their processing, extraction and formulation also are certified organic.
Their formulation and extraction are certified by Good Manufacturing Practices. This means that a product or process meets the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practices, a globally recognized standard for quality and safety in manufacturing.
Once the hemp is dry, it is milled and run through a carbon dioxide extraction machine. It then comes out as a “cake” and goes to distillation, where it is turned into oil that is added to products like the ones Ky Girl Hemp sells.
“Definitely just all about helping people
and giving people relief in a natural and safe way, and knowing all of our batches are safe from testing that we do is really important to us,” Yates said.
Seeking joint pain relief
Seeger sells products that help people with aches, pains and anxiety. She also has customers who come in with things like epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder. Seeger said the product also works for dogs and sells products for hip and joint arthritis and anxiety.
Seeger said she typically asks people about their pain or anxiety on a scale of one to 10 to determine the dosage they require. Products can be bought in the form of CBD oil, gummies and capsules, and CBD lotions and salves.
Ky Girl Hemp products can be found at local farmers markets, like in Fort Thomas from April through December and Covington year-round. Ky Girl Hemp products are also available online.
One of Seeger’s regulars, Gina Estes, purchases a CBD lotion from her. Estes learned about Ky Girl Hemp through friends and visits her at the Covington farmers market. She said the lotion helps her with chronic pain.
“It’s very helpful for just really bad joint pain,” Estes said. “That’s when I started bugging her, to see if there was anything that would help really bad joint pain.”
Pharm CBD batch produces each item as seen in food or pharmaceutical production. They track and verify all ingredients before they are used in a product. Ogburn said all their finished goods are batch-tested to confirm potency.
“We have full traceability, essentially from start to finish, the fact that we are vertically integrated with control from seed to sale, essentially we don’t have to go outside to find extracts, etc.,” Ogburn said.
‘You just feel better’
What is the difference between hemp and marijuana?
“For me, I always say marijuana gets you high; CBD makes you feel better,” Seeger said. “You don’t feel high. You don’t get a buzz. You just feel better, whether it’s the anxiety, whether it’s the aches and pains and anti-inflammatory.”
Ky Girl Hemp also sells a Delta-8 and Delta-9 product, which Seeger said is closer to marijuana than hemp. Seeger said it is a super-intense THC (a cannabinoid found in cannabis that is the main psychoactive component of the plant) that can be felt from head to toe. She said the people who typically use this are in a lot of pain or have high anxiety.
Seeger was set up at the Fort Thomas Farmers Market on a Wednesday in September. A customer wearing a “combat vet” hat purchased two packs of the 25-milligram Delta-8 gummies.
Estes also purchases Delta 8 gummies from Seeger. She said the gummies help with pain management so that she’s not overwhelmed by the pain. “Sometimes I’ll take those that helps me keep from getting into a fight at the deli counter on Fridays,” Estes said.
Seeger said all CBD, if it’s called full spectrum, has a small amount, roughly 0.03%, of THC.
“Finding a place that knows their product is important, and there are several stores around that know what they’re doing,” she said. “I’m not the only person, but definitely it’s worth not going to the gas station.”
Customers must be 18 years old to buy CBD products and 21 years old to buy Delta products.
“They’ll give cancer patients marijuana to treat their pain, and it does, but they also have that where they’re getting high, and they may not like that feeling, and a lot of people get paranoia,” Seeger said. “When they get high, and they get scared, or they get more anxiety, even though their pain is gone. So, we’re a CBD. We don’t have that. It’s more of just a calming effect.”
Seeger said she is worried about the state taking away her ability to sell Delta products should recreational marijuana become legalized. She said the marijuana industry looks at someone like her as competition and will try to lobby to get those products taken away.
Further, Seeger said new bills are being introduced in the state requiring a $250 permit per year for every product sold.
“So that worries me because I like to have different products,” she said. “So that will reduce down some of the things that I have.”
Estes said she chooses to purchase her CBD products from Ky Girl Hemp because she knows where the products come from and gets to support local farmers versus big box stores.
“There’s a quality of the ingredients and so forth that I can rely upon,” Estes said. “I don’t want to just buy whatever products they’re not all the same. And so you want somebody who’s really worried about the manufacturing process. So that’s a very important piece of it.”
A hemp plant from one of the farms that supplies Ky Girl Hemp. Provided | Ky Girl Hemp
State Sen. Chris McDaniel fights for local nonprofit
Have you ever heard of a boxer punching above their weight? That’s what Northern Kentucky has in state Sen. Chris McDaniel. As the powerful Chairman of the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee, the committee that develops the state budget, he is in a unique position to deliver for Northern Kentucky’s families and children. McDaniel delivered big for Covington Partners in the last state budget cycle. Covington Partners is a data-driven local nonprofit that supports our school districts with quality out-of-school time programming, mentorship, parent engagement and summer learning opportunities for some of our state’s most at risk students. The allocation from the state budget Sen. McDaniel helped secure for Covington Partners will enable the organization to continue its expansion efforts outside of Covington into school districts in our neighboring river cities as well as inside additional schools within the Covington Independent School District.
Covington Partners is a national leader in building and implementing programming embedded in school districts in the areas of substance abuse prevention, health and wellness, leadership and academic success. One of the unique programs developed by Covington Partners to engage communities members and leaders with students is the Lunch Buddies program. Lunch Buddies provides an opportunity for a mentor to be paired with an elementary student where the two eat lunch together once a week in the school cafeteria. It is incredible the impact the Lunch Buddies program provides for both the student and the mentor. When you mentor ONE student, you can change TWO lives.
Sen. McDaniel is active in Covington and knows first-hand the role education plays in life long success. Chris’ ability to prioritize money for the critical work of Covington Partners is a game changer for the students and families in Northern Kentucky. As a Covington resident and firm believer that successful and supported families and students are essential to a vibrant and thriving community, I’m beyond grateful to Sen. McDaniel for his advocacy and support for Covington Partners. Northern Kentucky is so fortunate to have Chris McDaniel fighting for us in Frankfort.
Lauren Huizenga, general counsel, senior vice president, Wendal Inc., Covington and board member, Covington Partners
Boone County lowers property tax rate and secures money for county infastruture needs
It is no secret that I am a believer in small government and limited taxes. Government has become far too big, bloated and way too involved with many aspects of our lives, from the federal government to the local level.
However, I do believe that there are some basic, essential functions that government should support such as public safety, infrastructure and a strong national defense. And while there isn’t much I can do as a county official in the way of a strong national defense except be a strong advocate for it, there are steps I can take a policy perspective that do impact the public safety and infrastructure needs right here in Boone County.
Currently in Boone County, as with all the other counties in the commonwealth of Kentucky, we are discussing our ad valorem taxes in Kentucky. If you are unfamiliar with the term, which admittedly I was until I become an elected official in 2019, ad valorem taxes are defined by the Kentucky Revised Statues chapter 132.020. Ad valorem is a property tax in which a tax is based on assessed monetary value. Fiscal courts can levy property taxes on real property, such as your land and buildings (this would be your house or business property located within the county), and tangible property such as motor vehicles and equipment.
All 120 counties levy taxes and while some are extremely high, here in Boone County we have some of the lowest property tax rates in the commonwealth.
Boone County currently has a real property tax assessment rate of 9.6, meaning we tax 9.6 cents for every $100 of assessed value on your property. Due to our well managed growth we find ourselves in the unique position of being able to roll that tax rate from 9.6 to 9.2 and still recognize four percent more revenue than the previous year.
4% is the maximum allowable growth of revenue a county can receive from the previous year without calling for special ballot votes.
This year, that 4% will total generate about $607,000 in additional funding. Given my strong stance on opposing irresponsible spending I have proposed to the fiscal court to restrict those funds – as I’ve done in the past couple – and only allow the funds to be spent on county road infrastructure improvements and nothing else.
Funding county roads is a critical function of the fiscal court. Each year Frankfort allocates money to each county based on an archaic formula that was devised in the 1940s. This model is convoluted and difficult to understand and Boone County typically winds up on getting the short end of the stick.
For instance, in 2014 we received just shy of $1.2 million in county road aid funds from Frankfort. But each following, we have received less money.
This year the county is scheduled to receive about $815,000. Indexed against the 38% inflation we have experienced since 2014, we are down about $600,000 in less spending power than 10 years ago.
Boone County has 455 miles of county road to maintain, which is up 3.5 miles from 2019 and steadily growing. We have 55 bridges in our county roadways system, including seven that still have wood guard rails.
Our state delegation – the elected House and Senate members who represent Boone County – are working hard for us in Frankfort. However, due to petty Frankfort politics, our legislators have been kept mostly
on the sideline by leadership and have had difficulty securing the funding that Boone County – the fourth largest county in the state – needs and deserves.
Frankfort politics are childish and needs an overhaul. But that will take time, and unfortunately time is not something that we have here when it comes to aging infrastructure liabilities.
So, as one of your four elected county leaders I have come to recognize that our options are limited. We can continue to hope and pray that the swap machine of Frankfort and the Democratic led Governors office will do the right thing and take care of our needs.
Or, we can do what Boone County has historically done, and that is pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and come up with innovative solutions to solve the problem ourselves while making sure that the revenues coming in are protected and restricted for county road ways and nothing else.
This means that the additional funding coming in – while the county still provides one of the biggest property tax roll back rates in Kentucky – will not restricted for anything other than taking care of our county roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
This will help give us about $2 million a year to help maintain and repair some dangerous roads in the western part of the county as well as ensure that we have a sustainable plan going forward.
Good roads mean higher property values, safer travels for our children and first responders and a better quality of life for all Boone Countians. As long as I am fortunate enough to serve our community, I will do all I can to ensure that our public safety and infrastructure needs are not only met, but also exceeded for future generations, making it safe for our grandchildren and their children.
Jesse Brewer District 3 commissioner, Boone County
‘The KKK is simply not welcome in Covington’
By Nathan Granger
“The KKK is simply not welcome in Covington,” said Mayor Joe Meyer to an audience of Eastside neighborhood residents Sept. 10.
Those residents had come to the week’s city commission meeting to share their concerns about the distribution of Klan literature in their neighborhood in July. The flyers bore the image of a hooded Klansman pointing at the reader.
“You can sleep sound tonight,” the flyer’s text read. “The Klan is awake!”
LINK nky has also received reports of similar leaflet distributions in Florence.
The Eastside+ neighborhood association had met to discuss the matter in August. Neighborhood residents, police officers, candidates for public office and other community leaders all attended the meeting, where in the end the association decided to bring their concerns to the city publicly.
The flyers bore the name of the Trinity White Knights branch of the Ku Klux Klan. They sported a phone number with a 606 area code, asking readers to report “crime and drug dealers.” Ella Blackwell, one of the
first Eastside residents to report the leaflets, actually called the number on the flyer and found it went to someone in Maysville.
Rachel White, Covington’s community liaison officer, discussed the police’s investigation into the Trinity White Knights at the August meeting. She said the Trinity White Knights is a Klan splinter group that has been around for about 10 to 15 years. It sporadically distributes flyers in different communities every few years before disappearing again. White said the last major distribution took place around 2015. Identical flyers have appeared in Ohio and West Virginia.
White said the group uses the flyers as a recruiting tactic, and there are often long periods between distributions. Although it has occasionally held protests and demonstrations, there didn’t seem to be a threat of violence in this case.
7047065_100_sehada_print_ad_womens_ob_10.375x3.389V1.pdf 1 10/25/23 12:37 PM
The Trinity White Knights also are identified as the distributor of more recent flyers in Springfield, Ohio, where a growing Haitian community became the target of hate following a baseless allegation by the Republican vice presidential candidate, Sen. J.D. Vance. Donald Trump, the GOP presidential candidate, repeated Vance’s claim during his debate with Vice President Ka-
Even if the Klan didn’t stick around, many in the neighborhood felt it was important for the public to be aware of the incidents and for the city to reaffirm its commitment to diversity and the safety of all Covingtonians, regardless of their race or background.
“We want the community to be aware when these things happen,” said Eastside+ President Melissa Kelley. “We believe the community should respond publicly every time to targeted groups with a message that we are all with them, that they are valued citizens, and Covington will have their back.”
Reyna Van Gilder, the current chair of the Covington Neighborhood Collaborative, echoed those sentiments. “An incursion on one of our neighborhoods is an incursion on all Covington neighborhoods.”
The mayor and commissioners thanked residents for coming out to speak on the issue. Meyer said that they were informed of the flyers shortly after they appeared and that the city was considering ways to detect and respond more quickly in the future.
“We have used cameras and other techniques to try to identify those who are dis-
tributing flyers so that we can tell them in a more personal way that that attitude, those values, are not welcome in our city,” Meyer said.
“The Klan has a history of demonstrating their actions and trying to make people fearful,” said Commissioner Ron Washington. “Well, they don’t know Covington very well.”
The commission did not belabor the issue, and Kelley said that the association would continue communicating with the city moving forward. “What I really want is more structure to this,” said Kelley, “a protocol.”
Leaflets with phone numbers were one thing, Susan Strating, the association’s secretary, told LINK nky, but what would have happened if there were credible threats?
Thus, police and city protocols needed to consider the possibilities in case something like this happens again.
“Contacting law enforcement is the first thing that comes to your mind,” Kelley said, “but the harder problem is the reassurance and letting people know that it’s going to be okay, that everybody knows about it.”
mala Harris.
Eastside residents and other Covington residents at the meeting Sept. 10. Photos by Nathan Granger | LINK nky
Melissa Kelley speaks at the meeting on Sept. 10.
Donald Trump Jr., son of the former president and current presidential candidate, gave the keynote address Sept. 14 at the three-day Patriots Day Freedom Fest, held at the Morning View farm of media personality and former gubernatorial candidate Eric Deters. Other speakers included Trump Jr.’s fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Kentucky Republican politicians Terry Hatton, Allen Maricle and Kimberly Moser. Photos by Joe Simon.
An oversize American flag flew from a crane through Freedom Fest.
The conservative crowd enjoyed live entertainment on the first day of Freedom Fest.
Attendees cheered the Sept. 14 political speakers at the Morning View event. Eric Deters, media personality and former NKY attorney, hosted the festival at his farm.
Donald Trump Jr. fired up the crowd with a speech supporting his father’s presidential campaign. The band Out of Eden performed Sept. 13 at Freedom Fest. The event’s first day was filled with entertainment, while politics dominated the next day and a sunrise service highlighted Sept. 15.
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Notice of Internet Website Publication Request for SOQ
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Kim Moser speaks at Freedom Fest.
Kimberly Guilfoyle speaks at Freedom Fest.
Freedom Fest attendees pose with a cardboard cutout of Donald Trump.
OneNKY Center, new Covington landmark, rises near Roebling
Once its signature blue glass facade is installed, the OneNKY Center will take its place in the Covington skyline.
Corporex, the Covington-based development firm behind the building, tapped Blue Ash-based Phoenix Architecture to design the building. Due to its prominent location at the foot of the historic John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, Phoenix Architecture wanted the building to stand out and serve as a physical reminder of its intended purpose: bringing together the community, according to Phoenix Architecture Director of Design Jason Williams.
The OneNKY Center will house several of Northern Kentucky’s growth organizations, including the NKY Chamber of Commerce, OneNKY Alliance, meetNKY, Thomas More University Division of External Affairs, the Catalytic Fund of Northern Kentucky, BE NKY, Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky and the Northern Kentucky Bar Association.
The building also will house the Covington Life Science Lab, which will provide early-stage companies with research and development facilities, shared equipment, office space, and various educational and training opportunities. In 2023, the Covington Life Science Lab inked a 99-year, $12 million lease with the Northern Kentucky Port Authority for 15,000 square feet of space.
complete, which is expected in 2025, it will feature 47,000 square feet of Class A office space.
Williams told LINK nky that Phoenix Architecture consulted with future tenants, inquiring with each organization about its opinions and objectives regarding the building’s design. “We met with every tenant, got their goal, came back, incorporated that into a whole,” Williams said.
Karen Finan, president of the OneNKY Alliance, said the center’s design will symbolize collaboration between Kenton, Campbell and Boone counties and the various growth organizations that will use the building.
She also touted the building’s positive effect on Covington’s historic Roebling Point neighborhood, further accentuating the area and allowing Northern Kentucky to market itself as a destination for prospective businesses and talent.
“The fact that we’re under one roof, but the design that comes with this will also send a message,” Finan said. “When we work to attract businesses or talent into the market, you want to be able to have visuals and tell the community what you’re about. We feel that the design of the OneNKY will do just that.”
Across the street from the OneNKY Center sits the Ascent – one of the most recognizable buildings in Covington. The luxury condominium building’s iconic curving facade greets pedestrians and drivers traveling across the Ohio River on the Roebling Bridge. It is the brainchild of Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind, a world-renowned designer famous for using deconstructivist style.
Through the design process, Williams said Phoenix Architecture wanted to highlight the openness and connectivity of the OneNKY Center. The firm ultimately sought to complement the Ascent’s aesthetic while differentiating the two buildings.
“We wanted to use the same materials in a way that complemented that, but that’s not what our building is about. Our building’s about the horizontal windows,” Williams
said. “It’s about creating views for the tenants to see the community, see across the river, connect visually with where they’re at inside the building to what’s outside, and become more human scale, more pedestrian-oriented.”
Bill Butler, founder and executive chairman of Corporex, said the OneNKY Center would help balance the landscape to one of Northern Kentucky’s primary gateways.
“It will use the same blue glass and same white panels [as the Ascent] and has very distinctive design in the wall and the roof shape,” Butler said. “As you come across the bridge from north to south, the idea is that we now have a balanced landscape with the Ascent building on one side. You’ll go between two buildings with similarities.”
Butler and Corporex are behind some of the most prominent buildings along the Ohio riverfront in Northern Kentucky, including the Ascent and RiverCenter in Covington and the yet-to-be-completed Ovation development in Newport.
Crestview Hills revises records request form to avoid AI fraud
Crestview Hills Mayor Paul Meier issued an executive order revising the city’s open records request form and policies at the city council meeting on Sept. 12. The updates ensure that all requests are real and not AI-generated. This order came after the city said it received fake signatures on requests.
City clerk Stacy Kellam explained that, often, a signature was present on the request, but it was not a real signature or one used through DocuSign. Instead, a handwriting font was used. When asked to provide a different signature, the city received only a signature in a different handwriting font.
To avoid future fake requests, the city decided to amend the policy.
“In the world coming, you know, we need to make sure it’s a real person,” said Alex Mattingly, the city administrator.
Mattingly said that changes will not be restrictive in any way and are simply to ensure that the requests are real.
Kindergarteners get free books through county library program
The Kenton County Public Library Foundation is continuing its annual tradition of providing free books and school supplies to every kindergarten student in Kenton County.
The effort coincides with National Library Sign Up Month in September.
The foundation, which has distributed books for at least 10 years, recently visited Glenn O. Swing Elementary in Covington to distribute books and engage the children in learning activities as part of the program.
“Having books at home has benefited children in many ways,” Lise Tewes, the library’s school services coordinator, said in a release. “Studies show that simply having a home library boosts children’s academic achievement, vocabulary growth and focus.”
Donate to the foundation at kentonlibrary. org/donate.
Notre Dame partnership guarantees admission for grads to Thomas More
Notre Dame Academy announced a partnership with Thomas More University that will provide direct admission to all Notre Dame Academy graduates, beginning with the class of 2025.
The OneNKY Center is under construction. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky
The OneNKY Center is 100% leased. Once
Thomas More University’s campus. Provided | Thomas More University on Facebook
This agreement marks the first direct admission partnership of its kind for an allgirls Catholic high school in Greater Cincinnati.
Notre Dame Academy is the Catholic high school for young women in the Diocese of Covington, and Thomas More University is the only Catholic liberal arts university in the diocese.
Through this agreement, Notre Dame Academy graduates who meet specific academic and disciplinary standards, release their transcripts and opt into the program will have direct access to Thomas More University. In addition, Notre Dame Academy students will benefit from Thomas More University’s professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.
Rent eating up greater share of tenants’ incomes
Renter households spent 30% or more of their incomes on rent and utilities in 21 states last year – up from just seven states in 2019. That translates to about 22 million renters nationwide.
Anyone paying more than that 30% is considered “cost burdened,” according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and may struggle to pay for other necessities, such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care.
In Kentucky, housing consumed 30% of income or more for 47.5% of renter households, up from 43.3% in 2019.
Three presidential swing states had among the biggest increases in the share of renters who spent that much on housing: Arizona (to 54% from 46.5%), Nevada (to 57.4% from 51.1%) and Georgia (to 53.7% from 48.4%). The numbers are based on a Stateline analysis of American Community Survey data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Florida and Maine also saw large jumps.
In places such as Arizona and Nevada, where the housing bubble of the late 2000s left vacant houses, the construction of apartments and other homes has not caught up with population increases, according to Alison Cook-Davis, associate di-
rector for research at Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy.
In Arizona, low wages, a housing shortage, and short-term rental and vacation homes are eating away at the stock of affordable housing for renters, Cook-Davis said. Rents in Arizona have shot up 40% to 60% in the last two years, she said.
A University of Nevada, Las Vegas, data brief reported in May that the Las Vegas area had the highest percentage of cost-burdened renters in that state, at 58.3%, more even than the New York City (52.6%) or San Francisco (48.9%) metropolitan areas.
Florida was the state with the highest rate of cost-burdened renters. The rate rose to 61.7% from 55.9%. Florida was followed by Nevada (57.4%), Hawaii (56.7%), Louisiana (56.2%) and California (56.1%).
The states with the lowest rates of cost-burdened renters as of 2023 were North Dakota (37%), Wyoming (41.2%), South Dakota (41.3%), Kansas (43.5%) and Nebraska (44%).
The share of cost-burdened renters increased since 2019 in every state except Vermont (down to 47.8% from 54%), Wyoming (down to 41.2% from 44%), North Dakota (down to 37% from 38%) and Rhode Island (down to 48.1% from 49%).
How 6 nonprofits in NKY will use $100K in grants
Horizon Community Funds has given $100,000 in total to six nonprofits serving Northern Kentucky, the largest Community Impact Fund grant cycle since Horizon was founded in 2017.
The Community Impact Fund uses collective giving to contribute to NKY’s future success. In a release, Horizon described it as the most flexible source of grantmaking dollars.
The money is to be distributed as follows:
• Adopt A Class: $20,000 to expand its mentorship program to an additional 1,000 students in river city schools.
• The Catalytic Fund: $20,000 for its Impact Investment Program, a key element of its three-part strategy for community development and urban revitalization in Northern Kentucky. This grant will specifically support an affordable housing initiative within the 2024-2026 Strategic Plan.
• Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road: $10,000 for Building the Bridge to Girls K-12 Leadership, an initiative focused on creating collaborative community partnerships and building the volunteer infrastructure to expand and sustain programs for low-income and racially or ethnically diverse girls. The initiative has a strong focus on Hispanic and immigrant communities.
• Last Mile Food Rescue: $10,000 to help expand its food recovery programming in Northern Kentucky. This funding will allow the organization to continue to serve those with transportation or financial barriers, and other circumstances that would prevent them from accessing nutritious food.
• Northern Kentucky University: $25,000 for the Pathway for Paraeducators Program, which aims to reduce teacher shortages in the region, bolster competitive compensation packages for school districts and award compulsory degrees for current paraeducators to attain teaching positions.
• Samaritan Car Care Clinic: $15,000 to provide emergency car services to low-income families.
“We are honored to support these remarkable nonprofits that are making a profound difference in Northern Kentucky,” said Nancy Grayson, president and CEO of Horizon Community Funds in a release.
Continued from page 1 tatives from the port authority, Kenton County, University of Kentucky, Northern Kentucky University, Covington and the Catalytic Fund met Sept. 9 to analyze each bid.
Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann said the port authority and county received several quality bids, but the selection committee chose HDR Inc. “That project is about a $3.3 million agreement that will be signed, but that was actually in the middle to the lower cost of all the bids that were out there – a lot of great proposals,” he said.
Project funding for the current fiscal year is $10 million, which will be used for the consultant contract, other professional service agreements and other costs associated with the site’s acquisition, according to the RFP. The remaining $115 million will be unlocked in fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1, and is expected to be used for construction.
The RFP also included a prospective timeline showing that the conceptual design process will run from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31. Schematic design and preconstruction activities will commence during the spring and summer of 2025. Construction will begin in late 2025 and, barring any setbacks, will be completed in mid-2028.
The Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence is only one aspect of the broader Covington Central Riverfront project. Construction crews already are developing the site’s infrastructure, including installing sewer lines, utilities, streets and sidewalks.
Covington divided the site into 16 parcels on which different developers bid. Two parcels already have developers: Fort Mitchell-based homebuilder Drees Homes and CCR-MN Developers, LLC — a recently formed development company consisting of Silverman & Co., Messer Construction and architectural firm KZF Design.
Read the RFP
The request for proposals is available to read from linknky.com/ wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ RFP.pdf.
Nancy Grayson is president and CEO at Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky.
Address: 510 General Drive, Fort Wright
Price: $800,000
Bedrooms: Four
Bathrooms: Three (plus one half-bath)
Square footage: 4,011
School district: Kenton County
County: Kenton
Special features: This original Toebben Homestead and Toebben-built home in Fort Wright is on the market for the first time since it was built in 1978. The home sits on a little under an acre in the Fort Henry subdivision. It offers a finished basement, a master suite on the main level and a kitchen with a large island and breakfast area. Outside, there is a walk-out to the deck, a stone fireplace and a large built-in, enclosed wet bar.
An exterior view of this Fort Wright home. Photos provided | Tracy Mazzone with KW Seven Hills Realty
A view of this home’s back yard and deck.
Comedy @ Commonwealth, 7 p.m., Commonwealth Sanctuary, 522 Fifth Ave., Dayton. Headliner Kellye Howard is an Air Force veteran turned standup comedian, actress, writer and speaker. She’s appeared on Comedy Central and, as an actress, on “Empire,” “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago Justice.” Admission $15. Information: programming@commonwealthsanctuary.com or commonwealthsanctuary.com.
Guided bird hike, 8:3010:30 a.m., Boone County Extension Environmental & Nature Center, 9101 Camp Ernst Road, Union. Join us with the Northern Kentucky Bird Club to enjoy a guided bird tour to learn birding tips, bird IDs and to add new birds to your life list. Information: 859-586-6101, boone. ext@uky.edu or ukyboone.pacecommunity. net/Event/ViewEventProfile?eventId=18929.
Hike Doe Run, 9 a.m.noon, Doe Run Lake, 1501 Bullock Pen Road, Covington. Celebrate a landmark anniversary for this landmark family operated business. Enjoy the great outdoors with a 2.8 mile hike and nature bingo at Doe Run Lake. Co-sponsored by Kenton County Parks and Recreation and Kenton County Public Library. Advance registration requested bit.ly/ kcprcatalog. Information: secure. rec1.com/KY/kenton-county-ky/catalog.
Boone County Fiscal Court meeting, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Boone County Administration Building, 2950 Washington St., Burlington. Information: 859-3343571 or boonecountyky. org.
Erlanger City Council meeting, 7-8:30 p.m., Erlanger Municipal Building, 505 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger. Information: 859-7272525 or erlangerky.gov/ calendar.
Covington City Commission candidate forum, 5:30-7 p.m., Madison Avenue Christian Church, 1530 Madison Ave., Covington. Question question-and-answer session focused on issues important to Covington neighborhoods with candidates for the four open commission seats. Lucy May, host of “Cincinnati Edition” on WVXU-FM, moderates. Information: cov.beautification@gmail.com.
more events, scan the QR code or visit: https://linknky.com/events/
Find hometown charm in Burlington eateries
This Streetscapes takes a look at the Burlington area. We visit a new hometown bar, sample some Chinese staples and take a detour to end with regionally famous ice cream. Join us!
Old Guy’s Tavern
Old Guy’s Tavern exudes hometown charm. As with any good dive bar, its main focus is on a relaxing atmosphere for hanging out or watching a game with a cold beer. Although it’s in the name, it isn’t a spot for just old guys. Old Guy’s offers draft, bottled and canned beer choices – plus a full selection of liquor.
Of course, no gameday is complete without some snacks. For food there are fried appetizers, pizza, wings and burgers – the bar classics that always taste good. The appetizers are great for sharing and pairing with a beer. Pickle chips, jalapeño poppers and potato skins all make for great halftime fuel. Those wanting a fuller meal may be better suited ordering the OGT or mushroom burger.
Old Guy’s interior has plenty of seating that doesn’t feel crowded in a smaller space and plenty of TVs so you’ll never miss a touchdown. It also has a spacious outdoor patio to enjoy the fall weather.
House of Tang
For classic Chinese dishes that are both delicious and reasonably priced, House of Tang is the place to visit. Its gigantic menu not only covers traditional Chinese items, but it also has a few American dishes to ensure that even the pickiest eaters can find something tasty.
Fried rice and pad thai are popular choices; guests can choose their proteins from chicken, beef, pork, shrimp or keep it simple with vegetables. For something unique, bourbon chicken is a great mix of Chinese flavors and Kentucky cuisine. Guests can never go wrong with kung po chicken or beef with broccoli.
Although Tang’s indoor space is small, guests can dine in or carry out; either way they’ll be treated to a delicious and fresh meal.
Originally a food truck, Dreamy Whip quickly became a hit and opened a permanent location in Burlington in 2020. The name of this place is spot on: Its ice cream is so rich and decadent that creamy wasn’t a good enough adjective. Dreamy is spot on.
Upon walking up, you’re greeted by a cow
having an ice cream cone. If that’s not the best advertising I’ve ever seen, show me what is. There are rotating weekly flavors, often inspired by the season, of soft serve (find out ahead through Dreamy Whip’s social media pages). End of summer flavors have included pineapple and watermelon Dole whip for refreshing treats on hot days. If you prefer classic flavors, you can always rely on chocolate, vanilla or swirl.
Although the soft serve is delicious enough to be its only offering, Dreamy Whip offers all the traditional ice cream parlor treats. Milkshakes, malts, floats, sundaes and fusions, its version of that other place’s treats named after winter storms.
If ice cream treats aren’t enough, Dreamy Whip also has a full coffee bar. For a taste of both, the frosted coffee, a blend of coffee and ice cream, is the best way to beat the heat while getting an added caffeine kick.
Dreamy Whip still operates the mobile ice cream trucks that inspired the brick and mortar location. They can be rented for parties or events. There are two options – a Sprinter van and food truck size – to handle any occasion. Whether it’s a backyard birthday party or a company picnic, guests of all ages will be delighted when they see Dreamy Whip roll up.
What to Know If You Go
Old Guy’s Tavern
Location: 5987 Carlton Drive, Burlington
Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 2-11 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Website: oldguystavern.com Phone: 859-534-5039
House of Tang
Location: 2534 Burlington Pike, Burlington
Hours: Monday, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Tuesday, closed; Thursday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 4-10 p.m. Website: houseoftangburlington.com Phone: 859-689-7886
Dreamy Whip
Location: 3020 Washington Street, Burlington
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-9 p.m.
Website: dreamywhip.com Phone: 859-534-0318
Dreamy Whip
Old Guy’s Tavern, a recent addition to Burlington. Photo by Maria Hehman
Dreamy Whip’s enticing exterior. Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor
House of Tang offers dine-in or carry-out seating to enjoy its Chinese food. Provided | House of Tang
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Century of gridiron history: NKY natives in NFL
By Marc Hardin
Northern Kentucky-born athletes have been playing in the National Football League for 100 years, nearly the entirety of the league’s existence. The NFL took its name in 1922 after being founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association. In 1925, Bill Knecht from Newport made his NFL debut as a two-way lineman after playing four years at Xavier University. He attended East Side High School (now Withrow) in Cincinnati.
Knecht was the first Northern Kentucky-born player to appear in an NFL game, according to the Pro Football Reference website. He played in three or four NFL games, depending on the source. Pro-football-reference.com has Knecht listed as a 6-foot-3, 205-pound offensive tackle starting three games at age 22 for the 1925 Dayton Triangles. He was released the same year.
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At the Pro Football Archives website, Knecht is listed at 6-1, 200 with four games played at offensive tackle, defensive tackle, fullback and linebacker. Both databases have his birth listed as Jan. 24, 1903, in Newport, and his death as Dec. 9, 1934, in Lima, Ohio. Not much else is known about his pro football career. Playing primarily offensive tackle, he would have compiled few statistics, most lost to history.
Of the more than 270 players born in Kentucky who have played in at least one NFL game, more than 20 were born in Northern Kentucky. The list does not include former area greats who weren’t born in the area, such as Dixie Heights’ Mark Pike, born in Elizabethtown, and Highlands’ Marty Moore, born in Phoenix, Arizona.
Highlands’ Gino Guidugli and brother Ben Guidugli, both born in Fort Thomas, went unselected in the draft but later signed with NFL teams and did not play in an official game. Also omitted is former Campbell County Sheriff George Ratterman, the onetime NFL quarterback in the 1950s. Ratterman was born in Cincinnati. He played for the NFL’s New York Yanks and Cleveland Browns.
The list does include some of the most heralded players in Northern Kentucky high
school football history, including Boone County great Shaun Alexander, born in Florence. Other notable locals include Bellevue’s Bob Dougherty, Newport’s Irv Goode, Doug Pelfrey from Fort Thomas and Covington’s Jared Lorenzen. Goode played at Boone County. Pelfrey kicked at Scott. Lorenzen set passing records at Highlands. Goode played guard in the NFL for the St. Louis Cardinals, Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins from 1962-74. He played in 162 games. Pelfrey played with the Bengals. Rebels coach Owen Hauck knew what he had in Alexander, saying to me in 2014, “You didn’t really want one kid doing it all. But he was so much better than everybody else that it was one of those kinds of things where we just gave him the ball and hoped everybody blocked.”
Thirty years ago this fall, as a senior, Alexander led Boone County to the Class 4A state championship game while putting up some of the best rushing numbers in national prep history. He carried 456 times, ranking second in Kentucky history and third nationally. He rushed for 3,166 yards for the 1994 Rebels, the best single-season total in NKY history and third all-time in Kentucky. He was Kentucky’s Mr. Football and a Parade Magazine All-America.
“One of the greatest things my senior year was I got to play with my cousin, Ben Brown,” Alexander said to me in 2014. “It made my year so sweet.”
Alexander’s name is in the KHSAA record book 19 times. He rushed for 9,453 NFL yards and scored 112 touchdowns for Seattle and Washington from 2000-08. He won a rushing title, an MVP award and set a single-season touchdown record.
Currently in the NFL are Derrick Barnes from Holy Cross and Michael Mayer from Covington Catholic. Mayer, with the Las Vegas Raiders, was born in Independence. Barnes, with the Detroit Lions, and Lorenzen are two of at least six Covington-born NFL players. The list also includes Lloyd McDermott, Larry Schreiber, Fred Rayhle and Chuck Bradley.
At least four NFL players were born in Fort Thomas, including Jerry Reynolds, Rob Smith and Mike Mitchell. From Bellevue are Art Mergenthal and Bob Ravensberg. Bob DeMoss and Bill Murray were born in
Dayton.
NFL players have also come from Burlington, which produced Phil Clark; Edgewood, where Charles Johnson was born; and Silver Grove, birthplace of Highlands great Derek Smith. He was on the Bengals’ practice squad in 2002. Johnson, who starred at Lloyd Memorial, caught 60 passes in three seasons for the Minnesota Vikings from 2014-16. Clark, a defensive back with four career interceptions in Dallas, Chicago and New England, was active from 1967-71.
Alexander in Seattle, Goode in Miami and Lorenzen for the New York Giants played on teams that went to the Super Bowl. Pike played on four Super Bowl teams in Buffalo.
Covington Catholic graduate Michael Mayer is in his second season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Darron Cummings | Associated Press
Art Mergenthal from Bellevue High School played in the NFL in 1945-46 with the Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams. Provided | Author unknown
A 1949 Bob DeMoss Leaf brand football card. The Dayton native played in the NFL in 1949 for the New York Bulldogs. Provided | Marc Hardin
Derrick Barnes is entering his fourth season with the Detroit Lions. Duane Burleson | Associated Press
Ryle gets historic win in volleyball
Is the Ryle High School volleyball team one of the best in the country?
The Raiders earned the right to make such a bold claim Sept. 14 after defeating nationally-ranked Louisville Assumption. They defeated the Rockets in straight sets, 2-0, on their home floor at the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament. Ryle, the eighth seed, defeated top-seeded Assumption, 26-24, 25-21, in bracket play.
Lucy Trapp led the Raiders with eight kills against Assumption. Karsyn Griffin added six kills. Morgan Heater led with 12 assists while Ria Furuta paced the team with 21 digs.
The Raiders remained unbeaten at 11-0 with the victory. Assumption fell to 13-1 and had its 25-match winning streak snapped. Ryle went 2-0 on Friday with pool-play wins over Louisville Male and Cleveland (Tennessee).
The Raiders finished fourth at the event with a 3-2 mark, losing to Sacred Heart and Cincinnati’s St. Ursula Academy. Trapp and Furuta made it onto the all-tournament team.
Defending state champion Assumption is second in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Super 25 national rankings. The Rockets are No. 1 in the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association poll with 29 first-place votes. Ryle is 10th statewide.
It’s thought that no Kentucky public-school volleyball team has beaten Assumption in at least 22 years.
Ryle has won four straight 33rd District championships and 10 of the last 14.
Ja Osterhage, soccer official, dies at 37
You needed only about 20 seconds to determine what Ja Osterhage enjoyed most: the game of soccer.
That love of playing and refereeing the game is one of the things his family hopes people remember. James Michael “Ja” Osterhage, of Highland Heights, died Sept. 6 after a brief illness; he was 37.
Ja (pronounced “Jay”) Osterhage graduated from Dixie Heights High School in 2005; he was a stopper on the soccer team.
Osterhage later earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Northern Kentucky University.
John Osterhage, Ja’s father, said Ja refereed his first game at age 11 – and exhibited his mom’s placid demeanor when soccer parents lost their minds over a call.
Osterhage joined the KHSAA in 2005 and worked state high school boys and girls championship games from 2013-2017. He also conducted refereeing classes.
Besides his parents, Osterhage is survived by his sister, Carrie (Jake) Lawson, his niece, Nora, his nephew, Kain, a beloved cat, Remi, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
The family asks for donations in Ja’s name to the Kentucky Youth Soccer Association, 158 Constitution St., Lexington, KY 40507. Online condolences can be left at LinnemannFuneralHomes.com.
7 new members named to join NKY sports hall
After a couple of months off, the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame continued with inductions on Sept. 18 at the Gardens of Park Hills.
The September class includes seven new inductees, they are:
Bill Roller (Highlands), Bob Boswell (Newport), Fred Geraci (Thomas More), Heather Kruger Parsons (Highlands), Kate ArnzenKruse (Highlands, NKU), Michael Zimmerman (Newport Central Catholic) and Steve Kruse (NKU).
Roller played middle linebacker for three years and was a 1971 grad at Highlands. He was a part of two state champion teams in 1968 and 1970. Roller was inducted into the Highlands sports Hall of Fame and was named as one of the greatest players in school history.
Boswell went to Newport High School, where he was part of a basketball team that was the NKAC Conference champion in both 1967 and 1968. Boswell also played baseball for Newport, where he was a starter all four years. He was part of the NKAC conference champions in 1967 and 1968.
Geraci went to Thomas More to play basketball and baseball. In basketball, he was named to the all-tourney team as a freshman. In baseball, he was a pitcher and outfielder. He had a career record of 12-6 and
DIXIE HEIGHTS BOYS SOCCER
an ERA of 2.34, still a Thomas More record. Geraci posted a career batting average of .329. While not playing baseball, he was the No. 1 singles player on the tennis team. He was inducted into the Thomas More Hall of Fame in 2014.
Kruger Parsons played basketball at Highlands from 1993-98 and was a 1998 graduate. She was a part of five straight 36th District champions and three 9th Region champions. She scored 2,111 career points, had 1,523 rebounds and 586 blocked shots (3rd all-time in the state of Kentucky). She was named to the Highlands High School Hall of Fame in 2023.
Arnzen-Kruse graduated from Highlands in 1980 and NKU in ’86. She played basketball at Highlands for four years. She was a starter for three years and was named to the NKAC All-Star team in 1978 and 1979. Along with basketball, she played volleyball for three years and was named team MVP two times. She was All-State two years, All-Region two years, All-Conference two years, All-District two years, and was named the Famous Recipe All-Star of the week in 1979. Kate earned a full ride to NKU and played volleyball all four years. Arnzen-Kruse was inducted into the Highlands High School Hall of Fame in 2023.
Zimmerman is a 2004 NewCath grad and was the NKY basketball Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004. He was named All-Conference three times, 9th Region All-Tournament team in 2004, All “A” Regional champ two times, All “A” All-Region team three times, All “A” All-State team in 2004 and honorable mention All-State in 2004. He graduated as the third all-time leading scorer in NewCath history. He later went on to play at Missouri-Kansas City.
Kruse ran cross country at NKU, where in 1980 he was named an All-State Athlete and Most Improved Runner. He also ran two years at University of Cincinnati. In 1994, he was named as head coach at NKU and still holds the position. He was named Great Lakes coach of the year in 2006, KCCTCA coach of the year in 2007. All NKU running records have been set under his coaching tenure. He has coached four NKU female and six NKU male athletes to Athlete of the year honors.
The Dixie Heights boys soccer team is the LINK nky Team of the Week for Sept. 1-7. Provided | Dixie Heights boys soccer
Ryle took down No. 1 Assumption at the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament over the weekend. Provided | Ryle volleyball
James “Ja” Osterhage, right, began refereeing youth and later high school soccer at age 11. Provided | Beth Wilson, Villa Hills Soccer Club
The Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame logo. Provided | NKY Sports Hall of Fame
