LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 3, Edition 12 - February 14, 2025

KENTON

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 12 — FEBRUARY 14, 2025

THE VOICE OF NKY

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Annual K-count tallies area’s homelessness

By Nathan Granger

T

hey start before the sun comes up.

Outreach workers with the Welcome House and other organizations gathered at the Welcome House’s Covington location early Jan. 30 to plan which spots they need to hit before their deadline – 5 p.m. the next day. They stuff bags with hygiene supplies and other resources to distribute during the day’s K-counts.

What are they counting? People.

Welcome House is one of many organizations across the state that go out every year at the end of January for the annual K-count, a cataloging of people experiencing homelessness in the local region and the rest of the state. LINK nky accompanied the outreach workers Jan. 30.

Everything’s on a timer: The K-count officially begins the evening of Jan. 29 and extends through 5 p.m. Jan. 31, but most of the Welcome House’s outdoor surveys begin the morning of Jan. 30, said Amanda Continues on page 3

Vern Havenga sits in his car. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Union appointments snub prior commissioners

By Nathan Granger

U

nion has begun appointing members to newly vacated seats on its commission, and two former commissioners, Brian Garner and Eric Dulaney, are not among them.

The two had won seats in November before Boone County Circuit Court Judge Richard Brueggemann ruled Jan. 31 that the election was invalid because some voters did not receive proper ballots. Brueggemann said state law required him to nullify the November results, leaving Mayor Larry Solomon to appoint new members.

Former commissioner Brian Dulaney speaks at the Feb. 3 Union commission meeting. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

The appointments took place at the Union City Commission meeting Feb. 3. The city commission now consists of Mayor Larry Solomon, former Commissioner John Mefford, former Commissioner Doug Bine –

whose loss in November prompted the suit before Brueggemann – and new Commissioner George Eldridge.

The fifth and final commission seat will be chosen by a task force of the current commissioners, who will solicit applications from interested city residents and announce the final appointee at the next meeting of the Union City Commission later this month.

Solomon told reporters after the meeting that the appointments were about ensuring “harmony” among the new commissioners.

“It had nothing to do with who they are, what they are, but how much harmony we can have because we haven’t had that for quite a while,” Solomon said. “Otherwise, Continues on page 5

From Calif. to Covington: Her desserts are F & Goode p7 Mexican, Southern home cooking in Hebron p10 Notre Dame, Ryle win Region 7 swim titles p12

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Amanda Couch, in red jacket, and Joshua Prasad prepared resource bags before the Jan. 30 count. Photos by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

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Couch, Welcome House vice president of program operations.

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K-counts, which pull both from outdoor surveys and internal data from overnight shelter providers, are the primary means of tracking the number of people experiencing homelessness in Kentucky.

Data collected goes to the Kentucky Housing Corp., which uses the numbers to track the scope of homelessness, conduct research and allocate funding. It’s an admittedly imperfect tool since there’s no guarantee that people will find shelter the night of the counts, and it’s not always possible to find everyone living outside. Without any centralized alternative, though, K-counts are the primary tools for tracking homelessness in Kentucky.

The TANK depot in Covington is the first stop – Couch said that people experiencing

homelessness will sometimes congregate there. If the outreach team meets someone living outside, it briefly interviews the person to get basic information about who they were, how long they’d been homeless and if they had made use of services. That is, unless they’re asleep.

“We don’t wake people up,” Couch said, adding that they usually swing back later in the day to see if they can talk to those they found asleep.

There was only one person near the depot, a man on a nearby sidewalk, slumbering under a heavy blanket. Couch dropped a resource bag next to him, and the team moved on.

Next, the outreach workers sought out known camping sites. The sun still hadn’t come up. Couch and her colleagues, Brian Van Arsdale, Welcome House chief operating officer, and Joshua Prasad, who

works for an organization called FwdSlash, switched on their cellphone lights. Couch would occasionally call out, “Welcome House!”

The team located several campsites, but they were all unoccupied, if not abandoned, at least when LINK saw them. The tents had collapsed, laying flat on the gravel with frost rimmed around the cloth. Plastic bags and trash were heaped in piles in the foliage nearby.

Van Arsdale said the fact that sites were empty may actually be a good thing because it means the daytime occupants may have found a place to sleep at a shelter. Often, Van Arsdale said, people living outside will hunker down at a campsite during the day, then seek shelter with a service provider at night, especially when the weather is cold.

Much of the morning was spent looking for people but finding no one. Indications of camping sometimes turned up oddities.

At one point, what appeared to be a camp ended up being a treehouse someone had built in the woods, complete with a spiral playground slide and a balcony. No signs of who might have built it.

‘I’m a survivor’

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The sun came up, and finally the team located a man, Vern Havenga, feeding alley cats out of his car. The cats congregated on the pavement as Havenga poured both dry and wet cat food into the bottom of a cutout milk carton.

Couch began asking Havenga questions and tallying his responses in a survey app on her smartphone. Exhaust billowed from the back of the man’s idling car, the back seat of which was packed with clothes and other items.

Cats eating food given to them by Vern Havenga, an army veteran living in his car.

Havenga, who gave LINK nky permission to use his name, said he’d been homeless for about a year after being evicted. An army veteran, Havenga talked about his health history with Couch and confirmed that he received some veteran’s benefits. He stroked a brown and white-haired cat – no collar, dried blood on its left ear but seemContinues on page 4

FEBRUARY 14, 2025 3

Continued from page 3

‘Just like everyone else’

ingly docile – crouching on the upholstery under the steering column.

“I’m a survivor,” Havenga said.

Couch gave Havenga a resource bag, encouraged him to seek out services, and moved on. As the team was pulling away, another car pulled up next to Havenga.

A man exited and began chatting with Havenga. Probably someone he knew checking on him, Couch said.

The team spoke to two other people living outside while LINK nky accompanied them, Aleshia Baker and Joe Simpson.

Couch found them in a tent and began surveying them like she had Havenga, but Baker said they’d already been logged at a recent stay of the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky in Covington.

Couch handed them both blue bracelets, letting other teams know they’d already

been surveyed. Simpson asked if Welcome House taught basic survival skills for living outside, like creating simple heating mechanisms and stoves. Couch said that was a good idea.

When asked what people should know as it relates to homelessness in Northern Kentucky, Simpson said that people living through homelessness were as much a part of the community as anyone else.

“They’re usually highly intelligent,” Simp-

son said. “There are some who are antisocial because of the way the community has treated them, but on average, they’re just like everyone else.”

When asked what people could do to help, Simpson said, “Donate to your community fridge. Get involved with something that makes it a personal experience.”

While doing things like helping out a soup kitchen are helpful, that sort of assembly line-type work doesn’t always allow for the development of a human connection, Simpson said.

“If you’re serving in a soup kitchen,… you don’t know me,” Simpson said. “You don’t know nothing about me. You can’t relate.

You have to be personal. You have to have a vested interest in the people that you serve.”

Get involved To learn how to volunteer, donate or otherwise contribute to the region’s homeless service providers, scan this QR code and scroll to the bottom of the story.

An unoccupied campsite. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

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Seats for city commissioners at the Union City Building were empty Feb. 3 until new commission members were appointed. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky Continued from page 1

this thing wouldn’t have gone to the court.

Two is based upon professionalism, and three is the fact that we can focus on city business without conflict.”

The appointments occurred this way: Following the court’s decision, Solomon became the only commission member and was thus granted the power to appoint a single member. He appointed Mefford, who nominated Bine. The two then affirmed Bine’s appointment. Bine then nominated Eldridge, who was affirmed by the trio of Bine, Mefford and Solomon.

Bine lost his reelection bid in November, according to the results of the November election. The winners were Mefford, Garner, Eric Dulaney and Jeremy Ramage.

sion members except the mayor followed a court battle that began shortly after the general election in November. The legal proceedings stem from reports that wrong ballots were distributed at two Union precincts on Election Day. The elections that were affected included the race for city commission and the medical cannabis ballot question.

Following reports from voters, County Clerk Justin Crigler’s office filed a petition for a recount on Nov. 8. Brueggemann rejected this as “futile” for determining the scale of the disenfranchisement that may have occurred and later granted Bine leave to levy a challenge against the election. The Board of Elections certified the election results on Nov. 15.

ue to hold up the government of Union and continue to cost the taxpayers of Boone County money to continue to litigate this case,” Megerle said.

Ramage vacated his seat on the commission in December. Solomon and Mefford in early January had pitched the idea of naming Bine to fill the empty seat, but Dulaney and Garner voted against the idea, which failed on a tie vote.

“With Commissioner Ramage’s resignation that left four commissioners for four seats or four candidates, they could have ended it,” Bine said. “They could have done what’s right for the city of Union. We could have been beyond this now and working for the citizens. They made the conscious choice to not do that, and that is not what a good commissioner should do.”

According to the results of the now-voided election, Garner barely beat Bine, but Dulaney won the second-highest number of votes after Mefford. His exclusion from the Feb. 3 appointments came as a surprise to many in the packed commission chambers.

Political payback?

Bad ballots spur suit

After several hearings, both sides submitted briefs to the court Jan. 27 suggesting a remedy to the election troubles. Jeff Mando, the attorney representing Crigler and the Board of Elections, argued for an ouster and new appointments. Bine and his attorney, Steve Megerle, argued for a new election.

Brueggemann’s action to oust all commis-

Brueggemann, in his final judgment, said

Eldridge did not run, although he’s served on city boards and is a frequent attendee of public meetings. In fact, Eldridge had to resign from a city board before he could accept his nomination to the commission.

state law mandated that the mayor appoint new members rather than calling a special election. (Read the full decision at bit.ly/ brueggemann-union.)

Solomon, Bine and his attorney attributed Garner and Dulaney’s failure to garner appointments to their unwillingness to entertain the proposed appointment in January.

“Commissioner Delaney and Commissioner Garner could have ended this in the first week of January, and they chose to contin-

Dulaney, who ran for mayor against Solomon in 2022, and Garner, the only Democrat on the commission and who had disagreed with Solomon in the past, chalked it up to politics. “I was really opposed a lot to his tax-and-spend policies,” Dulaney said, “and he wants to grow the government of Union.”

Dulaney added that the fact that the person with the second highest number of votes wasn’t even considered for an appointment was “inherently wrong.”

Continues on page 6

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Continued from page 5

When asked if either of them planned on applying for the open spot, both said they weren’t sure yet. They didn’t seem optimistic.

“I’m not sure if the frustration would really be worth it because it’s probably not going to be a fair process,” Dulaney said.

“I’m not interested in a bad faith process,” Garner said, “and I’m not going to waste my time on somebody who doesn’t respect the will of the people.”

Doug Bine is sworn in Feb. 3 as a Union commissioner. Photos by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Dulaney left the meeting after the appointments, but Garner stuck around to address the new commission during the meeting’s public comment section. He said he was “disappointed, not surprised.”

“I really don’t comprehend a scenario that did not involve appointing Commissioner Dulaney,” Garner said. “There’s no magic way you can spin the numbers that he was not the second most votes, and I think to pack the commission with your friends in automatic votes is just, frankly, not in the best interest of this city.”

“This isn’t Youngstown, Ohio,” Garner also said toward the end of his statement, “and this is where I’m from. This is my home, and I don’t appreciate the politics being played with my home.”

From left, newly appointed Union Commissioners John Mefford, Doug Bine and George Eldridge.

Pine said he was not aware he would be appointed.

Asking Frankfort for fix Megerle said he would lobby the General Assembly to establish clearer procedures to resolve cases like this if they happened again.

“This is a bad loophole,” he said. “All elected officials, I mean every position of power in this commonwealth, they should be elected officials. Section 160 of the Constitution says that all city commission and legislative body members should be elected. This was a quirk. It’s a loophole. It should be fixed.”

He also floated the idea of auditing the county clerk’s office to investigate how it trained poll workers. “We intend to reach out to the federal Department of Justice, and ask for them to come in and do a complete audit, or the state attorney general to come in and do it, so this never happens again,” Megerle said.

All board appointments and legislation the commission voted on in January became void upon the court’s ruling, so now the new commission will need to cast new votes on all of those issues at future meetings. The commission will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Union City Building, 1843 Bristow Drive.

When Eldridge was asked if he knew he would be appointed he said, “Yes, oh yeah.

It would have been a real surprise.”

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F & Goode brings lifetime of baking experience to Covington

By Kenton Hornbeck

S

tefanie Hockett knew from an early age that she wanted to cook.

While growing up in San Francisco, she was inspired by watching the PBS cooking show “Great Chefs of America.”

She baked cakes and cookies for herself, family and classmates through middle and high school.

“It was just something that I did, and it was a way that I showed people in my life that I, like, cared about them,” Hockett told LINK nky.

After graduating high school, Hockett aspired to become a meteorologist for a television station. Ultimately, she abandoned that path to follow her true passion: baking.

She enrolled in culinary school and learned the ins and outs of running a professional kitchen, something that would prove helpful in her entrepreneurial journey.

Today, her passion manifests itself in F & Goode Desserts, a custom bakery on West Pike Street in Covington. Hockett is the owner and head baker.

F & Goode is known for its custom cakes, wedding cakes, decorated cookies, specialty desserts, catering, wholesale pastries and holiday desserts. Customers also can expect to see a rotating array of freshly baked goods ready for purchase.

“Ultimately, my goal is to give you the feeling of homemade and something that your grandmother or your mom used to make so that you feel at home when you’re here,” she said.

Hockett opened F & Goode in Covington in December. While the bakery is new to Covington, it has existed in some form for over a decade. Founded in southern California, it has traversed the western United States over the years, moving from California to Hawaii and then Oregon.

Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Hockett started to rethink her strategy. In 2020, she relocated to Greater Cincinnati. Initially, she ran the business out of her apartment,

Stefanie Hockett picks up a pastry at F & Goode Desserts. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

filling larger wholesale orders for local customers.

Before her move to Pike Street, F & Goode operated out of the Incubator Kitchen Collective in Newport, where it received various grants from corporations like Kroger. While at Incubator Kitchen, Hockett said the business primarily operated as a wholesaler.

Eventually, Hockett set her sights on opening a brick-and-mortar bakery. After searching around, she landed on the Pike Street location, which previously was home to Buttercup Cake House. Hockett said she is in the process of transforming the space into a warm, welcoming space that showcases her personality.

space where people feel comfortable sitting down and just like watching the world go by, having a chat with a friend and enjoying something to drink and to eat,” she said.

Sherry Mueller, an assistant baker at F & Goode, said that, despite the adjustment period, the move was beneficial for the bakery. I think it’s been overwhelmingly a positive change,” she said. “Having the space to ourselves and being able to move around as we want has been great.”

So, where did the name F & Goode come from? According to Hockett, the tonguein-cheek name came from one of her high school friends, with some additional inspiration from her own mother, who would describe her desserts as “effin’” good.”

“I think it shows a bit of my personality,” Hockett said. “Our presentation, our logos, our branding is all very straightforward, homey, clean and classic.”

Get a taste Check out the treats F & Goode Desserts is cooking up: Where: 222 W Pike St., Covington.

Hours: Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Contact: 859-279-2085, info@fngoodedesserts.com.

Online menu and orders: fngoodedesserts.com.

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kenton county briefs Covington officials join celebration for opening of Latonia Bodega

Gutierrez and Adkins wanted to bring that same concept to Covington. The city’s historic buildings offer plenty of opportunities to open a corner store in walkable neighborhoods.

In addition to the traditional corner-store offerings, Latonia Bodega includes a deli that serves made-to-order sandwiches.

Patrons can purchase Latin sodas like Jarritos and Mexican Coca-Cola sweetened with cane sugar.

Covington Commissioners James Toebbe, far left, and Tim Acri, far right, celebrate the opening of Latonia Bodega with Sergio Gutierrez and Alyssa Adkins. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

Covington City Commissioner James Toebbe, a native of Latonia, said he walked by 4302 Decoursey Ave. every day growing up.

Over the years, Toebbe noticed that the building’s windows were blacked out, the front door was locked or it was just altogether vacant.

Today, that building is home to a thriving family business – Latonia Bodega. Its founders, Sergio Gutierrez and Alyssa Adkins, have deep connections to Covington.

Gutierrez owns and operates Gutierrez Deli and Olla Taqueria in Covington.

On Jan. 30, Covington held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate Latonia Bodega’s opening. Toebbe noted that the bodega has already had an impact on the Latonia neighborhood since opening.

“One of the great things about Covington, one of the reasons I live here, one of the reasons so many people visit in Covington, so many people invest in Covington, is the diversity within our residents, as well as the diversity within our business owners,” Toebbe said. “The Latonia community has fully embraced this business.”

Bodegas are small corner stores that sell food, such as milk, eggs and cheese, as well as snacks like chips and sodas. They are typically found in urban areas. Large, dense cities like New York City are famous for their bodegas.

“One thing that really stood out to me is, not only are the residents raving on the sandwiches, the choice of selections, the Mexican Cokes – because everybody loves real sugar, not corn syrup – but everybody’s complimented on how great the owners and the employees are, and that says a lot,” Toebbe said.

So far, Latonia Bodega has received a wave of community support – both online and in person. Adkins said that, while current U.S. economic conditions are challenging, the community’s support has helped their family’s businesses thrive.

“Opening a business is really hard, and right now, with the way the economy is going, there’s a lot of businesses going out of business right now,” Adkins said. “We feel extremely grateful to still have our restaurant and our deli, and we feel very grateful to be in the position to be able to give more to the community rather than take away.”

Latonia Bodega is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; the deli is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They’re closed on Monday.

Backers see expansion to Riverfront Commons despite bridge work “The front porch of the South” is the motto for the proposed 20-mile multiuse path running from Devou Park to Pendery Park along the south bank of the Ohio River.

The Riverfront Commons riverwalk hopes to “create an unbridled destination for every season of life,” Southbank Partners CEO Will Weber told LINK nky. Southbank

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river cities, and Weber said that the map “shows that a riverfront park in an urban area is blocks away from a downtown business district.”

A map of the proposed finished Riverfront Commons project. Provided | Southbank Partners

Partners is the lead organization behind the walk.

Once complete, Riverfront Commons will stretch 20 miles through eight cities. It will include 14 trailheads and seven overlooks, five kayak launches and at least four amphitheaters. At the moment, five miles of that have been completed; three miles have been designed or engineered, thanks to a federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant, and 12 miles have been planned.

On top of building the path itself, the project will also help enhance parks the riverwalk connects to, building out trailheads and developing overlooks. “We’re really just helping enhance this world-class active destination on our riverfront,” said Weber.

The riverwalk offers several attractions, including the popular Love the Cov sign on the Covington riverfront. Another art piece coming to the riverwalk is a life-sized replica of the old John Hastings ferry boat, designed by local artist Cam Miller. It eventually will appear at the intersection of Manhattan Boulevard and Berry Street in Dayton.

The real ferry was the first business in Dayton. It shuttled laborers from Dayton to Cincinnati to work at the Fulton Steamboat Co. “We’re anticipating several groundbreakings this year,” said Weber, “and, if the construction cycle goes well, maybe even a ribbon cutting toward the fall of this year.”

This spring, he said, Southbank anticipates opening a quarter mile to the walk in Ludlow.

Another purpose of the riverwalk is to encourage people to support businesses along it. The walk runs through the urban

The riverwalk has what Weber called “nodes,” which he described as “direct connections to the business district” of the cities the walk runs through.

A fully connected riverwalk may face a few more roadblocks over the next few years: The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project is proposing to close a 0.8-mile portion of the Riverfront Commons project in Covington for approximately five years, beginning this summer. The closure will start just west of the Brent Spence Bridge and continue to roughly 150 feet before the riverwalk hits the Covington Plaza.

A public notice was released Jan. 24 announcing the need for a temporary work bridge to support construction efforts. This bridge will be positioned adjacent to and extending over the riverwalk. The notice also indicates that temporary vehicular access will be required for hauling, storing, and transporting construction materials, which will impact portions of the riverwalk during the project.

TANK makes changes as ridership still below pre-COVID numbers The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky, more commonly known as TANK, is undergoing a shift to meet its riders’ needs better.

TANK is the public transit system serving Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties and downtown Cincinnati. The organization announced in January that it is removing five routes and increasing fares beginning March 22.

TANK General Manager Gina Douthat said at a Campbell County Mayor’s meeting on Jan. 28 that TANK’s ridership plummeted (67% in May 2020) during the pandemic.

Since then, many people still do not go to work in an office five days a week. A 2023 Pew Research Center study showed that,

kenton county briefs roughly three years after the COVID-19 pandemic, about a third (35%) of workers with jobs that can be done remotely are working from home all of the time. That was up from only 7% before the pandemic.

TANK’s ridership is still down 30%.

“We’ve kind of been in recovery mode,” Douthat said. “People going downtown aren’t working five days a week in the office anymore. When they are working in the office, they are making different choices about how they get to work.”

She said that caused a big shift in the organization and a big shift in service because, for 50 years, Douthat said all of TANK’s service has been focused on meeting those employment needs.

The shift involves focusing on the percentage of ridership that goes to service-based jobs. Douthat said that 75% of TANK’s riders are going to work. Additionally, about 57% of the people who ride have no access to another vehicle, and 52% earn less than $20,000 a year.

“The essential commuter is really where we are focused,” Douthat said. “The people who work shipping, logistics jobs, people that work at CVG, the health care and child care employees, and those who work in our fast food and grocery, the jobs that are service based.”

• Day pass: $4 (from $3.50).

• 30-day pass: $70 (from $66).

• Reduced fare 30-day pass (seniors/ disabled): $35 (from $33).

• Game Day pass: $4 (from $2).

“Costs have gone up significantly over the last 10 years,” Douthat said. “The cost of buying a bus has almost doubled in that time, services, labor. Almost everything that we fund in our budget – the costs have just skyrocketed. So, we are really focused on what’s essential.”

The organization also uses CARES Act federal funding to fill gaps and help with recent years’ higher-than-average cost increases associated with labor and supplies.

The CARES Act was a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020, in response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Douthat said they have roughly two more years of CARES Act funding, which is why they are implementing changes now.

“I think we are heading into a time where federal funds are going to be much more difficult to come by,” she said. “The cost of all goods and services are at an all-time high and aren’t going back.”

Douthat said TANK isn’t afraid to cut services if they’re not being used. The organization will also remove five routes in March.

About $23 million of TANK’s $32 million budget goes to wages and benefits. Other things like fuel, bus parts and insurance round out to the budget.

The second priority, Douthat said, is to serve the transit-dependent population in Northern Kentucky.

The third priority is to maintain a reliable workforce. TANK drivers have to meet high standards. They must have a commercial driver’s license, also known as CDL, allowing a person to drive large, heavy vehicles, such as trucks, buses and trailers. Drivers also must be able to meet a federal drug and alcohol program.

Douthat said that competition for CDL employees is very high, and so keeping jobs filled has been challenging.

Douthat said she would recommend another pilot on-demand program in another county next fiscal year. The current program, TANK Plus, runs only in Campbell County. The service is an on-demand way to get around town, curb-to-curb. Instead of fixed bus routes, it uses smaller vehicles like minibusses that patrons can call when they need a ride, either through a phone app or a call center.

The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky is making changes to serve core riders. Provided | Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky

“With your ridership numbers and the smaller TANK Plus bus, is that an option to go with smaller buses, and is the CDL needed for smaller buses?” state Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, a Republican from Alexandria, asked at the meeting.

TANK Plus bus drivers do not require a CDL

Massie again introduces House bill to eliminate Department of Education

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Douthat said that a new bus costs about $800,000.

Since the pandemic recovery, Douthat said TANK has made three priorities. The first is to review its funding and ensure that it has sustainable funding for the future.

TANK’s fare increase, set for March, will help keep up with rising costs and support general operating expenses, Douthat said.

The new fares are as follows: • Fixed routes, local and express: $2 (from $1.50).

• Southbank Shuttle: $2 (from $1).

• Reduced fare (seniors/disabled): $1 (from 75 cents).

license. Douthat said that TANK is looking into the smaller bus option because the drivers don’t have to meet that requirement, and the buses are much cheaper than the $800,000 price tag on the big buses.

Rep. Thomas Massie listens as the House Rules Committee prepares a bill at the Capitol in Washington. Photo by J. Scott Applewhite | Associated Press

Several area cities have declared their opposition to centralized state collection of local occupational taxes. Photo by Alexander Grey | Unsplash

Fort Mitchell ratified a resolution opposing state legislation “mandating centralized collection of local occupational fees/taxes.”

Some Kentucky state legislators, including Sen. Christian McDaniel, have sympathy for business owners who have to file occupational taxes in multiple jurisdictions.

No legislation has been proposed yet, but several Kentucky cities and counties have made their stance clear.

In Kentucky, occupational taxes make up 42.7% of all tax revenue. Fort Mitchell, like many local cities, is concerned about handing over control of so much of its budget to the state. Council discussed the pros and cons at its Feb. 3 meeting.

Mayor Jude Hehman acknowledged that he held a few perspectives.

“As a small business owner, one way to pay would really streamline things,” Hehman said. “But if I put my ‘mayor hat’ on, this would take power away from the city government. Are we really going to trust the state to collect [occupational taxes] and for us to track and know they got everything?”

Councilmember Greg Pohlgeers believes cities will face tax-collection challenges no matter what. He doubts a statewide system is the best way to address them.

“It is more efficient for the city to address any issues with Kenton County, as opposed to Frankfort,” Pohlgeers said.

Councilmember Jeff Dietrich isn’t against the possible legislation. “Hypothetically, I’m in favor of simplifying the system for our businesses in the city,” he said. “It’s hard for me to say that I am opposed to any legislation that may come down the road without seeing what that legislation is.”

Northern Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie reintroduced a bill that would abolish the federal Department of Education.

The bill, H.R. 899, is one sentence long: “The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2026.”

“Unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., should not be in charge of our children’s intellectual and moral development,” said Massie in a release. “States and local communities are best positioned to shape curricula that meet the needs of their students. Schools should be accountable. Parents have the right to choose the most appropriate educational opportunity for their children, including home school, public school or private school.”

Last week, dozens of employees at the U.S. Department of Education were put on paid administrative leave in response to President Donald Trump’s order banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government, according to a labor union that represents hundreds of workers in the agency, as reported by the Associated Press.

It’s unclear how many workers were put on leave or for what reasons, said Sheria Smith, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 252. The majority of employees placed on leave do not work in DEI initiatives and span all branches of the agency, she said, from an office that sends billions of dollars to K-12 schools to an investigative office that enforces civil rights laws.

At least 55 Department of Education workers received an email Jan. 30 saying they were being put on paid leave effective immediately pursuant to Trump’s executive order. It wasn’t being done for “any disciplinary purpose,” according to a copy of the email obtained by the Associated Press.

Council passed a majority motion to oppose any state legislation that would centralize occupational tax collection. Dietrich was the only vote against it. Fort Wright and Boone County, among other NKY governments, have also gone on record to oppose the possible legislation.

FEBRUARY 14, 2025 9

streetscapes

Mexican, Southern home cooking await in Hebron

By Maria Hehman

T

his week we take a trip for authentic Mexican, bar grub and Southern specialties in Hebron. Join us as we check out Little Valle, Kentucky Local and Hebron Grill

The small space is vibrant, with colorful artwork enhancing the casual space. To make best use of the space, guests order at the counter before sitting. Food is then brought to guests as it’s prepared.

Kentucky Local

Little Valle Mexican Grill

never disappoints. Hebron Grille is on that list. It serves a variety of classic bar dishes but with unique twists.

Instead of fried pickles, there are fried pickle fries. For those looking for even more unusual offerings, gator bites and gumbo are great starters. The ample menu runs the gamut with burgers, sandwiches and tacos – each with plenty of Southern-inspired touches.

The stars of the menu, though, are the Southern specialties: Hot honey chicken, grandma’s meatloaf and Southern fried catfish will have guests thinking their own grandmother is in the kitchen cooking. Each comes with traditional sides – mashed potatoes, green beans and peanut slaw.

Burger, fries and beer from Kentucky Local.

Kentucky Local is the epitome of a hometown hangout. However, nonlocals who visit will be warmly embraced; in fact, the TVs even project a message: “Welcome to Kentucky Local. You are family now.” With hospitality like that, who wouldn’t want to visit?

Little Valle Mexican Grill is the smaller sibling of Valle Escondido in Florence. Photos by Maria Hehman

The petite version of the vastly popular Valle Escondido in Florence has found a home in a small strip mall along North Bend Road. It’s got all the delicious menu offerings of the larger location on U.S. 42.

Start with nachos, which come in a dozen different options, like birria, steak, chicken, veggie or a mix of all the above. For entrees, there are traditional burritos, quesadillas, tacos, tortas and bowls.

Pair your dish with one of a variety of drinks, margaritas and Mexican beer. The mangonada is a refreshing authentic drink for those wanting to try something new.

This blended beverage consists of mangos, lime juice, chamoy sauce, chili lime salt seasoning and tequila to create a refreshing and slightly spicy beverage.

Guests may hardly have room for dessert, but, for those that need a sweet treat, Hebron Grille’s crisps and bread pudding will be the best bookend to a Southern dining experience.

Besides food, there’s a vast bar menu and plenty of TVs to keep up with every game.

Kentucky Local is filled with large TV screens, so patrons never have to choose which nail-biting game to watch.

Classifieds

Location: 2983 North Bend Road, Hebron Hours: Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Website: lilvallemexicangrill.com Phone: 859-534-0465

Hebron Grille Location: 1960 North Bend Road Hours: Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Website: https://www.hebrongrilleky. com/ Phone: 859-586-0473

With over 50 bourbons, games and a daily happy hour, there are plenty of reasons for guests to visit. It’s also family friendly to ensure that no member of the family is left out.

Hebron Grille Hebron Grill on North Bend Road offers Southern-style home cooking.

Church Administrative Assistant St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Location: St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Alexandria, KY Scope: The Administrative Assistant is responsible for providing administrative assistance for the Pastor, MusicDirector, custodial staff, and leadership structure of St. Paul’s, including team leaders and members, and thecongregation.

Hours: 16 hours per week, Mon. – Thurs., 9AM – 1PM Pay: $17.00/hour

10 FEBRUARY 14, 2025

Little Valle Mexican Grill

Location: 2030 Northside Drive, Hebron Hours: Sunday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Monday, 3-10 p.m.; Tuesday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.11 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m.-midnight Website: www.thekylocal.com Phone: 859-534-0178

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

SCAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSIFIEDS

What to Know If You Go

Kentucky Local

For starters, Kentucky Local has satisfying options for everyone in your group. With jalapeño egg rolls, fried pickle chips and Buffalo chicken dip, guests will want a taste of all the mouth watering appetizers. Kentucky Local has a great selection of draft beers, too, perfect to pair with burgers, wings or wraps.

There’s something about family-owned, Southern home-cooking restaurants that

Mangonada from Little Valle.

Benefits: • Paid Time Off (PTO): Yearly accrual of 32 hours (two-4-day workweeks).

PTO is for sick or vacation time andexpires at the end of calendar year.

Holidays: • Only if the holiday falls on a scheduled workday. Paid holidays will include Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve andChristmas Day, New Year’s

Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day. Qualifications: • Proficient in typing and computer skills, including but not limited to MS Office applications, email management, andbasic internet searching.

• Ability to use or learn desktop publishing application such as Canva, Church Management Software and Churchmembership software, such as Breeze.

• Ability to update and change church website and social media accounts and work with Constant Contact, Zoomand GoDaddy website.

• Analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

• Friendly, compassionate and professional demeanor.

• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of all proprietary and confidential information of the Church, including but notlimited to member information, financial records and internal communications.

Send resume to: staffparish@stpaulsalexandria.org St. Paul’s United Church of Christ is an equal opportunity employer.St. Paul’s does not discriminate based on any federal, state, or locally protected class.

We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment for our church family and community.

tering stability, Northern Kentucky can create a future in which families and communities thrive.

‘Home for All’ report provides housing roadmap Housing is more than a necessity – it’s a foundation for opportunity for those in Northern Kentucky.

For the past year, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Brighton Center and Brighton Properties, along with many community leaders and partners, including the Northern Kentucky Area Development District, have discussed income-aligned housing in our region and the importance of ensuring that there are homes for all of us.

The 2023 Northern Kentucky Housing Data Study was an eye-opening resource for community organizations like ours. It showed clear opportunities to align the needs and resources of Northern Kentucky’s diverse and growing workforce and to shape our region’s future.

Since the study’s release, a coalition of leaders from across Northern Kentucky, including United Way of Greater Cincinnati and Brighton Center, has gathered input from employers, residents and key stakeholders to explore ways to enhance housing diversity and availability at all price points.

The recently released “Home for All: Northern Kentucky Housing Strategies” report underscores the critical need for income-aligned housing options. This menu of strategies offers a roadmap for ensuring that everyone in our region has access to a safe, stable and income-aligned place to call home. Northern Kentucky is made up of several jurisdictions, so having different options for cities and counties to choose from is important.

Both of our organizations believe that by preserving existing housing, generating additional income-aligned units, promoting sustainable homeownership and fos-

Brighton Properties and Brighton Center are dedicated to providing and maintaining quality services that strengthen self-sufficiency for families. We believe there are solutions in “Home for All,” such as establishing a regional housing trust fund, that can help us promote these efforts. A regional housing trust fund could help small developers, including nonprofit developers like Brighton Properties, continue to develop income-aligned units that address the study’s findings for one- and two-bedroom units and match the income levels of our workforce, particularly for those making $15 to $25 an hour.

At United Way, we work with a network of partners to provide long-term stability through direct support, innovative pilot programs and advocacy for policies that foster sustainable housing solutions. We are especially interested in approaches in “Home for All” that promote housing preservation, including first-time homeownership support and utility assistance expansion.

Last year, United Way’s 211 helpline received more than 55,000 requests for help, most related to housing and utility costs.

Enhanced state support for additional weatherization/utility assistance funds would mean more tools in our toolbelt to empower neighbors who deserve housing security.

We know there isn’t a single sector that can solve these issues alone. In this region, we have a wealth of perspectives, experiences and expertise. This is our greatest asset. It will take all of us coming together to advance our regional housing goals.

By addressing housing needs in Northern Kentucky, we can create a future where our workforce’s needs are met and every individual and family has the stability to succeed.

We urge you to read “Home for All” at HousingNKY.org and join the conversation as we continue to advocate for solutions that make Northern Kentucky a great place to live, work, play, learn and give back.

Wonda Winkler, President and CEO, Brighton Center and Brighton Properties

Moira Weir, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Cincinnati

Frankfort priorities 2025: Rep. Stephanie Dietz LINK nky invited local legislators to share their priorities for the 2025 legislative session, which began Jan. 7 and ends March 29.

As the 2025 legislative session starts, we face a number of pressing issues. Two are critical for protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring justice: addressing coercive control in abusive relationships and reforming the guardian ad litem system.

Both areas require legislative action to modernize our legal framework and safeguard the rights of victims and children in family court proceedings.

Coercive control is defined as a pattern of psychological, emotional, financial and technological abuse used to dominate and isolate victims. Yet, in many jurisdictions, the legal system still focuses primarily on physical violence, leaving victims of nonphysical abuse without adequate protection.

I plan to file legislation that would present a crucial amendment to the domestic violence statute. The measure would add coercive control to protective orders and give victims a way out before physical violence starts. The 2025 regular session offers a pivotal opportunity for Kentucky to join other states in the movement to ensure that victims are heard and protected from all forms of abuse. By defining coercive control within our domestic violence statutes, we can empower our courts to issue protective orders and intervene earlier, preventing further escalation.

prove advocacy for children. The measure requires a paid guardian to be appointed to any unrepresented minors named in an interpersonal protective order, emergency protective order or domestic violence order. The guardian shall be paid a fee fixed by the court not to exceed $500, which shall be paid by the Finance and Administration Cabinet.

I am very pleased with the enactment of H.B. 436, but we still have work to do to reform the guardian ad litem system. We need to examine how GALs are currently being paid and if that still makes the most sense.

Another issue important to Kentuckians is lowering the individual income tax. During my tenure, the legislature has taken steps to cut and eventually eliminate the individual income tax. I think we’ll see a vote on this early in the session – maybe even one of the first we take once we convene.

Since 2017, the legislature has lowered the individual income tax from 6% to 4%, and we have met the conditions necessary to lower the tax to 3.5% in 2026. Of course, this means Kentuckians will keep more of their income. The last two cuts alone have left more than a billion dollars in the pockets of those who worked to earn them. This couldn’t have come at a better time as inflation on the national level is hitting us hard.

In this session, it is important that we lead with courage and compassion. We need to ensure that our laws reflect the realities of those who need protection the most.

Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-District 65 Edgewood

Submit your letters

Guardian ad litem reform is likely a twoyear project that we will examine during the next budget session; however, I believe it is important to start working on it now. The system is designed to represent the best interests of children in custody and abuse cases. Despite their role, guardians often operate with minimal oversight, leading to inconsistent practices and the risk of potential harm to the children.

Scan this QR code to submit opinion pieces or letters to the editor

Last session, I submitted H.B. 436 to im-

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The Weekend LINK SATURDAY MORNINGS FEBRUARY 14, 2025 11

sports Ryle, NDA win region swim titles

Pleiman, Lucas Dilger and Knopf, and the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Pleiman, Parsons, Denigan and Knopf.

Brossart senior sets single game 3-point record

Individual region champions included the 200-yard medley relay team of Abby Carnes, Sadie Hartig, McKenna Bien and Clare Herfel; 400-yard freestyle relay team of Herfel, Liv Wallace, Danaka Tucker and Hartig; and Clare Herfel in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle.

Carnes, Hartig and Herfel were named to the all-region team while Herfel won the Outstanding Female Competitor Award.

Coach Jamie Kelly was named 7th Region Coach of the Year.

The Ryle boys swim and dive team won the Region 7 title with a team score of 507, edging out Highlands by 20 points in the 15team field.

Ryle senior DeGroff sets blocks record Ryle senior Jonathan DeGroff recently set the program’s single-game blocks record with nine in the Raiders contest with Conner on Jan. 24.

DeGroff is averaging a double-double for the Raiders this season with 11.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Notre Dame Academy won the Region 7 girls swim and dive title. Provided | Notre Dame Academy

The Notre Dame Academy swim and dive team won the Region 7 meet over the weekend with a team score of 438 and defeating the 15-team field by 94 points.

season. She’s averaging a team-high 11.5 points per game for the Tigers this season.

Four NKY girls teams ranked in state poll Bishop Brossart senior Zoee Meyers is presented

by Lady ’Stangs coach Steve Brown for breaking the single-game 3-point record. Provided | Bob Jackson

Bishop Brossart senior Zoee Meyers recently set the school’s single-game record for most 3-pointers in a game. Meyers accomplished the feat in the Lady ’Stangs’ All “A” state tournament semifinal contest with Bethlehem on Jan. 25.

Meyers knocked down seven 3-pointers out of 12 attempts. The senior has knocked down 36 3-pointers this season and is second on the team in scoring with 11.7 points per game.

Massey sets 3-point mark at Bellevue

The Raiders individual champions were Chase Knopf in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle, Chase Denigan in the 200-yard individual medley, Andy Pleiman in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle, the 200yard freestyle relay team of Nash Parsons,

The fifth statewide media basketball poll of the Kentucky high school basketball season came out Feb. 4, and four NKY girls teams ranked in the top 15.

Cooper sits at No. 3, while Holy Cross (No. 12), Simon Kenton (No. 13) and Notre Dame (No. 15) all rank in the top 15. Dixie Heights just missed the cut at No. 16. Highlands also appeared in the “others receiving votes” category at No. 22.

On the boys side, Covington Catholic, at No. 11, was the lone ranked NKY boys team, dropping five spots from No. 6 the prior week. Four teams showed up in the “others receiving votes” category: Cooper at No. 17, Dixie Heights at No. 25, Campbell County at No. 27 and Newport at No. 30.

The final regular season poll will come out Feb. 24, the week that the KHSAA basketball postseason begins.

Younger Stamm climbing ranks in A’s system Hayden Stamm is one step closer to the big leagues.

Sydni Massey set Bellevue’s girls basketball program 3-point record. Provided

Bellevue’s Sydni Massey became the program’s all-time 3-point leader in the team’s Jan. 23 victory over Ludlow.

Ryle’s boys won the Region 7 swim and dive title.

Provided | Raider Sports Network

Massey has knocked down 169 3-pointers in her high school career, including 40 this

Midland RockHounds clubhouse manager Hayden Stamm. Provided | Athletics

The former Ludlow High School baseball player was recently promoted from his position as clubhouse manager

in the Athletics minor league system. The one-time Panthers catcher was promoted to Midland, the A’s double-A affiliate. The RockHounds are longstanding members of the Texas League.

That will mean fewer assistant coaches for the Ludlow boys basketball team. Stamm was brought on as a Ludlow assistant this season by Panthers head coach Aaron Stamm, who coached his son for the Ludlow baseball team.

The younger Stamm returned to Ludlow in late September after the Lansing Lugnuts’ schedule ended. His baseball offseason coincided with the high school basketball season, so that presented a no-brainer for the elder Stamm.

By the time the 34th District tournament rolls around, Hayden Stamm will be in Mesa, Arizona, along with all the other clubhouse managers in the Athletics’ system. Following spring training, he travels with the RockHounds to Midland, Texas, a city with a population of approximately 130,000. It’s about 100 miles east of the New Mexico border, halfway between Fort Worth and El Paso. It’s deep in the heart of West Texas and a part of the country Stamm has rarely seen.

Stamm is one of the younger clubhouse managers in the minor leagues. He doesn’t turn 22 until March. His quick rise through the Athletics’ system comes after honing his organizational skills locally with the Florence independent baseball team.

Stamm started as a Florence bat boy when he was 16 years old and soon after was handed clubhouse duties. He became an assistant clubhouse manager before he graduated from Ludlow. He earned a promotion to Florence clubhouse manager soon after graduating. Stamm added additional duties, including the home clubhouse. He began working more closely with the front office and traveled with the team on road trips. He did that for two seasons.

Stamm got the job with the Lugnuts when he was 19. After two years with the team, he is moving on.

Sponsored by

Ryle’s archery team won LINK nky Team of the Week honors for Jan. 19-25. Photo provided.

RYLE ARCHERY TEAM 12 FEBRUARY 14, 2025

We Lead CS: NKY, state leaders betting big on tech education in schools

By Kenton Hornbeck

Take the Lead grants encourage recipients to partner with local schools, universities, and tech companies to create different programs and support systems.

A

s artificial intelligence gains a significant foothold in the United States economy, Kentucky leaders want to invest more in the state’s future technology industry workers.

Cooper, who founded the Covington-based IT firm C-Forward, told LINK nky that computer science education is vital to the growth of the regional economy.

Kentucky isn’t known nationally for its technology sector. The Columbus CEO, a Georgia-based website focused on business issues, found that the Bluegrass state ranked among the worst states for tech job openings. The recently launched We Lead CS initiative aims to build Kentucky’s reputation as a viable place for tech workers.

We Lead CS is a virtual career academy focused on expanding students’ access to computer science education, especially in rural areas. The program, established in 2022 with a $3 million appropriation from the Kentucky General Assembly, offers students the opportunity to learn about video game design, programming, computer-aided design and engineering.

Students also have access to mentorship through a college and career coach who provides personalized guidance.

At any given time, there are approximately 3,400 open technology-related positions in Kentucky that pay an average of $80,000 a year, according to a release from We Lead CS.

“Well, it’s crucial because it spans every industry that we have,” he said. “Health sciences depends on it. Advanced manufacturing depends on it. There isn’t a business out there that doesn’t require computer science and IT.”

Northern Kentucky politicians and business leaders receiving the Take the Lead grant. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

“We have not anywhere nearly enough high school students coming out of Kentucky high schools with industry certifications applying to those jobs, and we’re only graduating at 1,300 people a year out of Kentucky colleges and community colleges and universities,” said We Lead CS CEO Alicia Sells. “We’re nowhere close to filling the pipeline.”

On Jan. 29, Sells was joined by Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President Brent Cooper, Sen. Steve Rawlings,

Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, Rep. Mike Clines and Rep. Mark Hart in Fort Mitchell to accept a $20,000 Take the Lead grant to the chamber of commerce from We Lead CS. Through 2025, We Lead CS is distributing $100,000 in microgrants to chambers of commerce across the state in order to expand Kentucky’s tech talent pipeline.

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce was the first organization to receive a grant.

Partnerships with groups like the INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce allow We Lead CMS to introduce students to prospective employers.

“That is why this is so critical; it addresses multiple issues at the same time,” Cooper said. “It helps get folks into those careers.

It helps those businesses find workers that they desperately need and I think a lot of businesses in Northern Kentucky look at the Cincy region as their pool of workers.

This is an opportunity to look statewide.”

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 The Campbell County Board of Elections will hold a meeting on Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.

The meeting will be held at 1098 Monmouth St. Newport, KY 41071.

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

• 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 • Joseph F Grimme, Campbell County Master Commissioner • 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

FEBRUARY 14, 2025 13

real estate

7,500-square-foot home in Crestview Hills Address: 8 Whitehouse Drive, Crestview Hills Price: $2,250,000 Bedrooms: Five Bathrooms: Four (plus two half baths) Square footage: 7,500 School district: Kenton County A view of this home’s study with a spiral staircase.

County: Kenton Special features: This custom-built home offers five spacious bedrooms, including a first-floor owner’s suite with a spa-like bath, steam shower and walk-in closet. The living space features three fireplaces, one of them a see-through limestone, French doors leading to an open deck and an eatin kitchen. The lower level features a wine cellar and media room.

An exterior view of this Crestview Hills property. Photos provided | Susan Huff with Huff Realty

This home has a finished basement with a bar.

DIVISION I

DIVISION III

CASE NO.: 23-CI-01179

CASE NO.: 24-CI-00924

MEADOWOOD GREENE CONDOMINIUMS COUNCIL OF CO-OWNERS, INC.

NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING VERSUS}

VERSUS} PATRICIA G. TOLMAN By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JANUARY 21, 2025 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 5527 CAROLINA WAY BURLINGTON, KY 41005 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 049.00-21-004.08 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $132,496.19 GROUP NO.: 3696

DIVISION I CASE NO.: 24-CI-01573 KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VERSUS} JENNIFER ROBIN ELLIS, ET AL By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JANUARY 21, 2025 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 2972 HOLLY HILL DRIVE BURLINGTON, KY 41005 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 038.00-15-082.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $208,866.32 GROUP NO.: 4824

14 FEBRUARY 14, 2025

MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

The complete legal description is particularly set out in the Judgment and Order of Sale entered in this case.

TERMS OF SALE: The property shall be sold as a whole. The purchaser may pay all or part of the purchase price in cash, and may pay the balance of the purchase price on a credit of 30 days after date of sale; said credit shall be granted only upon the execution by the purchaser of bond, with surety thereon, and said surety shall be a lending institution authorized and doing business in Kentucky, or a reputable fidelity or surety company, authorized and doing business in Kentucky, and only if said surety be acceptable to the Commissioner of the Boone Circuit Court; and an authorized officer of the surety must be present at the sale or must have given the Commissioner adequate assurance of its intent to be surety prior to or at the sale; and said Bond shall be, and shall remain, a lien on the property sold as additional security for the payment of the full purchase price, and shall have the full force and effect of a Judgment; and said Bond shall bear interest at the rate provided by the Judgment up to Twelve (12%) Percent per annum until paid. The purchaser shall be required to pay the sum of 10% of the bid amount in cash or certified check on the purchase at the time of sale.

The successful bidder at the sale shall, at bidder’s own expense, carry fire and extended insurance coverage on any improvements from the date of sale until the purchase price is fully paid, with a loss payable clause to the Commissioner of the Boone Circuit Court. Failure of the purchaser to effect such insurance shall not affect the validity of the sale or the purchaser’s liability thereunder, but shall entitle, but not require, a lien holder herein, after giving notice to the Commissioner, to effect said insurance and furnish the policy or evidence thereof to the Commissioner, and the premium thereon or the proper portion thereof shall be charged to the purchaser as purchaser’s cost.

The property shall be sold subject to ad valorem taxes for the year 2025 and all subsequent years thereafter; easements, restrictions and stipulations of record; assessments for public improvements levied against the property, if any; existing zoning ordinances, statutes, laws, or regulations; and any facts which an inspection and accurate survey of the property may disclose. BIDDERS SHALL BE PREPARED TO COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS. All sales are “as is” and the Plaintiff, the Master Commissioner, and the Court shall not be deemed to have warranted title of the real estate to the purchaser.

FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THESE SALES AND OTHER UPCOMING SALES CAN BE FOUND AT www.boonecountyky.org (Link to Department/ Agencies to Master Commissioner) PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS ARE ADVISED AND ENCOURAGED TO REFER TO THAT WEBSITE FOR ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTIONS.

JOSH PHILIPS, ET AL By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 24 MORRIS STREET FLORENCE, KY 41042 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 072.03-04-018.01 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $134,823.66 GROUP NO.: 50

DIVISION I CASE NO.: 24-CI-01821 KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VERSUS} LEAH D. GROBLER, ET AL By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JANUARY 28, 2025 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 29 ORCHARD DRIVE FLORENCE, KY 41042 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 061.26-24-013.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $93,586.34 GROUP NO.: 568

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