LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 3, Edition 14 - February 28, 2025

KENTON

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 14 — FEBRUARY 28, 2025

THE VOICE OF NKY

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Retiring Boone sheriff ‘created something most men couldn’t’

By Nathan Granger

B

oone County Sheriff Mike Helmig announced his retirement in December, about two years after his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

Helmig was appointed sheriff in 1997.

Through his tenure, he oversaw massive institutional changes to policing in the county. Family members and colleagues sat down with LINK nky to reflect on Helmig’s time in office and reflect on his legacy.

Helmig began as a deputy with the sheriff’s office in 1982 and attended training through the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training the same year.

This may not seem terribly remarkable, but the state agency did not begin offering basic training courses designed specifically for sheriff’s deputies until 1987, according to the department’s website. Given that sheriffs are elected positions, historically there has been no guarantee that a sheriff had undergone professional police training before taking office.

Continues on page 3

Mike Helmig pins a medal on a deputy. Also pictured, back right without hat, Col. Les Hill. Provided | Boone County Sheriff’s Office

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

Regional leaders share ways to get involved

By Nathan Granger

N

ot sure how to get more involved in the Northern Kentucky community?

Public figures from around the region chimed in Feb. 13 at LINK nky’s second community conversation. The event, held at the Erlanger branch of the Kenton County Public Library, focused on ways people can get involved.

Moderator Evan Millward asks questions of panelists Ben Baker, Theresa Cruz and Amanda Emmons Shumate. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

The conversation piggybacked on LINK’s recent print super issue, which pulled topics from responses to a community survey commissioned with Northern Kentucky University. Survey respondents overwhelmingly said they wanted more ways to

get involved with community life.

The night’s panel featured three speakers: Dayton Mayor Ben Baker, Theresa Cruz, CEO of Fiesta, and Amanda Emmons Shumate, vice president of marketing and development for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati. Former WCPO-TV anchor and reporter Evan Millward served as moderator, fielding questions from attendees submitted using an app.

Topics and questions ran the gamut from how to get involved with local government to how specific populations and demographics could get more involved. Some key themes emerged through the night, the first of which is that one of the best ways to Continues on page 5

Navigating complex path to hire legal immigrants p6 Hearing set on licking allegation in Ludlow p7 Big dreams cooking for Fort Thomas soup maker p10

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CONVERSATION SERIES: APRIL 17 – Mental health JUNE 12 – Housing AUGUST 14 – Education OCTOBER 9 – Infrastructure DECEMBER 4 – Workforce All events will be held at the Erlanger Branch of the Kenton County Public Library from 6-7:30 p.m.

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Continued from page 1

Helmig’s time at the academy presaged many of the changes he would later institute, especially as it related to training and professionalism within the sheriff’s department.

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“Mike was actually the first sheriff in this county to ever go through the academy,” said Boone County Sheriff’s Col. Les Hill.

“He kind of was the leader in establishing professionalism and training being one of the utmost important contributors to an agency or to your people,” said Maj. Gary Peace.

Previous Sheriff Ronald Kenner died in 1997, and Helmig was appointed shortly thereafter.

Even starting off, Helmig’s colleagues said he displayed a dedication to punctuality, discipline and professionalism, arguing he should set an example for everyone else.

Many attributed this to Helmig’s background in team sports, having been both a football player and swimmer in high school before later becoming a coach. In fact, several of the deputies who now work for the department first encountered Helmig as a coach.

Sports influenced other parts of Helmig’s life, too. “Michael and I met when our children were doing Pee Wee football,” said Mike Helmig’s wife of 33 years, Bonnie Hel-

mig. “My daughter cheered, and [his son] played.”

The two were married in 1991.

Bonnie Helmig then had yet to go nursing school (she’s retired now), and Mike Helmig was still just a deputy. Even then, though, Bonnie Helmig said, he was very “career-driven.”

“They used to laugh and said that anything that was moving, he pulled over that was going two miles [per hour] over the speed limit,” Bonnie Helmig said. “So, [he was] very into his job, very much dedicated. He did that, too, when we married because we had a blended family, and never once did we ever call our children ‘stepchildren.’ It was our family.”

Merger with police department Helmig went on to win every sheriff’s election after his appointment. Arguably, the most notable institutional change he oversaw was the merger of the now-defunct Boone County Police Department and the Boone County Sheriff, which became official on July 1, 2001. The merger wasn’t without its hitches, said many of Helmig’s colleagues, with “tribalism,” as one major put it, lingering between the departments’ personnel.

“I didn’t want it,…” said Peace, who was with the sheriff’s office before the merger. “We

didn’t want it. We felt like we were doing OK by ourselves, but his vision and his ability to see what it could be,… it worked. And I would have never thought it would.”

Before the merger, the two departments served the same jurisdiction but in different ways. The police department took care of conventional patrol duties, while the sheriff’s department was more focused on court services.

“It wasn’t the easiest transition in the beginning,” said Maj. Philip Ridgell. “He navigated through that and has talked about it time and time again, about giving everyone – either if you were with us or you’re coming to us – everyone starts with a clean slate. Everyone had a fair shake.”

Eventually, the county police department was absorbed into the sheriff’s department, which is now one of the largest and most robust law enforcement agencies in the commonwealth. Today, the department handles not only patrol duties but also court transport, financial and cybercrime investigations, crime scene investigations, cold cases, a SWAT team and a large training center, complete with a gun range and a broken-down cruiser that trainees can use to practice traffic stops and other situations involving vehicles. The sheriff was also instrumental in the development of the county’s school resource officer, or SRO, program. At the end of 2024, there were 36 SROs in the county district’s schools.

“It went from an agency where the sheriff’s office was mostly for court security and paper service,” said Maj. Ryan Walters. “He took it to a 24-hour, full-service police law enforcement for the county.”

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Responding to shooting It would be wrong to say the department’s reputation has been spotless, however.

In one case that brought notoriety to the department, former Deputy Tyler Brockman shot and killed 19-year-old Samantha Ramsey in 2014 as she attempted to drive away from a party in Hebron. A civil lawsuit followed, which ended in a $3.5 million settlement to Ramsey’s family and the passengers who were in her car at the time.

Brockman was hired by the Elsmere Police Department last summer, despite the disapproval of some community members.

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The settlement also required the sheriff’s department to equip its patrolmen with body cameras and for the department to revise its use-of-force policies. It also sparked a conversation about prescription drug use among police officers, as some have speculated that Brockman’s use of anti-anxiety medication may have altered his judgement.

“We looked at a lot of our processes, and not just involving force,” said Maj. Tom Szurlinski, former police chief of Florence who now serves as the sheriff’s staff attorney.

In addition to implementing body cameras, “we looked at vehicle operations.… We were already discussing with him, and he was very strong about, should we be a little more cautious on pursuing vehicles.”

Sheriff Mike Helmig in 2006. Provided | Boone County Sheriff’s Office

Colleagues also spoke highly of his ability Continues on page 4

FEBRUARY 28, 2025 3

Continued from page 3

to cultivate relationships with other jurisdictions, including ones out of state.

“Don’t matter what state you’re in; you could call from Alabama,” said Peace. “We could go in and say, ‘We just got a call from an Alabama police department, and they need a dog.’ And he’d say, ‘Well, how can we get him down there?’ He would make it work.”

Problems with speech, tremors People started to notice something was amiss around the time of the 2022 election.

“We realized something was wrong,” Hill said. “He was dropping things, and we told him that ‘You really have something going on here. You probably should get this checked out.’”

Speech problems appeared first, Bonnie Helmig said, “then it became the shaking, the tremors.”

Bonnie Helmig said that the pathology arose from a lack of blood flow to the right side of his brain. It develops gradually, she said, so he may have been sick for years without displaying symptoms.

“If you’ve ever seen a stroke victim not be able to use their left hand at all, that’s what’s going on with him,” Bonnie Helmig said.

“It’s his left side that’s being punished.”

Finally, in December, he announced his retirement.

“I have never stopped fighting and worked tirelessly to find solutions, but I now realize that my decline is irreversible, debilitating and is preventing me from effectively performing my duties as sheriff,” Helmig said in a written statement. “I have too much respect for my staff, the citizens of Boone County and the Office of Sheriff to allow my decline to hinder our continued success.”

“He created something that most men couldn’t,…” Bonnie Helmig said. “He had the type of leadership that was needed [for] the way the county has grown. He stood up for things that he did. He will tell you, and I will tell you what he has said: ‘I’m not a politician. I’m a law man.’”

“He’s a historic figure in Boone County,” Ridgell said.

The sheriff’s health prevented him from being interviewed in person, but he left some parting words in a written statement for the community before he officially retires April 15.

“I have always believed in showing compassion, putting people first and serving the citizens of Boone County,” the sheriff wrote.

“I am also a firm believer in the power of a team. I am proud of my team, and the work they do everyday serving the community. I have seen firsthand the amount of support they receive daily. My office has earned the reputation of being one of the most well-respected law enforcement agencies in the commonwealth of Kentucky, and this has always brought me an immense amount of pride.”

A newspaper clipping describing the Boone County sheriff’s insistence on decorum and professionalism.

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CITY OF FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY | CAMPBELL COUNTY LEGAL NOTICE Sealed proposals will be received at the office of the City Clerk, Municipal Building, CITY OF FORT THOMAS, 130 N. FT. THOMAS AVENUE, FORT THOMAS, CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY, 41075 until 2:15 PM. local time on FRIDAY MARCH 14, 2025, for furnishing all labor, materials, and equipment necessary to complete project known as MAINE AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS and, at said time and place, publicly opened and read aloud.

Bids must be in accordance with drawings and specifications and on forms available from CT Consultants, Inc. at a non-refundable cost of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for mailed hard copies and $45.00 for electronic files. Documents may be ordered by registering and paying for the documents online at https://bids.verdantas.com. Please contact planroom@vedantas.com or call 440-530-2351 if you encounter any problems registering or paying for the documents.

The bid specifications, drawings, plan holders list, addenda, and other bid information (but not the bid forms) may be viewed and/or downloaded for free via the internet at https://bids.verdantas.com. The bidder shall be responsible to check for Addenda and obtain same from the web site.

Proposals must contain the full name of the party or parties submitting the same and all persons interested therein. It is the intent and requirements of the owner that this project be completed no later than MARCH 30, 2026.

The City Council of the CITY OF FORT THOMAS, reserve the right to waive irregularities and to reject any or all bids.

The City Council of the CITY OF FORT THOMAS shall authorize acceptance of the bid made by the responsible bidder who, in Council’s judgment, offers the best and most responsive proposal to the City, considering quality, service, performance record, and price; or Council may direct the rejection of all bids. The City may award based on “functional equivalence” concerning specified work or products.

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Panelists speak about how to get more involved in Northern Kentucky at the Community Conversations event Feb. 13 in Erlanger. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky Continued from page 1

get involved is simply to follow one’s interests and passions and see where they lead.

“Say you’re at a party, and you’re that person that’s always finding that dog, and you’re sitting next to that puppy and petting that dog the whole time, then guess what? You probably would do really great thriving in an opportunity to go walk the dog once a week at your local shelter,” said Shumate.

Cruz’s organization, Fiesta, is based in Boone County. It provides resources to the local Latino community. A simple gesture of kindness is sometimes all it takes to build a new relationship, she said.

“I have families that are just so grateful that you’re trying to help,” Cruz said, “that even if you point them in the right direction, that person at least tried to help me. They were kind to me. They smiled at me.”

One person’s impact

“I think we all have our own talents, treasures that we each have inside ourselves,” Baker said, “Whether that’s art, maybe it’s a passion for parks, maybe it’s a passion for children; these types of things that we all have, we need to express those.”

Gesture of kindness One audience question asked how diverse communities could become more engaged with the rest of the region. Cruz said that educating people could go a long way in ensuring everyone stays involved. Volunteering with community organizations and helping with immigrant communities was one way to do this.

“There are a lot of tables,” Cruz said. “It’s making space at those tables, right?”

“Run for office,” Baker recommended. Alternatively, if you’d rather not take on the responsibility of becoming a mayor or a city council member, there are other ways to get involved.

“We do want volunteerism, and we have that on our websites, on our social media, saying, ‘Hey, there’s an opening on our park board. There’s an opening on our code enforcement boards,’” Baker said. He recommended checking out city websites or calling your city hall to find out what’s available as there’s probably an opening somewhere.

“How do you inspire, how do you empower the younger generation to give back?” asked Millward, repeating an audience member’s question. “I think that there is an

overriding belief from a lot of people that kids don’t want to get out and do this. And I don’t know that that’s true, but I do think it is a challenge when you had a break for a number of years where no one was doing the traditional level of service.”

“I think the biggest answer to that would probably be exposure,” said Shumate. “I think if you are an advocate, and you show them the impact that one person can make and expose them to different opportunities, that is when they can see [the power] of their own impact and what they can do even as a young voice.”

To that end, she recommended including kids and teens in community projects and volunteering opportunities to model what good citizenship looked like, whether that was with a church, charitable organization or other community org.

“There has to be an expectation,” Cruz said, reiterating the need to model good behavior.

boxes out to the cars.”

In the end, whether you’re talking about kids, immigrants, seniors, young professional transplants or longtime residents, there are innumerable ways to contribute to communal life if you take the time to do the research, whether that’s searching on the internet, making phone calls or talking to your neighbors.

“Families feel isolated,” Cruz said. “People feel lonely, and that’s why it’s so important for us to stay connected,” whether that was through the local school, a church, a government agency or nonprofit.

Watch full event If you missed the event or would like to see it again, watch it in its entirety by scanning this QR code.

“You don’t want to pack boxes, great, but I’m sure when we are at our food distribution events, there are about five other things that you can do,” Cruz said. “If you don’t want to pack boxes, you can help at the registration table. You can carry the

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Eggs ‘N Issues Fireside Chat with NKU President, Dr. Cady Short-Thompson FEBRUARY 28, 2025 5

Tips on hiring legal immigrants

By Nathan Granger

T

he process for hiring immigrants who have legally obtained permission to work in the United States is complicated and sometimes confusing for businesses to navigate.

“North Kentucky is the economic engine of our state,” said Correy Eimer, the associate director of workforce development for the Northern Kentucky Area Development District. “We have a lot of great jobs available, but just not enough willing and capable workers currently to fill those positions, and without immigration, our demographics would be stagnant if not going in the wrong direction.”

Papers for a permanent resident, known more commonly as a “green card.” Images provided | Immigrant and Refugee Law Center

So, what do you need to know if you want to hire an immigrant for your business?

Eimer delivered his remarks Feb. 13 at a special event related to hiring immigrants at the Covington location of the Kentucky Career Center. The event went over some basic information about immigrants in Northern Kentucky and offered tips and resources for people wanting to navigate the complexities of visa requirements, various kinds of residential statuses as well as what to do when interacting with federal immigration authorities.

“What we’ve seen is our employers are a little bit intimidated by this entire process,” Eimer said. “The employers don’t exactly know how to successfully get non-U.S.born citizens into their workplace.”

The event began with a presentation from Bryan Wright, executive director of Cincinnati Compass, an organization that advocates for more economic opportunities for immigrants in Greater Cincinnati, including Northern Kentucky. Wright discussed demographic trends and other data related to the local immigrant population.

A federal I-94 card with an asylum status stamp.

“We know that immigrants and refugees are driving population growth in the region,…” Wright said. “We know that job growth is outpacing population growth, so we have to get the talent from somewhere, right? Yes, we can pull from Nashville and Indianapolis and Austin, Texas, but they’re doing the same strategy as we are. So, we still need to bring people from outside the U.S., whether it’s through universities, like NKU and Gateway, or through employers.”

A work permit for an immigrant who’s been granted temporary protected status.

LEGAL NOTICE The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet In accordance with KRS 176.051, Kentucky’s noxious weed law, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will control noxious weeds on state-owned right of way at the request of the adjoining property owner. The noxious weeds named in this law are Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), Cutleaf Teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus) Nodding thistle (Carduus nutans), Common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), Marestail (Conyza canadensis), Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), Multiflora Rose (Rose multiflora) Japanese knotweed, (Polygonum cuspidatum), Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) and Kudzu (Pueraria montana).

Persons who own property adjacent to state right of way and who are involved in eradication efforts on their property can submit a written application to the highway district office in their area. Contact information can be found at transportation.ky.gov/DistrictPages

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“We know that we want to continue to grow the foreign-born population because, in the region, they hold a household income

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Learn more To learn more about the Kentucky Career Center, Cincinnati Compass and the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center, including how to contact them, scan this QR code and scroll to the bottom of the story.

of $4.3 billion that can be reinvested back into the community,” Wright said, pulling from census data, “and also have total spending power of $2.1 billion to contribute nearly $400 million in state and local taxes.”

The second speaker was Mayra Jackson of the Immigrant & Refugee Law Center, which provides legal services to immigrants and refugees. Jackson herself is an immigrant, having migrated from Peru.

Besides talking about the center’s services, Jackson discussed different kinds of visas, the process for obtaining permission to work, how employers can stay compliant with federal immigration law and, eventually, what an employer should do if contacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. It’s not always easy for employers to keep track of everything necessary to stay compliant with federal immigration and labor law, but she recommended employers do their due diligence before letting immigrants go prematurely if they have problems with their papers. She also recommended employers call the Department of Justice’s Immigrant and Employee Rights hotline with questions. The hotline is 800255-7688 for workers and 800-255-8155 for employers.

For dealing with ICE, Jackson emphasized that the agency needs a warrant before its agents can search the private areas of a property (although this is not true to public areas like front lobbies).

She also pointed out the difference between a search warrant signed by a judge, which grants them permission to search private spaces, and a deportation order, which grants them power to make an arrest but not to search private spaces on private property. Deportation orders are usually signed by an immigration officer or other agency functionary, rather than a judge. Generally speaking, court-issued search warrants carry more power than ICE-issued deportation orders.

“When we’re talking to our clients: Do not open the door to anybody,” said Jackson. “If they say that they have a warrant, ask them to show you the warrant – like put it underneath the door or to put it on a window – but do not open the door because the moment you open the door, you are allowing them in your house.”

Ludlow council OKs hearing on ‘bizarre’ licking allegation

By Nathan Granger

L

udlow’s city administrator, Scott Smith, has filed a sexual harassment complaint with the city’s mayor against City Councilmember Abby Miller for allegedly licking his hand during a job interview in October.

The incident is alleged to have occurred on Oct. 24, when Smith was interviewing for the city administrator position.

Smith had worked for the city before, having been hired as the chief of police in 2015 and then moved into the role of city administrator in 2019. He resigned from the position in April 2024 and was hired again at the end of the year.

Smith described the incident, which took place in an interview with Mayor Chris Wright and members of the previous city council in October: “During the interview process with the council and mayor, everything’s done, finalized, and as I’m walking out, I’m shaking everyone’s hands, thanking them for the interview, and Miss Abigail Miller, one of the council members, took my hand and licked it from my knuckle to my wrist,” Smith told LINK nky in a phone call.

LINK nky contacted several council members, but they had not responded by this story’s publication. However, Samantha Frank, a former council member who lost her bid for reelection in November, corroborated Smith’s account.

“Abby was the last one to shake his hand,” Frank said. “She shook his hand, grabbed it and licked the back of it.”

The council discussed the matter in public at a Feb. 13 meeting. City Attorney Todd McMurtry broached the topic toward the end of the meeting, reading from Smith’s complaint to the mayor. McMurtry said he was not necessarily accusing Miller of anything but stated, “I looked at the facts and determined that – at a minimum – this would constitute battery under Kentucky law.”

The council itself is the only body that had the power to discipline Miller, McMurtry said. It had three options: It could call a public hearing to discuss the allegations openly and bring the prospect of removing Miller from office to a vote. Cross examination would be allowed at the public hearing.

In order to remove Miller from office, the vote would need to be unanimous.

The council also could refer the case to the Northern Kentucky Regional Ethics Authority, a division of the Northern Kentucky Area Development District, for investigation.

Or the council could do nothing.

The incident is seen in the context of tension around Smith’s appointment. Miller, Councilmember David Ziegler and former Councilmember Lori Davenport were among Smith’s critics. Davenport and Miller did not attend the meeting at which the rest of the council voted to affirm Smith’s appointment, and Ziegler was the only

council member to vote against Smith’s appointment.

For his part, Ziegler said at the recent meeting that, “I’m certainly not a lawyer. I don’t feel like it rises to the level of sexual harassment or whatever – battery. That’s my opinion.”

Miller and her attorney attended the meeting, but neither spoke. Councilmember Julia Navarre moved to discuss the matter, which Councilmember Sarah Thompson seconded. Navarre and Thompson did not talk during the discussion time, but councilmembers Stephen Chapman and Paula Graszus both believed a public hearing was warranted.

When asked why Miller acted the way she did, Smith said he had “no idea.”

“I couldn’t tell you what the point to that whole thing would be,…” Smith said. “I have no idea what would go through somebody’s head to do that in a professional setting.”

Smith said he wasn’t really sure what to do about the incident, characterizing it as “bizarre,” more than anything else. The more he thought about it, however, he felt a formal complaint was warranted.

“As leaders of an organization, I couldn’t let that just go,” Smith said. “I could not just sit back and let it go. If I would have done that during an interview – or any man would have done that – to a female walking out of an interview, or just at your workplace, they would have been fired instantly. We

Ludlow City Council candidate Abby Miller at a candidate forum in October. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

would have encouraged that female to file criminal charges.”

Smith said the licking was reflective of what he viewed as a broader culture of toxicity among the council members. “It just goes back to show you the culture that several council members have created over the last couple years,” he said, “this toxic, hostile work environment, and that’s what it is.”

The council eventually voted to hold a public hearing at a later date. Ziegler was the only member to vote no; Miller did not cast a vote. A date for the hearing has not yet been scheduled.

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kenton county briefs Incentives could help convince Haile Foundation to move office to Covington

incentive next week.

The Madison Avenue property would better serve the foundation’s office needs, McKay said. If it decides to move to the Madison property, the foundation’s staff would move in around Labor Day, McVay said.

Kenton Detention Center introduces new program for addiction treatment service

The foundation’s lease at its current Cincinnati office is set to expire, and the foundation is considering whether or not to renew its lease or move to a new location. Although the foundation hasn’t made any final decisions, “we’re considering it strongly,” said Bernie McKay, the foundation’s president and CEO.

Kenton County is moving mental health and addiction treatment programs at the detention center in-house. Provided | Kenton County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook

Mental health and addiction treatment services at the Kenton County Detention Center are moving in-house.

The Kenton County Detention Center will implement the Persistence, Accountability, Transformation and Hope program, known as PATH. According to jailer Marc Fields, funding for PATH primary comes from the Kentucky Overdose Response Effort.

The city proposed an incentive for the foundation at the Feb. 18 city commission meeting. The property involved is 608-610 Madison Ave., near the intersection of Pike Street and Madison Avenue. The city has dubbed the site Ralph Haile Square, after the foundation’s namesake. The space is currently occupied by a U.S. Bank branch.

Established in 2017, KORE operates under the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and is funded through federal grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Its core purpose is to combat the ongoing opioid crisis by assisting with harm reduction, treatment and recovery services for individuals.

The city’s development incentive, which the commission placed on the consent agenda for its next meeting, would grant the foundation a 1% payroll tax reimbursement for new jobs it brings to Covington over five years. A non-incentivized fiveyear retention period would follow.

Fields and Jason Merrick, director of addiction services at the detention center, presented the new program to the Kenton County Fiscal Court during a Feb. 11 meeting. “What we wanted to do was reset the program to better benefit the residents of Kenton County and Northern Kentucky,” Fields said.

The city stands to gain about $147,000 in new taxes over 10 years after reimbursements if the commission votes to grant the

Merrick told the fiscal court that the program was unique to Kenton County.

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8 FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Merrick explained that the PATH program would effectively function as an in-house outpatient program, enabling treatment access for everyone in the jail. This differs from the Kentucky Department of Corrections-backed Substance Abuse Program model the detention center currently uses.

“We’ve got to change with the times,” Merrick said. “The drug scene is not the same as it was in 2017 when we started this program, so we’re modifying. We’re expanding.”

“The Ripple of Ralph,” a mural by artist Christian Dallas, features a depiction of the late Ralph V. Haile Jr. Haile was a Cincinnati banker for over 20 years and a key creator of CURE, the Covington Urban Redevelopment Effort. Photo by Hailey Roden | LINK nky

The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. Foundation, a nonprofit that has funded various civic, cultural and education initiatives around Greater Cincinnati, including BLINK, is considering moving from its current Cincinnati location to Covington.

“Anybody in any dorm in the jail will be able to get referred into the program,” he said.

“They’ll be able to get individual counseling, case management, re-entry services and group counseling, all within the detention center.”

In July 2024, Kenton County entered into an agreement with Addiction Recovery Services, a substance abuse treatment provider headquartered in Louisa, Kentucky.

ARC agreed to provide the Kenton County Detention Center with substance abuse treatment and mental health programs, including assessment, treatment planning, and individual and group therapy.

ate a system that allows participants from law enforcement, countywide legal offices and the detention center make a seamless transition.

“I think what one of the key elements here is that … we’re creating a system where the prosecutors, the jail, local law enforcement, and even the public defenders and probation and parole are all working together to make sure that this person has a seamless transition,” he said.

Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann said the program’s “endgame” is keeping participants out of the detention center by providing them with proper care and assistance.

“I would tell you that the investment of time and resources is what makes sense, even from the county, the ideas that get people, the assistance and whatever they need, to get back out and be productive and not come back,” Knochelmann said.

OneNKY Alliance to sponsor sections of River Roots Festival

The agreement was slated to last from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026. However, either party could terminate it sooner.

In September 2024, ARC announced it would reduce staff and restructure its services, citing cuts in Medicaid reimbursements. The Kentucky Lantern, a LINK media partner, reported that ARC reduced its staff by nearly 25% in November. Further, the FBI launched a health care fraud investigation into ARC. While no criminal charges have been filed, the investigation is still ongoing, according to the FBI website.

Kenton County confirmed it terminated its agreement with ARC in December, effectively absorbing ARC’s responsibilities in the county. Before signing the contract with ARC, Kenton County operated its inhouse behavioral health and substance abuse programs.

Fields said the new program aims to cre-

The Ohio River’s role in America’s growth will be in the spotlight in October at the America’s River Roots Festival. Photo by Hailey Roden | LINK nky

The OneNKY Alliance will play a significant role in this year’s America’s River Roots Festival, a celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday.

Taking place from Oct. 8 to 12, the festival aims to celebrate the rich history and cultural significance of the Ohio River. According to a news release, the event is expected to attract a million visitors to the area, many of whom will travel from out-

kenton county briefs side the region.

The festival will feature eight zones, each with a stage for live performances. OneNKY Alliance, a nonprofit advocating for a unified and connected Northern Kentucky, is sponsoring zones in Covington and Newport.

Relaunched web tool connects NKY families to pre-K programs

Both OneNKY zones are sponsored by member companies of the OneNKY Alliance.

“America’s River Roots Festival will attract international, national and regional guests to our market, adding to our talent and retention efforts,” OneNKY Alliance CEO Karen Finan said in the release. “The OneNKY zones in Newport and Covington, along with the six additional zones, will showcase all the region has to offer through music, cuisine and culture. It is an important opportunity for the OneNKY community thanks to the generosity of OneNKY member companies.”

These companies include Corporex, Fischer Homes, Perfetti Van Melle, Verst Logistics, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport, Paul Hemmer Company, Central Bank, KLH Engineers, Northern Kentucky University and Thomas More University.

Villa Madonna seniors earn recognition as National Merit Finalists

The MyPre-K web tool has been relaunched. Provided | EC Learn

EC Learn, a local nonprofit that focuses on early childhood education, has relaunched its MyPre-K.com web tool, which provides a free way for families to locate early childhood programs in Northern Kentucky.

“Every child deserves a strong start through access to quality early education,” said EC Learn Executive Director and CEO Sandy Woodall in a release. “The relaunch of MyPre-K.com is a step forward in removing barriers and empowering families to make informed decisions about their child’s education.”

“Decades of research leave no doubt: High-quality early childhood programs are transformative, shaping a child’s development and laying the foundation for lifelong success,” Woodall also said. “Every child deserves this chance, and we’re here to make it that much more possible for families to find what they need.”

Go to mypre-k.com to learn more.

Villa Madonna Academy seniors Mark Antrobus and Rebecca Raziano have been named National Merit Scholarship Finalists.

Chamber’s YP group to support local volunteer initiatives

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a U.S. academic scholarship competition for recognition and university scholarships that began in 1955. Being a finalist signifies that a student is among the country’s top academic achievers and is eligible to compete for a scholarship award based on PSAT scores, academic record and other achievements.

The program has now determined which of the 16,000 semifinalists named in September 2024 met all requirements to advance to finalist standing in the competition. All finalists will be considered for the National Merit Scholarship Awards this year.

The Northern Kentucky Young Professionals group has announced the return of the partnership, formerly known as the Service Learning Project. This volunteer-based initiative allows young professionals to support organizations that are making a difference in the region.

The program is partnering with both Brighton Center and DCCH Center for Children and Families.

Support and funding for the pre-K tool comes from the Boone, Campbell, Kenton and Pendelton County Early Childhood Regional Collaborative. The service provides a program locator tool, information on how to enroll a child in a program and other general tips and tools for finding educational resources in the community.

Villa Madonna Academy seniors Rebecca Raziano and Mark Antrobus. Photo provided

profits through the second Community Impact Partnership.

Volunteers will support four Brighton Center events through the year, including the Mail Carriers Food Drive in May. At DCCH, the group’s committee members will offer monthly instructional courses for residents on varying subjects.

“We are excited to continue NKYP’s commitment to supporting our community through the Community Impact Partnership,” said Kyle Frizzell, the NKY Chamber’s director of events and NKYP. “Not only does this initiative provide meaningful support to local nonprofit organizations, but it also builds connections between young professionals and the Northern Kentucky communities in which they live and work.

By building these relationships, we create lasting opportunities for engagement and growth to help retain young talent in our region.”

Brighton Center partners with individuals and families by providing a wide range of programs and services, which include meeting basic needs, adult and early childhood education, youth services, housing and financial wellness, workforce development, recovery services for women and neighborhood-based programs.

DCCH Center stabilizes, treats and educates children and their families while helping navigate changes in relationships, attitudes and behaviors.

The next volunteer opportunity will be May 10 at the annual Mail Carriers Food Drive. More ways to get involved will be announced through the year.

To register and learn more about the opportunity, go to nkychamber.com/events.

For more information about the Community Impact Partnership or Northern Kentucky Young Professionals, contact Frizzell at kfrizzell@nkychamber.com.

Erlanger state rep’s bill would require hospitals to disclose pricing

2024 Northern Kentucky Young Professionals Service Learning Project. Provided | Scooter Media

Young professionals in Northern Kentucky will have the chance to support local non-

Kentucky Rep. Steve Doan, a Republican from Erlanger and former Erlanger council member, has filed a bill in the General Assembly that, if passed, would mandate disclosure of pricing and other information from hospitals in the commonwealth.

Doan in a release. “It’s time to end the hidden fees, surprise billing and opaque pricing that burden hardworking families.”

Co-sponsored by Rep. T.J. Roberts, R-Burlington, House Bill 309 would mandate: • Hospitals to maintain a publicly-accessible list of standard charges for services, as well charges with discounted cash rates and negotiated insurance rates.

• Hospitals to provide a freely accessible list of at least 300 of its most common services and attendant pricing information. Small facilities that do not have 300 services would need to furnish lists of services they do provide.

• Patients who believe a hospital is not compliant with the law may bring suit against the hospital if it attempts to collect medical debt from them. The hospital would not be able to pursue debts from that patient while a suit is pending.

Administration of the law would fall under the Cabinet of Health and Family Services, which could impose fines on noncompliant hospitals anywhere between $20 per bed per day to $11,000 per day, depending on the size of the facility.

The bill is currently being considered in the House Committee for Health Services.

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“Too many Kentuckians are blindsided by exorbitant medical bills, with no way to compare prices before receiving care,” said FEBRUARY 28, 2025 9

Big dreams simmer for Fort Thomas soup maker

By Maggy McDonel

M

att Allen has lived an unusual life: He has spent much of his time as an adult in both the culinary world and in the army.

At the moment, he’s running a small business creating soups in a Fort Thomas Catholic school’s kitchen.

Allen, who has worked in the culinary industry for over 15 years, said he started in the business because of his older brother.

“He was my role model when I was a kid, and he worked in restaurants,” Allen said.

“So I was like, ‘Well, I’ll work in restaurants and be cool, too.’”

Originally from Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood, Allen said he left at age 19 but eventually ended up back in the area.

He attended the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont and then proceeded to work in restaurants all over the world.

“I worked in San Francisco for a couple of years,” Allen told LINK nky. “I worked

in New York City for about six months. I worked in Paris for a year and a half, and then I worked in Portland, Oregon, for six years.”

Parallel to his culinary career, Allen has also been in the army for 15 years. After getting back from his latest deployment in April 2024, he decided to start Cincinnati Soup Co. “I had a lot of time to plan while I was overseas,” Allen said. During that time, he said, “I mailed out like 80 letters with my resume with who I was and what I was looking to do.”

The Rev. Ross Kelsch at Saint Thomas Catholic School in Fort Thomas got one of those letters.

At first, Kelsch said he wasn’t sure about renting his school’s kitchen out to Allen because of the logistics, but he happened to look at the address on the letter and noticed Allen’s address was just one street away from the school.

least worth a conversation,’” Kelsch told LINK nky.

Since then, Kelsch said the two have had a great relationship. Allen, who needed a commercial kitchen to develop and cook his soups, uses the cafeteria kitchen in the evenings and on the weekends, and he has also started to cater some events for the parish, and “everyone raves about his soup,” Kelsch said.

Kelsch said that Allen has been great to work with and that “it was just sort of providence” that he noticed Allen lived nearby because, to him, it’s been great for the parish.

A standout among the soup offerings, according to Kelsch, is the curry, which he said is the one people rave about the most.

Allen’s soups are unique and focus on seasonal food. The menu at the moment consists of charred carrot and fennel minestrone, roasted garlic potato cream, and a coconut curry with butternut squash, mushrooms and chrysanthemum leaves.

Allen is selling his soups at Cincinnati’s Findlay Market (from 8 a.m. Saturdays until he sells out). He’ll soon start selling at the Northside Farmers Market, and he hopes to set up shop at the Fort Thomas Farmers Market this spring.

Previously, Allen was just selling packaged soups, but he recently built his own handwashing sink (a requirement from the Hamilton County Health Department for selling ready-to-eat food) that he can take with him to farmers markets, allowing him to sell hot soup that can be enjoyed at the market.

Allen hopes eventually to open a brickand-mortar soup and sandwich shop.

There have been some roadblocks, but, for now, he said he’s focused on marking good soups.

The Cincinnati Soup Co.’s Instagram bio is: “Soup! We’re bringin’ it back, Baby! A.I. can’t make this soup! Soup and Sandwich Shop coming in 2025! Or maybe 2026!” Follow the company on Instagram for updates.

“I thought, ‘If he’s that close, I guess it’s at

The Cincinnati Soup Co. offers food with a seasonal taste. Photos provided | Cincinnati Soup Co.

Soup simmers on the stove at Saint Thomas Catholic School in Fort Thomas.

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last week the Bevin administration used a hiring freeze, workforce attrition and budget reductions to eliminate thousands of positions from the state government payroll. It also reduced the number of boards and commissions from 570 to under 400.

Hodgson, who served as a senior advisor to Bevin, told me there’s more work to be done.

Is there a state DOGE in Kentucky’s future?

The Department of Government Efficiency is all the rage.

Conservatives like me are thrilled with this effort to root out the waste and abuse in federal spending. Liberals and their nonprofit allies are enraged watching their lifeblood being cut off.

There’s a lot of buzz around Frankfort about a DOGE for state government.

It won’t come from the executive branch.

Gov. Andy Beshear is suing the Trump administration to stop it before it even gets started. House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, got it right when he said, “This governor hasn’t found a dollar that he doesn’t want to spend on something.”

Former Gov. Matt Bevin was ahead of his time pursuing efficient government. Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, reminded me

Eight years ago, I was Bevin’s deputy state budget director. Back then, the state pension systems were teetering and revenue growth wasn’t generating enough money to stem the bleeding. The governor tasked us with scraping together every dime we could to shore them up.

The budget we introduced reduced agency spending by 6.25% and proposed defunding 70 programs. The program eliminations would’ve saved $85 million or, more specifically, reallocated those dollars to pensions and other critical priorities. It was tough medicine to swallow and took real political leadership.

Then, like now, the NGOs, state universities and education bureaucracy screamed bloody murder. And, when the moment called for bold action, the General Assembly blinked. It raised taxes and restored funding to nearly all of the programs. Bevin vetoed the tax increase, but the legislature overrode his veto.

Things might be different now. House Appropriations & Revenue Committee Chairman Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, is serious about fiscal discipline. The House “Liberty Caucus” is growing in membership and

stature. They don’t crave praise from the state’s political and business elites. Limited government principles are what matter to them.

As a longtime defender of the money pit that is Kentucky Wired, I don’t expect Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, to suddenly change his stripes. Fiscal conservatives in that chamber should look to Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, and Sen. Amanda Mays-Bledsoe, R-Lexington, to provide the intellectual firepower to tackle wasteful spending. I believe both are up to the task.

What would a legislative branch-driven DOGE look like? Ideas are flying around the Capitol annex. Let me offer three.

• Minnesota Republicans (yes, that’s a real thing) took control of that state’s House this year. One of their first actions was to establish a House Fraud & Agency Oversight Committee. It will work with the Office of the Legislative Auditor to hold agencies accountable for their performance – or lack thereof. It’s an intriguing model to consider bringing to Kentucky.

“New Economy” programs, the Center for Rural Development, Dataseam, the Transportation Cabinet’s asphalt bidding, the Kentucky Science & Technology Center, Teach for America, the money sent to Auburn University for veterinary slots, the Early Childhood Development Advisory Council and the Department of Education.

Actress Jennifer Garner’s Save the Children also deserves a close look.

These are off the top of my head. Organizations dependent on siphoning taxpayer money while generating no legitimate return on investment should be on notice. I’ll have time to really think about this after the session.

Andrew McNeill President, Senior Policy Fellow, Kentucky Forum for Rights, Economics & Education

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

• Zero-based budgeting has a long history with mixed results. For three years I pushed the budget office staff to help me understand what’s in agency “base” budgets but made little progress. Getting detailed information is the key to that strategy’s success.

• A website for taxpayers to report suspected waste, abuse and patronage. These could be the first 10 entries: Paul Patton’s

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FEBRUARY 28, 2025 11

sports Cooper QB heads into senior year with WKU commit

O’Hara had several highlights this past season including going 21 of 32 for 312 yards and six touchdowns in a 62-36 win in September over visiting Great Crossing. He also rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown.

O’Hara, a three-star player rated by 247Sports, had several scholarship offers including from the University of Kentucky, Miami University, Eastern Kentucky, Akron, Kent State and Tennessee State.

O’Hara is ranked Kentucky’s No. 3 player overall in the 2026 class by the 247 Sports Composite. He is ranked the nation’s No. 41 quarterback in his class by the composite rankings.

Ipsaro is averaging 7.0 points per game in 26 games played while shooting 51% from the field, 46% from the 3-point line and 84% from the free throw line. He’s also averaging 2.6 assists per game, 1.0 steals per game and better than a 2/1 assist/turnover ratio.

The RedHawks are having their best season since 1998-99, when they went 24-8 and made the Sweet 16.

Ludlow boys, Bellevue girls NKAC DIII champs College. Rylee put up 28 points with 14 rebounds, both career highs.

O’Hara’s Cooper career program records include most passes attempted (909), completed passes (579), most yards passing (8,996) and touchdown passes (120), according to Cooper statistician Garry Clark.

Cooper’s Cam O’Hara recently committed to Western Kentucky University. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

Cooper High School’s Cam O’Hara on Feb. 13 announced his verbal commitment to Western Kentucky University.

The Jaguars junior threw for 3,617 yards and 52 touchdowns in 15 games in 2024. He rushed for 186 yards and four touchdowns.

Ipsaro playing key role in turnaround for Miami RedHawks Covington Catholic grad and Miami (Ohio) sophomore Evan Ipsaro is a key rotational piece for the RedHawks, currently 10-3 in the Mid-American Conference and 19-7 overall.

O’Hara helped to lead Cooper (14-1 record in 2024) to a Class 5A state runner-up finish for a second straight season.

Cooper coach Randy Borchers said Western Kentucky was one of O’Hara’s early scholarship offers during his high school career, prior to the quarterback’s sophomore season.

Ludlow won the NKAC Division III title. Photo provided

The Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division III champs are the Ludlow boys and the Bellevue girls.

Ludlow’s boys took down Heritage Academy in the championship on Feb. 8, 74-61.

Spencer Brandenburg led the way with 28 points. He was joined by two others in double figures as Logan Day added 24 points and Joseph Scott tossed in 12 points. The win got them to a 16-11 mark on the season.

Bellevue’s girls defeated Ludlow in the championship, also Feb. 8, 57-18. They improved to 15-11 with the victory. Jayda Dowell paced the Tigers with 13 points, Paulina Long adding 10 with 10 rebounds. Ten different players entered the scoring column in the win.

The quarterback made an instant connection with Rick Bowie, who was hired as the WKU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in early February. Borchers said the timing was right for O’Hara to make the commitment and focus on his senior year.

Rylee’s big week helps lift Saints to pair of wins

Cooper plays at Anderson, the Ohio Division II state runner-up in 2024, to open the season, Aug. 22.

Evan Ipsaro | Provided by Miami (Ohio) Athletics

He upped his rebound total in the Saints next game on Feb. 8 in a win over Tiffin, collecting 15 rebounds to go with four points, one assist and three blocked shots. His two-game effort of 32 points, 29 rebounds, three assists and four blocked shots to go with 60% shooting from the field earned him Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week.

The Saints are currently 16-8 on the season and 11-6 in the GMAC, sitting at sixth in the conference standings. The Saints returned to action against Cedarville.

Sweet 16 brackets give NKY teams shot at trip to Rupp The KHSAA Sweet 16 draw show was held Feb. 14 in Lexington to reveal the brackets for the boys’ and girls’ state tournaments in March.

The girls’ Sweet 16 will take place March 1215 while the boys’ Sweet 16 is March 26-29 (moved back a week due to Rupp Arena’s hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament).

Times for the Sweet 16 first round matchups will be released later.

Covington Catholic grad and Thomas More junior Mitchell Rylee posted a career night in the Saints’ Feb. 6 victory over Hillsdale

The boys matchups feature a potential of three northern Kentucky teams. The 9th Region will face the 2nd Region in the first round.

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sports The 2nd Region is the defending champ, Lyon County claiming the crown last year over Harlan County. The Lyons are in the hunt once again for a region title and another trip to Rupp Arena, but will have to get by contenders Madisonville North-Hopkins and Henderson County to do so.

In the 9th, Cooper is probably the favorite, but Covington Catholic and Lloyd Memorial are certainly contenders, as are Newport, Conner and Ryle.

Were Simon Kenton or Walton-Verona to make it out of the 8th Region, they’d be looking at a potential matchup with 12th Region favorite Danville Christian. Mercer County, Pulaski County and Lincoln County the other candidates.

NKBCA releases preseason Top 10

Academy and Bullitt Central in the mix.

If Simon Kenton gets out of the 8th Region, it drew the tough task of going up against the 11th Region. The favorite there is Franklin County, a top five team in the state, but the Flyers have no easy task with Frederick Douglass, Madison Central and Lafayette also in the mix.

The clear 10th Region favorite is George Rogers Clark, but if any of Campbell County, Bishop Brossart or Scott could pull off the mammoth upset of GRC, they’d be looking at a first round matchup against the 4th Region. The 4th Region favorite is probably Franklin-Simpson with Metcalfe County, Barren County and Bowling Green all in the mix.

Then, in the 10th Region, Campbell County is in the mix for a 10th Region title in consecutive years while it’d most likely have to get past George Rogers Clark and Montgomery County to do so.

For the girls matchups, there’s also a potential for three Northern Kentucky teams to make it to Rupp Arena. The 9th Region drew the 6th Region.

Cooper is probably the 9th Region favorite, with four other contenders – Notre Dame, Dixie Heights, Holy Cross and Highlands.

The winner of the 9th would be looking at a potential matchup against 6th Region favorite Butler, with Valley, Moore, Whitefield

Baseball is right around the corner.

The Northern Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association have released its top 10 teams in NKY. Reigning 9th Region champ Ryle holds the top spot while Beechwood is right behind them at No. 2. Covington Catholic is No. 3.

Following in order to round out the rest of the top 10 are: Campbell County, Highlands, Dixie Heights, Conner, Simon Kenton, Cooper and Walton-Verona.

Ryle dethroned Beechwood last season after the Tigers had won four straight 9th Region titles and advanced to the state quarterfinals before losing to state runner-up McCracken County. The Raiders return five starters, including Dylan McIntyre, who will be the ace of the pitching staff. On top of three senior starters that graduated, leading hitter A.J. Curry moved back to California after one year at Ryle.

Beechwood returns the majority of its starting lineup, headlined by the battery of Tyler Fryman, Matthee Cottengim and Keagan Hutton, who both hit over .300 last season. Chase Flaherty headlines the rotation on the mound.

Covington Catholic nearly had Ryle beat in the 9th Region semis, but the Raiders rallied late for a victory. They return one of the best players in the state in Jackson Reardon, a shortstop committed to the University of Cincinnati.

Campbell County will be one of the favorites to win the 10th Region once again while Simon Kenton is coming off an 8th Region title as Troy Roberts stepped down from coaching, replaced by one his assistants, Brady Smiley.

NKBCA Preseason Coaches Poll: 1. Ryle 2. Beechwood 3. Covington Catholic 4. Campbell County 5. Highlands 6. Dixie Heights 7. Conner 8. Simon Kenton 9. Cooper 10. Walton-Verona

Ryle's Dylan McIntyre hopes to help lead the Raiders to back-to-back 9th Region titles. Provided | Charles Bolton

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real estate

Over 4,000 square foot Edgewood home Address: 543 Karlenia Court, Edgewood Price: $1,140,000 Bedrooms: Five Bathrooms: Four (plus one half bath) Square footage: 4,082 School district: Kenton County County: Kenton Special features: This custom Edgewood home sits on a wooded lot above Doe Run Lake. It features a grand, two-story foyer with a tray ceiling and open staircase, a spacious great room with a gas fireplace, and an updated kitchen with quartz countertops, a gas cooktop, a pantry and a butler’s pantry. The finished walkout lower level boasts a recreation room, a second fireplace, a wet bar, a movie and game area, and a fifth bedroom with a full bath.

An exterior view of this Edgewood property. Photos provided | Laura Speed with Huff Realty

A view of this home’s kitchen with a window overlooking the home’s wooded property.

This home’s back deck.

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:

MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE

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

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.

14 FEBRUARY 28, 2025

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VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES Ends March 23rd LINK nky has launched the Readers’ Choice Awards Voting is open February 22 – March 23.

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