LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 3, Issue 23 - May 2, 2025

KENTON

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 23 — MAY 2, 2025

THE VOICE OF NKY

linknky.com

Beechwood rallies around coach battling rare illness

By Marc Hardin

W

hen the Beechwood Tigers took the field April 26 at the Kentucky All “A” Classic state baseball tournament, their quarterfinal lineup against Sayre was full of heavy hitters and shutdown pitchers.

“We’ve been winning a lot of games lately,” said senior Matthew Cottengim. “We’re playing with a lot of confidence.”

If the Tigers get past Sayre at Daviess County High School in Owensboro – the game took place after our print deadline – they’d play the Walton-Verona-Lyon County winner in the next day’s semifinal before the finals. The Tigers have won five All “A” Classic state championships, the last with back-toback crowns in 2018 and 2019.

“We expect some tough competition,” said Beechwood coach Kevin Gray, whose squad lost to Walton-Verona in the season opener.

The toughest day for the Tigers (14-5) has already come and gone, though, and it

wasn’t the loss to the Bearcats or a 6-2 loss to West Clermont that dropped their record to 3-4. It was the January day coach Gray told his players about assistant coach Briley Seiter.

Though the Tigers have won six straight games and 11 of their last 12, they’ve been playing with heavy hearts and without Seiter, their pitching coach. Seiter, 27, of Erlanger, was diagnosed with a rare form of brain tumor in December.

“They call it spinal pilocytic astrocytoma,” said Seiter’s mother, Stephanie Seiter.

“Because of his condition, Briley’s been in the hospital a lot and unable to work. He weighed 160 pounds in college, and now he weighs 116. He’s also in a fight for disability.”

Pilocytic astrocytoma is a rare type of brain tumor that grows slowly and does not typically spread to other parts of the body. It can cause significant health complications depending on its location. While pilocytic astrocytomas aren’t considered aggressive cancers, they can still require treatment, such as surgical removal, to prevent complications.

Continues on page 3

Briley Seiter attempts to throw a baseball during post-surgery rehabilitation. Photo provided | Stephanie Seiter

Police searches, constitutional rights: The case of Damien Conner

By Nathan Granger

Conner’s seat belt and arrested him.

n a Thursday in March, Covington-based attorney Jamir Davis had called a news conference on behalf of his client, Damien Conner. Their purpose was grim: They had filed a lawsuit against the city of Covington, along with Covington police officer Doug Ullrich, alleging Conner’s rights had been violated during a traffic stop in September.

“Rampant violations of excessive use of force and concerns of prejudicial conduct are recurring problems stemming from officers serving with the Covington Police Department, which is deeply affecting the efficiency of the Covington Police Department and threatening the protection of constitutional rights for the citizens of Covington,” the opening lines of Conner’s complaint reads.

O

The suit was filed March 19 in federal court.

Before the event, Davis’ firm sent attendees a portion of Ullrich’s body camera footage, showing part of the encounter, during which Ullrich handcuffed Conner through the window of the car he was driving, cut

Fast forward a few days to the March 25 Covington City Commission meeting. Mayor Ron Washington, who formerly worked as a police officer, cast doubt on the lawsuit’s account of the case, even going so far as to say Davis and Conner had misled the

media and the public at the news conference.

“The news coverage relied on selectively edited footage provided by Mr. Conner’s attorney, rather than the full body camera footage, which provides important context to the encounter,” Washington said at the meeting. He also argued that the media had been misinformed about the results of the criminal charges Conner had initially faced and that the police had acted lawfully during the traffic stop.

Both the J. Davis Firm and the city later released the full body cam footage.

“We encourage the community to review Continues on page 4

Embattled Ludlow councilwoman holds seat p10 PiBotics revives robotics in county p11 Sophomore leaves NKU for Presbyterian through portal p12

WINNER’S PARTY THURSDAY, MAY 8 TH | 5:30 FULL THROTTLE ADRENALINE PARK ALL ARE WELCOME!

SCAN FOR TICKETS

2025 COMMUNITY

CONVERSATION SERIES: 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.

Events will also be live-streamed on LINK nky’s Facebook page.

Scan the QR code to register

LINK Partners and have thrown their full support behind us. These NKY institutions are helping bring a voice back to our community.

We are grateful to all LINK’s Partners - those organizations in the community who believe strongly in what we are doing,

2 MAY 2, 2025

Continued from page 1

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

Periodicals Postage Paid at Covington, KY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to LINK nky Kenton Reader, 31 Innovation Alley, Covington, KY 41011.

ISSN 3064-7460 859-878-1669 | www.LINKnky.com

HAVE A TIP? News@LINKnky.com WANT TO ADVERTISE? Marketing@LINKnky.com

WANT TO SUBSCRIBE? Send a check for $58.30 ($55 non-auto-renewing rate plus 6% Kentucky sales tax) to LINK nky 31 Innovation Alley, Ground Floor Covington, KY 41011 or scan this QR code below

Love what we're doing? Want to support public-interest journalism in Northern Kentucky? Make a tax-deductible donation to support our work. Scan the QR code below, or mail a check payable to the Northern Kentucky Community Journalism Fund to 50 East Rivercenter Blvd. Suite 431, Covington, KY 41011.

“He wasn’t feeling right for about a year, and it took the doctors a while to figure out the cause,” Stephanie Seiter said.

“Then, one day in December, he was having stroke-like symptoms and complaining of neck pain. We rushed him to the hospital at St. Elizabeth’s. They ran all kinds of tests and saw a spot they didn’t like and sent him immediately to UC. We were stunned.”

Soon after, the family received the diagnosis and a timetable for procedures. His next scheduled procedure is in May. “They don’t want to be too aggressive and aggravate it,” Stephanie Seiter said. “They removed about 33% of it on Jan. 3, but right now nothing is scheduled again until an MRI on May 3. After that, all his doctors will get together and decide whether chemotherapy or radiation therapy or both or neither is the best course of action so that he can have a better length of quality life.”

It’s the second medical emergency for Briley Seiter. He’s one of six children, including four baseball-playing sons, three of whom played collegiately. He’s part of a large extended family of athletes and coaches that includes the Baionis of Highlands and the Pangallos at Newport Central Catholic. Former Highlands baseball coach Jeremy Baioni is Stephanie Seiter’s brother.

Like two of his brothers, Briley was affected by Chiari malformation, a condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal due to structural abnormalities in the skull. This can put pressure on the brain stem, leading to symptoms such as headaches, neck pain and dizziness.

Some people with the condition require surgery to relieve pressure and restore normal cerebrospinal fluid flow. Briley’s condition required a shunt to be placed in his head with drain tubing running inside his body.

Beechwood hoists the 9th Region All “A” Classic Tournament championship trophy after beating Newport Central Catholic in the final. Provided | Charles Bolton

“Briley’s had eight previous brain surgeries,” his mother said. “When he was younger, they had to build a base between his brain and his spine because he didn’t have one. When he started getting sick about a year ago, they thought it might be related to the shunt he used to have.”

It wasn’t related to the shunt, and that’s why it took doctors so long to figure out the cause.

“Briley’s always been a great kid, and I’ve known him a while,” coach Gray said. “He has a tumor on his brain stem and spine.

When I gave that news to the team, they were all pretty upset. Guys were crying. It’s the saddest thing. He got out of college just a couple years ago. He just got married and he’s got a 1-year-old boy.”

It was a preseason gut punch. But the Tigers soldiered on while receiving updates on Seiter’s condition. The team held a preseason fundraiser game which accepted donations for the Seiter family. Sales from concessions also were donated.

No part of this publication may be used without permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions.

If, however, an error comes to your attention, please let us know and accept our sincere apologies in advance.

“I’ve loved the guy ever since I first saw him,” Gray said of the former pitcher. “He was undersized in high school and didn’t have a lot of velocity. But he got people out because he knew how to pitch, and I just thought one day he’d make a pretty good pitching coach.”

Gray wound up hiring the 2016 Bellevue grad soon after Seiter graduated from Eastern Nazarene College, where he was an all-conference pitcher.

Briley Seiter walks for the first time one week after being hospitalized in January for tumor removal surgery. Provided | Stephanie Seiter

a no-hitter against Bishop Brossart April 16 in an All “A” Classic sectional. Senior Lucas Cousineau no-hit Greenup County April 11.

Beechwood has quality arms at every level.

Junior Branton Stiles threw five innings of one-hit baseball against Bracken County on April 17. Sophomore Caleb Arrasmith fired a one-hitter against Villa Madonna April 9. Freshman Kingston Conover has emerged as a workhorse in his first varsity season.

Hutton, a Southeastern Illinois College recruit, has taken some important tips from Seiter, a former local Division III player of the year.

“Briley himself is not a very big guy. He was a junkballer and yet he went on to pitch in college,” said Hutton. “What he tells us is you have to have the fight of a pitcher. That, no matter what, I’m going to beat you. He instilled that mindset in all of us, and it’s propelled us as a staff. Plus, if you want to know anything about off-speed stuff, he’s your man.”

The team visited with Seiter before April 19’s road win against Simon Kenton. He was able to stay for three innings but didn’t leave before sharing words of encouragement with the Tigers.

“He was so happy to see the team,” Stephanie Seiter said. “He’s all about the players.

He told them to never give up because he’s not going to give up. If there’s one thing my son has proved, it’s that he’s a fighter. He will fight his way through this, and we all will be there for him and his family.”

“He’s done a nice job,” said Gray, whose staff ERA of 2.99 has fallen since he brought Seiter on a few years ago. It was 3.96 last season and 4.50 in 2023.

The Tigers aren’t playing for just another Kentucky small-school championship – they’re also playing for Briley.

The fruits of Seiter’s work with Beechwood’s pitchers hit a high point this month in his absence. The Tigers tossed two no-hitters within a week. Senior Chase Flaherty threw

“We’re going to go there and do our best,” Hutton said. “We have a lot of depth this year and a ton of dogs and we believe in our pitching 100%.”

MAY 2, 2025 3

Continued from page 1

tion storage container eventually led to a charge against Conner of having a controlled substance prescription not in its original container.

all available information before drawing conclusions and to allow the legal process to take its course,” Washington said March 25. “The city supports its law enforcement officers in their duties to uphold public safety while ensuring that all actions are conducted within the bounds of the law.”

The video the J. Davis firm sent after the news conference shows the full encounter. It’s about 30 minutes long. It largely matches the video the city later sent out, with one difference: The city’s file includes footage from Ullrich’s dash camera in addition to the body camera footage. The city’s version also includes textual annotations of the encounter, including statutory and case law citations. The city argues those legally enabled Ullrich’s actions.

What’s the legal basis for Conner’s and the city’s claims, and what does it mean for the police’s relationship with the community?

Traffic stop escalates Ullrich pulled Conner over on Sept. 23, 2024, after spotting Conner using his phone while driving, according to the incident report. As reported by LINK nky’s content sharing partner, WCPO, which had a crew at the news conference, body camera footage Davis and his law firm released showed the encounter.

Ullrich stopped Conner for driving while using his phone at around 6:38 p.m., the lawsuit says. The officer requested Conner’s license, registration and insurance, which Conner provided without issue, according to the lawsuit. Ullrich then went back to his cruiser, ran Conner’s information, which returned no prior record or warrants, Davis said, and returned to Conner’s vehicle.

Ullrich can be seen in the video approaching Conner’s vehicle and immediately asking if Conner had a gun. By this point, other officers had arrived on the side of the highway, body camera footage shows.

“Mr. Conner, without reaching around, do you carry a gun, sir?” Ullrich said.

“What?” Conner responded.

Damien Connor during the traffic stop incident. Photo from Covington Police Department body camera footage

want to have to rip you out of the car and take you to jail, so take your seat belt off.”

“What are you taking me to jail for?” Conner said.

“I’m telling you I don’t want to, so take your seat belt off,” Ullrich said.

Conner asked why he had to get out of his car, telling officers he didn’t understand why he was being asked to step out. “I don’t want to get out of my car, stop, this is against my will,” said Conner just before Ullrich announced he was under arrest.

When Conner asked why, Ullrich responded that he was resisting arrest.

“Why am I exiting my car; what are we doing?” Conner said as Ullrich began handcuffing him through the window of the vehicle.

“Do you carry a gun?” Ullrich said.

“What? I’m confused,” Conner said.

“Sir, it’s a very simple question, do you have a gun?” Ullrich said.

“Sir, I [inaudible] questions, I’ve got to get to work,” Conner said.

“OK, take your seat belt off,” Ullrich said.

“For what?” Conner said.

“Take your seat belt off,” Ullrich said. “I don’t

After Conner was in handcuffs, Ullrich and another officer can be seen pulling Conner through the driver’s side window of the car while he verbally protests but does not appear to physically resist. At one point in the video, Conner even instructed the officers on how to unlock the car.

Ullrich again told Conner he was under arrest because he refused to get out of his car.

“Why am I getting out of my car for a f— king ticket?” Conner said as the officers continued to pull his upper body out of the

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Public Service Commission of Kentucky issued an order on January 21, 2025, scheduling a hearing to be held on May 13, 2025, at 9 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, in the Richard Raff Hearing Room at the offices of the Public Service Commission located at 211 Sower Boulevard in Frankfort, Kentucky, for Case No. 2024-00326. This is an examination of the Electronic 2024 Joint Integrated Resource Plan of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company.

This hearing will be streamed live and may be viewed on the PSC website, psc.ky.gov.

Public comments may be made at the beginning of the hearing. Those wishing to make oral public comments may do so by following the instructions listed on the PSC website, psc.ky.gov.

Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company 2701 Eastpoint Parkway Louisville, Kentucky 40223 4 MAY 2, 2025

car through the window.

Conner then began telling officers they’re hurting him and asked if they could open the car door instead of pulling him through the window. He then asked officers to help him get his seat belt off.

Ullrich then said he’s not removing the handcuffs to get him out of the car and told the other officer to cut the seat belt.

As Conner was being walked to a police cruiser, Ullrich again told him he was being arrested because he refused to get out of his car. Conner then again asks why he had to get out of his car for an offense that would have only been a ticket.

“Because your car stinks like weed,” Ullrich said.

Ullrich had not previously mentioned that allegation at any point during the traffic stop before Conner was in handcuffs.

A gun and a pill After Conner was detained and put into a police cruiser, Ullrich can be seen returning to Conner’s car, where he began to search his belongings. Inside a backpack in the vehicle, Ullrich found a black and silver handgun.

“Oh, look at that, a gun, just like I thought,” Ullrich said.

The beginning parts of the full video show Ullrich leaving his car and approaching Conner on the passenger side. Ullrich asked for Conner’s papers, and a chunk of the early parts of the video shows Conner scrolling through his smartphone looking for his insurance information.

The city contends in its footage that Conner was fumbling with the bag containing the gun early in the video as the officer approached the car, an action that purportedly provoked Ullrich’s suspicions.

Conner can be seen moving around in the video as Ullrich approaches the car, but it’s difficult to discern from the camera angle if he’s moving the bag or something else. In any case, the bag can clearly be seen later in the video leaning against the center console. Ullrich also glanced into the back seat several times early in the encounter, seemingly at a backpack.

The later parts of the video, after Conner is put in the back of the cruiser, show Ullrich’s search of the vehicle, including the bag in the back seat, which Ullrich said “stinks like weed.”

The camera footage also recorded Conner speaking with someone over the phone, even as he was in the back of the cruiser. Conner later told LINK nky that he was talking with his cousin.

Arrest for obstruction Ullrich returned to the cruiser after searching the car, where the following exchange occurred: “What are we doing?” Conner said.

According to the lawsuit, Conner is a legally registered gun owner, and the gun was also registered.

“You gonna go to jail,” Ullrich said.

“What am I going to jail for?” Conner said.

The video the J. Davis firm initially sent out is about six minutes long and shows only the part of the encounter during which officers remove Conner from the car, which the incident report indicates is registered to a Ryan Romero, and the subsequent search during which Ullrich found the gun, a 9 mm Smith and Wesson, in the bag that was sitting in the passenger seat.

Ullrich also found a single pill on the floor during the search; he placed the pill in a small evidence bag in the video. The incident report states the pill was a medication called metronidazole, a prescription used for treating various bacterial infections.

The fact that the pill was not in a prescrip-

“For obstruction,” Ullrich said.

“Obstruction of what?” Conner asked. “I did nothing to you. I did everything that you asked.”

“What’d you do when I told you to get out of the car?” Ullrich said.

“Why do I even have to get out of my car?”

Conner said.

“Because the police gave you a lawful,...”

Ullrich said.

“I was on my phone,” Conner said. “You was

giving me a ticket for my phone.”

Ullrich began to respond but stopped. Conner stated that he was looking on his phone for directions. Conner is from out of town, he said, and so he wasn’t familiar with the area. Conner reaffirmed this in his conversation with LINK nky, and court documents list his address in Georgia.

Ullrich then asked the dispatcher for information on the gun and Conner’s criminal history. Conner said he had a license to carry in his wallet. After contacting the dispatcher, Ullrich began to read Conner a Miranda warning.

“Since you’re under arrest, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court. You have the right to have an attorney present during any and all questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney –” Ullrich stopped.

“You know what, never mind. You already said you didn’t answer questions.”

The city’s video cuts off around here before switching to the dash cam footage. The full video the J. Davis firm distributed goes on a little longer and includes back and forth

between Conner and Ullrich, in which Conner expressed confusion about how a traffic stop for a cellphone citation could have escalated to an arrest. Ullrich reaffirmed the arrest was due to obstruction and that the command for Conner to leave the vehicle was lawful.

Charges diverted, dismissed In the end, Conner was charged with a communications device violation for using his phone, the charge for having the pill in the car, obstructing an emergency responder and resisting arrest.

Despite Ullrich’s statements about the smell of marijuana and his suspicions that a tear-off baggy he found during the search of the car may have contained some THC residue, no cannabis was discovered in the car. Conner also states several times through the video that he can’t use marijuana due to his job working for “the railroad,” which he later told LINK nky was Norfolk Southern. LINK nky contacted Norfolk Southern to corroborate this.

All of the charges were later dismissed through judicial diversion, which allows

certain criminal charges to be dismissed if the defendant doesn’t reoffend within a certain period.

Conner still resides in Cincinnati, and Ullrich is still a Covington police officer. The lawsuit is ongoing.

The city took issue with early news reports, arguing the media had been misinformed.

The suit argues that Ullrich violated Conner’s rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects people against unreasonable searches and seizure. The Fourth Amendment is often cited by civil rights attorneys when seeking damages against police officers for using excessive force during searches, and Conner’s complaint alleges Ullrich’s use of force in the arrest was unnecessary.

“Reports have incorrectly stated that multiple charges against Mr. Conner were dropped,” Washington said at the March 25 commission meeting. “In reality, the case was subject to a diversion agreement, meaning Mr. Conner agreed to certain conditions, such as avoiding future legal violations. If those conditions are met, the charges may later be dismissed. This is a significant distinction that was not accurately represented in the reporting.”

Staff from the Kenton County District Court clerk’s office informed LINK nky about the diversion agreement. If Conner didn’t offend for 60 days after Dec. 5, the charges were dismissed. Conner upheld the agreement, and the charges were dismissed on Feb. 25. LINK nky did not attend the news conference at which the statement that the charges were dropped was allegedly uttered, but Davis corroborated what the clerk’s office told LINK nky in an interview.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Ullrich himself has “a long history of profiling African Americans” and that Ullrich (in his position as a trainer), as well as Covington Police Chief Brian Valenti, “allowed ULLRICH (sic) and other officers to act with impunity and have failed to properly train or supervise their officers in accordance with established [city] policies.”

As such, the firm is seeking what’s called a Monnell claim against the department, which argues that bad behavior on the part of a single officer is reflective of unconstitutional or negligent polices, especially as it relates to training, on the part of the whole department. Usually, a department can’t be held liable for the unconstitutional behavior of one of its officers without proving a Monnell claim.

“The CITY itself seems uninterested in complying with CITY policies and procedures,” the complaint reads.

Praise and reprimands The Davis firm included Ullrich’s personnel file in the materials it sent to news outlets.

Much of the 293-page file is workaday HR paperwork, but records of disciplinary actions and performance reviews offer some insight into Ullrich as an officer.

Classifieds

Note the bag with the single strap leaning against the center console. Photo taken from video provided by the City of Covington.

Walking Distance to Cincinnati

Walking Distance to Cincinnati

3rd floor, 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, equipped kitchen, washer/dryer hookup. 1 parking space Please email angie@earlfranksflooring.com for more information

Abandoned Truck A 2009 Ford Ranger vin # 1ftyr10dzpp belonging to Kristina Daily will be sold to pay for the unpaid repair expense by Richwood Automotive at 10510 Norbotten Dr , Florence Ky 41042 unless the owner settles the debt.

Many of Ullrich’s performance reviews are positive, although several – from early in his career, at least – indicate that he had Continues on page 6

861 S Collier Blvd Essex S 104 Marco Island FL for Rent

861 S Collier Blvd Essex S 104 Marco Island FL for Rent

2-bedroom 2 bath fully furnished condo. 3-minute walk to the beach.

Full size laundry in condo. First fl oor covered, assigned parking. Beach towels, cart, chairs & 2 bicycles. Pricing & availabilityupon request. angie@ earlfranksflooring.com for more information.

2-bedroom 2 bath fully furnished condo. 3-minute walk to the beach. Full size laundry in condo.

First floor covered, assigned parking. Beach towels, cart, chairs & 2 bicycles. Pricing & availability upon request. angie@earlfranksflooring.com for more information.

SCAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSIFIEDS

3rd floor, 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, equipped kitchen,washer/dryer hookup. 1 parking space Please email angie@earlfranks flooring.com for more information

MAY 2, 2025 5

Continued from page 5

a habit of cutting corners on required paperwork in an effort to get back on his beat.

One performance review from 2018 explicitly warns Ullrich against getting burnt out, in spite of its commendation of his work ethic.

someone’s car is grounds for probable cause in Kentucky. This precedent comes primarily from a 2006 case, Dunn v. Commonwealth, which granted officers probable cause to search a vehicle, its occupants, and any items in the vehicle if they smelled marijuana.

Files attesting to reprimands and suspensions Ullrich has received since he was hired in 2011 appear in the record. He has one use-of-force reprimand for an incident in May 2014, when he tased a fleeing suspect who was not acting aggressively, as well as his “cavalier” response, as one of his supervisors put it, to the reprimands.

In one noted response, he said in a group text chat with other officers, “i violate every policy.”

There is debate among lawyers whether this should change with Kentucky’s recent legalization of medical marijuana, and several states, including Ohio, have changed their policies.

Most of his reprimands and suspensions, however, have to do either with car accidents he was involved in while on duty, for which he received four reprimands, or improper handling of evidence.

In 2021, another client of the J. Davis Firm, Anthony Wynn, sued Ullrich along with Officers John Murphy, Danny Elsbernd and former Covington Police Chief Robert Nader for alleged violation of Wynn’s constitutional rights.

In March 2016, for instance, Ullrich was suspended for two days after he discovered a metal gun safe during the course of a collision investigation and opened it, believing it contained a handgun, even though his supervisors had instructed him to log the safe into evidence, wait for a warrant and allow crime lab technicians to assist him in opening it properly. The safe was found to contain a BB gun.

Disciplinary issues seemed to occur less frequently the farther Ullrich went in his career, and his file also contains letters of appreciation from various groups around the community for his work. A memo from 2023 that recommended Ullrich and several other officers for the role of SWAT negotiators specifically compliments what it characterizes as Ullrich’s ability to de-escalate hostile situations.

Similar Davis Firm case This is not the first time the J. Davis Firm and one of its clients have sued Ullrich and other Covington Police officers.

“We would like Doug Ullrich and Officer [John] Murphy removed, considering the allegations that have come against them,” Davis said at an April 2024 news conference about the Wynn case.

The lawsuit alleged that the officers violated Wynn’s constitutional rights during the course of arrests in 2020 and 2021. The officers allegedly applied excessive force during the course of one arrest, “violently slamming him to the ground, applying a choke-hold and proceeding to punch him in the face multiple times,” according to a release at the time from the firm. “Officer Murphy’s violent acts resulted in Mr. Wynn dislocating his shoulder and suffering significant amounts of pain.”

That lawsuit did not end well for either Wynn or Davis.

Landmark case law What about Ullrich’s insistence that his instructions to Conner were lawful?

In its video annotations, the city cites a U.S. Supreme Court case from 1977, Pennsylvania v. Mimms, which ruled that a police officer ordering someone out of his or her car during a traffic stop to perform a weapons search didn’t violate the Fourth Amendment.

Although it is not mentioned in the video, another landmark case, Terry v. Ohio from 1968, granted officers the right to search someone for weapons if they had reasonable suspicion to believe the person was carrying and was either engaged in or likely to engage in a crime, even in the absence of probable cause.

That case especially set a precedent for later cases that expanded police search powers and arguably served as the beginning of allowing police to perform so-called “stopand-frisk” searches legally. Such searches are even referred to as “Terry searches” in many legal documents. The case appears as a justification in the opinions for the Mimms case.

Additionally, the smell of marijuana in 6 MAY 2, 2025

The suit, which Wynn filed in federal court, focuses on three arrests, on Aug. 28, 2020, on Jan. 1, 2021, and on Jan. 16, 2021. The incident from 2020 involved a traffic stop during which Wynn alleged he suffered “a torn ligament in his shoulder, hernia in his [groin], and severely injured [wrists] along with other bruises and scrap[e]s on his face,” according to court documents.

Wynn also claimed blood appeared in his urine for weeks after the encounter.

The court threw out the part of the suit for the 2020 incident on statute of limitations grounds. Under Kentucky civil law, a plaintiff has just a year from the time of the incident to seek damages for personal injury.

“Wynn asserts that he was unaware of his injuries and who caused them until weeks after the incident due to loss of memory and delayed medical treatment,” a brief from U.S. District Judge David Bunning from September 2022 reads.

“However, Wynn’s allegations in the Complaint contradict this assertion. Wynn was allegedly pulled over, searched multiple times and handcuffed well before he was struck and knocked unconscious. When Wynn awoke from being unconscious, he

Attorney Jamir Davis (rear left) speaks with family members of Anthony Wynn at a press conference on April 9, 2024. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

noticed that officers had undressed him and eventually jailed him. Lastly, Wynn alleges he experienced blood in his urine for weeks and complained about his injuries while detained. The events prior to Wynn being knocked unconscious, along with his subsequent arrest, would alert him to at least some altercation with the police.

Therefore, Wynn’s arguments about his lack of knowledge do not prove that the statute of limitations was tolled.”

Bunning granted the city’s motion to dismiss the part of the suit dealing with the August 2020 incident on Sept. 20, 2022.

The Jan. 1, 2021, incident was related to a domestic dispute, which ended in police arresting Wynn and charging him with disorderly conduct and menacing. Wynn later pleaded guilty to the disorderly conduct charge.

The final incident took place during a traffic stop. Murphy had pulled Wynn over for failing to signal and turn on his headlights, according to court documents. “Plaintiff [Anthony Wynn] then identified himself to Officer Murphy as Ronnie Wynn, Plaintiff’s brother.”

Robbie Wynn had outstanding traffic warrants, so Murphy instructed Anthony Wynn out of the car. Officer Elsbernd later arrived as backup.

A struggle ensued that was captured by the car’s female passenger, who livestreamed the fight on Facebook.

“At various points in the struggle, both Officer Murphy and Plaintiff can be seen trying to place their hands around each other’s necks,” court documents read. Murphy eventually applied a blood choke, or, as court documents call it, a “vascular restraint,” to Wynn’s neck, rendering him unconscious. The choke appears in the video, where “Officer Murphy appeared to release Plaintiff from the hold at the timestamp 0:59 as soon as he was turned over to face the ground.”

Murphy walked away from the altercation with a cut on his head, which is discernible in Elsbernd’s body cam footage. Wynn was charged with alcohol intoxication, assault and resisting arrest.

A subsequent internal affairs investigation found Murphy suffered a concussion during the course of the struggle in addition to the cut, missing work as a result. He later was prescribed a mild painkiller for the headaches.

“Murphy testified at the hearing he was concerned about the number of people surrounding the scene, as well as Plaintiff’s size, and effectuated the neck restraint to subdue him enough to be handcuffed,” according to court documents. “It was later determined that his Taser holster was damaged, which prevented him from deploying it.… The Internal Affairs Division concluded that given the circumstances of Murphy’s head injury, Plaintiff’s continued resistance, and the gathering crowd of people approaching, Officer Murphy’s use of force was justified.”

Subsequent discovery and evidence examination revealed that, despite being named in Wynn’s complaint, “Defendants Ullrich, Murphy and Elsbernd were not present at the January 1, 2021 arrest.” Ullrich also was not present during the Jan. 16 struggle, having arrived only after Wynn had already been detained.

Camera footage from the night shows Wynn asking Ullrich a question, to which Ullrich responds, “Man, I wasn’t here; I don’t have any idea what’s going on.”

“Plaintiff told him that he got attacked and Officer Ullrich replied, ‘Ah s***, that sucks,’” according to court documents. “This is the extent of the interaction between Officer Ullrich and Plaintiff at the scene of the arrest.”

Depositions from Wynn himself didn’t help his case.

“In addition to suing officers that were not present, Plaintiff does not even detail what constitutional rights were violated at his January 1, 2021 arrest,” according to the judge’s opinion. “Defendants point out that during Plaintiff’s deposition, he could not recall anything that the officers did that he believed to be a violation of his rights.

Plaintiff argues here that it does not matter, and Plaintiff ‘should not be required to identify what specific actions or inactions deprived [Plaintiff] of his constitutional rights, as [Plaintiff] is not fully aware of the extent of his constitutional rights.’ While Plaintiff himself may not be fully apprised of his constitutional rights, his counsel should either articulate for the Court how officers that were not present at the scene could have violated Plaintiff’s constitutional rights or concede the claim.”

“Plaintiff presented no evidence whatsoever to support his claim that Defendants Murphy and Elsbernd discriminated against Plaintiff on the basis of his race or ethnicity,” Bunning’s order reads. “The entirety of the analysis or explanation given was, seemingly, that Plaintiff is a recognizable African American and Defendants Murphy and Elsbernd are white. Moreover, when put in a position to defend such claims in summary judgment, Mr. Davis, on behalf of his client, explicitly refused to present to this Court any explanation, analysis or evidence.”

The judge goes on to characterize the suit’s claims that the department engaged in profiling of African Americans as “incendiary,” “bombastic” and “not grounded in reality,” as Davis failed to connect any specific facts to the claims. Later court documents also suggest that, in spite of requesting multiple extensions to discovery during the case, “Davis failed to conduct any discovery on that point.”

‘Mountain out of molehill’

Bunning tossed the case on Aug. 16, 2024.

The city then filed a motion for Wynn to pay the city’s legal fees for the case. Courts mandating that plaintiffs pay for defendants’ legal fees is rare, as the standard for such a request is higher for defendants.

The city also sought sanctions against Davis for frivolous lawsuits.

On April 8 this year, the court granted part of the city’s request for attorney’s fees as well as the sanctions.

When asked about the sanctions, Davis said, “I have never been sanctioned in my career before or even disciplined until this case. It’s ridiculous that I would get sanctioned for this.”

When LINK nky interviewed Davis for the first time in early April – before the court had sanctioned him – he described the purported effect of the police’s actions (whether legal or not) on the communities in which they work.

“On a day-to-day [basis], there’s a lot of people dealing with a lot of stress, and there’s a lot of people dealing with a lot of anxiety,” Davis said.

At the time, the firm was reviewing some body cam footage of Ullrich performing another traffic stop on March 14, 2025, in which Ullrich pulls over someone for having tinted windows. Ullrich then searched the person’s car and at one point even asks if he’s got any “marijuana still in your car?”

The man in the video said he didn’t before Ullrich asked him about some prior cita-

tions for possession. LINK nky was not able to corroborate the prior citations; Ullrich did not find any drugs in the course of that search.

Davis maintains that Ullrich uses the smell of marijuana as a pretext for erroneous searches.

“Another hard-working individual that doesn’t smoke weed and is driving with his pregnant girlfriend in the passenger seat,” Davis said of the video. “They’re not smoking weed. They’re trying to leave his grandmother’s funeral. We got another guy that’s going to work. That’s the issue is that you’re making a mountain out of a molehill on people that are everyday citizens.”

In short, even if it’s legal, is it necessary?

And what effect do frequent searches have on a community and its relationship with the police?

‘I just don’t trust people’ Conner, when he spoke with LINK nky, expressed the sense of fearfulness he feels when moving around Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati since his arrest.

“I just don’t trust people out here now,” Conner said, adding that he rarely leaves his residence these days, other than to go to work.

“It’s our objective to make sure that all citizens are treated fairly and equally,” Davis said. “That’s the goal, in that the policies are followed regardless of what you look like, regardless of what your background is. We just want to make sure that we’re treated fairly and equally. That’s what we’re after, and it doesn’t seem to be that way at times.”

When asked about the sanctions, Davis said he planned to appeal them. He also pointed out that Ullrich has been named in three other civil rights cases, besides the Wynn and Conner cases, in federal court.

Court records corroborate this. Davis also points out that the court did not allow the ACLU to file an amicus curiae brief, which would allow an outside lawyer to offer expertise or insight on the case.

“When you’re going up against a machine and you’re fighting for justice, people will come after you,” Davis said in a subsequent interview after he’d been sanctioned.

When asked how long he planned to stay in the area, Conner replied, “I’m trying to get out as fast as I can.”

“We’re going to fight it to the end,” Davis said. “I’m going to use every resource that I have to clear my name of any wrongdoing.”

Editor’s note: Some text from the court documents contain citations of case law and references to other legal documents in the case that unnecessarily crowded out the words of the parties involved. We have removed references to save space, but the parties’ words themselves have remained unchanged.

WCPO’s Felicia Jordan and Sam Harasimowicz contributed to this story.

See it for yourself Read and watch the evidence from Covington Police on Damien Conner’s arrest: • Incident report: bit.ly/Conner-report.

• Body camera recording: bit.ly/Con ner-video.

GET ALL THE HEADLINES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX! SIGN UP FOR: The Daily LINK EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING The Sports LINK MONDAYS AT NOON The Weekend LINK SATURDAY MORNINGS The Arts & Events LINK THURSDAYS AT NOON SCAN TO SIGN UP SPONSOR OF THE DAILY LINK:

SPONSOR OF THE WEEKEND LINK: SPONSOR OF THE ARTS & EVENTS LINK:

MAY 2, 2025 7

kenton county briefs Residents call for safe, accessible closure of Riverfront Commons

People walking and biking on the Riverfront Commons trail. Provided | thefrontporchofthesouth.com

The Brent Spence Bridge Project is looking to close a portion of the Riverfront Commons to make way for construction, and safety was on the minds of Covington (and some non-Covington) residents as the city voted to accept the project’s commitment to minimize harm during the closure.

The commission voted unanimously April 22 to affirm the corridor project’s commitment to cause as little damage to the trails and the surrounding area as possible during the relevant construction.

“We share the same hopes as everyone else in the city to have sturdy, safe and accessible pathways, however temporary, that keeps our community connected to the heart of Covington,” said Botany Hills resident Lisa Murray during the commission meeting’s public comment section. Murray was one of several speakers who expressed sentiments for safety and accessibility in the face of the closure.

Riverfront Commons is a 20-mile trail network, currently at various stages of construction, that connects the region’s river cities from Bromley to Silver Grove. About 1.25 miles of the trail is already finished and open in Covington along Highway Avenue and the Ohio River levee from the end of the Ohio River floodwall near Swain Court to just east of the Roebling Bridge at Riverside Place. The city manages the part of the trail that falls within the corridor project’s construction area.

A letter from the U.S. Department of Transportation lays out the work in more detail: “To facilitate safe construction of a new companion bridge and the rehabilitation

of the existing [bridge], approximately 0.8 miles of the Riverfront Commons trail will be temporarily closed or detoured during periods of highway and bridge construction. Based on safety concerns shared by the City of Covington, this also includes closure of access to the area east of the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge, starting near the intersection of West Second Street and Main Street, to approximately 150 feet west of Covington Plaza.”

The section of trail is expected to be closed for about five years, starting this summer, according to the letter, and a one-mile trail detour will be set up along Rivercenter Boulevard, West Third Street and Highway/ Crescent Avenue.

Botany Hills residents will be especially affected by the closure, Murray said, since many of the neighborhood’s homes are on the opposite side of the street from the trails.

“The Riverfront Commons trail is not just a leisurely walking path for us; it’s a lifeline,” Murray said. “It’s how residents get to work, meet friends, run errands, visit family and experience the city we love. This construction is expected to last at least five years, and [with] the uncertainty of future funding, there’s no guarantee planned improvements won’t be delayed or be de-prioritized. That’s why it’s critical the temporary detour is safe, accessible and thoughtfully designed from the very beginning.”

The Botany Hills Neighborhood Association has advocated installing a new crosswalk and trail entrance on the Y-junction of Highway Avenue where Spring and Wright streets meet, among other measures. The trail’s north entrance has no exit point, Murray said, so the addition of another entrance would make the trails more accessible for local residents.

The association submitted its recommendations (available online at botanyhills.org/ events) to both the corridor project and the city during the detour project’s public comment section.

Stacee Hans of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said that the area where the crosswalk might go would not fall under the project’s footprint, although she was aware of the neighborhood’s concerns and was willing to work with them to find alternatives.

Covington sues nonprofit over Peaselburg house overrun by feral cats

A photo of a cat sitting on the porch of the Peaselburg home. Provided | WCPO

If you drive on West 20th Street in Covington, you may notice one home with an overgrown yard and panels falling off the side of the house. The house is vacant, and now overrun – not by humans, but by cats.

Dozens of feral cats live inside the vacant home. Neighbors said they often smell cat urine and feces when they go outside.

It’s become so bad, the city filed a lawsuit April 21 against the nonprofit that owns the home.

The home, which LINK nky initially reported on in July 2024, has become more than just an eyesore. Some neighbors said it’s affecting their way of life.

That includes Terry Zurborg, who has lived next door for 25 years.

“It makes my life very uncomfortable,” Zurborg said. “I haven’t been able to sit out here on the front porch for a long time on account of the smell.”

The smell comes from feral cats, dozens of them, that live inside the unoccupied home. WCPO observed at least half a dozen cats around the property on April 22.

The home is owned by the Tristate Noah Project, a no-kill animal rescue.

Zurborg said that, even though the nonprofit owns the home, no one takes care of it. He said the cats do what they want.

Complaints from neighbors like Zurborg led the city of Covington to look deeper into the issue. “I wouldn’t want to live next to this home,” said Sebastian Torres, the director of external affairs for the city of Covington.

A statement sent by the city of Covington following the filing of the civil suit said, in part:

“Residents in the Peaselburg neighborhood have voiced concerns regarding a blighted vacant residential property, owned by the corporate entity, with a history of code violations. The corporate entity, which has been fined over $8,000 for previous violations, continues to allow the property to remain in a state of disrepair and has taken minimal action to improve the property since purchasing it several years ago.”

Torres said issues with this home and the nonprofit have gone on for years. Documents shared with WCPO show several code violations against the nonprofit have been issued since 2022.

Torres shared photos dating back to 2019.

Those photos show the inside of the home falling in, a vulture in the window and even what he said he believes were skeletal remains of a cat.

Torres claimed the nonprofit never did anything to fix its violations. “They knew that it was a problem, and it’s been allowed for it to continue to sit in the state that it’s in,” Torres said.

The lawsuit would require the nonprofit to resolve each code violation on the property. “At the end of the day, our goal is to get this property fixed,” Torres said.

WCPO 9 reached out to the founder of the nonprofit for a response. The founder told us she believes the lawsuit is “vindictive, retaliatory and many of their accusations are blatantly dishonest.”

She said she would be releasing an official statement later.

Covington OKs ordinance to add streets allowing slow moving vehicles Covington passed an ordinance April 22 that allows golf carts and other slow-moving vehicles on certain city streets.

The ordinance initially came before the commission in early April before being amended last week. It allows golf carts and other slow-moving vehicles to travel within certain boundaries on city streets with a speed limit of 20 miles per hour or below.

Vehicles would not be allowed to travel on state routes, and drivers would need to conform to all safety, licensing and insurance requirements.

SAVE $350 when you transform

your patio into an outdoor oasis.

Call 1-855-821-2709 now to

SAVE $350 TODAY!

8 MAY 2, 2025

America’s #1 Awning!

kenton county briefs City Attorney Frank Schultz discussed the areas where the vehicles would be allowed at the most recent meeting, adding that one of the headings in the ordinance, as presented to the commission, contained an error.

“It’s everything north of 12th Street,” Schultz said, “basically extending west to Devou Park and then all the way east to the Licking River. That would be a boundary that this ordinance is contemplating.”

Covington Green Lot expands parking options near future SparkHaus

the lot. In addition, two tulip poplars will anchor the north side of the lot to provide shade.

“The Parking Authority is diligently working to improve the city’s public spaces,” said Kyle Snyder, the parking authority’s executive director, in a release. “While we are focused on providing safe and affordable parking options, it is also our goal to ensure that public parking areas are visually attractive, consistent with the surrounding neighborhood.”

Snyder also said the green lot will address additional parking needs created by SparkHaus, the entrepreneurial hub under construction at 727 Madison Ave. in the former Sims Furniture building.

First Black woman elected to high court sworn in as justice Covington’s new green lot. Photo provided | City of Covington

Covington unveiled a new lot that it hopes will address the need for additional parking.

The lot, near the intersection of East Eighth and Greenup streets, is nicknamed the Green Lot. The Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority announced that it will soon replace the old asphalt with new layers. It already has installed three sets of solar lights and planted a viburnum, redbud and dogwood tree along the south side of

Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine – the first Black woman elected to the high court – was officially sworn into office April 18 to cheering and clapping in the packed Frankfort chamber and two overflow rooms.

Goodwine reflected at the ceremony on her life of overcoming obstacles and promised to carry “the importance of faith and education and perseverance” with her in the future.

“I always say I don’t give up on my dreams when life gets hard, I simply work harder to

make my dreams come true,” she said. “If there is one philosophy and action I would like to be known for and for you all to recognize and live by as well, that is it. No matter what life brings your way, keep dreaming, keep working for your goals.”

Goodwine spent time in foster care as an infant and was later adopted by her foster parents, the Lantern previously reported.

The Youngstown, Ohio, native and high school valedictorian gave up a college scholarship to support her adoptive father who was dying of lung cancer. About six months after her father was diagnosed, he died. After his death, his brother killed her mother.

At 24, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an incurable bowel inflammation condition that can be painful and disruptive to life. After that diagnosis, she spent two months hospitalized and had to relearn how to eat and walk.

She began working in the courts as a legal secretary and court stenographer. She earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Kentucky and in 1994 entered private practice with Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. She was appointed to the district court bench in 1999. Goodwine won her circuit judge seat in 2003 and became the first Black woman to serve on the Kentucky Court of Appeals after being elected in 2018.

“I have often been called a trailblazer,” Goodwine said. “More important than

Former Kentucky Chief Justice Laurance Van Meter, left, administers the oath of office to Justice Pamela Goodwine. With Goodwine are her husband, Lee A. Padgett Jr., and great-grandson, Beckham Mourning. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Administrative Office of the Courts

achieving any individual accomplishment, I have always believed that it is each of our responsibility to live and serve in ways that make the world a better place for generations that follow us.”

Moonrise Doughnuts closes Latonia store, to keep food truck Moonrise Doughnuts announced on its Facebook page that its Latonia store is permanently closing.

“After much thought and consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our Moonrise Latonia store,” read the post.

“We know this space has meant a lot to many of you, and it’s been an honor to be part of the Latonia community.”

Going forward, Moonrise Doughnuts will operate a food truck, which will be parked next to its former store on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS OF KENTUCKY UTILITIES COMPANY RECOVERY BY ENVIRONMENTAL SURCHARGE OF KENTUCKY UTILITIES COMPANY’S 2025 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE PLAN PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that in an April 30, 2025 Application, Kentucky Utilities Company (“KU”) is seeking approval by the Kentucky Public Service Commission (“Commission”) in Case No. 2025-00105, pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statute 278.183, of an amended compliance plan (“2025 Plan”). (Collectively, KU’s Application and supporting testimony and exhibits are KU’s “tariff filing.”) If approved, KU will begin recovering capital costs associated with a new pollution control facility in the 2025 Plan under KU’s existing Electric Rate Schedule ECR (also known as the Environmental Surcharge tariff) through an increase in the environmental surcharge on customers’ bills beginning in December 2025.

KU filed an application with the Commission on February 28, 2025, in Case No. 2025-00045 seeking approval to construct a selective catalytic reduction system at the Ghent generating station to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, which are a precursor to ozone. In Case No. 2025-00105, KU is seeking an order approving the 2025 Plan to recover the costs of this new pollution control facility through its Environmental Surcharge tariff. This project will help ensure ongoing compliance with regulations issued under the federal Clean Air Act as amended, including the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone.

The estimated total capital cost of this new pollution control facility is $152.3 million. Additionally, KU is requesting recovery of future incremental capital and operation and maintenance expenses associated with this new pollution control facility. KU is also asking to recover the cost of publishing this customer notice through the Environmental Surcharge over 12 months and to have Environmental Surcharge recovery of future Commission-approved administrative expenses, including customer notice costs.

Beginning in December 2025, the initial bill impact for KU’s Group 1 customers is estimated to be a 0.01% increase with a maximum increase of 0.81% in 2029. Group 1 includes Rate Schedules Residential Service (RS), Residential Time-of-Day Energy Service (RTODE), Residential Time-of-Day Demand Service (RTODD), Volunteer Fire Department Service (VFD), All Electric School (AES), and all Lighting Rates (i.e., LS, RLS, LE, and TE).

RS and VFD customers using 1,085 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $0.01 up to $1.09. RTODE customers using 1,043 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $0.01 up to $1.14. RTODD customers using 987 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $0.02 up to $1.80. AES customers using 25,620 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $0.30 up to $24.28. LS and RLS customers could expect a monthly increase of $0.00 up to $0.12. LE customers using 2,473 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $0.02 up to $1.59. TE customers using 147 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $0.00 up to $0.15.

Beginning in December 2025, the initial bill impact for KU’s Group 2 customers is estimated to be a 0.01% increase with a maximum increase of 1.10% in 2029. Group 2 includes Rate Schedules General Service (GS), General Time-of-Day Energy Service (GTODE), General Time-of-Day Demand Service (GTODD), Power Service (PS), Time-of-Day Secondary Service (TODS), Time-of-Day Primary Service (TODP), Retail Transmission Service (RTS), Fluctuating Load Service (FLS), and Outdoor Sports Lighting Service (OSL).

GS customers using 1,657 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $0.03 up to $2.41. GTODD customers using 19,652 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $0.31 up to $25.26. PS-Secondary customers using 30,434 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $0.39 up to $32.35. PS-Primary customers using 35,028 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $0.45 up to $36.82. TODS customers using 189,538 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $1.54 up to $126.82. TODP customers using 1,242,574 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $8.25 up to $678.42. RTS customers using 7,387,224 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $38.91 up to $3,199.31. FLS-Transmission customers using 44,229,667 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $237.46 up to $19,525.53. OSL-Secondary customers using 4,627 kWh/month could expect a monthly increase of $0.17 up to $13.87.

The Application described in this Notice is proposed by KU, but the Commission may issue an order resulting in an environmental surcharge for customers other than the environmental surcharge described in this Notice.

Comments regarding KU’s 2025 Plan and Application may be submitted to the Commission through its website or by mail to the Public Service Commission, Post Office Box 615, Frankfort, Kentucky 40602.

Any person may submit a timely written request for intervention to the Public Service Commission, Post Office Box 615, Frankfort, Kentucky 40602, establishing the grounds for the request including the status and interest of the party. If the Commission does not receive a written request for intervention within thirty (30) days of the initial publication of this Notice, the Commission may take final action on the Application.

Any person may examine KU’s tariff filing at the Commission’s offices located at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or through the Commission’s website at http://psc.ky.gov or KU’s website (http://www.lge-ku.com) after KU makes its tariff filing on April 30, 2025. KU has requested a deviation from the requirement to make the tariff filing available at its office at One Quality Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507. If the Commission denies that request, KU will make the tariff filing available at its office upon request by any person.

MAY 2, 2025 9

Embattled Ludlow councilwoman holds seat

By Nathan Granger

L

udlow Councilmember Abby Miller, who licked the hand of Ludlow City Administrator Scott Smith during a job interview in October, will retain her council seat after one member, David Ziegler, voted to keep her on council at a hearing April 21.

A unanimous city council vote was required to remove her.

The hearing, originally scheduled for two days instead of one, lasted over two hours and featured cross examinations of witnesses by City Attorney Patrick Grote, who acts like a prosecuting attorney in cases like this, and Miller’s attorney, Alex Edmondson, who took on the role of a defense attorney. Campbell County District Court Judge Karen Thomas was brought in to act as an impartial judge during the proceedings. Usually, the mayor acts in such a role, but he recused himself because he was a witness.

Most of the facts of the case were not in dispute. Miller herself admitted to licking Smith’s hand, although her characterization of the act was different from Smith’s.

Either way, the council and many of the others in attendance all expressed a sim-

ilar sentiment surrounding the whole ordeal: embarrassment.

ence Wright’s decision because they knew and liked Smith.

“I’m embarrassed I’m here,” said Councilmember Stephen Chapman during his closing remarks.

Grote and Edmondson were allowed to call and cross examine witnesses.

Chapman and the other council members who voted for Miller’s removal all made similar remarks, noting that, had something like this happened in the business world, the person who committed the act would be fired.

Grote in his opening remarks made the case that the primary issue was if Miller’s actions rose to the level of misconduct.

Kentucky law states a council member can be removed if the member demonstrates willful neglect, misconduct or is otherwise incapacitated and if the remainder of the council votes unanimously to remove her.

The licking incident happened amid tension around Smith’s appointment as city administrator. 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, while still working as the chief.

Former Councilmember Lori Davenport contacted the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office to inquire about the situation’s legality under state law. This triggered that office to open an investigation, which, in turn, prompted Smith to resign from the additional administrative duties in April 2024.

After that, the city began seeking another administrator. Smith later retired as police chief, and the city had even identified someone to take on the job. After more conflicts among council members, Smith was hired as city manager again at the end of last year.

Scott Smith at the April 21 hearing. Photos by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Miller, Ziegler and 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 (Davenport did not win her bid for re-election), and Ziegler was the only council member to vote against Smith’s appointment. At the time, he even went so far as to accuse city staffers of trying to influ-

Smith described the incident in question, which occurred at a job interview with the former council. Miller licked his hand “from my knuckle to my wrist,” he said, as he was going around shaking the interviewers’ hands at the end of the interview.

Edmondson, who works as a trial lawyer, tried to reframe the issue not as one of misconduct but as one over hiring. He cited text messages and other communications in an effort to show the council had back-channeled with city staff and other sympathetic parties to rig the hiring process in favor of Smith. At one point he even tried to characterize Councilmember Julie Navarre as the “ring leader” in trying to curry votes in favor of Smith.

Abby Miller, back, and her attorney, Alex Edmondson at the April 21 hearing.

licked your hand?” Thompson said.

Edmondson spoke quickly, peppering the witnesses with questions, a habit that prompted repeated objections from Grote.

When Miller was finally asked to speak, she characterized the incident as a jocular gesture between friends. Miller said that, at the interview, she had been clearing her throat all night, and, when she went to shake Smith’s hand, he made a comment that she might have “germs.”

“I said, ‘Germs? Are you kidding me?’” Miller said. “I said, ‘You just hugged me Monday night…’ He laughed, and he said, ‘Yeah, OK.’ So, he extended his hand. I took his hand and I shook it, and then I lifted his hand, licked the back of his hand, said ‘Germs!’ and let go of his hand. We both laughed.”

Miller would later comment that she viewed Smith as a friend prior to this ordeal, but she had come to reconsider that.

Newly elected Councilmember Sarah Thompson had questions for Miller after her initial testimony. She asked if was “normal” to lick someone’s hand.

“No,” Miller said.

After the council cast its vote, Miller returned to her seat and thanked the council for allowing the public hearing to take place so that everyone could share their side of things.

In closing statements before the vote, Edmondson made a comment that some of the other council members would later characterize as a threat.

“She [Miller] licked a person’s hand, and, if you decide you’re going to remove her from office, and it doesn’t work because it’s [required to be] unanimous, good luck working with her for the next year and a half because you’ve now just motivated the person even more to do the right thing, and then, in 16 months, her jury is not you,” Edmondson said. “Her jury is the people.”

The council then cast its 4 to 1 vote, failing to gain unanimous consent. As a result, Miller will serve out the remainder of her term, which will conclude at the end of 2026.

“Hmm, normal?” Miller said. “Probably not.”

Pat LaFleur contributed to this story.

“Would you be upset if someone on council

Remember your loved one IS NOW OFFERING OBITUARIES Remember your loved one with an obituary on our website or in our print edition of The LINK Reader

Affordable | All-Inclusive Price | Convenient 10 MAY 2, 2025

SCAN HERE TO LEARN MORE

PiBotics revives robotics in Boone County shutdown. It includes LINK nky’s original report of their plea to the school board, flyers from makers’ expos they’ve attended and other proof of their space in the community.

By Maggy McDonel

O

n a Saturday night in January, the members of the Boone County PiBotics team enjoyed snacks as they waited on a big announce-

After raising $38,000 in two weeks to secure the school board’s approval for the trip, the members left for Houston April 8.

ment.

They join other robotics teams around the world that participate in FIRST Robotics competitions. Every year, FIRST Robotics competitors are given a different challenge that their robots must complete.

Every team member and mentor LINK spoke to said the same thing: It’s all about teamwork. “We don’t use students to build robots. We use robots to build students,” said the team’s coach, Andrew Brown.

Once the challenge is announced, the teams must start from scratch. They have just weeks to design and build a robot with specifications to beat the year’s challenge.

PiBotics is a student robotics organization based at the Ignite Institute. It was started as the Ryle Raider Robotics team in 2011 at Ryle High School. In 2013, it opened up to all Boone County Schools and Ignite students and was renamed PiBotics.

As described by the team’s lead marketing and media manager, Kylee Wishart, “It’s just a group of weird, wonky kids getting together to build a robot.”

The team practices Tuesday through Thursday, and, during competition time, on Saturday.

This year’s competition, announced Jan. 4, was “Reefscape.” During this challenge, students will “use their STEM and collaboration skills to explore life beneath the surface of the ocean,” according to the FIRST Robotics website.

The teams had to build a robot that could solve several challenges and participate in an obstacle course-style timed competition. Reefscape involves removing “algae” (represented by large rubber balls) from a “reef” and then putting “coral” (PVC pipe) on the reef. Each action the robot performs successfully earns the team points.

The PiBotics team competed March 13 in its first competition of the season, the Rocket City Regional, at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

While the whole team works together

During the matches, each team is paired with two “allies.” The three teams and their robots work together, using each robot’s strengths to complete the challenge.

Chloe Wilson, from left, Lily Pieper, Nolan Thompson, Kyla Wolter, Aaron Freer, Drew Moyer, Blake Atkins, Kylee Wishart, Emma Wilson, Nolan Fitzgerrel, behind, and Layla Born. Not pictured are Carson Stary, Nathan Wilson, Sebastian Solis and R.J. Bidleman.

on creating the robot, which this year is named “Octo-Pi,” the members have specialties. There’s a drive team that operates the robot, a pit team that manages repairs, and, what the team is making a big push for this year, a marketing team.

real-world engineering challenges, manage our time and communicate effectively.

This hands-on experience gives us competence and prepares us for future careers, and, more importantly, it instills a passion for innovation and collaboration.”

Wishart said the group runs like a business. It has collected an impressive group of sponsors and has to market itself to other teams at competitions as well as to the judges.

Following a monthslong campaign that included social media posts, and advice and support from more than 50 other teams, PiBots was reinstated.

Last year the team faced a bigger challenge than robotics tasks. It almost was shut down.

In 2024, the team received an email from James Detwiler, Boone County Schools deputy superintendent, stating that the district was reconsidering the program due to financial and safety concerns. (The district oversees the Ignite Institute.)

In July, in addition to sending over 30 emails to the superintendent, the team attended a school board meeting at which they advocated for their team.

“We take charge of everything: designing, building and managing ourselves, which teaches us leadership, teamwork and problem solving,” team member Emma Wilson told the board in July. “We learn to handle

This enthusiastic advocacy didn’t just win them their team back; it won them an award. At the regional competition in Huntsville, the group took home the Judges’ Award, which Wishart described as an award given out “when you do something that really doesn’t fit quite into all of the other awards, but you stand out. We stood out because we were able to save our team.”

The team won another award that members said bought them a ticket to the FIRST Championship in Houston: the Impact Award at the Miami Valley Regional on March 29. To qualify, a team must make a presentation, write a 10,000-character essay, answer 13 short questions and ask the judges a question. There also is an option to make a video, which PiBotics did.

The presentation explained how members brought their team back from the brink of

Eggs ‘N Issues Bridging Futures - Career Development & Education for a Thriving Business Community

DR. KATHY BURKHARDT Navigo

KEITH FAUST Fort Thomas Schools

Title Sponsor

Keynote Sponsor

PHIL GRIFFIN Trades NKY and AnyWeather

Monthly Sponsors

ANGELA EASTON Duke Energy and Adopt a Class

LEE CRUME BE NKY Growth Partnership

Team member Kyla Wolter is the backup drive coach, safety officer and, during competitions, has the job of scouting.

While other teams compete, she watches other bots, keeping track of a scouting app designed for these competitions.

The goal, Wolter explained, is to be strategic about whom to pick as allies. For the preliminary round of a competition, alliances are assigned; however, for the finals, teams can pick who they work with, and the better a team’s score, the earlier it gets to choose allies.

Scouting also involves standing in front of a team’s pit and answering questions from other competitors about their bots.

The pit, a 10 foot-by-10 foot space, is where the robot is stored and worked on during and between matches. It’s also where the team gathers its equipment, merchandise and other marketing materials.

The team won its first match at the FIRST Robotics World Championship but was not selected as a finalist. It didn’t go home empty-handed, though: It was awarded the Rising All-Star award, given to a team that perseveres through challenges, according to the team’s Facebook page.

Find more information about PiBotics at pibotics.info.

Existing programs such as Adopt-AClass, Navigo through Learning Grove, Leader in Me from Franklin Covey, and Trades NKY are being implemented in several Northern Kentucky school districts - panelists will share how these programs are engaging students, how businesses can get involved and how these programs can be leveraged to reach every student in Northern Kentucky.

Tuesday, May 20 | 7:30 - 9:00 AM Receptions, Erlanger Register today with the code below or visit NKYChamber.com/Events

MODERATOR AV Sponsor

Media Partners

Display Table

MAY 2, 2025 11

sports Lloyd grad Israel transfers from NKU to Presbyterian

lead Lloyd to two of their four straight 9th Region semifinal appearances in his junior and senior seasons. He posted 21.6 points and 8.3 rebounds a game in his senior year.

Heart safety nonprofit given grant donation from CovCath’s Sheets

schools and athletic organizations,” according to the organization’s release. The Mangines also speak frequently at state and national conferences regarding the importance of emergency action plans and cardiac safety in youth sports.

Presbyterian went 14-19 in the 2024-25 season, tied for fifth in the Big South conference and losing to Radford in the first round of the conference tournament. The team played in the College Basketball Invitational postseason tournament, losing to Illinois State in the first round.

Lloyd Memorial grad Jeremiah Israel announced he’s transferring from Northern Kentucky to Presbyterian. Provided | NKU Athletics

Lloyd Memorial grad Jeremiah Israel is headed from his backyard in the Horizon League to the Big South.

Israel, a sophomore guard with Northern Kentucky University, announced his intention to transfer to Presbyterian College on April 18. Israel hit the transfer portal after his sophomore season in which he saw limited playing time compared to his freshman year.

Battling through injury, Israel played in just eight games in his sophomore campaign compared to 23 appearances as a freshman. He averaged 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds during his first year.

At Lloyd, Israel was one of the top players in Northern Kentucky. He scored 1,301 career points to go with 505 rebounds. He helped

Israel is one of many to hit the portal for the Norse in the offseason, joining Keeyan Itejere (transferred to Rhode Island), Randall Pettus II (transferred to Elon College), Cesar Tchilombo, Paulis Rapolis, Max Hyman and Hubertas Pivorious.

The Norse have added Tae Dozier (from Georgetown College), Kael Robinson (Montana State-Billings) and Shawn Nelson (Barton College) since the end of the season to go with incoming recruits J.J. Apathjang and Ryan Tolliver.

They’re expected to return Dan Gherezgher, L.J. Wells and possibly Sam Vinson, who is awaiting status on another year of eligibility via a medical redshirt. The way eligibility is getting handed out like candy these days by the NCAA, Vinson’s chances for one more year in Highland Heights are good.

Trey Robinson and Josh Dilling have exhausted their college eligibility.

Learn more about the foundation at oneshot.life.

Region’s archers compete in Lexington at state tournament Covington Catholic’s Will Sheets and Joe Mayer finished second and third during the Class 2A track and field meet in 2024. File photo | Silas Walker, Lexington Herald-Leader

Will Sheets, a state champion distance runner at Covington Catholic and Gatorade’s 2024-2025 Kentucky Boys Cross Country Player of the Year, will donate $1,000 he received for earning the player of the year title to the One Shot Foundation, a local nonprofit that advocates for heart safety (especially in sports) and AED distribution in public spaces.

Gatorade Players of the Year choose local nonprofits and charities to which to donate their awards.

“We are incredibly honored and grateful to Will for choosing to support our mission,” said Matthew Mangine, co-founder of the One Shot Foundation, in a release. “His donation will go directly toward expanding access to life-saving emergency equipment and training through our Take10 hands-only CPR and AED education program. Will is not only an elite athlete – he’s a young man who truly exemplifies what it means to lead by example.”

The Mangine family began the One Shot Foundation after their son, Matthew Mangine Jr., a student at St. Henry District High School, died after going into cardiac arrest at soccer practice in 2020.

“Since the foundation’s launch in 2021, the One Shot team has trained over 26,000 people in hands-only CPR, donated over $100,000 in medical emergency and training equipment and provided 100 AEDs to

Archers take aim at the KHSAA state archery tournament. Provided | KHSAA

The 2025 Operation UNITE Archery State Championship took place April 17 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington.

Ryle and Cooper were the boys teams to qualify, with the Ryle and Simon Kenton girls the teams that qualified out of NKY. Several individuals also competed.

Cooper’s boys finished 18th with a score of 1,942, Ryle’s boys in 21st with a 1,927 out of the 22-team field. Ryle’s girls were 13th with a 1,925, Simon Kenton’s girls tied for 17th with a 1,907 out of 22 teams.

The top local individuals in the boys competition were Cooper’s Kayson Stone in 16th with a 289, Cooper’s Brayden Nevels in 23rd with a 288, Highlands’ Marshall Anstaett in 64th with a 283 and Ryle’s James Kunert in 84th with a 282.

Top local individuals in the girls competition were Simon Kenton’s Cora Beth Mehltretter in 20th with a 286, Scott’s Lexus Goff in 32nd with a 284, Notre Dame’s Ava Boertlein in 60th with a 280, Ryle’s Abigail Jewell in 61st with a 280, Simon Kenton’s Anna Beth McCarty in 73rd with a 279, Ryle’s Prisha Shah in 79th with a 278, Ryle’s Amelia Whalen in 90th with a 277 and Ryle’s Molly Perez in 95th with a 277.

WE OFFER

CLASSIFIEDS AND HELP WANTED ADS Sponsored by

Ryle’s boys volleyball team took home the first LINK nky Team of the Week honors for the spring sports season. Provided | Ryle boys volleyball Facebook page

SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION 12 MAY 2, 2025

RYLE BOYS VOLLEYBALL

CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00012

CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00279

CASE NUMBER 22-CI-00848

DIVISION 1

DIVISION 1

DIVISION 2

NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING

WELLINGTON PLACE COUNCIL OF CO-OWNERS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

CITIZENS BANK, N.A.

VS.

VS.

COLLIN BAYNUM, ET AL.

ADAM J. CARR, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 3/11/2025

BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 3/10/2025

BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 5/13/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit:

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 5/13/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit:

114 Main Avenue, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076

10602 Christa Court, Alexandria, Kentucky 41001

Group No: 30632/A1

Group No: 70239/A13

PIDN: 999-99-21-668.00

PIDN: 999-99-36-247.01

VS. WILLIAM S. FULMER, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 3/28/2025

BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 5/13/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 8 Driftwood Court, Alexandria, Kentucky 41001 Group No: 70304/T2 PIDN: 999-99-24-042.00

CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00554

CASE NUMBER 19-CI-00918

DIVISION 2

DIVISION 1

CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC

DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE

VS.

VS.

ANDREA J. MARDIS, ET AL.

MAE MAYES AKA MAY MAYES, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 3/24/2025

BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR. To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 5/13/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 72 View Terrace Drive Suite 7, Southgate, Kentucky 41071

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 1/19/2021

BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

COMMISSIONER’S SALE CAMPBELL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 5/13/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 700 Smith Hiteman Road, Alexandria, Kentucky 41001

Group No: 41642/K2

Group No: 70123/Z

PIDN: 999-99-10-848.00

PIDN: 999-99-30-652.00

CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00493 DIVISION 2

HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST AND FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2005-SD1, ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES VS. SUSAN MOORE AKA SUSAN L. MOORE, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 3/24/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR. To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 5/13/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 502 Seventh Avenue, Dayton, Kentucky 41074 Group No: 41345/A4 PIDN: 999-99-09-623.00

THE COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS MORE PARTICULARLY SET OUT IN THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF SALE ENTERED IN THIS CASE. Subject to conditions, covenants, restrictions, right of ways and easements in existence, including but not limited to those in prior instruments of record; legal highways, and zoning ordinances.

SAID PROPERTY SHALL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO REAL ESTATE TAXES DUE AND OWING FOR THE YEAR OF SALE AND THEREAFTER PRIOR YEARS UNPAID TAXES SHALL BE PAID FROM THE PROCEEDS IF THE PURCHASER IS NOT THE PLAINTIFF. IF THE PURCHASER IS THE PLAINTIFF, PRIOR YEARS’ UNPAID TAXES SHALL BE PAID BY THE PLAINTIFF, IN FULL OR PRO RATA, PROVIDED THE SALE PURCHASE PRICE EXCEEDS THE COURT COSTS. THIS PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD TO PRODUCE THE SUMS OF MONEY SO ORDERED TO BE MADE IN THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF SALE ENTERED IN THE WITHIN CASE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO COURT COSTS, AD VALOREM TAXES, IN THE SUM OF $4,271.16; AND OTHER LIENS, INTEREST, ATTORNEY FEES AND/OR OTHER SUMS AND JUDGMENTS THAT MAY BE AWARDED BY THE COURT. THE SALE SHALL BE MADE TO THE HIGHEST AND BEST BIDDER(S). ANY PURCHASER OTHER THAN PLAINTIFF WHO DOES NOT PAY CASH IN FULL SHALL PAY 10% CASH AND SHALL BE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE A BOND AT THE TIME OF SALE, WITH SURETY ACCEPTABLE TO THE MASTER COMMISSIONER AND PRE-APPROVED BY THE MASTER COMMISSIONER AT LEAST BY NOON, TWO (2) BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE THE SALE DATE, TO SECURE THE UNPAID BALANCE OF THE PURCHASE PRICE, AND SAID BOND SHALL BEAR INTEREST AT THE RATE OF 12% PER ANNUM FROM THE DATE OF SALE UNTIL PAID, AND SHALL HAVE THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS A JUDGMENT AND SHALL REMAIN AND BE A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY UNTIL PAID THE BOND SURETY MUST BE PRESENT AT THE SALE AND EXECUTE SALE BOND AND THE AFFIDAVIT OF SURETY THE PURCHASER(S) SHALL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF PAYING ALL THE BALANCE OF THE PURCHASE PRICE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE THIRTY (30) DAY PERIOD. THE DEPOSIT SHALL BE WAIVED IF PLAINTIFF IS THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER. THE MASTER COMMISSIONER SHALL SELL THE REAL ESTATE BY PUBLIC SALE ON A DAY AND TIME TO BE FIXED BY HIM, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR OF THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY. BIDDERS MUST BE PREPARED TO COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS. THE COSTS OF THE SALE SHALL BE PAID WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS OF THE SALE.

CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00367 DIVISION 2

FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION VS. LINDA HODGE THOMAS, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 3/28/2025

BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR. To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 5/13/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 10100 Jefferson Street, California, Kentucky 41007 Group No: 70194/Z & 70196/A1 & 70196/A2 & 70196/Z & 70205/Z PIDN: 999-99-29-681.00 & 999-99-29-682.00

JOSEPH F. GRIMME, MASTER COMMISSIONER 859-291-9075

MAY 2, 2025 13

real estate

Villa Hills home with new renovation Address: 966 Riverwatch Drive, Villa Hills Price: $624,900 Bedrooms: Four Bathrooms: Three (plus one half bath) Square footage: 3,218 School district: Kenton County County: Kenton Special features: Built in 1984, this Villa Hills home has been fully renovated. It features new flooring, fresh paint and modern fixtures throughout. The upgraded kitchen boasts open shelving, stone backsplash and stainless appliances. The home offers a finished lower level with a bar, a private backyard with patio, first-floor laundry and a two-car garage.

An exterior view of this Villa Hills home. Photos provided | Varun Varma with Coldwell Banker Realty

A view of this home’s kitchen.

This home’s living room features a brick fireplace.

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

COOPERATIVE ONLINE REVERSE SALT AUCTION NOTICE TO BIDDERS The City of Southgate, in conjunction with the City of Berea, KY and the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) will be accepting unpriced technical proposals until 2:00PM ET on May 9, 2025 for a road salt reverse auction hosted by eBridge and scheduled for 11:00AM ET on May 20, 2025. Bidders may access the bid package by contacting eBridge at (502) 4911980 and electronically downloading it through the following link: https://applications. ebridgeprocurement.com/BidPackage/?ev=Berea-KLC\Salt_Auction

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

14 MAY 2, 2025

• AJ’s Towing & Recovery • Boone County Clerk • Campbell County Clerk’s Office • Campbell County District Court • 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

MAY 2, 2025 15

! s u ijo n

WINNER’S PARTY THURSDAY, MAY 8 TH | 5:30 | FULL THROTTLE ADRENALINE PARK Your ticket includes: 4 Axe Throwing - Show off your skills! 4 Go-Karting – Experience high-speed thrills!

4 Virtual Reality – Immerse yourself in next-level entertainment! 4 Delicious Food – Fuel up for the fun!

4 One Drink Ticket – Cheers to the winners! ALL ARE WELCOME!!

Like what you see and want to subscribe? Scan the QR code above 16 MAY 2, 2025