LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 3, Issue 26 - May 23, 2025

KENTON

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 26 — MAY 23, 2025

THE VOICE OF NKY

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Bomber pilot’s remains finally home from WWII

By Maggy McDonel

J

oe A. De Jarnette was killed in action on April 8, 1944. Eighty-one years later, the U.S. Army Air Force first lieutenant was brought home.

A Fort Thomas native, De Jarnette was 24 when an enemy fighter aircraft shot down his B-24H Liberator, named Little Joe, while he was on a bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany.

His niece, Virginia Justice, was only 4 years old when De Jarnette was shot down. “The only memory I have is when he came home from school, I guess maybe it was the last trip he made home before he was assigned overseas,” Justice said.

Airmen aboard other planes flying in formation with Little Joe did not report seeing anyone ejecting from the Little Joe before it crashed near Salzwedel, according to a report from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, known as the DPAA. The crash site could not be located by Allied forces during the war, and the remains of the 10 crewmembers were unaccounted for after the war.

After the family received news of his Continues on page 3

U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Joe A. De Jarnette, circled, with his crewmates. Provided | U.S. Army.

Appeals court overturns Boone judge: Ballots stay secret

By Nathan Granger

I

f you go to a county clerk’s office and make a public records request, can you examine ballots cast in an election?

A case moving through the Kentucky court system involving a Boone County resident aims to answer that question, and the most recent ruling in the case, made at the end of April by the Kentucky Court of Appeals, is a solid no, reversing a March 2024 ruling that such examinations are allowable.

It started on June 16, 2023, when Hebron resident Christine McLaughlin made an open records request with the Boone County Clerk’s office to inspect about 1,267 ballots from the May 2023 primary elec-

tion cast at seven county polling sites: the Petersburg Community Center, Burlington Elementary, the main branch of the Boone County Public Library, the Boone Links Golf Course Clubhouse, the Union Fire Station, Gray Middle School and Florence Elementary School. These sites spanned 10 voting precincts.

aegis of County Clerk Justin Crigler, denied her request on June 22, 2023. Crigler and his office cited six reasons for the denial, but the ones that would eventually take up the most time were arguments that allowing the inspection of the ballots would violate voters’ privacy and would corrupt the secrecy of the ballots.

The reason for this request is not outlined in the original records request. McLaughlin could not be reached directly, and her attorney, Brian Corneilson, declined to comment. Though it cannot be concluded with certainty, the tenor of the court documents suggests McLaughlin may have been worried about the integrity of the election.

Specifically, the clerk pointed to the section of Kentucky law, KRS 61.878, that blocks disclosure of records when “public disclosure thereof would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”

Additionally, they point to another portion of Kentucky law, KRS 118.025, which states that “voting in all primaries and elections shall be by secret paper ballot.”

The clerk’s office, then and still under the

Continues on page 5

Covington ‘cautious’ in planning budget p7 NKY needs housing; let’s talk about solutions p10 Levee hosts large murals by students from Miami U. p11

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Continued from page 1

plane’s being shot down, Justice said that her grandmother, De Jarnette’s mother, refused to believe it.

“To her, he really wasn’t dead,” Justice said.

“She said he had amnesia, and some good German family took him in, and that’s the way she dealt with it the rest of her life, until she died. So he never died, according to her.”

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That’s the way things stood with the family until this year, but the journey to finding De Jarnette and the rest of Little Joe’s crew began 10 years before.

Finding Little Joe In 2015, the DPAA got a hit on a site that they thought could have been the plane they were searching for.

Nicole Eilers, a historian who works with the agency and specifically worked on the Little Joe case, told LINK nky that they were originally tipped off about the site by a German research group. These groups have researchers and generally interested parties who, she said, “do research, and sometimes they take their metal detectors – not always legally, but, you know, that’s just the way it is – and sometimes these guys find possible leads and get in touch with us.”

In this case, the Missing Allied Aircrew Research Team reached out to the agency about the site. Eilers said they had to explain to the group that, “just because they think they might have found Little Joe doesn’t mean that we can put forth the resources to go out and dig because we are stewards of taxpayer funds, and you want to be pretty sure that it’s the right plane that you’re looking for before you go out and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to dig it up.”

Another obstacle is getting permission from the German farmers who own the site to dig up their land and making sure they were digging up a plane that had a missing crew, not one that had already been identified or had a surviving crew. “What makes this one a challenge is that a lot of our aircraft were shot down around the same time in that area,” Eilers said.

While the work started in 2015, it took years of research and a COVID delay before a team of investigators was able to make it out to the area in 2021. The trip, Eilers said, was supposed to be just a survey, but, in a happy surprise, the team found a piece of identification that confirmed the wreck was Little Joe. Crews began excavating the site in the summer of 2023; by November, they were able to recover the remains of the entire crew.

Fort Thomas native Lt. Joe A. De Jarnette. Provided by U.S. Army

The Little Joe, the B-24H Liberator bomber Joe A. De Jarnette and his crew were aboard when it was shot down in 1944. Provided | U.S. Army

“It’s a really big deal,” said Eilers. “It’s pretty exciting for everyone.”

This recovery brought missing family members home for 10 families.

“For the families, it’s everything,” said Eilers. “For those of us who work on them, the historians, the scientists, it was really, extremely emotional.”

Eilers said that, for the Little Joe crew in particular, there were a couple of families who were very involved over the years, and bringing their relatives home meant a lot to everyone involved.

“You don’t know if you’re going to find the remains until you find them,” Eilers said.

“When you can actually come full circle and be able to say, ‘I have good news, we did actually find them.’ It’s just … there’s no words to describe it.”

Bringing them home After the remains of missing service members are found, scientists from the DPAA use anthropological and dental analysis, and scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System use mitochondrial DNA analysis to make identifications.

which Justice said were unique for them.

“The funeral home had never had anything like this before,” Justice said. “They’ve had servicemen come back, but never anybody who had been deceased for 80 years. So it was quite an experience for them.”

Remembering Uncle Joe Before joining the military, Justice told LINK nky, De Jarnette attended Transylvania College in Lexington for three years, playing football and visiting home on the weekends. After three years in college, he left to join the military, starting as a private and eventually working his way up to lieutenant.

He was Little Joe’s pilot when it was shot down, and Justice said she still gets upset thinking about it. “That’s the one thing that really bothers me, is thinking here he was, seeing that other plane either coming at him or shooting at him, and knowing he was going to die.”

On April 17, De Jarnette’s remains landed at CVG and, following a ceremony, were escorted to the funeral home by members of Rolling Thunder, a motorcycle club made of service members.

For Justice, who was born in the same Fort Thomas home as De Jarnette and now lives in Southgate, her part began in July when she said she got a notice from the army, asking for samples of her DNA to test against remains they had found. In January, Justice said they finally got their answer to what happened to her uncle.

Because of her limited mobility, Justice was not able to go to the airport for the ceremony. Her caretaker went for her.

“We knew it had happened, but you didn’t get any proof of it,” Justice said. “It was just the army saying they knew his plane was shot down, and now we know that he’s at peace.”

On April 26, a funeral was held at the Dobbling, Muehlenkamp-Erschell Fort Thomas location. A burial ceremony with full military honors followed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Justice said working with the army has been a good experience. “They gave us a lovely book that is sometimes gruesome to look at, but it has lots of memories that are things that happened over there and everything,” she said.

De Jarnette’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands, along with others still missing from WWII. A rosette has been placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Since January, the family has been working to make arrangements for De Jarnette’s ceremony and interment. They chose to have his remains cremated and interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Erlanger.

Dobbling, Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home performed the funerary services,

Read the report

“She took a picture of the sun setting,” Justice said. “It was such a beautiful thing. And she said to me, ‘I think your uncle was saying, Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.’”

The full report from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on recovering Joe De Jarnette’s remains is available at bit.ly/dpaa-de-jarnette.

MAY 23, 2025 3

Zone change to make way for new Alexandria business

By Lillian Ramsey

T

he Campbell County Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve a proposed zoning change in Alexandria that could pave the way for a new small business in the city.

The residential site at 1030 Cooper Bain Road near Reiley Elementary School is owned by the May Twenty Trust. It includes a 500 square-foot house and a 4,500 square-foot attached garage. The proposal would change the zoning from residential to commercial.

“A zoning change will allow for growth of a local small business,” the May Twenty Trust said in a statement provided to the commission ahead of the May 13 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. “Owning the location will promote greater sense of pride and long-term financial stability.”

No one has not yet been identified to occupy the site, though the trust’s statement said the aim is to attract a small business that will contribute to the community.

Contractor David Barone said the site already meets all codes for both residential and commercial use. That includes a 24 foot-long concrete driveway. There is also a driveway and lot that Barone said corresponds to a parking lot that a small business would need at the front of the site.

An aerial view of the Alexandria site. Provided | Google maps

Justin Verst, county planning and zoning commission chair, pointed out that a “barndominium” – a home designed to look like a barn – was just built this year. He questioned why a zoning change would be requested so soon after what appears to be a single-family home was completed.

“Was it ever used as a residential site?”

Verst asked. “It just sounds a little fishy.”

Member Sharon Haynes said it seemed as though the May Twenty Trust is moving too quickly with the development of the site.

School Board was provided ahead of the meeting, which essentially said it had no comment about the proposed zoning change.

Concern over traffic at the site also was raised, but the May Twenty Trust said in its statement that it has a plan to ease any congestion the change might bring.

After some deliberation, the change was approved unanimously. The May Twenty Trust now must submit additional site plans. A final review of the development plan will determine whether or not it meets zoning standards.

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The Boone County Clerk’s Office, where public record requests can be made. Photo provided | Boone County Clerk’s Office Continued from page 1

About a month later, in July 2023, McLaughlin filed a petition with the Boone County Circuit Court challenging the clerk’s decision.

“If Boone County ballots currently violate the privacy and secrecy requirements of the law – or the mere inspection of the ballots would violate the law – then those problems pre-existed McLaughlin’s [records request], and those potential violations of law would increase, rather than decrease, the impetus for McLaughlin’s inspection of the ballots,” one section of the petition reads.

The petition concludes by requesting that the court reverse the clerk’s denial, order the clerk to notify McLaughlin when and how she could inspect the ballots, and finally order the clerk to pay for McLaughlin’s attorney’s fees as well as an extra $25 per day for every day past June 16, 2023.

Brueggemann: Inspecting ballots OK A long legal battle ensued that included multiple requests for hearings and summary judgements from the court, as well as a brief in defense of the clerk’s actions from the Kentucky Clerks’ Association, which argued “while Plaintiff’s desire to review cast

ballots may be laudable, it must yield to the rights of Kentucky voters, who have a federal and state constitutional right to cast a secret ballot, and to have their cast votes remain secret.

“If Kentucky voters know that their ballot may not, in fact, be secret – that others can learn who someone voted for – the entire point of having secret ballots would be defeated – and voters would be hesitant to cast ballots, knowing that they may be subject to reprisals for their political choices,” the association’s brief continued.

The Clerks’ Association worried that inspection of ballots, even if the individual ballots themselves did not contain any identifying information, might give someone the opportunity to essentially work backward to discern someone’s identity based on other available information.

“Cast ballots (which have bar codes) can be decoded, which would provide information to someone seeking to reverse engineer and determine how an individual cast his or her ballot,” the association’s brief reads.

The clerk’s office argued this was particularly true in precincts with low voter turnout, especially since voter sign-in logs were considered public records.

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McLaughlin argued that ballots, by definition of being secret, couldn’t contain personally identifiable information if they are in fact secret.

“Secrecy and personal information cannot co-exist on the same ballot,” McLaughlin’s team argues. “So if any of the Requested Ballots really have any personal information on them, in the barcodes or otherwise, then somebody probably violated the Kentucky Constitution, and at least one statute.”

McLaughlin’s team goes on to argue “the secrecy that makes the secret ballot secret is not the ballot, but the anonymity process, which ensures the voter’s name, date of birth, and home address, that are recorded in the Precinct Signature Register (aka Poll Book), are not present on the ballot.”

Finally, on March 7, 2024, Judge Richard Brueggemann ruled in McLaughlin’s favor, judging that ballots were, in fact, a form of public record that any resident could examine.

“A citizen should not be disparaged for seeking to verify the process of our elections,” Brueggemann wrote. “On the contrary, it is more likely an act worthy of praise. Under the Kentucky Open Records

Act, government agents have no monopoly on verifying the accuracy of the process.

Even if the Request were motivated by distrust, the solution is transparency, not secrecy. That is the whole point of the Open Records Act.” Appeals judge overturns The clerk’s office later that month took the case to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Over a year later, on April 25 this year, Appeals Judge Jacqueline Caldwell reversed the lower court’s decision.

Caldwell agreed with Brueggemann that cast ballots met the definition of a public record, but she largely agreed with the clerk’s argument that other available information could be used to discern the identity of voters.

“Regardless of whether many or only a few individual voters might be affected,” Caldwell wrote, “the vote cast by an individual is information of a personal nature, and any increase in the risk – however small – of ascertaining individual votes through open records inspection is unacceptable as public revelation of any individual vote would clearly be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”

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Continues on page 6

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MAY 23, 2025 5

Form OAG-01, June 2021

Continued from page 5

Caldwell continued, “while the public may not inspect cast ballots under the Open Records Act, the public may inspect other election records under the Open Records Act (such as video surveillance of election machines, voter sign-in rosters, and election poll books) and review election results publicly released by the State Board of Elections. Moreover, individuals who seek further involvement to help ensure that elections are conducted fairly can apply to serve as precinct election officers.”

Caldewell concluded, “in sum, the constitutionally enshrined secrecy of the ballot outweighs any public interest in allowing

inspection of cast ballots, especially since other election records are already available for public inspection.”

Jeff Mando, the attorney representing the clerk’s office in the case, characterized the judgement as a victory. “It’s a significant ruling because it upholds the sanctity of the ballot,” Mando said. “It lets everyone know that when they cast a ballot it will remain secret.”

Although Corneilson declined to comment on the specifics of the case or the ruling, he did say that he intended to request a rehearing in the appeals court to reconsider the case. The deadline to do so was May 15.

Form OAG-01, June 2021 Request to Inspect Public Records Pursuant to the Kentucky Open Records Act (“the Act”), Records KRS 61.870 et seq., the undersigned Request to Inspect Public requests to inspect the public records which are described below.

Pursuant to the Kentucky Open Records Act (“the Act”), KRS 61.870 et seq., the undersigned Requester’s contact requests to inspect the information. public records which are described below.

Name: Requester’s contact information.

Mailing Address: Name: E-mail Address (if applicable): Mailing Address: Records to be inspected: E-mail Address (if applicable): Records to be inspected:

Statement regarding the use of public records. KRS 61.870(4) defines “commercial purpose” as “the direct or indirect use of any part of a public record or records, in any form, for sale, resale, solicitation, of a records. service, orKRS any use by which the user expects a Statement regarding therent, useoroflease public 61.870(4) defines “commercial profit either through salary, or fee.”

However, purpose” does not purpose” as “the directcommission, or indirect use of any part of a public “commercial record or records, in any form, include publication or related use of the record by use a newspaper by a for sale,the resale, solicitation, rent, or lease of apublic service, or any by which or theperiodical, user expects a radio television station in its news or informational program, or by use in the prosecution profit or either through commission, salary, or fee.” However, “commercial purpose” does not or defense of litigation by the parties to such an action or their attorney. include the publication or related use of the public record by a newspaper or periodical, by a radio or television station in its news or informational program, or by use in the prosecution This request (choose by one): or defense of is litigation the parties to such an action or their attorney.

[This ] NOT for aiscommercial purpose; or request (choose one): [ ] FOR a commercial purpose. [ ] NOT for a commercial purpose; or regardingpurpose. residency. I further state that I am a resident of Kentucky [Statement ] FOR a commercial because I am (please check one): Statement regarding residency. I further state that I am a resident of Kentucky [ ] An individual residing the Commonwealth; or because I am (please checkin one): [ ] A domestic business entity with a location in the Commonwealth; or A foreign business entity with the Kentucky Secretary of State; or [[ ]] An individual residing in registered the Commonwealth; or Andomestic individual that isentity employed works at location within the or Commonwealth; or [[ ]] A business withand a location in athe Commonwealth; Anforeign individual or business entity thatwith owns real propertySecretary within the or [[ ]] A business entity registered the Kentucky of Commonwealth; State; or An individual individual that or business entityand thatworks has been authorized to act onCommonwealth; behalf of an [[ ]] An is employed at a location within the or or business entity listed or real property within the Commonwealth; or [individual ] An individual or business entityabove; that owns A news-gathering organization defined in KRS 189.635(8)(b)1a. e. of an [[ ]] An individual or business entityasthat has been authorized to act onto behalf individual or business entity listed above; or Date: [Signature: ] A news-gathering organization as defined in KRS 189.635(8)(b)1a. to e.

Signature:

Date:

Pursuant to KRS 61.876(4), the Office of Attorney General has promulgated by administrative regulation this form. See 40 KAR 1:040.

People cast their votes on Election Day 2024. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

Pursuant to KRS 61.876(4), the Office of Attorney General has promulgated by A records request form for Kentucky. Provided | ky.gov administrative regulation this form. See 40 KAR 1:040.

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Covington budget: ‘We want to be cautious’

By Nathan Granger

C

ovington kicked off its budget talks May 10, with Mayor Ron Washington and City Manager Ken Smith urging a “status quo” approach as economic uncertainty looms.

“With the current uncertainty of our federal government, there’s a lot of rumors or whatever that’s in the community,” Washington told the other meeting attendees at the beginning of the meeting, “and what you’re going to be listening to is a budget, a status quo budget.”

“We think we want to be cautious,” Smith said.

City commissioners and the city’s department heads also attended the meeting.

Smith emphasized that the budget, in spite of the aforementioned caution, was a living document, and the city would have a better idea of what the future holds after the first quarter. As such, department heads could still request things to be added to their budgets.

The budget’s most prominent section is the general fund, largely paid for with tax revenue. The city saw the general fund slide into shortfall during the COVID pandemic.

Although the city’s most recent financial audit indicated the deficit was closing, Covington is still relying on reallocated COVID-19 emergency funding to fill the gap. The city has about a year and a half’s worth of such funding remaining, and it is banking on economic development to solve the problem long-term.

Even if the city passed a 4% property tax increase, budget projections from the city’s finance department predicted a decline in property tax. Other predicted declines included city franchise fees, often collected from utility and telecommunications companies, and various other forms of nontax revenue.

On the other hand, payroll taxes, which supply the largest chunk of general fund revenue, and net profits taxes were predicted to increase.

Increases in predicted general fund expenditures were largely the result of typical year-over-year increases in expenses for maintaining city services, rather than large scale changes, according to the city’s budget director, Brandy Ott. Some requests from department heads could increase city expenditures.

One was a request from Economic Development Director Tom West for a dedicated development director for the former IRS site development. That person would oversee attracting new buyers and developers to the development’s remaining plots and ensure legal compliance. West pointed out that the department had been gradually reducing its budget for several years and emphasized the development’s importance for the city’s overall health.

Covington is hoping results from the first quarter of 2025 will bring more certainty about next year’s city budget. Provided | Horizon Community Funds

“It’s a lot to take on,” West said. “We’ve got a lot more down there still that needs to be done. We want to make sure that we maintain that momentum, and having this person do that would be a big help.”

West asked for $82,326 to cover that position, a figure the mayor thought was too low, given the economic importance of the site. A higher salary would probably be needed to attract qualified candidates, Washington argued.

Finally, the fire department is seeking about $1 million. The largest portions would create a training chief position and add a single safety officer to Fire Rescue Truck 1, which is currently staffed with only two firefighters.

No final decisions were made at the meeting. The city was to continue planning at a May 17 meeting, and commissioners will need to adopt a new budget before July 1.

The commission can make amendments to the budget throughout the year as circumstances dictate.

Other higher-ticket requests included roughly $530,000 from the police department for a Flock traffic camera system, a police social worker, a police drone program and a reshuffling of the labor structure for Devou Park’s rangers.

The HR department asked for just over $51,000 for a specialist to manage its computerized (and underused, according to Director Cindy Lewis) back end system. Lewis said this would also bolster other key departments, including the finance department.

The IT Department indicated the contract with Altafiber for the city’s free Wi-Fi program, Covington Connect, was set to expire April 1, 2026. The department initially asked for just over $100,000 to keep the program going. After some discussion, however, the attendees indicated an interest in reorganizing the program and possibly cutting costs with help from community business partners.

The Public Works Department asked for about $64,000 for various expenditures, the largest of which was a $24,000 increase in the salary for one of the department’s veterans, whom Public Works Director Keith Bales and the city manager characterized as a kind of de-facto city engineer, a position the city hasn’t had in years.

MAY 23, 2025 7

kenton county briefs Summit Hills unveils revamped golf course after 7-year renovation

with its increased teeing surface allowing for more players. In addition, Ford believes the expanded driving range can be used as a recruiting tool for the club.

“They (members) want to practice, whether they have the time to play a full run or not,” he said. “You know, everybody is showing that the practice facilities are a major component to any club, and when people are wanting to join, that’s what they’re looking for.”

Summit Hills Country Club’s golf course. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

Thousands of members have graced the greens at Summit Hills Country Club since its opening in 1929. The Crestview Hillsbased club, at 236 Dudley Pike, has retained generations of members.

On May 9, Summit Hills Board President Matthew Ford stood in the club’s courtyard, welcoming old and new members alike as he announced the completion of seven years of significant renovations to the club’s grounds.

“We had the vision for this a few years ago, and it’s finally come to fruition,” Ford said.

The large crowd at the announcement party watched as several generations of members launched ceremonial tee shots into the air to commemorate the course’s reopening.

In 2018, Summit Hills’ leadership launched a plan to reinvigorate the club’s golf course and clubhouse, among other things. What transpired was a seven-year, nearly $11 million project. Ford said the club hadn’t undergone any major changes since 1999.

“We’ve done quite a bit over the last seven years,” Ford explained. “We’ve broken up into phases, and this was our third phase.

It was a pretty big one. This one was mainly all about the golf course, which is the lifeblood of the club.”

The project’s signature aspect was the course reconfiguration. Summit Hills removed two holes – No. 4 and No. 5 – and replaced them with the expanded driving range. Instead, the club opted for two new holes: a new par three and a par four. Other key parts of the course revamp are the upgraded drainage system and improved sand traps and greens.

Next came the expansion of the driving range and practice facilities. Ford said the range was too small, with room for only six to seven players at a time. The project expanded the scope of the driving range, 8 MAY 23, 2025

permission for a city-issued phone or laptop to use for access to her official email address. She explained that her phone lacks the storage for new applications and that she uses a shared computer.

The awards add to Wenzel’s growing list of accolades. Just this year, it’s won the titles of Best Kentucky Finished Bourbon and World’s Best Finished Bourbon for its sherry-finished bourbon at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards.

Councilmember Gloria Grubbs said the city has been unable to contact Owen by phone.

Elsmere Police Chief Russell Wood added that he received no response when he visited her residence.

Elsmere adds charge against Serena Owen, reschedules hearing

The six original charges against Owen remain unchanged in Resolution 8-2025.

After reading the updated charging document, Attorney Jeff Otis recommended that council reschedule Owen’s removal hearing to a later date. The original date, May 27, would give Owen insufficient time to prepare her documents and defenses, he said.

Ford said the course remained open during construction. The revamped golf course officially reopened for members on May 10.

The council voted unanimously to schedule the hearing at 6 p.m. June 4 in the Elsmere City Building.

At the ceremony, Summit Hills General Manager Gary Behan described the feeling as pure excitement.

Fort Wright council votes to demolish civic club building

“It’s a long time coming,” he said. “I’ve been here six years, and we started all this six years ago, and this was part of the plan.

This [ceremony] is the finishing touch.”

For Ford, the project was the culmination of years of collaboration between the club’s long-range planning committee, competition committee and key stakeholders.

“We still have other projects with our longrange planning committee that we’re looking at in the future, but this one, getting the course where it needed to be, and the investment we’re making of that was extremely important to us, because we know that’s what attracts people to Summit Hills.”

Wenzel Whiskey wins multiple gold medals at spirits competition

In total, Ford said Summit Hills spent approximately $4.2 million on the project’s third phase, which included reconfiguring the course, irrigation system and driving range. Cincinnati-based Brian Huntley served as the project’s architect while Aspen Golf of Daniels, West Virginia, conducted the renovations.

According to Ford, one of the most pressing needs was the irrigation system, which he said could not water key parts of the 18-hole course, leading to dryness and increased maintenance costs. Now, the system features 18 miles of underground irrigation infrastructure. On the surface, Summit Hills added over 1,000 new sprinkler heads, increasing the system’s coverage to the entire course.

ble Gold,” distillery partner Austin Dunbar said in a release. “To us, it isn’t just a medal – it’s a message. Wenzel is here and we’re serious about the craft. These awards aren’t just a win for our team – they’re a win for Covington, for our region and for everyone who’s believed in what we’re building at Wenzel.”

Serena Owen nameplate. Provided | WCPO

Elsmere City Council added a new misconduct charge against Councilmember Serena Owen at a special meeting on May 8. The council also rescheduled Owen’s removal hearing to June 4.

Elsmere previously charged Owen with six counts of woeful neglect and misconduct at a special hearing on April 29. The updated resolution adds a seventh count of misconduct against Owen for allegedly using city money May 2 to make a purchase with the Kentucky League of Cities without the mayor’s authorization and consent.

The special meeting was held after Owen sent an email May 6 to Mayor Marty Lenhof and council members. In it, Owen stated that she was unaware of the April 29 meeting and requested surveillance footage of the council chamber between 4 and 9 p.m. of all special meetings held from January up to May 6.

One of the original charges against Owen holds that she directed city staff to delete photos of her attendance at an April public event. Responding to the charge in her email, Owen explained that she and another community member were asked if they agreed to have their photo posted to social media after the photo had been taken.

Some of Wenzel Whiskey’s offerings. Provided | Wenzel Whiskey

Covington-based distiller Wenzel Whiskey announced May 8 it has won multiple gold medals at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The distillery’s Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey won the prestigious Double Gold Medal while its Barrel Proof Wheated Bourbon won a gold medal.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition again this year with our first awarded Dou-

“We wanted written documentation that we did not agree with that since we had been harassed and attacked on social media,” Owen wrote in the email. “So we emailed [Deputy Clerk Lauren] Frantum and asked if she would please crop us out of the photo before posting it on social media or sharing it with others. Neither one of us directed her to delete the photo from anything.”

Owen also addressed another charge, regarding her failure to create a valid email address for official city communications.

In the email, she requested the mayor’s

Due to safety concerns, Fort Wright City Council voted to demolish the city’s vacant civic club. The vote declared an emergency to expedite demolition.

The city acquired the Fort Wright Civic Club property at 15 Kennedy Road in September 2023, and the building has not operated as a Civic Club since then. Kenton County had been using the building as a polling location before the most recent election.

Environmental science, engineering and consulting firm Verdantas assessed the property for accessibility and functionality in the summer of 2024. They found black mold, issues with the HVAC and electrical systems, a threat of roof collapse and other problems.

After Verdantas presented the results of its assessment, Kenton County stopped using the building as a polling location.

City council has been discussing how the city should repurpose the Fort Wright Civic Club property for over a year. It has come to the conclusion that, in order to make the best use of it, the building should be demolished. “The best thing we can do is to tear the building down while we figure out what to do next,” Fort Wright Mayor Dave Hatter said.

Council members have spoken about wanting to preserve the club’s historic and community value for generations to come, even if they can’t save the building.

“We will want to save the cornerstone or something,” Hatter said. “The Fort Wright Civic Club led us to where we are today.

Many of the city’s founders were members.”

The council voted unanimously at a May 7 meeting to declare an emergency and proceed with the demolition. Council member

kenton county briefs Margie Witt asked about the demolition timeline.

“We’re trying to expedite it, but we don’t currently have a timeline,” City Administrator Jill Cain Bailey said.

Independence swears in new K-9 officer Pac

He will be his handler’s nose and ears, protecting and serving his handler, fellow officers and citizens.

The Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office donated the funds for Pac from drug seizure money. Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders attended Pac’s swearing-in. He said Independence joins Fort Mitchell and Covington in providing canine support.

“We look forward to working with this team and bringing on even more canine teams to Kenton County using those seized drug funds,” Sanders said.

Covington votes on plans for revamped city council, mayor K-9 Pac being sworn in at the Independence meeting on May 6. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

Independence swore in a new K-9 member of its police force on May 6. Pac will assist his handler, Independence Police Officer Ryan Jones.

According to the city, Pac has been trained and possesses the qualifications required for a K-9 police dog for the city of Independence. His duties will include finding lost children and fugitives on the run, and finding drugs and weapons when called upon.

Love the Cov sign. Provided | Sam Greenhill via City of Covington

Covington’s new government structure is beginning to take shape after the city commission heard the first concrete recom-

mendations from the city’s committee on government transition.

Covington voters approved the transition from a city manager government to a mayor-council government through a ballot initiative in November. The recommendations, which were presented to commissioners May 6 by Sebastian Torres, director of external affairs, come following a period of public comment, which included both in-person public forums and online surveys.

The committee recommended the following: • Six council seats.

• Non-partisan elections.

• Primary elections for council seats if 13 or more candidates run.

• At-large council representation, meaning seats would represent the city as a whole, rather than particular districts for wards.

• City-issued laptops and phones for council members.

• A vehicle or transportation stipend, plus health care benefits and a retirement plan for mayors.

• An annual council member’s salary of $17,787.15.

• An annual mayor’s salary of $95,335.76.

aries for officials in Covington’s peer cities – cities of similar size. Torres said the peer cities used for comparison are Independence and Erlanger due to their proximity to Covington, as well as Florence, Georgetown, Elizabethtown and Hopkinsville, as these cities are the largest cities in the commonwealth that have a mayor-council government.

Besides the proposed changes in compensation, new council members would receive neither health care nor retirement benefits; they do under the current form.

Health care costs for current commissioners, including the mayor, cost the city about $74,000 a year.

The commission will perform a first reading of the ordinances to establish these new policies at its legislative meeting next week.

The committee’s recommendations state that council member and mayoral salary recommendations were based on the sal-

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MAY 23, 2025 9

community conversation

NKY has more people than homes. Now what?

By Meghan Goth

A

recent housing study found that Northern Kentucky needs more than 6,600 new housing units in the next five years in order to keep up with workforce needs.

But … how?

Many people have many ideas, but at the end of the day, said Tara Johnson-Noem, “it’s not going to be a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.”

The executive director of the Northern Kentucky Area Development District worked with people across the region to come up with a report released this year that offers a menu of options that communities can use to find solutions that work for them.

Our next Community Conversation, scheduled for June 12, delves into some of the solutions that leaders across the region have tried and how other people can put these ideas into place in their communities.

We hold our Community Conversation events in conjunction with the publication of our bimonthly super issues in print, which are mailed to every household in Northern Kentucky. The topics for the super issue and the corresponding Community Conversation are the same, and the event is intended to be a live, in-person version of a news story that allows audience members to ask questions and interact with the panelists.

versations, making sure to stay focused on positive solutions and ideas that could benefit the wider community. At the housing event, you’ll hear from:

• Maggie Whitfield, an elementary school teacher who purchased a home in Newport through a program run by local housing nonprofit Neighborhood Foundations.

• Margery Spinney, who co-founded Renting Partnerships with Carol Smith in Cincinnati. The nonprofit helps renters build financial equity through resident participation in community management – all while keeping rents low.

The event is free, but we ask that those interested RSVP so we can make sure we have enough seats. If you want to watch but can’t make it to the in-person event, you can also watch live on our Facebook page.

Representatives from organizations across the region that provide housing help and resources will be on hand for you to ask questions and take information with you that night.

• Eric Jackson, an NKU history professor, who will talk about the history of zoning in Northern Kentucky, how that has led us to some of the struggles we are dealing with now, and share ideas about how changes to zoning could help make way for more local housing.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

For the June 12 event, we invited people who share interesting, creative solutions they’ve seen or led for solving our housing shortage. You can arrive as early as 5 p.m. to the Erlanger branch of the Kenton County Public Library to peruse these resources, then the program starts at 6 p.m.

Media personality and former WCPO anchor Evan Millward moderates our con-

What to Know If You Go • What: LINK nky Community Conversation on housing.

• When: Thursday, June 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Where: Erlanger branch, Kenton County Public Library, 401 Kenton Lands, Erlanger.

• In person: RSVP at https://bit.ly/ link-housing-rsvp.

• Watch online: Go to facebook.com/ events/1755714822034396.

• Anthony Bradford, founder and principal of A.M. Titan. The real estate development company was founded in 2015 to restore neglected and blighted properties. You’ll hear how Bradford has invested in communities by both building new developments and restoring blighted buildings.

DIVISION I

DIVISION I

COURT CASE NO.: 24-CI-01821

COURT CASE NO.: 24-CI-01508

KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION

KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION

VERSUS}

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, JUNE 12, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 29 ORCHARD DRIVE FLORENCE, KY 41042 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 061.26-24-013.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $93,586.34 GROUP NO.: 568

DIVISION III COURT CASE NO.: 24-CI-01566 KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VERSUS} MADISON E. PAUL, ET AL By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered APRIL 23, 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, JUNE 12, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 32 NEW URI AVENUE FLORENCE, KY 41042 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 061.18-24-035.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $203,617.64 GROUP NO.: 176

MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

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

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

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

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

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

10 MAY 23, 2025

BERNADETTE MARIE DUNLAP, ET AL By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered APRIL 15, 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, JUNE 12, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 424 MARIAN LANE UNIT 3 FLORENCE, KY 41042 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 074.00-12-012.03 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $138,945.99 GROUP NO.: 3873

DIVISION I COURT CASE NO.: 13-CI-00301 WELLS FARGO BANK, NA VERSUS} JOHN D. GOOCH, ET AL By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JUNE 18, 2013 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, JUNE 12, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 2729 BENJAMIN LANE HEBRON, KY 41048 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 036.00-12-010.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $156,843.70 GROUP NO.: 4272

Miami students’ murals on display at Levee

By Haley Parnell

M

iami University’s first mural class has ended with towering panels of color on display at Newport on The Levee.

Last fall, 15 students at Miami University participated in the Department of Art’s debut mural class. During the semesterlong course, they learned the ins and outs of creating a mural while gaining hands-on experience in producing large-scale public art. The works they created are now on display in the alley next to Brothers Bar & Grill.

The students collaborated with Levee staff to incorporate nods to the community throughout their work. Students, university faculty, Newport officials and Levee staff unveiled the works at a May 9 ribbon cutting.

Riley Johnson, a Miami University junior, is one of the artists in the project. He said the class was a great experience because they got to be the inaugural bunch, work in a large group and collaborate to bring their art to the public.

“The whole process, from start to finish, is very rewarding,” Johnson said. “We got to see people jump into where they felt like they could contribute the best. People designing, coming up with ideas, coloring, the actual painting process, installation – everything from start to finish. I think we really created something that will last a long time, not only at Newport on the Levee but at Miami University.”

Miami University students and faculty, Newport officials and Levee staff unveiled the murals during a ribbon cutting May 9. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

Michael Stillion, an associate professor at Miami, spoke at the ribbon cutting about the process for creating the murals at the university’s main campus in Oxford, Ohio, and then displaying them in Newport. The class met over seven weeks, twice a week for three-hour periods. Stillion said the murals were painted on a durable, flexible surface. He said the students had about 14 to 16 days to complete the pieces.

“This is a very impressive accomplishment,” Stillion said. “It was a whirlwind of activity that was full of energy and immense focus that ended in a beautiful environment.”

Julia Guichard, associate dean of Miami’s College of Creative Arts, said that, once the ball got rolling on the collaboration with the Levee, the university realized it could be a class that would give students real-world experience, help them develop their artistic voices and literally leave their mark.

“I appreciate all these individuals that have taken time and spent all this effort to do this in a unique way,” he said. “I love the idea that they were able to do this in studio and a classroom, so they didn’t have to deal with the elements and being in the rain or the heat, and the quality of the project is demonstrated through that.”

“This is the first ever mural class in the department of art at Miami University. That, in itself, is a milestone, but, more than that, it is a model for collaboration between artists, educators, students and community partners,” Guichard said. “It shows what’s possible when we come together with imagination and openness.”

Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. said having public art throughout the community is something the city cares about.

One of the student-created murals pn display at Newport on The Levee. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

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MAY 23, 2025 11

sports Former Cooper coach Sullivan heads to St. Henry

available to fans as well, and plenty were seen around Truist Arena during the region tournament when the Jaguars took down Highlands, Covington Catholic and Lloyd Memorial to claim the title. An online petition had over 3,000 signatures to keep Sullivan at Cooper.

Tim Sullivan will be the next coach of the St. Henry boys’ basketball program. Provided | Charles Bolton

After not having any shoes to fill, Tim Sullivan has some pretty big shoes to fill.

The former Cooper boys’ basketball coach was named the new St. Henry boys’ basketball coach on May 14. He replaces Dave Faust, who stepped down from the position in April.

Sullivan had been with Cooper since the school’s opening in 2008, winning 298 games. He guided the Jaguars to two state tournament runs, in 2017 and last season.

In 2017, they drove all the way to the state championship game and finished runner-up to Bowling Green. Last season, they reached the quarterfinals before falling to eventual state champion Great Crossing.

On top of the two region titles, the program has won nine district titles in the competitive 33rd District.

Prior to Cooper’s run to Rupp, the headlines weren’t so much about the team’s success as about the head coach’s future. On March 3, Sullivan’s wife, Andrea, announced on Facebook that, in a meeting in January with Principal Mike Wilson, Sullivan’s coaching contract would not be renewed for the next season. According to her post, Sullivan was given a choice: resign or face nonrenewal.

The post further alleges that Sullivan was facing nonrenewal due to his lack of “urgency to improve the culture of the program.” The team rallied around its head coach, as did the community.

During the region tournament, the team wore “Free Sully” shooting shirts that were

Cooper’s Feb 26 defeat of Boone County in the 33rd District tournament was Sullivan’s 300th career victory. He won seven games when he was the head coach at St. Patrick in Maysville from 2004-05. Sullivan has also held assistant positions at Mason County and Holmes.

On April 30, Sullivan was informed by Principal Mike Wilson and Athletic Director Randy Borchers that his coaching contract would not be renewed. Boone County Superintendent Jeff Hauswald upheld the decision. Sullivan appealed the decision and had a hearing May 12.

Cooper hasn’t addressed the issue with the media and refrained from comment despite multiple requests. The Jaguars will now have a head coach opening for the boys’ program, but nothing has been posted on the KHSAA open jobs site or the Boone County schools website.

At St. Henry, Sullivan takes on a program that has established itself over the years, but struggled as of late with just one trip to the region tournament since 2022. The Crusaders have won 10 All “A” titles in the 9th Region and three All “A” state titles along with a 9th Region title in 2003.

commonwealth based on their times in the track and field season, regardless of class, region or any designation. It took place May 3 at St. Xavier High School in Louisville.

Walton-Verona’s Aaron Gutman has committed to the University of Evansville. Provided | Charles Bolton

ing this season with 23.3 points per game, doing so efficiently as he hit a shade under 50% of his shots from the field (49.8%), knocked down 67 three-pointers and 64% of his free throw attempts. He led the team in rebounds with 6.9 per game as he helped lead the Bearcats to a 21-13 record and the 8th Region semifinals.

He finished his Bearcat career with 2,050 points, including 143 three-pointers, and 675 rebounds. The point total record was held by Lloyd Poore for nearly 70 years, set in 1958. Gutman was selected as the Co-KABC Player of the Year in the 8th Region this past season, along with Woodford County’s Armelo Boone, a Western Kentucky University commit. Gutman also made the 8th Region All-Region team and 8th Region All-Tournament team.

At 6-foot-7 and with his ability to stretch the floor with his jumper, Gutman was an under-the-radar recruit that could certainly move his game well to the next level.

St. Henry graduates six seniors from this past season’s team that went 7-19, but it’s expected to return four core players who played in at least 24 games.

He’ll join an Evansville team coming off an 11-21 season and a first round exit in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.

The Purple Aces finished tied for eighth in regular season conference play, going 8-12.

Walton-Verona’s Gutman commits to Evansville

CovCath’s Sheets wins in 4th fastest Kentucky Dream Mile

Walton-Verona’s all-time leading boys’ basketball scorer has found his next home.

The Bearcats’ Aaron Gutman on X recently announced his commitment to the University of Evansville.

While Kentucky was celebrating the fastest two minutes in sports with the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Covington Catholic’s Will Sheets was gearing up for Kentucky’s Dream Mile, a one-mile race for the fastest high school distance runners in the state.

The Dream Mile is an annual showcase for the top 16 boys and girls runners in the

Gutman led Northern Kentucky in scor-

In a super fast boys’ race, Sheets prevailed late to win. He finished with a PR time of 4:07.23, the fourth fastest ever at the Dream Mile. Nearly halfway through the race, Sheets was sitting outside the top 10 and then surged to the front. Cooper’s Paul Van Laningham, the 2024 Class 3A state champion in cross country, and Sheets’ teammate Joe Mayer also qualified for the race.

Van Laningham finished fourth with a time of 4:10.31, Mayer 10th at 4:17.13. Van Laningham’s time ranked eighth all-time in the race’s history and also a PR for him. The top four times from Sheets, Collegiate’s Roman Sierpina, Thomas Nelson’s Riku Sugie and Van Laningham were four of the top eight times in the Dream Mile’s history.

Sugie was the 2024 race winner.

The win adds to Sheets’ impressive high school career running resume. He’s a 2025 indoor state champion in the 3,200 meters, he finished runner-up in the 1,600 and 3,200 in the 2024 Class 2A state track and field meet, runner-up in the 2024 Class 2A state cross country meet and also runner-up in the 2024 Class 2A indoor track and field meet in the 1,500 and 800 meters. In 2023, he won the Class 3A track and field 3,200-meter race. In 2022, he won the Class 3A state cross country meet.

In the girls race, Beechwood’s Lily Parke and Campbell County’s Olivia Holbrook finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Parke ran in a time of 4:55.38, Holbrook at 4:55.83.

Lexington Catholic’s Caroline Beiting won in a time of 4:49.48.

Covington Catholic’s Will Sheets won the Kentucky Dream Mile in Louisville on May 3. File photo | Charles Bolton

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obituaries

Dr. Meliah Blair, 30, veterinarian with adventurous spirit

Gary Robert Averdick, 72, ran business after sales career

D

G

r. Meliah Blair, of Newport and formerly of Ft. Mitchell, passed away unexpectedly May 11 at her home. She was

ary Robert Averdick, 72, died peacefully April 20 with his family at his side.

30.

Mr. Averdick grew up in Lookout Heights, the son of Bob and Esther Sommerkamp Averdick. The area then was largely fields, woods and houses under construction. A creek, pond and penny candy store helped to make it the perfect setting for this all-American boy.

Dr. Blair was the lead veterinarian at Lawrenceburg Veterinary Clinic, where she was deeply respected by her colleagues and clients alike. Her professional passions included radiology, ultrasound, surgery and overall wellness care for animals.

Mr. Averdick loved finding frogs, turtles and other wildlife, which he sometimes put in his mother’s laundry tubs – delaying her housework until the creatures could be relocated. From early on, his fun-loving ways caused him to have many buddies for life’s adventures.

She was an eclectic soul – brilliant, silly, kind, compassionate and full of laughter. Dr. Blair loved Renaissance fairs, landscaping and reading. She had a flair for fashion and, though stylish and social, she was secretly a proud nerd. She found deep joy in her furry companions, Hattie B, a loyal golden retriever, and Figgy, her beloved cat.

Born Jan. 9, 1995, in Edgewood, Dr. Blair was the youngest child of Don and Sue Blair. She was a 2013 graduate of Beechwood High School, went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in biology from Northern Kentucky University and completed her doctorate of veterinary medicine at Auburn University in 2021.

Her intelligence and curiosity took her around the world – from China to Switzerland, Italy and France – but she always returned home to Kentucky, where she has made a lasting impact.

She had dreams of someday living in southern Europe, a reflection of her adventurous spirit.

In addition to her parents, Dr. Blair is survived by siblings, Jay (Anna) Blair, Cassie (Manny) Adams and Nathaniel

(Kimberly) Blair; 12 nieces and nephews; and many extended family members in Wisconsin. She also leaves behind her dear friend Kaitlin (Dylan) Lawless and a wide circle of friends, colleagues and clients who will deeply miss her competitive spirit and loving guidance.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Robert and Patricia Blair, and her maternal grandfather, Richard Kremer.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m.

May 30 at Mansion Hill Sanctuary in Newport. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Angel Fund at Lawrenceburg Veterinary Clinic through https://paymnt.io/0ywi97. Remembrances and condolences can be left at linnemannfuneralhomes. com/obituary/dr-meliah-marie-blair.

Mr. Averdick’s natural athletic abilities led him to play defensive back for Covington Catholic’s football team. He was also on the school’s track team, running barefoot in practice on the Latonia Race Course track.

After graduation, Mr. Averdick worked as a cement finisher for Trumble Construction. A sales career followed. He was affiliated with Knights of Columbus Insurance, Nautavac and Reunion Coffee of Toronto, Canada. He later enjoyed operating his own company, Averdick Field Stone in Campbell County, followed by working for Western Hills Builders Supply.

Mr. Averdick instilled a love of life in all his family and countless friends. He was a spiritual man who was in Alcoholics Anonymous for 36 years. He was a caring sponsor for many.

Mr. Averdick raised two children with his first wife, Deborah Fox Averdick

Reimer. He and his second wife, Elise Nunn Averdick, raised and showed Rocky Mountain horses.

Mr. Averdick was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Capt. Bill Averdick, and many friends. He is survived by his daughters, Holly Averdick and Heather Averdick Wagner (Doug Wagner); brothers Mike (John Gerwe), Steve (Ruth Appel Averdick) and Joe (Liz Lavandero Averdick); grandchildren, Noah and Crosley Wagner, as well as many nieces, nephews and dear friends. His dog, Shady, and cat, Luna, mourn his absence.

The family would like to express its deep appreciation to the caregivers at the St. Elizabeth Cancer Center for their attentive and loving care.

Services have been held. Memorials are suggested to Promises Inc. Alcoholism Treatment Program, 116 W. Ninth St., Newport, KY 41071. Middendorf Funeral Home handled arrangements.

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Charming Park Hills home near Devou Park Address: 1058 Emerson Road, Park Hills Price: $659,000 Bedrooms: Three Bathrooms: Three (plus one half-bath) Square feet: 2,728 School district: Kenton County County: Kenton Special features: Tucked away on a cul-desac next to Devou Park, this updated 1928 home blends character and comfort. Features include a 2022 composite deck, finished basement, upgraded backyard with fire pit and stone steps, breakfast nook, built-ins, new heat pump and new appliances.

This Park Hills home sits on a quiet cul-de-sac. Photo provided | Aaron Smith with eXp Realty, LLC

The front entryway of this home shows off some of its historic charm.

A view of this home’s backyard and deck.

Kentucky now allows for Public Notices to be published digitally on LINK nky’s website.

You can find public notices for the following organizations on our site at https://linkreader.column.us/search

-PUBLIC NOTICECampbell County First District 6 will be holding elections for the district board on June 28th from 11am-2pm at the Melbourne Fire Department 912 Mary Ingles Hwy Melbourne, KY 41059.

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14 MAY 23, 2025

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SUDOKU

Edited

by Weekly Margie E. Burke The Crossword

Difficulty: Easy

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Edited by Margie E. Burke

Copyright 2025 by The Puzzle Syndicate

HOW TO SOLVE:

2 8

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Answer to Previous Sudoku:

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HOW TOback SOLVE: 14 1 Flows

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14 Romance novel-

9 3 6 4 5 8 7 1 2

3

by Margie E. Burke

4

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MAY 23, 2025 15

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.

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