LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 3, Issue 45 - October 10, 2025

KENTON

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 45 — OCTOBER 10, 2025

THE VOICE OF NKY

linknky.com

Report: Entrepreneurs key local economic driver

By Kenton Hornbeck

F

ollowing the recent opening of SparkHaus, Northern Kentucky’s economic development leaders have a renewed focus on marketing the benefits of the region’s entrepreneurial community.

BE NKY Growth Partnership, Northern Kentucky’s leading economic development organization, commissioned a report with Blue North, Northern Kentucky’s key entrepreneurial resource and advocacy group, to coincide with the opening of SparkHaus. The report highlighted the impact of the region’s entrepreneurial businesses, categorized into four groups: Main Street businesses, new businesses, venture capital-backed businesses and microbusinesses. It examined the performance of each category over the past five years and explored how the region is using entrepreneurship to diversify its economy.

On Sept. 30, an audience assembled in the first-floor event space at SparkHaus to hear a presentation of the report’s findContinues on page 3

Jonathan Faris of consulting firm TPMA speaks at SparkHaus about entrepreneurship in NKY. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

NKU student turns beef tallow balm into business

By Haley Parnell

W

hen Northern Kentucky University student Hannah Wayne couldn’t find the perfect beef tallow skin care product, she decided to make her own.

Wayne, the founder of Carroll and Co., said she fell in love with beef tallow as a skin care ingredient after using it for about a year; however, she said she couldn’t find exactly what she was looking for in a product. As an entrepreneurship student at Northern Kentucky University, Wayne thought, why not create it herself?

NKU student Hannah Wayne, founder of Carroll and Co., sells her product at last spring’s Norse Marketplace at NKU. Provided | Hannah Wayne

Beef tallow is fat rendered from cows and used for cooking and in various other products. Wayne was interested in a botanical infusion. She didn’t want to use essential oils or fragrance oils. Wayne said there are plenty of companies that avoid fragrance

oils but heavily use essential oils, which can be too much for the skin and sometimes too much for the nose, too.

To boost her business idea, Wanye applied and was accepted into the NKU Inkubator program, a business accelerator for NKU students and alumni. It helps launch and nurture businesses through mentorship, coaching, connections and access to resources. The program brings in speakers and mentors who are entrepreneurs, wellversed in starting, running and managing a growing business.

Zac Strobl, director of NKU’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, said students apply to the program with an idea, but at different stages.

“The real secret is mentorship,” Strobl said.

“What truly makes the difference is offer-

LINK reporter earns SPJ award p5 County picks design firm for planned new park p6 How ’bout them apples?

Celebrate fall at McGlasson’s p10

Continues on page 4

Want to get NKY news every day?

Subscribe to our email newsletters

SCAN ME!

2025 COMMUNITY

CONVERSATION SERIES: DECEMBER 4: The Future of Work

ON THE PANEL

Connect with industry leaders and workforce experts to discuss building strong career pathways and ensuring Northern Kentucky remains competitive in attracting and retaining talent.

December 4th event will be at Sparkhaus!

Christopher Rice Consulting Futurist and Technologist

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 OCTOBER 10, 2025

Member FDIC

Continued from page 1

ings. Jonathan Faris, senior director of community impact partnerships at consulting firm TPMA, compared Northern Kentucky’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to those of comparable regions such as St. Petersburg, Florida, northwest Arkansas and Durham, North Carolina.

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

Faris said those areas were selected to highlight the key assets of their entrepreneurial ecosystems and demonstrate how Northern Kentucky can make use of its assets to enhance its position. “We have a situation where there are a lot of things available right now and we need things to align together – think about how we’re looking at this, this race that we’re part of,” he said.

Based on the data, 1,870 businesses in Northern Kentucky fall into one of the report’s four categories. These businesses produce over $7 billion in revenue and contribute nearly $800 million in state income taxes, along with total taxes on production and imports across local, state and federal levels.

The largest tax-generating category is high-growth firms, which are defined as businesses that have experienced significant revenue growth over the past three to five years. The 133 high-growth companies in Northern Kentucky have generated about $6.6 billion in total yearly earnings.

Some examples of regional high-growth businesses include Bellevue-based Motus Freight and Covington-based Prolocity.

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.

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.

In addition to high-growth companies, Blue North Executive Director Dave Knox emphasized that the region needs to bolster its support for venture capital-fund-

The amount of state income taxes generated by each entrepreneurial business sector. Provided | BE NKY, Blue North

ed businesses, a sector he noted is falling behind compared to those of other leading metropolitan areas. Each year, 56 venture capital-backed companies in Northern Kentucky generate $158.5 million in earnings.

For Knox, increasing investment in an entrepreneurial ecosystem focused on venture capital-backed businesses can enhance the sustainability of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Venture capital-backed businesses can demonstrate traction and demand, thereby enhancing the overall reputation of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“You know, in this room, we have some great programs that do that work,” Knox said. “We need to keep that support going, because that’s the lifeblood of what we look at, but then we also need to double down on what we do with venture.”

On a small scale, Main Street businesses, defined as those over five years old with 50

or fewer employees, generate $439.2 million in annual earnings. These small local businesses are often seen as the defining feature of the region’s economic character.

“The goal that we have with this, of breaking down into these four areas and bringing it to light, was showing that we think about support for all of them, but we can’t just bucket it as one big word and think we checked a box,” Knox said. “What are the efforts when we think about venture capital? What are our efforts for high-growth?

What are our efforts for Main Street businesses? All of those are going to be very, very important when we think about what those needs are.”

Ultimately, Faris and Knox concluded that, while Northern Kentucky has strong core assets within its entrepreneurial ecosystem, such as support organizations and universities, it must continue to expand its infrastructure and community support for different types of entrepreneurs.

Remember your loved one IS NOW OFFERING OBITUARIES NKY is filled with close-knit communities and incredible individuals who have called Northern Kentucky home for decades. That is part of what makes our region special - the people This is why we felt it was important to offer a place to honor your loved ones.

With a convenient submission process and low, all-inclusive pricing, LINKnky provides a chance for you to focus on what really matters.

Affordable | All-Inclusive Price | Convenient

SCAN HERE TO LEARN MORE OCTOBER 10, 2025 3

Continued from page 1

ing solid, practical advice and supporting entrepreneurs along the way. They’re the stars of the journey, and we’re just here to guide them.”

The program runs 12 weeks in the summer.

It was named a 2025 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Education award winner by the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

idea validation class during last school year’s spring semester, focusing on consumer preferences versus her own personal preferences. She said her classmates were supportive and curious.

Wayne gave classmates a jar of balm to take home and use for a while. They then checked in with her after week one, week four and week six. Wayne asked if they were still enjoying it, if they were out of product, etc.

Classmates help testing The product that Wayne is focusing on for Carroll and Co. is a balm. The ingredients include beef tallow, botanical infusion and a small amount of a vitamin E oil blend that includes sunflower oil. Wayne said the vitamin E blend serves only as an antioxidant to prevent rancidity. It’s not a preservative, but it extends shelf life.

Wayne said she would like to get the balm down to only three ingredients.

Wayne has also introduced a goat milk and tallow bar soap, as well as lip balm, but she said she is not focusing on those right now.

Within the next year or two, she would like to introduce more products in the line.

Wayne said she already had her core business idea and product before joining the incubator. She tested her product in her

Wayne joined the Inkubator at the legal and compliance end of her business. She had already started developing products, but she needed to make it legal, safe and acquire things like insurance.

“Hannah always gets the gold stars,” Strobl said. “She’s the most prepared, gets there early, asks really thoughtful questions, follows up with people, keeps me on track.

Hannah has a level of maturity that others typically do not have.”

Additionally, Strobl said Wayne is figuring out a market that has a lot of attention. He said he is seeing more and more products coming out using beef tallow.

Wayne said she has looked at those products to see what ingredients they are using.

cubator Kitchen Collective, a shared commercial kitchen space in Newport. Carroll and Co.’s products have to be made in a commercial kitchen.

“I didn’t have to ask for much,” Wayne said.

“People just kept giving it to me based on these connections, and that was really powerful and moving. Just the validation that came from working on something that I love and enjoy.”

Strobl said that, when they work with students in Inkubator, they typically look at the person more than the idea or business itself.

“I think what people need to realize is a lot of these investments that we’re making, time and financially, sometimes it takes a decade to see the results come,” he said.

“You have to have a longer-term perspective on these kinds of resources. These aren’t quick wins all the time. Sometimes, yes, but bigger impact, you might be looking at a long-term investment.”

Wayne said she plans to focus on selling her product at craft markets. She said she thinks people are more likely to buy oneoff products at a craft or art fair, versus maybe a farmers’ market, where people shop routinely.

Hannah Wayne at the Incubator Kitchen Collective, where she received a grant for rent.

Another goal of Wayne’s is to create an online store; however, people already can message her directly on Instagram (search for carroll_skinco) to place an order. Wayne said she would also like to see her product in retail stores, most likely starting with small local boutiques but eventually in a larger retailer like Whole Foods.

“Just keep putting yourself out there and show up,” Wayne said. “It’s shocking how many people are eager to help if you just ask. That’s truly my biggest takeaway. In any situation, just continue to ask for what you need. Reach out, show up. People will see that, and they will be eager to help.”

“It’s shocking what minimal ingredients mean to other people,” she said. “I’m happy if it’s under five, but that’s still too many ingredients for me. You tell me it’s minimal ingredients, and there’s 15 and I can’t pronounce any of them. Are you kidding me?

No, that is just mass-produced.”

Building connections While in the Inkubator, Wayne worked on narrowing her idea down by looking at what market she was targeting and what values her brand is upholding and focusing on. Then she got into branding.

One of Wayne’s connections in the program linked her with a woman who did branding, and, after a cup of coffee together, Wayne said the woman loved the story and the product and wanted to offer her services to start Carroll and Co.’s branding strategy for free.

The Carroll and Co. balm. Photos provided | Hannah Wayne

Another opportunity presented to Wayne over the summer was a grant from the In-

Hannah Wayne focuses on in-person sales at craft and art fairs, like the Norse Marketplace.

Women’s Initiative Regional Summit Powered by

Connect. Grow. Achieve.

Wednesday, November 5 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Northern Kentucky University, Student Union Registration: NKYChamber.com/Events

Title Sponsor

4 OCTOBER 10, 2025

Morning Keynote Sponsor

Reception Sponsor

Breakfast & Lunch Sponsor

Break Sponsor

Community Partner

JUDGE/EXECUTIVE GARY MOORE The Walter R. Dunlevy/ Frontiersman Award

CAROLINE WELTZER The Walter L. Pieschel (MVP) Award

JEANNE SCHROER Devou Cup Award

TOM BANTA Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III NKY Economic Development Award

AR The Nor Un

SPJ: Hornbeck top new journalist; Crowley in hall of fame members is his kindness. “He’s charming in a way that very few people are,” DeMio said.

Staff report

L

INK nky was one of many local news outlets honored Sept. 30 at the Society of Professional Journalists’ awards and hall of fame ceremony.

Crowley’s daughter, Shayna Nevermann, spoke at the event. She said that what made her dad special was not just his toughness, but his fairness.

Business reporter Kenton Hornbeck won Outstanding New Reporter, which marks the third year in a row one of LINK’s reporters has won that award.

“He always got both sides of the story,” Nevermann said.

SPJ is the United States’ oldest organization representing journalists. It holds annual regional awards ceremonies.

Nevermann is the vice president of strategic partners at Strategic Advisors, a marketing and communications firm Crowley started in 2009 with Jay Fossett, a former journalist and now the city administrator in Dayton. “He was just a great person, a great friend and a great family man,” Fossett said in the video shown at the awards.

In her comments, Nevermann talked about how, as a young boy, Crowley would run around asking the teachers questions. He was always meant to be a reporter, she said.

LINK also took home an award for best freelance or editorial commentary. Eric Inda won that award for his opinion piece about Florence’s flag.

In addition, LINK was named a finalist in the following categories: • Written communication, newspaper special section: LINK nky team for 2024 Election Super Issue.

• Best website: linknky.com.

• Written communication, education reporting: Nathan Granger for “Unpacking the discourse around Amendment 2.”

• Written communication, criminal/social justice reporting: Nathan Granger for “Homelessness in NKY: Where are they supposed to go?”

• Written communication, feature story: Haley Parnell for “From orphanage to centenarian: NKY resident reflects on 100 years”

“He would annoy the nuns,” Nevermann said, prompting a laugh from the crowd.

Kenton Hornbeck was named outstanding new journalist at the SPJ awards. Photo by Meghan Goth | LINK nky

Howard Wilkinson remembered Crowley as an extraordinary human being. “Days before he died he was at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center dishing out food to people who had nowhere else to go,” he said.

Hall of Fame induction Also at the awards ceremony, Pat Crowley was posthumously inducted into the Greater Cincinnati Journalism Hall of Fame.

In a video prepared for the event, WVXU’s

“He did that for 15 years. That’s an extraordinary human being.”

Crowley, known across the region as Mr. Northern Kentucky, died in December 2024.

“There are bad guys and there are good guys, and he was definitely a good guy,” Wilkinson said in the video.

Dan Horn, a reporter who worked with Crowley at the Cincinnati Post, talked about what a hard worker he was.

“He was fun to be around,” Horn said in the video. “Great laugh. Hard worker. he just hustled like nobody’s business.”

Wilkinson talked about the one and only time Crowley, who at the time was a reporter at the Cincinnati Enquirer, made him angry. They were covering a political convention and clocked about four hours of sleep a night. Crowley called Wilkinson at 3:30 a.m., worried because he had accidentally purchased an $8 movie on the company card.

After he calmed down after having been woken up, Wilkinson realized something.

“That’s a pretty conscientious guy to be that worried about eight bucks,” Wilkinson said.

“He was up in the middle of the night worrying about eight bucks on his expense report, and I said, ‘He’s a good guy.’”

What Enquirer reporter Terry DeMio re-

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 Business LINK TUESDAYS 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 BUSINESS LINK:

SPONSOR OF THE WEEKEND & SPORTS LINK:

SPONSOR OF THE ARTS & EVENTS LINK:

OCTOBER 10, 2025 5

County picks design firm for park at former Fox Run berlin Park in Deer Park, Ohio, the Ziegler Park expansion in Cincinnati, and Old North Dayton Park in Dayton, Ohio, among other projects.

By Kenton Hornbeck

K

enton County has chosen a design firm for its newest public park.

Bayer Becker said in its bid that it plans to use a “sky frame” concept for the new park.

Sky frames create a “constellation of experiences” by making nature the park’s central draw. This involves weaving together the park’s streams, forests and elevation changes to create picturesque scenery and lookouts for visitors. Roads and trails will follow the contours of the land, allowing visitors to experience a layered perspective while hiking.

Last week, the fiscal court authorized Bayer Becker, a design and consulting firm based in Mason, Ohio, and with an office in Fort Mitchell, to oversee the design of what officials are referring to as the new “Kenton County Park.”

Kenton County is developing the park at 604 Independence Station Road in Independence. The 225-acre site, formerly home to the closed Fox Run Golf Course, borders 78-acre Lincoln Ridge Park. The county aims to connect these two into a single recreation zone.

“It was a good proposal,” Commissioner Beth Sewell said, who was filling in for Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann.

A selection committee consisting of Knochelmann, County Administrator Joe Shriver, Assistant County Administrator Scott Gunning and a representative from J.S. Held evaluated each proposal and ultimately selected Bayer Becker over seven other applicants.

“The Bayer Becker team stood out from the other proposals,” Gunning said, “based on their experience in natural and organic park design, their extensive record and experi-

A field at what will become Kenton County Park. Provided | Kenton County

ence of public parks, and along with their team being well qualified and having a local presence here in Kenton County,” he said.

John Cody, Bayer Becker’s principal, included a letter with the company’s proposal that said the firm has an opportunity to transform the land into a lasting community asset.

tivity, and long-term stewardship,” Cody wrote. “As the team who authored the master plan through extensive community engagement, we bring irreplaceable continuity – deep understanding of the site’s ecological systems, stakeholder priorities, and technical constraints that position us to deliver a park that is both visionary and implementable.”

“Kenton County’s new regional park represents a transformative opportunity to deliver a lasting public asset shaped by community priorities, ecological sensi-

Bayer Becker has extensive experience in designing parks across Greater Cincinnati.

The firm contributed to the development of Eons Adventure Park in Erlanger, Cham-

In January, the fiscal court announced it had chosen Cincinnati-based consulting firm J.S. Held as the project’s owner representative or project manager. Held is responsible for overseeing the park’s architectural, engineering and construction teams. It played a key role in Bayer Becker’s selection.

In October 2022, Human Nature, a planning and design firm based in Cincinnati, proposed a master plan for a new county park to the fiscal court. The plan featured amenities like a hillside amphitheater, zipline tower, ropes course, family shelter, community gardens and a mountain biking hub. Currently, the site is accessible to the public for activities such as hiking and fishing.

You can own the local news.

Shares are on sale now for just $250 — own a piece of the coverage you love.

Official Own the News Webpage https://qr.link/OAe7XH

Learn More 6 OCTOBER 10, 2025

Alexandria approves bonds for Kroger Marketplace

By Haley Parnell

T

he Alexandria Kroger development has cleared another hurdle after the city council unanimously approved issuing industrial revenue bonds to finance the project.

The Kroger project, slated for 31.65 acres east of U.S. 27, will feature a 122,912-squarefoot Kroger Marketplace, a fuel center and an 8,000-square-foot wine and spirits store. The project represents a $35 million investment. Council approved the bonds at its meeting on Oct. 2.

The city will issue up to $45 million in taxable industrial building revenue bonds, also known as IRBs (series 2025 A) and can issue up to $5 million taxable special obligation industrial building revenue bonds (series 2025 B).

IRBs, when issued by a city or other taxing entity, like a school or county, serve as a financing conduit for a project. The developer will seek financing from an underwriting institution, such as a bank, to inject capital into the project. The city then takes on an owning interest in the property, at least on paper, so the developer can use the city’s credit score to obtain private investment. In exchange, the city grants the developer a tax incentive, the details of which vary depending on the deal.

“We’re not on the hook for anything,” said Alexandria Councilmember Stacey Graus.

“We’re a conduit to allow the bonds to go through. This was a negotiated process, the same thing that happens with Publix (which is building a store in Cold Spring) and probably any other … large development today.”

Alexandria’s Planning and Zoning Commission met Sept. 16 to discuss the Kroger Marketplace’s updated traffic patterns.

That commission voted 5-1 to send the approved traffic plan to the Kentucky Department of Transportation for final approval.

Alexandria has approved issuing bonds for a new Kroger store east of U.S. 27. Provided | Campbell County Planning and Zoning

City council’s bond approval will enable Kroger to proceed with the development.

thing else, because we’re kind of short on that,” Graus said.

In addition to the Kroger site, two additional lots on the site are designated for future development. City officials have said they would like to see a sit-down restaurant at one of the lots.

There is also a payment in lieu of taxes, known as a PILOT agreement, attached to the development. Instead of paying taxes, the developer agrees to issue a PILOT to ensure the city still makes money on the property while reducing the developer’s early investment expenditures.

property, but then that’s subject to a PILOT agreement where the city, county, school district and fire district get PILOT payments in lieu of taxes,” Jim Parsons, bond counsel with Keating Muething & Klekamp, said.

“This structure, quite frankly, allows a portion of the taxes that would otherwise be generated to be captured and then utilized into the project. That’s the whole purpose of this structure.”

“That whole [IRB] structure, quite frankly, creates a real estate tax exemption on the

Parsons said Kroger estimates the new store will open in fall 2027.

“We hope that one of them may produce what people have been asking for a long time, a place to sit down and have a steak and a beer, your Buffalo wings and every-

Classifieds

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 & availability upon request.

For more information, contact: angie@earlfranksflooring.com SCAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSIFIEDS 861 S Collier Blvd Essex S 104 Marco Island FL for 861Rent S Collier Blvd Essex S 104 Marco Island FL for Rent 2-bedroom 2 bath fully furnished condo. 3-minute 2-bedroom walk to2the bath beach. fully furnished Full size laundry condo. in 3-minute condo. walk to the beach. Full size laundry in condo.

First floor covered, assigned parking. Beach towels, First floor cart, chairs covered, &2 assigned bicycles.parking.

Pricing Beach & availability towels, cart, chairs & 2 bicycles. Pricing & availability OCTOBER 10, 2025 upon request. angie@earlfranksflooring.com for upon more request. information. angie@earlfranksflooring.com for more information.

7

kenton county briefs Developers break ground on Ludlow apartments overlooking Cincinnati

The development is headed up by Acendion Collective, a Fischer Homes subsidiary that specializes in mixed-use and multifamily development.

The development has proven somewhat divisive among community members due to its zoning history and problems associated with flooding and land slippages during the early parts of the earthmoving last year.

Shovels and equipment before the Cityview Station groundbreaking on Oct. 1. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Developers broke ground Oct. 1 on a new Fischer Homes development in Ludlow called Cityview Station.

Construction will begin in earnest later this month and is scheduled to be completed by the second quarter of 2027.

Covington wins grant from Interior Department to rehab Duveneck house

”From the beginning, our mission has been to create communities that add lasting value,” said Greg Fischer, chairman of the Fischer Group, in a news release before the groundbreaking. “Cityview Station builds on that vision by providing high-quality residences and thoughtful design that will benefit Ludlow and its residents for years to come.”

Cityview Station plans include 273 multifamily apartment units in the hills above Highway Avenue. Included in the complex will be a large pool, a courtyard, a lounge, a fitness center, a dog park, individual storage units and about 400 parking spaces.

Units will also have private garages. The complex will have an ideal view of downtown Cincinnati, hence its name.

The grant will be matched by an equal contribution from the Northern Kentucky Area Development District.

“Frank Duveneck is one of Covington’s greatest sons, and this grant ensures his legacy will be preserved for generations to come,” Covington Mayor Ron Washington said in a news release. “After years of legal and financial hurdles, we can finally complete the greater part of the rehabilitation work to improve and restore a property that is part of our community’s story and part of America’s cultural heritage.”

Covington announced that it has successfully secured a roughly $300,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior to pay for the rehabilitation of the Frank Duveneck House and Studio on Greenup Street.

The city will now need to complete a legally-required review process to ensure rehab efforts align with national preservation standards. Once that review is complete, the city will seek proposals from contractors to complete the work.

Scott, Greenup conversions to two-way streets enters final stage in Covington

The structure, which was placed on the National Historic Register in 2015, was the subject of a nearly eight-year legal battle between the city and the house’s owner, the Frank Duveneck Arts and Cultural Center. The city sued the center in February last year in order to gain control of what the city described as a “blighted building.”

The building had numerous structural problems, most notably a large hole in the foundation.

The Duveneck house in Covington. Provided | Covington

in 1848. The house itself was built in 1861, and a studio where Duveneck worked until his death in 1919 was built behind the house around 1900.

The city employed a legal tool called the Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act, created in 2022, to appoint a conservator to take possession of and undertake the rehabilitation of an abandoned or blighted building. The Kenton County Circuit Court granted the city conservatorship in September 2024.

Frank Duveneck was an influential architect, sculptor and artist born in Covington

Milling operations in Covington. Provided | City of Covington

The conversion of Scott and Greenup streets in Covington to two-way roads between 12th and 20th streets entered its final stage on Sept. 29, when city contractor Riegler Blacktop began milling and paving operations.

The final stage will also entail the replacement of some stop lights with stop signs, new signage and traffic signals, as well as

DIVISION I

DIVISION I

CASE NO.: 25-CI-00817

CASE NO.: 25-CI-00820

SELECT PORTFOLIO SERVICING, INC.

KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION

VERSUS}

VERSUS}

CHARLENE CUNEO, ET AL

SETH BRAZIER, ET AL

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered SEPTEMBER 2, 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, OCTOBER 23, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JULY 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, OCTOBER 23, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

ADDRESS: 8068 EAST BEND ROAD BURLINGTON, KY 41005 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 028.00-00-038.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $98,045.08

MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

GROUP NO.: 2045

ADDRESS: 204 OLD NICHOLSON ROAD WALTON, KY 41094 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 077.00-00-049.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $176,965.28 GROUP NO.: 214

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.

8 OCTOBER 10, 2025

kenton county briefs message boards that will update drivers on new traffic patterns.

The project is funded through state appropriations and is expected to cost about $3.36 million. City officials have touted it as a way to calm traffic, improve walking and safety infrastructure, and bolster economic development.

The project will also extend the Ky. 17 designation west to Madison Avenue, moving the ownership of that stretch of road from the city to the state.

Covington forum focuses on challenges, solutions for city housing shortage

Mayor Ron Washington chats Sept. 29 with attendees at the community meeting. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

“I understand about the housing problem,” Covington Mayor Ron Washington told a room full of attendees at a special community meeting on Sept. 29.

The reason he understood, Washington said, “is because those people are in my family. They’re sleeping on the couches in my family members’ homes. They’re using the basements because they can’t find an adequate place to live.”

The meeting was the first of two planned by the city to gather residents’ feedback on the housing issue and discuss policies to address it. The second meeting was set for Oct. 6 at the American Legion post in Latonia.

The meeting was attended by a cross-section of Covington residents – tenants, homeowners, business people and landlords, all of them eager to share their thoughts on how to solve the housing crisis.

Since taking office, Washington and Covington’s commission have made housing one of their policy priorities. Two commissioners, James Toebbe and Tim Acri, also attended the meeting.

The commission established a housing committee earlier this summer to spearhead ways to think about the problem. Information collected at the meetings would be used to inform future policy decisions, said Brandon Holmes, the city’s neighborhood services director. The city is expecting to furnish a report on the results of its investigations next summer.

Programs to build affordable housing in the city aren’t new. In fact, Washington described how a previous program that resembled the current one was on the books within the past half decade or so, but the program had to be sidelined in the face of

the city’s budget shortfall.

The new program aims to draw funding from the sales of unused city property across the city. Ideally, this could be used to make up for the gap that couldn’t be covered previously. The city recently foreclosed on 12 unused properties.

“We have over 300 sites in the city of Covington that we can sell, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Acri said to a resident during the meeting’s table discussions.

everything, is what can we do with how we develop them, to control the out of control and arguably artificial inflation that’s happening,” said resident Tom Hull.

City staff members encouraged residents to sign up for city announcements to stay up to date with city initiatives.

Warehouse redevelopment into market-rate apartments marks Catalytic Fund milestone

“When we look at what we’ve seen here recently, 55% increase from 2020 to 2025 nationally, versus 122% locally, that’s the definition of housing burden,” Holmes said.

Discussion topics ranged from the overall cost of housing to ways to deal with density.

Ideas pitched included allowing more accessory dwelling units, tiny homes or manufactured homes. Other topics included parking, environmental sustainability, ensuring that new housing is “trimmed out,” as one resident put it, with the surrounding historical housing and ways to rehab existing housing. The discussions lasted well over an hour.

The topic of how money influenced housing was inescapable in many of the discussions.

“There is nothing cheap about new housing,” said Mainstrasse resident Laura Hussey.

“Everybody’s thinking about this,” said Austinburg resident James Thomas, rubbing his fingers together.

Doug Ludwig, a Westside resident who owns nine properties, talked about the experiences of some of his tenants as they tried to get federal housing vouchers, known more commonly as Section 8 vouchers.

“You’ve got a lot of people that they’re trying to claw their way back into living as opposed to existing,…” Ludwig said during the discussion. “I’ve got one tenant, she’s got five kids, and she’s been trying to get Section 8 since last year.”

Similar discussions occurred around each table.

“One thing that I think we really need to look at on this, with all these projects and

A community celebration is set for Oct. 15 to honor Chuck Scheper, outgoing founding board chair, welcome incoming Chair Bernie McKay and mark the 100-project milestone.

The Carnegie to return to Transylvania with ‘Rocky Horror Show’

Much of the meeting consisted of table discussions facilitated by professionals with Kenton County Planning and Development Services. Attendees also completed surveys describing their experiences and ideas related to housing.

Holmes, a former HUD fellow, spoke briefly before the table discussions about the state of housing in the city. He discussed how much of the housing in the city predates 1940 and how there is limited space for new housing, meaning the city and developers would have to think critically about density when considering new housing construction. He also described the different aesthetics of the city’s neighborhoods (and the housing therein) and the ballooning cost of housing.

Looking ahead, the organization plans to create an additional fund dedicated to housing and expand its investment area beyond the river cities into more communities in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties.

The Boone Block Lofts, formerly a dilapidated commercial building, was transformed into condominiums with financing help from the Catalytic Fund. Provided | The Catalytic Fund

The Catalytic Fund has reached its 100th project, backing the redevelopment of a former warehouse in Covington’s Westside neighborhood.

Orleans Development is converting the long-vacant building into 39 market-rate apartments. The Covington-based firm received an acquisition and predevelopment loan from the Catalytic Fund, a nonprofit focused on Northern Kentucky real estate projects.

The Catalytic Fund is categorized as a community development financial institution.

Such organizations provide financing for development projects that would otherwise be financially untenable. The fund focuses on developing housing, mixed-use developments and the revitalization of key commercial corridors.

Since its founding in 2013, the Catalytic Fund reports that its $32 million investment pool has supported over $500 million in development without any loss of investor capital, according to a recent news release.

A previous production of the “Rocky Horror Show” at the Carnegie. Provided | The Carnegie

A production of the “Rocky Horror Show” will return to the Carnegie in Covington late October and into early November.

“This return engagement follows the Carnegie’s sold-out 2024 production, which swept Cincinnati theater honors,” according to a release from the Carnegie. “It won CityBeat’s Best of Cincinnati Awards for Best Play (Reader’s Choice) and Best Reason to Do the Time Warp (Staff Pick), alongside 10 BroadwayWorld Cincinnati Awards – including Best Musical and Best Ensemble.”

Cast members include Kentucky-native Dusty Ray Bottoms, who was featured on season 10 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” reprising the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Cincinnati artist Pam Kravetz will also return as the Narrator.

The show runs from Oct. 24 to Nov. 2. Learn more and purchase tickets at thecarnegie. com/whats-on/rocky-horror.

Its past projects include Hotel Covington, Boone Block Lofts and Kent Lofts in Bellevue. More recent investments have been directed toward the Burton Building in Dayton and SparkHaus, the new entrepreneurship hub in Covington.

“Reaching this milestone of 100 successful projects is a huge accomplishNOTICE OF HEARING ment for our team,” Catalytic Fund CEO Jeanne Schroer said Pursuant to KRS 424.300 and 807 KAR 5:001, Section 9(2)(b), in the release. “These projects NOTICE is hereby given that the Kentucky Public Service represent both the financial Commission has scheduled a public hearing in a case styled “In the success of our strategy and Matter of the Electronic Application of Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc. for: 1) An Adjustment of the Natural Gas Rates; 2) Approval of New the community impact of our Tariffs; and 3) All Other Required Approvals, Waivers, and Relief,” investments. We look forCase No. 2025-00125, beginning Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 9:00 ward to continuing our work a.m., Eastern Standard Time, at the offices of the Public Service to create new opportunities Commission at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky. The for both businesses and respurpose of the hearing will be to take evidence on Duke Energy Kentucky’s electric rate request. Public comments may be made at idents and, together with our the beginning of the hearing. Those wishing to make oral public growth organization partners, comments may do so by following the instructions listed on the PSC strengthening Northern Kenwebsite, psc.ky.gov. This hearing will be streamed live and may be tucky’s economic landscape.” viewed on the PSC website, www.psc.ky.gov.

OCTOBER 10, 2025 9

food

In search of the best: Local apples

By Beth McDaniel Beth McDaniel shares her adventures in food around Northern Kentucky as she looks for the best … everything! If you have an idea for the perfect something, email Beth at mcdaniel.elizabeth@gmail.com.

A

t the first hint of fall, it’s everything pumpkin. Lattes, cheesecake, dips and, of course, décor.

But the real star of early autumn is the apple – red, juicy and ripe for the picking. So I say: Pumpkins, pumpkins, all in good time.

Apples deserve their chance to shine!

To enjoy the best local apples, especially if you like to get in on the picking, my favorite place is McGlasson Farms in Hebron.

The McGlasson family has been living and farming on this spot for six generations. If you make it for a visit, you’ll understand why they’d never want to leave this little piece of heaven. Their locally grown fruits and vegetables are considered to be the best by many, from neighbors down the road to loyal out-of-towners and local chefs who swear by their seasonal favorites.

Best of all, McGlasson Farms offers you the chance to pick your own fruit, starting with strawberries, then blueberries, blackberries, peaches, apples and (eventually, yes) pumpkins. Of course, if you’d rather not, you can simply visit the farm stand.

For apples, head to the farm when the sky is blue and the clouds are fluffy. Be sure to take scenic Route 8 along the river. You may be in for a perfect day!

When my 10-year-old daughter and I arrived in early September, I had it in mind to recreate the experience in “Applesauce Day,” a favorite seasonal book by Lisa J. Amstutz. In it, a family goes apple picking and then heads to grandma’s house to make applesauce.

The outside of the McGlasson Farms farm stand in Hebron. Provided | McGlasson Farms

We paid for our bag and headed out to McGlasson’s you-pick orchard, meeting a variety of butterflies, dragonflies and wildflowers along the way. Sadly, this year’s scorching heat and drenching rains were unkind to the older trees in McGlasson’s you-pick orchard, making it likely that the season that typically stretches from late August to almost Halloween will be cut short.

Be sure to call if you have your heart set on picking your own, but rest assured that McGlasson’s still has plenty of apples for sale, picked by the family in orchards farther up the hill from trees that weather the weather better.

You’ll find many varieties (32, in fact) in various shades of ruby and pink as well as yellows and greens, with names like Paula Red, Early Blaze and Pristine. Many are heirloom varieties, which is a beautiful thing – they contribute to the diversity of the local apple crop but also preserve history and heritage.

Luckily, my daughter and I arrived early enough to pick our own apples, though it did take some perseverance on our part.

Just when we were about to admit defeat, we found a tree whose generous bounty filled our bag to bulging.

Back at the farm stand, we couldn’t resist also picking up a few hand-dipped caramel apples and some fresh apple cider. Get the gallon. You’ll be glad you did, and it’ll save you a trip back for more.

McGlasson apples fill a double crust pie from North South Baking Co. Provided | North South Baking Co.

10 OCTOBER 10, 2025

At McGlasson’s they press cider twice a

week with whatever varieties are available.

That means the taste changes from batch to batch and week to week. You might just want to see if you can taste the difference.

However you’d like to gather them, be sure to get a variety of apples, and let them be your muse. Maybe you want to host a little apple tasting to discover your favorites.

Maybe you want to relive a memory by making a beloved family recipe.

My daughter and I made applesauce, just like the book – and just like my grandma used to do. I remember she’d often get a jar from the garage and serve it with whatever we were having for dinner.

While I’d like to insist that you try to make it out to McGlasson Farms, you may have your reasons for wanting to enjoy apple season a little closer to home, and possibly with less time in the kitchen.

Fortunately, I have the perfect solution: Visit North South Baking Co. on Pike Street in Covington. You can enjoy McGlasson Farms apples baked into gorgeous galettes, pies, cruffins (yes, cruffins!), crumbles and other delights made by local baking rock star Kate Nycz.

Kate especially loves baking with Arkansas black apples, an heirloom variety. But she also swears that McGlasson’s has the best tomatoes around, which she uses in her savory pastries and sandwiches. So, if you make it out to Hebron, better grab a few of those as well.

Revel in the sweet deliciousness of a ripe, local apple at McGlasson Farms. Provided | McGlasson Farms via Instagram.

In case you go McGlasson Farms Location: 5832 River Road, Hebron.

Open: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends from July 1 through November.

Payment: Cash, check, Venmo; no credit cards.

More information: 859-689-5229, http://mcglassonfarms.com.

North South Baking Co. Location: 39 W. Pike St., Covington.

Open: 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

More information: https://northsouthbaking.com.

community voices

Is your website like a limp handshake?

• State your privacy policy if you’re collecting info.

This Community Voices column is written

by Tonya Bolton, who shares advice, tips and ideas for entrepreneurs. Write to her at info@tonyaboltonphotography.com.

Security isn’t just nerdy tech stuff – it’s basic digital hygiene.

Y

our website is your business’s online handshake. For too many local businesses, though, it’s more like a limp fish or, worse, a mysterious junk drawer from 2007. We’ve all seen those sites: tiny fonts, blurry photos, buttons that don’t work and music that (somehow) still auto-plays.

Fear not! With a little care, your website can stop scaring people away and start doing what it’s supposed to do: make you look good and help your customers. Here’s a checklist – equal parts practical and sanity-saving – to make sure your site is working for you, not against you.

Maintenance: Don’t let it rot Websites are like gardens: Ignore them, and they turn into a mess.

• Check links monthly.

• Back it up regularly.

• Update photos and info so you don’t look stuck in 2012.

Remember: The internet never sleeps. Neither should your upkeep.

Making sure your website is user-friendly and up to date is key to your success, Tonya Bolton writes.

Provided | Domenico Loia via Unsplash

also makes Google send you to the internet’s basement.

• Share social media links, too (but only if you actually use them).

Know thy purpose (aka don’t be vague) Look sharp If someone lands on your homepage and still wonders “What do these people actually do?” – you’ve lost them.

• Have a big, clear headline. “We Bake Cupcakes” works better than “Innovative Sweetness Solutions.”

• Put your logo and tagline up front.

• Speak human, not robot.

Remember: If it takes a magnifying glass and a decoder ring to figure you out, your visitors are already gone.

Mobile-friendly or bust Fun fact: More than half of web traffic comes from phones. If your site looks decent only on a desktop, you’re basically telling customers, “Please only visit us if you still own a dial-up modem.”

• Test it on your phone, your spouse’s tablet, even Grandma’s iPad. • Buttons should be “thumb-friendly,” not “surgical precision-friendly.”

If your site requires pinching, zooming, or squinting, you’ve got work to do.

Navigation that doesn’t need GPS Your menu shouldn’t look like the Cheesecake Factory’s. Keep it short and sweet.

• You need only five to seven main menu items.

• Use obvious labels (“About,” “Services,” “Contact”), not “Our Storytelling Journey.”

• Include a search bar if you’ve got a lot of info.

Visitors should never feel like they need trail mix and a compass to find your hours.

Speed … because nobody waits Studies show people will abandon a slow site in about three seconds. That’s less time than it takes to microwave pizza rolls.

• Shrink those massive photos.

• Ditch old plug-ins.

• Upgrade your hosting if needed.

A slow site doesn’t just annoy people – it

Your website should look like you, but on a good hair day.

• Use crisp, clear photos. Bonus points if they’re actually yours and not stock photos of “smiling call center guy with headset.”

• Use consistent colors and fonts. (Comic Sans is not a personality.)

• Embrace white space. Clutter is for attics, not websites.

If customers need detective skills to reach you, they’ll call someone else.

Security is trust That little padlock icon in the browser matters. No padlock? No trust.

• Get an SSL certificate (so your site starts with “https”).

• Install updates promptly to your software and plug-ins.

The bottom line Your website doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to be clear, helpful and alive. Treat it like the digital front door to your business – and make sure it’s not covered in cobwebs.

At the end of the day, your website is your online handshake. And nobody likes a sweaty, confusing or limp one.

If you have an idea for a Community Voices column, email Meghan Goth at mgoth@ linknky.com.

Think of your site as your digital storefront window. Do you want it full of broken mannequins and dust, or fresh flowers and a clean sign?

Content that people actually want Visitors care more about how you can help them right now than about your company history from 1983.

• Keep text short and clear.

• Write for your audience, not your ego.

• Update often, e.g., with blogs, news or even a “What’s Fresh This Week” post.

Fresh content = you look alive. Stale content = you look abandoned.

Calls to action: Tell people what to do Don’t assume people will just figure it out.

• Use buttons like “Book Now,” “Order Here” or “Donate Today.”

• Put them everywhere (just not in a “Vegas billboard” way).

• Keep forms short. No one wants to hand over their blood type just to get your newsletter.

Living with asthma or COPD can be a challenge.

The American Lung Association’s Lung Health Navigators are here for you with free asthma and COPD education and support.

Learn ways to breathe better and do more.

Scan to get connected today!

A website without a call to action is like a sales pitch that ends with, “Anyway… so… yeah.”

Don’t bury contact info You’d be shocked how many businesses forget this.

• A phone number, email or contact form is a must-have.

• If you have a physical spot, put the address front and center.

Connect 1-on-1 With A Lung Health Navigator FOR FREE

CALL TOLLFREE 866-252-2959

VISIT Lung.org/navigator

OCTOBER 10, 2025 11

sports Taylen Kinney picks Kansas to continue basketball career

CBS sports analyst Travis Branham interviews Taylen Kinney after his decision to go to Kansas to continue his basketball playing career. Provided | Charles Bolton

One of the most electric guards to hail from Northern Kentucky has made his college decision.

After months of speculation and official visits, former Newport basketball standout Taylen Kinney has decided he’ll continue his playing career at Kansas in 2026.

Kinney recently narrowed his wide range of offers down to six – Arkansas, Louisville, Kentucky, Kansas, Oregon and Indiana – and ultimately chose to play for the Jayhawks. Kinney made the college commitment live Sept. 28 on CBS Sports HQ in Newport High School’s auditorium.

the 247Sports rankings for the 2026 class.

Kinney is a versatile guard that can get to the paint with his bursts and has improved his perimeter shooting. His move to Overtime Elite in Atlanta for his junior year really elevated his game – and his national profile. Against elite competition, Kinney sharpened his playmaking, became a reliable outside shooter and developed into a two-way force capable of having a big impact in games at the highest level.

Individually, Covington Catholic’s Brady Pagnotto and Joseph Mangine advanced.

Pagnotto shot a 74 and tied for fifth, Mangine with a 76 and tying for 12th. The top 15 individuals not on St. Xavier, Ryle and CAL advanced individually.

The decision to commit to Kansas continues the program’s rich tradition of landing top backcourt talent. Head coach Bill Self made Kinney a priority early, selling him on a system that has long produced NBAready guards.

Recruiting insiders view Kinney as one of the most polished prospects in the class.

His blend of speed, creativity and toughness makes him a nightmare matchup for defenses. With his commitment, Kansas secures a floor general who can take control from Day 1 in Lawrence.

4 NKY girls golfers advance to finals of state tournament

Hayden Li’s day consisted of 13 pars, two birdies, two bogeys and a double-dogey. Photo provided | Raider Sports Network

Anthony and Okuda are two of four Northern Kentucky high school golfers who advanced to the final rounds of the KHSAA girls state tournament (set for Oct. 6-8 at Bowling Green Country Club). They earned spots as individual qualifiers thanks to their scores in the first round event at Pendleton Hills Country Club near Butler.

Joining them are Notre Dame’s Maria Penaranda and Dixie Heights’ Tatjana Andracenko.

Penaranda led local golfers with an 11-overpar 83 (tied for 10th place). Andracenko (tied for 13th) was next with an 84, Okuda carded an 85 (tied for 16th), and Anthony scored an 86 (tied for 18th).

Kinney, a dynamic 6-foot-2 point guard, first turned heads at Newport in seventh grade playing for Rod Snapp’s Wildcats squad. He was a driving force in Newport’s back-to-back 9th Region titles in 2023 and ’24. He averaged 17.5 points and 4.0 rebounds for the Wildcats in the 2023-24 season.

His stock continued to rise after heading to Overtime Elite in Atlanta for his junior year. Kinney is ranked anywhere from 10th to 20th from all the major recruiting websites and is the top ranked point guard in the country for the 2026 class. He’s one of 15 players with a five-star prospect grade in

of the Raiders. Ryle was seven shots clear of Christian Academy of Louisville as all three advanced. Leading Ryle was eighth grader Hayden Li with a 74 and finished in a tie for fifth. Thomas Leone and Paxton McKelvey shot 75s and tied for ninth. Rounding out the Raiders scoring was Jake Roscoe with an 80 and Chandler James an 81 (only the top four scores on the team are used).

Maria Penaranda’s 11-over-par 83 led Northern Kentucky golfers. Ray Schaefer | LINK nky contributor

St. Henry’s Reese Anthony and Ryle’s Anika Okuda shared hugs and high fives Sept. 29, and with good reason.

The weekly comic by Andrew Buchanan

Walton-Verona’s Adam Gutman, Beechwood’s Jace Hammons and St. Henry’s Parker Isaacs also advanced. Gutman shot a 78 and tied for 19th. Hammons and Isaacs shot 79s, the two needing to survive a five-man playoff for the final two spots to advance. Hammons birdied his first playoff hole to punch his ticket to Bowling Green while Isaacs went six holes into the playoff and being the last man standing.

The boys state tournament will take place Oct. 10-11 at Bowling Green Country Club.

The eight teams to advance were McCracken County, Greenwood, Marshall County, St. Xavier, Ryle, CAL, Madison Central, Rockcastle County, and Pulaski County.

State soccer, volleyball draws to determine first round matchups

Ryle, five individuals qualify for final rounds of boys state golf tournament

The KHSAA held draws for the state soccer and volleyball tournaments on Oct. 1 to determine who will be playing whom in the first round of each respective tournament.

Ryle and five individuals from Northern Kentucky will head down to Bowling Green on Oct. 10-11 for the final two rounds of the KHSAA state golf tournament.

While they were primarily predetermined for the first round, it helped shape the rest of the bracket, and each team learned its path to a state championship.

The Raiders shot a 304 in the first round of the state tournament played at Pendleton Hills Golf Course in Butler, against Regions 5-8 with three of the eight teams in the pool advancing. Ryle finished runner-up to St. Xavier, the Tigers finishing five shots ahead

In both boys and girls soccer and volleyball, the 9th Region will play the 12th Region in the first round at the 12th Region’s home.

The 10th Region will play at the 11th Region’s home.

Sponsored by

Villa Madonna went 2-0 with wins over Newport and Walton-Verona to win LINK nky Team of the Week honors for the week of Sept. 14-20. Provided

VILLA MADONNA VOLLEYBALL 12 OCTOBER 10, 2025

Scott marching band competes again after 19 years

By Maggy McDonel

F

or the first time since 2006, Scott High School has a competing marching band.

“I’m so excited, I’m so excited. Three competitions this year? I’m so excited. THREE competitions!” is how Scott senior, marching clarinetist and section leader Molly Lucas described her feelings about this year’s season.

The band’s show, titled “Forces of Nature,” was entirely written by director and Scott alum Garrette Koeninger. With a background in percussion, Koeninger learned how to write drills and arrange music to keep the band’s costs low. “We cut every corner that we can to save money,” said Koeninger.

Fees for the band are just $100 per marching season.

The Scott High School Marching Band practices about eight hours a week. Photos by Maggy McDonel | LINK nky

Scott competes in the Mid States Band Association, a regional marching band circuit that serves students in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. With 48 marching members and six or seven on the color guard, it competes in Class AAA, which requires at least 45 members, excluding the guard.

The show incorporates Koeninger’s compositions of popular music like “Earfquake”

by Tyler the Creator. The theme “Forces of Nature,” Koeninger said, is thematically centered around the four elements identified by the ancient world – earth, water, fire and air.

“We are talking about how those elements exist within your body,” said Koeninger. “So water can be patient and waiting for the right time, fire can start as maybe anger, but we can use it as motivation.”

Through the show’s theme and the process of preparing it, he wants to show the band’s members that, “through this dedication, we can become like a force to be reckoned with.”

This is Koeninger’s fourth year as band director at Scott, and he said he has been preparing the band to start competing since his arrival. His first year, the band performed a small halftime show at football games. The next year, it put on a full halftime show. Last year, it participated in a competition as an “exhibition” group, meaning it performed at the competition but did not officially compete.

Going into last year’s competition, Koeninger said they had no idea there would be any prizes for exhibition groups. They were pleasantly surprised when they won the fan favorite award.

“Ever since then, the kids were just like, ‘When are we competing? When are we competing?’” said Koeninger. “Once they got that trophy to bring back, they were just ate up with it, which was really my goal.”

Last year was also when Lucas, who now plans to major in music next year at North-

ern Kentucky University, decided she really loved band. “I was like, ‘This is something, this is really fun,’” she said.

The turning point for her was both moving into playing more challenging pieces and taking a class on music theory.

“When I took music theory class, I was like, ‘This is weird. This is very interesting,’” said Lucas. “I didn’t think music could be more than what it actually is. Yeah, music theory completely changed my perspective on music.”

Lucas said she loves being a section leader partly because she enjoys helping the people around her feel more comfortable and confident.

also be a fun challenge.”

Koeninger said that the band also is lucky to have strong parental support. “The parents that are here today fitting the uniforms, or the ones that are taking them home to wash them, or the parents that are buying snacks constantly for these kids to eat, because they realize that I’m a teacher and I can’t afford to pay to give every kid a snack, they’re what make things easier.”

Congratulations to our

As the director, Koeninger has been working hard to make that change. The biggest obstacle, he said, has been “buy-in” from the students.

When he started, Koeninger said the band was practicing one or two hours a week with very limited performances. Now, they rehearse eight hours a week, perform at Friday night football games and compete on weekends.

“If you want to achieve something, the time that you spend on it is a lot,” said Koeninger. “You know, everybody wants to be great, but seeing that it’s going to take this much work to get there, sometimes it can be daunting, but the biggest challenge can

team!

2025 WINNERS

“If I show my personality just a little bit, it lets people also feel like ‘OK, if she can show her personality, I can show my personality,’ and then everybody’s vibing, everybody’s becoming friends,” said Lucas.

Having been with the Scott High School Marching Band for all four years of high school, Lucas said it is amazing how much it has grown. “You’d really have to have been here through all four years to really see the difference in how much this band has changed,” she said.

If you want to check the ensemble out, the band next competes Oct. 11 at the Campbell County Competition and in November at the Mid State Band Association Championships for Class AAA at West Clermont in Cincinnati. You also can follow the Scott High School Music Department on Facebook.

Kenton Hornbeck Outstanding new journalist

Eric Inda

GREATER CINCINNATI PRO CHAPTER

2025 EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARDS

Freelance editorial or commentary for Opinion: Did you know Florence has a flag? It’s time to change it

2025 FINALISTS LINK nky team for 2024 Election Super Issue Written Communication Newspaper Special Section

linknky.com Best Website

Nathan Granger for Unpacking the discourse around Amendment 2 Written communication education reporting

Nathan Granger for Homelessness in NKY Written communication criminal/social justice reporting

Haley Parnell for From orphanage to centenarian Written communication feature story

OCTOBER 10, 2025 13

real estate

Brick ranch on over 3 acres Address: 5809 Taylor Mill Road, Covington Price: $979,900 Bedrooms: Five Bathrooms: Three (plus two half baths) Square footage: 5,000 School district: Covington Independent County: Kenton Special features: This spacious brick ranch on over three acres features a four-car garage and a flexible layout with potential for two living quarters. Outdoor amenities include a pool, a large patio with a bar and an expansive deck. The property is conveniently located near expressways, downtown Cincinnati, shopping, parks, schools and restaurants.

The exterior of this Covington home. Photos provided | Nicole Rankin with Coldwell Banker Realty

A look at this home’s open concept kitchen and dining room.

A view of this home’s pool and patio.

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

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

PUBLIC NOTICE The Fort Mitchell Board of Adjustment will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers of the Fort Mitchell City Building, 2355 Dixie Highway, to allow interested persons to speak or present information on the agenda items listed below.

Applicant: Scott Scholz Location: 223 W. Orchard Road, Fort Mitchell Request: A variance request to reduce the required rear yard setback within the R-CVS (Residential Conventional Subdivision) Zone of the Fort Mitchell Zoning Ordinance.

Applicant: Maile, Tekulve, and Gray per Rich Maile on behalf of the Fort Mitchell Country Club Location: 250 Fort Mitchell Avenue, Fort Mitchell Request: (1) A conditional use permit in the R-CVS (Residential Conventional Subdivision) Zone, of the Fort Mitchell Zoning Ordinance (2) an appeal of the zoning administrator’s decision that no accessory structure shall be in any front yard, and (3) a variance to reduce the required front yard setback.

Information submitted with this application is available for review by contacting our staff at PDS between 8 AM and 5 PM, Monday through Friday. If you have a disability for which the Board needs to provide accommodations, please notify the staff at least seven days prior to the public hearing by calling 859.331.8980 or emailing legalnotices@pdskc.org.

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

14 OCTOBER 10, 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

SUDOKU

Difficulty: Easy

2

9 1 4 5 7 9 3 8 8/25 - 8/24/25 9 7 6 1 3 9 4 3 8 1 2 8 4 7 5 8 7 Edited by Margie E. Burke

Copyright 2025 by The Puzzle Syndicate

HOW TO SOLVE:

1

8

7 9 6 8

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Answer to Previous Sudoku:

8 7 2 6 5 4 3 9 1 4 1 5 8 3 9 6 7 2 9 6 3 2 7 1 8 5 4 2 3 9 4 8 6 7 1 5 5 4 6 7 1 3 2 8 9 7 8 1 5 9 2 4 6 3 3 5 4 9 6 7 1 2 8 1 9 7 3 2 8 5 4 6 6 2 8 1 4 5 9 3 7

Edited Margie E. Burke Theby Weekly Crossword

by Margie E. Burke

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ACROSS HOW TO SOLVE: 1 Battery contents 14 15 16 5 Bullets, briefly Each row must contain the 18 19 17 must numbers 1 to 9; each column 9 Cashless deal contain the numbers 1 to 9; and 14 Source of 22 21 each set of 3 by 3 boxes20must misery contain the as numbers to 9.

24 25 15 Crazy a ___ 1 23 16 Gymnast 26 27 28 29 Comaneci Answer to Previous Sudoku: 17 Stein fillers 33 34 35 30 31 32 8 718 2Pastimes 6 5 4 3 9 1 36 37 38 39 40 4 120 5Underwood 8 3 9 6 7 2 product 42 43 44 45 41 9 622 3It may 2 be7 soft 1 or8 5 4 48 49 2 3 9sweet 4 8 6 746 1 5 47 23 Over the top 51 52 53 54 5 424 6Money 7 in1the3 2 8 950 57 58 7 8 1bank, 5 say 9 2 455 656 3 26 Windsor, for one 59 61 60 3 527 4Self-serving 9 6 7 1 2 8 63 64 1 9 7acts3 2 8 562 4 6 30 Wash up, 66 67 6 2 8old-style 1 4 5 965 3 7 33 Part of F.D.R. Copyright 2025 by The Puzzle Syndicate 35 Engine need 36 Flaming 2 Flower part 31 Way off 47 Finger-pointers 38 ___ Lanka 3 Lacking the 32 Self-appointed 49 Wrath 39 Tube-shaped knack lawman 51 Sharp end pasta 4 Military runaway 34 Quasimodo's 52 Regarding 41 Kind of wheels 5 More than love 53 Spotted horse 42 Slot-machine worried 37 Lodge fellows 54 Ice cream unit fruits 6 Sundance entry 40 Sheer bliss 55 Full of oneself 45 Like many Ebay 7 Not worth 43 Justice appoint- 56 Carpet feature items debating ed after Sonia 58 Indigent 46 Supermodel 8 "I repeat ..."

44 "Frankenstein" 60 Actress Christie 9 Explosive initials author Charlotte 48 Type of roof 10 Poker player, 50 Optical device at times Answers to Previous Crossword: 51 Maybe 11 Some kennel 55 Inbox clogger pickups A M A S S O L D S P A R A 57 French wars in 12 Bedrock pet R E C A P N O R A O L E G the early 1800's 13 Dawn direction C A C T I C L I M A C T I C 59 Wood-finishing 19 Torch job M O O D Y S T O C K W E L L liquid 21 Chinese dynasty R H E A L E O N C O D E G R A S S R O O T S 61 Nevada city 25 Word before N O N C A S S I A O P A L 62 ____-violet gap or sign M A Y O R A L T R Y U R N 63 Ready to serve 27 Judy Jetson's R A C I A L R I P B E E S 64 A big fan of brother T H E V I L L A G E I N D O 65 Gaggle group 28 Lodgepole, for A L S O E R O S 66 Bohemian one A L O N E C E A S E F I R E 67 On the peak of 29 "Call of the Wild" N U B I A W I T H D R A W N vehicle A L A N D E L L S O L I O DOWN 30 Follower of L O S E G E N E S L Y L Y 1 Taper off Mary

OCTOBER 10, 2025 15

HAPPY fourth WE’RE TURNING FOUR, LET’S CELEBRATE!

save the date

Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 | 6-9 p.m.

Join LINK staff, supporters and readers for a fun evening as we raise a glass to celebrate our fourth birthday.

WENZEL DISTILLERY

412 MADISON AVE. | COVINGTON, KY 41001

TICKETS $40 PER PERSON INCLUDES 2 DRINK TICKETS AND HEAVY HORS D’OEUVRES

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR MORE INFO 4th Birthday Party https://qr.codes/TWdXVJ

TAKE HOME A PIECE OF THE CELEBRATION!

YOU CAN PURCHASE LINK NKY’S SPECIAL 4-YEAR BOURBON BLEND, CREATED AT WENZEL WHISKEY

Like what you see and want to subscribe? Scan the QR code above 16 OCTOBER 10, 2025