LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 3, Issue 50 - November 14, 2025
Inside LINK: Next year’s election has officially begun
By Meghan Goth
Hang on, you may be asking. It’s 2025. How has the 2026 election already started?
Nov. 5 is the first day Kentucky allows those seeking office to register with the secretary of state for the Primary Election in May, one of two steps required to officially become a candidate.
The other step is to register with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, which tracks a candidate’s fundraising.
The window to register with the secretary of state for the May primary ends Jan. 9, 2026. The filing deadline for the General Election is June 2, 2026.
Next year is a big year for Northern Kentucky: from filling United States Sen. Mitch McConnell’s seat to local state and house races to judges/executive, mayors, city councils and commissioners, there’s a lot on the ballot.
Continues on page 3
Pit bull starved to death under Animal Services’ watch. But whose fault was it?
By Nathan Granger
Blake Jordan, the founder of Miami Valley Pit Crew, a private animal rescue in Dayton, Ohio, told LINK nky he had been expecting to receive two puppies and a German shepherd mix to foster after coordinating with Kenton County Animal Services.
The dogs weren’t directly in the county’s care, but animal control officers had been called out to the house where the dogs were being kept following a neighbor’s complaint.
Only one dog showed up.
“I was informed that earlier in the day, around 2 o’clock, the second puppy had died,” Jordan said. “So, that is how I ended
up with one puppy and found out that the second dog was starved to death.”
The Pit Crew had dubbed the dogs Romulus and Remus, after the mythical founders of Rome. Like in the myth, Romulus had survived his brother. Unlike the myth, Remus’ death seems to be attributable to the consumption of debris or toys in his environment; LINK nky got differing accounts in the details, but they all pointed to a lack of food for the animals, a lack to which Remus eventually succumbed.
The backlash was quick. The Pit Crew made several posts accusing Kenton County Animal Services of failing to properly intervene to help the animals.
Animal Services responded with its own post, saying the animal control officers had
been working with the people who were keeping the dogs – the dogs’ true owner was from Boone County and had given them to a relative in Kenton County to take care of “with the intention of helping them and rehoming them, and we worked to connect the caregiver with a potential rescue partner.”
To investigate, LINK nky interviewed volunteers at the shelter and examined data and internal correspondence through public records requests.
While there were aspects of Remus’ death that were arguably out of Animal Services’ control, testimonies from people involved in the shelter suggest the incident was indicative of a beleaguered institution straining under a stressful labor environment,
Continues on page 5
Yes, it’s already time to start talking about the 2026 election. Photo provided | Phil Scroggs via Unsplash
A photo snapped on an animal control officer’s phone. Photo provided | Kenton County Animal Services
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 523 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor Covington, KY 41011 or scan this QR code below
Love what we're doing? Want to support public-interest journalism in Northern Kentucky? Make a tax-deductible donation to support our work. Scan the QR code below, or mail a check payable to the Northern Kentucky Community Journalism Fund to 50 East Rivercenter Blvd. Suite 431, Covington, KY 41011.
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.
Which is why we started early. Over the next year, LINK nky will be your NKY Election HQ. What does that mean?
It means we will have a profile of every single candidate in a contested race in Northern Kentucky. In 2023, that was 222 candidates. We won’t know how many there are for 2026 until Jan. 9, but we’re expecting at least as many as there were last election cycle.
It means that we have a detailed timeline of every event that you need to know about, whether that’s Nov. 5, 2025 (the day candidates can officially register with the secretary of state), Dec. 31, 2025 (the last day to switch parties before the primary) or Jan. 9, 2026 (when the window for candidates to file with the secretary of state closes).
We have explainers, which help you understand what different elected officials do (what is a judge/executive anyway, and how do decisions get made at the state level?); over on Facebook/Instagram/YouTube/ TikTok, we have a series of reels that will provide voters with the information they need where they are, with clear pathways to more information if needed.
We’ll have a searchable database of every candidate in a contested race that you can look through (it’ll be available Jan. 9, once the window to declare candidacy closes).
And we have stories that break everything down. Why is this election important? What are the big races? What is a closed primary and how does that affect us in NKY?
At the end of the day, we live in a region with
three counties, 36 cities and municipalities and 13 public school districts. Figuring out who is running for what, who represents you and what decisions they make, who you’re able to vote for, how to vote, where to go to vote and when – none of that is easy, especially in a complicated region like ours.
That’s why we are already talking about this election. Because, in many ways, it started in early 2025, when candidates had already started declaring their candidacy for certain races.
Here are some other key dates to remember in the coming months:
• Dec. 31, 2025: Last day for residents to change political parties if they want to vote in that political party’s primary election. Click here to check your current registration or to update it.
• Jan. 9, 2026: Last day for candidates who want to run in 2026 to file with the
• Jan. 15, 2026: Public
lot
your
Scan this QR code for NKY’s Election HQ
secretary of state. Click here to learn how to file to run.
drawing for bal-
positions, which take place in the county clerk offices and secretary of state offices.
Go to LINK nky's Election HQ for everything you need to know before 2026. Photo provided | Element5 Digital via Unsplash
Continued from page 1 declining morale, deteriorating conditions for the animals and a sluggish response from county higher-ups.
“This pit bull dying is absolutely tragic, and maybe just a canary in the coal mine about how difficult things have gotten there,” said Animal Services Volunteer Maria Sanders. Mythic origins
In the aftermath of the dog’s death and the online backlash, Kenton County Animal Services invited the public to make a public records request for communications and timelines related to the incident.
The county shared this 52-page document with LINK nky, which consists of redacted text messages, emails and other communications between animal control officers, the family holding the dogs and the rescue. The communications are front-ended by a summary and timeline of the events.
Animal control officers got a complaint about the house where the dogs were being kept on Sept. 25. Officers went out to investigate, found the dogs in the backyard, and “learned the dogs had been at the home for roughly a month and belonged to the homeowner’s sister and the sister’s boyfriend, who were recently evicted from their home in Boone County,” according to the summary provided by animal services.
In cases like this, animal officers have two options: If they think abuse or neglect is occurring, and they have enough evidence of said abuse or neglect, they can take possession of the animal and bring it to the county animal shelter. Alternatively, they can help the owners create a plan of improvement to address any issues, which may include handing the animal off to a private rescue.
The county’s timeline states animal control officers believed the residents in the house were “trying to do the right thing about these dogs” and “gave the caretaker a two-week period to show improvement or find a rescue partner,” lest the dogs be impounded.
Text messages revealed the dogs were known, not by Romulus and Remus, but by Mocha and (in a weird mythic coincidence) Taurus, respectively. In Greek mythology, Taurus represents a bull.
The animal control officers took pictures during their initial visit and made several other observations.
First, there were three chihuahuas in the house that appeared to be hale and healthy, and there was a third pit bull, as well, which the officers describe as “lean and of weight,” whereas the two from Boone County were “emaciated” but friendly.
Text messages between the control officers noted that the homeowner had been trying to “feed them in small increments but they keep throwing up and they’ve been throwing up objects as well like toys.”
An animal control officer contacted Miami Valley Pit Crew on Sept. 26. The rescue responded the following Sunday, saying they could take the animals.
On Sept. 29, the officer reached back out to the caregivers and asked if the dogs were still there; they were, the caregiver said. After some more back and forth, the caregivers informed the control officer that her sister and her sister’s husband, the dogs’ original owners, would be the ones dropping off the pair (the shepherd mix mentioned before, which county documents show was an unrelated case already in the county’s custody, would be transported separately).
The control officer texted the caregiver on Sept. 30, to inquire if the dogs were being transported.
The caregiver responded, “they are on their way,” around 3 p.m.
By this point, unbeknownst to both the animal control officer and Miami Valley Pit Crew, Remus was already dead.
The control officer contacted Miami Valley Pit Crew around 4:45 p.m. to check on the hand-off. After talking with the rescue, the officer texted the caregiver.
“There is only one dog?” the officer texts.
“Yes, the really skinny one died around 2:30 today,” the caregiver explained.
“And you have other animals?” the officer responded.
“Of theirs??” the caregiver texted.
“Are there any dogs at your house?” the officer clarified, somewhat forcefully.
The caregiver said she had both her own dogs, the chihuahuas, and that her family member was coming to pick up the others. The caregiver texted pictures of her chihuahuas sitting plump and alert on blankets.
“How did this happen?” the officer texted.
The dog had refused to eat the day after the officers had initially been out to the property. The caregiver had tried mixing some rice, green beans and cooked catfish in with the dog’s food, but even then the dog “was eating it only in small amounts.”
The day the dogs were set to be picked up, the caregiver said, the dog was weak and couldn’t stand. She said she called her sis-
ter, admonishing her that the dog “needed to get to the rescue cause I didn’t know if he was gonna make it.”
The caregivers laid the dog on the couch. Around 2 p.m., the dog began throwing up, the caregiver said. Her daughter had the dog’s head in her lap when it finally stopped breathing around 2:30 p.m.
The owners from Boone County retrieved Remus’ body and the living dog, who was doing well when LINK nky spoke with Miami Valley Pit Crew, to take to the rescue. Since the dog’s body was transported across county lines, Kenton County Animal Services could not perform a postmortem to determine the exact cause of death.
Other sources who spoke with LINK nky believe the dog died after swallowing objects in its environment, a conjecture that’s at least partially corroborated by the testimony in the text messages. The whereabouts of Remus’ remains are unknown.
Animals outside
At the first meeting of the Kenton County Fiscal Court after Remus’ death, the current director of Kenton County Animal Services, Kelly Sauer, read from a prepared statement about the incident. The meeting took place on Oct. 7.
Sauer said the animal control staff “acted in accordance with state law and departmental standards, but we recognize policies and best practices are only as strong as our ability to continually evaluate and improve them. In response, our team has already begun a comprehensive review of this incident to identify where communication procedures or decision making processes might be strengthened. Our goal is not only to understand what happened, but to learn from it, to ensure we have every possible safeguard in place for future cases.”
Sauer’s statement did little to stifle the criticisms of two county residents who attended the meeting, both of whom believed Animal Services was letting other cases slip through the cracks.
“This is the worst shelter crisis in my lifetime; something’s got to change…,” said Rebecca Hicks, animal advocate and daughter of local decorated veteran Frank Hicks. “The inaction from the Kenton County Animal Services has been a pattern year after year after year, and really the ones that suffer are the dogs and the community members.”
Hicks told the fiscal court that she had reached out to discuss conditions at the shelter, but had “gotten nowhere.”
Hicks finished her statement and went to return to her seat, but before she could do so, Kenton County Commissioner Jon Draud asked if she had sent him an email. Hicks said that she had not, but had reached out to others. When she tried to continue her statement, Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann stopped her.
“We’re just going to cut the conversation off,” Knochelmann said.
“Can I just ask one question?” Hicks asked.
“No, because you’re not saying correct things; they’re not true,” Knochelmann said. “So, therefore, we’re going to continue. We’re going to move on.”
Hicks’ criticism offers the first glimpse into community concerns about animal services and the shelter it maintains, specifically the argument that the county’s protocols for dealing with dogs, especially, are often slow or inadequate.
LINK nky interviewed Hicks in the weeks after the meeting, and she cited cases dating as far back as 2013, three specifically, for which she argued the county had failed to act in a timely manner. Hicks still lobbies for various animal reforms and education throughout the region.
Hicks isn’t the only one to make these kinds of complaints.
Mike Bianchi, a retired police officer and Erlanger resident who spoke both at the fiscal court meeting and with LINK nky directly, talked about his experience with a large, sometimes friendly, sometimes aggressive Cane Corso owned by his mother’s neighbor in Independence.
Aptly named, in yet another mythic coincidence, Loki, after the Norse god of mischief, the dog had a tendency to get out and roam the neighborhood, at times even getting onto his mother’s property. Cane Corsos are large breeds that can weigh more than 100 pounds, according to the American Kennel Club.
County records have complaints about Loki dating back to 2021.
The dog’s owner, according to both county records and Bianchi’s testimony, has been warned multiple times about the dog repeatedly getting out. Bianchi captured the dog on a Ring camera when it was out throughout the summer. He shared the photos with LINK nky. Bianchi either witnessed or photographed the dog 12 times this summer alone.
Finally, in July, according to county records, the owner was cited. In spite of this, Bianchi has witnessed the dog still out and about in the neighborhood.
Like Hicks, Bianchi was frustrated with what he viewed as inaction on the part of Animal Services.
“What would happen is, essentially, the police would say we need to call animal control, and animal control would say we need to call the police,” Bianchi said.
Neither Bianchi nor Hicks was involved in the case of Romulus/Mocha and Remus/ Taurus; however, for them, the incident served as evidence that changes were needed.
“My situation didn’t end in a death of a dog like the pit bull, but it’s the same pattern of deferral and inaction,” Bianchi told LINK nky. He expressed a similar sentiment before the fiscal court.
Kenton County Administrator Joe Shriver responded to Bianchi’s comments at the meeting, saying that the situations with the pit bulls and Loki were “vastly different”
Kenton County Animal Services Director Kelly Sauer at the Kenton County Fiscal Court Meeting on Oct. 7, 2025. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky
and that Animal Services’ response to the pit bulls was timely and appropriate.
“To say that they were non-responsive, I’m going to say that’s not true,” Shriver said. “Everything about the record that was presented tonight shows that the animal control was trying everything they can to get the dogs into the rescue.”
Later in the meeting, Shriver discussed the general situation with Animal Services, particularly as it related to the animal shelter’s no-kill status.
“Our kennel is full, and that’s why we are working with every resource possible –fosters or with rescues – to try and keep animals from coming into the shelter and staying there,” Shriver said. “If we can get them placed in rescues and get them to where they’re not coming into the shelter. It’s not a financial thing. It is a care situation because we don’t want to bring them into a shelter… that already is at capacity or very close.”
Animals inside
Kentucky counties are also legally required to have publicly funded animal shelters. Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties’ animal shelters all have no-kill status, which, in spite of its name, doesn’t actually mean they refrain completely from euthanasia.
A shelter achieves no-kill status when it has a 90% or greater live outcome rate, meaning the animals within are either adopted out, returned to their owners or transferred to other facilities.
Euthanasia that does occur is often done so for health reasons, age or if the animal is deemed dangerous (the last point is more relevant for dogs than cats). These days, most shelters view euthanasia as a last resort.
County records indicate the shelter took in 2,878 animals in 2024. Its live outcome rate was roughly 94%. Animal intakes peaked last year in July at 348. Intakes declined in the fall and early winter months and steadily rose from January onward. Euthanasia peaked in August of last year at 33 animals of various kinds.
The volunteers and fosters who spoke with LINK nky all expressed roughly the same concerns, namely that gaps in labor have
created an “untenable” situation, as Sanders, the volunteer who spoke before, put it. Volunteers who spoke with LINK nky said this was especially true as it related to the care of the dogs, which tends to be more labor intensive than the smaller animals.
“They have usually two people working,” said volunteer Carol Franzen, who’s also an elected member of the Independence City Council. Franzen has been a frequent advocate of the shelter in public meetings and often encourages Independence residents to volunteer.
“Because they’re so grossly understaffed, those two people have to man the desk…, which leaves the back of the house empty, which means the only people they can rely on to do anything are volunteers,” Franzen said.
Franzen and others spoke to a general decline in the care of the dogs at the shelter. She said cleanliness has deteriorated: vomit and feces in the dog shelters have increased beyond acceptable levels, she said. The guillotine doors in the kennels are often left closed, she’s observed, restricting the dogs’ movements. Both the dogs and the cats, as well, are at times at risk of going all night without water.
“If I had not filled their water bowls,” Franzen said, relating one instance, “they would have been without water overnight.” Several volunteers were critical of Sauer’s leadership. Sarah Adams, who has served as both a volunteer and a foster, told LINK nky that she has been volunteering less since Sauer came on.
As mentioned before, total euthanasia in the shelter peaked last year in August, prior to Sauer’s hire. Dog euthanasia did increase after Sauer’s hire, peaking in July to its highest level since January 2024, but the numbers alone don’t provide enough insight into the circumstances surrounding those decisions.
Emails between Sauer and the staff discuss several cases of dog euthanasia in August and July, often due to bites or other behavioral problems.
“I would say the overall morale of the facility has gone downhill tremendously,” Adams said. “Like the day-to-day workers, they’re absolutely amazing. They’re obviously there for the animals. I don’t think she is, to be honest.”
Adams and others worried Sauer was unwilling to take up the slack to keep the shelter running well, especially in the face of a dwindling workforce and an increased reliance on unpaid volunteers. Others worried about the haphazard application of behavioral checks and other intake protocols.
Lauren Eten, a foster and volunteer, said that when she was having trouble with a dog she was fostering, one that ended up being dangerous, she couldn’t get ahold of anyone at the shelter. She had called the shelter’s foster line, but no one picked up.
“I ended up having to call Kenton County Dispatch,” Eten said, “and Kenton County dispatch had to dispatch the animal control officer to come to my house to get the dog because the dog attacked me.”
This incident occurred in August, Eten said. At the beginning of October, Sauer sent an email informing staff members that foster inquiries should be routed through a new foster email address, adding that “in the coming weeks, we would really like to start shifting the foster phone’s use to a more emergency based service.”
There was also a feeling among volunteers that Sauer simply didn’t like dogs and that her decisions about what to do with them were arbitrary.
Christmas Tree Pretzels
Another email from August informed the staff that two key employees were no longer with the organization: the shelter manager and the canine behaviorist. The email is light on the details, but county records indicate the fiscal court accepted the shelter manager’s resignation at the end of September. The behaviorist was terminated on Oct. 28.
“What happens from there is that there’s no one to manage the shelter,” Sanders said. “There’s no one to assess and work with the dogs, and these are two centrally important roles to day-to-day operations and also to ensuring that it’s a safe work environment for the staff and volunteers.”
The consent agenda from Oct. 7 included the hiring of a single animal shelter technician, a full time position that carries an annual salary of roughly $38,000.
As of Oct. 13, prior to the behaviorist’s termination, records indicated Kenton County Animal Services employs 18 full-time staff members: four animal control officers, an animal control sergeant, a volunteer coordinator, an assistant shelter director, six shelter technicians, three veterinary staff, the behaviorist and Sauer.
As a reminder, Animal Services took in 2,878 animals over the course of last year. In spite of the criticisms and the tragedy of Remus, Sanders still encouraged people to adopt from the shelter.
“People should feel secure that if they’re looking to foster or adopt, this is the agency to come to,” Sanders said. “We have amazing pets that still desperately need homes, regardless of who the leadership is and regardless of what [people have] read on social media.”
By Haley Parnell
TThe quiet before the campaign storm: NKY readies for biggest 2026 races
he 2026 campaign season in Northern Kentucky won’t just decide who fills Mitch McConnell’s Senate seat or whether Thomas Massie keeps his congressional post — it could also reshape county leadership that has been steady for nearly three decades.
Currently, the big races to watch are the U.S. Senate, U.S. House and Boone, Kenton and Campbell county judges/executive races. For the 2026 Kentucky primary election, the candidate filing period began on Nov. 5 and ends at 4 p.m. on Jan. 9, 2026. The primary election is held on May 19, 2026, and the general election is on Nov. 3, 2026.
Chairman of the Kenton County Republican Party, Shane Noem, said that, other than those three races, everything seems pretty much par for the course for 2026.
“I think most Northern Kentuckians are very satisfied with their local government,
and a lot of the cities and counties have been lowering taxes or at least not raising them, even with economic uncertainty, and that bodes well for incumbents,” Noem told LINK nky.
Vice Chair of the Campbell County Democratic Party, Brandon Long, said that in 2026, people can expect to see a united Democratic party that puts up candidates, particularly for board of education and city council races locally and the U.S. House and Senate races.
“I think a lot of people are seeing what’s going on and are feeling the pain of things,” Long said. “I think that we’re going to see a whole new generation of candidates who have lived this struggle, they’re going to rise up, and they’re going to defend the programs that are getting cut.”
U.S. Senate
A U.S. Senator from Kentucky is elected by the statewide vote, not by district or coun-
ty; therefore, Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties all vote on the same senatorial contest.
Why is the 2026 race one to watch? Incumbent senator McConnell, who first took office in 1985, has said he will not seek reelection in 2026, creating an open seat.
U.S. House
The current U.S. Representative is Republican Massie, who has held the seat since a special election in 2012.
Something to keep an eye on during this race is that President Donald Trump is actively seeking to challenge Massie in the Republican primary, backing potential rivals and making this one of the morewatched primaries in the state.
The majority of the district’s voters live in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, but it also stretches into sections of Eastern Kentucky and much of the suburban counties surrounding Louisville.
Boone, Kenton and Campbell Judges/ Executive races
The judge/executive serves a four-year term and may be re-elected indefinitely.
Judges’/executive primary responsibilities are creating a county budget and administering the budget as approved by the fiscal court, oversight of the funds, appointing county personnel and forming relationships with organizations and industry leaders that support their county.
What to watch: whether incumbents seek re-election or step aside. An open race is more competitive. Two of the three current NKY judges/executives have held their positions since the 1990s.
• Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore has served in the role since 1998.
• Campbell County Judge/Executive Steve Pendery has been in office since 1999.
• Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann has been in the position since 2015.
What are some of the local issues top of mind that candidates might push? Noem said healthcare and education.
“There’s still a lot of meaningful work to be done,” he said. “I think a lot of our elections are going to be focused on who can right the ship in a big way. And the issues that matter most to Kentuckians are health and education.”
Long said that eliminating the income tax will be a hot-button issue at the state level, but said the biggest issue is struggling working families.
“I think the biggest problem is going to be that working families are going to experience the cuts that have been happening here in Kentucky at the state level, but also federally,” he said. “The truth is that working families are getting crushed by the policies that right now favor the wealthy few.”
One issue all candidates compete with is voter turnout. So, what can they do to engage voters in 2026?
“I think candidates should focus on the issues people are actually talking about,” Noem said. “Not the ones social media tells them are important. Just because a vocal minority is tweeting about it doesn’t mean it’s what people actually talk about at the dinner table.”
Regarding what Democrats need to do to win NKY, Long said he thinks Democrats have to get back to being the party that speaks about the dignity of work and the struggle of ordinary families.
“Particularly in red spaces that they don’t see Democrats often, people want leaders who understand what it’s like to juggle rent and groceries and health care, and also leaders who have the courage to stand up and speak against the corporate interests,” he said.
A ‘vote here’ sign outside of the Independence Senior Center Election Day 2024. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky
In Kentucky, it can be challenging to keep track of what happens when during election season. When is the filing deadline, what’s the last date to switch parties before the primary, when does early voting start?
We put together this timeline to make it easy to double check key dates. Feel free to bookmark, peruse and share with anyone who also has trouble remembering all these dates.
Nov. 5, 2025: First day candidates can file with their county, which will share with the secretary of state, to officially launch their candidacy. (In order to officially be a candidate, they also need to have filed with KREF).
Dec. 31, 2025: Last day for residents to change political parties if they want to vote in that political party’s primary election.
Jan. 9, 2026: Candidate filing deadline: Deadline for candidates to file with the county to run for office in 2026.
Jan. 15, 2026: Public drawing for ballot positions. Drawings take place in the county clerk offices and the secretary of state offices.
April 4, 2026: Mail-in absentee request form opens. Portal closes May 5.
April 20, 2026: Last day to register to vote in the primary election.
May 5, 2025: Mail-in absentee request portal closes at 11:59 p.m.
May 6, 2026: Excused, in-person absentee voting begins.
May 7, 2026: Excused, in-person absentee voting.
Election 2026: A timeline
May 8, 2026: Excused, in-person absentee voting.
May 11, 2026: Excused, in-person absentee voting.
May 12, 2026: Excused, in-person absentee voting; last day to apply for a military-overseas ballot.
May 13, 2026: Excused, in-person absentee voting.
May 14, 2026: In-person, no-excuse absentee voting begins.
May 15, 2026: In-person, no-excuse absentee voting.
May 16, 2026: In-person, no-excuse absentee voting.
May 19, 2026: Primary Election Day. Polls open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
May 26, 2026: Deadline for county to submit certified results of the election to the secretary of state; also the deadline to request a recanvass.
June 2, 2026: Filing deadline for November election.
June 4, 2026: Public drawing for ballot positions at county clerks and secretary of state offices.
Aug. 11, 2026: Candidate filing deadline for independent, political organization or political group candidates to file a petition due to a vacancy occurring after the June filing deadline but less than three months before the election.
Aug. 24, 2026: Last day to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate.
Sept. 14, 2026: Deadline for printing regular and absentee ballots.
Nov. 10, 2026: Deadline for counties to provide certified election results; deadline to request recanvass.
There are a lot of upcoming key dates to keep track of. Photo provided | Element5 Digital via Unsplash
Independence officers recognized for investigation into ‘designer Xanax’
Sam Collins and Cole O’Brien, two Independence police officers, were honored by the Independence City Council on Nov. 3 for their work in investigating black markets for a substance called bromazolam, sometimes called designer Xanax.
Their initial investigation eventually led to the substance being marked as a Schedule 1 controlled substance in August.
Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman called the officers’ work “impressive” because it “moved onto something that actually affected change in statute. This wasn’t a policy thing. This wasn’t a better way to do things. It was something that will save more lives.”
Additionally, the officers were honored with awards in criminal investigation from the American Police Hall of Fame.
Bromazolam is in the same drug family as Xanax, albeit with some chemical differences, and induces similar effects in the body. It was developed in the 1970s but was never marketed. It currently has no FDA-approved medical uses. There were 48 overdose deaths from bromazolam in Kentucky last year, according to the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy.
Earlier this year, while attending to what turned out to be a fatal overdose in the city, the officers discovered 200 pressed pills of what they initially believed to be standard Xanax.
After some deeper investigations, they relayed their findings to the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, which continued to investigate bromazolam trafficking at a broader level. The Strike Force put the issue on the Attorney General’s radar.
One investigation from earlier this year, headed up by the Strike Force and the U.S. Postal Service, intercepted a package being shipped from Miami, Florida to Latonia in Covington containing 958 pressed bromazolam pills, according to the AG’s office. Attorney General Russell Coleman called upon the Cabinet of Health and Family Services to schedule the drug in August.
“We live at a time when as little as one pill can – and is – killing our children,” Coleman wrote in his letter to the Cabinet. “There is zero margin of error when it comes to illicit drugs and counterfeit pills. As parents and as public officials, we must do everything possible to cut off the supply of these deadly substances through vigorous enforcement while continuing to promote the effective prevention, treatment and recovery efforts that are saving lives across Kentucky.”
Gov. Andy Beshear took emergency action to schedule the drug later in August. Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia have also classified bromazolam as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. The drug is unscheduled at the federal level.
Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force Executive Director Scott Hardcorn attended the meeting and commended the officers’ work.
“Independence is great, and we have an awesome relationship with the entire city and police department, and it couldn’t be better,” Hardcorn said.
Elsmere police purchase new drone with opioid abatement funds
The Elsmere City Council approved the use of opioid abatement funds for the police department at their Nov. 4 caucus meeting.
The council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter an interlocal agreement with the Kenton County Fiscal Court, which makes use of funds from the National Opioids Settlement for the intervention, treatment and prevention of opioid abuse. Specifically, the agreement concerns a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement navigator program to find the most effective use for the abatement funds.
Kenton County Fiscal Court has proposed increasing the reach of regional law enforcement to include drug use, alcohol use and mental health issues in police responses, according to City Clerk Katie Hehman. Cities cooperating on the funds pool could ease burdens on the community.
Police Chief Russell Wood and an Elsmere police drone pilot also demonstrated newly purchased equipment at the meeting, including a rifle-proof helmet, shield and drone. The drone was purchased with the
funds from a local drone dealer and replaces the police department’s retired drone. Using the new drone, the police were able to locate an 11-year-old autistic child who went missing on Nov. 3, according to Wood.
These new equipment purchases would save the city $35,000 a year, Wood said.
Financing for White’s Tower, Piner renovations approved
Roughly $16.74 million in financing for construction renovation projects at White’s Tower Elementary and Piner Elementary was approved by the Kenton County Board of Education on Nov. 3.
The work at Piner is an augmentation to renovations that began about three to four years ago, which missed some key parts of the school, namely the gym, parts of the restroom facilities, some areas of the parking lot, as well as interior and exterior work here and there. A construction contract for the work was approved last month.
The White’s Tower work, on the other hand, will focus on updating the building’s HVAC system. The work will require the ceiling to be torn out, meaning those components will need to be replaced and repainted, as well. The affected hallways will also get new floor tiles.
The second major part of the White’s Tower project will focus on a problem known as stacking, which refers to cars lining up behind each other when attempting to enter the campus.
Understandably, bumper-to-bumper car congestion can create a safety hazard. Cars tend to stack on Harris Pike, from which people turn into the school. Finally, the construction will build a new canopy over the entrance.
The board also approved a construction contract with Morel Construction for the work at White’s Tower on Nov. 3.
The debt takes the form of roughly $16.74 million in general obligation bonds with allowances for an additional $1.67 million more or any amount less, depending on the needs of the project. General obligation bonds are one of several debt measures public entities use to pay for capital projects. This will be the third time the district has issued general obligation bonds, according to Chief Operations Officer Matt Rigg.
General obligation bonds, unlike
Police Chief Russell Wood and an Elsmere police drone pilot demonstrated newly purchased equipment at the Nov. 4 caucus meeting. Photo by Mildred Nguyen.
From left to right: Independence Police Chief Brian Ferayorni, Officer Sam Collins, Officer Cole O’Brien, Mayor Chris Reinersman. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky
debt instruments like industrial revenue bonds, are backed by the district itself. The city solicits investors to buy bonds, in this case $16.74 million worth, which will provide the district with cash to finance the building’s construction.
The district is then fully on the hook to pay back the principal of that debt plus any interest. In a scenario where the project fails to generate revenue for the repayments, the district would have to make up the money in some other way. In some cases, this could entail raising taxes.
The Kentucky foster system needs help. How to contribute
Representatives from the Kentucky Foster Adoptive Caregiver Exchange System, the official name of the foster care system in the commonwealth, have been making their rounds to cities throughout Northern Kentucky in an effort to get the word out about the need for help.
Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties are part of the system’s Northern Bluegrass region, which includes the 12 northernmost counties in the state. There were 1,220 kids in the system as of Oct. 1, according to Kristina Niergarth, social service clinician with Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Niergarth and others have already spoken before local governments and with businesses around the region, mostly recently before the Covington Board of Commissioners on Oct. 28. The system’s Kenton County office is actually in Latonia.
“We have a lot of kids who are unfortunately sleeping in our offices because we don’t have placement,” said Jenni Wiehe, who supervises recruitment within the system.
Covington Mayor Ron Washington is a former foster child.
“There’s a big need in our community for this,” Washington told Niergarth and Wiehe at the Oct. 28 commission meeting. “My mom was a foster mother, and we had over a dozen children that passed through our house at one time or the other, and my sister’s a foster mother. So, it means a lot to me, and you guys are doing good work.”
There were 432 kids in the system in Kenton County as of Oct. 1. Split out by age groups, there were 144 between the ages of 0 and 5, 87 between the ages of 6 and 11, and 201 between the ages of 12 and 21.
Foster homes, meanwhile, are broken down between state-certified homes and privately managed agencies. As of Oct. 1, there were 267 cabinet homes and 252 privately managed agencies in the Northern Bluegrass region, including 74 and 67, respectively, in Kenton County.
With those numbers, Niergarth said, “we’re only meeting 85% of the need.”
Placing kids with family members or trusted family friends tends to be easier, both logistically and for the kids themselves, than placing them in a strange home. Foster parents must go through the required training to get certified. Once they’re certified, foster caregivers become eligible for a state stipend to help defray the cost of caring for the kids.
Foster caregivers can adopt through the system, as well. When that occurs, the family continues to receive the stipend until the child turns 18. The child adopted through the system also gets free in-state tuition at any Kentucky public college or university.
There are also people called respite providers. Respite providers watch kids for a short time, such as over the weekend, to give the full-time foster caregivers a break.
Even if you aren’t ready to become a fullon foster parent, said Niergarth, there are other ways to help.
“A lot of families might just start out with respite…,” Niergarth said. “There’s an app called Foster Friendly. Businesses can get signed up on that to offer a discount to foster families… You can donate items to local foster care closets: you know, baby items, clothing, supplies and basically just helping spread the word is one of the biggest things.”
Horizon Community Foundation launches NextGen Giving Guide
ship with Magnified Giving and Northern Kentucky University’s Mayerson Student Philanthropy Project. It offers tools, stories and interactive content to help users learn how to give their time, talent and financial resources in meaningful ways.
“This is an important step in making philanthropy accessible and fun for the next generation,” Horizon Community Foundation CEO Nancy Grayson said in a news release. “By working with NKU’s Mayerson program and Magnified Giving, we’re helping learners of all ages and stages find their own pathway to impact.”
NKU President Dr. Cady Short-Thompson said the project reflects the university’s commitment to community engagement.
“We are proud to have our students and faculty help bring the NextGen Giving Guide to life and create a resource that will empower others to give back to their communities in any way they can,” she said in the release.
The guide also serves as a tribute to the late Dr. James Votruba, whose leadership helped shape Horizon Community Foundation, Magnified Giving, and the Mayerson Student Philanthropy Project. The resource honors his legacy of education, empathy and civic engagement.
Gold Star opens nominations for 2025 Teacher of the Year
Gold Star and The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati are once again teaming up to recognize outstanding educators through the annual Gold Star Teacher of the Year program.
Now in its seventh year, the program invites parents, students and community
members across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky to nominate teachers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their students and classrooms.
Nominations are open online through Dec. 19 at goldstarchili.com/goldstarteacher.
Ten finalists will be selected from this year’s nominees. Each will receive a $100 Gold Star gift card, four tickets to a Children’s Theatre production, and other prizes. The community will have the opportunity to vote for one of the finalists beginning in February 2026, with the winner announced in March 2026.
The 2025 Gold Star Teacher of the Year will receive a $2,000 classroom grant, a $1,000 donation to their school’s PTO/PTA, $500 in gift cards, a school-wide cheese coney giveaway, and additional prizes totaling more than $7,000.
Since 2020, nearly 3,000 teachers have been nominated for the program. The winner from last year was Tricia Richardson of St. Mary’s School in Alexandria.
New this year, nominators and teachers will both receive rewards through the Gold Star Rewards app, including a free “BOGO Burger & Fries” for nominators and a complimentary meal for nominated teachers.
NOTICE
take notice that, in an application to be filed no later than November 3,
be seeking approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission to revise its Demand Side Management (DSM) rate for gas service and electric service for residential and commercial customers, with changes to become effective on or after December 3, 2025. Duke Energy Kentucky’s current monthly DSM rate for residential gas customers is $0.001249 per hundred cubic feet and for non -residential gas customers is $0.000000 per hundred cubic feet. Duke Energy Kentucky’s current monthly DSM rate for residential electric customers is $0.002418 per kilowatt -hour and for nonresidential customers is $0.003409 per kilowatt-hour for distribution service and $0.000674 per kilowatt-hour for Duke Energy Kentucky seeks approval to revise these rates as follows: Duke Energy Kentucky’s monthly DSM rate for residential gas customers would increase to $0.014440 per hundred cubic feet and for non-residential gas customers would remain at $0.000000 per hundred cubic feet. Duke Energy Kentucky’s monthly DSM rate for residential electric customers would increase to $0.005514 per kilowatt-hour and for non-residential customers would decrease to $0 .001154 per kilowatt-hour for distribution service and would decrease to $0.000053 per kilowatt -hour for transmission service. The rate contained in this notice is the rate proposed by Duke Energy Kentucky. However, the Public Service Commission may order a rate to be charged that differs from this proposed rate. Such action may result in a rate for consumers other than the rate in this notice. The foregoing rates reflect a proposed increase in residential electric revenues of approximately $4.7 million or 2.34% over current residential electric revenues and decrease in non -residential revenues of approximately ($5.2) million or (1.98%) over current non -residential revenues. The proposed rates reflect an increase in residential gas revenues of approximately $0.8 million or 0.81% over current total gas revenues. There is no change to non-residential gas revenues.
A typical residential gas customer using 70 ccf in a month will see an increase of $0.92 or 0.8%. A typical residential electric customer using 1000 kWh in a month will see an increase of $3.14 or 2.1%. A typical non -residential electric customer using 40 kilowatts and 14,000 kWh will see a decrease of ($32.19) or (1.8%). A non -residential customer served at transmission voltage using 10,000 kilowatts and 4,000,000 kWh will see a decrease of ($2,533.19) or (0.8%). Nonresidential gas customers will see no change in their bills from this application.
Horizon Community Foundation of Northern Kentucky has launched the NextGen Giving Guide, a new digital resource designed to help individuals, families, educators and professionals learn about charitable giving and explore ways to support their communities.
The guide was developed in partner-
Any corporation, association, body politic or person may by motion within thirty (30) days after publicat ion or mailing of notice of the proposed rate changes, submit a written request to intervene to the Public Service Commission, 211 Sower Boulevard, P.O. Box 615, Frankfort, Kentucky 40602, and shall set forth the grounds for the request including the statu s and interest of the party. If the Commission does not receive a written request for intervention within thirty (30) days of t he initial publication or mailing of the notice, the Commission may take final action on the tariff filing. The intervention may be granted beyond the thirty (30) day period for good cause shown. Written comments regarding the proposed rate may be submitted to the Public Service Commission by mail or through the Public Service Commission’s website. A copy of this application filed with the Public Service Commission is available for public inspection at Duke Energy Kentucky’s office at 1262 Cox Road, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018 and on its website at http://www.duke -energy.com. This filing and any other related documents can be found on the Public Service Commission’s website at http://psc.ky.gov and are available for inspection at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Kids holding hands. Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash
Chris Wheeler (center) is a finalist in 2025’s Goldstar Chili Teacher of the Year Award. Photo provided | Bellevue Independent Public Schools
A view of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. Photo by Haily Roden | LINK nky
Covington Police suspend officer who punched protester on Roebling
By Nathan Granger
ACovington Police officer who was seen on video punching a protester during a chaotic encounter on the Roebling Bridge in July has been suspended for 30 days, following an internal affairs investigation.
Covington Police Chief Justin Wietholter told commissioners at a meeting on Nov. 4 that other than officer Zachary Stayton’s actions, the investigation found officers’ response to be “consistent with established procedure.”
In addition to 30 days of unpaid suspension, Stayton will be required to take additional remedial training.
The goal of the investigation, Wietholter said, was to ensure a full and fair assessment of Covington Police officers’ response that day.
“It included a review of hundreds of hours of body worn camera and civilian footage, interviews with multiple civilian and employee witnesses, along with other available evidence and reports,” Wietholter said.
Wietholter’s statement was short, occurring at the beginning of the meeting. It was a caucus meeting, so there were not public comments, and the chief did not take questions.
Still, Wietholter emphasized the need for ongoing training.
“These incidents provide the department with a proactive opportunity to determine whether additional training is appropriate agency wide, and to that end, officers across the department will begin receiving additional training focused on de-escalation and responding to unlawful public demonstrations involving large crowds,” Wietholter said.
Wietholter concluded his statement by saying that “public safety depends on mutual respect and responsibility for both officers and the public. Our mission remains the same – to provide the best possible police service to the people of Covington, built on respect, fairness and trust.”
Fifteen people were arrested on the bridge after the July encounter. The arrests took place after a protest in Cincinnati branched off from a vigil for former Cincinnati Children’s chaplain Ayman Soliman, whom ICE detained following the revocation of his asylum status. At the time, Soliman was held at the Butler County Jail in Hamilton, Ohio. He was released from custody at the end of September.
The police and protestors clashed as the protestors attempted to cross the bridge from the Ohio side. Nick Swartsell, a reporter with WVXU, was on the scene and
THE WEEKLY COMIC by
Andrew Buchanan
recorded several videos that later became widely circulated among news media and on social media.
Videos show the police making arrests, deploying tasers and other weapons and arresting two journalists from Cincinnati CityBeat, Madeline Fening and Lucas Griffith. Other video footage shows Stayton repeatedly punching protestor Brandon Hill in the head while other officers hold him down. Hill later stated that “it seems like some folks used excessive force.”
LINK nky’s content sharing partner WCPO previously filed a public records request asking for all use-of-force records regarding Stayton, who joined the force in October 2021. They already had eight reports involving Stayton at the station from previous investigations into the Covington Police Department issued between December 2022 and February 2024. Four of those use-of-force incidents came between April and May 2023, but none of the reports issued during that period led to litigation against the city or department.
There was a lawsuit filed in September 2023, however, that does detail another time Stayton was accused of excessive force. According to court documents, Stayton and another officer were accused of slamming a man to the ground and arresting him outside a Covington Kroger.
The man stated he refused to give police his ID when they walked up to him outside of his vehicle in the Kroger parking lot. The man who filed the lawsuit dismissed his claim in February 2024 after settling with the city for $27,500.
Stayton was placed on administrative duty following the bridge incident, meaning he continued to work but wasn’t out on patrol. All 15 people arrested on the bridge, most of whom were from Cincinnati, according to court records and police reports, were initially charged with felony rioting. Many of these charges were dismissed during a preliminary hearing in Kenton County District Court on July 23.
Specifically, seven protesters received deals in which they pleaded guilty to a
single, lower charge in exchange for the dismissal of their other charges, including those for rioting. The court granted them time served, but did not waive their court costs.
Four protestors’ rioting charges were dismissed, but their lower charges were upheld. These included the two journalists from Cincinnati CityBeat. Both journalists elected to go to trial.
Griffith’s trial occurred last month, where a jury found him guilty of failure to disperse but not guilty of disorderly conduct, obstructing an emergency responder and obstructing a highway. With court costs and other fees, Griffith owed the court a total of $219 after the trial.
The other journalist, Fening, was initially set to go to trial in October, but the court granted her a continuance. As a result, her trial has been rescheduled for Jan. 13, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.
Finally, four protestors, including Hill, had the probable cause for their rioting charges upheld and sent to a grand jury, which will decide if there is enough evidence for the cases to go to trial. That process is ongoing. Although the police and prosecutors argued that the protestors on the bridge were overly hostile, many in the community felt the police’s response was excessive. Some community members have called for a greater emphasis on crime prevention and re-establishing trust with the public.
“I think it’s very telling and very important that Kentucky statutes refer to our officers as peace officers, not law enforcement officers,” said Covington resident Tom Hull before the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 9. “We need to see them and our city officials spending more time promoting peace and acting to prevent the occurrence of crime than they do responding to the existence of crime after the fact.”
LINK nky has requested copies of the full IA investigation. We will report more information as it becomes available.
Taylor Weiter of WCPO contributed reporting to this story.
Chief Justin Weitholter addresses the Covington Commission. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky
Covington Police arresting protestors on July 17, 2025. Images taken from video. Composite images provided | WCPO
Stonehouse Settlement Winery
blends family, history and handcrafted wine
By Maggy McDonel
From 1913 through 1938, the Oakland 12-Mile School operated as a oneroom schoolhouse for children in Campbell County. Now, the building is the tasting room for Stonehouse Settlement Winery.
Walter, Jean and Patsy Scott attended the school during that time. Three generations later, Sandy and Steve Scott bought the old school building on the original one and a half acres in 2015. In 2016, they purchased an additional 10.5 acres surrounding the building.
Sandy told LINK ny that the idea came, partly, from her and her husband’s love of drinking.
“My husband and I, when the kids were grown, we usually went out on weekends, and you drink and you eat,” said Sandy. “So he said to me, ‘We have got to think of something more than just eating and drinking every weekend.’”
So it was kismet when, within 60 days of this conversation, they were at a Scott family reunion, and David and Elanor Shaw approached the couple.
David Shaw’s father had a farm on the land that is now Stonehouse Settlement Winery. David owned it, and at the time, he had an acre of grape vines in the backyard. He asked Steve and Sandy if he would take over the small vineyard, offering to mentor them.
David, who died in May of this year, was 80 when he made this offer and said the vineyard was just getting to be too much for him.
“So we thought, well, we might as well,” said Sandy.
While still working full-time, Sandy and Steve started working at the vineyard during the evenings and weekends, signing onto a six-year contract with David.
Eventually, David asked the couple if they would like to buy the schoolhouse.
“He asked if we wanted to buy it, then he
asked, ‘And if you did, what would you do with it?’ And we said, ‘I guess a tasting room,’ and he goes, ‘Okay, then you can buy it,’” said Sandy.
Previously, people had approached David about buying the property, but Sandy said he had a vision for the space, and the Scotts could make it happen.
Now, Stonehouse Settlement Winery has its own vintage, 1,000 vines and a fully operational tasting room with food and a full bar.
“We feel like this has become a center of the community pretty quickly, and it’s a new establishment,” said Steve. “We’ve only been here since February, and we feel like we’re the ‘Cheers’ of Campbell County. Everybody that comes in knows everybody, and they’ll sit down at the bar and say, ‘know you, and I knew your mom and all that stuff.’”
It’s been a long road to becoming the “Cheers of Campbell County,” however.
The Noiret grapes for the red wine they produce were planted nine years ago. They also produce a white grape, the Vidal Blanc, which was planted in 2020.
They didn’t start bottling until their 2023 harvest; that is the wine you can currently drink in their tasting room. The 2024 harvest is aging in tanks, and the 2025 harvest just happened a few weeks ago.
As far as the red wine goes, Sandy said that the 2024 vintage won’t be ready until at least next spring.
Starting out, Sandy and Steve had no previous experience working in a vineyard, so they reached out to the Campbell County Extension Office, which got them working side by side with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.
“They’re amazing,” said Sandy. “They came out, they tested our dirt. They told us what to do and how to do it.”
First, they had to clear the land, which was mostly covered in trees when they bought
it. Then, they had to get their vines. Their 600 Noiret vines came from the Double A Vineyard in New York. Sandy said they picked Noiret because it’s a late-blooming grape that she and their advisors from UK believed would do well in the region because of our variable winters.
The Vidal Blanc was brought over from a nursery in Southern California.
Two summers ago, the representatives from UK came up and told Sandy and Steve that they needed to add three different nutrients to their vines.
“We had to go to each vine, which is 1,000 and we had to do that three different times,” said Sandy. “And we put this nutrient on each, and it had to be precise. And we did that three times, in total 3,000 times.”
While it certainly was a lot of work, afterwards, along with new pruning techniques UK taught them and some help from Mother Nature with an early spring, the vines took off.
“The production this year was 100% more than last year,” said Steve.
After all the vines were in order, came the work on the schoolhouse. Sandy said a structural engineer came to look at the building and they were shocked to find out that it was structurally sound.
The interior had to be completely taken down to the studs. Now the cozy space has a bar, built by Sandy and Steve’s daughter, Abbey Scott, new floors, a stone surround fireplace, a dining room,and a full commercial kitchen where Sandy cooks all their offerings.
The space is full of nods to the original schoolhouse and the history of the region.
Steve said he has become fascinated with the history of wine in the Ohio River Valley.
“The German immigrants brought that skill with them,” said Steve. “They knew how to grow grapes. They knew how to make wine. In the 1840s thereabouts, this became a real heavy wine area and grape-growing
area. And if you listen to people, they say, ‘Oh, there was vineyards everywhere.’”
Prohibition and a blight hit the area, ceasing the momentum on what he said was gearing up to be a “little Napa area.”
But now Stonehouse joins several other small wineries in the region, including StoneBrook Winery, 12 Mile Creek Winery, Seven Wells Vineyard & Winery and more in Campbell County alone.
So, how does one actually go about turning grapes into wine?
After all the grapes are picked, they’re first put through a destemmer machine, which separates the fruit from the stems.
Then, the red grapes are put in tanks with yeast. This mixture is stirred twice a day for around 10 days. It is then put through the crusher, which separates the juice from the skins.
The white grapes are crushed the same day they are picked.
Afterwards, by hand, they fill and cork the bottles that are then ready to age before they are opened, served and enjoyed.
Where can you get a bottle?
Because of its production size, you can only drink Stonehouse Settlement Winery in its tasting room. At the moment, it doesn’t sell to any distributors, and Sandy said they don’t foresee ever getting to that size.
They do, however, offer other local wines, meads, beer and of course bourbon.
Abbey now works as Stonehouse’s mixologist, coming up with seasonal drinks and even themed beverages for events held in the tasting room.
“I never pictured 10 years ago that this is where our lives would be,” said Abbey. “Really, they’re the ones that started it, but I’m pretty invested. So it’s really cool, and to think that my grandpa went to school here that many years ago, and then my dad and mom bought the building, and now they have a winery here, it’s full circle.”
Sandy and Steve now live above the wine production center, and Abbey’s daughter runs around helping where she can, taking orders, bringing water and helping her grandma in the kitchen.
“I really enjoy spending quality time with my parents,” said Abbey. “I like that it’s a small family business, and we all have pretty much the same goal.”
If you want to visit Stonehouse Settlement Winery, it is located at 8292 Stonehouse Rd., California. The tasting room is open Friday and Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The bar in the Stonehouse Settlement Winery’s tasting room.
The Stonehouse Settlement Winery. Photos by Maggy McDonel | LINK nky
Van Laningham, Mayer,
all claim state cross country titles
Van Laningham set a state record time with a 15:01 on the 5k course. He topped his previous record set last year by 18 seconds, when he also claimed the 3A title. With the victory, Van Laningham became the first 3A boy to repeat as state cross country champion since Greenwood’s Ryan Eaton in 2008–09. It also marked Van Laningham’s fourth state title in total, holding an indoor and outdoor title to his name as well in the 1,600.
Cooper’s boys finished fourth as a team in the 3A meet to reach the podium and take home some hardware. Ryle’s girls finished fifth, just missing out in the girls 3A meet.
Mayer’s time of 15 minutes, 44.15 seconds won the 2A title. It also marked Mayer’s first individual state title; he was part of the Colonels’ winning 4×800 track and field team in 2023.
He helped the Colonels to a second place finish in the Class 2A meet after having won back-to-back titles the prior two years.
Parke closed out her cross country career with back-to-back Class A titles. The Beechwood senior ran a 18:55 on the course. The cross country titles add to her five state indoor and four outdoor track titles.
In the boys Class A meet, St. Henry’s boys took home second place, Beechwood third and Villa Madonna fifth. In the Class A girls race, Villa Madonna finished third, Bishop Brossart fourth and Beechwood fifth.
CovCath, Highlands reach state soccer championship
Covington Catholic and Highlands’ girls reached their respective state championships in soccer.
The two got to play in Lexington SC’s new stadium, the inaugural state tournament championship game host for the state. Both ended up coming short in their title tilts on Nov. 1.
The Colonels closed out their season with back-to-back 9th Region titles and won three postseason games in penalty kick shootouts. It was their fourth championship game appearance since 2015, when they won it all. They’ve finished runner-up three times since. Tanner Robertson, Booker Gifford and Cole Bishop were named to the All-Tournament team.
Highlands got hot at the right time, winning 12 of their final 15 games and claiming back-to-back 9th Region titles. Bailee Class, Macy Hargis and Reese Wilkens were named to the All-Tournament team. It was Highlands’ sixth appearance in the state championship game. After winning backto-back titles in 2005-06, the Bluebirds have finished runner-up four times.
Holy Cross and Lloyd Memorial finish off undefeated
regular seasons in football
Final statewide media poll rankings released in football
The KHSAA football postseason began on Nov. 6 as each team in their respective class is four wins away from playing for a KHSAA state championship in the first week of December at Kroger Field in Lexington.
Prior to the start of the postseason, the final statewide media rankings were released. Northern Kentucky finished with eight teams ranked in their respective class. Ryle finished No. 5 in 6A, the Raiders closing out their season with a 7-3 record and five straight victories. They’ll look to return to the state championship game, a feat they accomplished last season.
Cooper is No. 2 in 5A and received a firstplace vote. The Jaguars closed out their regular season at 7-3 and won five straight headed into the postseason. They’ll also look to make a return to the state title game, finishing runner-up the past two seasons.
Highlands is No. 4 in 4A, the Bluebirds closing out their regular season at 8-2. Highlands will look for their first state championship since 2014 this postseason.
Covington Catholic is No. 6 in 4A, finishing the regular season at 7-3. If the Colonels are to get to December, they’ll have to run the gauntlet of potential matchups against Johnson Central, Boyle County and Franklin County all on the road. Those teams finished ranked No. 2, 1 and 5 respectively.
Cooper’s Paul Van Laningham, Covington Catholic’s Joe Mayer and Beechwood’s Lily Parke were all first in their respective races.
Covington Catholic lost 2-0 to St. Xavier while Sacred Heart defeated Highlands, 3-0.
ST.
History was made on Oct. 30 when the Holy Cross and Lloyd Memorial football teams finished off undefeated regular seasons.
The Indians defeated Bellevue 29-6 to complete their first undefeated regular season in program history. They also won their first district title in program history this season. They opened up their postseason with Dayton on Nov. 7.
Lloyd Memorial claimed their first undefeated regular season since 1995 with a 43-7 victory over Boone County. The Juggernauts also claimed a district title and with their strong RPI rating in Class 3A, won’t have to leave Erlanger in the postseason until the state championship if they get that far.
Lloyd Memorial is No. 5 in 3A, the Juggernauts with a perfect 10-0 record as they enter the postseason. Lloyd won’t have to leave Erlanger this postseason, hopeful of a trip to Kroger Field in December.
Beechwood is the No. 1 team in 2A, the Tigers receiving 10 of the 16 first-place votes as they enter the postseason with a 9-1 record in search of their 19th state championship. Beechwood’s potent offense paired with a stingy defense has them primed and ready for another state title.
In 1A, Holy Cross at 10-0 is No. 7, Newport Central Catholic is No. 8. The Indians are guaranteed two home playoff games, as are the Thoroughbreds, there’s an outside chance the two cross paths in the third round of the playoffs. Newport was in the others receiving votes category as they’re on a crash course to face Holy Cross in the second round of the playoffs.
Covington Catholic’s Joe Mayer crosses the finish line as the Class 2A state champion. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
Parke
A trio of Northern Kentucky runners came home with state titles at the KHSAA cross country state meets on Nov. 1 at the Horse Park in Lexington.
The runner-up Covington Catholic Colonels. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
Highlands took home the KHSAA state runner-up trophy. Photo Provided | Charles Bolton
Holy Cross ends at No. 7 in Class 1A. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
Sponsored by
St. Henry’s boys cross-country team was the LINK nky Team of the Week for Oct. 19-25.
Cooper’s Paul Van Laningham races toward the finish line in Saturday’s Class 3A state cross country meet. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
Beechwood’s Lily Parke finished her cross country career with two titles and two second-place finishes. Ray Schaefer | LINK nky contributor
CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00504 DIVISION 1
KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VS.
TANNER B. VANCE, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 9/5/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 11/18/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 223 Fourth Avenue, Dayton, Kentucky 41074
Group No: 30584/A1
PIDN: 999-99-08-938.00
CASE NUMBER 24-CI-01035 DIVISION 1 CITY OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY VS.
ELSIE LONG, ET AL. BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 6/18/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 11/18/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 1141 Central Avenue, Newport, Kentucky 41071
Group No: 30181/A7
PIDN: 999-99-03-121.00
BIDDERS
JOSEPH F. GRIMME, MASTER COMMISSIONER 859-291-9075
COMMISSIONER’S SALE
COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00673 DIVISION 2 SEAN CURRY VS.
SAMANTHA RODRIGUEZ, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 10/1/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 11/18/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 421 Fifth Avenue, Dayton, Kentucky 41074
Group No: 30451/A3
PIDN: 999-99-10-150.00
CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00625
DIVISION 1
KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VS.
ANDREW SCOTT TEVIS, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 10/3/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 11/18/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 937 Thornton Street, Dayton, Kentucky 41074
Group No: 30322/A4
PIDN: 999-99-09-607.00
CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00532 DIVISION 2
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION VS.
VIRGINIA R. PARROTT AKA VIRGINIA PARROTT, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 10/1/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 11/18/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 420 Lakeview Drive, Unit 12, Wilder, Kentucky 41071
Group No: 41372/V9
PIDN: 999-99-18-724.37
CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00465
DIVISION 1
STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION
MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2001-SB1, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE VS.
ELIZABETH POE, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 10/8/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 11/18/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 70 Rose Avenue, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076
Group No: 30904/A3
PIDN: 999-99-22-037.00
Fort Wright estate on 10 acres in Waterford Estates
Address: 1960 Edenderry Dr., Fort Wright
Price: $2,700,000
Bedrooms: Seven
Bathrooms: Four (plus three half baths)
Square footage: 7,000
School district: Kenton County
County: Kenton
Special features: This Fort Wright residence is set on nearly 10 wooded acres in the Waterford Estates community. Designed with craftsmanship and privacy in mind, the home features multiple outdoor living areas, five fireplaces, built-ins and two offices. All bedrooms are en-suite, and the finished lower level includes a full kitchen, custom bar, game area and potential fifth and sixth bedrooms. Outdoor amenities include a pool with a waterfall and a hot tub, two gazebos and a four-seasons room. A carriage house provides guest accommodations, storage and additional garage space.
look
CITY OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY NOTICE OF ALTERNATIVE INTERNET POSTING
PURSUANT TO KRS 424.145 INVITATIONS TO BID
The City of Covington, KY is issuing Invitations To Bid for Botany Hills Intersection Improvements - ITB251002, and Annual Concrete MaintenanceITB251101.Invitations To Bid documents may be obtained through the City of Covington’s website procurement portal at https://covingtonky.bonfirehub.com beginning November 5, 2025 or by contacting Peter Hager, Procurement Officer, at 20 West Pike St., Covington, KY 41011, peter.hager@covingtonky.gov, or at 859-292-2178 from the hours of 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Mon – Fri.
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
• 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
The exterior of this Fort Wright home. Photos provided | Lee Robinson & Robinson Sotheby’s with International Realty
A
at this home’s eat-in kitchen.
A view of this home’s pool.
9/22/25 - 9/28/25
Edited by Margie E. Burke
HOW TO SOLVE:
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. 1 8 5 2 3 7
Answer to Previous Sudoku:
Edited by Margie E. Burke
The Weekly Crossword
2025 COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SERIES:
DECEMBER 4:
The Future of Work
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
