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What do sheriffs actually do in Northern Kentucky? (Maybe not what you think)

By Nathan Granger

When people think of sheriffs, they likely picture what they see in the movies, i.e., a community police leader patrolling the streets and solving crime. But this perception doesn’t always match the actual role of sheriffs in the commonwealth, at least not most of the time.

Sheriffs are one of a handful of historical elected officials at the county level in Kentucky. Every county in the commonwealth has one, but their duties may not correspond to the popular conception of a sheriff or to the duties of sheriffs in other states. What’s more, the three Northern Kentucky sheriffs’ departments vary a good deal in their structures and the work they do.

Let’s start with what they have in common first. All sheriffs serve four-year terms and have no term limits. In fact, many sheriffs occupy their seats for long periods of time

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Hidden treasures with bigger purpose: Inside Habitat for Humanity ReStores

By Haley Parnell

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores in Northern Kentucky are turning donated home goods into affordable housing opportunities for local families.

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores are owned and operated by the organization to generate revenue to build homes in the community. Two stores operate in NKY: one in Bellevue at 15 Donnermeyer Drive and one in Florence at 7102 Turfway Road. The first ReStores opened in 2001.

The stores are open to the general public. Anyone who’s looking for home improvement items, like furniture, appliances, paint, cabinets, doors and windows, can

find their selection runs the gamut. All of the proceeds go back into Habitat for Humanity’s mission of envisioning a world where everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to live.

“Between the customers, the crew, the other employees at the other stores, we have fun with the customers,” said Florence ReStore Manager Traci Lawson. “When they’re remodeling or doing something, they’ll show us before and after pictures, and just to see some of the unique things that come into the ReStores that they put in their house, and how they can make it come to life. It’s pretty cool.”

Habitat for Humanity Marketing and Communications Officer Sarah Reynolds said the clearest example of that mission is

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p7 Party divisions take center stage at Kenton County GOP Lincoln Dinner p5 NKY skaters work to change attitudes p10

The 21-gun salute in Boone County. Photographer unknown. File photo | LINK nky archives

The Bellevue ReStore location’s workshop. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

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Continued from page 1 if they’re popular. Boone County’s former Sheriff Mike Helmig, for instance, served as the county sheriff for nearly thirty years. Former Kenton County Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn served as the sheriff for 26 years. Campbell County Sheriff Mike Jensen was first elected in 2015.

If a sheriff dies, resigns, retires or is removed from the post before the term is up, the county judge/executive appoints a replacement to serve out the remainder of the term. There is no legal requirement in Kentucky for a candidate to have a law enforcement background to run for sheriff.

In spite of their cultural associations, most sheriffs’ primary duties do not focus on patrolling and other workday law enforcement activities. While they may take part in those duties if needed, if you call 911 in NKY, the officer who responds will likely come from a municipal department, rather than the sheriff’s office (unless you’re in Boone County; we’ll get to that). In fact, Kenton and Campbell counties both have their own county police departments that operate independently of the sheriffs.

Instead, sheriffs’ primary duties focus on property tax collection, court security and serving court processes like subpoenas, summons and court orders, including protective orders. Sheriffs (or their proxies) also sit as voting members of county boards of election, perform vehicle inspections for driver’s license applications and provide consumer protection services like scam warnings. Finally, Campbell and Kenton counties share a combined SWAT team, the current CEO of which is Campbell County Sheriff Mike Jansen.

As an aside, sheriffs and county jails are politically separate in Kentucky, unlike some other states. Jailers are in their own elected positions, although the two institutions may work together.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is a bit of an exception. Unlike the other two counties, it is a full service law enforcement agency. The Sheriff’s Office officially merged with the now-defunct Boone County Police Department in 2001 under the tutelage of former Sheriff Helmig. By the end of the merger, the old county police department was completely absorbed into the sheriff’s department, which is now one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the commonwealth.

Today, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office handles not only patrol duties but also court transport, financial and cyber crime investigations, crime scene investigations, cold cases, a SWAT team and a large training center, complete with a gun range and a broken-down cruiser that trainees can use to practice traffic stops and other situations involving vehicles.

Mergers of this kind are rare and require buy-in from the departments involved, the broader community and the county government, not to mention a renovation of financial structures.

Boone County Sheriff Les Hill and Campbell County Sheriff Jansen are both running unopposed this year, but that is not the case in Kenton County. There will be a Republican primary in May between current sheriff and former Fort Mitchell Mayor Jude Hehman and Republican challenger Larry Shelton. Whoever wins the primary will then face off against Democratic challenger and former Newport Police Chief Tom Collins, who will not appear on the May ballot.

Hehman was appointed as sheriff following the retirement of former Sheriff Korzenborn last year. Hehman does not have a background in law enforcement but has had a long political and business career. He has successfully secured endorsements from Korzenborn, as well as the county’s prosecutors (which are also elected positions).

Hehman, in his conversations with LINK nky, discussed some of the misconceptions around the sheriff’s seat and some of its challenges.

“I’m required to staff the court, the Justice Center, with a certain amount [of deputies],” Hehman said in early April, “and they’ve just now increased that. As a mayor or as a business owner, I could come up with ways to create revenue. As a sheriff’s office, there’s no creating revenue. My revenue is based on fees that I collect.”

Hehman said that in the short time he’s been sheriff, he’s not only had to build out

the staffing of the justice center but also had to update the office’s computer software, which he characterized as “obsolete.” The Sheriff’s Office’s current budget is about $7.5 million. Based on the current demands of the office and its financial structure, Hehman described the line he had to walk as “tight.”

Both Shelton and Collins are running on a platform of expanding the role of the Sheriff’s Office. Unlike Hehman, they both have law enforcement backgrounds. Shelton worked for the Kentucky State Police and is currently an attorney.

Shelton’s platform is arguably more ambitious; it includes a large real-time crime center (with the help of the other two counties), essentially a network of coordinated, computer-interfaced security cameras that can feed live information to local departments. Louisville has a similar system. He also wanted to expand the department’s role in investigating scams and change the shift structure of the deputies to work two 12-hour shifts on and two shifts off, which he said would allow deputies to have a better work-life balance.

“I would like to see the sheriff’s department evolve,” Shelton said. “I look at Boone County and the other counties — they’re actual police officers.”

Collins, on the other hand, believed the Sheriff’s Office should have a dedicated civil disturbance team to better manage events with large crowds (whether they’re political events or otherwise) and train other departments. He also wanted to create a missing persons’ team.

“What I understand, it [the Sheriff’s Office] needs a lot of adjusting, and there’s a lot of programs and a lot of things that they could be doing and should be doing as assistance to other agencies,” Collins said.

Are such expansions worth locating within the Sheriff’s Office? Whether whoever is in the office can pull them off, and whether they can pay for it, are among the questions voters will need to consider when they hit the ballot box later this year.

Kenton County Sheriff Jude Hehman. Photo provided | Kenton County Fiscal Court

Kenton County Sheriff Democratic candidate Tom Collins in 2018. Photo provided | Tom Collins

Continued from page 1

when they build houses in the community. The organization partners with first-time home buyers, helps them build their home, and then sells it to them with a 0% interest mortgage.

“One half of Ohio renters right now cannot afford the rent that they are paying, and so we feel a really important need in our community,” Reynolds said. “We say annually that each store helps to fill in the gap for about four homes. Because we sell our homes, we do get some profit back from the sale of those homes, but there is quite a big gap that we’re trying to fill, and so the ReStores help to fill in that gap.”

Habitat for Humanity does not use any items from the ReStores for its home builds. They purchase all new items for those. The organization is currently building nine new homes in Covington.

Habitat for Humanity also recently partnered with Newport and Covington to expand its repair program.

ReStore items are primarily donated to the stores from people who have items that could use a second life, but the stores do purchase some items like its cabinets, countertops, flooring and paint.

The ReStore operates a little differently than some other consignment-esque shops. All appliances and electronics are tested to ensure they work, and all furniture is cleaned and, if necessary, repaired in the store’s workshop.

A list of acceptable donations and how to donate can be found here. The stores also offer free donation pickup for larger items, such as appliances and large furniture. They do not accept items such as mattresses and clothing.

“We can only exist because people choose

to donate to us,” Reynolds said. “We’re really grateful for all of our donors.”

Lawson and Bellevue ReStore Manager Katie Brewer said the furniture people donate to the ReStores tends to be nice, solid wood and much more durable than furniture sold in retail stores. Or they said there will be really unique pieces that they have never seen before.

The ReStores constantly have trucks dropping off new donations, so inventory cycles throughout the week. The managers said if you see something you like in the store, you’d better snag it or it will probably be gone when you come back.

“I came from logistics and into retail,” Brewer said. “So it’s totally two different worlds, and I absolutely just love it. The customers are my number one priority. Getting them to come to our stores, and finding out who we are, trying to spread the mission.”

Brewer said a good time to donate is when someone hosts a yard sale and not everything sells, bringing the leftovers to a ReStore.

Habitat for Humanity Marketing and Communication Coordinator for ReStore, Sarah Sheffer, said if someone is part of a church or an organization, Habitat for Humanity is looking to start partnering with rummage

sales at local churches and organizations. She said if a group is interested, contact the organization.

The ReStore’s custom cabinets are new within the last year and are one of the store’s most popular items. Sheffer said they also recently started carrying a limited number of custom cabinets, available to purchase in-store for people who have smaller projects or already have cabinets from them and just need to replace or add something.

“We have a relationship with a local manufacturer,” Reynolds said. “So they make the cabinets for us to sell custom to our customers’ kitchens, and they’re really high quality. So we have a lot of repeat customers who are contractors, who will come and only buy cabinets from the ReStore, because it’s a great deal.”

She said people also like to go that route because they know it supports Habitat for Humanity’s mission.

The stores utilize volunteers who will help test donations, clean or do whatever else the store may need.

“We have a couple of different programs that we do, like SNAP benefit programs where people can come in and get their hours,” Lawson said. “Some of them work 20 hours, 30 hours. I have had some who work 40 hours. We also have workers’ comp volunteers, where they’ll have to work so many hours, and then that company pays them, so it makes it nice, the free labor that comes in and gives us a hand when we need it.”

Lawson and Brewer said they also get many students in need of volunteer hours at their stores.

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From left to right: Katie Brewer, ReStore manager in Bellevue; Traci Lawson, ReStore manager in Florence; Sarah Sheffer, marketing and communications coordinator for ReStore; and Sarah Reynolds, marketing and communications officer for Habitat for Humanity, standing in front of the Bellevue ReStore.

Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

GOP candidates, party divisions take center stage at Kenton County GOP Lincoln Dinner

By Kenton Hornbeck

Former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein headlined the Kenton County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner late last month in Covington, touting his endorsement from President Donald Trump, while criticizing incumbent Kentucky 4th District Rep. Thomas Massie for breaking with the president on a number of high-profile issues.

Massie did not attend the event despite being invited, as he was in Washington, D.C. Instead, State Sen. Gex Williams of Boone County spoke on Massie’s behalf to close the dinner. Massie has previously criticized Gallrein for failing to attend joint events that were advertised for both candidates.

Williams attributed Massie’s absence to his presence on the House floor, where he was voting on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, or FISA Act, earlier that day. Williams said that due to Massie’s obligations in Congress, he was unable to leave in time to attend the event. Congressman Andy Barr of Kentucky’s 6th District, who was also on the House floor earlier, arrived midway through the event.

“Congressman Barr had to rush to the airport because Thomas Massie was being Thomas Massie,” Williams said. “They (Congress) were going to vote on the FISA Act, and he did a roll call vote for it, and so he had to stay to the end because he was a part of the speech and debate and was not able to make that flight in time.”

Prior to the event’s keynote, Gallrein fielded questions from local and national media about the state of the race. Gallrein dinged Massie for being insufficiently aligned with Trump and the Republican Party, telling reporters that the congressman has voted against several of the president’s legislative

priorities, such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025.

He accused the incumbent congressman of being aligned with the Democratic Party and mainstream media — a criticism Massie has denied in prior speaking engagements.

“He’s gone to Washington, D.C. — he’s burned every bridge, burned the bridge factory, run everybody off the middle bridge that’s a conservative Republican, and that’s why the mainstream media loves him, because he advances their cause,” Gallrein said.

Gallrein characterized Trump’s endorsement as reflecting the feelings of the American populace, rather than strictly a political choice by the president. Trump endorsed Gallrein last October at the inception of his campaign.

During his speech, Gallrein criticized Massie for seeking another term in Congress. Massie, first elected in 2012, has served seven terms. Gallrein argued that Massie’s legislative breaks with the GOP were a vote against the county’s best interests.

“But instead, he served for 14 years and wants an eighth term,” Gallrein said. “He’s also got a severe case of the Trump Derangement Syndrome like the radical Democrats, that he actively votes against our best interests, our nation, our party and our families.”

Williams, speaking on Massie’s behalf, pushed back against criticisms of the congressman, telling the audience that Massie stays true to his principles.

“Thomas, when he first got elected, he made promises,” Williams said. “He’s still

delivering on that. He has not changed in all of these years. You know where Thomas is on any issue, because that’s where he was when he got elected. That’s where he is today, and he is working for his constituents.”

Furthermore, Williams argued that supporting both Trump and Massie is not contradictory, noting that the U.S. system is built on checks and balances, with both a strong president and an independent Congress.

“I urge you to reconsider if you are thinking that you can’t be for President Trump and for Thomas Massie,” Williams said. “You certainly can be for President Trump and for Thomas Massie, because our Founding Fathers wanted a strong independent president, and they wanted a strong independent Congress, and Thomas Massie stands for that.”

Prior to Gallrein and Williams’ speeches, Senate candidates Barr and former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron gave their electoral pitches to the captive audience. Cameron spoke before Barr.

Cameron pitched himself as the ‘law-andorder’ candidate; someone who promotes conservative principles such as support for law enforcement, farmers, low taxes, energy independence and merit-based opportunity over diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Cameron has not formally endorsed Massie or Gallrein.

“This is an opportunity for us to speak boldly and truthfully on the issues that are plaguing our country,” he said. “I hope you’ll give me a chance.”

Barr, an early backer of Gallrein, followed Cameron. Barr positioned himself as an experienced legislator, touting his lengthy

tenure in Congress and alignment with Trump’s agenda.

Barr emphasized his role in advancing tax cuts, deregulation, border security and military strength, arguing that he is prepared to serve in the Senate immediately without a learning curve due to his experience in Congress.

“I block the Democrats’ path,” Barr asserted. “I defeat Democrats. That’s what I do. It would be an honor to earn your vote because I’m a workhorse, because I’m ready on day one, and because I will win for you, for your families, for the future.”

Event organizer Shane Noem announced that entrepreneur Nate Morris, who is also running in the GOP Senate primary, was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.

The GOP primary is scheduled for May 19.

Ed Gallrein speaking at the Kenton County GOP Lincoln Dinner on April 30, 2026. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

Pendery Park celebrates America’s 250th with tree planting

By Haley Parnell

Local officials and community members gathered in Melbourne on May 1 to dedicate a “Liberty Tree” in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday.

The Mary Ingles Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a Kentucky Tulip Poplar, the state tree, during a ceremony at Pendery Park on May 1.

Liberty Trees served as symbols of unity and freedom during the American Revolution.

The Kentucky Historical Society and Daughters of the American Revolution are planting tulip poplar “Liberty Trees” in all 120 Kentucky counties to mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which will be on July 4.

A bronze National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Liberty Tree Commemorative Marker will be placed at the site in the future.

Campbell County Judge/Executive Steve Pendery was the first speaker to greet the crowd on Friday with his remarks.

“We’re not first Republicans or Democrats, we actually have something much more important in common,” Pendery said. “We’re Americans. We’re Americans. This is an example of what we can accomplish when we work together.”

The ceremony featured the presentation of flags by the Campbell County Police Honor Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, and the reading of the Preamble to the Constitution.

Mary Ingles Chapter of the National Soci-

ety Daughters of the American Revolution First Vice Regent Jane Hlad spoke on the history of the Liberty Tree during the ceremony.

“The Liberty Tree was a treasured symbol in the years leading up to the American Revolution in towns and cities across the 13 Colonies, local patriots calling themselves the ‘Sons of Liberty’ selected a large tree in their community to serve as their gathering place,” Hlad said. “ A living emblem of their commitment to freedom.”

“Liberty Trees” then began to appear in towns across the colonies, becoming a popular place to meet, Hlad said. British troops recognized the tree’s influence and cut the tree down in 1775, but its symbolism had already taken root across the colonies.

Their protests ultimately led to the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766, less than a year af-

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FIELD MAINTENANCE POSITION BOONE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT

ter its enactment. She said Bostonians celebrated by hanging lanterns in the liberty tree branches.

“May the dedication of this tree stand as a constant reminder to our commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Hlad said.

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Members of the Mary Ingles Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and Campbell County District Court Judge Erin Sizemore at the Liberty Tree dedication at Pendery Park in Melbourne on May 1, 2026. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

The Liberty Tree was dedicated at Pendery Park on May 1. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

Kenton County Schools approve $60M in financing for renovations

By Nathan Granger

The Kenton County Schools Board of Education approved roughly $60 million in debt for various renovation projects throughout the district this week, including renovations at River Ridge Elementary, Ryland Heights Elementary, Kenton Elementary and Taylor Mill Elementary schools.

The board also approved two new construction bids from Monarch Construction for work at Kenton and Taylor Mill Elementary schools. Finally, construction contract amounts were amended for several earlier projects, the cost for which has gone up due to increased construction costs, according to Superintendent Henry Webb.

You can see a breakdown of the different amounts in the table below.

The district expects to finance the construction through the issuance of general obligation bonds, which are one of several debt instruments both school districts and cities use to finance big capital projects. What distinguishes general obligation bonds from other debt instruments, such as industrial revenue bonds, is that they are backed by the issuer itself.

Here’s how they work: The city solicits investors to buy bonds, in this case $60 mil-

lion worth, which will provide the district with cash to finance the buildings’ renovations. 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 some other way.

In some cases, this could entail raising taxes, although the district’s Director of Finance Susan Bentle didn’t think that would be necessary, given the district’s financial health.

“We are getting some really good rates on them,” Bentle told LINK nky, “and many times, we actually save money and don’t even have to issue that many. [Investors]’ll pay a premium to get our bonds … They’ll give us some money up front in order to even buy our bonds.”

“Beginning July 1 [the beginning of the new fiscal year] we’ll still have somewhere between $60 and $70 million in bonding potential, which is excellent,” Webb said. “And each year that grows — it depends on what the legislature does with the budget each biennium and what bonds we have that’s paid off.”

The interest rate for the bonds won’t be determined until they’re actually negotiated and sold, but they’ll be paid back over the

Bentle actually presented the district’s tentative budget on May 4 at the same meeting where the Board of Education voted to approve the bonds. The $60 million in bonds approved this week did not appear on the projections — a final budget for next year will come before the Board in September —

but the one presented on May 4 put the district in a budget surplus with $210.9 million in total revenues and $175.1 million in total expenditures.

“I’m excited to continue to be able to do these general obligation bonds,” said Board Chair Jesica Jehn. “They’re really beneficial for our district.”

Kenton County Schools’ new central office in Covington. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky course of 20 years.

kenton county briefs

Covington

Neighborhood

Collaborative to host Community Summit

The Covington Neighborhood Collaborative, a consortium of Covington’s neighborhood associations, will host a community summit on May 16.

Dubbed “Encouraging the Livable City,” the event will feature speakers, panels and other opportunities for planning out future civic engagement among the city’s residents.

“Covington is at its best when neighbors can show up, learn together and help shape what comes next,” said JT Spence, who’s serving as the community summit’s chair. “This summit is designed to be welcoming, practical and resident-shaped — so ideas are captured clearly and the path to ongoing civic participation is visible.”

The event will take place at the Life Learning Center at 20 W. 18th Street. The event is free, but registration is required ahead of time. Lunch will be provided.

Visit the Covington Neighborhood Collaborative’s events page to register for the event and learn more.

Covington expands fleet with electric, hybrid vehicles

The City of Covington is expanding its fleet with the addition of 15 new electric and hybrid vehicles across several city departments, including police, fire and code enforcement.

The move follows an analysis from the city’s manager of analytics and intelligence, Todd Sink, earlier this year, which suggest-

ed that incorporating EVs and hybrids into the city’s 213-vehicle fleet could reduce maintenance and fuel costs. Sink’s analysis was based on an eight-year vehicle life cycle and estimated the city would save $122,408 over the course of eight years if it bought EVs instead of gas vehicles for the vehicles slated for replacement.

“This is not about converting the entire fleet overnight; this is about making smart, informed decisions when vehicles are already scheduled to be replaced, and asking whether electric options can help us save money while still meeting the needs of our departments,” Covington Mayor Ron Washington said in a city press release. “We’re committed to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars while also building a more sustainable future for Covington.”

As part of the pilot program, the city will purchase two 2026 Toyota Camry hybrids and seven electric Tesla Model Y SUVs for the police department. All of those vehicles will be upfitted for law enforcement use. On the other hand, the fire department will receive two Chevrolet Silverado EV trucks, and the code enforcement department will receive four Chevrolet Equinox EV SUVs.

Independence, Taylor Mill ranked among safest cities in Kentucky

and Taylor Mill have both been ranked among the top 10 safest cities

in Kentucky by Safewise, a home security and research firm. Independence ranked the fifth safest city, and Taylor Mill ranked as the eighth safest city this year.

The rankings were created using a combined analysis of FBI statistics and Safewise’s national “State of Safety,” study, which measures perceptions of crime and public safety. This is the 12th year Safewise has released rankings.

Independence was one of five cities in the commonwealth to experience a decrease in both violent crime and property crime year-over-year, even though Safewise’s analysis suggested overall rates of crime statewide had increased since 2024.

“Despite an increase in crime rates, Kentuckians who took our State of Safety survey report a surge of confidence,” according to Safewise. “About two-thirds (67%) say they feel safe in the state, which is a staggering increase from 39% the last two years in a row. That’s the fourth-highest percentage in the nation.”

Cincinnati brunch spot to open location at Covington RiverCenter

An East Walnut Hills-based breakfast restaurant is set to open its new flagship location at the Covington RiverCenter.

6 ‘N The Mornin’ announced on its Facebook page that it will close its current restaurant on Madison Avenue in East Walnut Hills and relocate to the vacant space at 50 E. Rivercenter Blvd.

As of now, the restaurant has not yet announced its grand reopening date.

Previously, the space was occupied by Honey Uninhibited, a southern-style brunch restaurant owned by former Cincinnati Bengal Carlos Dunlap. The restaurant closed in late 2024.

6 ‘N The Mornin’s menu features breakfast items such as pancakes, omelets and French toast, alongside dishes such as chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, salmon croquettes and steak and eggs.

Covington seeks development proposals for about 30 vacant lots

Covington is seeking development proposals for about 30 vacant, city-owned lots. The move is the latest development of both elected leadership’s and city professionals’

efforts to build out Covington’s housing stock in the face of the region’s broader housing shortage.

City Manager Sharmili Reddy announced the city was seeking proposals at the meeting of the Covington Board of Commissioners on April 28, saying the point was to “create a pipeline for income-aligned in Covington.” The requests for proposals were released April 29.

“It’s no secret that people need a place to live,” said Covington Mayor Ron Washington. “There’s not enough affordable places. We’ve got our little slice of the pie, and we’re going to do something with it.”

The following lots are included in the proposal requests:

• 866, 867, and 871-73-77 Western Ave.

• 1614 May Street

• 2018 Greenup Street

• 20 W. 15th Street

• 407 Byrd Street

• 310 Berry Street

• 1213 Garrard Street

• 216 Trevor Street

• 330 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Street

• 402 and 404 E. 11th Street

• 1225 and 1227 Banklick Street

• 110 Pleasant Street and 1318 Scott Street (must be combined)

• 1215 Pike Street

• 706-10 W. 12th Street

• 1114 and 1122 Forest Ave.

• 952 Western Ave.

• 826 and 830 Crescent Ave.

• 2719 Madison Ave.

• West 18th Street and 308 W. 18th Street (must be combined)

• 205 W. 15th Street

• 2309 Herman Street

• 1012 Greenup Street

Conventional developers, nonprofit organizations and other institutions are invited to submit proposals. Priority will be given to projects that provide affordable and workforce housing options, according to a city press release. In this context, “affordable” housing means housing available to households earning at or below 80% of the area median income. “Workforce” housing means housing available to households earning at or below 120% of the area median income, based on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME AMI limits for Kenton County.

Proposals are due June 4. You can get more information and read the proposal requests at the city’s online procurement portal. The requests in question are labeled as “Surplus Real Property Sales For Housing Development Purposes” with the June 4 due date.

Global Business Solutions HQ moving from Newport to Covington

Global Business Solutions, or GBS, an IT and software solutions provider in Newport, announced it is relocating to Covington.

Independence

Independence city sign. Photo provided | LINK nky archives

A shot of Covington’s Mutter Gottes neighborhood. Photo provided | The City of Covington

A modified Tesla Model Y for police departments.

Photo provided | Unplugged Performance

Retail space at Covington’s RiverCenter. Photo provided | corporex.com

Covington speaks volumes about the momentum we’re building as a hub for innovation and technology,” he said in a news release. “We’re proud to welcome GBS back home and to see them invest in a building that has long been part of Covington’s rich business history. This move reflects both the strength of our local economy and our commitment to creating an environment where forward-thinking companies can grow and thrive.”

the agreement term, the company may be eligible to retain a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may also claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.

No, you can’t walk around naked in Doe Run Lake Park

GBS recently announced its acquisition of the historic Wadsworth Electric Manufacturing building, located at 20 W. 11th Street in Covington. The company was founded in a Covington garage back in 1995. Kenton County property records indicated that GBS President Gaby Batshoun purchased the building in late March for $5.4 million.

In total, GBS plans to invest $6.8 million in the Covington building, bringing 57 technical jobs to the city with the move. The building will serve as the company’s new headquarters.

Batshoun told LINK nky that he anticipates the move will be completed by August or September, though there is not currently a concrete timeline.

Covington Mayor Ron Washington welcomed Batshoun’s decision, touting the company’s investment in the city.

“GBS’s decision to return to its roots in

GBS already has experience with the City of Covington, having provided integrated IT solutions, including building out the municipality’s internal workplace computer infrastructure. The company also works with the City of Florence.

Earlier this month, Covington’s Board of Commissioners approved a business incentive deal with GBS. The deal requires the company to reimburse 1.25% of payroll taxes annually for five years. To qualify for this reimbursement, GBS must annually generate at least $4 million.

In addition, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved GBS for up to $30,000 in tax incentives under the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act. This act allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used for research and development and electronic processing.

If GBS meets specific annual targets during

MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE

BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

Turns out that you cannot, in fact, be naked in Kenton County’s Doe Run Lake Park, much to the chagrin of the patriots and freedom fighters at Bluegrass State Naturists.

“Doe Run Lake is a county-owned park, and there is zero tolerance for nudity of any kind,” according to a statement from the county. “Anyone observed or reported engaging in nudity at the park will be subject to law enforcement response and arrest.”

The internet became abuzz earlier this spring when the Bluegrass State Naturists posted on its Facebook page that “our Doe Run Lake Nude Recreation Area is now listed internationally through multiple

nudist organizations. They decided they are gonna keep it listed permanently. We are super excited about this and glad to be able to help spread naturism and nudism and body acceptance and nude recreation across Kentucky and The World.”

Naturism is a cultural movement aimed at spreading the acceptance of nudity in social, nonsexual settings. The Bluegrass State Naturist Facebook page is small, with only 88 followers as of the publication of this article. The specific organizations purportedly listing Doe Run as a designated spot were not given in the post. LINK nky was not able to corroborate this designation among naturist organizations; The American Association for Nude Recreation, for instance, lists the nearest nude resort in Bennington, Ind.

A cursory search on social media sites like Yelp and Reddit, however, does uncover people talking about various purported naturist sites around the region, not just at Doe Run Lake.

“The county does not have the Constitutional Right to bully their citizens into submission,” reads a subsequent post from the Bluegrass State Naturists. “We will continue to use our designated Doe Run Lake Nude Recreation Area the trail at the top of the Dam as a permanent nudist recreation area, because it is already listed Internationally permanently as one. You are encouraged to do so as well.”

DIVISION III

CASE NO.: 25-CI-00601

KENNETH WILLIAMS VERSUS}

STEPHEN CLAUS, ET AL.

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered APRIL 14, 2026 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, MAY 21, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

ADDRESS: 1752 VAL COURT, BURLINGTON, KENTUCKY 41005

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 049.00-15-003.01

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $4,322.25

GROUP NO.: 1576

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 2026 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.

Doe Run Lake in Erlanger. Photo provided | kentoncounty.org

The Wadsworth Electric building, circa 2017, located at 20 W. 11th Street in Covington, where Global Business Solutions hopes to relocate its headquarters. Photo provided | Kenton County Property Valuation Administrator

These Covington skaters aim to change attitudes, build community

By Nathan Granger

Skateboarders and cops don’t always have the best relationships, even when there aren’t explicit rules against skateboarding on the books. But what if it didn’t have to be that way?

A new fellowship of skaters in Covington is trying to carve out designated spaces for skaters around the city, ease the local DIY skater community’s interactions with the police and maybe bring about some overall neighborhood improvements.

“All of my life up until now, here [in Covington] especially, it’s always felt like a criminalized thing,” said Sam Phillips, a Covington skater who first began developing the idea of the fellowship.

Phillips has dubbed the idea the S.P.O.T.S. Fellowship. The word is an acronym for Safe Places Offering Transitions for Skaters (although, as we’ll see, other people are welcome, too) and a reference to skaters’ habits of finding spots around town with features ideal for skating.

Phillips has traveled widely and said he first developed the idea after observing how other cities had created spaces for skaters that were organically integrated into the cities’ geography. Seattle and Vancouver were a couple of his go-to examples.

“I started really seeing how cities were just incorporating a lot of places to skate within the city,” Phillips said, “not necessarily like a park but creating spaces that were friendly to skaters, something that any-

body could be in.”

Phillips is also civically active — he’s a frequent sight at Covington city meetings — and has already been making inroads with local elected leadership and the police. One Covington commissioner, Tim Acri, is even a skater himself.

“When Sam presented the S.P.O.T.S. idea to me, I thought it was amazing,” Acri said. “I mean, I grew up skateboarding, as well. I still skateboard. I have a skateboard in the back of my truck right now, actually.”

Covington doesn’t have a lot of unoccupied space, plus, the city’s budgetary stresses, Acri said, would likely prevent the building of a city-sponsored skate park. Still, by designating off dedicated spaces in the city, police and skaters could avoid unnecessary conflict.

Phillips presented his idea to some of the

city commissioners, the mayor, police and other city departmental leadership late last year. The city didn’t seem opposed to the idea. What’s more, DIY projects like the S.P.O.T.S. have a precursor in the region in the form the Newport DIY, located under the Interstate 471 overpass near Newport High School. Skaters often simply refer to it as “the bridge.”

“As opposed to the city trying to find funds for a multi-million dollar skate park, this could be a project where it’s more grassroots,” said Derek Toebbe, artist and skater who was heavily involved in the Newport DIY and who is now helping Phillips get the S.P.O.T.S. up and running.

The DIY ethos is a big part of skating culture — the Newport DIY was built by skaters themselves. The key difference between the S.P.O.T.S. and the Newport DIY, Toebbe said, was that the Covington project would be more open and more seamlessly inte-

over

grated into the community. Models already exist abroad, most notably in Copenhagen, Denmark.

“You could use reclaimed materials,” Toebbe said. “You could make it half garden, half skate spot, but sort of open use for the public.”

Overall, the point is to make safe community gathering spaces, where even people who aren’t skating can gather, interact, make art or just sit and talk.

“I want these spaces to be a place where people can sit and take a breath and even meditate, or even be inspired,” Phillips said. Skaters tend to keep the areas they frequent clean, he added, because it makes it safer to skate. As a result, the spots would not only “beautify” the surrounding area, he said, but also improve pedestrian safety.

“We should be able to trust our law enforcement,” Phillips said. “And one of the things that I want to do is … reimagine and rewrite what this relationship is between cops and skaters and in general people who are just trying to get around town.”

Phillips and the rest of the fellowship have identified some spots around town that could serve ideal sites; some are already well-known among skaters. You can get more details at samueltphillips.com/s-po-t-s-project.

Want to join the Fellowship of the S.P.O.T.S.? Send an email to covingtonkyspots@gmail. com

A skater makes a jump in Newport. Photo provided | Derek Toebbe

CASE NUMBER 25-CI-01275 DIVISION 2

NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING VS.

SHERRI LYNN HOLT, ET AL.

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

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 5/19/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit:

30 Woodland Hills Drive, Unit 3, Southgate, Kentucky 41071

Group No: 41642/E4

PIDN: 999-99-11-644.00

CASE NUMBER 26-CI-00129 DIVISION 2

PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC VS.

MARK CHARLES LONGWELL, ET AL.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 5/19/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 7461 Flintshire Drive, Alexandria, Kentucky 41001

Group No: 70381/G14

PIDN: 999-99-38-796.00

COMMISSIONER’S SALE

CAMPBELL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00299 DIVISION 2 KY GATE, LLC VS.

LINDA G. HAFER, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 3/16/2026 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 5/19/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 200 Sonoma Court, Unit 102, Cold Spring, Kentucky 41076

Group No: 41671/B1

PIDN: 999-99-20-464.20

CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00980 DIVISION 1

PURCHASE AREA LIEN HOLDINGS LLC VS.

SAMANTHA RODRIGUEZ, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 3/9/2026 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 5/19/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 17 Deitrich Road, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076

Group No: 30627/C4 & 30627/C5

PIDN: 999-99-21-635.00

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 5/19/2026 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

THE COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS MORE PARTICULARLY SET OUT IN THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF SALE ENTERED IN THIS CASE.

Subject to conditions, covenants, restrictions, right of ways and easements in existence, including but not limited to those in prior instruments of record; legal highways, and zoning ordinances.

SAID PROPERTY SHALL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO REAL ESTATE TAXES DUE AND OWING FOR THE YEAR OF SALE AND THEREAFTER PRIOR YEARS UNPAID TAXES SHALL BE PAID FROM THE PROCEEDS IF THE PURCHASER IS NOT THE PLAINTIFF. IF THE PURCHASER IS THE PLAINTIFF, PRIOR YEARS’ UNPAID TAXES SHALL BE PAID BY THE PLAINTIFF, IN FULL OR PRO RATA, PROVIDED THE SALE PURCHASE PRICE EXCEEDS THE COURT COSTS.

THIS PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD TO PRODUCE THE SUMS OF MONEY SO ORDERED TO BE MADE IN THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF SALE ENTERED IN THE WITHIN CASE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO COURT COSTS, AD VALOREM TAXES, IN THE SUM OF $4,271.16; AND OTHER LIENS, INTEREST, ATTORNEY FEES AND/OR OTHER SUMS AND JUDGMENTS THAT MAY BE AWARDED BY THE COURT.

THE SALE SHALL BE MADE TO THE HIGHEST AND BEST BIDDER(S). ANY PURCHASER OTHER THAN PLAINTIFF WHO DOES NOT PAY CASH IN FULL SHALL PAY 10% CASH AND SHALL BE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE A BOND AT THE TIME OF SALE, WITH SURETY ACCEPTABLE TO THE MASTER COMMISSIONER AND PRE-APPROVED BY THE MASTER COMMISSIONER AT LEAST BY NOON, TWO (2) BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE THE SALE DATE, TO SECURE THE UNPAID BALANCE OF THE PURCHASE PRICE, AND SAID BOND SHALL BEAR INTEREST AT THE RATE OF 12% PER ANNUM FROM THE DATE OF SALE UNTIL PAID, AND SHALL HAVE THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS A JUDGMENT AND SHALL REMAIN AND BE A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY UNTIL PAID THE BOND SURETY MUST BE PRESENT AT THE SALE AND EXECUTE SALE BOND AND THE AFFIDAVIT OF SURETY THE PURCHASER(S) SHALL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF PAYING ALL THE BALANCE OF THE PURCHASE PRICE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE THIRTY (30) DAY PERIOD. THE DEPOSIT SHALL BE WAIVED IF PLAINTIFF IS THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER. THE MASTER COMMISSIONER SHALL SELL THE REAL ESTATE BY PUBLIC SALE ON A DAY AND TIME TO BE FIXED BY HIM, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR OF THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY. BIDDERS MUST BE PREPARED TO COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS. THE COSTS OF THE SALE SHALL BE PAID WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS OF THE SALE.

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

Elsbernd to step down at Holmes

Over the last 20 years, basketball has been in the front seat for Sam Elsbernd.

Now, basketball will take the back seat for Elsbernd, who resigned as head coach of the Holmes boys basketball program on May 5.

“I’m in a position right now where I have family and personal things I need to take care of and be present with,” Elsbernd said. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years and basketball has always come first, family has come second. There’s some family things I need to take care of and are a much bigger priority right now.”

Elsbernd has been at the helm for the Bulldogs the last two seasons, helping guide the program back into a positive path. In the prior two seasons to Elsbernd’s arrival, the team went 5-44. Over the past two seasons, they went 27-31 and won an NKAC title this past season. It’s had a couple of players go on to continue their playing careers in college while a couple others are attending colleges to continue their education.

“Sam has always carried a deep passion for our athletic and basketball programs. He had already begun laying the groundwork for the future, with plans for a full summer program and continued development into the fall,” Holmes Athletic Director Ken Ellis

said. “However, due to personal circumstances, Sam has made the difficult decision to step down from his coaching position. While this is not easy for any of us, we fully support him and understand that family must always come first.”

As an alumni of Holmes, it makes the decision even tougher for Elsbernd, but he feels they’re in a better place than when he took over day one in 2024.

“It was a dream come true to coach here, love Holmes, will always love Holmes High School,” Elsbernd said. “I’m hoping I left it in a better place for the next person that comes in. I’m happy with the progress that was made and being rebuilt a little bit. It’s just time for me to step away and catch my breath. I can’t be a half in and half out guy and the timing isn’t right to be all in on the program. The program needs more than I can offer right now.”

Elsbernd still plans to continue to teach at Holmes. He didn’t rule out coaching again in the future, but it’s just not in the plans for the time being.

“At Holmes, we often say, ‘Once a Bulldog, Always a Bulldog.’ Sam truly lives those words each and every day,” Ellis added.

The coach opening will eventually be posted to the Covington Independent Schools website.

Kaai, Kidd earn KVCA honors

Simon Kenton’s Nehemiah Kaai and Ryle’s Heather Kidd have earned the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association Region Player and Coach of the Year awards.

THE WEEKLY COMIC

Announced on May 5, the two were voted on by KVCA member coaches and will be honored at the KHSAA state tournament at George Rogers Clark on May 16 in between the semifinal matches.

Kaai has helped lead the Pioneers to a 9-4 record in their inaugural season. He leads the team in kills (201), digs (123) and aces (57) as they head into the postseason. His 201 kills are 12th in the state and 59 aces are tied for ninth in the state.

Kidd is in her first season as head coach of the Raiders as they look to repeat as region champs. She’s guided them to a 14-3 record and 10-0 in region play during the regular season.

EJ Walker headed to WKU

From Juggernaut to Gamecock to Hilltopper.

EJ Walker’s mascot collection will certainly be one for the books.

Lloyd Memorial’s all-time scorer in basketball announced his commitment to Western Kentucky University on April 29, transferring from South Carolina after one season with the Gamecocks.

Walker’s suitors were plenty, the 6-foot-8 forward picking up valuable playing expe-

rience in the SEC with the Gamecocks. Initially in what was supposed to be a redshirt season in Columbia, Walker impressed enough to earn a starting role. He appeared in 22 games with six starts and averaged 2.9 points and 2.7 rebounds for the 13-19 Gamecocks. He shot 42% from the field.

A member of the 2025 graduating class, Walker was a three-star prospect and the No. 2 player in Kentucky, according to 247 Sports. In five varsity seasons at Lloyd, he finished with 1,922 points and pulled down 1,196 rebounds. He helped lead Lloyd to the region championship game in 2025 and the Juggernauts made four straight region semifinal appearances in his time in Erlanger, coached by his father Mike Walker. Walker announced he was entering the transfer portal on March 23. He drew interest from Indiana, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, North Carolina State, Louisiana State, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Colorado, Clemson, Kansas State and others.

“Good fit to get back to playing his game which is a versatile forward being able to dribble, pass and shoot,” Michael Walker said to WCPO’s Mike Dyer. “(The) previous school had him playing the five which isn’t his natural position and never played before.”

Walker will join a Hilltoppers team coming off an 18-14 season under Hank Plona, set to enter his third season with the team. He’ll be the eighth Kentuckian to join the roster along with current players Teagan Moore (Owen County), Armelo Boone (Woodford County), Kade Unseld (Warren Central), Lawson Rice (Butler County), Cade Stinnett (Greenwood) and incoming freshman Cole Edelen (Ballard) and Gavin Murphy (West Jessamine). Gabe Weis is also signed to WKU, he played at Washington County before going the prep school route to La Lumiere in Indiana.

The LINK nky Team of the Week for April 20-26 presented by OrthoCincy is the St. Henry softball team.

Photo provided | Rob Lux

Sponsored by

ST. HENRY SOFTBALL

Simon Kenton High School’s Nehemiah Kaai was voted as the KVCA Region 6 Player of the Year.

Photo provided | Charles Bolton

University of South Carolina forward EJ Walker looks to shoot past Texas forward Camden Heide during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 3, 2026. Walker, a Lloyd Memorial graduate, announced May 6, 2026, his commitment to Western Kentucky University.

Photo provided | Eric Gay, AP

Sam Elsbernd resigned as the Holmes High School boys basketball coach on May 5, 2026. Photo provided

by Andrew Buchanan

Heather Kidd is the KVCA Region 6 Coach of the Year. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

Girls flag football, pickleball to become KHSAA sports

By Evan Dennison

The days of powder puff football being the closest thing many Kentucky girls had to the gridiron are coming to an end.

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association took a major step toward expanding opportunities for female athletes May 6, approving girls flag football and pickleball as sanctioned state championship sports beginning with the 2027-28 school year.

During its final Board of Control meeting of the academic year, the KHSAA voted 15-2 in favor of adding girls flag football. With the move, Kentucky becomes the 23rd state nationwide to sanction the rapidly growing sport at the high school level.

Participation in girls flag football has surged across the country in recent years. According to NFHS data, nearly 69,000 athletes participated during the 2024-25 school year as more states continue adopting it as an official varsity sport.

The Board of Control also approved pickleball, which will debut during the same 2027-28 school year. The sport’s season and state tournament will take place in the fall, complementing Kentucky’s traditional spring tennis season. Girls flag football will be contested during the spring sports calendar.

Momentum around girls flag football has continued to build well beyond the high school ranks. Several small colleges in Kentucky have already added women’s flag football programs, while multiple Division I schools across the country are expected to launch teams before the end of the decade. The sport is also set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, and the NFL has announced plans to introduce a professional league for both men and women that same year.

Pickleball has experienced a similar rise in popularity. The paddle sport, played on a smaller court with a perforated plastic ball…has exploded nationwide since 2020. Data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association showed pickleball was America’s fastest-growing sport for a fourth straight year in 2024, with participation increasing more than 300% over the previous three years.

Kentucky will now become one of the first states in the nation to offer pickleball at the varsity high school level.

One issue still to be determined is whether the two competitions will be officially classified as sports or sport-activities under KHSAA rules. The distinction is significant because sport-activities are exempt from KHSAA Bylaw 6, which governs student-athlete transfers between schools.

Currently, archery, bass fishing, bowling, competitive cheer, dance and esports are classified by the KHSAA as sport-activities.

KHSAA spring sports tournament brackets set

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association spring sports postseason is almost here.

The postseason action will get underway on May 15 starting with boys volleyball and will run all the way until June 13 when state baseball and softball tournament champions are crowned.

On April 29, the KHSAA revealed the brackets for each sport in baseball, softball, boys volleyball, boys and girls lacrosse and boys and girls tennis.

The track and field state meets are May 2123 at the University of Kentucky. The Class A meet is May 21, Class AA meet May 22 and Class AAA meet May 23.

All tournaments will take place in or around greater Lexington.

Here are the pairings:

BASEBALL

Location: Lexington Legends and Kentucky Proud Park

Date: June 4-6 (Legends), June 12-13 (Proud Park)

Top half of the bracket:

Region 1 vs. Region 4

Region 11 vs. Region 15

Region 8 vs. Region 16

Region 14 vs. Region 2

Bottom half of the bracket:

Region 10 vs. Region 5

Region 3 vs. Region 13

Region 12 vs. Region 9

Region 7 vs. Region 6

SOFTBALL

Location: John Cropp Stadium

Date: June 4-6 and 12-13

Top half of the bracket:

Region 13 vs. Region 9

Region 5 vs Region 3

Region 8 vs. Region 4

Region 15 vs, Region 11

Bottom half of the bracket:

Region 14 vs. Region 1

Region 6 vs. Region 7

Region 2 vs. Region 12

Region 16 vs. Region 10

BOYS LACROSSE

Location: Great Crossing High School

Date: May 18-20.

Top half of the bracket:

Region 1 – District 1 at District 3

Region 4 – District 6 at District 8

Bottom half of the bracket:

Region 2 – District 2 at District 4

Region 3 – District 5 at District 7

GIRLS LACROSSE

Location: Great Crossing High School

Date: May 18-20

Top half of the bracket:

Region 1 – District 1 at District 3

Region 4 – District 6 at District 8

Bottom half of the bracket:

Region 2 – District 2 at District 4

Region 3 – District 5 at District 7

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Location: George Rogers Clark High School

Date: May 15-16

Top half of the bracket:

Region 5 Winner vs. Region 7 Runner-up

Region 6 Winner vs. Region 8 Runner-up

Region 7 Winner vs. Region 5 Runner-up

Region 8 Winner vs. Region 6 Runner-up

Bottom half of the bracket:

Region 2 Winner vs. Region 4 Runner-up

Region 1 Winner vs. Region 3 Runner-up

Region 3 Winner vs. Region 1 RUnner-up

Region 4 Winner vs. Region 2 Runner-up

BOYS TENNIS

Location: University of Kentucky

Date: May 28-29

Top half of the bracket: Region 4 vs. Region 6

Region 16 vs. Region 7

Region 12 vs. Region 2

Region 1 vs. Region 11

Bottom half of the bracket: Region 13 vs. Region 14

Region 10 vs. Region 3

Region 15 vs. Region 9

Region 5 vs. Region 8

GIRLS TENNIS

Location: University of Kentucky

Date: May 28-29

Top half of the bracket:

Region 5 vs. Region 12

Region 8 vs. Region 15

Region 11 vs. Region 7

Region 1 vs. Region 13

Bottom half of the bracket:

Region 4 vs. Region 6

Region 9 vs. Region 10

Region 3 vs. Region 2

Region 14 vs. Region 16

Girls flag football and pickleball will become KHSAA sports in the 2027-28 school year. Photo provided

Fort Wright mansion with a lot of acreage

Address: 1960 Edenderry Drive, Fort Wright,

Price: $2.5 million

Bedrooms: Four

Bathrooms: Four (plus three half baths)

Square footage: 7,000

School district: Kenton County School District

County: Kenton

Special features: Luxury estate on nearly 10 private acres in Fort Wright offering more than 7,000 square feet of refined living space in the exclusive Waterford Estates enclave. This custom-built home features all en-suite bedrooms, exceptional craftsmanship and upscale entertaining spaces, including a custom bar and game area. Surrounded by natural beauty, the property delivers privacy, elegance and expansive grounds for a true Northern Kentucky retreat.

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At the April 16, 2026, Council meeting, City Council approved Municipal Order 2026-05 to surplus property to be sold by public auction on GovDeals starting May 15, 2026. You may read the full Municipal Order on the city’s website at https://alexandriaky.gov/legal-adsbids/. The public has the right to inspect and obtain a copy of any document associated with the posting by contacting the City Clerk at 8236 West Main Street, Alexandria, KY 41001, telephone# 859.635.4125, CAMPBELL COUNTY SCAN THIS QR CODE TO GO TO

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• Northern Kentucky Port Authority

• Northern Kentucky Water District

• Planning & Development Services of Kenton County

• The Baker Firm PLLC

• The Hidden Chapter Bookstore LLC CITY OF ALEXANDRIA NOTICE OF INTERNET PUBLICATION SURPLUS PROPERTY

• City of Ludlow

• City of Newport

The exterior of this Kenton County home. Photo provided | Lee Robinson and Britt Langman of Robinson Sotheby’s Int. Realty,

The kitchen inside this Fort Wright home.

This home has a large pool surrounded by nature.

SUDOKU

Edited by Margie E. Burke

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 4 9 5 4

3/9/26 - 3/15/26

Edited by Margie E. Burke

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. 8 6 1

Answer to Previous Sudoku:

hour 18 Not up to snuff 20 Desert mount 22 Like a new candle

Answer to Previous Sudoku:

23 Part of a flower 24 Text, for instance 26 Indian royal 28 Aniston romcom, "Rumor ___ It...." 29 Luxurious resort 32 Bahamas island group

35 Bedtime drink

37 Comparable (to)

38 Figure of

Toy with theme gasoline

Thanksgiving

Country within

Peters who side

Aquatic shocker