By Nathan Granger
AHow the fight over a grotto in Park Hills could have nationwide effects
years-long fight over the proposed expansion of a church in Park Hills is set to determine precedent for religious exercise and land use for the rest of the nation.
That is, if it’s ever taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The First Liberty Institute is a right-leaning Christian nonprofit organization based out of Texas. It has petitioned the country’s highest court to hear the case, which relates to the building of a grotto at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Amsterdam Road in Park Hills.
A grotto is a small shrine meant to resemble a natural cave that typically houses a religious statue.
The grotto’s construction has been repeatedly struck down, first by the Kentucky Court of Appeals and then by the Kentucky Supreme Court.
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NKY turnout reaches highest since 2020
By Nathan Granger
ost-Election day results for the 2026 primary elections are in, and the information currently available suggests a high turnout, at least compared to other years with similar races.
“It was almost double what it was in 2022 [in Boone County],” said Boone County Clerk Justin Crigler, “which would have been a similar election to this one.”
Available data corroborates Crigler’s estimation. In fact, the region has not seen similar levels of turnout for a primary election since 2020, and that was a year with a presidential election.
“It’s kind of happy-sad, as I call it,” Crigler said. “25% sounds really bad, and we wish
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Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Park Hills. Photo by Rae Hines | WCPO
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Kentucky’s Attorney General Russell Coleman and 19 other Republican attorneys general have lent their support for the grotto, arguing the denials violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, sometimes referred to as RLUIPA. The federal law is aimed at protecting religious institutions from discriminatory zoning practices. First Liberty argues the project is part of the church’s religious exercise and is, thus, protected by the act.
“The city, recognizing the application of the federal law and my client’s religious liberty rights, granted the request,” Ryan Gardner, senior counsel at First Liberty, told LINK nky’s content-sharing partner WCPO. “And then it was an objecting neighbor who is now wielding the zoning ordinances as a sort of heckler’s veto … barring my client from engaging in this religious exercise of building this shrine to the Virgin Mary.”
Disagreements about the grotto date back years, steeped in questions of religious practice, the nature of city governance and the effect of large institutional projects on public infrastructure. Now, with the possibility of the Supreme Court ruling on the case, both the fate of the grotto itself and how the law fields these broader issues could be at stake.
The Missionaries of St. John the Baptist Court documents list the plaintiffs in the case as the Missionaries of St. John the Baptist, Inc., a nonprofit legal arm of a now-defunct Catholic association called the Missionaries of St. John the Baptist. That group was an offshoot of another association called the Priests of Mercy or the Fathers of Mercy (the association has employed both monikers), founded in 1808 in France.
The Priests of Mercy’s founder, Jean Baptiste Rauzan, fled revolutionary violence in France in the late 18th century, an experience that galvanized his faith and informed much of his religious practice and thought, to which the Missionaries would later adhere. The church’s eponymous Lady of Lourdes, refers to the supposed appearance of Saint Mary to a teenage girl in a cave in Lourdes, France, in 1858. This likely inspired the design of the grotto.
The nonprofit officially owns the land on which Our Lady of Lourdes Church sits, according to Kenton County property records. Legally, the incorporated entity is not connected to the Covington Diocese or the Catholic Church (this will become important later).
The church building itself on Amsterdam
Road has been there since the 1950s and has housed several denominations over its history. The Missionaries’ nonprofit organization bought the building in 2015 with the good graces of former Diocese of Covington Bishop Joseph Foys.
Our Lady of Lourdes parish is an example of what has come to be known as a “personal parish” among Catholics, meaning its congregants come to the church due to the worship and religious practices it observes, rather than its geographical location, like a conventional parish.
The parish observes a set of traditional worship practices, namely the “Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite,” which entails services in Latin and other highly formalized Catholic ritual observances, as governed by the 1962 Roman Missal. Parishioners dress conservatively and women and girls must cover their heads.
A promotional video from 2018 posted on the congregation’s YouTube page offers insight into the appeal of the church’s practices; some congregants state they had moved to Park Hills specifically to join the church.
Although the Missionaries found a sympathetic ear in former Bishop Foys, they have had a more fraught relationship with the current Bishop, John Iffert.
In January 2024, well into the fight over the grotto, Iffert — seemingly with some hesitance — stripped the parish’s priests Rev. Shannon Collins and Rev. Sean Kopczynski of their ministerial duties after they refused to recant their views on modern liturgical practices.
“I take this action after becoming aware that Fr. Collins had preached in the parish that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, as celebrated in the current Roman Catholic liturgy, is ‘irrelevant,’ preserves ‘literally nothing of the old,’ and that the reform of the liturgy was motivated by hatred towards traditional Catholics and the ancient liturgies of Rome,” Iffert wrote in a letter to the parish congregants.
“Both Father Collins and Father Kopczynski maintain these errors and refuse the opportunity to renounce them,” the letter continues. “This disqualifies them from being granted permission to publicly celebrate the Sacraments using the 1962 Missale Romanum and from leading a personal parish like Our Lady of Lourdes.”
Essentially, this meant that Collins and
Kopczynski could no longer lead mass or engage in pastoral work, even though they were still officially priests recognized by the diocese. The two subsequently accepted the limitations the bishop placed upon them.
Iffert officially suppressed the Missionaries of St. John Baptist in July of that year.
“The group no longer has a connection with the Diocese of Covington or the Roman Catholic Church,” the bishop writes in his suppression letter, which was published in the January 2025 edition of the Diocese newspaper The Messenger.
The July suppression order was published alongside the letter, which stated the bishop delayed announcing the suppression publicly in case the Missionaries appealed. They did not do so within the allowable time frame, the letter states.
In other words, as far as the official Catholic hierarchy is concerned, the association of the Missionaries of St. John the Baptist is out, even if the individual priests are still in.
Another diocesan priest was called in to take over pastoral duties at the parish, which remains part of the Diocese of Covington, in spite of the Missionaries’ dissolution. A representative from the diocese confirmed the parish continues to employ its traditional worship practices.
The conflict within Park Hills over the grotto was going on in the background throughout all of this. It’s not clear from the bishop’s letters if the conflict over the grotto played a role in the bishop’s decision to suppress the Missionaries.
The suppression order had no effect on the Missionaries’ nonprofit entity, which continues to maintain a website, publish newsletters and solicit donations. As it relates to the lawsuit, this means neither the Catholic Church nor even the current Our Lady of Lourdes parish is party to the suit. Instead, the case is between the nonprofit, its political advocate allies and the Park Hills neighbors who first challenged a ruling of the city’s Board of Adjustment in 2021.
The grotto
Upon buying the church building, the Missionaries began appealing to the faithful around the country for donations to fund the building’s renovation and, in time, the
An example of a grotto. Photo provided | Wikimedia Commons
The emblem of the Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist. Emblem provided | Missionaries of Saint John the Baptist
Continued from page 3
construction of a grotto with a shrine to Saint Mary. A 2018 newsletter from the Missionaries indicated they wanted to raise at least $400,000 for the first round of fundraising for the grotto.
The number of parishioners, drawn to both the building itself and the church’s traditional practices, grew over time as more renovations to the building were made. By the time the Park Hills Board of Adjustments hearing occurred in April 2021, the priests had already presented an earlier version of their plans to the city council. The versions presented in 2021 actually represented a reduction in scope of what had come before the city council.
Even so, the presented plans called for an augmentation to the church’s structure and footprint, proposing the construction of the grotto itself, a plaza and walking path, as well as a retaining wall in the hillside on an adjacent property, which the Missionaries were leasing at the time. The proposed plaza and grotto occupied about 625 square feet of space, and the construction would have inevitably entailed digging out a portion of the hill. The board eventually mandated the Missionaries purchase the adjacent land as part of their approval.
Letters of support from around Park Hills were submitted to the board along with the design proposals. Kopczynski spoke at the hearing and argued the structure would be a benefit for both the parish and the city broadly. Supporters who attended the virtual meeting, which occurred during the COVID lockdowns, complimented the work that had gone into improving the church’s edifice, as well as the surrounding area. Voices of support came from both within and outside the parish.
“I think people know that this is not going to be some half-hearted attempt,” Kopczynski said. “We really do want to beautify Park Hills. We love our city, and we know we’re in the center, and we want the center to be beautiful.”
The path to the grotto’s approval became bumpy from there.
To start, most of the area around the church was zoned for residential use. The church was a non-conforming use of the land that had been grandfathered into the most recent update to the city’s zoning regulations. As such, in order to expand their footprint, the Missionaries had to submit their plans to county planning professionals for review and then secure a vote from the city’s board of adjustment. Specifically, they had asked for two variances, one to allow for the building of the grotto as an accessory structure and another for setback waivers.
County planning professionals recommended against approval because conditional land uses for churches was only allowed if they were next to an arterial street, which is roughly defined as a main thoroughfare capable of handling large amounts of traffic. Amsterdam Road, which only has two lanes, is categorized as a connector street.
Parking was among the concerns of people who spoke out against the grotto; the area already had issues with parking spill over during mass times, and the fear was that the parking situation might worsen if people were regularly showing up to visit the grotto.
Other residents had concerns about the grotto’s potential impact on the stability of the hill, although Kopczynski said the church completed a geotechnical study. The issues were summarized by Eric Russo, the executive director of the Hillside Trust, a nonprofit that studies landslides and hillside stability, both recurring problems in the Northern Kentucky region, and advises governments and developers on how to mitigate them.
Russo did not come out explicitly in favor or against the grotto. However, he pointed out “that this is a landslide-prone area,” and that any building on the hillside would have to account for the risks of land slippages both during and after construction.
Political and cultural concerns were also brought up at the 2021 meeting.
“I’m concerned about Park Hills’ identity kind of being consumed by this church,” said resident Maryann Maffia. “I feel like it’s becoming what we’re known for now, is this church. Trolley Park is taken over every Sunday by parishioners, and I think this is slowly going to become what Park Hills is thought of.”
What’s more, at least one member of the board of adjustments, Thomas Michael, was a parishioner. A member of the Park Hills City Council, Pam Spoor, is also a parishioner, a point that came up during the meeting. Her name even appears on the Missionaries of St. John, Inc.’s nonprofit paperwork from the IRS. Board of adjustment members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council, but it’s officially an independent body.
Several residents called on Michael to recuse himself from the votes to avoid a conflict of interest.
“I’m a little confused of why your conflict wasn’t identified when we originally asked,” said Joel Frederic, the neighbor who would eventually sue the Missionaries’ organization. “That seems like a pretty clear conflict of interest to me.”
Both Michael and City Attorney Daniel Braun, who also serves as the city attorney for Newport, argued there was no conflict of interest.
“After confirming with the city attorney, legally, there’s not a conflict of interest,” Michael said. “I also do not have any legal ties to the church or anything associated with the church. I’m merely a parishioner, and my status as a parishioner does not inhibit me to make an objective decision on this.”
Braun elaborated on this later in the meeting.
“Absence any clear showing of bias by any of the members, there’s no reason why they can’t participate in this venture,” Braun said. “Simply being a member of the parish does not disqualify them automatically from serving on this board.”
Only one member of the board, Robert Sweet, eventually voted against approving the variances. Less than a month later, Joel Frederic and his wife, Elizabeth Frederic, sued the Missionaries and the board, alleging the approval was illegal under the city’s zoning ordinance, and the board had exceeded its authority in granting the variances.
In June 2022, Judge Patricia Summe of the Kenton County Circuit Court ruled the board acted legally. The Frederics appealed, and the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled in their favor in November 2023, saying the grotto would have been an expansion of a pre-existing nonconforming use, which was prohibited under the city’s zoning ordinance.
The appeals court also addressed the law surrounding land use by religious organizations and the quandary of whether zoning ordinance was an impediment to the church’s religious practice.
“The application of the ordinance to prohibit construction of the grotto may make practice of religion somewhat more difficult for the church’s congregation or the adherents of the Catholic faith broadly, but the Zoning Ordinance is not inherently inconsistent with their religious beliefs,” the opinion reads. “Accordingly, we find the Park Hills Zoning Ordinance imposes no substantial burden on the religious exercise…”
The question of the “substantial burden” to religious exercise would take center stage at oral arguments before the Kentucky Supreme Court in August 2025.
At the Kentucky Supreme Court
“This is about an actual thing that happened in Catholicism, where there was a grotto, and the Virgin Mary appeared,” said attorney Sarah Benedict before the Kentucky Supreme Court on Aug. 6. “This is a religious exercise. This is not an ornamental thing; this is not some little piddly thing.”
Benedict spoke on behalf of the church before the court. Opposite her, speaking on behalf of the Frederics, was Steve Doan, also an attorney, the current representative of Kentucky House District 69 and former Erlanger City Council member.
“The church knew from the outset that this was an illegal use under the existing zoning code, and so that’s why they had to go to the board to ask for that variance,” Doan said.
Benedict’s arguments, which relied heavily on RLUIPA, hinged on convincing the justices that blocking the grotto’s construction substantially burdened the church’s ability to practice its faith.
“That’s what the Court of Appeals held,” Benedict said. “Actually, they held that it was an expansion of a nonconforming use, and so that’s why they completely prohibited the grotto, and so that’s our defense. If you completely prohibit a religious ex-
ercise, then that’s a substantial burden of religious exercise.”
To that point, the justices had several questions.
“Is there some reason why the grotto wouldn’t work on the existing nonconforming tract?” asked Chief Justice Debra Hembree.
“The church has exercised its religious rights on that property without limitation during that long period of time,” said Justice Chris Nickell, “and so now I think you’re arguing that the grotto is essential for the exercise of faith. What happened during those other years?”
Benedict answered that the Missionaries had, in fact, been trying to build the grotto since they acquired the property. What’s more, she argued under RLUIPA it didn’t matter if the practice in question was essential to the belief system but rather if the law created a burden to practicing it.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s compelled; it doesn’t matter if it’s central to your faith — any exercise of religion,” Benedict emphasized. “[The law] is a broad protection of religious liberty.”
Justice Michelle Keller, whose district includes Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, broached the issue of traffic, how zoning ordinances and the classification of roads, as well as how the role of city boards of adjustment is “tied to predicting and maintaining and controlling traffic flow.”
“I understand the religious freedom argument, but I also see that the people of Park Hills, through their city council, their board of adjustment, etc. have a duty, an obligation to maintain safe and effective traffic control within the confines of their city,” Keller said, “and this is a church that is really sitting in the middle of a residential neighborhood.”
The Kentucky Supreme Court delivered their opinion in December, upholding the Court of Appeals’ ruling. Only one Justice, Kelly Thompson, dissented. Although he agreed that RLUIPA had not been violated, he worried about the spill-over effects the ruling may have on municipal boards.
“The majority opinion should in no way be read or interpreted as to restrict the authority of local boards of adjustment to exercise their discretionary authority in a manner that is both consistent with their authorizing ordinances and enabling statutes, and the overall will of the local citizenry they serve,” Thompson writes.
What’s next?
If the nation’s highest court grants review, legal experts say its ruling could set a nationwide precedent for how local zoning laws intersect with religious land-use rights.
“The implications couldn’t be broader,” said Ryan Gardner, the senior counsel at the First Liberty instituted, quote in the first section. “If the Supreme Court takes up this case and issues a definitive interpretation of what this law means, it applies to every single zoning ordinance in this country.”
There’s no guaranteed timeline by which the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case, if they choose to hear it at all.
Bishop John Iffert. Photographer unknown | LINK nky archives
Continued from page 1 more people’d come out, but proportional to other years, it was excellent.”
Clerks and other election officials who spoke with LINK nky attributed the turnout to several big-ticket races, namely the race for U.S. House District 4, as well as several high-profile local races, like the Boone and Campbell County judges/executive races and the sheriff’s and county commissioners’ races in Kenton County.
“Even though there’s a lot of what I call election fatigue, I think that a lot of people felt that they were coming out for their candidate,” said Kenton County Clerk Gabe Summe, “and I do believe that the Massie-Gallrein race was a driver.”
Campbell County Election Supervisor Amber Brackett echoed this sentiment, saying the roughly 27% overall turnout was “more than we expected.”
Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams also noted an increase in early voting this year.
The region’s Congressional races, especially, made national headlines. The House
“In one week, I had 37 different campaign flyers in my mailbox,” Brackett said.
Turnout rates are measured as percentages, so an increase doesn’t necessarily mean more people are voting. In this year’s case, however, there was a higher absolute number of ballots cast statewide — 863,950 — than in the two preceding primaries.
Over 3.3 million Kentuckians had registered to vote before the election, with 104,266 registered in Boone County, 148,423 registered in Kenton County and 72,654 registered in Campbell County.
Historically speaking, Republicans have tended to turnout at higher rates than Democrats in Northern Kentucky. Not every race this year had a primary in both parties, however the two major Congressional races showed a higher number of votes in the Republican primaries than the Democratic ones, keeping up with past trends.
Many local races, including most municipal, school board and other nonpartisan races, weren’t eligible for primaries, so candidates can continue to file to run for those races until June 2. Voters must regis
Co-host Partners
New Italian restaurant to open in Union at the end of June
Classifieds
By Nathan Granger
Anew Italian restaurant, Bella Vita Ristorante, is set to open in Union at the end of June.
The restaurant will move into the property at 9914 Old Union Road, a space that formerly housed the Farmstand Market and Cafe, which closed in December after eight years of business.
The project, Trump said, was “doing something fun that we think that the community needs, and it’s all coming from inside–love.”
They bought the building shortly after Farmstand closed and plan to buy an adjacent building, a partially occupied residential building, although they weren’t sure what they were going to do with that building yet.
Preston said the goal was to offer more fine dining options to Union.
“From a family perspective, you have to go down to Cincinnati to really get a good meal,” Preston said. “Me, being half-Italian, I needed an Italian restaurant here, so I said ‘Let’s just build it and do it ourselves.’”
They plan to serve authentic Italian food prepared by a local Italian chef. Renovations of the building’s interior have already started. The building is capable of holding 74 people, Preston said, although that
PROBATION CLERK VACANCY
The U.S. Probation Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky is accepting applications for a fulltime Probation Clerk (CL-23) for the Covington, Kentucky office (Vacancy Number 2026-03). The Probation Clerk performs office reception duties and provides administrative support to probation officers in a wide range of functions. Salary range is CL-23 Step 1 ($42,024) to CL-23 Step 61 ($68,361) depending upon qualifications and specialized experience.
Applicants must be a United States citizen or eligible to work in the United States. Please visit www.kyep.uscourts.gov to view the full vacancy announcement which outlines representative duties, qualification requirements, benefit information, and conditions of employment.
To apply, candidates must submit a completed AO 78 (Federal Judicial Branch Application for Employment – 5/24) which is available on the www.kyep.uscourts.gov website under Employment – Career Opportunities, a letter of interest addressing their particular skills and experience and how those skills can contribute to this position, along with a resume, to: Mr. Warren G. Little II, Chief U.S. Probation Officer, at kyepml_applicant@kyep.uscourts.gov by June 22, 2026. EOE.
probably won’t match the seating capacity. The only thing they’re currently waiting on, Preston said, is the bar top. The restaurant will also feature an outdoor patio with lights and greenery.
The owners plan to start with dinner service, Wednesdays through Saturdays, and brunch with all-day service on Sundays. Preston said he hoped it would not only be an ideal restaurant spot for locals but also a stop for people traveling home or from other cities.
“We realize that people are going to go downtown for dinner, but we would love them to come back and stop on the way home and have a drink, dessert, whatever it is,” Preston said.
Union elected officials seemed supportive of the idea.
“The common theme that always came up is, we’d like to have places where you don’t have to drive to Florence, you don’t have to drive to Cincinnati,” said Union City Commissioner John Mefford. “So, I hope that this will be very well-received.”
“The community is reacting very positively to this from everybody that I’ve talked to,” said Mayor Larry Solomon.
The business is actively hiring. You can learn more about Bella Vita at bellavitaky. com.
PROBATION OFFICER VACANCY
The U.S. Probation Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky is accepting applications for a fulltime Probation Officer. The position will be located in the Covington office (Vacancy Number 2026-02). Salary range is CL-23 Step 1 ($49,033) to CL-28 Step 61 ($121,236) depending upon qualifications and specialized experience.
Applicants must have a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university and be a United States citizen or eligible to work in the United States. First-time appointees to positions covered under federal law enforcement retirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment. Please visit www.kyep.uscourts.gov to view the full vacancy announcement which outlines representative duties, qualification requirements, benefit information, and conditions of employment.
To apply, candidates must submit a completed AO 78 (Federal Judicial Branch Application for Employment –5/24) which is available on the www.kyep.uscourts.gov website under Employment – Career Opportunities, a letter of interest addressing their particular skills and experience and how those skills can contribute to this position, along with a resume, to: Mr. Warren G. Little II, Chief U.S. Probation Officer, at kyepml_applicant@kyep.uscourts.gov by June 22, 2026. EOE.
The Farmstand Market and Cafe exterior. Photo by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor
An AI-generated rendering of what the owners hope to achieve with Bella Vita Ristorante, set to open in Union at the end of June 2026. Rendering provided | Bella Vita
EducateNKY to expand Read Ready Covington
By Nathan Granger
Covington has officially voted on a deal to hand off one of the city’s legacy literacy initiatives, Read Ready Covington, to regional educational nonprofit EducateNKY.
As a result, Read Ready Covington will be integrated into EducateNKY’s Read Ready Network, which already provides early childhood education resources in other river cities.
Read Ready Covington is a city initiative that dates back to 2018 and was headed up largely by Mary Kay Connolly, a former teacher, guidance counselor and nonprofit professional. EducateNKY, which was established after Read Ready Covington, aimed to expand Read Ready Covington’s model to other cities. Newport, Ludlow, Bellevue, Dayton and Southgate are other cities currently in the Read Ready Network.
Connolly was honored with a city proclamation and plaque at a meeting on May 26 where the vote to absorb the program into EducateNKY took place.
Mayor Ron Washington discussed time he’s spent working with Connolly as she was “reading to the children and promoting the program,” he said, where he witnessed kids’ “eyes and how they discover all kinds of things just through the written word.”
The initiative began largely as a way to establish good reading habits for kindergarten readiness, first through the use of a free app called Footsteps to Brilliance and then later through events and other initiatives.
“Mary Kay redefined what literacy looks like by transforming neighborhoods, parks, sidewalks and public spaces into the interactive learning environments,” Washington said, reading from the city’s proclamation, “making education accessible and
fun through innovative programs, such as the A-to-Z walking tours, literacy scavenger hunts, little free libraries and expanded digital learning tools.”
“The city said, I want to be responsible for the leadership gap in early childhood,” said EducateNKY Early Learning and Family Power VP Jenny Watson. “From there, let’s engage with partners, school district partners, let’s engage with community partners and parents to say we need every child in the City of Covington ready for kindergarten.”
The program is aimed at children up to age 5. Connolly emphasized the importance of early childhood as a period in a child’s development.
“90% of the brain’s physical development occurs before age 6,” said Connolly, “and that prenatal through age 5 [range] is crucial. Yet, families are the first educators.”
When asked what the plans for the future were, Watson said EducateNKY would be expanding Read Ready’s digital resources, namely through the use of a texting service from Cincinnati Children’s hospital that sends developmental milestone notes to parents.
“Also, we’re going to have place-based initiatives,” Watson told LINK nky. “We will form a committee: city leadership, school district leadership, and that committee will decide every month strategically what they’re going to do.”
A press release from the city elaborated that the Read Ready Network through EducateNKY would provide administrative infrastructure for the program, but the city would “retain a leadership role in shaping its local strategy, including representation on the Read Ready Network Board of Directors.”
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Read Ready Covington posters are displayed at BLDG. Photo provided | BLDG via the City of Covington
Read Ready Covington
Founder Mary Kay Connolly (left) and Covington Neighborhood Services Director Brandon Holmes (right) at the meeting on May 26, 2026. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky
kenton county briefs
The LINK nky Educator of the Week: Matthew Von Handorf
The votes are in, and this week’s LINK nky Educator of the Week is Matthew Von Handorf, a teacher at Campbell County Middle School.
Von Handorf was nominated by Chelsey Powell because “Mr. Von has truly changed my child’s perspective on school. My son is so excited to see him in the car riding line every morning and talks about him all the time after school.”
“Mr. Von has helped him become a better reader and he has stayed out of trouble this year. Not only do you see him in the classroom but at the school plays, sporting events and other academics supporting the kids,” Powell wrote about Von Handorf.
Congratulations to Von Handorf, and thank you to everyone who participated.
Girl Scouts celebrate grand opening of new program center in Erlanger
The Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road have a new Northern Kentucky program center.
The organization celebrated the grand opening of the new facility in Erlanger on May 16.
Until now, the closest office was in Lexing-
ton, so the new facility will serve as a central hub for the organization in NKY.
“This new center represents more than a building,” reads a social media announcement from the Girl Scouts. “It’s a launchpad for leadership, innovation and opportunity for girls across Northern Kentucky.”
The campus aims to “bring outdoors into this urban camp so girls from all over can come here and experience a little slice of nature,” according to Taylor Jauregui, fundraising development manager at Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road, in June, shortly after the buildings ground breaking.
Sunset walking tours come to Roebling Bridge this summer
The Roebling Bridge Society, the nonprofit responsible for maintaining and showcasing the historic bridge, will launch a series of sunset walking tours starting later this summer.
“This bridge has connected our two cities for more than 150 years, but most people have never heard its full story,” said Don Jones, a historian and member of the society. “These tours give people a chance to walk the span the way Roebling intended, and to see why it changed engineering forever.”
The 90-minute tours will guide attendees through the bridge’s engineering history and significance. Tickets are $10 per person, and tours are limited to 20 participants.
Tours will take place on the following evenings:
• Thursday, June 19
• Saturday, July 25
• Saturday, Aug. 23
Participants must register in advance.
City of Erlanger finance team awarded for excellence
The City of Erlanger’s Finance Department has been honored by the Government Finance Officers Association for excellence in financial reporting.
“This recognition is the highest honor in governmental accounting and financial reporting,” according to a city announcement.
Founded in 1945, the award recognizes state and local governments that consistently exceed the minimum expectations of creating comprehensive financial reports. Any general-purpose government entity from the state level on down can participate in award consideration if they meet the eligibility criteria.
New fund aims to address food insecurity among cancer patients
Horizon Community Funds has launched a new fund aimed at helping cancer patients at the St. Elizabeth Yung Family Cancer Center in Edgewood get reliable access to food.
Dubbed the St. Elizabeth Nourish Food Pantry Fund, donations to the fund will support the Nourish Food Pantry at the center, which “provides patients and their families with healthy food options, including fresh produce and protein, to help support their
health and recovery,” according to a press release from Horizon Community Funds. Since its founding in 2023, the pantry has distributed more than 77,000 pounds of food, providing over 64,000 meals to more than 11,000 people in the region.
“Access to nutritious food is an essential part of healing,” said Nancy Grayson, president and CEO of Horizon Community Foundation of Northern Kentucky. “The St. Elizabeth Nourish Food Pantry ensures that patients and families facing cancer treatment don’t have to worry about where their next healthy meal will come from.”
Allegiant launches CVG flight to Orange County, Calif.
Allegiant Air has launched new nonstop service between the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif.
The route will operate twice weekly. Introductory one-way fares start at $88 before optional fees and are available for select travel dates through Aug. 2.
“Allegiant’s investment in CVG is a reflection of the strength of our market as well as our partnership to collaborate together to identify growth opportunities that match their business plan,” Kenton County Airport Board Chair Chad Summe said in a news release. “Every new route and returning destination represents opportunities for our travelers to take advantage of convenient nonstop flights to their favorite places.”
The service is intended to support leisure travel demand, including vacations, events and visits with family and friends.
The first flight of the service departed on May 21.
Union Public Works director named as new city administrator
Paul Kremer, army veteran and current director of the Union Public Works Department, was named as the new Union city administrator on May 18. Kremer will take
LINK nky Educator of the Week, Matthew Von Handorf
From left to right: City of Erlanger Accountant Abbie Strzelewicz, Finance Director Kara Kramer and Assistant Finance Director Chrissie Fultz.
Photo provided | The City of Erlanger
The ribbon cutting of the new program center in Erlanger. Photo provided | Girl Scouts of Wilderness Road
The Roebling Bridge lighted. Photo provided | George Elliott via BE NKY Growth Partnership
the reins from Amy Safran, who announced her retirement in April after occupying the position for five years.
Kremer said he was looking forward to “just making the city look a little better every single day,” which he described as a “a cool thing, a little bit of giving back to your community.”
Kremer served in the army for 30 years, first as a combat engineer and then as a construction engineer. His service included tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the Pentagon. He joined the City of Union in 2023 as the director of public works.
Kremer said he is looking forward to continuing the many public projects throughout the city.
There is “a lot of work to be done,” Kremer said.
Rep. Dietz presents Covington mayor with Black History accolade
Northern Kentucky Rep. Stephanie Dietz honored Covington Mayor Ron Washington on the night of May 26 for becoming the city’s first Black mayor and for a lifetime of leadership achievements. Dietz, an Edgewood Republican representing Kentucky’s 65th House District, presented Washington with a special recognition during the event.
Dietz had already read the citation at the
Kentucky House in Frankfort in February during Black History Month, but this was the first time the accolade had been presented locally.
“It’s my privilege to represent a city that’s rich in history, resilience and progress, and in this moment we recognize a mayor whose leadership reflects the very spirit of Black History Month: perseverance, service and a commitment to lifting others up as he climbs,” Dietz said, reading from the citation. “Mayor Washington has dedicated his life to public service, not for recognition but for results.”
Dietz also gave a brief summary of this year’s legislative session. Another Kentucky Rep., Kim Moser, gave a similar summary. Dietz complimented the city’s leadership for being easier to work with.
“Mayor Washington and his team stayed in constant contact with me throughout this legislative session,” Dietz said. “It makes my job easier to do in so many ways, and I really appreciate the partnership that I have with Covington.”
Popular Covington bookstore to relocate to Clifton
Popular Covington-based bookstore Conveyor Belt Books announced May 26 that the store will soon be moving to the former Proud Rooster building in Clifton after fourplus years of business in Kentucky.
“We’ll be making our way to Ludlow Ave in the Clifton Gaslight District in the next few months, aiming for an October opening at the absolute latest,” store owner Brandon DiSabatino wrote on the store’s Instagram page. “If you’re familiar with the space, you know we have a LOTTTTTA work between
now & then.”
Beloved by residents of the Queen City and beyond, Conveyor Belt is best known for its many curated shelves of under-$10 paperbacks and for its rare first-edition finds.
DiSabatino wrote that the Covington location would “hopefully” be open until the move is finished, and that the store is taking donations to fund the move, as the store’s relocation was being paid for by “personal funds, loans & the generosity of those looking to help out where they can.” He told CityBeat of his excitement for the new location, saying that it is “as ideal of a spot for a bookstore in Cincinnati as anywhere imaginable.”
In a prior post, DiSabatino revealed the big move was for economic reasons, as the demolition of the Fourth Street Bridge and the seven-year construction plan for the Brent Spence Bridge had made foot traffic to the store “exceptionally, especially painful.”
“We’ve loved being in Covington & growing our community here — this store would not exist without it, but especially, without y’all,” he wrote. “Our new move will be a big one & we will need your help in writing ‘the next chapter’ (terrible joke). In the meantime, stay tuned, stop by, keep it in motion & thank you all deeply.”
This story originally appeared at citybeat. com.
Kenney Shields Park to get new, temporary basketball courts
Kenney Shields Park in Covington will be getting temporary (but long-term) basketball courts following a vote May 26 from the Covington Board of Commissioners. The commissioners also voted to create a temporary walking path to augment the new courts.
Kenney Shields Park is located in Covington’s Mainstrasse neighborhood and has been a community landmark for years, not only for pickup basketball games but also for futsal and other group sports played on a solid surface. The new temporary courts
are slated to go in where the old tennis courts used to be.
The park’s original basketball courts were unexpectedly closed down earlier this year to make room for the Brent Spence Corridor Project, much to the chagrin of nearby residents.
“The interstate is expanding in that area,” said Mayor Ron Washington last week. “The current basketball courts came down, surprised the neighborhood — they kind of surprised us, too — without notice. This was always in the plans to put up a temporary court. The neighborhood, rightfully so, was upset.”
“When we say temporary, it’s not going to be there for three months, it’s going to be there for several years,” said Covington Neighborhood Services Director Brandon Holmes at the board meeting.
Contractor JK Meurer out of Loveland, Ohio, is set to complete the work for $46,875, according to city documents. The state had previously allocated about $75,000 for a temporary court.
Washington said the city would be working with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in the future to avoid similarly unexpected or sudden closures. The “plans” he referred to are the new Goebel Park Master Plan. Goebel Park, which Kenney Shields Park sits next to, overlaps with the construction area of the corridor project, so the city has been collecting information on how best to plan for the parks’ future.
City documents state the city would like the temporary courts and walking path to be completed by July 1.
From left to right: Covington Commissioner Tim Downing, Vice Mayor Shannon Smith, Mayor Ron Washington, Kentucky Rep. Stephanie Dietz, Covington Commissioner James Toebbe and Commissioner Tim Acri, on May 26, 2026. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky
New Union City Administrator Paul Kremer.
Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky
The former Proud Rooster space, which will soon be home to Conveyor Belt Books. Photo provided
| Conveyor Belt Books
Futsal players at Kenney Shields Park in Covington before the closure of the basketball courts. Photo provided | Casey Grady
A nuclear power future has bipartisan backing in Kentucky. But
not everyone is sold
Enthusiasm for nuclear is also heard with concerns of high cost and safety
By Liam Niemeyer | The Kentucky Lantern
Kentucky Sen. Danny Carroll peppered a panel of nuclear energy experts with questions on May 12 during a conference at the Kentucky Historical Society. He said he could ask questions “all day long.”
“Every day there’s something new that’s coming down the pipeline,” Carroll told the audience. “We’re in the middle — not the middle, maybe the beginning stages of change in this world’s history, and we get to be a part of that. And as a legislator, that’s about as cool as it gets.”
The Paducah Republican has been at the center in recent years of passing bills into law to research and incentivize bringing nuclear power plants and a “nuclear ecosystem”, along with nuclear fuel enrichment companies, to a state that’s long relied on burning coal for electricity.
He first helped remove a prohibition in state law on nuclear power plants being located in the state. That led to the legislature’s creation of the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority at the University of Kentucky, an agency that awarded grants earlier this year to promote and develop the state’s nuclear industry. This year, the legislature gave the authority $75 million to help cover permitting costs for
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developers siting nuclear power plants in the state.
The result of those efforts, boosted by a Trump administration that’s keen on nuclear energy as well, has been a flurry of nuclear industry activity in the state. Global Laser Enrichment, a company looking to use lasers to enrich and reuse spent uranium fuel at the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, plans to invest almost $1.8 billion to establish operations there. Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities, serving the largest number of ratepayers in the state, is also exploring bringing a new generation of small, modular nuclear reactors to the state.
The former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant enriched uranium for more than 60 years, originally for nuclear weapons and then for nuclear power plant fuel, until closing in 2013. The site also has a legacy of contaminating the nearby environment with pollution, impacting the health of workers there considerably.
A nuclear power future in the state has bipartisan backing. To kick off the two-day conference on nuclear energy hosted by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, or PSC, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear told the crowd that he was “determined to make Kentucky a national leader when it comes to embracing responsible nuclear energy.”
“We need to do things the right way, and every Kentucky should be a part of this conversation. That’s every Kentucky that’s going to be a part of the future that nuclear energy is helping us to build,” Beshear said. “People know they deserve the right to voice their opinions and even their concerns as we embrace this technology again.”
And there are concerns, some of them strong. Before the two-day conference, the PSC held several public meetings across the state gathering public comments on nuclear energy.
Some Kentuckians, including representatives of environmental groups, have levied concerns about the very high upfront cost of building nuclear energy, the ongoing
question of what to do with radioactive nuclear waste and the considerable speed and deregulation the federal government is moving to adopt nuclear energy.
Ken Shapero, a board member of the Louisville Climate Action Network, told the PSC at one of its meetings that he feared utility ratepayer protections “are evaporating right before our eyes,” worried that the cost burdens of building nuclear could benefit utilities in the long run.
“If it were not for the PSC charter to ensure fair, just and equitable rates, the average person in Kentucky would be ground into dust by the powerful political and commercial interests that are aligned today and are running amok,” Shapero said.
Cost and safety questions
There are reasons why advocates for nuclear energy are bullish on the energy source: No emissions of climate-warming greenhouse gases when generating electricity and its ability to generate electricity around the clock, considered to be a part of the foundational “base load” of electricity provided to the grid.
One nuclear critic, Ashley Wilmes, the executive director of the environmental group Kentucky Resources Council, sat on a panel at the conference nearby Nima Ashkeboussi, a vice president at Global Laser Enrichment.
“We shouldn’t be prioritizing these investments,” Wilmes said of nuclear energy. “I just don’t believe that nuclear is the answer to a carbon-free future and the answer to the climate crisis.”
Environmental advocates have pointed to the high cost of nuclear energy, driven by the billions of dollars of upfront costs and long construction timelines to build a nuclear power plant in the country, as a looming concern with electricity ratepayers already facing rising bills. They also question whether nuclear energy has adequately grappled with what to do with nuclear waste, which can remain radioactive for thousands of years, from these power plants.
Environmental advocates instead point to the relatively lower levelized cost of building renewable energy such as wind turbines and solar installations, paired with utility-scale batteries, to be charged by renewables and be more readily available around the clock.
“I struggle with the fact that we’re not making these priority investments elsewhere, and that we are continuing to put our thumb on the scale in terms of which fuel choice that we use here in Kentucky,” Wilmes said.
Republican lawmakers have supported laws in recent years creating barriers to retiring fossil fuel-fired power plants in the state. Utility leaders and environmental advocates have clashed in the past with Republican lawmakers over those laws regarding concerns that it could force aging coal-fired power plants to remain open when lower-cost energy alternatives exist.
The Kentucky Resources Council is also challenging Global Laser Enrichment’s request for a license from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission over whether the U.S. Department of Energy, which controls the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant site, can sell or transfer spent uranium fuel to a private company, along with questioning whether the federal government is relying on a wholly inadequate environmental impact analysis in reviewing the proposed site.
Ashkeboussi in an email said the company doesn’t have a comment on Kentucky Resources Council’s challenge.
There’s a nuclear connection to the push to build data centers powering online services including artificial intelligence. Technology companies including Microsoft and Google have invested billions of dollars into backing nuclear power startups.
Carroll told the Lantern that the backing behind developing nuclear energy — which he believes will be primarily small, modular nuclear reactors — used to be connected to meeting the electrification of the communities, including the increasing use of electric vehicles. But the boom behind data centers has largely taken over.
Carroll believes that as the scale of construction with small, modular nuclear reactors increases, the cost to build them will go down. He also believes power-intensive industries, including data centers, could help pay for a large share of the upfront costs of building the reactors while benefiting from the electricity as well.
“As we move forward and transition into nuclear, the regulatory environment will have to adapt to address all these issues,” Carroll said about the concerns with nuclear energy. “The environmental folks, the folks that are representing ratepayers, they’ve got to be heard…but the benefits of where we’re heading far outweigh any other aspects of this.”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear advocated for “responsible” nuclear energy. Behind him is a graphic, generated with artificial intelligence, that showcases a picture of a nuclear reactor placed in the middle of the state. Photo by Liam Niemeyer | The Kentucky Lantern
CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00482
DIVISION 1
AMBER COMPTON VS.
WILLIAM ALLEN, AS ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE ESTATE OF ROSETTA E. ALLEN, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 4/23/2026 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 6/16/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 918 Thornton Street, Dayton, Kentucky 41074
Group No: 30323/A3
PIDN: 999-99-08-395.00
CASE NUMBER 26-CI-00043
DIVISION 2
ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC VS.
PETER PURINS, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 5/8/2026 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 6/16/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 1308 Central Avenue, Newport, Kentucky 41071
Group No: 41102/A2
PIDN: 999-99-01-714.00
COMMISSIONER’S SALE
CAMPBELL COUNTY CIRCUIT
COURT
CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00586 DIVISION 2
CHECKERED WHEELS, LLC VS. TINA M. COBB, ET AL. BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 4/27/2026 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 6/16/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 405 Brookwood Drive, Alexandria, Kentucky 41001 Group No: 70304/M2
PIDN: 999-99-24-344.00
CASE NUMBER 26-CI-00014
DIVISION 2
GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS SEPARATE TRUSTEE OF GV TRUST 2025-1 VS.
UNKNOWN SPOUSE, IF ANY OF CHARLEY JOHNSON, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 5/8/2026 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 6/16/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 922 Clayridge Road, Alexandria, Kentucky 41001
Group No: 70119/Z & 70113/Z
PIDN: 999-99-31-346.00
THE COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS MORE PARTICULARLY SET OUT IN THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF SALE ENTERED IN THIS CASE.
CASE NUMBER 23-CI-00452 DIVISION 1
THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK VS.
KENNETH URLAGE A/K/A KENNETH E. URLAGE, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 10/23/2023 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 6/16/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 45 Burney Lane, Fort Thomas, Kentucky 41075
Group No: 30385/F2
PIDN: 999-99-16-859.00
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
Rash set to lead Beechwood football once again
In lieu of recent news that Jay Volker accepted a teaching position in Ohio, Beechwood has decided to transition the head football coaching duties to former coach Noel Rash.
Volker replaced Rash after he stepped down in 2023, guiding the Tigers to a 37-5 record and a state title in 2024. Online rumors started circulating after Volker held a players meeting to inform the team of his decision on the teaching job last week.
Despite those rumors, Volker addressed them with a statement online.
“To keep communication clear, I wanted to update everyone on the meeting I had with the players this morning,” Volker said. “I have taken a teaching position outside of the district that will still allow me to be the head football coach. The decision did not come lightly, but this position will allow me to: 1. Still push our players to become the best versions of themselves on and off the field. 2. Be more present for my family. 3. Allow me to support my family better financially. Thank you for understanding and please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.”
That statement was made by Volker on May 17 at 7:46 p.m.
On May 19 around 3 p.m., Beechwood Independent Schools made the announcement of the coaching transition.
“Jay Volker recently accepted a teaching position in Ohio to be closer to his family. With that said, he aimed to continue his role as Beechwood head football coach to maintain continuity this late in the year since football workouts begin June 1. We are fortunate to have Coach Volker continue to model such professionalism and dedication to the program,” the statement said.
“Beechwood Administration and Beechwood Athletics have been in discussions with Coach Volker about the vision and future of Beechwood Football. In that lengthy collaboration, we have all agreed to move forward with recommending the appointment of Mr. Noel Rash as the next coach of Beechwood Football.”
The statement also says Volker and Rash will work together to “ensure a smooth transition for the program.”
The transition plan is set up for the program to “hit the ground running” come June 1 as they’ll continue offseason workouts in ramping up for the start of the 2026 season come July after the dead period.
Rash enters the fold at Beechwood already having won 200 games and eight state championships under his direction. He joined the staff in 2000 under Mike Yeagle before receiving the promotion to head coach in 2006.
Prior to his time at Beechwood, Rash was an assistant coach at Lloyd (198587), Simon Kenton (1993-94) and Moeller (1996-99). He coached defensive backs at Holmes during the 2023 season. Rash was Beechwood’s head baseball coach from 1998-2001, and in ’99 was selected as the Northern Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year.
“Thrilled is an understatement in how the Tiger Football family is feeling right now,” the statement said. “A legend is coming home only to build upon that legacy he worked so hard to build. Coach Rash is excited to work with Coach Volker and the coaching staff in a transition plan in order to hit the ground running on June 1, 2026.” Volker departs after three seasons in Fort
Mitchell, guiding the Tigers to a 37-5 record and a state title in 2024. They reached the semifinals in 2023 and 2025.
“Beechwood Schools regards Jay Volker alongside Coach Berry, Coach Yeagle, and Coach Rash as yet another state champion football coach,” Beechwood schools said. “We thank Jay in not only maintaining, but elevating the commitment, the sacrifice, and the brotherhood — THE standard of Beechwood Football. Coach Volker’s legacy has been etched.”
Volker came to Beechwood with an extensive coaching background. He was the head coach at Talawanda (Ohio) for two seasons. Prior to that, Volker served as an assistant at Kings (Ohio) in 2019 and ’20 and as the defensive coordinator for Moeller (Ohio) in ’18. Volker also assisted Jim Hilvert from 2015-17 at LaSalle as the Associate Head Coach helping the Lancers to consecutive Ohio Division II state championships. Volker worked as an assistant at Georgia State from 2013-15 with current Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter.
NKY baseball awards announced
The three Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference divisions, Northern Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association and 9th Region baseball season awards have been announced.
Also listed are the All-Tournament team selections for the 32nd through 36th District.
2026 Northern Kentucky Baseball Awards
Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference (NKAC)
COOPER BOYS TRACK & FIELD
5. Brooks Becker, Beechwood
6. Thomas Ruschman, Newport Central Catholic
7. Greyson Begnoche, Lloyd
8. Tyler Detzel, St. Henry
9. Trey Cook, Scott
10. Henry Brooks, Newport Central Catholic
Division III
Player of the Year: Jackson Mays, Ludlow
2. Joe Rice, Villa Madonna
3. Tyler Brandstetter, Villa Madonna
4. Bob Brown, Heritage Academy
5. Parker Trenkamp, Ludlow
6. Jacob Berning, Bellevue
7. Adam Kuebel, Newport
8. Michael Callioni, Villa Madonna
9. Amillion Brown, Dayton
10. Luke Corbin, Calvary Christian
Northern Kentucky Baseball Coach’s Association (NKBCA)
A
All Conference Team
DH- Bronson Corpus, Walton Verona
C- Jackson Mays, Ludlow
1B- Hudson Edwards, Beechwood
2B- Sawyer Carlisle, Beechwood
SS- Isaac Amin, Bishop Brossart
3B- Joe Rice, Villa Madonna OF- Tyler Fryman, Beechwood OF- Caleb Arrasmith, Beechwood OF- Jacob Berning, Bellevue
P- Caleb Arrasmith, Beechwood
P- Joe Rice, Villa Madonna
Ray Brown Coach of the Year
Kevin Gray, Beechwood
AA
All Conference Team
DH-Austin Krohmer, Dixie
C- Camden Tiemeier, Campbell County
1B- Xaden Hughes, Ryle
2B- Everett Hall, Conner
SS- Anthony Coppola, Ryle
Division I
Player of the Year: Brady Bushman, Conner
2. Tyler Schumacher, Campbell County
3. Anthony Coppola, Ryle
4. Brooks Hendrix, Highlands
5. Camden Tiemeier, Campbell County
6. Max Brunkel, Conner
7. Michael Bryson, Covington Catholic
8. Xaden Hughes, Ryle
9. Jack Nolan, Covington Catholic
10. Austin Krohmer, Dixie Heights
Division II
Player of the Year: Tyler Fryman, Beechwood
2. Bronson Corpus, Walton-Verona
3. Caleb Arrasmith, Beechwood
4. Isaac Amin, Bishop Brossart
3B- Michael Bryson, Covington Catholic OF- Brady Bushman, Conner OF- Brooks Hendrix, Highlands OF- Brady Irwin, Ryle
P- Tyler Schumacher, Campbell County P- Brady Bushman, Conner
Jim Connor Coach of the Year
Joe Aylor, Ryle
9th Region
Player of the Year- Tyler Fryman, Beechwood
Junior State Showcase Representative
Tyler Fryman, Beechwood
Caleb Arrasmith, Beechwood
The LINK nky Team of the Week for May 11-17 is the Cooper High School boys track and field team. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
Sponsored by
Beechwood High School announced on May 19, 2026, that Noel Rash is transitioning to become the head coach for Jay Volker. Photo provided | Beechwood Independent Schools
Beechwood High School’s Tyler Fryman was named the NKAC Division II Player of the Year. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
Conner High School’s Brady Bushman was named the NKAC Division I Player of the Year. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
Alternates
Max Brunkel, Conner (First Alternate)
Nik Carter, Ryle (Second Alternate)
Sophomore State Showcase Representative
Nick Thompson, Covington Catholic Tyler Detzel, St. Henry
Alternates
Kayden Sautter, Beechwood (First Alternate)
Boston Brinkman, Cooper (Second Alternate)
Coach of the Year
Kevin Gray, Beechwood
Assistant Coach of the Year
Ryan Eckerle, Ryle
All 33rd District Team
Anthony Coppola, Ryle
Bob Brown, Heritage Academy
Boston Brinkman, Cooper
Brady Bushman, Conner
Brady Irwin, Ryle
Brodick Parr, Ryle
Brogan Scott, Cooper
Drew Hartman, Cooper
Everett Hall, Conner
Mason Coughenour, Boone County
Max Brunkel, Conner
Michael Flowers, Ryle
Nik Carter, Ryle
Ryker Campbell, Cooper
Xaden Hughes, Ryle
All 34th District Team
Austin Krohmer, Dixie Heights
Brady Kuebler, St. Henry
Colton Barger, Lloyd
Cy Parento, St. Henry
Grayson Begnoche, Lloyd
Jackson Mays, Ludlow
Jamikah Jasper, Lloyd
Joe Rice, Villa Madonna
Maddox Arnold, Ludlow
Michael Callioni, Villa Madonna
Noah Cline, Dixie Heights
Oliver Linstruth, Dixie Heights
Parker Trenkamp, Ludlow
Steven Hardin, Ludlow
Tyler Brandstetter, Villa Madonna
Tyler Detzel, St. Henry
All 35th District Team
Alex Arlinghaus, Holy Cross
Brant Stiles, Beechwood
Brooks Becker, Beechwood
Caleb Arrasmith, Beechwood
Hudson Edwards, Beechwood
Jack Nolan, Covington Catholic
Jackson Payne, Covington Catholic
Kayden Sautter, Beechwood
Michael Bryson, Covington Catholic
Nick Thompson, Covington Catholic
Noah Hagley, Holy Cross
Sawyer Carlisle, Beechwood
Tyler Brashear, Holmes
Tyler Fryman, Beechwood
All 36th District Team
Adam Kuebel, Newport
Amillion Brown, Dayton
Brooks Hendrix, Highlands
Henry Brooks, Newport Central Catholic
Jacob Berning, Bellevue
Kai Anderson, Highlands
Layton Riesenbeck, Highlands
Parker Hurtt, Newport Central Catholic
Sean Hurry, Newport
Thomas Ruschman, Newport Central
Catholic
Covington’s chimeras are back home
The chimeras and gargoyles that adorn the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington were returned to their Covington home earlier this year after being removed in 2023 to be molded and recast.
Renowned local photographers Glenn Hartong and Michael Keating were allowed an up-close look last week, capturing photos of the newly recast figures overlooking Northern Kentucky.
The chimeras are decorative anthropomorphized figures atop the facade modeled after the ones at Notre Dame
MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE
BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
DIVISION I
CASE NO.: 26-CI-00245
HERITAGE BANK, INC. VERSUS}
BOONE MAINTENANCE LLC, ET AL.
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered MAY 5, 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, JUNE 11, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
ADDRESS: 5716 IDLEWILD ROAD, BURLINGTON, KENTUCKY 41005
PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 037.00-00-051.02
AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $262,611.38
GROUP NO.: 166
The complete legal description is particularly set out in the Judgment and Order of Sale entered in this case.
Cathedral in
also has gargoyles, which are decorative false rainspouts modeled after Notre Dame, where they have a practical function as downspouts.
Scan this QR code to see the full gallery.
DIVISION I CASE NO.: 26-CI-00297
TRIPLE CROWN HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION, INC. VERSUS}
SCOTT R. ROSS, ET AL.
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered APRIL 21, 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, JUNE 11, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
ADDRESS: 1117 SAMUEL COURT, UNION, KENTUCKY 41091
PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 064.04-07-057.00
AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $9,354.43
GROUP NO.: 3114
The complete legal description is particularly set out in the Judgment and Order of Sale entered in this case.
THIS SALE IS SUBJECT TO THE MORTGAGE OF UNION SAVINGS BANK, RECORDED ON JUNE 24, 2021 IN MORTGAGE BOOK M4479, PAGES 346-361, OF THE BOONE COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OWED TO UNION SAVINGS BANK, IS THE PRINCIPAL SUM OF $157,034.16, MORE OR LESS, PLUS INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES ALLOWED BY THE MORTGAGE AND THE PROMISSORY NOTE IT SECURES, AND KENTUCKY LAW.
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
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
TO REFER TO THAT
Paris. The cathedral
Chimeras atop the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption were returned to their place earlier this year. Photo by Michael E. Keating/Glenn Hartong | LINK nky contributors
Address: 1152 Bellavista Drive, Covington
Price: $ 5.2 million
Bedrooms: Four
Bathrooms: Four (plus one half bath)
Square footage: 5,604 square feet
School district: Covington Independent Public Schools
County: Kenton
Special features: This newly built four-bedroom home in Covington’s gated Park Pointe community blends contemporary architecture with luxury finishes and sweeping Cincinnati skyline views.The residence features soaring ceilings, floor-toceiling windows, a floating staircase and a sleek chef’s kitchen, along with expansive indoor-outdoor entertaining spaces inspired by modern Miami-style design.
Modern mansion in Covington
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
LEGAL NOTICE
The Kenton County Fiscal Court is seeking sealed proposals for the purchase of FY26 Roadway Resurfacing for the Kenton County Public Works, located at 420 Independence Station Rd, Independence, Kentucky 41051. Bid documents are available on the Kenton County website at www.kentoncounty.org or may be obtained through Kenton County’s eProcurement portal located at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/kentoncounty. Bids must be submitted through the County’s eProcurement portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/ kentoncounty/projects/260456 and received no later than 2:00 pm on Friday, June 19, 2026.
KENTON COUNTY FISCAL COURT
KRIS A. KNOCHELMANN, JUDGE/EXECUTIVE KENTON COUNTY
• 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
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• City of Southgate
• City of Union
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• 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 Covington home. Photo by Tasha Klaber-Flood and Chris Kennedy | Sibcy Cline, REALTORS – Florence.
This home has a minimalistic yet modern kitchen.
The view from the infinity pool.
3/30/26 - 4/5/26
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. 2 1 8 5 1 9 4
Answer to Previous Sudoku:
The Weekly Crossword
Edited by Margie E. Burke
Come to pass
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 2 4 3 1 7 6 3 5
Landlord's due
The largest is blue
Swedish auto
Answer to Previous Sudoku:
Oscar-winning Bogart film of 1942
Three on stage
Snail trail
Blended-family member
Late music producer Phil
Car dealer's offering
Boozer
Adversary
Somewhat
Hines or Ladd
Idealistic ones 37 Indigenous DOWN
Cause of
Negatively Japanese
Tight-fisted type
First Nations
Rainbows, e.g. destruction charged particle
Game played in
Hard to brush
Plated mammal a hall group off
Inspire to act
Hardly cheery
Simone of jazz
Govt. agent
"Is that ___?"
Capital of
Kind of pad winner Patricia
A pal to Pooh
Pure
Makes wages
Clinton Labor
Auction off secretary
Naples natives Robert
Long poem part 42 'La Dolce ___'' 55 Perlman of
Develop sores (Fellini film) "Cheers"
Gather from the
Light gas Morocco fields
up
Author Elmore
Field for beauty
Believer who pros rejects the 11 Opera's Callas Trinity 12 Stamps and 56 German poet sends 59 Skimpy skirt 13 It may be humble
60 Like some eggs 18 Like many a
62 Twofer offer, wrestler briefly 22 Film segment
63 Listlessness 24 Actress Olivia
64 Plumber's job of "The Crown"
65 Shakespearean 26 Fraudulent "shortly" scheme
66 Desirable quality 27 Buckeye State
67 Improve, as 30 Accused murskills deress of 1892
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