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VOLUME 4, ISSUE 45 — OCTOBER 9, 2026

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Alexandria martial artists prepare for world championships in France By Nathan Granger

group of Alexandria martial artists are preparing to compete at an international world championship in France later this fall.

Eight martial artists, competing in a variety of events and age groups, from Alexandria gym McClendon Martial Arts will head to France from Oct. 14 to 18 to compete in the world championships for the International Combat Organization, or ICO. Their training was in full swing when LINK nky visited the gym last month. “I’m just excited to see them do their thing,” said coach and proprietor of McClendon Martial Arts, Michael McClendon. “We’ve been training really hard, and we’ve definitely grown mentally (and) physically.” McClendon is one of several coaches for the American branch of the ICO. ICO sanctions amateur events in several forms of Continues on page 3

Michael Richeson (front left), Trent Baker (front right) and Skylar Dill (back center) of McClendon Martial Arts in Alexandria train for the October ICO World Championships. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Boone County has Kentucky’s only public middle school mariachi band By Lia Salvatierra

ith their bows resting beside them, Rector A. Jones Middle School violinists began plucking the instrument beneath their chins with their fingers. A batch of trumpet players followed, before students cradling large ornate wooden guitarróns and smaller folk-style guitars called vihuelas, began strumming. Eventually, the ensemble will blend to produce the song “Atotonilco” by Juan José Espinosa Guevara — a mariachi classic.

Guitarrón player Manuel Cervantes said he’s open to joining a larger mariachi band in the future. Photo by Lia Salvatierra | LINK nky

When band director Scott Reed tried launching a jazz band at Jones, a common offering at middle and high schools, it fell

flat. But when he decided to scrap it in favor of a mariachi band, students flocked. Now, Boone County School District’s Los Voladores Del Mariachi, the only public middle school mariachi ensemble in the state, has already more than doubled its roster of 15 students that participated when it launched last year. “The kids that may be kind of marginal, or feel like they’re lost in the cracks, this gives them a sense of pride, that means something to them. And I think that’s why jazz band just didn’t really take off,” Reed said. Of the school’s 746 students enrolled in 2024-25, 32.7% identified as Hispanic or Latino. Although many joined Jones’ mariachi band because it’s part of their heritage,

NKU adopts state-mandated policy for firing faculty p5 Traffic remains a concern in Covington after road conversions p7 The deer are getting frisky which means the roads are getting risky p10

Continues on page 4

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PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling COMMUNITY EDITOR Christian LeDuc SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison The LINK nky Kenton Reader, (ISSN 3064-7460) is published weekly except 1st Friday in Jan & July by LINK Media, LLC., 7766 Ewing Blvd., Suite 350, Florence, KY 41042. Periodicals postage is paid at Florence, KY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The LINK nky Kenton Reader, 523 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor, Covington, KY 41011. 859-878-1669 | www.LINKnky.com

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Lilian Newman, age 11, (left) trains with coach Michael McClendon (right) on Sept. 24, 2026. Also pictured: Addi Venneman (back), age 17. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky Continued from page 1

kickboxing, karate-style point fighting, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, grappling and other events. The McClendon martial artists focused largely on striking arts, and several of them will be competing in multiple events. ICO championships have been held in several countries, including Ireland, Portugal, Wales and Canada. The following eight athletes will compete in France: 11-year-old Lilian Newman, 13-year-old Trent Baker, 14-year-old Skylar Dill, 15-year-old Michael Richeson, 16-year-old Mason Prieshoff, 17-year-old Addi Venneman, 37-year-old Amanda Richeson and 47-year-old Tony Baker. “I think my favorite part, honestly, about traveling with the tournaments is just seeing so many different kinds of things,” said Venneman, who’s previously traveled to Ireland to compete. Venneman will be

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Amanda Richeson, age 37, lands a punch on Tony Baker, age 47. Both will compete in point fighting in France. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

competing in point fighting and two different kickboxing events. When asked if she was nervous about competing, she said, “It comes in waves. Sometimes I’m like ‘I’m ready to go now,’ and then sometimes I’m like ‘this is a big tournament.’” “I just like being able to fight,” said Prieshoff, who’s also competing in point fighting and kickboxing events. Prieshoff previously competed in Portugal. “It’s something different that not everyone else does. It’s kind of unique, you know?” In order to qualify for the world championships, athletes compete in lower-level regional tournaments. Top teams from regionals can then qualify for a national training camp for international tournaments.

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“You see a lot of transformation from the camp,” McClendon said. “That’s another really cool part.” “I really love the people,” said Tony Baker, who will be competing in point fighting. Tony trains with his son Trent. “That’s one of my favorite things, spending time with my son and competing with him, and then just the training in general…,” said Tony. “It’s a great experience, one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life.” This year’s championships will take place in Thonon-les-Bains, France, located in the country’s eastern region. Check back later this fall when LINK nky reports on the results of the tournament.

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it’s a blend of students from diverse backgrounds who joined for diverse reasons. Reed, who is white, didn’t start the program as an expert on the genre — he never actually learned or taught mariachi until last year. But he’s a longtime trumpeter, his wife is a violinist and he wanted to create a space for his students to learn about their culture or someone else’s. Jones’ tapestry of student identities is clear from a first step into the school’s entryway, which is trimmed with flags from dozens of countries. “I’ve been in a lot of schools and this has been my favorite place to teach,” Reed said. “I think the diversity has something to with that.” Getting started has meant building the plane while flying it. “Last year I was staying a day or two ahead of the kids,” Reed said, laughing. One of his first moves was asking the local music store to help special order the mariachi instruments, which ended up costing around $20,000 in total. The summer before launching the band last school year,

Boone County School District’s Los Voladores Del Mariachi, the only public middle school mariachi ensemble in the state. Photo by Lia Salvatierra | LINK nky

and again this year, Reed attended the National Mariachi Education Workshops, a weeklong conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, to learn more about the music genre and how to teach it.

ready plays trumpet, joined specifically because he really wanted to learn violin.

Both those things were made possible by grant money, Reed said.

“I wanted to make my momma proud,” said Christopher Ceboci, another seventh grader who joined the program.

During Reed’s mariachi band classes available to seventh and eighth graders, students learn both how to play instruments and their history. He’s noticed the program’s positive impact on attendance with students coming to school to play their instruments which live in the band room.

Mariachi-ng on “I like the sound of it, it has a really clean sound,” he said.

He said his family often listens to mariachi when they’re cleaning up the house. “It’s the only one in the state, so it makes me feel special,” Ceboci said.

Reed has already heard from many of his former eighth grade students who graduated out of the ensemble last year, and no longer have a place to play mariachi. This year, Reed wants to find a way to outfit the band with uniforms. He said it’s likely the full mariachi suits might be challenging and costly to source, but that he’s looking at options.

“It’s not hard, but it’s also not easy,” Sanchez said.

He also is dreaming up a mariachi festival, which would bring together the one other Kentucky public school band at Bryan Station High School, and two other programs at Berea College and the University of Louisville.

Merli Ramirez, a seventh grader, is one of the students who joined because it represents her Hispanic culture and identity.

Manuel Cervantes, an 8th grader, said the class means a lot to him because his family members all play instruments, including his dad, who plays the mariachi staple, the vihuela.

Reed, who also DJs on the side, has also found mariachi might be a real career pathway for students, considering the demand for mariachi bands he’s seen at local weddings.

“It makes me feel comfortable playing and proud of myself,” Ramirez said.

“I feel I want to carry that on,” Cervantes said.

Dylan Morales, a seventh grader who al-

“If this goes well, there’s a chance of me

“This is hard, and I’ve never worked harder than I have at this school, but to see these kids really get behind it, I think, and I hope, it’s going to continue to grow,” he said.

After one year, he was invited to present at the Kentucky Music Educators Association professional development conference about how to start a mariachi band. Meet the band

Kobe Sanchez plays the vihuela for Los Voladores Del Mariachi, one of the key instruments in a mariachi ensemble. Photo by Lia Salvatierra | LINK nky

joining a bigger group,” he said.

It’s also just fun, something Kobe Sanchez, another seventh grader agrees with.

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NKU adopts state-mandated policy for firing faculty, including tenured positions By Lia Salvatierra

orthern Kentucky University adopted a new policy under state law allowing the university to fire faculty for financial reasons, including tenured positions. NKU’s Board of Regents passed the policy Sept. 16 ahead of the state’s Oct. 1 deadline for adoption, with two dissenting votes from regents who belong to the university’s faculty and staff. Passed as in April, House Bill 490 requires public colleges and universities to adopt a universal policy and process for firing faculty for “bona fide financial reasons” — something some institutions already have on their books. The Republican-backed bill overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto in which he called “bona fide financial reasons” an “ambiguous and vague new standard” to fire educators who have earned tenure. According to bill language, those reasons include low enrollment in a particular program or major, “misalignment” of revenue and costs of a college, department, program or major — or simply, financial struggles overall. The law “may be misused to target people, programs and research based purely on subject, politics or many other unconstitutional grounds, under the guise of economic necessity. This would likely violate contractual agreements that institutions have made to attract and retain talented educators,” Beshear wrote in his veto. However, NKU Chief Communications Officer Corey Best told LINK nky the university currently has no plans to put the policy into action. A review of last fiscal year 2026 during the Sept. 16 meeting showed a budget surplus of $6.8 million, from a budgeted $221.4 million in annual expenses.

Northern Kentucky University’s Board of Regents passed a new policy Sept. 16, 2026, that permits the firing of employees for financial reasons, which appears to include tenured faculty. Photo by Lia Salvatierra | LINK nky

gents Chair Kara Williams described the policy-making process, which aimed to consider, if not include, all faculty input.

Under the First Amendment, according to policy language, the policy can’t be used to remove faculty based on the following:

“I don’t believe any policy this complex is perfect, and I don’t believe that responsible government requires us to pretend that it is. But I do believe that a tremendous amount of good faith work has gone into getting us to this point,” Williams said Sept. 16. “I believe that the policy before us provides a responsible path for NKU to meet its obligations under the law by continuing to fulfil our mission.”

• Expression of ideological and political viewpoints. • Expression related to the Faculty Senate, which allows the faculty to help govern the university, or other faculty governance functions.

Details of the NKU policy NKU’s new policy “applies to removal of faculty of any status or rank.” But the policy states “these decisions also are guided by respect for faculty tenure, which contributes to the vibrant community of scholars on our campus.” Any decision to remove faculty would occur only after review and would be subject to “protections” required by the policy under the First Amendment and “academic freedom.” Academic freedom is defined differently across different institutions and groups, but relates to the ability to teach and learn without interference by administrators, governing boards, political figures and other entities.

During the Sept. 16 meeting, Board of Re-

Under the “academic freedom” protections outlined in the policy, it can’t be used to remove faculty due to exercising professional judgment around: • Teaching • Scholarship • Research within the faculty member’s academic discipline • Creative activity During the Sept. 16 meeting, the board voted to expand that protective language to add “creative activity.” Under the policy, only the university president can initiate removal of faculty for “bona fide financial reasons.” A faculty member proposed for removal can request a hearing before the Board of Regents, which would make a final decision by a majority vote of a quorum. That policy adopted Sept. 16 prevails over provisions about faculty separation, including tenured positions, in the university’s faculty handbook.

Pushback during discussion Regent Sandra Spataro voiced concerns about the speed of the policy-making process and involvement of faculty, which filled the audience during the Sept. 16 meeting. “I understand that the new law requires us to act quickly. At the same time, I hope we treat the process used here as an exception not as a precedent or how we make consequential decisions at NKU,” Spataro said. “Faculty leaders had the opportunity to react to drafts, but that’s different from helping develop the policy from the start.” She also noted concerns about its content, including how it conflicts with other university policy and the faculty handbook and whether it provides sufficient due process for faculty proposed for removal. Spataro is a professor of management and director of NKU’s Master’s of Business Leadership and Innovation program. Ultimately, the board passed the policy with two no votes from Spataro and Regent Cori Henderson, associate director of NKU’s Office of Institutional Research. Spataro called her no vote a “call to keep working together” to implement and refine the policy. The policy can be amended by a quorum majority vote by the Board of Regents.

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Holmes High School marching band redefines tradition By Lia Salvatierra

unior Abdul Haseeb raised his whitegloved hands over a field of students and their instruments shining beneath the Friday afternoon sun.

“Next week is our first big show in many weeks,” Haseeb told the group. “And we’re gonna rock it,” he shouted. “5-6-7-8!” the group shouted back before music pierced the air. The Holmes High School marching band wasn’t preparing for a competition. Instead, the arrangement of students were rehearsing for a friendly regional student showcase, the Goshen Warrior Band Festival, and a rival home football game later that night. After a few more runs, band director Conrad Krieger pauses the practice for students to dole out a round of high fives to one another. It’s been four years since Krieger decided to break from the school marching band’s long, decorated competitive tradition and doubled participation with students who joined for its culture. When Krieger joined Holmes in 2019, its music program — once home to one of the

most recognized marching bands in the state — had largely dried up. All that remained of the music program were small concert band and choir classes, a marching band with fewer than 15 students and cases of competition trophies from years past — next to a letter of recognition from former U.S. President Gerald Ford. Though the Holmes High School Marching Band’s proud tradition remains preserved in glass cases lining the band room, it’s been traded for a new kind of tradition under Krieger’s leadership — one of inclusivity no matter a student’s music background. Krieger said he ultimately decided to convert to a non-competitive marching band after speaking with the Boone County High School band director, who also leads that type of band. Krieger was sold on what he saw as a better way to serve Holmes students: cutting back on an intense practice schedule, eliminating the cost of new uniforms and materials each year and opening the door for including more students, no matter their musical background. The band also includes middle schoolers. “What I determined was the amount of time and money and baseline skill that it requires to be successful (as a competitive marching band) was not obtainable and not in our students’ best interest,” Krieger said. “The new tradition is music for all.” Since starting as band director, Krieger has not only nearly doubled the marching band program and concert band class rosters, but also grown the music program by adding three new classes. Students can master the basics in a high school beginning band class, learn guitar and rock music in a modern band class that’s bursting at the seams and enroll in a dual-credit music theory course with Northern Kentucky University, Senior Collin Konkright told LINK nky he originally joined the Holmes’ music program because his mom was in the marching band during its heyday.

Holmes Senior Collin Konkright serves as a peer tutor for the high school’s beginning band class. Photo by Lia Salvatierra | LINK nky

After hedging for two years and joining as a sophomore, he ended up finding a knack for multiple instruments, a desire to study to become a music teacher like Krieger, and a family.

Junior Abdul Haseeb leads the Holmes High School marching band through rehearsal. Photo by Lia Salvatierra | LINK nky

“The band, it’s kind of like a family in a sense,” Konkright said. “A lot of people here, I can see some of them think of Krieger as a father figure. Personally in some ways, I do too,” Konkright said. “I don’t even have a dad, so he’s the closest.”

“It made me feel like if I want to have a positive impact and show Bulldog spirit, I should join band,” he said.

Konkright has enrolled in nearly every music class available, including serving as a peer tutor for the high school beginning band class.

During the Friday rehearsal, Haseeb left his perch where he was conducting to comfort one of the band’s newer members, who had stepped away from rehearsal upset.

Sophomores Sasha Hutson and Jake Canter also both called the band a family. Hutson moved from a school with a large, competitive marching band and said she was so relieved to join Holmes’ program. Canter said the band is who he falls back on when things get tough.

“It’s really beautiful,” he said of his new position as drum major.

“It was the first group of people to really accept me for, you know, who I am,” Canter said. Canter added that a smaller band offers more chances for students to lead, something Krieger champions within his program. Haseeb, who Krieger named as the

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marching band’s drum major, joined two years ago with no music experience, but a desire to be part of the band culture he’d been hearing about from his peers.

“Because I see students who make mistakes, and they’re not complaining about their mistakes, they’re fixing them,” he said. “They’re learning from it, I see people getting exhausted, but they keep going. I see people hustling up and down, accountability, all that kind of stuff, and the biggest thing I see is people supporting each other,” Haseeb said. “It actually teaches me more than what I’m saying up there (to them),” he said.

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Traffic remains a concern in Eastside after road conversions By Nathan Granger

he Eastside neighborhood association, officially called Eastside+, has expressed concern to the City of Covington about traffic safety in the neighborhood, especially in the face of recent road changes. “Since the two-way conversion of Scott and Greenup streets, we’ve seen some improvement, but there are still some serious problems at intersections,” Eastside+ Chair Melissa Kelley told the Covington Board of Commissioners at their meeting on Sept. 22. “Some of them made worse by the conversion.”

The four-way stop at Greenup and Pleasant streets. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

The two-way conversions of Greenup and Scott streets were completed on Oct. 9, 2025, and Oct. 17, 2025, respectively. The conversions are now in place between 12th and 20th streets on both roads. Funded by state budgetary appropriations, the conversions were carried out to calm traffic, improve walking and safety infrastructure, and bolster economic development, according to city officials. Kelley indicated there were some improvements — she complimented a recent fourway stop sign installation at the intersection of Pleasant and Greenup streets, for instance — but worried that some areas remained unaddressed.

The newly converted Greenup Street, October 2025. Photo provided | The City of Covington

“Where (Pleasant Street) intersects with Scott, it is a different story,” said Kelley. “While a right turn there is much less dangerous than before, a left turn is more dangerous. We’re constantly hearing from residents about collisions, especially at the Scott-Pleasant intersection.” One resident who lives in that area, Amanda Arelle, attested to this. “They (accidents) tend to occur when people are coming up the side streets and are trying to merge on Scott,” Arelle told LINK nky in a phone call, also expressing skepticism that the conversion had addressed the issues it set out to curtail.

The detour off the Girl Scout Bridge from Newport into Covington. Map provided | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

“They said that the conversion would help with the speeding, but people are still speeding down,” Arelle said. “That has not improved at all.” Another resident in the same area, Danielle Strauss, attested to issues of visibility at Pleasant and Scott streets.

“I see all the people screeching and and struggling to get out and pull out with the traffic going both ways,” Strauss told LINK nky. Strauss advocated for putting in a fourway stop on Pleasant and Scott streets. LINK nky pulled data from the Kentucky State Police for the area of the conversion — Scott Street, Greenup Street and the affected intersections and side streets between 12th and 20th streets — to track trends over time. Our analysis revealed that the number of accidents since the beginning of 2020 to Sept. 18, 2026 — the last documented accident as of this story’s publication — tended to hover around 100 a year. In truth, it’s difficult to tell based on the data if the conversion has had an effect on safety. This is due both to the fact that the conversion occurred less than a year ago and the fact that trends on the corridor were unpredictable from month to month in the past. Still, said Kelley, “there are minor collisions that don’t get reported to police, and I know everyone traveling through there has experienced frequent near misses. I know I have.” Kelley also attested to residents speaking about near misses around Prospect Avenue and 12th Street when drivers were coming off the Girl Scout Bridge, which has also recently undergone a conversion. Last year, around the same time as the Scott-Greenup conversion, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet began reconfiguring the bridge to have fewer traffic lanes but two new bike lanes. Traffic delineators were later installed, as well. Drivers are meant to detour off the bridge onto Prospect Avenue and then onto 11th Street before moving onto a different road, but Kelley said people had been trying to use the cut-thru section near the Eastside mosaic sign to avoid going onto 11th Street and Garrard Street. The section is used largely for residential parking. She asked for “increased police presence” and for the DO NOT ENTER sign for the cut-thru to be more stringently enforced. “If we could set up more oases of calm in our neighborhood — intersections that declare that people here are important — I think (it) would be ever well spent, just in terms of community well-being and mental health,” Kelley said.

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OCTOBER 9, 2026

kenton county briefs The LINK nky Educator of the Week: David Meyers The votes are in, and this week’s LINK nky Educator of the Week is David Meyers, a teacher at Beechwood High School. Meyers was nominated by Michael Brinkman because “When I consider all of the strengths this award hopes to recognize, Dave embodies all of them. The LINK nky Educator of the Week: David Meyers

“As a teacher, Dave holds his students to the academic rigor we expect here at Beechwood. He truly believes his students are capable of giving and achieving their best. And when this may prove difficult for them, he offers them the necessary support they need. Each student is recognized daily, whether it be when they walk through the door or when he calls on them in class. Mr. Meyers truly cares about all of his students. “As a colleague, Dave garners the respect of all of his peers — truly. There isn’t a staff member who doesn’t appreciate Dave’s integrity, his strong sense of what is right and what is wrong, and the overall respect he gives to all of his colleagues. He is a teacher who truly sets an example for all of us to follow. And I would be remiss not to mention he has a wicked sense of humor, which is what all of us appreciate most!” Congratulations to Meyers, and thank you to everyone who participated.

Kentucky Attorney General’s Office upholds Covington mayoral salary increase

A Covington mayor’s gavel in the Covington Commission Chambers at City Hall. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office has issued an opinion approving a salary increase for Covington’s mayor during a mayoral term. The opinion paves the way for the city to substantially increase the pay of the mayor in 2027, when the government is set to convert to a strong mayor form of government. The opinion dovetails with an ordinance passed last year enabling an increase in the mayor’s salary from its current annual pay of roughly $34,400 to the maximum allowable amount for non-first-class cities in the commonwealth, just under $98,000 in 2026, according to the Kentucky Department of Local Government.

8 OCTOBER 9, 2026

That ordinance wasn’t set to take effect until the first day of 2029, immediately after the current mayoral term concludes, but Covington City Solicitor Frank Schultz willingly sought an advisory opinion from the Attorney General’s office as a prerequisite for enacting a salary change when the government conversion takes place next year. Although attorney general opinions are not binding precedent in the same way a judge’s opinion is binding, attorneys still use them for guidance and to buttress legal arguments. The attorney general’s office delivered its opinion on Sept. 9. Section 161 of the Kentucky Constitution prevents an elected official’s salary from being increased during a term. However, the Attorney General’s office believed that Kentucky case law allowed for an increase when the duties of an office were expanded, although it admitted that the “specific issue arising from a change in the form of city government becoming effective during the term of a sitting mayor has not been addressed by Kentucky courts.” Existing case law about increases in compensation focused on the pay of judges. It’s clear from both the attorney general and a written statement the city sent to LINK nky that Covington is hoping to turn the mayor’s role into a full-time position once the conversion takes place. “The substantial transformation of the fundamental powers and obligations of the mayoral office in Covington in essence creates a new office in all but name,” the Attorney General’s opinion reads. “The Attorney General’s opinion recognized the substantial differences between the office of mayor under the city manager and mayor-council forms of government,” the city statement reads. “The opinion concluded that the public interest would not be served by treating the office as part-time in nature.” Covington residents voted to convert the city government from its current city manager form to a mayor-council form, or strong mayor form, of government in November 2024. The new mayor-council form of government grants greater executive and administrative authority to the mayor’s seat than under the city manager form, including power over much of the day-to-day operations of the city. The city’s committee on government transition, a recommending body formed after the voter referendum, recommended on Sept. 10, the day after the opinion was tendered, that the current Board of Commissioners enshrine the 2027 salary increase in law. However, the board has not yet considered that issue. Current Mayor Ron Washington attended the Sept. 10 meeting but recused himself from the discussion. In order to enact such an ordinance, the Covington Board of Commissioners would have to go through the typical legislative process of two readings and a vote.

Crescent Springs residents raise noise concerns about public park

those provisions would require city council action and could take multiple readings. Daugherty said he would work with the police chief and city attorney to address concerns, improve enforcement and consider clearer park signage to help visitors understand the rules. “I will ask the police chief about increasing patrols, particularly in the evening when shelters are being used,” Daugherty said.

Crescent Springs city building. Photo provided | Crescent Springs

Residents living near Lou Hartfiel Memorial Park asked Crescent Springs officials on Sept. 28 to address complaints about loud music, large gatherings and what they described as inconsistent enforcement of the park’s shelter rules. Residents’ concerns centered on Shelter 3, where amplified music and large gatherings have caused noise and other issues for nearby homeowners. Rosewood Drive resident Christy Krewman told the city council that Shelter 3’s rules were unclear and inconsistently enforced. “I live next to a public park, and I understand that comes with reasonable noise,” Krewman said. “My concern is whether the rules the city has established are clearly communicated and effectively enforced.”

Resident Brian Barclay suggested police could potentially help enforce the terms of the city’s rental agreements, including taking action when renters violate clearly established conditions. “Additional patrols during shelter rentals could help address problems without necessarily requiring new legislation,” Barclay said. The city has not yet announced final changes to the shelter rules or enforcement procedures. The next council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 25.

Ludlow announces lineup of fall community events

Krewman said she experienced very loud amplified music during a recent weekend that she could hear inside her home. She and another neighbor contacted police about the noise. Residents asked the city to establish clearer rental restrictions, attendance limits and written procedures for Shelter 3. Tina Catalano, who lives next to the park, also addressed the council. She described recurring issues with loud music and large gatherings and said some interactions with park users had become confrontational. Catalano questioned the current capacity allowed under the shelter rental agreement, saying, “The shelter previously had a limit of 40 people but now appeared to allow up to 80.” “Because of the shelter’s proximity to surrounding homes,” Catalano said, “noise from large gatherings can significantly affect nearby residents.” Other residents also expressed concern about the limit on the number of people allowed in the shelters. City officials acknowledged that the city currently distinguishes between rules posted or communicated to park users and provisions enforceable under city law. Mayor Mike Daugherty said some of the provisions that residents referenced are not currently written as laws that would allow the city to fine violators. Changing

Ludlow Elm Street outside the Ludlow City Building. Photo by Ariel Leonard | LINK nky contributor

Ludlow has a slew of community events all month leading up to Halloween. Many of the events will take place in the city’s historic business district or along the riverfront. Check out a list of events below: • Adam Lee Live at Vinyl & Tap ˚ Date: Oct. 9, doors open at 6:30 p.m. ˚ Location: Ludlow Vinyl & Tap on Elm Street ˚ Singer/songwriter Adam Lee plays in an intimate setting with limited seating. Tickets are $10. Buy tickets here. • Sunday Series at Secret Sister ˚ Date: Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. ˚ Location: Secret Sister Thrift Boutique on Elm Street ˚ Free musical performances featuring Noah Wotherspoon and percussionist Erich Reith. Seating is limited, and guests are allowed to bring their own chairs and drinks. • Rail Sessions & Chili Cook-Off ˚ Date: Oct. 14, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ˚ Location: Ludlow Heritage Museum campus ˚ This community event will feature several musical acts, a chili cook-off and touch-a-truck.

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kenton county briefs

• History, Down by the River ˚ Date: Oct. 16, starting at 6 p.m. ˚ Location: Memorial Park and Ludlow Vinyl & Tap ˚ Hosted by the Kenton County Public Library, this event will lead attendees through a historical journey featuring the myths, legends and stories of the Ohio River. Registration is required. An after-party will take place at Ludlow Vinyl & Tap. • Family Halloween Event ˚ Date: Oct. 24, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. ˚ Location: 49 Elm Street ˚ This family-friendly event will feature Halloween activities for all ages. • 3rd Annual Nightmare on Elm Street ˚ Date: Oct. 24, starting at 6 p.m. • ˚ Location: Central Business District ˚ The central business district will come alive with activities targeted for an adult audience: adult trick-ortreating, live music, drink specials, pop-up shops, sales from participating businesses and other festive activities. Regular trick-or-treating will take place Halloween night from 6 to 8 p.m.

Covington won’t revoke Zazou liquor license after stabbing outside bar Covington’s Alcohol Beverage Control Board has decided to forgo revoking the liquor license for Zazou, a bar in the city’s MainStrasse neighborhood. Instead, the bar’s owner, Michael Mercer, has struck a deal with the board to increase police details at the bar through May 31, 2027. The decision comes in the wake of a fight culminating in a stabbing, which occurred outside the bar the night of Sept. 18. The agreement requires police details at the bar every night of operation between the hours of 1 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. Detail officers must also be present from 10 p.m. to close on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

erate in tandem with one another. Mercer said he hired the bouncer involved in the fight when he took over the business earlier this year. He declined to be interviewed after the hearing.

Zazou in MainStrasse the morning of the Covington ABC hearing, Sept. 30, 2026. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Two men — a bar patron and a bar employee — got into a fight just before 11 p.m. on Sept. 18, according to reporting from LINK nky’s media partner WCPO. The patron suffered stab wounds, and the employee suffered other injuries. Both men were eventually transferred to UC Medical Center for treatment. The investigation into the fight is ongoing. The control board held a roughly 30-minute public hearing on Sept. 30 to decide what to do in light of the stabbing. Members of the control board itself, which includes the city manager, the police chief, Mercer and his attorney, Alex Edmondson, and Covington Alcohol Control Administrator Lydia Northcutt attended the hearing. Northcutt stated the incident could have run afoul of state statutes aimed at preventing violence at bars and other alcohol-serving establishments. Northcutt also played a video showing a portion of the fight, which shows the bar’s bouncer brandishing a knife and fighting with two men. The building itself is owned by an LLC called Covington Momentum, according to Kenton County property records, which bought the bar in August. Mercer said he had no affiliation with the previous owners and had been trying to reshape the bar’s culture, atmosphere and personnel policies. Mercer also runs Doubt It, the bar adjacent to Zazou, and expressed hope that the two establishments would in time op-

“We’re continuing to do some of the training and some of the techniques and tactics that are crucial in just speaking to people in a proper way to de-escalate,” Mercer told the control board. Mercer also stated that he hoped to solicit help from the police for future training and “video record it so that way we have it in our [standard operating procedure] library, so it’s part of the training on any new hires over the course of the year.” One person, Steve Kilgore, spoke during the hearing’s public comment section. He said the two men fighting the bouncer in the video were his sons and that the bouncer was “trying to instigate it.” Kilgore left the hearing after speaking. Edmondson, Mercer’s attorney, said that part of the reason Mercer and partners had taken over the bar “was to control the environment around their other investment, which is next door.”

A Covington police cruiser outside of Zazou in MainStrasse just after midnight on Sept. 19, 2026. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

“It sounds like a new leaf is being completely turned over,” Fritz Kuhlmann, the resident representative on the control board. “And owe it to the community to keep in touch with you and see where we’re at.” “These terms seem a good response to the incident while giving you all the ability to work through the issues,” said City Manager Sharmili Reddy. “Obviously, we want to see all of our businesses succeed, [but] public safety is a very high priority for us.” The control board then voted to enter into the agreement with Mercer. The bar has a license renewal hearing in November.

Edmondson also informed the control board that Mercer was planning on renovating the building. “It’ll be completely rebranded,” Edmondson said, “New name, new concept, new everything.” Mercer stated the plan was to continue operating under the Zazou name until January, pending approvals from county planning professionals, at which point it will close for renovations. The new bar and rebrand, he said, would hopefully open up in early March. He had not picked a new name yet. The control board members seemed satisfied with Mercer’s attempts to rectify the incident and make changes.

THE WEEKLY COMIC by Andrew Buchanan

OCTOBER 9, 2026

The deer are getting frisky, which means the roads are getting risky Staff Report

entucky officials are warning drivers against an increased likelihood of deer collisions in the coming months as deer mating season returns. Male deer, in particular, tend to be more active during mating season, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, as they seek mates and new food sources. “October to December is mating season for deer, a time when deer activity peaks as males roam further afield to locate females,” said Joe McDermott, deer program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Fall also pressures deer to move in search of food and shelter as cover foliage disappears, crops are harvested and natural food sources are depleted. Drivers should be aware that they could see deer crossing quiet lanes and busy highways at any time during the season, particularly at dawn and dusk.”

est number of deer-related accidents in Kentucky last year. Nearly half of them occurred in the final three months of the year. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is offering the following advice for drivers for the final three months of the year: • Be aware: Especially when driving through wooded areas and during dusk and dawn, when deer are more mobile. NOTE: Deer often travel in groups, so keep this in mind. • Practice good driver safety: Wear your seatbelt, put your phone away and generally eliminate distractions. Use your high beams, unless other drivers are approaching. • Take your foot off the gas if you see a deer: If you see a deer and want to slow down, take your foot off the gas. • Don’t swerve: Deer movements are unpredictable, plus swerving can inadvertently lead to crashes with other cars or objects in the environment. • Be cautious if you find a crash: If you see a crash, slow down, apply the brakes and come to a gentle stop.

Deer accidents have been steadily increasing since 2020, according to data from the Kentucky State Police. Accidents involving deer reached a seven-year peak in 2025 with 3,411 recorded. Luckily, no fatalities were reported last year. Boone County experienced the fifth-high-

Deer. Photo provided | Laura College via Unsplash

County rank

County

1 2 3 4 5 8 18

Hopkins County Hardin County Muhlenberg County Nelson County Boone County Campbell County Kenton County

(based on no. of crashes)

Number of Crashes 134 118 95 95 94 80 57

Deer-related accidents in Kentucky in 2025. Data provided | KYTC. Table by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

DIVISION ONE CASE NO.: 14-CI-00203 BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. VERSUS} SCOTT D. MOODY, ET AL. By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered OCTOBER 7, 2014 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

ADDRESS: 1797 WAVERLY DRIVE, FLORENCE, KENTUCKY 41042 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 062.00-36075.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $223,266.29 GROUP NO.: 4444

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.

10 OCTOBER 9, 2026

Investors eye Covington Radisson for purchase, renovation and rebrand

deal is in the works by an out-oftown investor to possibly purchase, renovate and rebrand the Radisson Hotel in Covington, known for its distinct architecture and revolving restaurant.

Logistics Specialist sought by Kiswel Inc in Florence, KY

Miami-based GenX Capital Partners informed LINK nky last month that it was heading up a deal with an unknown buyer to renovate the building into a Hard Rock REVERB hotel, a relatively new hospitality line from the well-known company of hotels, restaurants and casinos.

Mail resume to: 7950 Dixie Hwy Florence KY 41042 Manage import/export shipments & logistics. Bachelor’s in supply chain management, Logistics or foreign equivalent required.

The REVERB brand currently has two locations in Atlanta and Hamburg, Germany, with more under construction in the United States and internationally. The potential acquisition and rebranding would require extensive renovations to the building. Mark McClure, a managing director with GenX Capital Partners, said in an email to LINK nky that his company is working to provide much of the financing for the buyer group, which “prefers to remain behind the scenes for now.” McClure said the goal was to close the deal around Christmas, at which point a sevento-nine-month renovation process could begin. The renovation would take place floor by floor, so most of the hotel could remain open during the process. The project is expected to cost $27 million. “We see a significant opportunity to build on this hotel’s landmark status and give people compelling reasons to visit — whether they are staying overnight, attending an event or coming in for dinner and a night out,” McClure said.

The Radisson Hotel in Covington. Photo provided | Kenton County PVA

CUSTOMER APPLICATION ENGINEERING (CAE) MANAGERS

McClure included a branding packet in his email with renderings and information on what the final product could look like. Notably, the packet teases to a possible partnership with the promotion company of former professional boxer Lennox Lewis for one to two fights in the hotel’s ballroom a month. McClure also said the plan includes the potential for live music, comedy shows, open mic nights and a completely redesigned lobby. The packet also indicates the hotel is meant to augment the Hard Rock Casino across the river, which currently has no hotel space.

A rendering of what the entryway for the new REVERB Hotel could look like. Rendering provided | GenX Capital Partners

As for the revolving restaurant, the Eighteen at the Radisson, McClure said the “final concept and entertainment programming are still being developed, but our vision extends well beyond a menu refresh.” Chicago-based Atira Hotels has been brought on to manage the hotel and the renovation’s general contracting. Atira will also provide a portion of the equity investment. Atira Hotels currently manages 21 hotels in 12 states, according to the company’s website.

Bonfiglioli USA, Inc. is seeking Customer Application Engineering (CAE) Managers at our Hebron, Kentucky facility to coordinate with Sales, Purchasing, and Production Management with regard to project specifications, procedures, and order completion for heavy industrial gear motor equipment; manage product design and changes to industrial gear motor equipment; develop and upgrade the standards, policies and procedures for the work performed by the Industrial Business Unit for production of industrial gear motors; and create and manage industry application reports for the development and support of the growth of industrial gear motor product lines and related commercial activities. Qualified candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field, including foreign degree equivalent and 24 months experience in the following job duties as an industrial engineer or in any related occupational category specifically related to heavy industrial planetary geared motors, gearboxes, and control systems: develop customized solutions for customers; provide special applications engineering support to customers in the area of global bids and job order processing; conduct process analysis and verifications about sizing and development of any special solutions in the customer product development area; provide costing, documentation, and logistic support; provide customer project support and training or required tooling analysis on larger projects; serve as a liaison on target customer projects with application engineering issues; coordinate any and all support with internal departments, including customer service, production, purchasing, and R&D, to ensure a successful product development. Travel within the U.S. 0 to 2 days per month.

SEND RESUMES TO:

Jeanie Phillips, Human Resource Manager 3541 Hargrave Dr. | Hebron, KY 41048

A rendering of what the new lobby could look like. Rendering provided | GenX Capital Partners

OCTOBER 9, 2026 11

sports Initial football RPI ratings released

County (31st) and Scott (37th). To close it out in Class 6A Simon Kenton (12th), Ryle (15th) and Campbell County (16th). These ratings are updated weekly and freeze once the regular season is over on Oct. 30. The first round of the KHSAA postseason begins on Nov. 6. Playoffs run all the way through November with the state championship games played in Lexington at Kroger Field on Dec. 4-5.

Beechwood High School is No. 1 in Class 2A of the initial RPI ratings released on Sept. 28, 2026. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association released the initial RPI ratings index for football on Sept. 28.

NKBBCA releases top 10 teams

Beechwood is ranked fourth, led by junior standout Dylan Topmiller, who garnered Division I attention in the offseason and picked up his first Division I offer recently from Eastern Illinois. Fifth is Highlands, the Bluebirds graduated a lot with eight seniors departed, but have a promising group of underclassmen led by Amil Wimzie. From there, rank six to 10, in order, is Simon Kenton, Campbell County, Dixie Heights, Conner and Lloyd Memorial. The KHSAA basketball season officially begins Oct. 15 with the first regular season games slated for Nov. 30.

Conner girls, 10 NKY individuals qualify for state golf tournament

By the end of the regular season, this tells us who will be playing at home for the majority of November and who will be hitting the bus and taking to the road for the postseason. Once the KHSAA playoffs reach the third round, the brackets are reseeded using RPI. RPI is a ranking system used to measure team’s strength not based on just the team’s record, but the team’s strength of schedule and also the team’s opponents on their schedule. It helps split teams based on both how they perform during the season and how difficult their schedule has been. This means beating strong teams can help a teams’ RPI while even losing to strong teams can also not hurt teams RPI as much. During the playoffs, the KHSAA uses these RPI rankings to determine which remaining teams receive home field advantage once the playoffs reach the re-seeding round which is the third round for Districts 1-4 in each respective class and in the semifinals, regardless of District across the state. For NKY teams, starting in Class 1A: Dayton (6th), Holy Cross (12th), Bishop Brossart (13th), Ludlow (16th), Newport Central Catholic (19th), Newport (21st), Bellevue (24th). Class 2A has Beechwood at the top with Walton-Verona (13th) and St. Henry (20th). In 3A Lloyd Memorial is fourth. Class 4A consists of the blue bloods’ Highlands (4th) and Covington Catholic (6th). Class 5A, leading the way is Cooper (9th), Dixie Heights (27th), Conner (30th), Boone

The LINK nky Team of the Week for Sept. 14-20 presented by Ortho Cincy is the Cooper girls soccer team.

12 OCTOBER 9, 2026

trip to Bowling Green, finishing 14th with an 82. Dickson’s teammate Lacey Wilson also found her way to Bowling Green with an 85 and finished tied for 17th. The girls state tournament rounds are Oct. 9-10 at Bowling Green Country Club. The participants got a practice round on Oct. 8. No NKY boys golf teams advanced to the final rounds of the state tournament in Bowling Green, but six individuals did during the first round of play at Kenton County’s Willows Course on Sept. 28.

Covington Catholic High School and Braeden Myrick hold the top spot in the NKBBCA preseason poll. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

The Northern Kentucky Boys Basketball Coaches Association have released their top 10 teams in Northern Kentucky. They are voted on by coaches in the association with the top 10 players in NKY to be released soon. The 9th Region reigning champ Covington Catholic opens at the top. The Colonels lose three of their starting five, but have CalState Fullerton commit Braeden Myrick back with Ben Brown joining him in the backcourt after transferring from Scott. Newport follows in second as three transfers are expected to join the Wildcats this season. Griffin Starks returns from prep school in Florida, recently committing to North Alabama. He’ll be joined by transfers Jayden Wilkins and Ben McKinney, who also come from prep school with returnee Amontae Lowe leading the team at point guard. Ryle is at No. 3, the Raiders coming off a runner-up finish in the region and return three of their starting five highlighted by Holden Smith, Grace Nsuti and Blake Broz.

COOPER GIRLS SOCCER