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Did two Covington commissioners violate city ethics laws?
By Nathan Granger and Kenton Hornbeck
If you were at the meeting of the Covington Board of Commissioners in late November 2025, where the board voted to investigate the safety and financial risks of establishing a public common consumption area—or CCA, where residents could legally drink alcohol outside with some stipulations—you may have noticed something.
One commissioner, Tim Acri, recused himself from the vote because of what he said was “a potential conflict of interest.” What conflict of interest?
Acri and another commissioner, Shannon Smith, have become the subjects of questions from the public about potentially benefiting, either directly or indirectly, from setting up a drinking area in the Covington Central Business District. But how?
Tim Acri’s wife, Kara Acri, owns Scarlet Begonia’s Flower Truck, a mobile pop-up store that occasionally does business in
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NKY on Tap: Friday night Stammtisch at Fort Mitchell Public House
By Joe Schutzman
Joe Schutzman is a Newport firefighter who loves Northern Kentucky’s culture, sense of place—and beer. Find Joe’s previous columns and more on LINK nky.
As we head into the dog days of winter (what actually is the opposite of the dog days of summer? Would it be the doldrums of winter? The deep freeze of the season? Feel free to drop me a line if you have any thoughts) I find it particularly important to talk about good places to head when the weather turns cold and inhospitable. It’s the time of year after the hustle and bustle of the holidays has ended and we begin to settle in for the long haul through winter.
And so, this is exactly when having a “little
place you know to go” is most acutely felt. And it is also for that reason that I would like to talk about the idea of the “stammtisch.”
This is a German custom where patrons of a specific pub or beer establishment have a standing reservation at a specific table.
The frequency varies, but it’s most commonly weekly or monthly. The members of the stammtisch are usually close friends or members of a specific social group or club. They meet at the same time, same pub, same table and on the same day of the week. The pub will even place permanent signs on or near the table letting other guests know that this table is always unavailable during this set time.
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Covington Commissioner Tim Acri (right) in April 2025. Also pictured: Covington Commissioner James Toebbe. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky
Pork schnitzel over blistered beans and fried red potatoes, served with a cold glass of Warsteiner. Photo provided | Fort Mitchell Public House Instagram
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Continued from page 1 the proposed drinking area. Smith, on the other hand, owns Revival Vintage Bottle Shop and Bar, which has a brick-and-mortar location within the proposed zone. Both Kara Acri and Smith spoke out in favor of the area at a public forum on Oct. 21, 2025.
Since then, Tim Acri has willingly sought out an opinion from the Northern Kentucky Regional Ethics Enforcement Committee, according to documents LINK nky obtained through public records requests, in order to inform how he should act in any future legislation related to the CCA.
The documents reveal the nature of the potential ethics violations and how the officials have responded. So, what specific rules could they be breaking? And what happens next?
Drinking during business hours
The potential violation concerns the city’s pursuit of a common consumption area that includes part of Madison Avenue near Braxton Brewing and Agave & Rye.
The city officially designates this area as the Central Business District. The exact dimensions of the area has varied since it was first proposed, but the most recent proposal includes much of the area near City Hall. There are 134 businesses within that area, according to internal records from the city.
Tim Acri initially proposed the idea back in April, purportedly as a bulwark against the economic downturns that might afflict Covington businesses with the impending closure of the Fourth Street Bridge and closures related to the Brent Spence Corridor Project.
In July 2025, the commission held a first reading of an ordinance that would have established the area. However, on Aug. 12, 2025, the city commission zagged, deciding instead to table the ordinance after a business owner voiced opposition to the CCA at a meeting. At the time, Mayor Ron Washington said that postponing the vote would give the commission more time to consider the ordinance’s details. On Aug. 26, 2025, the commission voted to remove the ordinance from the city’s legislative agenda.
The city then hosted the public hearing in October 2025 to gather community input on the drinking area. Several Covington business owners and residents shared their opinions—both positive and negative. Attitudes among the commissioners were inconsistent, but Smith effusively ex-
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pressed her support for the measure over video teleconference.
“If this doesn’t work, I’m going to be the first person to cut it off because I’m going to be the first person that is sitting on the street adversely impacted by it,” said Smith in October, “and I’m willing to take that risk because I want to see if it works.”
Public records indicate that businesses and residents had previously begun reaching out to the commissioners, both in support of the initiative and against it, before the October hearing, but it wasn’t until after the hearing that the commissioners started getting contacted about the ethics concerns.
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Two West Sixth beers overlooking the Ohio River. Photo provided | West Sixth Brewery
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Covington has several ordinances aimed at preventing conflicts of interest between elected officials, city employees, their family members and their business interests. More specifically, as it relates to this case, it bars elected officials, like Tim Acri and Smith, their families and their businesses from directly financially benefiting from a vote or other “discretionary action.” Additionally, under Covington’s ethics code, the city is legally required to report suspected violations to the city’s ethics watchdog, in this case, the regional board.
Once the board receives a complaint, it has 30 days to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine if there are enough facts in support of the complaint. If it determines there is enough of a factual basis for the complaint, it then calls a hearing where it will weigh the evidence and level a decision.
City Solicitor Frank Schultz drafted a brief in early November 2025 informing the board of a possible violation, according to records, but Acri later sought out advice from former Mayor Joe Meyer on drafting his own letter, which he submitted to the Ethics Board in an email on Nov. 3.
Additionally, an anonymous business owner wrote LINK nky on Dec. 29, 2025, informing us they had submitted a complaint to the Ethics Board asking for an investigation into the matter. LINK nky has reached out to the Ethics Board to confirm it received the complaint.
Special treatment?
Records LINK nky obtained indicate that members of the public had contacted Commissioner Tim Downing with their concerns about Tim Acri in the days following the October hearing. Schultz drafted his letter shortly thereafter, and text messages in LINK nky’s records request show that Smith had begun communicating with people who had expressed concerns in early November.
Smith owns a law practice, in addition to Revival. Tim Acri, on the other hand, is a VP at O’Rourke Wrecking Company, which
is based out of Cincinnati. Kara Acri’s business, Scarlet Begonia’s Flower Truck, is a mobile business (operating out of a truck as its name implies) that sets up shop at various locations throughout the city, depending on the day. Scarlet Begonia’s has “popped up” about 30 times in the proposed CCA over the past six years, according to Tim Acri’s letter. Tim Acri does not appear as a co-owner or manager of Scarlet Begonia’s in business filings submitted to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office, with which every business in the commonwealth must register.
Smith’s business is the only business mentioned above that sells alcohol. In spite of this, much of the ink and correspondence in the records LINK nky obtained has focused on Tim Acri and his wife. When contacted, Acri declined to comment about the case while it was still pending; however, his actions in November indicate he may be preemptively recusing himself to avoid issues.
He did offer one tangential comment, however.
“I think the 2026 campaign season has started,” he said, declining to elaborate.
In his letter, Tim Acri argues that he is not in violation of the ethics ordinance for several key reasons: Scarlet Begonia’s doesn’t sell alcohol, it doesn’t operate in the evening when the drinking would most likely be in effect, there are no laws against the operations of flower trucks in the proposed area and “any benefit that might accrue to Scarlet Begonia’s is the same that’s avail-
able to any business that operates or will operate within the CCA.”
Smith did not attend the meeting in November, where the commission voted to do more research on the CCA, but text messages in LINK’s records suggest that she planned on recusing herself in the future. “I do not want this initiative to be tainted,” Smith wrote to a resident in November.
When contacted, Smith affirmed this.
“From the outset, I stated my intention to recuse myself from this vote,” Smith wrote to LINK nky. “While I have been advised that recusal is not required, I believe it is important to avoid even the appearance of impropriety where a reasonable perception of benefit could exist.”
LINK nky will report on this story as information becomes available.
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A map showing the proposed common consumption area, as of early October 2025. Map provided | The City of Covington
Covington Commissioner Shannon Smith. Photo provided | The City of Covington
And while the basic idea isn’t particularly different from the usual concept of a reservation, I can’t help but revel in the formalization of it. I’m enamored with the idea of a group of friends making the commitment to each other to hang out, catch up and drink a beer (or more!) on such a regular basis.
Perhaps you already have a stammtisch going. They are not unheard of in this area due to the significant cultural influence of German tradition, or perhaps, you already have something similar going on without even knowing you had one. My parents and aunts have kept a running stammtisch without even knowing what one was for years now.
On almost any given Friday night, you can find them at their usual table on the back wall at Fort Mitchell Public House. Public House offers a nice selection of draft beer, and it does one of my favorite things a bar can do, which is offer local rotating taps.
You can always find something there from local beer makers, Rhinegeist and MadTree. Its current Rhinegeist selection is its flagship IPA, “Truth.”
Now I must admit, I consider myself a creature of habit and a stubborn beer drinker, slow to branch out. As anyone who has read previous articles can tell, I usually stay in my lane of German-style lagers and wheat beers of all types.
However, despite this, I think “Truth” is a really nice gateway beer into the IPAs.
Eggs ‘N Issues: State of Northern Kentucky
It’s an IPA for those of us who don’t drink them. On the rare occasion when I’m craving something with a little more of a “hoppy punch” than your average pilsner, I go for “Truth.”
And Public House is a lovely place to drink a “Truth.” It has exactly what you’re looking for in a neighborhood pub, a lively single room with a deep, rich wood bar that wraps around the bartender and libations on three sides. It offers a really nice burger, good selection of sandwiches and some heartier dishes for those looking for a slightly more upscale dinner with their beer.
More importantly, Public House has a fantastic staff. You can most often find Andy working the door and welcoming you in and conducting the show. My parents and aunts not only keep the same table, time and day for their reservation but also always have the same fabulous server, Hannah. But I would be remiss by not saying that everyone I have interacted with on the staff there have been great over the years. It’s this feeling of being taken care of that keeps folks coming back.
I can’t say I’m a full member of my family’s
Friday-night stammtisch, but I’m proudly a part of the small rotating cast of support characters that occasionally appear at the table. So to Hannah and Andy and the rest of the lovely team at Fort Mitchell Public House, thank you for your hospitality and for always taking such great care of us. We will see you on Friday.
The Fort Mitchell Public House sign. Photo provided | Fort Mitchell Public House on Facebook
The Fort Mitchell Public House. Photo provided | Fort Mitchell Public House on Facebook
Six-ounce filet topped with crawfish in a bernaise sauce and served with grilled asparagus and wild rice pilaf. Photo provided | Fort Mitchell Public House on Facebook
Appetizer special—breaded eggplant served in marinara sauce and topped with shaved Parmesan. Photo provided | Fort Mitchell Public House on Facebook
A legacy that endures: Oakley Farris’ lasting impact on NKU
By Haley Parnell
Oakley Farris didn’t view his support of Northern Kentucky University as philanthropy; he saw it as an investment in people, opportunity and the future of Northern Kentucky.
Farris, a NKY philanthropist, made his first gift to NKU on Feb. 12, 1997. He continued to support the university until his death on Dec. 1, 2025, at age 101. Though both Farris and his late wife, Eva Farris, are no longer here, their lasting impact on NKU will endure for generations of students.
NKU Dean and Professor of Accounting at the Haile College of Business, Hassan HassabElnaby, said that he first met Farris when he began his role at NKU in 2019. From that initial meeting, HassabElnaby said Farris came across as a thoughtful, sharp and deeply engaging individual who cared profoundly about the region and, most importantly, about people.
“What stood out immediately was not only his business acumen, but his genuine curiosity and his belief in the transformative power of education,” HassabElnaby said.
Farris has multiple scholarships established at NKU. The Eva G. Farris Business Endowed Scholarship was established in 2001 and awards scholarships to approximately 100 students each year. The Eva G. Farris Informatics Endowed Scholarship, established in 2014, is awarded to approximately 20 students each year.
NKU Vice President of Advancement Eric Gentry said NKU is nearing 1,000 students who have benefited from both scholarships.
“The impact on the number of students’ lives that he and Eva have touched by these two scholarships is countless,” Gentry said. “These are both endowed scholarships, so these are going to exist in perpetuity. You’re talking about thousands and thousands of students that are going to be able to access an education because of their generosity.”
HassabElnaby said Farris supported initiatives at the Haile College of Business that integrate artificial intelligence with business education and intellectual property
commercialization. He said Farris had a forward-looking interest in artificial intelligence and its implications for the economy, national competitiveness and the future of work.
The scholarship Farris most recently established (for students pursuing a minor or research in AI) is named the Eva G. Farris and Oakley B. Farris scholarship.
“He often expressed concern that other nations might advance more rapidly in AI adoption and innovation, and he firmly believed that the United States needed to invest earlier and more intentionally in building AI awareness and talent,” HassabElnaby said. “In his view, that preparation should begin in the K–12 years and continue through higher education, particularly in business disciplines where AI is fundamentally reshaping decision making and value creation.”
HassabElnaby said these initiatives have already had a meaningful and lasting impact on students.
Farris’ support helped develop an AI-enabled learning platform to enhance the student learning experience and better prepare graduates for AI-driven workplaces. It also helped launch AI-focused pitch competitions at the Haile College of Business, where winning student teams receive scholarships to pursue studies that combine business and AI.
Shortly after HassabElnaby was named dean in 2019, he began working with Farris to create the Eva G. and Oakley Farris Leadership Academy, which launched in 2021. The academy is a cohort-based program designed to develop principled, thoughtful and community-minded leaders.
“What made Oakley truly special was that his support never stopped at financial contributions,” HassabElnaby said. “He attended every graduation ceremony and took a personal interest in the students’ capstone and graduation projects. He made it a point to spend time with graduates, listening to their stories, asking thoughtful questions and celebrating their achievements. He wanted to know who they were, where they came from and where they hoped to go.”
Gentry said that students who complete the leadership academy have a leg up because they aren’t just getting an education in the classroom but also outside it.
A feature of the academy that HassabElnaby said Farris strongly valued is its applied leadership project.
Through the project, student teams work on real-world challenges facing businesses, nonprofit organizations or community partners. Students are required to apply leadership concepts, analytical skills and ethical decision making to deliver practical, impactful solutions. In addition, the academy includes an annual mentorship program in which regional business leaders mentor students for an entire year.
After providing the initial gift that allowed the academy to launch, HassabElnaby said Farris continued to support the academy financially to ensure its growth, sustainability and long-term impact on students.
“Oakley took a personal interest in the academy and its students,” HassabElnaby said. “He regularly attended academy events, graduations and student project presentations, and he made time to engage directly with students to learn about their projects, experiences and aspirations.”
The Farris name is a strong presence on the NKU campus.
It is honored in locations such as:
• Eva G. Farris Special Collections (Steely Library)
• Eva G. Farris Reading Room (Steely Library)
• Eva G. and Oakley Farris Commons (Griffin Hall)
• The Oakley & Eva G. Farris Amphitheatre (Loch Norse/plaza)
• Eva G. Farris Auditorium (MEP)
• Eva G. Farris Virtual Executive Board Room (Business Academic Center)
• Eva G. and Oakley B. Farris Conference Room (HIC)
• Eva G. and Oakley B. Farris Rooftop Patio (HIC)
Farris told NKU Magazine in a 2023 interview that the couple’s contributions to secondary education stemmed from a desire to provide future generations with an experience he wasn’t able to have himself.
“My mom and dad were wonderful parents, but they had a third- and fifth-grade education,” Farris said in 2023. “As a young man, I never dreamed or even thought about going to university.”
Gentry said with NKU being the largest educator in the region, Farris did not view his contributions as philanthropy but as an investment in the region’s future. HassabElnaby said Farris was well aware that nearly 45% of NKU students are first-generation college students, and that mattered greatly to him.
“He believed education could be truly transformational for these students and their families, and he wanted to help create opportunities that would change lives and strengthen the region for generations,” he said.
Beyond NKU, the Farris family helped shape the cultural and economic vitality of NKY. Their philanthropic leadership supported public art, neighborhood revitalization, health care, education and cultural institutions across the region. The couple commissioned murals on the Roebling, helped remodel the Carnegie Center for the Arts and donated to Covington Latin School, among many other efforts.
“Oakley was an exceptional individual whose character was truly rare,” HassabElnaby said. “He carried a deep and genuine optimism, grounded in an unwavering belief in the goodness of people. He saw potential where others might not and consistently challenged those around him to become the best versions of themselves. He did so not out of expectation, but out of confidence in what they could achieve.”
The Oakley & Eva G. Farris Amphitheater at NKU. Photo provided | NKU
Local philanthropist Oakley Farris. Photo provided | NKU
The Eva G. and Oakley Farris Commons at NKU. Photo provided | NKU
More renovations approved for Kenton County Schools
By Nathan Granger
The Kenton County Schools Board of Education approved another round of renovation projects in the district on Jan. 5.
Specifically, the approvals were for construction at Taylor Mill Elementary School and Ryland Heights Elementary School, which altogether will cost the district about $29.9 million, according to district estimates.
“Primarily, what’s driving this project is our HVAC system,” said Chief Operating Officer Matt Rigg of the project at Taylor Mill. “It is aged out, and I know our costs have increased in keeping that system up and running. It’s a lot of our time from our maintenance team to keep that system operational, so this is a perfect time to go in and replace that system.”
The Taylor Mill project is very preliminary, and the board’s approval only focuses on early schematic design for the renovations. Although the HVAC work will be the brunt of the construction, other proposed improvements include upgrades to the bathrooms, classrooms and other parts of the building’s interior, as well as some tuck pointing improvements. The proposal also calls for a roof replacement.
Early estimates for the Taylor Mill Project put costs of construction at $15 million, not including fees, admin costs and room for contingency funding (i.e. extra money set aside in case some unexpected expense arises). Total cost projections, including all of that ancillary funding, put the project at about $18.1 million.
Rigg also informed the board that the district would be looking at possibly replacing the concrete seating in Taylor Mill’s gym with retractable bleachers, although they hadn’t come up with any, ahem, concrete plans yet.
Classifieds
“I’m advocating to get rid of it,” said Superintendent Henry Webb. “Those concrete barriers … they cause a safety issue. But whether they stay or whether they go, there will definitely be some items put in place to secure some safety of those concrete bleachers.”
“With the work in the classrooms,” asked Board President Jesica Jehn, “will we be displacing any classrooms?”
“We’re still under examination of how we’ll handle that, but it does not appear that we’re going to have to displace students from the classrooms,” Rigg said. “Just the way things work out, we might look into not needing to use the gym.”
The renovations do not call for any changes to parking or traffic circulation at Taylor Mill.
The project is slated to begin in the spring, and the district estimates the work to take between 16 and 18 months to complete.
The Ryland Heights approvals, on the other hand, were a continuation of approvals the board made in May 2025. The plans call for a roof replacement, HVAC upgrades, various interior renovations in the older parts of the building (which date as far back as 1960) and improvements to the building’s facade, sidewalks and signage.
District documents put the overall cost of
construction, not including fees, other admin costs and contingency funding, at $9.5 million. Total cost estimates put the project at about $11.8 million.
The Ryland Heights process is much farther along, having already gone through preliminary design approvals. The district hopes to send the project out to bid this month and complete the work by the end of the year.
“This one, I do know for sure that we will not be displacing students with the additional classrooms that we added,” Rigg said.
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The exterior of Taylor Mill Elementary School. Photo provided | Kenton County Schools District
kenton county briefs
Independence moves to raise fees for door-to-door salespeople
Independence has officially begun the process of changing its fee and application structure for door-to-door businesses operating in the city.
The move follows discussions that occurred in November 2025 after City Administrator Chris Moriconi and City Clerk Gina Rawe brought the issue to council, describing the city’s current structure as overly time consuming and costly.
“We were spending a lot of time on these solicitors’ licenses,” said Mayor Chris Reinersman at a council meeting on Jan. 5, “and the fees were not covering that time.”
Doing the necessary paperwork for a single operator isn’t onerous, but some companies will bring in teams of salespeople who need to become licensed. The current fee structure charges $50 for an initial application for a company, plus $25 for an individual license for each of the company’s agents. The changes call for a more uniform structure: $75 for each applicant across the board. Political and religious canvassers are exempt from fees.
The city council performed a first reading of an ordinance enshrining the changes on Jan. 5.
Larry Shelton officially announces run for Kenton County Sheriff
Larry Shelton, former police officer and current attorney, has officially announced his run for Kenton County Sheriff.
“I believe that law enforcement experience matters,” Shelton said in his announcement. “As a retired captain from the Kenton County Police and a licensed attorney, I bring a unique set of skills that qualify me to be your next sheriff.”
Shelton is one of two people who have filed to run for sheriff as of Jan. 5. The other is Jude Hehman, mayor of Fort Mitchell, who was recently appointed to serve out the remainder of the sheriff’s term, which con-
cludes at the end of 2026. Former Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn announced his retirement in December.
Korzenborn served as sheriff for 26 years, and Hehman began his tenure as the appointed sheriff on Jan. 1. Both Hehman and Shelton are running as Republicans.
Shelton tipped his hat to Korzenborn in his announcement, writing, “I wish him well as he embarks on the next chapter in his life.”
Shelton concluded his announcement by inviting Hehman to a series of debates about the position. Exact details on how these debates might occur were not included in the announcement.
Carmelo’s voted No. 2 best new restaurant in the U.S.
The results are in: USA Today readers voted Carmelo’s in Covington the second best new restaurant in the U.S.
The publication’s reader’s choice poll dubbed Carmelo’s second only to Koast in Wailea, Hawaii.
“Located in an 1850s office building in downtown Covington, Carmelo’s is an intimate and stylish dining venue focused on Italian American comfort cuisine,” reads Carmelo’s contest entry. “Carmelo’s is the first collaboration between owners Mitch Arens and Billy Grise, the latter of which named the restaurant for his Sicilian-born great grandfather.”
LINK nky sat down with Arens and Grise before the restaurant’s November 2024 opening, when Grise talked about growing up in an Italian eatery.
“I worked there,” Grise said. “It was also where I went before school started. It’s where I went after school started. I had a single mom, so that became my everyday daycare. I grew up in a restaurant.”
Arens and Grise knew each other for over 15 years when they worked together at Nada in Cincinnati. Arens said they became fast friends, trading ideas for different restaurant concepts. They envisioned opening their own restaurant one day, and Carmelo’s is the culmination of that dream.
Arens gave LINK a behind-the-scenes look at one of his favorite menu items, the eggplant parm.
The first time Arens ever had eggplant was when he was 8 or 9 years old, and his parents took him to F&N Steakhouse in Dayton. F&N closed in 2004 after operating for
75 years, and it was famous for its eggplant fries.
“So you would go in and get a big side of these eggplant fries, and they had the red sauce in the middle that you would dip it in,” said Arens. “And that was the first time I ever had eggplant, and I can still remember tasting it for the first time. It was something different, unique that I had never had before.”
When he started doing research and development for Carmelo’s eggplant parmesan, he said, “We wanted to do something different than the typical round circles.”
Fort Mitchell appoints Pohlgeers as new mayor
After Jude Hehman formally resigned from a seat he’d held for 11 years on Dec. 30, 2025, the city of Fort Mitchell appointed Greg Pohlgeers as the new mayor during the Fort Mitchell City Council special meeting.
Pohlgeers has served on Fort Mitchell City Council since 2017 and was unanimously appointed to succeed Hehman. He serves as president of the Planning and Development Services of Kenton County Council, representing the City of Fort Mitchell.
“I am deeply honored by the confidence the city council has placed in me and grateful for Mayor Hehman’s years of dedicated leadership,” Pohlgeers said in a press release. “Jude’s passion for Fort Mitchell has left a lasting impact, and I am committed to building on the strong foundation he helped create.”
Hehman was recently appointed as Kenton County Sheriff and has served the City of Fort Mitchell for more than two decades.
“This decision comes with heavy and mixed emotions,” Hehman said. “The City of Fort Mitchell has meant more to me than I can adequately put into words, and my lifelong love for this community made this a very difficult decision.”
Hehman was elected to Council at age 21 and spent 10 formative years on the legislative branch before returning to serve as mayor in 2014.
“Serving as mayor has been the most meaningful and impactful chapter of my professional life, and I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made together,” Hehman said.
BE NKY announces keynote speaker for organization’s annual forum
BE NKY Growth Partnership has unveiled the keynote speaker for its annual economic development forum.
Amy Holloway, founder and president of Aha!, an economic development consulting practice, will serve as the keynote speaker at the BE NKY Growth Partnership 2026 Annual Forum on Jan. 30 at Turfway Park in Florence.
Additionally, the forum will feature a panel of local CEOs and business leaders representing Northern Kentucky’s target industry sectors, including advanced manufacturing, information technology, life sciences and supply chain management.
The panel will be hosted by Kimberly Rossetti, vice president of economic development at BE NKY. She will lead a discussion analyzing trends that may influence future growth in target industries and explore how the region can position itself competitively. Panelists include Camco Chemical President and CEO Adrian Hothem, Gravity Diagnostics Chief of Lab Operations Nick Lyktey, Atlas Air Director of Organizational and Operational Training Leisa Spears Snyder and STEP CEO Ed Walton.
“Our team has a deep understanding and expertise in attracting companies and spurring new jobs in Northern Kentucky’s high-growth industry sectors,” BE NKY President and CEO Lee Crume said in a news release. “Building on this momentum with new data and projections in our target industries provides a roadmap for success as Northern Kentucky competes in the global marketplace for trade, investment and job creation.”
During the forum, BE NKY will also share its 2025 results and present its 2025 Build + Elevate growth awards to leaders from 15 companies that located or expanded operations in NKY last year.
This Kentucky General Assembly is going to be very different for the public
Things looked different for lawmakers and the public when the Kentucky General Assembly began its 2026 session on Jan. 6.
Because the Capitol is closed and vacated for a $300 million multi-year renovation, the House and Senate will meet in a temporary building that was constructed next to the Capitol Annex.
Other state offices, including the governor’s and Supreme Court’s, have been moved elsewhere in Frankfort.
A welcome mat at a door.
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
Former Fort Mitchell mayor Jude Hehman (left) and newly appointed mayor Greg Pohlgeers (right). Photo provided | City of Fort Mitchell
Kenton County Sheriff candidate Larry Shelton. Photo provided | Larry Shelton
The exterior of Carmelo’s on Madison Avenue in Covington. Photo provided | Carmelo’s on Facebook
Flyer for the BE NKY Growth Partnership annual economic development forum. Photo provided | BE NKY Growth Partnership
The temporary legislative chambers have no in-person accommodations for the public. Some open government advocates have raised concerns about the lack of public galleries, saying it could distance Kentuckians from the proceedings. However, Republican legislative leaders said building galleries would have been too costly an addition for a temporary structure.
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear voiced criticism of the lack of galleries in mid-December when asked about plans for an alternative rotunda space. In the Capitol, citizens and officials often gathered in the rotunda for rallies and other events.
The governor said the Capitol Education Center, a visitors center, had been “altered to try to create the largest meeting space possible” as an alternative to the rotunda. The center sits atop the parking structure next to the Capitol Annex.
“So, this meeting space will be close by, we believe will be safe, and is the best alternative that we have,” Beshear said.
As for the lack of galleries in the House and Senate chambers, Beshear said, “You could have put in bleachers. You could have put in just extra seating areas, simply by moving a wall back in some area, but that wasn’t included in their design.”
Also different this year, Beshear delivered his State of the Commonwealth Address on Jan. 7 at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort. The speech before a joint session of the House and Senate has traditionally been delivered in
“The main entrance of the temporary chambers is located next to the Rose Garden.”
Paving work was underway outside the legislature’s temporary quarters. This entrance faces the Capitol parking garage. The Capitol dome, under scaffolding, is also part of the Capitol renovation, July 18, 2025.
People with an LRC-issued badge can enter the Annex via the front doors or the tunnel that connects the annex to the parking garage, Wynn said. People with disabilities may use an ADA entrance at the rear, southeast corner of the Annex. On busy days, LRC may activate the front doors near the Floral Clock on the west end of the building.
“The General Assembly will continue to offer a constitutional page program, and the House will offer opportunities for students to participate in the legislative process through House Standing Committees,” Wynn said.
Full-time pages are high school students, typically juniors and seniors, who serve throughout the entire legislative session.
New addresses for constitutional officers
As for Kentucky’s other branches of government, the judicial and executive branches have also moved out of the Capitol during the renovation and to temporary offices in Frankfort.
the House chamber of the Capitol.
Who can enter temporary chambers?
Answering questions via email, Mike Wynn, spokesperson for the Legislative Research Commission, also known as LRC, said that legislators, legislative staff and credentialed reporters will have access to the temporary chambers. Lobbyists will not.
Wynn added that a few Annex committee rooms—rooms 149, 154, 169 and 171—will be open to the public as viewing rooms while lawmakers are in session in the next building. The rooms will have live video feeds of the proceedings in the House and Senate.
“Anyone wishing to access the temporary chambers must enter through the Annex and use the walkway that connects the Annex to the temporary chambers,” Wynn said.
DIVISION I
CASE NO.: 24-CI-00750
KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VERSUS}
BETTE J. YOUNG, ET AL.
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered OCTOBER 15, 2024 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, FEBRUARY 5, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
ADDRESS: 28 KATHRYN AVENUE, FLORENCE, KY 41042
PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 061.13-22-021.00
AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $318,005.35
GROUP NO.: 1034
The temporary structure is connected to the Annex by a walkway. Security officers will be at each end of the walkway, inside the doors, Wynn said. Lawmakers have offices in the Annex.
Wynn told the Lantern that those wanting to reserve an Annex committee room for an event, like an advocacy group, should follow buildings on the LRC’s website. The Finance and Administration Cabinet will still oversee requests for events on the Capitol’s campus, he added.
Also missing from the 2026 session will be some student pages. The General Assembly will not host its day page program, Wynn said. Students from across the state participate in the program, visiting the Capitol and their lawmakers for a day while learning about the legislative process.
MASTER
COMMISSIONER’S SALE
BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
DIVISION III
CASE NO.: 25-CI-01772
LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC VERSUS}
JUSTINE PADDOCK, ET AL.
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered DECEMBER 10, 2025 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
ADDRESS: 6351 BRIARGATE DRIVE, BURLINGTON, KY 41005
PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 049.00-11-029.00
AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $263,370.72
GROUP NO.: 1327
The Kentucky Supreme Court is at 669 Chamberlin Ave. Additionally, the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office and the State Law Library are on Chamberlin Avenue.
Beshear and his staff are in the Old Governor’s Mansion and State Office Building on High Street in downtown Frankfort. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman’s office is at Berry Hill Mansion.
Republicans Attorney General Russell Coleman and Secretary of State Michael Adams are neighbors. The attorney general’s office is at 1024 Capital Center Drive, while the secretary’s office is at 1025 Capital Center Drive. The complete legal description is particularly set out in the Judgment and Order of Sale entered in this case.
DIVISION I
CASE NO.: 23-CI-00996
NORTHPOINTE BANK VERSUS}
GREGORY L. PETERSEN, ET AL.
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered DECEMBER 16, 2025 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
ADDRESS: 3434 MAPLE TREE LANE, ERLANGER, KY 41018
PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 071.00-04-032.00
AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $257,389.34
GROUP NO.: 637
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
statutes, laws, or regulations; and any facts which an inspection and accurate
All sales are “as is” and the Plaintiff, the Master
WEBSITE FOR ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTIONS.
Senate majority floor leader Max Wise speaks at a press conference held by the state senate majority leaders in their new temporary chambers on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Photo by David Stephenson | Kentucky Lantern
Car-centric behavior in Northern Kentucky: Can it be fixed?
Written by Eric Inda
When it comes to getting from A to B in Northern Kentucky, an overwhelming majority of people choose to get to their destination by car. This makes sense; we have three separate highways connecting in a 10-mile radius. The car is king in this region, as are many other places in the United States, where 87% of “daily trips take place in personal vehicles” across the nation according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Perhaps you’re included in this figure.
With so many cars on the roads, it presents an issue for our environment. Our air, land and water sources can face damage from the harmful emissions stemming from our motor vehicles every day. Reducing our carbon footprint through alternative transportation methods is a great example of trying to reduce this environmental concern. Biking, walking or taking public transport doesn’t just benefit the environment, but also one’s own physical health. Getting one car off the roads won’t make much of an overall impact, but convincing others to follow in your footsteps—should they take your advice and tell their friends, family and even local governments and corporations—can lead to a domino effect which may begin to make a dent in our environmental impact and travel behavior in NKY.
The impacts of our car-centric region and its effects on pollution can be felt from taking a look at environmental data from the Cincinnati area. Traffic congestion is a “serious cause of air pollution in Cincinnati” and is most prevalent in areas like Florence and Hebron’s commercial and industrial hubs, which generate a lot of traffic from nearby highways, commuting workers
and shoppers, along with areas near major highways like I-71/75, I-275 and I-471, and along the river in cities like Covington, Ludlow, Newport and Dayton according to a joint-study by Groundwork Ohio River Valley and Green Umbrella.
What makes a region meet the criteria of livability is subjective—it will differ from person to person. For me, an ideal livable area should be able to grant residents access to the essentials within approximately a 20-minute walk or 10-minute bike ride. These essentials being education, places of employment, healthcare centers, grocery stores and access to public transportation, such as a bus stop. By this definition, NKY is not a very “livable” region for those lacking a vehicle in many of our cities. In order to make these places more livable, it should be made easier to conveniently navigate to these places without use of a car. Walking and cycling should be a realistic and safe option and can be accomplished with additional sidewalks, bike lanes and multi-use paths separated from the main roads, helping people get around.
Many neighborhoods lack the facilities necessary to support walking or biking such as sidewalks or multi-use trails. Trails that exist may not see much foot or two-wheel traffic as it can be considerably longer to walk or bike to their destination rather than take the car. Walking may also be dangerous in some areas, especially along busier roads such as Burlington Pike, Orphanage Road or portions of Alexandria Pike featuring few or no sidewalks, biking lanes or opportunities to safely cross the street outside of populated areas. Public transport isn’t much better either as the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky has been cutting services over the last few years due to lack of funding or few people riding the bus. Should this problem continue to worsen, those who rely on public transport may find it much more difficult or even impossible to ride the bus to work, school or home. These current issues make it easy for the many towns dotted along our rivers and highways to maintain their “car-centric” status and stick to the status quo. After all, it’s much cheaper and easier to only worry about roads than to add on the burden of focusing on paths and bus lines.
For people who don’t make a lot of money, public transport, walking and biking may be the only way some know how to get around. We can look at the data of an area which makes hundreds of thousands of dollars on average and easily forget about those who don’t meet that threshold who still live or work in that area. Indian Hill in Cincinnati is a very wealthy village, but how can people living below the poverty line get around in that area if one lacks a car? With few paths, biking lanes or public transportation options, mobility in an area like this is a monumentally difficult task without a vehicle, which is why it’s important to consider the needs of the few, just as much as the needs of the many.
In order for there to be the mere potential of changing how Northern Kentuckians get around, it starts with making alternative transportation options more convenient and safer. An ideal solution would be implementing more sidewalks and multi-use pathways for cyclists and pedestrians to use, keeping them off the sides of our many busy pikes, reducing the risk of being struck by a motor vehicle as a result. These paths would have to go from residential areas to places of interest, such as schools, shopping areas, healthcare centers and places of employment. This infrastructure costs money, as do roads and bridges. The difference being governments are more comfortable with spending much more on car-based infrastructure compared to bike or walking infrastructure as a majority of Northern Kentuckians use cars to get to where they need to be.
A survey from a recent Boone County transportation study found 98% of those surveyed used a car as their most frequent “transportation mode.” It’s that demand for travel by car that has local news outlets
Construction on Charter Oak in Edgewood to begin by early 2027
By Helen McHenry
The City of Edgewood plans to begin widening Charter Oak Road in the first half of 2027, starting from the cul-de-sac and traveling north to meet recent renovations on Dudley Road by the end of 2028.
Edgewood City Council discussed plans to widen the road last month, just before the holiday. Consulting firm Verdantas, formerly CT Consultants, holds the contract for the project. Martin Hellman represented Verdantas at the meeting to present a three-phase construction plan for Charter Oak.
Verdantas recommends adding to the existing pavement, as opposed to tearing out the existing road to replace it.
“It’s going to save the city a lot of money,” Hellman said. He estimated the entire project will cost about $2.7 million.
Before construction can begin, Verdantas must finalize the design and coordinate any utility relocations with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
“It’s going to be about six to eight months on any [utility] pole that we have to move,” Hellman said. The Transportation Cabinet defines utilities to include electrical lines, energy pipelines and water mains located along the road.
Verdantas anticipates completing the design and utility coordination, which does not entail any physical construction, in 2026. Once that stage is complete, construction would then unfold along Charter Oak Road in three phases: the cul-desac to White Oak Drive in the first half of 2027, White Oak Drive to Hergott Drive in the second half of 2027 and then Hergott Drive to Dudley Road in the second half of 2028. Construction is not planned for the first half of 2028 to distribute project costs across three fiscal years.
Under the current design, Verdantas will add asphalt pavement as needed to widen Charter Oak before resurfacing the entire road with asphalt. Recent construction on Dudley Road followed a similar plan. Charter Oak will be a minimum of 24 feet from curb to curb at the project’s completion, according to Hellman. The road’s current width varies from 18 to 22 feet.
The exact designs, however, have not been finalized. The council plans to host an open house for residents to provide feedback before the final design is approved in the first half of 2026.
Council member Jeff Schreiver brought up one possible change when he proposed adding lighting along this stretch of Charter Oak.
“Between Turkeyfoot and Homestead, there’s no streetlights hardly at all,” Schreiver said. The council was split on the topic, with members such as Council Member Bridget Grady Spears concerned
about the impact this lighting might have on Charter Oak’s homeowners.
Schreiver also suggested flattening a hump which minimizes visibility between Beckridge and Timber Ridge Drives. Chief Administrative Officer Brian Dehner, however, anticipated this would significantly increase costs.
“When you lower a road or raise the road, you’re impacting all the sides, as well, because you’ve got to now meet that new elevation,” Dehner said.
A map showing the possible layout of the widening of Charter Oak in Edgewood. Map provided | Verdantas
Streets like Orphanage Road between Fort Mitchell and Fort Wright lack the necessary infrastructure to support the safe travel of pedestrians and cyclists. Photo provided | Google Maps
and governments focusing on the car-focused projects like the new Brent Spence companion bridge while neglecting any new pedestrian or cyclist infrastructure. It may have been thanks to the 20th century concept of the American suburbia that our “car culture” came to be, where people moved away from the mentioned “alternative” means of travel as was the norm in the pre-vehicle inner city days.
Investing in car infrastructure is less of a gamble than pedestrian or cyclist infrastructure because of this majority mindset. There’s no guarantee people would utilize paths that often, even if they ended up being convenient simply because of our dependence on the car. Spending $3.6 billion for the entire Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project makes sense then, as the region is heavily car-centric. Over 160,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day, proving our regional and national dependence on the personal vehicle. How many people walk and bike on our region’s busiest sidewalks for comparison? The demand may be significantly lower, but the costs to build paths are much less than roads, and it’s an option that must be taken more seriously by our local governments and organizations.
A study by Tri-State Trails found that new trails in our region have the potential of generating new revenue sources from increased tourism, connecting neighborhoods divided by overly car-friendly roads and highways, improving air quality by reducing car emissions and decreasing obesity and other disease rates, benefiting public health as a result. Another factor to consider why our region may be so car-centric is the weather. For many, it’s probably less pleasant to walk or bike in a 20 degree snowstorm versus 70 degrees with sunny skies. Unlike Los Angeles or other coastal cities, the weather in Cincinnati isn’t pleasant year-round. Why would people risk illness or injury to help the environment or save a few dollars by not pumping up on fuel or paying for parking? This could be another reason why most Northern Kentuckians likely prefer the car, especially around this time of year.
Paths remain important for people without a vehicle, for those who wish to make a positive environmental impact, or for folks wanting to stay healthy by using their legs to get around, not for sitting down behind the wheel. I prefer to walk to my nearest bus stop and take the bus to avoid paying for parking passes and gas, which are some of the downsides of using a car to get around everywhere. In some places near my home, there’s no sidewalks, and those lack of sidewalks led me to getting hurt once from a bad slip on the muddy grass as I was running home in a thunderstorm. It’s likely I wouldn’t have had such an accident if there were more pedestrian-friendly facilities near where I live.
An increase in public transit options such as buses is another way people can challenge NKY’s car-centric attitudes while also reducing our carbon footprint impacts. Out of the almost 300 people polled by Boone County’s government on which mode of transport they most often used, nobody selected public transit as their primary means of getting around. 15% noted they “rarely” used public transit, while 83% said they never do. Many of the bus routes that do exist are infrequent and arrive once an hour, adding an extra layer of inconvenience to
those wishing or needing to take the bus. Cutting TANK routes in areas where there is a need for alternative transportation options makes the region more dependent on the car, when there should be a desire by local governments to move away from the personal steering wheel by providing additional funding to organizations like TANK to improve frequency and expand service to towns like Union, Burlington, Independence and other NKY places lacking convenient public transport service.
Improving accessibility to public transit can make more people comfortable with choosing to ride the bus. Many bus stops in NKY lack the basic facilities many would likely expect while waiting for the bus, such as a bench or shelter to wait under during inclement weather. These amenities don’t exist outside of some bus stops which see a lot of people boarding and exiting at that stop. Some bus stops can pose a genuine risk for people waiting at them, an example being a bus stop on the corner of Alexandria Pike and Low Gap Road for TANK’s route 25. At this stop, the bus sign is bolted to a stop sign next to a busy highway with no sidewalks or benches to wait on. People wanting to board the bus at this stop either have to sit on the highway guard rail, which can be uncomfortable, or stand on the service lane, which poses the risk of being hit by a car.
How can these alternative transit options be improved in NKY? It starts by word of mouth. Asking your friends, family and neighbors to consider other ways of getting to where they need to go is a good way to convince people to start walking, biking or taking the bus more often. Having people realize the economic benefits to alternative transport through saving money is so important in a time of financial uncertainty for many. We can’t and shouldn’t expect people to completely change their outlook on getting around, but we should have them ponder why stepping away from the car can be a good thing. We do not want people to walk 10 miles to go to work downtown, but walking 10 minutes to the store to help save fuel, money and the environment may be something to think about for the small cost of a few extra minutes to get there. The positives far outweigh the negatives, especially in terms of one’s own health and our environment as a whole, even if that is minimal in the grand scheme of things. Just getting one person to change their attitudes can get others to follow suit, especially if they find it beneficial.
If we want to make things easier and safer for our cyclist and pedestrian friends, reaching out to local government officials to express the importance of our cities not being so heavily reliant on the automobile may have them realize the other ways of spending our taxpayer dollars for transportation purposes, especially if enough people begin reaching out. Engaging in activism is another way of seeking a positive change in traversing the region. If there’s an area in your neighborhood that deserves more care for pedestrians and cyclists, starting a petition to see change and having residents sign it can have our cities think twice about just focusing on cars, and allow residents and visitors to enjoy other ways of getting around town. Perhaps writing an opinion piece in a local newspaper can get people talking!
I believe the overwhelming use of cars in
our region isn’t because people don’t want to walk or bike or ride the bus, but rather it’s the only realistic option for many based on where we live and where we need to commute to. Our main roads are often very wide and allow for fast and unrestricted travel between places by car. You’re more likely to see people walking down the sidewalks of Fort Mitchell along Dixie Highway where the speed limits are lower and traffic is more dense, making it generally safer for pedestrians and cyclists, versus the speedway that is Burlington Pike, where few paths and large driving lanes encourage drivers to put the pedal to the metal, giving pedestrians unneeded stress. Perhaps more of our neighbors would be less likely to get behind the wheel and consider other means of getting around if our roads were narrower or slower to support safer travel for those biking or walking.
Whether or not they’re often used, building new paths at least gives people another option and may help “fix” our car-centric behavior. We can’t expect many people to walk or bike down the side of our busy pikes if the alternative travel infrastructure isn’t
present to begin with, that’s a suicide mission for many. Where there are paths, many people may utilize them solely for getting their steps in, but what if we had that same mentality for getting to the closest bus stop if it’s a short distance?
NKY will never turn into a little Amsterdam, where cycling and walking is king, but the small investments we make today towards new and improved bike and walking paths can lead to major impacts down the road and may have people think twice about putting the key into ignition and consider the friendlier options of getting from point A to B, for themselves and the world around us.
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Independence defers to police to address parking concerns
By Nathan Granger
Independence Police Chief Brian Ferayorni and his department will furnish initial recommendations on amending the city’s parking regulations, especially as it relates to consistency and definitions within the city’s laws. The move came as a response to a resident, Dan Burgey, bringing his concerns about enforcement to the city late last year
Burgey is a volunteer with the Independence Citizens’ Police Academy alumni association and a member of the homeowners association maintenance committee in Independence’s Manor Hill neighborhood. He told the city council in November 2025 that he’d observed issues on city-owned streets in his neighborhood, which he argued met the city’s legal definition of a nuisance and which the HOA has no jurisdiction over.
Specifically, Burgey asked the council to amend the part of the city’s parking ordinance that states “it shall be unlawful for anyone to park in any one place any vehicle on any of the public ways or streets of the city for a period of seventy-two (72) hours or longer” by striking the “in any one place” phrasing, which he believed was too difficult to enforce.
Burgey also attended the meeting on Jan. 5, where the issue was discussed again.
Mayor Chris Reinersman pitched different avenues for shoring up regulations of parking. The council could form a special committee to recommend changes or the police could consider the current ordinances and make recommendations based on their knowledge of the issue.
Reinersman recommended starting with the police.
“Why don’t we start there?” Reinersman told the chief. “And if it ends up we have a list of several things that need full council input, rather than a couple of them” then the council could revisit the issue on the floor.
Ferayorni said he had looked at the city’s existing parking regulations and had found some inconsistencies.
“There’s a definition of abandoned vehicle a little later in the ordinances, but then some of these other ordinances kind of contradict that and tell you abandoned is anything over 72 hours,” Ferayorni said. “So, I think we should reevaluate some things and basically take a lot of these parking ordinances and do some revamp work to them, especially when it comes to definitions.”
No formal action was taken at the meeting, and the city council will likely revisit the issue in the coming months.
The sign leading into the Manor Hill subdivision in Independence. Photo provided | Google Maps
Four NKY girls teams in top 16 of first statewide media poll
The first statewide media prep basketball poll of the season was released on Jan. 6. The weekly poll that will run through the end of the regular season has been rebranded as the ‘Elite 16’ media poll, taking votes from 16 media members throughout the state with 16 teams ranked. The 16 regional members help give an equal representation of voters throughout the state.
In the initial poll, four Northern Kentucky girls teams showed up with Simon Kenton, the highest ranked at No. 5. Cooper followed at No. 6, Notre Dame Academy at No. 8 and Campbell County No. 13. Bishop Brossart, Ryle and Holy Cross just missed the top 16 as the 17th, 18th and 19th ranked teams. Highlands and St. Henry were also in the others receiving votes category, ranked 26th and tied for 30th, respectively.
The girls top five was Assumption, George Rogers Clark, Sacred Heart, Calloway County and Simon Kenton.
In the boys poll, Covington Catholic was the lone NKY team to show up in the top 16, ranked fourth. Holy Cross and Highlands were in a tie for 19th in the others receiving votes category.
The boys top five was Male, St. Xavier, Madison Central, CovCath and Daviess County.
Honaker returns home to coach
Campbell County football
After 23 years of coaching experience, Rick Honaker is coming home. Honaker was named head coach of the Campbell County football program on Jan. 5.
The hire marks a homecoming more than two decades in the making.
The 1999 Campbell County graduate makes a return back to the football program where his prep playing career began.
Honaker takes over the Camels after spending last season as head coach at Gallatin County, a 2-8 finisher. Gallatin County is regarded by some as one of the more challenging small-school football jobs in Kentucky.
Honaker envisions turning around Campbell County, reinstating the team as a football power and ending his coaching career there. But first things first. He has a familiar football program to rebuild from the ground up and it’s going to be a challenge.
The Camels, 3-8 in 2025, have not posted a winning season since 2018. They haven’t
won a playoff game since 2016.
Honaker brings 23 years of coaching experience across Kentucky, Ohio and Georgia, where he was an assistant of the year. He also has coached at the college level. His résumé includes roles as a head coach, assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator.
Honaker has assisted at Newport, Bishop Brossart, Ryle and New Hampstead High School in Savannah, Georgia, where he helped over 70 student athletes reach their dreams of playing college football. Before entering the head-coaching ranks, he built a reputation as a detail-driven teacher of the game. He carries a strong emphasis on player development and program culture.
Honaker has coached in high school state championship games. He has coached in the NCAA playoffs during stints at Heidelberg University and Thomas More University. He played collegiately. Honaker was the Saints’ starting fullback for the better part of four seasons after being recruited as a linebacker.
Honaker grew up playing youth football for the Campbell County Red Devils. He eventually starred on both sides of the ball as a 5-foot-8, 175-pound two-way standout for the Camels. He was a leading ball-carrier as a sophomore and junior. Honaker was an all-area linebacker as a senior, a twotime team captain and an all-conference honoree.
The move comes after former Campbell County head man Brian Weinrich announced that he is retiring from coaching. Weinrich had been the head coach of the Camels since 2021. In four seasons, he guided the team to a 12-32 record.
The Camels lose 10 seniors. They include the starting quarterback, top two rush-
THE WEEKLY COMIC by Andrew Buchanan
ers and three of the top four tacklers from the 2025 team. The Camels numbered 37 players and started the season 2-0. Among those expected back are leading receivers Cade Anthrop and Ayden Earls and top tackler Alex Riedinger.
Those three combined on six interceptions for the defense which gave up 39 points per game. The Camels averaged 21 points on offense.
Conner breaks 43-year drought with NKAC
title
The Conner boys wrestling team earned their first Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference championship in 43 years with the title on Dec. 27, 2025, at Campbell County.
Coach Zack Fisher’s grapplers captured the decisive win by putting nine wrestlers on the podium, including two weight-class champions and six runners-up. The Cougars amassed 208.5 points, outdistancing defending champion Ryle.
Senior Cordion Abernathy (19-2) and Keaton Dicken (21-2) were the Conner champs. Dicken won the 120-pound championship. Abernathy, who took last season off in part to concentrate on other sports, captured the 132-pound crown.
All 14 Conner wrestlers placed sixth or better Saturday. In addition to those making the podium, there were five others, including a pair of fourth-place finishers, one fifth-place finisher and two in sixth. That balance of talent and the Cougars’ secret sauce—uncommon togetherness—was too much for the rest of the pack.
Clayton Badida was runner-up at 126 pounds. His record is 18-4. The other Conner runners-up were seniors Zaq Abdi (113 pounds), Luke Peace (144) and Bryce Sizemore (heavyweight) and juniors Aydon Sawyer (150) and JoJo Hernandez (165).
Other weight-class winners were Ryle’s Bryant Brinkman (113), Highlands’ Parker Wilkens (106) and Kayson White (157), Ryle’s Luke Cornwell (138), Covington Catholic’s Keegan Bishop (175) and Antonio Rodriguez (190), and Simon Kenton’s Jaydan Rutherford (215). Repeat winners were Bryant Brinkman, Heisler, White, Cornwell and Bishop.
Conner also crowned a champion at the NKAC girls event, now in its third year. Cambri Parker won at 126 pounds. Highlands with 46 points won the team title by a point over Campbell County and Walton-Verona, who tied for second with 45 each. Those schools combined for seven of the 10 individual winners. Riley Booth at 100 pounds and Lorelai Manning at 132 won crowns for Highlands.
Simon Kenton debuted at No. 5 in the statewide media girls basketball poll. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
New Campbell County football coach Rick Honaker. Photo provided | Campbell County High School
Conner won its first NKAC wrestling title in 43 years. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00265 DIVISION 1
SPRINGHOUSE COUNCIL OF CO-OWNER, INC. VS.
ANGELA R. HUFF, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 12/22/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 1/27/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit:
206 Creekstone Court, Unit 7-C, Cold Spring, Kentucky 41076
Group No: 41192/E1
PIDN: 999-99-19-660.00
CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00689 DIVISION 2
MORTGAGE RESEARCH CENTER, LLC D/B/A VETERANS UNITED HOME LOANS, A MISSOURI LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION VS. CHRISTOPHER VANDERPOOL, ET AL. BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 12/15/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 1/27/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 5 South Rosewood Court, Alexandria, Kentucky 41001
Group No: 70304/W1
PIDN: 999-99-23-845.50
BIDDERS
JOSEPH F. GRIMME, MASTER COMMISSIONER 859-291-9075
COMMISSIONER’S SALE
CAMPBELL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
CASE NUMBER 25-CI-01097 DIVISION 1
NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING VS.
COLLIN BAYNUM, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 12/22/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 1/27/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit:
114 Main Avenue, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076
Group No: 30632/A1
PIDN: 999-99-21-668.00
CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00372
DIVISION 1
LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC VS.
MICHAEL J. TEDESCO, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 12/3/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 1/27/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 149 Breckenridge Drive, Alexandria, Kentucky 41001
Group No: 70385/C3
PIDN: 999-99-27-099.00
CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00672
DIVISION 1
OME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SEASONED CREDIT RISK TRANSFER TRUST, SERIES 2019-1 VS.
JEFFREY F. WEFER, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 12/22/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 1/27/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 2689 Uhl Road, Cold Spring, Kentucky 41076
Group No: 70321/A2 & A3 & Z
PIDN: 999-99-20-021.00
CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00412 DIVISION 1
NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING VS.
DAVID P. SLATER, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 12/10/2025 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.
To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 1/27/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 310 Eden Avenue, Bellevue, Kentucky 41073
Group No: 41559/A1 PIDN: 999-99-06-547.00
Updated Tudor in Fort Mitchell with flexible living spaces
Address: 51 Pleasant Ridge Ave., Fort Mitchell
Price: $484,900
Bedrooms: Three
Bathrooms: Two (plus one half-bath)
Square footage: 2,015
School district: Beechwood Independent
County: Kenton
Special features: This well-maintained Tudor in Fort Mitchell offers over 2,000 square feet of updated living space with classic architectural details, including hardwood floors, custom inlays and detailed moldings. The renovated kitchen features stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and connects to multiple main-level living areas, including formal living and dining rooms and a family room. The family room opens to a large deck overlooking a fenced, level yard with patio space. Additional features include a screened-in porch, an extended driveway and a two-car garage.
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LEGAL NOTICE
CAMPBELL COUNTY ECONOMIC PROGRESS AUTHORITY (CCEPA) MEETING DATES FOR 2026
The Campbell County Economic Progress Authority, Inc. (CCEPA), will conduct regularly scheduled meetings in 2026 beginning at 9:00am on the following dates:
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
All Meetings of the CCEPA will be held at the Campbell County Administration Building, Fiscal Court Chambers (1st Floor), at 1098 Monmouth Street, Newport, KY 41071.
The general public and/or those interested individuals are encouraged to attend and provide public input to the CCEPA.
CAMPBELL COUNTY ECONOMIC PROGRESS AUTHORITY.
FRED MACKE, CHAIRPERSON
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The exterior of this Fort Mitchell home. Photos provided | Kim Nachazel with Service Plus
A look at this home’s livingroom.
A view of this home’s kitchen.
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Edited by Margie E. Burke
Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9. 2 4 1
Answer to Previous Sudoku:
Edited by Margie E. Burke
Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
Answer to Previous Sudoku:
