LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 4, Issue 2 - November 28, 2025

KENTON

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2 — NOVEMBER 28, 2025

THE VOICE OF NKY

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Tuition-free program reopens doors for NKY students with college dreams

By Haley Parnell

G

rowing up, Chris Cannon said he always thought college would be out of the realm of possibilities for him.

In fact, Cannon was on the trajectory of going to trade school and becoming a welder before he was introduced to the River City Promise program between Gateway Community & Technical College and Northern Kentucky University. That’s when Cannon realized he wanted to be an athletic trainer, and better yet, the program would make that possible.

“It’s one of those things where I mean, a complete life-changing opportunity,” Cannon said.

The two universities announced on Nov. 17 that they are reinstituting the River City Promise program, offering free tuition and benefits for Pell-eligible high school students from participating districts in NorthContinues on page 3

Chris Cannon (middle) in a class at NKU. Photo provided | Chris Cannon

Covington man behind ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town’ also wrote Nat King Cole’s baseball anthem

By Marc Hardin

T

he holiday season is upon us. Local radio stations are already playing Christmas music. The area has seen its first snowfall, not long after the conclusion of one of the greatest World Series ever played. Seems like a good time to talk about Haven Gillespie.

Yes, that Haven Gillespie, the Covington-born lyricist behind “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town,” the holiday juggernaut recorded by everyone from Bing Crosby to Bruce Springsteen, the Jackson 5 and Justin Bieber.

Covington-born Haven Gillespie. Photo provided

Before Gillespie became the unlikely bard of a Santa surveillance state, the man who gave us the line, “He sees you when you’re

sleeping, he knows when you’re awake,” was a printer. He was also a journalist, a recovering alcoholic and the co-writer of a baseball song performed by none other than the legendary Nat King Cole, one of the most iconic voices in American music.

Let’s rewind.

Born one of nine disadvantaged children in 1888 in a basement apartment on Third Street between Madison Avenue and Washington Street, James Lamont Gillespie quit school before the seventh grade to help support his family. At heart, he was a writer. He worked as a typesetter at Cincinnati newspapers, then moved to New York to try his hand at journalism. He wrote for the New York Times.

But it was Tin Pan Alley that called to Gilles-

How one family’s ‘lousy’ hike in the woods sparked a relatable brand p6 Check out Covington’s colorful boutique for creative gifts p7 NKY On Tap: Herb & Thelma’s a beer and burger tradition p11

Continues on page 5

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2 NOVEMBER 28, 2025

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ern Kentucky. The same program that Cannon was introduced to in 2019, when he was still at Ludlow Independent Schools.

The Federal Pell Grant is a needs-based financial aid program provided by the U.S. Department of Education to help low-income students pay for college.

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Initially launched in 2020, the River City Promise program allows qualifying students to complete an associate degree at Gateway with free tuition before transferring to NKU. Currently, six Northern Kentucky school districts are participating in the program: Bellevue, Dayton, Holmes, Lloyd, Ludlow and Newport.

“The River City Promise program is vital in strengthening our region’s workforce by meeting our region’s youth where they are and lifting them up to reach their goals,” said NKU President Cady Short-Thompson.

“This partnership with Gateway will create opportunities for the future generations of Northern Kentucky, and we at NKU couldn’t be prouder to support these students on their journey to higher education.”

Cannon said he had a “crisis” moment when he was in his welding internship and realized it wasn’t what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

“I wanted to just make money fast so I could help relieve the burden of myself for my parents,” he said.

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When he brought the idea up to his boss, Cannon said he was very supportive of him exploring another field. In fact, Cannon still works for the same company where he initially interned to become a welder while he goes through school.

Gateway then helped him apply to the River City Promise program.

“I applied, and they said, ‘OK, we’ll cover the rest,’” Cannon said. “I remember at that time, I was like, ‘What? You’ll cover the rest?

I don’t have to pay for anything else.’ I was honestly shocked at that point. I kind of realized at that moment my life changed, my perspective shifted. I realized, oh, this

NKU and Gateway held a press conference on Nov. 17 to announce the relaunch of the program. Photo

by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

dream I had isn’t just a dream. It’s actually possible now. I can actually do this.”

Cannon earned his associate degree in applied science at Gateway and then transferred to NKU, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, also known as exercise science. Cannon is now enrolled in the university’s graduate program for athletic training.

Since 2021, more than two dozen students have participated in the River City Promise program, with nearly half going on to enroll as full-time students at NKU. The university maintains a 100% retention rate among students who choose to continue their education at NKU after completing the program.

ensure that the next generation of Northern Kentuckians has access to the education and skills our region needs to thrive,” said Fernando Figueroa, president of Gateway. “The River City Promise program opens doors for students who might not otherwise see college as an option, and it strengthens the workforce that will power our community’s future.”

In total, Cannon said he spent about $3,000 out of pocket for his bachelor’s degree.

“There are hundreds, if not thousands, of kids out there that would love to pursue either higher education or would love to at least be something more than going to a job they hate, because of a financial situation,” Cannon said. “It allows you to take that first step.”

“Gateway is proud to partner with NKU to

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NOVEMBER 28, 2025 3

Continued from page 1

pie as a composer and lyricist. Tin Pan Alley, a collective of music makers in New York City, dominated popular music beginning in the late 19th century. He adopted a new pen name: Haven Gillespie. By 1911, he

had a publishing contract and a growing catalog of sentimental and occasionally whimsical songs.

He wrote more than 1,000 of them. “You Go to My Head.” “That Lucky Old Sun.”

“Breezin’ Along with the Breeze” was sung

by Josephine Baker, the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture. And of course, the one that changed everything: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town.” Gillespie co-wrote it with J. Fred Coots. It was first performed by banjo player Harry Reser and His Orchestra to little fanfare. A cover version by George Hall and His Orchestra became a chart smash. The song eventually reached No. 1 on the sheet music charts.

According to “Drifting and Dreaming: The Story of Songwriter Haven Gillespie,” written by his nephew William Frist, Gillespie was grieving his brother Irwin’s death when his publisher asked him to write a children’s Christmas song. He wasn’t in the mood. But on the subway ride home, he scribbled lyrics on the back of an envelope.

“He was too heartsick to summon holiday cheer,” Frist writes. “But the words came anyway, simple, direct, and full of longing.”

“Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” debuted on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in New York City in 1934. It became an instant hit, selling 25,000 copies a day. Gillespie reportedly made millions of dollars in royalties off the song before his death in 1975.

The seasonal standard has turned out to be one of the most enduring and biggest-selling songs of all time with estimated earnings of $27 million, but it always reminded Gillespie of his brother’s death. The composition also earned Gillespie greater respect in the music industry, and it cemented his reputation as a master of melody and mood.

What it didn’t do was pigeonhole him. Because nearly 30 years later, Cole recorded a song co-written by Gillespie and Larry Shay that traded sleigh bells for baseball bats.

Sheet music for “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.” Photo provided

4 NOVEMBER 28, 2025

Baseball immortalized The song is called “Our Old Home Team.” It was released in 1963 on Cole’s album Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer. The album is a nostalgic romp through barbershop harmonies and turn-of-the-century Americana. “Our Old Home Team” opens with the crack of a bat and unfolds like a Norman Rockwell painting set to music: “Follow the crowd who bid up big and loud / For our old home team…”

It’s a short, spirited number, less than two minutes long, but it captures the communal joy of rooting for the home team. The band strikes up, the stands fill and the crowd roars as someone belts a home run “right over the fence.” It’s not subtle, and it’s not trying to be. It’s a love letter to the bleachers, the brass band and the buzz of a tied game in the bottom of the ninth.

The song is the only known, fully documented, entirely sports-themed tune in Gillespie’s vast catalog. And it couldn’t have had a better vehicle to deliver it to the listening public. Cole’s album reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200, signifying the cultural reach of “Our Old Home Team.”

Though they came from different worlds, Gillespie from the print shops of this area, Cole from the jazz clubs of Chicago, their artistic instincts converged on that album.

Cole’s decision to include “Our Old Home Team” was a stylistic fit and paid homage to Gillespie’s mastery of enduring American themes. In choosing Gillespie’s tune, Cole was honoring a fellow craftsman. And he was constructing a feeling, one rooted in memory and joy.

“That song is a hidden gem,” Covington historian Mary Ann Vance has said of “Our Old Home Team.” “It’s not just about baseball, it’s about community. Gillespie captured the spirit of small-town pride in a way that

still resonates.”

anthem that he brought to Christmas classics and torch songs.

Gillespie actually lived in Chicago for a short time. He returned to Covington, worked as a typesetter, and maintained membership in the International Typographical Union until his death. He began entertaining audiences at local vaudeville shows by performing songs he had written. One thing led to another, and Gillespie became a hit machine and a hot seller of sheet music.

Seasonal rituals Part of what makes Gillespie’s baseball song so delightful is that he wasn’t a dedicated sportswriter, despite being a journalist. He didn’t regularly cover games or trade in box scores. His lyrics usually leaned toward longing, not line drives. But “Our Old Home Team” proves he could channel the same emotional resonance into a baseball

Haven Gillespie historical marker in Covington.

Photo provided

“Our Old Home Team” never penetrated the singles charts. But it lives on in the grooves of that Cole album. It’s nestled between other nostalgic tunes like “After the Ball” and “There Is a Tavern in the Town.” In its own way, it’s just as enduring.

Because what is baseball if not a kind of seasonal ritual? A game of history and hope, of fathers and sons, of homecomings and heartbreak. Covington’s very own Gillespie understood that. He may not have written many sports songs, but he knew how to write about belonging. And that’s what “Our Old Home Team” is really about.

Gillespie also knew how to rally off the playing field. His own life was a study in comebacks. He battled alcoholism, lost his first wife and found sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. Gillespie moved to Hollywood, then Las Vegas. He remarried. He kept writing. When he died in 1975, Gillespie left behind a body of work that spanned six decades. He touched every corner of American music. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.

In 1988, the Kentucky Historical Society installed a highway marker at Third and Washington Streets in Covington to honor him. It stands as a reminder that one of the most beloved Christmas songs was written by a kid from Third Street. Gillespie never finished school yet somehow captured the spirit of the season. And, just once, the spirit of baseball. The Behringer-Crawford Mu-

Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer by Nat King Cole. Photo provided

seum in Devou Park has an original 1930s Decca record of “Our Old Home Team.”

“Who won the game? Did we win? What a game!

That’s our old home team.”

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So, as snow drifts in and families gather, and the radio croons about Christmas, take a moment to remember Haven Gillespie, not just the man who reminded us that cheerful Santa was keeping watch, but the one who also gave us a reason to cheer for sport.

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One NKY family’s ‘lousy’ hike in the woods sparked a relatable brand

By Haley Parnell

T

rekking through the muck of a creek in Red River Gorge was not then-6-year-old Gabe Pleiman’s idea of a good time. To make matters worse, the mile-and-a-half round-trip on the Sheltowee Trace trail was taking the Pleiman family half a day to complete because of the conditions.

The bottom line: Gabe was miserable, and he let it be known in the worst words his 6-year-old vocabulary could muster.

“It’s a beautiful hike,” said Gabe’s dad, Adam Pleiman. “It has these really tall pine trees.

It looks like you’re in the Pacific Northwest. There’s a creek that runs through the middle of it, and it’s just gorgeous. And the soundtrack was these ‘lousy hills’ and ‘stupid creeks.’”

That hike for the Fort Thomas family took place in 2020. Fast forward to the present day, and the Pleiman family has turned their son’s dismay for the great outdoors into a wearable brand named after one of Gabe’s infamous taglines: “Lousy Outdoors.”

The brand appeals to the reluctant adventurer with spirited phrases on t-shirts and hoodies like “Another Lousy Hike” and “Certified Trail Quitter.”

Gabe, who is now 11, joked that he knew a lot worse words now that he could have used.

“I think it’s fun, it’s just a chuckle, even if that’s the piece of it, it’s just to have a little bit of joy with the idea around it, something kind of funny,” said Gabe’s mom, Laura Pleiman.

The family of five goes on a fall trip every year and started to warn their friends to keep an ear out when Gabe started going uphill on their hike. That turned into friends gifting Gabe a shirt that said, “hiking is lousy,” which he wore on a trip to the Grand Canyon, where it got some attention from passersby.

The Pleiman family. Photo provided | Adam Pleiman

Fittingly, the family finally decided to buy the URL for Lousy Outdoors in the parking lot of Delicate Arch in Utah after a hike this past summer.

Although their middle child inspired the brand, everyone in the family is involved in the clothing designs and what phrases are approved, including the oldest, Oliver Pleiman, and the youngest, Lulu Pleiman.

“From the get-go, I wanted to have a brand that meant something, and not just sell, you know, trinkets that didn’t make sense,” Adam Pleiman said. “We spent a lot of time talking about strategy, mission and vision up front with the kids, to say, we’re not

making fun of hiking, we’re embracing it for the people who might not want to be out there all the time. It’s more of an inclusive thing to say, everyone’s welcome.”

Even though Gabe has created humor and the family has built an entire brand around it, one thing has not changed. “I still hate hikes,” he said.

Outdoors brand t-shirt on Gabe Pleiman. Photo provided | Adam Pleiman Title Sponsor

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Inside Handzy Shop + Studio: Covington’s colorful boutique for creative gifts

By Kenton Hornbeck

U

pon walking into Handzy Shop + Studio, customers are hit with waves of bright colors and eclectic products.

It’s part of the vibe co-owners Suzy Hinnefeld and Brittney Braemer wanted to curate in their space. As artists, the duo strives to curate an environment that reflects their creativity. The store is arranged in such a way that every corner feels intentional. The layout invites shoppers to wander, experiencing the shop as if it were an art installation.

“If you want a neutral thing, that’s fine, but it’s probably not here,” Braemer said.

“We really try to focus on what makes us Handzy. And I think that is the color, the energy, the vibrancy.”

Hinnefeld and Braemer founded Handzy in 2016 after graduating from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. While in college, the pair became fast friends through their shared love of graphic design. The friendship blossomed into visions of opening a boutique together.

“We always joked about doing our own thing, especially toward the end of school, when you’re burnt out from what you’re doing,” Hinnefeld said. “What if we just opened a cute shop? So we would definitely daydream about that, and then, we just made it happen.”

Their first store was located along West Pike Street, with the pair eventually outgrowing the space. In 2020, they moved into their current store at 421 W. Sixth St. inside the former John R. Green building.

The name Handzy was inspired by reading celebrity gossip news about Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner getting handsy, something the pair committed to after compromising on switching the ‘s’ to ‘z’ as a differentiator.

Suzy Hinnefeld (L) and Brittney Braemer (R), the co-founders of Handzy Shop + Studio. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

Handzy offers exclusive, design-oriented products, including apparel, stationery, cookbooks and niche gifts such as chicken boot earrings. Hinnefeld mentioned they focus on limited editions, usually six to 10 of each item, and seldom restock the same products, providing a new experience for repeat buyers. The store primarily appeals

Inside Handzy Shop + Studio in Covington’s Mainstrasse neighborhood. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

to women aged 30 through 50, many of whom purchase gifts for friends, children or themselves.

“I think that design background gives us an advantage as we’ve created this space,” Braemer said. “This is a place for creative people, and I think anybody can be creative.

You don’t have to be an artist or designer.”

Although both are from Cincinnati, the duo has made a home south of the Ohio River in Covington. Since opening in the city in 2016, Hinnefeld and Braemer have seen it evolve around them.

“This was a place that was affordable enough for us to give it a go,” Braemer said.

“It was really cheap. Covington is such a creative, gritty place for small businesses.”

In recent years, Handzy’s focus has shifted more toward engaging with the local community. Hinnefeld mentioned that they previously attempted to open other shops in Cincinnati, but it didn’t work out, so they decided to concentrate more on Covington.

Handzy now hosts workshops, seasonal craft fairs, and even runs a small coffee bar to give shoppers an additional reason to stay longer.

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NOVEMBER 28, 2025 7

kenton county briefs Easterseals provides tech tools for people with disabilities

vice in the first “Jurassic Park” movie – to aid in feeding.

Noah Halpin, one of the resource center’s clients, has limited control over his limbs, but he can use the movement of his head and ears to direct a tool that inputs commands into a variety of assistive devices, including one that he uses to communicate. He can even use it to tell jokes.

It is, admittedly, limited to the responses already contained in the program, but advances in technology have allowed for greater flexibility for people with disabilities than was previously possible.

Back from left to right: Charlotte Herald, Teddy Rose, Brandie Roberts, Julie Herrmann. Front: Noah Halpin. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

It’s just a matter of finding the right tool, said Speech-Language Pathologist Charlotte Herald.

November is Assistive Technology Awareness Month. What’s assistive technology?

LINK nky went down to the newly renovated Easterseals Redwood Assistive Technology Resource Center in Fort Mitchell late in October to find out.

“Giving Noah Halpin devices that are not set up the way that his is would not allow for him to communicate at all or not as well as he can with the one that he has,” Herald said. “So, I think it’s just finding the system that works… In the 2000s, we probably had very little technology that would suit a client like Noah.”

“We have just about any kind of assistive technology that you can think of,” said the center’s Administrative Assistant Brandie Roberts.

Assistive technology refers to specialized devices that help people with disabilities lead more functional and capable lives.

It includes a wide range of devices, from specialized chairs and mobility devices to braille printers to communications devices to specialized kitchen appliances, among other tech.

Easterseals Redwood’s Assistive Technology Center is one of five centers in the Kentucky Assistive Technology Services Network, which provides assistive technology resources to people in the commonwealth.

Anyone in Kentucky can visit Easterseals Redwood (in Northern Kentucky, there is another location in Florence) or another center in the network to experiment with different devices and even rent them to see if they’re worth purchasing. It also reutilizes donated items that are in good condition, such as wheelchairs.

One relatively new addition that Roberts touted was the smart kitchen devices, which include both internet-connected appliances and even a specialized robotic armature – think of the egg-handling de-

The Assistive Technology Resource Center is just one of the services Easterseals Redwood offers. It also provides early childhood education, therapy services, employment services and veterans services.

“I’ve been here about three years now, and Noah has been here throughout that whole time,” said Activity Specialist Teddy Rose, “We have a lot of participants who will transfer from the school age rooms up here down to our rooms downstairs. So Easterseals Redwood is something they’ll carry with them throughout their life.”

Charges dismissed against CityBeat journalist arrested on Roebling Misdemeanor charges against Madeline Fening were dismissed on Nov. 12, according to court documents, after she admitted the police had probable cause to arrest her.

Fening, an investigative reporter with Cincinnati CityBeat who was arrested during a chaotic clash with police on the Roebling Bridge in July, had a trial scheduled for January. Kenton County prosecutors had previously made a similar offer to drop the charges in exchange for admitting proba-

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Body camera footage from a July protest on the Roebling Suspension Bridge. Photo provided | Covington Police Department

ble cause, but Fening had declined the initial offers.

“I was just doing my job,” said Fening in an ACLU press release. ACLU lawyers defended Fening in court. “I am relieved this is over, and grateful to everyone who stood with me. I look forward to publishing my full account of what transpired that day on the Roebling Bridge.”

Fening and CityBeat intern Lucas Griffith were both arrested with 13 others during the encounter on the bridge and charged with felony rioting.

Their rioting charges were dropped at a hearing in July, but their misdemeanor charges were upheld.

Griffith’s trial occurred last month. A jury found him guilty of failure to disperse but not guilty of disorderly conduct, obstructing an emergency responder and obstructing a highway. He left the trial owing the court $219 in combined costs.

“We are pleased that our client has been fully exonerated,” said Bethany Baxter, staff attorney for the ACLU of Kentucky. “The press should not be punished simply for being present where the news is happening.”

Wenzel Distillery wins ‘Best American Rye Whiskey’ at national spirits competition Covington’s Wenzel Distillery has earned national recognition after its Rectifier’s Rye Batch 3 was named Best American Rye Whiskey at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, or SFWSC for short.

Rectifier’s Rye Batch 3, a nine-year-old rye bottled at 121.6 proof, competed against the world’s best American rye whiskeys for the top category award. The announcement was made at the SFWSC Awards Gala in

Bottles from Wenzel Distillery. Photo provided | Wenzel Distillery

San Francisco, where Wenzel’s rye whiskey was named the best in its category among hundreds of entries from both legendary distilleries and emerging craft producers.

“To be named Best American Rye Whiskey at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is beyond our wildest dreams,” co-founder of Wenzel Distillery, Austin Dunbar, said in a news release. “This recognition represents everything we believe in—the art of blending, the pursuit of perfection, and the resurrection of Covington’s distilling heritage.”

This latest accolade caps a strong year for Wenzel, which also earned a Double Gold medal for World’s Best Finished Bourbon and a Gold medal for its Barrel Proof Wheated Bourbon at the same competition.

Wenzel Distillery’s acclaimed Rectifier’s Rye Batch 3 can be purchased at its location at 412 Madison Ave. in Covington and in select stores across the region.

$4.1 million project will bring water service to unserved households A $4.1 million expansion project by the Northern Kentucky Water District, carried out in partnership with the Kenton County Fiscal Court, aims to expand water service access to 61 previously unserved households throughout Kenton County.

The project is set to begin this month.

“Every project we undertake is guided by our commitment to safe, sustainable water and the people we serve,” said Northern Kentucky Water District President/CEO

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kenton county briefs ceive $13,000 to support its Acompañando con Esperanza initiative, which expands mental health and emotional-wellness services for the Hispanic/Latino community across Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties.

Lindsey Rechtin in a press release. “This project is a clear example of that commitment in action.”

UpSpring, a Cincinnati-based organization serving children experiencing homelessness, will receive $5,000 to support its “After School Program” in NKY.

Officially called the Subdistrict O Water Main Extension Project, the extension is funded in part through federal emergency COVID dollars, which were disbursed to governments around the country to help make ends meet during the pandemic.

This program provides trauma-informed academic and social-emotional support for more than 100 students each year, helping them build resilience and confidence through personalized learning and enrichment activities.

More specifically, the funding comes from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority’s Cleaner Water Grants Program, a program through the state that directs federal funding to projects throughout the commonwealth.

“The 410 Giving Circle is a powerful example of collective philanthropy at work,” said President and CEO of Horizon Community Foundation Nancy Grayson. “By coming together to learn, discuss and vote on issues that matter most to our region, our members are directly shaping a stronger and more equitable Northern Kentucky.”

The project will add about four miles of new infrastructure to the water district’s network. Afterwards, the district will have laid over 800 miles of water infrastructure in Kenton County, bringing public water access to nearly everyone in the county.

The following roads will be affected by the extension project: • Alexander Road (Fiskburg Road to St. Mary’s Road) • Elliot Road (KY 17 to Pendleton County Line) • Fiskburg Road (Goshorn to Alexander Road) • Gene Street (Off Walton Nicholson Road) • Highwater Road (River Heights Lane to #1873) • Mann Road (Steep Creek to #11290) • Scenic Ridge Drive (Off Pelly Road) • Steep Creek (Ryland Country Club/KY 177 to #3704 at bridge) “This project brings clean, dependable water and stronger fire protection to more Kenton County families,” said Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann. “Kenton County made a substantial investment in this project because access to safe water is a vital piece of a healthy community.”

The district hopes to complete the project

by August of next year.

Nonprofits receive $18k in grants for NKY programs Two nonprofits focused on education and family well-being in Northern Kentucky were recently awarded a combined $18,000 in grants.

Horizon Community Foundation’s “The 410 Giving Circle” has announced the recipients of its 2025 grants, awarding a total of $18,000 to Esperanza Latino Center of NKY and UpSpring.

Esperanza Latino Center of NKY will re-

Founded in 2019, The 410 Giving Circle unites emerging and established philanthropic leaders to amplify their impact through collective giving.

Northern Kentucky Chamber seeks speakers for HR event

The U.S. ended production of the penny Nov. 12, abandoning the 1-cent coins that were embedded in American culture for more than 230 years but became nearly worthless.

When it was introduced in 1793, a penny could buy a biscuit, a candle or a piece of candy. Now most of them are cast aside to sit in jars or junk drawers, and each one costs nearly 4 cents to make.

“God bless America, and we’re going to save the taxpayers $56 million,” Treasurer Brandon Beach said at the US Mint in Philadelphia before hitting a button to strike the final penny. The coins were then carefully placed on a tray for journalists to see. The last few pennies were to be auctioned off.

Billions of pennies are still in circulation and will remain legal tender, but new ones will no longer be made.

The last U.S. coin to be discontinued was the half-cent in 1857, Beach said.

Most penny production ended over the summer, officials said. During the final pressing, workers at the mint stood quietly on the factory floor as if bidding farewell to an old friend. When the last coins emerged, the men and women broke into applause and cheered one another.

“It’s an emotional day,” said Clayton Crotty, who has worked at the mint for 15 years.

“But it’s not unexpected.”

President Donald Trump ordered the penny’s demise as costs climbed and the 1-cent valuation became virtually obsolete.

The NKY Chamber is looking for speakers for its upcoming DisruptHR Northern Kentucky event.

Graphic provided | NKY Chamber

“For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents,” Trump wrote in an online post in February. “This is so wasteful!”

Still, many Americans have a nostalgia for them, seeing pennies as lucky or fun to collect. And some retailers voiced concerns in recent weeks as supplies ran low and the end of production drew near. They said the phaseout was abrupt and came with no government guidance on how to handle transactions.

Some businesses rounded prices down to avoid shortchanging shoppers. Others pleaded with customers to bring exact change. The more creative among them gave out prizes, such as a free drink, in exchange for a pile of pennies.

“We have been advocating abolition of the penny for 30 years. But this is not the way we wanted it to go,” Jeff Lenard of the National Association of Convenience Stores said last month.

Proponents of eliminating the coin cited cost savings, speedier checkouts at cash registers and the fact that some countries have already eliminated their 1-cent coins.

Canada, for instance, stopped minting its penny in 2012.

Some banks began rationing supplies, a somewhat paradoxical result of the effort to address what many see as a glut of the coins. Over the last century, about half the coins made at mints in Philadelphia and Denver have been pennies.

But they cost far less to produce than the nickel, which costs nearly 14 cents to make.

The diminutive dime, by comparison, costs less than 6 cents to produce, and the quarter nearly 15 cents.

861 S Collier Blvd Essex S 104 Marco Island, FL for Rent

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is seeking speakers for its DisruptHR event scheduled for July 8, 2026 in Griffin Hall at Northern Kentucky University.

Put on in partnership with DisruptHR, the event hopes “to provoke new ways of thinking and spark fresh ideas in the HR field,” according to a press release from the Chamber.

“DisruptHR offers a dynamic platform to empower HR professionals and business leaders in our region to challenge the status quo and lead with impact,” said Nancy Spivey, vice president of talent strategies at the NKY Chamber, in the release. “By bringing this experience to our members and Northern Kentucky’s broader business community, we’re helping drive innovation and inspire new ways of thinking about talent and leadership.”

The event will feature 14 speakers, each of whom will have five minutes to speak on topics related to the HR sector. Speakers are limited to 20 slides per presentation.

Applications to speak are due Jan. 2, 2026.

Classifieds

A Northern Kentucky Water District fire hydrant.

Photo provided | Northern Kentucky Water District

The funding will provide bilingual trauma-informed staff training, enhanced wellness navigation, and resources to strengthen culturally responsive care for more than 500 individuals.

US Mint presses final pennies as production ends after more than 230 years

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NOVEMBER 28, 2025 9

MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

DIVISION III

DIVISION I

DIVISION I

CASE NO.: 14-CI-00203

CASE NO.: 25-CI-01002

CASE NO.: 22-CI-00010

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

ALBERT WEDEMEYER

VERSUS }

VERSUS}

VERSUS}

SCOTT D. MOODY

THOMAS CURTIS, ET AL.

LOUIS BRUNKEL, 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, DECEMBER 18, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered OCTOBER 23, 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, DECEMBER 18, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered OCTOBER 8, 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, DECEMBER 18, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, a onehalf interest in the following described property to-wit:

ADDRESS: 1797 WAVERLY DRIVE, FLORENCE, KY 41042

ADDRESS: 1104 AVON COURT, UNION, KENTUCKY 41091

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 062.00-36075.00

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 063.00-25042.00

ADDRESS: 1670 CHERRY BLOSSOM COURT HEBRON, KENTUCKY 41048

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $241,290.65

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $387,900.14

GROUP NO.: 4444

GROUP NO.: 4565

DIVISION I

CASE NO.: 25-CI-01193

CASE NO.: 25-CI-00258

PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC

NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING

VERSUS}

VERSUS}

MICHAEL FOSTER, ET AL.

UNKNOWN HEIRS, LEGATEES, DEVISEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND ASSIGNS AND THEIR SPOUSES, IF ANY, OF ANTHONY J. BECKER

ADDRESS: 40 RIO GRANDE CIRCLE, APT. 2, FLORENCE, KY 41042 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 062.00-02040.02 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $175,356.51 GROUP NO.: 3226

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $14,223.00 GROUP NO.: 4163

DIVISION III

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered NOVEMBER 12, 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, DECEMBER 18, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 035.00-04328.00

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered OCTOBER 7, 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, DECEMBER 18, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 117 SOUTH MAIN STREET, WALTON, KY 41094 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 078.04-13021.00

THE COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS PARTICULARLY SET OUT IN THE JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF SALE ENTERED IN THIS CASE. PLEASE NOTE - THE PURCHASER WILL ACQUIRE ONLY A ONE-HALF/JOINT INTEREST IN THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY, THAT BEING THE ONE-HALF INTEREST OF DEFENDANT, LOUIS BRUNKEL. THE REMAINING ONEHALF INTEREST BELONGS TO DEFENDANT, MEREDITH BRUNKEL, AND SHE WILL REMAIN A JOINT TENANT WITH PURCHASER. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED THIS SALE IS SUBJECT TO MORTGAGE AS FOLLOWS: THIS SALE IS SUBJECT TO THE MORTGAGE OF SELECT PORTFOLIO SERVICES, RECORDED ON APRIL 4, 2007 IN MORTGAGE BOOK M3119, PAGE 969, OF THE BOONE COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OWED TO SELECT PORTFOLIO SERVICES, AS OF DECEMBER 13, 2025, IS THE PRINCIPAL SUM OF $241,040.02, MORE OR LESS, PLUS INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES ALLOWED BY THE MORTGAGE AND THE PROMISSORY NOTE IT SECURES.

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $25,338.33 GROUP NO.: 51

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 2025 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 NOVEMBER 28, 2025

food

NKY on Tap: Herb and Thelma’s – a beer and burger institution

By Joey Schutzman

beers, it is also known to offer some throwbacks, such as Narragansett (any “Jaws” fans out there?) and all the macro domestics one can expect of a neighborhood joint.

Joey Schutzman is a Newport firefighter who loves Northern Kentucky’s culture, sense of place – and beer.

I

And speaking of macro domestics, I must regretfully admit to you now one of my countless shortcomings. I have, on occasion, allowed myself to be a little “holier-than-thou” when it comes to things I’m passionate about, beer very much amongst them. It is a loathsome quality and one that I assure you, I actively work to quell. And like most snobs, I don’t possess any particular wealth of knowledge qualifying me to hold such zealous opinions.

t’s no mystery why Herb and Thelma’s is a Northern Kentucky institution. A family-run small business, it’s a beautiful amalgamation of unassuming dive and community cornerstone, operating since 1939. And personally, it checks every single one of my boxes for “a killer spot to grab a beer.”

It’s a rare neighborhood gem, the cool spot, and you’re invited! The first-timer and the seasoned patron alike are greeted with the same hospitable familiarity as if they were coming over to a backyard get-together.

You bring the cash; they’ll provide the beer.

And I say cash because that is the only currency accepted at Herb and Thelma’s. But not to worry, there’s an ATM in the corner for the uninitiated, or for when you’re out and about and a friend invites you for an impromptu beer.

But before we get into the beer, I have to talk about the burgers. If authenticity had an aroma, it would be the scent of the burgers sizzling on the grill, permeating the entire bar, beckoning passersby to stop in and see what the enticing smell is all about.

Simply put, and without a single hint of hyperbole, a Herb and Thelma’s burger with a cold beer is the combination dreams are made of.

While I have not discovered a particular rhyme or reason to the rotating beer taps, Herb and Thelma’s regularly offers different selections of some seriously fabulous beer. Lately, I have been enjoying Weinstephaner’s festbier there, and on my last visit, it had Hofbräu’s doppelbock, Delica-

My best friend, Max, reminded me of this while we shared a beer together on a recent Saturday afternoon. I was allowing that inner cantankerous voice to speak for me, and he quickly humbled me with his signature sage as he quipped, “He, amongst us who has not crushed a Miller Lite, cast the first stone.” A good friend will always recognize when you’re acting too big for your britches and will kindly bring you back down to Earth.

The exterior of Herb and Thelma’s. Photo provided | Herb and Thelma’s on Facebook

tor, on tap. This was my first time trying it, and it did not disappoint.

I only recently discovered my affinity for doppelbocks within the last year, and for those, like me, who aren’t familiar, these beers are not to be trifled with. They punch high above their weight class with an ABV that’s usually 8% plus. My good friend Zach can attest to this, as he ended up calling for a ride home the other week after only two beers, responsibly leaving his car overnight.

Herb and Thelma’s have even featured a keg of my absolute favorite beer in the world, Schneider Weisse’s Tap 7 Original! For folks who have perused previous articles of mine, this is already common knowledge, but please know I will seize any opportunity to tell someone how much I love this beer. I’m not beyond going door to door in suit and tie asking, “do you have a moment to talk about my favorite beer makers George Schneider and Sons?”

So it doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a bottle of Budweiser or something a little more complex. Everyone is welcome here.

I once witnessed a group of regulars move spots and take it upon themselves to put several tables together to accommodate an incoming group of cyclists stopping by for a quick drink. That’s the culture here.

So come on in and hang out for a while. Do yourself a favor, and get down to Herb and Thelma’s for a great beer and the best burger of your life. And please, when you go, do me a favor and ask Ethan behind the bar to reorder Schneider Weiss and have it back on tap!

Besides a rotating cast of lovely German

Participants have the opportunity to win mortgage or rent for an entire year — up to $18,000!

Plus: One local winner in NKY will be chosen to receive a $250 grocery gift card!

NOVEMBER 28, 2025 11

sports KFCA names District Player, Lineman and Coach of the Year

Ryle’s Jacob Savage was named the Class 6A, District 6 Player of the Year by the KFCA. Photo provided | Jenny Quinn

The Kentucky Football Coaches Association, known as KFCA, has named the Player, Coach and Lineman of the Year for all 48 districts in KHSAA high school football.

They are voted on by KFCA members within each district to determine the winners.

For each of the six classes, Player of the Year, Linemen of the Year and Coach of the Year will be named during the state title games Dec. 5-6 at Kroger Field in Lexington. Mr. Football, Coach Haywood Lineman of the Year and Jimmie Reed Coach of the Year awards will be announced later in December.

Here are the award winners from the Northern Kentucky districts: Class 1A District 3 Player of the Year: Eddie Bivens, Newport Central Catholic Lineman of the Year: Will Sandfoss, Newport Central Catholic Coach of the Year: Stephen Lickert, Newport Central Catholic District 4 Player of the Year: Charles Oglesby, Holy Cross Lineman of the Year: Beckett Meersman, Bishop Brossart

Coach of the Year: Curt Spencer, Holy Cross

ford (Owen County).

Class 2A District 5 Player of the Year: Tyler Fryman, Beechwood Lineman of the Year: Lucas Tillery, Owen County Coach of the Year: Steve Tarter, Bracken County

Second Team Cole Bricking (Bishop Brossart), Isaac Abney (Henry County), Dustin Battaglia (Carroll County) and Ezekiel Mefford (Owen County)

Class 3A District 5 Player of the Year: Kaleb Evans, Lloyd Memorial Lineman of the Year: King Lee, Bourbon County Coach of the Year: Kyle Niederman, Lloyd Memorial Class 4A District 5 Player of the Year: Tayden Lorenzen, Highlands Lineman of the Year: Max Merz, Highlands Coach of the Year: Bob Sphire, Highlands Class 5A District 5 Player of the Year: Cam O’Hara, Cooper Lineman of the Year: Noah Reichel, Cooper Coach of the Year: Randy Borchers, Cooper Class 6A District 6 Player of the Year: Jacob Savage, Ryle Lineman of the Year: Bo Gay, Ryle Coach of the Year: Mike Engler, Ryle

All-Region golf teams announced 7TH REGION BOYS Player of the Year — Paxton McKelvey, Ryle Coach of the Year — Mark McKelvey, Ryle All-Region First Team Paxton McKelvey, Hayden Li and Thom-

Campbell County’s Talen Beane made the KGCA All-State second team. File photo | Ray Schaefer

as Leone (Ryle), Jack Woolwine (Dixie Heights), Parker Isaacs (St. Henry).

Second Team Chandler James and Jake Roscoe (Ryle), Joseph Mangine and Brady Pagnotto (Covington Catholic), Tyler Brandstetter (Villa Madonna).

GIRLS Player of the Year — Anika Okuda, Ryle Coach of the Year — Jumpei Okuda, Ryle All-Region First Team Anika Okuda and Elizabeth Dickson (Ryle), Maria Penarada (Notre Dame Academy), Kendal Raney (Conner) and Tatjana Andracenko (Dixie Heights).

Second Team Reese Anthony (St. Henry), Lacey Wilson and Morgan Poe (Ryle), Sofia Seals (Conner) and Teagan Kruer (Notre Dame Academy).

8th REGION BOYS Player of the Year — Talen Beane, Campbell County Coach of the Year — Logan Fields, Owen County All-Region First Team Talen Beane (Campbell County), Alex Race (Highlands), Evan Himmelsbach and Ben Fasser (Newport Central Catholic), Nicholas Bryan (Henry County) and Britton Staff-

GIRLS Player of the Year — Andie Baumann, Owen County Coach of the Year — David Wainscott, Owen County All-Region First Team Andie Baumann, Lucy Dunavent and Lexie Chappel (Owen County), Sarah Smith (Grant County) and Taylor Bruner (Pendleton County).

Second Team Ava Klips and Lucy Hardesty (Owen County), Lydia Young and Grace Davis (Gallatin County) and Braelynn Burgan (Grant County).

All-State Campbell County’s Talen Beane finished out his senior season as a second team AllState member.

Beane, who is committed to Northern Kentucky University, tallied 800 points in his senior campaign, one of the top 20 point-getters in the state and the 8th Region Player of the Year. The top 10 are first team All-State members, the next 10 making the second team. Beane finished 20th in the points standings.

Ryle’s Paxton McKelvey just missed out on the second team, the 7th Region champion and Player of the Year finishing with 765 points and in 22nd in the standings.

Ryle’s Anika Okuda, the 7th Region Player of the Year, also just missed out on the second team, finishing 21st with 775 points.

All-State cross country teams announced

THE WEEKLY COMIC

by Andrew Buchanan

Cooper’s Paul Van Laningham is a KTCCCA AllState selection. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

Class 3A BOYS Ethan Mann (Conner) and Paul Van Laningham (Cooper).

GIRLS Norah Barker (Notre Dame Academy) and Stella Carpenter (Ryle).

Class 2A BOYS Joe Mayer, Drew Kurtzner, John Nerswick and Jackson Germann (Covington Catholic).

12 NOVEMBER 28, 2025

sports Class A BOYS Gannon Parke (Beechwood), Adam Tarvin (Bishop Brossart), Sam Neuhaus and Logan Vaniglia (St. Henry), Brendan Ramdass and Alex Chadwick (Villa Madonna).

GIRLS Lily Parke and Nora Wilke (Beechwood), Callie Ochsner (Bishop Brossart), Molly Francis (St. Henry), Abigail Ford, Nina Tibbs, Alyssa Martin and Norie Barker (Villa Madonna).

NKU’s audit shows $3.3 million surplus

Region Players of the Year 8th Region — Jenna Kitchens, Simon Kenton 9th Region — Morgan Heater, Ryle 10th Region — Milyn Minor, Scott Coach of the Year 9th Region — Matt Long, Beechwood 10th Region — Andrea Sullivan, Scott *Note: The Northern Kentucky Coaches Banquet isn’t until Dec. 1. The list for the All-Conference teams won’t be released until then.

All-State soccer teams

KVCA All-State, Region Players of the Year honors sent out

NKU students. Photo provided | NKU

By Nathan Granger

N

orthern Kentucky University’s most recent financial audit showed a budget surplus of roughly $3.3 million in fiscal year 2025, about two and a half years after the university suffered a $24 million deficit.

Covington Catholic’s Tanner Robertson (8) was a first team All-State selection. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

Pandas senior Audrey Dyas (12) is a KVCA AllState first team selection. Photo provided | Jenny Quinn

KVCA All-State Team First Team Audrey Dyas and Grace Portwood (Notre Dame), Morgan Heater (Ryle), Jenna Kitchens (Simon Kenton), Milyn Minor (Scott), Charlotte Patton (Conner).

Second Team Isabel O’Brien (Beechwood), Callie Ritter (Bishop Brossart) and Kenadi Sieg (St. Henry) Honorable Mention Skylr Estep (Beechwood), Ryann Grigsby (Scott), Anna Hickey (Calvary Christian) and Teagan Kondik (Notre Dame)

BOYS First Team Miles Mullen (Simon Kenton), Max Runge (Bishop Brossart), Maddox Pemberton (Cooper), Tanner Robertson (Covington Catholic), Donovan Lameier and Trevor Bolte (Dixie Heights), Logan Thoss (St. Henry).

Second Team Luke Neltner (Bishop Brossart), Saleem Mayala (Boone County), Carlos Marquez (Campbell County), Dallas Marshall and Grady Noble (Conner), Lee Tucker (Dixie Heights), Brady Aubuchon (St. Henry).

GIRLS First team Izelee Kerns and Reagan Buchert (Conner), Sadie Yapp (Notre Dame), Kennedy Crowley (Campbell County), Kylie Smith (Bishop Brossart), Ella Smith (Simon Kenton) Second Team Reese Wilkens and Kaylee Mills (Highlands), Allison Tiemeier (Campbell County), Rachel Shewmaker and Maddie Broering (Bishop Brossart)

Additionally, said CFO Chris Calvert, the university sported $7.3 million in positive cash flow in fiscal year 2025.

“We had decreased over $60 million in cash flow from fiscal year ’20 through fiscal year ’24,” Calvert told the Board of Regents on Nov. 19. “So to begin to reverse that is another very significant accomplishment.”

Fiscal years run from July 1 to June 30. In June, the university passed a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026, at which time Calvert had predicted a positive cash flow for the end of the ’25 fiscal year. The completion of the university’s mandatory annual financial, which came back clean, bore out his predictions. The university had a $13 million deficit in 2024.

As part of the 2025-26 budget, the board approved a 3.9% undergraduate tuition increase for returning students, and Calvert’s report on the first quarter of the 2026 fiscal year, which ended Sept.

31, put net tuition revenue increases at about $10.25 million year over year.

Audited figures for the 2025 fiscal year put total actual revenues for the university at $217,551,527 and total actual expenses at $214,232,834.

In spite of the positive cash flow, both Calvert and Chief Strategic Enrollment Management Officer Ryan Padgett revealed a general decline in student enrollment, especially among graduate students. Calvert said the cash flow was actually about $1 million less than what he’d predicted.

Sponsored by

Lloyd Memorial’s football team won LINK nky Team of the Week honors for the week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1. Photo provided | Jenny Quinn

LLOYD MEMORIAL FOOTBALL

“Our final numbers ended up at 184 [students], or just a little over 1% down,” Padgett said.

Full-time enrollment among students

had also declined by roughly 1.4%, according to Padgett’s analysis. Retention (i.e., the rate at which students returned after their first year) and graduation rates, however, had increased. In fact, the university had broken a record for its graduation rate at 55.3%.

“We are very optimistic for where we’re heading for fall 2026,” Padgett said.

On the issue of attracting more graduate students, President Cady Short-Thompson recommended coordinating with businesses around the region that offer tuition remission as one site of recruitment.

“We really want to make our programs more clearly known to these organizations,” Short-Thompson said. “I just think there’s a lot of work to be done.”

She added that the university was planning on hiring a graduate education director to boost grad student recruitment.

Finally, Jenny Sand and Eric Gentry, two university liaisons who advocate for NKU in Frankfort, informed the board that they would be lobbying for greater allocations from the legislature in the upcoming session.

Public universities in commonwealth receive a base or general, as it’s also called, level of funding from the General Assembly, and “NKU receives the lowest percentage of general funding of all comprehensive universities,” said Sand.

Sand’s presentation indicated that revenue per student at NKU breaks out to roughly 65% from tuition and 35% from state funding.

“In comparison, you see, Morehead is quite different,” Sand said. “30% of their revenue comes from tuition, versus 70% coming from the general fund. Our hope is to bring that more into alignment with 50-50.”

This would require about $5 million from the state, Sand said.

Haley Parnell contributed reporting to this story.

NOVEMBER 28, 2025 13

real estate

Updated two-story with character in Edgewood Address: 25 Beech Drive, Edgewood Price: $349,900 Bedrooms: Four Bathrooms: Two Square footage: 2,040 School district: Kenton County County: Kenton Special features: This charming two-story home features nine-foot ceilings on both levels, picture-frame hardwood floors, crown molding, built-ins and a sun-filled solarium accessed through French doors.

The living room includes a gas fireplace and the kitchen offers stainless-steel appliances and a Dutch door. Outdoor spaces include a large deck and deep lot with mature trees. Additional features include a detached garage, newer HVAC and water heater and upgraded vinyl siding with insulated backing.

The exterior of this Edgewood home. Photos provided | Jason Asch with eXp Realty LLC

A look at this home’s living room.

A view of the back of this home.

Kentucky now allows for Public Notices to be published digitally on LINK nky’s website.

You can find public notices for the following organizations on our site at https://linkreader.column.us/search

PUBLC NOTICE The Kenton County Fiscal Court is seeking sealed proposals for the lease of Dell Laptop computers for the Kenton County Technology Services Department, located at 1840 Simon Kenton Way, Covington, Kentucky 41011. Bid documents are available on the Kenton County website at www.kentoncounty.org or may be obtained through Kenton County’s eProcurement portal located at https:// procurement.opengov.com/portal/kentoncounty. Bids must be submitted through the County’s eProcurement portal at https://procurement.opengov. com/portal/kentoncounty/projects/216183 and received no later than 10:00 am on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

KENTON COUNTY FISCAL COURT KRIS A. KNOCHELMANN, JUDGE/EXECUTIVE

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO GO TO OUR DIGITAL PUBLIC NOTICE PAGE

14 NOVEMBER 28, 2025

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SUDOKU

Edited Margie E.Crossword Burke Theby Weekly

Difficulty: Easy

5 6 9

6/25 - 10/12/25

9 1 2 7

7 8 3 6 5 9 6 4

3 9 8 6 5

7 2 8

1 3

Edited by Margie E. Burke

Copyright 2025 by The Puzzle Syndicate

HOW TO SOLVE:

Each row must contain the 3 9 numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and 8 each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

6 Answer to Previous Sudoku: 5 5 1 3 8 6 4 7 2 9

7 2

2 8 9 7 1 5 4 6 3 7 6 4 2 3 9 8 5 1 9 7 8 5 2 3 6 1 4 3 2 6 4 7 1 5 9 8 4 5 1 9 8 6 2 3 7 1 3 7 6 5 8 9 4 2 8 4 5 1 9 2 3 7 6 6 9 2 3 4 7 1 8 5

by Margie E. Burke

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ACROSS HOW TO SOLVE: 1 Baseball's Slam- 14 15 16 Each min' row Sammy must contain the 18 19 numbers 1 to 9;"Meet each column 5 NBC's the 17 must contain ____" the numbers 1 to 9; and 22 21 each of 3inbythe 3 boxes 20 must 10set Babe contain the numbers 1 to 9.

23 24 25 woods 14 Bearded flower 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 15 Flaxlike fiber Sudoku: Answer to Previous 16 Direction at sea 33 35 34 5 117 3Young 8 chaps 6 4 7 2 9 36 37 38 39 2 818 9Like7some 1 5 4 6 3 imaginations 41 42 7 620 4Shrub 2 with 3 9 8 405 1 46 44 45 9 7 8olivelike 5 2fruit3 6 43 1 4 48 49 3 222 6Gold 4Rush 7 mill 1 5 9 8 47 owner 53 54 55 56 4 523 1Computer 9 8 data 6 2 50 3 517 52 unit 59 58 1 324 7Bedtime 6 5request 8 9 57 4 2 61 62 8 426 5Give1it a9whirl2 3 60 7 6 28 Some IRS 64 65 6 9 2workers 3 4 7 1 63 8 5 33 Consequential Copyright 2025 by The Puzzle Syndicate 35 American relief org.

3 Adjacent 39 Swiss city on 51 Take it easy 36 Chilly attitude 4 Test, as ore the Rhine 52 Rights org.

37 Circled the sun 5 Keeps safe 42 Sounding like a 54 Walk to and fro 40 Goalie's gear 6 Rant and ____ mad cat 55 "Up in the Air" 41 Preparing a 7 "Nature" 44 Screen symbol actress needle essayist 45 Get there Kendrick 43 Cardiologists, 8 Title for Galahad 49 Like days gone 56 Calendar span et al.

9 Ticket type by 58 El ___ (Spanish 46 Poetic tribute 10 Omega-3, e.g.

50 Redding of soul hero) 47 "Green ___" 11 Stepped down 48 Long time, to a 12 "___ Only Just Brit Begun" Answers to Previous Crossword: 50 Man of many 13 At no time, in A C A I A G U E S E M I T words verse N E R V E D I V A B O R N 53 Reservoir's 19 Rudely terse B R I G H T E N E R A L A N outlet 21 No longer fresh N U R S I N G A N D R E I 57 Lab worker 25 After-class A D V I S E M E N T 59 Break bread aides C H I T I C E D W E A N 60 Archipelago part 26 Loses one's H O M E F R E E P A R R O T 61 Gill or Vaughn footing R U S T L E R I T O E S P 62 Bart's teacher 27 Go over R E L I E S H A N D L E R S 63 Poker game 29 Royal home S I M S Z E S T U S E S 64 Gardener's tool 30 Company that's C A N V A S S E R S 65 Within earshot "on your side" D R A G O O N C A T N I P 31 What's hot L I N E O F F I R E R I T E DOWN 32 Wetlands plant V E I L S U N I T A C E R 1 Fodder building 34 Without injury O R B I T L O S E B O D Y 2 Kind of hygiene 38 Lawyer's fee

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