Interact for Health

Continued from page 5 Campbell County’s economic development eventually shifted westward, away from the Ohio River toward Fort Thomas, Highland Heights, Cold Spring and Alexandria. This left small towns along Route 8, including Melbourne, Mentor, and Silver Grove, on an economic island of sorts. The importance of car travel adjacent to the Ohio River waned as US 27 became the main transport road in the county.

On June 30, 2019, Silver Grove’s highly respected police captain of 62 years, Chief John Sayers, decided to hang up his badge. After his retirement, the Silver Grove City Council decided to reevaluate the city’s police department.

Silver Grove entered negotiations with the Campbell County Police Department. The city council determined the CCPD could provide more policing coverage for significantly less than the current budget. The Silver Grove Police Department then dissolved and the CCPD staffed officers to police Silver Grove. In 1997, flooding forced residents to flee their homes. Water ravaged homes and buildings. It was the most consequential natural disaster in the city since the infamous flood of 1937.

The city has tried multiple routes to address flooding over the years.

“There is no ‘silver bullet answer’ for our flooding,” Pelle said.

For decades, Silver Grove’s Independent School District was one of the defining characteristics of the city. The school’s sports teams were aptly named “the Big Trains” in homage to the city’s railroad history. In many ways, the school district was the outward face of the community.

That changed in 2019, when the Silver Grove School Board voted to consolidate into the Campbell County School District.

“This city functioned around the school, Silver Grove Independent Schools, K through 12,” Pelle said. “Canteen Dances. Proms. Homecomings. Basketball games on Tuesdays & Fridays. Baseball games during the spring & early summer. Variety Shows. Senior Plays. Halloween Carnivals.”

Dwindling enrollment and poor academic performance ultimately doomed the school system.

“As long as there are people that know about that school, and can talk about that school, then the memories will stay alive,” Brown said. “There is going to come a day when there’s not going to be anybody who can do that. I have great memories of the place. My brother was in their largest graduating class ever.”

The consolidation has led to an unexpected development for Silver Grove as the taxpayers no longer have to prop up a school district. Coupled with plenty of affordable housing options, Silver Grove is becoming an attractive place for potential homeowners.

“By merging with Campbell County Schools, Mayor Neal Bedel, who is entering his 17th year in office, has continued to gameplan, in coordination with the city council, on how to continue to improve their city. More money in the annual budget allows the city council to dedicate more funds to improving infrastructure such as sidewalks and roadways.

“Our infrastructure and streets were in need of replacement and repair. We continue to replace our old blacktop streets with concrete while working with Sanitation District 1 and the water district to make improvements on their systems,” Bedel said. “There have been large upgrades made to our city park. We continue, as a council, to evaluate each year what we can do to make Silver Grove better than the year before. We are currently working on a couple projects that will make us more attractive to those seeking a place to call home.”

CertainTeed Gypsum Board Plant in the evening. Pelle’s Bar and Restaurant sitting along the Mary Ingles Highway. The Silver Grove Post Office in the evening.