LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 3, Edition 10 - January 31, 2025
Initiative helps restaurants through hard winter
By Nathan Granger
Anew initiative from several organizations aims to give local restaurants a boost – and give patrons a chance to win prizes.
Called DineNKY, the initiative runs through Feb. 14. Its aim is to soften the blow to local restaurants brought about by the combination of southbound I-471’s bridge closure and the usual late winter slowdown. Participants can enter to win prizes by patronizing local restaurants.
“Winter is always a tough time for restaurants, and Tuesdays can be especially challenging,” said Emily Badger, general manager of Covington restaurant Lisse Steakhuis, in a release. “People tend to spend more during the holidays, which leads to them cutting back in January and February. The cold weather doesn’t help, either. This year, we’re feeling the impact in Northern Kentucky more with people’s routes from the north impacted due to the bridge closure.”
DineNKY is the brainchild of several
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Local leaders denounce latest Klan flyers
By Nathan Granger
Editor’s note: LINK nky decided not to publish the flyer distributed in some Northern Kentucky neighborhoods in the LINK Reader. Go to tinyurl.com/yt3m5hur to view it.
The new year has brought fresh distributions of flyers and literature from the Trinity White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. The Klu Klux Klan splinter group was responsible for similar distributions last year.
Local leaders decried the views as outdated and hateful. “Their movement is dying,” Jerome Bowles, president of the Northern Kentucky NAACP, told LINK nky, adding that the distributions didn’t reflect the region or the progress it has made.
In an email from Imperial Wizard William
Bader sent directly to LINK nky, the Trinity White Knights claim to have distributed flyers in several NKY cities as well as neighborhoods in Cincinnati.
The new flyers, the distributions of which coincided with both Martin Luther King Jr. Day and inauguration day, seem to target immigrants: An image of Uncle Sam kicking what appears to be a family is centered between the words “Leave Now. Avoid Deportation.” President Donald Trump has said he would order the detention and deportation of immigrants that are in the country illegally.
The Ludlow Police Department has confirmed the distribution of flyers and is encouraging residents to make a police report if they feel harassed. The department called the flyers “disturbing and disgusting propaganda.” Kenton County Dispatch also
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Opening day at West Sixth Brewing’s Covington Haus. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky
A news release from Fort Wright Mayor Dave Hatter. Provided | City of Fort Wright
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business advocacy groups, including the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, meetNKY (the region’s tourism bureau) and the local business councils of several river cities, including Covington, Fort Thomas and Newport.
“So the idea is to patronize your favorite restaurant on Tuesdays through mid-February,” said Pat Frew, executive director of the Covington Business Council, at a meeting Jan. 18 of the Kenton County Mayors Group. “That’s one of the leanest seasons for our restaurants and bars.”
Diners can take part by eating or ordering drinks at a locally owned bar or restaurant through Feb. 14. Customers then must snap a photo or record a short video of their visit, tag the establishment and share it on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #DineNKY.
Participants will then be entered into a weekly random drawing for a chance to win a $50 gift card to a Northern Kentucky bar or restaurant. At the conclusion of the campaign, participants will also be entered into a grand prize drawing for $300 worth of gift cards to a variety of local bars and restaurants.
High-profile closures
The end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 have proved to be a tough time for Northern Kentucky restaurants, with several notable local eateries like Opal and Rich’s Proper closing permanently.
“I see every day a restaurant pleading for help,” said Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette at the mayors group meeting. Fette herself is the owner of Erlanger restaurant The Hive.
To be fair, despite the concerns, it’s not all doom and gloom. Covington Mayor Ron Washington pointed out that, even though two major restaurants have closed in Covington, two more have opened.
“We did have two high profile restaurants closing, but we also had two restaurants open with West Sixth Street Brewing in the
old Covington Haus building on Sixth and Washington, and also Galaxie in the 800 block of Madison,” Washington told the mayors group. “And why these two places are significant is both of these restaurants are founded in Lexington and Louisville. So, those entrepreneurs still found Covington to be a rich environment to do business.”
Next hurdle: Brent Spence
Still, the restaurant business can be unpredictable, and, with construction for the Brent Spence project on the horizon, the stress on local restaurants is likely to continue, said Tami Wilson, the NKY Chamber’s vice president of public affairs, at the mayors group meeting. Wilson encouraged the officials to persuade their constituents to support local restaurants during the downturn.
“We’re doing this because we’ve known that they’ve been struggling,” Wilson said.
“Once the Brent Spence Corridor Project really gets rolling, we know that especially our river city restaurants are going to be challenged with that.”
Frew encouraged people to dine out when they could, even if it wasn’t on Tuesday when business tends to be slow.
“If Tuesdays are not a good day for you, go another day,” Frew said.
These resources offer more information about the region’s dining options:
• LINK nky’s culture and restaurant coverage: linknky.com/category/culture/restaurants.
A sign, at left, advertises the opening day of West Sixth Brewing. Right: a dish from Galaxie. Both establishments recently opened in Covington. Photos provided.
Continued from page 1 has confirmed reports of flyers appearing in Fort Wright, and LINK nky has received reports from readers in Fort Mitchell, as well.
The Bellevue Police Department has likewise confirmed distributions in its city and reported them to the FBI. It’s asking residents with any information about the flyers or their distributors to contact the department.
“If you have any information regarding who may be disseminating these flyers, please reach out to the Bellevue Police Department at 859-261-1122,” the department said in its announcement.
Mayor Dave Hatter of Fort Wright said in a release that “council, staff and I are outraged and dismayed that this has occurred in our community. It is especially appalling that it happened on Dr. Martin Luther King Day.
“We strive to ensure that Fort Wright is a welcoming community and is a wonderful place to live, work and play for ALL.”
Crescent Springs Mayor Mike Daugherty posted on the city’s Facebook page about the flyers, calling their distribution “completely unacceptable.”
“As your Mayor, I want to assure you that the City Council, city staff, and I are outraged by this despicable act,” Daugherty wrote. “This is not just a matter for Crescent Springs; it is part of a larger problem affecting the Northern Kentucky community that we must confront together.”
Daugherty went on to say that the flyers do not reflect the beliefs of city council, city staff or himself. “Our commitment to inclusivity and kindness is what sets us apart, and we will not allow these flyers to undermine our values,” he said.
The Villa Hills Police Department, Daugherty said in the post, is in contact with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security regarding the issue.
“We take it very seriously and will take legal action against anyone found responsible for spreading this hate,” Daugherty said.
To report a flyer distribution to LINK nky, send an email to news@linknky.com.
Crescent Springs Mayor Mike Daugherty posted on the city’s Facebook page about the flyers, calling their distribution “completely unacceptable.” Provided | Crescent Springs Facebook page
The Ludlow Police Department spoke out against the flyers in a Facebook post. Provided | Ludlow Police Facebook page
By Nathan Granger
Covington firefighter charged with solicitation Covington government transition committee members revealed
Boone County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Covington Firefighter Tyler Cherry and charged him with solicitation of prostitution, possession of marijuana and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
The charges come after Cherry responded to what appeared to be an online ad for solicitation that actually was posted by Boone County’s Crime Suppression Unit.
Deputies arrested Cherry, who lives in Independence, around 9:15 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Merchants Street in Florence, according to the arrest report.
Upon responding to the ad, Cherry traveled to the hotel, carrying “$150 in U.S. currency on his person, which is commonly the amount charged for half an hour of sexual services,” the police report states, even though Cherry and the undercover police officers behind the sting had not agreed to a price. The report states that Cherry drove around the parking lot twice before parking and entering the building.
“When the listed subject came into contact with law enforcement,” the report reads, “he had a very strong odor of alcohol emitting from his person, was unsteady on his feet and had bloodshot eyes. During the search of the listed subject deputies located a THC marijuana
electronic cigarette.”
Cherry refused all sobriety tests and complained about pain in his chest before being transported to St. Elizabeth Medical Center for further testing.
Cherry formerly served as the secretary and treasurer for Covington’s fire union, Covington Professional Firefighters Local 38, and is currently a captain and paramedic with Covington Fire Department.
He’s had run-ins with the law before, including a similar instance of soliciting prostitution in 2021, in which he responded to yet another dummy ad posted by Boone County’s Crime Suppression Unit. That case was virtually identical to the one this year: $150 in his pocket, heavy smell of alcohol, THC vape and a refusal to take a sobriety test, according to the police report.
In February of this year, he was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of substances, possession of open alcohol containers in a vehicle and several driving infractions after being pulled over – also by Boone County Sheriff’s deputies – for driving erratically, according to police reports. He was likewise charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence in 2000 in Campbell County, according to court records.
Cherry has been placed on paid leave, pending an internal investigation the city is carrying out in addition to the normal judicial investigation.
In a written statement from a city spokesperson, the city said, “while there are disciplinary procedures that the city must follow, residents can be sure that we take these accusations seriously and will address them with that in mind.”
Cherry’s arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 3. at the Boone County Justice Center in Burlington.
By staff report
The City of Covington has revealed the members of a committee who will advise the city commission on how to best transition the municipal government from its current city manager form to a mayor-council, or strong mayor, form.
The city put out calls for applications to sit on the committee in December. The members were preliminarily revealed in a city press release on Wednesday, and the city commission still has to vote to affirm the appointments at the legislative meeting next week. The announcement gives the public an idea of who will likely sit on the committee and which parts of the city they will represent.
The following people have been chosen to sit on the committee, according to the city’s announcement:
• Michael Beeby of Licking Riverside
• Billie Mocabee-Kegley of West Latonia
• Angie Taylor of Latonia-Rosedale
• Lisa Desmarais of Licking Riverside
• Ginger Dawson of Old Town/Mutter Gottes
• Fritz Kuhlman of Westside
The committee will hold its first meeting on Jan. 29.
Washington, who lives in Lewisburg, will be chairing the committee, and the commission members will serve in non-voting roles. City Manager Ken Smith, City Clerk Susan Ellis and City Solicitor Frank Schultz will also serve in advisory, non-voting roles. The administrator of the committee is newly hired Assistant City Solicitor Sebastian Torres. Before joining the city, Torres manned the PR efforts for the Covington Forward Committee, which first advocated for the ballot measure asking for the transition.
The committee plans to meet through May 1, 2026, and the transition process will include public input in the form of community surveys and forums. The current commission has two years to establish ordinances for new municipal government, which will include the number of council members and the make-up of the new city administrative staff. Covington voters will vote to fill the newly created council seats in 2026.
• David Davidson of Licking Riverside • Ella Frye of Wallace Woods
A Covington fire truck. Provided | Covington Fire Department Facebook page
A view of Covington and the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge from Cincinnati. Photo provided | Horizon Community Funds
Yacht club, sunk by barge in 2019, on track for reopening
The Ludlow-Bromley Yacht Club, which was struck by a barge and largely destroyed in 2019, is on track for reopening sometime in late spring, staff members confirmed with LINK nky.
Located along the Ohio River on Elm Street in Ludlow, the club suffered heavy damage following the barge accident, and much of the structure ended up sinking into the river. Now the club is seeking applications for workers to staff it once it reopens. An exact reopening date has not yet been determined, but staff confirmed in a phone call with LINK nky that they were shooting for late spring.
To apply for one of the open jobs, visit ludlowbromleyyachtclub.net.
Parking in Covington?
New meters in city take credit cards
Parking meters in Covington now take credit cards in addition to the coin and app-based payments previously available.
“The old meters were at least 30 years old and prone to break, fill up with coins and have their screens fogged,” said Kyle Snyder, executive director of the Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority in a city release. “With the new meters,” Snyder said, “We want to make it as convenient as possible.”
Parking kiosks throughout the city will also take credit card as well as coin payments.
Meter rates will remain the same: $1.50 per hour of parking, with the first 15 minutes free. New meters will automatically apply the first 15 minutes rather than requiring
drivers to press a special button as before. Enforcement hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday also will remain unchanged.
The Roost Latonia, Curated Design announce merger
Two Latonia-based businesses, the Roost Latonia and Curated Design & Decor, will begin merging into a single business later this month.
Both businesses specialize in antiques and other vintage items. Billie Mocabee-Kegley is the proprietor of the Roost Latonia, and Heather Buckley Pauly is the proprietor of Curated Design & Decor. After the merger, the new business will operate from the Roost Latonia’s location at 3616 Decoursey Avenue.
“Billie and I have collaborated on several projects over the years, and I’ve long admired her passion for the community and her heart for bringing people together,” Buckley Pauly said in a social media announcement. “I’m beyond excited to join her and continue to bring unique vintage finds, design inspiration and creativity to our shared space!”
“Heather is a remarkable talent and human,” Mocabee-Kegley told LINK nky. “Every opportunity we have worked together always includes a whole lot of levity, creativity, good coffee and an opportunity for self growth. I always look forward to our design collabs, projects and vintage picks.”
Curated Design & Decor will run a clearance
NORTHERN KENTUCKY –THE
sale through Feb. 28 at its 3706 Decoursey Avenue location. Buckley Pauly will then close her current location and move into the Roost Latonia’s location sometime in March.
Kenton County picks project manager for new public park
Kenton County has taken the next step in the process of creating a new public park in Independence.
The county is building a new park at 604 Independence Station Road. The 225-acre property, which previously housed the shuttered Fox Run Golf Course, is adjacent to the 78-acre Lincoln Ridge Park. The county wants to connect the two properties to create one unified recreation area.
On Jan. 15, Kenton County Fiscal Court approved a bid from Cincinnati-based consulting firm J.S. Held to be the owner representative or project manager for the project. The firm will manage the park’s architectural, engineering and construction teams, which have yet to be selected. In addition, Held will aid Kenton County in hiring the project’s general contractor, design team, consultants and engineers.
“We were looking for an owner rep, but you guys brought so much more to the table, particularly in the area of expertise and the creative side,” Commissioner Beth Sewell said. “So that’s what makes us fun, and we’re just going to look forward to, not only your expertise and managing all of this well, but working with us to make it a great park for our community.”
The county posted a request for proposals in September, with bids due in October. The RFP outlined the role’s responsibilities, which among other obligations include developing the master plan for the new park; providing recommendations on design, amenities and facilities; managing the construction process and project timeline;
and coordinating and managing the general contractor, design team, consultants and engineers.
Bids were judged by a selection committee comprising several county officials – Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann, commissioner Sewell, administrator Joe Shriver, assistant administrator Scott Gunning and recreation commission member Adam Davey – and Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman.
Michael Collins, the principal in charge of J.S. Held’s owner representative services, told the fiscal court the firm looked forward to the opportunity.
“It’s a lot of land. It’s, you know, one of the things we feel very strongly that strong parks build strong communities,” Collins said. “It’s not just green space, it’s not just, you know, an educational facility, but it’s an opportunity to bring in the rest of the community.”
J.S. Held is no stranger to Northern Kentucky. The firm has worked on several high-profile projects in Covington, including the Covington Central Riverfront and North by Hotel Covington.
Held has been involved with several notable projects around the region, such as Washington Park, Ziegler Park and Mercer Commons apartments in Cincinnati, and Factory 52 in Norwood.
There is no confirmed timeline for the Independence project. Collins said J.S. Held will work alongside the county over the next month to develop a timeline. Knochelmann noted that, if everything goes according to plan, the park could be completed in two years’ time.
“Hopefully, we look toward later this year to get things going in earnest, but we’ll work with the fiscal court to define a really specific timeline here over the next few weeks and the next month or so,” Collins said.
Cincinnati-based planning and design firm Human Nature presented plans for a new county park to the fiscal court in October 2022. The firm’s master plan included adding amenities such as a hillside amphitheater, zipline tower, ropes course, family shelter, community gardens and a mountain biking hub.
Pioneer Park in Kenton County. Provided | Kenton County Parks Department
The Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club before the 2019 barge accident. Provided | Ludlow Bromley Yacht
Bitmoji renderings of the proprietors of Curated Design & Decor (Heather Buckley Pauly, left) and the Roost Latonia (Billie Mocabee-Kegley, right). Provided | Curated Design & Decor
It’s mating season for state’s coyotes. Here’s what to know
Coyote mating season begins this month and peaks in February and March. Sightings of the furtive animals tend to increase during this time, so it’s good to know what to do if you spot one.
“Coyote sightings typically increase this time of year when they are mating, and through July when they are raising pups,” said Laura Palmer, wildlife biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, in a 2023 release. Conflicts with humans can be avoided “by having a basic understanding of these wild animals.”
Coyotes are highly adaptable and resilient as a species, meaning they can survive in almost any environment, including urban environments and other populated areas. They have been documented in all 120 Kentucky counties, according to the department, the state agency responsible for monitoring and managing coyotes in the commonwealth.
Most coyotes aren’t dangerous, but misconceptions about the animals persist. Mary Kay Carson, award-winning author of “Urban Coyotes” (which profiled the work of scientists at the Urban Coyote Research Project in Chicago) and writer in residence with Cincinnati Public Library, said many people are worried about coyotes and their pets. While it’s true that coyotes may snatch a small pet if they have the opportunity, the animals aren’t relying on pets as staples in their diet.
“Most urban coyotes – at least, they found in the Chicago study – aren’t living off of people’s pets,” Carson said. “They’re living off of what they eat regularly, mostly rodents and squirrels and rabbits and other things.”
Another misconception, Carson said, is that coyotes hunt in packs like wolves.
“People sometimes see them in groups, but they’re not pack animals like a wolf,” Carson said. “If you see a coyote in a group, it’s a family group.”
Here are some basic tips from both the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Humane Society for dealing with coyotes in your community:
• Do not feed coyotes. Coyotes that seek out or are aggressive to humans often do so in response to being repeatedly fed.
• Remove or secure any food from the exterior areas of your property. This includes pet food, spilled bird seed around feeders, fallen tree fruit and trash. Any food that can’t be taken inside should be locked up.
• Don’t leave small pets unattended outside. If you’re walking a small pet outside and you see a coyote, pick up your pet and move away. Employ non-retractable leashes to keep your pets close.
• Don’t leave small children unattended.
• Shout, wave your arms and throw things at coyotes if you want to scare them off. Do not run at them or get close.
• Fence any gardens and compost bins.
• Keep outdoor cooking equipment, such as grills, clean and free of grease, as the smell can attract coyotes.
• Tell your neighbors if you spot a coyote.
Coyotes usually aren’t aggressive toward humans, but they may approach or observe a human out of curiosity if you’re in their territory. They also tend to become less tolerant of dogs during the mating season. Shouting and making noise, waving your arms, standing up tall, and brandishing a walking stick or similar implement should frighten them off.
“They can be run off pretty easy,” Carson said.
The one exception to this is if you approach a coyote’s den, as they will try to defend their young against intruders. Coyotes tend to make their dens in easy-to-conceal hideaways like hollowed-out logs, dead trees, junk piles, abandoned buildings and the abandoned burrows of other animals. They may also dig their own burrows. If you know a coyote den is nearby, it’s best to stay away.
It is legal to trap and hunt coyotes for their fur in Kentucky (consult the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ annual hunting guide for more information), but culling or capturing coyotes in an effort to rid them from a particular area aren’t effective means of controlling their numbers.
“Trapping and removing coyotes will only result in new coyotes moving in to occupy empty territories,” according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Efforts to eradicate coyotes have resulted in females breeding at younger ages, birthing larger litters and increasing the survival of pups due to less competition for food. Total eradication of coyotes is not possible.”
While most coyotes don’t pose much of a danger, they can become disruptive enough that they need to be removed. Although the state and counties don’t directly remove nuisance wildlife, they can provide some tips on removing them or direct you to a private company that can humanely remove them.
NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS OF DUKE ENERGY KENTUCKY, INC.
You can get more information from the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources by calling 800-858-1549 or emailing Info.Center@ky.gov. You can also look up a state-certified nuisance wildlife control operator, a private firm trained in removing nuisance wildlife, by consulting the state’s list page.
Although coyotes can sometimes be an unwelcome sight, they’re an important part of the local ecology, especially given that large predators, such as wolves, bears and pumas, are no longer a factor in the region’s environment.
“Coyotes have really fulfilled that role,” Carson said. “They take a lot of fawns, and we definitely need something to keep the whitetail deer in check. So, even though they don’t eat the full-grown deer, they do help keep the fawn population down. Another animal that has sort of taken over are Canada geese, and [coyotes] eat lots of eggs, lots of geese eggs. So, predators are important.”
RECOVERY BY ENVIRONMENTAL SURCHARGE OF DUKE ENERGY KENTUCKY, INC.’S AMENDMENT TO ITS 2021 AMENDED ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE PLAN
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc. (Duke Energy Kentucky or Company) is refiling previously withdrawn Application in Case No. 2024-00152 with the Kentucky Public Service Commission (Commission) on or about January 20, 2025 in Case No. 2025-00002, an Application pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statute 278.183 for approval of the construction of the Limestone Conversion Project (Project) located at its East Bend Generating Station (East Bend) and an amendment of the Company’s Environmental Compliance Plan to include the Project for the purpose of recovering the capital and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs associated with the Project through an increase in the environmental surcharge on customers’ bills beginning September 1, 2025 under the Company’s existing Rider ESM, also known as the environmental surcharge mechanism. The total capital cost of the Limestone Conversion Project in the Company’s Amended Environmental Compliance Plan is estimated to be $125.8 million.
Federal and state environmental regulations require Duke Energy Kentucky to build and upgrade equipment and facilities that produce energy from coal to operate in an environmentally sound manner. Specifically, the Company is seeking Commission approval of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the construction and operation of the Project. This construction project requires an amendment of Duke Energy Kentucky’s Amended Environmental Compliance Plan that was approved by the Commission in 2022.
Additionally, Duke Energy Kentucky is seeking an order approving the recovery of the costs of the Project through its Environmental Surcharge tariff. The Project is required for the Company to continue to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s federal Clean Air Act, and other environmental requirements that apply to Duke Energy Kentucky facilities used in the production of energy from coal. The total capital cost of the Project for which the Company is seeking recovery at this time is estimated to be $125.8 million. O&M costs related to the Project will be similar to O&M costs incurred today and are not distinguishable.
The impact on Duke Energy Kentucky’s customers is estimated to be an increase of 0.32% for residential customers and 0.32% on average for nonresidential customers in 2025, 1.7% for residential customers and 1.6% on average for non-residential customers in 2026, 1.8% for residential customers and 1.8% on average for non-residential customers in 2027, 1.3% for residential customers and 1.3% on average for non-residential customers in 2028, and 1.3% for residential customers and 1.3% on average for non-residential customers in 2029. For a Duke Energy Kentucky residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month (kWh/mo.), the initial monthly increase is expected to be $0.41 during 2025, $2.10 in 2026, $2.30 in 2027, $1.64 in 2028, and $1.71 in 2029.
The rates contained in this notice are the rates proposed by Duke Energy Kentucky; however, the Kentucky Public Service Commission may order rates to be charged that differ from the proposed rates contained in this notice. Such action may result in rates for consumers other than the rates in this notice.
Any corporation, association, body politic or person with a substantial interest in the matter may, by written request within thirty (30) days after publication of this notice of the proposed rate changes, request leave to intervene; intervention may be granted beyond the thirty (30) day period for good cause shown. Such motion shall be submitted to the Kentucky Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 615, 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky 40602-0615, and shall set forth the grounds for the request including the status and interest of the party. If the Commission does not receive a written request for intervention within thirty (30) days of the initial publication the Commission may take final action on the application.
Intervenors may obtain copies of the application and other filings made by the Company by requesting same through email at DEKInquiries@dukeenergy.com or by telephone at (513) 287-4366. A copy of the application and other filings made by the Company are available for public inspection through the Commission’s website at http://psc.ky.gov, at the Commission’s office at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and at the following Company office: Erlanger Ops Center, 1262 Cox Road, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018. Comments regarding the application may be submitted to the Public Service Commission through its website, or by mail at the following Commission address.
For further information contact:
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
DUKE ENERGY KENTUCKY COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY 1262 COX ROAD
The University of Kentucky is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from minorities and women.
Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources
Kenton County – RE48791
Deadline: 2/3/2025
Bachelor's Degree required
https://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/566865
The University of Kentucky is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from minorities and women.
Golf expo tees up in NKY
By Kenton Hornbeck
The Cincinnati Golf Expo will debut in Northern Kentucky after being forced from its traditional home because of construction.
The Cincinnati Golf Expo was started in 2019 by entrepreneur Jason Fryia, founder of Golf Exchange, a golf shop and club fitter in Cincinnati. The annual event brings together golf enthusiasts, retailers and exhibitors under one roof for a weekend, offering attendees a chance to buy equipment and participate in several golf-related minigames.
“It’s always fun to bring everyone in when it’s cold outside for a little preview of the golf to come in the next couple of months,” Kelsey Krahe, the expo’s coordinator, told LINK nky.
The Cincinnati Golf Expo has been held at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati since its founding.
In July, though, an 18 month, $240 million renovation of the facility began, forcing the expo to find a temporary home. They found one across the Ohio River: This year’s expo will be held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, in downtown Covington, from Feb. 7 to 9.
Krahe said the Northern Kentucky Convention Center was the right fit due to the venue’s proximity to downtown Cincinnati, central location and size.
“We wanted to keep it as close to Cincinnati as we could to have that Cincinnati feel,” Krahe said. “We want to still pull from our Cincinnati market for everyone that can come. We’ll still get people that are coming from the Dayton [Ohio] area and Sharonville area. We are happy so far with what
we have at the [Northern Kentucky] Convention Center and are looking forward to it being there this year.”
Golf Exchange marketing director Issak Ramsey noted that, while the Northern Kentucky center is smaller than the Duke Energy center, the venue still allows the event to feature all of its usual games and booths. Ramsey said the Expo generally uses 90,000 square feet of space at the Duke Energy Convention Center, compared to the 60,000 square feet it will use at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.
“What’s been awesome is that does not mean that we’ve had to really sacrifice anything,” Ramsey said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to be able to position games in a way where they don’t take up as much room, or we were able to cut some of the bigger items and make them a little bit smaller.”
In addition to vendors and coaches, the expo will feature eight golf-related games, including a long putt challenge, golf darts, a glass smash competition, miniature golf
and a flop shot wall, among others.
Ultimately, Krahe and Ramsey said the expo’s goal is to use golf to create new memories.
“The benefit of having the physical space we do is that we can create an environment where anybody – 2-year-olds all the way up to 80-year-olds – because we’ve got the physical space to implement games, vendors into the expo, you can have a whole family – multiple generations – come in together and have a really good time,” Ramsey said.
Where: Northern Kentucky Convention Center, 1 W Rivercenter Blvd., Covington.
Admission: $12.
Tickets: Buy through cincinnatigolfexpo.com/attend or in person.
The Cincinnati Golf Expo. Photos provided | Cincinnati Golf Expo
Updated landominium with lake views
Address: 860 Willowdale Drive, Villa Hills
Price: $679,900
Bedrooms: Three
Bathrooms: Two (plus one half bath)
Square footage: 2,233
School district: Kenton County
County: Kenton
Special features: This completely updated detached landominium in Villa Hills’ Squire Valley neighborhood offers lake views. The home features a finished lower level with a fireplace and remodeled kitchenette-bar plus a new upper deck and two-car garage. The home offers new tile, updated bathrooms and fresh paint throughout.
An exterior view of this Villa Hills property. Photos provided | Julie Feagan with Huff Realty
By Haley Parnell
NGrant to fund ‘income aligned’ Newport homes
ewport has received a federal grant of $994,818 to build five single-family homes.
The funds come from the Community Development Block Grant Program, which is administered by Kentucky through the Department for Local Government. The homes will be built on five vacant lots at 1036 Hamlet St., 111 and 516 W NinthSt., 429 Hodge St. and 208 W 11th St. The homes will be two stories with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. They will have a brick façade, and most will have off-street parking.
The homes are not public housing. They’re called “income-aligned housing” because there are restrictions on who is eligible to purchase them.
Newport’s city commission discussed approval of the project at its Jan. 21 special meeting.
“The ADD District (Northern Kentucky Area Development District) did a menu of options for what we would call the income-aligned housing issue that we have in our region, throughout the eight counties, and this is a nice example,” Newport Commissioner Mike Radwanski said. “This is not affordable – vouchers are something totally different…. It’s designed to get folks
Grant. This assistance doesn’t require any payments or interest, but there are conditions.
two years, and they probably doubled their price on what they’ve actually bought the house for.
“So that’s not the intent of this, this home ownership program. The intent is to get it to qualified homebuyers and make that their home and hopefully stay here and live here in the city for a great deal of time.”
The Northern Kentucky Area Development District issued a letter of support for the project. In it, Tara Johnson-Noem, the district’s executive director, said, “The work that will be done with this … grant will be to build infill housing on the Westside of Newport, helping to continue this resurgence the neighborhood has been working so hard for, while also creating a path to affordable homeownership for those who otherwise would not have it.”
The project also received letters of support from Southbank Partners, signed by its president, Will Weber; ReNewport, signed by its board president, Gordon Henry; and Newport Independent Schools, signed by Superintendent Tony Watts.
According to Dennis Elrod with Neighborhood Foundations, Newport’s housing authority, buyers must have adequate credit and acquire a 30-year fixed rate first mortgage. Buyers must finish the homebuyer education program offered through Brighton Center and have no felony convictions.
The buyer’s income must not exceed 75% of the area’s median income, adjusted by household size (the median is $76,400 for a family of four).
Roughly 90 to 120 days from the time the homes are available to sell, Elrod said advertisements will be placed in local newspapers and a notice added on the city’s website announcing that applications are open. Those on the waiting list will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis.
The homes are priced at $190,000. Buyers will need a $170,000 mortgage and will receive $20,000 in down payment assistance from a Community Development Block
A homeowner that violates code (like maintenance regulations) during the first five years must repay the entire $20,000. If the homeowner stays compliant with the code, starting in year six, 20% of the assistance will be forgiven each year. After 10 years, the entire $20,000 could be forgiven.
Elrod said these homes usually attract first-time homeowners, but that’s not a requirement to qualify. No one that currently owns a home can apply.
Ron Rawe, finance director at Newport’s housing authority, said that, were somebody to sell one of these houses within the first 10 years, it must be sold to another qualified buyer.
“This isn’t a get rich quick scheme,” Rawe said. “We’ve had that happen, not that the buyers have intended to do that, but we’ve had a couple buyers that have turned around and sold the house within less than
Rawe said this project is not unlike other projects the city has supported in the past, although construction costs are even higher now.
“Construction costs have gone up drastically over the last four to five years,” he said. “Where we used to be able to do these somewhere in the low $200,000 to $250,000, now they’re well over $300,000.”
Elrod said less money is being allocated each year for the housing component of the Community Development Block Grant program. There is a $1 million maximum allocation per grant.
“We do talk about affordable housing, we talk about income-aligned,” said Newport Vice Mayor Julie Smith-Morrow, “and there’s a lot of layers of understanding on all that, but what it really comes down to is that a lot of families are getting to live in some very fine homes. As I am out in the city and talking to people, I’ve had so many people say how much they appreciate those opportunities through the Neighborhood Foundations projects.”
Provided | Greater Cincinnati Foundation that are would-be teachers, nurses, first responders.”
The homes in green represent rehabbed properties. The section in gray represents the five homes discussed during the Newport Commission meeting. Provided | City of Newport
What writing skills do employers want?
Universities assume all students can write, and write well, after a first year sequence of composition courses. Those who engage with students during internships, post-graduation or otherwise understand that writing instruction should not have stopped there.
How can universities support the writing required in students’ future careers? What does the writing required in students’ future careers look like today?
I am asking employers: How can writing centers encourage the writing you want to see? With limited curriculum or guidelines for writing instruction in upper level courses and beyond the university, improvement in writing falls to the wayside.
To encourage continuing writing improvement, Writing Center consultants at NKU are meeting students in the classroom this spring. Writing consultants are trained in writing and research support for faculty and students, graduates and undergraduates, and on-campus and online programs, but few take advantage of the resource.
Since fall 2016, the Writing Center has engaged a limited classroom model, placing consultants in only introductory college writing courses.
In fall 2024, Director Kathleen Spada and consultants asked why we took such a limited view of writing. With this in mind, the Writing Center piloted expansion into interdisciplinary programs that spanned all university departments. The results showed that students and faculty benefit tremendously from support offered by in-class consultations. This semester, the Writing Center is taking the interdisciplinary classroom program across the university.
Northern Kentucky University’s Writing Center, under the direction of Kathleen Spada, has implemented an on-demand embedded program, through which professors may invite consultants into the classroom, on an ad-hoc basis, for planned activities. This allows for visits from beyond the traditional composition course, bringing students from anthropology, biology, history, geology, kinesiology, technical writing and honors courses.
NKU’s Writing Center and the consultants involved can be contacted through the NKU
Writing Center website, inside.nku.edu/
Brady Hall
Lead writing consultant NKU Writing Center
Frankfort priorities 2025: Sen. Shelley Funke
Frommeyer
LINK nky invited our local legislators to share their priorities for the 2025 legislative session, which began Jan. 7 and concludes March 29.
It’s a privilege to be your state senator, and I am committed to representing you in our state capitol. As I walk around my district and speak with you, I hear and understand your concerns.
I believe we need a wellness revolution in Kentucky, one that not only focuses on improving individual health but transforms current systems to foster proactive, rootcause wellness. We can build a healthier, more equitable community for everyone through strategic investments in infrastructure, policy shifts and sustainability.
Investing in infrastructure that promotes active lifestyles is a critical first step. The Kentucky Ohio River Regional Recreation Authority is an example of developing recreational spaces that encourage outdoor activity while boosting regional economic growth. Events like River Roots in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati – kicking off the USA’s 250th-anniversary celebration – will help engage the public and highlight the benefits of wellness infrastructure. By encouraging tourism linked to wellness, we can create a state known for its culture and commitment to a healthy, active lifestyle.
True wellness begins at birth. Investing in free-standing birthing centers that operate under a holistic, self-directed midwifery model will provide an alternative to traditional hospital births. This proactive approach emphasizes wellness before, during and after pregnancy. It empowers families to make informed choices and supports healthier outcomes for mothers and babies. Such centers can reduce unnecessary medical interventions and improve overall maternal and child health.
Wellness also includes a healthy environment. Sustainable aviation fuels represent a vital solution for decarbonizing the aviation sector and reducing emissions. Kentucky and Ohio could lead the way in devel-
oping these fuels, and improve air quality and support environmental wellness for all.
A major area of concern is the poor nutrition provided to children through USDA guidelines in early childhood programs, food stamps and K-12 schools. By redirecting funding toward more healthful food options, we can ensure children receive the proper nutrition they need to thrive. Healthy children grow into healthy adults and create a foundation for long-term societal wellness.
We need better data to address the root causes of poor health outcomes. Establishing an All Claims Payer Database for Medicaid patients will allow us to analyze trends in treatments, identify gaps and improve care. With a clearer understanding of what treatments are administered, why they are needed, when they should be provided and how they work, we can focus on achieving long-term health improvements and more effective outcomes.
Instead of investing in weight loss drugs, which often provide temporary solutions, we must prioritize activity and nutrition. Encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their health through regular check-ins, physical activity and healthful eating will lead to lasting lifestyle changes. This approach provides sustainable solutions by focusing on true wellness rather than quick fixes.
Mental health is integral to overall wellness, but it cannot be treated in isolation. Investing in mental health without addressing sleep, nutrition and physical activity creates an incomplete solution. By integrating nutrition and sleep hygiene with mental health care, we can promote better physical and mental health outcomes by treating the whole person for improved well-being.
A wellness-focused society requires individuals to be engaged and accountable. Requiring a work component for all government support programs, with flexible definitions of work, can empower individuals to take responsibility for their health and well-being. Whether through employment, education or community service, fostering engagement promotes both personal and societal health.
Transportation is vital for access to health services, jobs and education. Investing in key transportation projects, such as the
536 Project, will improve traffic flow and connect more people to essential services.
Transportation infrastructure is an investment in public health and community vitality which makes it easier for individuals to lead active, healthy lives.
The Fourth Street Bridge project is another essential investment in improving connectivity between regions and ensuring access to resources. When people can easily reach jobs, health care and educational opportunities, their overall wellness improves and benefits society as a whole.
The wellness revolution and safer streets for access to essential services require bold actions. By focusing on proactive wellness, addressing root causes and improving transportation infrastructure, we can create a future where health is more than the absence of disease. It’s about fostering a culture of holistic well-being.
Through strategic investments, policy changes, and community engagement, we can build a society where individuals have the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive. Together, we can revolutionize wellness for the benefit of all.
Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer R-District 24
Alexandria
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Scan this QR code to submit opinion pieces or letters to the editor
Tall Bedroom dresser
CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00495
DIVISION 1
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION VS.
HERBERT E. BISHOP A/K/A HERBERT EARL BISHOP JR., ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 12/10/2024
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 2/11/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 621 Fifth Avenue, Dayton, Kentucky 41074
Group No: 30565/A2
PIDN: 999-99-08-502.00
CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00076 DIVISION 2
BELLEPOINTE COMMONS CONDOMINIUMS COUNCIL OF CO-OWNERS, INC. VS.
SAMANTHA RODRIGUEZ, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 1/10/2025 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 2/11/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 1360 Bellepointe Commons, Bellevue, Kentucky 41073
Group No: 20031/D3
PIDN: 999-99-06-343.00
CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00682 DIVISION 2
MICHAEL BOONE VS.
MDG ONE, LLC, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 1/10/2025 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 2/11/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 317 Manhattan Boulevard, Dayton, Kentucky 41074
Group No: 30596/C1
PIDN: 999-99-33-462.09
CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00680
DIVISION 2
UMB BANK, N.A., AS CUSTODIAN FOR CLEARLEAF SHORT ALTERNATIVE FUND, LP VS.
UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES AND/OR LEGATEES OF LILLIAN SCHLEPER, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 1/10/2025 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 2/11/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 117 Delta Avenue, Fort Thomas, Kentucky 41075
Group No: 30267/A2
PIDN: 999-99-16-274.00
COMMISIONER’S SALE
CAMPBELL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00333 DIVISION 2
NEW REZ LLC, D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING VS.
FRANKIE A. SHANKS, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 1/10/2025 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 2/11/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 10521 Michael Drive, Unit 9, Alexandria, Kentucky 41001
Group No: 70239/A3 PIDN: 999-99-22-885.47
BIDDERS MUST BE PREPARED TO COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS. THE COSTS OF THE SALE SHALL BE PAID WITHIN FOURTEEN (14)
JOSEPH F. GRIMME, MASTER COMMISSIONER 859-291-9075
CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00518
DIVISION 1
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION VS.
JAMES H. BAIRD, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 11/25/2024 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 2/11/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 233 West 7th Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071
Group No: 41388/A2
PIDN: 999-99-03-358.00
CASE NUMBER 24-CI-00929
DIVISION 2
KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VS. JACQUELINE NICOLE PARRISH, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 1/10/2025 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 2/11/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 74 View Terrace Drive, Unit 3, Southgate, Kentucky 41071
Group No: 41642/K4
PIDN: 999-99-11-357.00
CASE NUMBER 23-CI-00396
DIVISION 1
WOODLAND HILLS OF SOUTHGATE COUNCIL OF CO-OWNERS, INC. VS.
JACKSON GARNDER STRONG, ET AL.
BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 12/9/2024 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 2/11/2025 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 36-7 Woodland Hills Drive, Southgate, Kentucky 41071
Group No: 41642/D5
PIDN: 999-99-11-117.00
LEGAL NOTICE
The Northern Kentucky Water District Board of Commissioners will meet in regular session pursuant to law and the rules of said commission on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 12:00 pm for the months of February – December in the calendar year 2025 except for the May meeting, which will be the 5th Thursday of the month. Meetings will be held at 2835 Crescent Springs Road, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018, Conference Room 1.
Lindsey Rechtin President/CEO
SCAN THIS QR CODE TO GO TO OUR DIGITAL PUBLIC NOTICE PAGE
DIVISION I CASE NO.: 13-CI-00301
WELLS FARGO BANK, NA VERSUS}
JOHN D. GOOCH, ET AL
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JUNE 18, 2013 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 13, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
Kentucky now allows for Public Notices to be published digitally on LINK nky’s website. You can find public notices for the following organizations on our site at https://linkreader.column.us/search
• AJ’s Towing & Recovery
• Boone County Clerk
• Campbell County Clerk’s Office
• Campbell County Fire District #1
Campbell County Fiscal Court
• Campbell County Planning & Zoning
Campbell County Public Library
• Campbell County Sheriffs Office
City of Alexandria
• City of Bellevue
City of Cold Spring
• City of Covington
City of Cresent Springs
• City of Crestview Hills
• City of Dayton
• City of Edgewood
• City of Elsmere
• City of Erlanger
• City of Florence
• City of Fort Mitchell
• City of Fort Thomas
• City of Fort Wright
• City of Highland Heights
• City of Independence
• City of Lakeside Park
• City of Ludlow
• City of Newport
• City of Ryland Heights
• City of Silver Grove
• City of Southgate
• City of Union
City of Villa Hills
• City Of Walton
City of Wilder
• City of Woodlawn
Covington Public Independent Schools
• Cresent Springs Board of Adjustment
Family Dollar Store
• Fort Mitchell Board of Adjustment Fort Thomas Independent Schools
• Highland Heights Planning & Zoning
• Joseph F Grimme, Campbell County Master Commissioner
• Keating, Muething & Klekamp PLL
• Kenton County Fiscal Court
• Kenton County Joint Board of Adjustment
• Larry Dillon, Boone County Master Commissioner
• Northern Kentucky Port Authority
• Northern Kentucky Water District
• Planning & Development Services of Kenton County
• The Baker Firm PLLC
• The Hidden Chapter Bookstore LLC
COMMISIONER’S SALE
BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
The complete legal description is particularly set out in the Judgment and Order of Sale entered in this case.
DIVISION III
CASE NO.: 24-CI-01194
KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VERSUS}
WILLIAM H. MERRITT, ET AL
By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered NOVEMBER 26, 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 13, 2025 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:
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 2024 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.
In rebuilding move, Holmes won’t play postseason football
At the Jan. 16 Kentucky High School Athletic Association Board of Control meeting in Lexington, Holmes High School presented its option to opt out of postseason play for the next two seasons as it tries to rebuild its program.
The request was approved, meaning the Bulldogs will not be required to play a district schedule and won’t be eligible for postseason play. In the newly formed alignment for the 2025 and ’26 season, Holmes is in the Class 4A 5th District, along with Covington Catholic, Highlands, Mason County and Harrison County.
In its request to opt out, Holmes said, “They’re trying to save the football program” with this request.
The Bulldogs have fallen on hard times recently, failing to register a win the past two seasons. The team has lost 22 straight games, and numbers in the program have taken a dip. They had 23 players on the KHSAA roster for the 2024 season.
Holmes experienced a solid stretch of seasons from 2019-22 where it won two regular season district titles, went 29-15 and won a playoff game in 2019.
Coach Ben Nevels will enter his 13th season with the team in the 2025 season.
Beechwood,
Brossart, Walton-Verona
win regional All ‘A’ titles
Regional All “A” tournaments were held Jan. 13-18, with Walton-Verona pulling off the double in the 8th Region, Beechwood’s boys winning the 9th Region (Holy Cross
girls won the week prior) and Bishop Brossart pulling off the double in the 10th Region, sending six teams to the All “A” state tournament in Owensboro.
It has been quite the turnaround season for the Mustangs.
After winning just three games in the 202324 season, Bishop Brossart is already at 10 wins in the 2024-25 season (after winning the 10th Region All “A” championship). The Mustangs mowed through the competition, defeating Robertson County, Augusta and Paris on their way to their 17th All “A” regional title since 2001.
Alex Combs, Dom Hadden and Beckett Kuntz were named to the All-Tournament team, while Parker Mulberry was named to the All-Academic team.
The Lady ’Stangs joined the party in Mt. Olivet on Jan. 16 as they won the girls 10th Region All “A” title with a 60-51 victory over Bracken County.
It’s their 14th regional All “A” title since 1997 and their fifth since 2019. They took down Robertson County, Augusta and Bracken County on the way to the title.
Named to the All-tournament team were Rachel Shewmaker, Kylie Smith and Zoee Meyers, while Zoey Woosley was named to the All-Academic team.
Beechwood won just its second 9th Region All “A” title in program history when it took down Newport, 59-57, on Jan. 18 at Dayton High School. The Tigers defeated St. Henry, Holy Cross, Newport Central Catholic and Newport on their way to the title.
Jack Sullivan was named tournament MVP, while Carson Blackburn and Ayden Way
were named to the All-Tournament team.
The Bearcats won their seventh regional All “A” title since 2017 on Jan. 17 with a victory over Owen County. It capped off a tournament in which they beat Trimble County, Eminence and Owen County.
The Bearcats won each game by double-digits and followed up the championship victory with another win over Anderson County on Jan. 18 at the Henry County Classic.
Aaron Gutman leads the team in scoring with 24.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Jonathan Strunk, Adam Gutman, Wyatt Shearer and Justin Hester all average at least five points per game.
A day after seeing the boys win the 8th Region All “A” title, the Walton-Verona girls followed suit with a dominating victory over Eminence. It was their sixth regional All “A” title since 2018.
Braylin Terrell was named Tournament MVP, while Campbell Christy, Ava Fuller, Elin Logue and Ava Hargett made the All-Tournament team.
Ludlow’s Stamm notches 400th coaching win
Ludlow High School boys basketball coach Aaron Stamm continues to pile up the victories. The coaching veteran notched career win No. 400 Jan. 14 with a 77-56 conquest of Bellevue.
Stamm reached the milestone during quarterfinal action at the 9th Region All “A” Classic basketball tournament in Dayton. Ludlow improved to 9-6 on the season with the win over the Tigers.
The victory moved Stamm’s career mark to 400-229 in his 21st year of coaching. His ability to win games combined with significant history as a three-sport athlete at Ludlow earned him enshrinement in the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
In 629 career games, Stamm has put together a winning percentage of .635. His teams have won at least 20 games in a season 12 times.
Stamm is in his third stint as basketball coach at his alma mater. The Ludlow native coached the girls team for six seasons beginning in the 2004-05 season and won 104 games. He won at least 20 games four times, posted a .604 winning percentage and advanced to the 9th Region Tournament twice.
Stamm, a 1996 Ludlow graduate, moved to a bigger school when he was hired at Conner ahead of the 2010-11 girls season. He won 181 games in nine seasons. He won at least 20 games six times, recorded a winning percentage of .639 and made five regional tournament appearances. His last Conner squad finished 29-3 and was ranked No. 1 in Kentucky at the end of the regular season.
He returned to coach the Ludlow girls for the 2019-20 season. Stamm won 69 games in three years and advanced to the regional tournament each season. He reached 20 wins twice, won 19 games in the other and put together a .711 winning percentage.
After winning 354 games in 18 seasons as a girls coach, Stamm became Ludlow boys basketball coach ahead of the 2022-23 season, fulfilling a lifelong dream. He’s 46-31 so far in a little more than two seasons for a .597 winning percentage. The boys won 19 games his first season on the bench and 18 last season. Stamm has won 219 games as a Ludlow coach.
All of this has been accomplished before Stamm’s 47th birthday. At this rate, he could coach another 15 years and add another 300 wins if he maintains his career winning percentage. Such a pace would push him past 700 career wins and 500 at Ludlow.
Beechwood took home the 9th Region All “A” title over Newport on Jan. 18 at Dayton. Provided | Charles Bolton
Holmes is opting out of postseason play for the 2025 and ’26 seasons. File photo
The Ludlow Panthers boys basketball team celebrates coach Aaron Stamm’s 400th career win on Jan. 14. Provided | Aaron Stamm
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Newport Central Catholic’s boys basketball team won LINK nky Team of the Week honors for Jan. 6-12. Graphic provided | NewCath boys basketball
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