360 Fireworks Party

Saturday, October 15, 2011

PHOTOS: LATONIA HALLOWEEN, RUN FOR SHELTER, FARMERS MARKET

Photos by Michael Monks
Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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PHOTOS FROM A GREAT SATURDAY IN COVINGTON
It was a beautiful autumn Saturday in Covington with lots of events happening all over the city. Here are some photos from a few, including Latonia's Halloween Block Party, the Run For Shelter 5K Run/Walk, and the Farmers Market:
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SATURDAY EDITION

Compiled by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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GET YOUR WEEKEND ORGANIZED!
Lots going in in the Cov this weekend. Wine fest, famrers market, Halloween block party, and more. Here is our list to help you sort it out: Click Here For A Great COV Weekend
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ADOPT A SHELTER DOG
At the Farmers Market today, you'll be able to get your photo taken with your pet. Don't have a pet? It's Adopt A Shelter Dog Month!
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FIREFIGHTERS SIGN AGREEMENT WITH CITY
The City in this case is Lexington. The firefighters union there accepted a 2-year wage freeze and other concessions to prevent 50 layoffs.
Herald-Leader
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COV FD IN SECOND PLACE FOR $10,000 GRANT
We've fallen behind in the Liberty Mutual Be Fire Smart competition between fire departments nationwide. Covington is in second place behind Wilmington, Massachusetts in the medium-department category. (Lexington leads the large-department). Go vote now!
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KENTUCKY MAYOR SUPPORTS JOBS ACT
Louisville Mayor Greg Fishcher speaks in a video distributed by the White House to show support for the American Jobs Act. It's short. Hear what he has to say (They're dealing with bridge troubles in the Ville too).
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DEMOCRATS ARE ALL LIKE, 'HEY GOP, ABORTION? REALLY?'
Dems want to know where the Republican priorities are. An abortion bill instead of job creation?
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BUT GOP IS ALL LIKE, 'HEY DEMS, WE GOT JOBS PLAN RIGHT HERE'
When Geoff Davis isn't tweeting about the REINS Act, he's busy trying to convince everyone that there is a GOP jobs plan. It's at the link.
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DOWN WITH BIG BARBECUE!
The "Occupy" movement is moving into Owensboro today. And this isn't a joke like the "Occupy Walton" story posted here earlier this week.
SEE ALSO: Shock! Wall Street's own newspaper calls protestors "gullible". 
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NOW WE HAVE BOTH LACHEYS!
Nick Lachey is moving back to Cincinnati with his new wife. He will live right next to his brother Drew in Columbia-Tusculum. Awwww.....
Cincinnati Enquirer
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LEARN ITALIAN AT NKU
An 8-week non-credit course to teach conversational Italian begins Monday! It costs $149, but Italian is a beautiful language, if you're bored this aumtumn.
NKU

Friday, October 14, 2011

theRCnews Presents: WEEKEND IN COVINGTON

Compiled by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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ANOTHER GREAT WEEKEND IN STORE FOR COVINGTON
We all know the City, like many others, faces tons of problems, but let's be self-congratulatory and admit: Covington Knows Weekends. After a stressful but promising work week like the one ending today, let's unwind and take a look at some of the great stuff happening for you Saturday & Sunday.
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Saturday
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Run For Shelter 5K Run/Walk

Downhill Run/Walk to benefit the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky. Participants will be bused from Willie's to the Start Line at Volpenhein Pavilion in Devou Park.
Race: Park Lane to Home Rd, Turns around, Then down Rotary Lane, Down Devou Drive, Left on Western, Ending just before Willie's Sports Cafe.
Pre-registration $25 and includes a T-Shirt. Register online at www.sprunning.com - Registration the day of the event is $30 and includes a T-shirt based on availability.
For more information call: Steve Prescott (513) 777-1080 or
Angelia Wallace (859) 512-9463

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Covington Farmers Market
Fresh produce, breads and products made by independent artists. From 8AM to 2PM at Goebel Park on Philadelphia Street. Only 2 weeks left! This weekend, the Farmers are joined by Rescue Angels Animal Rescue who wills take photos of you and your pet. A great place to walk with your dog! Covington is afterall the most walkable city in Kentucky.
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Northern Kentucky Wine Fest
Just a few feet away from the Farmers Market, an elegant evening outdoors in one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the region, Mainstrasse. The 6th annual event costs just $10 for admission and that includes a souvenir wine glass and 4 tastings. As always in Mainstrasse, parking is FREE. For more information visit Mainstrasse Village Association or call 859.491.0458.
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Latonia Halloween Block Party
October 15, 2011 from 2:00 - 5:00 pm. Free family event at historic Ritte's Corner presented by the Latonia Business Association, with the Latonia Baptist Church Fall Festival and the Latonia Christian Church Car Show. The Covington Recreation Department strongly supports this event.
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National White Cane Day -- In Covington
The Northern Kentucky Council of the Blind will observe this national tradition to educate the sighted people of Covington on how the blind navigate sighted world. The meeting is set for Saturday at 2PM at Giuseppe's Pizza at 26th & Madison.
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Sunday
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Devou Park Fall Festival
Sunday from noon to 5PM, admission and parking are FREE! Food, drinks, arts & crafts, petting zoo and more! For additional info call 859.292.2151 or visit Drees Pavillion




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The Brits are coming to Covington!
The always inventive Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center will host 4 screenings of the 2011 British Arrow Award Winners, with 2 on Sunday. Check them out at 4PM and 7:30PM. If you miss, you'll have two more chances Tuesday & Wednesday nights at 7:30PM. The awards recognize the best in commercials & PSAs for TV, movies and the web.
The Carnegie
Cincy World Cinema



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AND WHILE YOU'RE OUT AND ABOUT...
...be sure to shop at your local Covington retailers. That's how you keep and build businesses in the urban core. Stay out of Target and Walmart and other big box national chains that soak up local dollars and ship them elsewhere. Local businesses reinvest in the community and create meaningful jobs for you and your neighbors. It's the only way cities like Covington survive. Remember, Downtown Covington was the original outdoor shopping mall.


NEWS ROUND-UP #2 -- FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER

Compiled by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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BREAKING:
COVINGTON'S OWN AND RADIO EXEC RANDY MICHAELS BUSTED FOR DUI
Randy Michaels (Benjamin Homel)
Randy Michaels, Kenton Hills resident and former owner of Jacor Communications (which was founded and based in Covington before being swallowed up by Clear Channel, which Michaels also ran in Cincinnati), was arrested in Middletown, OH. According to Kenton County property records, Michaels (whose real name is Benjamin Homel) owns two homes near Devou Park. He was recently ousted as leader of Tribune in Chicago after his well-documented frat-boy antics embarrassed the struggling media conglomerate. By the way, I love that 700 WLW broke this story, since Michaels used to be the boss there.

700 WLW
UPDATE: The Business Courier has a much more detailed, surprising account including news that Michaels's car was stuck in mud and that he was bonded out by 700WLW talk host Bill Cunningham. Cunningham is the namesake of Willie's Sports Bar in Covington.
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SEE ALSO: From last year, a wonderfully-written account of how awful Tribune was under Michaels' contgrol: Tribune: Tales of a Bankrupt Culture/NY Times

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6 COVINGTON RESTAURANTS UP FOR "BEST" HONORS
Metromix Cincinnati is asking readers to vote in the 2011 Readers' Choice Dining Guide. Six restaurants in Covington are nominated across eleven categories, with one being nominated twice! They are:
  • BURGERS: Bard's Burgers (Latonia), Zola (Mainstrasse)
  • CONTEMPORARY CASUAL: Bouquet (Mainstrasse), Chez Nora (Mainstrasse), Otto's (Mainstrasse)
  • FINE DINING: Bouquet (Mainstrasse)
  • GREEK/MEDITERRANEAN: It's Greek To Me (Downtown)
There are lots of Covington restaurants missing from the full list of categories (which strikingly doesn't include one for pizza, for which Covington has several contenders). Some great restaurants snubbed include: the entire Roebling Point neighborhood (Keystone, Sidebar, Blinkers, Molly Malone's), Dee Felice (How do you leave off Dee Felice???), Behle Street, Riverside Korean, and other. Name some!

Luckily there is a twelfth category for "Buzzworthy" in which readers submit suggestions. It's all at the link below.
Metromix Cincinnati
SEE ALSO: WKU Prof. writes book on KY BBQ
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WE LOVE WILLIAM GOEBEL IN COVINGTON
There's a great book about our native son who was murdered just after being elected Governor of Kentucky. And now, you can get a free copy of Wrath: A Novel of Kentucky. Go to the link below and enter coupon code: QY92P at checkout. Goebel was way ahead of his time and I have swallowed up every piece of information I could get on him. You should too. Fascinating stuff.
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WHICH US SENATOR IS A BIGGER T-V -----?
Ohio's Sherrod Brown or our very own Rand Paul? Neither of them can stay away from the cameras. Our junior senator has been all over the cable news echo chamber this week and here he is taking softballs from the screeching queen of right-wing softballs: Sean Hannity.
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DID YOU CATCH THIS MORNING'S NEWS?
Steve Frank's Taliban comment was picked up by MSNBC where blowhard Ed Schultz reamed the Commissioner (video). Plus, it looks like the Blair Witch visited a Covington underpass (photos). Those stories and more at the link below.

NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER

Compiled by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
ED SCHULTZ RIPS FRANK ON MSNBC
And the story spreads further. It usually doesn't take long before a story that makes it to national blogs ends up on naional cable news. MSNBC's "Ed Show" was less than kind to Commissioner Frank. Video here: (Frank clip begins around 1:52)
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NOTE: One of the national blogs that picked up the Frank story allows users to comment via Facebook. One member from Kansas City posted multiple times in the comments Steve Frank's home address and phone number. That is scary and goes way too far from debating Frank's words.
SEE ALSO: FRANK: I'm getting death threats; City offers police protection
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RIVERCENTER & ROEBLING POINT READY FOR NEW OPPORTUNITY
If you missed last night's coverage of this significant ribbon-cutting, click the link. Photos too! Plus, I talk to some Roebling Point business owners on how they feel about two large corporations (and all their lunch-eating employees) leaving Covington. Hint: They're optimistic. Just like you should be.
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BLAIR WITCH LEAVES SIGNS IN COVINGTON UNDERPASS
Not really, but that's what the new and really cool art installation at the 6th Street underpass in Mainstrasse reminds me of. Take a look at the photos I snapped and see what I mean. Then get down here and check it out in person. The NKU students did an awesome job on it.





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COVINGTON FIRE DEPT LEADS RACE FOR $10,000 PRIZE
But only by a slim margin! They're up by 17 votes over Wilmington, Massachusetts in the Liberty Mutual "Be Fire Smart" competition. Take a moment to take a short quiz and then vote for Covington at the end.
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LOOK OUT: TIPS FOR NOT HITTING DEER
Kentucky State Police release tips for not running down Bambi with your Prius.
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MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE TEACHER RECOGNIZED IN PAPER
If like me you are from South Covington, then there's a good chance that you also went to Scott High School. French Teacher Maureen Motsinger was the best. Reading this article from the Enquirer, it appears that she still is. "Madame" is also a breast cancer survivor. Read it! I love this woman.

COMMISSIONER FRANK "TALIBAN" STORY ON MSNBC'S ED SHOW

by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
MSNBC's firebrand liberal host Ed Schultz blasted Commissioner Steve Frank over his "go Taliban" comments. Watch the video: (Comments on Frank begin at 1:53)
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Thursday, October 13, 2011

RIVERCENTER & ROEBLING POINT PREPARED FOR NEW OPPORTUNITY

by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
Covington city leaders cut ribbon at new
RiverCenter plaza
Covington's signature office buildings are ready for new tenants following a multi-million dollar renovation to RiverCenter's plaza. The city is just weeks removed from news that rattled Covington leaders, that Omnicare is bolting for tax payer-subsidized office space in Cincinnati and that the Nielsen Company will likely follow suit. Those hundreds of employees will take with them nearly $1.5 million in payroll taxes and will leave behind vacant office space throughout RiverCenter I & II and Madison Place. But whoever moves in to take Omnicare's place in the RiverCenter towers will be greeted with a renovated plaza complete with new pavement and landscaping.
"Maybe there will be more energy, more outdoor dining," said Mayor Pro-Tem Sherry Carran at Thursday afternoon's ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the new plaza. "We want this to be a destination gathering place for this part of Covington."
"The repairs were a long time coming," said Bob Fessler of Corporex, developer and tenant of the towers. "We have a new front door to RiverCenter and a new front door to Covington." Corporex is tasked with showing the vacant space to businesses that may locate there. "It's a first impression for visitors and for potential tenants," Fessler continued. "Impressions are very important when you try to lease office space. It's important that we lead with our best foot and now this plaza lets us do that."
The improvements to the plaza are part of a larger plan that include the currently-in-progress upgrades to the city-owned garage underneath. City engineer Tom Logan told the crowd assembled on RiverCenter Boulevard that the when completed, the newly updated garage will be operated by state-of-the-art equipment. Logan was also proud of city employees' role in designing and building the tropical themed landscaping saying that it disproves a stereotype that city workers lack creativity.
City Manager Larry Klein took time to thank the employees in the towers who dealt with a long construction process. "Whether businesses come or go, we hope they remain patrons of our businesses," Klein siad. Avenue Lounge Manager RJ Caldwell helped the city craft a special coupon for workers in the towers to receive discounts at restaurants and bars on Madison Avenue, Mainstrasse and at Roebling Point.
ROEBLING POINT BUSINESSES WORK TOGETHER TO GROW
"I'm concerned when we lose jobs," said Bill Rowland, owner of Sidebar on Greenup Street at Roebling Point. "It may not be that (Omnicare employees) were all customers, but our customers will feel it."
"I have faith in Covington, they'll fill those offices," said Emily Hoyt of Keystone Bar & Grill, also at Roebling Point. The unity among businesses in that commercial district at the foot of the Roebling Suspension Brudge remains strong. Following Thursday's ribbon cutting, the Roebling Point Business Association hosted a Talk & Tour in which representatives from each business along with interested customers visit each establishment and chat about what's going on.
"We want people to visit every place in the neighborhood," said Rowland. "It may be music with me, food at Keystone, the whole Irish thing at Molly Malone's. We have one rule: to have fun." Rowland lives in Adams County and commutes 65 miles each way, but says that when he went looking for a bar to buy he searched in Downtown Cincinnati and in Milford but that he fell in love with Covington and Sidebar's building. Much of the produce he uses is grown on his Adams County property.
As for Keystone, Hoyt says the bar & grill known for its mac-n-cheese dishes has had its best year yet. The owners plan to open a second Keystone in Hyde Park on November 11 (or 11/11/11).
Roebling Point businesses include Sidebar, Down Under, Blinkers, Keystone, Molly Malone's and Roebling Point Bookstore. Check out "Halloween Beerfest - Nightmare on Park Street" from 4PM to 1AM. Tickets are $20.

NEWS ROUND-UP #2 -- THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

Compiled by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
"PROTEST SOCIALISM. OCCUPY A JOB."
That's the Twitter message from Michigan Chamber of Commerce President Rich Studley. I only saw it because NKY Chamber President Steve Stevens retweeted it. That's not necessarily an endorsement of the comment but in any case, I don't get the reference. A Michigan guy telling people to occupy jobs? Wow.
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COMMISSIONER FRANK MAKES 'WORST WEEK EVER'
This is usually a pretty funny column. Check it out.
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SINCE WE'RE PLAYING ON TWITTER...
NKY leaders weigh in on Trade deal. Chamber President Stevens applauded via Twitter the passage of a Trade bill in Congress that was supported by NKY Congressman Geoff Davis (R-Hebron): "Great news for business in passage of Free Trade agreements with Columbia, Panama and S. Korea. Thanks to Congressman Davis and KY Senators." Stevens was also quoted in a Davis press release on the matter:
"In 2010, Kentucky exports supported more than 52,000 jobs and generated more than 19 billion dollars with Northern Kentucky representing one-fourth of the State’s total exports.  Almost half that amount was linked to countries where the U.S. has trade agreements.  Last year, we hosted delegations from Panama and South Korea to build trade relationships.  Congressman Davis’ support of the Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea is much appreciated by businesses in Northern Kentucky and will further enhance our opportunities to do business together.”

Davis says:
“In addition to the mutual economic benefits, these agreements are important to our national security by improving our relationships with three strong U.S. allies in strategically important parts of the world.”
But if it's such good news, why does one Senator say it forces American workers to compete with the lowest wages on Earth? How do two parties look at the same set of facts and reach such highly different conclusions? Is that why the country is in the shape it's in? Sen. Sanders calls the Trade Bill passage a good deal for Kim Jong Il:
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OCCUPY WALTON, KY: LOWER TURNOUT THAN EXPECTED
“We envisioned the streets of Walton packed,” said Occupy spokesman Vince Salitoro. “From the Dairy Hut to the Tractor Supply store and all the way over to the Porter family’s fishing hole. What we ended up with was, well, significantly less than that.” LOL.
Derf Magazine
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MORE THAN A RIBBON-CUTTING TODAY
After the presentation of the newly renovated RiverCenter Plaza, the Covington Business Council wants you to head over to Roebling Point. "...walk up the street to Molly Malones, 112 E. 4th for the CBC Talk and Tour highlighting all the great work by the Roebling Point Business Association. We'll be visiting the different bars/restaurants in the Assn."
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Covington-Business-Council-and-Foundation/109160892153
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SMOKING BAN DEBATED AT NKU
Student Government at NKU wants to know if a smoking ban without designated smoking areas (which is what the current ban has) is something the university should enact. Take the poll:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NKU-Student-Government-Association/110482035664459
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Maybe they don't know how hard it is to quit, even if you're a kitty:
Watch this hilarious/sad video of a nicotine addicted cat.
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Hat tip: RJ Caldwell from The Avenue Lounge
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MORE CANDIDATES COMING TO COVINGTON
"Next Wednesday, you'll have a great opportunity to meet Mayor Jerry Abramson, Treasurer Todd Hollenbach, Auditor Candidate Adam Edelen, Agriculture Commissioner Candidate Bob Farmer, and former Congressman Ken Lucas - as they stop in at the Covington Frisch's, as part of their statewide bus tour next week! Join us for a great breakfast, or just stop by to greet our excellent team of candidates, and show them a big Northern Kentucky Welcome!"
Frisch's Restaurant (5th Street) Wed. Oct. 19 - 8:45 A.M. 520 W 5th St, Covington, KY
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I KISSED A GIRL AND I LIKED IT (SO DID 42% OF YOU)
But an astonishing 27% were unsure whether they liked kissing a girl. Public Policy Polling reports on politics usually, but managed to squeeze in a Katy Perry question. In this poll, you'll find that info and also a nugget that Americans aren't too fond of the Tea Party or the Occupy Wall Street crowd (though if forced to choose, they side with the Occupiers).

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NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

Compiled by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
EXCLUSIVE:
FRANK GETS THREATS, IS OFFERED POLICE PROTECTION
If you missed our breaking story from last night, click the link. Covington City Commissioner Steve Frank receives threats from across the country following a national blog picking up his "go Taliban" remarks. By the way, the national blog story has been shared on Facebook over 2,000 times.
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ANOTHER THREAT TOWARD FRANK, FROM FAKE FACEBOOK PAGE
The city may have offered police protection to Commissioner Frank following the nationwide threats, but could he count on fire help? The Larry Decline Facebook page has added a distasteful image that seemingly implies another threat toward Frank. "Larry Decline" is a play on City Manager Larry Klein's name. Seems the back-and-forth between Frank and certain members of a local union will continue to be gutter-style, which ultimately means we as a city will lose. Embarrassing.
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RIVERFRONT COMMONS: "KENTUCKY'S FRONT DOOR TO THE WORLD"
Southbank Partners President Jack Moreland spoke on Riverfront Commons for a second night in a row, this time at Covington City Hall following Tuesday's meeting in Campbell County. Moreland drew comparisons to other cities that have rejuvenated their tourism and riverfronts with similar projects such as San Antonio and Chattanooga. "We think we can do the same thing to this riverwalk because our river is just as pretty as anybody else's," Moreland said.
The project is on part 2 of a 6-part feasibility study involving the Army Corps of Engineers. A recent figure put the price tag at $80 million, but Moreland conceded Wednesday night that that number may not be accurate when the project is finished. It will involve federal, state, and local money in addition to private interests. "I'm not gonna wake up and find eighty million dollars under my bed and say, 'shazam, let's do this'," Moreland said. "We have to do this a piece at a time."
When completed, the riverwalk would stretch across more than eleven miles of Northern Kentucky's riverfront from the Combs-Hehl Bridge in the east to the lagoon in Ludlow in the west. Ft. Thomas city councilman Roger Peterman said the project would bring new business, new jobs and would attract more tourism. "Northern Kentucky is the envy of the state and across the river because of our ability to come together and get things done," Peterman said. "This will redefine Northern Kentucky."
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RIVERCENTER PLAZA RIBBON CUTTING TODAY
Come down and see the newly spruced up plaza and celebrate a nice piece of good news for Covington. The event starts at 4PM. This is an important development as the buildings will be that much more attractive to possible tenants that may replace Omnicare.
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DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER, WALKER URGES SCREENINGS
KY's Secretary of State Elaine Walker announced yesterday that she has breast cancer but that because of early detection, the prognosis is positive.  “I ask that we all do what we can to share information about breast cancer awareness this month and all year round.   The more we know, the sooner the disease can go into the annals of medical history,” she said.   She plans to maintain a full office schedule, particularly with the 2011 general election and the launch of Kentucky Business One-Stop web portal in the near future.  “I have two and a half months left in my term, and I can assure you that I intend to forge ahead with key projects in motion.”
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TEA PARTY LOSING STEAM IN KENTUCKY
A new poll from Public Policy Polling shows that a nationwide trend of Tea Party fatigue is settling in right here in Kentucky. The Tea Party now has a favorable rating of just 40% with a 46% unfavorable rating in the Bluegrass State.
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WHERE ARE ALL THE BABIES?
It's the economy, stupid! Bad financial era blamed for low birth rates.
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NKU HONORED AS MILITARY FRIENDLY
 Northern Kentucky University has once again been recognized by G.I. Jobs as among the nation's Military Friendly Schools for the services it provides to students with military experience. This is the second consecutive year NKU has received this distinction from the magazine for military personnel transitioning to civilian life.
NKU press release
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ICE CREAM SOLD AT KENTUCKY KROGER STORES RECALLED
Do you eat "Extreme Moose Tracks"? Click the link for the details.
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DANCE LIKE A BUTTERFLY... SUE LIKE A BEE?
Muhammad Ali and his wife are suing a Louisville couple over a home the Alis purchased. I suggest a settlement. Ali is still a badass.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

FRANK: I'M GETTING THREATS; CITY OFFERS POLICE PROTECTION

by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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Covington City Commissioner Steve Frank's comment that he wants to "go Taliban" on the Occupy Wall St & Occupy Cincinnati protestors has led to threats of death and violence from Ft. Worth, Texas to Ontario, Canada. One threat even came from Covington prompting city staff to offer police protection to Frank, who declined.
 
The threatening voice messages to his work and email may have been prompted by a national blog picking up the story and garnering more than 1,600 "shares" on Facebook and more than 130 comments from outside the immediate area. Frank tells The River City News that he does not regret the remark and has also continued to defend himself on Facebook. "I was making a point that I was upset that people painted my entire industry one way," Frank, a financial professional, said Wednesday night during an interview with theRCnews. "(The protestors) can dish it, but they can't take it."
 
Frank exacerbated the criticism when he took to Facebook to write that he is "proud to be a 1%er", a response to the Occupy movement's claim to represent the 99% of Americans on the unfair end of the economic crisis. Frank is a self-described millionaire. His recent writings include, "I think people always had it hard. Nothing new folks.", "Occupiers, Why don't you do what the millionaire's do and make a million too?", and his entire explanation shortly after it was evident that his Taliban comment struck some nerves:
I am putting the people's interest first. I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. My father died before I was ten and I made my own way in the world. I used to do foundation work busting rods in knee deep mud and walking the high iron to make sure bolts were put on tight enough for $2.37 an hour when they built the I-75 I-275 exchange in Erlanger. I know what its like to be broke and have ...children depending on you. I did something about it. I kept working my way up. I have been a successful financial advisor working at large Wall Street Firms helping my clients, who come from all walks of life protect and save their money. Its an honest honorable profession and one I am proud of. I know that Wall Street, like most every human enterprise has its moral failings. I did something about it. I togeather with leadership from the Financial Planning Association, the professional asscoiation of Certified Financial Planners, wrote an ethical code for our entire industry. Its called the fiduciary standard. That standard says that a client's interests must always come first. I will not stand passively by while a noble calling is besmirched. I will also not let our unions drive us into a financial black hole and I am busy fighting the local business establishment so that Covington is no longer ignored or walked on by our neighbors. No apologies for earning my way into the top 1%. Oh and not only do I and my wife pay taxes you can't believe; we still donate significant money to charity. Nancy and I just gave in 5 figures to build The College of Informatics at NKU so that maybe we could have the next Steve Jobs come from here.
Frank has a history of controversial remarks on his personal (but public) Facebook page stemming from a months-long battle for health care concessions from the city's public unions. The 55-year old is in his first term as a Covington City Commissioner.
 
SEE ALSO:
 

NEWS ROUND-UP #2 -- WEDNESDAY 12 OCT

Compiled by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
@theRCnews on Twitter
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WHY TONIGHT'S RIVERFRONT COMMONS MEETING MATTERS
A perfectly timed study from the University of Cincinnati indicates that a location near nature trails could hold a financial benefit for homeowners and ultimately neighboring communities. Tonight's meeting between the Army Corps of Engineers and local government leaders is at 7PM inside commission chambers at City Hall. They'll discuss the feasibility of the 11.5 mile trail along the river stretching across all the NKY River Cities. What amazing possibilities. I'll be there tonight and will have a post later.
Read the study: University of Cincinnati
SEE ALSO: Project Faces Hurdles/NKY.com
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NKY & CINCI'S CHAMBERS TO TALK ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Together. Wonder if Omnicare will come up? Awkward.
Lane Report
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****
REPOST: COVINGTON: WHAT'S HAPPENING?
****
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KY SEC. OF STATE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER
Elaine Walker told reporters today the prognosis was excellent because of early detection. Walker lost in the Democratic primary to retain her position. She is the former mayor of Bowling Green.
WBKO
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HELP COV FIREFIGHTERS WIN $10,000
All you have to do is take a short survey and put in the correct department at the end. Do it!
Be Fire Smart
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OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION ON JOBS
Sen. McConnell: GOP ready to vote on Jobs Bill Mitch's YouTube channel
Rep. Davis: Took to Twitter to promote free trade with a chart to demonstrate his point.
SEE ALSO: Sen. Bernie Sanders disagrees with Davis's interpretation.
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NORTHERN KENTUCKY BRIDGE INSPECTED
Because it's just like the one in Louisville closed by the federal government.
Associated Press
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1400 DRUNK DRIVING ARRESTS IN KY PROGRAM
This year’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement effort, coordinated by the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS), resulted in 1,480 citations for drunken driving.
KY Office of Public Affairs
SEE ALSO: Drunk driving overall appears to be dropping.
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YOUNG KY FILMMAKERS CAN FIGHT DRUG ABUSE
Attorney General Jack Conway wants to spread the word about dangerous prescription drug abuse, a serious epidemic in Kentucky. High school students can make a public service announcement video and submit to win an iPad and more.
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BESHEAR: OCTOBER IS 'KING JAMES BIBLE MONTH'
Git reedin'!
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VETERAN COPS CAN BECOME KY STATE TROOPERS IN 11 WEEKS
Through a new accelerated program.
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WIN BENGALS TICKETS IN COVINGTON
CityBeat: "Visit us at Covington's Sidebar at 8 p.m. Thursday. We're giving away tickets to the Miller Lite Party Deck for this Sunday's Bengals game!"
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FREE FLIGHTS TO CVG? THAT'S WHAT JAPAN IS DOING FOR ITS TOURISM
One way the country of Japan plans to recover tourism dollars following a devastating earthquake/tsunami is to give 10,000 foreigners free air travel to come there. That would be one way to get traffic on those runways out in Hebron again.
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DID YOU MISS THIS MORNING'S ROUND-UP?
Where is our city's newest historical marker?; Which bird are Kentuckians closer than ever to being allowed to shoot?; and did you know that America is in trouble because Kentucky is in charge (according to a FL paper & KY blog)?

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY 12 OCT

Compiled by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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TUESDAY WAS A ROUGH DAY FOR COVINGTON
Commissioner comments go region-wide, the firefighters take their message to the fire trucks, a fake Facebook profile weighs in on city issues, and should the mayoral search be kept private? (No.)
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STATEWIDE CANDIDATES COMING TO COVINGTON
We're less than a month away from electing Kentucky's statewide constitutional office holders. Three of them are coming to speak to the Optimists Club at Chez Nora in Mainstrasse.
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BESHEAR RAISES MOUNTAINS OF CASH
No wonder the Tea Party compares him to President Obama. He raises tons of money just like Barack! $9.5 Million? Wow.
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BESHEAR VS WILLIAMS DEBATE COVERAGE
Does it even matter at this point? Seems the race was written off long ago.
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WHERE CANDIDATES STAND ON IMPORTANT ISSUES
Check it out at the link.
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POVERTY RATE AT ALL TIME HIGH
Seriously. In America. An all time high.
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MAYBE BECAUSE KENTUCKY IS IN CHARGE?
"Mitch McConnell heads up Senate obstructionism, Rand Paul blocks legislation left and right, Geoff Davis is pushing the GOP’s plan to roll back safety protections on everything, Ed Whitfield is leading the fight to destroy the EPA and Hal Rogers holds the purse strings."
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COVINGTON'S NEWEST HISTORICAL MARKER
Source: Covington Independent Schools
Our city has historical markers to share and the newest one is outside the building that currently houses the Covington Independent Public Schools Board of Education and Adminsitrative Offices. Why? Because the building was Northern Kentucky's first hospital and the original location of St. Elizabeth. In the photo, you see Superintendent Lynda Jackson with members of the Kentucky Historical Society.
Are you following our school district on Facebook? Do!
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FINALLY! WE CAN ALL START SHOOTING CRANES!
Sandhill cranes were nearly extinct a century ago because of overhunting and now Kentucky wants to do its part to take us back there. We may soon be the only state east of the Mississippi River to allow it.
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CINCINNATI & NORWOOD AMONG BEST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
According to America's Promise Alliance those two cities rank highly nationally.
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WANT TO GET COVINGTON ON THAT LIST?
Get involved, young people. Join Legacy NKY.

COVINGTON: "WHAT'S HAPPENING"?

by Michael Monks
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
What's happening, exactly? Read below and find out.
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BREAKING:
ELIZABETHTOWN AIMS TO SURPASS COVINGTON

Butch Callery

The capital of Northern Kentucky may drop out of the top 5 most populous Kentucky cities. That was news Tuesday night at The Carnegie during an academic lecture featuring a veritable who's-who among the... municipal merger circuit? More on this seemingly unprovoked examination of whether Covington should merge with Kenton County or if Kenton County should merge with Campbell and Boone Counties or whether Erlanger should do police dispatch for the entire Eastern time zone, or something, coming up at the bottom of this post. There will be a test. No, seriously, there was a test at the end, I took it, and you should have to take it, too. Plus, Butch Callery was there!
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LET'S START INSTEAD WITH...
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FIREFIGHTERS UNION TAKES MESSAGE TO FIRE TRUCK

"Out of service due to brownout" reads this sign on
Pumper One
at the firehouse on the corner of Scott & Robbins

A less muddled message was blasted on the front of a fire truck outside the Carnegie following the lecture. Local 38, the Covington firefighter union, has already made their opposition known to the recent move by the city to reduce staff per shift from 30 to 27. Local 38 alleges that that is a breach of contract. The city disagreed. The situation led to a court hearing. Monday, union secretary/treasurer Mike Clendenen wrote on The River City News Facebook wall an open letter to the citizens of Covington, promising that the union "will fight to the end".
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FAKE FACEBOOK PROFILE MOCKS CITY MANAGER, COMMISSIONERS

From Facebook profile of "Larry Decline". Get it?

The operator of an apparently fake profile on Facebook also has some harsh words for City Manager Larry Klein and Commissioners Steve Frank and Steve Casper. Its name is "Larry Decline", get it? The juvenile page compares Casper to Boss Hogg from Dukes of Hazard, features a mock-up of a Frank campaign flyer that includes his DUI mugshot, and claims to work for a company called "assholes". The operator also writes such prose as:
"At least Casper had enough sense to take down all of his campaign bullshit and yes he did cry again. I don't mind a guy being in touch with his emotional side, but my lord man up just a little. Is there a foo foo juice fountain in The Ascent that you guys bathe in together or what?"
This may be a modern way to vent frustration, but it's not a good way to keep dialogue civil or a way to keep citizens on your side. Reminds me of a time when puiblic employees thought Commissioner Frank was behaving badly on Facebook. Speaking of, let's see if Steve Frank has improved his social networking skills...
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FRANK'S FACEBOOK COMMENTS GET PICKED UP BY ENQUIRER

Facebook diarrhea is a serious problem in Covington.
 Of course not! Frank proclaimed on his personal Facebook page that he wants to "go Taliban"  on the Occupy Cincinnati protesters and that he is proud to be something called a 1%-er. The comment was  picked up by the Cincinnati Enquirer, and we're not talking Mike Rutledge, here, the Enquirer reporter assigned to Covington. We're talking Mr. Politics Extra Carl Weiser who lumped Frank with Hamilton County Auditor/disc-jockey Dusty Rhodes who also had something assholish to say about the protests. Frank returned to Facebook to explain by telling his familair story that always begins with "I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth" and always ends with "I will not let the unions bankrupt this city". I could have written it myself from memory. Same with Denny Bowman's recollections of the early nineties.
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THOUGHTS ON POSTING INFO ON MAYORAL CANDIDATES

The effort to replace Mayor Denny Bowman is a task before the four city commissioners. The effort to inform the public on who may be the next mayor is a task before me. It was suggested to me Tuesday night by someone close to the process that the mayoral candidates being interviewed by the commissioners should remain private because that is what some potential candidates were promised. My position is that candidates would not be able to run for this office from the shadows and in secrecy, neither should they be appointed that way. So, again, here is The River City News exclusive report on candidates being considered to replace Bowman. The citizens of Covington have the right to know who is being considered, what their stories are and what their connections are. It is not the behavior of a transparent government to insist otherwise. Please keep the tips coming and I will work to confirm them: Email Michael.
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AND NOW BACK TO OUR BREAKING STORY FROM THE TOP OF THE POST
Did you know that there is something called The Kenton County Government Study Group? Me neither. But there is, and it commissioned a study by UNC-Charlotte Professor Dr. Suzanne Leland who took to the Carnegie stage in an event sponsored by Northern Kentucky Forum to speak on various government mergers that she either worked on or studied. Following that, a panel consisting of NKU Professor and co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky Paul Tenkotte, Crestview Hills Mayor Paul Meier, Erlanger & Taylor Mill & Edgewood (seriously) City Attorney Frank Wichmann, strategic planning consultant Luke Schmidt, and former Louisville-Jefferson County economic development director Bruce Traughber. Newsmakers host Dan Hurley moderated and fielded questions from audience members including former Covington Mayor Butch Callery, former Covington Commissioner JT Spence, and Kenton County Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn. (The question session was somewhat awkward, with the questions being written on cards and presented to Hurley, but the questioners still being beckoned to microphones that some never spoke through.) This event is why the Covington Commission's Tuesday meeting was cancelled.


Anything at the Carnegie is fun because the building is beautiful and full of history and this lecture truly was interesting with explanations on how Louisville handled its merger with Jefferson County, how Erlanger handles police duty for Crescent Springs, and especially how there was a time when Ft. Mitchell and Park Hills sought to be annexed by Covington. (Can you imagine? Other cities wanted to be Covington...)The harsh reality of today, however, was examined with a story from Hardin County and the effort there to merge Elizabethtown, Radcliffe and the county into one government. The recent expansion of Ft. Knox there helped boost Elizabethtown's population 26% to 28,000. That's smaller than Covington, the fifth largest city in Kentucky (E-town is eleventh) but following a merger, Elizabethtown would be the third largest city in Kentucky and Covington (which lost 6% of its population from 2000 - 2010) would drop out of the top 5.
There does not seem to be any immediate plans for an effort to combine Covington's or Kenton County's government with any other (though there is a quiz, so take it if you're interested) so I'm not sure what to make of the presentation. What I do know is that Covington is facing some troubling times and where some cities are working to improve their situation, ours is taking on the role of its own worst enemy. Again. Want proof? Read again every entry above this one. I've called for civility before, and hope for it still. There is light at the end of the tunnel for Covington but we have to keep walking toward it together. Cut the bullshit, please. There's a city at stake.