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Wednesday, January 4, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON 4 JAN

by Michael Monks 
NEW ADDRESS: Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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BILL WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO DISSOLVE NKY AREA PLANNING COMM.
State Senator Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown), whose district encompasses the southern part of Kenton County and South Covington, wants to make it easier for the Tea Party and the NKY Homebuilders to dissolve the NKAPC. The effort follows both organizations' fraudulent attempt to place the matter on last November's ballot. Click the link for more.
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PERENNIAL CANDIDATE GATEWOOD GALBRAITH DIED IN HIS SLEEP
Sad news about one of Kentucky's great political characters and a strong advocate for the Commonwealth's hemp industry.
Photos: Herald-Leader
Governor Beshear statement:
“Jane and I were shocked and saddened to learn of Gatewood’s passing. He was a gutsy, articulate and passionate advocate who never shied away from a challenge or potential controversy. His runs for office prove he was willing to do more than just argue about the best direction for the state – he was willing to serve, and was keenly interested in discussing issues directly with our citizens. He will be missed.”
Senator Mitch McConnell state via Twitter:


 Sen. McConnell Press 

I am saddened to hear of the passing of Gatewood Galbraith. He was a truly memorable character who loved our state and its people.

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COVINGTON POLICE OFFICER MIKE PARTIN REMEMBERED TODAY
It was January 4, 1998 that Covington Police Patrolman Mike Partin fell to his death from the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge in pursuit of a suspect. From the Cincinnati Enquirer's In The Line of Duty special series:
Sunday, Jan. 4, 1998, should have been the day Tristate police officers removed the black bands from their badges, the end of a 30-day mourning period for two fallen Cincinnati officers. But the black bands stayed on, this time for rookie Covington Officer Mike Partin. Partin was trying to help another officer catch a fleeing man on the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge. On the force just 15 months, he drowned in the cold Ohio River after falling from the bridge. He fell into the water wearing a black band across his own silver badge.
More at the link.
Cincinnati Enquirer  
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Personally, I'll always remember that tragic night. My father was also on patrol in Covington during those overnight hours and my mother was working at the dispatch center for Kenton County at the same time. Every police family lives with the underlying fear that a moment like that could strike home at any time. All police families mourned the loss of a community protector that night and have remembered Mike Partin annually ever since. A wreath is hung in a solemn, quiet ceremony on the CWB Bridge at the spot from which Partin fell. We should always remember the nightly sacrifices our public protectors endure while the rest of us sleep safely because of them. 
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As someone put it at Facebook:
"Rest in peace Officer Michael Partin CPD # 0163 - Gone but not forgotten!"
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LONGTIME COVINGTON POLICE CLERK REMEMBERED
Shirley Fry served the City of Covington for 32 years as a record clerk in the police department. She died December 29 at the age of 75.
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COVINGTON CURFEW MAKES NATIONAL YAHOO BLOG
It's not like the new daytime curfew law is new -- in fact, it's based on one in Newport which is based on one in Dallas. For some reason, though, it's getting national attention:
If Ferris Bueller lived in Covington, Kentucky, he'd have a lot more to deal with than just his principal. A new city ordinance, enacted January 2, has police taking school truancy into their own hands. If kids are caught skipping school they could now be arrested on misdemeanor charges. If their parents are complicit in the hooky-playing, they too could be hauled into court. It's all part of a new crackdown led by Ken Kippenbrock, Director of Pupil Personnel for theCovington school district.
As of this writing, the story has more than 1,660 comments.
Shine from Yahoo  
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WALL STREET JOURNAL TACKLES GAMBLING IN KENTUCKY
The national financial newspaper profiles the Commonwealth's efforts to beef up the struggling horse industry through expanded gaming:
Kentucky political leaders could propose legislation as soon as this week to pave the way for legalizing casino gambling, making it the latest state to consider lifting a longtime ban on slot machines and roulette tables.
You can read a little more at the link, but to view the whole article, you have to be a subscriber.
Wall Street Journal 
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SEE ALSO: Gambling amendment may have easier path in Senate than in House cn|2 
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SEE ALSO: Jerry Abramson settling in as Lt. Governor WHAS 11 
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HOW TIGHTLY DO CORPORATIONS HAVE LOCAL GOVTS BY THE ----S?
Quite tightly as a matter of fact. Look at all the groveling Cincinnati did to keep Chiquita in town:
The offer then was revised to a loan package which grew several times, ultimately to $4 million. The county offered another $2 million. That money would have been used to renovate the corporation’s space, said Christian Sigman, county administrator.
The emails show that Patrick Ewing, the interim economic development director who retired last month, repeatedly emailed Stan Witkowski, the company’s director of corporate administrative services, for updates on the company’s decision making process in September, October and November. Most of them went without response. The seat on the board of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport board was added to the incentives package Sept. 23.
Read the whole pathetic thing, and understand why oh yes we have no bananas now.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Jane Pendergast 
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2012 IS YEAR FOR CVG TO STABILIZE SAYS AIRPORT EXEC 
Another double-digit percentage loss of travelers at CVG is expected, but CVG is supposedly in "turnaround" mode:
“This is an exciting period. How often does a business have the opportunity to reinvent itself from top to bottom?” she said. On the job for six months, McGraw is working to reverse a six-year decline in air service and passenger traffic that business leaders fear is stunting the region’s economic growth. She described the recent addition of two extra flights to Atlanta and Detroit and reinstated service to Portland through Salt Lake City as “small wins.” But they’re also proof that the community's push to boost service is working, she said.
Let's hope.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Alexander Coolidge  
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DRAMA IN THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
Newly sworn-in Republican Agriculture Commissioner James Comer has fired the girlfriend of his predecessor, Republican Richie Farmer, who lost his bid for Lt. Governor in November:
Sandmann was hired as a special assistant by Farmer a week before the November election in which he was running for lieutenant governor on the Republican ticket with Senate President David Williams. They lost to Gov. Steve Beshear. Comer's general counsel said Sandmann was let go from her $60,000-a-year job on Tuesday, the day after Comer was sworn in.
Shouldn't she have offered her resignation as acourtesy to avoid this story? Ah, Frankfort and its cast of characters. It would be funny if it weren't all so painfully sad.
WBKO 
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ATTY GEN CONWAY SCORES SETTLEMENT FOR 'DO NOT CALL' VIOLATIONS
Stop calling!
Attorney General Jack Conway today announced an agreement with a Rhode Island based Marketing company to resolve violations of the Kentucky Do Not Call Act. Versatile Marketing Solutions (VMS) has entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the Office of the Attorney General and will pay a civil penalty of $20,000. "This agreement should send a clear message that there are consequences for failure to follow Kentucky's Do Not Call and telemarketing fraud statutes," General Conway said. "My Office of Consumer Protection is committed to protecting Kentucky families and consumers from businesses that try to operate outside of the law."
Jack Conway press release  
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"Stop calling, stop calling, I don't want to talk anymore!" -Lady Gaga
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ANOTHER CUTE ANIMAL UP FOR ADOPTION IN KENTON COUNTY

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