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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks
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COVINGTON COMMISSION CRITICIZED FOR CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS
The Cincinnati Enquirer's Mike Rutledge writes that if budget talks are going on behind closed doors at Covington City Hall, the city commission may be in violation of the state's open meetings law:
Although the city must approve one of its most challenging annual budgets in recent years by July 1, the commission has yet to discuss the 2012 spending plan during public portions of its meetings.
“We’ve been discussing the budget with the commission probably for a couple of months now,” Klein said.
“A lot of it’s in executive session because it deals with personnel, because of our budget challenges, obviously,” Klein said. “And we’re just putting some options out there.”
A lawyer who represents the Kentucky Press Association said he believes such behind-the-door conversations violate state open-meetings laws.
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UPDATE: City Commissioner Steve Frank has responded to the above report thusly:
Anybody who has followed me knows I am absolutely unafraid of saying what needs to be said very publically, chips fall where they may. I am, if I have a fault perhaps too public which I feel helps the people understand how Covington got into the shape that it's in and what we are doing about it. In this particular case Mr. Mike Rutledge-Journalist is apparently frustrated that there isn't some juicy story to report on by a City Commission that is up to no good. Sorry Mike, there is no there there. Perhaps if you spent your time actually talking with us and showing up to meetings the way local blogs such as Michael Monks River City News does you'd realize that you are on a snipe hunt. All you have is five dedicated elected officials trying to save their city from insolvency who have gasp...agreed that we should be unified in making hard decisions. I am not an attorney, so I can't venture an opinion about the finer points of public meetings, but if you suspect that there is some kind of Kabal going on in the dark; in the immortal words of John Lennon; "You'd better free your mind instead." If you wanted to write an attention grabbing story; maybe you should focus on the personal sacrifice our Mayor, Chuck Charles R Scheper has made; setting asside his personal ambition to cure cancer and instead donating his time and salary to impliment and bring up to date his Scheper Report from 1999. Yesterday the City of Cincinnati just dedicated a park to the memory of John Smale, much of it because of his report to the City of Cincinnati at about the same time. The City of Covington will in my opinion owe Chuck Scheper no less for his efforts. Mike, may I suggest that you simply read the Scheper Report from 1999 and imagine it updated to resolve the Brutal Facts (well published) that Covington is facing because we didn't heed Chuck's report's suggestions in 1999 (the Ten Point Plan also well published) and anything that we are doing should become obvious to you. As to any objections as to how we are implimenting the Ten Point Plan; we have been most transparent both in public session and on line.|
SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY OUTSIDE MAIFEST
A man leaving Maifest was accosted by another man who demanded "all he's got" before drawing a small handgun, according to a witness. The would-be victim shared his story with the witness who in turn shared it with The River City News. The victim thought the man was kidding until the gun was drawn but the suspect was serious, so serious in fact, that Covington Police were already searching for him after someone else was robbed earlier. When police showed up at the scene on Russell Street between Fifth & Sixth, the suspect tried to lose the handgun in a resident's yard but it was recovered and the suspect was hauled off in one of the six police cruisers on the scene. Working on attaining more information from the Covington Police.
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CAUTION: Maifest is a wonderful, safe event but always use caution when partying late at night. Park in a well-lit area and walk in groups.
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SEE ALSO: Otherwise, Maifest got off to a great start Friday evening with a huge crowd as soon as it opened. Check out the photo gallery from the opening day at the link below!
SEE ALSO: Otherwise, Maifest got off to a great start Friday evening with a huge crowd as soon as it opened. Check out the photo gallery from the opening day at the link below!
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COVINGTON POLICE CHIEF AND CITY REACH AMICABLE SEPARATION
Just months after the Covington City Commission voted to keep Lee Russo as police chief, The River City News breaks the story on Friday that Russo will be leaving. Though the chief and city leaders say that the separation is amicable, the decision to part ways follows an internal review of the police department by a Cincinnati-based consulting firm. Full story at the link below.
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NORTHERN KENTUCKY POLICE MEMORIAL
The annual solemn ceremony to remember fallen police officers took place in Covington Friday morning. This year, two more names were added to the list of officers that we have lost: one in Afghanistan and another from an illness:
From the Kenton County Police Department:
Sgt. Kevin Spille died December 20, 2005 at his home in Independence, KY, at 32 years old, leaving behind his wife, son, and unborn daughter. Sgt. Spille served the citizens of Kenton County since 1997 and had been promoted to sergeant just six months before his death. The sorrow of his loss is still felt by the men and women of the Kenton County Police department who had the opportunity to serve with Sgt. Spille.
On June 4, 2011, Sgt. Brett Benton was killed in an explosion while serving in Afghanistan, leaving behind his wife. Sgt. Benton left the Kenton County Police Department just weeks earlier to work in Afghanistan training police officers. While at the Kenton County Police Department, Sgt. Benton started the department’s police K-9 program which continues to this day. With the coming one year anniversary of Sgt. Benton’s death, the shock of his loss remains fresh in the minds of the members of the Kenton County Police Department and the community he served.
Photos from the ceremony in Covington:
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SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES TENTATIVE BUDGET, CONSIDERS TAX INCREASE
At a special meeting of the Covington School Board Wednesday evening, Superintendent Lynda Jackson presented her tentative budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year and the board also decided to explore their option to raise their share of the city's property tax by another 4%, though that official vote would not come until August, a year removed from the most recent tax increase. As for the budget, Kentucky state law requires the school district to have a tentative budget in place by May 31. To see what the budget looks like, click the link below where you will have to download a PDF file.
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SEE ALSO: School volunteers in Kentucky may have to pay $10 for background checks Courier-Journal
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QUICKIES
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Bank of Kentucky's Bob Zapp not ready to retire Business Courier
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The do's and don't's of Kentucky's primary election Tuesday press release
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The entire contents of a Kentucky K-Mart slated to close are bought up by one man and he then gives it all away to the community Huffington Post
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Help the Kenton County Police find this suspect Facebook
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Kentucky joins $90 million Medicaid suit against Health Point press release
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Kentucky cutting down on ginseng poachers Herald-Leader
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State launches new child support website WBKO
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NKU closes distance between Pakistan and Kentucky Kentucky Forward
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Barnes & Noble to operate NKU's bookstore Cincinnati Enquirer
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SEE ALSO: NKU releases its Division I soccer schedule (this transition to D-I from D-II is getting more exciting as the first games near! Think about some of the high profile schools that will face off against athletes wearing jerseys with the name of our region on them!) NKU Norse
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Low lake levels worry some in Kentucky Herald-Leader
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PHOTOS: Covington Business Council golf outing Facebook
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Democrat Bill Adkins endorsed by United Auto Workers in race to represent NKY in Congress:
“The United Auto Workers endorsement is so important to my race, as the automobile industry is important to Kentucky,” says Bill Adkins. “I am proud of the effort and sacrifice made by the United Auto Workers to keep American factories running during the recession that began in 2008. UAW workers are to be commended for the successful turnaround of their industry and saving jobs.”
SEE ALSO: A profile of Republican candidate Alecia Webb-Edgington cn|2
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MORE SUCCESS STORIES FROM THE EMERGENCY SHELTER OF NKY
The Covington-based shelter has helped two more individuals to become self-supporting. From shelter director Rachael Winters:
Wanted to share the good news that the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky's summer shelter program, which opened May 1st, is happy to report that two of our guests have already moved from homelessness to housing. Both men stayed here and received shelter, support, clothing, food and referrals for services. Both now have their own home with the ability to pay rent each month. Both of these guests were also supported by Welcome House which provided case management services.
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PROPOSED NORTHERN KENTUCKY AMUSEMENT PARK KILLED BY KINGS ISLAND
A great story from the Cincinnati Enquirer tells the history behind a proposed theme park in Boone County that was backed by the guy who played Daniel Boone on television. The man who owned Coney Island, Charles Sawyer, was interested in working with Fess Parker on the project:
Sawyer had reached out to Parker, since the parks would be so close, but got no response. That irked Sawyer, and so he instead worked with Taft Broadcasting to build Kings Island in Mason. Competition doomed Frontier Worlds, and Parker pulled up stakes in 1971. The land remains an undeveloped field.Read it.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Jeff Suess
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In other news involving a former TV star in Kentucky, the guy who played Starsky on Starsky & Hutch was arrested for marijuana possession Association Press via Cincinnati Enquirer
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Loretta Lynn lied about her age? It's not uncommon for stars to lie about how old they are, but the Coal Miner's Daughter made her age at the time of her marriage such an important part of her life story that this seems like a pretty big deal Herald-Leader
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Van Halen cancels Cincinnati stop on its tour WKRC
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Inside one of Covington's newest destinations: The Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar in Mainstrasse Village Metromix
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FATTY PATTY PIZZA STARTS DELIVERY SERVICE TODAY
The Mainstrasse pizza spot is now open for delivery, too! Check them out from 5:00PM - 11:00PM every day except Monday. Go to Fatty Patty Facebook for more information.
The second leg of the Triple Crown runs this evening with Derby champion I'll Have Another and the rest of the pack in Maryland for the Preakness Herald-Leader
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Jockey Kent Desormeaux failed a breathalyzer and has been replaced in the race Courier-Journal
HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY, COVINGTON!
THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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