360 Fireworks Party

Saturday, January 28, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- SATURDAY 28 JAN

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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NKY LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS MEETS THE PUBLIC TODAY AT NKU
10:00AM at Northern Kentucky University's Student Union ballroom. Covington's representation in Frankfort is expected to attend. Including Senator Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown, whose district includes South Covington) who has sponsored a bill to make it easier to place the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission's existence on the ballot. 
NKU 
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Supporters of NKAPC had this update about Thayer's bill:
Senate Bill 62 (SB62), the bill being pushed by the HBA and the Tea Party to eliminate the NKAPC, has some interesting features that need to be explored. The bill is designed to make it easy for a small group of people with big financial interests to get what they want – elimination of an organization that regulates them. Since they lost last time, they’ve decided the rules aren’t fair and so they want to change them.
In addition to lowering the petition signature threshold to about one sixth (1/6) of the previous requirement and extending the amount of time to collect the signatures by 33%, another interesting feature of SB62 is a requirement that the county clerk accept a petition signature at face value if it is accompanied by a birth date or a verifiable address. Here is the language in the bill:
A signature of a voter accompanied by a verifiable address or date of birth shall have a presumption of validity. The county clerk shall bear the burden, by clear and convincing evidence, for the exclusion of any signature on a petition by proving that the signature in question is not that of a registered voter.
This means that Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse and Elmer Fudd would all be accepted as valid if accompanied by a birth date and a verifiable address, unless the clerk can prove otherwise. See how this works? This is obviously intended to cost the clerk both time and money – and we all know how the Tea Party hates wasting taxpayer dollars, don’t we?
4 NKAPC  
SEE ALSO: The Kentucky League of Cities expressed concern over another piece of pending legislation:
House Bill 214, sponsored by Representative Steve Riggs (D-Jeffersontown), was moved from the House Committee on Local Government last week and reassigned to the House Committee on Labor and Industry. The bill will likely be heard on Thursday, February 2 at 10:00 a.m. in room 149 of the Capitol Annex. This measure is intended to require the scheduled overtime pay of a professional firefighter or EMS personnel to be included in the computation of the average weekly wage as set forth in KRS 342.140 for workers' compensation benefits.
House Bill 214 would directly affect cities that employ firefighters on a 24/48 work schedule. KLC opposes the bill because it would increase the workers compensation indemnity payments to firefighters by approximately 12 percent, which would cause increases in workers compensation insurance premiums paid by many cities. The amount of premium increases would vary among the cities, hitting those cities with more firefighters on the payroll harder.
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COVINGTON MAN SENTENCED FOR MURDER; MAINSTRASSE ROBBER PUT AWAY
A man who beat his mother to death and a man who robbed six Mainstrasse patrons at gunpoint (and who also faces a murder charge in Ohio) are among the faces you'll see in this week's mugshot round-up brought to you courtesy of Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders.
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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MOVES TO BLOCK OMNICARE'S TAKEOVER PLANS
The Covington Cincinnati-based corporation is being watched closely by the Federal Trade Commission:
In a news release issued late Friday, the FTC said its move to block Omnicare's acquisition of PharMerica alleges "that the combination of the two largest U.S. long-term care pharmacies would harm competition and enable Omnicare to raise the price of drugs for Medicare Part D consumers and others." Both companies provide pharmaceutical services to long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted-living centers.
Harm competition? Why would Omnicare want to do that?
Business First/Ed Green  
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NATIONALLY-KNOWN EDUCATOR'S VISIT TO COVINGTON FILMED BY PBS
Ron Clark, whose celebrated approach to education prompted the production of a made-for-TV movie, The Ron Clark Story starring Matthew Perry in the title role, will speak to Holmes Middle, Holmes High, and Glenn O. Swing Elementary Schools on Monday. And PBS is sending a crew to film the visit! 
The River City News 
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sports
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HOLY CROSS ADVANCES IN ALL A CLASSIC; HOLMES WINS BIG
Covington is home to two terrific high school basketball programs this season. Both Holmes and Holy Cross will make a serious run at the Sweet 16 this year. Last night, the Indians advanced to the semifinals of the state tournament for small schools by toppling Owen County, 48-35. Meanwhile, Holmes clobbered Beechwood 82-57.
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SUPERSTAR FILL RACHEL ALEXANDRA WATCHES NEW COLT TAKE FIRST STEPS
This pony's papa is Curlin' and his mama is Rachel Alexandra and he took his first steps this week.
Image via
That colt is going to be an amazing racer.
Another picture here.
Links to video here.
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SHELTER RESIDENTS THANK STUDENTS
Residents and staff of the Northern Kentucky Emergency Shelter in Covington headed out to Union to thank some helpful students:
The roughly 150 students collected money for the shelter as a Christmas service project. That cash turned into 45 McDonald’s gift cards, long underwear, hats and gloves. The students were so excited to help that they held a cereal drive the first week of this month and collected 60 boxes. They held another one this past week and collected about 70 more.
The kids are all right.
Cincinnati Enquirer/William Croyle  
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HELP COVINGTON ARTS PICK AN IMAGE FOR ITS FACEBOOK PAGE
Covington Arts has a new Facebook page and wants help from the public in selecting a profile picture:
Though Picsasso's Blue Period was inspiring, our blue space on FB, is getting tiring. So this a shout out to all you funky creative folk, this is the last call to enter our image competition. Send your images to krentzke@covingtonky.gov no later than Monday and your image could turn that boring blue space into an alluring attractive artwork.

CONVICTED: KILLING MOM & ROBBING MAINSTRASSE EDITION

"Like" The River City News on Facebook! Click here.
A couple of high profile cases are included in this week's mugshot round-up, brought to you courtesy of Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders.
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EARL KNASEL - CONFESSED TO MURDERING HIS OWN MOTHER
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On August 10, 2010, Barbara Knasel's daughter went to her mother's home after she was unable to make contact with her mother by phone. The home was locked but the daughter smelled natural gas so she called 911. Covington Fire Dept. responded and found the home filled with so much gas that it was too dangerous to enter. A man, later identified as Earl "Donnie" Knasel could be seen laying, apparently unconscious, on the kitchen floor. As firefighters were ventilating the home, they noticed Knasel was starting to move. Knasel was brought out for treatment and found to be suffering from a laceration to the wrist. Ambulance crews took him to University Hospital for treatment.

Once the home was ventilated, fire crews found the gas line to the kitchen stove had been cut. Upon checking the house for additional occupants, police officers made the grisly discovery of Barbara Knasel's body in an upstairs bedroom, obviously deceased. An autopsy showed Barbara Knasel died from massive blunt force trauma to the head.
The full story will be at the link below.
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GIOVANNI WRIGHT - ROBBED MAINSTRASSE PATRONS AT GUNPOINT
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On February 20, 2011, just after 2:00 a.m., six patrons left Cosmo's bar in Covington and headed for their car. In the parking lot behind 501 Main Street, the group was confronted by a white male and a black male who both demanded their money and other valuables. Originally thinking the men were joking, the group made no effort to comply. The black man then pulled a gun from his waistband and fired a shot into the ground. The bulleted fragmented when it hit the pavement but one piece of the projectile bounced up and struck a female victim in the leg. The group then gave up their valuables and money.
Wright also faces a murder charge in Ohio.
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OTHERS IN THIS WEEK'S ROUND-UP INCLUDE A RAPIST, DRUG DEALERS, AND THIEVES.
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There are more at the link from Rob Sanders's Commonwealth Attorney's office. Some have been sent away, some are awaiting sentencing, and others will get probation. Whatever they end up with, let's hope as a community that they return healthy and rehabilitated, otherwise the cycle continues.

Friday, January 27, 2012

RON CLARK TO SPEAK TO COVINGTON SCHOOLS, PBS TO FILM

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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Nationally-known educator Ron Clark is coming to Covington and PBS will be filming the visit. From Covington Independent Public Schools:
Ron Clark, founder of the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, will be visiting Holmes Middle, Holmes High School and Glenn O. Swing Elementary School on January 30. A crew from PBS will film the visit. Several teachers from Covington schools have attended the Ron Clark Academy Teacher Training, and the district also has a number of "Ron Clark” vividly painted classrooms – which models the classroom and teaching techniques of the Ron Clark Academy.  Ron Clark has been called "America's Educator." In 2000, he was named Disney's American Teacher of the Year. He is a New York Times bestselling author whose book, The Essential 55, has sold over 1 million copies and has been published in 25 different countries. He has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, and Oprah, and Ms. Winfrey even named him as her first "Phenomenal Man." His classes have been honored at the White House on three separate occasions. Ron's teaching experiences in New York City are the subject of the uplifting film, The Ron Clark Story, starring Matthew Perry, better known as Chandler from Friends. 
SEE ALSO: The Ron Clark Academy 
SEE ALSO: Ron Clark @ Wikipedia 

NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY EVENING 27 JAN

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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CALIFORNIA SAILOR ARRESTED ON CHILD PORN CHARGES FROM KENTON COUNTY
Yikes:
A California man on Naval duty in Afghanistan admitted Friday in federal court that he sent child pornography images to an undercover detective who he thought was a 14-year-old girl in Kenton County. Richard Smith Andridge, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography and will receive a minimum of five years in prison when he is sentenced on May 10.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Jim Hannah  
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More from The Smoking Gun:
During questioning by an NCIS agent, Andridge, who had spent the prior five months in Afghanistan, admitted to having “sexually-related chat” with young girls and sharing pornographic images with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl (but who was actually a Kentucky undercover cop). Andridge--who used the online handle “navyguy_sd”--also copped to receiving nude images from a minor female he had met online and “participating in web camera sessions” in a “Teen Chat” room on Stickam, the live streaming video site. Andridge told NCIS Agent Christiana Huntzinger that he would enter the Stickam chat room and have a “private web camera session wherein a minor female would disrobe and display nudity at his request.”
The Smoking Gun also has the complete charge here. 
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UC, BENGALS LEGEND DIES IN CINCINNATI
Bengals owner Mike Brown called Greg Cook the greatest talent every to play for the Bengals:
Cook, 65, the last man to lead the American Football League in passing before the merger as a rookie, died after an illness Thursday night in Cincinnati. Cook did what Andy Dalton and Cam Newton didn’t do this past season and led his league with 15 touchdown passes in 11 games in 1969 before his season and career were cut short with a torn rotator cuff. In what has become one of the greatest what-ifs in sports history, Cook appeared in only one other NFL game and it wasn’t until four years later. Brown calls him “John Elway before John Elway,” and the late Bill Walsh who coached Cook before coaching Joe Montana to three Super Bowl titles said Cook could have been the greatest quarterback to ever play.
Bengals.com/Geoff Hobson 
Greg Cook
1946 - 2012
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OMNICARE HAS $440 MILLION TO BUY RIVAL, BUT CAN'T PAY RENT
...without your tax dollars anyway. But just because they require taxpayer-subsidized office space does not mean that this Cincinnati-bound corporation that is abandoning its taxpayer subsidized office space in Covington's RiverCenter, can't afford to splurge! Especially when it involves eliminating competition:
Omnicare is looking to control as much as 60 percent of the market to distribute drugs to nursing homes, hospitals and hospices, said Jeff Jonas, an analyst with Gabelli & Co. in Rye, New York. The deal would help save money through automation and scale, Omnicare Chief Executive Officer John Figueroa said when it was announced in August. Omnicare is trying become more efficient amid U.S. cuts to health-care spending, he said.
(snip)
The FTC in 2005 allowed Omnicare’s takeover of NeighborCare, saying that the company had many rivals in local areas and the institutional pharmacy market was easy to enter. The commission also dismissed a concern that the Medicare Modernization Act would allow Omnicare to get above-market rates by coordinating with prescription drug plans.
Increased antitrust scrutiny from U.S. regulators under President Barack Obama scuttled two of 2011’s biggest proposed acquisitions.
Karma is coming for these guys at Omnicare and it is going to be beautiful.
Bloomberg/Sarah Frier  
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BRIDGES ARE FALLING DOWN IN KENTUCKY
It doesn't help when one is hit by a boat, either:
Image via Gov. Beshear's flickr account
That was the US 68/KY 80 Bridge over Kentucky Lake in Trigg County:
A cargo ship hit the bridge deck Thursday night, which collapsed across the bow of the cargo ship. The bridge was designed so that if it were struck, only portions of the structure would fail, not the entire bridge. Inspectors estimate the gap in the bridge to be approximately 300 feet wide. “We are grateful that this wreck caused no injuries or loss of life. Since that bridge carries 2,800 cars every day, we were very fortunate that no one was on the span at that time,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’ll turn our attention to a full inspection of the bridge and determine what steps we can take next to speed up the replacement of that important artery.”
Press Release  
MORE PHOTOS: Here
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CINCINNATI-BASED LAWYERS JOIN COVINGTON FIRM
Including Ben Dusing, who was rumored at one point to be considering a run this year to represent NKY in Congress:
Lawyers Ben Dusing and Angela Hayden have moved to the Covington law firm Adams Stepner Woltermann & Dusing from Baker Hostetler in downtown Cincinnati.
Business Courier/Jon Newberry  
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NKY REPUBLICANS BRING IN REFEREE FOR CONGRESSIONAL RACE
They wouldn't want it to look like the GOP Presidential race:
Campbell County businessman Kevin Sell will return to his former role as Republican Party’s 4th Congressional District chairman at a time when the GOP’s primary for the congressional nomination is heating up.  
(snip)
Sell told Pure Politics’ senior reporter Don Weber earlier in the week that serving as chairman of the 4th District would mean trying to keep the peace throughout the Republican primary.

More with video at the link.
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TEA PARTY FAVORITE THOMAS MASSIE IS PROFILED BY NKY SPOT
NKYSpot.com is a friend of The River City News. Check out the new profile of GOP Congressional candidate and Rand Paul favorite, Thomas Massie:
Massie grew up in rural Lewis County but went off to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston to earn bachelor and masters degrees in engineering. In 1993 he was one of the founders of a company, SensAble, that developed software based onresearch he did at MIT. He later sold his interest in the company, and moved his family to afarm in Garrison, Ky., where he built a large timber-framed stone house that relies on solar energy. He describes it on his blog as “living off the grid.” He lives there with his wife, Rhonda and their four children.
NKY Spot 
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SEE ALSO: You can meet another GOP Congressional candidate Sunday when Alecia Webb-Edgington hosts a meet-and-greet. Click Here 
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MEET YOUR LEGISLATOR AT THE NKY CAUCUS SATURDAY AT NKU
And be sure to tell them how embarrassed you are by the redistricting fiasco in both chambers:
On Saturday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, Northern Kentucky University will host the Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus in the Student Union Ballroom. The event is a public forum where constituents like you can voice your concerns, feedback and engage with representatives and senators who are making important decisions in the Kentucky General Assembly during the 2012 legislative session.
Covington's representation, including Sen. Jack Westwood and Reps. Arnold Simpson & Thomas Kerr are expected to attend. 
NKU 
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in case you missed...
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YOU'LL LIKE COVINGTON!
That was the message from our city in the early 20th century. As Covington tries in the 21st century to bring in new businesses and residents, let's take a look at how the City tried to do that before. It's a fascinating pamphlet from the Industrial Club. Click the link and weigh in!The River City News 
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FRIDAY MORNING'S NEWS
Brand new video showcases our city's historic preservation; Gateway's Downtown location to offer class on how to stop bullying; Covington business shows love for the City in new underwear design; Plus, video of Rand Paul being 'detained'. Those stories and more at the link!
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MAINSTRASSE VILLAGE WELCOMES A NEW BUSINESS
From the Mainstrasse Village Association:
MainStrasse Village Association welcomes Matthew Andrews Photography to the Village. They are located at 526 Philadelphia Street.
Cute domain name for the business: Matthew Likes You 
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SEE ALSO: Announcing The Chez Nora February Food Drive. Bring a can good or non-perishable item in February and receive $2.00 off your guest check. Chez Nora is at 6th & Main Streets in Mainstrasse.
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HOLY CROSS CONTINUES MARCH TOWARD ANOTHER
         STATE TITLE
Holy Cross takes on Owen County tonight at 8:00PM in the "All A" basketball state tournament. The Indians beat Barbourville by ten last night.
“To me, it looked like we were anxious to shoot the basketball,” (Head Coach Erik) Goetz said after the game about his team’s slow start. “As we talked about at halftime, there was a reason we had so many open 3-point shots in the first half. They wanted us shooting 3-point shots and we played right into their hands in the first half. We did not do what we talked about, which was get the ball inside and work inside out. Combine that with some nervous energy out there and it just took us a while to get going offensively.”
Read the full break down from Thursday's game and see video of a sweet dunk at the link: NKY Sports Blog 
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LISTEN TO THE GAME LIVE AT 8:00 PM BY CLICKING HERE. 
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Holy Cross football also tweeted this image of the championship ring created in honor of the Indians' state football title this year.

YOU'LL LIKE COVINGTON!: LURING BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS THEN & NOW

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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Covington must attract new businesses and new residents in order to revitalize itself. That message has played out twice this week: first, at Tuesday's commission meeting when the community development department showcased its successes in the final quarter of 2011 and discussed how they will bolster their efforts to lure and retain businesses; second, at Mayor Chuck Scheper's speech to the Covington Business Council Thursday.  
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The effort to bring businesses and residents to town is a long-standing one as proven by an old pamphlet created by The Covington Industrial Club, a precursor to the modern Chamber of Commerce, which dates back to somewhere between 1910 and 1920 (though no date is given). The Library of Congress is in possession of the recruitment effort and has it online for all of us to see today.
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It was titled, Covington: As Seen Through The Camera:
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It's interesting to note some of the similar circumstances from then as compared to now: for businesses, there is plenty of affordable commercial space, there are plenty of banks, and there is plenty of access to regional metros. For residents, Covington still boasts a large and affordable housing stock, a top-notch public library, and a couple of large public parks. 
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So, what has changed over the past hundred years that may make Covington a harder sale for prospective entrepreneurs and families looking to relocate? 
  • Do we still have an abundance of skilled and unskilled labor? Maybe not an abundance, but the City's emphasis on growing Gateway College's urban campus aims to address that.
  • The exemption from taxation on raw materials as presented by the Industrial Club in this pamphlet may not be completely irrelevant. As was discussed Tuesday night, Covington must do a better job of highlighting its assets to prospective businesses and as was noted Thursday afternoon, the City must do a better job of marketing itself. 
  • As for schools, Covington probably cannot describe the current state of our public education as "splendid" as the Industrial Club did, but more attention is being paid to our education system by administration and by citizens. 
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Another interesting note from this old pamphlet is a photograph of where the Industrial Club housed its offices: inside the "Coppin Building" which is where City Hall is today and where these same efforts are being created. 
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The effort to bring in new businesses and new residents is as old as the City of Covington itself. Some of the language and general promotional ideas are timeless. But as our city tries to move forward in this relatively young new century, the stakes have never been higher. What worked in the past may serve us well as we look toward the future.
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See the entire document online at: Archive.org or see more from the pamphlet below (it's interesting to note that many of the highlighted buildings are available today for new entrepreneurs):
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NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY MORNING 27 JAN


by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION VIDEO PREMIERES FEATURING COVINGTON
...and Bellevue & Newport too! From Covington's historic preservation officer Beth Johnson:
In July of 2011, the Cities of Bellevue and Covington with funding from the Kentucky Heritage Council - SHPO created a video promoting Historic Preservation. We had an amazing production team, wonderful volunteer interviewees and the most generous and gracious narrator in Nick Clooney. We are finally able to bring it to you via the internet! Grab some popcorn, enjoy and then share this great message with everyone you know!
There is so much to be proud of as a Covingtonian! Be an ambassador!
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That video premiered at the Kentucky Main Street Program conference which wraps up today in Frankfort.
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The City of Danville sent out a press release highlights its three awards for its Main Street Program, 'Heart of Danville'. 
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in case you missed...
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BRUTAL FACTS: SCHEPER REPORTS AGAIN
Our mayor has laid out the biggest problems facing the City. "I don't want you going home with a sour stomach but until you face the brutal facts, I don't think we make any headway," he said. Click the link for the full report.
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BONUS COVERAGE OF MAYOR SCHEPER'S SPEECH
Bonus coverage from Mayor Scheper's speech. What he thinks about Denny Bowman; How many times was he asked to be mayor before accepting?; And why he wants you to be an ambassador for Covington. Click the link!
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SEE ALSO:  Louisville mayor asks for public feedback on what to cut from that city's budget Mayor Greg Fischer @ Facebook
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COVINGTON MAN CONFESSES TO KILLING HIS MOTHER
Yikes.
Earl told a detective on the day of the killing that he had gotten into an argument with his mother and hit her with a boot jack, a tool that aids in the removal of riding boots, at the home they shared in the 100 block of Blackburn Ave. Beck said she would have introduced evidence at trial that the elder Knasel died of blunt force trauma consistent with being struck by a boot jack. She was found with her head crushed on the second floor of the home.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Jim Hannah  
MORE: Local 12 & WLWT 
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VIDEO OF SENATOR RAND PAUL'S 'DETAINMENT'
Looks like it must have been just horrifying for our liberty-lovin' junior senator.
The Tennesseean via Indecision 
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REDISTRICTING IN FRANKFORT IS OFFICIALLY A HOT MESS
It even has former Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo's undies in a twist! (You remember Mongiardo, right? He almost beat Jim Bunning for US Senate in 2004 when the old man said Mongiardo looked like one of Saddam Hussein's sons? Remember?) Look it:
“While many will say redistricting is just politics as usual, it is much more than that. The redistricting plans recently passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor was an exercise in hyper-partisanship that disenfranchises hundreds of thousands of citizens and should be overturned,” he says. “It is this type of unnecessarily divisive partisan politics that further weakens our political systems ability to solve the difficult problems confronting our state and nation.”
Agreed.
WFPL  
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MEANWHILE... THE REPUBLICANS ARE SUING...
Republican Rep. Joe Fischer, R-Fort Thomas, who successfully challenged the House redistricting plan in the 1990s, filed the suit, which also seeks to delay the candidate filing deadline until the matter of the constitutionality of the map is decided. Also listed as complainants were House Republican Leader Jeff Hoover of Jamestown, Rep. Kim King (whose home county of Mercer was split by the House Democrats’ version of the map), Eubanks Mayor Frey Todd from Pulaski County and a Lewis County resident.
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AND SO MIGHT THE DEMOCRATS TOO!
“Well I’m certainly very intensely studying the pleadings that they have and I believe that chances are very good that we will attempt to intervene in some manner,” she says. Stein adds that many Lexington residents have also expressed a desire to file a lawsuit over the new map, which draws her out of her district.
WFPL  
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UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN KENTON COUNTY NOW BELOW 8%
That's welcome news. Check out the chart.
Commonwealth of KY 
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NEW JOBS COMING TO NKY
Will hopefully offset the lost of 500 UPS jobs. 19 in Erlanger will help a little:

Governor Steve Beshear today announced the power resistor company, Post Glover, will consolidate an Ohio-based and Northern Kentucky-based operation into one larger facility in the Northern Kentucky area, creating 19 new jobs in the region. The expansion will entail a nearly $5 million investment in the Commonwealth.
“Post Glover’s decision to reaffirm its commitment to the Northern Kentucky region speaks volumes about the business climate and leadership in the area,” Gov. Beshear said. “Not only will the company retain its existing workforce, but it will also add 19 new employees and a nearly $5 million capital investment in Kentucky. We look forward to continuing this successful partnership with Post Glover for years to come.”
Press Release  
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Hundreds from DHL will really help:
Shipping giant DHL Express USA Inc. is planning a large expansion that would add more than 280 workers to its air-hub operations at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. DHL received preliminary approval Thursday for a total of $1.5 million in state tax incentives to support a $46.9 million expansion at the hub.
Business First  
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A WELCOME HOUSE SUCCESS STORY
You can never get tired of hearing about people turning their lives around thanks to one of Covington's social services agencies:


A drug addiction created many complications in Amy's life and after being assigned to rehab through Drug Court, she realized it was time to make some serious changes both for herself and for her young family. After successfully completing rehab, she knew she would need additional help getting her life back together. She decided to follow-up on a referral to Welcome House. This decision changed Amy's life.

Amy qualified to move into the Gardens at Greenup Apartments, a Welcome House program that combines affordable housing and supportive services for formerly homeless families. Amy wanted to help other people suffering from substance abuse, so her case manager helped her enroll in a program to become a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. As a single mom, juggling school and work could be a struggle, but she stuck it out, and will finish school in the spring.

With hard work and determination, Amy has pulled her life together. Her case manager told us Amy was a model resident at the Gardens, always willing to help a neighbor with whatever she needed. Amy recently got engaged and is planning her wedding. Best of all, she and her fiancé bought a new home at the end of 2011! Amy and her family spent the holidays in their new home, and she is hard at work getting everything organized and furnished. We wish the best to Amy as she continues her journey!
Congratulations, Amy!
The Welcome House 
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SEE ALSO: Welcome House is currently accepting donations for their baskets at Mardi Gras. Contact Jen at 859.431.8717 for more information!
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GATEWAY TO OFFER CLASS ON BULLYING
At the Covington campus:
Learn effective ways to stop bullying: February 15, 3 – 4 p.m. at the Covington Campus, Room C101.
Gateway 
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TAKE A ROAD TRIP TO COVINGTON SAYS LOUISVILLE NEWSPAPER
The Courier-Journal, Kentucky's largest newspaper, encourages its readers to hightail it to the Carnegie to check out the theater's production of The King and I.
Courier-Journal 
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FORMER UK STAR'S MOM SUES HYATT HOTEL
Brandon Knight's mama is pissed at the Lexington Hyatt Regency:

In the suit, filed this week in Fayette Circuit Court, Tonya Knight says Westin tried to detain her and grabbed her arm, causing a bruise, after telling her she could not sell her book, Diary of a Basketball Mom, on the hotel's premises. Knight says she went to the bar to socialize with friends before attending a UK game.
Knight, who lives in Lexington, says in the suit that when she pulled away from Westin in an attempt to leave with her friends, he said, "That's the problem with you people." Knight says that when she asked what "people" he was referring to, Westin used the n-word.
Herald-Leader 
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MODERN LIFE IN KENTUCKY'S HOLLER DOCUMENTED BY NPR

Some things never change. Must-see photos with an audio interview at the link.
NPR 
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IT'S CAT-APALOOZA AT THE KENTON CO ANIMAL SHELTER
Kenton Co. Animal Shelter @ Facebook
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COVINGTON BUSINESS SHOWS OFF NEW UNDIES
From CrossFit Covington:
ATTENTION all Undie run participants or people who like awesome undies!!! We are ordering the above printed undies for the undie run. They will be printed on "American Apperal jersey boy brief" if you want to check it out to see what size you will need. I know this is late notice but Please respond to this post with your size if you would like a pair by tomorrow at 5:00 PM. The cost is $12, I am ordering them from the "giving tee" a t-shirt company who donates a portion of their profits to charity.
More info: CrossFit @ Facebook 
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ARE THESE NEW LEGOS OFFENSIVE?
TIME Magazine:

The classic playtime favorite is typically gender-neutral, but the new Lego Friends line is catered to girls with a Butterfly Beauty Shop and a Fashion Designer Workshop. Promotions for the line showcase stylish and slimmer figures instead of the usual blocky characters.
Carolyn Costin, an eating disorders specialist and founder of the Monte Nido Treatment Center in Malibu, said in a statement that Lego Friends “promotes damaging gender stereotypes and limits creativity and healthy role development.”
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/01/26/2044862/brandon-knights-mother-sues-hyatt.html#storylink=rss?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#storylink=cp

Thursday, January 26, 2012

BONUS COVERAGE OF MAYOR SCHEPER'S SPEECH

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook
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BONUS COVERAGE OF MAYOR SCHEPER'S BUSINESS COUNCIL SPEECH
If you missed The River City News coverage of Thursday afternoon's incredibly important address by Covington Mayor Chuck Scheper, click the link below.
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MORE FROM THE SPEECH:

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On former Mayor Denny Bowman and becoming the new mayor:
"I think when Bowman resigned it's ironic in a way because he's the one who asked me to lead the (Scheper Report) commission in the first place. I am appreciative of what Denny did to lead the City. After he resigned each of the commissioners approached me asking if I would take on this role for the balance of his term. I said no four times but they were persistent. They caught me in a weak moment and I said, let me think about it. I put together a position paper and said here are the challenges we're facing and potential solutions that we have to move forward. It started with a social contract. We had an open conversation that politics is turning into something that all of us see on a national scope and we wish that people would work together and find a way to get it done. We are going to get it done with respect, we are going to listen to each other and have a positive discourse. I was confident that would not be a problem.
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A personal perception of the health care situation:
"My wife had an MRI on her knee a couple weeks ago and the cost of an MRI differs across networks. It went from $500 to $5,000. If you have no skin in the game you won't go to a facility based on cost, you'll go to the one closest to you. We can achieve a lot of this by increasing education and finding ways we can all work together without reducing the quality of care for our employees."
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Hints of merging services with other governments:
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Scheper pointed to a map of Covington when he said the following. "It's tough to provide public safety across this geography. We're spending 37% more for public safety than other cities our size. That's a pretty significant challenge. $7 million a year. I think when we talk about Covington we have to start broadening our discussion to include the region. It's time for us to see forward and think from a regional issue. I'm not going to be able to accomplish whatever that may imply (in a short term). ...I'm on record in the Scheper Report talking about regionalizing fire. We need to think more broadly, that we are part of a county, we are part of a region."
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On Covington's public employees:
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The mayor has reached out to all city employees through a conversational meeting that he has dubbed, "Coffee with Chuck". "Invitations are open to all employees to sit down and talk. We've done two so far and we have another next week. ... We have a lot of capable and talented employees. They want to be part of a winning team. It's a matter of getting us all working together, rowing in the same direction and face the challenges head-on, and I think we can accomplish great things this year and we can be a great city."
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On the 'wasteland' just south of MLK/12th Street:
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One question from the audience referred to the area to the south of the new MLK Boulevard a 'wasteland' and asked what the plans may be for that immediate area. "I have a line in my speech, 'the bad news is we have empty storefronts, the good news is we have empty storefronts'. I think energy from MLK Boulevard will create growth to the south. The one-stop shop was looking that way. I think we have other assets that the city is looking at to think about how we can monetize those assets. The PUMA (Center City Action Plan) study focuses on 12th Street to the north, but there are opportunities for what you call the wasteland."
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On being an ambassador for Covington:
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"Fifty percent of people say, congratulations. Fifty percent offer condolences. But everybody says, 'what can I do to help?' We have to capture that. We have tremendous talent. We are perhaps the most under-marketed city or entity in this region. We have an opportunity to tell our story. I implore all of you to become ambassadors for the City. Tell them why you live and work in Covington and be proud about it. There's so much we can accomplish. I think we're confronting the brutal facts, we have a plan, we have a strategy, we have a unified commission, we're all joined at the hip ready to make tough decisions."
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On Covington's public schools & mentoring:
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"I think our schools are very important for the future of this city. (Superintendent Lynda Jackson) asked me to find four hundred mentors. My wife, Julie Geisen Scheper, has been advocate for Covington Partners (in Prevention) for a number of years and was a mentor and I saw the impact that it had on the mentee and also on Julie. They have a line, 'mentor one child, change two lives'. I'm doing it one hour a week. It's bringing joy to my life. I'm putting a personal plea to all of you to think about mentoring. It's a small investment of your time. If we have four hundred mentors, that's four hundred hours a week. That could fundamentally change the lives of those kids and possibly of our schools. Upping the graduation rates will help change the fate of the city."