THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks
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ONE OF COVINGTON'S MOST WANTED IS CAPTURED IN CINCINNATI
A third suspect in the December shooting death of Brett Thornberry, 18, on Greenup Street, has been arrested. From the Covington Police:
We received word that Mr. Hill was captured in Cincinnati over the last few days. Another one down!
From the Cincinnati Enquirer's Brenna Kelly:
Details of Hill’s arrest in Cincinnati were not available Friday. Covington Police were notified this week that Hill had been caught, said Capt. Bryan Carter. Detectives plan to interview Hill next week, he said. Hill is being held on the warrant and has not been charged in the homicide.
Two teens are already in custody in connection with Thornberry's murder.
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SEE ALSO: A judge has handed down sentencing of three men convicted in the killing of a Covington man in Louisville. They will not serve jail time. WKRC |
MORE FROM THURSDAY NIGHT'S SPECIAL MEETING AT CITY HALL
The point that the City of Covington cannot on its own develop itself was reiterated Thursday night during a special meeting at City Hall. Wayne Chapman of Management Partners, the Cincinnati-based consultants contracted to review each department within City Hall, delivered a recap of the firm's recommendations regarding a housing strategy, economic development, and code enforcement. "The City could be the last ten-percent (of an investment) but not the first ninety-percent to make a project work," Chapman said.
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Among the recommendations is the creation of a Department of Development that would merge code enforcement and community development. As for a housing strategy, the City must improve its relationship with the Housing Authority of Covington, Chapman said. "The City and the Housing Authority tend to hold each other at an arm's length and that's not a good dynamic," he said, adding that HAC could be an important tool in a housing strategy and that the relationship must be better cultivated.
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Chuck Eilerman, a commercial real estate agent and candidate for Covington City Commission, said he would like to be an advocate for "all other", a reference to a recent chart presented at City Hall that demonstrated the City's budget as being spent in three even ways: fire department, police department, and all other. "In terms of housing, code enforcement, and parks, we need to devote more resources to this area," Eilerman said. "Many programs are being squeezed and underfunded."
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He continued, "We need to fix up houses that we (the City) own and that other people own and we also need lots of new housing and mixed-use developments." Eilerman pointed to 3CDC, a public-private partnership in Cincinnati that has developed many parts of that City's urban core. Whereas 3CDC "land banks" with the intent of selling or developing the properties when a time arises for it to be worth the investment, he said that Covington has become an "accidental land banker" by acquiring the 501 Main Building, the Stewart Iron Works building, and others. "We have to get them filled with people and employees."
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FROM FRIDAY:
"A huge number of people are afraid of retaliation and that's why they are not here." That remark set off Thursday night's special meeting at City Hall down a tense path, complete with outbursts and personal attacks. Story at the link.|
"It's not working and I don't think it's going to work. I know I won't be very popular when I leave this stand but truth is truth and truth hurts." The public weighs in on the future of code enforcement in Covington. Click the link.|
SCHOOL BOARD MAY NOT RAISE PROPERTY TAXES THIS YEAR
For the first time since 2001, the School Board will likely vote to keep your property tax rate the same; Plus, how Covington Schools are working to improve ACT scores, attendance, and dress code this fall.|
COVINGTON SCHOOLS WANT NEW SECURITY CAMERAS
Following a fire earlier this summer that destroyed Sixth District School's playground, Covington Independent Public Schools hopes to replace the security cameras at all of his facilities. The Sixth District playground fire is being investigated as an arson case and while a camera on the campus did capture a male fleeing the scene, the video is not of good enough quality to be of as much help as it needs to be. At Thursday's school board meeting, the district's analog cameras were compared to watching an old TV. Digital cameras offer a better quality while shooting a longer distance and can also be accessed wirelessly by administrators or even the police. The district will issue a request for proposals (RFP) from security firms anticipating a cost of nearly $250,000. "I would like to push this through while this board is here because come January it could be a whole new ballgame," said board chairman Glenda Huff. Three of the board's five seats are up for election in November.
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULES ON RESTRAINING UNRULY STUDENTS
The Kentucky Board of Education has issued restrictions on restraining unruly students:
The regulation, which could go into effect for the 2013-14 school year, said public school officials cannot use restraint and seclusion except when a child's behavior poses "imminent danger of serious physical harm" to the child or others.
Full story: Herald-Leader/Valerie Honeycutt Spears
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/08/09/2292811/state-school-board-approves-policy.html#storylink=cpy
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NORTHERN KY JOB MARKET WEATHERS LOSSES
The economy in NKY isn't as bad as it maybe ought to be:
Omnicare and A.C. Nielsen have moved across the Ohio River, taking 835 jobs and millions in local tax revenue with them. Delta Air Lines plans to shutter Erlanger-based regional carrier Comair, laying off 1,200 people. A Hebron-based division of UPS laid off more than 400 people after losing a contract with an online retailer in January. But economic development officials in Northern Kentucky say there is also plenty of reason for optimism.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Amanda Van Benschoten
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GAS LEAK LEADS TO EVACUATIONS IN LATONIA Contractors working on a water line near Ritte's Corner in Latonia triggered a gas line break forcing precautionary evacuations of nearby buildings. The gas line break happened just after 8:00AM and was capped ninety minutes later. No one was hurt.
HISTORY: FINAL JACOB PRICE BUILDING COMES DOWN
Now that historic preservation evcavations have been completed (SEE: Clues to Covington's Past Uncovered at Jacob Price Site), the Housing Authority of Covington moved forward with demolishing the final building left standing at the former Jacob Price housing project. The structure came down Friday morning. Construction will soon begin on the new mixed-income development called River's Edge at Eastside Pointe with new residents moving in next spring. |
QUICKIES
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Optimism on economy drops CNN |
Kentucky faces worst corn crop since 1983 AP |
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How Sen. Mitch McConnell deliberately moved to sabotage the economic recovery LEO Weekly |
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Rand Paul performs charity eye surgeries WBKO |
Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson: Fancy Farm is outdated cn|2 |
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Kentucky woman killed by her own car WKYT |
Veterinarians will watch for swine flu at Kentucky State Fair WFPL |
CHECK OUT THIS MAP: Want to buy or sell alcohol in Kentucky? Good luck Herald-Leader |
Copper thieves strip phone lines in Kentucky WKYT |
Paducah featured in Where To Retire Magazine WPSD |
DON'T MISS THURSDAY EVENING'S NEWS!
Two Covington road projects get big federal funding boost; Why Kentucky ranks first in toxic air pollution from power plants; Plus, a how a dessert topping led a KY man to set a gas station's toilet on fire. Those stories and more at the link!|
The Ascent named among 10 buildings that changed Cincinnati Cincinnati Magazine (subscription) |
Cincinnati Magazine also visits Europa Bistro in Mainstrasse Click Here |
PART OF PURPLE PEOPLE BRIDGE IS CRUMBLING
But neither Newport nor Cincinnati wants to pay for it. Via WKRC: |
CHILDREN'S HOME DIRECTOR'S MISSION: BUILD BRIDGES TO HOPE
Nice story:
The Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky campus overlooks the historic Roebling Suspension Bridge its founder helped build. A fitting metaphor, says its chief executive officer, for the organization’s new mission.
“We refer to our staff here today as bridge builders,” said newly named CEO Rick Wurth. “The bridge down there can only connect Ohio and Kentucky on its best day. The bridges that we are building are to hope and opportunity for the children in our care.” In 1882, Amos Shinkle started the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky as a home for abandoned, orphaned and neglected children.
Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Mark Hansel
| MORE GOOD NEWS FROM THE EMERGENCY SHELTER
Check it out:
Two more graduates (Friday) from our shelter! Paul and Matt both are moving to their apartments today and they both have full time jobs. Paul is moving to a furnished apartment but Matt is in need of a twin or double bed. If you have a bed, please give me a call or an email...for now he will receive a loaner army cot. Thanks to all of you who support our shelter with time, money and material donations - you support us to provide shelter to these two amazing guests who now no longer need shelter. Phone: 291-4555 Email: emergencyshelternky@yahoo.com
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METEOR SHOWER TO PEAK THIS WEEKEND
Keep your head up:
“On any given day there is all kind of stuff falling from the sky. It falls all the time. We see very few, because the majority burn before we can see anything and especially if they fall during the day. Astronomers say the best time to see the Perseid shower is between midnight and dawn.
More: WFPL
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WHAT'S UP FOR SATURDAY?
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NKY Harvest's 12th Annual Breakfast & Backpacks
Get down to Goebel Park for this event open to students in grades K - 12 from Boone, Kenton, or Campbell Counties. Backpacks will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis (families will need photo ID and proof of residency). The event will also feature pony wagon rides from the Covington Recreation Department and breakfast from Frisch's.
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Mother of God Yard Sale
Come and bring your friends to the church yard sale for an interesting and unique assortment of items. It will be held August 11 from 9:00AM - 6:00PM and August 12 from 1:00PM. to 4:00PM at Mother of God Church.
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Helentown Neighborhood Picnic
Saturday on Garrard Street between Fifteenth and Patton. It starts at 12:30PM and lasts until 3:30PM.
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THERE WILL BE DRAGONS AT THE CREATION MUSEUM'S ARK PARK!
Though the theme park dedicated to Noah's Ark, from the people who brought our region the Creation Museum, will likely never be built, the plans sure sound... interesting:
Since Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis believes that dragons were real, and existed after “the flood,” I asked if there would be dragons on the ark. Their answer insisted that dragons were real (they were dinosaurs, living with humans, duh), but I never got a direct answer about if they were on board, or would be on Ark Encounter in Northern Kentucky.
Well, according to a post on their website today… yes. Yes, there will not only be dragons on the ark, but fire-breathing dragons:
Read more: LEO Weekly
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COACHES: JOHN CALIPARI IS BIGGEST (PERCEIVED) CHEATER
CBS asked NCAA basketball coaches confidentially whom they thought of as the biggest cheat in the business. UK's John Calipari topped the list:
"Cal probably doesn't have to cheat now as much as he used to, but he's still the standard. The rest of us can't even deal in his league. He's the best."
Full story: CBS Sports
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Meanwhile... another writer blasts the coaches that participated in the survey:
CBSSports.com isn't the party to blame here. Well, not entirely. It's not something I would have endorsed. But it’s an editor’s job to drive traffic to the web site, and the writer's job to execute, and no doubt that’s been accomplished through the course of the week. We’ve all talked about the survey results. It’s the coaches who responded to the most salacious of the questions who ought to be ashamed, and hardly for the first time.
Full story: The Sporting News
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As for Coach Cal, he took to Facebook:
I'm going to say it again, don't let anyone steal our joy even though they'll try. The parents and the players we recruit know what we stand for.
SEE ALSO: The UK Wildcats now have a full schedule for next season with the release of the SEC portion Herald-Leader |
