NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY EVENING 23 AUGUST

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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"I HEREBY WITHDRAW MY RESIGNATION" SAYS EX-SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

EXCLUSIVE

Her resignation from the Covington School Board on August 2 set in motion a chain of legal and electoral events like no other in recent memory in this town and now Denise Varney has thrown another wrench into the effort to replace her by saying that she wants to replace herself. Varney sent this email message to the school board, the superintendent, the board attorney, and the Kentucky Commissioner of Education:

Please accept this correspondence as my announcement that I am withdrawing my resignation as a Covington Independent School Board member effective immediately. It has come to my attention that legal counsel for the Covington school board did not advise the Superintendent of the school district that my resignation must be voted on and accepted by my fellow board members. I hereby withdraw my resignation.

So, if you are keeping score, here is how it has all played out (so far): Varney resigned, the public was told that the Kentucky Commissioner of Education would make an appointment, advertisements promoting the vacancy ran in the Cincinnati Enquirer as mandated by law, on the day of the filing deadline to run for three other school board seats (but not Varney's because she had two years left in her term) Mark Young attempted to file to run for Varney's seat but the County Clerk's office was unaware of any vacancy and so his request was denied, Young had an attorney threaten to sue the Clerk's office after citing a state statute that indicated an election to fill Varney's seat was likely necessary, the County Clerk added Young to the ballot as the sole candidate running for Varney's seat, a complaint was filed against Young's candidacy in Frankfort, Young's name was removed from the ballot on the grounds that the Commissioner of Education had not accepted Varney's resignation, Varney wants her seat back. Got it?

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CONVICTION ACHIEVED IN CASE OF MURDERED COVINGTON TEEN

The body of 16-year old Dre'Shawn Hammon was found in a wooded area behind City Heights in June of last year and today, fourteen months after Covington Police made the tragic discovery, one of his killers is headed to prison. Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders reports via Twitter:

GUILTY! 1st Asst Comm Atty Jim Redwine just convicted Mikel Crumes of Murder in killing of DreShawn Hammond! ... Wow! Big win in a very difficult case! So proud of Jim Redwine! ... Jury sentences Mikel Crumes to 30 years for Murder of DreShawn Hammond. Great work by 1st Asst Comm Atty Jim Redwine!

Crumes was one of two teens arrested in the murder case, but the second one, Tromonte Rice, pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Crumes.

Image via

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WATERFRONT OWNER JEFF RUBY BOOTED FROM ILLINOIS COURTROOM

Ever the showman, local restaurateur Jeff Ruby, who has taken a great personal interest in the murder trial of suspected wife-killer Drew Peterson, was booted from the Joliet, Illinois courtroom today:

“There’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell him for seven years,” Ruby said, standing outside his luxury bus, parked across the street from the courthouse, with a cigar. “So I did this,” and mouthed the words “F--- you.”
A sheriff’s department spokesman said Ruby is banned from the rest of the trial.
The confrontation happened after Ruby said Peterson started staring at him during the break. Ruby said he started to stare back. When Peterson wouldn’t break eye contact, Ruby sent his message. Peterson immediately turned to his attorney, Joel Brodsky, and told him what happened. Brodsky asked a bailiff to throw Ruby out.

Full story: Chicago Sun-Times 
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VIDEO:

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ABANDONED COVINGTON HOME CAUSING PROBLEMS

Trouble started with this Latonia home when its owner died last December:

The city of Covington describes the house as being in legal limbo. One owner died and a co-owner abandoned the place. It's in foreclosure but still in that co-owner's name. He won't transfer the title to the bank. So while it sits and rots no one can do much but sit back and watch. A skim coat to seal the top part of the chimney had fallen off. The damage to Ted Polonczyk's cars looks minor but the estimates to fix total more than two-thousand dollars.

More, including a video report, here: WKRC 
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ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FOOD TRUCK EVENT IN COVINGTON
Life returned to Covington Landing Thursday afternoon as the food trucks came back to Covington... and all of them sold out. Pics of the event -- at the link!

More photos: The River City News 

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SHOULD CITIES REGULATE WHERE AND WHEN FOOD TRUCKS OPERATE?

Interesting timing that this debate column would cross Twitter today. It offers two varying viewpoints on a debate familiar to Covingtonians recently:

Pia Lopez: Yes, within reason

And just as conventional restaurants can't open just anywhere, cities should be able to license food trucks and set some limits on the time and place of mobile food sales – as cities do in limiting liquor licenses or keeping chemical plants zoned away from schools.
That said, many cities have regulations on food trucks that are far too restrictive.
In Sacramento, for example, outdated ordinances ban food trucks from parking longer than 30 minutes in any place. They have to close at 6 p.m. in winter and 8 p.m. in summer. In Elk Grove, it's worse – food trucks can't stay in one place longer than 15 minutes or sell past 2 p.m.

Ben Boychuk: Yes, but as little as possible

Flagrant restraint of trade may be illegal, but regulators have a vast toolbox at the ready.
The City of Angels came back with an ordinance the City Council drafted in consultation with the county health department. The new law, which took effect in January 2011, imposed an A-B-C grading system similar to the one restaurants have operated under for years.
The law also requires that trucks have access to a restroom within 200 feet of their location, and mandates health inspections twice yearly.
Sounds perfectly reasonable, doesn't it? Food truck owners actually welcomed the rules.
In practice, however, city and county regulators have enforced the law with draconian zeal. Instead of two health-and-safety reviews a year, truck owners complain it's not uncommon for health inspectors to show up twice a month. Tiny violations – such as parking 201 feet from a restroom – beget hefty fines and low grades. It's absurd.

Read more from both: Sacramento Bee 
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DON'T MISS THURSDAY MORNING'S NEWS!
The heart-wrenching story of a KY man killed in a logging accident, who made one last call to his mom as he lay dying; The drought forces a KY farmer to feed his cattle candy; Plus, the Cash Mob crew is coming to Covington...

Full story: The RC News: Thursday Morning Round-Up |
QUICKIES
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Attorney from Kenton Co disbarred for "appalling conduct" WXIX 
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Unemployment rate falls in 97 Kentucky counties State-Journal 
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Benefits fair planned for 2,000 laid off workers in eastern Kentucky Herald-Leader 
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KY's tobacco crop withstands worst of drought Herald-Leader 
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Gov. Beshear calls on Congress to pass farm bill cn|2 
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Kentucky officials ramp up support for legalized industrial hemp Herald-Leader & cn|2 
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Beshear to name new chief of staff soon WFPL 
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GOP unity appears to be strained State-Journal 
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FOX News is negative towards President Obama, MSNBC is negative toward Mitt Romney Poynter 
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Children's Home of NKY interviewed on WKRC 
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Newport citizens raise funds for dog park Soapbox Cincinnati 
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UK Basketball: Nerlens Noel is not Anthony Davis and he is okay with that Coach Cal 
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"WHY I MOVED BACK TO THE SUBURBS"
A writer shares his story from London:

Still, I don’t regret moving on from my old hip, up-and-coming inner London neighborhood one bit. I’m not glad to have moved on because I need space for my kids (I don’t have any) or because I need to save money (though I do). I’m pleased to be gone because, despite all the hype about their supposed edginess and creative ferment, I find fashionable inner city neighborhoods increasingly as banal, antisocial and plain dull as any suburb. For all their reputation as hives of individuality, neighborhoods like my own city’s Broadway Market offer almost identical businesses to those you’d find in currently hip city neighborhoods anywhere. While the base materials (streets and houses) may be different in, say, NYC’s Greenpoint, Berlin’s Neukölln, or Madrid’s Malasaña, the trappings of gentrification – expensive coffee and bike shops, junk sold at a premium as “vintage” and, soon after, bitterly resented chain outlets – make these places seem increasingly homogenous. 

Full story: The Atlantic Cities 
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THE CARNEGIE'S PRODUCTION OF XANADU IS A HIT!
Check out this review:

As Clio/Kira, Margaret-Ellen Jeffreys is perfect. She exudes an effervescent cuteness and has some wonderfully theatrical facial expressions. Ms. Jeffreys' signing is excellent and her acting is natural and nuanced. CCM junior Blaine Krauss does a great job of conveying Sonny's deadpan cluelessness and shows off a splendid singing voice on several numbers. Rick Kramer is known to Cincinnati audiences as a leading actor in many community theater productions over the years. For Xanadu, he plays both Danny Maguire and Zeus. He sings well and has just the right balance of humor and pathos for the roles. Eileen Earnest and Miranda McGee get plenty of laughs as the evil sisters plotting to destroy Clio. The remaining ensemble members each display multi-faceted talents: Blair Bowman, Aubrey Ireland, McKynleigh Abraham (who theatergoers might remember from season one of "The Glee Project"), and Brian Wylie.

There is one more weekend left! Full review: Talkin' Broadway 
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AREA MAN REGRETS INVESTING IN FACEBOOK
LOL. "Area man"...

Saying that he thought it was a “safe bet” at first, local man Mark Zuckerberg, 28, told reporters Tuesday that—after going what he called “all in” on the business—he now regrets staking so much of his financial future on the Internet company Facebook. “It seemed like a slam dunk—popular company, kids love it, and my financial advisors were telling me this stock was going to be a monster,” said Zuckerberg, who works in computers, and has lost nearly $600 million since Facebook went public in May.

Full story: The Onion (satire)
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DOG MAKE YOU ANGRY? SHAME HIM!
Here's how I wasted about seven hours today:

Many, many, many more here: Dog Shaming

NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY MORNING 23 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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HOT AND HUMID TODAY...SO HEAD DOWN TO PIECK'S AND GET AXILLA!

Last week at The River City News Facebook page this photo was shared:

Click to enlarge

Refreshing, delightful! It's awesome that they would disguise the deodorant in an unmarked bag so as not to cause embarrassment. At the bottom of the ad, you can see that this Axilla product is available at E.L. Pieck, 537 Main Street in Covington. So, who was E.L. Pieck? From Kentucky: A History of the State (1887):

E. L. PIECK was born in Covington, Ky., February 14, 1859, and is a son of E. L. and Wilhelmina (Gede) Pieck. E. L. Pieck, Sr., was born in Koenigsberg, near Berlin, Germany, October 26, 1822. He came to the United States about 1851, and located in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a cabinet-maker by trade, but was engaged in manufacturing furniture at the time of his death, which was in 1868. His wife was born in Griefswald, Germany. They had eight children, three of whom are now living: Paulina, who married a Mr. Hauser, and had three children: Frank, Edward and Charley; and Charles G., who was born May 20, 1861, was educated at the best schools in Covington, and graduated at the College of Pharmacy, Cincinnati, in 1883. He is now clerking in the drug store with his brother. E. L. Pieck received a good education, and in 1872 commenced to clerk in a drug store, where he remained until 1876. He then attended two full courses of lectures in pharmacy in Cincinnati, and in 1878 passed an examination before the State board of Louisville, Ky. At the time of this examination he was the youngest registered pharmacist in the State of Kentucky, being only eighteen years of age. He at once opened a drug and apothecary store, in which he as since been actively engaged. A representative house in the drug trade of Covington is that Mr. Pieck, who established himself in business in 1878, and moved to his new location in October, 1885. Mr. Pieck ranks high in his profession. He and his brother are very attentive and polite to their patrons, and are thoroughly equal to any emergency, both as to the pure and refined stock of drugs and medicines, and by their personal qualifications to prepare prescriptions, which they are ready to do at any hour, day or night, and at very reasonable prices. Mr. Pieck carries a full line of drugs, chemicals, family medicines, toilet articles, perfumery and cigars, and everything usually to be had at a first-class drug store. He has a large trade in the city and surrounding districts. He is a member of the Kentucky Pharmaceutical Association and also the American. He is a member of the German Reformed Church, and politically he is a Democrat.

Pieck operated his drugstore in the building that is now home to Dee Felice Cafe. To see what it looked like it Pieck's day, click here: NKY Views. For some interior photos of the establishment, click here: Kenton Co Library Faces & Places.

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COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO HELP REBUILD SCHOOL PLAY

Even the United States Navy is joining the effort to rebuild the playground at Covington's Sixth District School. For the full story (and lots of photos) on the effort to replace the scorched playground, click the link.

Full story: The River City News 

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THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF COVINGTON

Don't miss the week in review and the preview of the coming week... It's all inside The Sunday Edition, the most comprehensive look at the week that was and the week that will be in Covington.

The RC News: The Sunday (Evening) Edition 

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COVINGTON YOUTH COMMISSION ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

From the Center for Great Neighborhoods:

The Covington Youth Commission is now accepting applications for 2012-2013!!

The CYC is a great way to build those resumes for college – at least six CYC youth have gotten community service scholarships to college!!

The application for the next Covington Youth Commission (CYC) is now available! The CYC is entering its sixth year and is looking for youth entering the 9th through 12th grades who are interested in giving backto their community. Youth can LIVE or GO TO SCHOOL in Covington. Youth Commission members serve two-year terms. A kick-off retreat will be held for accepted youth on July 31.

Sponsored by the City of Covington and the Center for Great Neighborhoods, members of the Covington Youth Commission:--plan and organize service projects and positive events for youth;--get regular input from youth about issues facing the community; and,--promote youth civic involvement, including administering a mini-grants program. Youth groups will be able to apply for small grants (up to $500) to implement projects they are interested in.

For more information, visit The Center for Great Neighborhoods or call Jenni Miller-Francis at 859.866.7522.

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QUICKIES

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Omnicare's departure from Covington helps put a bite in Cincinnati's office vacancies Business Courier

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Files provide unprecedented look at child abuse in Kentucky Herald-Leader 

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Inmate says he had to escape to get medical care Herald-Leader 

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New CVG CEO "making her connection" Cincinnati Enquirer 

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New distillery in Newport will bring Bourbon Trail to Northern Kentucky Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Man electrocuted while trying to steal copper from Big Lots in Cumberland WKYT 

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Employees locked in Lexington Burger King freezer during robbery WKYT 

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FLYNTS: PORN BUSINESS IS NOW A FAMILY FEUD

Pornography magnates and Kentucky natives Larry & Jimmy Flynt still don't get along, don't speak, and are still entangled in legal disputes according to this latest interview in the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Jimmy Flynt and his sons have so far lost at every turn, with Larry successfully arguing they can’t use the family name or the Hustler brand to sell adult products. Jimmy also lost a bid for a share of the Hustler company, but he’s appealing that ruling. Jimmy, 64, of Florence, now owns two stores of his own, “Jimmy Flynt Sexy Gifts” in Florence and downtown Cincinnati.

Full interview: Cincinnati Enquirer 
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HERE'S SOMETHING COOL: NOSTALGIC ROAD SIGNS
The City of Hamilton, Ohio (about halfway between Cincinnati & Dayton and very similar to Covington in a lot of ways) has a cool idea as it designates Ohio State Route 4 as an "Iconic Signage District":

As part of the City of Hamilton’s commitment of creating a “Sense of Place” in the community, the Route 4 Corridor has been designated as an “Iconic Signage District.” The “Iconic Signage District” designation allows for more flexibility and incentives to encourage businesses to use 1950s style retro, and neon lights.

The intent of this designation is to recognize the auto orientation of the corridor and to allow businesses leeway in how they can get their message out to potential consumers. By allowing iconic or “retro” signage throughout this district there will be numerous benefits, several of which include:

• Differentiation – this type of program will set Hamilton’s Route 4 apart from other corridors in the area;
• Forward Thinking – by looking back and allowing business owners to hearken back to signs or messaging from days gone by;
• Investment – reinvestment back into the Route 4 corridor – one of the major north south corridors throughout the region;
• Cohesiveness – allows for bringing the district together without imposing an artificial sense of unity;
• Perception – Hamilton is “Open for Business”.

Wade Swormstedt, the 4th-generation publisher/editor of Cincinnati-based Signs of the Times magazine, emphasizes the above points. “So many city officials seem to believe that the on-premise sign (which is positioned with the business it identifies), does nothing more than identify the tenant. The enlightened City of Hamilton understands that the on-premise sign does so much more. It creates an identity; it serves as branding that creates critical first impressions; it’s the most cost-effective form of advertising. And on a heavily traveled road like State Route 4, this is critical because of the constant ‘impulse’ purchases that occur, which means the motorist didn’t get in the vehicle specifically to make such a purchase, but decided to do so after having seen the sign. For businesses such as restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores and entertainment venues, impulse buys can represent as much as 50% of all sales.”

Gayle Underwood of Richards Pizza, who recently relocated their restaurant along the Route 4 Corridor, is excited about the program. She says, “Anything that we can do to portray the Route 4 Corridor as a unique destination and drive business at the same time is a win-win for the community.”

Check out the brochure: Click Here (PDF)
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POSTCARD FROM ARIZONA IS FULL OF COINCIDENCE IN KENTUCKY
From our friends at The Kaintuckeean, who got a letter from a man in Arizona:

I sure hope this letter brightens your day.
I was at an antique store here and found this old circa 1939 picture of your beautiful courthouse. How the card got to Arizona we'll never know.
It's an old time classic, for sure. I thought to myself, by golly, I'd send it home where it can be appreciated. Our heritage is valuable to all of us. Lots of changes over the years, I'm sure. Enlarged it will make quite a display.
Well, I gave 6.00 for it so if you want it for 7.00 or 8.00 or so why that's sure o.k. Throw in a little postage if you want, too.
And my wife says if I hear from you I'll have to take her to lunch. I am eighty-four years old and still going strong.
I like to call my littly hobby, "A re-distribution of happiness." Our world sure needs it.

There was a twist of irony in the receiving of this letter, however. Read about it here: The Kaintuckeean 
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JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS JOBS
The Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center is hiring for 3 part-time positions: a sales associate, and instructors of performing arts Click Here 
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Riverside Korean is also hiring servers. Call 859.291.1484 and ask for Mark.
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COVINGTON FOOD PANTRY COULD USE A BOOST
The food pantry on Madison Avenue at the Senior Services of Northern Kentucky could use your help:

Food Pantry Alert!  Thank you to all for your generous donations of food, your help is feeding more seniors than ever in NKY. We are now in need of health and hygiene products.SSNK needs:Body WashDeoderantToothbrushesMens Disposable RazorsMouthwashToothpasteCanned ChickenPeanut ButterPlease bring items to SSNK's main office at 1032 Madison Ave. Covington, KY 41011 or call 859.291.0522 for more information!

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NKU STUDENTS SHOW HUMOR WITH NEW FACEBOOK PAGE
The internet "meme" has caught on at Northern Kentucky University. Here are a couple:

For more, follow the students on Facebook: NKU Memes 

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HEY LADIES, WANT TO BE IN A PRODUCTION OF THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES?

Here's your chance, as directed by Fort Thomas resident Donna Hoffman:

• 7 actresses and 7 female musicians are needed
• Age range is from 18 to 90 years old
• All races, vocal ranges, shapes and sizes
• 1 needs lots of hair, 1 with believable southern accent, 1 with believable New York accent
• Go to the First Unitarian Church, 536 Linton Street, in Cincinnati on July 26 starting at 7:00PM
• Rehearsals would start August 1 with performances on Sept 21 & 22 at the church
• Call Donna Hoffman at 859.441.6882 for more info

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AWW... GO GET YERSELF ONE!

Available right now at the Kenton County Animal Shelter. See more: Click Here 

HAVE A GREAT MONDAY!

NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY MORNING 20 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR CITY? CHECK ITS VITALS

"Want to change the nation? Start with your city. Want to change your city? Check your city vitals." Former Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fischer, President of CEOs for Cities, co-writes this op-ed:

Mayors and urban leaders across the country are asking, "What will it take for my city to prosper in this new economy?" CEOs for Cities, a national organization of cross-sector, cross-generational urban leaders, surveyed the landscape and concluded that the future belongs to those cities and regions who are able to frame their opportunities and challenges by first assessing their vital signs -- critical information that benchmarks their economic performance. Just as the medical profession looks at four vital signs to assess a human's health, so too must we identify and assess the key vitals that determine the economic health and vitality of cities.
(snip)In our new report, City Vitals 2.0, we have developed a four part formula to help city leaders benchmark their economic performance. Using more than two dozen different indicators, we show how cities need to focus on four vital signs: building connections, increasing innovation, improving talent, and capitalizing on your city's distinctiveness. C-I-T-Y: Connections, Innovation, Talent, Your Distinctiveness spells out the genetic code for formulating city economic success in the new economy.

Read it all, even though it kind of turns into an ad for their City Vitals report: Huffington Post
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COME TOGETHER AND HELP REBUILD SIXTH DISTRICT PLAYGROUND
The community needs you Saturday as Sixth District School and its partners (such as Gateway College) begin the work of rebuilding its playground that was scorched on June 24. Everyone can give something: time, ideas, resources, and money. To raise some cash, there will be an event at the school (1901 Maryland Ave in Austinburg) on Saturday from 11:00AM - 2:00PM. Some ways money will be raised: City Commissioner Steve Casper and Covington Independent Public Schools Superintendent Lynda Jackson will be in a dunking booth and for two bucks you can take a few shots at them. You can adopt a plant for $2, $5, or $10. Volunteers from Seven Hills Church will be there to help sand the area around what is left of the playground equipment. By the way, Lowe's will match what is raised up to $5,000. Get down there and help out!

(Original story with photos: Fire destroys playground at Covington School)

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CONVICTED: MUGSHOT ROUND-UP
Who's not going to have a good weekend? The people at the link. Check out who's going to prison, who got probation, and who's on the loose in this week's mugshot round-up from Kenton Co Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders, at the link.

The RC News: Mugshot Round-Up 

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QUICKIES

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GOP tax plan would cost $29 billion more than the Democrats' plan The Hill 

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College Republican doubles-down on his Super PAC that plans to influence the NKY Congressional race Sunlight Foundation 

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WLWT/Channel 5 is back on cable as Time Warner/Insight reaches a deal with Hearst Broadcasting press release 

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This is now the worst drought in the Midwest in 50 years MSNBC 

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PHOTOS: The drought of 2012 Washington Post 

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Bank of Kentucky reports profits jump Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Editorial: State Government puts high priority on child welfare State-Journal 

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Editorial: Joining expanded Medicaid would be beneficial to Kentucky State-Journal 

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LET'S CLEAR UP SOME MYTHS ABOUT CANNABIS

After last week's terrbily misleading editorial in the State-Journal, Frankfort's newspaper, the director of Kentucky Veterans for Medical Marijuana responds:

Aside from the American family, the one big loser in the prohibition of cannabis has been the truth. The fact that cannabis is illegal and the ramifications of even admitting you smoke it could jeopardize your employment, your standing in the community, your entire life. All of this, while the agents of misinformation spread their lies. 

As a young airman I smoked cannabis while serving in Thailand. I found it to be something other than what I had thought it would be but nothing as harmful as I had heard. Back then there was so much misinformation. Over the years I have smoked off and on but it wasn’t until I met Gatewood Galbraith back in 1990 that I realized just how much I had been lied to.

The problem over those years is no one could speak up. No one dared to, except a handful of activists and over a period of 18 months things changed. The genie was out of the bottle and all the establishment could say is, “It’s a gateway drug.” By then that argument didn’t hold water and since then no one has been able to come up with a good enough reason for the prohibition. It’s as if they have been afraid of the debate, running from it from the president on down.

Read it all: State-Journal 

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DON'T MISS THURSDAY EVENING'S NEWS

If you've ever wanted to own your own priestly wardrobe, altar, or Eucharist plate, now's your chance, thanks to Mother of God; A KY girl's "Make A Wish" trip to Disney is denied by her own father; Plus, six new homes, part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, hit the Covington market -- and you can check them out. Those stories and more at the link!

The RC News: Thursday Evening Round-Up 

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WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND IN AND AROUND COVINGTON

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Friday

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Friday Night Flick in Taylor Mill's Pride Park:

Santa Claus will be here on Friday evening at Pride Park to celebrate Christmas in July between the hours of 7 pm and 9 pm. Please stay after your visit and enjoy our Friday Night Flick - Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas, rated G - and a family dinner from our tasty grilled concessions menu.

More info: Click Here
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The Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center hosts the 20th annual Colored Pencil International Exhibition:  

More than 100 color pencil works will fill The Carnegie's galleries as part of the Colored Pencil Society of America's (CPSA) 20th Annual International Exhibition.
This exhibition features work from dozens of artists that explores the myriad expressive aspects of color pencil, highlighting its versatility and multifaceted uses.
CPSA sponsors the International Exhibition in a different US city each year in conjunction with a four-day convention with workshops, an awards banquet and artists' reception. This year's Meet the Artists Reception will be held Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, from 4 to 6 p.m.

More details: Click Here 

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Saint Benedict's Festival in Austinburg features fish dinners on Friday and chicken dinners on Saturday, plus a kiddie arcade and lots of games and raffles (338 East 17th Street).

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Saturday

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What's going on this week at the Madison Theater? Click Here 

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Beast Bash: A celebration of pets and their people

Get over to Pioneer Park (3950 Madison Pike) for this event from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. It features a dogs pool party, an animal communicator, pet contests, and much more. 

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TV star Meredith Baxter talks to The River City News publisher

The first-ever CNKY Scene GLBT Film Festival kicks is this weekend in Cincinnati with several great films lined up for presentation. The special guest is Mereditch Baxter who you may remember as the mom on TV's Family Ties and who narrates a documentary being shown at the festival about a raid on a gay bar in Fort Worth, Texas. On Saturday, Baxter will be at the festival for a question and answer session following the film and I am thrilled to have been asked to moderate the discussion. Catch us at Know Theatre on Jackson Street on Over-the-Rhine starting at 7:00PM. -Michael Monks

NEWS ROUND-UP -- SATURDAY 14 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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JUDGE ORDERS BENCH BILLBOARDS OUT OF COVINGTON

The benches that adorn many Covington corners and feature advertisements for a good divorce lawyer and other commodities have been ordered by a federal judge to be removed by August 12:

But that order may be put on hold because a lawyer for the firm says the business plans to appeal the order.
City Solicitor Frank Warnock called the Friday decision by Covington-based U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning a hard-won victory after years of battling the family-owned Bench Billboard Company, based in Columbia Township.
The city for several years has sought to clear items it deems unsightly, including the company’s benches that contain mini billboards that serve as the benches’ backrests, from its sidewalks. The city last decade used similar regulations to clear its sidewalks of unauthorized pay telephones and vending machines.

However, the bench billboard company's lawyer believes that the decision to allow them to remain lies with TANK, not the City. Check out the full story at the link.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Mike Rutledge
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COVINGTON BUSINESS WEIGHS IN ON 911 FEE ON UTILITY BILL PROPOSAL
CORRECTION: In the original post, it was wrongly implied that the Covington Business Council opposes the 911 fee being collected on utility bills handled by Duke Energy. In fact, the Covington Business Council has not taken a position on the issue but was rather offering this statement as an educational tool on behalf of one of its members as the vote nears. The River City News regrets the misinterpretation of the statement.
As the Kenton County Fiscal Court prepares to vote on how to pay for a consolidated emergency dispatch center, the Covington Business Council offers this statement:

Later this month the Kenton County Fiscal Court is scheduled to vote on passage of an ordinance that seeks a service fee for enhanced 9-1-1 Dispatch Services. You may remember the Covington City Commission recently approved joining Kenton County in consolidating their dispatch centers.

This ordinance, if passed, would seek to levy a fee through Duke Energy Kentucky and Owen Electric Cooperative's Kenton County customers to pay for this service-an estimated annual increase of $72 per customer account. Additionally, this plan would require Duke and Owen to serve as the collection agent for the fee and then remit payment back to the Fiscal Court. The current method being used to fund 9-1-1 services is through a surcharge on land-based telephone lines with the monthly fee varying based upon the city where a person resides. With increased reliance on cellular telephone service, the land-based phone fee (which would be eliminated under the Court's plan) is a declining source of revenue to fund 9-1-1 services.

The Fiscal Court proposal is being strongly opposed by CBC-member Duke Energy Kentucky and by Owen Electric Cooperative. Both companies do not believe the Fiscal Court has the legal authority to impose a service fee upon their electric customers and then require them to serve as the collection agent for any such fee. The utilities have asked the county to seek an alterative funding and collection method. The Fiscal Court's position is that the utility service fee is the fairest way to spread the funding need to as many people as possible. Two other methods that have been discussed as possible options: 1. Increasing the ad valorem property tax to $48 per $100,000 assessed value; 2. Issuing a flat rate carfee on auto registration of $35 per car.

The CBC then encourages residents to contact the Kenton County Judge-Executive and the Kenton Co. Commissioners and to attend the July 24 meeting in Covington when the vote is expected to take place.
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REP. ARNOLD SIMPSON SPEAKS IN FRANKFORT ON LIQUOR SALES

State Representative Arnold Simpson (D-Covington) testified in Frankfort on Friday before the Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations as part of his effort to overturn the ban on liquor sales on Election Day. Via cn|2:

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Full story: cn|2 

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MEANWHILE... GROUPS GET BEHIND SIMPSON'S EFFORTS

Simpson said several organizations are backing his legislation, including the Kentucky Association of Counties, Kentucky League of Cities, Kentucky Restaurant Association and Kentucky Retail Federation.
But the Kentucky League on Alcohol and Gambling Problems will fight the bill, its president, Don Cole, said in a telephone interview.
"This will create more problems than it helps," he said.
Cole said poll workers are not law-enforcement officials who are trained to handle alcoholics, and voters should feel safe when they go to the polls.

Full story: Herald-Leader/Jack Brammer 
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KY COUPLE ACCUSED OF TRADING PICKUP TRUCK FOR A BABY
Like something out of a bad country song, a couple in Laurel County stand accused of giving away their pick-up truck in exchange for a woman's baby. It wasn't even a new truck...

A Corbin couple is accused of trading a woman a 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup truck for her infant child, Laurel County Sheriff John Root said.
Officers with the department arrested Jeremy and Jamiee Brown on Thursday on charges of human trafficking, according to a release from Root's office. The couple had the baby, now 6 months old. The baby was placed in the care of state child-welfare workers, the release said.
The Browns allegedly made the trade soon after the baby was born. Root's office started investigating based on information from a confidential source, and officers were able to find the pickup truck.

The baby's mama originally fled Florida because she was wanted on meth charges. Sad, sad story all around.
Herald-Leader/Bill Estep
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But wait...
The mother has been located in the plains:

“I know she don’t care and she thinks it is their baby. She feels she gave it to them. The way they went about it was wrong,” Richard Haas said.
Kaminskey told Haas she’s in Kansas.
“She told me that she has already talked to the detective and that they can come and get me. This is where I’m at,” Haas said.

WKYT
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QUICKIES
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Pregnant woman killed on I-471 was not wearing a seatbelt WKRC
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PHOTO: SUV crashes on top of car in Covington parking garage WXIX
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More channels may soon be dropped by Insight Cable, including FOX News, the Food Network and several others Courier-Journal
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New KY law aims to curb scrap metal thefts Cincinnati Enquirer
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Personnel Board votes to open investigation into former Commissioner of Agriculture/UK basketball star Richie Farmer Bluegrass Politics
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Coal operators are being watched from above State-Journal
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13 reasons why this is the worst Congress ever Washington Post
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450,000 email passwords have been breached (Yahoo, Gmail affected) Business Courier
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Drought is affecting fish in KY streams press release
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Weekly newsletter from the Kenton Co Library click here 
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Anthony Davis joins the US Olympics Team Courier-Journal 
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UK will play no games in Louisville's Freedom Hall next season, and apparently very few people  are upset about that Herald-Leader 
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Miss Kentucky Pageant is stressful with a purpose Herald-Leader 
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VIDEO: Miss KY Pageant preparations Herald-Leader 
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FRANKFORT PAPER TAKES AMBIVALENT STANCE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA
The State-Journal takes on the medical marijuana legislation proposed by a state senator from Louisville in a meandering, ambivalent editorial:

However, perceptions of harmlessness can be misleading. When the so-called “Miami Cannibal” allegedly attacked a man and literally chewed off his face in May, some suspected the assailant was under the influence of “bath salts,” a synthetic drug, or some hard narcotic. But the Huffington Post reported tests found no such substance in his system. Instead they detected traces of marijuana. The suspect had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia, believed to be aggravated by pot use.

If medicinal marijuana is ever approved in Kentucky, there will need to be tight restrictions to ensure users don’t exploit the law for recreational purposes, as drinkers did during the Prohibition era with prescriptions written to purchase booze from drug stores.

Smoking, the delivery method by which the typical marijuana user absorbs the leaf’s purported benefits, is problematic. Frankfort, Franklin County and many other communities in this tobacco-growing state decided after long deliberation that smoking should be prohibited in public buildings. Marijuana smoke contains some of the same compounds as tobacco smoke.

So, Kentucky's marijuana crop should remain illegal in all ways because... people's faces will get chewed off? Wow. Click on the link not for the full editorial, which is awful, but for the amazing comments.
State-Journal 

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SHOPPING MALL TURNS 60, RETIRES

The first indoor shopping mall in America was first envisioned sixty years ago, but did you know that there has not been construction on a new one anywhere since 2006?

Gruen’s idea transformed American consumption patterns and much of the environment around us. At age 60, however, the enclosed regional shopping mall also appears to be an idea that has run its course (OK, maybe not in China, but among Gruen’s original clientele). He opened the first prototype in Edina, Minnesota, in 1956, and the concept spread from there (this also means the earliest examples of the archetypal American mall are now of age for historic designation, if anyone wants to make that argument).
At the mall’s peak popularity, in 1990, America opened 19 of them. But we haven’t cut the ribbon on a new one since 2006, for reasons that go beyond the recession. As we imagine ways to repurpose these aging monoliths and what the next generation of retail should look like, it’s worth recalling Gruen’s odd legacy. He hated suburbia. He thought his ideas would revitalize cities. He wanted to bring urban density to the suburbs. And he envisioned shopping malls as our best chance at containing sprawl.
"He said great quotes on suburbia being 'soulless' and 'in search of a heart,'" says Jeff Hardwick, who wrote the Gruen biography Mall Maker. "He just goes on and on with these critiques. And they occur really early in his writing as well. So it’s not as if he ends up bemoaning suburbia later. He’s critiquing suburbia pretty much from the get-go, and of course the remedy he offers is the shopping mall."

Full story: The Atlantic Cities
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DOWNTOWN COVINGTON BINGO IS THRIVING
Out of curiosity, I went with my mama to Pike Place Bingo on Pike Street Friday night... and had an awesome time! The place was packed and probably is most nights that it is open. 

Check it out some time.

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COVINGTON ARTS GROUPS AWARDED GRANTS FROM KENTUCKY

From a press release:

The Kentucky Arts Council has awarded more than $1.7 million in operational support funding to 104 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations for fiscal year 2013, through the Kentucky Arts Partnership (KAP) grant, the agency announced today.
The KAP grant provides support to nonprofit organizations offering year-round arts services and programs directly for the benefit of the public. The competitive grant process funds applicants based on operating revenues, a panel review of applications, and funds available for the program.

Local groups awarded funds:

•  Kentucky Symphony Orchestra ($19,623)
• The Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center ($30,697)
• Behringer-Crawford Museum ($18,328)
• My Nose Turns Red Circus Theater ($3,954)

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DYING KENTUCKY MAN'S WISH FULFILLED THROUGH LARGE TIP
From the clip description:

My brother passed away July 7, 2012. His final wish in his will, if he left enough money, was that we have pizza and give the waiter or waitress a $500 tip. Aaron never had much money , and he didn't have enough to make this happen, so I started a website and took donations. On July 10 we were able to make his wish come true for the first time.

We think he just wanted to provide a random act of kindness and generosity for someone he thought was under appreciated; the kind of thing that would make a lasting impact they would never forget. If you want to keep his legacy going, please feel free to donate. So far we have collected over $1000 so we will definitely be doing this again, for another random waiter or waitress, very soon! Each time we have $500 we will do it again, even if that means going out to eat multiple times a day.

Watch this:

If you want to give to the website's fund to keep passing out random acts of kindness, click here.

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COME GET A PET TODAY IN MAINSTRASSE VILLAGE

Click to enlarge

| WHOA! THAT'S A LOT OF SUNFLOWER!

This was submitted by reader David Klein who lives in Peaselburg.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/07/13/2257480/groups-pushing-for-removal-of.html#storylink=rss?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#storylink=cpy