A severe thunderstorm rolled through Covington and the lighting that accompanied it knocked down many trees, some landing on vehicles and homes. The wind, however, appears to be the biggest culprit in much of the damage, a lot of which is concentrated in Covington's Westside along Holman, Banklick, and Russell as well as Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth. Linden Grove Cemetery also suffered serious damage when a tree struck by lighting destroyed portions of its fence. A residential parking lot with about five to seven cars in it is now covered by a large tree that came down on Bakewell. Covington city employees, including fire, police, and public improvements are hard at work all over town.
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PHOTOS:
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Lots more photos below, just click the link and then click on a pic to start the slideshow.
It was another busy and fun Saturday in Covington. The River City News visited the 5K race at the library, the Crossfit for Hope event, neighborhood yard sales in Wallace Woods and Austinburg, a meet-n-greet at West Latonia's Barb Cook Park, a dog adoption event, and a tarot card reader in Mainstrasse. Check out all the photos below. Click on the first photo to start slideshow.
In a Kenton County Courtroom this morning, the niece of Timothy Henson who's accused of stabbing to death Jonathan Lowe in Downtown Covington, says her uncle was framed:
But Judge Ann Ruttle found there was enough evidence against Henson to refer the case to a grand jury. The evidence includes statements from three people who claim they witnessed the killing. When Ruttle denied Henson bond, Thomas became more upset. She said while her uncle doesn’t have much money, the family owned a home they would be willing to use as collateral to bail Henson out of the county jail. “They know he has a criminal record,” Thomas said. “They are using that against him.”
COVINGTON DEVELOPER'S PLANS FOR CINCINNATI WALGREENS NOT POPULAR
Covington-based Anchor Properties has plans for a new Walgreens in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood of Cincinnati, but because those plans would require the destruction of long-standing, popular established businesses, neighbors and Cincinnati politicians oppose the move:
“Does City Council really want to put a dagger in the heart of the neighborhood?” he asked while sitting at the bar of the cafe. “You take away any of these places, you kill Pleasant Ridge.”
Cincinnati Enquirer | DID YOU MISS THIS MORNING'S NEWS? A truck full of lawnmowers stolen from a Cincinnati landscaping company and the contents are found in Covington -- but the suspects are still on the run and may be part of a larger crime ring; Plus, you (yes, you!) can be a UK basketball player if you pay for the "Coach Cal Experience". How much? Yikes. Those stories and much more at the link!
Rather than going out to dinner again at the same old restaurants, round up your friends and bring your favorite bottle of wine or ANY other beverage of choice to our fun 1 1/2 hour Sushi Rolling & Dining sessions. Our chef will instruct and help you assemble, roll and slice your own sushi. After you finish rolling and slicing the sushi you can open your drinks and enjoy the sushi you rolled yourself. The price of $35 per person includes: training, your choice of 3 sushi rolls and a go box for anything you want to take home. You can roll extra rolls to take home for $4.00 each. Event size is limited to 20 people.
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LOTS OF NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALES IN COVINGTON IN THE COMING WEEKS
Wallace Woods hosts its yard sale on Saturday starting at 9:00AM. But don't forget about Austinburg's that day, too:
Do you have some items in your house that you would like to get rid of? Join us this Saturday for a neighborhood yard sale. We will be at the corner of Thomas and Eastern from 8am to 2pm. It is $5.00 to set up a space. If you don't have anything to sell but are looking for items come on out as well. Hope to see you this weekend.
After launching a taco wrapped in Doritos, naturally the Mexican fast food chain operated by Kentucky-based Yum! Brands attracted more upscale customers that it hopes to please:
Introduction of the Cantina Burrito Bowl and Cantina Burrito is part of the Irvine, Calif.-based chain’s transformation as its customers increasingly look for more than a quick bite on the go, said Niccol, Taco Bell’s chief marketing and innovation officer. He credits Garcia, who will appear on Bravo’s ‘‘Top Chef Masters’’ show this summer, as the force behind the Cantina Bell menu that the chain expects to eventually expand.
The products have been tested in Kentucky for months. The Boston Globe | HOLY CROSS BASEBALL COACH RETIRES After 11 seasons, Mike Hotz is hanging it up. Cincinnati Enquirer
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MORE QUICKIES
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I'll Have Another is favorite for this weekend's Belmont in which he'll run for the first Triple Crown since 1978 Courier-Journal
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Online wagering errors results in credits for customers from Churchill DownsCourier-Journal
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Where do nearby cities fall on the list of the "brainiest" American cities? The Atlantic Cities
THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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ARLINGHAUS SUED BY COUNTY ATTORNEY EDMONSON
Things sure seem awkward these days out at the Fiscal Court. The latest, a lawsuit filed by Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmondson against Kenton County Judge-Executive Steve Arlinghaus:
Edmondson alleges in his lawsuit that Arlinghaus purchased goods and services and ordered county employees to renovate second-floor office space without securing Kenton Fiscal Court’s approval, and later presented claims totaling $11,194.78 for materials already installed, in violation of state law. Before that, Edmondson said some initial bills totaling $10,583.57 for the second-floor renovation project were paid, but the contract for that work had not been authorized by Fiscal Court, as required. He said the latter payment was brought to his attention after one of the county commissioners raised the issue at a meeting.
Arlinghaus denies the claim and in turn accuses Edmondson of offering mixed advice on the issue. Cincinnati Enquirer/Cindy Schroeder | ALERT: KENTON COUNTY TEEN MISSING Check out NKY Spot for details. | in case you missed... | THIS MORNING'S NEWS Man who confessed to killing woman and disposing of her body parts in Covington grants a chilling interview; Plus, City Commissioner Steve Frank offers up an endorsement in the 2012 commission campaign. Those stories and more at the link. The RC News: Monday Morning Round-Up | The conversation is underway on those topics and more at The River City News Facebook page. Click here to join in! | FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS | WALLACE WOODS Mayor Chuck Scheper and the city commissioners continue their C+V=G tour tonight with an appearance at the Wallace Woods neighborhood association. Join them at 7:00PM at 27 Wallace Avenue.
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AUSTINBURG
From the neighborhood's Facebook page:
Just a reminder... we are meeting tonight at 6:30 at the Oakland Baptist Church. Our special guest for this month will be John Coulter from Code Enforcement to talk about the Great American Clean Up. Hope to see you there.
| UNAUTHORIZED TRAILS BEING MARKED IN DEVOU PARK? The Devou Park Trails Facebook page offers this warning:
Trails are in great shape. We have noticed someone hatching bark from trees and then marking the trees with orange spray paint. Some trees are on the trail, some are off trail on deer trials. It seems as if someone is visibly marking an unapproved trail. If this person thinks it is OK to mark rogue (unapproved) trial on City property, I am not sure why they would not use ribbon or other non invasive means. Why slice up trees?. Permanently marking trees, or marking/building unapproved trail (rogue trial) is not allowable in Devou Park. The authorities have been notified. If you see anyone with marking or looking like they are marking trees, please call the police. Also ask them to please stop, Thanks. The Covington Park Management and The Devou Park Trial stewards.
| HIGH HEELS BECOME THE FOCUS OF NEW CONGRESSIONAL AD Republican Congressional candidate Alecia Webb-Edgington has launched a new TV ad highlight her history as a tough law enforcement officer ready to take on the brutes in Washington, DC. But the ad repeatedly changes focus to Webb-Edgington's high heel shoes. Take a look and weigh in on what you think about it:
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AN UPDATE FROM STATE REP. DENNIS KEENE
The Wilder Democrat who represents Campbell County's river cities offers an update on this final week of the General Assembly legislative session:
Beginning last Wednesday afternoon,, I met with legislative staff to tie up several loose ends. On Thursday, beginning at 8:00 a.m., I met with my office staff to go through correspondence and finish up other business. Then, I met with Don Pasley, Commissioner of Rural and Municipal Roads, where I believe I found some great opportunities for our district. Thursday afternoon I met with the head of Homeland Security, Gene Kiser. We talked about needs for the Wilder and Southgate Fire Departments.
More at the link. Dennis Keene | FRANKFORT QUICKIES | Legislators closer to compromise on prescription drug abuse bill cn|2 | Governor orders flags at half staff tomorrow in honor of Kentucky soldier killed in Afghanistan press release | Kentucky State Police push motorcycle safety through social media following a 69% increase in crashes from 2011 NKY Spot |
THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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FROM GATEWAY COLLEGE: Having trouble with motivation and need some help with goal setting? Develop lifelong strategies that will help you become self-motivated. Open Groups: Motivation and Goal Setting, Apr 10, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. at the Covington Campus, Bluegrass Room. | COVINGTON NATIVE MAKES MLB DEBUT, STRIKES OUT JOSH HAMILTON Put your hands together for Nate Jones who was born in Covington and played baseball at NKU. He is now a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and took the mound for the first time Sunday night where he pitched one hitless inning and struck out MLB MVP (and former Cincinnati Red) Josh Hamilton. Take a look at the video (which includes a shout out to Covington) at the link. Chicago White Sox @ MLB.com | RANKING NORTH AMERICA'S MOST IMPORTANT AIRPORTS CVG is looking more and more like an also-ran on the national stage, though there are good things on the horizon The Atlantic Cities | QUICKIES | Begrudging Kentucky for its basketball success and opportunities (A New York Times columnist blames race) The New York Times | UK football loses three more players Courier-Journal | Instant horse racing is up 20%, appeals court to hear case on April 25 Herald-Leader |
Unmanned tractor-trailer crashes into Lexington apartment Local 12
