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Showing posts with label recreation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recreation. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY EVENING 20 JUNE

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
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LAYING OFF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HURTING THE ECONOMY?
As departments within the City of Covington consider the possibility of more layoffs in the coming days, a report from The New York Times indicates that the nation's economic recovery may be slowed by the purging of public employees: 
So while the federal government has grown a little since the recession, and many states have recently begun to add a few jobs, local governments are making new cuts that outweigh those gains. More than a quarter of municipal governments are planning layoffs this year, according to a survey by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence. They are being squeezed not only by declining federal and state support, but by their devastated property tax base.
“The unfortunate reality is our revenue streams have not rebounded,” said Timothy R. Hacker, the city manager of North Las Vegas, which has cut its work force to 1,300 from 2,300 and is about to lay off 130 more. “Shaking this recession is becoming increasingly difficult.” 
(snip)
If governments still employed the same percentage of the work force as they did in 2009, the unemployment rate would be a percentage point lower, according to an analysis by Moody’s Analytics. At the pace so far this year, layoffs will siphon off $15 billion in spending power. Yale economists have said that if state and local governments had followed the pattern of previous recessions, they would have added at least 1.4 million jobs. 
The New York Times 
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The Center for State and Local Government Excellence reports: 
More than half of state and local governments still have a pay freeze and are adjusting retirement and health care benefits. At the same time, the pace of layoffs has slowed with 28 percent reporting layoffs this year compared with 40 percent last year. 
Read the full analysis by clicking here
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The City of Covington has asked for $500,000 (or possibly more) in cuts from police and fire budgets and massive cuts in other departments as well which will likely to lead to the elimination of several positions. Read that earlier report at the link below. 
Questions and Uncertainty at City Hall as Budget Vote Looms 
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SEE ALSO: Home ownership may not be the answer to the nation's economic woes after all The Atlantic Cities 
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DON'T MISS THIS MORNING'S NEWS
More on why the City of Covington may be changing the way code enforcement exists in the city; World Choir Games concert is coming to Mainstrasse; Plus, a KY traffic sign is hijacked to read "Honk if you're...What?!" Click it. 
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LATONIA WATERPARK AND SPRAY PARK CLOSED INDEFINITELY
In another blow to Covington's summer recreation opportunities, the City notified the media Wednesday afternoon that the waterpark/spray park in Latonia is closed: 
The Covington Waterpark/Spraypark in Latonia is closed due to operational issues. We regret this inconvenience. The length of time it will be closed will be determined once investigations into the issues are conducted. We will send a notification once that information is available. 
Covington recreation director Natalie Gardner tells The River City News via email: 
About the waterpark, our staff noticed an unusual amount of water was being lost.  We suspect that the large recharge line that feeds the pool has a leak.  The waterpark is constructed on a landfill and over time the decomposition will create settlement issues for decades after a landfill closure.  The recharge line carries a large amount of weight and would be the first line to experience problems.  Right now we are investigating to see if we can locate the leaks, so we are unsure the severity and how long it will need to be closed. 
That leaves only Randolph Park Pool in the Eastside and Goebel Pool in Mainstrasse available to the public. Gus Sheehan Pool in Botany Hills was closed for good earlier this year because of the high cost to repair and upgrade it.
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NEWPORT VS BELLEVUE IN TEEN ON TEEN FIGHT
Awful. Via WKRC

$75,000 AWARDED TO GATEWAY COLLEGE FROM DUKE ENERGY FOUNDATION
As part of its urban revitalization efforts, Duke Energy handed out $125,000 to three entities Wednesday, including $75,000 for the Gateway Community & Technical College Foundation and $25,000 for Legacy Young Professionals: 
“While each of these organizations has a unique mission, they all rally around three common, profound goals: sustain the core of our communities, reduce blight in neighborhoods and produce something new out of something old,” Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky President Julie Janson said. 
Business Courier
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SEE ALSO: Gateway students and staff team up to fight cancer press release
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DEMOCRAT LAUNCHES FIRST COMMERCIAL IN NKY CONGRESSIONAL RACE
From Williamstown attorney Bill Adkins (D) who faces Lewis County Judge-Executive Thomas Massie (R) in November: 


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Said Adkins in a news release, “Voters in the 4th District need to know the truth about Thomas Massie. His broken promises and failings as a 1 ½ year Lewis County judge-executive, his radical positions and association with out-of-state Texas SuperPAC money are all fair game in this election.” 
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The Massie campaign responded to the commercial through its campaign chair, failed Tea Party gubernatorial candidate Phil Moffett, in an interview with Bluegrass Politics
Phil Moffett, campaign chair for Massie, said Massie won the primary election in May because “he was the best candidate and he will win the general election in November because he’s the best candidate.” 
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QUICKIES
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Groups helps Democrat and Republican women get elected in Kentucky cn|2 
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Commonwealth of Kentucky to county its horses WFPL  
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Two historic Lexington homes crumbling (one is condemned) due to neglect... sound familiar? Herald-Leader  
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The Republican US Chamber of Commerce says Kentucky's higher education system needs fixin' WFPL  
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Did Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman's girlfriend lie about being tied up in a Pittsburgh hotel room? WLWT  
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Archaeologists hope to find remnants of original fort at Boonesborough Herald-Leader  
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KENTUCKY WOMAN GLUED TO BATHROOM SEAT AT WALMART
Is that a Kentucky headline, or what?
Monticello city officials said the woman went to use the store's bathroom when she realized she was stuck to the toilet seat. It was later determined the seat was covered in Super Glue. 
CNN via WCPO
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WHY DOES A LEXINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD SMELL LIKE... POO?
A mixture for plants that included manure made for a steamy hot smelly mess, particularly on this hot day: 

"It was almost unbearable," he said Tuesday afternoon. "You can't plan anything — we don't want friends over."Coldstream Court resident Nancy Jo Kemper said the foul smell made her sick to her stomach when she was in her yard."It was awful," she said. "It seeped through the windows and doors. ... It smells like a pig farm." 
Herald-Leader/Karla Ward
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COVINGTON SHOP OWNER ON WHAT TO WEAR THIS SUMMER
Jerod Theobald, owner of flow - a shop for men on Scott Boulevard writes his monthly column for Cincinnati Profile: 
The truth is, most men don’t think twice about what they put on before they set out to enjoy the days of summer. Sure, a man doesn’t have to be on point to cut the grass, lay down mulch, or work under the hood of his car – but he should make an effort to look his best before heading out on a date or off to an outdoor wedding. A little effort (and adhering to the suggestions below) will go a long way to ensure you look cool and stay cool all summer long. 
For Jerod's tips on what guys should wear this summer to weddings, on dates, to concerts and other outdoor events, click the link below. 
Cincinnati Profile
Jerod Theobald
Check out flow - a shop for men on Facebook here.
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UK'S 1996 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM TO REUNITE
One of the greatest teams in college basketball history is getting back together. Herald-Leader 
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But it's not just to hang out... the team is helping out the Derek Anderson foundation as the former 'Cat great launches a new bottled water Click Here 
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KY High School Basketball Team Grows Flat Tops

More evidence that UK fans are the craziest... Members of the Marshall County High School boys basketball team have cut their hair in honors of incoming UK freshman Nerlens Noel and his now famous 'do. Check out the photo here 
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KORAN KOUNTRY OPENS IN KENTUCKY WITH INCENTIVES FROM BESHEAR
LMAO: 

Gov. Steve Beshear attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday for the opening of Koran Kountry, the radical Islamic theme park that could receive up to $75 million in tax incentives from the state.
“We are excited to be here for the grand opening of Koran Kountry,” Beshear said. “This park will bring almost 1,000 jobs to this region and give a vital boost to our economy, with millions of tourists visiting the commonwealth.”
The controversial park is the creation of Answers in Koran, LLC, who seek to bring visitors to the “family-friendly attraction that celebrates the truth of the Koran, and the power of the global jihadist movement to liberate Muslims from the oppression of the infidels and Jews. We also have roller coasters.” 
If you feel like wetting yourself from laughter, read the whole thing at the link. (Satire, obviously)
LEO Weekly 
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No, but seriously... Can you imagine if someone wanted to open Koran Kountry in Kentucky? Would it be met with the same lavish tax incentives that the Creation Museum's "Ark Encounter" has been? What do you think? 
Welcome to Koran Kountry, y'all!
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/06/19/2230839/smell-of-manure-plagues-gainesway.html#storylink=cpy

Friday, April 20, 2012

ONE POOL CLOSES, TWO TO STAY OPEN FOR NOW

by Michael Monks 
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
Gus Sheehan Pool in Botany Hills
The City of Covington informed neighbors in Botany Hills Thursday night that Senator Gus Sheehan Pool would be closed permanently and demolished in the coming weeks. "We have been lucky for many years that we've been able to stretch its life," said Natalie Garnder, Covington's recreation director. "We've been putting a band-aid on it for ten years." Concrete swimming pools are typically usable for twenty years and Sheehan Pool is now over thirty years old. A letter to neighbors read: 
City staff has examined the possibility of purchasing certain new mechanical equipment but this option is not possible due to problems associated with retrofitting older, existing equipment with newer parts in addition to requiring complete replacement of the majority of the current mechanical systems and piping. Another major concern was the discovery of unknown sub-surface settling issues beneath the pool. During the 2011 season, the filtration room floor sunk several inches raising concerns not only about the condition of the pool's water lines but also the 36" diameter sanitary sewer main that runs directly beneath the pool. 
For public safety reasons, the pool has to go. "The City has been working to identify partners whose business is providing recreation activities (like the YMCA)," said City Manager Larry Klein. "We envision a year-round recreation facility with an indoor pool. It would take more than the City alone but there's strengths in partnerships." 
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Meanwhile, the children of Botany Hills (formerly West Covington) could possibly be bused to Goebel Pool in Mainstrasse, a location that is often already at its capacity and is also beyond its originally projected lifespan. Unlike Sheehan's concrete, Goebel's foundation is made of aluminum which lasts longer. Klein and Gardner told The River City News that while Goebel will open this summer, its future could very much be in doubt. 
Randolph Park Pool in the Eastside
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The same is true across town at Randolph Park Pool in the Eastside which is also beyond its projected lifespan and whose concrete base is also in dire need of repair. A generous $50,000 donation from the Housing Authority of Covington will allow that pool to open this summer. Sheehan Pool joins one in Austinburg as Covington pools shut down in recent years due to the high cost of maintaining and replacing obsolete equipment. 

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The Botany Hills pool was suffering from more than neglect to its infrastructure, however. "I had to deal with more patron issues (at Sheehan) than at Goebel Park and Randolph Park combined," Gardner said. The pool is often a target of graffiti and was forced to open late six or seven days last season because of a large amount of trash thrown in the water, Gardner said. 

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"None of us wanted to do it because it was so painful but this pool is at the top of the list (of pools that need to be closed)," said City Commissioner Sherry Carran, a Botany Hills resident. Other neighbors weighed in on what could become of the secluded space at the end of Parkway Avenue with suggestions ranging from a dog park to volleyball courts. The City expressed interest in developing what it calls "passive recreation" that requires little equipment and therefor little maintenance. Two basketball courts on the site are also in decline and in need of resurfacing and nets for the hoops. 

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Sanitation District 1 will have to investigate the sewer pipe underneath Sheehan Pool to determine if it needs to be replaced before any other plans move forward.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY MORNING 18 APR

by Michael Monks 
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
BOTANY HILLS SWIMMING POOL TO CLOSE
The closure of Gus Sheehan Pool will be discussed at tomorrow's Botany Hills neighborhood association meeting. The agenda indicates that Covington recreation director Natalie Gardner will address shutting down the pool. The River City News is working on details but at this point has learned that the disrepair has become too expensive to maintain. 
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MAYOR SCHEPER TO ADDRESS LATONIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION TODAY
Fresh off headlines from two important achievements on his ten-point plan, Covington Mayor Chuck Scheper will address the Latonia Business Association at lunch today. Last Friday, Scheper announced that agreements were reached between the City of Covington and its three public employees unions which followed news from a week before that Covington was eliminating its 911 emergency dispatch services and that the County would be taking over. 
The LBA luncheon is Wednesday from 11:30AM-1:00PM at Twin Oaks golf course. The buffet lunch is $11. 
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THIRD UNION APPROVES CONTRACT AS CITY ACCEPTS FIRST TWO
City commission approves working agreement with two unions as third approves its own contract. Plus, other notes from the commission meeting including a new kiosk for Mainstrasse and repairs on the way to Covington drivers' favorite route to escape trains. Click it. 
The RC News: City Commission Recap 
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VEHICLE FEE DISCUSSED AS POSSIBLE FUNDING SOURCE FOR DISPATCH
Kenton County Judge-Executive is floating a $35-per-car fee to help fund the merged dispatch center: 
“Even though it’s possible we could be successful in that and have the least amount of cost per person, the long-term battle might not be worth it, and we also would miss this window of opportunity where Covington is today,” Arlinghaus said.
(snip)
“My concern is that we want to be able to assist (Covington) and help them in moving forward, but the fact of the matter is, we don’t have a funding source in place, that could carry us that soon, to help them out,” Arlinghaus said. 
Thorough explanation of the proposal at the link. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Cindy Schroeder 
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MORE C+V=G LOGOS FILL EMPTY DOWNTOWN STOREFRONTS
These were spotted Tuesday evening: 

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PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES SCHEDULED FOR HOLMES
From Covington Independent Public Schools: 
Holmes High School Scheduling Conferences for Parents Parents/guardians of Holmes High School students will be able to meet with administrators and counselors from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, April 24, 2012, to discuss their child’s college and career plans and class selections for the 2012-2013 school year. The individual scheduling conferences will take place in the Evans Field House (gymnasium) on the Holmes campus. Appointments are not necessary. For more information, please call the high school, 859-655-9545. 
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DOCTOR WHO WANTED METHADONE CLINIC IN COVINGTON HAS OFFICE RAIDED
Dr. Gary Shearer, one of two partners that hoped to open a methadone clinic in Covington, saw the DEA and FBI raid his Florence office Tuesday: 
Florence Police officers turned away numerous patients who came to the office hoping to see Shearer while FBI agents carted out boxes filled with file folders and loaded them into a U-Haul truck. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Brenna Kelly 
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FRANKFORT NOTES
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House to vote today on roads budget, pill mill bill Bluegrass Politics 
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Read the text of the roads bill here 
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Doctors disagree over effectiveness of pill bill cn|2 
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Head of KY student loan organization retires abruptly Herald-Leader 
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MCCONNELL ENDORSES ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT
Kentucky's senior senator says his party is united behind the presumptive Republican nominee: 
“I support Governor Romney for President of the United States and he is going to be the nominee,” he told reporters. “If you’ve noticed, the party is in the process of unifying behind him. And I think it’s going to be an incredibly close, hard fought race.” 
WFPL/Phillip M. Bailey 
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
HOLY CROSS FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RING CEREMONY SUNDAY
The state champions from Holy Cross will receive their rings on Sunday afternoon inside the school's cafeteria. A time is still being worked out. The public is welcome to attend. 
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Holy Cross junior throws no-hitter against St. Henry
Tiberi pitched aggressively, throwing lots of strikes and not wasting many pitches. He threw a complete game in just 88 pitches, 58 of which were strikes.
“Everything was working for me tonight,” he said. “I had the fastball, I had the change and curve going for me — just getting ahead… that was key.” 
NKY Sports Blog/Rick Broering 
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SCOTT FOOTBALL TEAM HONORED FOR WORK AFTER TORNADOES
From the football team
Scott Football receives Award of Excellence from the Kenton County Board of Education for our efforts to help clean up after the Piner Tornado. Great day to be an Eagle!
Click the above link for a photo.
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WANT TO SEE A COOL PHOTO OF STATE REP. ARNOLD SIMPSON AND FORMER STATE SENATOR JOE MEYER? Click Here 
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Covington Farmers Market is looking for vendors. Click here and here for the info. 
KENTUCKY BASKETBALL TO LOSE TOP 6 SCORERS TO NBA
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