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Showing posts with label HONK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HONK. Show all posts

Friday, July 27, 2012

PHOTOS: NEWLY RENOVATED HOMES HIT MARKET IN COVINGTON

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
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One block of Banklick Street once lined with dilapidated, boarded-up houses is now full of market-rate, newly renovated or newly built homes for sale. The work is so good that of the five homes on the market, two are already under contract. The City of Covington, the Center for Great Neighborhoods, Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, and the Covington Realtor Roundtable opened up the homes for tours Thursday afternoon. 
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For more information on the homes and the attractive program to help you buy one, click here.
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Take a look:
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Tons of photos below, just click the link!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY MORNING 26 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
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OPEN HOUSE TODAY FOR RENOVATED COVINGTON HOMES
You can check out five newly renovated homes in Covington today from 5:00-700PM as the City of Covington and its partners at Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, the Center for Great Neighborhoods, Huff Realty, Sibcy Cline, Coldwell Banker West Shell, and Century 21 show off their latest effort to increase home ownership:
The City of Covington along with its partners, the Center for Great Neighborhoods, Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, Huff Realty, Sibcy Cline, Coldwell Banker West Shell and Century 21, proudly invite you to tour 5 of its newly renovated and constructed homes in the 900 block of Banklick Street and Berry Street in Covington. An Open House tour will be hosted by the Realtor Partners on Thursday, July 26 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. These 5 homes are near completion and are ready for purchase.

As part of a grant from the Kentucky Department for Local Government for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), the City of Covington was able to take 14 home sites, restore them, and offer them for sale to qualifying buyers. Three of the sites are new construction while the remaining 11 are full restorations. To date, one home has been sold and two more are under contract.

The NSP program offers potential homebuyers financial incentives that include paid closing costs, sizable grants, and half of the down payment. Buyers must meet income guidelines to qualify for the program. Information on the program can be found at www.makecovingtonhome.com or by calling the City of Covington Community Development Department at 859-292-2147.

Please join us for this Open House event to experience these exciting new homes and discover the quality construction, convenient location and positive impact this project has given the City of Covington. Refreshments will be provided.
More details: Click Here
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1 MILLION IN KENTUCKY TO GET INSURANCE BECAUSE OF OBAMACARE
A new report predicts that one million people in Kentucky who were previously unable to attain health insurance will be covered when part of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) goes into effect in 2014:
“I think this brings peace of mind to those families who have been denied coverage for so long because of pre-existing conditions," said Mitchell. "I think when we speak to a lot of Kentucky families there’s not really anyone I have spoken to that has not been affected by pre-existing conditions,” she says.
The clause will allow those who’ve had illnesses like cancer, diabetes or other sickness to get insurance coverage, Mitchell says.
WFPL 

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COVINGTON FIREFIGHTERS MEET VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
Vice President Joe Biden addressed the International Association of Firefighters convention in Philadelphia Wednesday:
In an emotional speech to a quiet room here in Philadelphia, Biden declared to the International Association of Fire Fighters that the GOP views them as "the community's problem," and quoted Romney's pledges to cut spending deeply.
"This new Republican Party looks at you as both the reason for and the solution to this godawful recession we inherited," Biden said. "They look at your ranks and they see an easy place to cut budgets to accommodate their priorities — not just you, but cops, public workers generally. Don’t take my word for it. Just listen to what Gov. Romney — who by the way, is a good family man, a guy who means well, I think part of the problem is, I don’t think he just gets you."
Biden repeatedly argued that Romney is out of touch with the values of firefighters and other middle-class voters, telling his audience that the GOP's intent to focus on slashing budgets and keeping upper-income taxes low would hurt their communities.
"He said, I quote, guaranteeing the government will keep its fire, police and teachers intact is not an effective way to get the economy rolling again. Tell that to the store owner who, without you, may lose everything they own," Biden continued. "He further said — referring to Gov. Romney — my own view is that right to work is the right way to go, and I’d like to see it on the national level as well. Did you think that we’d be fighting these fights again in 2012?"
Full story: Politico 
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The executive board of Covington's firefighters union, IAFF Local 38, shared this photo on their Facebook page:
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NORTHERN KENTUCKIANS WANT TAX REFORM TO BOOST EDUCATION
More from this week's public meeting on tax reform in the Commonwealth at Northern Kentucky University. Via cn|2:
Brent Cooper, owner of a small tech company in Covington and chairman of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, said he had concerns about the lack of tax credit for angel investors in start up businesses. The General Assembly failed to enact legislation this year to allow such tax credits other states have.
Cooper told the commission, “imagine you are a new startup and someone comes to you and says I’ll give you $200,000 for your idea, but you’ve got to move four miles north, because I get a 25 percent tax credit in Ohio and we don’t get that in Kentucky. That is not just made up. That is happening. Tax policy in Kentucky is costing us jobs.”
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Hear from outgoing NKU President James Votruba and the university's student government president about the importance of solving the tuition and higher education funding problems at the link: cn|2 
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SEE ALSO: Governor Beshear makes appointments to higher education board, including the President of EW Scripps to the NKU Board of Regents press release 
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QUICKIES
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Banking scandal could be hurting Kentucky's pensions WFPL 
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Tax increases, program cuts could help boost pensions cn|2 
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Pension reform is still troublesome Daily Independent 
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Governor Beshear to promote Kentucky on trip to Europe press release 
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Kentucky Secretary of State heads to Afghanistan to help troops vote press release 
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Drug money funds voter fraud in Kentucky FOX News 
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US Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) named best in Congress for working people press release 
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US Rep. Geoff Davis passes off his signature cause, the REINS Act, to a colleague since Davis won't be around to see it passed WFPL 
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Good news for wine lovers: the grape harvest is ahead of schedule WPSD 
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Governor Beshear orders flags at half staff in honor of victims of Colorado movie theater shooting press release 
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Bengals say "no" to new TV blackout rule Business Courier 
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Kentucky low on list of creative class population The Atlantic Cities 
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COVINGTON SCHOOL BOARD MEETS TONIGHT
The Covington School Board will meet Thursday at 7:00PM inside the Board of Education. No agenda has been made public yet, but it is expected to include discussion of the three bids sought to reconstruct the playground at Sixth District Elementary School that was partially destroyed by fire in June. Also, board member Mike Fitzgerald returns after missing a couple meetings due to an illness that kept him in the hospital for an extended period of time. The River City News will have it covered for you.
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FEMALE TEACHERS & MALE STUDENTS SEX SCANDALS IN THE AREA
Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati have had their share of teacher-student sex scandals:
Fox19 Legal Analyst and former Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen added that society's double standard also makes it tougher to prosecute offenders.
"If the male teacher is the defendant and there's a female student, that person is probably going to prison," said Allen. "If on the other hand, it's a female teacher and a male student, you're not seeing that many stiff sentences."
See the video report here: WXIX 
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COVINGTON CITY ARBORIST EXPLAINS DANGERS OF EMERALD ASH BORER
Jason Roberts, the City of Covington's urban forester, certified arborist, and municipal specialist discusses the fight against the emerald ash borer in Devou Park through this video produced by NKU:

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A HEROIN ADDICT'S STORY
Heroin is a growing problem in our City and region:
Once the scourge of the 40's, 50's and 60's, heroin is back. And though it has an inner-city reputation, experts say it's gone suburban, even rural, perhaps next door to you. Cooking up in a spoon: It's what many heroin addicts do, what they live for, dream about. The god they worship. 
(snip)
Some people don't think that could happen to people they know, but pay attention to the addresses that recovery expert Jeff Duell of the Awareness and Recovery Group has seen at his recovery center. "It's Ft. Thomas, Newport, Covington, Ft. Mitchell, Villa Hills," Duell said.
Full story with video report: WCPO 
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SEE ALSO: As pain pills change, abusers move on to new drugs WFPL 
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KY MAN ACCUSED IN ANTI-GAY ATTACK CHALLENGES FED HATE CRIMES LAW
After he and an accomplice were charged with beating up a man in Eastern Kentucky because the man is gay, Anthony Ray Jenkins, 20, and his cousin became the the first ever charged under a new federal hate crimes law:

Part of the hate-crimes law is unconstitutional because it impermissibly creates special protection for a class of people based on the sexual orientation of victims, Anthony Jenkins' attorney, Willis G. Coffey, argued in the motion filed Wednesday.
There is no compelling interest in providing more protection for gay crime victims than for others, and the Constitution bars doing so, the motion said.
The federal hate-crimes law once included protection based only on race, color, religion and national origin.
Full story: Herald-Leader/Bill Estep 
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MORE QUICKIES
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What Penn State football can learn from Kentucky basketball after scandal The New York Times 
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Whooping cough cases on the rise and could get worse here WLWT 
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Man finally charged for causing a violent scene at a Salvation Army Christmas Dinner in Louisville WDRB 
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KENTUCKY MAN INDICTED FOR STEALING FROM BODY AT FUNERAL HOME
Ugh:
William Mitchell, 33, has been indicted in Grayson County. Police say he took a ring off the woman's finger at the funeral home in Caneyville, then broke into a car sitting outside.
A few more details: WKYT 

Thursday, July 12, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY MORNING 12 JULY

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
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WEBSITE LAUNCHED TO COMBAT PROPOSED CUTS TO COVINGTON FIRE DEPT
"Don't Lose Your Covington Fire/EMS Protection" says a new website launched this week in an attempt to rally the public against recommended cuts to public safety in the City. Some highlights offered at the site:
  • OSHA has federal mandates that state firefighters must have a 2 man team in order to enter a structure fire and a second 2 man team on stand-by for their safety. This is referred to as “2 in – 2 out”. If a fire engine arrives with only 3 personnel this mandate cannot be met and the firefighters will have to remain outside until more arrive. With no ambulances and only 21 personnel/day this will happen more frequently. The most affected neighborhood would be South Covington (Company #5). The next due company is 10 minutes away and with no firefighting ambulance, there would only be 3 total firefighters until the next due arrived.
  • In order to combat this, the City suggested using mutual aid from Taylor Mill to supplement staffing in South Covington. Taylor Mill is a majority volunteer fire department and has no guarantee of how many (if any) firefighters they could provide. Should citizens of Covington pay the tax rates set by the city and have their fire protection provided by another fire department that is staffed with volunteers?
  • Other recommendations in Management Partners report: Elimination of all fire apparatus at Company #5 (Hands Pike)
    Elimination of Ladder Truck #7 (Latonia), leaving only 1 Ladder Company in the City.
    Using 3 mostly volunteer fire departments as mutual aid with no reduction in taxes.
    Elimination of full-time Safety/Fire Inspection officer.
    Accepting these recommendations could reduce daily staffing to as low as 16 firefighters/day.
The website then urges citizens to contact the Mayor, City Commissioners, and City Manager to voice opposition to the proposed changes. Check out the website at the link below.
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COVINGTON BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS NEW BRIDGE TODAY
City Hall welcomes Covington's business community to City Hall today at 1:30PM. Representatives of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the City of Covington will be on hand to discuss the City's desired changes to the design of the Brent Spence Bridge project. Check out the link below where City Manager Larry Klein seems to be more comfortable with the originally proposed concept as transportation officials have tried to assure the City that drivers will have ample opportunity to come to (and know they are coming to) Covington.
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WHO SHOULD GET THEIR NAME ON A BRIDGE?
Brent Spence was a worthy gentleman, but who else should have the honor of a bridge named after them? An interesting story via The Atlantic Cities:
Another obvious problem with naming things after living people is that their reputations are subject to change. Koch seems to be avoiding controversy, but former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani notoriously erred in naming the Manhattan Detention Complex—colloquially known as "The Tombs"—after Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik in 2001. The Bernard P. Kerik Complex quietly reclaimed its former name in 2006, when Kerik pleaded guilty to ethics violations. (He is currently serving four years in federal prison on other charges, including conspiracy and wire fraud.) Of course, that minor bureaucratic hurdle is nothing compared to what's going on in Egypt right now, where there were 388 schools named after deposed president Hosni Mubarak, and another 160 named after his wife Suzan, not to mention highways, streets, and a central Cairo Metro Station.
Full story: Click Here 
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
A Covington Police officer alerts tenants and saves them from a building fire...
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Covington School Board chooses Kenton Co. Sheriff's Office over Covington Police to serve as school resource offices in money-saving effort...
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Pregnant lesbian and her partner booted from Kentucky park after kissing; Covington native lives a dream after buying a steamboat and sailing down the Mississippi and Ohio (video); Plus, with the large number of people who just don't seem to care, can city dwellers ever really have nice things? 
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All of those stories are at the link below!
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HOUSE GIVES FAMILY A SECOND CHANCE AT HOME
After her home in Newport was shot up, a Covington educator knew she had to move her three kids somewhere else. How a house gave a family a second chance at home, and several young adults a second chance at life, at the link.
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ALSO: HONK will show off another finished home in Covington Thursday afternoon:
In its first partnership with The Brighton Center, Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK) recently completed the major rehab of 330 E. 18th St., a two-bedroom home in Covington’s Austinburg neighborhood. This project, like all HONK projects, is made affordable for a family looking for a homeownership opportunity.

“This house had seen better days before we started on it,” says David Hastings, HONK’s Executive Director. “It had been through foreclosure and was really in need of significant investment. Now we’re standing in a home that has been fully rehabbed, with new mechanicals, new insulation, an extra half bath added, a new roof, and all new finishes.”

“While we used some of our own volunteers, staff, and other subcontractors on this home, it was Brighton Center’s Construction and Manufacturing Technologies Program that really made a difference here,” says Steve Lutkenhoff, HONK’s Construction Manager. “This has worked out so well, we are hoping this partnership can continue so we can help even more local families become homeowners.”

The house on E. 18th is one of four HONK has completed on this street in the last 8 months. Another was recently built by HONK just around the corner. Funding for 4 of the 5 homes has come through a federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) grant to the City of Covington through the Kentucky Department for Local Government.

While the focus of the celebration will be on the Open House at 330 E. 18th St., two additional homes recently completed by HONK will also be open for the public during the same time at 334 E. 18th (a rehab project) and 618 E. 17th St. (new construction).
Click to enlarge
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QUICKIES
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Another municipality will file for bankruptcy protection NPR 
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Southern Air is closer to a deal at CVG Airport Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Wait, what? President Barack Obama is the "smallest government spender" since Eisenhower? Who's reporting this? Wait, Forbes? Interesting:
So, how have the Republicans managed to persuade Americans to buy into the whole “Obama as big spender” narrative?
It might have something to do with the first year of the Obama presidency where the federal budget increased a whopping 17.9% —going from $2.98 trillion to $3.52 trillion. I’ll bet you think that this is the result of the Obama sponsored stimulus plan that is so frequently vilified by the conservatives…but you would be wrong.
The first year of any incoming president term is saddled—for better or for worse—with the budget set by the president whom immediately precedes the new occupant of the White House. Indeed, not only was the 2009 budget the property of George W. Bush—and passed by the 2008 Congress—it was in effect four months before Barack Obama took the oath of office.
Accordingly, the first budget that can be blamed on our current president began in 2010 with the budgets running through and including including fiscal year 2013 standing as charges on the Obama account, even if a President Willard M. Romney takes over the office on January 20, 2013.
Full story: Forbes 
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VIDEO: Rep. Geoff Davis on voting to repeal "Obamacare" YouTube 
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Kentucky story raided for selling bath salts WKYT 
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Personnel Board to consider overturning merit hire pushed by KY Democratic leader Courier-Journal 
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POVERTY HITS KENTUCKY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Things are bad in Allen County, Kentucky:
"We see kids who come from backgrounds of no electricity no running water sometimes," says Principal of the Allen County Intermediate School, Randy Cook.
So, to help those children, the schools have something called Family Resources.
In Allen County schools, kids can get necessities like food, clothing and school supplies.
"Not that their families don't love them, but in our hard times right now those families are doing everything they can to take care of them," says Cook, "and we're just going to go that extra step to help them."
Full story with a video report at the link.
WKYT
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COVINGTON'S BAKER-HUNT, PHOTOGRAPHER HONORED BY CHARITABLE GROUP
From a press release:

Mary Fisk-Taylor, president of PPA Charities, the charitable arm of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), has announced that Matthew Andrews Photography in Covington in conjunction with The Baker Hunt Art and Cultural Center, is one of 48 PPA members to earn the designation as an “Operation Smile Studio” for 2012. This honor was given to those photographers who donated $240 or more through the organization’s first “Celebration of Smiles Day” that raised $46,581 to benefit Operation Smile, its charitable partner. Operation Smile provides free surgeries for children around the world who suffer with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other facial deformations.
“These funds will go a long way toward meeting our 2012 goal of raising $120,000 for this wonderful organization,” Fisk-Taylor said. As of July 1, PPA Charities’
2012 fund-raising total stands at $72,180. Because Operation Smile’s medical professionals and support staff volunteer their services, it costs only $240 to provide a simple cleft lip surgery to a child in desperate need. Therefore the funds raised by PPA members so far in 2012 means that over 300 smiles will be saved.
By donating enough to save a smile, the studio is eligible to compete in a drawing for an opportunity to document an Operation Smile mission.
The Celebration of Smiles Day promotion provided consumers with the opportunity to receive a mini-session and a 5x7 professional portrait in exchange for a donation to Operation Smile of only $24; therefore, for every 10 sessions photographed by a participating studio, another smile could be saved by the volunteer professionals of Operation Smile. The official date for the first Celebration of Smiles event was April 21, but studios that had commitments on that date were allowed to conduct the fundraiser on alternate dates in April or May.
Next year’s Celebration of Smiles Day is scheduled for April 6, 2013.
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WAYS TO HELP OUT IN COVINGTON:
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From the Emergency Shelter of NKY:
One of our guests has a job starting at a warehouse this weekend near Wal-Mart in Ft. Wright...2nd shift. TANK does not run that late to get him back to our shelter. Do you have an adult bike that is in good working condition that you would like to donate to someone in need to hold down a job? If so, email Rachael Winters at emergencyshelternky@yahoo.com
From the West Latonia Neighborhood Association:
Hey folks!!! WE are looking for any interested persons to help watering up at the park.. the new plantings need to be watered at least every other night and we need to do this at least up through September. Please contact Julie Plageman if you are available and interested in helping! 859-816-7230.....  
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DREAM TRIP TO THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE MAY SOON BE AUCTIONED
Now, this sounds like fun. From the Roebling Suspension Bridge Facebook page:
Anyone out there interested in Climbing to the Top of the RSB. I have the authority to Auction one trip for 6 people to spend 1 hour at the top on a mutually agreeable date before Oct 29 2012. I am trying to find a way to execute that auction and reach businesses, groups, families, photographers, fans and friends of the RBS. I would start the bidding at $500 (a tax deductible contribution to the Covington Cincinnati Suspension Bridge Committee) to help fund the pier lighting, phase 2 of the Light Up History Campaign. Someone could organize a group of people and come up with the highest bid? Or maybe a business is looking for a unique way to reward its staff/ employees, local artist and photographers would have a filed day! Oh, the winner will also receive an $80 Gift Card to Blinkers Tavern. Give me some feedback please.
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LOL: RON PAUL MAKES STOP IN WHIMSICAL JALOPY

HOUSE GIVES FAMILY SECOND CHANCE AT HOME

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
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After a dispute with neighbors in Newport that led to her house being shot up, police suggested that Merlyn Mabrey move her family from that street. The divorced, single mother says the shooting instilled fear in her three young children. "I got my kids out, they were scared to be there," Mabrey said. Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK) contacted Mabrey and told her that they may have something for her. The faith-based non-profit has rehabbed seventy-five homes and built thirty-six in Northern Kentucky over the past twenty years and on Wednesday unveiled its latest completed project on Cavanaugh Street near Linden Grove Cemetery in Covington.
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HONK offers prospective home buyers who need a little more time to fix credit scores or save cash for a down payment to participate in its lease-purchase program, as Mabrey and her kids are doing. Not only is Mabrey's family getting a second chance at home, the house offered a second chance at life for several youths, too. HONK collaborates with Youth Build, a program that is run out of the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission to help young adults (ages 16-24) to earn their GED, enroll in college, and earn a carpentry certificate.
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“YouthBuild does such great work and this project has been no exception,” says David Hastings, HONK’s Executive Director. “The prior owners used the house as a good rental property for many years. Our goal was to take it up a notch and make improvements that would provide a quality homeownership opportunity to a local family.”
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The house on Cavanaugh was purchased by HONK last November and since then, young workers from Youth Build upgraded the kitchen and bathrooms, carved out a third bedroom, installed new ceilings and ceramic tile, painted the interior, and refinished the hardwood floors. Hastings calls the HONK/Youth Build partnership a great model to transform lives and improve the community at the same time. 
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Mabrey, meanwhile, expects to finish her master's degree in business by the end of the year and hopes someday to open her own bookstore. She has spent the past seventeen years as an instructor for children with behavior problems at Sixth District Elementary School in Covington. Looking around her new home, many visions for the future emerge. "I'm very excited," she said. "My kids have been through so much. This house has been a blessing."
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PHOTOS FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE BELOW, JUST CLICK THE LINK!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY MORNING 11 APR

by Michael Monks 
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
MIXED INFORMATION EMERGES AFTER FIGHT AT HOLMES LEADS TO ARRESTS
An early report said three students were arrested but by late Tuesday morning Covington Police confirmed that five had been taken to jail following a fight at Holmes High School. Two television stations are now reporting that six more students were cited and released to their parents but Covington Police have not yet confirmed that with The River City News. Read the latest from The River City News and see the list of students arrested at the link below. 
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SOME COMMENTS FROM THE ABOVE LINK: 
The Comments Posted From Other People On This Web Page Makes Me Sick ; ! As A Holmes High School Student I Can Honestly Say That Us Student's Do Not Fight Just To Keep Things Interesting ! We Have Alot Of Good Classes & Programs To Interest Us ! & Yes These Boys Fought & I Know Most Of Them Personaly They Are Good Guys Who Have Amazing Personalities & Great Goals In Life & I Can Tell You Now They All Must Of Had A Good Reason To Do What They Did Or They Wouldn't Have Done It ! & It Really Makes Me Mad That You All Are Judging These Boys For Their Actions ! Your Adults Grow Up ! Holmes Is Not A Bad School ! & They Put Us Students In A Lockdown For A Reason ; They Had Us Protected ! & If It Was Bad Enough To Where The School Thought We Were In Risk Of Our Lives Then Of Course Our Parents Would Be Called ; ! We Were In No Danger ! Trust Me I Was At School That Day !
And:
As a senior of holmes I'm glad to call it my school. We have had problems but what schools don't at holmes I've had great memories and are still making them. We are people just like everyone else so why do they always choose holmes to make look negative, it happens everywhere..
And: 
Holmes is not a bad school, it is what the students make of it just as all schools. This could happen anywhere. 
And: 
And yet the administration felt no need to notify parents of the lock down or the potential danger their children faced. At the same time the CIS BOE claims they want parents to be more connected and involved with what goes on.
And:
Holmes High School has barely functioned as a school for a long time. Fights break out in classrooms on a regular basis, too. It's just something the students do to keep things interesting.
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As soon as the police department, the school district, and/or the school board respond to additional requests for comment, an update will be posted here.
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COVINGTON TO STATE CONCERNS WITH NEW BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE PLANS
The City of Covington wants its citizens at City Hall today for a meeting about the Brent Spence Bridge and its potential effect on Covington. Some concerns expressed by city leaders include the possible loss of a 5th Street exit, potentially more limited access to Devou Park, and the possibility of removing Goebel Park's swimming pool. Read about those issues at the link: 
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THE MEETING IS TONIGHT AT 6:00PM INSIDE COMMISSION CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL
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SEE ALSO: The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has scheduled public meetings for the Brent Spence Bridge project for Tuesday April 24 at Longworth Hall in Cincinnati and Wednesday April 25 at the NKY Convention Center in Covington. Both meetings run from 5:00-8:00PM. 
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MEANWHILE, THERE IS STILL MONEY FOR THE NEW BRIDGE:
The project schedule calls for detailed design to begin in September, but neither Kentucky nor Ohio has enough funds to complete the phase – and it’s unclear whether they’ll get it this year. Ohio needs $52.2 million and Kentucky needs $68 million to complete detailed design of the new bridge and the related overhaul of a 7.8-mile stretch of Interstate 75. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Amanda Van Benschoten 
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Rep. Geoff Davis tweeted this about the funding
If on nothing else, can't the Ky. House and Senate agree to devote $24 mil of FEDERAL money to the Brent Spence Bridge? 
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BUT BRENT SPENCE/I-75 CHANGES MAY BE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR AND COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON COVINGTON:
Randy Gearding, owner of Riverfront Pizza and Sports Bar on W. 3rd Street, Covington, is concerned proposals for a new Brent Spence Bridge will alter access to 5th street and negatively impact his business.
(snip)
“A lot of the concerns of Covington have been taken into account,” Policinski said. “Now we just have to figure out how we get the ball advanced the last five yards so we all score a touchdown.” 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Amanda Van Benschoten 

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDERING, DISMEMBERING GIRLFRIEND
The man who stabbed and suffocated his girlfriend to death before dismembering her body and dropping parts of it in South Covington, pleaded guilty by reason of insanity in Champaign County, Ohio:
Champaign County Common Pleas Court Judge Roger Wilson ordered the evaluations and said a hearing would be scheduled once results were received. Ellis declined to comment on his client’s defense until then.
Police believe (Matt) Puccio called four friends after he killed Sacco to help cut off her limbs and dispose of them in northern Kentucky before going to stay with a friend in Hamilton.
The four others involved in the case also entered not guilty pleas. 
Hamilton Journal-News
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SEE: AN INTERVIEW WITH MATT PUCCIO AT THE LINK AS HE CONFESSES TO THE MURDER WHIO 
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CITY COMMISSIONER STEVE FRANK'S EXCHANGE WITH ERLANGER MAYOR
Erlanger Mayor Matt Rouse caught the ire of Covington City Commissioner Steve Frank who posted this to Facebook Tuesday night: 
 Guess what, Mayor Rouse of Erlanger has made an impassioned plea for all the other cities of Kenton County-Kentucky to not join the combined dispatch services with Kenton County because Covington has agreed to let the County run our dispatch. I can understand Mayor Rouse wanting to hold on to Erlanger's system even though I find his reasons venal and insulting and a risk to the public's safety. What I find unfathomable was his calling the meeting without informing either the County or Covington that there was such a meeting and calling it in such a way that the individual cities who came thought they were meeting one on one with Erlanger to talk about their relationship with Erlanger Dispatch and not in a general session. Cat's out of the bag bit@h. 
Mayor Rouse responded: 
What? Check your sources. 
Frank: 
Regionalism is the best answer for everyone concerned with safety. I won't mince words or back down. Farnkly I was getting texts from your meeting and many in your own audience was put off and shocked by what you had to say. ... Let's just say Mayor Rouse is about be feel very isolated come morning.
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MALLORY ENVISIONS 5 STREETCAR PHASES, ENTERING INTO NKY
During Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory's state of the city speech last night, Enquirer reporter Jane Prendergast tweeted:  
 envisions 5 streetcar phases including to NKy, light rail along interstates
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From Prendergast's article: 
Mallory highlighted: the restaurant and bar options now open at The Banks; his financial literacy program that steers people toward banks rather than check-cashing places; and the streetcar, which he hopes will stretch into neighborhoods and eventually connect to a light rail system. He did mention the loss of 270 Chiquita jobs, but said Nielsen's overcoming that by bringing in 600.
"And you all know," he said, "that I could not let you get out of here tonight without talking about the streetcar."
Nielsen. Thanks for opening up old wounds, Mayor.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Jane Prendergast
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TEEN GIRL STILL MISSING FROM KENTON COUNTY
Click image to enlarge:
Call Kenton County Police Dispatch at 859.356.3191.
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FRANKFORT QUICKIES
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Lawmakers still without an agreement on important roads plan Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Governor Beshear hopes to avoid a special legislative session and urges the passage of the roads bill: 
More than any other time in our state’s history, our state’s economic lifeblood depends on a safe and reliable road system, and jeopardizing the passage of the road plan would threaten both the safety of our roads and the ability of our businesses to function efficiently.
The last thing the citizens of Kentucky need is another special session for the legislature to approve regular pieces of business like the Transportation budget and six-year road plan. The House has done its work. It’s now time that the Senate do the same. 
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House Speaker Stumbo urges lawmakers to get behind prescription drug abuse bill Herald-Leader 

Beshear calls for cooperation at drug summit press release 

Business leaders support the "pill mill bill" Courier-Journal 

State tax reform commission gets history lesson from the graveyard of studies past cn|2 

Read highlights from the tax commission's meeting here

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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A RARE LOOK INSIDE THE CARROLL CHIMES BELL TOWER
The River City News got to go inside the tower during a Friends of Covington event Tuesday in Goebel Park. 

See a lot more photos and learn how the tower came to be built at the link. 
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SEE ALSO: Incidentally, the company that built and maintains the Carroll Chimes Bell Tower was in the news for another reason Tuesday. The company will be casting a bell for the Marine Corps:
Rasgorshek, who recently returned from active duty in Afghanistan, will come to Cincinnati to participate in an April 26 bell-casting ceremony celebrating 100 years of Marine aviation.
Cincinnati’s Verdin Co., known for its creation and restoration of bells and clocks, will cast a 250-pound bell in its mobile bell foundry at Verdin’s Bell Event Centre in Over-the-Rhine. The bell will be placed in a 30-foot-high memorial tower the company will build at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Steve Kemme 
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NKY CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMES TO COVINGTON TONIGHT
Democratic Williamstown attorney Bill Adkins brings his "True Blue" campaign to the Pike Street Lounge tonight: 
MEANWHILE... ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE...
Alecia Webb-Edgington is now being targeted by a Cincinnati-based anti-tax organization:
In an email blast, it criticized Webb-Edgington for missing 58 votes in the state House between March 28 and March 30, including final approval of the $19 billion state budget.
“This is unacceptable and on behalf of the Kentucky taxpayer, we would like to provide Rep. Webb-Edgingtonan opportunity to return her salary valued at these three days missed to the Kentucky taxpayer and hold herself to the same standard she calls for from Washington,” the COAST email said.
Webb-Edgington missed the votes to attend campaign-related meetings in Washington, D.C. and a fundraiser in Shelbyville. But she has campaigned on a platform that includes urging members of Congress to pass a budget or forego their pay. 
cn|2 
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POLITICS QUICKIES
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Rep. Yarmuth accuses Sen. McConnell of misleading the public on health care reform WFPL 
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President Clinton to speak in Lexington April 23 cn|2 
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NJ Gov. Chris Christie headlines Kentucky Republican dinner Bluegrass Politics 
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PHOTOS: President Obama's Kentucky campaign headquarters Facebook 

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LETTER: HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS NOT ANTI-BUSINESS
The Louisville Courier-Journal publishes a letter that should resonate in Covington as well: 
Without a doubt, there have been times in my career that I have been frustrated by certain requirements I have faced in historic renovation projects, but that does not mean we should gut the process which has paid dividends in our community for decades.
The preservation of historic buildings presents unique challenges and obligations. There are, however, many benefits that flow from our protection and reuse of these community assets. 
Read it all at the link. 
Courier-Journal 
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QUICKIES
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Glenn O. Swing students love their pets Cincinnati Enquirer 
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CVG will get a low cost airline "soon" Business Courier 
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Kentucky's job gains among nation's best Business First 
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Cincinnati in the midst of a contemporary golden age? Urban Cincy 
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NKCAC PINWHEELS SIGNIFY NUMBER OF ABUSED CHILDREN
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and the NKY Community Action Commission wants you to remember: 
See more photos here
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HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES OF NKY CONTINUES WORK IN COVINGTON, LUDLOW
From HONK: 
St. Tim's, one our faithful volunteer groups, is hard at work in Covington and Ludlow today.
More photos here.
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NKU STUDENTS SET WORLD TEETER TOTTER RECORD
Go Norse!
Photo: NKY Spot, shared with permission
See more photos from the event at NKY Spot 
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ATTY GEN CONWAY WARNS ABOUT FACEBOOK POSTINGS DURING SPRING BREAK
From Jack Conway's office: 
"Remember to 'think before you post,' said General Conway. "When you post vacation plans or upload pictures while on vacation, you are letting the world, and a potential home intruder, know that your home is vacant."
General Conway also reminds teens that what they post online can jeopardize both their safety and their future.
"The words and images that you post on the Internet can affect admission to a college, future employment or even personal relationships with friends and family," said General Conway. "Before you post, ask yourself 'would I want my parents, principal, employer or a predator to see this?'" 
press release 
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  WHO'S COMING TO PLAY FOR THE WILDCATS NOW?
The two highest profile recruits in America will make their college decision known tonight on ESPN and Kentucky is in the running to land both. 
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Nerlens Noel and Shabazz Muhammad to announce plans tonight Herald-Leader 
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UK has shot at 1-2 recruiting punch Courier-Journal
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UK's 2012-13 recruiting targets Herald-Leader 
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All's quiet for UK on NCAA's draft deadline day Herald-Leader 
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Bob Huggins is happy to see John Calipari win the title The DA Online 
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Dear Coach Cal,
I appreciate your statewide trophy tour giving fans across the Commonwealth a chance to take a picture with the NCAA championship trophy. However, it is not really a statewide tour if you skip Northern Kentucky where you have plenty of rabid fans, also. Please consider adding an NKY date if possible.
Sincerely,
Michael Monks
Publisher, The River City News
SEE TOUR DATES: Coach Cal  
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MORE SPORTS
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Lawsuit over Derby tickets reinstated by Appeals Court Courier-Journal 
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Bluegrass Stakes gaining prestige and praise Kansas City Star 
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REVEALED: THE SIMPSONS LIVE IN SPRINGFIELD, OREGON!
The internet went crazy Tuesday night when Simpsons creator Matt Groening said that the Springfield in his aging animated series was based on Springfield, Oregon. Though, once one reads the article the "revelation" is less than clear: 
OK, why do the Simpsons live in a town called Springfield? Isn’t that a little generic?
Springfield was named after Springfield, Oregon. The only reason is that when I was a kid, the TV show “Father Knows Best” took place in the town of Springfield, and I was thrilled because I imagined that it was the town next to Portland, my hometown. When I grew up, I realized it was just a fictitious name. I also figured out that Springfield was one of the most common names for a city in the U.S. In anticipation of the success of the show, I thought, “This will be cool; everyone will think it’s their Springfield.” And they do.
You’ve never said it was named after Springfield, Oregon, before, have you?I don’t want to ruin it for people, you know? Whenever people say it’s Springfield, Ohio, or Springfield, Massachusetts, or Springfield, wherever, I always go, “Yup, that’s right.” 
The Smithsonian Magazine 
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REMEMBER IN 2000 WHEN THE SIMPSONS WERE REFERRED TO AS A "NORTHERN KENTUCKY FAMILY"?
It happened in a classic episode titled Behind the Laughter:


In the first airing of this episode, the narrator gives Springfield's location as northern Kentucky. For the second and some later airings, this changed to Southern Missouri.
However, this episode is not canon. It portrays the show not as a cartoon created by Matt Groening, but as a live-action sitcom originally written by Homer and starring his own family. None of what happens is part of the main Simpsons continuity... exactly like any Halloween Special. 
The Simpsons Archive