NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY MORNING

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

|

COVINGTON MAN ARRESTED ON CHILD PORN CHARGES

Glenn Hurtt, 61

Another arrest is made thanks to Attorney General Jack Conway's cyber crimes unit. This time the arrest is in Covington. Glenn Hurtt pleaded not guilty this week.

Cincinnati Enquirer

"The Kentucky Post"

FOX 19

|

GATEWAY COLLEGE ROBBERY SUSPECT IS 68-YEAR OLD STUDENT

Kids these days...

Officers say 68 year old James Summers Jr. of Fort Thomas robbed the bookstore at Gateway Community College in Florence Thursday morning.  He was arrested early Friday morning. Summers allegedly went to the bookstore just before 10 a.m. Thursday. He asked for a printer cartridge.  When the manager told him they didn't carry them, Summers pulled out a large knife and demanded cash.

Naturally, he was busted at a casino.

Local 12

|

RIVERFRONT COMMONS PROJECT MOVES FORWARD

Fort Thomas and Dayton signed on to the interlocal agreement this week, bringing all 8 government entities (2 counties and 6 river cities) on board:

The project recently started a two-year, $700,000 feasibility study with U.S. Army Corp of Engineers that will analyze water-related issues along the riverbank including habitat restoration, flood risk management and bank stabilization.Moreland said while the study is going on, he hopes to complete some of the project work that affects areas further away from the riverbank, including connectors to local parks, shopping areas and entertainment attractions.

Cincinnati Enquirer 

|

BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL BILLBOARD CASE TO COURT OF APPEALS MONDAY

The school just wanted to make some money, God Kentucky forbid. The stat etransportation cabinet and department of highways came down on Bellevue for placing a billboard on school property. Check out some background on the case that is argued in the Court of Appeals Monday in Lexington:

Summary: Civil. The commonwealth is appealing a judgment that prohibits it from enforcing the Billboard Act against one of its own political subdivisions. Also at issue is the judge’s ruling that a commercial lease constitutes a “government function” by a local school district. The school district is cross-appealing. The Kentucky Chapter of the American Planning Association and Scenic Kentucky have filed friend of the court briefs in the case. A friend of the court is a person or organization that is not a party to a case but volunteers to offer information to assist a court in deciding a matter before it. Judge Caperton will preside.
Campbell County judge who presided in the case – Judge Julie Reinhardt Ward
Appellant’s attorney: Richard Deters
Appellee’s attorneys: Philip Taliaferro III, Robert Winter Jr. and Stephen Wolnitzek for the Board of Education
Attorneys for the Kentucky Chapter of The American Planning Association and Scenic Kentucky: Timothy Butler and Paul Whitty

Court of Appeals Docket

Brief Filed by Kentucky Planning Association

|

NKU MOVES TO D-I... AND IS READY FOR OHIO STATE?

It could be Norse vs. Buckeyes as early as next season now that NKU has been accepted into the Atlantic Sun Conference. What an historic day for this region! Check out coverage here: The RC News: History! NKU Joins NCAA Division I

According to today's Enquirer, NKU is talking to Ohio State about scheduling a match-up:

Men’s basketball coach Dave Bezold said NKU will try to schedule at least one game a year against a national powerhouse. Those games can bring as much as $100,000 in revenue into the program. “We want to get our name out there,” Bezold said after the announcement at the Bank of Kentucky Center here. “Every kid, when they’re little they want to play Division I basketball.”

Cincinnati Enquirer/Cliff Peale 

SEE ALSO: ESPN offers a "Get to Know Northern Kentucky" profile ESPN

|

IS NKY'S EXTREME RIGHT WING TURNING ON CONGRESSMAN DAVIS?

Seems as though the conservative litmus test gets tougher every day:

Davis then said that he had received a letter from a TEA party person asking him to support Rand Paul's position.  When questioned why he wouldn't support Rand Paul as the letter from the TEA party member requested, Davis, according to eye witnesses, went too far by saying: "How dare that person question ME on this issue.  I don't see stars on his shoulder!"(snip)When Davis aligns himself with John McCain, joins the Council on Foreign Relations, insults Rand Paul and castigates a voter for "daring" to ask him a question if he doesn't have "stars on his shoulder", he makes a pretty good case for forced term limits.

Bluegrass Bulletin

|
The extreme right-wingers of the NKY Tea Party commented on the article: "Wish i lived in Kentucky so I could vote against this arrogant SOB.", "Speaking as his BOSS!!! I would say he has a terrible work attitude!!!", "Davis might have more political, experience but Rand Paul has something more valuable, common sense! I wish he would run for president."
|
DOES DAVIS KNOW WHAT "BIPARTISAN" MEANS?
Following this week's passage of Davis's REINS Act (Google it), Rep. Davis issued a press release lauding the "bipartisan" support:

Today, the House of Representatives passed Congressman Geoff Davis’ bill, H.R. 10, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, by a bipartisan vote of 241 to 184. 

But here's the thing: of those 241 that voted for the bill, only 4  were Democrats. Is that what DC has come to? You get four members of the opposing party on your side and the legislation is "bipartisan"? Pathetic. Here's Speaker Boehner taking a victory lap after passing the REINS Act (which somehow becomes a "jobs bill" in the warped world of the GOP) and taking aim at Democrats (he does congratulate Geoff Davis):

Bipartisan, indeed.

Newport, Fort Wright, Alexandria, and other local governments endorsed Davis's bill, according to an article by Scott Wartman:

“The idea does not sound consistent with the tradition in this country of regulatory agencies adopting regulations that implement the law as part of the executive branch,” said Col Owens, chairman of the Kenton County Democratic Party. “The idea of taking them back to Congress and having Congress micromanage those regulations, it is just impossible.” Davis disagreed and said it would keep the executive branch from going around Congress and hold them accountable.
“Every executive branch and president tries to exert its will beyond Congress,” Davis said. “It is a challenge we’ve had for decades.”

Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman

|

SPEAKING OF GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS, NKY TATTOO ARTISTS SPEAK

Turns out that KY's ink industry is not as regulated as our neighbors to the north:

Local 12's Joe Webb says at Arts Link on Madison in Covington,  Mark Arts and a couple of other artists work in an environment that is licensed by the health department, but not as regulated as Ohio or Indiana. Last night, the health department voted to toughen things up and require every tattoo artist to take a class and be certified on blood-born diseases.

Video report by Joe Webb at the link.
Local 12 

|

50 NKY HOMELESS CHILDREN WILL GET NEW SHOES

The Welcome House says that it got a donation from "Payless Gives" which will put new shoes on the feet of 50 children. Great news!

|

BUT... COVINGTON SHELTERS STILL NEED ATTENTION

So give to and help them whenever you can. The Emergency Shelter in particular is among the best in the region, helping when others will not:

35% of our guests served this year have been over the age of 50. Another guest was given a referral for the Respite Center for the Homeless in Cincinnati which is a rehab hospital for people without insurance and who are homeless. This gentleman stayed with us for a little over a week with a colonoscopy bag and our shelter was the only place he had to go until this referral went through.

Plus, the Emergency Shelter shares many success stories:

A Veteran, "Ken" who has been working full time for several weeks has saved enough money and connected to funding through Brighton Center to access housing in Newport, KY. He should be moved in by next Friday. And, a guest who is 62 will be moving into senior affordable housing next Friday... he's been homeless for four years. He's on cloud 9.

The Shelter keeps a running tally of the guests it serves at its website and also frequently updates with blog entries. Rachel Winters does a great job.
NKY Emergency Shelter

NEWS ROUND-UP -- TUESDAY MORNING

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

|

THE CURIOUS CASE FOR REBUILDING A RIVERFRONT

Jack Moreland of Southbank Parners speaks as
Community Development Director Jackson Kinney
listens in background.

Last night, a public input session was held at City Hall in regards to Covington's plans for redeveloping its riverfront. It involved a powerpoint presentation that has been shown before featuring two old, abandoned riverfront plans that were never implemented, slides from the redeveloped riverfronts of cities ten to thirty times our size, shots of Cincinnati's new Banks development, and, for some odd reason, slides of the closed Mike Fink, Waterfront and the Landing as examples of water-based business (one closed, one sank and one washed away). This unfocused, uninspired presentation is not one to create optimism for the riverfront. However, the feedback from the citizens in attendance was very hopeful and passionate (this City sure does have some knowledgeable, engaged people).

SEE ALSO: I yield to Amanda Van Benschoten's piece on the issue in today's Enquirer. Click Here. It's much sunnier than I saw the development.

|
COMMENTS

"What we do with our riverfront is very important to the overall strategy for the revitalization of the urban core." -Jackson Kinney, Community Development Director.

|

"We want to see people come back to the river because it's a fun place to be. (Riverfront Commons) design guidelines will be flexible so that you know you're on Riverfront Commons trails but also to allow private developers to put their own personality on it." -Jack Moreland, Southbank Partners

|

Note: Riverfront Commons involves 8 government entities: 2 counties and 6 cities. Moreland mentioned that if grant writing were completed by the spring of 2012, the earliest we would see some funds for the Commons is 2013.

|

I asked about what the immediate plans are to help fill the soon-to-be vacated Madison Place and the emptying RiverCenter Towers. "We hear from tenants that patrons want more to do. There's a lot of momentum, including the IRS staying in the vicinity. We work every day to get tenants into those spaces." -Larry Klein, City Manager

|

MEANWHILE: Louisville is breaking ground on its riverfront development WFPL

|

DAYTIME CURFEW PART OF PACKED COMMISSION AGENDA FOR TONIGHT 

If you missed last night's update, the agenda for tonight's Covington Commission meeting includes a final vote on the daytime curfew in the city as well as some other items of note. For the full breakdown (as well as: An update on the proposed methadone clinic for Latonia; An endangered species lands extra protection from industry on the Ohio River; Plus, what's the most shoplifted item this season?), click the link.

News Round-Up -- Monday Eveening

|

TAKE A SURVEY FOR THE CENTER CITY ACTION PLAN

This is the monumental effort to revitalize the urban core. Take the survey by clicking the link.

Survey Monkey

| 

OCCUPY NORTHERN KENTUCKY

Covington joins the occupied cities this weekend as the anti-greed movement holds a rally in Goebel Park on Sunday. From the organizers: 

We will be holding our inaugural march through Mainstrasse, Covington on Sunday, December 11th, starting at 2 pm. Bring signs and banners in support of the 99% and against corporate domination! We will be gathering together at Goebels Park (by the Mainstrasse clock tower) and then marching. Invite everyone you can, let's make this big and help show why the 99% is too big to fail!

See event details here.
Follow on Facebook here.
|
COVINGTON'S ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF TEACHES KIDS TO PLAY DRUMS
A great story on our very own Spike Jones:

A Monday night drum lesson has these Covington children excited about learning and they're paying close attention to their teacher. Spike Jones is their mentor by night -- Covington's Assistant Police Chief by day.  He's been dedicating time to teaching kids a skill he practiced through college. 
Lt. Colonel Jones started teaching the group two years ago. The drum corp is replacing music lessons that are no longer offered in some of the city's schools. "I know that kids that are involved just do better academically." 

Local 12 
|
JENI LEE DINKEL STORY GETS WEIRDER
Last week, Jim Hannah wrote that the mother of Jeni Lee Dinkel's teen victim that Dinkel was convicted of raping, was attacked by Jeni Lee during a performance of Wicked at the Aronoff Center. Now, the story takes another turn. Good, strange story.
Cincinnati Enqurier/Jim Hannah
|
LIBRARY WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO USE I-PADS, ETC
Thank goodness! Plus, there are lots more events and classes scheduled at the best library system in the state.
Kenton Co Library
|
DOES RUDOLPH PROMOTE BULLYING?
A professor at Hofstra thinks so.
FOX News via 700 WLW

Image via

NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY MORNING

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

|
RIVERFRONT IS TOPIC OF MEETING TONIGHT

If you wish to weigh in on what the future should hold for Covington's most valuable natural asset, get down to City Hall tonight at 6:00PM:

The Ohio Riverfront is important to Covington's future development, and we have an opportunity to shape what it will look like! Our neighbor to the north, Cincinnati, is making significant improvements to its riverfront, for public use/public recreational space, as well as for private developments like The Majestic Show Boat, the Montgomery Inn & Boathouse and the under-construction Christian Moerlein Lager House. At this Community Input Session, we will share how other communities have improved their riverfronts, what Covington's riverfront currently looks like, and how possible improvements can be made along the Ohio Riverfront.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5 @ 6:00PM INSIDE COMMISSION CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL

(Press Release)

|

FINAL VOTE ON DAYTIME CURFEW EXPECTED TUESDAY

Following months of debate and a public forum discussing the issue, Covington City Commission will vote Tuesday on whether to implement a curfew for school-age children inside the city. The move is supported by the police and by the superintendent of Covington schools. Much of the push back has come from parents that home-school their children. For previous coverage from The River City News, click the links below.

Support Mounts for Daytime Curfew

Covington Teen Beaten; Calls For & Against Curfew

Cov Schools Consider Tax Increase; Daytime Curfew Moves Forward, ACLU to Scrutinize

|

CORNER OF 36TH & CHURCH STREETS TO GET NEW NAME

By order of the City of Covington, "Champions Corner" will forever remember Holy Cross's historic state football title.

|

SEE ALSO: A really awesome celebration Sunday at the Holy Cross gym in honor of the state title. The River City News was there and you can see tons of photos and read the moving comments at the link.

Holy Cross: A State Championship Celebration in Photos

|

SEE ALSO: A round-up of what all the other media are saying about the Holy Cross victory. NKY Sports Blog

SEE ALSO: Round-up of news on Highlands winning its fifth title in a row. NKY Sports Blog

|

LATONIA CHRISTMAS TREE FINALLY LIGHTS UP

When the big event was scheduled, the lights were broken. The resilient people of Covington had a nice time that night anyway (SEE: No Miracle on 34th Street: Latonia Christmas Lights Go Out). But the lights are glowing now:

|

WHAT OUR NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP COULD MEAN POLITICALLY

Great analysis by Ryan Alessi:

Because of strong growth in the Northern Kentucky suburbs of Cincinnati, Davis will have fewer counties regardless of which map becomes law. But Thayer’s map keeps it the closest to what it is now only jettisoning the Democratic County of Elliott (one of only seven counties to go for Obama in 2008), the part of Scott County that was in the district and a couple of precincts from Bath County — the other one that’s currently split. The 4th is probably the second-most reliably Republican district, and all the maps would keep it that way.

Proposed map and election numbers with more analysis at the link.

cn|2

|

KENTUCKY DOES NOT NEED MORE BAD PRESS

The racist church in Pike County caved to the publicity from last week and reversed its ban on interracial couples:

Stacy Stepp, pastor of the Gulnare Free Will Baptist Church in Pike County, told The Associated Press that the vote by nine people last week was declared null and void after it was determined that new bylaws can't run contrary to local, state or national laws. He said the proposal was discriminatory, therefore it couldn't be adopted.
Stepp said about 30 people who attended church services voted on a new resolution that welcomes "believers into our fellowship regardless of race, creed or color."

Herald-Leader 

 |

But the archaic laws and beliefs of years past still linger in Kentucky. Did you see this story over the weekend:

More than a half-century after the last Civil War veterans died, a chapter in Kentucky law still offers a $50-a-month pension to any veteran who can prove service in the Confederate Army. State Rep. Adam Koenig, R-Erlanger, pre-filed a bill to repeal Kentucky Revised Statutes chapter 206 on Confederate pensions. “There’s so much stuff in the law that’s a waste, that needs to be repealed.” Koenig said.

Doubtful that this law even applies to anyone, but since we have high unemployment and a busted pension system in the state, Erlanger's Adam Koenig is demonstrating some serious sense of priorities. Pay attention.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman

|
Stories like these do not help the state's image in this age of fast-moving headlines. These things get linked all over the country. Checking one relatively popular national blog, Joe Jervis's JoeMyGod and clicking the "Kentucky" tag brings up nothing but embarrassing news:

-"Kentucky Church Bans Interracial Couple"

-"City Floats Massive Tax Breaks for Creationist Theme Park"

-"Help Build the Ark"

-"Mentally challenged gay men kicked out of public pool"

-"Food stamps for fast food"

-"Rand Paul: I have less choice in toilets than women have in abortion"

-"State GOP wants to legalize bullying"

-"Lexington TV station graphic reads: 'Jew York Jets'

-And then of course there's a link to this epic video in which Barefoot & Progressive's Joe Sonka (now of LEO Weekly) asks Gov Beshear about dinosaurs on the ark:

LOL. That never gets old.

|
JOHN G. CARLISLE STILL NEEDS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS

The Enquirer today elaborates on a story that appeared last week in The River City News. The school district has still not volunteered which funds were lost, but when I spoke on the phone last week with district communications director, Deborah Vance, she told me basically, and I agree, that the bottom line is that the kids need the gifts. 

|

KY PRIESTS JOIN TWITTER

The Gospel in 140 characters or less:

The archdiocese has three official Twitter addresses – @ArchbishopKurtz @ArchLouKy (general information, evangelization, news, etc.) and @Record_Archlou (for the Catholic newspaper, The Record). There are also Facebook pages for the Record, the Office of Vocations (for recruiting priests and others to religious life) and the Why Catholic educational program. Some priests have begun launching their own accounts.

Pope Benedict XVI will even light a digital Christmas tree this year via iPad.

Courier-Journal

SEE ALSO: KFC Offers Twitter scholarships Herald-Leader

|

KY PRISON TO PRODUCE ALL-INMATE 'ROMEO & JULIET'

Sounds like a must-see:

James Prichard asked to play Romeo because he identifies with the character. “I’ve been in love, I’ve lost love. I’ve taken a life,” he says. “There’s a lot of qualities that Romeo goes through that I’ve been through.” So what about Juliet? What prison inmate is going to step forward to take on what may be the most iconic female role in all of literature? His name is Derald Weeks: “I’ve got Aryan Brotherhood tattooed on my stomach. I got SWP with some lightning bolts on my chest. It stands for Supreme White Power. You get them for committing violent acts.”

WFPL

|

THE 45 MOST POWERFUL IMAGES OF 2011

This amazing compilation of large and small events from the past year illustrate just what a crazy year 2011 was. Click the link and look at all of them.

BuzzFeed

|

DID YOU MISS THE SUNDAY EDITION?

All the winners from this year's holiday display contest with photos from a terrific event in the city; Why is KY-native Johnny Depp's new song upsetting some groups?; Those stories and more at the link...

The Sunday Edition

|

WHAT ABOUT THE SATURDAY MAGAZINE?

Did convicted NKY child molester Jeni Lee Dinkel pick a fight with her victim's mom during a performance of "Wicked"?; a Cincinnati club promoter takes Chiquita's CEO to task via Twitter (amazing exchange); who went to prison from Kenton County this week? The mugshots you love...; It's a very important (and fun!) Saturday for shopping in Covington; Plus, the very best Kentucky mullet video you will ever see. 

The Saturday Magazine

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

|

LATONIA BAR CITED FOR SMOKING VIOLATIONS

Yikes, Legends:

During a regular food inspection on Nov. 4, a health inspector noticed customers smoking, a lack of signage, and the presence of children, said Emily Gresham Wherle, a spokeswoman for the Northern Kentucky Health Department.

Cincinnati Enquirer/Cindy Schroeder
|
MORE INPUT SOUGHT FOR COVINGTON'S RIVERFRONT
And you're invited! So mark your calendars: Monday. December 5, 6:00PM at City Hall. From the City:

At this Community Input Session, we will share how other communities have improved their riverfronts, what Covington's riverfront currently looks like, and how possible improvements can be made along the Ohio Riverfront.

Be there.
SEE ALSO: The Banks in Cincinnati grows fast Cincinnati Enquirer
|
MAD HATTER SPACE TO BE FILLED BY "BANGARANG'S"
I love the name. Another story broken by The River City News at the link.
The RC News: Bangarang's to Fill Old Mad Hatter Space
SEE ALSO: NKY's Music Venue Landscape to Be Different in 2012 CityBeat
|
BIG CHANGES COMING TO 900 BLOCK OF BANKLICK
This longtime blighted block is set for serious renovations and construction. This is great news for Old Seminary Square and the entire city.
The RC News: One Block at a Time
|
GREENWAY RESTORATION DAY IS SATURDAY
Via Vision 2015:

Just a reminder that the next Greenway Restoration Day is scheduled for this Saturday, December 3rd at 9:00 a.m. We will be meeting at 16th Street and Eastern Avenue, instead of our usual place behind Holmes High School, so we can tackle new ground and forge north! The levee is currently quite flooded in some areas so make sure to bring your old cloths and boots!Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Join us for a final chance to win a $100 gift card and please bring family and friends!RSVP to Natalie Gardner of the Covington Recreation Department at 859-292-2151 or ngardner@covingtonky.gov

|
FROM A COVINGTON SHELTER TO MEDICAL SCHOOL
An uplifting story about how social service agencies actually do benefit a community:

After moving 17 times with her family, Kayla decided she could no longer stand living at home -- and chose to move to Welcome House in Covington. "I just had to get away from home. I didn't have a bed to sleep on. We didn't have electric. There was never food in the house and even when I bought it other people in the house would eat it." 
While she lived here, Kayla did normal high school activities like going to prom but she was no ordinary student. She graduated at the top of her class from Holmes High School. After she left the shelter, she got a full scholarship to Berea College where she graduated with a 3.7 GPA. 

Video and interview with Kayla Kinker at the link. Great story.
Local 12 
|
politics fix...
|
ONE OF COVINGTON'S STATE SENATORS DRAWS NEW MAP FOR CONGRESS
State Senator Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown), whose district includes South Covington, has released his map of what Kentucky's Congressional districts should look like:

That's not too different than it is now. 

Thayer unveiled the map during the taping of an interview on Pure Politics Tuesday morning. He said the map is his own plan and isn’t one that has been drafted by the Senate Republican caucus. He also said he hasn’t spoken to Kentucky’s members of Congress about it yet.
“I believe (it’s) a fair map that makes very few changes in the current district lines – except those required by the changes in population,” Thayer said Tuesday. “It’s a map that does not seek to give new partisan advantages to either of the two political parties. It seeks to really maintain the status quo.”

For a map of the current district layout and the one proposed by Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo, click the link.
cn|2
SEE ALSO: Thayer interview here.
|
BEHSEAR ORDERS CHILD DEATH RECORDS RELEASED
This is what that hastily called press conference was about Tuesday afternoon:

The records show that after her mother’s rights were terminated in Washington state in 2004, Amy was placed with relatives and was in several foster homes before a great-aunt in Kentucky, Kimberly Dye, offered to adopt her. After the cabinet approved the adoption, Kimberly Dye took Amy into her home in 2006 as a foster child.
The adoption became final in 2007, qualifying Kimberly Dye for a $551-a-month adoption subsidy, the records show. Reports from school officials of Amy’s suspected abuse began within a month of her adoption, the records show.

Courier-Journal 
SEE ALSO: Beshear wants to cut state spending 2% across board WFPL
|
RAND PAUL'S PAPPY WRITES A COOKBOOK
I'd be careful eating anything from it, considering that none of the food likely follows any regulations (3 Cups of unpasteurized milk...). Kidding. (#NotReally) But yes, Representative (and GOP Presidential candidate) Ron Paul (R-TX) has a new cookbook. See:

It's only 8 bucks? Nice. 
New York Magazine
|
KENTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS TO HONOR COVINGTON ATTORNEY BOB SANDERS
From Linda Hornsby:

The Kenton County Democratic Club will hold its Annual Christmas Party on December 12, 2011, at Chez Nora, 530 Main St., Covington, KY. Cocktail Hour is 6:00PM thru 7:00PM. Dinner begins at 7:00PM-9:00PM. The cost per person is $30.00. This year the Kenton County Democratic Club will honor Bob Sanders with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Santa Claus will be making a special appearance. The Kenton Co......unty Democratic Club will install 2012 Officers: Steve Hoffman, President, Jerry Kitch, Vice President, Merrick Krey, Treasurer, Paul Witte, Sgt. of Arms, Linda Hornsby, Secretary. Please R.S.V.P by December 5th to Linda Hornsby@ lykantee@aol.com or call (859) 261-3045. Limited tickets will be available at the door. Please bring canned goods or non-perishables for local food pantry.

Bob Sanders

|
end politics fix...
|
WOMEN'S CRISIS CENTER CELEBRATES 35 YEARS
Wow. The origin of the group is shocking:

In 1974, a series of rapes occurred in the Licking Riverside Area of Covington, KY. One victim, a nurse leaving a party at a Northern Kentucky restaurant, was abducted while getting into her car and raped.  Her friends were outraged at the treatment shereceived from the hospital, the legal system, and the lack of specialized services for rape victims and their families. This tragic event spurred the first meeting of the Northern Kentucky Rape Crisis Intervention Planning Committee on August 9, 1974

Women's Crisis Center Newsletter

SEE ALSO: Benefit dance for the Center at Yadda Club on Pike Street: Facebook Event

|

KENTUCKY CHURCH VOTES NOT TO ADMIT INTERRACIAL COUPLES

Yep.

In early November, Thompson proposed the church go on record saying that while all people were welcome to attend public worship services there, the church did not condone interracial marriage, according to a copy of the recommendation supplied by the Harvilles. The proposal also said "parties of such marriages will not be received as members, nor will they be used in worship services" or other church functions, with the exception of funerals. The recommendation "is not intended to judge the salvation of anyone, but is intended to promote greater unity among the church body and the community we serve," the copy supplied to the Herald-Leader read.

Somebody get these backwoods assholes a calendar.

Herald-Leader

|

PEOPLE ARE MEANER AT THE HOLIDAYS?

No, but Americans sure don't like being nicer during Christmas:

Local 12

|

THE NEWPORT PENGUINS WANT TO WATCH YOU PROPOSE THIS SEASON

Have a ring you want to give to your significant other? The Newport Aquarium wants to send its penguins over to watch. Check out this joint promotion with James Free Jewelers:

So, picture it: The love of your life finally breaks down to propose and two penguins show up and stay for twenty minutes. What's your answer? Weird.

Click It

|

72-YEAR OLD OSCAR ROBERTSON DEFEATS UC BEARCATS IN SCRIMMAGE

LOL.

“We’re a young team with a lot to learn,” said Bearcat head coach Mick Cronin. “We certainly made some mistakes out there on the court against Mr. Robertson, but the fact is we were just beaten by a better player. I tip my hat to the Big O.”

Derf Magazine 
|
DID YOU MISS THIS MORNING'S NEWS?
More on the 'Great Banana Split of 2011' and why Covington is the loser in Chiquita's move; Discover Covington floats a rumor about another new music venue coming to town; Presidential candidate Herman Cain's latest extramarital controversy originated in Kentucky; Plus, photos from the City tree-lighting in Mainstrasse. Those stories and more at the link!
The RC News: News Round-Up -- Wednesday Morning

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY AFTERNOON

by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

Find us on Facebook: The River City News @ Facebook

@theRCnews on Twitter

|

PUBLIC MEETING FOR FUTURE OF COVINGTON'S RIVERFRONT

The first week of December, the City of Covington will host a public input session regarding the riverfront. From the City's release: 

The Ohio Riverfront is important to Covington's future development, and we have an opportunity to shape what it will look like! Our neighbor to the north, Cincinnati, is making significant improvements to its riverfront, for public use/public recreational space, as well as for private developments like The Majestic Show Boat, the Montgomery Inn & Boathouse and the under-construction Christian Moerlein Lager House. At this Community Input Session, we will share how other communities have improved their riverfronts, what Covington's riverfront currently looks like, and how possible improvements can be made along the Ohio Riverfront.

The meeting is set for December 5 at 6:00PM inside Commission Chambers at City Hall.

|

COVINGTON'S RIVERFRONT NIGHTMARE VIEW

From today's earlier post: Is it right that the USS Nightmare is a business boon for Newport for one month and an eyesore for Covington the other eleven months? Photos of the USS Nightmare being moved from Newport to Cincinnati, right in front of Covington's Botany Hills (The same company owns the Mike Fink, an abandoned former restaurant that sits in front of Covington's Licking Riverside Historic District) at the link.

The RC News: Thursday Morning

SEE ALSO: The Onion explains, hilariously, why owning a boat is not worth it. (The short ad that precedes the audio is also hilarious.) Click here.

|

NO CONFERENCE YET FOR NKU

NKU's search for a home at the Division I level continues today following a rejection by the Ohio Valley Conference. The OVC is the Division I home three Kentucky university athletic programs, Murray State, Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky. NKU's communication office tweets to The River City News, "Yes, we're very excited about the road ahead. Whichever league we end up in will want and get a strong new member." The Norse will continue discussions with the Summit Leage and the Atlantic Sun Conference. NKU President Dr. James Votruba said this in a statement:

We have been contacted by multiple Division I conferences that have stated a strong interest in adding NKU. Over the coming days and weeks, the university will continue to explore our options and determine which league makes the most sense for us.

Read the entire statement by Dr. Votruba here.
SEE ALSO: Somebody made a big oops at the NCAA office. Years of financial records were accidentally made public, and some downloaded them before they could be removed. Check it out at the link: Dead Spin
|
ONE MORE REASON GATEWAY COLLEGE IS IMPORTANT TO COVINGTON
We want more manufacturing jobs in this country and so do the manufacturers, incidently:

The demand for skilled labor in Northern Kentucky far exceeds the available pool of qualified workers, despite current economic conditions. This interactive discussion will focus on the new face of manufacturing in the region, including the education and career pathways that exist beyond high school to support this industry. 

NKU will host a forum Thursday, December 1 at 5:30PM (to 7:30PM). Click the link for details.
NKU 
|
OK, ONE MORE NKU THING
Dr. Votruba spent some time reading to kids recently. Check out the pics here.
|
TODAY IS THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT
For a message from President Obama on the day, click here. For a message from someone speaking of the day I imagined that this designation was for, click here.
|
WELCOME HOUSE GETS PAINT JOB FROM GENEROUS COMPANY
Benjamin Moore painted Covington's The Welcome House as part of its plan to paint 50 shelters in 50 days project. Video at link.
Local 12
|

JOIN DIRECTION 2030 TO DISCUSS KENTON COUNTY'S FUTURE

The next meeting is tonight at the Kenton County Agricultural Extension Office, 10990 Marshall Road, Covington at 6:30PM - 8:30PM. 

|

DELTA SLAMMED OVER ANTI-VACCINATION AD ON AIRPLANES

Delta operates most flights out of CVG.

Business Courier

|

DID YOU KNOW AUNT JEMIMAH WAS FROM KENTUCKY?

Then you probably didn't know that today is her birthday, either!

 

It's true:

According to Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia, today is the birthday of the first living trademark, Nancy Green. Green, born a slave in 1834 in Montgomery County, Ky., became known as Aunt Jemima and was one of the first black corporate models in the United States.

Herald-Leader

|

EVER WONDER WHAT MAKES FANCY KETCHUP SO FANCY?

Of course you have.

Mental Floss

Hope you are having a great Thursday! - The RC News