NEWS ROUND-UP -- FRIDAY 31 AUGUST

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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FIRE DAMAGES TWO HOMES IN BOTANY HILLS

The Covington Fire Department was busy overnight battling flames on Lexington Avenue in West Covington where two houses burned.

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Fire called suspicious: WKRC 

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SEE ALSO: Cincinnati Enquirer & WCPO 

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FORECLOSURE IMMINENT ON PEASELBURG PROPERTY

Sign at the foot of the hill that
leads to Emery Drive Apts.

Neighborhood Investment Partners (NIP), established as a private property investment company whose president is also the executive director of the public Housing Authority of Covington (HAC) and whose board of directors includes three members of the Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners, is not related to the Housing Authority of Covington, said director Tony Milburn. A special meeting of NIP's board of directors was called Thursday evening to deal with the imminent foreclosure of the property known as Emery Drive Apartments in Covington's Peaselburg neighborhood. The meeting was held at the Housing Authority of Covington offices.

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NIP purchased the property five years ago and is now in need of refinancing the loan through the Cincinnati Development Fund to whom the mortgage is due September 1. Aaron Wolfe-Bertling, executive director of HAC and president of NIP, explained that $1.7 million is owed on the property and proposed that a letter be written to the Cincinnati Development Fund extend the due date of a $400,000 payment so that the mortgage can be saved. Wolfe-Bertling blamed the downturn in the economy for the decline in the property's value and the rental rates that have remained flat.
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He also explained that the National Development Center could help in assisting with other possible financing options. The goal is to pay the $400,000 due reducing the note to $1.3 million and then paying the balance on a cash-flow basis.

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The mortgage is not the only issue facing the NIP-owned property. More than a dozen Peaselburg residents attended the meeting to voice opposition to one proposal on the table: putting additional HAC subsidized units in the development. They complained of declining property values, increased crime rates, and the eyesore of a shut-down swimming pool on the property. With City Heights just up the hill, Peaselburg has more subsidized housing than any other Covington neighborhood, they said. 

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Emery Drive is made up of five buildings with twenty-three units. NIP is interested in having HAC fill 11 of those units with subsidized housing for seniors and the handicapped. NIP director John Spence, who is also on the board of commissioners at HAC, said that this option would free up more flexibility in the other four buildings for more market-rate rental opportunities. In order for that to happen, HAC would have to issue a request for proposals from interested property owners that would like to use the subsidized vouchers and NIP would have to apply. 

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Covington Mayor Chuck Scheper and City Manager Larry Klein were on hand and Scheper suggested that HAC/NIP examine what a group called Cornerstone has done in turning around properties in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. "I don't want to have a black eye that we've defaulted on these loans even though it's not our responsibility," Scheper said. 

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None of this will matter if the Cincinnati Development Fund rejects NIP's plan and forecloses on the property. The board of directors voted to send a letter to CDF with a request for a delay of 75 days as they work at establishing a plan of action to save Emery Drive.

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WAR OF WORDS ERUPT AT COVINGTON SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

"We're not going to stay silent any longer, this time we're going to speak back." A war of words erupted at Thursday night's Covington School Board meeting over the vacancy that followed a resignation, and why an election won't be on the ballot.

Full story: The River City News 

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OTHER NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: 

• The School Board officially adopted the compensating tax rate on Covington properties, instead of taking the full 4% increase. This is the first time in several years that only the compensating rate will be added to property taxes by the Covington School Board.
• Many of the staff members present at Thursday's meeting were there to be recognized for their work on a well-attended and well-received Ethics & Equity Conference at Holmes High School.
• It was noted that enrollment is up at every school save for Latonia Elementary which is down slightly this year. 71 more students at John G Carlisle School resulted in the board approving the creation of a new Kindergarten teacher position and an instructor assistant position.
• Covington Schools will continue to lease space from Gateway College to house its alternative school at a rate of $15 per square foot, which was the same price offered to Gateway when Covington Schools owned the building.
• The district, along with its partners in Strive (Cincinnati Public and Newport Independent), will apply for a $40 million federal Race to the Top grant that would include the benefit of Kindles being placed in the hands of every student, allowing all text books to be accessed digitally.
• According to the Facebook page of the Holmes High School Band, Superintendent Lynda Jackson was named among the administrators of the year by the Kentucky Music Educators Association.

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QUICKIES

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Deputy shoots man, then gives him CPR WBKO 

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KY State Police to increase patrols this holiday weekend WKYT 

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Gov. Beshear implements measures to increase integrity, safety of horse racing press release 

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After national attention, juvenile sex case is made public WDRB 

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It's not Auburn VS Alabama, but UK-UofL football rivalry has its own spice Herald-Leader 

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UK women's basketball coach buys Rick Pitino's old house Herald-Leader 

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Former UK basketball player becomes firefighter Herald-Leader 

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EDITORIAL: PRESUMPTION OF GUILT IN PILL ABUSE

From the State-Journal in Frankfort:

Politicians in Frankfort who still believe that government edicts can somehow or other deliver the commonwealth from the scourge of prescription drug abuse are once again approaching the issue with a butcher knife instead of a scalpel.

Full story: State-Journal 

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DOWNTOWN COVINGTON NIGHTSPOT CLOSES FOR GOOD

The Avenue Lounge and Patio is no more, celebrating its final night in operation Thursday. No reason was offered publicly, but Facebook lit up late last night as fans of the lounge expressed their sadness over its closing. 

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COVINGTON BUSINESS COUNCIL MAKES NEW HIRE

Congratulations to the CBC's Elizabeth Fricke who has been hired as the organization's administrative manager. She will also serve in that role for the Urban Partnership. Fricke is a graduate student at Northern Kentucky University in the Public Administration program and also serves as a Kenton Vale city council member. She is a graduate of Thomas More College. 

Elizabeth Fricke

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THIS WEEKEND IN COVINGTON!
NOTE: The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra concert scheduled for 7:30PM in Devou Park has been moved to the NKY Convention Center. Details on possible free parking are being finalized at City Hall.

A lot of fun is planned in and around the City this weekend. Covington Ombudsman Suzanne Gettys has put together a list with additional information you may need to know. Road closings for the fireworks? What's new at the Farmers Market? A concert at the Devou Park band shell and an exhibit at the Behringer-Crawford Museum. Click the link below for all the details.

Click Here 

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ALSO THIS WEEKEND:

This weekend the Covington Firefighters will be stationed throughout the city collecting for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. 100% of the money collected will go to support research and those affected by muscular diseases. Please take a moment and watch this emotional video of Shaun Probert, a Shaker Heights Fireman, Local 516, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2010. He is the new MDA spokesperson, replacing Kelly Crush, an IAFF Firefighter from Wichita Falls, TX Local 432 who died in March from ALS. Help us help our "Brother" who is now "on the other side of the boot" in helping the children who suffer from Muscular Dystrophy.

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SEE ALSO: Wolf & Company, the Fifth Street lunch spot, gets a great review in Wine Me, Dine Me 
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SMALL KENTUCKY TOWN IS CENTER FOR ECLIPSE CHASERS
Hopkinsville is chosen by the Heavens:

This southwestern Kentucky town has hit the astronomical jackpot. When a total eclipse of the sun darkens skies on Aug. 21, 2017, the show will last longer in a stretch of bucolic hill country near Hopkinsville than any place on the planet. It will last two minutes and 40 seconds, not much longer than the Kentucky Derby.

Full story: Huffington Post 

DEBATE OVER SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY CONSUMES MEETING

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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EXCLUSIVE

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"We're not going to stay silent any longer, this time we're going to speak back," said School Board chairperson Glenda Huff as public comments were set to begin during Thursday's meeting which was moved from the Board of Education to Latonia Elementary. Nearly every candidate seeking a seat on the Covington School Board in November was on hand with several present to criticize the board's attorney, Mary Ann Stewart, for what they claim was a mishandling of the proper way to fill the seat vacated by Denise Varney who submitted her resignation August 2. 

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State statute indicates that because Varney had more than a year left in her term, which expires in 2014, and because her resignation was submitted before the filing deadline of the next general election, that the seat should have been placed on November's ballot. Stewart contends that the errors were made in Frankfort by the Kentucky Department of Education.

Mary Ann Stewart address a citizen

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"The local school board does not have the legal authority to act on a member's resignation," Stewart said, addressing the crowd at the beginning of the meeting saying she wanted to address what she called misinformation floating around the community. She also addressed the implication that she deliberately blocked an election for Varney's seat. "I have not advocated for or against nor have I taken any action against anyone's candidacy," she said. "My duty to the best of my ability is to ensure that all members are serving in a legal capacity."
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The turmoil started on August 14, the filing deadline for candidates to appear on the ballot for November's school board election in which three of five seats are up for grabs. While ten candidates filed to run for those three seats, an eleventh candidate, Mark Young, attempted to file to run for Varney's unexpired seat. While initially rejected by the County Clerk's office, Young was added as the sole candidate for Varney's seat the following day. Over the course of the next week it was determined that Varney's seat was not officially vacant until August 21 when Kentucky Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday formally accepted the resignation, seven days after the filing deadline. Young is no longer on the ballot, though he is suing to have that decision reversed with the help of attorney Brandon Voelker who represents the Newport School Board and who has also been publicly critical of Stewart.

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"Frankly, his public and negative comments aimed at me have been surprising and disappointing," Stewart said during her prepared remarks. She added that the last time Covington went through a vacancy on its school board, Voelker also represented the man who wanted to serve. That was after the 2006 election when Paul Mullins was elected but was determined by the Kentucky Attorney General to be ineligible because Mullins worked as a bus driver in the district at the time of the election. Mullins was replaced by the appointment of Jerry Avery who still serves, but was absent Thursday. 

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Though Voelker was not present at Thursday's meeting, several candidates for school board were and shared their own thoughts about what should happen to Stewart. Calling it a "fiasco" and an "embarrassment", Mark Young requested that the school board terminate Stewart's contract. Candidate Tom Miller called the issue a failure on the part of legal counsel. "I urge you to terminate the contract with (Stewart's) firm (Adams, Stepner, Wolterman, and Dusing)," he said.
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Candidate Everett Dameron was critical of the amount of money set aside in the school district's budget for legal representation: more than $150,000. "The public needs to know how we spend more money for an attorney than any district in the state," Dameron said, saying that there is a $120,000 difference between Covington and similarly-sized districts. "That's money that could be used in the classroom to support the education of our children."
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The harshest criticism came from candidate Jo Rogers. "Mrs. (Superintendent Lynda) Jackson was wrong and the board attorney failed to correct her," Rogers said. At the school board's August 9 meeting Rogers asked how Varney's seat would be filled and was told about the appointment process, but the possibility of an election to fulfill the remainder of the term was not mentioned. The district contends that the Kentucky Department of Education indicated that an election would not apply in this case and moved forward with publicizing the vacancy in order to solicit applicants for the appointment. Rogers argued that it was because Stewart either did not know the law, did not understand the law, or did not want voters to have a say in who fills the vacancy. After Rogers's allotted time had expired, another member of the public slated to speak yielded her two minutes so that Rogers could continue.

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"We're sitting here talking about Kentucky revised statutes and we have children in this district who cannot read in the third grade, we have kids in fifth grade at John G. Carlisle who are not taking science class," Rogers said. "This district needs help and we're arguing about statutes."

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"It sounds like we accepted a resignation but we didn't inhale," said Covington City Commissioner Steve Frank who addressed the board to argue that the city is losing young people, a fact he at least partially blamed on the school district.

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Young, Dameron, Miller, and Rogers are all active members of an online community dubbed Fix Covington Schools where the school district and its employees are regularly criticized. Several other members of that online group were present at Thursday night's meeting, some breaking protocol and shouting criticism out of turn and loudly applauding at the end of various public statements. The online community has been active for several months and the frustration it has caused members of the school board and the district's administration was obvious Thursday night. As promised, Chairperson Glenda Huff spoke back, first by asking the school board candidates in the crowd to stand up, and then by making the same request to the district employees in attendance.
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"The staff members you just saw are people you are going to be working with, not for," said Huff, who is seeking reelection. "The comments made on social media hurt. The staff standing up work endless hours to take care of the students. If you like to criticize but you don't want answers, think of the people you are hurting. A child hears this garbage and will go to school the next day defeated. Please remember this, there is more to Covington Independent than test scores. Behind those test scores are children and behind those children are staff members who care about our children. So when you are typing your words, remember that there are faces behind those words."
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Board member Krista Powers, who is not seeking reelection, also expressed frustration. "This mess is a mess, and it's really, really sad and disappointing as a board member that this is what we're spending time on," she said. "You're not hearing the various viewpoints shared by the board attorney. Lynda (Jackson) went straight to the powers that be (in Frankfort) and we didn't get good guidance. I'm frustrated with KDE that this board and this superintendent have been accused of being involved in this election."
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Huff shot down any possibility of ending Stewart's contract. "This board is very comfortable with our legal counsel, very happy," she said. "We don't have any plans of changing that. There is more to sitting in (the attorney's) seat for one or two hours a month that you folks don't understand."
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"It seems we understand a lot more than you want us to," said Sandy Arnold, a former volunteer at Sixth District Elementary School who moved her kids out of Covington Schools this year. "I hope your constituents remember that when they go into the voting booth."

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UPDATE: Attorney Brandon Voelker responds click here 

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY 30 AUGUST

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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SCHOOL BOARD TO MEET FOR FIRST TIME SINCE ELECTION TROUBLES

The Covington School Board has moved its regularly scheduled meeting to Latonia Elementary Thursday at 7:00PM instead of its usual location at the Board of Education on Seventh Street. The message came from Covington Independent Public Schools Wednesday afternoon:

"Due to unforeseen emergency circumstances and special needs accommodation requests, the August 30, 7:00PM Covington Board of Education meeting has been moved to Latonia Elementary School, located at 3901 Huntington, Covington, Kentucky 41015"

This will be the first meeting of the Covington School Board since the election filing deadline passed and the legal battle over the seat vacated by Denise Varney blew up. The River City News will have this meeting covered for you.
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COVINGTON PHILANTHROPIST WRITES MORE ON STATE OF SCHOOLS
From Oakley Farris:

If I may borrow your attention one more time and direct it to the plight of our school children. I would like to share some observations on the recent good news that Harvard University has had for us concerning the state of education in Kentucky. It seems that Harvard has taken test results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress Test (NAEP) and has concluded that Kentucky has shown some impressive progress on the test since 1992. In fact Harvard concluded that Kentucky exceeded the national overall score in reading proficiency. Now I am only interested in what is best for the school kids, so I am encouraged by that news, perhaps our situation is not as grim as the recent ACT and IOWA test scores would seem to indicate. Because my concern is first for the students I like to look just a little closer to ensure that the results are genuine and not being distorted to fit an agenda.
My friends, I wish I could tell you that I was confident in the Harvard study’s conclusions. However I am in possession of an analysis of the Harvard study which was conducted by the Bluegrass Institute. The Bluegrass Institute study brings to light serious flaws in the Harvard study. Now I am not one to get in the middle of a fight between academics over whose study proves what to whom, that is not my concern. My concern is that the data may have been cherry picked in a way that leaves the most vulnerable students in Kentucky, students just like ours here in Covington, open to being overlooked.

Read more from Mr. Farris: Click Here 
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SCHOOL DISTRICT HOSTS DRUG-TESTING FOCUS GROUP
Covington Schools welcomed parents and other concerned citizens Wednesday evening to Holmes High School where the issue of drug-testing students involved in sports and extracurricular activites was explored. There are just two days left to participated in an online survey:

Friday will be the last day to take a survey on possible random drug testing for students in grades 6-12 who are involved in extra curricular activities. The Covington Board of Education is seeking the input of students, parents and community on whether the district should provide random drug testing for students. Wednesday night, 20 parents and community members participated in focus groups at Holmes High School to voice their opinions on random drug testing. The district is collecting information that will be reported to the Board of Education which will make a final decision on random drug testing.

To take the survey, click here.
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POLICE CHIEF TO ADDRESS CRIME ISSUES IN MAINSTRASSE

Residents of Mainstrasse Village are encouraged to attend a meeting Thursday at 6:00PM inside Zola on Main Street. Covington Police Chief Spike Jones will be on hand to discuss recent crime issues in the neighborhood.

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PEASELBURG RESIDENTS CONCERNS ABOUT HOUSING AUTHORITY PROJECT

A message on Facebook indicates that residents of Covington's Peaselburg neighborhood are concerned about plans by the Housing Authority of Covington, under the guise of its Neighborhood Investment Partners group, to turn potentially eleven properties on Emery Drive into public housing. The meeting is scheduled for 5:00PM at the Housing Authority of Covington office at 2300 Madison Avenue.

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DON'T MISS WEDNESDAY EVENING'S NEWS!

What's up with this sinkhole on Russell Street?; A meeting is set for next week to determine future food truck events in Covington; Plus, a man charged with kidnapping says he can't get along with his Covington-based attorney.

Full story: The RC News: Wednesday Evening Round-Up 

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QUICKIES

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Coverage of Sen. Mitch McConnell's speech at Republican National Convention The Hill 

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Coverage of Sen. Rand Paul's speech at Republican National Convention Wall Street Journal 

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NKY tax preparer admits to falsifying tax returns Herald-Leader 

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Embattled Campbell Boys Lodge loses license to operate Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Former UK basketball player Michael Porter due in court on sex charges WKYT 

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State employees to get free flu shots WKYT 

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KY Arts Council offers workshop for teachers press release 

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KENTUCKIANS SUE DISTILLERIES OVER BLACK GUNK

You read that right. Kentuckians are suing the makers of whiskey:

In 2007, researchers published a scientific study about Baudoinia, a newly identified type of fungus. Naturally occurring, Baudoinia germinates on ethanol, the colorless alcohol that can evaporate during fermentation, making the area around whiskey-aging warehouses a prime breeding ground.
News of this whiskey fungus soon rippled across spirit-producing communities from Cognac to Canada — a mystery solved, and an opportunity found.
In June, home and business owners in and around Louisville, part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, filed class-action lawsuits in federal and circuit courts against five major distilleries, charging property damage and negligence. In September, with the help of lawyers in Britain, the plaintiffs’ Louisville lawyer, William F. McMurry, plans to bring a similar suit in Scotland, where the fungus is so rampant that it almost seems like part of the architecture.

Full story: The New York Times 
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CITY COMMISSIONER NAMES WINNERS OF HIS $2,000 PRIZES
Covington City Commissioner Steve Frank has revealed the winners of his contest in which he asked citizens to come up with ways to save the City or make the City some money. From the Commissioner:

Here are your winners of the best idea to Save Covington Money and i know 1 if not both are from our Fire Department.Mike Clendenen and Matt Chastain both win $2,000 for their idea of getting more revenue for our EMS runs. Thank you! The city has made some progress in this area, but we will double and triple up our efforts. Recently Mayor Scheper and I have deepened our relations with Mayor Gray in Lexington and Mayor Fisher in Louisville to help form a Bluegrass Triangle to represent urban interests better in Frankfort. Because the overuse of Ambulance EMS services and high amount of Medicaid Ems runs occur in urban environments, I am certain that they are suffering from low reimbursement rates that do not cover costs. We will ask our fellow urban centers to help lobby Frankfort for higher rates. We will also compare third party billing agencies to see if someone is more effective in getting higher pay outs from insured patients than our present methods. The third thing we can do is unilaterally raise rates on those who can pay for services and charge higher for rescues and the like. All in all we received over 50reasonable suggestions. I'll take the next few days and go over all of them and chart what we are doing to implement them or if already worked on, where we are in the process. Thank you all for participating. The whole community of Covington is the real winner in this!

FIREFIGHTERS TO COLLECT CASH THIS WEEKEND FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
From the Covington Fire Department:

This weekend the Covington Firefighters will be stationed throughout the city collecting for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. 100% of the money collected will go to support research and those affected by muscular diseases. Please take a moment and watch this emotional video of Shaun Probert, a Shaker Heights Fireman, Local 516, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2010. He is the new MDA spokesperson, replacing Kelly Crush, an IAFF Firefighter from Wichita Falls, TX Local 432 who died in March from ALS. Help us help our "Brother" who is now "on the other side of the boot" in helping the children who suffer from Muscular Dystrophy.

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MAINSTRASSE LOOKING FOR CHALK ARTISTS
The chalk art contest will be back on Main Street for this year's Oktoberfest which is a little over a week away. Click the image for details on how to enter...

NEWS ROUND-UP -- TUESDAY EVENING 28 AUGUST

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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MORE MAINSTREAM MEDIA COVERAGE OF SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY

The twists and turns that followed the August 2 resignation of Covington School Board member Denise Varney (which up to this week were only covered here at RCN here, here, here, and here) are now getting their second dose of coverage in the mainstream media. WKRC, following an earlier report in the Cincinnati Enquirer, has a video report Tuesday afternoon with one piece of new information being that the Kentucky Department of Education is reviewing its vacation policy since a part-time employee's 30-day vacation is being blamed for the delay in accepting Varney's resignation and preventing would-be candidate Mark Young from seeking election to her seat. Instead, it still appears that there will be an appointment to fulfill Varney's seat, which is not up for reelection till 2014. Young and his attorney intend to sue to have his name placed on the ballot again.

Full story: WKRC  

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DON'T MISS TUESDAY MORNING'S NEWS!

"The rally is meant to be a way in which white citizens can gather and express their discontent with the problem of black-on-white crime." NKY white supremacists are headed to Ohio; Plus, ground is moving at Covington's huge residential development. Those stories and much more at the link.

Full story: The RC News: Tuesday Morning Round-Up 

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QUICKIES

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Republican state senate candidate Chris McDaniel is endorsed by NKY Association of Realtors Facebook 

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KY Republicans share Convention experience on Twitter Herald-Leader 

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KY Sec. of State gets order to protect military votes press release 

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Man pleads guilty to stealing from KY, OH tornado victims WLWT 

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Gov. Beshear proclaims September "Preparedness Month" press release 

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Man found asleep on couch charged with burglary Courier-Journal 

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"Lazy, slovenly" college students are gold mine to entrepreneurs Courier-Journal 

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NKU campus urged to eat more fruit, veggies KY Forward 

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The late Neil Armstrong wants you to contribute to Children's Hospital Cincinnati Children's 

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Holy Cross football hopes to rebound after lopsided loss last Friday Cincinnati Enquirer 

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New Mainstrasse cafe gets write-up Business Courier 

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FORECLOSURES IN KY NUMBER 20,000 ANNUALLY

Stats from this article: 20,000 foreclosures in KY every year, 1 in 4 homeowners are "upside down" (owing more than the home is worth), and one in ten is more than thirty days behind on a mortgage payment:

Yet Kentucky has fared better than the nation and most of the surrounding states. According to the RealtyTrac website, on average there is one foreclosure for every 2,826 households in Kentucky compared with one in 686 nationally.
That was some of the data presented Monday to a state House task force looking at the foreclosure “crisis” in Kentucky, a task force that isn’t entirely sure what it can do to address the problem.

Full story: Richmond Register/Ronnie Ellis 
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HOW LONG WILL YOU NEED TO SAVE FOR A DOWN PAYMENT?
Using Census data, The Atlantic Cities calculated how long one has to work in order to save for a down payment on a home in the 100 largest metro areas:

We assumed that people saving for a down payment set aside 10 percent of their pre-tax earnings – even though of course that depends on your earnings and how much you want to put away – and will earn an annual return of 1.5 percent on those savings. We also assumed a 20 percent down payment, the traditional norm, though many mortgages (including FHA-insured mortgages) require less than a 20 percent down payment (see note at end).

For Cincinnati/NKY, the average weekly wage is $891, the median price per square foot is $80, creating a total of 6.6 years worth of saving. 
Full story: The Atlantic Cities 
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SOMEONE PUT TACKS ON LOUISVILLE'S IRON MAN COURSE - TWICE!
Mean:

Somebody took it upon themselves to spread roofing nails along the race route on US 42 between Bluegrass Parkway and Highway 524 East. And not only did they do it, they did it TWICE between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Oldham County police tried to track down the idiots perpetrators with unmarked units. Several bicycles and an EMS unit suffered flat tires as a result of the action.

Full story: WDRB 
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UNDERGROUND SEX CLUB FOUND INSIDE WHISKEY ROW
Interesting:

Workers preparing historic Whiskey Row buildings for interior demolition have discovered what appears to be the remnants of a sado-masochistic swingers club, abandoned for decades. "This is the weirdest I've ever found," said Greg Harris, the superintendent of the project for Sullivan-Cozart. Two floors below Main Street, a large black and white logo displays the word "LATEX," presumably the name of the club, painted on the century old wall.

Full story with video: WHAS
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CREEPY MANNEQUIN HEAD APPEARS IN MAINSTRASSE TREE
So, this?

Creepy.

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IT'S TIME TO PLAY WHAT IS COVINGTON SELLING CRAIGSLIST?! 

This evening we have three lovely items up for sale from Covington on Craigslist... Let's take a look:
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ITEM #1

This is something called an Ab Do-er II, but don't ask the owner what it's for:

I have an exercise machine called an ab do-er II which sits in the basement and never gets used. Wanting it gone since no one uses it. Not even sure what you do or how to use it. Selling for $15.

Full details: Click Here 
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ITEM #2

Hook this baby up to your car and you too can be delivering pizzas all over town:

Pizza car rooftop sign / light. Works great! Just needs to be cleaned off.
Used price ($98) is reasonable, as these cost $150 new

Full details: Click Here
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ITEM #3

Relive your youth or, gasp, a time before you were born:

Vintage Atari 2600 with 11 games , 2 controllers and all necessary hardware. Still works great! Retro!

Games are:
Space Invaders/Jungle Hunt/Defender/Vanguard/Battlezone/Moon patrol/Kangaroo/Squeeze box/Missile command/Taz/Air sea battle
$45 for everything

Full details: Click Here 
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Of course, if you are feeling really ambitious, Mainstrasse's Groove Coffee House is also for sale on Craigslist Click Here 

NEWS ROUND-UP -- MONDAY MORNING 27 AUGUST

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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READERS SHARE PHOTOS FROM SUNDAY'S FIRE AT L&L DRY CLEANERS

The fire that raged Sunday morning, destroying a business that operated on Covington's Twelfth Street since 1947, cast a thick gray plume of smoke that was visible all across Downtown Covington and Downtown Cincinnati. Here are some photos submitted by readers of The River City News:
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From Rob Sanders (Kenton Co. Commonwealth's Attorney, though he credits the photo as one being shared around on Facebook):

Sanders adds: "Big thanks to Covington Fire Dept. for a valiant effort today. Takes a big set to go after a fire like this with an interior attack. Ultimately went defensive from the looks of what left but this could have taken out 1/2 a city block if they didn't stop the spread. What might not be apparent from this photo is the fact they were actually fighting 2 fires at once because it spread to my building next door and burnt the back of the 3rd floor off. The painful irony is I may be the very first victim of Pumper1 being browned out but I'll save that argument for another day. Right now, I'm just glad no one from CFD was hurt. Say a prayer for the owners of L&L cleaners. It's a father-son business thats served many in Covington, including myself, for years.
p.s. Also thanks to the firefighters from Newport Firefighters, Ft. Mitchell, Taylor Mill, and Ludlow who moved up to cover the entire City of Covington. Some folks don't seem to understand how much mutual aid Covington receives, but I do!"

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From Katie Woodring:

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From a reader in Helenton:

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From Michael Grabiel in Mainstrasse:

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A blogger in Cincinnati also captured a shot of the heavy smoke that was visible from Smale Park: Cincinnati Blog 

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Jennifer Landrum, daughter of L&L Dry Cleaners owner Paul "Butch" Landrum, weighed in at The River City News Facebook page:

My father owned L&L Dry Cleaners. I want to thank the covington Fire Department, as well as the fire fighters from neighboring areas that showed up to help today. My dad said that everyone was so nice, not just there and treating it as any regular job. I appreciate how well you treated my family and the situation. You truly are everyday heroes.

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DID YOU MISS ANY OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE L&L DRY CLEANERS FIRE? Check out the links below.
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Hear from L&L's third generation owner and the acting fire chief

"Every morning since I graduated high school I got up at 7 o'clock in the morning and I came to work and now, 7 o'clock in the morning I come and sit by work I guess. I don't know. I just don't know." A huge Fire destroys a long-running Covington business Sunday.
Full story: The River City News 
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100 photos from the scene of the fire: The River City News 

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COVINGTON'S WEEK IN REVIEW

What a week... From a contentious meeting at City Hall, a park disappearing from a city neighborhood, news that the Mike Fink aims to reopen in the spring, to the devastating fire Sunday morning, no one covers Covington like The River City News. The proof is at the link in your week in review, The Sunday Edition!
Full story: The Sunday Edition 
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COVINGTON SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY GETS MORE ATTENTION
After several weeks of only The River City News shedding light on the lengthy list of developments that followed the resignation of Denise Varney from the Covington School Board, the Cincinnati Enquirer began to offer coverage Monday morning:

Denise Varney resigned three weeks ago from her board of education seat with Covington Independent Public Schools because she was moving out of the district.
She never imagined it would lead to the turmoil that has erupted.

Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/William Croyle  

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The Northern Kentucky tea party has also weighed in:

It appears that Kenton Clerk Gabe Summe and County Attorney Gary Edmondson who are embroiled in several lawsuits over a petition to allow voters to decide the fate of the Northern Kentucky Area Planning are again standing in the way of allowing voters to select a replacement for an open seat on the Covington School Board. The Clerk, who has the sole responsibility to approve the petition to put the NKAPC on the ballot also has the sole responsibility to place the open school board seat on the ballot. A practicing attorney herself, the Clerk appears to be deferring, in both cases, to the County Attorney and an outside law firm for the actual decisions. The following information is provided from Mr. Mark Young, who is apparently the only resident of Covington interested enough in the open school board seat to take the initiative to get involved. Read Mr. Young's description of what the established power brokers are doing to shut him and the voting, taxpaying residents of Covington out to allow them to maintain the status quo.

More: NKY Tea Party 
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YOUR WEEKLY MUGSHOT ROUND-UP FROM KENTON CO. CIRCUIT COURT
Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders calls heroin a plague and says many other crimes in our area are caused by addicts looking for drug money. An interview with Sanders, as well as your weekly mugshot round-up -- at the link.

Full story: The River City News 

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QUICKIES

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NKY leadership focuses on 25 years of growth Tri-Ed 

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Another "creationism attraction" hopes for a home in NKY Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Kentucky civilians working normal jobs in war zones AP 

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US Rep. Brett Guthrie (R) does not rule out a run for KY Governor in 2015 cn|2 

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US Rep. John Yarmuth (D) won't challenge Sen. McConnell in 2014 cn|2 

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Vehicle overturns near Suspension Bridge over the weekend WKRC 

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Man stabbed in Newport park Cincinnati Enquirer 

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Farmers: Local cantaloupe is safe WBKO 

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Though Kenton's was down 19%, county fairs report increased attendance Cincinnati Enquirer 

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For Sale signs pop up at Muhammad Ali's boyhood home Courier-Journal 
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New Mammoth Cave superintendent excited to return to Kentucky WFPL 
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Louisville native wins hot air balloon competition Courier-Journal 

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SEN. PAUL, GOV. BESHEAR DISCUSS NEW BRIDGE FOR NKY

Could we learn from Canada? Via cn|2:

More: cn|2 

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MONDAY MORNING MESSAGE FROM COVINGTON SCHOOLS LEADER

Covington Independent Public Schools Superintendent Lynda Jackson:

It's a phrase often used to describe individuals that have committed their lives to education - unsung heroes.

We know that working in education is not for the faint of heart. The hours can be long and the challenges numerous. Still, the personal fulfillment and satisfaction that come with the job can make it the most satisfying of careers.

As I travel around the district, I continue to be constantly pleased at the work and dedication of all staff. I have been in classrooms everyday this past week and have witnessed the outstanding, caring adults throughout the district who are developing positive relationships with our students. I have watched the bus drivers giving high fives as students get off the bus in the morning, the cafeteria personnel greeting our students and asking about their day, the custodians who are talking to students as they walk down the hall, and the teachers and support staff who are focusing on establishing relationships of respect and care as the necessary foundation for intellectual as well as social development.

Success and fulfillment are often based on the educator's passion for his or her work, along with high expectations for students and a desire to help them succeed.We all know that it will not be standards, technology, curriculum or new programs for schools that will get at the root of the problem, UNLESS they are also accompanied by relationships between adults and students. Thanks for your hard work!

See the list of weekly honors and the upcoming week's schedule here.
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SEE ALSO: Weekly message from Scott High School principal click here 
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RUNNIN' ON THE RIVER!
The new Licking River Greenway & Trails got some action on Saturday as Holmes High School hosted the Licking River Run cross country meet:

Lots more photos: Facebook 

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SPORTS QUICKIES

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Businesses hope for boost from NKU's move to NCAA Division I AP 

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NCAA visited a friend of UK basketball top recruit Nerlens Noel Herald-Leader 

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Terrance Jones may be the most underrated player from the NBA draft Bleacher Report 

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What years did UK basketball (and other traditional powerhouses) truly suck? KSR 

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NBA debate resumes in the Bluegrass Wildcat Blue Nation 

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Sen. McConnell is against bringing the NBA to Louisville KSR 

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1972 US Olympics basketball team(which still refuses to accept its silver medal) reunites in Kentucky WDRB 

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College football: Comparing expectations for the UK/UofL rivalry game Herald-Leader 

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THE GROWING MOVEMENT TO BUILD HOUSES OUT OF HEMP

Mix together hemp, lime, and water and you got yourself some "hempcrete":

Hemp makes a good building material because it's extremely energy-efficient, non-toxic, and resistant to mold, insects, and fire. Plus, it absorbs carbon dioxide, making it good for the environment. Hemp Technologies, a North Carolina-based construction company working on the California project, already has built homes out of hemp in Hawaii, Texas, North Carolina, and Idaho. The North Carolina project, known as "NauHaus," received LEED platinum status.

Full story: GOOD