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Showing posts with label dispatch center. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dispatch center. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY EVENING 29 AUGUST


THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
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ERLANGER SCOFFS AT MERGED DISPATCH CENTER
The City of Erlanger is not anxious to join the City of Covington and other in the new consolidated Kenton County 911 emergency dispatch center:
“The bottom line is this, this is Erlanger’s position on dispatch. Erlanger will continue to dispatch its emergency services, and those who are partner cities that choose to remain for as long as it is economically possible,” (Erlanger Mayor Tom) Rouse said. “If and when the new system becomes as good as our system and as efficient with the money, we will consider joining. And that’s been our position all along.”
Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Libby Cunningham 
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WHAT'S UP WITH THIS SINKHOLE ON RUSSELL STREET?
A reader emailed The River City News and said that this apparent sinkhole has just been all sinkin' and holin' on Russell Street between Fifth & Sixth since March:

Anyone know why this hasn't been attended to?
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DON'T MISS WEDNESDAY MORNING'S NEWS!
Should Covington Schools drug-test its students? A public meeting tonight discusses the issue; Whoa... how much did you pay for gas this morning?; Plus, a fall fashion show tonight in Downtown Covington. Those stories and much more at the link.
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QUICKIES
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KY homeowners are benefiting from foreclosure settlement Jack Conway 
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Tropical storm Isaac could affect Kentucky agriculture, livestock Lane Report 
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KY electrical line workers head to Gulf Coast to help out WKYT 
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81-year old KY man charged in shooting death AP 
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Sec. of State Grimes makes Nov. 6 official date for special election to fill Geoff Davis's Congressional seat press release
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Sen. McConnell downplays Ron Paul rift in GOP WFPL 
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Anti-tax pundit Grover Norquist previews what a US Senate would like with Sen. McConnell as majority leader WFPL 
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Gov. Beshear names a new chief of staff Bluegrass Politics 
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Governor creates task force to tackle substance abuse, mental health issues among veterans press release 
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White House puts Hardin County in drug initiative Herald-Leader 
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Kenton Co. Library creates scary video Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Assistant attorney general urges students to fight bullying WKYT 
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Cincinnati Port Authority begins landbanking effort Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Grant will help NKU retain STEM students NKU 
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KY State Fair attendance down slightly State-Journal 
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Thoroughbred leaders: KY drug rules being held hostage Herald-Leader 
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State taking orders for fifty kinds of trees Herald-Leader 
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MAN CHARGED IN KIDNAPPING WANTS TO DUMP COVINGTON LAWYER
A guy accused of abducting a shopper at the Crestview Hills Town Center last year says he can't get along with his attorney:
Joseph Weir interrupted his own competency hearing Tuesday in federal court by raising his left hand, showing off a blue-colored cast decorated with a UK logo, and asked that lawyer F. Dennis Alerding be removed.
“Trying to have a conversation with Mr. Alerding just doesn’t seem possible,” Weir said. “I don’t feel like I’m being represented in a serious manner.”
Weir gave U.S. Magistrate Judge Candace Smith a list of grievances that included allegations Alerding cursed and told him, “If you don’t like me, why don’t you just fire me.”
Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Jim Hannah
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MEETING SET FOR NEXT WEEK ABOUT FUTURE FOOD TRUCK EVENTS
Via C'est Cheese mobile food truck:

 ...the plan is to do them monthly. The team that puts them on and the participating trucks are supposed to be meeting next week to discuss future logistics. I'll be sure to publicize dates as soon as they're set! 
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WORK ON MAINSTRASSE POPEYE'S MOVING ALONG
The folks opening the new Popeye's at Fifth & Main Streets are wasting no time in getting the former Skyline Chili location in order...


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HISTORICAL MARKER TO HONOR BLACK SETTLEMENT OF STONETOWN
A new historical marker will go up in Scott County:
The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will dedicate a historical marker to honor the African-American settlement of Stonetown at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at 176 Stonetown Road in Stamping Ground.

In the 1780s, slaves were brought to Scott County with their white owners as part of the “traveling church,” a Baptist exodus from Virginia. After the Civil War, they purchased land and settled in Stonetown. The community had a school and two churches, one of which, the First Baptist Church, is still open today. In 1877, many former slaves moved farther west to newly formed Nicodemus, Kan.

This marker dedication is part of a weekend-long celebration of the 135th anniversary of that migration from Kentucky to Kansas. Descendants of those early settlers; Angela Bates, executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society; and Kent Whitworth, executive director of the Kentucky Historical Society, will be in attendance.
Via press release.
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HOT DOG! CINCINNATI IS NUMBER ONE!
Eat it, Chicago!
Crain’s Chicago Business and Food Genius, a Chicago-based food data analytics company, paired up to see where Chicago ranked in terms of hot dog availability. Chicago ranked as the 28th Top Hot Dog City, with only 1.2 percent of menus containing hot dog items, according to Food Genius’s database of restaurant menus. The Queen City, and we should all be proud of this, ranked No. 1. Nearly 7.3 percent of our restaurant menus contain hot dog items.
Full story: Business Courier/Tom Demeropolis 
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY MORNING 22 AUGUST

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
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CITY COMMISSION RECAP: PART ONE
"The commission is not authorized to consider this." A reporter from the Cincinnati Enquirer took exception to an item on Tuesday night's city commission agenda and took his case to the podium. One commissioner threatened to have him removed from the meeting. What went down, and what the agenda item was about, at the link.
Full story: The River City News 
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CITY COMMISSION RECAP: PART TWO
Twelve Covington dispatchers will be offered employment in the new consolidated dispatch center; The community development department will lose its second top manager in the past two months; All the dollars set aside for rehabbing upper floors of Downtown buildings are claimed; Your full Covington Commission recap -- at the link.
Full story: The River City News 
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GOVERNING BODY OF NEW DISPATCH CENTER HOLDS FIRST MEETING
More on the consolidated dispatch center that will soon begin covering Covington:
“When we’re bringing two different cultures together, two different environments, obviously we’ve got to learn to work together and just get to know each other,” said Ed Butler, who’ll direct the Kenton County Emergency Communications Center. “But from a public safety standpoint, the public shouldn’t notice any differences.”
Butler made his comments after the initial meeting of the Kenton County Emergency Communications Board, which will serve as the governing body for the new dispatch entity.
The switch to the new consolidated dispatch center is planned for Sept. 30, Butler said. Initially, the new entity will dispatch police, fire and emergency medical services for unincorporated Kenton county and the cities of Covington, Taylor Mill, Independence, Ryland Heights, Fairview and Kenton Vale.
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PROPERTY OWNERS TO PROTEST FUNDING FOR DISPATCH CENTER
Local attorney and radio personality Eric Deters shared this note from a woman named Denise Moore via Facebook:
I found out Friday August 17, 2012 this ordinance was passed on August 14, 2012. I am going to the Fiscal Court meeting on August 28, 2012 at 303 Court Street, Old Courthouse, Covington, at 7 PM on the third floor to speak out against the fee “tax.” If you get on kentoncounty.org and click on 911 fee, you can read the entire ordinance.
What this means is that if you have more than one parcel of property, even a vacant lot, you will pay for each one, each year, $85.00. If you own a condo and a garage separate, you will pay $85.00 each year for each of them. However, if you own a rental complex, no matter how many renters in a building and if there are several buildings on one parcel, the owner only pays the $85.00 one time each year.
Only Property Owners are paying the $85.00 fee tax. No one who rents has to pay the fee “tax.”
I want to make it clear that I am not against paying a fee for the 911 service. I just feel that everyone in Kenton County should have to pay and not just the property owners.

Please come to the Fiscal Court meeting on August 28, 2012 as I will be speaking out against this tax that only the property owners have to pay. Otherwise, you will get the bill for the “fee” sent to you on your October property tax bill.
Read the full note: Facebook 
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WHAT IS THE NEW D-TEAM IN THE COVINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT?
Part of the reorganization plan within the Covington Police Department as presented Tuesday night by Chief Spike Jones is the creation of something called the D-Team. What is it? The D-Team will consist of: 2 federal task force officers (DEA and FBI) that work with federal law enforcement agencies during large scale investigations in the local area; 2 officers assigned to the Housing Authority of Covington who will work during peak hours of activity around Covington housing projects like City Heights; 3 officers assigned as street corner officers, dressed in plain clothes; 2 officers assigned as narcotics/vice investigators; and 2 officers assigned as fusion officers who will serve as a bridge between the patrol shifts, neighborhood associations, block watches, and code enforcement ensuring communication and assisting with quality of life issues.
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COVINGTON SCHOOLS SEEK DRUG TESTING SURVEY PARTICIPATION
From Covington Independent Public Schools:
Many schools have random student drug testing programs in place. These programs randomly test students who participate in extracurricular activities such as sports and clubs, as well as students who drive to school. Court decisions have upheld the test of these categories of students. The purpose of the program is to serve as a detterent. The Covington Board of Education is currently exploring the possibility of implementing a program for students in grades 6-12. Please take a few moments to answer the following questions. Thank you for your participation.
To take the survey, click here.
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DUKE ENERGY FOUNDATION APPLAUDS COVINGTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
"We applaud Covington. This is why you keep getting checks from us, you have such great projects going on," said Rhonda Whitaker, executive director of the Duke Energy Foundation. The organization presented a $10,000 check to the Covington Business Council for its Clean & Safe program at Tuesday night's city commission meeting. "Covington is really stepping out to improve economic development in the region."
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"We appreciate it and look forward to bigger checks in the future," Mayor Chuck Scheper quipped.
Pat Frew of the CBC and Rhonda Whitaker
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IN GLOBAL ECONOMY, ALL JOB CREATION IS LOCAL
Interesting:
About half of the jobs created between 1990 and 2008 (before our current downturn) were created in education, health care, and government. What do those sectors have in common? They're all local. You can't send them to Korea. As Michael Spence has explained, corporations have gotten so good at "creating and managing global supply chains" that large companies no longer grow much in the United States. They expand abroad. As a result, the vast majority (more than 97 percent, Spence says!) of job creation now happens in so-called non-tradable sectors -- those that exist outside of the global supply chain -- that are often low-profit-margin businesses, like a hospital, or else not even businesses at all, like a school or mayor's office.
Full story: The Atlantic Cities 
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FUTURE PLANS FOR THE MIKE FINK MAY BE PRESENTED TONIGHT
At tonight's meeting of the Historic Licking Riverside Civic Association, Jimmy Bernstein will discuss the Mike Fink floating restaurant which has long been dormant on the City's Ohio River shoreline. The meeting starts at 7:00PM and The River City News will have it covered for you.
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SECOND FOOD TRUCK INVASION SLATED FOR THURSDAY
The food trucks will return to Covington Thursday (tomorrow) from 11:00AM to 2:00PM, this time at Covington Landing. Mobile food vendors, as they are more formally known, recently won approval for operation in Covington from the city commission. A previous event in July was met with great enthusiasm from attendees and some reservations from local restaurant owners. Thursday's event promises to host even more vendors, not all of which are food trucks, including Covington-based Gomez Salsa, as well as Street Pops, Cafe de Wheels, C'est Cheese, PizzaBomba, EAT! Mobile Dining, and New Orleans To Go. 
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QUICKIES
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Man gets life in prison for killing Ohio woman and dumping parts of her body in Covington WLWT 
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Iraqi men plead guilty in Kentucky terrorism case AP 
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Sens. Paul, McConnell join forces to assail health care reform cn|2 
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At tea party rally, Sen. McConnell viewed with mixed results Bluegrass Politics 
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Sen. Paul promises to repeal Obamacare, but also promises health care for everyone WFPL 
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Lawmakers look for action on Kentucky's pension problems WKYT 
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KY employers, workers groups differ on pension issue Courier-Journal 
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Kentucky Chamber of Commerce offers advice to tax reform commission Chamber 
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Democrat Bill Adkins endorsed by Kentucky Hemp Initiative in race to represent NKY in Congress click here 
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Fifth Third Bank faces class action suit over payday loans Business Courier 
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Why counting every horse in Kentucky is important Herald-Leader 
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Get your whooping cough vaccine! NKY Health Dept 
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Film explores life of Kentucky civil rights leader AP 
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Kentucky cloggers represent USA in Ireland Herald-Leader 
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Anthony Davis's unibrow artwork is for sale KSR 
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THIS WEEKEND, CASH MOB IN COVINGTON!
Cash Mob NKY won't say where yet, but a posting on Facebook indicates an effort to flood a local business or endeavor with money:
It has come to my attention that our post outlining the Cash Mob for this Saturday may not have gone out to everyone. For those that did not receive it, please note that we are planning on meeting in Covington at 10:45 am for an 11:00 mobbing. More info to follow as to the specific meeting location. Once there we will share our beneficiary and walk to the location. Please remember to bring at least $20 in cash to spend. Also bring along family and friends who wish to support local businesses and make a difference in this economy. Please comment on this post if you plan to attend and how many others you will bring along. We will be visiting a locally owned eatery afterward for lunch. I can't wait to meet you all.
Will let you know when more is known, or follow NKY Cash Mob on Facebook. 
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DONNA SALYERS: "WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A FAUX FUR REVOLUTION!"
Donna Salyers, owner of Fabulous Furs and Fabulous Bridal in Downtown Covington (among other things), is profiled in Cincy Chic:
"We're in the midst of a faux fur revolution" says Donna Salyers, founder of Donna Salyers' Fabulous-Furs. As queen of the faux fur fashion industry, Salyers is ready to meet that revolution head on and en vogue.

Salyers didn't just wake up one day at the top of the industry, but fashion has always been a part of her life. "Fashion is in my DNA," Salyers says. "Even at the age of seven, I was compelled to sew clothes that my mother actually let me wear in public." Growing up, she learned the technical side of sewing from a grandmother who worked in alterations in Cincinnati's finest stores. "She taught me a great deal, and at the age of about 29, I wrote a letter to the Cincinnati Enquirer editor advising even I could write a sewing column superior to what they published each week."
Full story: Cincy Chic/Amanda Stout 
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COMMISSION RECAP: 21 AUGUST PART TWO

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
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COVINGTON DISPATCHERS OFFERED EMPLOYMENT IN KENTON CO
It was announced Tuesday night that all twelve Covington dispatchers seeking employment in the new consolidated emergency dispatch center in Kenton County will be offered conditional employment. The conditions include background checks and drug screenings. The newly named director of the center, Ed Butler, told The River City News after the meeting that while the salaries are lower than what Covington offered, the pay will be comparable due to the facts that there will be no city taxes and no union dues deducted from the paychecks.
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The city commission unanimously approved declaring property belonging to the Covington dispatch center as surplus property, including its top-of-the-line CAD (computer-aided dispatch) system. The new county center, which expects to take over 911 emergency and police dispatch services for the City of Covington on or around September 30, will use the CAD and current county dispatchers will being training on it the week of September 17 with the goal of implementing it on September 25.
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The new dispatch center received 85 applications for employment, including twelve from Covington (there are fifteen dispatchers employed in Covington) and expected to have five additional spots to fill once the Covington dispatchers join the county center.
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Covington dispatchers are used to being represented by a union and Butler said that he has no concern that the new employees will try to form a new one in the county.
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POLICE CHIEF SPELLS OUT SAVINGS PLAN
Covington Police Chief Spike Jones presented to the City Commission Tuesday night his plans for cutting $500,000 from the police department's budget. "We are a back to basics police department now," Jones said. "You call the police, we respond and provide good customer service." Part of the plan, instigated by a departmental review conducted by Cincinnati-based consulting firm Management Partners, includes the eventual elimination of the rank of captain within the department. That process will happen gradually, though the commission heard a first reading of an ordinance that would reduce the number of captains from five to four in the coming weeks. 
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The administrative restructuring was presented as a chart that place the chief at the top with an executive officer directly below him with three captains overseeing the day-to-day operations at Twentieth & Madison with one in charge of patrol and SWAT, another in charge of administration, and another in charge of criminal investigations. "By working through attritions and engaging in a "hiring frost" it was possible to preserve our current staff without having to layoff junior staff members," Jones's presentation said. "This attrition strategy also moved us closer to the command structure model proposed by Management Partners."
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Following the reduction of officers through retirements and resignations over the past two months, the department was able to retain seventy-four sworn officers on the streets, the number on the force at the beginning of the process assigned to patrol shifts. Meanwhile, officers previously assigned to the former narcotics unit and community relations unit were combined to create a tactical unit called the D-Team as recommended by Management Partners.
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The total savings from the plan come from $150,000 saved from leaving positions open, $120,000 saved through the changes to the captain position, $100,000 from changes to the sergeant position, and $180,000 from changes to specialist positions. Removing the $150,000 lost when Covington Independent Public Schools moved to using the Kenton County Sheriff's Office as school resource officers instead of the Covington Police, the final total arrives at the hoped-for half million in savings. 
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REPORTER OBJECTS TO LATE AGENDA ITEM ABOUT FIRE DEPT CUTS
"The commission is not authorized to consider this." A reporter from the Cincinnati Enquirer took exception to an item on Tuesday night's city commission agenda and took his case to the podium. One commissioner threatened to have him removed from the meeting. What went down, and what the agenda item was about, at the link.
Full story: The River City News 
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COMMISSION VOTES TO KEEP PROPERTY TAXES AT SAME LEVEL
Property taxes collected by the City of Covington will remain at the same 0.2995 rate that has been for at least the past five years, keeping the city around the middle of the pack in relation to other NKY cities and their property tax rates. Commissioner Steve Casper explained that there was discussion to take what is known as the compensating rate, as the Covington School Board likely will, but it was never on the table to take a full 4% increase. 
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CITY TAKES OWNERSHIP OF CITY CENTER PARKING GARAGE
The Commonwealth of Kentucky gave Covington a free parking garage which the City Commission unanimously accepted. The City Center parking garage is the one adjacent to City Hall between 7th & Pike Streets along Scott Boulevard. City Manager Larry Klein explained that the garage was built and owned by the Commonwealth but was declared surplus property. "This is a great economic development tool to have a parking garage Downtown," Klein said. "We feel very fortunate to link that garage to make it a permanent attachment to City Hall, and as an economic development tool."
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RIVERCENTER GARAGE TO GET A PAINT JOB
Another garage owned by the City of Covington will be freshened up thanks to a $153,931 contract awarded to Covington-based Flannery Painting. City Engineer Tom Logan expects the paint job to take approximately forty-five days.
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UPPER FLOOR RESIDENTIAL REHAB FUNDS SPOKEN FOR
It was announced Tuesday that one of the incentives to lure more development Downtown have been entirely claimed by four applicants. The City of Covington has been offering $20,000 matching grants toward the development of upper floors of Downtown buildings so that more market-rate housing would be available. The city commission adopted the guidelines for furnishing those funds, though Commissioner Steve Casper announced himself as "present, not voting" because his landlords are among the applicants that promise thirteen new apartments. 
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$100,000 INVESTMENT YIELDS $1.8 MILLION RETURN FOR CITY
The city commission voted to extend its working agreement with the National Development Council, in the amount of $60,000 payable from CDBG funds. The NDC oversees the Grow America Fund in which the City invested $100,000 and which, according to assistant community development director Rebecca Volpe, has yielded a $1.8 million return. Volpe explained that those funds are used to help Covington-based small businesses in their expansion efforts. "With everything we're trying to do in terms of economic development, we need to leverage these funds even more," Mayor Chuck Scheper said.
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Volpe, meanwhile, confirmed that she has accepted a new position with Northern Kentucky University as the director of the Small Business Development Center and will be leaving the City. Her final city commission meeting appearance will be September 4 and will mark the exit of the top two managers of Covington's community development department this summer. Director Jackson Kinney resigned June 28. 
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MORE TRAFFIC TROUBLE COMING TO SOUTH COVINGTON
In addition to the massive effort at expanding Taylor Mill Road and Old Taylor Mill Road, the city commission approved work to begin on nearby Wayman Branch. Pipes underneath the road are separating causing damage to it. In fact, the damage is so bad, that the road would have been shut down were it not for the hard work of the city's road crews. "This road would have had to be shut down but road crews were able to widen it and keep traffic moving," said engineer Tom Logan. The work of replacing a culvert and restoring the roadway will be performed by Straight Edge Construction in a contract worth $126,305. Sanitation District 1 will reimburse the city half that cost.
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OTHER NOTES
-Bryce Rhoades was named assistant city solicitor, replacing Alex Mattingly who is now city administrator in Elsmere. Rhoades, a resident of Covington, was most recently a law clerk at the Kentucky Supreme Court.
-Constance Norman resigned from the police department for personal reasons
-A contract was awarded to Joseph Decosimo and Company, LLC for the city's auditing services
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Saturday, August 18, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- SATURDAY 18 AUGUST


THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
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CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THREATENED OVER SCHOOL BOARD SEAT
The saga of the vacant school board seat takes another turn as it appears there may be yet another change to the ballot and a lawyer is threatening a class action lawsuit on behalf of Covington voters. Hear from the County Clerk and the attorney at the link.
Full story: The River City News 
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DON'T MISS FRIDAY'S NEWS!
School board candidates (and an attorney) engage in debate over sudden election for vacated seat; Check out some of the awesome items on the menu at Piper's (opening in Mainstrasse soon); Plus, are you ready for some high school football? It's back tonight with defending champs Holy Cross in action.
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WILL WRITE-IN CANDIDATES SLOW THE REPORTING OF ELECTION RESULTS?
Yes. With the news that Alan "Chip" Terry has decided to enter the race for Covington City Commission as a write-in candidate and the enthusiasm with which the announcement was received possibly making him a viable candidate, election results reporting could be slow on November 6. In fact, Kenton County Clerk Gabrielle Summe tells The River City News that we won't know how many votes Terry and other write-in candidates receive until possibly the next day. Terry's addition to the race gives Covington nine choices to fill the four seats available. Other potential write-in candidates for any local office have until October 26 to declare their candidacies.
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JUDGE-EXECUTIVE EXPLAINS $85 FEE TO PAY FOR NEW DISPATCH CENTER
Kenton County Judge-Executive Steve Arlinghaus penned an op-ed piece for the Cincinnati Enquirer to explain how property owners will now be saddled with an $85 fee to pay for the consolidated 911 emergency dispatch center since the proposed $6 monthly fee on all Duke Energy bills was shot down by the County Commission:
I, along with Commissioner Jon Draud, voted to place the fee of $6 per month on every electric bill in the county to pay for 911 dispatch services. Doing so on the electric bill would allow us to capture the largest number of users, property owners and renters alike in order to keep the cost as minimal as possible.
Duke Energy and Owen Rural Electric argued we lacked authority to place such a fee on utility bills, that only the state could do so. Our County Attorney Garry Edmondson disagreed, arguing we are a branch of state government, which I too agree. That being said, I still needed the majority of the Fiscal Court to agree.
Two commissioners, Kris Knochelmann and Beth Sewell, did not agree with placing the fee on the electric bills, and both voted against it. Their blocking this ordinance required the less appealing option of placing the $85 annual fee on real property parcels and granting renters in this county a free pass.
Covington's dispatch center is expected to "go out of business" next month and join the Kenton County operation.
Full story: The Cincinnati Enquirer 
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WORK TO BEGIN THIS WEEKEND ON PLAYGROUND THAT BURNED
Here is an update on the Sixth District School playground which was destroyed by arson earlier this summer:
Due to the nature of insurance coverage and the safety issues surrounding the area that was burned, the decision was made to have a local company come in and take care of the re-construction of the area where the re-build will take place, as well as the installation of the new structures and new ground covering. The company will not only be adding a new structure to where the destroyed section of the playground was, but they will also be slightly expanding the space and adding additional play "stations" and activities around the entire perimeter of the complete playground so that there are more things for the kids to do.

This weekend, the US Navy Seabees, Unit NMCB26, will be installing a brand new swing set! The kids at Sixth will now have 10 swings instead of just 4! We are so thankful that the US Navy has volunteered to help us with this engineering feat!

We anticipate that the new playground and swing set will be ready to enjoy by early September!

We do plan to have a Grand Re-Opening Event after school starts. We want to make sure to include the children of Sixth District in our celebration, as well as the community, our sponsors and community partners, and city officials. Details and invitations will be sent out once we start the event planning process. Look for announcements in late September/early October!

More projects planned for this year include an educational black top mural, new litter prevention and recycling program, and a raised-bed learning garden! We also plan on repairing the marquee in front of the school and continue the beautification through additional planting and gardens throughout the park and playground area. We will keep you informed as these projects are planned and hope that you will join us!
The message came from Heather Abbott, chairperson of the BEST partnership between Sixth District and Gateway College.
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QUICKIES
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Gov. Beshear sets special election to replace US Rep. Geoff Davis for the same day as the general election Herald-Leader 
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New NKU President: We will compete Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Black eye for state worker safety enforcement I Watch News 
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More details on Kentucky-India coal deal WFPL 
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Video: Gov. Beshear discusses tax reform commission YouTube 
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Proposed law would end battle between state and Christian health care exchange WFPL 
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KY Agriculture Commissioner fires leftover official from Richie Farmer's administration Courier-Journal 
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Kentucky Sikhs hope to spread understanding Courier-Journal 
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Coach Cal, Kentucky Sports Radio raise serious cash for West Liberty's tornado recovery efforts WKYT 
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WNKU drops late night host Cincinnati Enquirer 
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Kentucky man to attempt world record ax juggle WXIX 
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Gettin' lucky in Kentucky: After a lucrative Powerball ticket was sold in Erlanger, a $250,000 winning lotto ticket was sold in Florence right after WXIX 
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273.3 LB watermelon wins Kentucky blue ribbon WKYT 
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SO, WHAT'S UP WITH THE CANTALOUPES TRYING TO KILL US ALL?
Look out:
Public Advised to Avoid Eating Melons Grown in Southwestern Indiana
The Department for Public Health (DPH) today reported that cantaloupes tested in the state public health laboratory carry the same strain of Salmonella associated with a statewide outbreak that health officials say is still ongoing.
The salmonellosis outbreak, which has sickened at least 50 Kentuckians and been associated with two deaths, began in early July. Through an epidemiological investigation and confirmatory lab testing, Kentucky public health officials determined that cantaloupes, which evidence indicates were grown in southwestern Indiana but purchased in Kentucky, carried the same strain of Salmonella determined to be the cause of an ongoing outbreak of infection. Salmonellosis cases caused by the outbreak strain have also been reported in other states. In addition, investigation is also continuing into other clusters of salmonella cases in Kentucky, which may be linked to cantaloupe or watermelon consumption.

“Foodborne illness is a serious threat to public health. Consumers are advised to avoid eating cantaloupes from southwestern Indiana, especially if they are at heightened risk for complications from salmonella infection,” said acting Public Health Commissioner Steve Davis, M.D. “In addition, healthcare providers are encouraged to be mindful of patients who may have symptoms consistent with salmonellosis and report all cases to the local health department.”
Read more: press release 
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GO TO THE COVINGTON FARMERS MARKET TODAY!
There will be a canning demonstration, orange safety flags passed out for wheelchairs, Josh Eagle and the Harvest City perform, and nearby at Roebling Point Bookstore is a storm drain marking class. And don't forget that the Covington Farmers Market participates in the WIC program. Thanks to the hard work of the NKY Health Department and the ACHIEVE grant, the market provides matching vouchers to double the spending power for WIC participants.
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COVINGTON QUICKIES
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C-Forward donates funds to early childhood education Facebook 
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PHOTOS: Kenton County Library Covington branch renovations Facebook 
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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Holy Cross 69, Dayton 20
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HOW GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE COULD BRING MOVIES TO CINCINNATI
Film production is likely to pick up in Greater Cincinnati this year according to this report:
And while money is a major factor in where movies get made, experts assured me it’s not the only one. Another big way to lure movie production to town is through good, old-fashioned customer service, said Joe Bessacini, vice president for film and TV production incentives with Cast and Crew Entertainment Services, an entertainment industry payroll company in Burbank, Calif.
“Everyone knows everyone here in the industry,” Bessacini told me. “They talk to each other, and as long as they had a positive experience, I think that definitely helps.”
Full story: Business Courier/Lucy May 
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SINGING IN THE CAR MAKES YOU A WORSE DRIVER
Bad news for... me:
The research suggests that singing along requires more mental activity – which draws away some of your attention from the road. Singing drivers were more likely to vary their speeds and to drive at an overall slower rate. Interestingly, the research also shows that singing drivers had significantly less movement within lanes than those not listening to music.
Full story: The Atlantic Cities 
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Seems like a good opportunity to post this hilarious video about singing in a car to an annoyingly popular and catchy hit:
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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- TUESDAY EVENING 14 AUGUST

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
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COVINGTON OFFICIALS RESPOND TO BRENT SPENCE CHANGES
The City of Covington raised its voice and was heard in regards to desired changes for the Brent Spence Bridge project which originally intended to remove northbound I-75 access to the City's Fifth Street access among other concerns whenever the new bridge should be built. News arrived this week that a new design was adopted with Covington's changes in place. "Covington keeps its Fourth and Fifth Street exit from Ohio as well as new direct access to Main Street/Mainstrasse via the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge hooked on the interstate," City Commissioner Steve Frank wrote at The River City News Facebook page, calling the news a "shameless victory". "This will bring more business to Mainstrasse and allow us to put the IRS in a tower and redevelop our large riverfront. We needed the Clay Wade Bailey to enable this extra traffic. That is what the fight with Cincinnati was about over bringing their streetcar to Covington via the Clay Wade Bailey. We could have a streetcar or keep our existing Southbank Shuttle and begin plans on an exciting new riverfront."
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"Additionally, until this final word on the bridge redesign, no one we've been talking to would commit to Covington. Now there should begin to be progress on the economic front, economy willing."
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City Manager Larry Klein agreed. "I think it certainly bodes well for existing businesses and for any new business in the future, especially along the riverfront and RiverCenter," Klein said Tuesday. "For existing businesses, it didn't matter if that bridge is built in two or ten years, it means there will be a northbound exit so they don't start making decisions to move."
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Klein credits the city-wide effort to urge transportation officials on both sides of the river to consider Covington's needs. In addition to city leaders, members of Congress and the US Senate, Frankfort legislators, leaders from surrounding cities and counties, civic and neighborhood groups, the people of Covington joined in the fight. "I think that's what won the day," Klein said. 
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A celebrating City Commissioner Shawn Masters also posted on RCN's Facebook. "We are the C-O-V," he said. "It's high time we leave the negativity behind and let's start selling the hell out of this City. Onward and upward!"
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Meanwhile... The Facebook page called Build Our New Bridge Now sent out this photo today to remind folks of the congestion and the need for a new bridge NOW:

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DECISION REACHED ON HOW TO PAY FOR CONSOLIDATED DISPATCH
The Kenton County Fiscal Court deadlicked again on Tuesday morning on paying for a consolidated 911 emergency dispatch center through a $6 fee on all Duke Energy bills. Following the 2-2 vote, the second time a tie locked up the fiscal court on this issue, the Judge-Executive and County Commissioners voted to assess the charge to property owners:
Property tax bills in Kenton County will go up by $85 per year to pay for a consolidated 911 emergency dispatch system, replacing the 911 fee on telephone landlines. Kenton County Fiscal Court voted Tuesday to impose the new fee in January, to replace the monthly dispatch service fee on telephone landlines, which an average of 3 to 4 percent of users have been phasing out each year.
Covington's dispatch center is slated to close around the end of this month or early September.
Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Cindy Schroeder  
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EXCLUSIVE
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SPECIAL ELECTION MAY BE NECESSARY TO FILL SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY
A bizarre turn of events shaped the filing deadline for candidates intending to run for the Covington School Board. With three of five seats up for grabs in November, ten candidates have filed for the race. However, an eleventh candidate showed up to file but not to compete against the ten. Mark Young believes that the Denise Varney's seat, which is now open because of her resignation earlier this month but was not slated for election again until 2014, has to be filled through a special election and not an appointment as originally planned. Read the full story at the link.
Full story: The River City News 
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SEE ALSO: Candidates for school boards across Kenton Co Cincinnati Enquirer 
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SEE ALSO: Candidates for city offices across Kenton Co Cincinnati Enquirer 
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DON'T MISS TUESDAY MORNING'S NEWS
Downtown Covington bank robbed, suspect flees, jumps from bridge to his death; Covington's outrage over Fifth Street exit scored a big change in Brent Spence plans!; Plus, on a list of bets places to live in the future, how does KY fare?
The RC News: Tuesday Morning Round-Up 
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KY REPUBLICANS QUESTION THE TEACHING OF EVOLUTION
The debate over evolution versus creationism in Kentucky classrooms has arrived:
"I would hope that creationism is presented as a theory in the classroom, in a science classroom, alongside evolution," Sen. David Givens, R-Greensburg, said Tuesday in an interview.
The new requirements — college-readiness testing, end-of-course exams and more national norms — are part of Senate Bill 1, a 2009 bill developed and pushed by Senate Republicans to marry Kentucky's testing program to national standards for better comparisons of student success.
"Republicans did want the end-of-course tests tied to national norms, now they're upset because when ACT surveyed biology professors across the nation, they said students have to have a thorough knowledge of evolution to do well in college biology courses," said Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, chairman of the House Education Committee.
Full story: Herald-Leader/Linda Blackford 
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QUICKIES
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Police ID suspected Covington bank robber that jumped to his death from Clay Wade Bailey Bridge WKRC 
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Out-of-state anti-abortion activists file to run in KY elections, including the 4th Congressional race here in NKY WLWT 
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Federal judge: KY's liquor laws are unfair to grocery stores Business First 
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Gov. Beshear makes appointments to alcohol law task force, including State Rep. Dennis Keene Bluegrass Politics 
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Republican state senator expresses support for medical marijuana in Kentucky cn|2 
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Police find 150 marijuana plants in Jessamine Co WKYT 
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9 die on KY roadways last week KSP 
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KY State Police looking for teen drivers for program KSP 
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CVG adds candy store to Concourse B Business Courier 
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More reaction to the death of the Governor's Chief of Staff, including from State Senator Damon Thayer cn|2 
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Survey finds fewer affordable homes available WLWT 
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Dish Network could cut WSTR/Star 64 from your line-up; Hear from both sides: Cincinnati Enquirer 
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GM recalls big vans WPSD 
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NY harness track to buy interest in Ellis Park Herald-Leader 
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American Idol auditions to come to Bowling Green Friday WBKO 
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Tubby Smith's contract at Minnesota on par with nation's best because of his time at Kentucky FOX Sports 
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KENTUCKY HEADLINE OF THE DAY...
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Man arrested on tractor for DUI WPSD 

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/08/14/2298914/gop-lawmakers-question-standards.html#storylink=rss?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#storylink=cpy
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