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by Michael Monks
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FOOD TRUCKS TOP CITY COMMISSION AGENDA TUESDAY
TAKE THE POLL! Do you support or oppose food trucks in Covington? Click here for the poll
Whether or not food trucks will be given the green light to operate in Covington is one of many items on Tuesday night's agenda for the Covington City Commission meeting. Eight days ago the mobile food vendors were given a celebrated trial run during an event called the Food Truck Invasion. Held at the parking lot adjacent to the Artisan Enterprise Center on West Seventh Street Downtown, the event was met with great fanfare by those who attended and some vocal opposition from those who did not (See The River City News editorial on the issue: Food Fight: Shut The Truck Up). The issue will be taken up as part of several zoning ordinances on the agenda. Here is a breakdown of what's on Tuesday's schedule:
- Zoning Issues The City Commission will vote on the issues of allowing food trucks to operate inside the City, allowing community gardens in residential areas, permitting fences to be installed around vacant properties, permitting the operation of micro-distilleries, allowing retail operations in residential neighborhoods with certain conditions, and approving the operation of second-hand and vintage clothing stores in the central business district.
- Another retirement from the Fire Department Battalion Chief Ronald Stolz will be the seventh member of the fire department to retire in the past two weeks. Additionally, the city commission will approve the salary for acting Fire Chief Dan Mathew.
- Employment is expected to be approved for a new assistant city solicitor
- There is a vague item titled "settlement agreement" with no further explanation
- The City and Covington Independent Public Schools will co-present on the success of the Summer Youth Program
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COVINGTON SHELTER CELEBRATES MORE SUCCESSES
The Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky has now had twenty guests transition from homelessness to housing at the end of July, including this great story:
Fred, a 61 year old veteran of the Vietnam war, moved into our shelter near the end of June after running out of resources to pay rent in Newport. Fred had applied for disability through the VA and the Social Security Administration but was in a holding pattern. Did you know that the average wait time for a claim with Social Security is 120 days and meanwhile, no medical care is available to treat your disability? Thankfully, because Fred was a Veteran, he had full medical coverage. Our shelter usually exits our guests each morning at 9:30am but because of our extreme heat and Fred's medical conditions, he stayed and was my "door man" for visitors and prospective guests. Fred also volunteered in our shelter as a speaker for our speaker's panel. At least once a month our shelter provides tours to interested volunteers and kids from local schools. We still gave Fred steps to assist in his recovery from homelessness. He was required to obtain a case manager at Welcome House and as a back-up for income, apply for the senior employment training program through Community Action Commission. We assisted with advocating for his Social Security benefits by helping him call and ask questions. Because of Fred's advanced age and his lengthy medical history at the VA, he was approved for benefits through the Social Security Administration. Last week, he moved out to an apartment of his choosing in the downtown Covington area. Fred is just one story of hope for many who experience homelessness.
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LUNCH PRICES RISING IN SOME KY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
At the most recent Covington School Board meeting it was mentioned that the district will have to charge a modest increase on school lunches to accommodate new mandates that the lunches include more fresh vegetables, fruits, and other healthy additions. The same appears to be true in other Kentucky districts, too:
The price boosts are mandated to bring school districts into compliance with 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, a law designed to ensure students receive healthy, nutritional school meals that include fresh fruit and vegetables.Full story: Herald-Leader/Jim Warren
Aportion of the act requires that the lunch prices schools charge their paying students must roughly equal the amount of government reimbursement the schools receive for students on free-and-reduced lunch.
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GAY MARRIED COUPLE ALLOWED TO FILE JOINT BANKRUPTCY IN KY
Interesting:
Despite living together for 16 years, Bob Joles and Joey Lester of Louisville could not legally marry in the state of Kentucky.Full story: Courier-Journal/Andrew Wolfson
Even after they wed May 9 in Buffalo, N.Y., the state of Kentucky wouldn’t recognize their union.
But that didn’t stop them in June from becoming the first gay married couple to file jointly for bankruptcy in Kentucky. Nor did it prevent a federal bankruptcy judge from confirming their reorganization plan July 24.
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QUICKIES
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Northern Kentucky University is ranked by Forbes as 606th best school in the nation! Woo hoo! Eat it Kennesaw State! Business Courier & Forbes
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Kentucky awarded $3.5 million in service grants, including funding for program at NKU press release
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City of Cincinnati submits bid to host NCAA Tournament games Cincinnati Enquirer
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Governor Beshear takes to a blog to explain how the new prescription drug abuse bill works Gov. Beshear
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KY judge to review Christian health care case Herald-Leader
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Two child porn busts in Kentucky: one in Bourbon County and another in Casey County
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Drought affecting Kentucky State Fair entries WFPL
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Libertarian candidate for Vice President of the United States visits Kentucky, argues in favor of legalized hemp cn|2 & WFPL
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Sen. Rand Paul urges supporters to back GOP House candidates to help overturn health care reform cn|2
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A rookie's postcard from Fancy Farm cn|2
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Kentucky task force to consider the expansion of digital learning WFPL
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KY Department of Highways is eager to adopt your child's artistic ideas press release
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DON'T MISS MONDAY'S NEWS
A Madison Avenue strip mall is full again with the addition of Little Caesar's; Get your first look at the new Covington Police cruisers; Plus, a peek inside a former church in Mainstrasse that is now someone's home.
76 POT PLANTS SEIZED
From the Kentucky State Police:
The Kentucky State Police Frankfort Post received information about a possible Marijuana indoor grow at a residence on Binkley Lane in Spencer County. The Troopers located a marijuana indoor grow containing seventy six marijuana plants.
Kenneth Baumgardner age 52 and Amanda Baumgardner age 48 are both from Taylorsville, KY. They have been charged with Cultivating Marijuana over 5 plants, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Trafficking in Marijuana, Possession of a Control Substance (pills). They have been cited to Spencer County District Court. The investigation will be presented to a Spencer County Grand Jury. Should you suspect possible illegal drug activity or find marijuana while hunting or farming, please contact the Kentucky State Police Post 12 at (502) 227-2221 or 1-800-DOPE-TIP. All tips and information can be reported and the caller can remain anonymous.
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CINCINNATI PLAYED BIG ROLE IN MARS ROVER LANDING
Isn't there a Cincinnati connection to everything? Via WKRC:
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HOW CASINOS ARE FAILING THE ELDERLY
This angle presents the case that maybe casinos are not the best idea:
In an oft-quoted AGA survey from 2002 , the Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., and The Luntz Research Companies report that 62 percent of seniors see casinos as merely an inexpensive day out for someone on a fixed income. They argue that "90 percent of seniors don't want someone telling them how to spend their time or money" and that "senior citizens believe gambling is a question of personal freedom...[that] they should be able to go into a casino, have their own budget, and spend their disposable income the way they want." The AGA uses their annual "Responsible Gambling Education Week" to suggest that pathological gambling is rare. But reading between the lines of the "educational" factoids and pop quizzes they offer it is easy to see the real message: there is no such thing as luck. The longer and faster you play any "game," the more money the house guarantees you will lose.Full story: The Atlantic Cities
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IT'S TIME TO PLAY WHAT IS COVINGTON SELLING ONLINE?!
Let's start with the online auction site, eBay where we find...
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An illegal casino chip:
This baby comes from the Kentucky Club which operated in the 1940s and 1950s at 627 Scott Boulevard.
From the listing:
The Kentucky Club was a well known illegal gambling club that was once located at 627 Scott Street in Covington, Kentucky. Covington is directly west across the Licking river of Newport and directly south across the Ohio river from Cincinnati. This area was once a well known “hot spot” for illegal casino and gambling establishments or so called "private clubs". The Kentucky Club operated and thrived from app. 1943 until the mid 1950's as an illegal gambling casino.See full listing here.
Robert Sweetzer and Lee Burns were listed as the last owners of this establishment. They were later sued by the estates of Ping Carr and Jimmy Brink who alleged they were partners in the gambling operation, but the suit was denied in court.
At this time, most clubs in the Northern Kentucky area had gambling operations in the open. These establishments paid local law and government officials to avoid local prosecution. These type clubs provided valuable jobs, conventions and visitors to the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area. Raids on these clubs were common, but almost always for the benefit of the local reformer groups or to send a message to clubs that were slow in paying graft. The clubs usually was back in full operation within hours of a raid and were often notified in advance to hide all evidence of gambling.
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Original Photo of Covington Police Department's New Harleys:
The accompanying article indicates that this photo was printed originally in the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 15, 1960 (see that article at the link).
See the full listing here.
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Now, let's head over to Craigslist!
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That's where we find a Covingtonian selling FREE dirt!
On a blue tarp between 1216 and 1218 Hands Pike in Covington, KY. Take as much or as little as you want or need until it's gone.What a great deal! Full listing here.
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Too early for a Christmas tree?
Never!
3 years old, 7 feet tall - originally paid $350.00. Separates into 3 sections. Pre-lit.Pre-lit? How can I lose?!
See the full listing here.
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And finally, the seediest sale of them all...
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Some Covingtonian is trying to sell his old Playboy magazines...
SRSLY:
Selling all together (asking $500) or break out by year
1991 Mar - Dec
1992-1994 complete
1995 Jan - Mar + Dec
1999 Jun - Dec
2000 complete
2001 Jan - Sep
2002 Feb - Dec
2003 2010 completeSee the full listing here.
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That's it for this week's edition of What's Covington Selling Online! Have a great Tuesday morning!
