360 Fireworks Party

360 Fireworks Party

Thursday, April 19, 2012

NEWS ROUND-UP -- THURSDAY MORNING 19 APR

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
|   
THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
| 
HAC: $5OK DONATION TO KEEP POOL OPEN WITH STRINGS ATTACHED
A second pool faces closure this season, but the Housing Authority of Covington wants to come to the rescue with a $50,000 donation to the City. But there are strings attached related to the redevelopment of an historic Covington structure. Click it. 
The River City News 
|
SEE ALSO: At tonight's meeting of the Botany Hills Neighborhood Association, Covington recreation director Natalie Gardner will discuss the imminent closure of Gus Sheehan Pool. 
|
FRIENDS OF MURDER VICTIM REACT TO PAROLE DENIAL
Those who knew the woman kidnapped, raped, and murdered in 1987 are relieved that one of the three people convicted in the case will remain behind bars: 
Joe Heil remembers it well. "It was very stressful for our employees. For the time she was missing it seemed like an eternity. It was very stressful for us and just something we never want to endure again."
Heil hired and trained Pooley who he says was the life of the party. He says everyone who knew her is relieved Humphrey will stay locked up. "It means a lot to us. Means a lot to the family has endured all these years and we constantly think of the family in this case but we also have a lot of employees involved in that and quite frankly, we're happy she was denied parole." 
Video report at the link. 
Local 12/Joe Webb  
|
SEE ALSO: Police investigate stabbing in Covington Cincinnati Enquirer 
|
WEDNESDAY HEADLINES
Mayor Scheper adds an 11th point to his 10-point plan; The City will expand and increase its facade and commercial rent subsidy program; Plus, a Five Guys is coming to the river cities. Click it. 
|
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS LICKING RIVERSIDE PROPERTY?

The men who worked on renovating this property at 7th & Garrard Streets appeared before the code enforcement board last week but for an unrelated matter (their partnership has gone sour but they are stuck living next to each other, one in an historic home they renovated together and the other in one that still needs loads of work). Check out The River City News at Facebook for the conversation on this property. 
| 
BESHEAR, WILLIAMS CAMPAIGN REALLY NEVER ENDED
The tit-for-tat in Frankfort continues between Governor Steve Beshear and Senate President David Williams: 
Gov. Steve Beshear signed into law a two-year road plan, but not before vetoing about $50 million in funding for road projects in or near Senate President David Williams' Southern Kentucky Senate district.
Williams said he was "very pleased" that the governor finally signed the road plan, "and we will proceed now to pass the operating budget" for the Transportation Cabinet.
He said Beshear's vetoes were "vindictive and unconstitutional. But since he just directed them at me, we will proceed." 
Herald-Leader/Beth Musgrave & Jack Brammer 
|
Here's what Beshear says about his decision to veto that huge amount of money's worth of projects in his rival's district: 
Almost every Senator and Representative in the General Assembly had a similar mix of funded and unfunded projects. However, late in the session, Sen. Williams made significant changes to the funding sources for projects in his district.

In the final plan approved by the legislature, Sen. Williams guaranteed that every single road project in his district would be fully funded. He shifted his unfunded projects to funded ones – adding $152 million in project costs to his district over the next six years.

That maneuver has the effect of crowding out $152 million of projects in other areas of the state -- projects that are considered priorities from a transportation and engineering point of view.

“Sen. Williams has essentially moved all his district’s road projects to the front of the line, forcing other projects that the Transportation Cabinet and other legislators considered high-priority to wait until additional funding becomes available. It’s unfair to the citizens, and it’s unfair to the rest of the lawmakers whose districts will suffer,” said Gov. Beshear. 
press release 
|
BUT: The amount of money requested for Williams' district pales in comparison to that of the Democratic leaders of the House:

From 2012 through 2014, the road plan the legislature approved last Thursday would have spent $115 million in Williams' district, or $1,017 per person. Floyd County, home of House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, would get $95 million, or $2,411 per person. Elliott County, home of House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, would get $41 million, or $5,259 per person. 
Herald-Leader/John Cheves 
|
MORE FROM FRANKFORT
|
Special session could go longer, cost more money WBKO 
|
Beshear named Person of the Year by Southern Business & Development Magazine Lane Report 
--------------------------------------------------------------
|
POLITICAL GURU LARRY SABATO CAME TO KY AND PREDICTED A CLOSE RACE
The director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics spoke in Louisville and predicted another nail biting Presidential race this fall:
He said the race will likely come down to seven key swing states — Colorado, Nevada, Ohio, Iowa, Florida, Virginia and New Hampshire — with a combined 85 electoral votes out of the 270 a candidate needs to win.
Sabato said it’s still too early for his Crystal Ball to predict the winner and the electoral votes — as he correctly did within one electoral vote in 2008. But he said one thing he’s confident in is that the candidates’ financial war chests won’t determine the outcome of the race. 
More with video at the link. 
cn|2  
|
---------------------------------------------------------------
|
Microsoft sues Florence company Herald-Leader 
|
ANOTHER FUN NIGHT IN COVINGTON
A happy hour fundraiser for Keep Covington Beautiful at the Pike Street Lounge: 
And Chez Nora celebrated its 18th anniversary in Mainstrasse: 

|
GLEEK OUT! GLEE CHARACTER OFFERED SCHOLARSHIP TO LOUISVILLE
If you're a fan of the FOX musical-comedy Glee and a fan of higher education in Kentucky, then the most recent episode of the hit series probably sent you into a full gleek-out:
Actress Naya Rivera’s character, Santana Lopez, scores a full cheerleading scholarship to U of L, and the Fox musical comedy-drama series touts the Cardinals for having one of the top cheerleading programs in the country. 
But if Santana had chosen UK, she'd at least get to cheer at a championship game... ;-)


Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/04/18/2155737/kentucky-house-approves-road-budget.html#storylink=cpy
Posted by at No comments:
More Stories About: , , , , , ,

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

HAC TO EXPLORE $50K DONATION TO KEEP POOL OPEN WITH STRINGS ATTACHED

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
|
THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
| 

UPDATE (THURSDAY 5:58PM): City Commissioner Steve Casper, also a member of the Housing Authority of Covington board of commissioners, reports at The River City News Facebook page:   
Last night's action by HAC was only the 1st step, by passing a resolution instructing the Director to speak with the City Mgr to finalize the contribution. Today after communication as directed, the money is forthcoming with much appreciation!!! When the planning process begins for Lincoln Grant I'm confident HAC will help play a role in it. Yes, Charlene many share your same concerns and desires for the school to be brought back as a viable piece of the Eastside community, the City will do everything in its power to make that happen.
|
ORIGINAL STORY:
|
Randolph Park Pool
"I don't want to just give the city fifty-thousand dollars and have them say 'thanks a lot'," said John Spence, vice chairman of the Housing Authority of Covington's board of commissioners. Spence was referencing a request from the City of Covington for a $50,000 donation from HAC that would allow the pool at Randolph Park in the city's Eastside to open this season. Without the funds, the pool, which is in poor condition, would not open. HAC's board seemed eager at Wednesday's meeting to approve the donation but Spence spoke strongly in favor of a caveat within the board's resolution: HAC would give the city $50,000 in exchange for the opportunity to facilitate and organize the redevelopment of Randolph Park and the adjacent vacant building that was once Lincoln-Grant School. Additionally, Spence requested, the Covington City Commission would publicly thank the Housing Authority for the deal.
|
Lincoln-Grant School
HAC's board could use the transaction to push for other things it would like to see happen on the Eastside, Spence said. "We are actually helping the city and improving the quality of life in the neighborhood," he said. Spence served as chairman at the meeting in Glenn Kukla's absence. The other three commissioners, Rita Dreyer, Michelle Sherrill, and Steve Casper (also a Covington City Commissioner) expressed concern over the language of the resolution. Though there was obvious support from the board members for the notion that HAC could facilitate and organize the redevelopment of the park and former school there were issues raised with attaching strings to what would otherwise be an act of generosity. The pool and school in question are located mere feet from HAC's forthcoming mixed-income housing project River's Edge at Eastside Pointe and also a block of city-owned parcels that could eventually be developed into market-rate housing by HAC.
|
The news that the pool at Randolph Park could close follows Tuesday's revelation that Gus Sheehan Pool in Botany Hills would not open this season. That pool's fate was announced in an email from the City to its online subscribers but Wednesday The River City News learned that City Hall did not want that news going public until after Thursday's meeting of the Botany Hills Neighborhood Association. With the summer pool season just weeks away word of the possible closures is arising with little public notice. 
|
Meanwhile, HAC's relationship with City Hall has been nothing short of tumultuous recently and was on display publicly last month during a tense joint caucus meeting with the City Commission. The donation was viewed as part of an effort to rehabilitate that fractured partnership and to score some positive publicity. Attaching the strings to the donation and requesting public acknowledgement for it took the wind out of the announcement's sails as demonstrated by inordinate spells of silence during the meeting as commissioners debated the resolution's language. More bizarrely, toward the end of that portion of the meeting when asked by The River City News to clarify his intention Spence denied having ever said any of it. 
|
"Just because you have it written down doesn't mean it's true," he said. 
|
The resolution's description read: 
For approving the expenditure of $50,000 of Housing Authority's central office cost center's non-federalized funding to assist in the revitalization of Randolph Park Pool as part of a broader revitalization strategy including Randolph Park, the Lincoln-Grant School, and the Eastside neighborhood. (snip)...the Board authorizes Aaron Wolfe-Bertling... to execute any and all documents related to the Randolph Park Pool, development of Lincoln Grant School, and a planning process under the direction of the Housing Authority of Covington for envisioning the future of Lincoln Grant School and Randolph Park.
The resolution also included details of how HAC and the City worked together during the planning process for River's Edge and heavily explored how that development could positively impact the neighboring central business district. Ultimately, the board voted unanimously to approve the resolution and explore the possibility of offering the donation and of taking over the task of redeveloping Lincoln Grant and Randolph Park. HAC Executive Director Aaron Wolfe Bertling plans to meet with Covington City Manager Larry Klein and Mayor Chuck Scheper to discuss the possibility which would require approval from the city commission.
Posted by at No comments:
More Stories About: , , , ,

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON 18 APR

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
|   
THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
| 
MAYOR ADDS #11 TO HIS 10-POINT ACTION PLAN
During a speech before the Latonia Business Association Wednesday afternoon, Covington Mayor Chuck Scheper freshened up his standard presentation of his 10-point action plan for the city by adding an eleventh point. The addition involves code enforcement and followed visits to approximately thirteen neighborhood associations and civic organization. I pledge to do more than what we've been doing," Scheper said of future efforts to combat blighted and neglected properties. "It's something we hear consistently from the neighborhoods."
|
While most of the mayor's speech followed his familiar script, Wednesday's event at Twin Oaks golf course featured subdued celebration that multiple points on that 10-point plan have received check marks, including new union contracts and the elimination of Covington's 911 emergency dispatch center. "This has to become not just out plan, not the just the plan of a unified commission, but also the plan of the community," he said. "We're going to accomplish a lot before I get out of here as mayor."
|
OTHER NOTES FROM THE LATONIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON: 
|
Three candidates in Covington's 2012 elections were present and spoke briefly, including commission challengers Chuck Eilerman and Greg Paeth. Commissioner Steve Casper, who's running for mayor, also spoke. "It's rather daunting to think I'd be following in his shoes," Casper said of Scheper, "but we think alike and I've pledged what we've started this year will continue next year."
|
The new Hometown Urgent Care that just opened on Winston Avenue in a former 5/3 bank location is offering a give-back program for Kenton County Schools students that get their annual physicals there with ten dollars will be given back to the school the students attends.
|
It was a beautiful day at Twin Oaks for the luncheon...

----------------------------------------------------------------
|
COVINGTON TO BROADEN, INCREASE HOUSING PROGRAM IN 2012-13
The popular housing programs offered by the City of Covington that include facade grants and down payment assistance will continue to bolster home ownership in its original targeted areas of the urban core and Latonia, but during the second half of the next fiscal year the program will broaden and be available across the city. 
|
Community Development Director Jackson Kinney said Tuesday night at the City Commission meeting that while federal funding for the program will be less, the grants available to property owners and prospective home buyers would increase. A facade grant in 2011 was worth $2,500 but that amount not only doubles to $5,000 next year, it will also be available to multifamily homes on the condition that the owners match the grant. "In neighborhoods where we're trying to have an impact it doesn't matter if they are rental or owner occupied, they all have an impact on the quality of living," Kinney said. 
|
The federal funding comes through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and two of its programs: HOME and CDBG. In addition to funding the housing programs, funds will go towards commercial rent subsidies, micro loans for small businesses, and and upper floor residential rehab work above retail spaces. Previously those programs were only available to spaces along Short Pike and Madison Avenue but will be expanded to spaces on Scott Boulevard from 8th Street to the river. 
|
Priority 1 indicates where the housing program will be focused during the first six months of the 2012-13 fiscal year while priority 2 shows the other areas where the program will be available in the second half.
|
BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE PROPERTIES THAT BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAM: 

----------------------------------------------------------------
|
WEDNESDAY MORNING HEADLINES
A Covington swimming pool is to be shut down; New vehicle fees proposed to fund merged dispatch center; Plus, a full report from last night's no-hitter by a Holy Cross pitcher. Those stories and much more at the link!
|
NO EARLY RELEASE FOR WOMAN CONVICTED OF COVINGTON MURDER, RAPE
A woman convicted in the 1987 kidnapping, rape, and murder of a woman (a crime that originated in Covington) will not be released early: 
The two-member panel rejected 58-year-old Brenda Humphrey's move for immediate release from prison after a quarter-century, after quizzing her for more than 30 minutes about the death of 36-year-old Debbie Pooley, an Ohio native who lived in Covington at the time. The decision means Humphrey, who was sentenced to life without parole for 25 years, will not be eligible for release until at least 2017.
The board cited the seriousness of the crime as well as Pooley's death as reasons for the decision after the hearing at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women in Pewee Valley. 
AP/Brett Barrouquere 
|
FRANKFORT HEADLINES
|
Kentucky jobless rate drops to 8.6% press release
|
House passes roads budget, pill bill WFPL
| 
Law enforcement rally for pill bill Herald-Leader 
|
Attorney General Jack Conway speaks in favor of pill bill:


|
SEE ALSO: Conway warns Kentuckians about phony invoice scam press release
|
With passage of pill bill and roads budget, eyes turn back to Governor Beshear cn|2 
|
TREY GRAYSON SAYS BESHEAR, SENATOR WILLIAMS EMBARRASS KENTUCKY: 
“I’ve heard a lot of folks saying, ‘David Williams has done a lot for the party, he’s done a lot of good things legislatively but it’s time to go,’” Grayson said. He noted that the public doesn’t have control over that — those decisions are made by legislators at the beginning of January in odd-numbered years.
When asked whether both legislative chambers need to pick new leaders, Grayson said, “I think they do.” 
More with video at the link. 
cn|2
| 
SEE ALSO: Democratic Congressional candidate from Grant County, Bill Adkins, takes on the Tea Party and defends Medicare cn|2 
|
QUICKIES
|
Kentucky's community health centers rank near the bottom nationally Herald-Leader
|
Five Guys opening 3 local locations, including Newport-on-the-Levee Business Courier 
|
Global marijuana march in honor of Gatewood Galbraith WFPL
|
High school senior shares story from hospital meeting with UK basketball's Darius Miller Herald-Leader 
|
NKU journalism workshop gives local high school students the informatics experience NKU|
OHIO CITY DEVELOPING AN ARTS DISTRICT
They work in some places, but not everywhere...
IndeOnline 
|
       GOOD LUCK HOLY CROSS BASEBALL!
The Indians take on NewCath tonight in the regional championship of in Class A action with the winner going to the state sectionals. Here's video from last night's no-hitter pitched by a Holy Cross junior: 

|
DON'T FORGET TO SUPPORT 'KEEP COVINGTON BEAUTIFUL' TONIGHT DURING HAPPY HOUR AT THE PIKE STREET LOUNGE!
Posted by at No comments:
More Stories About: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY MORNING 18 APR

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
|   
THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
| 
BOTANY HILLS SWIMMING POOL TO CLOSE
The closure of Gus Sheehan Pool will be discussed at tomorrow's Botany Hills neighborhood association meeting. The agenda indicates that Covington recreation director Natalie Gardner will address shutting down the pool. The River City News is working on details but at this point has learned that the disrepair has become too expensive to maintain. 
|
MAYOR SCHEPER TO ADDRESS LATONIA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION TODAY
Fresh off headlines from two important achievements on his ten-point plan, Covington Mayor Chuck Scheper will address the Latonia Business Association at lunch today. Last Friday, Scheper announced that agreements were reached between the City of Covington and its three public employees unions which followed news from a week before that Covington was eliminating its 911 emergency dispatch services and that the County would be taking over. 
The LBA luncheon is Wednesday from 11:30AM-1:00PM at Twin Oaks golf course. The buffet lunch is $11. 
|
| 
THIRD UNION APPROVES CONTRACT AS CITY ACCEPTS FIRST TWO
City commission approves working agreement with two unions as third approves its own contract. Plus, other notes from the commission meeting including a new kiosk for Mainstrasse and repairs on the way to Covington drivers' favorite route to escape trains. Click it. 
The RC News: City Commission Recap 
|
VEHICLE FEE DISCUSSED AS POSSIBLE FUNDING SOURCE FOR DISPATCH
Kenton County Judge-Executive is floating a $35-per-car fee to help fund the merged dispatch center: 
“Even though it’s possible we could be successful in that and have the least amount of cost per person, the long-term battle might not be worth it, and we also would miss this window of opportunity where Covington is today,” Arlinghaus said.
(snip)
“My concern is that we want to be able to assist (Covington) and help them in moving forward, but the fact of the matter is, we don’t have a funding source in place, that could carry us that soon, to help them out,” Arlinghaus said. 
Thorough explanation of the proposal at the link. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Cindy Schroeder 
|
MORE C+V=G LOGOS FILL EMPTY DOWNTOWN STOREFRONTS
These were spotted Tuesday evening: 

|
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES SCHEDULED FOR HOLMES
From Covington Independent Public Schools: 
Holmes High School Scheduling Conferences for Parents Parents/guardians of Holmes High School students will be able to meet with administrators and counselors from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, April 24, 2012, to discuss their child’s college and career plans and class selections for the 2012-2013 school year. The individual scheduling conferences will take place in the Evans Field House (gymnasium) on the Holmes campus. Appointments are not necessary. For more information, please call the high school, 859-655-9545. 
|
DOCTOR WHO WANTED METHADONE CLINIC IN COVINGTON HAS OFFICE RAIDED
Dr. Gary Shearer, one of two partners that hoped to open a methadone clinic in Covington, saw the DEA and FBI raid his Florence office Tuesday: 
Florence Police officers turned away numerous patients who came to the office hoping to see Shearer while FBI agents carted out boxes filled with file folders and loaded them into a U-Haul truck. 
Cincinnati Enquirer/Brenna Kelly 
|
FRANKFORT NOTES
|
|
House to vote today on roads budget, pill mill bill Bluegrass Politics 
|
Read the text of the roads bill here 
|
Doctors disagree over effectiveness of pill bill cn|2 
|
Head of KY student loan organization retires abruptly Herald-Leader 
|
MCCONNELL ENDORSES ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT
Kentucky's senior senator says his party is united behind the presumptive Republican nominee: 
“I support Governor Romney for President of the United States and he is going to be the nominee,” he told reporters. “If you’ve noticed, the party is in the process of unifying behind him. And I think it’s going to be an incredibly close, hard fought race.” 
WFPL/Phillip M. Bailey 
|

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
| 
HOLY CROSS FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RING CEREMONY SUNDAY
The state champions from Holy Cross will receive their rings on Sunday afternoon inside the school's cafeteria. A time is still being worked out. The public is welcome to attend. 
|
Holy Cross junior throws no-hitter against St. Henry
Tiberi pitched aggressively, throwing lots of strikes and not wasting many pitches. He threw a complete game in just 88 pitches, 58 of which were strikes.
“Everything was working for me tonight,” he said. “I had the fastball, I had the change and curve going for me — just getting ahead… that was key.” 
NKY Sports Blog/Rick Broering 
|
SCOTT FOOTBALL TEAM HONORED FOR WORK AFTER TORNADOES
From the football team: 
Scott Football receives Award of Excellence from the Kenton County Board of Education for our efforts to help clean up after the Piner Tornado. Great day to be an Eagle!
Click the above link for a photo.
----------------------------------------------------------------
WANT TO SEE A COOL PHOTO OF STATE REP. ARNOLD SIMPSON AND FORMER STATE SENATOR JOE MEYER? Click Here 
----------------------------------------------------------------
Covington Farmers Market is looking for vendors. Click here and here for the info. 
| 
KENTUCKY BASKETBALL TO LOSE TOP 6 SCORERS TO NBA
:-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-(
Kentucky Forward
Posted by at No comments:
More Stories About: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

TWO UNION CONTRACTS APPROVED BY CITY, THIRD BY ITS MEMBERS

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
|   
THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
| 
"I have some good news," said Covington City Manager Larry Klein as Tuesday night's city commission meeting was about to end. He then went on to announce that AFSCME, the union that represents Covington's dispatchers, public improvement employees, and clerical workers, had just approved its new contract. While the initial announcement at City Hall indicated unanimous approval from the union the vote turned out to be 41 - 16 in favor. The contract approval follows similar affirmative votes by unions representing police and firemen which were accepted unanimously by city commissioners Tuesday. The agreements with the three unions are expected to save Covington roughly $10 million according to Mayor Chuck Scheper. 
|
"I believe it is fair," Scheper said of the new contracts. "We now have a more stable base from which to grow the city. We still have some ground to make up but this is clearly a seminal moment." Scheper announced the agreements late last week during a press conference at City Hall and projected that the contracts and the elimination of the 911 emergency dispatch center (Kenton County will take over service for Covington) have erased $15 million or three-fourths of the city's projected budget deficit through 2017. 
|
The city commission will need to vote to accept AFSCME's contract at a later meeting.
|
OTHER NOTES FROM TUESDAY NIGHT: 
  • BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE RESOLUTION                    Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution supporting changes to plan "I" of the proposed new Brent Spence Bridge that would eliminate vital exits and access to Downtown Covington. All commissioners and city administrators that spoke Tuesday night encouraged the people of Covington to attend one of next week's public meetings with transportation officials from Kentucky and Ohio (details at the link above)
  • NEW KIOSK FOR MAINSTRASSE                                  The Mainstrasse Village Association offered to the City a new kiosk for the plaza between the 5th Street parking lot and 6th Street that will help visitors find their way around the neighborhood and entertainment hub:
|
Click to enlarge
|
  • The new kiosk is a long time coming for the neighborhood and is the result of the efforts of Mainstrasse Village Association Executive Director Kim Blank and business owner Charles Killian. The 3-sided structure will have the equivalent of a 24"x36" mall map identifying each and every business on two sides. The third side will be a bulletin board (the city's legal department is working to draft rules for what can and cannot be pinned to the board) with a weatherproof section that will hold informational brochures. It will not be lit for nighttime viewing upon initial installation but there are hopes to install lighting in the future. Additionally, there are hopes that another kiosk will will be installed someday on the part of 6th Street east of Main Street. "Maybe once this is up and we have a sense of the costs involved it's something we can look at in the future," said Commissioner Sherry Carran. 
  • EQUIPMENT FOR DEVOU PARK GOLF COURSE                       More new equipment is coming to the Devou Park golf course, all paid for by revenue from the course itself. Mayor Scheper suggested that the city should promote the park and its course more often, saying that there are not many cities with a golf course that close to its urban core. 
  • CAROLINE UNDERPASS CLOSER TO RECONSTRUCTION                    Covington drivers know this underpass as an escape route when caught by a train in Latonia. Over the past several years the street has had serious problems with water damage. "During heavy rain events we do have some flood issues," said assistant city engineer Mike Yeager. In fact, the public improvements department cannot patch the potholes fast enough as water comes up from the bottom of the paving destroying each effort to fix it. The city commission unanimously approved an $18,500 bid from James W. Berling Engineering to provide design services and develop the construction documents needed to reconstruct the Caroline Street underpass and replace the combined sewer system. The city is sharing the costs with Sanitation District 1 with Covington paying 60% with community development block grant funds and 40% payable by SD1. 
  • HONORING MARIE BRAUN, ADVOCATE FOR THE DISABLED              Marie Braun was honored by a resolution at City Hall for her dedication to helping Covington's disabled community. Braun, who also serves on Covington Human Rights Commission, was recently profiled in a Lexington publication. The resolution detailed her upbringing as a child born with brain damage and later, quadriplegia. She was moved around various foster homes. Now 58, Braun earned her GED in 2003 and graduated from Gateway College with associate's degree. 
|
Marie Braun
Posted by at No comments:
More Stories About: , , , , , , , ,

NEWS ROUND-UP -- TUESDAY AFTERNOON 17 APR

by Michael Monks 
Email Michael
|   
THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
| 
DOCTOR BEHIND COVINGTON METHADONE CLINIC HAS OFFICE RAIDED
Dr. Gary Shearer, who was one of the partners hoping to open a methadone clinic in Covington saw the FBI raid his Florence office Tuesday: 
FBI agents carted out boxes filled with file folders and loaded them into a U-Haul truck. 
A photo with limited details at the link -- with a promise to update the story later. The proposed methadone clinic is slated to open later this year in the former Save-a-Lot store on Madison Avenue.
Cincinnati Enquirer/Brenna Kelly  (Originally this link was incorrect and directed readers to an unrelated story.  Many apologies for the error.)
|
UPDATE FROM FOX 19: 
One patient told FOX19 that a police officer turned her away from the office when she arrived for her appointment with Dr. Shearer Tuesday morning. 
FOX 19
|
UNION CONTRACTS TO BE APPROVED AT TONIGHT'S COMMISSION MEETING
In case you missed this morning's headlines from The River City News the Covington City Commission will likely vote to approve the working agreements between the city and the police and fire unions. AFSCME, meanwhile, is voting today. 
|
Also at the link from this morning: Riverbank murder suspect says the victim is still alive -- because he visits him in jail; Is your street on the list to be resurfaced by the city (see all of them); Plus, an effort to honor UK's basketball team ends in embarrassment for Pikeville. Click it. 
The RC News: Tuesday Morning Round-Up 
-------------------------------------------------------------
New developments on a new carrier for CVG?
This tweet was sent out today by river city state representative Dennis Keene: 
I talked to the KY Econ. Dev. Cabinet today about a out of state airline carrier who wants to come into CVG and serve the East Coast
Fingers crossed.
--------------------------------------------------------------
|
GEOFFREY MEARNS NAMED NKU'S NEW PRESIDENT
The Cleveland State University provost will replace the retiring Jim Votruba: 
An avid runner who competed at Yale University and qualified for the 1984 Olympic trials in the marathon, Mearns is no stranger to Greater Cincinnati. He said visiting NKU last week brought back fond memories of running the hills on both sides of the Ohio River when he attended Walnut Hills High School. He and wife Jennifer ran the bridges during their visit last week, and Mearns said he looks forward to spanning them regularly when he arrives. 
“NKU’s location in a major metropolitan region is one of its greatest assets,” he said. “This region has so much to offer prospective students and faculty from around the commonwealth and across the country. Great things are happening in the region, and our whole family looks forward to our move to northern Kentucky.” 
President Votruba said Mearns will be a natural fit. “Geoff Mearns’ values, professional experience and breadth of understanding of the role NKU plays in the lives of our students and our region make him ideally suited for this leadership role,” Votruba said. “Under his leadership, I have no doubt that NKU will continue its momentum.” 
NKU Grad Articles 
|
QUICKIES
|
A Kentucky soldier was killed in Afghanistan press release
|
Webb-Edgington says she'll prevail in 4th District Congressional GOP primary WFPL
|
Return of original prescription drug bill reignites new debate in Frankfort WFPL 
|
Kentucky House debating tolls on Louisville bridges WFPL 
|
Legislative reunion features stale plot but plenty of drama cn|2 
|
Mitt Romney to bring his presidential campaign to Louisville WFPL 
|
UK professor beats education official in ACT challenge Herald-Leader 
|
NKU helping to improve local daycares KY Post 
|
Group to fly Confederate flag near Kentucky interstate FOX News 
|
DESTINATION: GRADUATION
The Covington Independent Public Schools profiles another soon-to-be graduate from Holmes High School: 
At 17, Kelsey Hamilton is focused on her future. She knows she needs a college degree to get a good job and earn enough money to take care of her 17-month-old son.
In her year and a half at Holmes, Kelsey has made friends. She spent the first few high school years at Scott High School where she was a cheerleader. At Holmes, she works on the yearbook. Kelsey works part time at Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell. She mostly keeps to herself and concentrates on her studies.
"Nobody else is going to get you where you want to go,” Kelsey said. “You’ve got to work hard. It won’t be given to you.” 
More on Kelsey here.
---------------------------------------------------------------
|
Bid on a lunch with Nick Clooney! Cincinnati Enquirer 
|
Remember the old WLWT Channel 5 news team of Jerry Springer, Norma Rashid, Ken Broo, and Pat Barry? Me neither, but they're reuniting. Click the link to find out why. Cincinnati Enquirer
Posted by at No comments:
More Stories About: , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)