LINK Kenton Reader -Volume 4, Edition 14 - February 27, 2026 by LINK nky

If bill passes, drinks with friends could cost 4% more

By Haley Parnell

Ordering a cocktail at dinner or grabbing a case of beer from a liquor store in Kentucky may soon come with a bigger price tag if House Bill 612 becomes law.

The state introduced the bill, which would impose an additional 4% state regulatory license fee on gross receipts. If passed, it would add an additional 4% fee on all alcohol sold in Kentucky, affecting restaurants, bars, liquor stores and convenience stores.

“It’s [going to impact] the corner store on the west end of Newport, it’s Jeff Ruby’s in Lexington, it’s Pompilio’s in Newport, it’s One Stop Liquor, it’s Kroger, it’s everybody,” said Kentucky Restaurant Association 2026 Chairman and Pompilio’s Co-Owner Joe Bristow.

Combined with Kentucky’s 6% sales tax, the consumer would effectively pay 10% on their alcohol purchases. A $100 purchase today would bring you $106 after the 6%

Continues on page 3

Villa Hills native accepted into prestigious opera program

By Nathan Granger

Villa Hills native and performer Logan Wagner has performed in operas throughout the country.

Now, he has been accepted into the prestigious Merola Opera Program, a 10-week live-in training program in San Francisco that, as Wagner put it, is “like a stamp of approval for your career.”

The program had a record number of applicants this year: over 1,500, from all over the world. Wagner was one of only 28 people accepted. Starting this summer, he and the other artists selected — who come from everywhere from South Korea to the UK to states throughout the U.S. — will travel to California to complete the program.

Merola alumni include Joyce DiDonato, who has won a Grammy for Best Classical Vocal Solo three times, and Stuart Skelton, who won Male Singer of the Year at the 2014 International Opera Awards, among numerous others dating back to the mid20th century.

“Once they have completed this program, they will join a vibrant community of distinguished alumni who have gone on to thrilling careers with major opera houses around the world,” said Merola Executive Director Sean Waugh in a press release.

LINK nky talked with Wagner about his career, his love of opera and the form’s appeal before he heads off later this year.

Continues on page 4

One Stop Liquor in Bellevue. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

Logan Wagner. Photo provided | David Bachman

Photography via Logan Wagner

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Continued from page 1 sales tax. A $100 purchase under the bill would be $110.

HB 612 was introduced by Rep. Matthew Koch (R-Paris) on Feb. 10. Koch is the chair of the Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations Committee. If passed, it would take effect on July 1, 2027.

Bristow said he found out about the proposed bill on Jan. 29 and got to work spreading the word.

“We got to spreading the word and it has worked,” he said. “Not only in Northern Kentucky, it’s spreading like wildfire, as it should. It’s huge. It’s a big deal.”

In Newport, customers already pay a 2% regulatory fee on alcohol sales. Meaning, if HB 612 passes, Newport customers would pay an extra 12% in fees. Bristow said Newport has offered some help to offset that fee, such as refunds on liquor license renewals. He said he knows Newport isn’t the only city in the state that has its own regulatory fee, but he didn’t know which others do.

Bristow said the restaurant could put “City of Newport regulatory fee 2%” on the check, or just raise its prices by 2%, which is what it chose to do to absorb the cost.

Now, Pompilio’s is back in the same boat. It could put the message at the bottom of the check. A customer would see “Kentucky sales tax 6%,” then another line item that says, “Kentucky regulatory fee 4%,” or raise its prices.

“We just want to be in control of our own pricing,” Bristow said. “This all happened so quickly. It will have a major impact on Pompilio’s. It will not close us, but it’s certainly not going to help.”

The bottom line: The consumer will pay for it.

“It’s not a position we want to be in,” Bristow said. “Being so close to Ohio, people know that if they stay in Ohio, they can get a discount, basically.”

Whitney Frommeyer is the managing partner at Bellevue’s One Stop Liquor Store on Donnermeyer Drive. The store opened in 1995. Her brother-in-law, Paul Kloeker, manages and operates the One Stop Fuel Mart BP Gas Station, which the family has owned since 2013.

Frommeyer said that when stores raise the price of their products, customers either don’t come back or go somewhere else.

“Across the state, a lot of your liquor stores are small businesses,” Kloeker said. “It’s not an industry like grocery stores or gas stations, where it’s all the big corporate entities that own them. A lot of these liquor stores are family-owned. They have family running it, just like we have here.”

Frommeryer said sales at the store have already been down.

According to a Gallup article from August 2025, “From 1997 to 2023, at least 60% of

Americans reported drinking alcohol. The figure fell to 62% in 2023 and to 58% in 2024, before reaching 54% today.”

“[If the bill passes] I just see sales declining and declining,” Frommeyer said. “Instead of buying a big bottle of alcohol, they’ll buy the small one, because they don’t have as much money, too.”

So, why is the bill being proposed? One idea from Bristow is to help the state’s distillers.

“It’s coming because the distillers in our state need some help, and the restaurant industry, we don’t want to find ourselves in a fight with the Kentucky distillers,” Bristow said. “We love and support them, and the tremendous product that they make is important to us, too. They’re heavily taxed, so the state is trying to work with them to give them some tax relief.”

Distillers are currently taxed on sales. Under the bill, those taxes would effectively be eliminated. That tax system would end July 1, 2027, and be replaced by a tax per milliliter of alcohol contained in the beverage applying to: wholesalers, distributors, distillers, wineries, direct shippers and microbreweries.

The state is calling the bill revenue-neutral, meaning it will not generate any revenue for it going forward, based on how it

developed the formula, essentially shifting the responsibilities of where the taxes are coming from. However, that would rely on the manufacturer’s price to the wholesaler staying the same, and then the wholesaler’s price to the retailer staying the same.

Adam Blau, owner of The Liquor Box in Independence and a Fort Thomas City Council member, said the consumer will basically pay an extra 10% for alcohol with no extra revenue going to the state.

“The newest legislation they’re trying to push through in the state is going to have a serious impact on the consumer,” Blau said. “It’s going to cost the consumer 10% with zero additional funding going back to the state, versus what we already have in place.”

Bristow said the state is moving from a manufacturing-based tax to a consumer-based tax.

“I’m assuming they’re struggling with people’s palate changing and tariffs, and the states wanting to do something to help them [distillers], which I’m in favor of absolutely, but I just feel like there could have been more communication,” he said. “Maybe we could have figured out a different plan; we got this thrown at us relatively quickly.”

New Riff Distilling bourbon barrels. Photo provided | New Riff Distilling via Instagram

Continued from page 1

“I grew up being really fascinated by music,” Wagner said.

His father, Tom Wagner, plays keyboards in local rock band The Fast Forward, which is still active in and around Northern Kentucky. Observing his father’s “sense of discipline,” Wagner said, “is the thing that taught me how to really be passionate about something.”

He started doing plays and musicals in middle school and high school. He showed an aptitude for singing, so he started taking private voice lessons. One day his instructor, Carl Resnick at the Musical Arts Center in Cincinnati, asked him if he knew how to dance. Wagner said no, and so Resnick began teaching him how.

“I just started falling in love with opera because it was like all of these emotions in musical theater were then heightened by like 10,000,” Wagner said.

He went to the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, often shortened to CCM, for both his undergraduate and graduate studies. He also earned an artist diploma after completing a post-master’s performance program there.

Since then he’s performed in programs in Des Moines, Santa Fe, Pittsburgh and Virginia. Last year, he performed with New World Orchestra, a program in Miami Beach Florida.

He has a handful of favorite operas. One is Fellow Travelers, which was developed in a collaboration between the Cincinnati Opera and CCM, about the 1950s lavender scare that saw mass firings and other forms of social persecution of gay employees in the government. He performed in a production of Fellow Travelers at the Pittsburgh Opera. Others include Peter Grimes,

He encouraged people to explore the art form, which has continued to evolve throughout the centuries.

“My philosophy as an artist is to allow people to see feelings that they have felt themselves on stage and hold up a mirror to that and let people have a cathartic experience in the theater,” Wagner said. “Because we’re all in this place together and experiencing this one thing together for the first time and only time because it changes constantly. That’s a beautiful thing that we shouldn’t take for granted.”

Learn more about Wagner at loganwagnertenor.com/media.

Tom Wagner (far left) plays keyboards in The Fast Forward. Photo provided | The Fast Forward

Logan Wagner performs. Photo provided | David Bachman Photography via Logan Wagner

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Andy Barr stumps in NKY for Massie challenger Ed Gallrein

By Kenton Hornbeck

Rep. Andy Barr visited Northern Kentucky for the first time since endorsing Ed Gallrein on Feb. 5, when the Lexington congressman became the first major GOP Senate primary candidate to publicly support an opponent of Rep. Thomas Massie.

Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and Army Ranger, is challenging Massie in the Republican primary for Kentucky’s Fourth Congressional District, which spans from suburban counties around Louisville, up to NKY, and several rural counties running eastward along the Ohio River toward Ashland. Gallrein, who is originally from Simpson County, currently lives on a farm in Shelbyville.

Gallrein is a relative newcomer to electoral politics, with his only prior election experience being an unsuccessful primary bid for the Kentucky State Senate’s District 7 seat in 2024. Massie is the district’s longtime incumbent, first elected in 2012.

Barr, himself, is in a tightly contested GOP primary against former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and entrepreneur Nate Morris to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, who’s held one of the Bluegrass state’s two Senate seats since 1985.

Barr, who represents Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District, appeared alongside Gallrein at campaign stops in Wilder and Crescent Springs on Feb. 13. LINK nky attended the Wilder event, where Gallrein and Barr addressed a crowd of supporters inside the Jolly Event Center.

In their stump speeches, both men shared a core tenet: support for President Donald Trump, which is one of the primary reasons Barr said he decided to endorse Gallrein.

Trump endorsed Gallrein on Oct. 21, 2025.

“It is that I think that Ed Gallrein will be a terrific congressman who will be a loyal member of the team, both in terms of the House Republican conference,” Barr said. “He will work with, not against our speaker; he will work with our majority leader, not against a majority leader; and he will work with this administration and this president, and that’s what we need.”

Over the past year, Massie has drawn Trump’s ire after splitting with the president on several of his legislative initiatives. Notably, Massie was one of only two House Republicans to vote against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In addition, Massie was the only Republican to co-sponsor the Epstein Files Transparency Act and has publicly advocated for the release of the files

alongside Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California.

With Massie consistently among the few House Republicans to publicly break with the president, Trump and his team spent last summer and fall vetting primary opponents to challenge him. Ultimately, Trump endorsed Gallrein.

When asked how he differentiates himself from Massie, Gallrein said he would emphatically back the agenda of Trump and the Republican Party more broadly. He even went so far as to refer to Massie as a ‘Benedict Arnold’ — an idiom used to describe someone as a traitor or turncoat — for bucking Trump.

“So to differentiate, he is not disloyal. He is, in many ways, a Benedict Arnold — which is

worse,” Gallrein said. “He has betrayed the party and the values of the party. If he had the courage of his convictions, you just say, ‘I’m a libertarian’ and move on. He can’t do that.”

In January, Massie and his campaign released their first attack ad against Gallrein, branding him as “woke.” The ad references his previous role as an executive coach for Vistage Worldwide, a company that advises corporate executives.

Gallrein rejected the label, calling Massie desperate and dishonest.

“His desperation is only exceeded by his dishonesty,” Gallrein said.

As of now, Trump has yet to endorse a candidate in the GOP Senate primary — something Barr covets. An endorsement from Trump would likely catapult Barr into pole position to win the May primary. With his early endorsement of Gallrein, Barr’s campaign likely aims to get on Trump’s radar by taking the initiative to back Massie’s primary opponent.

Morris announced his endorsement of Gallrein later the same day.

Barr, who has served alongside Massie in Congress for 13 years, told LINK nky the endorsement was “nothing personal with Congressman Massie.”

Barr said that he values maintaining the slim Republican majority in the House of Representatives and that he is more ideologically aligned with Gallrein.

“It’s like our state motto, ‘united we stand, divided we fall,’” Barr said. “If we have Republicans who are voting with Democrats all the time, we don’t have a functional majority.”

Rep. Andy Barr (left) watching Ed Gallrein (right) during a campaign speech. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

Cause of Latonia Elementary collapse still unknown: What’s next?

By Nathan Granger

It’s been over a month since Latonia Elementary’s gym underwent a partial collapse

The cause of the collapse and the exact timeline on when repairs might occur is still unknown, Advantage Structural Engineers Principal Engineer Casey Hitter told the Board of Education on Feb. 12, but the process of determining what to do next is moving into its next stages.

“We’re moving as quickly as we can on it,” Hitter said. “It’s a priority on our office.”

The building’s gym partially collapsed on Dec. 31, 2025. No one was in the building during the collapse, so nobody got hurt, but classes were moved online while engineers and structural officials engaged in a controlled demolition of the affected areas and installed stabilization measures. Members of the Covington Fire Department and Kenton County Planning and Development Services were also consulted after the collapse.

The district invited parents to an informational session shortly before reopening the building later in January, where Hitter and representatives from other firms involved in fielding the problem answered questions. At the time, Superintendent Alvin Garrison assured parents the building was safe to reenter.

Advantage has done bi-weekly walk-thrus of the building since the collapse, and Hitter said, “Nothing has come up with those. There’s no concern whatsoever. Everything seems to be still in place and still functioning.”

Advantage and Structural Systems Repair, the two firms initially brought in to assess the damage, are focused mostly on stabilizing the building, ensuring safety mitigations and determining how to rebuild if necessary. Local architects Emboss Design, who have been involved in renovation projects in the region, including several recently at Kenton County Schools, have also been brought in to advise on the possible rebuild.

Finding out what caused the collapse is the job of a forensic engineer from EFI Global, an international investigations firm working with insurance company Sedgwick Sedgwick will eventually provide a scope of work report in conjunction with Advantage. The engineer from EFI Global did not attend the meeting.

Once the scope of work and an estimated cost of repairs is completed, it will be presented to the board members, who will have to vote on a final decision on what to do next. Hitter said he could not reasonably provide a cost estimate at the time of the meeting.

Given the board members would be the ones making the decision on what actual-

ly to do, there was discussion among the members about how it would work into the district’s new master facilities plan, which considers how best to organize the students and buildings in the district. Hitter noted that the insurance company’s scope of work would focus on rebuilding what was already there.

Although conceivably the board could vote any way on next steps, Board Chair Tom Haggard said, “I think the rebuild of the gym won’t have a real impact on how we really move forward with the master facilities plan because it’s kind of its own thing.”

Board Member Stephen Gastright, who works as an architect and who spearheaded much of the early part of the master

facilities plan discussions, said that “we can’t have an elementary school without a gymnasium,” so the board was going to have to make some decisions about ensuring kids got their necessary physical education. That could mean temporarily moving the students to other buildings or possibly shutting down Latonia and reworking school boundaries while repairs were made.

“Time is of the essence [for] either path,” Gastright said, “either executing the insurance company’s rebuild plan that gets Latonia whole for next school year, or starting the master plan earlier than planned.”

No official action was taken at the meeting.

The recently stabilized gym wall at Latonia Elementary, Jan. 12, 2026. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Find an NKY fish fry near you

By Kane Mitten

Northern Kentucky loves a fish fry.

From Ash Wednesday through Easter, plenty of churches and local businesses in the region will serve up fried fish and good times around NKY.

Did we miss one? Reach out to us at news@ linknky.com. Looking for something across the river? Check out our Cincinnati roundup from our sister paper CityBeat here.

Local restaurants

• Four Mile Pig, Alexandria, Feb. 20, 27, and March 6, 13, 20, 27.

• Rekas Butchery, Covington, special order on Fridays

Campbell County

• Campbell County Future Farmers of America at Alexandria Fairgrounds, Alexandria, 4-7 p.m.

• St. Bernard Church, Dayton, every Friday but Good Friday during Lent, 5-7 p.m.

• St. Catherine of Siena, Fort Thomas, every Friday during Lent, 4-7:30 p.m.

• St. Joseph, Camp Springs, every Friday during Lent until March 27, 4-7:30 p.m.

• St. Thomas Catholic Church, Fort Thomas, every Friday during Lent, 4-7:30 p.m.

Kenton County

• Bradford Masonic Lodge, Independence, every Friday until Easter, 4-8 p.m.

• Holy Cross High School, Covington, Feb 20 through March 27, 5-8 p.m.

• Knights of Columbus, Elsmere, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Mary Queen of Heaven, Erlanger, every Friday during Lent, 4-8 p.m.

• Simon Kenton Band Boosters, Independence, every Friday during Lent, 5-7:30 p.m. (drive-thru only)

• St. Agnes Church, every Friday during Lent, 5-7:30 p.m.

• St. Joseph at Noll Hall, Crescent Springs, every Friday during Lent, 5-8 p.m.

• St. Patrick Parish, Taylor Mill, every Friday during Lent, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Boone County

• Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Burlington, Feb. 20, 27, and March 6, 13, 20, 27, 4:30-7:30 p.m. drive-thru and 5-8 p.m. dine-in.

• St. Joseph, Walton, every Friday during Lent

• St. Paul Parish, Florence, every Friday through March 27, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

• St. Timothy, Union, every Friday during Lent, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

New board game-focused bar opens in Covington

By Kane Mitten | CityBeat

Anew bar wants you to roll for initiative.

Dice on Draft opened Feb. 13 in Covington, and it features over 200 board games to play alongside a full-service cocktail bar.

Owner McKenzie Crist decided to open the space out of her own love for tabletop games and the lack of a space to play them in the area; Cincinnati’s most prominent board game bar, The Rook, closed just before the COVID pandemic.

“[There’s] kind of a gap in the community for something like this,” Crist said. “There’s been board game bars in the past, and some of those still exist, but we wanted to open here in Covington to… offer something just over the river for everyone.”

The bar sports over 200 different board games and tabletop games — 100 of which are from Crist’s personal collection. Classics like Scrabble, Pictionary and Battleship sit alongside modern favorites like Settlers of Catan, Wingspan and SmashUp in the bar’s main area.

The sign at Dice on Draft. Photo provided | Molly Schramm via WCPO

A basket of fried fish and French fries. Photo provided | Davey Gravy via Unsplash

Erlanger residents weigh in on now-paused Dixie Highway reconfiguration

Dixie Highway has become a nearly ubiquitous topic of conversation over the past two weeks in the Northern Kentucky cities of Erlanger, Elsmere and Florence.

Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette posted a video to Facebook announcing that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, or KYTC, intended to reduce a one-and-a-half-mile section of U.S. Route 25 between Turfway Road and Commonwealth Avenue from four lanes of traffic to two, with a center left turn lane.

In the video, Fette described the project as “being forced upon” the cities and their residents. That led to a city meeting on Feb. 17 to hear residents’ thoughts.

“I have heard many concerns from busi-

ness owners that say this is going to be impactful on their ability to thrive within our community,” Fette told LINK nky. “I have heard many individuals say that they will avoid this area if this change moves forward.”

Her statements were similar to those made by Elsmere council members at a special meeting on Feb. 16, where the council members unanimously dissented to the project.

In the afternoon of Feb. 17, hours before the Erlanger caucus, KYTC decided to put a pause on the project. Many who attended the meeting had not heard, though, and applause broke out when Chief District Engineer Bob Yeager reported it to the 70 or so assembled residents. He was asked questions by the assembled council members about the financing and secrecy of the project.

The main draw, as KYTC saw it, was the cost-effectiveness of the restructuring and resurfacing, as well as its purported safety improvements. No federal funding would be needed for it, and all the money could come squarely from within the budget that KYTC has allocated for such projects.

“It was practically at no cost,” Yeager said.

Fette did emphasize that Erlanger and KYTC have a good relationship and are currently working on several projects together. She gave the reconstruction of Stevenson Road and Kenton Lands as examples.

The city of Cincinnati cited nearly 269 vehicular crashes on the street in 2022 as a reason for the safety measures. The next year, after the project was implemented, crashes were down to 144; a nearly 46% drop according to city data. However, many that drive on Glenway complain that the new lane configuration contributed to traffic congestion, and some said their commutes were an additional 10 to 20 minutes longer.

“For people that travel that road daily, they say it’s terrible,” Niceley said. “It’s a hot mess.”

Former Kenton County Deputy Judge/Executive Scott Kimmich also spoke on a prescient project, one which he was a part of: the Dixie Highway Corridor Study. Collected in 2004 and published in May 2005, the study includes multiple potential short-, medium- and long-term projects that could fix the problems that plagued the road more than 20 years ago. The project calls for the creation of three turning lanes on Beechwood Road, Highland Avenue and Dudley Road.

“Let’s go back and take a study that was done with good public money off the shelf, dust it off and look at what was said,” Kimmich said.

Fort Wright opposes state control of short-term rental regulations

“SB 112 undermines local zoning authority by limiting cities’ ability to regulate shortterm rentals based on local housing, infrastructure and neighborhood needs,” Baker said.

Fort Wright also authorized Hatter to write letters on behalf of the city opposing several other bills currently moving through the state legislature.

House Bill 276, sponsored by Rep. Steve Doan (R-Erlanger), is “an act relating to keeping chickens on residential property.” If passed, the bill would allow Kentucky residents to keep six or fewer backyard chickens. These are different from chickens on a farm.

But Baker said the bill isn’t really about backyard chickens.

“It’s about local decision making,” Baker said. “Cities already regulate this issue through local ordinances and zoning, and this bill replaces that flexibility with a onesize-fits-some state mandate.”

House Bill 495, “an act relating to local occupational license fees,” is of particular concern to Fort Wright. LINK spoke to Rep. Stephanie Dietz (R-Edgewood), primary sponsor of HB 495, to gain some insight into its goals.

“We’ve had a lot of projects on state routes that we’ve had good collaboration with you guys,” Fette said.

Yeager said the conversation at the meeting, and public input, was helpful.

“Looking back, it’s certainly easy to see that this is disruptive,” Yeager said. “If any of us learned a lesson today, it will be me.”

Some of the speakers were concerned about businesses along Dixie Highway, as Fette expressed in her Facebook video.

“My clients book appointments, they plan their time carefully, and this plan would create confusion, detours and difficulty entering points,” said Amy Staten, who owns Adore Hair Studio on Bartlett Avenue in Erlanger. “Many will cancel, and maybe not come at all.”

Jeff Niceley, owner of Niceley’s Appliance Repair in Erlanger, wasn’t sure about the idea either.

“I think we all agree that something needs to be done with Dixie Highway, I just don’t think we should do something that makes it worse,” Niceley said.

Niceley pointed to an initiative across the river for reference — the 2023 Glenway Avenue Traffic Calming project — which similarly reduced a two-mile section of a fourlane road down to two lanes and a center turning lane.

Fort Wright joined several other Northern Kentucky cities opposing a bill that would move regulation of short-term rentals to the state level.

Cities across NKY have enacted local regulations over the last few years, and Fort Wright isn’t the first city to express opposition to Senate Bill 112. In Fort Wright, City Council authorized Mayor Dave Hatter to write a letter on behalf of the city opposing SB 112 and several others.

The Kenton County Mayors Group recently met to discuss their apprehensions about the bill. Some mayors said they were concerned that without local government oversight, short-term rentals will proliferate.

Mallory Baker, the government affairs communications manager at the Kentucky League of Cities, said the bill could have the unintended effect of worsening housing affordability by reducing long-term housing with short-term rentals.

“House Bill 495 addresses a real and growing fiscal challenge facing cities like Covington as remote and hybrid work have fundamentally altered how local tax revenue is sourced, without reflecting where economic activity is actually anchored,” Dietz said.

The example she cited to LINK was that of Fidelity Investments located in Covington. While the business benefits from Covington’s infrastructure and municipal services, many Fidelity employees work from home. According to Dietz, payroll tax revenue in Covington does not accurately reflect this.

“I believe we will amend [HB 495] to only apply to Kentucky-based corporate offices with 50 or more employees that have received an economic development incentive, ensuring that it is focused on large employers that benefit the most from public investment,” Dietz said.

Senate Bill 91, primarily sponsored by Sen. Steve Rawlings (R-Burlington), is “an act relating to standardizing real property tax bills.” If passed, SB 91 would create a new, “standardized,” state-wide form for city and local property tax bills.

House Bill 518, sponsored by Rep. Patrick Flannery (R-Olive Hill), is “an act relating to the collection of local business taxes and fees.” This bill would require local occupational taxes and fees to go through the secretary of state’s office before returning to the locality.

Hatter said he would have the letters of opposition finished and ready by the end of the month.

Concerned NKY residents filled the Erlanger City Council chambers to hear from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and each other’s public comments. Photo provided by Case Fenner | LINK nky contributor

The Fort Wright city building. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

‘Plogging’ clean up event returns to Covington in March

An annual clean-up event, Plogging the Cov, returns for its third year on March 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ‘Plogging’ is a portmanteau of the Swedish words for ‘picking up’ and ‘jogging,’ and generally refers to getting exercise while cleaning up the environment.

The event will be put on in partnership with Covington’s Solid Waste & Recycling Division and Keep Covington Beautiful.

“This year’s event will focus on cleaning the alleyways of Covington’s Central Business District,” according to an announcement from the city. “After the clean-up, volunteers will reconvene at West Sixth Brewery to enjoy food and beverages as a thank-you for their efforts.”

EducateNKY celebrates $150k grant, Read Ready integration

EducateNKY announced a series of milestones strengthening the Read Ready Network, a regional early-learning initiative designed to ensure more Northern Kentucky children enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

The Read Ready Network announced the integration of Read Ready Covington, the launch of the network’s first corporate sponsorship with C-Forward, and a $150,000 grant from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation Northern Kentucky Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

Since mid-2025, Read Ready initiatives have launched across all six NKY river cities.

“These commitments signal a shared belief across cities and businesses that early learning is foundational to Northern Ken-

tucky’s future,” said EducateNKY Vice President of Early Learning and Family Power Jenny Watson. “The Read Ready Network is building the infrastructure needed to support families and drive real kindergarten-readiness gains across our region.”

Covington and EducateNKY have agreed to formalize their relationship and to transition Read Ready Covington into the broader Read Ready Network, creating a regional structure that supports city-based early-learning initiatives while preserving local leadership and community focus.

Under the agreement, the network will serve as the backbone organization for Read Ready initiatives across NKY, providing coordinated governance, shared data systems, operational support and brand alignment. Covington will retain a leadership role in shaping its local strategy, including representation on the Read Ready Network Board of Directors.

“EducateNKY’s expansion of the Read Ready Network is a proud moment for Covington,” said Covington Mayor Ron Washington. “Read Ready was created right here in Covington, born out of our community’s commitment to early literacy, family engagement and opportunity for every child. Since launching in 2018, more than 6,000 Covington families have been supported through this city-built model, which is now being replicated across our region. Today’s children are tomorrow’s future, and initiatives like Read Ready help ensure our students are prepared to meet the future needs of our community.”

EducateNKY also announced C-Forward as the first official corporate sponsor of the Read Ready Network, marking a new phase of business community engagement in early-learning outcomes.

“Investing in early learning is an investment in the region’s long-term economic health,” said C-Forward CEO Brent Cooper. “We’re proud to support the Read Ready Network and help ensure more children start school with the foundation they need to succeed.”

Further accelerating the network’s growth, the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation Northern Kentucky Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation has approved a $150,000 grant to EducateNKY to support expansion of the Read Ready Network across NKY. The grant will help strengthen coordination across city-based collaboratives and support data systems designed to track and improve kindergarten-readiness outcomes.

“Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s strategic plan highlights the importance of early literacy as a predictor of future academic success and EducateNKY’s Read Ready program is a powerful example of how community partners can align to really move the needle on this important metric,” said Matthew Randazzo, president and CEO of Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

Participants at a Plogging the Cov event. Photo provided | The City of Covington

EducateNKY is celebrating a milestone. Photo provided | EducateNKY

NKY healthcare faces nursing shortages, rising costs, execs say

By Kenton Hornbeck

Northern Kentucky’s healthcare industry is still clawing its way back from the COVID-19 pandemic, several industry executives said during the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs ‘n Issues breakfast panel on Feb. 10.

Moreover, the industry is facing challenges related to rising costs, a workforce shortage and federal policy changes that, according to these executives, could affect hospitals, long-term care and healthcare employers overall.

The panel — comprising Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Senior Analyst Lisa Cooper; Gravity Diagnostics Chief of Laboratory Operations Nicholas Lyktey; Carespring Health Care Management Chief Development Officer Kim Majick; and St. Elizabeth Healthcare Chief Financial Officer Lori Ritchey-Baldwin — addressed the challenges facing the industry amid a tumultuous national economic environment.

One primary topic the executives focused on was the ongoing shortage of nurses and physicians in the area and nationwide. A November 2022 Health Workforce Analysis by the Health Resources and Services Administration estimated a shortage of 63,720 professionals by 2030, citing pandemic-related burnout and many nurses approaching retirement age.

Locally, while recent reporting suggests the shortage has eased in recent years, the problem persists. Cooper mentioned that one of the challenges impacting the talent pipeline is the negative shift in public perception of nursing, along with the general difficulty of the career.

“Healthcare is a difficult field to be in,” she said. “Healthcare used to be seen as heroes. That since COVID, has changed a little bit, and people question whether they want to go into a field where they’re going to be constantly questioned and they’re going to be looked at as sometimes the villain.”

Ritchey-Baldwin also pointed out that a

rise in workplace violence against nurses impacts retention. Approximately 81.6% of nurses reported experiencing at least one type of workplace violence in 2022, including verbal threats, physical threats and other violent interactions, according to a 2023 nationwide survey of nurses published by National Nurses United.

In response, St. Elizabeth Healthcare adopted new security measures to improve worker safety. Ritchey-Baldwin said the hospital system is currently installing a weapons-detection system to bolster security.

“Because of the significant increase in incidents against our workers and our associates, we are getting ready to implement a weapons detection system, and a lot of that is so that our healthcare workers so people want to come to work and want to feel safe while working,” she said.

In addition to workforce issues, the panel discussed how changes in federal healthcare policy, stemming from the passage

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of the One Big Beautiful Bill in summer 2025, could increase financial pressures on healthcare providers.

Ritchey-Baldwin cautioned that Medicaid reforms, work requirements and the end of Affordable Care Act subsidies are likely to raise the overall uninsured rate, adding financial pressure on healthcare providers. She also noted that rural hospitals, which depend heavily on Medicaid patients, could be especially impacted. If these changes lead to rural hospital closures, they could result in job losses, reduced access to care, and higher costs for employers and those with commercially insured patients.

“Medicaid patients, if they don’t have coverage any longer, aren’t going to stop getting healthcare, they’re going to come to our emergency rooms, which means wait times and crowded of emergency is going to exist, and that will impact everyone, but instead of getting paid by Medicaid like we did in the past, we will get paid nothing for those patients,” she said.

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Pictured from left to right: Charlie Vance, Lori Ritchey-Baldwin, Lisa Cooper, Kim Majick and Nicholas Lyktey. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

MASTER

COMMISSIONER’S SALE

BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

DIVISION I CASE NO.: 25-CI-01540

MORTGAGE RESEARCH CENTER, LLC D/B/A VETERANS UNITED HOME LOANS, A MISSOURI LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY VERSUS}

KARMA MALONE, ET AL.

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JANUARY 8, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

ADDRESS: 2524 WINNERS POST WAY, BURLINGTON, KY 41005

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 050.00-19021.00

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $429,937.18

GROUP NO.: 5501

DIVISION III

CASE NO.: 24-CI-01700

PLANTATION POINTE MASTER ASSOCIATION, INC. VERSUS}

MICHAEL R. HOWARD, ET AL.

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JANUARY 27, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

ADDRESS: 1829 WAVERLY DRIVE, FLORENCE, KENTUCKY 41042

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 062.00-36078.00

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $6,605.08

GROUP NO.: 4481

DIVISION I

CASE NO.: 23-CI-00515

TARA AT PLANTATION POINTE COUNCIL OF CO-OWNERS, INC. VERSUS}

DAVID S. SPINNER, ET AL.

ADDRESS: 1800 HAMILTON COURT, FLORENCE, KY 41042

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 062.00-34101.41

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $152,798.90

GROUP NO.: 4709

DIVISION III

CASE NO.: 25-CI-02047

HERITAGE BANK, INC. VERSUS}

MERLITA WHITE, ET AL.

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered FEBRUARY 10, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

ADDRESS: 3229 FEELEY ROAD, BURLINGTON, KENTUCKY 41005

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 025.00-00017.14

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $83,073.47

GROUP NO.: 2018

The complete legal description is particularly set out in the Judgment and Order of Sale entered in this case.

DIVISION III

CASE NO.: 23-CI-01549

WYNDS AT OAKBROOK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. VERSUS}

STEPHEN D. VAUGHN, ET AL.

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered JANUARY 21, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

ADDRESS: 6459 SUMMERFIELD DRIVE, FLORENCE, KY 41042

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 049.08-12017.04

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $2,223.00

GROUP NO.: 1516

THIS SALE IS SUBJECT TO THE MORTGAGE OF J.P. MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., RECORDED ON MARCH 26, 2013, IN MORTGAGE BOOK 3688, PAGE 217, OF THE BOONE COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT OWED TO J.P. MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., THROUGH FEBRUARY 10, 2026, IS THE PRINCIPAL SUM OF $24,213.42, MORE OR LESS, PLUS INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES ALLOWED BY THE MORTGAGE AND THE PROMISSORY NOTE IT SECURES, AND KENTUCKY LAW.

DIVISION I

CASE NO.: 25-CI-02050

KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION VERSUS}

MASON JONES

ADDRESS: 9 SWEETBRIAR AVENUE, FLORENCE, KENTUCKY 41042

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 061.06-26017.00

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $208,823.83

GROUP NO.: 260

TERMS OF SALE: The property shall be sold as a whole. The purchaser may pay all or part of the purchase price in cash, and may pay the balance of the purchase price on a credit of 30 days after date of sale; said credit shall be granted only upon the execution by the purchaser of bond, with surety thereon, and said surety shall be a lending institution authorized and doing business in Kentucky, or a reputable fidelity or surety company, authorized and doing business in Kentucky, and only if said surety be acceptable to the Commissioner of the Boone Circuit Court; and an authorized officer of the surety must be present at the sale or must have given the Commissioner adequate assurance of its intent to be surety prior to or at the sale; and said Bond shall be, and shall remain, a lien on the property sold as additional security for the payment of the full purchase price, and shall have the full force and effect of a Judgment; and said Bond shall bear interest at the rate provided by the Judgment up to Twelve (12%) Percent per annum until paid. The purchaser shall be required to pay the sum of 10% of the bid amount in cash or certified check on the purchase at the time of sale.

The successful bidder at the sale shall, at bidder’s own expense, carry fire and extended insurance coverage on any improvements from the date of sale until the purchase price is fully paid, with a loss payable clause to the Commissioner of the Boone Circuit Court. Failure of the purchaser to effect such insurance shall not affect the validity of the sale or the purchaser’s liability thereunder, but shall entitle, but not require, a lien holder herein, after giving notice to the Commissioner, to effect said insurance and furnish the policy or evidence thereof to the Commissioner, and the premium thereon or the proper portion thereof shall be charged to the purchaser as purchaser’s cost.

The property shall be sold subject to ad valorem taxes for the year 2026 and all subsequent years thereafter; easements, restrictions and stipulations of record; assessments for public improvements levied against the property, if any; existing zoning ordinances, statutes, laws, or regulations; and any facts which an inspection and accurate survey of the property may disclose. BIDDERS SHALL BE PREPARED TO COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS.

All sales are “as is” and the Plaintiff, the Master Commissioner, and the Court shall not be deemed to have warranted title of

WEBSITE FOR ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTIONS.

Cooper’s Van Laningham named Gatorade Runner of the Year in KY

The accolades continue to pile up for Cooper senior Paul Van Laningham.

He was recently named the Gatorade Player of the Year in cross country, coming off back-to-back state championships in the Class 3A meet. Van Laningham obliterated the state record in his last state title, running in 15:01, breaking his own mark by 18 seconds. The University of Wisconsin commit torched the Class 3A course in a state-record 15:01, finishing 13 seconds ahead of Lafayette’s Xavier Richardson. With the victory, Van Laningham became the first 3A boy to repeat as state cross country champion since Greenwood’s Ryan Eaton in 2008–09.

| Charles Bolton

Just in the past year, Van Laningham has recorded several milestones and achievements. He was named the 2025 KHSAA cross country student-athlete of the year, took sixth at the national Brooks XC Championships and fifth at the Brooks South Regional. He finished the season ranked No. 9 nationally in both the MileSplit50 and the Dyestat 100. As an A Brooks XC Second Team All-American and First Team All-Region honoree, Van Laningham ran a personal best 14:38.5 at the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational. He owns four state titles, two in cross country and the 3A indoor and outdoor track and field 1,600-meter champion. Van Laningham won seven of the 11 races he competed in for the 2025 cross country season. His lowest finish was sixth at the Brooks XC nationals. Four times he finished under 15 minutes.

Through all this, Van Laningham has a weighted 4.63 GPA.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program

annually recognizes one state winner from each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track & field. In total, 610 high school athletes are honored each year.

All-Division girls teams released in NKY

The Northern Kentucky High School Girls Basketball Coaches Association has announced its selections for the Northern Kentucky All-Division teams.

Competing under the umbrella of the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference (NKAC), the association recognizes standout performances across three divisions. The NKAC is structured by school size, with Division I consisting of the largest schools in the conference, followed by Division II and Division III.

The full list of selections below:

NKHSGBCA All-Division Teams

Division I

Addyson Brissey, Alivia Scott and Haylee Noel (Cooper), Anna Kelch, Brynli Pernell and Haylie Webb (Simon Kenton), Asia Carner (Dixie Heights), Emma Holtzapfel and Sarah Young (Notre Dame), Izzy Jayasuriya and Kendall Augsback (Campbell County), Jaelyn Jones and Jayden McClain (Ryle), Kaylee Mills (Highlands).

Player of the Year: Haylee Noel, Cooper

The junior Division I prospect, who most recently received an offer from Middle Tennessee State in January, has helped Cooper climb into the top 10 in the state with an 18-6 record. She’s highlighted the season by scoring a career-high 42 points in a rivalry win over Ryle and surpassed the 1,500 career points milestone against George Rogers Clark.

Co-Coach of the Year: Jeff Stowers, Simon

THE WEEKLY COMIC

by Andrew Buchanan

Kenton and Davey Johnson, Campbell County

Stowers has Simon Kenton positioned as one of the state’s top teams, highlighted by key wins over Frederick Douglass, Sacred Heart, and Cooper. The Lady Pioneers are 25-2 and remain undefeated against instate opponents. Meanwhile, Johnson has guided Campbell to a 19-4 record, including a perfect 5-0 in region play and an undefeated mark in district play. The Camels are ranked among the state’s top 10.

Academic: Bella Smith, Conner

Miss Hustle: Lyric Hooper, Cooper

Division II

Alyssa Arlinghaus, Jai Johnson and Riley Eberhard (Holy Cross), Audrey Pieczonka and Joey Powers (St. Henry), Ava Hargett and Elin Logue (Walton-Verona), Brooklyn Cole and Kendall Thompson (Newport Central Catholic), Greylee Kramer, Hadley Eviston and Kylie Smith (Bishop Brossart), Mya Holden-Hopkins (Lloyd Memorial) and Noelle Price (Scott).

Player of the Year: Noelle Price, Scott As a sophomore, Price had to step up even more due to injuries on Scott, and she has already scored 471 points with 54 three-pointers this season. She reached the 1,000-point milestone against Holy Cross on Feb. 5 and recorded a career-high 36 points against district rival Bishop Brossart.

Coach of the Year: Ted Arlinghaus, Holy Cross

Arlinghaus led Holy Cross to a historic All “A” state championship, the program’s third in four years and fourth overall, now the most of any program. The Indians are ranked among the state’s top 16 and have compiled a 23-4 overall record, including an 11-2 mark in region play.

Academic: Leanna Teegarden, Boone County

Miss Hustle: Ava Hargett, Walton-Verona Division III

Addison Nine, Charlotte Pinkiewicz and Dahlila Gorman (Villa Madonna), Addy Garrett and Alex Adcock (Ludlow), Chloe Reed and Hayleigh Wight (Bellevue) and Lanaya Torres (Dayton).

Player of the Year: Addy Garrett, Ludlow

For the second consecutive year, Garrett

has been named Player of the Year. She is approaching 2,000 career points this season and ranks among the state leaders in scoring. Garrett has guided Ludlow to a 1211 record and an NKAC Conference Championship.

Coach of the Year: Justin Wade, Ludlow

In his first year as head coach of Ludlow, Wade has guided the program to a 12-11 record, already surpassing last season’s win total, including a 9-6 mark against region opponents, two district victories, and an NKAC Conference Championship.

Academic: Alex Adcock, Ludlow

Miss Hustle: Emma Tupman, Villa Madonna

9th Region

tournament dates set

The St. Elizabeth Healthcare 9th Region basketball tournament schedules are set at Northern Kentucky University’s Truist Arena.

The girls get things tipped off on March 1, the boys lumping the tournament together in four days starting on March 7.

The first round of the girls tournament will be played all day on March 1 with quarterfinal times at 1, 2:30, 6:30 and 8 p.m. Semifinals follow on March 3 at 6:30 and 8 p.m. The championship is March 6 at 7 p.m.

The first round of the boys tournament is March 7 with all four quarterfinal games played at 1, 2:30, 6:30 and 8 p.m. Semifinals are March 8 at 6:30 and 8 p.m. The championship is March 10 at 7 p.m.

The girls region tournament draw is Feb. 27. The boys region tournament draw is Feb. 28.

The KHSAA girls’ Sweet 16 state tournament starts on March 11. The 9th Region winner is scheduled to play the 15th Region on March 11. Game times have not been listed.

The KHSAA boys’ Sweet 16 state tournament starts on March 18. The 9th Region winner is scheduled to play the 7th Region winner on March 18. Game times have not been listed.

District tournaments in Northern Kentucky started on Feb. 23.

Cooper’s Paul Van Laningham was recently named the Kentucky Gatorade Runner of the Year in cross country. Photo provided

Sponsored by The LINK nky Team of the Week for Feb. 2-8 presented by Ortho Cincy is the Beechwood boys basketball team.

CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00853 DIVISION 1

M&T BANK VS.

PATRICIA THOMAS, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 2/17/2026 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 3/17/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 234 Evergreen Avenue, Southgate, Kentucky 41071

Group No: 41263/A1

PIDN: 999-99-10-957.00

COMMISSIONER’S SALE

CAMPBELL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

CASE NUMBER 23-CI-00452 DIVISION 1

THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK VS.

KENNETH URLAGE A/K/A KENNETH E. URLAGE, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 10/23/2023 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 3/17/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 45 Burney Lane, Fort Thomas, Kentucky 41075

Group No: 30385/F2

PIDN: 999-99-16-859.00

CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00852 DIVISION 2

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC VS. PHILLIP ROY AKA PHILLIP C. ROY, ET AL. BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 2/16/2026 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 3/17/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit:

79 Southview Avenue, Fort Thomas, Kentucky 41075

Group No: 41004/A1

PIDN: 999-99-16-647.00

BIDDERS

PREPARED TO COMPLY WITH

JOSEPH F. GRIMME, MASTER COMMISSIONER 859-291-9075

CASE NUMBER 24-CI-01154

DIVISION 1

DONALD H. JOHNS AND DOROTHY H. JOHNS VS.

CLIFFORD REEKERS III, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 2/6/2026 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 3/17/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 4134 Greis Road, Melbourne, Kentucky 41059

Group No: 70334/Z

PIDN: 999-99-27-821.00

CASE NUMBER 25-CI-00308

DIVISION 1

AMERIHOME MORTGAGE COMPANY, LLC VS.

ROBERT TAYLOR, ET AL.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 3/17/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 707 Walnut Street, Dayton, Kentucky 41074

Group No: 30458/A3

PIDN: 999-99-10-009.00

CASE NUMBER 23-CI-00060

DIVISION 1

KEVIN SCHULENBERG VS.

BRADLEY J. CULL, ET AL.

BY VIRTUE OF A JUDGMENT RENDERED 1/23/2026 BY THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURT, IN THE ABOVE CAUSE

I SHALL PROCEED TO OFFER FOR SALE AT THE CAMPBELL CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, 330 YORK STREET, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY 41071, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR.

To the highest or best bidder at public auction on 3/17/2026 at 3:00pm, the following property, to-wit: 2 Beverly Circle, Wilder, Kentucky 41071

Group No: 41372/AA2

PIDN: 999-99-38-124.00

Updated 4-bedroom home on corner lot in Edgewood

Address: 3137 Royal Windsor Drive, Edgewood

Price: $500,000

Bedrooms: Four

Bathrooms: Two (plus one half bath)

Square footage: 2,040

School district: Kenton County

County: Kenton

Special features: This updated four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home in Edgewood is currently listed for $500,000. Recent improvements include luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout the first floor and part of the second floor, along with fresh interior paint. The home sits on a corner lot with a side-entry garage. The unfinished basement includes a full bathroom rough-in and offers potential for additional living space. Located in the Hinsdale Elementary and Dixie Heights High School districts.

A look at this home’s

CITY OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY

NOTICE OF ALTERNATIVE INTERNET POSTING PURSUANT TO KRS 424.145

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The City of Covington, KY is issuing Requests For Proposals for Professional Technology Implementation And Related Services.

Request For Proposal documents may be obtained through the City of Covington’s website procurement portal at https://covingtonky.bonfirehub.com beginning February 19, 2026 or by contacting Peter Hager, Procurement Officer, at 20 West Pike St., Covington, KY 41011, peter.hager@covingtonky.gov, or at 859-292-2178 from the hours of 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Mon – Fri.

Kentucky now allows for Public Notices to be published digitally on LINK nky’s website. You can find public notices for the following organizations on our site at https://linkreader.column.us/search

• AJ’s Towing & Recovery

• Boone County Clerk

• Campbell County Clerk’s Office

• Campbell County District Court

• Campbell County Fire District #1

• Campbell County Fiscal Court

• Campbell County Planning & Zoning

• Campbell County Public Library

• Campbell County Sheriffs Office

• City of Alexandria

• City of Bellevue

• City of Cold Spring

• City of Covington

• City of Cresent Springs

• City of Crestview Hills

• City of Dayton

• City of Edgewood

• City of Elsmere

• City of Erlanger

• City of Florence

• City of Fort Mitchell

• City of Fort Thomas

• City of Fort Wright

• City of Highland Heights

• City of Independence

• City of Lakeside Park

• City of Ludlow

• City of Newport

• City of Ryland Heights

• City of Silver Grove

• City of Southgate

• City of Union

• City of Villa Hills

• City Of Walton

• City of Wilder

• City of Woodlawn

• Covington Public Independent Schools

• Cresent Springs Board of Adjustment

• Family Dollar Store

• Fort Mitchell Board of Adjustment

• Fort Thomas Independent Schools

• Highland Heights Planning & Zoning

• Joseph F Grimme, Campbell County Master Commissioner

• Keating, Muething & Klekamp PLL

• Kenton County Fiscal Court

• Kenton County Joint Board of Adjustment

• Larry Dillon, Boone County Master Commissioner

• Northern Kentucky Port Authority

• Northern Kentucky Water District

• Planning & Development Services of Kenton County

• The Baker Firm PLLC

• The Hidden Chapter Bookstore LLC

The exterior of this Edgewood home. Photos provided | Kaitlin Hudson with Keller Williams Realty Services

living room.

This home’s kitchen.

- 12/28/25

Edited by Margie E. Burke

The Weekly Crossword

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9. 7 4 1 5 6 7 3 1 7 4 6 4 2 3 5

Gardner et al.

Pelvic: Prefix

Netanyahu, informally

Edited by Margie E. Burke

HOW TO SOLVE:

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Answer to Previous Sudoku: