Local News

The Covington City Commission met for a legislative meeting on Tuesday night. Here is a recap of the issues that came before the city's governing body:

12 firefighters added to staff, EMS director named

"This is an excellent group of recruits," said Dan Mathew, chief of the Covington Fire Department. "We're excited."

The city commission approved the employment of twelve fire recruits in a unanimous vote on Tuesday. "This additional twelve (in the fire department) will help us balance our budget and will help us stop spending so much overtime money," Mathew said.

From the City of Covington:

ABM (formerly known as AMPCO), the national facility management company that manages the parking meters downtown, have now adopted a new service agreement with Park-by-Phone to make parking more convenient for customers. With the launch of Park-by-Phone, residents and visitors are able to conduct parking transactions with their mobile phones. ABM has implemented the program in downtown Covington and customers will now be able to pay for parking using their mobile phones on parking meters. Most of the city's parking meters are concentrated on an around Madison Avenue between Riverside Drive and 12th Streets, east of the interstate.

The unemployment rate in Kenton County dropped from 7.5% in March to 6.8% in April according to new figures released by the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

In April 2012, the unemployment rate in Kenton County was 7.1%.

The rates of unemployment also dropped in Boone and Campbell Counties.

In Boone, the rate dropped from 7.2% to 6.3% from March to April this year and was 7% in April 2012. In Campbell, the rate went from 7.7% to 6.9% from March to April this year and was 7.4% in April 2012.

In the eight county Northern Kentucky region the rate fell from 7.6% to 6.8% from March to April and was at 7.3% in April 2012.

Work has begun on 409-415 Scott Boulevard which will offer a permanent home to the Covington Bike Patrol on the first floor.

The City of Covington will pay $100,000 (paid for by federal community development block grant funds) to cover fifteen years of rent for the new home serving the previously transient patrol. Terms of a deal between the city and developer RAH Realty were approved in March by the city commission by a unanimous vote.

(This story was first reported in December. SEE: Scott Blvd. Building to Be Renovated, Will House Bike Patrol)

Kentucky State Police cruisers were spotted in action on Wednesday afternoon on Scott Boulevard and in Latonia and perhaps elsewhere around Covington.

If you are wondering why, it is part of the national Click It or Ticket campaign which began on Monday and runs through Memorial Day weekend.

Here is the news release from the Kentucky State Police:

Motorists who refuse to wear their seat belts – beware.  The 2013 national “Click It or Ticket” Memorial Day seat belt enforcement mobilization kicks off May 20 to help save lives by cracking down on those who don’t buckle up. 

"This project couldn't be more a part of our DNA at the Salyers Group. Sometimes the scale terrifies us but we couldn't be more excited."

Guy van Rooyen, president of the Salyers Group (and CEO of Covington-based Donna Salyers' Fabulous Furs), thrilled the room while, for the first time, sharing images and new details about the ambitious Hotel Covington project during a luncheon hosted by the Covington Rotary Club.

Most exciting was the news that, "we're really close to being able to swing hammers".

The Hotel Covington is a more than $25 million development that will turn City Hall, the former Coppins department store building, into an independent, luxury boutique hotel with an eye on redefining the experience of Downtown Covington's Madison Avenue.

This series highlights graduating seniors from Covington's Holmes High School and is written by staff members at Covington Independent Public Schools:

NICK SPEARMAN

Nick Spearman has been writing stories and sharing them with others since he was a kid. The 18-year-old plans to continue writing, but wants to bring his stories to life through film.

“I like the whole idea of creating a movie from start to finish,’’ Nick said. “What really inspired me was the movie, ‘Ironman.’ I just like the special effects. If I could learn how to do that, that would be awesome.’’

Nick will be going to Western Kentucky University, where he will major in film and seek a minor in creative writing. 

A van stolen from Granite World over the weekend was later recovered in front of a Covington home.

Joe Nienaber, the owner of the company at 123 West Fourteenth Street (and also the mayor of Ft. Wright), reported a white Ford Econoline E250 cargo van missing. It has "Granite World Custom Granite Fabrication" plastered on the sides. Nienaber said that a friend of his spotted it in the Mainstrasse Village area late Sunday morning.

Finally the van was recovered when someone spotted it outside their home. Nienaber said that the van is not operable but is home.

Granite World moved to Covington from Burlington in January 2012.

Photo: Granite World interior/RCN file

At The River City News you get More Covington News Than Any Other Source. Here's a look back at the week that was and all the headlines from your city:

WEEKEND

PHOTOS: MAIFEST & WEEKEND ACTIVITIES IN COVINGTON

Photos: A superb weekend in Covington. Maifest, Fishing Derby in Devou Park, Neighborhood Summit, Farmers Market, and a big yard sale... Check out pics from all the events -- at the link: Click Here

TWO $1 MILLION WINNING POWERBALL TICKETS SOLD IN KENTUCKY

There are a couple new millionaires in Kentucky! Click Here