Kenton Recorder 04/08/21

KENTON RECORDER

Your Community Recorder newspaper serving all of Kenton County

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Fact check: Did an NKY superintendent get a 50K raise pre- or midpandemic?

Julia Fair Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Sometimes, parents truly do know everything.

It was parents’ questions, following an Enquirer report, that unearthed discrepancies in the district’s explanation of when a Northern Kentucky superintendent got a big raise while teachers got none amid a pandemic.

At issue: Was the school district transparent about what really happened?

Earlier in March, The Enquirer reported parents questioned why the superintendent got a $50,000 raise if fi nances were tight enough to withhold teachers’ $750 yearly raise. Part of school offi cials’ defense focused on the timeline: They said the superintendent’s raise was “approved” before the pandemic created reopening costs, which contributed to superintendent Mike Stacy’s decision to freeze teacher raises.

“Our board approved a well-earned raise for Dr. Stacy, last January before the pandemic on Jan. 23, 2020,” Board chair Jeanne Berger said at the March 8 meeting.

A parent fi led an open records request for the contract, found out the shared timeline wasn’t accurate and shared with it more parents, who shared it with The Enquirer. Since then, The Enquirer has requested all NKY superintendent contracts, including Stacy’s.

The board and Stacy signed the contract in June, just a month after the fi nance director recommended to Stacy that there be no raises for teachers for the 2020-2021 school year.

“I am concerned that the board presented this as a done deal, and a contract that was fi nalized “pre-pandemic” which is categorically untrue,” said Beechwood parent Dawn Kirkpatrick in an email to The Enquirer. Kirkpatrick shared the contract with The Enquirer.

Board attorney Jeremy Deters told The Enquirer “approved” was an “inartful” way to use to describe what happened in January.

The timing discrepancy created more questions.

Was Jan. 23 a meeting date?

How did they approve the contract?

Could they have renegotiated it before the June meeting?

The Enquirer set out to answer those questions.

See SUPERINTENDENT, Page 2A

A rendering of the proposed companion bridge included in the estimated $2 billion Brent Spence Bridge project.

PROVIDED | BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE CORRIDOR WEBSITE

Brent Spence Bridge had a very good week Two pots of money could help fund the project Julia Fair Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

This isn’t an April Fools’ Day joke.

State and federal offi cials’ plans aligned this week to bring the Greater Cincinnati region closer - maybe - to funding its biggest single public works project: a new bridge over the Ohio River.

Yes, we’re talking about the $2.5 billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project that would expand capacity with a companion bridge and other upgrades.

First, Kentucky lawmakers used part of their last night of the 2021 Kentucky General Assembly session March 30 appropriating $2.4 billion of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to be used on infrastructure projects, direct aid, and other limited uses.

Then, Kentuckians woke up March 31 to President Biden’s proposal for a $2 trillion jobs and infrastructure package. That includes a plan to pay for the ten most “economically signifi cant bridges” in the county in need of reconstruction.

“If there is any project eligible, this would be it,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters during a press conference in Northern Kentucky March 31. “Hopefully somewhere in the bowels of this multi-trillion bill, there’s a solution.”

The two pots of money could help fund the Brent Spence Bridge, possibly without tolls.

Before the appropriation and Biden’s announcement, it seemed the region would have to wait longer to fund the project.

The funding obstacles

Beechwood Schools Superintendent Mike Stacy. MELISSA STEWART/ THE COMMUNITY RECORDER

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For decades, lawmakers have struggled to fund the local match of the project.

“We have to have modern infrastructure to compete,” in the global economy, said Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments CEO Mark Policinski in an interview with The Enquirer March 31.

Contact The Press

A view of the closed Brent Spence Bridge on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. State and federal officials' plans aligned to bring the Greater Cincinnati region closer maybe - to funding its biggest single public works project: a new bridge over the Ohio River. ALBERT CESARE,PHIL DIDION / THE ENQUIRER

“If there is any project eligible, this would be it.

Hopefully somewhere in the bowels of this multi-trillion bill, there’s a solution.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

Commenting on President Biden’s proposal for a $2 trillion jobs and infrastructure package

Northern Kentuckians are vehemently against tolls. And a gas tax increase hasn’t been popular among state lawmakers.

If the region did use tolls, its lawmakers would fi rst have to repeal a law former Gov. Matt Bevin signed in 2016.

Backed by the Northern Kentucky delegation, the bill blocked the use of tolls to pay for a new bridge.

No lawmaker introduced a bill this year to ditch that prohibition.

“We’ve said all along that a solution to the Brent Spence Bridge corridor needs to involve everyone in the design and ultimate funding solution, and if tolls are ultimately necessary as part of the fi nancing plan, that should be part of the proposed solution,” Northern

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Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brent Cooper said Wednesday.

Other funding suggestions have come up, like increasing the gas tax statewide.

In February, Republican Rep. Sal Santoro of Florence submitted a bill to do that. The bill didn’t explicitly state that the gas tax revenue would be for the bridge, but advocates for the bridge project have suggested using gas tax funds instead of tolls.

Santoro did not respond to The Enquirer’s multiple emails asking for comment about the bill when this article was originally published.

Right now, Kentucky’s gas tax is 26 cents per gallon. Santoro’s bill would have set a base rate of about 34 cents per gallon. By comparison, Ohio’s is about 38 cents.

If passed, it would have added $366,690,000 to Kentucky’s Road Fund for the 2022 fi scal year, according to public records.

Santoro’s bill didn’t leave the House committee on appropriations and revenue.

The eff ort failed in the fi nal hours of the 2021 session, after legislative leaders discussed the possibility of attachSee BRIDGE, Page 2A

Vol. 4 No. 12 © 2021 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED $1.00

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KENTON RECORDER

Kroger to raise average hourly wage to $16 Randy Tucker Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Kroger plans to increase average hourly wages this year by 50 cents to $16 an hour after a robust year in which digital sales more than doubled in the wake of the pandemic.

Cincinnati-based Kroger last year spent $300 million to raise average hourly pay for its workers to $15.50, up from $15 per hour, The Enquirer previously reported.

On March 31, the grocer announced it would invest $350 million to raise the average wage to $16 an hour in advance of its 2021 Investor Day webcast.

Some of Kroger’s biggest competitors have also announced pay raises.

In February, Walmart said it would boost its average wage in the U.S. to at least $15.25 per hour.

And earlier this year Costco said its starting wage will be $16 per hour, noting that its average worker already makes $24 an hour.

Kroger said it has invested more than $800 million in employee wages and training over the past three years for nearly 500,000 full- and part-time workers.

Last year, Kroger consistently topped sales estimates as consumers stocked up on food and household essentials and fl ocked to Kroger’s website to order

from the safety of their homes.

Digital sales more than doubled last year to more than $10 billion, helping the company beat fourth-quarter and full-year profi t forecasts.

Kroger’s total sales surged 8.4% to $132.5 billion in 2020, helping to drive profi ts to $2.6 billion for the year, up 5.6%.

A key sales metric, identical sales without fuel, increased 14.1% in 2020.

Besides Kroger stores, the grocer operates several regional supermarket chains in 35 states, including Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter, Ralphs, Mariano’s, Fry’s, Smith’s, King Soopers, QFC and others. The company has nearly 2,800 stores.

A worker inside of Kroger's new fulfi llment center in Monroe, Ohio.

PROVIDED

Bridge Continued from Page 1A

ing the language to another bill, according to the Courier Journal.

Just when it looked like Kentucky lawmakers would have to try again next year, part of Biden’s proposed infrastructure package focused on America’s bridges.

Past federal attempts failed. Will these funds be different?

Northern Kentuckians have seen federal offi cials give the Brent Spence Bridge attention before.

In 2011, former President Barack Obama stood at the base of the bridge and talked about legislation, similar to Biden’s, that would create funding for the bridge. That bill died in the Senate. Then in 2016, former President Donald Trump promised to help the bridge while he spoke at a campaign rally in Wilmington, Ohio. That didn’t happen.

“The potential diff erence here is the sheer size of the infrastructure package,” Policinski said. He added that now, people seem to understand U.S. infrastructure is a “catastrophe” and there’s more of an appetite in Washington, D.C., to spend a lot of money.

The plan would use $621 billion to rebuild infrastructure, which includes funds for “the ten most economically signifi cant bridges in the country in need of reconstruction,” according to a White House fact sheet, which did not

Superintendent Continued from Page 1A

The $50,000 raise, teacher pay freeze According to public records, Beechwood Independent Schools Superintendent Mike Stacy got a 28% pay raise between the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. His new pay — $228,000.

It was the largest single-year jump a Kentucky superintendent salary received. The Enquirer previously reported the school board gave Stacy the raise after other school districts tried to hire him.

The raise spurred debate among parents on a community Facebook group, partly because Stacy also made the decision to freeze teacher pay during the pandemic. Some parents thought it was too big and others defended it, saying Stacy has done a lot of good for the district since he joined the staff in 2015.

Stacy previously told The Enquirer he froze teacher pay to save future jobs because of three fi nancial burdens: 1) The $500,000 in pandemic-relatedreopening costs.

2) Budget shortfalls due to elementary school enrollment and state revenue decline.

3) The fact that the board of education did not want to increase property taxes by 4%.

Teachers had mixed reactions to an email Stacy sent them on June 2 about the pay freeze. One expressed support and added anyone who still has a job shouldn’t complain when “so many have lost so much.” Another asked on behalf of a group of teachers if it would impact retirement. Stacy replied and said it would not.

On June 8, the board approved Stacy’s raise. The June public email records did not include reactions from teachers about the raise, so it’s unclear how they felt about the pay freeze after Stacy got his raise.

On June 16, about a week after the vote, Stacy sent another email to teachers listing the fi nancial burdens that led to his decision to freeze teacher pay.

A rendering of the lower deck on the companion bridge, part of the estimated $2 billion Brent Spence Bridge project.

PROVIDED | BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE CORRIDOR WEBSITE

include a list of bridges.

Biden wants to raise taxes on corporations to pay for the eight-year $2 trillion spending package, according to an administration offi cial. He will propose increasing the corporate tax rate to 28% – resetting to the level before passage of President Donald Trump’s tax cuts in 2017 – and overhauling how the U.S. taxes multinational corporations by increasing the minimum tax on U.S. corporations to 21%.

Since there’s more money, there’s a better chance there are funds available for projects like the Brent Spence Bridge, Policinski said.

“The others were DOA,” dead on ar-

rival, Policinski said.

For example, Obama’s plan centered around the American Jobs Act. It would have pumped $50 billion toward infrastructure projects in the U.S. Policinski said there’s hope that if the money from Biden’s plan would decrease the amount needed for the local match.

“Hopefully Washington will get it right and will put the money at the local level and not the state level,” he said, and added it should have as few federal restrictions as possible.

Locally, people focused on public policy are still thinking about the local match.

“We have been told repeatedly that any federal solution will still require a local match and a plan that is ready to go,” Cooper, from the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce said. “Our ask is that our local, state and federal offi cials are aligned in championing this project.”

Editor’s note: Information included refl ects this article’s original publication date – March 31. Visit Cincinnati.com for possible updates.

Enquirer reporter Scott Wartman and USA TODAY contributed.

Julia is the Northern Kentucky government reporter through the Report For America program.

“For anyone who has questions or has a solution to a massive increase in costs while simultaneously having a large decrease in revenue, please give me a call,” Stacy wrote to teachers and included his cell phone number.

Could the board have renegotiated before June?

sionary leader with plans to build on Beechwood’s many successes during his tenure and the board did not want Dr. Stacy to leave for another school district,” he wrote.

The board’s perspective did not change, Deters wrote, “...and given the unprecedented events occurring during that time, the decision to retain a successful and experienced leader for the school district made even more sense.”

Julia is the Northern Kentucky government reporter through the Report For America program. To fulfi ll the public service requirement for the program, Julia volunteers with Beechwood High School journalism classes and clubs.

The Enquirer needs local donors to help fund her grant-funded position. If you want to support Julia’s work, email her editor Carl Weiser at cweiser@cincinna.gannett.com to fi nd out how you can help fund her work.

Send her a note at jfair@enquirer.com and follow her on Twitter at @JFair_Reports.

What happened in January?

At the March 8 meeting, Berger said the board approved the salary on Jan. 23.

According to a review of school board meeting minutes, the board did not convene for a meeting that day. So, The Enquirer asked the board what happened on Jan. 23 that prompted them to use it as a decision date.

Deters, the board attorney, told The Enquirer “approved” was not the right term to use. Instead, “negotiated” and “proposed” are more accurate, he said.

Berger shared that date during the meeting, Deters said, because that’s when Stacy told Berger he planned to accept the proposed compensation package.

“If any discussion took place it should have taken place in a public forum,” said Amye Bensenhaver co-founder of the Hopkinsville-based Kentucky Open Government Coalition, in an interview with The Enquirer.

People can keep track of what their elected offi cials are up to by watching them discuss government business during open meetings. It is illegal for a majority of an elected body to have those talks outside of a meeting, away from public view.

“At no time did a quorum of the Board discuss the matter outside of a public meeting,” Deters said in an emailed statement to The Enquirer. Instead, Stacy and Berger, the board chair, discussed the contract together.

The Enquirer reviewed public email records between Stacy and board members from January 2020 and found no contract negotiations.

Deters said Berger “let other board members know,” that she would propose the new contract with the salary she discussed with Stacy. Board members confi rmed their support to Berger in January, not as a quorum, Deters added.

Five school board members unanimously approved the new contract at its June 8 meeting, mid-pandemic. That happened a month after the board approved the 2020-2021 salary schedule.

Multiple parents asked The Enquirer: Could the school board have renegotiated the contract before the June meeting?

Yes. “At the time of the vote, the board was not yet bound by the contract and any member was still free to vote against it, and Dr. Stacy was still free to decline to accept it,” Deters told The Enquirer.

Kirkpatrick, a Beechwood parent, called it “astounding” that no one attempted to renegotiate the contract because “the world was a very diff erent place in March, April, and May of 2020 than it was in January when they had the initial negotiation.”

She added it would have been “in the best interest” to renegotiate a “more appropriate” contract given the circumstances surrounding the pandemic.

Deters explained the negotiations began in January in case Stacy decided to take a new job. If that happened, the board would have needed time to create a screening committee to hire a new superintendent before the next school year started.

Deters reiterated why the school board wanted to keep Stacy.

“The board believes Dr. Stacy is a vi-

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Ralph Drees, who led homebuilding fi rm and then Kenton County, dead at age 86 Terry DeMio and Mark Wert Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Ralph A. Drees, who built his family’s local homebuilding company into one of the largest privately-owned fi rms based in the Cincinnati region before entering politics as the Kenton County judge-executive, died March 27 at St. Elizabeth Hospice Care in Edgewood. He was 86.

Drees joined his father, Theodore, in the business in 1959 after serving in the U.S. Army. The father, an immigrant from Germany, started what is now Drees Homes in 1929. Many familyowned builders “start small and stay small, often disappearing in one generation,” the compaDrees ny’s website notes. “It was Ralph’s philosophy of diversifi cation and industry leadership that took our company into new markets” beyond Cincinnati, the website says.

Drees was named to the Cincinnati Business Hall of Fame in 2000, the same year as former Procter & Gamble chairman John Pepper. He won the Carl H. Lindner Award for Entrepreneurial and Civic Spirit in 2007.

Despite being one of the top homebuilders in America, Drees’ demeanor didn’t reveal his drive for business.

“He was always just this laid-back guy,” said Robert “Jay” Buchert, a Cincinnati builder and a former president of the National Association of Home Builders.

Drees’ “biggest talent was that he recognized very, very good people” in marketing, design, architecture “and he always went after them” to hire them for his company, Buchert said.

“I really think of Ralph as a trailblazer.

He went places that other people wouldn’t dare go,” said Boone County judge-executive Gary Moore.

“He’s always been a quiet, brilliant businessperson, who probably, if anyone didn’t know his story – they wouldn’t know. He was always so unas-

Ralph Drees, left, and Paul Smith, with students at Holy Cross Elementary School in 2015. Drees was honorary chair of the school’s fundraising appeal and Smith was general chair. PROVIDED/TIM FITZGERALD

suming,” said Kenton County judge-executive Kris Knochelmann.

Moore recalled a Northern Kentucky Economic Development (TriEd) trip to Austin, Texas, where Moore learned Drees had been quietly building homes.

Drees hosted the group at a model home.

“We know Ralph as local. We know him as Northern Kentucky,” yet here he was in Austin, Moore said.

“He has inspired business owners throughout the region to be giving of their time and their talent and … their treasure,” said Brent Cooper, president and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

For example, to mark the Drees Co.’s 75th anniversary in 2003, the Drees Pavilion at Devou Park’s Memorial Overlook, valued at $2 million, was donated to the city of Covington.

“Ralph was a most beloved member of the Reds ownership,” said Reds CEO Bob Castellini in a statement. “Ralph was a huge Reds fan and attending many games with his wife Irma. He was a most accomplished, wonderful man, and our Reds family will miss having him dearly.”

Drees “joined talent and vision to give countless families the chance to realize their own part of the American dream,” said U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in a statement. “Both as a philanthropist and Kenton County judge-executive, Ralph helped create a

community anyone would be proud to call home.

“The impact of Ralph’s leadership and generosity can be seen throughout Northern Kentucky,” said McConnell, RKy. The senator said he and his wife, former U.S. transportation secretary Elaine Chao, off ered “our condolences to Irma and the entire Drees family. We’re grateful for everything he did for Kentucky.”

Drees’ son, David, took over leadership of the Fort Mitchell-based Drees Co. in 2000, according to the company website. Drees Homes ranked 10th on the most recent Deloitte Cincinnati USA 100 list of the largest privately-owned companies based in the Cincinnati region. It had revenues of $1.1 billion and 706 employees in 2019, with operations in at least seven states.

The company ranks as the 29th largest homebuilding fi rm in the nation, according to the 2020 list by Builder magazine. The Drees Co. is the 13th largest privately held homebuilder in the U.S., the magazine says.

Drees, who lived in Crescent Springs, was Kenton County’s judge-executive from 2004 to 2010, starting in offi ce through an appointment before he was elected to the job.

His achievements in offi ce included picking a site for a new county jail that was subsequently built in Independence and pushing through a ban on smoking

in most public places. The ban “has to get done while I’m here” Drees said in 2010, noting that the candidates seeking to succeed him didn’t back the measure.

“He didn’t have to do that. He didn’t have to be judge-executive,” said Cooper. “Somebody like that does not need all the headaches and aggravation and sometimes time away from family.”

“He did that to give back to his community,” Cooper said.

Drees, a Republican, also served as a city councilman in Erlanger, president of the Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky, chairman of the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission, chairman of the Kenton County Airport Board, chairman of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, board member at the Northern Kentucky University Foundation, and a board member at Thomas More University.

During his career, Drees was honored with three National Association of Home Builders’ awards: Builder of the Year, America’s Best Builder, and the National Housing Quality Award.

“In fi nance and customer service, he was brilliant, but he would never give himself that kind of credit,” Knochelmann said.

“People who worked with him or for him it was almost patriarchal – because of their love for him,” he said.

In 2018, he was honored as a Kenton County Pioneer, an award given by the county’s Fiscal Court to residents who have a record of outstanding service to the community and exemplify the highest standards of personal integrity.

Drees was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a grandson.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Irmaleen Drees (nee Schultz); daughters Lynn Hemmer, Susan Panoushek, and Barbara Jones; sons David and Philip Drees; 13 grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild.

Services will be private. Memorial contributions can be made to the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, either online at its donations page or via mail at P.O. Box 322, Covington, KY 41012.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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5A

SCHOOL NEWS Mary, Queen of Heaven students recently celebrated Catholic Schools Week with so many fun events.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

No parking, seriously. The ramp to northbound Interstate 71/75 from Burlington Pike in Florence is lined by 20 signs. PHOTOS BY LISA GILLESPIE/THE ENQUIRER

Mary, Queen of Heaven celebrates Catholic Schools Week

20 No Parking signs on one I-71/75 ramp?

Mary, Queen of Heaven students recently celebrated Catholic Schools Week with so many fun events. Students enjoyed pajama day, had a special lunch from Chick-Fil-A, had cozy reading time, and dressed up for hat and hoodie day.

Garri Hunt, Mary, Queen of Heaven School

Lisa Gillespie Cincinnati Enquirer

Students enjoyed pajama day, had a special lunch from Chick-Fil-A, and had cozy reading time.

USA TODAY NETWORK

The TravelCenters of America truck stop located across Ky. 18 from the interstate on-ramp has 128 spots for truckers. They are fi lled every night.

Andre Morrissette is an over-the-road truck driver from Pittsburgh.

them over, according to transportation offi cials. Shoulders also get ruined and can cave in from trucks parking there.

The number of signs and the close spacing do not allow space for the truckers to park between them.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the number of hours a trucker can drive per day as well as the total number of hours per week.

Truckers must park their trucks once they reach their limit.

If they park illegally, they risk a hefty fi ne.

“Parking tickets get pretty expensive,” Morrissette said. “They can run anywhere from $180 all the way up to $600.”

Florence police Capt. Greg Rehkamp said he has witnessed plenty of parking violations.

“I know from experience in dealing with tractor-trailers that park on exit and entrances ramps from rest areas,” Rehkamp said. “They run over the signs, and if there’s not a sign right there, they use that as an excuse. A truck driver will run over one and they will all start parking there again.”

In addition, wrecks happen when tractor-trailers are parked on the roadside, or ramps to the interstate, Rehkamp said. “It’s a danger for all the passing motorists,” he said. “It’s all a matter of public safety.”

CE-GCI0617393-02

FLORENCE – If you’re a trucker searching for a good parking spot in Northern Kentucky, the on-ramp to Interstate 71/75 north from Ky. 18 is defi nitely off -limits.

Kentucky recently installed 20 noparking signs there as an in-your-face reminder.

The entrance ramp is slightly over a quarter-mile long, so you can’t miss the metal poles with the bold, black capital “P” and the notorious red not-allowed icon.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet installed the $50 signs March 9 to deter semitractor-trailer parking after receiving complaints.

“The big issue with all the truckers on the road now, they are shutting down a lot of rest areas. So there’s nowhere for us to go,” said Andre Morrissette, a Pittsburgh native who drives through the Northern Kentucky area often.

“We used to be able to go into a Walmart to park, but now we can’t go there anymore,” Morrissette said. “A lot of truck stops get full in the evening. The majority of parking lots are paid parking. Half of the spots are gone by the time a trucker gets ready to shut down at night. We really have to plan. We have to fi nd a safe place to park.”

The TravelCenters of America truck stop is located across Ky. 18 from the interstate on-ramp. It has 128 spots for truckers. Some spots can be reserved, a few are free, but most cost money. They are fi lled every night.

When trucks park on shoulders they are prone to hit light poles, knocking

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6A

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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KENTON RECORDER

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For the next 2 days the last remaining State of Kentucky Restricted Bank Rolls loaded with rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties are actually being handed over to Kentucky residents who call the State Toll-Free Hotlines listed in today’s newspaper publication.

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“Now that the State of Kentucky Restricted Bank Rolls are being offered up we won’t be surprised if thousands of Kentucky residents claim the maximum limit allowed of 4 Bank Rolls per resident before they’re all gone,” said Lynne.

“That’s because the dates and mint marks of the U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollars sealed ntucky Reaway inside the State of Kentucky stricted Bank Rolls have never been searched. But, we do know that some of these coins date clear back rth to the early 1900’s and are worth up to 100 times their face value, so there is no telling what Kentuckyy residents will find until they sort nt through all the coins,” Lynne went on to say.

The only thing Kentucky residents need to do is call the State TollFree Hotlines printed in today’ss newsday order paper publication before the 2-day deadline ends.

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“So just imagine how much these last remaining, unsearched State of Kentucky Restricted Bank Rolls could be worth someday. Remember, these are not ordinary coins – these rarely seen coins date clear back to the early 1900’s.

In fact, these coins have been forever retired by the U.S. Gov’t, and you can only get them rolled this way directly from the National Mint and Treasury because these are the only State Restricted Bank Rolls known to exist,” said Lynne.

“We’re guessing thousands of Kentucky residents will be taking the maximum limit of 4 Bank Rolls because they make such amazing gifts for any occasion for children, parents, grandparents, friends and loved ones,” Lynne continued.

“We know the phones will be ringing off the hook. That’s why hundreds of Hotline Operators are standing by to answer the phones beginning at 8:30am this morning. We’re going to do our best, but with just 2 days to answer all the calls it won’t be easy. So make sure to tell everyone to keep calling if all operators are busy. We’ll do our best to an-

JACKPOT: Imagine finding the 1919-D Silver Walking Liberty shown above worth thousands of dollars in collector value in one of these unsearched Bank Rolls. There are never any guarantees, but Kentucky residents who get their handss on these State lls Restricted Bank Rolls cky will be the really lucky ones because even more common coins are still worth up to $115 - $825 in collector value.

VALUABLE: It like a It’s tre treasure hunt - there’s no telling what becau the you’ll find. That’s because fiftee U.S. dates and mint marks of the fifteen thes State Gov’t issued coins sealed away inside these searched All we of Kentucky Restricted Bank Rolls have never been searched. know is some of the coins are worth up to 100 times their face value.

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KENTON RECORDER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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7A

At the Dari-Bar, foot-longs need coleslaw and math is done by hand David Lyman Special to Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

The Silver Grove Dari-Bar reopened for the season Saturday, March 13.

On a global scale, that’s pretty minor news. But in this tiny (population 1,499) riverfront community in Campbell County, the return of the Dari-Bar is every bit as reassuring as spring’s fi rst daffodils.

Over its 70-year history, the Dari-Bar has become a part of the fi ber of this community. Everyone has a story to tell about the place. About falling in love there. Or seeing a friend for the last time.

Or meeting someone who would become a best friend.

The annual rite of reopening is akin to an act of nature at the Dari-Bar. The snow and ice disappear. The Ohio River recedes into its banks. Then, for the next six months, an unending stream of humanity makes its way to this small hamlet in search of soft-serve ice cream and tasty comfort foods.

It happened again this year. There were families eager for spring’s fi rst cones, old-timers making a sentimental return to a neighborhood haunt, laborers looking for a quick lunch. They arrived in SUVs and pickups, motorcycles and muscle cars. There were vans decked out with impossible assortments of ladders, PVC pipe and all manner of home improvement materials. There were even a couple of kids who pulled into the drive-through on their bicycles.

Justin and Kayden are both 11 and live nearby. They insist they’ve been regular customers ”forever.” So after the bright yellow “Opening Saturday” banner appeared on the side of the Dari-Bar last week, Kayden was tasked with fi nding out what time the store would open.

“Eleven o’clock,” he reported. But by the time the boys got there at 11:20, there were already 15 cars ahead of them, stretching down Route 8 almost to the driveway of the nearby fi rehouse.

At the front of the line was Missy Holloway, who arrived shortly before 10:30.

Turns out, she’s always at the front of the line on opening day. She lives a block away. When she was 15, she even worked there for a summer.

“I loved the ice cream,” said Holloway.

“But I didn’t like to work.”

So for the past 20 years, she has committed herself to being No. 1. The only time she missed out was the year she was in labor with her daughter.

Her order is the same every time, too; foot-long cheese coney, no onions, no mustard, along with a peanut butter marshmallow shake. Large, of course.

Kayden, 10, picks money out of his Star Wars wallet while his friend, Justin, 11, helps count on their bicycles, Saturday, March 13, at the Dari-Bar in Silver Grove, Kentucky. PHOTOS BY JOE TIMMERMAN/THE ENQUIRER

grill, ran orders out to the parking lot.

But fi nally, she couldn’t dodge the dreaded math.

“I was terrifi ed,” she said. She’d had a job at Kohl’s before. But there, computerized cash registers did all the work, right down to telling her the correct change. “My parents said ‘You signed up for the job – you’re going to have to learn how to do it.’ So I practiced making change at home.”

And now?

“I’m actually pretty good in math now,” she said. “I should have done this years ago.”

Changes

Molly Hart, 15, works on math in her head while completing an order for a customer at the Dari-Bar’s opening day. The Dari-Bar’s owners, since 1996, don’t let their workers use calculators for orders.

Traditions The Dari-Bar is a steadfastly traditional place. They make their syrups from scratch. They hand-prep the produce. It’s more time-consuming that way. More expensive, too. But owner Diane Ollberding wants nothing to do with the pre-packaged and preservative-laced veggies from restaurant supply houses.

“Things taste better this way,” she insists.

It’s not that she and her late husband, John, objected to change. They weren’t running a museum, after all. But when they bought the Dari-Bar in 1996, they understood that people were responding to the comfy, small-town feel of the place as much as they were to the ice cream. People came to escape and relax, something the glitzy, trend-of-the-moment ice cream joints couldn’t off er.

“The Dari-Bar was part of our family even before we bought it,” says Ollberding. “My daughter, Theresa, was there since she was 14. That’s all Theresa knows.”

Theresa is still there, running the business with her sister, Jennifer. Now there’s a third generation that has en-

Diane Ollberding has owned the Dari-Bar for 25 years and is the fourth owner. Three generations of her family worked at the Dari-Bar on opening day, including two of her daughters and one granddaughter.

tered the business. Theresa’s daughter, 15-year-old Ambria Poynter, is beginning her third summer.

Most of the employees – there are 20 or so at this point in the season – are between 14 and 19. It’s not a job for everyone, though. The work can be grueling, especially when the heat and humidity crank up.

They don’t stand on a lot of formality here. Employees don’t go through elaborate training. There aren’t dozens of prickly guidelines that you would fi nd in a corporate ice cream place.

Show up on time. Be friendly. Work

Theresa Baker, 46, second-generation general manager, picks up a spoon for an ice cream.

hard. Be kind to those you work with.

For many, in fact, the most intimidating part of the job is the math. You see, the Dari-Bar doesn’t have cash registers or calculators. Everything is done by hand. There’s a chart to help calculate taxes. But the math? It’s all done with a pencil and a pad of paper.

“Math was my worst subject,” admitted 17-year-old Kylie Tewes, who is starting her second season at the Dari-Bar. “I was really nervous about that part of the job.”

For the fi rst couple of months, she did everything she could to avoid taking orders. She pulled ice cream, worked the

The Dari-Bar’s parking lot is nearly empty before its 11 a.m. opening, Saturday, March 13, during opening day in Silver Grove, Kentucky.

Call the Dari-Bar’s approach to business antiquated if you insist. But the Ollberdings’ formula has won them legions of devoted customers. Despite the many changes forced on them by the pandemic, last summer actually saw an increase in the number of customers.

Admittedly, the drive-through approach doesn’t feel as personal as prepandemic times, when people could chat as they stood in line at two windows at the front of the store. Now, many people never even get out of their vehicles.

Some people, though, are determined to linger.

Robyn Moore, of Newport, and her three-year-old son, Erin, have taken over one of the picnic tables at the back of the parking lot. It’s chilly, but Erin stays busy playing with his three cousins.

“I love this place,” said Moore. “It’s just like I remember it as a kid.”

Memory is funny that way. Moore understands that it’s diff erent now. But there’s something about the Dari-Bar that is timeless.

“Maybe it’s that it’s so peaceful here,” she said. “I think that’s what I like the most.”

For Olivia Mounce, it’s something more mundane that brings her back. It’s the coleslaw. Like so many others, Mounce is ordering a foot-long cheese coney. Her two sons, Ian and Larkin, settle for corn dogs.

“But the foot-longs have to have coleslaw on them,” she said. “It’s an eastern Kentucky thing. Most people around here don’t have any idea how to do it. According to my mom, this is the only place in Northern Kentucky that does it right.”

There will be changes. There always are. The parking lot will expand. And since the line of cars occasionally threatens to block access to the fi re station, they may re-route the cars to ease the traffi c on Route 8.

But Ollberding and her daughters know that those are the sorts of changes that make life simpler for customers.

They don’t tinker with the important things, the things that give the Dari-Bar a place in people’s hearts.

“We’re old school,” says Theresa.

“We’re family. We have really good customers. We have people who used to come here as kids bringing their own kids now.”

“Their grandkids, too,” interjected Diane.

“But what is it that makes the DariBar the Dari-Bar?” said Theresa. “I don’t know exactly. This isn’t a science. We take care of people. We try to make them happy. There really isn’t any more to it than that.”

8A

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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KENTON RECORDER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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1B

###

SPORTS Simon Kenton falls by 2 in 8th Region semis James Weber Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Dixie Heights players celebrate their win after the game and Dixie Heights high schools at Dixie Heights High School March 25. JIM OWENS/FOR THE ENQUIRER

Dixie Heights girls win 9th Region Final Scott Springer Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

COVINGTON - Twenty-three days after they last battled, Dixie Heights and Notre Dame Academy met at Holmes High School March 29 for Ninth Region supremacy and a ticket to Lexington.

When Notre Dame Academy’s Lacey Bradshaw missed one last 3-point attempt, Dixie Heights had prevailed in overtime and was heading to the Kentucky Sweet Sixteen at Rupp Arena for the fi rst time since 1992.

The game’s score was identical to the last time the two played on March 6, 4543. The Lady Colonels go to 27-2 and now have won 21 straight after last losing Jan. 22 against Cooper.

Sophomore Samantha Berman led Dixie Heights with 12 points while senior Sydney Lockard scored 11 and took tournament MVP honors. Junior Madelyn Lawson was held to six points but dominated on the boards with 14.

“It’s so much fun!” Lockard said amid the hoopla. “Especially to be a part of this team and enjoy this moment with them.

I’m so thankful it’s my senior year.”

Lockard and Laci Reinhart have been varsity players since seventh grade and will both be making their fi rst trip to Rupp Arena as a player. Reinhart got to cut the fi rst piece of net down for Dixie.

NEW CASTLE, Ky. – Henry County High School has been a place of heartbreak for the Simon Kenton boys basketball team.

The Pioneers suff ered a heartbreaking 66-64 loss to North Oldham in the Eighth Region semifi nals March 26.

Four of the previous fi ve losses by the Pioneers in the tournament have been by single digits in this arena, the annual home of the tournament.

“Most regional tournaments are a house of horrors for a lot of teams,” said SK head coach Trent Steiner. “We didn’t make stops when we needed to make stops. We didn’t make free throws when we needed to make free throws. It has nothing to do with this place. This place is special.”

North Oldham sophomore Dallas Roberts made two free throws with 7.6 seconds to play. After two timeouts, the Pioneers missed a 3-pointer. SK senior Kelly Niece chased the loose ball and shot a contested off -balance jumper at the buzzer that missed.

After the buzzer, Niece stood in the corner opposite the SK bench for several seconds, and Steiner came to console him.

Niece scored 26 points in his fi nal game in a Pioneer uniform. He came in leading the state at 30 points per game. Niece will leave as SK’s all-time leading scorer in boys basketball. He See SIMON KENTON, Page 2B

The Dixie Heights girls basketball team won their fi rst Ninth Region championship since 1992 Monday night beating Notre Dame Academy.

SCOTT SPRINGER/THE ENQUIRER

“We were ready to play today,” Reinhart said. “We’re going to Rupp and that’s all that matters. That’s a dream come true. I’m so excited, I just can’t wait.”

Joining Lockard on the Ninth Region All-Tournament team was sophomore Reese Smith who added seven rebounds and sophomore Ella Steczynski

who hit a couple of key treys early in the game.

Notre Dame Academy fi nishes 21-5.

Despite missing the fi nal shot, junior Bradshaw led all scorers with 19 and was on the all-tournament team along with junior Macie Feldman.

See DIXIE HEIGHTS, Page 2B

Simon Kenton senior Kelly Niece looks for an opening March 26 in the 8th Region boys semis at Henry County. JAMES WEBER/THE ENQUIRER

Walton-Verona’s year ends in 8th Region semis Alex Harrison Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Walton-Verona met Anderson County in the 8th Region Semifi nals, falling to the Lady Bearcats 40-22 on March 29.

Walton-Verona had Anderson County play to its tempo and had good looking shot opportunities, but the ball just wouldn’t fall into the hoop to the tune of an 8-34 night shooting, including 1-15 from beyond-the-arc.

Walton-Verona kept the ball movement slow, which Anderson County was happy to allow late in the game.

Down 21-13 at halftime, Maggie Buerger cut the Anderson County lead down to 21-15 with the fi rst basket of the half — one that took over two minutes happen. It took another 2:37 for the game’s next score which was a free throw from Walton-Verona’s Anastasia Schneider.

Its lead cut to fi ve points, Anderson County ended the third quarter on a 9-0 run. Despite the growing defi cit, Walton-Verona kept the temp slow and while the Bearcats did create good shots from, they couldn’t make them fall and continued to fall more and more behind.

Walton-Verona senior Haylee Neeley looks for an opening as Walton-Verona defeated Newport Central Catholic in the fi rst round of the All "A" Classic girls basketball state tournament Feb. 24, at Walton-Verona High School, Walton, Ky. JAMES WEBER/THE ENQUIRER

Anderson County outscored WaltonVerona 19-9 in the second half. Ten of those 19 points were from free throws.

Anderson County only shot 31% from the fi eld (5-21 on threes) to Walton-Ve-

rona’s 24% shooting, but kept a big lead with the Bearcats’ lack of shot taking and making.

At the end of the fi rst quarter, Anderson County led just 9-6 thanks to a late

Schneider bucket closing the lead to three points. It then took Walton-Verona three minutes to convert a bucket in the second quarter and then wouldn’t convert another fi eld goal for almost four more minutes, tanking the chances of keeping the game close entering the second half.

With 11.3 points per game, Haylee Neeley was Walton-Verona’s top scorer throughout the year. On March 29, the senior point guard scored four points on just free throws. Defensively, the Bearcats held Anderson County’s top scorer, Amiya Jenkins (17.5 points per game), to just 10 points, half of which were free throws.

Walton-Verona, who lost to Anderson County 70-43 on Jan. 25, fi nished with an 18-9 record.

Walton-Verona (18-9): Buerger 3 0 7, Lay 1 0 2, Schneider 2 1 5, Neeley 0 4 4, Heuser 2 0 4. Totals: 8 5 22.

Anderson County (25-2): Riley 3 0 7, Jenkins 2 5 10, Chesser 2 0 4, J. Satterly 3 0 8, Smith 1 4 7, R. Satterly 0 2 2, Serafi ni 0 2 2. Totals: 11 13 40.

Halftime: AC 21-13. 3-pointers: WV 1 (Buerger); AC 5 (J. Satterly 2, Smith, Riley, Jenkins).

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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KENTON RECORDER

Six NKY wrestlers win KHSAA state championships James Weber Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Northern Kentucky had a record day March 27 in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association wrestling championships at George Rogers Clark High School.

Area wrestlers won six of the 14 individual weight-class championships, the fi rst time the region has taken home that big of a haul since 2013.

Ryle won two championships and fi nished second in the team standings to Union County, which won its sixthstraight team championship and eighth out of the last nine seasons.

Ryle fi nished second for the fourth time in team history, the fi rst time since 2010.

Each weight class had eight competitors March 27, who all won state medals. The state meet was split into two separate tournaments this month due to attendance limitations in deference to the pandemic. Each state champion won three matches on March 27.

Ryle junior Cole Thomas won his third state championship, winning two matches by pin and by 12-7 in the semis.

He beat fourth-ranked Jayden Frazier of Paducah Tilghman in the semis and pinned fi fth-ranked George Ferree of Trinity in the fi nals. Thomas fi nished a perfect 38-0 for the season.

Ryle junior Noah Duke won his fi rst championship at 170. He pinned second-ranked Dalton Russelburg of Union County in the fi nal and fi nished a perfect 39-0 for the season. Duke became the 20th state champion in Ryle history and Thomas the 19th.

Walton-Verona senior Spencer Moore won the championship at 120, his second. Moore, ranked fi rst, won all three of his matches by early pin, including over second-ranked Trayce Eckman of Union County in the fi nal. Moore

Walton-Verona senior Spencer Moore embraces head coach John Roth after winning the 120-pound state title March 27. COURTESY OF KHSAA/DAVID REARIC

is graduating a year early and headed to wrestle for the University of North Carolina next season. He fi nished 27-0 this season.

Walton-Verona junior Isaac Thornton won the championship at 132, his fi rst. He is in his fi rst season as a Bearcat after transferring from Grant County, where he was state runner-up the previous two seasons. Thornton, who ranked second coming in, beat the third- and fourth-ranked wrestlers Saturday, including a 7-1 win over Eli Payton of Tilghman in the fi nal.

Gabe Savage of Ryle pushed back on Simon Kenton's Dakota Brooksbank and scores a fi rst-place fi nish at 220 pounds at round 3 of the 2021 KHSAA State Wrestling Tournament, March 20. Brooksbank won the state title over Savage March 27. GEOFF BLANKENSHIP/FOR THE ENQUIRER

Dixie Heights Continued from Page 1B

“It’s huge for our school, huge for our community,” Dixie Heights coach Joel Steczynski said. “I’m so proud of the girls and everyone involved with our program.”

Steczynski was just 16-years-old when Dixie Heights last won a Ninth Regional Final.

Dixie Heights had three consecutive 3-pointers toward the end of the fi rst quarter to take the early lead as Ella Stecyzynski, Reinhart and Berman all connected. However, Notre Dame Academy snatched back some momentum when

Simon Kenton Continued from Page 1B

broke the record Feb. 26, also in a loss to North Oldham. Niece fi nishes with nearly 2,500 career points.

“When the dust settles, he will look back on his career, the number and the wins, and the kid that he is, and be proud,” Steiner said. “You can’t replace a Kelly Niece, the things he has done for this program.”

SK had two other seniors in Nate

WV has nine champions all-time now.

Campbell County senior Thomas Ketchen-Carter won the championship at 160, his fi rst. He avenged a loss to Anderson County senior Cole Nance in the semi-state fi nal, beating Nance in a fi rst-period pin. Ketchen-Carter fi nished 43-1, that one loss being to Nance and became Campbell’s 30th champion and fi rst since 2017.

Simon Kenton senior Dakota Brooksbank won the championship at 220, edging local rival Gabe Savage of

Ryle 4-1 in the championship. It was the postseason rubber match between the two. Brooksbank had beaten Savage 7-3 in the Region 6 semifi nals, but Savage won the semi-state fi nal, 3-0.

Brooksbank, 25-4 overall, was ranked fourth in the state and Savage sixth. Brooksbank beat the top two wrestlers in the rankings in the fi rst two rounds Saturday to advance to the fi nal.

He is SK’s fi rst champion since Casey Cornett in 2017 and 26th all-time in the KSAA record book.

Northern Kentucky had 22 competitors Saturday, all went home with state medals.

Team scores (top four and locals): 1.

Union County 244, 2. Ryle 216, 3. Johnson Central 189.5, 4. Trinity 170, 7.

Campbell County 113.5, 9. Walton-Verona 92, 11. Simon Kenton 82, 22. Conner 50, Campbell County: Mason Orth (39-7) 6th at 113, Jason Holden (36-9) 5th at 126, Jonah Bowers (34-5) 4th at 132, Thomas Ketchen-Carter (43-1) state champion at 160.

Conner: Samuel Grandstaff (38-7) 3rd at 145.

Ryle: Rider Trumble (18-8) 5th at 113, Joseph Sander (29-10) 3rd at 120, Cole Thomas (38-0) state champion at 126, Jameson Smith (18-8) 6th at 138, Rusty Craddock (29-11) 5th at 145, Carter Messerly (36-2) 2nd at 152, Noah Duke (39-0) state champion at 170, Gabe Savage (33-7) 2nd at 220, Tayshaun Marshall (28-13) 5th at 285.

Simon Kenton: Brennan Conrad (25-9) 7th at 152, Ryley Woosley (17-11) 6th at 182, Conner Jones (11-7) 8th at 195, Dakota Brooksbank (25-4) state champion at 220, Ian Hughes (29-3) 4th at 285.

Walton-Verona: TJ Meyer (21-2) 5th at 106, Spencer Moore (27-0) state champion at 120, Isaac Thornton (17-0) state champion at 132.

Campbell County senior Thomas Ketchen-Carter reacts after winning the state title at 160 pounds March 27. COURTESY OF KHSAA/DAVID REARIC

Lacey Bradshaw canned a trey near the buzzer to cut the lead to 16-13.

The pace slowed considerably in the second half. The Lady Colonels held the ball late in the half but couldn’t convert.

NDA was given one last look and Bradshaw again delivered at the buzzer reducing the Dixie Heights lead to fi ve at 24-19.

NDA junior Macie Feldman caught fi re in the third quarter with eight points matching her total for the fi rst half. The Pandas led by two to end the quarter and would extend it to four early in the fourth.

With 2:21 left, Bradshaw tied the game at 38, which is where it would stay as Dixie struggled to get a shot off as time expired. Senior Laci Reinhart then got

the Lady Colonels back on the board 1:08 into the extra period. Dixie Heights would go up 44-40, then Berman would be fouled on a rebound for a 45-40 advantage.

Jillian MacKnight’s only bucket of the night was a trey that cut it to 45-43 with :03 left. The Pandas would get the ball back before the buzzer with Bradshaw being fouled. Notre Dame hoped for three shots on the foul but offi cials decided it was before the shot.

That allowed one last heave from Bradshaw and when it missed, the Lady Colonels gathered at midcourt in celebration.

“A couple people walk out with hardware in terms of all-tournament team and things like that, but there’s a banner

that’s going to be their for the rest of their lives and it’s going to have their names on it,” Steczynski said.

Dixie Heights moves on to the Kentucky Sweet Sixteen at Rupp Arena, Thursday, April 8 against Russell, champions of the Sixteenth Region.

Russell is 19-5 despite having 11 COVID-19 cancellations throughout the season.

The game will tip at 8 p.m.

DIXIE HEIGHTS 16 8 6 8 7 45 NOTRE DAME ACADEMY 13 6 13 6 5 43 DH - Lawson 1 4 6 Steczynski 2 0 6 Reinhart 2 0 5 Lockard 4 3 11 Smith 2 0 5 Berman 3 3 12 NDA - Feldman 6 4 16 MacKnight 1 0 3 Bradshaw 7 4 19 Moore 1 0 3 Disken 1 0 2

Walker and Justin Eversole. They combined for fi ve points per game, playing most of the contests.

“They’re special,” Steiner said. “They lay it on the line every day in practice.

They may not get to play as much as the other kids, but the fact they’re great teammates, great people to coach.

They’ll be successful in life, and at the end of the day, that’s the most important thing for me, seeing our kids be successful in life. Basketball is a game that teaches tough lessons. Good things are going to happen and bad things are going to happen.”

Roberts, the Mustangs’ leading scorer at 18 points per game, scored 28 in the fi rst game between the teams.

On March 26, he had 25, 17 in the fourth quarter, including 10 out of 13 Mustang points after the Pioneers took a 48-44 lead in the fourth quarter.

“He’s a good player,” Steiner said.

“We didn’t do a good enough job of rotating over and taking charges, and stopping him on the bounce.”

SK junior Isaac Miller tied the game with two free throws, and it was 61-61 with two minutes to play.

Trailing 64-62, SK tied it on a driving

basket by Niece with under 30 seconds to play.

North Oldham led 11-2 midway through the fi rst quarter. SK went on a 27-8 run to lead by 10, 29-19 in the second period. Niece had 10 straight points in the run, and SK hit fi ve 3-pointers, two by Niece, two by Andrew Smith and one by Miller.

SIMON KENTON: Krohman 2 0 6, Smith 3 1 7, Niece 10 4 26, Miller 6 2 15, Walker 0 1 1, Carson 2 1 5. Marshall 2 0 4.

NORTH OLDHAM: Roberts 8 9 25, Carr-Cole 5 3 14, Higdon 6 1 13, Scales 1 0 3, Hawley 2 0 4, Gay 1 0 2, Ashton 1 2 5.

KENTON RECORDER

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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Peas are a lovely seasonal vegetable.

Add them to spring stir fries.

Spring stir fry with homemade stir fry sauce

Rita’s Kitchen Rita Heikenfeld Guest columnist

Stir fry sauce The secret ingredient is teriyaki sauce. Use a good store-bought sauce or make your own.

“Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold, pease porridge in the pot 9 days old.”

My garden peas have pushed through the soil, still tiny but looking strong. For some reason, that childhood rhyme came to mind, so indulge me!

Peas are a lovely seasonal vegetable, so when they’re abundant, peas are in my meal rotation.

Sometimes I’ll simply saute them in a bit of butter with shallots and fresh mint and a grind of pepper and salt.

More often, I add them to spring stir fries. I make my own stir fry sauce, and I hope you try making it, too.

These legumes are good for you, too. Peas are high in fi ber, low in fat and a good source of vegetable protein.

Ingredients This makes a nice amount. Store leftover sauce in refrigerator. ⁄ 2 cup Tamari or soy sauce

1

⁄ 4 cup teriyaki sauce

1

1 cup water 2 tablespoons sesame oil 2 teaspoons each garlic and minced ginger or more to taste ⁄ 4 cup or so cornstarch

1

Spring stir fry with homemade stir fry sauce.

Sugar or honey to taste (start with a teaspoon or so) optional

PHOTO BY RITA HEIKENFELD FOR THE ENQUIRER

Freshly ground pepper to taste

Homemade teriyaki sauce

Instructions

Whisk together:

Stir fry ingredients

⁄ 4 cup Tamari or soy sauce

I always use peas along with greens, broccoli, bell pepper, onion and Chinese cabbage, a total of about 5 cups. You use what you like.

Whisk ingredients together.

1

⁄ 2 teaspoon ginger, minced or more to taste

1

⁄ 4 teaspoon garlic powder or more to taste

1

Up to 1 pound of meat, sliced thin or seafood is good in this too. Or extra fi rm tofu, chunked up. Optional but good and gives a boost of protein.

Brown sugar to taste: start with1⁄ 4 cup Honey to taste: start with 2 teaspoons Freshly ground pepper to taste

Pea varieties

Whisk together separately and set aside:

This year, I’m growing sweet sugar snaps. Both these and snow peas have edible pods.

English peas are the real plump peas. These you have to shell and are the ones often frozen or canned.

Check out the photo to see the three kinds and how they diff er, looks wise.

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions Heat a bit of oil in a large skillet or wok.

If using meat, seafood or tofu, stir fry over fairly high heat until just cooked through. Set aside.

⁄ 4 cup cold water

1

Instructions

Add more oil if necessary. Stir in vegetables and fry until crisp tender.

Cook everything but cornstarch mixture over low heat until sugar dissolves.

Whisk in cornstarch mixture and cook until it thickens. If too thick, add a bit of water.

Place meat back in pan with vegetables.

Tamari and Soy: what’s the diff?

Pour stir fry sauce over mixture. Go to taste on sauce. Toss and stir until sauce thickens a little and mixture is coated.

Check my site.

Serve with rice cooked in broth, or water.

Adapted slightly from food.com.

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4B

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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KENTON RECORDER

COMMUNITY NEWS Piper’s Café in Covington re-opens as Piper’s Ice Cream Bar with exciting new menu COVINGTON – Piper’s Café is thrilled to share that it will be reopening as Piper’s Ice Cream Bar, off ering a new menu that includes alcoholic beverages as well as new frozen treats and artisanal coff ee drinks.

Piper’s will be reopening on Friday, April 9, with special opening weekend hours of noon – 11 p.m.. Friday night will feature live music from Kyle Knapp on the venue’s family-friendly garden area beginning at 6:30 p.m., weather permitting.

Piper’s has been a staple in the Mainstrasse community for nearly a decade, providing sweet treats and delectable food off erings through its walk-up window. The venue’s new menu will now highlight ice cream concoctions and dozens of new, customizable beverages.

“Piper’s is uniquely positioned to off er an open-air environment, and we can’t wait for the community to come out and enjoy a cold beverage or sweet treat with us,” said Chip Adkins, Co-Owner of Piper’s Ice Cream Bar. “By focusing on the sweet treats that we were already known for, we’re able to off er even more new concoctions including alcoholic ‘Adults Only’ beverages like our boozy shakes, beer or wine fl oats, coff ee cocktails and Piper’s house-made and customizable hard seltzers.”

The area adjoining Piper’s, often referred to as Hamelin Square Garden, will also be open to everyone, furry friends included. In an eff ort to support local restaurants, Piper’s will be partnering with El Valle Verde & Zazou to provide food service options for their guests. Guests are also welcome to bring their own food.

“After spending so much time inside these last few months due to the cold weather and the pandemic, people are seeking outdoor venues for social activities,” said Charles Killian, Co-Owner of Piper’s Ice Cream Bar. “That’s why we’re excited to off er our family-friendly venue as a great space for our guests to enjoy socializing in a safe, outdoor setting. “ Piper’s will resume normal business hours beginning on Monday, April 12 and will be open Mondays from 6:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday 6:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. For more information on Piper’s Ice Cream Bar or to view the new menu, please visit www.piperscafe.biz.

Piper’s was established in 2012 and offers a wide selection of frozen treats, artisanal coff ee drinks and adult beverages.

Delectable treats and beverages are available for carry-out through their walk-up service window, or can be enjoyed in Piper’s family-friendly garden seating. Live music will be available on the weekends (weather permitting).

For more information about Piper’s Ice Cream Bar or to place an order for carry out artisan coff ee drinks and frozen treats, please visit www.piperscafe.biz.

Lauren Hall, Piper’s Ice Cream Bar

Burlington Antique Show 2021 season opening returns in April The Burlington Antique Show returns to the Boone County Fairgrounds on Sunday, April 18. With it being outdoors, it’s the best and safest place to enjoy the shopping experience and recharge minds and spirits with your families and friends.

Only 10 minutes from downtown Cincinnati, Burlington Antique Show is now celebrating 40 years.

Locating at the Boone County Fairgrounds in KY, the show features more than 200 dealers off ering antiques, vintage jewelry, primitives, garden & architectural elements, mid-century collectibles, memorabilia, Americana, one-ofa-kind fi nds and a large selection of antiques, retro & vintage furniture.

It’s generally pretty crowded, so if you’re a real hunter, aim for early-bird admission ($6; 6-8 a.m.) The show last until 3 p.m. General Admission is $4.

The Boone County Fairgrounds are located at 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington, KY. More info at Burlingtonantiqueshow.com Tony Pham, Burlington Antique Show

Erlanger Lions Block Party Craft show and fl ea market Sunday May 30. Erlanger Lions 5996 Belair, Erlanger, Ky. Starts at 4 p.m. Spaces are only $10. Call now to reserve your space.

We will also have food, beer, pull tabs and music. Call Judy at 859-491-3580 for more information and to reserve your spot.

Joyce Palmer, Erlanger Lions

Rotary Club of Florence selects 2020 4th quarter partner recipients - Rob’s Kids and Master Provisions The Rotary Club of Florence, Kentucky selects two organizations to raise funds for each quarter. The Rotary Club’s foun-

Purchasing a holiday ham

Piper’s Café in Covington will be reopening as Piper’s Ice Cream Bar. PROVIDED

Roger Babik of Master Provisions, Barb Keeling of Rob’s Kids and Billy Santos representing the Rotary Club of Florence Foundation. PROVIDED

dations match up to the fi rst $500 of donations. Donations may be made on the Club’s website, 100% of donations are given to the recipient organizations.

The 2020 fourth quarter the recipients were Robs Kids and Master Provisions.

Each organization received a check for $508.27.

Robs Kids Supports the community through volunteering, in-kind donations, and fi nancial support, suicide prevention programs, food assistance programs, scholarship programs, and Christmas gift programs.

Master Provisions helps distribute resources to partner non-profi t agencies that serve people in need. Their collaborative approach helps their partners spend less time and money on obtaining resources.

Find out more information or support Rob’s Kids and Master Provisions on their websites: h Rob’s Kids: Rob’s Kids – Helping Kids Get Back Up Again h Mater Provisions: Master Provisions Autumn Ray, The Rotary Club of Florence, Kentucky

Footlighters, Inc. launches its ‘Curtain Up! We’re back, and saving a seat for you!’ campaign Footlighters, Inc. is launching a major $100,000 fundraising initiative, Curtain Up! We’re back, and saving a seat for you! to support its massive renovation and theater upgrade.

Footlighters has taken advantage of the COVID-inspired extended intermission with a huge initiative to renovate the theater, based on patrons’ and artists’ input via the audience participation survey. We added air conditioning and more effi cient heating to the fi rst fl oor and replaced our failed boiler and chimney. We have also updated our theatrical lighting equipment, replacing our older instruments and adding new LED lights to our inventory. Finally, we are completely updating the theater decor and experience for theater patrons and members by painting the interior, installing new carpet, and updating our dressing room, as well as purchasing new, more spacious, accessible and comfortable seating for the Stained Glass Theatre.

The centerpiece of the Curtain Up! We’re back, and saving a seat for you!

Campaign is the new sponsorship opportunity that allows you to add your name or the name of a loved one to a beautiful plaque on a new Footlighters Stained Glass Theatre seat. You don’t have to be a performer to become a permanent part of the updated theater--it’s as easy as sponsoring a seat! Keep an eye out for information on this great sponsorship opportunity.

This renovation is truly a story of “Paying it Forward.” The Edgecliff College Corbett Theatre donated the previous seats to Footlighters when the theater was demolished over 30 years ago, and we donated them to the Revolution Dance Theatre. We are also donating our older, fully functional theatrical lighting to local schools and theater companies.

The Burlington Antique Show will return to the Boone County Fairgrounds on Sunday, April 18.

PROVIDED

Our work is not just about renovating the facility but also about our culture. We are preparing a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) process to: examine how we function; establish new procedures to ensure we are inclusive of all; and treat our patrons, artists, and community equitably to ensure that we are the very best version of ourselves. Our goal is to provide equal access to all and ensure that we as an organization are made up of the diversity represented in our community.

We believe that coming out of this pandemic our community will need opportunities to come together to heal, engage, and reconnect. Now, more than ever, the value of sharing experiences is evident. We want to be ready to provide you and your loved ones with a beautiful and safe space to once again share in the joy of live theatre. We invite you to help us to make this dream a reality for our whole community!

The Footlighters, Inc., is a nonprofi t organization located in Newport, Kentucky. For over 50 years, Footlighters has been committed to providing Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with a wide variety of high-quality theatrical experiences. Entirely volunteer-managed, Footlighters relies on ticket sales, patrons, and generous supporters like you to fund its productions. All donations made to Footlighters are fully tax deductible. All contributions made now will prepare the organization to return as quickly as possible to fulfi lling our mission and serving our community. Thank you for your support.

Donate now or learn more at our website www.footlighters.org or become a friend on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-FootlightersInc/287519888305 .

Marvel Gentry Harmon, Footlighters, Inc.

Spring is here!! Along with beautiful fl owers and warm weather, it is often a time for holiday meal celebrations that include a ham dinner. But do you get confused when you go to the store and see all your options? Review this information before you start looking so that hopefully your decisions are easier!

By defi nition, ham is the cured leg of pork. True ham comes from the hind leg of the hog. The front leg gives us the picnic, boston and cottage hams-often not considered “true” hams.

Curing and smoking the ham gives the ham its characteristic fl avor. Hams are cured in either a moist way (most grocery store hams) or in a dry way (such as country ham).

Ready-to-eat hams include prosciutto and cooked hams – they can be eaten right out of the package. Fresh hams and hams only treated to destroy trichinae must be cooked by the consumer before eating. Hams that must be cooked will include cooking and safe handling instructions.

In the grocery store, you can buy a bone- in whole ham or half. How much to buy? If you are serving boneless ham, 1/4-1/3 pound per person is suffi cient.

Bone-in ham recommendations are 1/31/2 pound per person. Leftover ham doesn’t freeze as well as many of our other meats, so don’t over-purchase.

Whole hams can be tough to tackle due to their size and diffi culty carving.

Half hams are sold as either a butt or shank half ham. The butt half has the biggest muscles, so they are meatier.

However, the butt has 2 bones to cut around, and the shank only has one so consumers often prefer it. Since it only has one bone, the shank half has more meat per bone than the butt half. If your ham is not labeled, look at the shape. A shank end ham has a pointy end and is shaped like a funnel; the butt end is more dome or rounded in shape. As previously noted, one problem with the butt half is the two bones to cut around.

A “semi boneless” ham has the aitch bone removed, while the femur is left in for structure and fl avor. This makes it easier to carve.

Sometimes you may fi nd a half ham labeled “butt portion” or “shank portion” – this means the prime center slices have been removed to sell as ham steaks. You may fi nd one labeled, “no slices removed”, then you are guaranteed to have a true half.

Boneless hams often do not have as good a fl avor as a bone in ham (also doesn’t have the bone leftover for soup!). After removing bones, a synthetic binder is added to the ham and it is pressed back together.

Also on the label…..ham moisture information -A true ham has no added water -Ham in “natural juices” contains very little water (7-8%). Both this ham and the previous one are quite good, but can be a little harder to cook as they can dry out of not properly watched.

-Water added ham – contains 10-15% water added. These are easier for most cooks to prepare, but remember – you are paying for added water.

-Ham and Water Product – contains over 16% water added. These products may be spongy and not as fl avorful, but they are easy to cook.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

Kathy Byrnes, Kenton County Cooperative Extension Service

Boone County PVA inspection areas The Boone County PVA Offi ce will be inspecting properties the week of Oct. 19, at the following areas: h Petersburg Area h Belleview Area h Richwood Area h Triple Crown h Steeplechase h Walton Area h Cauthen Run h Downtown Walton Please do not be alarmed if you see staff members in the area. They will be in a marked vehicle and have identifi cation available upon request.

You can enroll to receive e-mail alerts when we will be inspecting in your area by going to our website at boonepva.ky.gov If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Arlinghaus Martin PVA @ cindy.martin@boonecountyky.org Emily Steidel, Boone County PVA

KENTON RECORDER

Classifieds

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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All classified ads are subject to the applicable rate card, copies of which are available from our Advertising Dept. All ads are subject to approval before publication. The Enquirer reserves the right to edit, refuse, reject, classify or cancel any ad at any time. Errors must be reported in the first day of publication. The Enquirer shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from an error in or omission of an advertisement. No refunds for early cancellation of order.

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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION LEGAL NOTICE – SURPLUS PROPERTY SALE The Northern Kentucky Water District (NKWD) hereby notifies the public that it will sell surplus vehicles, equipment, and/or other items (collectively “items”) via an electronic auction listing on ht tp://www.govdeals.com.

Items listed for public auction include: 3 ten-ton Eager Beaver trailers, Computers, Parts, and Supplies, Printing & Binding Equipment, Audio Visual Equipment, Tools, All Types, Cafeteria & Kitchen E q u i p m e n t , furniture/furnishings, and forklifts. NKWD may offer other items for sale on the site other than those listed.

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TAKING CONSIGNMENTS FOR WEEKLY ONLINE EQUIPMENT AUCTIONS!

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Auctions last for 7 calendar days and will commence on April 15, 2021. All items are sold “As Is” with no warranties, expressed or implied.

NKWD reserves the right to cancel the electronic auction, or refuse any bid, at any time for any reason. Any questions regarding vehicles should be directed to (859) 426-2744.

Questions regarding nonvehicle items, contact (859) 426-2751.

KEN,Apr8,’21#4668622

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Announce

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The Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board will hold a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, April 20 at 10 am regarding FY 2022 to FY 2025 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Local and Regional Plan.

The Northern Kentucky Local Workforce Development Area serves Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen and Pendleton Counties.

The regional component focuses on Bluegrass Local Workforce Development Area, Lincoln Trail Local Workforce Development Area and Northern Kentucky Local Workforce Development Area. The draft plan is available for review and comment at NKADD.org and NKcareercenter.org. To register for the meeting, visit NKADD.org.

Questions or comments regarding the plan may also be submitted to WI B@nkadd.org by 4pm April 23, 2021.

CCR,Apr8,’21#4672210

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View current items at

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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KENTON RECORDER

NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWERS ON PAGE 7B

No. 0404 OVER THE MOON

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BY OLIVIA MITRA FRAMKE / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

60 Hit movie released as ‘‘Vaselina’’ in Mexico 1 Pest-control product 62 Husk-wrapped dish 5 Luggage label 10 Color effect in graphic 65 Colorful tropical fish design 66 Song standard on ‘‘Barbra Streisand’s 18 Video-game princess Greatest Hits’’ of the Kingdom of Hyrule 71 Saturn 19 Writer Zora ____ 72 With 11-Down, hit Hurston 2001 film with an ‘‘!’’

20 Take part in a D.&D. in its title campaign, e.g.

73 Stirred up 21 Brand of fruity hard 74 Cold shower? candy 75 Muralist ____ 23 Personae non gratae Clemente Orozco 24 Uranus 76 2021 Super Bowl 25 ‘‘Arrivederci!’’ champs 26 Jerks 80 Boy, in Barcelona 27 ‘‘____ to differ!’’

81 Animated character who wears a red 28 One taking the long shirt and no pants view?

31 Tarot-deck character 82 Time before computers, 35 Some surgical tools facetiously 38 ‘‘Unit’’ of fun 85 Fleet runner: Abbr.

39 All-star duo?

86 One feature of a 40 Comfort in not perfect nanny, in knowing, say a ‘‘Mary Poppins’’ 47 Request song 50 Jupiter 91 Mars 51 Ships passing in the 92 Hesitate in speaking night?

93 More inquisitive 52 Sch. on the Rio 98 Jaded sort Grande 99 Solo flier?

54 Hollers 55 Like some parties and 105 Prefix meaning ‘‘both’’ flowers 106 Welled (up) 56 ‘‘Back to the Future’’ antagonist 108 Like people who are much looked up to Online subscriptions: Today’s 109 Insurance-fraud ploy puzzle and more 110 Determiner of than 4,000 past puzzles, cannabis legality, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). e.g.

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Olivia Mitra Framke, of Jersey City, N.J., is an academic adviser at the New School’s College of Performing Arts in Manhattan. She started solving crosswords during college — but not at college. Her dad would hoard New York Times Magazines, and the two of them would solve together when she returned home. This is Olivia’s ninth crossword for The Times, and her fourth Sunday. — W.S.

ACROSS

2

113 Classic carnival ride 116 Cherished family member 117 Neptune 118 Golding of ‘‘Crazy Rich Asians’’ 119 Sporty car 120 Deliver a speech 121 World of Warcraft spellcaster

RELEASE DATE: 4/11/2021

29 Poker variety 30 ‘‘This Will Be’’ singer Natalie 32 Sommelier’s métier 33 ‘‘Monsters, ____’’ 34 Be on the level?

36 ‘‘Notorious’’ Supreme Court initials 37 Knocked ’em dead 39 Not spoiled 41 Suffix with serpent DOWN 42 One of five in 1 Leans (on) ‘‘pronunciation’’: Abbr.

2 Claim 43 Choice of sizes, briefly 3 Pastoral poem 44 Celebratory, quaintly 4 ____ es Salaam 45 Deception 5 Navel type 6 Sticker on the back of a 46 Cowboy or Patriot, for short laptop, say 47 Zeros 7 Home to the Sugar Bowl and Heavenly 48 Distinct melodic ski resorts segment 8 Draft pick?

49 Not waver from 9 Neighbor of Belg.

53 Fruit also called a custard apple or 10 Word after focus or prairie banana Facebook 55 Baby’s cry 11 See 72-Across 56 Cue at an audition 12 Mountain map figs.

57 Land jutting into il 13 Ones getting the Mediterraneo message 58 Quaker 14 Rio beach of song 59 Community of 15 Hollow center? followers 16 Turner who led an 1831 slave rebellion 61 Thesaurus listing: Abbr.

17 Grateful sentiments, in online shorthand 63 Melber of MSNBC 64 Candy featured 18 ‘‘The Greek’’ of film in a classic 21 Corner space in ‘‘MythBusters’’ Monopoly episode 22 Juggling or magic, in 65 Confucian’s spiritual a talent show path 26 Nobel laureate 67 In ____ (peeved) Morrison

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81 Money earned from an event, say 82 Gush 83 Archaeologist’s find 84 Brian once of glam rock 86 U.S. health org.

87 ‘‘Hands off, that’s mine!’’

88 Austrian article 89 Sent off 90 Lose a layer 94 Bit of luau wear

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68 Nintendo dinosaur who eats fruit and throws eggs 69 Bring to court 70 2003 best seller whose title is one letter different from a fantasy creature 75 Pleasures 77 Grammy winner DiFranco 78 Rendezvoused 79 ____ gow (Chinese domino game)

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95 ‘‘No question!’’

96 Magazine whose 60th anniversary issue had the cover line ‘‘Denzel, Halle & Jamie’’ 97 What’s hard about a melon?

99 Origami shape called ‘‘orizuru’’ 100 Tree surgeon, at times 101 Interior chambers 102 Gem weight

103 Bonnie’s partner in crime 104 Quadratic formula subj.

107 Oodles 109 Measurement in plane geometry 110 Camera type, briefly 111 As well 112 DuVernay who directed ‘‘Selma’’ 113 Queue before P 114 Canal locale 115 Piece de resistance?

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

A King Records mural will greet visiting rock stars in Newport Chris Varias Special to Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

It’s a 12-minute drive on the AA Highway from Camp Springs – Keith Neltner’s ancestral home, as well as the location of his house, his design company and the tavern he owns – to Newport’s PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation, the soon-to-be-opened music venue where Neltner is completing his latest piece of art.

Neltner is providing a mural for the green room of Ovation, the shorthand name of the 7,000-seat-outdoor, 2,700seat-indoor combo venue. The mural’s subjects are Otis Williams, Phillip Paul and Bootsy Collins, three musicians tied to the history of King Records.

The goal is to educate today’s rock stars about the former Cincinnati music label. The concept, Neltner says, is “to elevate Philip, Otis and Bootsy in a portraiture manner but also showing them in their heyday when they were contributing to King. It’s kind of the youthful and the elder. But those are three diff erent generations, and it was really important to elevate them to the same level. So a lot of real vibrant color and strong line work.”

Williams was the lead singer in the Charms, a doo-wop group from Cincinnati. Several of the Charms’ R&B hits in the 1950s crossed over to pop. One was the 1954 R&B chart-topper “Hearts of Stone.” Martin Scorcese used the song in the 1990 fi lm “Goodfellas,” for the scene in which a mailman catches a beating for doing his job.

Paul was the drummer on countless King sessions, held at the label’s studio on Brewster Avenue in Evanston, yielding many hit recordings. Some of the titles for which Paul has a performer credit are certifi ed rock-and-roll classics: Wynonie Harris’ “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” Hank Ballard’s “The Twist,” and Tiny Bradshaw’s “Train Kept a Rollin’,” to name three.

And then there’s Bootsy, the bass player who bridged James Brown’s earthy, elemental funk and ParliamentFunkadelic’s intergalactic version.

Elliott Ruther of the King Records Legacy Committee tapped Neltner to do the mural. The pair have worked on other projects to raise awareness about the history of music in Cincinnati, such as one involving the former Herzog studio, located downtown on Race Street, where in 1948 Hank Williams recorded his

The team working on the new King Records mural at Newport's PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation. From left: Nate Dye, Stacey Vallerie Meyer, Chris Dye, Keith Neltner. PROVIDED/KYLE ELI EBERSOLE

Former King Records recording artists Bootsy Collins (left) and Philip Paul (center) and Otis Williams (right) are introduced during ceremony honoring them in 2017. SAM GREENE/THE ENQUIRER

breakthrough hit “Lovesick Blues.” Another was a project in which Neltner created King Records posters for display in Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Paul, Williams and Collins, each a Cincinnati-area resident, are also members of the King Records Legacy Committee. Another is Kent Butts, Williams’ son.

Butts provided input for the mural on behalf of his dad, Paul and Collins, as COVID precautions precluded in-person meetings.

“We’ve had Zoom meetings where we talked about what’s important to them, what are some of the songs that come forward,” Neltner says. “Kind of in an ex-

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tended way, I feel like I’ve been able to be around them.”

Scott Stienecker of PromoWest wanted the mural in his green room. The Columbus-based promoter says he’s trying to tie to the venue “as many people as we can in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky market,” naming Braxton Brewery, New Riff Distillery and King Records as examples. “King Records was a big deal back in the day. It’s going to be a great thing when artists come to town and they can learn about King Records,” he says, adding that along with the mural, the green room will also feature a record player and a collection of King Records albums to spin.

The mural, expected to be completed in April, will measure 24 feet wide by 8 feet tall. It will be complemented by a secondary wall, featuring pieces such as a photograph of Jack White’s visit to the abandoned Brewster building in 2018, to further explain the story of King.

“The driving force of this was really to educate those artists that would be spending time in this room and raise awareness and advocate for the preservation (of the Brewster building),” Neltner says. “Hopefully we can do a publicfacing piece or recreate this on Brewster.”

Neltner has other prominent large pieces of art on display in the area.

There’s a Neltner mural on the former Crown Brewery on East McMicken in Over-the-Rhine, others in Covington’s Braxton Brewery and in the establishment that Neltner owns, Camp Springs Tavern. He also created a 63-foot-long digital piece on display in the Holocaust & Humanity Center at Union Terminal.

“Once these elders are no longer with us or the story can’t be told, it can easily be forgotten,” he says. “I think it’s creating a living, breathing dialog about this history. So many people were infl uenced by the music that these guys created, and they have no idea that there’s a vacant building on Brewster where it all happened.”

Neltner says his family has been in Camp Springs since the 19th century. The fact that he’s putting his stamp on Campbell County’s newest landmark is meaningful to his legacy. “I have two kids and they’re kind of interested in art,” he says. “Anything that features what we do, or we can better where we live, it’s good being able to contribute in that way.

I grew up in this valley. I was raised on a farm. It’s always that reciprocal experience with people, and I feel like art is the way I express that.”

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS 209 Covington Ave.: Elizabeth Roberts and Andrew Coleman to Rachel Dummermuth; $289,000 2127 Tuscanyview Drive: Fischer Single Family Homes IV, LLC to Caitlin and Coleman Nieporte; $397,000 2167 Piazza Ridge, unit 9-303: Fischer Attached Homes III, LLC to Maryjo and Joseph Carter; $258,500 2169 Piazza Ridge, unit 9-203: Fischer Attached Homes III, LLC to Nancy Gustafson; $315,000 233 Wallace Ave.: Joy and Brian Kramer to Kristin and Justin Gifford; $337,000 2541 Madison Ave.: Kelly and John Rohe to Amy

Bromley 401 Main St.: Nancy and Blaine Kienker to Andrea an Jeffrey Sandfoss; $138,000

California 2322 California Crossroads: Sherry Walker to Valerie Benton; $210,000

Covington 1341, 1343 Scott St.: Blue Diamond Properties, Inc. to Kimberly and Clay Thompson; $280,000 1541 Russell St.: Transitions, Inc. to Danielle Humphrey; $130,000 2028 Greenup St.: Gina DiGiolamo and Giles Stategier to Cheyenne and Kevin Williams; $175,000

PUZZLE ANSWERS

J A I L

Z O R B A

R E L I E S

A L L E G E

A U G H T S

S T R A I N

K E E P T O

P A P A W

C H E E D E I M C Y N I T S T A T L O V E R O A D

I D I D A N Y R A N L C I T E R S B L I S G A N Y Y E L S E Y D A Y N M O J O S P O O H R Y D I O S C C H E A R E E L A W D O N E S T E R

D E C A L

T A H O E

A G L E E R

S T S F U M E D L S T A S A R U L I E S T S P O H E M E W B D M E N A O R

G R O T U C O P O N L I G E U W I M A L E H E N T A M O N E S I T A T R I A

C A R A T

C L Y D E

R O U G E

A L T S

D E C O D G E N O R F O S L D E T R E A R O P A A G E I O N N O A L A G O R H E M A

I P A N E M A B E G I N S A R O N G

E N T L A Y S T S V I L I N I N C E I T A L I A

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F A N D O M

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and James Walker; $56,000 3003 Rogers St.: Inna Konovaltchouk to Michael Smith; $54,000 3416 Church St.: Elizabeth Weber to Mary and Michael Doker; $44,000 3616 Tamber Ridge Drive: Laura and Larry Angotti to Thomas Gregory; $505,000 4 E. 28th St.: Blue Diamond Properties, Inc. to Jesse Consulting, LLC; $710,000 406 Kyles Lane: Eryn and Paul Thamann to S.L. Williams Homes of Kentucky, Inc.; $220,000 523 Hermitage Court: Nicole and Paul Ritter to Alanna and Paul Hoffman; $298,000 614 E. 21st St.: Marjorie Longway to Anna Gregory; $182,000 621 Edgecliff St.: Amber and John Pilcher to Joseph Portwood; $146,000 636 W. 12th St.: Kenady Fundings, LLC to Rachel Fedor; $159,000 862 Crescent Ave.: East Row Home Buyers, LLC to SFR3-020, LLC; $57,500 870 Crescent Ave.: East Row Home Buyers, LLC to SFR3-020, LLC; $67,500 9155 Blue Ridge Drive: Jodi and Steven Hedger to Shelby Pendelton; $163,000 923 Western Ave.: OR Investments, LLC to Jarrod Lane; $60,000

Crescent Springs 2481 Sierra Drive: Fischer Single Family Homes IV,

LLC to Jose Osuna; $516,500

Crestview Hills 2821 University Drive: Elizabeth and James Muench to Daniel Bolinger; $280,000

Elsmere 3780 Harvest Way: Don Street to Darlene and Steve Duncan; $175,000 7780 Bridgegate Court: New Hopeful, LLC to Mary and Bertin Lopez; $135,000

Erlanger 117 Kincaid Lane, unit 5-49: Avery Hensley to Phyllis and Gregory Baker; $150,500 3154 Birch Drive: Christine Land to Becky Land; $130,000 325 Timberlake Ave.: Patricia Archambault and Alan Archambault to Kyli Mahoney; $170,000 4109 Lloyd Ave.: Ashley and Adam Noah to Brent Taylor; $196,000 4126 Lloyd Ave.: Dina and Todd Taylor to Ethan Fields; $155,000 889 Doe Ridge: Karin and Timothy Flaherty to Bailee and Tanner Lockard; $380,000

Fort Mitchell 12 Thompson Ave.: Angela and Michael Brinkman to Jessica Roth and Kurt Greivenkamp; $215,000 123 Kathleen Drive: Diann and Roger Meade to Greenbriar Avenue, LLC; $275,000

139 Pleasant Ridge Avenue: Lauren and Adam Rust to Anna and Jeffrey Logsdon; $244,500 2129 Rolling Hills Drive, unit 17-201: Susan and Allen Byrnside to Andrew Nogueira; $203,000 4 Burdsall Ave.: Scott Patrick to Candace and Don Street; $285,000 6648 Gordon Boulevard: The Drees Company to Aalia and Willis Dickmann; $343,500

Fort Wright 109 Ridgemont Ave.: Lisa and Michael Lange to Samantha Finke and Joshua Tawney; $225,000 3319 Madison Pike: Thomas Kerr to Hydedugout, LLC; $975,000 719 Highland Ave.: Blue Diamond Properties, Inc. to Kimberly and Clay Thompson; $150,000

Independence 10251 Highmeadow Lane: Cheryl and Gregory Benner to Tina and Richare Lenzer; $347,000 10695 Sinclair Drive: Mary and James Beach to David Striker; $234,000 11311 Staffordsburg Road: Renee and Herbert Sothard Jr. to Joseph Casebolt; $217,000 2030 Aristocrat Boulevard: Georgia and Scotford Smith to Jonathan Kissel; $280,000 3433 Senour Road: Wilson Service Pro, LLC to Emily and Justin Minter; $200,000 3577 Dorset Court: The

Drees Company to Anthony Deck; $494,500 6244 Arbor Ridge Court: Aaron Terrill to Michael Barone; $432,500 665 Hogrefe Road: Arlinghaus Builders, LLC to Julieanne and Justin Faulkner; $328,000 805 Acherly Drive: Christopher McFarland to Jennifer and Travis Laroche; $266,000

Ludlow 562 Riversbreeze Drive, unit 24-203: Emily Condit to Tyler Niehaus; $196,500

Park Hills 1003 Parkcrest Lane: Gabriele Vosmeier to Kelly and Craig Barnes; $276,500 1058 Altavia St.: Emily and Michael Hellmann to Bradley Popham; $230,000

Taylor Mill 3193 Taylor Creek Drive: Nancy Gustafson to Amy and Brandon Wernert; $306,500 3535 Wolf Road: Christianna and Joseph Lewis to Corey Zamrick; $114,000 5219 Eureka Drive: Mia Perdue to Jerrod Doud; $140,000

Villa Hills 2804 Dry Ridge Court: Lisa and Joshua Beiting to Krizzle Gascon; $99,000

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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KENTON RECORDER

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