A Town Council meeting in Elsmere in early April became so tense during public comment that the mayor called for a recess and then abruptly resigned on the spot after the exchange obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal reveals what led to the sudden resignation and where the town of about 6,000 people has to go from here It wasn't anything on the agenda that caused the resignation but the public comment section that sparked the exchange who was just reelected in an uncontested race could not make it to Shelton's viewing or funeral because he was away on family business Thompson did not return multiple requests for comment Personti was sworn in as mayor on April 13 As president pro tempore of the Elsmere Town Council she is next in line for the mayor's office Thompson's absence caused a considerable rift between the mayor and the town's police force boiling over when former Mayor Steve Burg drove from Lewes to the April 10 meeting to lay into Thompson MORE ON ELSMERE'S NEW MAYOR Elsmere appoints new mayor after abrupt resignation at Town Council meeting "You cannot turn your back on the Police Department and they need your respect," Burg said in his public comment "I drove all the way up from Lewes just to say my piece because I was so mad of the situation where somebody didn't come." who served two terms as mayor before Thompson was elected continued to express his frustration and anger Burg said he attended a viewing for Shelton and they resemble your leadership," he said to Thompson at the meeting Thompson rebutted by asking if Burg was speaking on behalf of the town's Police Department or if he was speaking for himself The mayor said he would happily go off record for a brief recess to hear anyone's thoughts outside of the council chambers Burg said he did not coordinate with the police before speaking at the meeting in the interview with WDEL "We can go outside and you can tell me how you feel because it will absolutely impact where we go from here," Thompson said at the meeting The tone of the offer for a private chat was taken differently by different people Personti said she did not think it was antagonistic Burg could not be reached for comment about the meeting and the exchange Thompson returned from discussions with police officers who were at the meeting "After taking a brief recess to reflect on some things I hereby formally resign my position as mayor," Thompson said Thompson said he resigned because he didn't want to be a "distraction." He also said in retrospect he realized he could have talked to more people and thought about his travel situation differently Personti now has to deal with the fallout in the small town She told Delaware Online/The News Journal on April 15 that she wished it could have gone down differently She wants to repair the relationship between the town government and its police during her term as mayor "I think that what needs to happen now is that we work toward healing," she said "and one thing I want to make sure is that not only our officers Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com By: 6:30 am on April 24 The affordable housing lottery has launched for 811 Elsmere Place, a four-story residential building in Tremont Designed by Fred Geremia Architects & Planners and developed by Paul Durgaj of Durgaj Properties Available on NYC Housing Connect are four units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI) ranging in eligible income from $83,006 to $218,010 Tenants are responsible for electricity including stove The building features bike storage lockers there are two studios with a monthly rent of $2,421 for incomes ranging from $72,000 to $124,150; one one-bedroom with a monthly rent of $2,461 for incomes ranging from $76,149 to $139,620; and one two-bedroom with a monthly rent of $2,716 for incomes ranging from $92,743 to $167,570 Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than May 7 Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews So the outside brick looks terrible like the concrete work was incorrectly done Reminds me very much of Rosario Candela’s buildings on Park Ave the words FEDDER on the ACs would complete the hideousness ga('send', 'event', 'beautyofblock', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Standard_336x280-100-2.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'PCRichards Builders Division', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PCR_Beko_Compact_YIMB_336x280.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'yimby+', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image.png', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram var sb_instagram_js_options = {"font_method":"svg","placeholder":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/instagram-feed\/img\/placeholder.png","resized_url":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sb-instagram-feed-images\/","ajax_url":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY® LLC YIMBY IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF NIKOLAI FEDAK / NEW YORK YIMBY LLC First State Update Delaware's News Authority | Delaware Breaking News | Local News The Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred last night in Wilmington that left one man dead a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling in the left westbound lane of Kirkwood Highway approaching the intersection with North Woodward Avenue a pedestrian entered the Jeep’s path of travel from the north edge of the roadway and was struck by the SUV according to police His name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified a 31-year-old man from Wilmington was not injured The roadway was closed for approximately 2 hours while the scene was investigated and cleared About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy, Terms & Rules Facebook According to WCPO news partner LINK nky attorney Jeff Otis of Covington-based law firm Otis The document charges Owen with six counts of woeful neglect of council duties and misconduct due to her lack of attendance at city meetings and participation in legislative functions throughout 2025 For more background on Owen's situation, click here One charge stems from an incident on April 10 where Owen allegedly directed city staff to delete pictures of her attending a public city event in April per the charging document — two days after a city council meeting she failed to attend a blatant attempt to disguise (Owen's) ability to attend city meetings." Another misconduct charge centers on Owen's refusal to accept pay for her role on city council She has long considered her council terms to be volunteer work according to past statements Owen shared with us but the charging document finds that to be "dishonest WATCH: What's next for Serena Owen ahead of her removal hearing this May You can read more about all six charges and other updates coming out of Tuesday's meeting here The public removal hearing for Owen is slated for May 27 at 6:30 p.m she has not returned our message or any of our requests over the last several months "She goes from one extreme — the reason why she (doesn't) come in to the meetings — to the other extreme," said Rusty Smith Elsmere resident and husband of councilwoman Joanne Barnett Smith just (to) get back to where they were: one big family again." she had lied on several statements that she made," Smith said According to a narrative attached to the complaint Owen told police she was being harassed online by Smith she perceived comments Smith left on her Facebook posts as threatening shape or form did I threaten her," Smith said In one Facebook post of Owen's that mentioned Smith stop your lying about what is going on and face facts You need to resign and save the community $10,000 if you love Elsmere that much." Owen also claimed to feel threatened by statements Smith made to her in person Smith said he has never threatened to physically harm her in person or online and there's no way I could fight if I had to duel somebody with my bone cancer," he said "That's why I'm doing this (interview): to put a stop to her once and for all Do not use my name in anything that you write or say." Kenton County's assistant county attorney declined to press charges Smith's statements were not statements protected by the 1st Amendment there is no threat of death or serious physical injury communicated by Mr express or implied," assistant county attorney Drew Harris wrote Smith ran for an Elsmere City Council seat in November 2024 He came up approximately 81 votes short from being elected meaning if Owen is removed from office in May Smith said he doesn't care if its him or someone else to fill her seat "I want the community to know exactly what's going on," said Smith "I believe with this public hearing and with people speaking out they will start realizing where the problem lies." The definitive guide to Portland's food scene The owners of Elsmere BBQ, Jeremy Rush and Adam Powers, have announced they plan to close their South Portland barbecue restaurant November 9th will be their last day in business Their statement on instagram reads in part Jeremy and I are leaving the Elsmere ownership group It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you this entire time We will carry with us fond memories of creating and testing all the wonderful recipes that became the backbone of Elsmere of learning the subtleties and nuances of Mama and of staying up until 3:00 AM painting the dish room so we could get our food license in time to open the next day on August 17th 2013…We never could have anticipated the warmth and encouragement the community would provide to us We thank you all for embracing us with open arms and allowing us to be the cornerstone of the neighborhood Powers and rush launched Elsmere in 2013 They went on to open a second location on Stevens Ave which opened in 2018 and closed in 2022 Do you have some details you’d like to pass on about an upcoming business or development in the Portland food scene? Then please fill out our Contact Form — The Elsmere City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday to begin the removal process for Councilwoman Serena Owen after she was absent at the majority of council meetings last year shows Owen missed 16 of 23 (69.6%) public meetings in 2024 The last meeting she attended took place in June 2024 Owen has also not attended any meetings this year Councilmember Gloria Grubbs introduced the motion at Tuesday's meeting to begin Owen’s removal due to "unlawful neglect of council duties citing concerns from other council members and Elsmere residents." WATCH: Breaking down the removal of Serena Owen Owen was offered the opportunity to attend Tuesday's meeting but did not show up. Owen was also offered a bulletproof vest and police escort to Tuesday's meeting due to her previous claims that her absenteeism was due to feelings of an unsafe work environment She requested the opportunity to attend meetings virtually but the council turned down Owen's request due to the costs of setting up virtual attendance According to the City of Elsmere ordinance elected officials are allowed to be removed through a unanimous vote by city council members excluding the council member whom the removal vote is on in cases of “misconduct inability or willful neglect in the performance of the duties,” of the official’s elected office Some city residents called for the removal of Owen earlier in March. Owen will have 30 days to schedule a public hearing if she chooses to challenge the motion according to Elsmere city attorney Greg Voss she is also allowed to appeal the eventual decision that comes out of the public hearing in the courts WATCH: Our previous reporting on the absenteeism of Serena Owen The mayor of Elsmere resigned abruptly at a Town Council meeting on April 10 Eric Thompson has been in office as mayor since May 2017 He was going to be sworn in for another term on May 5 OTHER COUNTY MAYOR NEWS: Travis McDermott will be Newark's next mayor It is not immediately clear why Thompson resigned and the town would not provide more information April 11 the town does not have any details about how they will replace Thompson It said a statement on the resignation will be prepared for April 14 The meeting agenda included two ordinances to relinquish the town's claim over small areas of land along its southern municipal border It also included the consideration of signing a tribute to a recently deceased town police officer About two months after receiving a sizable taxpayer-funded grant officially announced it would build its newest manufacturing facility near Elsmere A groundbreaking ceremony was held at Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park on April 29 bringing together business and government officials to celebrate the milestone Merck’s facility reportedly will be operational within three to five years and will produce cancer immunotherapy treatments for U.S Merck officials presented to Delaware’s Council of Development Finance to make their case for receiving a grant to invest in their ambitious project the company reported it would invest roughly $900 million in a multi-building campus manufacturing suites and logistic spaces in its 470,000-square-foot space Roughly $330 million of the total investment would fund the construction of the new buildings $290 million would go toward new equipment and machinery and $80 million would cover other miscellaneous upgrades The Council on Development Finance approved the request for this taxpayer-funded grant, worth a total of $30.2 million if Merck agreed to sign a lease at the CRISP campus $4.7 million was to be allocated toward job performance grants dispersed after the company hits certain hiring targets Spotlight Delaware reported that officials from Merck and MRA signed a “memorandum of lease”, which describes a 20-year lease that began in February Groundbreaking begins on $1 billion facilityA groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site on the morning of April 29 at the CRISP campus Matt Meyer and New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry the total investment is now expected to be over $1 billion with 500 full-time jobs and 4,000 construction jobs expected on the job site The laboratory component of the new site is expected to be completed by 2028 with the manufacturing wing of the facility aiming to be fully operational by 2030 The site will become the future manufacturing site for Keytruda an immunotherapy drug used in the treatment of different types of cancers “The decision to build a new biologics facility in Wilmington demonstrates our commitment to advancing U.S manufacturing and partnering in communities where our employees live and work,” said Sanat Chattopadhyay executive vice president and president of\ Merck Manufacturing Division research and development and pharmaceutical manufacturing CRISP offers unparalleled opportunities for future expansion.” Merck also operates Merck Animal Health site in Millsboro located at 984 Centre Road just outside of Greenville has long been a mainstay in the state’s evolving life sciences investment the 164-acre site was purchased by MRA Group in 2021 with hopes of transforming the site into the leading campus for Delaware’s life science laboratories and research facilities Chemical manufacturing company Solenis expanded its research and development facilities into the CRISP campus in late 2022 and precision oncology company Prelude Therapeutics cut the ribbon on their new headquarters at CRISP in February 2024 DuPont is also leasing 190,000 square feet of space at its former space New libraries: Delaware's newest library reimagines community learning. Here's a sneak peek MRA broke ground on a 127-room Marriott Residence Inn located adjacent to the site of Merck’s new facility Other amenities on the site include a childcare center which recently opened and is accepting students Molly McVety covers community and environmental issues around Delaware. Contact her at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety (This story was updated to add a photo gallery.) Elsmere has a new mayor one week after an abrupt resignation at a Town Council meeting Former Council President Pro Tempore Joann Personti has taken over the mayor's office resigned suddenly at a Town Council meeting on April 10 Personti has been on the Town Council serving the town's northeast side She was sworn in to her new job on April 13 after serving on council since 2003 which allows the council president pro tempore to take over for the rest of the mayor's term Her seat on the council is now vacant and will be up for election Her priorities include advancing infrastructure improvements like stormwater management and street conditions The exact reasons for Thompson's resignation are still unclear A statement from the town on Monday thanked Thompson for his service Personti is tasked with repairing a fractured relationship with the town's police department who was away in Florida on a family matter according to Personti did not attend the funeral of a police officer who recently died That led to a chain reaction where a tense meeting led to his sudden resignation "One thing I want to make sure is that not only our officers but all town employees feel respected," Personti said on April 15 "I was kind of surprised to learn how strong their feelings were with this and how upset they were that certainly is a priority to try to work through that." More: Elsmere mayor abruptly resigns at Town Council meeting the time and effort he put into his position and his focus on what is best for the residents and wish him the best of luck in future endeavors," the statement from the town reads (This story has been updated with new information.) officers from the New Castle County Police Mobile Enforcement Team arrested 38-year-old Craig Speakman of Wilmington on multiple felony charges The arrest followed a vehicle pursuit that stemmed from an investigation into illegal drug sales Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Honda Civic driven by Speakman on Locust Avenue in Elsmere in connection with the illegal drug sales investigation he collided with a parked Nissan Sentra on G Street then reversed into a fully marked New Castle County Police Tahoe with its emergency lights on police said Speakman approached a stopped school bus with its stopping equipment activated and children actively attempting to exit and continued his attempt to evade officers Speakman then turned onto Sanders Road and continued driving through a business parking lot where he struck a parked vehicle occupied by a 40-year-old male Officers were able to take Speakman into custody following the crash Neither Speakman nor the involved officer sustained injuries The occupant of the parked vehicle suffered minor injuries and was treated and released at the scene Detectives from the Division’s Traffic Services Unit arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation into the accident the Mobile Enforcement Team recovered 32 ecstasy pills (MDMA) and four amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) pills along with packaging materials and other items commonly associated with narcotics distribution police said Speakman was transported to New Castle County Police headquarters where he was charged with the following crimes: Craig Speakman was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to pay $26,500 cash bail A fatal accident involving a bicyclist occurred late Friday night near Elsmere Emergency crews were dispatched to the area of Kirkwood Highway and Woodward Avenue at approximately 11:24 p.m first responders located a male in his 40s lying in the westbound lanes of Kirkwood Highway It has not been confirmed whether the bicyclist was struck by a vehicle the man was pronounced deceased shortly after emergency personnel arrived Authorities closed the westbound side of Kirkwood Highway while investigators worked to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and clear the scene The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing ELSMERE, Ky. — The Elsmere caucus meeting on Tuesday opened with words of support for ousted Councilwoman Serena Owen — they came from Owen's mother "To say Councilwoman Owen cares about this community is an understatement as everything she has done to help this community is out of unconditional love," Wilson said "She has not shown any signs of neglect at all." Wilson said Owen is active in the community and her work includes helping provide hundreds of families living in food deserts with food each month The sentiment seemed to have little effect on Owen's fellow council members who appeared poised to take the next steps in her removal process during the meeting We now know Owen will exercise her right to a public hearing in an attempt to keep her position the council unanimously voted to remove Owen Hear more about the public hearing in the video below: council members held discussions in an executive session over Owen's upcoming public hearing they approved setting aside $10,000 from the city's reserve funds to hire attorney Jeff Otis to represent them in the matter Otis is now tasked with investigating the situation A date for the hearing will be set at next week's city council meeting "I would hope that if you're elected to a position you would be present to do that job," Councilwoman Gloria Grubbs said "There's many things we've offered to do to make her feel comfortable." The council previously put together a “package of options” for Owen who claims her nonattendance is due to feeling unsafe inside council chambers It included a police escort to meetings and a bullet proof vest Since September 2024, Owen has asked the city to grant her ADA accommodations including the option to attend meetings virtually citing the cost of setting up a virtual attendance mechanism Wilson again petitioned the council to consider a virtual option for her daughter city teammates and constituents is what we should do as Councilwoman Owen is also your constituent," she said "You gave other council members accommodations How is (Owen) willfully neglecting her duties if she's been trying to serve since September 2024?" The council declined to take up the matter again CINCINNATI — Public records shared with WCPO 9 News reveal that removed Elsmere Councilwoman Serena Owen filed a criminal complaint against a constituent in January for alleged online harassment While the county attorney declined to prosecute the Elsmere resident he said the ordeal has had an impact on him There was never a threat against anybody or anyone in any of the posts because I'm not that type of person," Bunzow said He denied all allegations found in the criminal complaint which contains miscellaneous copies of online posts Owen claims are harassing posts a copy of a Kentucky Attorney General's office complaint an Elsmere city email thread and an open records request copy Bunzow made WATCH: Why did a Northern Kentucky councilwoman file a criminal complaint against her constituent WCPO reached out to Owen several times on Thursday but has not heard back Bunzow wrote about Owen's attendance in August 2024 "The fact that (Owen) wants to sit and call me a liar is the reason why I'm even saying anything and I hope that you decide not to vote for her in November," he wrote on Aug Most of the Facebook posts found in the complaint revolve around Owen's lack of attendance at city council meetings A previous WCPO analysis of public records showed Owen missed 16 of 23 (69.6%) public meetings in 2024 And Owen has missed every council meeting this year so far "(I) was literally asking questions and making statements that were actually truthful," Bunzow said "The biggest complaint that I have is that she's not at the meetings." Owen claims she received at least one online death threat in a note jotted at the bottom of one page: "*RIP - life threat concern." Owen tried to make a case for charging Bunzow "(Owen) advised in the summer months of 2024 Bunzow began harassing her online Victim Owen advised Bunzow was lying and spreading misinformation about her," the complaint read Owen wrote under a section titled police report "(Bunzow) began unwarrantedly attacking me on my peaceful Facebook posts stating lies about me receiving pay while absent." "Because she has physical checks that the city has given her," Bunzow said WCPO has reviewed copies of city pay stubs made out to Owen between May and August 2024 The records show Owen's earnings and deductions Owen insists she wasn't paid by the city for her role and those copies are "fake checks." Kenton County's chief prosecutor declined to press charges against Bunzow "The public must enjoy the right to petition their government for a redress of grievances Owen must understand that she is the government by virtue of her office of Councilmember," he wrote our laws have always supported the right of the public to confront those that represent them in a reasonable manner WCPO reached out to the Elsmere Police Department for an update on the case but has not heard back as of the publishing of this article the Elsmere City Council unanimously voted to begin the removal process for Owen after she was absent at the majority of council meetings last year Owen is afforded a public hearing over the matter and has 30 days to request one She also has the opportunity to appeal the motion in the Kenton County Circuit Court — Amid a familiar sight in Elsmere's council chambers — an empty seat with Councilwoman Serena Owen's name placard in front of it — city residents called on the city council to remove the chronically absent Mrs shows Owen missed 16 of 23 (or 69.6%) public meetings in 2024 it's put up or shut up time,” said Andrew Myatt a resident and former write-in candidate for council The March 4 caucus meeting held on Tuesday marks the fifth public meeting held in 2025 and the fifth Owen has missed this year Owen has missed 21 of 28 public meetings since 2024 Council members seemed receptive to residents' calls for removal and discussed next steps during a public discussion The tentative plan includes notifying Owen of the council's intentions to hold a removal vote in April They will also offer her a final opportunity to appear at the next council meeting on March 11 She would receive a bulletproof vest and police escort to that meeting Owen has previously claimed her absenteeism is due to feelings of an unsafe work environment She asked the city to grant her ADA accommodations elected officials can be removed through a unanimous vote by city council members — excluding the member who the removal vote is on — in cases of “misconduct or willful neglect in the performance of the duties,” of the official’s elected office Any removal vote affords the official in question the right to a “full public hearing.” The official — in this case Owen — would also have the right to appeal the decision to the Kenton County Circuit Court You don't show," Councilwoman Joanne Barnett Smith said “You go to any other job and don't go to work having garnered the second-most votes of any current council member WCPO 9 News reached out to Owen late Tuesday night “I'm not trying to sound like a martyr or anything I broke my back,” Councilwoman Gloria Grubbs said I came to (city council) meetings on a walker.” ELSMERE, Ky. — An Elsmere city councilwoman who was just re-elected has missed more than 70% of public meetings in 2024, according to publicly available attendance records analyzed by WCPO 9 News Councilwoman Serena Owen has missed 13 of the 18 public meetings held this year through Nov including city council meetings and city caucus meetings Per documents on the city of Elsmere website, the last public meeting Owen attended was a June 4 caucus meeting WCPO has reached out to Owen multiple times for comment over the last two months She eventually responded to our inquiries over the phone Tuesday following a city council meeting she did not attend — her husband "There are several men who have been attacking me," Serena Owen said Owen named one of those men as Elsmere resident Eric Bunzow She's feeling threatened and intimidated by me," Bunzow "It's not threatening when you're asking questions She said he legally carries a firearm with him at public meetings Bunzow confirmed he open carries but said he has never made any threats toward Owen or anyone with his firearm When asked if she filed a report or complaint with Elsmere police including the police chief who attends city public meetings "I had near-perfect attendance in 2023," Owen said "I want everyone who serves and everyone who attends our meetings to be safe." "I think I've made more meetings than her [this year]," Bunzow said "There have been meetings that haven't been able to meet the quorum." "What other job in America can you have and miss that percentage of work and keep your job?" Andrew Myatt "You need to have somebody that's going to be there willing to be a voice." Myatt ran against Owen as a write-in candidate for city council this November He lost while she garnered the second most votes of any candidate I hope that she just participates," Myatt said if she knew why Owen had missed so many meetings I've heard various reasons but I can't say myself," she said We vote and talk about things that are most important to them." In an article by our news partner LINK nky loving leader with a servant’s heart and a ‘win-win’ spirit.” Owen previously served on the Erlanger-Elsmere School Board Her prior experience also includes work for the Kentucky Voting Rights Coalition and the Erlanger-Elsmere Historical Society While Owen has not cast a vote since at least June she told LINK nky her goals this term include improving parks encouraging the city’s businesses and economic growth and promoting education and public services To provide context to the extent of Councilwoman Owen's absences WCPO 9 News has analyzed the attendance records of officials in surrounding Northern Kentucky cities through Oct When asked about Owen's attendance record, Elsmere Mayor Marty Lenhof told WCPO 9 News technology and services enable institutions to launch, enhance and scale quickly   a leader in growth solutions for higher education has launched a new suite of subscription services allowing universities to better serve non-traditional learners.  The subscriptions leverage Elsmere's 12 years of experience in the field and deliver both processes and technologies that enable universities to launch new programs quickly and efficiently and then manage them internally when they are ready Elsmere Education has launched a suite of subscription services allowing universities to better serve learners "This suite of solutions provides a dynamic new way to support institutions in growing their online and other non-traditional offerings," said Dan Janick "Our services – whether used individually or in combination – help schools understand their entire marketing experience funnel from recruitment to enrollment to graduation and easily integrate systems to spur growth." The new product suite is in response to rapid change in the industry and the need to offer colleges and universities more flexibility as many begin to build in-house capabilities Elsmere's subscription-based model and flexible contracts can adapt with an institution as it evolves allowing the ability to scale services up to accelerate growth or down as more functions move internally The University of Oklahoma engaged Elsmere as a vendor for its online programming for more than 10 years due to Elsmere's focus on enabling universities to build their own capabilities in-house OU was positioned to launch OU Education Services This new entity now houses OU's online program internally "The state of higher education has never been more dynamic," said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr "With increasing demands by students for online course colleges and universities must continually look for products and services that help them gain insight into the current market The University of Oklahoma's relationship with Elsmere has allowed us to continually grow our online offerings efficiently and effectively to enable our students to achieve their educational objectives." Elsmere Education will be available to discuss its full set of subscription-based solutions at the P3 Conference in Denver Media Contact:Andrea Myers, Candor[email protected]918-691-9324 Elsmere Education and Human Capital Research Corporation (HCRC) have merged to create Human Capital Education Education Computer & Electronics Computer Software Computer Software Do not sell or share my personal information: Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Councilwoman Serena Owen has faced scrutiny for missing meetings this year she cites harassment and health concerns as a reason for her absences and has proposed a hybrid alternative so she can continue to serve Owen has served on the Elsmere City Council since Jan. 2023. According to the City of Elsmere website, she only missed two of the 24 scheduled meetings in her first year she’s been absent from 15 of the 19 meetings Owen showed Spectrum News 1 several emails She said," The conversation started in September.. I wanted to make sure that my mayor and our city council knew that I was dealing with issues of feeling harassed and attacked and which was exacerbating my disabilities and causing me to be absent." Owen claims she was being harassed by resident Eric Bunzow on social media and feels intimidated when he comes to meetings wearing a concealed gun He is allowed to carry because he is in compliance with state and local laws Under Kentucky law individuals can carry firearms into public buildings unless explicitly prohibited I can carry a weapon into a building that doesn’t have signage against it There’s no ordinance or state law saying I can’t.” noting that she is the daughter of a retired police officer and the wife of a veteran She said she proposed the hybrid option to not impose on others’ right and open another avenue for residents like herself to make sure they are still involved in meetings.  Bunzow still disagreed with Owen’s approach on the matter and said,”If you aren’t able to be there you should step down one if you have your issues I have PTSD from being a volunteer fireman for six years the council officially denied Owen’s request to attend the last meeting virtually leaving the big question of how she will serve in her re-elected term if no solution is found “One of the things that I plan to do within the second term is make sure that every voice is valued and that everyone in our community is included and has access to being able to fully participate within our government And we can do that through a virtual hybrid office and option.” Public records also showed in previous years the council allowed two other members to attend meetings virtually an attorney representing Mayor Marty Lenoff's office said those members were out of town the attorney said the mayor’s office has offered Owen significant accommodations including police protection from her home and to the meetings ELSMERE, Ky. — In a lawsuit filed Monday, former Elsmere police chief Joseph Maier is alleging Mayor Marty Lenhof wrongfully fired him after Maier uncovered unethical behavior by a city police officer Lexington-based attorney Kate Bennett is representing Maier She said he is seeking recompense for lost wages "This is an individual that saw misconduct within his department had no support from city officials — specifically the mayor — and then was terminated for doing his job and doing the right thing," she said a spokesperson for the city called the lawsuit "unfounded." "The city has no intention of litigating this case in the media," said Patrick Crowley on behalf the city of Elsmere "We look forward to vigorously defending the mayor and the city The city will have no further comment at this time." "I learned of some concerning issues with operations and management of the police department," Lenhof wrote in a termination letter to Maier that day "Especially concerning was the hostile work environment." The lawsuit stems from Maier's May 2023 investigation into a female sergeant within the department The suit claims it was around that time the former chief was informed by a detective that an Elsmere police sergeant was sending inappropriate messages to a parolee and visiting him while she was on duty was convicted in April 2023 after attempting to procure sex online from someone he believed to be a 15-year-old girl "When [Maier] began to investigate this person Maier went on to launch an internal investigation where he reviewed Hill's cell phone records It was confirmed that [she] had not only been communicating with Hill while on duty but she had also been sending Hill explicit photos of herself while working for EPD," the lawsuit claims A press release from Bennett stated the woman had communicated with Hill “over 3,845 times.” the suit claims Maier discovered the female employee was spending "significant portions of time" at Lenhof's home and office while she was on duty Maier’s suit alleges he repeatedly emailed and phoned these issues to Lenhof in an effort to begin disciplinary action he continued to try to contact the mayor," Bennett said "The mayor simply became unavailable: did not visit the police department did not attempt to engage in any sort of communication with [Maier] or individuals within the police department." The suit claims Maier took matters into his own hands on July 31 he informed the sergeant she was under investigation and discipline would be forthcoming the female sergeant went into City Attorney Greg Voss’ office The suit names former city administrator Matthew Dowling as witness to this The suit states that Maier was offered one month’s severance pay to resign characterizes his tutelage of the department as shoddy and Maier himself as “insubordinate.” Bennett denied those claims on behalf of her client "This is information that we believe the public needs to know," she said "I think over the course of the next several weeks and months the public will will see that there is a direct and tangible evidence of this occurring within the city." Maier spent decades working as a law enforcement officer prior to being at the helm of the Elsmere Police Department He began his career as an investigator for the Citizen Compliance Board in Washington before going on to work for the Northern Kentucky University Police Department and Florence Police Department He now serves as a specialist for the Fort Mitchell Police Department Elsmere Education and Human Capital Research Corporation join forces to create a new enablement company 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elsmere Education and Human Capital Research Corporation (HCRC) have merged to create Human Capital Education The new combined organization will provide marketing enrollment and retention solutions for undergraduate Human Capital Education will offer CRM expertise and solutions for student success and advancement through Slate and Salesforce the two leading CRM platforms in higher education "As the lines blur between online and on-campus offerings and universities crave more actionable insights about how to serve their students Human Capital Education will provide a comprehensive suite of services and technology solutions," said Justin McMorrow founder of Elsmere Education and CEO of Human Capital Education "Combining our strengths in a thoughtful manner will take our focus on enabling universities to advance to the next level." Denver-based company focused on building and managing online programs for colleges and universities Chicago-based HCRC has 34 years of experience providing data and insights to higher education institutions to support enrollment and assessing and improving internal performance and practices Both organizations have recently increased their technology offerings: Elsmere added subscriptions to its Elsmere Insights and EPaaS solutions and HCRC expanded its Slate Services division "Joining together as Human Capital Education makes sense for us because we have shared values and believe strongly in creating lasting sustainable solutions," said Brian Zucker founder of HCRC and now President and Chief Research Officer for Human Capital Education "This combination creates the opportunity to combine HCRC's data on undergraduate students and Elsmere's data on non-traditional students into a complete view of all students that an institution serves." Leaders within Human Capital Education are actively pursuing joint product development to bring customers the benefits of both organizations Consultants and Partner Success Managers from each organization will continue to support clients on a day-to-day basis Human Capital Education welcomed Haven Capital Partners as a minority growth investor Haven's leadership brings deep expertise in the education marketplace and capital to support the strategic vision of the Human Capital Education management team in the enablement and advancement of their university partners "We are proud to be a minority investor in Human Capital Education Both Elsmere and HCRC have long-standing legacies of excellence and we have great trust in their leadership to continue delivering exceptional value to customers," said David Bainbridge partner and co-founder of Haven Capital Partners "We are confident this partnership will create a lasting positive impact on customers and the broader higher education industry." Learn more about Human Capital Education by reaching out to [email protected] Media Contact:Adam Brooks(405) 615-2659[email protected] has launched a new suite of subscription services allowing universities to.. Banking & Financial Services New Products & Services — We are getting a first look at the new $100 million distribution center Chick-fil-A Supply is building in Elsmere The company is a branch within Chick-fil-A and is responsible for supporting the restaurant chain’s distribution network "We started Chick-fil-A Supply and we opened our first distribution center in 2019 and that was in a direct response to meet our restaurants senior director of distribution operations for Chick-fil-A Supply "(The company) is able to do a lot of things that the industry just doesn't have the luxury of doing." The new center will be located in Kenton County on over 28 acres and will span more than 270,000 square feet It will support deliveries for about 150 Chick-fil-A restaurants across the region “Elsmere not only provides access to quality talent but its unique location will also allow us to receive product by rail,” said Josh Grote “We’re grateful to the Elsmere community and Commonwealth of Kentucky for the warm welcome and look forward to serving Chick-fil-A restaurants in the area.” Chick-fil-A Supply will make a $25,000 donation to a local Feeding America food bank to support hunger relief efforts in the community once the distribution center opens its doors "It is an investment in the future of our restaurant growth in Cincinnati and surrounding markets," Marques said and really look forward to growing those relationships." was attractive to the company due to its proximity to the railroad tracks which sit right behind the distribution center "We wanted this distribution center to be located with access to a rail because in addition to being a distribution center which come out of the Pacific Northwest and (the) Dakotas," he said Chick-fil-A Supply plans to employ more than 130 people in the first year Roles include a general manager and various leadership positions warehouse team members and maintenance technicians the center plans to employ 178 total workers "It speaks to getting development underway so that when clients want to invest in our community they've got options to pick from," said Lee Crume "This site that you're looking at has been under development for close to four years now." Chick-fil-A Supply will join e-commerce company fun.com and hand sanitizer manufacturer Diversey on the site Niagara Bottling is also set to move into the complex by 2026 will mark Chick-fil-A Supply's 12th distribution center in the country and first in Kentucky "(It) speaks to the strength of the food and flavoring industry we have in Northern Kentucky," Crume said Construction on the site has already begun and the facility is expected to be fully operational by 2026 — Councilwoman Serena Owen was front and center in public discussion during an Elsmere city meeting Tuesday night — even though she was absent Faced with many complaints from concerned residents who cited our reporting Owen’s fellow council members publicly implored her to return to council chambers for the first time since June you show up,” council member Gloria Grubbs said The councilwoman, who was just re-elected, has missed more than 70% of public meetings in 2024, according to publicly available attendance records analyzed by WCPO 9 News Owen has missed 14 of 19 public meetings held this year Owen previously told WCPO 9 News her nonattendance was due to “threats” from a resident who regularly attends Elsmere’s meetings who legally carries an unloaded firearm inside the council chambers When asked if she filed a police report or complaint over the allegations “As the wife/daughter/granddaughter of U.S military veterans and a retired police officer I respect everyone's Second Amendment rights,” Owen said in a written statement on Wednesday “I reached out to our (police chief) and he shared that there is nothing he can do about our Kentucky state law allowing guns in municipal buildings and told me to stay safe.” Elsmere Police Chief Russell Wood spoke during Tuesday’s meeting about Owen’s request for safety accommodations I offered at great lengths for her to come and talk to me,” he said no face-to-face contact (has been made).” Wood said he put together a “package of options” for Owen which includes a police escort inside council chambers and plexiglass protection and police escort — that I appreciate [Wood] considering — may be costly for the city,” Owen said in a statement coupled with the harassment attacks I experienced.” Fellow council member Malcolm Daniels seemingly condemned Owens for ignoring the police department’s attempt to help put her at ease “It takes two parties to operate in good faith and I think the city and the administration have operated in good faith,” Daniels said and it pains me to say that because I want to vouch for her.” Owen’s absence coincided with her own husband’s attendance and advocacy on her behalf “We both respect everyone's Second Amendment right,” he said “I am here to ask that you grant Councilwoman Owen’s request —many requests — for ADA hybrid-virtual attendance accommodations.” The request garnered no support from council members The (Americans with Disabilities Act) really doesn't pertain to this situation,” Grubbs said “It’s correct she's not homebound where she can't get out or function in other meetings.” The decision to grant accommodations will fall on Elsmere's incoming council members “You’re not allowed to vote on anything that the citizens bring for you You're not here to vote,” Councilwoman Joanne Barnett Smith said “Why would you want to be virtual if your voice can't be counted anyway “If you're going to claim you can't come here because of a disability why is that disability not affecting you all the other places you go?” he said “I don't know why we're continuing to allow this charade to go on.” According to Councilwoman Owen’s Facebook page she has attended at least four public events in Northern Kentucky this past month including a church award ceremony a Northern Kentucky University Veterans Day event a food donation drive and a mental health awareness charity event “I understand using the trump card of medical (issues) but the trump card is not being used (by) going to other cities She's not sick for that,” said Rusty Smith a resident and husband of Councilwoman Barnett Smith “As a loving leader who values everyone and has served our Northern Kentucky communities for over 30 years I have been trying and am trying to attend our meetings so that I can continue to serve inside and outside council meetings,” Owen said the petition has garnered 20 signatures including signatures from Councilwoman Owen Read Councilwoman Serena Owen's full statement here: I am concerned about your late contact notice regarding a story about me that you're publishing today as I am in appointments today will you please accommodate me by sending me your questions so I can have time to process and respond thoroughly I have been actively trying to attend our Elsmere council meetings by way of an ADA (Americans with Disability Act) hybrid virtual option accommodation whereas I can attend virtually while those who are comfortable in the council chambers with guns can attend in person Our Telecommunications Board says there are two options: Full virtual and Hybrid (in-person and virtual) I am concerned that Elsmere Mayor Marty Lenhof denied the ADA disability accommodation of a full virtual meeting which is the easiest and I have not heard back from our Elsmere City Council regarding the ADA hybrid meeting accommodation option so that I can attend and participate virtually while anyone who chooses can attend in person As the wife/daughter/granddaughter of US Military Veterans and a retired Police Officer I respect everyone's 2nd Amendment Rights and I also respect everyone's right to life I reached out to our Police Chief Wood and he shared that there is nothing he can do about our KY State law allowing guns in municipal buildings and told me to stay safe and police escort that I appreciate him considering may be costly for the city and it disregards my disability requiring me to still be in person which coupled with the harassment attacks I experienced and the hostilities I continue to experience Why are our Mayor Lenhof and Elsmere City Council not complying with an ADA accommodation request for a member of our Council and community As a loving leader who values everyone and has served our Northern Kentucky communities for over 30 years I have been trying and am trying to attend our meetings so that I can continue to serve inside and outside council meetings which is why I started this new petition 'Support Safe NonViolent Municipal Meetings for All including People with Disabilities' to advocate for the safety and inclusion of every member in our community The former Elsmere police chief is suing the city and the mayor for wrongful termination claiming he was fired after he found one of his female sergeants was spending "significant portions of time" at the mayor's home and office Joseph Maier filed the lawsuit in Kenton County Circuit Court on Monday He is seeking reinstatement as chief and wants money to make up for lost income Maier was hired in July 2020 and fired by Mayor Marty Lenhof in August 2023 following claims that Maier was "insubordinate" and the department had a "hostile work environment" under his leadership City officials said Maier was terminated as chief because he did not follow Lenhof's directions on several occasions after being told to report directly to the mayor and "failed to communicate with the mayor in spite of the directives." An Elsmere police officer was also "not treated appropriately by a supervisor," which officials worried would lead to a lawsuit against the city Officials said Maier launched an investigation into the officer without consulting Lenhof Maier argues that his termination came the same day he told one of his female sergeants she was under investigation and facing disciplinary action The Enquirer is not naming the sergeant because she is not charged with a crime nor a party to the lawsuit Court documents state that Maier discovered the sergeant was having inappropriate contact with a man who had been convicted of "initiating sexually explicit conversations online with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old girl." Maier said a search of the man's phone showed his sergeant had been communicating with him and sending explicit photos of herself to him while on duty The sergeant's cruiser has a device that logs its location and with that technology Maier confirmed she visited the man as well "While verifying the location of (the sergeant's) cruiser Maier discovered that (she) was also spending significant portions of time while on duty at Lenhof's personal residence and office," the lawsuit states Maier said he had spent months trying to discuss the matter with Lenhof before informing the sergeant she could be disciplined On the day he moved forward with the disciplinary process he said he was called into Lenhof's office and told he could resign with a severance package or be terminated "The city has received and reviewed the lawsuit by Mr The premise of the lawsuit is completely unfounded The city has no intention of litigating this case in the media We look forward to vigorously defending the mayor and the city The case has been assigned to Judge Kathy Lape A hearing in the case has not yet been scheduled SOUTH PORTLAND (WGME) -- A South Portland restaurant that's been doing business for over a decade is closing its doors November 9th will be its final day in business the owners thank the community and their staff but did not provide any specifics on the reason for the closure 2024Four firefighters are recovering from injuries they suffered while battling a blaze at a Delaware home on Wednesday night.ELSMERE Delaware (WPVI) -- Four firefighters are recovering from injuries they suffered while battling a blaze at a Delaware home on Wednesday in the 100 block of South Colonial Avenue in Elsmere One firefighter is in serious condition with burns to his face The other three firefighters are said to be in better shape The state fire marshal is still investigating what started the blaze The Elsmere plant will create 60 jobs and hiring is set to begin in 2026 Niagara’s manufacturing facility will be housed at Elsmere’s C5 Airport East Logistics Center, which is located near major highways and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, according to real estate company Core5 Industrial Partners’ website The upcoming plant is also located near logistics hubs run by UPS, FedEx Ground, DHL as well as Amazon Air, according to Core5’s brochure Niagara Bottling operates more than 30 manufacturing plants worldwide that produce its various water and tea brands, according to the company’s website The beverage maker is also expanding its manufacturing footprint in the U.S., with at least four recent plant construction or expansion projects. Earlier this year, Niagara opened a $160 million manufacturing facility in Tangipahoa Parish In February, the company received approval from officials in Los Lunas, New Mexico, to more than double its water usage and expand production capacity at its facility in the area Niagara opened a $160 million manufacturing plant in Delano, California The site employs 58 workers and will add 62 jobs once the facility is completed The beverage maker also plans to build a $422 million manufacturing facility in Winter Haven, Florida, the Tampa Bay Business Journal reported in June The plant will create 100 jobs and span 1.45 million square feet Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts The technology can make it easier for companies to use 3D printing and enhance the design process.  A breakdown of candidate contributions from manufacturing-related PACs to Democrats and Republicans this election cycle.  Subscribe to Manufacturing Dive for top news Want to share a company announcement with your peers The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines