FOX31 Denver Plans to redevelop the land at the Park Hills Golf Course into a public space are moving forward The Aurora City Council is set to discuss a measure at its Monday night meeting that would help address unmanned aircraft systems that could potentially be launched over restricted areas of the Buckley Space Force Base Two men are facing robbery and bias-motivated crime charges after the Steamboat Springs Police Department received multiple reports of people who were scammed through fake jewelry sales Police are investigating a multi-vehicle hit-and-run crash in northeast Denver on Monday morning the 16th Street Mall is still struggling to fill vacancies and it’s also dealing with decreased foot traffic Crews are beginning a repaving project on Highway 119 and Highway 7 this week that’s expected to last through mid-August The city council is set to vote Monday on a land swap to develop the former Park Hill Golf Course Police are investigating a shooting that sent three people to the hospital Sunday night The Aurora City Council may change how they accept public comments in a Monday meeting The Regional Transportation District wants to hear from drivers in Boulder County about its rapid transit bus plan La Loma is opening a new location in Parker the Mile High City is celebrating Mexican culture all weekend through Cinco De Mayo on Monday Denver police are investigating a crash between a driver and a stand-up scooter rider Park Hills Mayor Stacey Easter seeks re-election Park Hills Mayor Stacey Easter [no relation to Ward 2 Councilman and mayoral candidate David W she holds an Associate’s Degree from Mineral Area College and a Bachelor’s Degree from Central Methodist University She has pursued additional education in municipal government operations and holds a Certified Municipal Official certification from the Municipal Governance Institute is also a member of the Park Hills Neighborhood Watch Program She previously served Park Hills on the city council and fulfilled the remainder of former Mayor John Clark’s term When asked about her accomplishments and goals for the future “I’ve accomplished a great deal within our administration and throughout our departments My administration supported the purchase of the following for our departments: a new fire truck eight flock cameras for the police department and the complete renovation of the water treatment facility I supported changing our health insurance plan to give all employees free health insurance I also help create and support various committees within the city to help engage our employees and citizens “Our administration needed leadership and knowledge so we can grow as a community and within our administration Bringing in a new city administrator was vital to the success of everything we needed to move forward I was adamant that we find someone who held all of the criteria we needed I hear from various officials in our county and outside our county that the fine gentleman Zach Franklin is and what a wonderful job he’s doing The council and I are very proud of this transition as he’s already leading us to great things.” She spoke about the award of nearly a million dollars in grant money during the past year “We continue to bring vital resources to all departments to ensure the safety of our employees and community I was instrumental in the new pool project from day 1 and was able to see it through We have had a successful opening year and are currently planning for an even better second year.” Easter said the largest project that she has taken on is the city’s Water and Wastewater Infrastructure “This is a project I started two years ago I believe this is one of the biggest issues we face as a city because our infrastructure is 70-80 years old Past administrations have only put band-aids on issues and haven’t taken the time to repair the problems We are going to ensure our community will be drinking safe water now and in the future.” Easter is eager to see the continued future successes of Park Hills and wants to spearhead those efforts “I’m running to continue all the work that still needs to be done I’m running because our city needs a mayor who not only listens but also takes action and ensures we are always looking for the best interests of the community NKyTribune Fort Mitchell city council approved the dissolution of the Ft Mitchell Economic Development Authority which is related to the Ft Mitchell Gateway TIF A municipal order passed after discussion which authorized disaster and emergency response overtime for exempt employees Another municipal order approved the sale of surplus equipment from the police and fire department Mitchell CAO Edwin King said that the fence has been installed on Grace Avenue The city will have an Arbor Day tree giveaway on April 26 from the NKY Office of Drug Control Policy came to the regular council meeting in Lakeside Park to see if Lakeside Park will commit two years of their opioid settlement money to the Kenton County Multi-Jurisdictional Law Enforcement Navigator program which would provide police social workers for the cities who have signed up and Erlanger and Independence have their own Mayor Paul Markgraf said he thought it was a good idea because the city will not receive enough settlement money to start their own police social worker program Several residents came to the meeting to express their feelings on whether the city should allow backyard chickens and of the people who spoke about chickens 8 supported the idea of the right to have chickens and 8 spelled out clearly that chickens are ‘dirty and attract pests and predators.’ Caroline Colvin is a health care provider at Childrens’ Hospital Beth Wilson indicated that her autistic daughter has an emotional support chicken that those that already have chickens be grandfathered in Her sister came from Warsaw to speak about how beneficial the chickens have been Libby Baker said she has experience with chickens they are ‘mean and peck you.’ She said she had a petition opposing chicken ownership in the city and asked people to sign but they were afraid because of backlash from their neighbors Another resident said she grew up in the country and was a 4H kid but she does not think chickens belong in the city She said if council approves livestock in the backyards she wondered where it would stop and ventured that she liked little pygmy goats who could probably be controlled by an electric fence She did have a petition with 23 signatures against having chickens but he said he has lived in the city for 20 years He stated that since one activist council member has been on council the city has been distracted with niche issues like sidewalks and chickens which he said makes the city look ridiculous in the media The city sent out an email to residents last Friday that spelled out rather sternly how people can address council but they have to be civil and respectful and one resident said she was shocked at the content of the email Mayor Markgraf made a point of thanking people for sharing their feelings and said the email with the executive order was not meant to be intimidating at all Joan Arlinghaus said she has chickens and has never had coyotes She and Beth Wilson had called the city to ask if there were any rules about owning chickens and was told they are governed by the nuisance law Arlinghaus said the chickens are her pets – she is not raising them She also said 16 of 19 other cities in Northern Kentucky have chicken ordinances and they ought to check with them Jim Wilson said chickens are not considered livestock He said there is a Kentucky law protecting emotional support animals When the ordinance that would allow chickens was read Council member Cassi Schabell made a motion to amend the ordinance adding some items that would tighten up regulations for those that have chickens no other council member voted for the amendment and it died for lack of support When the actual ordinance came up for a vote Council member Dave Wolper was not present so he could not vote but he had sent an email voicing his dissent to the ordinance Council member Schabell made a motion at the end of the meeting to grandfather in the residents who already have chickens but no one seconded the motion so it failed the Assistant Executive Director of the Behringer Crawford museum came to the regular council meeting Monday night to talk about the things happening this year at the museum to celebrate the 75th anniversary He said that every floor in the museum has something from when the museum started in 1950 The second floor has the much remembered two-headed calf also a very popular item in the early days He said they have 31,000 visitors every year and 14,594 people who have attended the nature play area or the free area near the bottom of the hill They have a display currently on Harlan Hubbard and a book that was written about him called Driftwood Mendell also told council about the myriad educational programs that the museum has and they have had 72,853 views on the programs they have presented A municipal order passed which renewed the contract with the city of Bromley for police service There was some discussion on if the city should raise the price but Police Chief Cody Stanley was firm in his recommendation of keeping the price the same He told council members that he doesn’t feel that the price should be raised first of all because it is a renewal of a contract and secondly because not much happens in the city and he and his officers don’t have to do much although council member Sarah Froelich voted no The contract for EMS service with the city of Fort Wright passed and the service will be renewed for two more years The first year will be $114,490 in four payments and the second year will be $125,939 in four payments Florence city council listened to Todd Morgan Director of Community Development talk about a request for a zone change from C2 to C3 for a .35 acre site located at 6809 Burlington Pike Currently the site has an old vacant bank building on it and Bluegrass Cannacare LLC wants to put a medical marijuana store on the site said they probably would not be open on Sunday which answered a question by council member Angie Cable about the traffic in that area on Sundays in particular when the 7 Hills Church convenes and lets out Culter said the other days they would probably be open from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m Council member Patricia Wingo is on the committee for planning and zoning and she said the state restrictions for these types of businesses are very strict they are not allowed to have more customers in the building than there are employees the customers have to have a medical marijuana card to be able to enter the building and nothing is permitted to be on display inside the store The second item up for discussion at the caucus meeting was a change in concept development plan for a .56 acre site located between the vacant Frisch’s building and the Chipotle at 7303 Turfway Road pretty much across the street from where the first business is asking to be located Council member Cable mentioned the traffic from the 7 Hills Church which is considerable when the church has services Florence police are on hand every Sunday to help direct traffic and she feels that putting a coffee place right across from one of the exits from the church would only add to the traffic problems and recently they came to the city for another location in Florence Both of these items were forwarded to Florence by the Boone County Planning Commission About a half hour after the caucus meeting the city held a public hearing on the issue of solar energy Boone County passed an ordinance with regulations for solar energy companies and the storage of batteries because Judge Executive Gary Moore does not want huge solar energy farms that occupy regular farmland and detract from the rural aspect of the county Florence tweaked the ordinance to make it more urban and fit it to the needs of the city When it was introduced at the council meeting council members Angie Cable and Lesley Chambers wanted another public hearing because they didn’t know about the one that the Boone County Planning and Zoning held Six people signed up and spoke at the meeting “Many of the comments at the public hearing focused on the general benefits of solar energy but the issue before council isn’t whether solar energy is good or bad,” said Florence CAO Josh Hunt “It’s about how solar energy systems are treated as accessory structures under our zoning regulations.” He explained that from a zoning standpoint the solar energy systems are no different than the city treats other accessory features He said that the amendment before council provides a consistent and thoughtful framework to make sure that solar energy system installations are appropriate as far as aesthetics Mayor Julie Aubuchon thanked everyone for coming and sharing their opinion Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" — Park Hill School District parents voiced their concerns about changes in Special Education programs at a Monday night PTA meeting Parents like Leigh Grinter feel their voices weren't heard when the school district notified her that her fifth-grade son would need to change schools next year "We have spent a lot of time educating the students near him," Grinter said We've spent a lot of time teaching the kids on how to communicate with him And how long it takes him to respond if they are talking to him." Grinter is one of many parents who turned out for the special meeting Parents had the opportunity to ask district leaders questions about the decisions that led to their students' needing to change schools Superintendent Mike Kimbrel told parents the district only discussed the changes with the families impacted Park Hill School District's chief communications officer "This is a result of a new school opening," Wachel explained "We have our 12th elementary school opening next year and we want to put kids in that new school Redistricting was an attempt to rebalance enrollment There's lots of factors involved in how we shuffle kids in a new school as we open a new school.” there at 35 students impacted by the redistricting changes out of 1,300 special education students Park Hill School District's plans for the redistricting is a decision they say cannot make everyone happy The goal is to divide and disperse its specialized program resources in areas across the district Student placement predominately remains the same but it would need to change based on a student's assessed needs "We’ve been meeting with our special education families who are impacted by this for the past month we’ve done some screencast and FAQ’s to help meet the answers families are looking for," Wachel said Park Hill School District tells KSHB 41 that it has hired 20 new Special Education staff members Kimbrel told parents at Monday's meeting that the district still has 21 open positions for special education programs Resources are a major setback for the Park Hill School District when it comes to the decision to group these students Parents are asking the district to consider their concerns before the next school year begins "My hope is that we can pause this and actually come about it the proper way," Grinter said it seems like it was done behind closed doors like that way we did it with the redistricting To make sure the community has a voice and we can talk through those challenges and make sure we are meeting the needs of all the kids." Here is a copy of the email the Park Hill School District provided Special Education families with links to additional resources on moving students: Dear Special Education Community Council,   Thank you for reaching out to share your concerns and inclusion and want to make sure we are meeting the needs of our students We hope that these small group meetings allow for each voice to be heard and to provide personalized attention surrounding each student’s unique needs.  4.      Frequently Asked Questions (attached) – We have compiled your questions into one document with answers and links for pertinent information.   Thank you again for your engagement and passion We look forward to following up with you soon.  KSHB 41 reporter Ryan Gamboa covers Miami County in Kansas and Cass County in Missouri. He also covers agricultural topics. Share your story idea with Ryan Report a typo 919-996-2383 Michele Cordaro DirectorAlyssa Drake Assistant Director  Get DirectionsKnow Before You Go Laurel Hills Park has a pond and nature area to explore View other playground locations. Request your rental online using RecLink or by reaching out to the facility.  Take note: Requests will be subject to staff approval payment will be required to confirm the reservation Your reservation is not finalized until you receive confirmation of your payment View other shelter locations View other court locations. Request your field rental online using RecLink or contact Athletics at 919-996-2154 View other field locations. This feedback widget is not intended for customer service issues This feedback is reviewed monthly to help us improve our site. For immediate customer service please refer to our staff directory Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInKANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Northland voters invest in Park Hill School District by passing two proposed tax increases The proposition is expected to rate about $6 million a year by increasing the operation property tax rate The Park Hill School District said the money from Proposition G will be used to give teachers raises It is the first increase in more than 20 years The district said the previous operating tax levy was passed in 2002 It gives the school district approval to raise the debt levy and borrow more money The Park Hill School District said it plans to borrow $128 million for renovations and other projects The money will also be used to pay for security improvements across the school district Here’s how the propositions will impact home owners This 2004 photo is from a joint rescue conducted by the St Francois County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri Humane Society’s Animal Cruelty Task Force Over 100 animals were rescued from a hoarder discovered in conditions similar to those seized from the Park Hills property owner on April 14 Authorities removed 16 dogs and four chickens from a Park Hills property on April 14 following a joint investigation into animal abuse and neglect Francois County deputies and Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force members executed a search warrant in the 1000 block of Florence Freeway after receiving a complaint of animal neglect Crites said the Humane Society was called for specialized assistance before obtaining the warrant The animals were seized due to what authorities described as “severe conditions.” Many dogs had no access to food or water Officials said some were confined in unsanitary spaces that exacerbated their physical distress Investigators also discovered between six and 10 deceased dogs in various stages of decomposition from skeletal remains to more recent deaths The condition of the animals suggested a prolonged period of neglect The 39-year-old property owner was taken into custody and transported to the St and the subject’s name will be withheld until charges are filed “This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and intervention in cases of animal cruelty,” said Sheriff Crites The Daily Journal will update when more information is released Lisa Brotherton-Barnes is a Daily Journal and Farmington Press staff writer She can be reached at lbarnes@dailyjournalonline.com Kentucky residents are able to bid in these government auctions online All of the proceeds from the police vehicle auctions will go back into improving the City of Park Hills’s local community with 100% of the proceeds going to the city These funds can be used for road maintenance Up for auction is a 2010 Dodge Charger police car that has 81,589 miles on it and features a 3.5L V6 SOHC 24V engine and 5-speed automatic transmission Also up for auction is a 2014 Dodge Durango police cruiser that has 103,885 miles on it and features a 3.6L V6 DOHC 24V engine The vehicle also features a single prisoner transport partition Complete information on each of the vehicles is available at the City of Park Hills’ Municibid page Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application also known as “Deek” or "Bert," passed away on Monday Louis to the late Robert Albert and Suzie May (Stone) Brazel Alberta was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Park Hills Alberta lovingly dedicated herself to her craft as a beautician using her talent and compassion to make others feel beautiful and confident.  Alberta was preceded in death by her loving husband Seth Thomas and Courtney Vallo; great-granddaughters Kathy Mincher and Theresa Waggoner along with other family and friends Boyer & Son Funeral Home in Desloge on Monday from 5:00 PM until the memorial service at 6:00 PM Visitation will resume after the service until 8:00 PM memorial donations can me made to the family Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors State and local elected officials and notable community members participated in the Ameren operating center’s ribbon-cutting celebration in March Ameren Missouri announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art operating center in Park Hills and recently hosted an open house with about 80 visitors in attendance Francois Operating Center substantially upgrades area operations supporting faster restoration times and greater reliability for customers across the county and throughout Missouri The new facility replaces an existing operating center in Park Hills but it needed extensive and costly repairs,” said Russ Burger director of the Southeast Missouri division at Ameren Missouri “Building a new facility was more cost-effective than rehabilitating the old one The new operating center is also closer to Highway 67 which will help crews respond to outages faster.” The new facility brings all 40 Ameren Missouri co-workers in the area under one roof for streamlined operations making it easier for teams to collaborate on repairs It includes larger outdoor storage for essential equipment like poles and wires and a larger space for transmission materials that will serve all of Missouri “This facility isn’t just supporting improved response times in St but for all our Missouri customers,” said Burger Francois County were critical to restoring power throughout the state following a tornado outbreak earlier this month Francois Operating Center is one of many critical infrastructure investments Ameren Missouri makes through the Smart Energy Plan and smarter technology to reduce outages and respond faster when they do occur Smart Energy Plan investments have helped prevent more than 100,000 customer outages in Missouri To learn more about Ameren Missouri’s reliability investments About Ameren Missouri Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than 100 years and its electric rates are among the lowest in the nation The company’s mission is to power the quality of life for its 1.3 million electric and 135,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri The company’s service area covers approximately 60 counties and more than 500 communities visit Ameren.com/Missouri or follow Facebook.com/AmerenMissouri The deserted Park Hill Golf Course is on its way to becoming a major regional park in northeast Denver after a years-long battle over the land. The city of Denver is acquiring the course’s 155 acres in a land-swap agreement with the owner, Westside Investment Partners, city officials announced Wednesday morning. “This is an incredible opportunity to remake a space that has been neglected and unused for far too long,” Mayor Mike Johnston said in a statement. “Together, we can make this the go-to destination for runners, readers, cyclists, picnickers, birdwatchers, and of course, children and families. This site will be all of Denver’s to cherish for generations to come.”  The future of the course has been in question for years. Westside’s effort to develop the site was blocked by voters in the April 2023 election, and the site has sat unused behind fencing and No Trespassing signs. In the new deal, the former private golf course will become city-owned public land. Meanwhile, Westside will get about 145 desolate acres of undeveloped industrial property in Adams County, at 56th Avenue and Valley Head Street, near the Denver International Airport. The plan depends on approval from Denver City Council and the Adams County Board of Commissioners. If the deal goes through, it would be the largest single city acquisition of private land for a public park in Denver history, according to the mayor’s office. The golf course site will open to the public as an open space by summer 2025. Before then, walkways will be repaired and brush and trees will be trimmed. The fencing around the site will stay up, but the city will build entranceways for public access.  In the short term, Parks and Recreation will install low-cost features like dog runs, picnic tables, trails and possibly a disc golf course. Meanwhile, the parks department will conduct a long-term planning process. The mayor’s office floated ideas including sports courts, exercise stations, shaded pavilions and performance stages. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a new regional park in the heart of the city,” said Jolon Clark, the city's parks director, in a statement. “We look forward to engaging with the community to shape what park amenities will be built on this remarkable parcel of land."   After Westside first acquired the land, the Hancock administration and the developer pledged to bring thousands of units of housing to the land, plus space for a large park, a potential grocery store, room for local businesses and other amenities. But neighbors around the former golf course revolted, pointing to a conservation easement that legally protected the land as an 18-hole golf course, or as open space if golf wasn’t feasible. On three separate ballot measures, voters weighed in directly and indirectly on the future of the land. Each time, the developers lost and found themselves facing new obstacles. Battles played out at city council, at the ballot box, and even in court, and the Park Hill neighborhood was bitterly split over the land’s future.  The final blow came in the 2023 municipal election. Westside’s proposal—supported by a Community Benefits Agreement negotiated with neighborhood leaders in Northeast Park Hill—was defeated by voters citywide.  On Wednesday, at a gathering at the former golf course, Mayor Wellington Webb, Penfield Tate and Park Hill resident Woody Garnsey, who had worked on turning the land into a park for eight years, sat alongside Johnston, Clark and District 8 Councilmember Shontel Lewis. Johnston, who previously supported Westside’s development of the land, got credit from Webb, Tate and others for conceding defeat and getting to work on acquiring the land even before the mayor’s race was won. Clark, who also voted in favor of development, loudly celebrated the acquisition of the land for his parks department. For both, creating the city’s fourth largest park will likely be a legacy defining project – even if they didn't initially support it. What will the park be named? That hasn’t been decided yet. How much will the project cost? The city doesn’t know. How will it be funded? A mix of city and private dollars. Lewis described the future park as “a place of unity” and spoke about how the preservation of the land as open space gives Denver “an opportunity to confront the climate crisis.” “The real winners are the people of Denver,” Webb said, characterizing the fight over the land as one between the people’s will against “historical greed” fueling development. Tate described the win as “a celebration of what collective action can do.” “Collectively, we’ve shown that energized citizens can make a difference when mobilized together,” Garnsey said. This is a developing story and will be updated. You power Denverite!If you love what we do, donate today to support our essential and delightful local news. He previously served the city as mayor from 2009 to 2017 He is unrelated to the incumbent holding that office unrelated to incumbent Mayor Stacey Easter is a mayoral candidate for the four-year term will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this June His academic background includes attending Mineral Area College where he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa (the prestigious international honor society for community college students) and Drama from Southeast Missouri State University His vocational career includes 17 years as a public school teacher and he will celebrate 33 years this November as owner and operator of Not Just Comix in downtown Park Hills Easter is a member of the Downtown Park Hills Association He also holds membership with the Masonic Lodge 132 of Farmington and the Old No including Park Hills Mayor from 2009 to 2017 When asked about his accomplishments for the City of Park Hills thus far my main job is to represent the citizens of Park Hills fairly and equally ensuring the city departments are well-funded to provide the services and safety measures for our community I voted for ordinances that maintain and enhance our city structure I worked with the Boy Scouts and the city to return the American flags to display during certain holidays I again took the initiative to get the flags back up in the downtown business district I have accomplished many things for our city but this is what I truly wish to be remembered for.” Easter shared the reasons he decided to enter the mayoral race “Having worked for the city as an elected official for almost two decades I have voted for numerous events and items supporting Park Hills providing a friendly base for new businesses made possible by working with other elected officials and staff to build on the foundation of successes “My priority is to continue supporting safety measures and procedures for the citizens of Park Hills my public record has revealed my votes for budgets concerning salaries I put the special sales tax initiative on the ballot which the voters approved for the Fire Department to purchase a new fire truck.” It is with both heavy hearts and joyful memories that we celebrate the life of Gary Milton Busenbark who passed away in an unfortunate accident on December 10 to the late Leslie and Irene (Honbeck) Busenbark whose indomitable spirit and passion for life touched the hearts of all who knew him Gary was a true visionary from an early age showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit by selling Dilly Bars on his bicycle and plowing gardens in his community His drive and determination led him to a successful career in the flooring industry where he proudly established Busenbark Flooring after serving in the Army Reserves His legacy of hard work and dedication continues through his children and grandchildren who are inspired by his commitment to excellence and his adventurous spirit He was of Catholic faith and a proud member of the Farmington Elks Lodge Gary embraced life to the fullest and he loved the great outdoors he cherished the time spent with his family attending numerous events to support his children and grandchildren he successfully helped to expand the Busenbark family business into granite and trailers Gary lived a life characterized by hard work His commitment to his community was unmatched as he operated heavy equipment and was extensively involved in maintenance and even the development of an industrial park Gary's problem-solving skills and generous spirit touched the lives of many making him a cherished role model for friends Known for his wonderful storytelling and warmth Gary had the unique ability to light up any room and lift the spirits of those he met His legacy will live on through the countless lives he impacted He was a source of love and strength to all who knew him He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter Gary is survived by his beautiful loving wife of 61 years Brock Busenbark and wife Tiffani; adoring grandfather to Elise McCosh Reese and Gary Busenbark; great-grandfather to Atleigh Brooks and Beau Busenbark; brother to Janet Straughan The funeral mass will follow at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Park Hills at 11:00 AM Interment will follow at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Park Hills with full military honors memorials may be directed in honor of Gary’s memory to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Masses.  she was the beloved daughter of the late Irvin and Eunice (Nichols) Hoskins Carolyn was a devoted member of the First Free Will Baptist Church in Farmington Her greatest passion in life was caring for her family She was preceded in death by her parents and five siblings Carolyn is survived by her husband of 53 years Brian Hitzeman and wife Amy; six grandchildren Bailey (Kraig) Vonahn and Andrew Marks; four great-grandchildren; three siblings other family members and friends also survive Carolyn's warmth and kindness will be missed by all who knew her Her dedication to her family and faith will leave a lasting legacy.  at 9:00 AM until the time of service at 11:00 AM Reverend Dennis Conway will be officiating Francois Memorial Park in Bonne Terre.  It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Austin Lee Gipson Missouri to the late Elsey and Piney (Lawson) Gipson His dedication to his faith was evident in his unwavering commitment to the Silver Springs Baptist Church in Bonne Terre Missouri He had a knack for cars and spent many years in the auto industry proudly running his own shop where he shared his expertise and love for all things automobile His skills were matched only by the warmth and kindness he showed to everyone he met A devoted member of Silver Springs Baptist Church in Bonne Terre he was known for his big heart and his infectious laughter which resonated strongly with family and friends alike  Austin is survived by his loving wife Jean (Lester) Coplin and Lisa (Kevin) Russell; and his son Jordan (Emily) Russell and Nicholas (Mallory) Russell; great-grandchildren Parker and Charlie Russell; siblings and his legacy of love will continue to live on through them the family kindly requests that donations be made Farmington Pet Adoption Center Boyer & Son Funeral Home in Bonne Terre Representatives from the City of Park Hills hear comments from the public The Park Hills City Council adjusted their regular monthly meeting to be held at Mineral Area College’s Cardinal Center on March 11 They hosted representatives from Reworld and KimHEC allowing residents and community members to learn about the proposed facility at the former glass factory location An announced question and answer session with the visitors drew a sizable attendance In response to social media concerns about the incoming MPF at the former glass factory the City of Park Hills issued a public statement dated Feb It summarized the three primary concerns being expressed either in social media discussions or directly to city representatives and responded to each categorical concern based on information supplied by Reworld The City of Park Hills released a Frequently Asked Questions document on Feb 11 that shared Reworld’s operating plans for the facility “We are developing a state-of-the-art multifaceted materials processing and transfer facility (MPF) The facility will process and transfer non-hazardous waste and recovered materials from industry and commercial facilities converting them into usable products or materials or preparing them for recycling we are planning to install a state-of-the-art wastewater pretreatment system This system will use various treatment steps to prepare non-hazardous industrial waters so they can be safely sent to the local wastewater treatment plant for final treatment.” Representatives from KimHEC and Reworld Solutions participate in a question and answer session with meeting attendees Three patented processes had been planned at the facility: Concerns mounted and the city determined that the next best course of action to lay fears to rest would be a town hall meeting so detailed information could be shared with the community by stakeholders who are immediately involved in the project allowing the large number of attendees to fully participate in public comment time Mayor Stacey Easter explained the order of events She said that after the presentation from the members of the guest panel attendees could approach the podium and microphone to state their names and addresses for the meeting record and they would be given five minutes to address the council or guests and receive a response All comments were requested to be specific to the proposed Reworld operation in Park Hills the initial speakers had an opportunity to make their comments Louis-based KimHEC (Humans and Environment Connected) Environmental Consulting introduced herself as a provider of specialized water treatment consultation services to equip clients with guidance regarding environmental sustainability She opened the discussion with an overview of her company and the beginning of her working relationship with the City of Park Hills “I’ve been working with the City of Park Hills for several months,” she said “I work for more than 25 communities here in Missouri and a few other states here in the Midwest My work is focused chiefly on wastewater and regulating industrial discharges Most of my clients are municipalities that have industrial discharges we do more than 100 industrial user inspections and I see a lot of different operations with a lot of different wastewater discharges That’s the kind of experience I bring to the table for the City of Park Hills “The scope has expanded from originally when I was contracted; it was just wastewater it’s expanded into other environmental media due to other operations that Reworld is performing where there are all kinds of environmental media from cleanups to air pollution to hazardous waste I’ve worked at a Department of Energy remediation site in Bernal So I have an interesting background that prepares me to help the City of Park Hills.” Cole said she likes to think that her job is to ask questions so she understands the operating parameters That is the role she is filling for the City of Park Hills working alongside City Administrator Franklin and Utilities Director Henderson She emphasized an important point in the plan to move forward “I want to point out that they [officials from the City of Park Hills] approached me before there was an issue Before this conversation came up [for the town hall meeting] they reached out to ask me to look at their city code and make sure the city is prepared [with relevant ordinances in place] to have this new industry [Reworld Solutions’ proposed materials processing facility] coming into town,” Cole said We need to be able to function in a way where industries can operate in a way that doesn’t negatively impact the environment A slide distinguished operations requiring air permits from those without requirements Operations requiring an air permit listed glass factories [like the one that had previously operated at the property] and any operation that includes combustion; these are not operations that will be conducted at Park Hills Operations not requiring an air permit listed grinding and bringing materials on site that are not known to be odorous; these are the operations that will be conducted in Park Hills “We’ve been talking to Reworld about what type of capacity the city’s wastewater plant has and they’ve recently decided that the city’s capacity isn’t adequate for them to consider it a viable operation I updated [the slide] to say that those operations are probably delayed until the city has more capacity based on the numbers we are looking at Missouri DNR has the authority to issue those permits “The city generally does not have the local ability to regulate and issue permits for those types of operations There are things that the city could do proactively Communities with populations of over 10,000 are required to have an MS4 community where you have to have a code to address stormwater concerns The city does not meet the trigger for the state to require a program for stormwater You can proactively have a stormwater code without meeting that minimum requirement and those are some of the conversations that I’ve been having with Zach [Franklin] and Jeremy [Henderson] the state has jurisdiction to issue those permits Reworld submitted their application [near the end of 2024] and the state has [up to] a year to decide what to do with that application Reworld is not proposing anything to do with hazardous waste or hazardous materials.” The scales are ready to receive and weigh incoming materials for processing at the MPF on Taylor Avenue “We plan on educating you about the facility We look forward to answering questions regarding the facility and its operations.” Director of Corporate and Community Relations introduced herself and said she had been with Reworld for almost four years and is responsible for community outreach nationwide Director of Environmental Health and Safety has been with the company for about 18 years and expressed his appreciation to the attendees for coming to the meeting Pat Sears introduced himself as a Project Manager under a consulting and contract agreement “I have spent the last 36 years of my life in the recycling business owning and operating various facilities throughout the United States I’m glad to work with the Reworld folks here in Park Hills and I’ve enjoyed my last four months getting to know you guys.” said he had been with the company for ten years when it was operating under the name Covanta “I’ve been in the industry about 30 years but I’ve always been in the environmental space doing the type of work we will do here at Reworld’s MPF in Park Hills.” Senior Manager of Material Approvals and Compliance has been with the company for about 29 years “ I know that part of the business very well as it involves the operations and how we stay compliant to be safe John Scott then provided a broad overview of Reworld He said the company has more than 90 facilities in the United States and more than 4,500 employees He emphasized their focus on community engagement and that they have accumulated over 12,000 volunteer hours across their fleet with engaged and active employees we have recovered over 500,000 tons of metal recycled over 280 million gallons of wastewater and have generated more than 10 million megahertz of electricity from the waste that we sustainably manage Park Hills will be a materials processing facility (MPF) so we’ll talk about what that facility does versus some of our other facilities,” he said Dominic Valencia picked up the conversation to emphasize the Park Hills facility’s designation as an MPF rather than a thermal mechanical treatment facility (TTF) which had been an early concern from community advocates who had learned of negative environmental and health situations created by other facilities where combustion and incineration were part of the processing “I think there’s a major misconception out in the community about what our facility is in Park Hills versus some of the other facilities that we have in the fleet,” he said providing a visual aid depicting two operational models Reworld utilizes “They are drastically different styles and types of facilities I think that is something that we need to put out there for the community to understand The Park Hills facility will not combust or burn any materials entering that facility and I’ll say that again: the facility in Park Hills will not burn or combust any materials that are coming into that facility I think another thing to be cognizant of is everything that comes into this facility will go out of the facility “We do not accept hazardous waste at this facility We do not accept biomedical waste at this facility industrial processing disbarred material facility and we’ll get into what that looks like further down the line in the presentation Another thing to mention is the way that facility looks from the outside is how it will look when we’re in operation There are absolutely no activities that will be taking place outdoors at this facility Alyssa Wilds highlighted community benefits through their hiring practices “Reworld is very committed to hiring locally We partner with local colleges and universities to create workforce development pipelines We want to ensure that your community’s residents have the skills needed to work in our facilities We offer above-average compensation as well as a competitive benefits package We make sure that we do everything we can to make sure that the residents in our host cities but making sure that the residents in our cities are being hired We also work with vocational and technical schools because not every job in our facilities will need a degree Some of them will come right out of high school We have partnered with high schools and other communities for students who come out with boiler licenses and electrical equipment straight out of high school and won’t go to college “We have competitive wages and benefits packages and we are hiring directly from our communities all around the country We have already engaged about 11 contractors and we’re currently working with Lee Mechanical and Goheen Electric We are making sure that not only are we hiring locals for the inside of our facility We’ve already invested about $6 million into that facility and we continue to give back to the state and the local area with all we do As soon as we’re fully up and running we will make sure that we go to career fairs and other things to ensure we keep the information out in the community So we’re doing all of the things to make sure that you guys get the benefits of Reworld being in your community.” Materials processing was explained using a short video After the commercial team sources the material it arrives at the facility by trucks with enclosed trailers where quality assurance and control samples are taken to ensure the material matches the description provided by the customer the material is offloaded and staged for processing Liquid materials are tested for compatibility before mixing to ensure breathable hazards are not created Liquids are then mixed with an inert additive filler to transform them into semi-solids making them convenient to transport out of the facility The processed material is then sent to TTFs to generate energy (steam or electricity) or to local cement kilns as a replacement for coal A strict quality control process ensures that the materials meet certain specifications before they can be used in those facilities If the materials fail to meet the standards they are either rejected and returned to the facility that generated them or forwarded to a different facility Special emphasis was placed on the qualification processes involving the material before it arrives at the facility It was explained that the customer provides a materials profile form with information about the waste composition Material profile specialists review the form for compliance and safety the customer receives a specific approval with an approval number and samples are tested to verify compliance with the profile and permits Items that will not be approved include municipal solid waste (residential curbside garbage) EPA-defined hazardous items and flammable corrosives The facility will only accept recovered materials for cement kiln use after they pass the profiling and specialist review stages John Scott closed the information session with a few remarks “I wanted to talk in closing about our commitment to Park Hills: we run a safe and compliant operation We want to make sure that everybody understands that we’re ready and do communicate–transparent and we want to be the employer of choice in the town Our expectation and our ask of ourselves is to be a good community partner.” attendees addressed their comments and concerns to representatives from the City of Park Hills and the guests from KimHEC and Reworld Approximately 24 attendees took advantage of public comment time Concerns expressed covered a wide range of topics: the negative impact the facility could have on their property values the burden the operations would place on their struggling water and wastewater infrastructure the undesirable proximity of the facility to residential neighborhoods and schools and the potential for soil and water pollution generated by combustion processes or incineration “We as a community should have been able to present our concerns to the city before this meeting I oppose the proposed facility directly bordering my backyard I’m concerned about the impact on my children and community.” They said they had researched Reworld facilities in other cities; they had compiled a lengthy list of code violations and ethical considerations identified at those locations and were the subject of litigation and penalty assessments A specific concern for the speaker was that “even though Reworld claims they use non-hazardous materials the legal definition of ‘hazard’ may not reflect the actual dangers and industrial wastes labeled as non-hazardous can still contain toxic constituents that pollute the air and water.” A Tulsa OK facility was cited as an example where they said the contract revealed the facility would handle 60% “special wastes” that included septic tank pumping can still release dangerous substances,” the person said “Because Reworld will process waste in Park Hills to be burned in other communities there is an ethical obligation to care about the well-being and health of the children in those communities.” The speaker also mentioned fire risks saying that the cement kiln industry is known for burning waste and the kiln in Festus is 40 miles from Park Hills They noted a history of uncontrolled fires at waste piles and processing lines at Covanta’s incinerators and other waste facilities made them very concerned Covanta admitted to processing tire-derived fuels and tires which can cause toxic smoke and are difficult to extinguish when set on fire The next person at a Buckley Street address with a line-of-sight view of the plant asked what residents would see from their homes once the facility is operational sharing their past experiences with the glass factory’s steam and odors in the air John Scott responded that residents shouldn’t see much difference There will be vehicular traffic (trucks) but no stack and the facility will operate five or six days weekly The commenter said Park Hills lost residential recycling services about four years ago and asked if Reworld would consider working with the city to bring them back John Scott said that while the current facility would not handle recycling residential materials it would be willing to partner with the city council to help rebuild and guide recycling practices A different Buckley Street resident asked about the facility’s daily capacity in tons or trucks and potential future plant expansion The answer was they anticipate processing approximately 35,000 tons annually when fully operational About five trucks are expected to enter and exit the facility daily via Taylor Street making a right turn at the stop sign and crossing the railroad tracks Incoming materials are primarily transported in enclosed freight trucks and outgoing materials are shipped in fully tarped and covered walk-in-floors the company only needs 150,000 square feet of the building Expansion depends on market conditions and working with Phoenix Investors (the property owner) A commenter asked if the city would accept “undeniable evidence of the company’s repeated betrayals in other communities” and “the city’s plan to address violations of permit conditions by Covanta ReWorld.” Cole said the new legal authority is being developed to give the city more control over regulating pollutants including unregulated and emerging contaminants An enforcement response plan is being drafted focusing on wastewater but also considering stormwater and source water protection another attendee distributed a small packet of news briefs and information relating to Reworld’s environmental violations in existing cities The commenter’s final points regarded the status of the wastewater system and asked for clarification Kim Cole explained that the city’s wastewater plant’s forecasted growth did not meet the needs capacity of Reworld so they decided not to proceed with the wastewater operations plan She said proper terminology is that Reworld’s water treatment plans and use of the city’s wastewater system are delayed The following two commenters shared their concerns about the overall water quality in the area (including rivers and streams) and the city’s infrastructure One commenter said Park Hills’ stormwater dumps into the wastewater system which causes a city main on her property to stink and overflow during heavy rain sometimes leaving toilet paper (and other items flushed down toilets) in her parking lot They asked if the water used to clean the plant’s shelves and floors would go into the city’s wastewater collection Mayor Easter responded and said that wastewater and water engineering reports had been completed for Park Hills a year and a half ago adding that the existing system is 70 to 80 years old and has never been replaced The administration is working to fund those projects Work has been done on the water treatment plant and water lines John Scott added that only standard restroom wastewater (toilets) will go down the drains The small lab inside the facility will contain and manage all waste Floor cleaning water will be containerized and hauled off-site “The city can issue zero discharge permits requiring monthly certification that no processed wastewater we [the City of Park Hills] are not the regulatory agency We’re taking further action to ensure compliance to answer your question [“Is this a done deal?”] Missouri DNR has 12 months to approve a solid waste permit by state statute That application was submitted on November 4 to review and approve or deny that permit.” City Attorney Nath Bollinger answered a question by explaining the city’s role and level of authority in the situation: “The city has no authority other than what’s in the ordinance We’ll take this property and do whatever we want with it.’ The city does not have unlimited control of the property; the city does not own it So the private property owner of it [Phoenix Investors] as long as they follow ordinances in the state regulation The city is making sure they go through the state The state regulates and approves the permits The city cannot deny their permits if they apply to DNR or anything that goes to the EPA The city doesn’t have that authority What the city has the authority to do is to make sure they follow current city ordinances He explained that the city has a responsibility to the citizens to ensure everything falls into proper zoning and make new ordinances with greater detail if needed He said that fell in the arena of the hired consultants who explored existing ordinances and suggested new ordinances as needed to allow the city more control and ensure compliance He concluded his answer by saying,“But as far as the board–there’s no vote They don’t have the authority to go to a private property owner and say It’d be no different than coming to a private individual and saying where you can live and where you cannot So they are taking steps that are in their power to look into updating the ordinances and that’s what they have authority to do.” A resident from Desloge raised concerns about dust generated from the shredding process and its potential impact on air quality Reworld representatives stated they mitigate dust by using high-moisture products or applying misting sprays They asserted that materials causing significant dusting would not be accepted and that their MPF (Material Processing Facility) does not even require dust masks or special PPE for workers That in itself is an indicator that the types of materials processed are not high-level dust generators when they are shredded A resident questioned how Reworld processes liquid materials like oil Liquid materials are processed using shredders and decanted into one of three concrete and steel-lined pits or vaults The liquids are absorbed by inert materials added to the pit where an excavator is used to mix the materials resulting in a solid or semi-solid product rather than breaking down the chemical components A resident inquired about the ordinances in place and the possibility of surprise inspections They were told there are plans to create and update ordinances to protect the community potentially with assistance from the Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) Legal authority grants access to a site for inspections and the city code holds significance for city The facility must obtain a solid waste permit issued by the Missouri DNR which will provide oversight and dictate how the facility operates The DNR can inspect the facility at any time Another resident wanted to know who was the reporting authority for issues after operations were started They were told that Alyssa Wilds would be the community liaison to address community complaints and concerns She will work with the mayor’s office to facilitate communication and address concerns effectively The Reworld website will have a dedicated link for Park Hills A local business owner praised Reworld as “a very clean and beneficial facility,” highlighting the importance of job creation and the generation of tax revenue for the city They noted that the facility’s operations could promote the improvement of the city’s sewer facilities through increased tax revenue emphasizing that the materials processed are used to lower carbon emissions at other facilities An electrician from the Ardall Group expressed support for the associated benefits of a large financially solvent company coming to a small town citing good job opportunities and strict environmental regulations at industrial sites A resident and chemist expressed support for the facility emphasizing the need for economic development and community improvement It was noted that the company is working to mitigate problems left behind by the glass factory operations removing hazardous materials Primal abandoned They also expressed concerns that vacant buildings eventually invite crime They reminded those present that the proposed operations do not have documentation of negative aspects and legal battles that many Reworld facilities have Visit reworldwaste.com to learn more about Reworld as a corporation and explore its processing technologies for sustainability and energy recovery Visit parkhillsmo.net to review ordinances or read late-breaking announcements from the City of Park Hills Lisa Brotherton-Barnes is a staff writer for the Daily Journal and Farmington Press passed away peacefully with his family by his side at Country Meadows Nursing Center in Park Hills Rip was a member of the Masonic Lodge 598 in Leadwood and past Master and Scottish Rite 32 Degree Mason He loved to farm and run equipment in his spare time He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Marvin Glore and Howard Robinson; two brothers Fay Watson of Florida and Brenda Rosson of O’Fallon; 26 grandchildren; 56 great grandchildren; 60 great- great grandchildren: along with other family members that survive from 4:00 PM until Masonic service at 5:30 PM  Reverend Jeff Roever will be officiating Memorials may be directed to the Masonic Lodge in Leadwood in honor of Rip’s memory She enjoyed spending time with her family along with collecting owls and crystals playing Bingo and hours of PUBG with her mom.  Jim and Bev Brock along with several aunts from 10:00 AM until service time of 1:00 PM with Pastor Michael Barton officiating The burial will follow at Big River Cemetery in Irondale.  Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInKENTON/BOONE COUNTY (WXIX) - Forty years after a woman was brutally tortured and raped two Boone County detectives solved the Kenton County cold case using a single piece of evidence and the surviving victim’s vivid memories Detective Coy Cox with the Boone County County Sheriff’s office is sharing new information about how they were able to close the case the “Park Hills Survivor,” is revealing how she used her mind to overpower her assailant and convince him to let her escape with her life had left dance practice in Covington and was on her way to her home in Park Hills when she stopped at a convenience store and made eye contact with a man she did not know proceeded to follow the victim to her garage where he grabbed her forced her into his car and drove a few blocks away he raped and tortured the victim inside of his vehicle He thought I was like 14,” the Park Hills survivor said who worked as an engineer traveling the country told the victim he had killed other women and children and said she was going to be his “number 13.” and he told me about the one girl where he took her bike and put her in the trunk of his car He was telling me things he was doing to them and nobody was ever gonna find me,” she said The victim told Tate about how her father had been a police officer killed in the line of duty before she was born and told him that her mother had also died when she was young She explained that she had then spent her childhood in homes where she had been sexually assaulted using her past trauma to persuade Tate to not take her life “I let him know how I was tortured as a child because of my parents being gone You can’t do that to my daughter,” she said cause if you turn around and look at the car I’m gonna get you and kill you then,’” the victim said She was playing all of these games with him to where she was able to articulate his mannerisms She had reported the rape to the Park Hills Police Department That’s when Detective Cox and his partner Detective Tim Adams thought her sexual assault in Kenton County could be connected to a case they were working - the then unsolved murder of Carol Sue Klaber in Boone County they went to the Park Hills PD to get a copy of the case file but were stumped to learn that most of it was missing so obviously they really didn’t know all of the answers or where some of this stuff was,” he said “We found a document at the courthouse that indicated that the evidence in this case had been destroyed by virtue of a destruction order what happens a lot of times with police departments once you start filling up your property room with the lost bicycle or someone’s lost driver’s license from 20 years ago or car keys that someone turned in that have never been claimed While they had access to crime scene photos witness interview transcripts and detailed descriptions from the victim like the clothes the victim was wearing that day the police department had arrested the wrong individual for this crime,” Detective Cox said pretty much all you could do was blood typing so it was determined that the person who committed this crime was a certain blood type and when they compared that to the person they had arrested so they released him from custody...[It was like] ‘Hey we just need to get rid of this You can get rid of the wallet that’s been in your property room for 20 years that no one’s claimed but you don’t get rid of evidence in a violent crime such as rape or murder.” the Boone County investigators repeatedly reviewed what they did have and something falls between my feet on the floor,” Cox said The fingerprints had been found on the victim’s Volkswagon in 1978 that ‘when the person who raped me took me he kidnapped me from the seat of my car and picked me up with one hand’ and was able to lift her off the ground and just carry her like we would carry a bag of groceries he closed the door of her car,” Detective Cox said The investigators re-submitted the fingerprints to a federal database for comparison and got a hit - a Georgia man named Michael Dean Tate and she said she immediately recognized him “She just started trembling and going ‘that’s him Tate had a history of indecent exposure charges and a conviction out of Chicago where he was caught raping a 12-year-old girl so Cox and Adams traveled south to confront Tate for the very time repeatedly denied that he remembered the Park Hills rape something shifted and Cox said Tate decided to make some admissions “He confessed to 14 other crimes that he did,” Cox said “He had also made the statement to our victim while he was in the act of torturing her and everything else that he had murdered 13 other girls before.” and was sentenced to 12 years in prison based on the law at the time of the attack and they just started screaming and lose control and just freak out totally That’s all there is to it,” the Park Hills survivor said Detective Cox has wondered if the victim’s late father who served in the military before he became a police officer “He was injured and appeared from his injuries to be dead and so he would lay as though he was dead until the enemy approached and he was able to kill several of his enemies saved other marines out of a tank that had been disabled,” Cox said “To look at the parallels of all that he did not only to survive but to do what he needed to do to overcome his enemy and what she had to do to overcome her enemy and to see it all the way through to where we returned one day and said we’ve arrested the guy who did this to you. and to know that she trusted law enforcement to come through and solve this case it would be impossible for me to say that her dad didn’t have something to do with it.” The victim has said she felt someone giving her strength the day she was attacked There was a voice in my head speaking to me If it was my father or my mother because they both had passed if it was God or just some ancestor out there but there was something telling me what to do and I did exactly what the voice said,” she said the victim and the detectives have established a deep bond and connection that they believe will last a lifetime “I think what impacted us was that most of our victims have already died They were murdered at someone else’s hands and we truly felt like we were sitting there talking to someone who should be dead because that was the intent,” Detective Cox said “To hear her say ‘I survived this and I appreciate what that you guys have stuck with this and were committed to solving the case’ - that’ll impact ya.” The victim said she is eternally grateful for the work the detectives did on her case with Detective Tate traveling west to visit the victim as recently as last week Detective Cox noted that the Park Hills rape case did not turn out to be connected to the Klaber murder as they later learned someone else was responsible for that See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description the City of Park Hills issued an emergency boil water order that directly impacts the area indicated in red on the Park Hills map The City of Park Hills issued another emergency boil water notice on Sunday morning stating that the Utilities Department is responding to another significant water main break but in a more limited perimeter than the emergency order from the previous week Main Street to Jefferson from 4th Street to 8th Street and all areas within this boundary fall within the boil water order Customers can expect very low or no water pressure until the break is fixed and the boil water advisory will remain in effect until at least Jan It is important for customers to remember that during the boil water advisory all water used for the following purposes MUST be boiled in order for it to be safe: – Drinking (including water for pets)– Making ice– Brushing teeth– Washing dishes– Food preparationWater should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute before use.Pet Safety: Just like humans pets should only consume boiled or bottled water during this advisory This includes water in pet bowls and any water used to prepare pet food your pets’ safety is just as important as your own during this time.The city’s notice included special appreciation for utility crews who have been battling the failing water lines since last week “Our dedicated utility crews have been working tirelessly in dangerous responding to multiple water main breaks across the city These team members have been working extended hours with minimal rest to ensure our community’s water infrastructure remains operational Please keep these dedicated public servants in your thoughts as they continue their vital work in these challenging conditions.”Patience and understanding is appreciated during this emergency; updates will be provided as they become available is remembered for his vibrant spirit and deep devotion to family in Bonne Terre to the late Robert and Betty (Gilliland) Coale Robbie dedicated 20 years of his life to Mark Bonney Construction before retiring and was a proud member of the Carpenter’s Union His commitment and work ethic were evident in all he did A devoted member of The Bridge Community Church in Bonne Terre Robbie’s faith was a cornerstone of his life guiding him in his relationships and endeavors He was a family man who found happiness in the company of loved ones always making time to create lasting memories He could be found at his grandkids’ dance competitions and all sporting events His joyful presence and infectious laughter will be profoundly missed He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister Robbie is survived by his loving wife of 37 years Mary (Poetz) Coale; adoring father to Sarah Jean Myers and husband Chris Bashtian and Blakley; brother to Mike Coale (JoBeth) Coale and Gina Coale; brother in-law to Vicki Vest and Nick (Karen) Poetz; several nieces A visitation will be held at The Bridge Community Church in Bonne Terre Pastor Seth Durbin will be officiating along with Rev Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Leadington memorials may be directed in honor of Robbie’s memory to Briley’s Bears brileysbears.org or Hope for Autism hope4autism.org  Texas (KVII) — The Amarillo Independent School District Board of Trustees announced the closure of three elementary schools due to low enrollment The changes will take effect in the fall semester of 2025 Students from Park Hills will be relocated to Carver and Rogers Elementary Schools will see its students transferred to Humphreys Highland and Oakdale Elementary Schools and the announcement moved some teachers and staff in attendance to tears Superintendent Doug Loomis regretted the closures "We'd hoped it wouldn't reach this point and that we could find a better solution." However Loomis assured that there would be no job losses as a result of the closings though he did not provide specifics on how staff would be reassigned to other campuses In a brief issued for a case currently before the Kentucky Supreme Court General Coleman underscored the fundamental protections of religious practice and stood up for the church’s rights under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) “It’s not up to the courts to decide how we exercise our religion in this country,” Coleman stated Americans have bravely fought and died for the right to practice their faith without substantial burden from the government Our Office stands with the men and women of faith who simply want to exercise their rights.” John the Baptist received approval from the City of Park Hills to build a grotto at Our Lady of Lourdes Church The simple structure would provide a quiet place for meditation and worship before and after church services Neighbors who opposed the shrine brought a lawsuit While the church won the case at Kenton Circuit Court a three-judge panel of the Kentucky Court of Appeals reversed that decision saying the city board did not have statutory authority to grant the variance and blocked the construction of the shrine The Attorney General is supporting the church’s appeal to allow the building of the shrine to proceed It doesn’t matter how important building the shrine is to Saint John’s religious beliefs What matters under RLUIPA is whether prohibiting Saint John from building the shrine is a substantial burden on its religious exercise Principal Deputy Solicitor General Jack Heyburn and Assistant Solicitor General Daniel Grabowski filed the brief on behalf of the Commonwealth The case has not yet been scheduled for oral arguments before the Supreme Court Park Hills Police Department Officer Nickelson and K9 Storm Photo courtesy of the Park Hills Police Department The City of Park Hills Police Department has a new face on the force K9 Storm is a three-year-old Belgian Malinois who is certified in narcotics Central R-3 District School Resource Officer and Neighborhood Watch program liaison said Storm is a great addition to the department and will serve the citizens of Park Hills well Francois County Sheriffs Department on a traffic stop on Highway 32 K9 Storm alerted to the presence of narcotics A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed 92 grams of methamphetamine A male and female were taken into custody,” Pendergraft said “Officer Nickelson and K9 Storm are undoubtedly going to make a huge impact on the City of Park Hills and surrounding area.” to the late Edward “Ed” and Judith “Judy” (Derque) Dallas Eddie was raised Catholic and graduated from St Pius High School in 1980 and embarked on a fulfilling career shortly dedicating 37 years of his life to Mercy Jefferson Hospital ultimately retiring as a maintenance worker.  Eddie was known for his unwavering dedication to his work but his true passions extended far beyond the walls of the hospital finding joy in the beauty of nature through activities like hunting Some of his favorite places included Silver Mines where he created lasting memories with his beloved wife Eddie was an avid fan of stock car racing and his love for sports consisted of the St Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs with a deep passion for the Dallas Cowboys.  Denise (Michael) Wheat and Carla Mangan; brother-in-law Denny Bouse (Beth Barton); his beloved fur baby Buddy along with other family and friends that will miss him dearly Boyer & Son Funeral Home in Desloge on Tuesday Boyer & Son Funeral Home in Desloge on Wednesday from 9:00 AM until service time of 11:00 AM Burial to follow at Leadwood Cemetery in Leadwood Paula was a member of the True Life Family Church in Park Hills She worked as a Physical Therapist for many years She enjoyed crafting in her spare time and loved to decorate for the holidays Paula loved to have a good meal and spending time with her family Paula is survived by her beloved husband of 43 years Amanda Dawn (Jessica) Burgess; grandchildren She will be dearly missed by several nieces The family will have a private celebration of life at a later date Arrangements are under the direction of C.Z Boyer & Son Funeral Home – Taylor Chapel in Farmington.  a revered Optometrist and beloved member of the Park Hills community Kinch was the cherished son of the late John Samuel and Edith Marie (Turner) Jones.  Illinois where he graduated from Harrisburg High School He received his Pre-Med degree from Murray State University in Murray Kentucky and pursued his Doctorate at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis he met the love of his life Joyce Price in 1960 he entered the United States Army from 1963-1966 where he was stationed in Fort Leonard Wood Jones opened his practice in Flat River where he had a successful career He was involved in the creation of numerous businesses in St Kim-San Apartments and other rental properties He donated the land for the development of Parkway Drive interchange from Saint Joe Drive to Highway 67 and also donated the land for Haney Park Soccer Fields in Park Hills.  Kinch was a current member of First United Methodist Church in Park Hills and the Elks Lodge in Farmington He served on several boards including Mineral Area College where he was elected President and First State Community Bank He was a past member of the Lions Club.  Kinch found solace at his farm in Farmington where he raised cattle and his daughter’s horses He also found time to volunteer with “Meals On Wheels” in Park Hills with his wife One of Kinch’s favorite hobbies was actively trading on the stock market He spent numerous hours researching and trading stocks He also loved spending time in Florida with his two daughters and four grandchildren Kinch started going to football games in Columbia in 1975 He and Joyce enjoyed tailgating with family and numerous friends from the area Kinch is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Sandra Leigh McCaffrey and husband Brian; four grandchildren Colin Kinch Broome and Jessica Larkin McCaffrey along with several special nieces Kinch's memory will forever be treasured by his family and friends.  from 3:00 PM until the service time of 6:00 PM memorials may be directed in honor of his memory to “Meals On Wheels,” Park Hills Nutrition Center or First United Methodist Church in Park Hills Lawrence Benham of Park Hills passed away on Sunday at Mercy Hospital Jefferson at the age of 72 Missouri to the late Cecil Paul and Wilma Mae (White) Benham Michael Shawn Benham of Bismarck and Larry Ray (Shanna) Benham of Park Hills; sister Ella (James) Day of Park Hills; and one brother Cecil Paul and Wilma Mae (White) Benham; and infant sister Lawrence was a devoted Christian and loved Jesus watching The Andy Griffith show and Green Acres plus eating at Lion's Choice and Golden Corral at 9:00 AM until the time of service at 1:00 PM Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society in honor of Lawrence’s memory Osage Hills State Park is closed until further notice after a wildfire burned approximately 400 acres near the park on Thursday Osage Nation Wildland Fire Management reported the fire prompted a response from multiple agencies though officials warned that strong winds could rekindle the flames The National Interagency Fire Center estimates around 400 acres were scorched State park officials said Osage Hills State Park will remain closed indefinitely due to fire damage and safety concerns Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the wildfire The best time to grab sleds and hit the Stark County area hills is after a heavy and wet snowfall Cleveland Clinic says sled riders should avoid sub-zero temperatures and icy hills do not sled at night when visibility is low to see obstacles Riders should also pick hills that are not too steep and have ample space at the bottom health officials said dress appropriate for the weather conditions and consider a helmet there are plenty of local options for families and individuals to choose from and enjoy this fun winter activity Jackson Township and Western Stark CountyCanal Fulton Christian Fellowship sledding hill at 2021 Locust St S in Canal Fulton.Wampler Park at 1818 Main Ave 2)Tam O'Shanter Park at 5055 Hills & Dales Drive NW in Jackson Township.Other notable area hillsDies Hill (Dover City Park) at 1592 N in Dover.Breitenbach Winery Sled Riding Hill at 5934 Old Route 39 NW near Sugarcreek.Boettler Park Sled Riding Hill at 5300 Massillon Road in Green.Wingfoot Lake State Park at 993 Goodyear Park Blvd near Mogadore.Southside Park in Sebring between West Texas Avenue and West Georgia Avenue has a toboggan hill.(It should be noted some of the hills are private and you might need permission to ride them.) email Benjamin Duer at ben.duer@cantonrep.com and we'll add them online to this list Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com Lost your password? Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link ← Back Piramal Glass branding fades at the site of the former Flat River Glass Factory in Park Hills a self-described global leader in sustainable waste management is planning to establish a new materials processing facility (MPF) at the former Piramal Glass Factory site on 1000 Taylor Ave Sources indicate that the company intends to offer innovative waste-to-energy solutions within a section of the nearly 515,000-square-foot building The project has sparked immediate concerns from the community particularly regarding the potential release of pollutants into the air and Park Hills’ wastewater and sewer systems These worries are intensified by the city’s aging water infrastructure which is set to cost $100 million to rebuild As evidence mounts that RW’s operations could have negative environmental and ecological consequences both Park Hills residents and those from surrounding communities have become increasingly vocal Residents have criticized the city’s handling of the project with some arguing that information has been kept under wraps Public awareness of the plan emerged in early February after several anonymous citizens began posting details on social media RW Solutions specializes in sustainable waste management partnering with businesses and communities to create smarter waste strategies The company diverts millions of tons of waste from landfills each year and recycles significant amounts of materials the company underwent a major rebranding and leadership change in 2022 its focus has shifted from waste-to-energy operations to broader initiatives like recycling “Our goal is to show that industrial development and environmental stewardship can coexist benefiting both the economy and the community We are committed to adhering to all environmental regulations and working closely with the community to address concerns.” The plant had most recently been operated by PGP Glass USA and the City of Park Hills lost a significant tax revenue generator Piramal began actively seeking a buyer for the abandoned property a Milwaukee-based commercial real estate firm specializing in revitalizing former manufacturing facilities across the United States purchased the property from Piramal in August 2023 for approximately $10 million PIL Chairman and Founder Frank Crivello said at the time of the purchase “We are very excited to add this industrial facility to our portfolio and attract quality employers to the area The facility can be leased immediately; we are confident we can reinvigorate the area’s economic activity with this valuable acquisition.” PIL has experienced success in transforming those facilities into spaces that stimulate local economies by enhancing the facility and attracting new tenants to occupy the space It is unknown when the business connection was established; contract details are not public because this is a private business transaction between companies in which the City of Park Hills is not involved; it is also unknown how the information was to be announced to the public What is known is that Reworld will become a tenant–not an owner–of approximately a quarter of the 500,000+ square-foot building PIL continues to actively seek additional tenants to occupy the remaining portion of the building Timeline overview: a plan put into motion Following PIL’s acquisition of the Taylor Avenue property in August 2023 signage was prominently displayed at the site to announce leasing opportunities PIL launched a social media campaign highlighting space availability in Park Hills the Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce organized a tour of the vacant site for its members Assistant Vice President of Acquisition and Leasing and it’s a great community with a great building We’re confident that we’ll successfully identify businesses to reoccupy the building within the next 12 months We’re having meaningful conversations with a number of groups.” When asked if these groups were industrial industrial manufacturing and some warehouse distribution components was the first time RW was mentioned in a setting available to the general public and included the discussion for Resolution 294 [authorizing certain actions with respect to the proposed Project RW Solutions LLC] Based on a recommendation from the city’s Industrial Development Authority the council approved the issuance of taxable industrial revenue bonds to support RW’s investment in the area It was announced that RW plans to invest approximately $6.2 million in machinery and personal property to enhance its industrial operations This investment is expected to create 21 jobs with an average annual salary of $80,837 RW’s incentive would be a 50% personal property tax abatement for 10 years The total value of that 10-year abatement is expected to be between $200,000 and $225,000 “authorizing the city of Park Hills to issue its taxable industrial revenue bonds [for the RW project] Series 2-2024 for the purpose of providing funds to pay the cost of equipping a facility as part of an industrial development project in the city and authorizing the city to enter into certain agreements and take certain other actions in connection with the issuance of the bonds.” Concerns voiced Plans are underway for Reworld Solutions to occupy about a quarter of the 500,000+ square foot building that formerly housed operations for one of the Parkland’s largest employers Citizen advocates are concerned about health and environmental issues that may come with the industrial park’s new occupant Despite the anticipated economic benefits touted by both the city and RW Solutions many residents face a growing apprehension about the proposed facility because of the information circulating on local social media coming from credible and notable media outlets Social media posts provided links and documentation to support the idea that RW operations sometimes come with a high price tag paid with the health of residents in those communities and jeopardizing environmental balance and ecological safety the facility’s proximity to residential areas has raised fears about declining property values Anonymous posts began to appear in local social media discussion groups early in February warning community residents—and Park Hills citizens in particular—that RW has been an environmental nightmare for communities where incinerations have been a part of the operations While the company’s marketing emphasizes its commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement past operations have sometimes negatively impacted local areas Critics have pointed to releases of toxic materials from waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities and this has caused RW to grapple in the legal arena across the country a Covanta plant in New Jersey was fined for violating emission standards a related lawsuit was settled for $875,000 A lawsuit concerning Covanta’s recycling center plan in Indianapolis is set for a hearing highlighting legal challenges faced by the company in the Midwest Similar issues have led to fines and settlements for mercury emissions in Florida and tetrachlorodibenzodioxin [TCDD] emissions in Connecticut a contaminant of Agent Orange; a known human carcinogen it is associated with an increased risk of all known cancers City’s response to concerns In response to community concerns and the formation of a local community advocacy group created to disseminate information and provide a platform for residents to voice concerns and experiences the City of Park Hills issued a public notice on Feb pledging transparency and outlining measures to protect residents The city stated it has taken proactive steps to ensure the facility operates within environmental regulations while maintaining community well-being -Environmental Monitoring: Regular assessments of air and water quality to detect and address potential pollutants -Traffic Management: Collaboration with local authorities to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion -Noise Control: Implementation of noise-reduction technologies and adherence to operational hours that minimize disturbances -Community Engagement: Open communication channels with residents to provide updates and address concerns The complete document can be reviewed or downloaded from the city’s website under the BULLETIN BOARD tab the city publicly announced the formation of a Citizen Advisory Committee through Ordinance No This committee aims to give residents a platform to actively participate in city planning and ensure their voices are heard in decision-making the city released a three-page “Frequently Asked Questions” document to address some common concerns regarding RW’s plan for the materials processing facility It included information about facility operations The complete document is available to review or download at the city’s website under the BULLETIN BOARD tab Looking Ahead As the facility moves closer to becoming operational and citizens from the surrounding communities will be crucial The City of Park Hills and RW are lobbying hard on promises of economic growth and creating at least 20 new jobs while downplaying negative environmental and community impacts For the most current information and updates from the City of Park Hills on this topic including city council agendas and meeting minutes visit the City of Park Hills’ official website at parkhillsmo.net I think that the Reworld Solutions is bad for our Community and the environment Why does the company have to quietly move in to a building The waste being burned and recycled is not safe for the waterways and the soil I believe that Park Hills doesn’t need this It’s not ethical to hide it’s non safe policies and cutting corners to make a profit I’m sorry but I just learned about this maybe a month ago I am beyond livid with the town of Park hills that I have lived in for over 20 years now They didn’t tell the residents that this was going in in our community I don’t know about anyone else in this area I don’t want myself my family and my grandkids breathing that s*** in the air And I’m sorry but if it was supposed to be a good thing then they wouldn’t have kept it a secret and this company wouldn’t have been kicked out of so many states already Many of us in or around park hills is against this They snuck it in without our knowing and now its mysteriously here This has not been healthy in many towns n cities Park Hills and Leadington are under a boil water advisory following a water main break in Park Hills on Jan While the Parkland struggled with the harsh collateral aftermath of Winter Storm Blair’s ice and snow deposits circumstances spiraled downward for some Park Hills and Leadington residences and businesses 15 the City of Park Hills issued an alert regarding a water main break discovered on a 12-inch line on Rivermines Street A second potential break was investigated on McGlashon Street Customers were warned about the potential for water service interruption and low water pressure in affected areas and told they should expect discolored water following service restoration city crews worked diligently into the night crews had to access the broken eight-foot-long water main buried eight feet underground Two of the city’s water towers had to be drained and fire hydrants were opened to relieve air pressure in the water system while the tanks were being refilled The crews’ efforts were very appreciated; many described them as heroes for their tireless efforts to bring the water system back online Water conservation notice While the water towers began refilling notifying customers to immediately cease all non-essential water usage such as bathing and continuously running faucets [which many customers had employed in recent days to prevent water lines from freezing] The explanation was that the non-essential use of available water would delay and impair the efforts to refill the towers Ashley McMillian apologized in a letter to all Central families we have received notification from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that no waiver is for this closure [Jan we need to make up this school day in person we will make up the closure from today with a half day of student attendance on Monday “We understand this situation may cause inconvenience for families and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work through these challenges Our students and staff’s safety and well-being remain our top priority and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.”