The Voice - November 2019
/Tree-Damaged Sidewalk Inventory Reminder
By City Manager Tom Fromme
The Code Enforcement Department has created an inventory of sidewalks in the public rights-of-way currently damaged by tree roots.
The locations from the comprehensive list will be grandfathered with the city repairing these portions of sidewalks currently damaged by tree roots (as time and budget allow). Subsequent to the completion of the inventory and the appeal period, any damage to sidewalks by tree roots will be the responsibility of homeowners as provided for in an ordinance adopted July 22, 2019. Before the adoption of the new ordinance, any other sidewalk damage not caused by trees has been the responsibility of the property owner and this practice remains.
Phase 1 Inspections Complete
The first phase of inspections has been completed for the area bordered by E. 2nd and E. 10th Streets, from Oak Street to Washington Avenue.
Appeal Process for Addition to List
If you own property on a block where inspections have been completed and have a sidewalk you believe to be damaged by roots from a tree in the right of way, you may email Joy Rovno at jrovno@newportky.gov with your address to confirm if it has been included on the list or request re-inspection. Such requests should be made by December 1, 2019.
As always, if you have any questions email bholiday@newportky.gov or call my office at 859-292-3687. Great things are happening in Newport! Thanks for your efforts to continue to make Newport a great place to live, work, shop, and play.
Happy Thanksgiving
By City Manager Tom Fromme
On behalf of the Mayor, Board of Commissioners, and myself, we wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving. The City Building will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29.
NBA November Meeting
By Bev Holiday, NBA Vice President
The Newport Business Association (NBA) will be hosting a "Healthy Lifestyle Tips and Services" panel discussion at its meeting on Wednesday, November 27, at 8:00 am at the City Building (998 Monmouth Street) in the Multi-Purpose Room. The meeting is free to attend and open to the public.
Newport High School Hires New Baseball, Wrestling Coaches
By Kelly Middleton
The Newport Independent Schools have hired new coaches for their high school varsity baseball and wrestling teams.
Baseball coach Dominic Lewis has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including five years as an assistant coach for Newport High School.
Wrestling coach Derek Webster has 10 years of experience as a wrestling, football and weightlifting coach at Deltona High School in Florida. He is currently the defensive coordinator for the Newport Wildcats Varsity Football team.
"I am very pleased and excited about attributes that these coaches bring not only to the student athletes but to the community as well," said Newport Athletic Director Robert Haire. "With his 30 years of baseball coaching knowledge, Coach Lewis has come to know and build relationships with the parents and the children of Newport.
"Coach Webster has a passion for helping and coaching high school student athletes," Haire said. "He is very detail-oriented while never losing sight of what is important in high school sports,which he believes is preparing young people to become good young adults and make sure they know that they are not only coached hard, but loved hard."
Coach Webster said he has a passion for coaching and molding young men, whether in football or wrestling.
"My philosophy is that I want my athletes to grow and become better students, athletes, and people," Coach Webster said. "I truly believe that the real results from coaching are if the young men I coach become good men, fathers, husbands, and members of society.
"They will not only learn lessons about becoming a better wrestler, but hopefully a better student and person as they grow in our program," he said. "I believe that if we do the little things right, not only on the mat, but in the classroom as well, the wins will come."
Coach Lewis said he is thrilled to have the opportunity to coach the Wildcat baseball team.
"I have been coaching for Newport for the last five years as an assistant coach," Coach Lewis said. "I knew if the opportunity presented itself that I would jump right on it. I love the game of baseball. I played baseball my whole life and have coached for the last 30 years in knothole. Newport baseball has always had great coaches, and I am just glad I can join the ranks.
"M philosophy about coaching is you get out what you put into it," he said. "The harder you work the better you become. The lessons that the boys will learn is that it takes a team, not an individual, to achieve a goal, and if they work together, anything is possible."
Haire said both Coach Lewis and Coach Webster are already recognized community leaders in Newport.
"Along with three other parents, Coach Lewis started a youth league, so that the kids would have another activity to do to represent their city," Haire said. "The program is going on its eighth year now and has grown to six sport offerings.
"Coach Webster has already made a positive impact as a part of the faculty and as the defensive coordinator for the varsity football team," Haire said. "He has a great relationship with the students, works hard, and will help them to become the best student athletes they can be with the emphasis being on the student first."
"I love being here at Newport," Coach Webster said. "This is my second year here coaching football and now as the new wrestling coach, and I have to say we have great kids and a wonderful staff and administration that do everything to help make our kids successful every day."
