Former NFL player Charles Johnson opening fitness facility in Hebron – By the Way NKY – The Cincinnati Enquirer
This is an installment of reporter Rachel Berry’s series “By the way, NKY.” Here, you’ll find what’s going on in Northern Kentucky.
If there’s something you think should be included, email reporter Rachel Berry at rberry@enquirer.com.
Charles Johnson, who retired from the NFL, is opening a D1 Training fitness facility in Hebron.
Johnson trained at one of the company’s facilities before playing in the NFL. As a Covington native and former football player at Lloyd Memorial High School in Erlanger, Johnson wanted to bring D1 Training to the community where he grew up. Johnson spent seven years playing professional football as a wide receiver for multiple teams including the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers.
“I want to be a bit of light for the kids in my community, proof that they can keep going and achieve their wildest dreams,” Johnson said in a press release. “This location will be a hub for kids in the Northern Kentucky community to grow and feel supported, something some kids never get to experience here.”
Fitness classes include a dynamic warm-up, performance, strength program, core and conditioning, and cool down. D1 Training offers group fitness classes and one-on-one training.
Age-based programs offered at the facility include:
The facility is holding a grand opening ceremony from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4. The grand opening, which is open to the public, will include food, swag bags, activities for children and discounts.
The Covington Police Department has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. Covington first received this status in 2017 and remains one of three agencies in Kentucky to be accredited.
CALEA is the accreditation organization for law enforcement agencies. To qualify, the agency’s professionalism, policies, leadership and standards are examined in a years-long assessment. To retain the certification, agencies must abide by CALEA standards regarding safety, training, reports, clearly defined lines of authority and processes that safeguard employee rights, according to a news release.
“Accreditation is a good benchmark that reminds us that good police work on the streets requires a strong foundation in policies and practices, …” Covington Chief Rob Nader said in a press release. “This award reflects the commitment of the women and men on Covington’s force to the highest standards in public safety and to promoting community confidence in the service we provide.”
Covington police vehicles feature gold, blue and white decals noting its accreditation. The only other law enforcement agencies in the state that are accredited by CALEA are the Taylor Mill Police Department and Lexington Police Department.
The Northern Kentucky Education Council and Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce are accepting nominations for the 2022 NKY Excellence in Education Celebration awards.
Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on Dec. 17. Those nominated will need to fill out an application. A list of the award categories can be found on the Northern Kentucky Education Council’s website.
Local teachers, staff members and school administrators who win the awards will be honored at a celebration on April 27, 2022.
High school seniors are also eligible for a series of awards, which are nominated by school representatives. Those nominations are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 21, 2022. Students interested in a career in healthcare are also eligible for a $2,000 scholarship from St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
Applications for all the awards can be found on the education council’s website.
Boone County is accepting applications for ENGAGE, its citizens academy. The academy will offer presentations over nine weeks focusing on varying aspects of county government.
The majority of sessions will be held on Monday nights, beginning Jan. 10. A few sessions will be held on Thursdays. Following completion of the program, participants will be honored at a graduation ceremony.
The deadline to sign up is Dec. 31. Those participating must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license or reliable transportation and be a resident or business owner in Boone County.
Applications can be found on boonecountyky.org.
Find a free COVID-19 test on the state’s COVID-19 website at govstatus.egov.com/kycovid19.
Locations offering COVID-19 tests include:
Boone County
Campbell County
Kenton County
Information about COVID-19 vaccine locations can be found on the Northern Kentucky Health Department’s website.
Local vaccine providers include:
Vaccines are also available at county health centers.
The Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are being offered at St. Elizabeth Physicians primary care locations in Kentucky and Indiana. Patients can receive a COVID-19 vaccine during their regularly scheduled appointment.
For more information, visit St. Elizabeth’s COVID-19 vaccine website.
That’s it for this installment of By the way, NKY. Let us know if there’s something you think we should include in the next. In the meantime, here are some other ways to keep up with your community:
Northern Kentucky reporter Rachel Berry can be reached at rberry@enquirer.com. Follow her on Twitter @racheldberry.
