Hearing to consider Covington blueprint

        COVINGTON — At a hearing tonight, the public can give its opinions on a plan to develop downtown Covington.

        The public is asked to give its ideas in the hearing starting at 7 p.m. in Covington City Commission Chambers, 638 Madison Ave.

        City officials want to create a plan for development of buildings in an area bordered by Third and Sixth Streets and Madison Avenue and Greenup Street. The area includes the Odd Fellows Hall at Fifth Street and Madison Avenue. Business leaders have said the 144-year-old building, housing a liquor store and strip clubs, is not the type of image they want to project to the city's visitors.

        Architectural Group International and Kinzelman, Kline and Gossman Inc. has developed various concepts since it started working on the project in the summer. It will present its plan to the City Commission within a month, Covington City Manager Greg Jarvis said.

        “All fall, they've been talking to business owners and developers,” Mr. Jarvis said. The “hearing is for the public. We want to incorporate the public's ideas in the final plan.”

        The city hopes to use the plan to interest developers.
       

Humana to cut about 500 jobs

        LOUISVILLE — Managed-care giant Humana Inc. will eliminate about 500 jobs, including 90 jobs in its Louisville headquarters, the company said Wednesday.

        The cuts will take effect over the next several weeks, Humana spokesman Tom Noland said.

        The 500 jobs represent 3 percent of the company's national work force.

        Humana cited a planned reduction in its noncore markets and products with little prospect for growth as the reason for the cuts. The company has seen its health plan membership decline from 5.9 million to 5.4 million members in 15 states, Noland said.

        Humana employs about 15,000 nationwide, the company said.
       

Newsweekly sold to longtime editor

        LEXINGTON — Lexington's free newsweekly, Ace Weekly, has been sold to longtime editorRhonda Reeves.

        Village Voice Media purchased Ace from former publisher Susan Yeary last March. When Ms. Yeary resigned last fall, VVM appointed Ms. Reeves interim publisher.

        “It felt like a natural progression to me, in terms of my lengthy history with the paper,” Ms. Reeves said. “I'm very grateful to Village Voice Media for the faith and confidence they showed in me, and I have benefited tremendously from their leadership and guidance over the past six months. It's been the most intensive learning period of my career.”

        Ms. Reeves will continue as editor and publisher.

        VVM decided last month to withdraw from Ace and from Lexington in order to focus on its major market papers, which include L.A. Weekly, Seattle Weekly, the Village Voice and Nashville Scene. Once that decision was made, VVMs leadership invited Ms. Reeves to make an offer, which was accepted Friday.

        Ace Weekly has about 52,000 readers.
       

'85 attack survivor dies at age 92

        WHITESBURG, Ky. — Roscoe J. Acker, who for several years served as the only physician in the eastern Kentucky community of Fleming-Neon, died Tuesday at Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Health Care Center. He was 92.

        Dr. Acker continued to work into his 70s and friends applauded him for caring for people regardless of their ability to pay.

        In 1985 Dr. Acker was the victim of an attack in which intruders stabbed his 23-year-old daughter, Tammy, to death and stole $2 million from a safe beside his bed. Three men were convicted in the attack.

        “His happiness ended that night,” said Maynard Hogg, a coal businessman, former Letcher County sheriff and a longtime friend.

        A native of Amesbury, Mass., Dr. Acker moved to Letcher County in the 1950s.

        He is survived by a daughter, Tawny Acker Hogg of Emmalena; a granddaughter; and two sisters.
       

Pin oak declared largest in Kentucky

        MIDDLESBORO — A pin oak on land adjacent to a Middlesboro golf course has been declared the largest in Kentucky.

        The Kentucky Division of Forestry is now checking to see if the 134-foot-tall tree is the largest pin oak in the nation.

        State Forester Michael Harp estimated the tree, which is 22 feet in circumference, to be between 250 and 325 years old.

        The Middlesboro Country Club, which had considered selling the land where the tree stands, now will keep it, said club president Mack Yoakum.

        “We will do everything in our power to preserve the tree,” Mr. Yoakum said.

        The find makes Middlesboro home to two state record trees. The other is a red mulberry.
       

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