FRANKFORT — Northern Kentucky lawmakers have bridged their gap in naming a new span over the Licking River.

        Rather than pushing for the new 12th Street bridge between Newport and Covington to be renamed for the late Alvin C. Poweleit — a noted family doctor and World War II hero — a group of Republicans will look elsewhere to honor him.

        Doing so essentially ends a spat over changing the name of a bridge that has already been named for the Licking Valley Girl Scouts.

        Rep. Jon Draud, R-Crestview Hills, said Friday he plans to file a resolution next week to name the Interstate 275 bridge over the Licking River for Dr. Poweleit. And Rep. Paul Marcotte, R-Union, is working with Republican senators to circulate a private list of other bridges, parks or buildings that could be named for him.

        “We want to talk to other people involved before we say exactly what we are looking at,” Mr. Marcotte said. “But we will find something suitable.”

        Sen. Katie Stine, R-Fort Thomas, said that has been her intention all along. “The bottom line is, we need to find something to name and find some way to honor this wonderful man who was a hero,” Mrs. Stine said Friday.

        The Covington doctor survived the Bataan Death March in World War II and helped many others survive it. He helped rescue the men in a submerged Bren Gun Carrier during the battle of the Philippines, and for his actions became the first U.S. medical officer decorated in World War II.

        During his more than three years as a Japanese prisoner of war, Dr. Poweleit is credited with saving many lives, treating disease and performing surgery under brutal conditions.

        When he returned to Northern Kentucky, he continued serving the community for many years before he died in 1997.

        Mrs. Stine, Senate President Pro Tem Dick Roeding, R-Fort Mitchell, and Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Erlanger, have filed and supported resolutions over the last two years to name the 12th Street bridge for Dr. Poweleit. But late last year the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet named the bridge for the Girl Scouts after receiving letters of endorsement from the cities of Newport and Covington and the Campbell and Kenton counties fiscal courts.

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