Annual Red Mass service Sept. 24

The Red Mass, an annual church service where lawyers, judges and lawmakers pray for guidance, is 4 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington. Bishop Roger Foys will be the main celebrant at the Mass, and a reception will follow in the church gardens. Although the Mass is geared toward governmental officials and lawyers, the public is welcome, and it's open to people of all faiths. In Washington, D.C., a Red Mass, so named because of the color of the vestments worn by the celebrants, is celebrated annually by leading members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches.

Library buys $700,000 new site

The Kenton County Public Library Board of Trustees has paid $700,000 for a 6.3-acre site in Independence for a new library for central and southern Kenton County residents. A six-figure donation from someone who wants to remain anonymous will help defray construction of the library that will replace the current Independence branch. Chosen after a year-long search, the site has space for an 18,000-square-foot building, room for future expansion and convenient access for residents of central and southern Kenton County, especially when road improvements are finished, library officials said. "Planning for the new library will begin in earnest,'' said Library director Wayne Onkst. "We have received many great ideas from residents in the community, and we will begin incorporating these ideas into our building plan.'' Construction is expected to begin in July 2005 and the library will open in fall 2006. Fort Mitchell lawyer Eric Deters has appealed a Kenton County judge's recent dismissal of his suit attempting to stop construction of the new library.