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BCHS to Retire David Trosper's No. 44 Jersey Friday Before Conner Game
Florence will honor late Conner High coach and Boone County alumnus David Trosper on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. at Irv Goode Field at Owen Hauck Stadium, when his No. 44 jersey is retired before the Boone County–Conner football game. Trosper starred on the Rebels' 1986 Class 4A state title team and coached Conner for 18 seasons until his death in June 2025. Mayor Julie Aubuchon will present a proclamation.
Read more → https://florence-ky.gov/city-of-florence-to-honor-boone-county-high-school-alumnus-david-trosper/

Boone County Jobless Rate at 3.6% Among Kentucky's Lowest
Boone County's August unemployment rate was 3.6%, tied with Fayette, Franklin and Kenton counties among the lowest in Kentucky, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics. Only nine counties had lower or equal rates. Rates fell in 96 counties from August 2025 to August 2026. Woodford County was lowest at 3.2%.
Read more → https://nkytribune.com/2026/09/latest-report-shows-jobless-rate-in-boone-kenton-and-campbell-counties-among-lowest-in-ky-at-3-6-percent/

Jones Middle School Runs Kentucky's Only Public Middle School Mariachi
Rector A. Jones Middle School's mariachi ensemble, Los Voladores Del Mariachi, has grown from 15 students in its first year to more than 30. It is the only public middle school mariachi program in Kentucky. About $20,000 in grant money bought the instruments. "This gives them a sense of pride," said band director Scott Reed. He hopes to add uniforms and host a regional mariachi festival.
Read more → https://linknky.com/news/2026/09/28/boone-county-has-kentuckys-only-public-middle-school-mariachi-band/

UPDATE: BCHS Teacher on Leave as Students Say Puzzle Was a Mistake
A Boone County High teacher remains on leave after a word-search handout contained a racial slur. Two students told LINK nky they believe it was a mistake. WCPO traced the puzzle to Word Search Labs, whose developer suspects a student vandalized it. Principal Stacey Black cited the school's commitment to "dignity and respect." The district's investigation continues.
Read more → https://linknky.com/news/education/2026/09/28/boone-county-students-say-racial-slur-in-teachers-puzzle-was-likely-a-mistake/

Florence Fall Clean Up Week Runs Oct. 5–11 at Tanners Lane Facility
Florence residents can drop off household debris, electronics and confidential documents Oct. 5–11 at the Public Services Maintenance Facility, 7850 Tanners Lane. Hours are 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.–7 p.m. weekends. Proof of residency is required. Tires, oil, liquid paint, antifreeze, pesticides and non-rechargeable batteries are not accepted. Call 859-647-5416.
Read more → https://florence-ky.gov/city-of-florence-annual-fall-clean-up-week-set-for-october-5-11/

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🌫 Tuesday — 78° / 56° · Patchy Fog then Sunny
🌤 Wednesday — 86° / 65° · Mostly Sunny
🌤 Thursday — 89° / 68° · Mostly Sunny
📍 Source: weather.gov — Florence, KY 41042

Give Blood at Florence Methodist Church, Earn a $10 Gift Card
Hoxworth Blood Center is hosting a blood drive at Florence Methodist Church on Monday, September 29, with two sessions: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 2:45–5:15 p.m. Every donor receives a $10 e-gift card. Appointments are encouraged — sign up online at the link below.
Read more → https://hoxworth.org/groups/florencemc

Help Shape Boone County's Future at NKADD Community Forum
The Northern Kentucky Area Development District invites Boone County residents to a community forum on September 30 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss local assets, opportunities, and development priorities. Attendees will help build a community "wish list" to guide future planning. Campbell and Kenton County forums are also available September 21 and 28 for those who prefer an earlier date.
Read more → https://buytickets.at/northernkentuckyareadevelopmentdistrict/2357432

Florence Neighborhood Night Out Comes to Nature Park Oct. 1
The City of Florence will host Neighborhood Night Out at Florence Nature Park, 7200 Nature Park Drive, on Wednesday, October 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. The free outdoor gathering invites residents to connect with neighbors and enjoy an evening of community activities. No registration is required.
Read more → https://florence-ky.gov/connect-with-your-community-at-neighborhood-night-out/

Fall Community Garage Sale
October 3 - 8am to 1pm
Boone County Administration Building Parking Lot, 6025 Rogers Ln, Burlington, KY
No admission fee. Be one of our many sellers or just shop!
Pre-registration is required for sellers. (Register early - spots go quickly!)*
Sellers must be 18+
$10/first space
$6/each additional space
(9'x12' parking spot size)
*Register at boonecountyky.org/parks, or call 859-334-2117.

Fall Clean Up Program
October 5 - October 11
Drop off unwanted debris at the Public Services Maintenance Facility at 7850 Tanners Lane, Florence, KY 41042
Mon - Fri…7am to 7pm
Sat - Sun…9am to 7pm

City of Florence Hosts Hoxworth Blood Drive on October 8
Hoxworth Blood Center is partnering with the City of Florence for a blood drive on Thursday, October 8, with two sessions: 11:00 a.m.–1:15 p.m. and 2:30–4:45 p.m. The donor bus will be parked at 8100 Ewing Blvd in Florence. Every donor receives a Hoxworth wearable blanket. Appointments encouraged — schedule online or call (513) 451-0910.
Read more → https://hoxworth.org/groups/florence

Big Bone Lick Salt Festival Returns Oct. 16–18; Tickets on Sale Now
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site in Union is hosting its annual Salt Festival on October 16–18, with tickets now available for purchase online. The festival celebrates the site's natural and archaeological heritage through live demonstrations, guided tours, and educational programming at one of Kentucky's most significant Pleistocene fossil sites.
Read more → https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/BigBoneLick/SaltFestival

Events at Boone County Extension

Tuesday, September 29 — Introductory Paper Mache

Thursday, October 1 — Growing Garlic

Friday, October 2 — Community Arts Advisory Committee

Tuesday, October 6 — Stitch a Stocking for Adults

Wednesday, October 7 — Medicare Basics

Wednesday, October 7 — Hike the Trails: October

Wednesday, October 7 — Sleep Smarts: Getting Better Zzzs

Thursday, October 8 — Introduction to Watercolor

Thursday, October 8 — Introduction to Forest Gardening | KSU

Friday, October 9 — FCS Advisory Committee

Friday, October 9 — Callery Pear Bounty Program

Get your event listed here. Contact me at robert@florencepulse.com to get your event featured in the Florence Pulse.

⚽ 🏈 🏐BCHS Varsity Sports Schedule — Sept. 28 – Oct. 2

Judy's Crew Doubles Tournament
Florence Bowl is hosting the Judy's Crew doubles bowling tournament this October. Teams can enter on six dates: Saturday, October 10; Sunday, October 11; Saturday, October 17; Sunday, October 18; Saturday, October 24; and Sunday, October 25, 2026, with 10:00 AM and 12:15 PM start times available each day. Entry fee is $60 per team.

Location: Florence Bowl, 7500 Sussex Dr., Florence, KY 41042

Sign up: https://www.florencebowl.com/judyscrew

Let us know about your sport results. Send to [email protected]

The animals that came to Big Bone Lick were not small. American mastodons, built something like a modern elephant but stockier and more heavily boned, stood ten feet at the shoulder. Woolly mammoths left curved tusks that spiraled like shepherd's crooks. Jefferson's ground sloth, named later for the president who became obsessed with these bones, could reach twenty feet in length. Extinct bison, stag moose, ancient horses, and caribou rounded out a list of creatures that reads more like mythology than natural history.

They came for the salt. The springs at Big Bone Lick were rich with the minerals that large mammals crave, and for thousands of years during the last Ice Age, the valley functioned like a gathering place at the edge of the world. The soft, boggy ground around the springs was the trap. Animals that came in too deep got stuck. The cold preserved them. The earth kept them.

By the time the first Europeans arrived, the valley had been holding these bones for more than ten thousand years. Three species found nowhere else were first identified here. Scientists would later call Big Bone Lick the birthplace of American vertebrate paleontology, a title it earned one enormous tooth at a time. Wednesday, we look at who had known about this place long before any European set foot in it.