The Kentucky Department of Education releases the 2025 to 2026 school report cards Thursday, Oct. 15. Schools and districts are rated on six indicators, including state test performance, graduation rate, postsecondary readiness and a school climate and safety survey. Each indicator shows a current status and a change from the prior year, color coded from red to blue. A LINK nky guide uses the Boone County Schools 2024 to 2025 report card as its example.
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The Florence Planning and Zoning Committee meets Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 9 a.m. ET (8 a.m. CT) at the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd. The agenda lists two Boone County Planning Commission resolutions. R-26-022-A recommends approval with conditions of a zoning map amendment for about 14.64 acres at 4700 Houston Road. R-26-023-D recommends denial of one for about 32.96 acres on Old Union Road. Possible annexation to Florence is now pending for the Old Union Road property.
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Owen Texter and his Boy Scout Troop 239 team built a new trail leading to the vernal pond habitat and installed an education sign at the Boone County Conservation District's Jones Center for Conservation as part of his Eagle Scout project. The district says Texter is a former Conservation Kids Camper and LEAF Academy graduate, and currently volunteers with its Junior Board. The new trail can be seen at the district's Community Day on Nov. 7.
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I am looking for businesses to spotlight in the Florence Pulse. Enquire about having your business in the spotlight. Email me at [email protected].

🌦️ Wednesday — 83° / 65° · Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
⛈️ Thursday — 76° / 60° · Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
🌦️ Friday — 64° / 41° · Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
📍 Source: weather.gov — Florence, KY 41042

Where is your favorite pumpkin patch?

Respond to this email with your answer.

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.
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Friday, October 16
Turfway Park, 7 p.m.
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Saturday, October 17
High Stakes Harley-Davidson, 430 Meijer Drive, Florence, 1 to 4 p.m.
Live music by Billy Brown, Minton's Ducking Good BBQ food truck, cash bar, pumpkin decorating and a costume contest. Candy hand out begins at 3 p.m.
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Saturday, October 17
Nostalgic Garage, 7968 Kentucky Dr., Suite 5, Florence, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Classic, hot rod, muscle and off-road vehicles, plus a trunk or treat for kids. Attendees are asked to bring candy and non-perishable food. The candy supports Sunrise Children's Services and the food goes to a Go Pantry donation bin.
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Saturday, October 17
Florence Elks Lodge #314, 7704 Dixie Hwy, Florence, 2 to 6 p.m.
A family friendly fundraiser open to the public, with games, prizes, food, music, raffle baskets and Split the Pot. All proceeds support the Simon Kenton Cheer team.
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Sunday, October 18
School of Rock NKY, 6415 Dixie Hwy, Florence, 3 to 6 p.m.
Free. A family friendly Halloween event with games for kids of all ages. Attendees can bring their own pumpkin for painting.
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Wednesday, October 21
4885 Houston Rd, Florence, 6 to 8 p.m.
Free. Children in costume collect candy from decorated trunks in the parking lot.
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Wednesday, October 21
Boone County High School commons, 7056 Burlington Pike, Florence, 6 to 8 p.m.
For children ages 4 to 12. The cost is $40 per child and includes a shirt, a bow, instruction and a spot in the performance at the Friday, October 23 football game. Proceeds help send the Boone County Cheerleaders to a national competition.
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Thursday, October 22
7210 Turfway Rd, Florence, 11 a.m. to noon
Free. The session covers new appraisal information that takes effect Nov. 1.
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Friday, October 23
Boone County Fairgrounds, 6 to 8 p.m.
Register at boonecountyky.org/parks.
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Saturday, October 24
St. Henry Athletic Complex, 35 Cavalier Blvd., Florence, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission is $5. More than 100 local craftsmen display handmade items, with free face painting, a fall display for photos and raffle tickets for themed gift baskets.
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Saturday, October 24
Dave & Buster's, 781 Heights Blvd, Florence, 3 to 5 p.m.
Free. Guests in costume can explore the midway for treats and surprises and receive an Unlimited Sim Play Card.
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Saturday, October 24
Boone County Fairgrounds, 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Free for all ages. Visitors walk a trail lit by jack-o-lanterns, take a hayride and end the night with a sweet treat.
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Saturday, October 24
Turfway Park, 7500 Turfway Road, Florence, 8:30 p.m.
Live concert.
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Monday, October 26
The 859 Taproom and Grill, 8720 Bankers St, Florence, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Florence Kentucky Pride hosts its second Pride Trunk or Treat, with costume and trunk decorating contests.
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Tuesday, October 27
7210 Turfway Rd, Florence, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Free. Lender affiliates share practical insights on how they keep preparing their clients. Rob Trump moderates a panel.
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Wednesday, October 28
Scheben Branch, Boone County Public Library, 8899 US 42, Florence, 6 to 7 p.m.
A Halloween themed family dance party with music and craft activities. Costumes are welcome.
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Saturday, October 31
Unincorporated Boone County, Florence, Union and Walton, 6 to 8 p.m.
Trick or treat is not a county sponsored event. Residents giving out candy can turn on porch lights. Drivers are asked to slow down in neighborhoods and turn on headlights before sunset.
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Wednesday, October 14 — Hike the Trails
Wednesday, October 14 — Sleep Smarts: Getting Better ZZZs
Thursday, October 15 — Create A... (afternoon session)
Thursday, October 15 — Create A... (evening sessions)
Thursday, October 15 — Northern Kentucky Beef Field Day
Friday, October 16 — Visual Journaling Series
Monday, October 19 — Air-Dry Clay Ghosts
Tuesday, October 20 — Fall Color Walk
Tuesday, October 20 — Wildlife Critters October 2026
Tuesday, October 20 — Building Healthy Soils
Wednesday, October 21 — Hike the Trails
Wednesday, October 21 — Pokeberry Ink & Quill Pen Workshop
Wednesday, October 21 — Sleep Smarts: Getting Better ZZZs
Thursday, October 22 — Woody Plants & Landscape Symposium
Thursday, October 22 — Pokeberry Ink & Quill Pen Workshop
Thursday, October 22 — Adulting Academy
Friday, October 23 — Coffee, Tea, Caffeine, and Thee
Friday, October 23 — Air-Dry Clay Ghosts
Tuesday, October 27: Healing Power of Connection
Tuesday, October 27: Fall Tree and Wildflower Hike
Tuesday, October 27: Intermediate Paper Mache
Wednesday, October 28: Hike the Trails
Wednesday, October 28: Intermediate Paper Mache
Wednesday, October 28: Sleep Smarts: Getting Better ZZZs

Date: Every Saturday through Oct 31.
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Location: 1961 Burlington Pike, Burlington, KY 41005
Description: About 50 member farm families sell Northern Kentucky-grown produce, flowers and other items. Vendors may also set up on other days, and the market's Facebook page posts pop-ups.
More Info: Boone County Farmers Market

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

BCHS Varsity Results: Tuesday, Oct. 13

Boys Soccer: Larry A Ryle High School 3, Boone County High School 0 (Final)
Girls Volleyball: Boone County High School 2, Ludlow High School 0 (Final)

BCHS Varsity Sports Schedule: Oct. 14 to 16

Wednesday, Oct. 14: Girls Volleyball vs. Grant County High School, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15: Girls Volleyball at Newport Central Catholic High School, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 16: Football at Dixie Heights High School, 7 p.m.

Florence Bowl is hosting the Judy's Crew doubles bowling tournament this October. Teams can still enter on four dates: 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]

They came for land. That was the simple truth of it. Land that cost little or nothing. Land a man could farm and pass to his children. Land that in Virginia or the Carolinas was already claimed and priced beyond what most of them could reach.

Kentucky offered a different equation. Virginia, which had claimed Kentucky before statehood, had issued land warrants to Revolutionary War veterans as payment for their service. Soldiers who had never set foot in Kentucky held paper claims to tracts they would have to find, survey, and settle before those claims meant anything. Other settlers purchased land at prices that seemed impossible compared to what they had left behind. The fertile bottomland along the Ohio River and its tributaries was what everyone wanted, and in the early years there was enough of it to go around.

In 1791, Baptist preacher John Tanner and a partner acquired 2,000 acres along the Ohio River, the land that would become Petersburg. Robert Johnson and John Craig donated 74 acres at the headwaters of Allen's Fork for the county seat that would become Burlington. The first county court met in 1799 at William Cave's home, because there was no courthouse yet. The county was drawing its own map one land transaction at a time. Thursday, we look at what happened once people stopped moving and tried to make a life.