WestChesterBuzz.com

“Cincinnality,” created by West Chester resident and former WARM 98 personality Dean Miuccio, also features Amanda Orlando of “Great Country 94.1 FM” and formerly of B105; and Dan Carroll, morning co-anchor at Dayton’s Channels 22/45 and formerly of Fox19. Photo provided.

John Kiesewetter reports

After an eight-month hiatus, the local “Cincinnality” talk-variety show return to WXIX-TV (Channel 19) on June 3 with the same hosts — but a different venue, format, length, time slot and taping schedule.

Producer/host Dean Miuccio of West Chester says the old gang will be back: Dean and Randi Douglas previously of WARM 98; Amanda Orlando of “Great Country 94.1 FM” and formerly of B105; and Dan Carroll, morning co-anchor at Dayton’s Channels 22/45 and formerly of Fox19.

Now for the changes:

NEWPORT ON THE LEVEE: “Cincinnality” will be taped in front of a studio audience at Newport on the Levee, not the Cincinnati Mall in Forest Park/Fairfield. Miuccio moved into the new studio last month in Newport, a more central location for Tristate viewers.

“Newport on the Levee has been an incredible home for us and offers so many opportunities for content and visibility. It’s great exposure, with “Today” show-like windows, on a corner just inside the Gallery area (near the AMC Theatre ticket windows.” he said.

NEW FORMAT: Instead of doing five one-hour shows a week, “Cincinnality” will be a weekly show. It will air at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, following Channel 19′s “10 O’Clock News,” instead of during the day on a weekday.

“The 30-minute TV show will feature local talent and will highlight the entire Tri-State area. Guests for the show will include a mixture of local entertainers, sports figures and prominent business leaders. The ensemble cast of hosts will talk about current events, entertainment and local stories of interest,” he said.

TAPING SCHEDULE: The “Cincinnality” reboot will be taped at 7 p.m. Friday, June 1. It air the following Sunday night.

MORE INFO: More details about show dates, guests and tickets will be announced soon on cincinnality.com and the Cincinnality Facebook page here.

Five one-hour shows aired last September, before the “Bill Cunningham Show” debuted on Channel 19. The “Cincinnality” pilot was taped a year ago this month.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Amanda Orlando, Cincinnatlity, Dan Carroll, Dean Miuccio, Dean Miuccio Productions, FOX 19, Randi Douglas, WARM98

Alex Chestnut, a Lakota East graduate, kisses his fiance, Danielle, and holds their daughter, Lehla, 21 months, during the homecoming of the Ohio Air National Guard's 123rd Air Control Squadron at the Blue Ash Air Station on Sunday, May 20. Photo taken by Amanda Davidson.

Paul McKibben reports

At 4:02 p.m. Sunday, cheers went up as a police SUV led an escort of Ohio Air National Guard troops into a large crowd waiting for their heroes.

The caravan that pulled into the Blue Ash Air National Guard Station 123rd Air Control Squadron included a fire truck and ambulance. But onlookers wanted to meet the people who were inside big buses filled with about 80 members of the Ohio Air National Guard’s 123rd Air Control Squadron who returned home after being deployed for six months.

The buses parked. The troops slowly came out. Family members looked for soldiers and the soldiers searched for their loved ones. At one point, one little boy exclaimed “daddy.”

Staff Sgt. Alex Chestnut, a Lakota East graduate, who now lives in Wilmington was one of those daddys. He held his 22-month-old daughter Lehla who was dressed in a patriotic outfit.

“I’m just excited,” said Chestnut, 24, who was deployed for the first time. “Happy. I mean it’s relief. You know, (it’s) finally here. … You get here and it’s, I don’t know, it’s kind of a lot to take in all at once.”

The troops were sent to Southwest Asia in support of Operating Enduring Freedom, the United States’ war in Afghanistan. They arrived in theater Nov. 10 and conducted air traffic control operations, the Ohio Air National Guard said.

Chestnut is a full-time guardsman and works at the Blue Ash station. Unlike most military who don’t see relatives when they are deployed, Chestnut’s father was serving with him. Chestnut said he saw his father Master Sgt. John Chestnut of West Chester every day.

The younger Chestnut used Skype, the phone and Facebook to keep in touch with his fiancee while he was away. He said it’s tough to his family for long time periods, especially with little children.

“You got to come home and re-establish, you know, your part in the family … but it’s tough. You miss them a lot,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Blue Ash Air National Guard Station 123rd Air Control Squadron, Master Sgt. John Chestnut, Ohio Air National Guard’s 123rd Air Control Squadron, Staff Sgt. Alex Chestnut

The Lakota East girls’ track team captured the Division I Southwest District track title at Winton Woods High School Friday. The Thunderhawks finished with 121 points, edging McAuley, which had 112 points.

The Lakota East girls' track team won a district title May 18, 2012. Photo provided.

“We knew it was going to be close, but that was huge for us at that point,” Lakota East coach John Lindeman told EastThunderhawks.com. “Winning this thing is huge for us – especially beating McAuley, because they’re one of the class teams in the city. Beating them shows we’re solidifying ourselves and giving us the confidence to go on to regionals next week.”

At districts, the Lakota East girls’ team won the 4×200-meter relay, the 4×100-meter relay, the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles, as well as the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.

The boys’ team finished in 10th place, but had qualified five athletes for this week’s regional meet at Dayton. Senior Tony O’Connor (1600-meter run, 4×800-meter relay), junior Matt Rice (3200-meter run), sophomore Ben Call (3200-meter run, 4X800-meter relay), junior Jordan Combs (pole vault) sophomore Devon Jackson (4×800-meter relay) and sophomore Jack Beggs (4×800-meter relay) all qualified for the regional meet from the Lakota East boys’ team.

The Lakota East girls’ team qualified six athletes for the regional, but also had a handful of district champions in senior Ariana Cooper (4×200-meter relay), junior Kendra Thomas (4×200-meter relay, 4×100-meter relay), junior Kellsa Mbah (4×200-meter relay, 4×100-meter relay), sophomore Autumn Heath (4×200-meter relay, 4×100-meter relay, 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash) and Celeste Bronson (4×100-meter relay, 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles).

Cooper (400-meter dash), Mbah (200-meter dash), Thomas (pole vault) and junior Kelly Burrows (3200-meter run) didn’t finish in first place but also qualified to compete in the regional meet in other events.

Seven Firebirds qualify for state meet

The Lakota West track team had seven members of its track team qualify for this week’s regional meet at Dayton. District champions included senior Will Clevidence (4×800-meter relay, 800-meter run), senior Nathan Haynes (4×800-meter relay), senior Reid Becker (4×800-meter relay), junior Will Wilson (4×800-meter relay) and senior Amanda Shelby (3200-meter run). Not finishing first, but qualifying in other events include Haynes (800-meter run), Wilson (high jump), senior Brady Holmer (1600-meter run) and senior Jerome Hamilton (long jump).

Regional meet

The regional meet is scheduled to take place at Welcome Stadium (University of Dayton) Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Friday at 4 p.m.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Amanda Shelby, Ariana Cooper, Autumn Heath, Ben Call, Brady Holmer, Celeste Bronson, Devon Jackson, Jack Beggs, Jerome Hamilton, Kellsa Mbah, Kelly Burrows, Kendra Thomas, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East track, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Lakota West track, Matt Rice, Nathan Haynes, Ohio track district meet, Reid Becker, Tony O'Connor, Will Clevidence, Will Wilson

Heather Schoell-Schroeder. Photo provided.

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.

Lakota East teacher charged with prom fund theft- A Lakota East High School teacher was charged last Monday with a misdemeanor count of theft in connection with missing money from the school’s prom fund. Heather Schoell-Schroeder, 45, of Liberty Township was charged after she and her attorney met with sheriff’s investigators.

Lakota high school softball teams eliminated from postseason – Both the Lakota East and Lakota West softball teams lost district semifinal games last Monday afternoon. The Firebirds lost to Northmont at Fairmont by the score of 5-1, while Lakota East fell to Fairborn at West Carrollton by the score of 3-2.

Suzanna Davis. Photo provided.

Lakota East names new principal- For second time this spring, the Lakota Board of Education voted unanimously to promote one of its associate principals to the position of high school principal for the 2012-2013 academic year. Suzanna Davis, who has served as the associate principal at the Lakota East Freshman Campus since Aug. of 2007, will replace Keith Kline, who is leaving at the end of the school year to take the assistant superintendent job in the West Clermont Local School District.

Lakota East honors student athletes with signing day event – Lakota East High School honored nine student athletes last Wednesday during its spring signing day event. Among those recognized include Jacob Landers (Baldwin Wallace College, wrestling), Ivan Thomas (Kentucky Christian University, football), Tyler Overberg (College of Mount St. Joseph, golf), Morgan Weinheimer (University of Mississippi, volleyball), Jeff Mundy Jr. (Kentucky Christian University, football), Tanner Lyons (Centre College, track and field), Aleth Pashi (Otterbein University, basketball), Jacqui Tackett (Mount St. Joseph, lacrosse) and Molly Blomer (Nova Southeastern University).

Lakota West students unveil new design for school website – After five months of work, Lakota West students showed off their new design for its official high school website last Wednesday in front of classmates, teachers and Lakota administrators in the high school’s theatre. The redesigned lakotawesthigh.com launched after the presentation made by students from Lakota West’s web design 2 class.

Police investigating dog hanging in West Chester – WestChesterBuzz.com reported last Wednesday that a local woman claims that she found her dog hanging by its neck from a tree in her yard in the 8900 block of Lesourdsville-West Chester Road on May 10. The West Chester Police Department is investigating the complaint reported by Sherry Faber on the morning of May 13, despite not seeing the dog.

Circle K suspect. Photo provided.

Police investigating a report of public indecency– WestChesterBuzz.com reported last Thursday that the West Chester Police Department is looking for a man, who entered a local Circle K Gas Station and exposed his genitals to the clerk on May 5, according to Crime Stoppers.

Gunman robs UDF in West Chester – The Cincinnati Enquirer reported last Friday that police were searching for a gunman who held up United Dairy Farmers, 8976 State Route 747, according to emergency communication reports. The suspect entered the convenience store just after 6 a.m., brandished a gun and demanded cash.

Moeller eliminates Lakota high school baseball teams from postseason – Twice last week, Moeller eliminated a Lakota high school baseball team from the postseason. On Thursday, Moeller defeated Lakota West by the score of 11-2 in the sectional finals. Then on Saturday, the Crusaders eliminated the defending Division I state champs in Lakota East by the score of 7-2 in the district finals.

VOA Museum opens its doors for tours – For the first time since December, the National VOA Museum of Broadcasting opened for tours this past Saturday and Sunday. There were a few public tours in late 2011 before construction forced the budding museum to close its doors. Prior to those tours, the museum had been closed to the public for two years.

Posted in: Board of Education, Crime, News, Schools, Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Heather Schoell-Schroeder, Lakota East High School, Lakota East missing prom funds, Lakota East missing prom money, Lakota East principal Suzanna Davis, Lakota East prom, Lakota East softball, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East stolen prom money, Lakota West, Lakota West softball, Lakota West sports, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, Suzanna Davis, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, Voice of America Museum

Zack Mueck will attempt to win his first state singles championship this week, after finishing as the runner up the past two seasons. Photo taken by Jeff Swinger.

A week after winning the sectional singles championship, Lakota East senior Zach Mueck captured the district singles title and has advanced to this week’s Division I state tournament at Ohio State University.

Mueck defeated Springboro sophomore Zach Berry, by the score of 6-3, 6-0, in the district title match this past Saturday.

The previous Saturday, May 12, Mueck defeated Mason sophomore Alexander Lebedev in the sectional singles final. Mueck defeated Lebedev again in district tournament singles semifinals this past weekend.

Mueck, who has finished as the state singles runner up the past two seasons, will continue his career at Xavier University. The Cincinnati Enquirer’s tennis player of the year last spring was also considering the University of Kentucky, Ohio State University and the University of Notre Dame.

The state tournament takes place Friday, May 25, and Saturday, May 26. The state tournament brackets will be released Tuesday.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East, Lakota East boys' tennis, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East tennis, Zach Mueck, Zach Mueck Xavier

The West Chester Township Fire Department’s Cincinnati-Dayton Road fire station has begun its 2012 fire hydrant flushing program.

Hydrants will be flushed weekdays through June 4, with makeup days scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays.

The following locations are scheduled this week:

• Monday – Union Centre Boulevard (West Chester to Muhlhauser), Centre Loop (behind U.S. Bank building), Centre Pointe Drive (West of Muhlhauser)
• Tuesday – Allen, Windisch
• Wednesday – Centre Park, Charter Park, Crescent Park, Schumacher Park
• Thursday – Mosteller Lane, Cincinnati-Dayton (Allen to Crescentville), Gano (West of Cincinnati-Dayton), Crescentville (I-75 to Cincinnati-Dayton)
• Friday – Front, Golay, Sylvan, Spring, Auburn, Summit, Fairview, Woodbine, East View

On the day your street is due to have hydrants flushed, water from faucets may become cloudy or brownish. Should that occur, run cold water for 2-3 minutes from a faucet at the lowest area of your home – basement laundry tub, if possible.

Cloudy or milky water is usually caused by dissolved air bubbles coming out of the water, is harmless and should clear in a few minutes. Rusty or yellow water occurs when rust deposits are stirred up by flushing the hydrant. It will usually clear 2-3 hours after the fire hydrant is closed.

Rusty water can stain laundry. Residents are encouraged not to do laundry on the day hydrants are being flushed on their street. If clothes are stained keep them moist and use a rust remover or call 513-887-3066 for assistance.

Questions or concerns may also be directed to the West Chester Fire Department at 513-777-1133 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: fire department, fire hydrants, flushing schedule, West Chester Fire Department

There will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. It is then expected to warm up this weekend, as temperatures could climb into the 90s Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Monday, the best chance for rain is expected mainly after 11 a.m. Overall, the chance of precipitation is 50 percent during the afternoon and 40 percent Monday night. The high will be around 80 and the low will be around 55.

• Cincinnati.com’s weather page with interactive radar, 7-day and hourly forecasts & more!
• National Weather Service: West Chester 7-day forecast
• AccuWeather.com: West Chester extended forecast

On Tuesday, there will be a slight chance of showers before 9 a.m. and again after 1 p.m. The high is expected to be near 71 and the low will be around 54.

It will begin to warm up Wednesday with a high near 79 and a low around 58, before highs of 87 on Thursday, 90 on Friday, 91 on Saturday and 92 on Sunday are possible.

Posted in: News, Weather |

Tags: Tags: Butler County weather, Liberty Township weather, National Weather Service, West Chester weather

Lakota East senior Michael Conrad, who will continue his baseball career at UC, struck out 100 batters and had a 1.83 earned run average in 61.1 innings in 2012. Photo taken by Tony Tribble.

For the second time this week, Moeller eliminated a Lakota high school from the postseason. On Thursday, Moeller defeated Lakota West by the score of 11-2 in the sectional finals. Then on Saturday, the Crusaders eliminated the defending Division I state champs in Lakota East by the score of 7-2 in the district finals.

Moeller jumped out to a 5-0 lead against the Thunderhawks Saturday, by scoring three runs in the first inning and two more in the second.

Senior Ryan LeFevers went 2-for-3 and scored two runs, while junior Spencer Iacavone went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in. Sophomore Zack Shannon added a double, two RBIs, as Moeller improved to 22-5.

Lakota East finishes the season with a 16-14 overall record and a 10-8 mark within the Greater Miami Conference. Accomplishments this season include a sectional championship in the postseason, a seven-game winning streak in April and the setting of the school district career strikeout record by senior pitcher Michael Conrad.

The team, which has four seniors on its roster, will have two players competing at the Division I level in college in Conrad (University of Cincinnati) and Alex Corna (Ohio University).

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Alex Corna, Alex Corna Lakota East, Alex Corna Ohio, Lakota East, Lakota East baseball, Lakota East Sports, Michael Conrad, Michael Conrad Cincinnati, Michael Conrad Lakota East, Mike Conrad, Ohio high school baseball playoffs, ohio high school sectional baseball playoffs, sectional playoffs

Lakota West takes the field before facing Elder in its 2011 home opener. In 2012, Lakota West will open its season against a different GCL opponent in La Salle. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber of WestChesterBuzz.com.

A few days after the schedule for the Crosstown Showdown was released, Lakota West head football coach Larry Cox released his team’s full 2012 schedule.

The Crosstown Showdown game, which will be the Firebirds’ season opener, will be against La Salle at Nippert Stadium Saturday, Aug. 25, at 8 p.m.

“The kids really enjoy playing in the Skyline Crosstown Showdown. You know you are going to play a quality opponent in a collegiate venue and they do a great job of creating a big time atmosphere,” Cox said.

“As a coach, games like this help me measure where we need to be as we approach league play and also gives our program great exposure. There isn’t a negative to playing in a game like this. If you can get a win, it really sets your whole season off on the right track and playing a good team like La Salle makes that a great challenge.”

Besides the season opener, Lakota West will have road games at Glen Este Aug. 31, at Fairfield Sept. 21, at Oak Hills (lost 25-21 in 2011) Oct. 5 and at Colerain (lost 24-19 in 2011) Oct. 19; and homes against Anderson (defeated 20-16 in 2011) Sept. 7, Mason Sept. 14, Princeton (lost 27-21 in 2011) Sept. 28, Middletown (lost 47-7 in 2011) Oct. 12 and Lakota East (defeated 25-20 in 2011) Oct. 26.

Here is a look at the 2012 schedule (2011 record):

Aug. 25 – vs. La Salle (7-3 overall, 1-2 in Greater Catholic League)
Aug. 31 – at Glen Este (4-6 overall, 1-4 in Fort Ancient Valley Conf.)
Sept. 7 – vs. Anderson (4-6 overall, 2-3 in Fort Ancient Valley Conf.)
Sept. 14 – vs. Mason (7-4 overall, 5-2 in GMC)
Sept. 21 – at Fairfield (1-9 overall, 0-7 in GMC)
Sept. 28 – vs. Princeton (7-3 overall, 4-3 in GMC)
Oct. 5 – at Oak Hills (4-6 overall, 2-5 in GMC)
Oct. 12 – vs. Middletown (10-2 overall, 6-1 in GMC)
Oct. 19 – at Colerain (10-2 overall, 7-0 in GMC)
Oct. 26 – at Lakota East (4-6 overall, 2-5 in GMC)

This past fall, the Firebirds complied a 3-7 overall record and 2-5 mark within the GMC.

(All 2012 Lakota West football games are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. with exception to the La Salle game which will be played at 8 p.m. at Nippert Stadium)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: 2012 Crosstown Showdown, 2012 Lakota West football schedule, 2012 Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown, Crosstown Showdown, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West football schedule, Lakota West sports, Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown

Junior-to-be Eric Eichler took over the quarterback duties during the third game of season in 2011. He ended up rushing for nine touchdowns last year. Photo taken Barb Trimble of Trimble Photography.

The Lakota East athletic department recently released its 2012 varsity football schedule, which features three out-of-conference games.

The first out-of-conference game, also the season opener, will be at home against Western Hills High School on Friday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. Last season, the Thunderhawks hosted Western Hills in the season opener, defeating the Mustangs by the score of 28-6.

Lakota East will follow that game with a home game against Winton Woods (defeated 38-37 in OT in 2011) Aug. 31 and an away game at Northmont Sept. 7.

“I think it is very challenging,” Lakota East head football coach Rick Haynes said of the 2012 schedule. “Western Hills is always going to be athletic, Winton Woods has been a power in Division II the last few years and Northmont is always a power up in Dayton.”

After the Northmont game, Lakota East will begin conference play at Oak Hills Sept. 14 before hosting Middletown Sept. 21.

“Once you get in our league – we had four teams that qualified for the playoffs out of our conference – it is always going to be tough,” Haynes said. “Middletown has the reigning Mr. Football coming back in Jalin Marshall, so that will be a challenge.”

Lakota East will round out the schedule with road games at Hamilton (defeated 17-8 in 2011) Sept. 28, at Mason (lost 28-14 in 2011) Oct. 12, at Lakota West (lost 25-20 in 2011) Oct. 26; and with home games against Sycamore (lost 28-25 in 2011) Oct. 5 and Fairfield (defeated 44-13 in 2011) Oct. 19.

Here is a look at the 2012 schedule (2011 record):

Aug. 24 – vs. Western Hills (5-5 overall, 5-1 in Cin. Metro Athletic Conf.)
Aug. 31 – vs. Winton Woods (5-5 overall, 4-1 in Fort Ancient Valley Conf.)
Sept. 7 – at Northmont (4-6 overall, 2-3 in Greater Western Ohio Conf.)
Sept. 14 – at Oak Hills (4-6 overall, 2-5 in GMC)
Sept. 21 – vs. Middletown (10-2 overall, 6-1 in GMC)
Sept. 28 – at Hamilton (4-6 overall, 2-5 in GMC)
Oct. 5 – vs. Sycamore (8-3 overall, 5-2 in GMC)
Oct. 12 – at Mason (7-4 overall, 5-2 in GMC)
Oct. 19 – vs. Fairfield (1-9 overall, 0-7 in GMC)
Oct. 26 – at Lakota West (3-7 overall, 2-5 in GMC)

This past fall, the Thunderhawks complied a 4-6 overall record and 2-5 mark within the GMC.

(All 2012 Lakota East football games are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: 2012 Lakota East football schedule, Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East football schedule, Lakota East Sports