WestChesterBuzz.com

Sue Kiesewetter reports

Four gigantic metal boxes used in the production of industrial gases are being shipped to an AK Steel supplier in Middletown and could cause traffic delays along its route in Hamilton and Butler counties beginning Wednesday.

The equipment is so large that four Duke Energy bucket trucks will travel with the equipment so that utility lines can be raised when needed.

“This is too tall for interstate overpasses,’’ said Mike Moreland with the Ohio Department of Transportation. “Utility lines might have to be moved along the route.”

A caravan that includes Duke’s trucks and the trailer carrying the equipment will be escorted by four Ohio State Highway Patrol, one Ohio Department of Transportation and two private vehicles.

In Butler County, the caravan will be joined by a crew from the engineer’s office and, in Middletown, by the police department, officials said.

“We get involved to help plan the route to make sure the load doesn’t exceed the weight limits on any bridges, the roads aren’t too narrow and underpasses are high enough,’’ said Chris Petrocy, spokesman for the Butler County Engineer’s Office.

Crews from the engineer’s office will remove signs at intersections the caravan will travel through and then reinstall the signs when it passes. Extra gravel may also be placed on some roadways.

The first of the oversized cold boxes will leave from the Ohio River at the Anderson Ferry at 9 a.m. Wednesday and should arrive at Air Products and Chemicals Inc., on Yankee Road in Middletown, by 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

At 238,562 pounds – about 119 tons – it is the smallest of the four pieces of equipment. The equipment measures between 146 and 175 feet in length, 18.5 feet wide and 19.5 feet high. The larger pieces weigh between 256,728 and 425,800 pounds – or 128 to 213 tons.

The boxes are used by Air Products to produce industrial gases used by AK Steel along with food, chemical, metal process, electronic, medical and other clients.

It is part of the company’s plan to build, own and operate a new air separation unit, hydrogen production facility and make improvements to liquefier operations to produce industrial gases.

The trailer carrying the rectangular shaped boxes will move no faster than 5 miles per hour on its journey.

Each cold box will be shipped separately, with two-day shipments leaving Wednesday, Friday, May 21 and May 24.

Posted in: News, Traffic |

Tags: Tags: AK Steel, AK Steel Middletown, AK Steel West Chester, Duke Energy, Ohio Department of Transportation, traffic

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 Lakota East Principal Keith Kline prior to the 2012-2013 school year. Photo provided.

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.

Davis also served as the assistant principal at the Lakota East Freshman Campus during the 2006-2007 school year. Prior to that, Davis served as an assistant principal at Deer Park Junior/Senior High School from Aug. 2003 to Aug. 2006.

The school board approved the appointment of Davis after Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia made the recommendation, calling Davis “a perfect fit,” during the school board meeting Monday.

“She has a lot of experience in secondary education, she has had a great mentor, she is extremely professional and she is great with secondary kids,” Mantia said. “She is firm, but fair and innovative, so she is definitely the right fit.”

In her new position, Davis will oversee 2,700 students and 140 teachers between the Lakota East high school and freshman campuses.

She will be under a two-year contract that will include a base salary of $100,000. Kline, who was the Lakota East principal since 2007, had a salary of $106,844 in 2011-2012.

“I have had the opportunity to watch Lakota East evolve into a world-class high school, with an outstanding staff, engaged parents, a supportive community and the best high school students in the nation,” Davis said. “I look forward to continuing to build on that strong foundation.”

In April, the school board also approved the promotion of Lakota West Freshman Campus Associate Principal Gary Elgin Card to the position of principal at Lakota West High School. Card will replace current Lakota West Principal Richard Hamilton, who is retiring at the end of this school year.

Card’s two-year contract, effective Aug. 1, 2012, includes a base salary of $100,000. Hamilton’s salary during the 2011-2012 school year is $110,370.

Posted in: Board of Education, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Dr. Keith Kline, Elgin Card, Gary Elgin Card, Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Dr. Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Suzanna Davis, Lakota West, Lakota West Freshman Campus, Lakota West principal Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Gary Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Richard Hamilton, Richard Hamilton, Suzanna Davis

Sue Kiesewetter reports

A Lakota East High School teacher has been charged with a misdemeanor count of theft in connection with missing money from the school’s prom fund.

Heather Schoell-Schroeder. Photo provided

Heather Schoell-Schroeder, 45, of Liberty Township was charged after she and her attorney met with sheriff’s investigators Monday. The Lakota Board of Education is expected to accept her resignation at its meeting tonight, retroactive to May 7.

“Our investigation has concluded,’’ said Sgt. Monte Mayer, spokesman for the Butler County Sheriff’s office. “No other charges are pending.”

Administrators first learned money may have been missing when students arrived at the April 28 prom and had trouble getting in, according to district officials. When students complained to the teacher at least two were asked not to report her, according to a statement from the district.

School officials said the amount missing is about $800 and involved payment for 20 tickets, according to the statement. It is believed that Schoell-Schroeder encouraged students to pay her directly for prom admission instead of waiting in line to buy tickets in the lunchroom.

Even if the students had purchased tickets in the lunchroom, no paper ticket would have been issued because it was credited electronically. Schoell-Schroeder may have told the students to see her at the prom to gain entrance instead of going through the check-in process.

After conducting an internal investigation that began April 30, school officials turned over their information to the sheriff’s office.

Schoell-Schroeder has not been in the classroom since the prom. A substitute teacher has taken over her classroom duties.

Since then, a relative of the teacher has returned $160 to the district, officials said.

School officials are reviewing prom ticket sales to see if changes need to be made.

Posted in: Crime, Events, News, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Heather Schoell-Schroeder, Lakota East High School, Lakota East missing prom funds, Lakota East missing prom money, Lakota East prom, Lakota East stolen prom money

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty recently released the deadlines to apply for the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund, which was created to assist student athletes in the Lakota school district with sports fees.

Junior high and high school students saw their athletic fees increase prior to the 2011-2012 school year when the Lakota Board of Education approved $10.2 million in cuts.

Athletic fees ballooned to $350 for junior high athletes – up from $200 in 2010-2011 – and to $550 for high school students – up from $300 in 2010-2011.

Due to this increase, the Community Foundation established the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund. Through this fund, private donations can be made to cover half of the athletic fee assessed to students participating in sports within the district.

More than $6,500 was awarded in scholarship during the 2011-12 school year.

Deadlines for consideration during the 2012-2013 school year:

• Fall Sports: Students in grades 7-8 must apply by May 15, Students in grades 9-12 must apply by Aug. 17
• Winter Sports: Students in grades 7-12 must apply by Nov. 16
• Spring Sports: Students in grades 7-12 must apply by Feb. 15

Families interested in submitting an application for consideration must submit a letter to The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty indicating their desire for assistance.

The letter should include the name of the student athlete, school and grade level. The letter should also include a rationalization and insight into the family’s hardship, the benefit the students will receive from athletic participation and insight into the family’s ability to cover half of the athletic fee charged to the student. Families should also include documentation of other financial assistance being provided.

Send letters to:

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty
Attn: Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund
5641 Union Centre Drive
West Chester, OH 45069

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of West Chester and Liberty Township residents.

A limited number of scholarships are available. Only one scholarship per student will be awarded in a school year.

Community Members who wish to support the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund can make a donation payable to the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund c/o The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty. For more information, call Melissa Benedict at 513-874-5450.

Posted in: Board of Education, Levy news, News, Schools, Sports |

Tags: Tags: athletic fees, Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Lakota athletic fees, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, WCL Community Foundation

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.

Richard Hamilton is retiring after being principal at Lakota West for the past 13 years. Photo taken by Tony Jones.

Lakota to lose both high school principals- With the West Clermont school board’s recent approval of Keith Kline (current principal at Lakota East) as its new assistant superintendent, the Lakota school district will be entering the 2012-2013 school year with different principals at both high schools. Meanwhile, Richard Hamilton, who has served as the principal at Lakota West for the past 13 years, is retiring at the end of the school year in July.

Former Lakota East wrestler to compete in 2012 Olympics – About 10 years ago, Pliev had offers to wrestle at universities throughout the United States. He was coming off back-to-back state and national wrestling titles at Lakota East and seemed destined to accomplish his dream of becoming an Olympian. His journey, however, took a few unique turns.

Mandy Corrado, mother of twins Andrew and Luciana, found support after a miscarriage from the West Chester Mothers of Twins and More Club. Photo provided.

Mothers of twins grow special bond in West Chester– One of the largest mothers of multiples groups in the nation is right here in West Chester. The local twins club started in 1988 with six members. It has grown to more than 230 members today.

U.S. News ranks Lakota high schools among nation’s best – Lakota high schools made U.S. News & World Report’s list of top-ranked public high schools in the state and nation. Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on a range of performance indicators, such as state proficiency standards and how well they prepare students for college. Both schools were among 93 Ohio public high schools to earn a silver medal.

West Chester firefighters have new pact – The West Chester Board of Trustees approved a three-year contract with the township’s fire lieutenants and firefighters last Tuesday. The contract affects 57 full-timers who are represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3518, and replaces a contract that expired at the end of last year.

AK Steel makes Fortune 500 list – AK Steel, which is headquartered in West Chester, was recently named to this year’s Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations. The company was ranked 381st on this year’s list and generated approximately $6.5 billion in revenue in 2011.

West Chester day care child abuser gets 80 years – Dan Horn reported that a Mason man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for molesting boys at his mother’s in-home day care in West Chester and sharing photos of the abuse over the Internet. A federal judge sentenced Andrew Keith, 29, to 80 years in prison last Wednesday for producing and sharing child pornography.

Sectional tournament update: Lakota teams advance – The Lakota West baseball team, along with the Lakota East and Lakota West softball teams, won their postseason matchups in the sectional tournament last Wednesday. Both baseball teams also advanced to district semifinal games with wins last Thursday. All four teams will play in district semifinal games this week.

House Speaker John Boehner visited United Performance Metals in Hamilton May 11, 2012, to listen to the concerns of local small business owners. He also took a few jabs at President Obama. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

Boehner listens to small business owners in Hamilton- House Speaker John Boehner Friday accused President Obama of being “AWOL for about eight months” as he campaigns non-stop for re-election. Boehner’s remarks came during a visit to United Performance Metals here where he listened to the concerns of local small business owners.

Lakota East teacher investigated over prom funds – A Lakota East High School teacher is the focus of an investigation by police in connection with missing funds from the Butler County school’s prom fund. The teacher, who resigned earlier this week, was not named by Lakota school officials in their released statement last Friday.

Fallen West Chester Marine to receive Purple Heart – The body of Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling will return to his Butler County hometown Sunday as the latest recipient of the prestigious Purple Heart Award, military officials said last Friday. The Moeller High School graduate and bomb disposal specialist, 25, was shot in the chest and killed Sunday by someone, possibly a Taliban member, wearing an Afghan National Army uniform – a person supposed to be an ally of U.S. forces.

Posted in: Board of Education, Crime, Election, Government, News, Schools, Sports, Spring sports, Student achievements, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: 2012 Summer Olympics, death, Dr. Keith Kline, J.P. Huling, J.P. Huling death, John Boehner, John Boehner Cincinnati, John Boehner photos, John Boehner West Chester, Keith Kline, Khetag Pliev, Khetag Pliev 2012 Summer Olympics, Khetag Pliev Olympics, Khetag Pliev Team Canada, Khetag Pliev wrestling, Lakota East, Lakota East principal Dr. Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Keith Kline, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West principal Richard Hamilton, Lakota West sports, military, Richard Hamilton, Twins Club West Chester, U.S. Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling, United Performance Metals, West Chester Fire Department, West Chester Mothers of Twins & More Club

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 – Station, Walnut Ridge, Meadow Creek, Rose Mallow, Maple Ridge
• Tuesday – Cincinnati-Dayton (West Chester to Allen), Dimmick (Cincinnati-Dayton to R/R tracks), Lake, Aviation, Imagination
• Wednesday – West Chester (U.C.B. to Cincinnati-Dayton), Turfway, Gulfstream, Hialeah, Belmont Park, Steeplechase, Santa Anita, St. Leger
• Thursday – Eagleview
• Friday – Muhlhauser (West Chester to R/R Overpass), Schulze Drive, Floer Drive, Centre Pointe Drive (east of Muhlhauser)

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

Jennifer Edwards Baker reports

Hundreds of people are expected to pay their respects today to a West Chester native and United States Marine who was killed by a suspected Taliban militant dressed in an Afghan National Army uniform while on patrol in Afghanistan last week.

The Huling family has two sons who are Marines. Pictured left to right is Debbie Huling, her youngest son, Lance Cpl. Justin Huling, 22, who attends Miami University in Oxford, Sgt. J.P. Huling and their sister, Lauren, 30, of Cincinnati. Both of the men felt a calling to enter the military from the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Photo provided

The 25-year-old who graduated from the private Catholic school in 2004 will return to his alma mater one final time before a mass of Chrisian burial is held Tuesday morning at St. Michael Church in Sharonville.

• Story: Fallen Marine to receive Purple Heart
• Story: Marine John Patrick ‘J.P.’ Huling killed by Taliban

Sgt. Huilng will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C.

Last week, military officials announced he will receive the prestigious Purple Heart Award.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: death, J.P. Huling, J.P. Huling death, military, U.S. Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling

Jennifer Edwards Baker reports

After more than an inch of rain fell Sunday, it should be drier today with just a slight chance of showers.

The forecast from the National Weather Service in Wilmington calls for cloudy skies with a high of 71 by 5 p.m. The clouds will stick around overnight with a low of 53.

• 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

By Tuesday, a streak of dry, warm weather will arrive and stick around through week’s end.

Daytime highs will hover in the upper 70s and low 80s through next weekend. It will be mostly cloudy through Wednesday, when there will be a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms just before the evening rush hour.

The last half of the week through the weekend looks dry with plenty of sunshine. By Saturday, the mercury will soar to the mid-80s.

Posted in: News, Weather |

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

Jennifer Edwards Baker reports

The body of Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling will return to his Butler County hometown Sunday as the latest recipient of the prestigious Purple Heart Award, military officials said Friday.

U.S. Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling. Photo provided.

Sgt. Huling became the latest victim in a series of attacks blamed on Afghan soldiers – or on assailants dressed in Afghan military uniforms. The attacks come as NATO is preparing to hand over security to local forces ahead of a 2014 deadline for withdrawing combat troops.

The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving our country.

“It is an unfortunate honor to make sure that J.P. Huling is given the proper respect he deserves,” said Major Dave Valentino of the U.S. Marines Communications Co. in Cincinnati. “That’s our duty here, to make sure that both he and his family get what they need through this troubling time.”

When Sgt. Huling’s American flag-draped casket lands about 3 p.m. Sunday at the Butler County Regional Airport in Fairfield Township, it will not be alone. Military veterans on motorcycles from the Patriot Guard Riders and local and federal law enforcement will accompany it to Hodapp Funeral Home off Tylersville Road in West Chester.

On Monday, there will be a visitation from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Moeller High School.

There also will be a service at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Michael’s Church in Sharonville before Sgt. Huling’s body is flown to Washington D.C., where he will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Valentino said Sgt. Huling wanted to be laid to rest at Arlington.

Even though Sgt. Huling questioned the purpose of the U.S. military’s continued presence in Afghanistan, he answered the call for service when he was sent to Afghanistan six months ahead of schedule last month, departing on Good Friday.

It was his second tour of duty. He had enlisted after serving in Iraq.

He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Sgt. Huling grew up in West Chester and attended St. Michael School in Sharonville before continuing his private Catholic school education at Moeller.

After Moeller, he worked as a kitchen manager at Manor House in Mason and enrolled in Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, where he attended culinary school.

A year later, though, he still felt his life was missing something, so he joined the Marines.

Like his younger brother, Sgt. Huling was inspired to serve his country in light of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

He was stationed in Camp Pendleton and recently purchased a house with his wife in Temeculah, Calif.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: death, J.P. Huling, J.P. Huling death, military, U.S. Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling

A Lakota East High School teacher is the focus of an investigation by police in connection with missing funds from the Butler County school’s prom fund.

The teacher, who resigned earlier this week, was not named by Lakota school officials in their released statement Friday.

According to Lakota officials, they “could not initially account for $800 in ticket sale proceeds from the Lakota East High School prom fund. The district has recovered $160 and officials “will continue to pursue the remainder.”

“We take all matters involving potential illegal activity very seriously,” said Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia. “We acted with urgency to handle this situation appropriately. We are cooperating fully with the (Butler County) Sheriff’s office.”

Posted in: Crime, Events, News, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East High School, Lakota East missing prom funds, Lakota East missing prom money, Lakota East prom, Lakota East stolen prom money