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Lakota West students launched the redesign of lakotawesthigh.com May 16, 2012.

After five months of work, Lakota West students showed off their new design for its official high school website 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. Improvements to the website include social media integration, introduction of a mobile platform, a featured news slider and a banner that includes outlines of both the high school and freshman campuses.

“Being able to work together as a big team and actually pull this together was a really great experience for myself and I am sure for everybody else,“ Lakota West senior Daniel Lewandowski said.

“Going from being able to find a template and start putting things together to now and to be finally finished, it feels really good.”

During the presentation, Lewandowski and his classmates commented that they wanted the redesign to have the feel of a college website. Their teacher, Todd Hummer, believed his students accomplished that goal among others.

“I think this site is a lot more visually appealing than the old site, it has a really modern touch to it,” Hummer said. “The featured content slider, which you see on a lot of the college sites these days, seems to be many of the kids favorite part. My personal favorite part is the banner and how it incorporates the main campus and the freshman campus. That was also one of our main goals.”

Besides those features, Lewandowski and his classmates agreed that the “simplified” new design makes it easier for online visitors to navigate through the website.

“A lot of work and a lot of time went into it and I am really proud of the final product,” Lakota West junior Scott Johnson said.

“This new website is a lot less cluttered and more simpler than the old website, making it much easier to find information. On the old site, you used to be able to click through six sections and find the same thing in two spots. It just wasn’t that easy to get around compared to the new one.”

For those interested, below is a screen shot of the old design.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Daniel Lewandowski, Lakota website, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West High School web design, Lakota West web design, Lakota West website, Lakota West website redesign, lakotawesthigh.com, Scott Johnson, Todd Hummer

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

During a focus group at the Lakota Central Office May 3, 2012, it was the students teaching Lakota administrators on how to better run the state’s seventh-largest school system. In picture, Lakota student Jennifer Shafer shares her opinion. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

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 students share opinions on how to run district – During a focus group session at the Lakota Central Office last Thursday, it was the students teaching Lakota administrators on how to better run the state’s seventh-largest school system.

Lightning strike levels Liberty Township home – Gary Keller’s 4,000-square-foot, $900,000 home caught fire after being struck by lightning during last Wednesday’s storm.

Former Lakota West football players get chance with Bengals – Lakota West graduates Grant Hunter and Josh Chichester will both have the opportunity to prove to the Cincinnati Bengals that they are worth a roster spot. Hunter, who played linebacker at Butler, was among one of the 14 college free agents that the Bengals signed Wednesday. While Chichester, was one of the three players with local ties who were invited to try out at next weekend’s, May 11-13, rookie minicamp.

Ex-assistant prosecutor indicted in Butler County – Sheila McLaughlin reported last week that a former Butler County assistant prosecutor was himself indicted for allegedly forging an indictment against an alleged robber. Jason Phillabaum, who has been working in private practice, is charged with two counts each of forgery and tampering with records and misdemeanor charges of derelection of duty, interference with civil rights and using a sham legal process.

Schedule released for 2012 West Chester concert series – The schedule for the 2012 Fifth Third West Chester summer concert series at Keehner Park has been released. The free Saturday concerts will take place at the Keehner Park amphitheatre from 7 to 9 p.m.

After-Hours on The Square at Union Centre 2012 schedule – DV8 will kick off the 2012 season of the First Financial Bank After-Hours on The Square concert series in West Chester May 24. The band will perform from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Square at Union Centre. The concert series will take place every Thursday

Mojo Running moves to new location – Mojo Running, the West Chester running specialty store, is itself on the move. The shop relocated from 9318 Union Center Blvd in the U.S. Bank Plaza to a more visible space two miles away, at 8777 Cincinnati Dayton Road in Olde West Chester, near the Post Office, owner Paul Heintz said.

Lakota West sweeps rival – For the second time in four days, a Lakota West pitcher shutout the defending Division I baseball state champions. Behind sophomore pitcher Grant Schuermann, Lakota West blanked the Lakota East Thunderhawks by the score of 3-0 on April 27. Then, last Monday, it was senior Zak Farmer who shutout Lakota East in a 7-0 victory at the Hawks Nest.

Posted in: Board of Education, Events, Levy news, News, School events, Schools, Student achievements, Weather |

Tags: Tags: Butler County weather, Gary Keller, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota East, Lakota East baseball, Lakota East Ray Hamilton, Lakota East Sports, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota student focus group, Liberty Township weather, National Weather Service, West Chester weather

On a warm spring day at his family’s home in West Chester, Khetag Pliev slowly breathes in the air. He says that it is “peaceful” here, remembering a time when he thought that he may never see it again.

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.

“I think about it every day. I try to forget it because that time is gone,” Pliev said. “I was 100 percent thinking, that now that I was No. 1 in the U.S. that I would be No. 1 in the world. At least that was my belief at the time.”

Every college wrestling program in the country wanted Pliev, who grew up in The Republic of North Ossetia. In that southern Russian republic, wrestling was king.

“They give their sons to wrestling. If he succeeds, he succeeds. If not, at least at some point of his life, he will. It is like hockey in Canada. Everyone kid competes, so they have the best selection of kids,” Pliev said.

At Lakota East, Pliev succeeded on the mat. In the classroom, however, the wrestler, who struggled with the English language, didn’t have the grades to qualify to compete in the NCAA, so he went to Lassen Community College in Susanville, Calif.

There, he eventually decided to return to Russia, against the advice of his Lassen coach Rex Branum.

As Branum feared, Pliev would never get that chance to wrestle at Lassen. Instead, after arriving in Russia, the former Lakota East star athlete was trapped for what turned out to be three years. While there, he missed his family and didn’t feel like he was home.

Khetag Pliev, who will be wrestling for Team Canada in the 2012 Summer Olympics, spent some time training with Eric Ramsey at the Jorge Gurgel Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness Academy in West Chester May 3, 2012. Photo by Adam Kiefaber.

“It went downhill for me,” said Pliev. “I was not of U.S. and I was not of Russia. I wanted to come here, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t completely there and I wasn’t here. I didn’t train well. I wasn’t focused.”

With each passing year, his family back in West Chester worried that they would never see him again. His father, Alex, called it a time of “deep depression.”

Back at Lassen College, his coach decided to fly to Moscow and visit the U.S. Embassy, hoping to get Pliev a student visa.

“I thought it would help if I was there,” Branum said. “But the guy just looked at me and said ‘Rex, I know that you have come a long way, but there is no way in hell.’”

Trapped in Russia, Pliev filled out paperwork and requested a student visa in person five times at the U.S. Embassy. He was never accepted back into the United States.

He was, however, allowed to go to Canada.

While there for a tournament with his Russian team, a Toronto man named Ruslan Kuchiev, who grew up with Pliev’s father, convinced him to stay in the country.

Kuchiev helped him fill out the proper paperwork in order to become a Canadian citizen and in just a little more than two years, he was successful.

“Never in my mind was Canada, but God made it that way and he is ruler of all and everything,” Pliev said. “When I was here, I obviously wanted to be a U.S. citizen … but Canada opened a door for me.”

With Canadian citizenship, the door was open for Pliev to see his family.

“It was a long five years,” said Pliev. “There was a lot of happiness.”

At this year’s Summer Olympic Games in London, his lifelong dream will become a reality when he wrestles for Team Canada.

“It doesn’t matter where I live, even if I am in Africa. It is the same goal – to win gold in the Olympics,” Pliev said. “It is any small boy’s dream even here, especially where I am from – North Ossetia – that is the main goal, to be Olympic champion.”

Posted in: News, Schools, Sports, Student achievements, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: 2012 Summer Olympics, Khetag Pliev, Khetag Pliev 2012 Summer Olympics, Khetag Pliev Olympics, Khetag Pliev Team Canada, Khetag Pliev wrestling, Lakota East Sports, Rex Branum, Rex Branum Lassen College

During a focus group session at the Lakota Central Office Thursday, it was the students teaching Lakota administrators on how to better run the state’s seventh-largest school system.

The student-led focus group was the first of four sessions with Lakota officials, as the school district looks for more effective ways to educate its students.

“Students will tell you the truth and that is what we are looking for,” Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia said. “We want to make sure we are responsive school system in meeting their needs. In order to do that, we need to ask them.

“This is just the tip of the ice berg.”

After the discussions with students, Mantia said that he hopes to extend an invitation for future focus groups with teachers and eventually with the community.

Among the topics covered, during the two-hour student focus group, included what ways students learn the best, how technology plays a role in their learning, what skills do they think they need to know for their future and what changes need to be made to the school system.

Lakota West senior Melody Stewart shares her opinion during a student focus group at the Lakota Central Office May 3, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

“Anything that could help us with our studies should be allowed,” Lakota West senior Melody Stewart said. “If that means going on Facebook to get something, then we should be allowed to do that. If you abuse that privilege than it should be taken away, but for educational purposes we should be able to go online and search for what we need.”

Stewart, who played volleyball in the Lakota school system and will continue her athletic career at Northern Kentucky University, also thought that the school system should focus on having more extracurricular activities.

“If I didn’t play volleyball, I don’t think that would be as involved in the school today,” Stewart said. “I think these activities help students feel connected to the school district. I believe we should get students more involved and have more extracurricular activities so they can have that connection and feel what I felt.”

Another Lakota athlete, who still has two more years of high school before he graduates, worries about the change in the academic schedule when the high schools move to six-period days in the fall.

“Next year is going to be a lot harder because we only have six periods,” said Lakota West sophomore Malik Grove, who has played varsity football, basketball and bowling. “You still need to earn enough credits. I will still need another foreign language and a fine arts class. I only have two years left to get those in order to get into to a good college.”

Meanwhile, Stewart hopes Grove and other future graduates will receive the same education she received while at Lakota.

“When I leave, I don’t want to see the school district go down the drain. I want them to keep improving,” Stewart said. “My experience at Lakota was great. I feel that I am very prepared for the future and I want other students who come up to feel the same way.

“I really hope that this meeting will give the school district a lot of information to keep improving our studies … because I believe there are many things that we can to do, to better prepare students for college and the workforce.”

Posted in: Board of Education, Events, Levy news, News, School events, Schools, Sports, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota East Sports, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota student focus group, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, Malik Grove Lakota West, Mel Stewart, reductions, Rich Hoffman, school levy, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

The Lakota West High School Chorale will perform Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah at Crestview Presbyterian Church, 9463 Cincinnati-Dayton Road in West Chester, at 7:30 p.m. next Friday, May 11.

The choir group will be joined by Michael Young, baritone, who will be singing the role of Elijah; Alexandra Kassouf, soprano; Andrea Spencer, mezzo soprano; and Andrew Jones, tenor. All of the special guests are present or former graduate students from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.

Robert Nims, professor of music emeritus at Ohio Wesleyan University, will accompany the work on the piano.

The 80-voice Lakota West Chorale consistently earns superior ratings at the AA level at Ohio Music Education Association adjudicated events, has twice been invited to perform at the CCM Feast of Carols, has performed with the Cincinnati Brass Band and has presented concerts at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J.

Tickets to performance of Elijah are $5 and will be available at the door.

For more information, visit LakotaWestChoirs.org.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Crestview Church, Crestview Church West Chester, Crestview Presbyterian Church, Crestview Presbyterian Church West Chester, Crestview West Chester, Lakota West, Lakota West choir, Lakota West Choral director Anthony Nims, Lakota West chorale, Lakota West High School

Throughout this school year, five girls at Hopewell Junior School let their hair grow so they could eventually donate it to program that makes wigs for women with cancer.

Students Kellis Stahl, Sarah Harris, Shelby Gray, Sarah Strack, and Kayla Hull each donated eight inches of their hair last month to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, a program coordinated by health teacher Karen Cottrell.

As part of the program, each student wrote an essay explaining why she had chosen to donate her hair.

“What would happen if I woke up one day without any hair? Unfortunately, I know boys and girls go through this when they have cancer treatments,” Strack wrote in her essay. “My hair can always grow back, but those victims of cancer might not live long enough to see the day that their hair grows back.

“Hair can do a lot for people. It could give those victims a reason to smile. It could possibly save somebody’s life, by keeping them stronger.”

Posted in: News, Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Hopewell Jr. School, Hopewell Junior, Kayla Hul, Kellis Stahl, Pantene Beautiful Lengths, Sarah Harris, Sarah Strack, Shelby Gray

The Butler County Teenage Republicans (TARS) held an election of officers meeting Sunday, electing Matt King as chairman; Alicia Lang as vice chairman; Caitlin Lange, as secretary; and Jamie Etterling as treasurer.

The meeting has held at its Republican Headquarters, which is located at 3431 Princeton Road (Bridgewater Falls) in Fairfield Township.

According to a release, TARS is a national, youth-led organization challenging teens to become involved in their local, state and national political processes. TARS across the nation sway elections, gain first-hand knowledge of the political process, develop leadership skills and perform community service acts in their communities.

The group is open to all high school students in Butler County.

If interested in joining, call 513-779-8345 or email contact@butlercountygop.org.

For more information, visit www.republicanteens.org

Posted in: Events, Political events, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Alicia Lang, Butler County Teenage Republicans, Caitlin Lange, Jamie Etterling, Matt King, TARS

Lakota East graduate Elizabeth Bourgeois holds numerous IUPUI swimming records and has a 3.69 GPA while majoring in mechanical engineering. Provided by IUPUI athletics.

IUPUI junior and Lakota East graduate Elizabeth Bourgeois recently became the school’s first student athlete from the swimming program to be honored with its Michael A. Carroll Scholarship Award.

The scholarship is awarded each academic year to an IUPUI student athlete based on academic prowess, athletic success and a continued commitment to community service.

“I am humbled to be selected from such a distinguished group of student athletes. This award truly highlights how hard I have worked towards reaching my goals throughout my college career,” Bourgeois said. “Furthermore, I could not have achieved this without the support from my family, the athletic staff and the School of Engineering and Technology.

“Since (Carroll) did so much for the athletics program, I’m just honored to receive the award.”

Lakota East graduate and IUPUI junior Elizabeth Bourgeois. Provided by IUPUI athletics.

Carroll was a former Lilly Endowment executive who was responsible for creating the Jaguars (formerly the Metros) Athletic Club in 1981. The scholarship has been awarded to IUPUI athletes since 1996.

Athletically, Bourgeois holds IUPUI records in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle and in the 50, 100 and 200 butterfly events. The team captain has also been twice named an All-Summit League performer.

Academically, she has also maintained a 3.69 grade point average while majoring in mechanical engineering.

Bourgeois will be officially recognized prior to the annual Michael A. Carroll Golf Outing on Wednesday, June 6 at Wood Wind Golf Course. In addition, she’ll receive a scholarship in the amount permitted by the NCAA for a ‘full’ grant-in-aid, to the extent in which funds are available.

Posted in: Schools, Sports, Student achievements, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Elizabeth Bourgeois, Elizabeth Bourgeois Lakota East, IUPUI, IUPUI athletics, IUPUI Elizabeth Bourgeois, IUPUI Lizzie Bourgeois, IUPUI swimming, Lizzie Bourgeois, Lizzie Bourgeois Lakota East

School of Rock Mason scholarship winners from left-to-right, Nick Hazelbaker (Sycamore), Jessica Bennett (Mason), Lyndsay Bamberger (Mason), and Ryan Shephard (West Chester). Not in picture Travis Hanna (West Chester). Photo provided.

Drummer Travis Hanna and guitarist Ryan Shephard, both of Lakota West freshman, were recently awarded with a full scholarship to School of Rock Mason.

The school sponsored a scholarship competition to mark its recent opening. Sixteen students from area schools auditioned to compete for one of the five awards. Other winners included Lyndsay Bamberger and Jessica Bennett, both vocalists from Mason High School, and Nick Hazelbaker, a keyboardist from Edwin H. Green Intermediate Middle School in Sycamore.

According to a release from the school, the school believes that the best way to learn music is to play music, it combines weekly private lessons with weekly show rehearsals that lead to its students performing shows at real rock venues before live audiences.

The School of Rock Mason, 755 Reading Road in Mason, is hosting a grand opening celebration that will feature the scholarship winners Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

The celebration will also include The Noah Wotherspoon Band (finalist at the 2012 International Blues Competition held in Memphis), Cincinnati’s Fairmount Girls and the School of Rock Mason instructors. For more information, visit www.Mason.SchoolofRock.com.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Jessica Bennett, Lakota West, Lakota West Freshman, Lyndsay Bamberger, Nick Hazelbaker, Ryan Shephard, Travis Hanna