WestChesterBuzz.com

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.

Menchie’s West Chester location. Photo provided.

Menchie’s to open West Chester location Aug. 17- West Chester will have Greater Cincinnati’s second Menchie’s frozen yogurt location when it opens at 8177 Princeton-Glendale Road next Friday, Aug. 17. Owner and operator Jim Hach announced the grand opening date last Wednesday night.

Local siblings share unique bond – John Johnston of The Cincinnati Enquirer wrote a story last week about a West Chester family with two siblings, who have both recently received heart transplants.

Ohio swine flu cases grow again – Sheila McLaughlin of The Cincinnati Enquirer wrote last Thursday that the Ohio Department of Health reported the number of confirmed H3N2v swine flu cases from the Butler County Fair has risen to 16.

Eric Bauman. Photo provided.

Eric Bauman named principal at Lakota’s Liberty Junior- The Lakota Board of Education approved the appointment of Eric Bauman to principal of Liberty Junior School during a recent school board meeting. Bauman had previously served as an assistant principal at Lakota Plains Junior School and at Lakota East High School.

Liberty Township seeing a rash of vandalism – Sue Kiesewetter reported last week for The Cincinnati Enquirer that a rash of vandalism in parts of Liberty Township has officials working to increase Butler County sheriff’s patrols in targeted areas.

Lakota West senior Annie Bierman verbals to Furman – Lakota West senior Annie Bierman once thought of herself as a soccer player until her father forced her to play volleyball. After eight years of playing soccer, Bierman eventually quit and is now planning to continue her volleyball career in college.

Street name changes near West Chester Hospital – If you are having trouble finding directions to your local doctor’s office, it is likely the office hasn’t moved. But, it could mean, the name of the street of where it is located may have changed. University Court, which surrounds West Chester Hospital, now has two different names.

Lakota West grads play in Bengals preseason game – A pair of Lakota West graduates played in Friday night’s preseason game between the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Fullback John Conner started for the Jets, while linebacker Grant Hunter made a tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals in his first NFL game.

Former Lakota East wrestler to compete at Olympics Aug. 12 – Former Lakota East and Princeton wrestler Khetag Pliev wrestled for Team Canada this past Sunday, which was the last day of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Pliev had a unique journey to the Games, where he won his first match before losing to eventual gold-medal winner Jacob Stephen Varner of the United States and then to bronze-medal winner Kurban Kurbanov of Azerbaijan.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: Annie Bierman, Annie Bierman Furman, Annie Bierman Lakota West, Butler County Fair, Butler County Fair 2012, Butler County Fair flu, Butler County Fair swine flu, Furman volleyball, Grant Hunter Bengals, John Conner Jets, Khetag Pliev, Khetag Pliev Olympics, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, Lakota West volleyball, Liberty Junior, Liberty Junior Eric Bauman, Liberty Junior principal Eric Bauman, Liberty Junior School, Menchie's, Menchie's Cincinnati, Menchie's West Chester, West Chester business, West Chester business news, Zhania Coleman, Zion Coleman

Sheila McLaughlin reports

Confirmed swine flu cases linked to fairs in Ohio have doubled since Monday, state health officials said.

Hamilton County has reported three cases although their fair didn’t start until today.

Butler County now has 16 confirmed, while Hamilton and Clark counties each have three, and four cases were confirmed in each of Gallia and Greene counties, state officials said.

They are not are not surprised by the increase because fair managers and county health departments are being more vigilant in detecting it.

“There has been a tremendous increase in surveillance across the state,” said Dr. Ted Wymyslo, director of the Ohio Department of Health. “Even as we identify additional illnesses, this strain appears to remain mild and does not seem to be any more severe than what we see during most flu seasons.”

The H3N2v virus, which is not uncommon in pigs, first surfaced in Ohio at the Butler County Fair in late July. Health officials said that those who fell sick in all cases had contact with hogs being shown at the fairs. The Ohio cases involved children and adults ages 6 months to 36 years old. One person was hospitalized as a precaution but has since been released after receiving treatment.

There have been no confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission of the virus, state health officials said.

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Fair, Butler County Fair 2012, Butler County Fair flu, Butler County Fair swine flu, Butler County Fairgrounds, Centers for Disease Control, H3N2v swine flu, H3N2v swine flu Ohio

Sheila McLaughlin reports

The number of confirmed H3N2v swine flu cases from the Butler County Fair has risen to 14, the Ohio Department of Health reported Monday.

The Centers for Disease Control also confirmed a case from Clark County linked to swine at the Ohio State Fair.

Last week after the outbreak of the flu was questioned at the Butler County Fair, public health officials began warning fair goers to avoid direct contact with hogs, not to eat or drink in the swine barns and to use hand sanitizer.

With county fairs running through the first week of October, the Ohio Department of Agriculture is asking fair veterinarians to report sick hogs and to obtain swab samples so they can be tested for H3N2v.

Swine flu symptoms are much like that of the seasonal flu and include cough, sore throat, fever, body aches and possibly nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

It is not life-threatening in people with a normal immune system.

The Ohio cases involved children and adults ages 3 to 36 and none resulted in hospitalization.

The H3N2v virus is typically spread from pigs to humans, or vice versa. Health officials are studying the virus to determine if it is mutating to allow transmission more readily between humans.

Cases of the same flu virus have been confirmed in Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Pennsylvania, Utah and West Virginia since last month.

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Fair, Butler County Fair 2012, Butler County Fair flu, Butler County Fair swine flu, Butler County Fairgrounds, Centers for Disease Control, H3N2v swine flu, H3N2v swine flu Ohio

Austin Weekly, a member of the 4-H Milford Mini Farmers, kept his pigs calm at the Butler County Fair July 24, 2012. The Centers for Disease Control confirmed that were nine cases of the H3N2v swine flu that came from the fair. Photo by Tony Jones.

Sheila McLaughlin reports

The Centers for Disease Control confirmed Thursday that nine of 10 suspected influenza cases at the Butler County Fair have tested positive for the H3N2v swine flu.

A 10th case is still being tested, state health officials said.

That puts Butler County in the lead for confirmed H3N2v cases so far this year throughout the country. Cases were confirmed in Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Pennsylvania, Utah and West Virginia and the majority were linked to hogs.

The strain in Butler County matches he virus that infected four people at the LaPorte County Fair in Indiana last month, health officials said.

All those who fell sick in Butler County had direct contact with hogs that were being shown at the fair. None were hospitalized with the illness which includes typical flu symptoms.

Several hogs being shown became sick at the fair.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture is expecting results on Friday of tests done on three hogs. That would confirm the fair animals as the source of the virus.

Most of the hogs at the Butler County Fair are sold for slaughter, so that limited the number of samples the state agency could collect, said agriculture spokeswoman Erica Pitchford. The cooked pork is safe to eat.

“We’re very concerned right now with making sure reaching out to the other fairs that haven’t started yet and to the 4-H clubs getting them some information to post, some safety precautions for the folks that are going to be spending a lot of time in the barns,” Pitchford said.

“The state veterinarian has been on the phone with fair vets all throughout the day making suggestions about extra hand sanitation stations and signs about not bringing food into the barns.”

The Butler County and state health departments are continuing their investigation to determine the extent of the illness from the fair.

Pat Burg, director at the Butler County Health Department, said earlier that 41 people, including 39 children – ranging in age from 1 to 15 – had reported getting sick with flu-like symptoms. Most of the children were hog exhibitors or friends who had spent time in the barn.

No testing was done on those cases because the people had already recovered by the time they called the health department.

Burg said test samples from an 11th case also were being evaluated by the Centers for Disease Control but results were expected to come later.

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Fair, Butler County Fair 2012, Butler County Fair flu, Butler County Fair swine flu, Butler County Fairgrounds, Centers for Disease Control, H3N2v swine flu, H3N2v swine flu Ohio

Sheila McLaughlin reports

State and local health officials are investigating an outbreak of flu-like illnesses that may be linked pigs at the Butler County Fair.

Preliminary laboratory results in 10 cases indicate similarities to the influenza virus. All of the people who became sick had direct contact with swine at the fair, health officials said in a press release issued Wednesday morning.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not yet confirmed any of the cases.

Officials said fair goers are safe but should wash their hands after being close to livestock and keep food and drinks out of the animal exhibits.

The influenza virus, H3N2, is not unusual in pigs and can be directly transmitted from swine to humans and vice versa, officials said.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture is alerting veterinarians, who monitor livestock daily at the fair, to closely check pigs as they arrive on the fairgrounds for signs of the illness.

People who became sick after working in the swine barns of showing swine at the fair are asked to contact their physician or the county health department at 513-863-1770.

Symptoms include cough, sore throat, fever, body aches and possibly nausea vomiting or diarrhea.

The first confirmed H3N2 virus this year involved a child in Utah, who came down with the flu in March. The child, who had contact with swine, recovered at home, according to the CDC website.

Human infections from flu viruses associated with swine are considered rare, the website said.

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Fair, Butler County Fair 2012, Butler County Fair flu, Butler County Fairgrounds

Cathy Brehm judges more than 100 pies, as bakers look on during the Butler County Fair. Photo taken July 25, 2012, by Tony Jones.

The 162nd annual Butler County Fair wraps up this Friday and Saturday at the Butler County Fairgrounds in Hamilton.

A calendar of the fair’s events is available on the Butler County Fair’s website, www.butlercofair.com.

Rides at the fair will open at 1 p.m. each day.

The main attraction at the fair Friday will be the demolition derby, which will begin at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Tug-A-Truck will be the featured event.

The cost of admission to the derby is $8 for adults and $3 for children, while admission to Tug-A-Truck is $7 for adults and $2 for children.

Below is a list of the events that are scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday:

Friday
Skillathon Registration – 8 a.m.
Skillathon Contests – Sheep, Beef, Rabbits, Dairy – 8:30 a.m.
Horse Fun Show – 9 a.m.
Farm Bureau Fun Day Country Olympics Sign-Up – 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Parade – 11 a.m.
Skillathon Registration – 12 p.m.
Skillathon Contests – Goats, Swine, Dog, Poultry, Horse – 12:30 p.m.
Farm Bureau Fun Day Tractor Pull – approx. 1:30 p.m.
Farm Bureau Fun Day Country Olympics – approx. 3 p.m.
Premier Exhibitor and Skillathon Awards – 6:30 p.m.
Demolition Derby – 7 p.m.
Jr. Fair Showman of Showmen Contest – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday
Jr. Fair Livestock Sale – 9 a.m.
Horse Awards Program – 9 a.m.
Horses Released – 2 p.m.
All Other Livestock Exhibits Released – 7 p.m.
Tug-A-Truck – 7 p.m.
Youth Exhibit Hall and Small Animals release– 8 p.m.

General admission to the fair is $7 for adults and $2 for children.

For more information on the fair, visit the Butler County Fair’s website.

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Fair, Butler County Fair 2012, Butler County Fair photos, Butler County Fair rodeo, Butler County Fairgrounds, Demolition derby, demolition derby Butler County Fair, fair, fair food, fair rides, rodeo

Photos from Wednesday at the Butler County Fair – taken by Tony Jones

The 162nd annual Butler County Fair will continue Thursday and will run through Saturday at the Butler County Fairgrounds in Hamilton.

A calendar of the fair’s events is available on the Butler County Fair’s website, www.butlercofair.com.

Rides at the fair will open at 1 p.m.

The main attraction at the fair Thursday will be the NTPA Tractor Pull, which will begin at 7 p.m. The cost of admission to the tractor and truck pull is $9 for adults and $3 for children.

Below is a list of the events that are scheduled to take place on Thursday:

Open Class Market Goat Show – 8:30 a.m.
Jr. Fair Dairy Goat, Pygmy Goat and other breeds following Goat Show…
Jr. Fair Horse Fun Show – 9 a.m.
Feeder Calf and Market Beef Born and Raised Judging – 9 a.m.
FCCLA Bake-A-Rama – 10 a.m.
Cookie Judging – 10:30 a.m.
Men’s Bake-Off – 11:30 a.m.
Open Class Beef Breeding – 1 p.m.
Jr. Fair Sheep Born and Raised Judging – 4 p.m.
Tractor Pull – NTPA Pull – 7 p.m.

General admission to the fair is $7 for adults and $2 for children.

For more information on the fair, visit the Butler County Fair’s website.

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Fair, Butler County Fair 2012, Butler County Fair photos, Butler County Fair rodeo, Butler County Fairgrounds, fair, fair food, fair rides, rodeo

Curt Robinson of Hamilton falls off the bull during the Butler County Fair rodeo in 2010. The 2012 fair’s rodeo will take place Wednesday, July 25. Photo taken by Ernest Coleman.

The 162nd annual Butler County Fair will continue Wednesday and will run through Saturday at the Butler County Fairgrounds in Hamilton.

A calendar of the fair’s events is available on the Butler County Fair’s website, www.butlercofair.com.

Rides at the fair will open at 1 p.m.

The main attraction at the fair Wednesday will be the bar rodeo, which will begin at 7 p.m. The cost of admission to rodeo is $8 for adults and $2 for children.

Below is a list of the events that are scheduled to take place on Wednesday:

Jr. Fair Feeder Calves – 8 a.m.
Jr. Fair Market Beef Show – following Feeder Calves
Jr. Fair Boer Doe, Market Goat and Showmanship – 8:30 a.m.
Jr. Fair Horse Contesting Classes – 8 a.m.
Jr. Fair Rabbit Show – 9 a.m.
Judging Open Class Swine – 9 a.m.
4-H Demonstration Contest – 9 a.m.
Fleece Judging – 10 a.m.
Yeast Bread Judging – 10:30 a.m.
Jr. Division Baking – 1 p.m.
Flower Show – 1 p.m.
Jr. Fair Beef Showmanship – 1:30 p.m.
Jr. Fair Beef Breeding (30 minutes after showmanship)
Senior Citizens Show – 2 p.m.
A Bar Rodeo – 7 p.m.

General admission to the fair is $7 for adults and $2 for children. Seniors 62 years old and above will be admitted free on Wednesday.

For more information on the fair, visit the Butler County Fair’s website.

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Fair, Butler County Fair 2012, Butler County Fair rodeo, Butler County Fairgrounds, fair, fair food, fair rides, rodeo

Photo from the 2011 Butler County Fair. Taken by Tony Jones.

The 162nd annual Butler County Fair will continue Tuesday and will run through Saturday at the Butler County Fairgrounds in Hamilton.

A calendar of the fair’s events is available on the Butler County Fair’s website, www.butlercofair.com.

Rides at the fair will open at 1 p.m.

The main attraction at the fair Tuesday will be the truck and tractor pull, which will begin at 7 p.m. The cost of admission for the truck and tractor pull is $7 for adults and $2 for children.

Below is a list of the events that are scheduled to take place on Tuesday:

Jr. Fair Swine Show – 8 a.m.
Open Class Sheep Show – 9 a.m.
Jr. Fair Horse Show – 9 a.m.
Jr. Nutrition Judging – 9 a.m.
Jr. Dairy Show – 9:30 a.m.
Honey Judging – 10 a.m.
Beef Breeding – arrive between – 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Pie Judging – 10:30 a.m.
Arts and Craft Judging – TBA
Tractor Pull – Antique – 1 p.m.
Open Market Lambs – 6 p.m.
Cake and Pie Auction – 6 p.m.
Tractor – Truck and Tractor Pull – 7 p.m.

General admission to the fair is $7 for adults and $2 for children. Seniors 62 years old and above will be admitted free on Wednesday.

For more information on the fair, visit the Butler County Fair’s website.

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Fair, Butler County Fair 2012, Butler County Fairgrounds, fair, fair food, fair rides

The demolition derby at the Butler County Fair in 2010. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

The 162nd annual Butler County Fair will continue this Monday and will run through Saturday at the Butler County Fairgrounds in Hamilton.

A calendar of the fair’s events is available on the Butler County Fair’s website, www.butlercofair.com.

Rides at the fair will open Monday at 1 p.m.

The main attraction at the fair Monday will be the demolition derby, which will begin at 7 p.m. The cost of admission for the derby is $7 for adults and $2 for children.

Below is a list of the events that are scheduled to take place on Monday:

Jr. Fair Sheep Show – 8 a.m.
Jr. Fair Poultry Show & Pigeons – 9 a.m.
4-H Nutrition Shopping Bag – 9 a.m.
Jr. Fair Horse Show – 9 a.m..
Judging of Open Dairy Cattle– 9:30 a.m.
Cake Judging – 11 a.m.
Horticulture Judging – 12 p.m.
Demolition Derby (grandstand – $7 adults, $2 children) – 7 p.m.

General admission to the fair is $7 for adults and $2 for children. Seniors 62 years old and above will be admitted free on Wednesday.

For more information on the fair, visit the Butler County Fair’s website.

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Fair, Butler County Fair 2012, Butler County Fairgrounds, fair, fair food, fair rides