WestChesterBuzz.com

Lakota community comes together after fatal wreck

WestChesterBuzz.com will count down the area’s top 12 stories of 2012 this month, concluding with West Chester most discussed topic of the year on Sunday, Dec. 30.

STORY POSTED FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2012

Just a week ago, Lakota West junior Ezekiel “Zeke” Stepaniak experienced a typical day.

He met his closest friends in Jason French’s classroom before the school day began – laughing, joking and vociferously talking.

Later, in Michelle Day’s English class, he dozed off and was awakened by Day spraying him with a water bottle, the class erupting with laughter.

Then it was off to boost the spirits of his fellow co-workers at McDonalds – where he made days working at a fast food restaurant fun, rather than a chore.

The end of the day was spent hanging out with friends and family.

And on it went – sleep, wake up then repeat.

Zeke Stepaniak. Photo provided.

But, last Friday night, things changed.

Stepaniak’s life was unexpectedly taken after he wrecked his car where West Chester and Liberty Township meet at the intersection of Hamilton-Mason Road and Ohio 747. Four other Lakota teens, including Lakota West sophomore Ashley Stacy, were in the car. After suffering serious injuries, Stacy was taken to Miami Valley Hospital.

• Two families who refuse to let tragedy divide them

The news spread throughout Saturday once Zeke was pronounced dead by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.

Zeke’s friends, juniors Zac Payne, Steven Miner and Jonathan Jung, were among the first people building a memorial at the crash site, which is located along the fence of Heritage Elementary School.

“It didn’t feel real at all,” Payne said of setting up the memorial.

“We all gathered around and it was just silent for the longest time. You hugged everybody you saw. People you hadn’t talked to in years were coming up to you to make sure that we were all right.”

It was Zeke, who helped Payne feel welcome after his family moved from Indianapolis when he was in the fifth grade. Zeke, who lived five houses down, invited the “new kid” to trick-or-treat with him. They remained close friends since.

“I keep telling everyone that it could have been anyone,” Payne said. “If you want to end on bad terms with somebody, no matter how long it’s been or what the cause was, always know that it could be worse. We just realized how much we took for granted.” (more…)

Posted in: News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Ashley Stacy, Drews Mitchell, Ezekieal Stephaniak, Ezekieal Zeke Stepaniak, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West student death, Nathan Phu, West Chester McDonalds, West Chester top 12 stories of 2012, West Chester top stories of 2012, Zeke Stepaniak

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.

Community leader passes away – The West Chester and Liberty township communities grieved the loss A. Christian Worrell III, who was responsible for the Graydon Head Legal Counsel Butler/Warren Office and was a member of countless local committees. Worrell’s funeral took place last Tuesday afternoon.

T.C. Rogers. File photo.

My Furry Valentine to come back – The organizer for My Furry Valentine, a large pet adoption event that took place throughout Cincinnati, said that she expects to host another event next February. This past February, the main event was in West Chester. There have also been discussions to add another large pet adoption event in the summer or in the early fall.

Rogers keeps lead in commission vote – Political newcomer T.C. Rogers kept his edge over Courtney Combs as the Republican nominee for Butler County Commissioner last Tuesday when absentee and provisional ballots were counted. But the race is destined for an automatic recount by law because the margin is less than half of 1 percent. The recount is expected to take place this Monday.

West Chester playing role in Ohio’s economic development – The Atlanta-based magazine Site Selection awarded Ohio and Governor John Kasich first place in its annual Governor’s Cup rankings. The Governor’s Cup, which was announced in its March issue, ranks the 50 states according to their success in attracting capital investment projects. West Chester Township played a role in the state’s accomplishment.

Ezekiel "Zeke" Stepaniak. Photo provided.

The Cone opens for the season – A West Chester landmark and popular location in the summer, The Cone, officially opened for the season last Thursday with a surprise opening night. The seasonal destination is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Lakota community comes together after fatal wreck – Lakota West High School and others in the school community mourned the loss of one its students – junior Ezekiel “Zeke” Stepaniak – and prayed for the recovery of another student – sophomore Ashley Stacy. Throughout the week, students showed their support in many ways.

Office Depot donates $97,000 in supplies to Lakota – The Lakota school district announced that it received $97,000 worth of office supplies from Office Depot. According to school officials, Office Depot donated 79,000 items that included highlighters, pens, trash bags, paper towels, batteries, glue sticks and binders.

Posted in: Events, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Ashley Stacy, Butler County Board of Elections, Butler County commission race, Butler County Election 2012, Butler County United Way Board of Trustees, Chris Worrell, Chris Worrell III, Chris Worrell III obit, Chris Worrell obit, Christian Worrell III, Christian Worrell III obit, Chuck Furmon, Courtney Combs, Drews Mitchell, Ezekieal Stephaniak, Ezekieal Zeke Stepaniak, Graydon Head, Graydon Head Legal Counsel, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West student death, Liberty Township election, My Furry Valentine Cincinnati, My Furry Valentine Northern Kentucky, My Furry Valentine West Chester, Office Depot, Office Depot donates to schools, Ohio election 2012, Pet Adoption Day, pet adoption West Chester, Site Selection, T.C. Rogers, The Cone, The Cone West Chester, West Chester business, West Chester business news, West Chester election, West Chester jobs, West Chester McDonalds, Zeke Stepaniak

Just a week ago, Lakota West junior Ezekiel “Zeke” Stepaniak experienced a typical day.

He met his closest friends in Jason French’s classroom before the school day began – laughing, joking and vociferously talking.

Later, in Michelle Day’s English class, he dozed off and was awakened by Day spraying him with a water bottle, the class erupting with laughter.

Then it was off to boost the spirits of his fellow co-workers at McDonalds – where he made days working at a fast food restaurant fun, rather than a chore.

The end of the day was spent hanging out with friends and family.

And on it went – sleep, wake up then repeat.

Zeke Stepaniak. Photo provided.

But, last Friday night, things changed.

Stepaniak’s life was unexpectedly taken after he wrecked his car where West Chester and Liberty Township meet at the intersection of Hamilton-Mason Road and Ohio 747. Four other Lakota teens, including Lakota West sophomore Ashley Stacy, were in the car. After suffering serious injuries, Stacy was taken to Miami Valley Hospital.

The news spread throughout Saturday once Zeke was pronounced dead by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.

Zeke’s friends, juniors Zac Payne, Steven Miner and Jonathan Jung, were among the first people building a memorial at the crash site, which is located along the fence of Heritage Elementary School.

“It didn’t feel real at all,” Payne said of setting up the memorial.

“We all gathered around and it was just silent for the longest time. You hugged everybody you saw. People you hadn’t talked to in years were coming up to you to make sure that we were all right.”

It was Zeke, who helped Payne feel welcome after his family moved from Indianapolis when he was in the fifth grade. Zeke, who lived five houses down, invited the “new kid” to trick-or-treat with him. They remained close friends since.

“I keep telling everyone that it could have been anyone,” Payne said. “If you want to end on bad terms with somebody, no matter how long it’s been or what the cause was, always know that it could be worse. We just realized how much we took for granted.”

On Sunday afternoon, Lakota West opened its doors and allowed students to speak to grief counselors. One student, junior Morgan Stacy, was especially upset.

Ashley Stacy. Photo provided.

Her younger sister Ashley still had not woken up. Ashley had no idea that she was in the hospital, that Zeke had passed away or that her older sister was back home – worried.

“She is someone I have seen as a leader,” Lakota West guidance counselor Drews Mitchell said of Morgan. “She came in on Sunday and was very raw in her emotions, obviously, but at the same time saying thanks to everyone for coming together.”

The following day, the first one back at school on Monday, was extremely tough.

“I really didn’t want to wake up,” Steven Miner said. “Our whole group met in the community room that morning with the grief counselor and I didn’t think that day was ever going to end. It just kept going on and on. I actually only made it through two classes, but it just seemed like hours and hours.”

That morning in French’s classroom, the typical loud talking and laughter was subdued to tears and silence. In Day’s English class, only an empty seat remained in the place of her class’ most entertaining student.

“It is a presence that we will all miss in that class,” Day said. “It was kind of the running joke in our class, ‘how quickly is Zeke going to pass out from Ms. Day’s talking?’

“I told (Lakota West principal Richard) Mr. Hamilton on Sunday, the hardest thing for me will be going to school and seeing that empty desk. And that was the most challenging thing for me and watching these guys (Zeke’s friends) – knowing how it is going to affect their lives.”

Despite the grieving, something amazing happened at the high school this week. (more…)

Posted in: News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Ashley Stacy, Drews Mitchell, Ezekieal Stephaniak, Ezekieal Zeke Stepaniak, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West student death, Nathan Phu, West Chester McDonalds, Zeke Stepaniak

The Lakota school district, which has been forced to remove approximately $23 million from its annual budget over the past three years, may have found an efficient way to aid its large student base with the college and workforce decision-making process.

Drews Mitchell, a counselor at Lakota West High School, presented a new program during Monday night’s school board meeting called Naviance, which is a computer automated management system that will generate customized checklists for students that will help plan them in the planning of their future careers.

“The amazing thing about Naviance is that it ties in with the local counseling departments to help manage the ever evolving work load. We have lost staff members in our office, and this system does things to help manage the increasing workload,” Mitchell said.

The program will allow students and parents to have their own individual accounts.

It will also generate lists of students who have looked into the possibility of attending individual colleges. Counselors can then follow up with those students on visits, applications and other items that go along with the college-search process.

“Naviance will help them keep track of applications, scholarships, financial aid, college tests and information about potential college majors. Each of the services offered is streamlined to make the cumbersome task of making plans for after high school much easier. I trust that our students and parents will greatly appreciate all that Naviance has to offer,” Mitchell said.

There are roughly 18,500 students that attend Lakota Local Schools. According to Mitchell, Lakota has a college attendance rate of 92 percent.

Posted in: Board of Education, Schools |

Tags: Tags: college, college search, Drews Mitchell, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota West, Naviance, West Chester college students