WestChesterBuzz.com

Reach Out Lakota is seeking volunteers for its adopt-a-child program and donations for its winter coat drive to help families in need this holiday season.

The adopt-a-child program will provide approximately 1,000 local children with gifts during the holidays. Reach Out Lakota officials hope to provide each registered child with two $25 gifts.

Sponsors can help the program by donating a new toy or gift card valued at $25; hosting a giving tree or toy drive; or by making a monetary donation to Reach Out Lakota.

To become a sponsor, contact Sue at scheney@reachoutlakota.org or Rachel at rkuntz@reachoutlakota.org by Dec. 1. All items will be collected on Dec. 3. To make a monetary donation, go to www.reachoutlakota.org or mail a check to Christmas Program, P.O. Box 362, West Chester, OH 45071.

Community members can also support the program by purchasing a soft toy from IKEA and dropping it in the donation bin at the store’s exit. Toys collected through Dec. 5 will be donated to the adopt-a-child program.

Reach Out Lakota is also accepting donations for its coat drive.

Community members are being asked to donate gently-used winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. All sizes of children’s and adult coats will be accepted.

Items for the coat drive can be dropped off at Reach Out Lakota, 6561 Station Road, at any time. If the office is not open, items can be left in the shed behind the building. Coats can also be dropped off at lobby of the West Chester Police Station, 9577 Beckett Road; at the Liberty Township Fire Department, 6682 Princeton-Glendale Road; and at Hutsenpiller Contractors, 7404 Liberty One Drive, during normal business hours Monday-Friday.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays

Lakota School Board members Lynda O’Connor, left, and Ray Murray sort canned goods that they brought to Reach Out Lakota for annual food drive that takes place the week of the Lakota East vs. Lakota West football game. Last fall, the food drive produced more than 19,000 pounds of donated food. Photo by Carrie Cochran.

Michael D. Clark reports:

Thousands will converge tonight in West Chester Township to once again form the largest prep game crowd of the year in Butler County and one of the biggest in Southwest Ohio.

The fan count will be high – more than 8,000 – and stakes higher than usual – possible berths in the state football playoffs for this year’s rivalry clash between Lakota West and Lakota East high schools.

And thanks to a popular local food drive, the impact of “The Game” in Butler County will reverberate far beyond the gridiron.

But former Lakota athletic director and football coach Stu Eversole remembers when the “fans” watching the old, tiny high school team included a herd of cows.

“And there were more cows than players!” chuckles Eversole, who was barely able to fill a football squad roster in the early 1970s at the former Lakota High School, located across from a cow pasture.

“We used to joke that we always practiced before a standing-room-only crowd. They would stand at the fence and moo at us,” he recalls from those days when Lakota was mostly rural and spread wide throughout largely undeveloped West Chester and Liberty townships.

Friday night game crowds back then weren’t much bigger.

Since, both townships have exploded with more than 100,000 residents to become two of the fastest-growing areas in Ohio.

“It’s amazing to see all the growth that we’ve had in the district and around the game. The game has become Butler County’s football version of Ohio State and Michigan,” says Eversole, who is retired but works as an athletics consultant for the 16,800-student district – the eighth-largest in the state and second-largest in Southwest Ohio. (more…)

Posted in: Events, Fall sports, News, School events, Schools, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East, Lakota East football, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West football, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota food drive

Reach Out Lakota is hosting a celebrity waiter dinner on Thursday, Nov. 8 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel in West Chester. Proceeds from the organization’s second annual fundraising event will support Reach Out Lakota’s food pantry and clothing department.

The event will begin with a cocktail hour and will feature entertainment all evening long, including a Lakota jazz band and comedy ventriloquist Denny Baker. The highlight of the evening will be dinner, served by local celebrities.

Cost is $65 per person or $500 for a table of eight. You can also become a corporate sponsor. To make a reservation, email RSVP@reachoutlakota.org. For information on table sponsorship or questions about the event, contact Jason Leyda at jason.leyda@bankatfirst.com.

Reach Out Lakota’s mission, according to its website, is to assist individuals and families in the Lakota school district by putting help and hope into their hands during times of need through their food and clothing pantries.

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Denny Baker, Reach Out Lakota, Wingate by Wyndham, Wingate by Wyndham Hotel, Wingate by Wyndham West Chester

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Lakota students from the East side will be pitted against those on the West side – but this competition won’t be on the gridiron.

Board members Ben Dibble (far left) and Joan Powell (far right), as well as former school board member Jeff Rubenstein, Reach Out Lakota executive director Lourdes Ward and former Lakota Assistant Superintendent Ron Spurlock at last year’s food drive. Photo provided.

Leading up to this Friday night’s football game between the two schools, students will be challenged to take part in the Reach In for Reach Out Lakota food drive to benefit families throughout the district.

Students will be asked to bring non-perishable items to school this week, where they will be collected for the community food and clothing pantry.

The barrels and boxes filled with food from the schools will be taken to Lakota West High School the last day of the drive. That’s where Planes Moving and Storage has donated two metal portable storage units for the drive – each measuring 16-feet long, 8-feet wide and 8.5 feet high, said Jeff Lobaugh, director of business development.

One unit will be used to put foodstuffs for the early childhood, elementary, middle and freshman schools that feed to Lakota East; the other for the schools that feed to Lakota West.

“More than 19,000 pounds of food was collected last year,’’ Lobaugh said. “We never have that much weight when those containers are filled with household goods.”

The stakes are high for the high school principal of the losing side.

“This year the East and West principal have agreed to wear the other team’s spirit wear the next school day,’’ said Randy Oppenheimer, district spokesman. “That’s a tough one for them to swallow.”

The pods will also be set up at the football game for last minute community donations to either the East side or West side effort, Oppenheimer said.

A team of judges will eyeball the collection to determine the winning side.

“The food is very much needed because after 20 years, we’re still community-based,’’ said Lourdes Ward, chief executive officer and executive director of the non-profit group. “We don’t get any food or help from Shared Harvest (Foodbank) or United Way – it all comes in from the community.”

Ward said the pantry gives out about 18,000 pounds of food each month. Last year’s efforts provided about a month’s worth of food to hand out, she added.

“That doesn’t even include the personal care or other items we also give the families,” Ward said. “In an average month we give out about 1,000 tops and bottoms when we have them.”

The winning side will be announced at halftime at the varsity football game which will be played at Lakota West High School this year. A trophy will be given out and housed at the winning side’s high school.

“In the end Reach Out Lakota clients were the winners of district’s generosity and we look forward to it again this time,’’ Ward said.

Posted in: News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays

Lourdes A. Ward, executive director of Reach Out Lakota, Gary Brown, branch manager of W.W. Grainger’s Blue Ash location, and Ian Murray, board president of Reach Out Lakota. Photo provided.

The Grainger Foundation has donated $15,000 to Reach Out Lakota, Inc., in support of its on-going efforts to support the basic needs of the West Chester and Liberty Township communities.

“This grant will be used to purchase food and shoes for our food pantry and clothing department, and to update our software,” said Lourdes A. Ward Reach Out Lakota’s executive director.

“We provide food and clothing assistance to those who need a helping hand, especially during a financial hardship. We are grateful to The Grainger Foundation for its generosity.”

The donation was recommended by Gary Brown and Darren Lackman, Branch Managers of W.W. Grainger, Inc.’s, Cincinnati area locations.

“We are proud to support the various programs offered by Reach Out Lakota,” said Brown. “We understand the need within the community for these very basic yet critical items.”

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Lakota students from the East side will be pitted against those on the West side – but this competition won’t be on the gridiron.

Board members Ben Dibble (far left) and Joan Powell (far right), as well as former school board member Jeff Rubenstein, Reach Out Lakota executive director Lourdes Ward and former Lakota Assistant Superintendent Ron Spurlock at last year’s food drive. Photo provided.

Beginning Oct. 22 students will be challenged to take part in the Reach In for Reach Out Lakota food drive to benefit families throughout the district.

Students will be asked to bring non-perishable items to school through Oct. 26, where they will be collected for the community food and clothing pantry.

The barrels and boxes filled with food from the schools will be taken to Lakota West High School the last day of the drive. That’s where Planes Moving and Storage has donated two metal portable storage units for the drive – each measuring 16-feet long, 8-feet wide and 8.5 feet high, said Jeff Lobaugh, director of business development.

One unit will be used to put foodstuffs for the early childhood, elementary, middle and freshman schools that feed to Lakota East; the other for the schools that feed to Lakota West.

“More than 19,000 pounds of food was collected last year,’’ Lobaugh said. “We never have that much weight when those containers are filled with household goods.”

The stakes are high for the high school principal of the losing side.

“This year the East and West principal have agreed to wear the other team’s spirit wear the next school day,’’ said Randy Oppenheimer, district spokesman. “That’s a tough one for them to swallow.”

The pods will also be set up at the Oct. 26 Lakota East versus Lakota West game for last minute community donations to either the East side or West side effort, Oppenheimer said.

A team of judges will eyeball the collection to determine the winning side.

“The food is very much needed because after 20 years, we’re still community-based,’’ said Lourdes Ward, chief executive officer and executive director of the non-profit group. “We don’t get any food or help from Shared Harvest (Foodbank) or United Way – it all comes in from the community.”

Ward said the pantry gives out about 18,000 pounds of food each month. Last year’s efforts provided about a month’s worth of food to hand out, she added.

“That doesn’t even include the personal care or other items we also give the families,” Ward said. “In an average month we give out about 1,000 tops and bottoms when we have them.”

The winning side will be announced at halftime at the varsity football game which will be played at Lakota West High School this year. A trophy will be given out and housed at the winning side’s high school.

“In the end Reach Out Lakota clients were the winners of district’s generosity and we look forward to it again this time,’’ Ward said.

Posted in: News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota coat drive, Reach Out Lakota food drive, Reach Out Lakota holidays

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.

Zombie from the beginner shoot house lane at Shoot Extreme in West Chester. Photo provided.

New shooting range prepares public for zombie apocalypse- Kevin Higgins opened a new shooting range in West Chester called Shoot Extreme, 7773 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, that features instructional courses and zombie hunts. The zombie hunts features computer controlled zombies in a dark environment who scream and fall down when shot.

Princeton Road opens in Liberty Township – The Butler County Engineer’s Office recently announced that it has opened the portion of Princeton Road in Liberty Township that was closed to improve sight distance near the Reserves of Liberty subdivision.

Reach Out Lakota seeks back-to-school clothing – Reach Out Lakota recently finished collecting for its annual back-to-school program, a donation drive aimed at collecting school supplies for children in need in the Lakota school district. Now, the organization is in need of back-to-school clothing for children for the fall and the winter.

Cincinnati Marlins swimmer and Liberty Township resident Joshua McDonald won four individual titles at the Ohio 2012 Long Course Junior Olympics in late July. Photo provided.

Liberty Township swimmers help guide Marlins to title- The Cincinnati Marlins recently celebrated its four straight Junior Olympics championship when it competed at the Ohio 2012 Long Course Junior Olympics. Helping the Marlins to the title were Liberty Township residents Joshua McDonald and Grace Luebbe.

Lakota West ranked No. 10 in Enquirer coaches’ poll – The Lakota West football program was ranked No. 10 in The Cincinnati Enqurier coaches’ preseason poll, which was released last Monday. Lakota East was ranked No. 12.

Roundabout opens near Cherokee Elementary – The Butler County Engineer’s Office announced last Tuesday night that all four legs of the new roundabout at Kyles Station Road and LeSourdsville-West Chester Road are now open. The intersection is near Cherokee Elementary, which will have its first day of school this Thursday.

Texas junior Jordan Hicks is the only returning starter at linebacker. The Lakota West graduate is taking on a leadership role this season. Photo taken against Texas Tech Nov. 5, 2011. Provided by UT Athletics Photography.

Menchie’s opens West Chester location – West Chester has Greater Cincinnati’s second Menchie’s frozen yogurt location when it opened at 8177 Princeton-Glendale Road this past Friday. Owner and operator Jim Hach said the store will have a weeklong grand opening celebration beginning Saturday, Aug. 25.

West Chester serial embezzler hired again, arrested again – Kimball Perry of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported last Friday that Cathleen Schmid of West Chester was recently arrested after again stealing from a former employer.

Posted in: Business, Government, News, Schools, Sports, Youth sports |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Marlins, Jordan Hicks, Jordan Hicks football, Jordan Hicks Lakota West, Jordan Hicks linebacker, Jordan Hicks NFL, Jordan Hicks Texas, Jordan Hicks Texas Longhorns, Menchie's, Menchie's Cincinnati, Menchie's West Chester, Princeton Road closure Liberty Township, Reach Out Lakota, Shoot Extreme, Shoot Extreme West Chester, Shoot range West Chester, shooting West Chester, West Chester business, West Chester business news, West Chester zombies, zombie apocalypse, Zombie hunts, zombies

Sue Cheney (on left) and Rachel Kuntz were named Reach Out Lakota’s volunteers of the month for August. Photo provided.

Reach Out Lakota, a charitable organization that aids residents of the Lakota school district with its food and clothing pantries, has named West Chester residents Sue Cheney and Rachel Kuntz as its volunteers of the month for August.

Cheney and Kuntz, who are neighbors and close friends, began volunteering at Reach Out Lakota nine years ago. The two started by helping to sort and distribute donations. Their work has now evolved into becoming co-coordinators of the organization’s annual Back-to-School and Adopt-a-Child programs.

“I think they have super powers to accomplish what they do every year and provide so many children with happy school years and holidays,” said Lourdes A. Ward, executive director. “Honestly, our Back-to-School and Christmas programs would not be the high caliber they are without their time and dedication.”

Coordinating the programs entails registering families, maintaining a database of eligible clients, getting donations and sponsors, coordinating volunteers, sorting supplies, and distributing supplies and gifts.

According to the West Chester neighbors, Kuntz brings in the gifts and Cheney tracks what they have and gives them away. “We’re a team,” Kuntz said.

They typically start contacting local businesses and community members in June for the Back-to-School program, which served approximately 600 kids this year.

“Every child gets a custom backpack with supplies that are matched to their school and grade,” Cheney said. “This way we don’t waste supplies and are able to help as many kids as possible.”

In October, the pair begins working with churches, businesses, social groups, and individuals to collect gifts for the Adopt-a-Child program. This program provided more than 800 local kids with gifts on Christmas morning last year.

“The parents’ gift is that their children are well-provided for during the holidays,” Kuntz added.

“I didn’t realize, living in West Chester, that there was so much need. When we first saw the program, it made us pretty enthusiastic about giving back to the community.”

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Rachel Kuntz, Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota volunteer of the month, Sue Cheney

Reach Out Lakota recently finished collecting for its annual back-to-school program, a donation drive aimed at collecting school supplies for children in need in the Lakota school district.

Now, the organization is in need of back-to-school clothing for children for the fall and the winter. Needed clothing sizes range from size 4 to 18 and juniors. There is also a need for shoes.

To find ways to help, call 513-779-7515.

Reach Out Lakota is located at 6561 Station Road in West Chester.

Reach Out Lakota’s mission, according to its website, is to assist individuals and families in the Lakota school district by putting help and hope into their hands during times of need through their food and clothing pantries.

Posted in: News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota back-to-school donations, Lakota donations, Lakota Local Schools, Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota Back to School program

Reach Out Lakota, a charitable organization that aids residents of the Lakota school district with its food and clothing pantries, has named West Chester resident Linda Welp as its volunteer of the month for July.

Linda Welp. Photo provided.

She has been volunteering for the organization for 14 years and has been its clothing coordinator for 11 of those years.

Welp started volunteering at ROL by sorting clothing donations two days a week.

“I wanted to do something positive for the community to help. Our clients have become like family to me. They are all our neighbors,” Welp said.

• List: Reach Out Lakota back-to-school supply needs
• ROL names Tim Harmon volunteer of the month for June

Now, Welp’s responsibilities include running the clothing department on Wednesdays and Fridays, recruiting volunteers, scheduling volunteers for each shift, and picking up clothing donations from businesses and stores.

“The clients and I are so lucky to have Linda as part of our team. When our original clothing coordinator passed away, Linda was the only one willing to step in to the department head position,” said Lourdes A. Ward, Reach Out Lakota’s executive director. “I think she is pretty special to keep up with her busy family and yet always have a kind word and warm smile for all our clients.”

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Linda Welp, Reach Out Lakota, Reach Out Lakota volunteer of the month