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.

The Cincinnati Enquirer named Lakota East senior Zach Mueck its Division I Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year. Mueck finished as the state runner-up for the third consecutive year. Photo taken at state tournament by Jay LaPrete.

Lakota athletes dubbed Enquirer spring prep all stars- The Cincinnati Enquirer released its list of spring all stars in last Tuesday’s print edition, honoring 25 Lakota student athletes. The Enquirer named seven Lakota athletes as first teamers in their respected sports and selected 18 others as honorable mentions.

Mellow Mushroom and Jack in the Box updates – According to people close to the new Mellow Mushroom and Jack in the Box locations currently being constructed in West Chester, the two anticipated chains may not open until late summer. Mellow Mushroom is expected to open in late August, as Jack in the Box is expected to open in early September.

LOFT coming to The Streets of West Chester – West Chester Township recently announced that a well-known women’s clothing and accessory chain is coming to The Streets of West Chester. LOFT, a part of the Ann Taylor brand and a division of Ann Inc., will join J. Jill and Chico’s as other women clothing stores at the outdoor shopping and entertainment destination.

Police detectives recognized for putting away child abusers – A pair of West Chester Township detectives, who helped put two child abusers in prison earlier this year, have received certificates of recognition from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Hyde Park native and Team USA defender Heather Mitts hosts a girls’ youth soccer camp at Lakota West High School. Photo taken July 7, 2012 by Adam Kiefaber.

Heather Mitts hosts youth camp before Olympics- Less than three weeks before her first match in the 2012 Olympics in London, Hyde Park native Heather Mitts called it her “top priority” to host her fourth annual youth girls’ soccer camp in her hometown. The two-day camp took place over the weekend at Lakota West High School.

Liberty Township man killed in Indiana crash – A Liberty Township man was killed in a four-vehicle crash last Wednesday evening on eastbound U.S. 50 at Interstate 275 in Greendale, Ind. Greendale police said William M. Ensor, 55, of Liberty Township, driving a 1991 Toyota two-door passenger car, rear ended a 2010 Ford Focus driven by Juanita Haas, 41, of Aurora, Ind.

Butler-Warren Road widening project forces closure – The Butler County Engineer’s Office reports that two separate closures will take place in July on Butler-Warren Road north of the Liberty Way/Mason Road intersection. The closures are affiliated with the third phase of the Butler-Warren Road improvement project. The first closure (between Hampton Cove Ct. and Sweet Briar Ct.) began Friday morning and is scheduled to end Monday at 4 p.m.

John Boehner speaks at opening of the Republican Party’s Butler County campaign office – Dan Horn of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Saturday that House Speaker John Boehner encouraged supporters to help get fellow Republicans to the polls if they are serious about beating President Barack Obama in November.

Posted in: Crime, Election, Government, News, Schools, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Republican campaign office, Enquirer Players of the Year, Enquirer spring all stars, Heather Mitts, Heather Mitts Olympics, Heather Mitts photos, Heather Mitts soccer camp Cincinnati, Heather Mitts soccer camp West Chester, Heather Mitts Team USA, Heather Mitts Team USA photos, Jack in the Box West Chester, John Boehner, John Boehner Cincinnati, John Boehner photos, John Boehner West Chester, Liberty Township Republican campaign office, LOFT, LOFT The Streets of West Chester, LOFT West Chester, Mellow Mushroom West Chester, Republican Party’s Butler County campaign office, Streets of West Chester, The Streets of West Chester, West Chester business, West Chester business news, West Chester photos, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department, West Chester soccer

Dan Horn reports

House Speaker John Boehner knew he’d find a friendly crowd Saturday when he arrived in Liberty Township to open the Republican Party’s Butler County campaign office.

So instead of trying to win their votes, Boehner reminded the 50 or so party loyalists who attended that getting their fellow Republicans to the polls will be crucial if they’re serious about beating President Barack Obama this fall.

“Ohio is going to decide this election,” Boehner said. “If we win Ohio, Mitt Romney will be the next president of the United States.”

Although Butler County has been a GOP stronghold for years and likely will be again this fall, Republicans and Democrats see it as a crucial battleground.

Republicans want to run up as big a win as possible here to offset Democratic strengths in some of Ohio’s northern counties, while Democrats want to peel away as many votes as they can on the Speaker’s home turf, known as “Boehner Land” to some of his supporters.

Boehner, of West Chester, told the crowd it wasn’t enough to vote themselves. He said they also need to encourage others to go to the polls.

“Butler County is one of those critical counties where we’ve got to drive up the turnout,” he said.

The sense of urgency comes four months after Butler County voters stayed away from the polls in droves during the March 6 Ohio primary. Turnout was about 18 percent, even though the Republican primary still was hotly contested.

In a county that gave 60 percent of the vote to John McCain in 2008, Republicans know a good showing can make a difference this fall.

“Butler County is kind of the epicenter in Ohio,” said Kevin Crowther, a Liberty Township resident who attended the rally Saturday. He and dozens of others went door-to-door after Boehner’s speech to hand out pro-Romney brochures and to urge Republicans to vote.

Democrats said Boehner’s appearance at the opening Saturday suggests the GOP is worried about winning Butler County by the kind of margin they’ve seen in the past.

“The fact that it’s July and Speaker Boehner felt compelled to open an office in Butler County speaks to what the Republicans are up against,” said Chris Redfern, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party.

Posted in: Election, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Republican campaign office, John Boehner, John Boehner Cincinnati, John Boehner photos, John Boehner West Chester, Liberty Township Republican campaign office, Republican Party’s Butler County campaign office