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.

WestChesterBuzz.com also recently added a new video page last week. To view West Chester and Liberty Township related videos, visit westchesterbuzz.com/videos.

Alicia Lang loses battle with CF – Alicia Lang, a 2010 Lakota West High School graduate, died from cystic fibrosis Friday, March 8 at the Cleveland Clinic, where she underwent a double-lung transplant on Feb. 11. She would have turned 21 on March 20. The family shared the news early last week.

West Chester hospital to address mental health needs – Millions of Americans experience mental illness each year and there aren’t nearly enough psychiatric beds or funds to combat the region’s growing mental health problem. Beckett Springs Hospital, scheduled to open in July in West Chester, will help address that need, said David Polunas, chief executive officer.

YRC Freight to close West Chester hub – One of the nation’s largest trucking companies is planning to shut down its West Chester hub and distribution center, leaving almost 300 workers in limbo. YRC Freight has informed a local union last week that the company plans to close a significant portion of its local operations as part of a nationwide strategy to consolidate operations, Jason Williams of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lakota West student wins Overture Award – Lakota West senior Abby Koch (pronounced “cook”) was recently named this year’s Cincinnati Overture Award winner for Visual Arts. WestChesterBuzz shared the senior’s story last week.

Lakota West hires Jan Bennett as its new girls’ soccer coach – The Lakota West Athletic Department recently announced that it has hired Jan Bennett as its new head girls’ soccer coach for its varsity program. Bennett takes over the position that was held by Tara Schafer-Kalkhoff, Lakota West’s first and only head coach for girls soccer. Schafer-Kalkoff announced her retirement in December.

Voice of America Museum Board gets official go ahead – The West Chester Township trustees, once again, agreed to enter a five-year lease with the Board of the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting. This agreement, which was made official last Tuesday night at the latest trustee meeting, will put the museum’s board in charge of maintaining the landmark and will allow them to raise funds as a non-profit corporation.

West Chester neighbors don’t want Kroger – A West Chester Township neighborhood has hired an attorney to prevent a shopping center, which would be anchored by a 133,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace, from being built near their homes. The group is preparing for its meeting with the Zoning Commission this Monday.

New Enquirer – West Chester and Liberty townships, as well as the rest of Greater Cincinnati, saw a new-looking Cincinnati Enquirer last week. The Enquirer’s new edition unfolded last Monday.

Many crimes kept secret in small Ohio college towns – Sheila McLaughlin continued to report for The Cincinnati Enquirer on how 40 percent of college students in Oxford walk out of courtrooms with a criminal record that is sealed from public sight. Meanwhile, the rest of Butler County lives under different rules.

Posted in: Business, News, Schools, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Alicia Lang, Alicia Lang obit, Alicia Lang obituary, Alicia's Lungs, Beckett Springs Hospital, Beckett Springs Hospital West Chester, CEO David Polunas Beckett Springs Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis, David Polunas, fundraiser, Jan Bennett, Jim Lang, Lakota West, Lakota West soccer, Lakota West sports, Lindner Center of HOPE, Lindner Center of HOPE Mason, Mary Kay Lang, Nick Lang, Richard Bryant, Tara Schafer-Kalkhoff, West Chester business, West Chester business news, West Chester jobs, YRC Freight, YRC Freight West Chester

The Lakota West Athletic Department recently announced that it has hired Jan Bennett as its new head girls’ soccer coach for its varsity program.

Bennett’s coaching experience includes being the assistant coach at Walnut Hills, head coach of the Cincinnati United GU17 club from 2011 to present, head coach at Finneytown from 2004-2009, head coach and trainer of CWSC United GU19 club, and OSYSA state staff coach.

“I am extremely excited about the experience and passion that Coach Bennett brings to the position,” Lakota athletic director Richard Bryant said. “She came very highly recommended. I am confident that Lakota West Girls soccer will compete at a very high level under her guidance.”

Bennett takes over the position that was held by Tara Schafer-Kalkhoff, Lakota West’s first and only head coach for girls soccer. Schafer-Kalkoff announced her retirement in December.

Schafer-Kalkhoff completed her 17th season this fall as a head coach in the Lakota district after beginning her career at Lakota High School prior to its split following the 1996 season.

Her career highlights include winning the Ohio Division I state championship in 1999 and amassing 203 career wins with a 70.4 winning percentage. Her career win total is the seventh highest among all current and former girls’ soccer coaches in Ohio high school history, according westfirebirds.com.

Schafer-Kalkhoff and her husband and assistant coach, Mark Kalkhoff, retired to spend more time with their son, Connor, who will be four next fall. They both told westfirebirds.com that they expect to continue coaching soccer, just at a somewhat lower level of competition.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Jan Bennett, Lakota West soccer, Lakota West sports, Richard Bryant, Tara Schafer-Kalkhoff

Lakota West High School is taking applications for its open head girls’ soccer coach position through Feb. 8.

All interested individuals should provide the application, letter of interest and resume electronically to athletic director Richard Bryant at Richard.Bryant@lakotaonline.com.

Individuals will be contacted directly by the athletic director in regards to the hiring process.

Qualifications include head coaching experience is preferred, successful coaching experience at HS level or equivalent and exemplary soccer knowledge.

The hiring process will be completed by March 1.

Tara Schafer-Kalkhoff, Lakota West’s first and only head coach for girls soccer, announced her retirement in December.

Schafer-Kalkhoff recently completed her 17th season as a head coach in the Lakota district after beginning her career at Lakota High School prior to its split following the 1996 season.

Her career highlights include winning the Ohio Division I state championship in 1999 and amassing 203 career wins with a 70.4 winning percentage. Her career win total is the seventh highest among all current and former girls soccer coaches in Ohio high school history, according westfirebirds.com.

Also retiring is her varsity assistant coach and husband, Mark Kalkhoff, who has also spent the last 17 years as a Lakota coach and 22 years total in high school coaching, including a stint as the head coach at Taylor high school from 1991 to 1995.

The Kalkhoff’s are the parents of an energetic little boy, Connor, who will be four next fall, and say that they expect to continue coaching soccer, just at a somewhat lower level of competition.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Lakota West soccer, Lakota West sports, Richard Bryant, Tara Schafer-Kalkhoff

Lakota West High School is taking applications for its open head girls’ soccer coach position through Feb. 1.

All interested individuals should provide the application, letter of interest and resume electronically to athletic director Richard Bryant at Richard.Bryant@lakotaonline.com.

Individuals will be contacted directly by the athletic director in regards to the hiring process.

Qualifications include head coaching experience is preferred, successful coaching experience at HS level or equivalent and exemplary soccer knowledge.

The hiring process will be completed by March 1.

Applicants can go to westfirebirds.com for the application.

Tara Schafer-Kalkhoff, Lakota West’s first and only head coach for girls soccer, announced her retirement in December.

Schafer-Kalkhoff recently completed her 17th season as a head coach in the Lakota district after beginning her career at Lakota High School prior to its split following the 1996 season.

Her career highlights include winning the Ohio Division I state championship in 1999 and amassing 203 career wins with a 70.4 winning percentage. Her career win total is the seventh highest among all current and former girls soccer coaches in Ohio high school history, according westfirebirds.com.

Also retiring is her varsity assistant coach and husband, Mark Kalkhoff, who has also spent the last 17 years as a Lakota coach and 22 years total in high school coaching, including a stint as the head coach at Taylor high school from 1991 to 1995.

The Kalkhoff’s are the parents of an energetic little boy, Connor, who will be four next fall, and say that they expect to continue coaching soccer, just at a somewhat lower level of competition.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Lakota West soccer, Lakota West sports, Richard Bryant, Tara Schafer-Kalkhoff

Lakota East High School is currently seeking a boys’ volleyball coach. The school district posted the job opening on its official website Thursday afternoon.

All interested parties should forward a letter of interest and resume to Richard Bryant, who is the athletic director at Lakota East. Emailed letters and resumes are preferred and can be sent to Richard.Bryant@Lakotaonline.com. Mailed letters and resumes need to be sent to Lakota East High School, 6840 Lakota Lane, Liberty Township, Ohio 45044.

This past spring, Lakota East finished with a 17-6 overall record and a 6-2 mark within the Greater Miami Conference.

Posted in: Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: boys' volleyball, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Richard Bryant, volleyball

Through two fundraisers this school year, the Lakota East athletic department raised nearly $30,000 for cancer research, according to Cincinnati.com. Its “Hawks for the Cure” series of events this fall raised $6,250 and its “Relay for Life” event this spring was responsible for a $23,000 donation to the American Cancer Society.

“I knew when I took the position that there would be opportunities to open the eyes of our student athletes to new experiences in the area of service,” Lakota East Athletic Director Richard Bryant told Cincinnati.com. “I am extremely proud of our programs and student-athletes – we have made significant strides in each area, but we will continue to strive for excellence year after year in these areas.”

Athletically, Lakota East had an exceptional school year in 2010-2011.

The school won Greater Miami Conference titles in boys’ golf, girls’ tennis, boys’ basketball, baseball and softball. Furthermore, the baseball team won the state championship and tennis standout Zack Mueck finished as the state runner-up for the second straight year.

For more on the story and what Bryant has called the “best year of athletics in the history of Lakota East,” visit Cincinnati.com’s post “Lakota East athletic department helped raise nearly $30,000 for cancer research.”

(Picture of Bryant at the celebration of Lakota East’s state championship in baseball)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports, Spring sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: breast cancer, cancer, cancer research, fundraiser, Hawks for the Cure, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Relay for Life, Richard Bryant

The Lakota East athletic department is proud of its student athletes this school year as they have won two of the first three Greater Miami Conference titles this fall. The Thunderhawks boys’ golf team claimed the GMC title Sept. 23 and the girls’ tennis team won their GMC title this past weekend on Oct. 2. The only GMC title Lakota East didn’t win in 2010-2011 was in girls’ golf.

The boys’ golf team dealt with adversity this fall, as its star golfer, Jordan Day, passed away after crashing his car on I-75 in August.

“The boys’ gold title is a testament to the type of young men and coaches that make up our program. To overcome what they have, to have the success that they have has to be the best story in high school athletics this year,” Lakota East Athletic Department Richard Bryant said.

The golf team entered the second day of the GMC Golf Tournament tied for fourth place and trailed first-place teams, Lakota West and Middletown, by six strokes. The Thunderhawks finished Day 2 in first place after posting a two-day score of 623, which was better than Mason (626), Lakota West (627) and Middletown (629).

The girls’ tennis squad dominated the GMC this regular season, winning all nine of their conference matches. However, they had to play under a different format in the GMC Girls’ Tennis Tournament. The format was similar to the one in the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Coaches Association Tournament, in which East finished fifth (rival Lakota West finished second). Nevertheless, the Thunderhawks totaled 45 points in the conference tournament and edged second-place Sycamore, who finished with 44 points.

“The girls tennis program has been dominant all season long. I was very impressed with how they finished at the league tournament – every single girl contributed to bring home the team title,” Bryant said.

The Thunderhawks finished first in No. 2 singles (sophomore Taylor Holden) and in No. 2 doubles (junior Sofey Fugate and sophomore Leeah Floyd) in the GMC Tournament. No. 1 singles player, senior Carolyn Pitman, finished as the runner-up and No. 1 doubles duo, senior Samar Sheriff and senior Taylor Stephens, finished in third place.

Last school year, 2009-2010, Lakota East didn’t win a single GMC title in the fall. In fact, the only conference title the Thunderhawks claimed was in spring baseball.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: GMC Golf Tournament, GMC Tennis Tournament, GMC title, golf, Jordan Day, Lakota East, Lakota East Athletic Department, Richard Bryant, tennis