WestChesterBuzz.com

Associated Press

Ohio drivers are paying less for fuel than some analysts had expected as the summer driving season gets under way.

The average price for regular gas in Ohio is about $3.66 a gallon in Tuesday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. That’s up 2 cents from a week ago.

Gas was averaging $3.82 a gallon at this time last year.

Nationally, the average price for regular gas is about $3.64. That’s down four pennies from a week ago, and it’s about 15 cents cheaper than a year ago.

Crude oil prices have dropped during the past few weeks amid signs of slowing global growth and optimism that a military conflict over Iran’s nuclear capabilities could be avoided.

On Wednesday, the least expensive gas in Cincinnati is available is at four different locations in Amelia where regular unleaded gas can be purchased for $3.47 a gallon, according to cincygasprices.com.

In West Chester, the least expensive regular gas is available for $3.59 a gallon at the United Dairy Farmers, 7175 Liberty Way and Cincinnati-Dayton Road, and at the Shell, 7088 Liberty Centre Drive and Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

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Tags: Tags: Cincinnati gas prices, gas, gas prices, Ohio gas prices, Shell, West Chester gas prices

A West Chester man, who attempted to kill a gas station attendant, was sentenced to 13 years in prison Thursday.

John Ravencraft, 50, was sentenced by Judge Keith Spaeth on charges of attempted aggravated murder and aggravated robbery stemming from a March 8 robbery at the Shell Station at 9210 Cincinnati-Columbus Road.

He plead guilty to the charges in Butler County Court of Common Pleas July 22.

Police say that Ravencraft forced the clerk to the ground and attempted to shoot him. The Office of the Butler County Prosecutor reported that Ravencraft held the pistol to the head of the clerk, before it malfunctioned and the clerk was able to fight back.

“This victim is very lucky to be alive,” said Butler County Prosecutor Michael T. Gmoser. “My Assistant Prosecutor Dan Phillips, who worked this case with me, and I are very pleased to help put this violent criminal away. His next victim would not have been as fortunate.”

Ravencraft fled the scene on foot and was arrested the next day at his home located near the gas station.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: attempted murder, Butler County Prosecutor, Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser, John Ravencraft, murder, robbery, Shell, Shell Gas Station, Shell station, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

If you live in West Chester Township, you may already know which gas stations to avoid. It might not be considered breaking news, if you hear that the two Shell stations off I-75 at the Tylersville and Union Centre exits usually have the most expensive gas in the township.

Also, while it is common to see a 20-cent difference in price per gallon for unleaded gas when you compare one of those stations with the Thornton’s (one of the least expensive stations in the township) located at 10134 Princeton-Glendale Road, it is less common to see the current 46-cent difference between the most-expensive station and the least-expensive station.

Currently, Thornton’s, along with two West Chester Mobil stations, are selling gas for $3.29 per gallon. The Shell station, along with a Speedway station, off the I-75 Tylersville exit are selling gas for $3.75 per gallon Wednesday, according CincyGasPrices.com.

The other Shell station, located off the Union Centre Blvd. exit, is selling regular gas for $3.69 per gallon.

In defense of the Shell stations, it is very common for gas stations located off highway exits to sell more expensive gas. The Speedway, however, located off the Cincinnati-Dayton I-75 exit is selling gas for $3.37 (and was selling gas for $3.31 on Monday). Furthermore, about a mile from that Speedway, a Mobil station – located at the intersection of Cincinnati-Dayton Road and West Chester Road – is selling regular gas for $3.29.

If you have to get gas at the Tylersville exit, there is another Thornton’s located at the corner of Kingsgate and Tylersville, which is selling unleaded for $3.49.

And if you need gas at the Union Centre Blvd. exit, there is a Marathon less than a mile from the Shell – at the corner of Union Centre and West Chester Road – that is selling gas for $3.31. The Mobil station off Cincinnati-Dayton Road is also nearby.

The other Mobil station selling regular gas for $3.29 is located at 8976 Princeton-Glendale Road and Port Union Rialto Road.

Meanwhile, in Liberty Township, the least expensive gas is being sold for $3.29 per gallon at the Mobil station located at 5000 Princeton Road and 747.

For more gas pricing updates or post an update, visit CincyGasPrices.com.

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Tags: Tags: Cincinnati gas prices, gas, gas prices, Ohio gas prices, Shell, Shell Gas Station, Thorntons, Thorntons gas station, West Chester gas prices

John Ravencraft of West Chester was indicted April 13 by the Butler County Grand Jury on three counts of attempted aggravated murder and one count of aggravated robbery. All four counts are first-degree felonies and have gun specifications. Each gun specification could add three years of prison to each count.

Ravencraft, 50, who resides at 9262 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, is being accused of robbing a West Chester Shell gas station and attempting to kill a 29-year-old clerk.

According to police, Ravencraft allegedly attempted to shoot the clerk after he had forced him on the ground. However, the gun that the suspect was using malfunctioned and the clerk seized the opportunity to fight back.

A press release provided by the West Chester Police Department described the scene of the incident, which took place March 8 at around 11:30 p.m.

When the responding officers arrived on the scene, the suspect had already fled on foot in an unknown direction. The male clerk, age 29, reported to the officers that the suspect had entered the store and asked to purchase some items. After the clerk retrieved the items, the suspect pulled a pistol from his pocket and forced the clerk on the ground where he attempted to shoot him. However, the weapon malfunctioned and the clerk seized the opportunity to fight back against his attacker by striking the suspect and running out of the store to call for help. During this time the suspect fled on foot.

WCPD detectives and canine officers were called to the scene to investigate and developed a suspect in Ravencraft the morning after the incident took place. Ravencraft lives near the Shell gas station, which is located at 9210 Cincinnati-Columbus Road in West Chester.

Ravencraft is scheduled to be back in court for an arraignment hearing April 28 and is being held in the Butler County Jail on a $1 million bond.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: attempted murder, John Ravencraft, murder, robbery, Shell, Shell Gas Station, Shell station, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

The man, John Ravencraft, who is being accused of robbing a West Chester Shell gas station and attempting to kill a 29-year-old clerk is expected in court today, March 15, at 1:30 p.m. for his preliminary hearing at the Butler County Area III Court in West Chester.

Ravencraft, 50, who resides at 9262 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, is being accused of attempting to shoot the Shell station clerk after he had forced him on the ground. However, according to a release by the West Chester Police Department, the gun that the suspect was using malfunctioned and the clerk seized the opportunity to fight back.

A press release provided by the police department described the scene of the incident, which took place March 8 at around 11:30 p.m.

When the responding officers arrived on the scene, the suspect had already fled on foot in an unknown direction. The male clerk, age 29, reported to the officers that the suspect had entered the store and asked to purchase some items. After the clerk retrieved the items, the suspect pulled a pistol from his pocket and forced the clerk on the ground where he attempted to shoot him. However, the weapon malfunctioned and the clerk seized the opportunity to fight back against his attacker by striking the suspect and running out of the store to call for help. During this time the suspect fled on foot.

WCPD detectives and canine officers were called to the scene to investigate and developed a suspect in Ravencraft the morning after the incident took place. Ravencraft lives near the Shell gas station, which is located at 9210 Cincinnati-Columbus Road in West Chester.

Ravencraft was arrested March 9 and charged with one count of aggravated robbery, which is a felony of the first degree, and one count of attempted murder, which is a felony of the second degree.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: attempted murder, John Ravencraft, murder, robbery, Shell, Shell Gas Station, Shell station, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

West Chester Police were called to the Shell, located at 9210 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, at 11:30 p.m. last night, March 8, after a man with a gun robbed and attempted to murder the clerk at the gas station. Today, the WCPD announced that it has arrested John Ravencraft, 50, of West Chester, in connection with the incident.

Ravencraft, who resides at 9262 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, has been charged with one count of aggravated robbery, which is a felony of the first degree, and one count of attempted murder, which is a felony of the second degree.

A press release provided by the police department described the scene last night:

When the responding officers arrived on the scene, the suspect had already fled on foot in an unknown direction. The male clerk, age 29, reported to the officers that the suspect had entered the store and asked to purchase some items. After the clerk retrieved the items, the suspect pulled a pistol from his pocket and forced the clerk on the ground where he attempted to shoot him. However, the weapon malfunctioned and the clerk seized the opportunity to fight back against his attacker by striking the suspect and running out of the store to call for help. During this time the suspect fled on foot.

WCPD detectives and canine officers were called to the scene to investigate and developed a suspect in Ravencraft this morning, March 9.

Detectives are still investigating this incident and no further information was available in the release.

Cincinnati.com did report early this morning, that the officers who were first summoned to the scene were notified that shots were fired. However, when they arrived, they concluded no shots had been fired and no one was injured.

If anyone has more information regarding this investigation they can contact the West Chester Police Department’s crime tip line at 513-759-7272.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: attempted murder, John Ravencraft, murder, robbery, Shell, Shell Gas Station, Shell station, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

Sara Everhart, who works at the Shell Gas Station located on Union Centre Boulevard, told Cincinnati.com that she sold 78 Mega Millions tickets in roughly four hours on Monday, Jan. 3, afternoon. This afternoon, Jan. 4, Mega Millions tickets could be purchased at a faster rate due to the estimated $330 million jackpot of tonight’s drawing.

The drawing itself will take place tonight at 11 p.m. If a single person were to win the jackpot, they could choose to receive the money in 26 annual payments of approximately $12.7 million or one payout of $208.3 million.

The jackpot is tied for the third highest dollar amount of all time. The biggest Mega Millions jackpot was $390 million in March of 2007.

Officials in the Mega Millions states were prompted to increase the jackpot on Monday from $290 million to $330 million due to brisk sales, according to a news release.

The last drawing, which occurred on New Year’s Eve, had a jackpot worth $240 million. According to the news release from Mega Millions, 3.1 million tickets won prizes ranging from $2 to $1 million in that drawing but no ticket was awarded the jackpot.

The final numbers will be posted on the official Mega Millions website.

UPDATE: The Mega Millions jackpot has jumped again. It is now $355 million. A single winner can now choose to receive the money in 26 annual payments of approximately $13.6 million or one payout of $224.2 million.

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Tags: Tags: $330 million jackpot, Mega Millions, Sara Everhart, Shell, Shell Gas Station