LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: local news

  • Hold onto your hat and these pivotal dates

    Hold onto your hat and these pivotal dates

    David Miller

    by David Miller

    Who will be in your corner?

    Loveland, Ohio – These events will be your chance to personally meet the local politicians who want to be part of the teams leading the Loveland City School District and Loveland City Council for the next 1,440 days. Four-long years, so this is important!

    On October 21 the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance, Loveland Magazine, and LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV will host the contenders for seats on the school board, and on October 14 they will bring together on a public stage your job applicants for Loveland City Council.

    City Council – October 14, at 7:00 PM at the Loveland Middle School/Intermediate School Cafeteria.

    School Board – October 21, at 7:00 PM at the Loveland Middle School/Intermediate School Cafeteria.

    Will there be undisputed champs?

    Election fans can see if the contenders roll with the punches, stick and move, or have promises that pack a punch. Will you see any future respected political figures or elder statesmen/women?

    Both of these heavyweight championship Forums will be broadcast “LIVE” on the Loveland Magazine FaceBook Page. It’s not Pay-per-View and tickets are not required – it’s totally FREE!

    Who knows, there might be some highfalutin’ good ideas that come from one or more of these candidates that can transform Loveland. There will almost certainly be some re-hashing the past but that will be OK if it leads to knowledge of what the future might hold.

    Politicians routinely offer more promises than they keep, however hearing them straight from their mouths is the start of holding them accountable. Meeting them in person is always better than voting based on the number of yard signs and you can be a political influencer if you can say, “I actually heard her say it!”

    If you cannot attend in person or chose to be inside the safety of your own home you may want to tune in LIVE to be in-the-know.

    The format will follow the same as in the past:

    • To begin, candidates will each present their platform for 2 minutes and tell you why they are running for office.
    • Questions will be asked for 60 minutes allowing each candidate two minutes to reply or pass.
    • After 60 minutes candidates are asked to close with 2-minute speeches.

    Voters can throw their written questions into the octagon and all questions will be screened for duplicity by independent ring-side judges. The emcees will ask as many of the questions as time allows in the 60 minutes.

    You the registered voters of the City of Loveland and the Loveland City School District however will be the crucial and critically important judges come November 2 so reserve your ring-side seat by saving these dates.

    Loveland’s 2021 General Election candidates

    Important Election Dates for Voters in Ohio

    August 23 – Write-in candidates must file declarations of intent by 4 p.m. (72 days before general election

    September 17 – Military & Overseas Absentee Voting begins (46 Days Before Election Day)

    October 4 – Deadline for voter registration for Nov. 2 general election (30 days before general election)*

    October 5 – Early In-Person Voting begins and includes the Saturday, Sunday and the Monday before Election Day

    October 5 – Absentee Voting By Mail begins (28 Days Before Election Day)

    October 11 – Board of Elections Closed to In-Person Voting (Columbus Day).

    October 30 – Applications for absentee ballots to be mailed for Nov. 2 general election must be received by boards of elections by noon (3 days before general election)

    November 2 – General Election Day. Polls open at 6:30 AM and close at 7:30 PM.

    View the Ohio Secretary of State voting calendar and schedule in a Month by Month view

    *REGISTER TO VOTE OR UPDATE YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION (Update your voter registration address)

    Find your Early Voting Location

    Find your Polling Location

    District Maps

    STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS

    FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

    EDUCATIONAL & JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

    IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

    Future Voter Coloring Pages (ohiosos.gov)

    DOWNLOAD

    Clermont County Board of Elections Website

    Hamilton County Board of Elections Website

    Warren County Board of Elections Website

    Throughout the years, men and women in our armed forces have made great sacrifices to protect our freedom and democracy. Today, the courageous members of our military branches continue to serve our country so we all can enjoy one of our most sacred rights – the right to vote. Through the I Vote in Honor of a Veteran initiative, you can demonstrate the pride you feel for a veteran or servicemember and, at the same time, encourage others to vote on Election Day.

    Wear an I Vote in Honor of a Veteran pin on Election Day to show your appreciation to those men and women who made it possible for you to exercise your right to vote.

    To get your pin, click this LINK to submit a testimonial about how they’ve inspired you will be sent one.

  • Sue Klebold attempts to reconcile how the son she affectionately referred to as “Sunshine Boy” became a school shooter

    Sue Klebold attempts to reconcile how the son she affectionately referred to as “Sunshine Boy” became a school shooter

    Sue Klebold attempts to reconcile how the son she affectionately referred to as “Sunshine Boy” became a school shooter. This documentary brings light to the importance of mental health being taught to young children and the movement underway to take this issue seriously.

    Available on Prime to watch, buy, or rent.

  • COVID-19 cases leap by 900% over a month, State health department says

    COVID-19 cases leap by 900% over a month, State health department says

    A surgical mask and an N95 mask hang on display for sale at a pharmacy. Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images.

    BY: JAKE ZUCKERMAN and Ohio Capital Journal

    More than 3,000 Ohioans per day are contracting COVID-19 on average, the highest the rate has been since early February.

    Over the last month, hospitalizations increased by between 83% and 375% by age group, according to data from the Ohio Hospital Association.

    As children go back to school, more students are testing positive. Comparing the week of July 4 with the week of August 25, COVID-19 infections leapt by 909% among all Ohioans and 827% among school-age Ohioans, according to separate data from the Ohio Department of Health.

    While vaccination has modestly picked up pace, Ohio’s coverage sags well below the national average. About 52% of the state has received at least one vaccine dose, compared to 61% nationally, according to a New York Times data tracker. Only 12 states have a lower rate.

    The state’s hottest spots for infection are toward the southern border, where the vaccination rate sits between 30% and 40%.

    All told, more than 65,000 Ohioans have been hospitalized with COVID-19. More than 20,700 have died.

    “With many districts going back to school last week, the number of illnesses from Monday, Aug. 23 is troubling,” said ODH Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff in a news release. “As students statewide continue to return to their classrooms, this high figure should be yet another indicator to parents and families that the best protection from COVID-19 is for those 12 and older to choose to be vaccinated, and for those who aren’t vaccinated to wear masks.”

  • Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland): Prohibit school mask mandates for children

    Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland): Prohibit school mask mandates for children

    In the photo above is Rep. Schmidt speaking on the House floor regarding transgender women in sports. (Photo from Ohio House of Representatives)

    State Reps. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) and Mike Loychik (R-Bazetta) announced on August 25 they have introduced House Bill 400, which would prohibit public schools from mandating students to wear a mask. The bill introduction comes as statewide concerns from parents have heightened as several public schools have implemented school mask mandates for children.

    The Loveland City School District has mandated mask wearing for teachers, staff, all visitors, and all students below 7th grade when inside buildings. The 7-12 students are exempt from Loveland’s mask mandate.

    “I’ve seen and heard constituent concerns across my district from these mask orders from public schools receiving public taxpayer dollars,” said Loychik. “Through this bill, we are reiterating their opposition as it should be up to the discretion of parents on whether their kids should wear a mask or not.”

    House Bill 400 only pertains to students wearing masks and does not prohibit faculty, staff, and guests from wearing masks or from the school imposing a mandate on them, according to Schmidt’s press release about her sponsorship.

    Schmidt is sponsoring the bill amid local residents upset over certain schools implementing student mask mandates.

    “I’m disheartened that local school boards are mandating masks for students within the 65th House District and across our state,” said Schmidt. “I anticipate working with Rep. Loychik and several interested parties closely in the coming weeks to move this bill forward in the Legislature to address these rising concerns of Ohioans.”

    View Current Version

    The bill currently has over 20 cosponsors and awaits its first committee hearing.

    Thomas E. Brinkman Jr.

    Gary Click

    Rodney Creech

    Jon Cross

    Al Cutrona

    Bill Dean

    Jay Edwards

    Ron Ferguson

    Diane V. Grendell

    Jennifer Gross

    Thomas Hall

    Marilyn S. John

    Mark Johnson

    Kris Jordan

    Jeff LaRe

    Derek Merrin

    Kevin D. Miller

    Jena Powell

    Sharon A. Ray

    Craig S. Riedel

    Jason Stephens

    Reggie Stoltzfus

    D. J. Swearingen

    Scott Wiggam

  • Vaccination Incentive of $100 Now Available to All Medicaid Members Aged 12 and Up

    Vaccination Incentive of $100 Now Available to All Medicaid Members Aged 12 and Up

    For Ohio Medicaid members, going to school should start at a pharmacy, doctor’s office or community event where free COVID-19 vaccines are available. 

    A $100 gift-card incentive for vaccination, previously offered only to adults, now includes children ages 12 to 17. 

    That means every Medicaid Managed Care member old enough to be vaccinated also qualifies for the incentive.

    Kelly O’Reilly, president and chief executive officer of the Ohio Association of Health Plans

    The incentive is being expanded as children return to classrooms and COVID-19 cases rise dramatically in Ohio and nationwide, with the Delta variant becoming the dominant strain identified in new cases. Delta also appears more highly transmissible than previous variants and more likely to infect younger adults and children.

    “Getting students 12 and up vaccinated will provide peace of mind to parents, caregivers and educators,” said Kelly O’Reilly, president and chief executive officer of the Ohio Association of Health Plans. “Vaccination is the surest way to protect teens against COVID-19.”

    Working together, Ohio’s Medicaid Managed Care plans — Aetna, Buckeye Health Plan, CareSource, Molina Healthcare, Paramount Advantage and UnitedHealthcare — have made
    finding and getting the vaccine easier than ever with Vax on the Spot(www.covidvaxonthespot.com), a website with information on community vaccine events and walk-in opportunities at pharmacies. The site also gives details on how members can get the $100 incentive. In some locations, including many pharmacies and Federally Qualified Health Centers, gift cards are available on-site.

    The campaign and the incentive are working. Ohio Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran announced recently that the number of Medicaid members getting their first dose rose by 49% in the first week of August compared with the week before.

    Since Gov. Mike DeWine challenged the Medicaid Managed Care plans in June to do more to encourage vaccination, Ohio has seen a 57% increase in the number of Medicaid members who have completed vaccination. As of Aug. 8, the number that had received at least one shot was more than 800,000.

    Medicaid vaccine gift cards will continue to be available to eligible Ohioans through
    Dec. 31, 2021.

    According to the health plans’ medical directors, shrinking the population of unvaccinated people is the most important front in the battle to contain the pandemic. So far, available vaccines have proven highly effective at preventing people from contracting COVID-19 and even more effective at preventing serious illness and hospitalization, even among Delta cases. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost everyone — 97% — who contracts a COVID-19 case serious enough to require hospitalization is unvaccinated.

    For more on Ohio’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, visit https://medicaid.oahp.org/.

  • Salmonella outbreak linked to Italian-Style Meats in Ohio

    Salmonella outbreak linked to Italian-Style Meats in Ohio

    Fast Facts from the CDC

    • Illnesses: 36
    • Hospitalizations: 12
    • Deaths: 0
    • States: 17
    • Recall: No
    • Investigation status: Active

    Fratelli Beretta brand prepackaged Uncured Antipasto trays

    • Sold nationwide
    • Sold in vacuum-sealed plastic packages
    • Can include uncured salami, prosciutto, coppa, or soppressata
    • With “best by” dates on or before February 11, 2022
    • This does not include Italian-style meats sliced at a deli

    Ill people reported eating Fratelli Beretta brand Uncured Antipasto trays before they got sick. The investigation is ongoing to determine if additional products are linked to illness.What Everyone Should Do

    • Do not eat these products. 
    • Throw them away, even if some of them were eaten and no one got sick.
    • If you don’t know the brand of prepackaged Italian-style meats you have at home, don’t eat them and throw them away.
    • Wash items, containers, and surfaces that may have touched the products using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.
    • Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these severe Salmonella symptoms:
      • Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
      • Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
      • Bloody diarrhea
      • So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
      • Signs of dehydration, such as:
        • Not peeing much
        • Dry mouth and throat
        • Feeling dizzy when standing up

    What Businesses Should Do

    • Do not sell or serve these products.
    • Italian-style meats sliced at a deli are not affected by this advisory.
    • Wash and sanitize containers and surfaces that may have come in contact with them.

    Symptoms of Salmonella

    • Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
      • Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.
      • Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.
    • Some people—especially children younger than 5 years, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.
    • For more information about Salmonella, see the Salmonella Questions and Answers page.
  • Thank you, donors to Seth Mitchell Hero 5K

    Thank you, donors to Seth Mitchell Hero 5K

    by the family and friends of Captain Seth Mitchell

    Happy summer 2021 contributors to the Seth Mitchell Hero 5K. We hope your summer is going well. We are all blessed that it is going differently than last year! As always we want to keep you updated on how your investment in the scholarship campaigns are going.

    Due to Covid 19 we held the 5K virtually in 2020. You guys made the event fun and meaningful. We had over 100 participants and raised a significant amount of funds, even for a challenging year.

    Our scholarship committee thanks you. Each year we hope to raise enough to fund scholarships for deserving seniors from Loveland High School where Seth graduated in 1997. Because of you, we have been successful again.

    Let us introduce the recipients for 2021.


    Teri Clark and Madeline Schamel (provided photos)

    The Seth Mitchell Memorial Scholarship: Teri Clark has a keen interest in science and math. According to her application essay, her goal is to “treat my friends the same way Seth treated his friends, with kindness and loyalty”. Teri said that she was humbled by the opportunity to apply for the scholarship in Seth’s name. In our interview with Teri we found that she has overcome personal hardships that strengthened her and helped her find a passion to serve others by pursuing a career in the medical field.

    Let Us Never Forget/Mitchell Family Scholarship: Madeline Schamel has used hard work, positivity and determination to overcome medical challenges during her high school years. One letter of reference said of Maddie, “while many teenagers facing those obstacles would choose flight, Maddie embraced the uncertainty and fights with poise and maturity beyond her years”.

    Like Seth, these young women are known for hard work, determination, selflessness, kindness and loyalty. We are proud to have them pursue their dreams with a financial boost from all of you that have contributed to the Hero 5k in honor of Seth’s service and sacrifice.

    Lastly, we do want to announce that the 12th Annual Cpt. Seth Mitchell Hero 5K (www.sethmitchellhero5k.org) will be held on October 16 at 11 AM in beautiful Nisbet Park in Historic Downtown Loveland Ohio.

    We will also offer a virtual run again. You’ll be able to do your run/walk during the month of October from any location. The website will open soon for registrations and donations.

    Thank you all and blessings be upon you,

    Steve, Connie and Drew Mitchell, Family of Captain Seth Mitchell, USMC


    Scholarship Committee – Mollie Emerick, Marisa Sobb, Greg Carpinello, Damien Cook. Loveland High School, 1997.

  • WEST NILE VIRUS IS PRESENT IN LOCAL MOSQUITOES

    WEST NILE VIRUS IS PRESENT IN LOCAL MOSQUITOES

    Hamilton County is reminding everyone to continue to take summertime precautions against mosquito bites after mosquitoes that were recently trapped at the Columbia Township compost facility on Hill and Dale Dr. tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).  West Nile Virus is a viral disease that can be passed from mosquitoes to humans. Hamilton County Public Health (HCPH) maintains traps throughout the County during the summer to test for the presence of disease.  While this is the first positive identification in HCPH’s jurisdiction, other positive pools have been identified elsewhere in the County.

    People over age 50 have the highest risk of developing severe WNV infections

    Hamilton County Public Health staff will be conducting surveillance activities in the neighborhoods and commercial areas around where the mosquitoes were collected. They will be looking for areas of standing water, applying larvicide, making sure swimming pools are operating properly and advising residents on precautions they can take to avoid mosquito bites.

    “We can all take action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites,” Greg Kesterman, Hamilton County Health Commissioner says. “West Nile was first identified in Ohio in 2001, so it’s not new to our area, but we like to take the opportunity to remind everyone to take precautions.”

    Hamilton County Public Health advises all Hamilton County residents to DRAIN, DUNK and PROTECT in an effort to reduce the mosquito population and prevent West Nile Virus:

    DRAIN

    • Look for and drain sources of standing water on your property – litter, tires, buckets, flower pots, wading pools and similar items that could create standing water and become mosquito breeding sites. 
    • Frequently change water in bird baths and pet bowls.
    • Drain small puddles after heavy rainstorms.

    DUNK

    • Apply mosquito larvicide, sometimes called mosquito “dunks,” to areas of standing water that cannot be drained.  The “dunks” are environmentally safe and won’t harm pets.  Purchase them at your local hardware store.

    PROTECT

    • Cut your grass and trim shrubbery.
    • Make sure screens in windows and doors are tight-fitting and free from defect.
    • Wear long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours – dawn and dusk.
    • Use an EPA-registered insect repellent such as those containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon or eucalyptus. Always follow the directions on the package. 

    WNV is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system that can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. It is important to note that most people who are bitten by an infected mosquito will never become sick. Everyone, however, should be aware of the symptoms of WNV. Symptoms may develop two to 14 days after someone is bitten by an infected mosquito.

    No Symptoms in Most People. Approximately 70-80 percent of people who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.

    Milder Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected will display symptoms which can include fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have been sick for several weeks.

    Serious Symptoms in a Few People.  Less than one percent of people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.

    While all residents of areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk, people over age 50 have the highest risk of developing severe WNV infections. Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider for evaluation.       

    • For more information on West Nile Virus, please contact Hamilton County Public Health at (513) 946-7800 or visit us online at www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org.
  • Interim state superintendent named yet again

    Interim state superintendent named yet again

    Stock image from Pixabay

    BY: SUSAN TEBBEN and Ohio Capital Journal

     Dr. Stephanie K. Siddens
    Photo by the Ohio Department of Education

    A new interim state superintendent will hold down the fort at the Ohio Department of Education, following the departure of the previous interim superintendent.

    Dr. Stephanie K. Siddens, currently the senior executive for the state’s Center for Student Supports, will take over in September, after current superintendent Paolo DeMaria officially retires. The Ohio State Board of Education approved Siddens as interim head at a special meeting on Monday.

    Siddens has been with the Ohio Department of Education since 2006, working as assistant director and director for the Office of Early Learning and School Readiness, and as senior executive director for the Center for Curriculum and Assessment, before taking her current job.

    Deputy State Superintendent John Richard had previously been picked by the state school board to fill the interim spot, but on August 10, Richard announced he’d be leaving the department.

    Media reports say Richard took a job as president of the Stark Education Partnership in Stark County.

  • Mayor Bailey launches process for 10 new D-5J liquor permits and drinking district for Loveland Madeira Road Business Corridor

    Mayor Bailey launches process for 10 new D-5J liquor permits and drinking district for Loveland Madeira Road Business Corridor

    Loveland, Ohio – “I have reviewed the CED application and the benefits it represents to the Loveland Madeira Road Business Corridor. Based on this review, I am submitting the application to City Council with a recommendation of approval and request that City Council schedule a public hearing to be held on September 28, 2021, to allow for public comment on the application,” Mayor Kathy Bailey said in a recent memo to Council.

    Loveland Mayor Kathy Bailey (Loveland Magazine File Photo)

    The drinking district, or “Community Entertainment District” (CED) within the Loveland Madeira Road business corridor would create 10 new D-5J liquor permits.

    At the August 24 council meeting, City Manager Dave Kennedy described the effort as a new pool of liquor licenses, called D5-J, “…to help create a long and sustained turnaround for the Loveland Madeira Road business corridor.” He said it could expand the corridor’s opportunities for dining and entertainment-type businesses.

    Mr. Kennedy added that, if a CED is created, a D5-J would cost the applicant a $100 processing fee and a permit fee of $2,344, a savings of $27,000.

    The proposed district would encompass 54.029 acres between the intersection of West Loveland Avenue to Kroger, including all of the city’s Chestnut Street parcels. If approved, it would allow for ten D5-J liquor permits to be available in the district. The City council must: approve or disapprove the application. 

    If Council moves forward with the process they will set a date and time for a public hearing regarding the application. 

    Kennedy told Council that the CED could easily be expanded in the future. He said there would be a maximum of fifteen D5-J licenses in one district.