LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: loveland ohio

  • LHS Grad Jillian Hayes is Featured in “Fresh Faces Presented by Kroger!”

    LHS Grad Jillian Hayes is Featured in “Fresh Faces Presented by Kroger!”

    In the photo above Jillian Hayes became Loveland High School’s all-time leading scorer in February of 2020.

    by Cassie Mattia

    Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine and is a resident of Historic Downtown

    Loveland, Ohio – Another former Tiger athlete is already making quite the name for herself and the season hasn’t even started yet! LHS graduate and excellent student-athlete, Jillian Hayes, has a bright future ahead of her as she is just about to begin her freshman year as a guard on the University of Cincinnati Women’s Basketball Team. Click the link below to check out Hayes’ stellar basketball history as a Loveland Tiger in my “One-One With Jillian Hayes” feature article!

    One on One with Jillian Hayes

    Hayes was recently featured on the latest episode of “Fresh Faces Presented by Kroger.” The Fresh Faces segment spotlights new and up and coming athletes on Bearcat Nation. Fresh Faces plans on featuring all of the new 2020-2021 Cincinnati Men’s and Women’s Basketball student-athletes.

    According to GoBearcats.com Hayes was rated as a four-star prospect by Prospects Nation. Click below to read about Hayes’ unbelievable stats and what led to her being rated as a four-star prospect coming into UC as a freshman!

    [Video/Photos] Tiger basketball star Jillian Hayes reaches 1,000 points

    Both UC Women’s Basketball Coach Michelle Clark-Heard and Jillian Hayes told Bearcat Nation that they couldn’t be more excited to put UC on the map this year with all the talent they are bringing in!

    “It means the world to me to put our city on the map and be able to be a part of building something here,” Hayes said, “It’s nice to know that my support system has been through what I’m going through and can talk to me and give me the right advice to guide me through it. Being able to talk to my brother, even my parents is a big blessing.” 

    “She is a Cincinnati native and someone that we knew was important to keep at home,” Clark-Heard said, “Jillian is going to cause matchup nightmares for our opponents as her size and athleticism allow her to play multiple positions in our system.” 

    To see the full-length Fresh Faces feature on Jillian you can visit the following link: https://gobearcats.com/news/2020/10/26/womens-basketball-watch-fresh-faces-jillian-hayes.aspx. To see the fifth episode of “Fresh Faces Presented by Kroger” click below!

    We want to wish Jillian Hayes and the UC Women’s Basketball Team the best of luck as they prepare for what we think will be a very successful season! We couldn’t be prouder to have someone like Jillian represent Loveland in such a positive light! We will be cheering you on, Jillian, as you strive to achieve greatness and hopefully break some records! GO BEARCATS!

    To catch more of your local sports news stay tuned to the Sports 411 With me, Cassie Mattia!

  • Drew Plitt and Cardinals kick-off 2020 Season on CBS Sports Network!

    Drew Plitt and Cardinals kick-off 2020 Season on CBS Sports Network!

    Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine and lives in Historic Downtown Loveland

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – A former Loveland Tiger stand-out student-athlete will get the opportunity to showcase his football skills on the CBS Sports Network on Wednesday, November 4th!

    Drew Plitt, Loveland High School graduate, and now Ball State University’s quarterback will be facing MAC Champion Miami for their season-opener, as the 2020 season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at 7 PM.

    On top of being showcased on National television, Plitt was nominated for two very prestigious college football awards. Plitt was placed on the watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award just two weeks after being placed on the watch list for the Manning Award, which recognizes the top-performing quarterback in America.

    In a near blizzard, Drew Plitt quarterbacked the Loveland Tigers to a 41 – 23 win over Glenville at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium to win the Div II State Championship in 2013. The temperature was 28 degrees, the wind was 5-10 mph, and steady snow kept plows busy clearing the Canton Fawcett Stadium yard lines throughout the game. Dec. 6, 2013.

    Before Plitt headed to Ball State himself to play football he was a top-notch student-athlete at Loveland High School. Plitt was a member of the National Honor Society all while earning multiple awards in both basketball and football. As a Junior Plitt was Team Captain, MVP, and First-Team All-Conference in basketball. In football, Plitt received All-Conference twice as well as Honorable Mention All-District as a Senior. Plitt helped lead the Loveland Tigers to a 2013 state title and still has the school record for career passing touchdowns (42).

    It was announced recently the Plitt’s college football team, Ball State University will have their first three games nationally televised! On Wednesday, November 4th you can catch the Cardinals playing their rival Miami on the CBS Sports Network at 7 PM, and then one week later on November 11th you can watch BSU as they host Eastern Michigan at 7 PM. The third game on BSU’s six regular-season game schedule will be played on November 18th against Northern Illinois at 7 PM. This particular game will be broadcasted on ESPN2, ESPNU, or CBS Sports Network.

    According to BSU’s website, “The TV designation for the NIU game and designations and kick times for all three of the Cardinals’ Saturday contests to close the regular season will be announced 12 days before each game. The three Saturday games will appear on CBS Sports Network or an ESPN platform. The MAC Football Championship Game will air Friday, Dec. 18 on ESPN or ESPN2. As always, all BSU football games can be heard on the Ball State Radio Network on 104.1 WLBC.”

    For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB, and @BSUCoachNeu.

    We wish Drew Plitt the best of luck for the up and coming BSU Football Season! We can’t wait to see all the awards and accomplishments he racks up! Check out BSU’s Football schedule below and what platform each game will be televised on.

    2020 Ball State Football Schedule

    Wed., Nov. 4 (7 p.m.) at Miami (Oxford, Ohio) – CBS Sports Network (CBSSN)

    Wed., Nov. 11 (7 p.m.) vs. Eastern Michigan (Scheumann Stadium) – CBSSN

    Wed., Nov. 18 (7 p.m.) vs. Northern Illinois (Scheumann Stadium) – ESPN2, ESPNU or CBSSN

    Sat., Nov. 28 (TBA) at Toledo (Toledo, Ohio) – CBSSN or ESPN platform

    Sat., Dec. 5 (TBA) at Central Michigan (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) – CBSSN or ESPN platform

    Sat., Dec. 12 (TBA) vs. Western Michigan (Scheumann Stadium) – CBSSN or ESPN platform

    Fri., Dec. 18 (TBA) – MAC Championship (Detroit, Mich.) – ESPN or ESPN2

    Want to catch up on everything Drew Plitt?! Click below to read some of my former articles on the outstanding football athlete!

    Plitt Named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm … – Loveland Magazine

    Drew Plitt to quarterback Ball State | Loveland Magazine

    Former LHS Student-Athlete Listed on Pre-season Manning list – Loveland Magazine

    Stay tuned for more sports updates with the Sports 411!

  • [VIDEO] Mark Bersani honored with Louis G. Rockwood Community Service Volunteer Award

    [VIDEO] Mark Bersani honored with Louis G. Rockwood Community Service Volunteer Award

    Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine and lives in Historic Downtown Loveland, Ohio

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – The City of Loveland is full of lovely people! If you visit the city and simply walk along the Loveland Bike Trail or along the sidewalks as you pass the local businesses you will find that everyone within the community supports and loves one another. Many individual community members, business owners, and local leaders have been recognized for what they have done for the City of Loveland and its people but one person, in particular, has proven time and time again to go above and beyond what is asked of him. That person is Mark Bersani, owner of Loveland Canoe and Kayak.

    On October 13th at Loveland’s City Hall Bersani was honored with the Louis G. Rockwood Community Service Award, an award that recognizes the time and accomplishments of volunteers in the City of Loveland.

    Bersani was introduced and was given the prestigious award by Mayor Kathy Bailey. Two prominent members of the Loveland community nominated Bersani for the award and read their testimonials during the city hall meeting.

    Tim Butler, member of the Loveland City Council and Owner of local business Mile42 Coffee, read his nomination first.

    “Mark is a ceaseless advocate for preservation and aesthetics along the Little Miami River.  He is an active and fervent supporter of local businesses,” Butler noted, “Mark is also involved in a project which offers canoeing and kayaking opportunities to inner-city youth. Mark is a true representative of the ‘Think Global/Act Local’ mentality. Mark is always thinking of ways to improve the City.  He is well-deserving of this honor.”

    Neil Oury, also a member of the Loveland City Council, delivered his kind testimonial next during the city hall meeting.

    “Mark Bersani, owner of Loveland Canoe & Kayak, for his tireless efforts to helping Loveland businesses since 2003 with events and for being involved in the downtown business district,” Oury said, “Mark has mentored many young employees through his summer hiring.  Mark cares about Loveland, the river, and our residents.  His retail store offers canoes & kayaks and accessories along with offering demos, fishing tournaments, and tread shows which brings our community together.”

    After Mayor Kathy Bailey awarded Bersani, his wife, and daughter, Bersani got the opportunity to speak about how thankful he was to receive such an honor in the city he loves so much. Bersani explained that he was not only honored but very humbled by the award. He said everything he does is a team effort and that his family has played a big part in his success and volunteering efforts. Bersani said that he loves being apart of a community that supports one another and was sure to thank his wife, daughter, and canoe staff for all their hard work and support especially during the pandemic.

    Here at Loveland Magazine, we have always been huge supporters of Mark Bersani, his amazing family, and his legendary business! The Louis G. Rockwood Community Service Award could not have been given to a better Loveland community member! We are so lucky to be apart of a community that recognizes people like Mark for their outstanding efforts in making Loveland that much better to live, work, and have fun in! From the moment I stepped foot into the City of Loveland I knew the Bersani family was special so I decided to write a story about their journey last year! If you would like to read the story click the following link: https://lovelandmagazine.com/an-inspirational-loveland-family-canoes-their-way-into-peoples-hearts/.

    Congratulations Mark Bersani! Click below to watch Bersani and his family honored at the October 13th City Hall Meeting with the Louis G. Rockwood Community Service Award!

  • The Candy Police are Back!

    The Candy Police are Back!

    Candy Police will be on duty on October 31st

    Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine and lives in Historic Downtown Loveland

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – It’s that spooky time of year again when all the little ghouls and goblins are running amuck in search of the best candy! Well, thankfully the Candy Police are back and ready to make sure EVERYONE is able to enjoy Trick-or-Treating in Loveland! 

    The Loveland Police Department and the Hamilton Township Police Department will be working together this Halloween in order to bring joy and of course candy to any kids or adults with special needs who can’t physically go trick-or-treating. Could Loveland get any sweeter?!

    Trick or Treat’s a go in Loveland

    Both police departments said that they want to make sure Halloween is a special day for not just the kids with special needs but the adults as well!

    If you have a loved one who loves Halloween but is unable to Trick-or-Treat due to a disability and lives in the City of Loveland or Hamilton Township, please contact Lieutenant Mike Szpak at 513-707-6116 or through email at mszpak@lovelandoh.gov. Whether you decide to call or email Lt. Szpak, please include your name, your loved one’s name, the address you would like candy delivered to, and a phone number that you can be reached at.

    The Candy Police will do their best to schedule all visits between 6 PM and 8 PM on October 31st but may have to adjust the hours due to high demand.

    Unfortunately, the police departments are not able to consider the Coronavirus as a special need or disability.

    Want to help the Candy Police spread Halloween spirit successfully throughout Loveland?! Please contact Lieutenant Szpak to donate any deliciously creepy treats to the Candy Police Program.

    Be safe Loveland and have a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

  • Plitt Named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List

    Plitt Named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – A former LHS student-athlete has found himself on another prestigious list for excelling in the game of football! Ball State redshirt Senior, Drew Plitt, was placed on the watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award just two weeks after being placed on the watch list for the Manning Award, which recognizes the top-performing quarterback in America.

    The Golden Arm Award was named after Johnny Unitas, an 18-year NFL veteran, who began his stellar football career with the Baltimore Colts in 1958. Unitas was not only responsible for creating football’s 2-minute drill he also racked up some very impressive stats throughout his career. 

    The recipient for the Golden Arm Award each year is selected by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee. The top Senior quarterback is chosen based on their performance on and off the field. This year Plitt joins Kent State’s Dustin Crum on the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list. Plitt and Crum are the only MAC quarterbacks on the list. 

    2020 Golden Arm Award Watch List

    Jack Abraham, Southern Miss
    Jake Bentley, Utah
    James Blackman, Florida State
    Ian Book, Notre Dame
    Alan Bowman, Texas Tech
    Myles Brennan, LSU
    Charlie Brewer, Baylor
    Chase Brice, Duke
    Anthony Brown, Oregon
    Shane Buechele, SMU
    Sean Clifford, Penn State
    Jack Coan, Wisconsin
    K.J. Costello, Mississippi State
    Dustin Crum, Kent State
    Micale Cunningham, Louisville
    Sam Ehlinger, Texas
    Justin Fields, Ohio State
    Feleipe Franks, Arkansas
    Chase Garbers, California
    Jarrett Guarantano, Tennessee
    Donald Hammond III, Air Force
    Sam Hartman, Wake Forest
    Hendon Hooker, Virginia Tech
    Josh Jackson, Maryland
    Mac Jones, Alabama
    D’Eriq King, Miami

    Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
    Levi Lewis, Louisiana
    Adrian Martinez, Nebraska
    Dylan McCaffery, Michigan
    Davis Mills, Stanford
    Kellen Mond, Texas A & M
    Tanner Morgan, Minnesota
    Jamie Newman, Georgia
    Patrick O’Brien, Colorado State
    Asher O’Hara, Middle Tennessee
    Brandon Peters, Illinois
    Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
    Drew Plitt, Ball State
    Brock Purdy, Iowa State
    Peyton Ramsey, Northwestern
    Shawn Robinson, Missouri
    Anthony Russo, Temple
    Nick Starkel, San Jose State
    Zach Smith, Tulsa
    Zac Thomas, Appalachian State
    Skylar Thompson, Kansas State
    Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA
    Kyle Trask, Florida
    Brady White, Memphis
    Zach Wilson, BYU
    Terry Wilson, Kentucky

    To read more about Plitt’s phenomenal career thus far at Ball State click the following link: Former LHS Student-Athlete Listed on Pre-Season Manning Award Watch List!

    After the MAC made the decision to postpone all scheduled fall contests in 2020, as well as MAC championships, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Plitt expressed his feelings on the cancellation and the honor of being placed on the Golden Arm watchlist.

    “This has been an unexpected and frustrating year for us and the cancellation of the season was extremely disappointing. The team was playing really well having a lot of fun and enjoying the little bit of normal we were experiencing when on the field for practice,” Plitt explained, “For all us, football is an escape from reality, a time to forget everything else in the world, put on the helmet and pads and be a kid again and it’s very disappointing and very frustrating that we won’t be playing and really didn’t have much say in the entire decision making. The award watchlist is a tremendous honor and really a testament to my teammates because, without them, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. It’s awesome to be apart of the watchlist but I’ve got other things on my mind like winning a MAC championship first and foremost! That’s what our team wants, the awards come when a team performs great and wins.”

    If you would like to read the MAC’s full announcement about postponing Fall sports click the following link: MAC Announces Postponement of Fall Sports

    Plitt’s parents Steve and Julie said they couldn’t be prouder of their son’s accomplishments and hope they will get to see him play his final college season.

    “As Drew moves through each phase of his sports career and life he continues to amaze me and make me proud. This is just another example,” Julie Plitt said, “He is privileged to have great coaches and players to help him in this journey.”

    Bryce, Julie, Marie, Steve, and Drew Plitt at Marie’s volleyball Senior night in 2019

    “For me personally, being raised and growing up in Baltimore, this resonates deeply inside. Johnny Unitas went to our church and I saw him there often,” Steve Plitt explained, “His youngest son graduated from the same high school as I did.  Johnny Unitas was the pinnacle of success in Baltimore, not for just being maybe the best QB of all time, but his time off the field spent in the community helping others. My roots are from Baltimore, and I know that there is a little of that ‘blue-collar’ Baltimore grit in Drew’s spirit as well. Johnny U was my father’s favorite QB, Drew never had the chance to meet his grandfather, so in some way this connection is both humbling and very, very special for me.”  

    Here at Loveland Magazine, we want to congratulate Drew Plitt for representing Loveland in such a positive way! We admire Plitt’s hard work and dedication and commend his parents for raising such a top-notch student-athlete! We will be rooting for you Drew when you get back out on the field!

    For more of Ohio and Loveland’s sports updates stay tuned to the Sports 411 With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • LYBO Wednesday sandlot-esq pick up games: Loveland fields full of kids living America’s pastime

    LYBO Wednesday sandlot-esq pick up games: Loveland fields full of kids living America’s pastime

    Parents sit along the outfield to watch their kids play during a Wednesday night pick-up game at at Phillips Park in Loveland, Ohio.

    Joe Timmerman graduated from Loveland High School in 2019 and will return to his studies in photojournalism at Ohio University this month.

    By Joe Timmerman

    Loveland, Ohio – Walking up to the baseball fields at Phillips Park on Wednesday July 29, the air feels like summer again as the fields are full with kids living in America’s pastime.

    Every Wednesday night since the first week of July, as the sun sets in Loveland, Ohio, kids have been playing baseball together again. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon these unusual times of social distancing, quarantine, and the cancellation of most future gatherings — the Loveland Youth Baseball Organization came up with the idea of pick-up baseball games. 

    With youth sports becoming seemingly more and more competitive as each year goes by, it was refreshing to watch a Sandlot-esq pick up game happening in our own town.

    In conversation with Matt Kapszukiewicz, the president of LYBO, I learned that they had been throwing the idea of pick-up games around for about a year or so, and that Rob Steinman, another LYBO board member, originally came up with the idea. “We decided to launch it because these older kids had no-one else to play against… so we blended them into a t-shirt league once we got a handle on what COVID-19 meant,” Kapszukiewicz said. 

    A warm up pitch is thrown before the last inning of a pick-up game with no score on Wednesday July 29 at Phillips Park in Loveland, Ohio.

    When my dad and I made it to the third base fence line with our baseball gloves in hand to check out the night’s pick up game, there were a couple open spots in the outfield. Tom Sackett, my dad’s friend and the supervisor for the game, told us to run out and join in. Before too long, I overheard a conversation between the right fielder and the infield players. 

    “Yeah, I don’t even know… it doesn’t matter.” 

    “Hey, what’s the score?”

    “Uh, 1-0 maybe”

    “Yeah, I don’t even know… it doesn’t matter.” 

    With youth sports becoming seemingly more and more competitive as each year goes by, it was refreshing to watch this a Sandlot-esq pick up game happening in our own town. 

    “These kids are having a blast out here… just run out there and do whatever you want, play wherever you want,” Sackett said. Sackett is a former LYBO board president and the coach of the Loveland Express, a 16u team that his son plays on, who like most teams this summer, had their season cancelled.

    “These kids are having a blast out here… just run out there and do whatever you want, play wherever you want,” Sackett said.

    About half of the 16 kids that showed up to play are 16 year olds, the rest are 15, and they all go to Loveland High School.

    After talking to a few parents who came to watch the game, I found out that there are usually about twice as many kids that show up to play on Wednesdays, but a player on Loveland’s football team tested positive which resulted in a quarantine for the entire team. 

    We had more fans than the Reds!

    “(These games) are providing an opportunity for the kids to get out and get some exercise, everything else has pretty much been cancelled at this point. Kids, friends, and even the adults had something to do… just sitting there watching a pick-up baseball game — we had more fans than the Reds. (Wednesday nights) have been valuable for building community and offering an opportunity to stay fit,” Kapszukiewicz said. “We (LYBO) didn’t charge anything, we provided umpires — it kind of cost us money to put on, but it was an investment that was worth it. We just wanted kids to get out and play ball.”

    LYBO is putting teams together this week for organized fall baseball games as local teams are starting to want to play again. From ages four and up, spring sign ups will start as early as December. You can sign up for fall or spring baseball or find more information on getting involved with Loveland Youth Baseball Organization on LYBO.org

  • No detection of “forever chemicals” in Clermont County water system

    No detection of “forever chemicals” in Clermont County water system

    Batavia, Ohio – A recent sampling of Clermont County’s water system for chemicals called Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) found no detection of harmful substances in our water. As a real-life parallel to the movie Dark Waters, which portrayed a town in West Virginia whose groundwater is contaminated by a neighboring chemical company, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) has been sampling water systems across the state.

    “This is very good news,” said Lyle Bloom, Director of Clermont County Water Resources. “All three of Clermont County’s water treatment plants were sampled as part of Ohio’s Statewide PFAS Action Plan for Drinking Water and there was no detection of PFAS from the raw or finished water at any of our treatment facilities.”

    The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) has been sampling water systems across the state.

    The plan calls for Ohio EPA to gather data from public water systems statewide to determine if PFAS are present in drinking water. The water system was sampled for six individual PFAS contaminants: PFOA, PFOS, GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, and PFNA.

    PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals applied to many consumer goods to make them waterproof, stain resistant, or nonstick. PFAS are also used in products like cosmetics, fast food packaging, and a type of firefighting foam called aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) (which are used mainly on large spills of flammable liquids, such as jet fuel).  PFAS is also called the “forever chemical” because they are not easily broken down by sunlight or other natural processes. They may remain in the environment for many years.

    Recent sampling of Clermont County’s water system for chemicals called Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) found no detection of PFAS

    PFAS can enter drinking water at sites where they are made, used, disposed of, or spilled. Some, but not all, studies in humans with PFAS exposure have shown that certain PFAS may: affect growth, learning and behavior of infants and children; lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant; interfere with the body’s natural hormones; increase cholesterol levels; affect the immune system; or increase the risk of certain cancers. Scientists are still learning about the health effects of exposures to mixtures of PFAS.

    In 2013, Clermont County performed sampling and analysis at all three of its water treatment plants. At that time, there was also zero detection of PFAS.  There are currently no national drinking water standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels or MCLs) established for PFAS compounds; however, OEPA adopted Action Levels ranging from 21 to 140,000 ng/L for various PFAS chemicals. Ohio EPA will be establishing response protocols for public water systems in Ohio when action levels are exceeded, including public notification and issuance of drinking water advisories.

    Ohio EPA also has a website dedicated to PFAS with additional information:https://epa.ohio.gov/pfas

  • Butler County school asks state supreme court to speed up decision on armed teachers policy

    Butler County school asks state supreme court to speed up decision on armed teachers policy

    By Susan Tebben
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    Columbus, Ohio – An Ohio school district hoping to enact a policy to arm teachers is asking the Ohio Supreme Court to speed up their decision in light of an approaching school year. 
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    Last week, the state’s highest court agreed to hear the appeal of the Madison Local School District in Butler County, after an appeals court ruled they did not have the right to enact a “firearms authorization policy” that would allow armed teachers in schools.
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    Several parents sued the district in 2018 seeking an injunction blocking the district from arming teachers and other staff without the training required of law enforcement officials.
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    When the court of appeals made that ruling in March 2020, it had “no practical effect” on the district, attorneys for the district said in court documents. The decision came after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine closed schools throughout the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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    “That changes (Aug. 13), when the 2020-21 school year begins for Madison with in-person classroom instruction,” attorneys for the district said in their motion. 

    Due to the upcoming school year, the school district is asking the court to “expedite” the schedule and consideration for the ruling.

    Due to the upcoming school year, the school district is asking the court to “expedite” the schedule and consideration for the ruling. They submitted the request two days after the state supreme court agreed to hear the case. 

    The request to speed up a ruling also included an argument that the school should be able to go forward with their firearms policy as the appeals court decision is appealed. 

    Attorneys for the district said the fact that the Ohio Supreme Court accepted the case “implies serious questions going to the merits of the Twelfth District’s decision and that Madison has at least a reasonable prospect of success on the merits.”

    The firearms policy was agreed to after a shooting at the junior/senior high school in which four students were injured, and the shooter, James Austin Hancock was sentenced to juvenile detention until he turns 21.

    The district also said barring the firearms policy as the school year begins could become a safety issue. 

    “To be sure, everyone can hope that Madison does not ever experience another school shooting, and it is possible that the absence of this deterrent effect during the upcoming school year might turn out not to have mattered,” the school district said in court documents. “But it might matter, and Madison has made the policy decision that its students and staff are safer with its policy in place.”

    The firearms policy was agreed to after a shooting at the junior/senior high school in which four students were injured, and the shooter, James Austin Hancock was sentenced to juvenile detention until he turns 21.

    The district noted in its statement to the court that there were no “situations or incidents” during the 2018-19 school year or the part of the  2019-20 school year in which the schools were open.

    The court battle is also the subject of a bill currently in the Ohio Senate. Butler County resident and state Sen. Bill Coley introduced Senate Bill 317 in May with the aim to reduce the amount of training needed for school personnel to be armed in schools. 

    An amendment has been brought up to include a “school marshal program” within the bill. The last hearing on the bill was held July 21.

    Susan Tebben

    Susan Tebben
    Susan Tebben is an award-winning journalist with a decade of experience covering Ohio news, including courts and crime, Appalachian social issues, government, education, diversity and culture. She has worked for The Newark Advocate, The Glasgow Daily Times, The Athens Messenger, and WOUB Public Media. She has also had work featured on National Public Radio.
  • OHSAA Announces Shortened HS Football Season Proposal

    OHSAA Announces Shortened HS Football Season Proposal

    OHSAA adjusts high school season if football is approved by Governor

     

    by Cassie Mattia

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Governor’s recommendation to shorten Ohio’s High School Football seasons has been approved! The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) announced Friday that due to concerns COVID-19 may spike in the early winter, all Ohio HS football teams will enter into the playoffs on October 9th. The HS State Championship games would be played no later than November 21st. This is only in the event that the Governor’s Office approves Ohio HS Football being played this year.

    The proposal for a shorter football regular season was approved by the OHSAA Board of Directors with a 9-0 vote. OHSAA released a press release after the vote saying that they considered the proposal a win-win situation for all schools because it would then not matter how many games each team played leading up to the playoffs.

    So how will it be determined which HS football teams qualify for the playoffs you may be asking yourself? Well, instead of using the traditional computer ratings system, coaches in each region will conduct a tournament seed meeting the week of September 28th in order to form the regional brackets. This is very similar to how several other team sports within the OHSAA determine which teams qualify for playoffs.

    Loveland High School is apart of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference.

    The shortened football season guidelines state that schools may keep their first six previously scheduled games, but all regular-season football contracts will be now voidable by either school. This is especially important in the event that conferences redo their league schedules so that games will fit into the first six weeks. The OHSAA will also determine new playoff regions in September. Teams that are eliminated from the playoffs may continue to schedule regular-season games up until November 14.

    MAC Announces Postponement of Fall Sports

    The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has announced the postponement of all scheduled fall contests, as well as MAC championships, due to continuing concerns related to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Read on…

    The Big 10 is expected to announce the cancelation of the Fall football season on Tuesday.

    Those schools that have paused sports due to COVID-19 are still able to begin their season in September or early October as well as compete in the playoffs. If a school finds that they would rather play regular-season games up until November 14th and not compete in playoffs they are able to do so.

    “To both ensure we can offer students the opportunity to participate in education-based athletics but do so with their best interests in mind, we believe this modified plan offers a positive solution by addressing many of the concerns of our member schools,” President of the OHSAA Board of Directors and Athletic Administrator at Mentor High School, Jeff Cassella said, “Those that are able to start their seasons on time will be able to do so. Those that are starting later can still have a season. Add in the option of all schools entering the playoffs and the possibility of schools still being able to play 10 regular-season contests, and this plan is helpful to virtually all of our schools.”

    Here are the most important details in regards to the OHSAA’s modified Ohio HS Football season and changes to the Playoffs process:

    • Regular-season games will begin the week of August 24 (same regular-season starting date).
    • All teams are eligible to enter the OHSAA playoffs. New regions will be determined in September.
    • The number of playoff rounds is dependent upon the number of schools entering the playoffs in each division. Coaches in each region will seed all playoff teams in the region to form a bracket, similar to other OHSAA sports.
    • Schools eliminated from the OHSAA playoffs or those schools that choose not to enter the OHSAA playoffs have the option to schedule additional regular-season contests through Saturday, November 14 (maximum of 10 regular season contests permitted).
    • Playoff seeding will be determined via a vote of the coaches the week of September 28 (Harbin Ratings is suspended for the 2020 season).
    • All playoff contests through the regional semifinals (and possibly the regional finals) will be hosted by the higher-seeded team.
    • Schools must commit to participating in the playoffs by 11:59 PM on Thursday, September 17.
    • Playoff regions will be drawn on Friday, September 18.
    • Schools may withdraw from the playoffs without a penalty until Thursday, September 24.

    Below is what the new modified Ohio HS Football season will look like:

    • Regular season Week 1:  Week of August 24
    • Regular season Week 2:  Week of August 31
    • Regular season Week 3:  Week of September 7
    • Regular season Week 4:  Week of September 14
    • Regular season Week 5:  Week of September 21
    • Regular season Week 6:  Week of September 28
    • Playoffs begin Friday, October 9
    • State Finals end no later than Saturday, Nov. 21

    Still, have questions on OHSAA’s modified football season and the new Playoffs process? Click HERE for all of the Q&A’s!

    Thus far the decision on whether or not spectators will be allowed to be present at contact sports this year has not been made yet. The OHSAA stated that “At a minimum, parents should be permitted to attend.”

    Luckily four of the OHSAA’s Fall sports, golf, tennis, volleyball, and cross country, have been determined to be low-contact by the Governor’s Office which means these particular sports will be permitted to have contests with other schools. The remaining Fall sports, field hockey, soccer, and football, have been determined to be high-contact, so the OHSAA, the Governor’s Office and the Ohio Department of Health are working together to create a safe game plan so that these three sports may participate in contests with other schools as well.

    To get the latest 411 on which of Ohio’s High School sports will be competing this year and the most up to date COVID-19 sports safety protocols stay tuned to the Sports 411 With me, Cassie Mattia!

  • Watch Act 2 of The Importance of Being Earnest by the Loveland Stage Company

    Watch Act 2 of The Importance of Being Earnest by the Loveland Stage Company

    Act 2 of The Importance of Being Earnest recorded live at the Loveland Stage Company by LSC Radio in beautiful Historic Downtown Loveland, Ohio is now ready for your viewing pleasure.

    If you want to watch Act 1 first:

    Loveland Stage Company presents Act 1 of “Old-time Radio Shows”

     

    Cast

    Adrianna Boris – Jack
    You may have seen Adrianna on the LSC stage as Philia in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” or around town as Rizzo in “Grease” at Mariemont and Footlighters.  Other favorite roles have included Julia in “The Wedding Singer,” Cecily in “The Importance of Being Earnest,” and the Witch in “Into the Woods”. Thanks to Micheal and the whole team at LSC for bringing us together for this project!
    Carissa Griffith-Sloan – Foley Artist
    Carissa is no stranger to the LSC stage. She has appeared onstage in a number of LSC productions including The Drowsy Chaperone (u/s Drowsy), White Christmas (Martha), Young Frankenstein (Frau Blucher), and many others. Another favorite role was Grempkin in Peter and the Starcatcher at Footlighters.  Carissa would like to thank her husband, John, for always being her favorite scene partner, and everyone involved with putting this production together.
    David Taylor – Composer, Piano
    David is a keyboard player who enjoys the challenge of creating great sounds and performing.  He has performed for many community theatre companies and high school drama productions in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas including several CMT productions.  Favorite shows he has performed in and created the sounds for include The Producers, Young Frankenstein, The Toxic Avenger, Seussical the Musical, Big Fish, and Shrek.  By day, David is a Financial Analyst for Coesia managing the forecasts and budgets for all of the North America, Mexico, and South America regions.
    Jacqlyn Schott – Algernon
    There’s magic in the number three and Jacqlyn couldn’t be more elated to return to Loveland’s stage for the third time as a part of such a fun trio! Three of her favorite past credits include Spider (James and the Giant Peach), Caroline Bramble (Enchanted April), and directing Ordinary Days. This fall, Jacqlyn will be reprising the role of director for Little Shop of Horrors and hopes you’re already planning on return visits to LSC so “you too can be a star!” As always, she thanks her loved ones for their never-ending support.
    Jill Gornet – Lane/Merriman
    Jill is excited to be co-producing Gypsy, which is one of her favorite musicals. She was co-producer for Bugsy Malone, Jr., Don’t Drink the Water and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Jill won an Orchid as the producer of The Drowsy Chaperone. She was last seen on-stage at LSC in Memphis (Clara/ensemble), White Christmas (quintet/ensemble), Will Rogers Follies (quartet) and Fiddler on the Roof (Rifke/ensemble). Retired from USPS, she sings with Sharonville Chorus at retirement/assisted living homes. Jill would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support.
    John Sloan – Gwendolen
    John is back once more at Loveland Stage Company.  He has appeared in too many LSC shows to list them all, but favorites include: Young Frankenstein (Igor), Oklahoma! (Jud Fry), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Ching-Ho), and The Producers.  He last appeared in The Drowsy Chaperone (Gangster #1) which was directed by his lovely wife, Carissa, and has directed the recent LSC productions of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Don’t Drink the Water.  Thanks to Micheal for this opportunity.  Enjoy the show and thank you for supporting the arts!
    Joshua Marcus – Miss Prism
    This is Joshua’s first performance with Loveland Radio, but has previously been seen on stage in, The Drowsy Chaperone (George) and Cole, An Entertainment (Performer). He is excited to be a part of another amazing Loveland production. Joshua would like to thank his wife, Leah, and his children, Hanna and Samuel, for their love, support.
    Melinda Murray-Hubbard – Chausible
    Melinda is glad to be back once again with LSC after performances in Cole, An Entertainment and The Drowsy Chaperone. She has also recently been seen as Sponge in Bart’s Bards’ James and the Giant Peach, and was a costume assistant for the LSC production of Bugsy Malone, Jr. Dr. Hubbard is always up for something new, and this show fits the bill! She thanks her incredible family for supporting her and the amazing folks at LSC for this opportunity. Ya’ gotta get a gimmick!
    Thomas Cavano – Lady Bracknell
    Tom has been involved with community theater in the Cincinnati area for over 30 years. He first performed with LSC in 2008 (The King and I). Since then, he has performed in numerous LSC productions, directed three award-winning shows (Spelling Bee, The Producers, and Young Frankenstein), co-produced many shows, the most recent being Memphis, and has taken an active role in off stage work including set construction, design, decor and stage crew.
    Vincent Eldridge – Cecily
    Vincent has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this genderswapped version of The Importance of Being Earnest. He has been seen on stage as Gangster #2 in The Drowsy Chaperone at LSC, as part of the Octet in Sweeney Todd with Queen City Productions, as was in the Gender Bender last October with Mason Community Players. When he’s not on stage, he enjoys learning the art of lighting and was the lighting designer for The Little Mermaid and Sorry, Wrong Number/The Hitch-Hiker. Outside of theatre he spends his free time painting and trying his best at woodworking. He’d like to give a shout out to the rest of the cast, the crew, and the director for making this a wonderfully fun experience!

    Crew
    Bob Kessler – Tech Director
    Bob works as both a Director of Photography in the regional video community, and as an artist at Kessler Studios, a Loveland-based stained glass and mosaic firm. Bob has served as the Lighting Chair for the Loveland Stage Company since 2013, and has volunteered as Lighting Director on many plays at LSC: Cole: An Entertainment, Memphis, 9 to 5, Jekyll & Hyde, Fiddler On The Roof, I Remember Mama, Oklahoma!, and The Producers.
    Charlie Rader – Camera Operator
    Dave Bauer – Audio Director
    The webmaster of LSC’s award-winning website, Dave brings a lifetime of passion for all things music, sound and photography.  By day, Dave works in schools in Southwest Ohio maintaining computer systems and making sure teachers have the technology they need.  By nights and weekends, Dave is the owner of Technology Concierge Services and is the sound designer for two local bands.  This is Dave’s first involvement in an LSC production.
    Greg Smith – Lighting Design
    An Orchid award-winning Lighting Designer, Set Designer and Producer, Greg always enjoys doing lighting design for a musical at LSC.  The opportunities for creativity are endless when working with such a talented cast and crew.
    Micheal Harris-Kiser – Director
    Micheal is a multiple award-winning director, actor, and set designer. Studying acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Micheal has pursued his passion for theatre in various fields. He is co-founder of Stage and Steel in Pittsburgh, PA. He has performed with many groups throughout the city. His set designs have graced many a stage. He serves as secretary for the LSC board, as well as secretary for The Greater Cincinnati ACT board. He is extremely happy to bring this great musical to you.
    Nancy Hartman-Downing – Camera Operator
    Nancy has been Owner/President of Cleveland Specialties Company since 1986, which designs and manufactures paperboard and plastic packaging products for the food and dairy industry. Her experience is in administration, sales, accounting and computer technology. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Baldwin-Wallace College. She currently serves as President for Loveland Woman’s Club. Nancy has been involved with LSC since 2006 doing fundraising, photography, publicity, ticket sales, program ad sales, as well as serving on the Board of Directors as Treasurer. She enjoys working with such a talented group and looks forward to continuing her involvement into the future.

     

     

     

     

    The Covid-19 pandemic has hit all of us very hard. Among those most impacted have been the people of the entertainment industry – actors and actresses, musicians, performing artists of all types. Also affected, those behind the scenes, riggers and stagehands, lighting and sound designers, makeup and costume designers, carpenters, electricians and all those who make the art of live performance possible.

    Their desire to “get back at it” is fierce. They love doing what they do.

    Everyone involved in Loveland Stage Company counts ourselves among those mentioned above. And while our “day gig” may or may not have been as seriously impacted, our desire to “get back at it” is strong.

    Out of the lemons of the Covid-19 pandemic, Loveland Stage Company proudly brings you LSC Radio! While we can’t be on stage performing live for you right now, we can bring performances that hearken back to the “good old days” of radio broadcasts. In addition, we’ll have video cameras rolling so you can see our “broadcast” as it happened. We can continue to maintain social distancing and other best practices required these days and still perform for you!

    Loveland Stage Company will bring you a new production in both audio only and video with audio approximately once a month. But we’re not doling it all out at once! Oh, no. Each Act of our production will be released once weekly (we anticipate on Friday) for your weekend viewing/listening pleasure! All productions will be listed below and accessible from here or the main menu above (under LSC Radio).