Loveland High School seniors kicked off Red Ribbon week Monday, Oct. 23, by dressing in red and forming a red ribbon as a sign of their commitment to being drug free.
Loveland, Ohio – From dress up days to awarding prizes, from banners to guest speakers – Red Ribbon Week (October 23-27) was a celebration of making good choices at the Loveland City School District.
“The numbers associated with increased drug use across the country are alarming, and we don’t want our students to become part of those statistics,” said Judy Leamy, Loveland District Nurse, and executive committee member of the Loveland Drug Task Force. “Through the establishment and continued work of the community-school based partnership of the Loveland Drug Task Force, we have implemented programs that address the very real issues families in our community face – and Red Ribbon Week is an opportunity to continue our mission of calling awareness to this issue, and the things we all can do to change the outcome for our Tigers at all grade levels.”
Red paper with the message “Your Future Is Key, So Stay Drug Free” hung outside the cafeteria at Loveland High School (LHS) as students pledged to be drug free by placing their name on a paper key cutout. The Red Ribbon Week activities at LHS were daily and robust, including a lunchtime visit by animals from the SPCA with the theme “These Paws Don’t Touch Drugs” and a visit by safety officers with their K9 unit.
“We are passionate about equipping our Tigers with the knowledge they need to be successful, and that includes engagement about the very real-life dangers and consequences of drug use,” said LHS Assistant Principal Matt Buis, who organized Red Ribbon Week activities for the high school. “These are the conversations that can make the difference for our students, and we sincerely thank our community partners who stepped up to help.”
Loveland Sweets is a purveyor of hand-crafted chocolates, caramels, marshmallows, and ice creams. Our house-made candies are prepared in small batches.
Loveland, Ohio – City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at or about 7 PM in the Council Chambers at Loveland City Hall, 120 West Loveland Avenue.
The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comments regarding about a water rate increase. The proposed three (3) year rate increase would be effective for years, 2018, 2019 and 2020. For more information visit www.lovelandoh.com
Interested persons may appear and be heard and comments can also be submitted in writing to Misty Cheshire, Clerk of Council, 120 W. Loveland Avenue, Loveland, OH 45140 or emailed to mcheshire@lovelandoh.gov.
Individuals with disabilities requiring special accommodations that are participating in or wish to attend this hearing should call 513-683-0150 at least seven (7) days in advance so arrangements can be made.
CACHS board members from left, Ray Campagna, Cindy Unkenholt, Carol Sanger, Robin Tackett, and Carolyn Evans.
Batavia, Ohio – Clermont Animal CARE Humane Society (CACHS) will assume operations of the county animal shelter beginning on Jan. 1, 2018. The non-profit was approved today by Clermont County Commissioners as the shelter’s new operator for a one-year term, with the option to extend the contract for two additional years. The contract amount is for $310,000.
Clermont Animal CARE Humane Society and Clermont to the Rescue Humane Society both submitted proposals to the county in response to a Request for Proposal issued in September. Clermont to the Rescue currently manages the animal shelter, and has since Jan. 1, 2015. A three-person panel of county employees evaluated each proposal, interviewed representatives of both organizations, and recommended CACHS.
“We are excited to begin this new partnership with Clermont Animal CARE,” said David Uible, President of the Board of County Commissioners. “The organization’s community partnerships and the extensive experience of its Board of Directors and Advisory Board in animal welfare and rescue are impressive. Its proposal was ambitious and it has a number of plans that are ready to go.”
Clermont Animal CARE (Compassion, Advocacy, Rescue and Education) was formed earlier this year specifically to present a proposal to the Board of Commissioners to operate the shelter. Its Board of Directors and Advisory Board, which includes President Robin Tackett, Vice President Cindy Unkenholt, Executive Director Carolyn Evans, and Carol Sanger, have all been active in animal welfare, foster, and rescue groups.
These include Smith’s Pit Stop, My Furry Valentine, the League for Animal Welfare, and Save the Animals Foundation, among others. Its proposal emphasized its reliance on partnerships, and it included 17 letters of support.
CACHS presented an ambitious proposal that pledged to reduce shelter intake; accept owner surrenders; and engage the community by offering opportunities to volunteer, foster, donate and adopt. It plans to apply for grants, solicit donations and hold fundraising events. Its ultimate goal is to operate an open admissions, no-kill shelter. To date, it has raised $100,000 in donor pledges and $3,000 in spay/neuter subsidies.
“We are honored by the trust placed in us by the county, and we are committed to making Clermont County the model for open-intake, no-kill animal sheltering in the State of Ohio. Phasing in services and support for public-owned animals, we will strive to reach this status by the end of 2018,” Tackett said.
Loveland, Ohio – City boards, commissions, and committees offer Loveland citizens opportunities to serve their community. Anyone with interest in serving should submit an application to the Clerk of Council by December 1.
Current Opportunities: Beautification Committee, Board of Zoning Appeals, Civil Service Commission, Fifty Forward Committee, Finance Committee, Community Improvement Corporation, Law and Ordinance Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission, Public Relations and Communications Committee, Recreation Board, Storm Water Committee, Tax Board of Review, Tree and Environment Committee, and Veterans Memorial Committee.
Click here to learn more each committee and to download an application.
Cam Louder and Anders Michelson when they were very young buddies
Two old friends find strength to achieve life’s dreams
through each other and their disabilities
Unbreakable Friendship…
by David Miller,
Loveland and Milford, Ohio – It all began 15 years ago in Mitchell Farm’s subdivision on a small cul-de-sac street with 20 kids. Directly across the street were seven more children. Altogether there were 27 kids running around the neighborhood every single day going house to house. It was a magical time and what formed were friendships beyond your imagination. Especially for two young men named Anders Michelson and Cam Louder. The age gap didn’t make much of a difference. They were glued at the hips from the beginning. They found each other humorous, but the real attraction was soccer.
Anders went to most of Cam’s soccer games. He rolled him everywhere in his walker in order for Cam to make goals.
What Cam and Anders didn’t understand during early childhood was that both would be significantly impacted playing sports because of their disabilities. Cam was born with cerebral palsy and as he aged his disability became progressively more difficult. At the age of 9, Anders was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. Cam recalls being very alarmed by the ambulances at Ander’s house when he would go into diabetic shock and the possibility of dying. On the other hand, Anders has agonized over Cam’s 17 surgeries and has been with him every step of the way throughout his journey.
“Anders and his family have always been a blessing in our lives and Anders and Cam have been a blessing to each other,” said Karen Louder, Cam’s Mother. Anders would steal Cam most evenings and take him to all the Milford soccer games. Karen remembers Anders coming to most of Cam’s Top Soccer games. He rolled him everywhere in his walker in order for Cam to make goals. “I was simply amazed by Ander’s energy and dedication to soccer. He was struggling with Diabetes and he still didn’t give up on himself or Cam” Anders has been an avid soccer player since the age of 3. Anders always dreamed of being a professional soccer player, unfortunately, his diabetes drastically interfered with his lifelong goal.
“Anders has been there for me every step of the way through my journey and I’m always going to be there for him,” said Cam Louder. “Anders and I push each to do the best we can and we feed off each other’s challenges.”
Persevering Through His Disability
Anders Michelson
Disabilities have a way of affecting a person’s development, confidence, and attitude at different times of their lives. At the onset of Ander’s disease, he weighed only 60 pounds. In one week due to high blood sugar levels and ketones, he lost over 25% of his body weight and dropped to a frail 42 pounds at the age of 9. High blood sugar had a direct impact on Ander’s energy level and physical capabilities and playing on the Milford A team was difficult. Unfortunately, the following season he was cut, but that did not stop him from chasing his dream. He continued to play a year up in age on the B team for 3 years and worked even harder. At the age of 13, he moved back up to the Milford A team. Although small in stature Anders had incredible speed and over the next few years he worked on his technical skills for dribbling and finishing the ball. He became a better soccer player, but size was still a roadblock as he was approaching high school. His teammates were growing at a much faster rate. Most kids were weighing 150 lbs and 5.6 feet tall on average. Anders was under 5 feet tall and weighed under 100 pounds. He couldn’t even lift the bench bar as a freshman in high school which was only 45 pounds. Anders had no alternative, but to play on the Milford JV team for 2 years. However, in his junior year of high school, he made it to Milford’s Varsity Soccer Team. His entire high school career was dedicated to working hard in soccer and academics.
Anders achieved 1st Team All-City and was awarded MVP of the 1st team All-City Game, Eagle Award, District Champions 2008 and 2011 and 2nd in Conference in 2009 and 2010
While playing with the Milford Soccer team he achieved 1st Team All-City and was awarded MVP of the 1st team All-City Game, Eagle Award, District Champions 2008 and 2011 and 2nd in Conference in 2009 and 2010. Anders was contacted by several colleges while playing Varsity, but he didn’t have the full confidence to go for his soccer dreams. His disease was still in the forefront and he wondered about the longevity of an athletic career and how diabetes was currently affecting his ability, weight, and size.
In college, he started playing pick up soccer and noticed his abilities increased. He actually grew more into his body than ever expected and this is when his regret of choosing not to play soccer sank in.
Over the years, Anders gained encouragement from his older brother Peter and he was able to consistently work out and gain muscle mass while attending Miami University. In college, he started playing pick up soccer and noticed his abilities increased. He actually grew more into his body than ever expected and this is when his regret of choosing not to play soccer sank in. Yet, his disease still had a grip on him and his diabetes was actually spinning out of control. His Doctor gave him the bad news of sustaining over time an A1C of over 10 (measure of average blood glucose over the past two to three months) which meant Ander’s diabetes was poorly controlled and will eventually lead to major complications, such as heart attack, stroke, blindness or eye damage, foot infections or amputation, or kidney damage possibly leading to chronic dialysis or even sudden death. Doctors warned him if he didn’t control his diabetes that his life expectancy wasn’t predicted to go beyond 10 years.
He’d wake in the middle of the night thinking about his fate of dying young and not playing soccer. That’s when his epiphany began.
After college Anders worked as a finance broker and continued battling the terrible progression of diabetes. After receiving the news about his A1C tests he had constant nightmares. He’d wake in the middle of the night thinking about his fate of dying young and not playing soccer. That’s when his epiphany began.
Soccer was the answer
With the full support of his family, Anders quit his job and began conditioning his body. Part of his conditioning plan was enrolling at Cincinnati State and playing college soccer. For the last year, he has been committed to grueling workouts which include a weekly routine of running 18 miles a week, 30 miles of bike resistance training, 6 hours of weights, 2 hours of abdominal work and 12 hours a week of soccer practice and games.
Anders and I push each to do the best we can and we feed off each other’s challenges.
He also trains and works out with his old buddy, Cam 6 hours a week at Five Seasons Sports Club. Anders goal is to increase Cam’s upper body strength for independence and to get Cam strong enough to walk with a Kaye Walker and out of his wheelchair. Cam said, “Anders and I push each to do the best we can and we feed off each other’s challenges.”
As if this wasn’t physically demanding enough, Anders also has a physical job working for his family business, AquaMarine Pools and Spas part-time.
What’s Next…
Looking back when entering college Anders was 5’10 145 lbs, now he comfortably sits at 6’1’’ 176 lbs. Doctors told Anders that if he could obtain A1C below a 7 his energy levels would triple. He thought it was impossible. Today Anders has achieved an A1C of 7.2 and feels the positive effects physically and mentally.
My goal is to prove that your disability is not an inhibitor, it can be a motivator, differentiator.
Perseverance has a way of paying off and now Anders will face one of his biggest challenges thus far; he has applied to the United Soccer League and is awaiting an invitation to try out for FC Cincinnati. He is refusing to allow diabetes to define him and is determined to chase down his lifelong dream of playing competitive soccer. Anders wants to become a role model for all people with disabilities. He said, “My goal is to prove that your disability is not an inhibitor, it can be a motivator, differentiator and improve your stamina and mental strength. I am beyond pumped up to prove my ability to FC Cincinnati.”
Wishing him luck, Cam added, “I’m thankful for Ander’s lifetime friendship.”
RITA staff will be onsite at the Loveland City Hall on December 5 and 6 to process returns for those who elect to make an appearance.
Loveland, Ohio – Approximately 1,868 administrative subpoenas were mailed by the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) this week to City of Loveland taxpayers who neglected to file a municipal income tax return for tax years 2011-2015 or failed to notify they had moved outside the city limits.
All of the taxpayers that will receive the subpoenas were first issued a non-filing notice and were given an opportunity to respond before a subpoena was issued. There were 2,864 non-filer letters mailed in October, therefore, around 35% responded to these letters and will not receive an administrative subpoena. This response is comparable with the prior year.
Taxpayers can avoid an appearance by e-filing delinquent returns at www.ritaohio.com, mailing the documents to RITA at: Attn: Compliance Department 198, Regional Income Tax Agency, PO BOX 470538, Broadview Heights, OH 44147-0538 or faxing to RITA at 440-922-3510.
RITA staff will be onsite at the Loveland City Hall on December 5 and 6 to process returns for those who elect to make an appearance.
Clermont County Public Health wants your input on a proposed Syringe Services Program. A public forum will be held on Thursday, November 30 from 6:30 – 8 PM at the Clermont County Engineer’s Office at 2381 Clermont Center Drive in Batavia. Public comments will also be accepted through an online survey.
Clermont County ranks fourth in Ohio in drug overdose deaths.
Syringe Services Programs (SSPs) are public health programs that are intended to reduce the spread of infectious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. The SSPs provide access to sterile syringes to people who inject drugs. The program can also make referrals to substance use disorder counseling and treatment programs. They also provide education on the prevention of infection and offer testing and referral for treatment for hepatitis C and HIV.
Thursday, November 30 from 6:30 – 8 PM at the Clermont County Engineer’s Office at 2381 Clermont Center Drive in Batavia.
The proposed program in Clermont County would be a collaborative effort between Clermont County Public Health, Mercy Health – Clermont Hospital, Hamilton County Public Health, and the Exchange Project. A mobile van would come to the hospital parking lot one half-day per week to provide the services.
In Clermont County, the rate of hepatitis C infections have risen by 40 percent, and HIV rates have risen by 27 percent over the last five years. Clermont County ranks fourth in Ohio in drug overdose deaths.
“The Syringe Services Program would be a needed resource in Clermont County,” said Health Commissioner Julianne Nesbit. “The goal of the program is to lower rates of hepatitis C and HIV, while also providing access to treatment to people with substance use disorder.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who inject drugs are five times as likely to enter treatment for substance abuse disorder and are more likely to reduce or stop injecting when they use a Syringe Services Program.
For more information on the proposed Syringe Services Program, click here.
LHS Senior Ian Cronin helps refinish an outdoor table at Loveland’s Grailville for his Senior Service Day project October 11, 2017
Loveland Senior Service
Loveland, Ohio – The day began fairly typically for all 383 members of the Loveland High School (LHS) senior class – gathered in a room to listen and learn, the students heard from presenters about the importance of service. But, Wednesday, Oct. 11, was no ordinary lesson. It marked the sixth annual LHS Senior Service Day, and from 11:30 AM until 2 PM the students were tasked with volunteering at one of 14 Loveland and Cincinnati-area non-profit agencies.
“This is a learning opportunity we look forward to every year at Loveland High School – and that is not limited to the educators who are involved – our students see the seniors doing this and anticipate the day from the time they are freshmen in our building,” said LHS Principal Peggy Johnson. “It is our Tiger Care building goal in action. It does make a difference in our community. It will continue to influence how our students grow and develop as servant leaders. I want to thank LHS Teacher Brian Baugh for taking the leadership role in organizing the event this year for our students. It was a wonderful experience.”
“It is our Tiger Care building goal in action.”
Social media platforms turned into a real-time showcase for the community to see the learning that was taking place during the senior-chosen theme of Let’s come together as one to make a difference; seniors used the Twitter hashtag #383hearts to share their volunteer efforts, and Loveland Interim Superintendent Dr. Amy Crouse featured the service learning opportunities using Facebook Live from the district’s Facebook page (Loveland City Schools).
“What an amazing opportunity for us to show Tiger Care – one of our big three district goals – in action,” said Crouse. “This annual event is the very heart of what we are trying to teach our students – empathy. It is designed to create an atmosphere for our students to both lead and serve, and see the world – if only for a few hours – from the perspective of a neighbor who they otherwise might not have met.”
Students served the service day at the following agencies: Bethany House, Cincinnati Parks Ault Park, Dragonfly, Dress for Success, Grailville, Granny’s Garden, Little Miami River Cleanup, Matthew 25 Ministries, NEST Loveland Community Learning Center, New Life Furniture, QPR Training, Ronald McDonald House, SPCA and St. Francis Seraph School.
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that Ohioans who sent money to scammers using Western Union’s wire service may now apply for compensation from a $586 million fund held by the U.S. Department of Justice’s victim asset recovery program.
The fund is related to a multistate settlement Attorney General DeWine announced in January.
Consumers may be eligible to receive compensation if they sent a fraud-induced wire transfer through Western Union between Jan. 1, 2004, and Jan. 19, 2017.
“It’s not often that scam victims have a chance to recover some of their money, so we want people to know about this opportunity,” Attorney General DeWine said. “If you think you’re eligible, file a claim.”
A settlement administrator is sending claim forms to over 500,000 consumers. Ohioans may receive a form in the mail if they reported to Western Union or to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office that they had been the victim of a scam using Western Union. The form will contain instructions on how to file a claim.
Consumers who do not receive a claim form but believe they may have a valid claim should visit www.WesternUnionRemission.com or call 844-319-2124 for details on filing a claim.
Completed claim forms must be submitted online or mailed back to the settlement administrator by Feb. 12, 2018.
coming to most of Cam’s Top Soccer games. He rolled him everywhere in his walker in order for Cam to make goals. “I was simply amazed by Ander’s energy and dedication to soccer. He was struggling with Diabetes and he still didn’t give up on himself or Cam” Anders has been an avid soccer player since the age of 3. Anders always dreamed of being a professional soccer player, unfortunately, his diabetes drastically interfered with his lifelong goal.
Loveland, Ohio – 
