LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: ohio

  • Milford City Manager resigns after investigation for allegedly attempting to purchase sex from a 15-year-old girl

    Milford City Manager resigns after investigation for allegedly attempting to purchase sex from a 15-year-old girl

    Milford, Ohio – The former city manager of Milford in Clermont County has been charged with importuning, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck announced on August 12.

    Michael Doss was charged in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas with one count of importuning, a fifth-degree felony.

    An undercover investigation by the Miami Valley Human Trafficking Task Force revealed that Doss allegedly attempted to purchase sex from an individual he believed was a 15-year-old girl. Additional charges are anticipated in the case according to a news release from Yost’s office.

    Doss recently resigned as Milford’s city manager after he was confronted about the allegations. He was Milford’s Manager for roughly 8 years.

    The Miami Valley Human Trafficking Task Force is formed under the attorney general’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission and is led by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. The task force includes resources from the Butler Township Police Department, Oakwood Police and Homeland Security Investigations.

    _________________

    Section 2907.07 Ohio Revised Code Importuning.

    (A) No person shall solicit a person who is less than thirteen years of age to engage in sexual activity with the offender, whether or not the offender knows the age of such person.

    (B)(1) No person shall solicit another, not the spouse of the offender, to engage in sexual conduct with the offender, when the offender is eighteen years of age or older and four or more years older than the other person, and the other person is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age, whether or not the offender knows the age of the other person.

    (2) No person shall solicit another to engage in sexual conduct with the offender, when the offender is eighteen years of age or older and four or more years older than the other person, the other person is sixteen or seventeen years of age and a victim of a violation of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code, and the offender knows or has reckless disregard of the age of the other person.

    (C) No person shall solicit a person who is less than sixteen years of age to engage in sexual activity with the offender when the person who is less than sixteen years of age is substantially impaired because of a mental or physical condition.

    (D) No person shall solicit another by means of a telecommunications device, as defined in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, to engage in sexual activity with the offender when the offender is eighteen years of age or older and either of the following applies:

    (1) The other person is less than thirteen years of age, and the offender knows that the other person is less than thirteen years of age or is reckless in that regard.

    (2) The other person is a law enforcement officer posing as a person who is less than thirteen years of age, and the offender believes that the other person is less than thirteen years of age or is reckless in that regard.

    (E) No person shall solicit another by means of a telecommunications device, as defined in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, to engage in sexual activity with the offender when the offender is eighteen years of age or older and either of the following applies:

    (1) The other person is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age, the offender knows that the other person is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age or is reckless in that regard, and the offender is four or more years older than the other person.

    (2) The other person is a law enforcement officer posing as a person who is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age, the offender believes that the other person is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age or is reckless in that regard, and the offender is four or more years older than the age the law enforcement officer assumes in posing as the person who is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age.

    (F) Divisions (D) and (E) of this section apply to any solicitation that is contained in a transmission via a telecommunications device that either originates in this state or is received in this state.

    (G)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of importuning.

    (2) A violation of division (A), (C), or (D) of this section is a felony of the third degree on a first offense, and, notwithstanding division (C) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code, there is a presumption that a prison term shall be imposed as described in division (D) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code. If the offender, in addition to soliciting the other person, arranged to meet the other person for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity, the court shall impose upon the offender as a mandatory prison term one of the prison terms prescribed in division (A)(3)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of the third degree.

    If the offender previously has been convicted of a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense, a violation of division (A), (C), or (D) of this section is a felony of the second degree, and the court shall impose upon the offender as a mandatory prison term one of the definite prison terms prescribed in division (A)(2)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of the second degree, except that if the violation is committed on or after March 22, 2019, the court shall impose as the minimum prison term for the offense a mandatory prison term that is one of the minimum terms prescribed in division (A)(2)(a) of that section for a felony of the second degree.

    (3) A violation of division (B) or (E) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree on a first offense, and, notwithstanding division (B) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code, there is a presumption that a prison term shall be imposed as described in division (D) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code. The court shall impose upon the offender as a mandatory prison term one of the prison terms prescribed in section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of the fifth degree if both of the following apply:

    (a) Either of the following applies:

    (i) The offender is ten or more years older than the other person.

    (ii) Regarding a violation of division (E)(2) of this section, a law enforcement officer posed as a person thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age and the offender is ten or more years older than the officer claimed to be.

    (b) In addition to soliciting the other person, the offender arranged to meet the other person for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.

    (4) If the offender previously has been convicted of a sexually oriented offense or a child-victim oriented offense, a violation of division (B) or (E) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree, and the court shall impose upon the offender as a mandatory prison term one of the prison terms prescribed in section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of the fourth degree that is not less than twelve months in duration.

  • Mosquito pool in Delhi Township tests positive for West Nile Virus

    Mosquito pool in Delhi Township tests positive for West Nile Virus

    Hamilton County, Ohio – Hamilton County Public Health is reminding residents to continue to take summertime precautions against mosquito bites after mosquitoes that were recently trapped on Foley Road in Delhi Township 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.

    HCPH says their 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 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, flowerpots, 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.

    In a news release, HCPH said, “The West Nile virusis 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, contact Hamilton County Public Health at (513) 946-7800 or visit them online at www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org.

    [pdf-embedder url=”https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2016_mosquito.pdf”]

    Download the Homeowner’s Guide to Mosquito Control on the HCPH Website: https://www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2016_mosquito.pdf

  • Missing in Action: The Ja’Marr Chase Saga Continues

    Missing in Action: The Ja’Marr Chase Saga Continues

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – Just as soon as the Bengals thought they’d solved one issue at wide receiver by signing Tee Higgins, they found themselves staring down the next one in what to do about Ja’Marr Chase’s own contract concerns. As soon as Chase proved on the field that he was one of the top receivers in the National Football League, pundits and fans alike knew that this moment coming. The writing was on the wall that the Bengals were going to have to find a way to pay both him and Joe Burrow, and the price was going to be more than a king’s ransom.

    That’s why Chase’s “hold in” was not entirely surprising to anyone who’d been closely following the team in the years since he was drafted 5th overall in 2021. He is in the final year of his rookie contract (with a club option for 2025 to the tune of 21.8 million) and wants the security of a long-term deal. After seeing Justin Jefferson sign a 4 year, 140-million-dollar contract (with over 110 million potentially guaranteed) it is understandable that he wants to be paid around the same range, especially given that Jefferson was drafted a year before Chase. As of now, the talented Bengals receiver is set to make $1 million in base pay with a total of $4.8 million in guaranteed money this season.

    Although it was understandable that Chase might excuse himself from participating in Bengals preseason games and practices, fans could at least take comfort in the fact that he was present and with his teammates as they worked. That all changed on Tuesday as he was completely absent from the team’s activities. For their part, Zac Taylor and the Bengals tried to downplay the situation as much as possible. Taylor said that “we’ll take it one day at a time, I don’t have any comment beyond that” and that the situation was “day to day.” Neither side has publicly weighed in beyond one or two sentences at a time, but the tension underlying the situation is plain for all to see.

    Ja’Marr Chase is a superstar that the Bengals cannot afford to let walk, and they know it. Although these contractual issues are something of a distraction, the situation with Tee Higgins demonstrates that when push comes to shove, players want to be on the field rather than at home bickering about money. Chase is likely no different, and though he may be making a statement now, it’s almost a certainty that he will be in the orange and black week 1 against the Patriots.

    Make no mistake, it is unfortunate that Chase is missing important reps in camp and a chance to get in sync with a healthy Joe Burrow. Honestly, there may be some lag in that connection to start the season, though I hope that is not the case. But other key pass catchers are healthy and progressing well, including Tee Higgins. Ja’Marr Chase is such an elite athlete that he’ll be in game shape in the blink of an eye, and if it takes him a second to get back to where he was, Higgins and company will be right there. And never forget the ability of Joe Burrow to make any receiver a star at any given moment given his arm strength and accuracy.

    As of right now there is no need to sound the alarm. But still, it’s a drama that fans can’t help but keep at the front of their minds and computer screens. And the sooner it’s finished the better it will be for all parties.

    ———————-

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • I am so honored to be coming back to DVD Brew only this time as a guest bartender!

    I am so honored to be coming back to DVD Brew only this time as a guest bartender!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – I am so honored to be coming back to DVD Brew only this time as a guest bartender! Dana Vaughn Depenbrock and his crew are absolutely phenomenal, so I know it will be a blast serving customers, top-quality local beer!

    Wednesdays are one of DVD Brews’ slower days, so they bring in guest bartenders to encourage family, friends, and community members to come visit!

    I have a duty to bring in the crowd, which I intend to do because I love supporting Loveland’s local businesses in any way I can!

    Did I mention I do have bartending experience so the pours will be on point! DVD Brew also has cocktails for the non-beer drinkers and typically has an unbelievable food truck parked right outside! I hope to see all our faithful Loveland Magazine readers there on the 28th!

    Did I mention that DVD Brew also caters to non-alcohol drinkers!

    DVD has 29 hand-crafted beers on tap and 10 distilled spirits on the shelf. Also seltzers such as the Danielle-tzer, a gluten-free neutral hard seltzer available in 4 flavors: Passionfruit-Orange-Guava, Black Cherry, Prickly Pear, and Strawberry Lemonade.

    After visiting DVD Brew in June, I knew that Dana’s story behind the conception of DVD Brew had to be shared with the community! I sat down with Dana, Brewmaster, Keith Stark, and General Manager, Bobby King to talk all about the story behind creating 28 one-of-a-kind drafts and what sets DVD Brew apart from any other brewery in the area.

    Dana repurposed a former Loveland car wash into one of the coolest and eclectic businesses in the Tri-State.

    Please, everyone, come visit DVD Brew on August 28 anytime between 6 and 8 pm and make this the largest Wednesday crowd DVD Brew has ever seen!

    Find DVD Brew on FaceBook...

    The DVD Brew Web Page…

    Check out this extensive Drink Menu…

     

     

    Columnist Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year. She is the President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine.

     

    Would you like to have Cassie our local influencer and “Celeb”, emcee, make announcements, or host one of your events so that your customers stay engaged, entertained, donating, bidding, and shopping? Well now is your chance to hire Cassie for your next public event or fundraiser!

    Send off an email to cmattia12@gmail.com.

     

     

  • Join us for “Empty Bowls” to support feeding your neighbors

    Join us for “Empty Bowls” to support feeding your neighbors

    Enjoy a wonderful luncheon with delicious soups in handcrafted bowls that you get to keep! Plus prizes, music, and more. All proceeds go to LIFE Food Pantry.

    Loveland, Ohio – Enjoy warm soup, fresh bread, and decadent desserts provided by local sponsors, and take home a beautiful handmade pottery bowl donated by local artists, all for only $25. Proceeds benefit the Loveland LIFE Food Pantry.

    When: Saturday, September 28th
    Two seatings are offered, 11:00–12:30 and 1:00–2:30, while supplies last; each seating is limited to 150 people and the event is expected to sell out.

    Where: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 101 S. Lebanon Road, Loveland, OH 45140.

    RAFFLE: You’ll have an opportunity to win fabulous gift baskets donated by local businesses and the community by purchasing raffle tickets. If you purchase raffle tickets when you pre-register for the event, the cost is 6 tickets for $5, 12 tickets for $10, and 25 tickets for $20 (the cost goes up to $1 per ticket the day of the event).

    SOUP-TO-GO: Take-home soup containers will be available while supplies last, for an additional fee.

    SPLIT-THE-POT:
New this year is a Split-the-Pot, which will be offered for each seating. Tickets can be purchased the day of the event, and you must be present to win.

    MAKE YOUR RESERVATION

    If you are interested in being a donor this year, please contact emptybowls@lifefoodpantry.org

  • TriHealth to offer Mammograms in Historic Downtown

    TriHealth to offer Mammograms in Historic Downtown

    Loveland, Ohio – TriHealth Mobile Mammography will be coming to City Hall in Historic Downtown Loveland on Thursday, Aug. 22 from 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM.

    Appointments are available.

    To schedule an appointment, call (513) 569-6565 or book online at https://app2.timetrade.com/tc/login.do?url=community.trihealthmobile.

    About The TriHealth Mobile Mammography Van

    The TriHealth Mobile Mammography van provides early breast cancer detection services to women throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. The van travels each week to provide access to this important health screening at community and business locations within the four-county area. Our mission is to improve the health status of women in our community and to provide care to medically underserved women.

    The TriHealth Mobile Mammography van utilizes 3D digital Tomosynthesis with Profound AI. This cutting-edge breast imaging technology offers the most accurate detection of early breast cancer. Early detection saves lives, so annual mammography is a critical healthcare screening for women 40+. Women 35-39 can also receive a screening mammogram on the Mobile Mammography van if there is a family history of breast cancer.

    The van is staffed with experienced board-certified technologists who are a part of the TriHealth Breast Imaging team, and the images are read by TriHealth radiologists at one of the TriHealth Breast Imaging locations. The images from the mobile van are stored in the patient’s electronic medical record, providing high-quality, seamless care in your neighborhood or at your workplace.

    Each exam takes approximately 20 minutes. Mammogram results will be posted to TriHealth MyChart within 24-48 hours. If you do not have a TriHealth MyChart account, results will be mailed to you and your doctor.

    Uninsured or underinsured? Funding sources may be available for those who qualify. To learn more, call (513) 569-6565., extension 1.

    Schedule an appointment:

    Appointments can be scheduled online or by calling (513) 569-6565.

    Mammography Van Calendar

    Request the van:

    To arrange a visit to your business or community event, contact the Mobile Mammography Coordinator at (513) 569-6565., extension 2.

    The Mobile Mammography Coordinator will provide information about availability, location guidelines, event communication and minimum scheduling requirements.

    Mobile Mammography FAQs

     

  • Ohio begins offering mobile ID with Apple, but it can’t be used to vote or during traffic stops

    Ohio begins offering mobile ID with Apple, but it can’t be used to vote or during traffic stops

    (Getty Images)

    Don’t get rid of your physical ID

    By:  – Ohio Capital Journal

    Last month, Ohio joined a handful of other states allowing residents to load their Driver’s License or ID card onto an Apple iPhone. It’s a nifty little feature not unlike the phone’s tap-to-pay service, but while the virtual card is handy for getting through TSA checkpoints, in many other circumstances — like voting or a traffic stop — it just won’t cut it.

    Where it does (and doesn’t) work

    In a press release announcing the program, Gov. Mike DeWine bragged “Ohio has always been a leader in innovation, and now we are the fifth state in the country that gives residents the option to securely add their driver’s license to Apple Wallet.”

    “This is another example of how Ohio is using technology to better serve its customers and residents,” he added.

    The Apple wallet version of your ID may have all your information, but it’s not like a photocopy of the card. Instead, the phone shares your information digitally, which means whoever is reading that information will need a specific card reader.

    In an emailed statement, DeWine’s spokesman Dan Tierney explained that’s part of the reason the TSA can move quickly to accept mobile ID while local law enforcement or boards of elections simply can’t.

    “The reason that you are seeing TSA checkpoints announced before other transaction points is the sheer number of terminals involved,” he explained. “An airport will only need a dozen or so, while implementation with polling locations and law enforcement patrols will require the purchase of tens of thousands of terminals or other devices that contain the required hardware and software.”

    In Ohio, TSA checkpoints at Columbus’ John Glenn International Airport and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport are ready to accept mobile ID. So far four other states, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Maryland, have joined the program. Major airports in Phoenix, Denver, Atlanta and Baltimore are equipped for mobile ID.

    But for the time being, using your mobile ID for something as mundane as picking up a six pack will depend on whether the store you’re visiting has the required reader. To help facilitate that process, Ohio has launched an app that businesses can use to read mobile IDs.

    “I expect that with any technology,” Tierney said, “we will see these tap terminals and reading devices become much less expensive over time, which would allow for wider implementation in much larger systems.”

    Potential confusion?

    In several places on the BMV website the agency warns a mobile ID does not replace your physical card. In a frequently asked questions menu, the BMV insists “you must continue to carry your physical card,” and describes the mobile ID as “a convenient, secure companion” to your traditional card.

    On the other hand, “the fine print” is an expression because people so often don’t read it.

    And that’s a bit concerning for Mia Lewis of Common Cause Ohio.

    “So, I’m just envisioning people uploading it onto their phone and then saying great and leaving their ID at home and then going to vote and finding out that actually that isn’t good enough for voting,” she described.

    She argued just a few years ago Ohioans could vote with a bank statement or a utility bill. Since then, the requirements have tightened substantially, restricting voter identification to an unexpired photo ID. In response, Ohio election officials have seen a sharp uptick in the number of provisional ballots.

    “(Mobile ID) is good enough for the TSA, you can get on a flight, good enough for getting into a bar, but for some reason it’s not good enough for voting,” Lewis said. “But that hasn’t been clearly articulated to people, and I’m just envisioning more and more provisional ballots where people have gone to vote, and they haven’t been able to.”

    The promotional materials from Apple are careful not to overstate its utility. The webpage says “presenting your ID just got much easier” because “there’s no need to reach for your your physical ID.” And while the company emphasizes the convenience of the feature, there’s no bald-faced ‘leave your card at home’ messaging.

    Still, there’s no warning to keep your card handy.

    “You know, it’s promoted as like so convenient,” Lewis said. “Well, if it doesn’t work in all instances, I don’t really see how that’s convenient, because you still have to carry your license for the times that it doesn’t work, and I feel like voting is such an important one.”

    Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter.

    Nick Evans
    Nick Evans

    Nick Evans has spent the past seven years reporting for NPR member stations in Florida and Ohio. He got his start in Tallahassee, covering issues like redistricting, same sex marriage and medical marijuana. Since arriving in Columbus in 2018, he has covered everything from city council to football. His work on Ohio politics and local policing have been featured numerous times on NPR.

    Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

    MORE FROM AUTHOR

  • Did you know there is a Community Garden at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church?

    Did you know there is a Community Garden at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church?

    Loveland, Ohio – This is the second year for the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church’s Community Garden at 101 S. Lebanon Road.

    Listen to this story…

     

    There are 35 families sharing 32 spaces, growing vegetables and flowers. Each family pledges a donation of at least ten percent to the LIFE Food Pantry, but some give everything they grow.

    Because they grow in straw bales, there is little to no weeding, and gardeners who have mobility issues have easier access to their vegetables in the raised beds. “Almost half of our gardeners are not members of Prince of Peace,” said church member, Sheryl Melvin. “There is no cost to gardeners except for the seeds or plants they purchase, but their donations allow us to supplement the produce we donate to the pantry with recipe kit bags.”

    Volunteers from both the Church and the food pantry harvest together each Monday and Thursday morning.

    Melvin added, “We offer workshops on how to grow gardens in straw bales each February and March, and have mentored other churches that wanted to start community gardens.”

    Second Sundays in the Community Garden is light potluck supper and informal worship service on every second Sunday evening, June through October at 6 PM, then ending with prayers. Everyone is invited.

    Recipe Kit Bags?

    Sheryl Melvin explains:

    Our thought was that sometimes we run across a vegetable we’ve not eaten before, and it would be helpful to have a good recipe describing how to prepare it. So, we created recipe kits bags. Each one has a recipe for zucchini or tomatoes or cucumbers or something else, and we staple the recipe to the bag and fill the bag with the shelf stable ingredients needed to make that recipe (like cooking oil, white wine vinegar, seasonings, baking mixes, pasta or Parmesan cheese) if they choose that vegetable from the pantry.

    We delivered a set of 20 for zucchini pie Thursday, and I learned they are gone already. I will be taking kits for black and white bean and tomato salad this week.

    We have another set of 20 for vegetable pasta salad after that.

    The church funded the recipe kits project.

    This slide show is photos from Sunday evening, August 12, 2024.
  • Back in the Jungle: Recapping the Weekend in Cincinnati Sports

    Back in the Jungle: Recapping the Weekend in Cincinnati Sports

    Joe Burrow throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, photo comes from the Bengals on X.

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – once the clock hit zero against the Cleveland Browns in the final regular season game last year, another one started in the minds of Cincinnati Bengals fans. The countdown this time was to the moment when we’d all see a healthy Joe Burrow take the field in a Bengals uniform to take part in real game action. And on Saturday, those wishes were granted, if only for one magical series.

    It was a series that saw Cincinnati’s franchise quarterback go 5-7 for 51 yards in total that had a little bit of everything. It included a near-touchdown deep down the middle to Tee Higgins that Burrow almost fit in between the tightest double coverage imaginable. It was more evidence of the pinpoint accuracy that we’ve all come to expect from him and yet another sign that he’s suffering no ill effects from his injury last year. And although that pass didn’t result in a score, after the Bengals marched down the field he was able to find Higgins again just short of the goal line, but the franchise-tagged wide receiver pulled a nice move to shake the Buccaneer’s Josh Hayes and sauntered into the end zone for the team’s first touchdown of the year.

    All in all the first and only drive with the starters went for 12 plays and covered 73 yards. Burrow looked comfortable in the pocket and was rarely bothered. It was a testament to how prepared the offensive line looked, and the pair of tackles in Orlando Brown, Jr. and rookie Amarius Mims stood tall against the Tampa Bay defense. The reviews of Mims’ play especially were very positive as it appears that he could be far ahead of schedule in terms of his development. When he was drafted out of Georgia there were questions as to just how long it might take for him to be NFL-ready given that his starting career in college was not as robust as other top picks. With each snap he plays in practice and in games like this, Amarius Mims is proving he is ready for primetime and could end up being the Bengals’ right tackle of the future.

    Mims wasn’t the only Bengals rookie to make waves. Jermaine Burton hauled in 3 catches for 82 yards including a 38-yard touchdown. The pass was an absolute dot by backup quarterback Logan Woodside (who also had a very nice game with 149 yards passing and a 137.2 rating) but it was Burton’s double move that really freed him up to make the catch. With Tee Higgins likely departing after this season, Bengals fans have to be giddy with the talent and potential in a wide receiver trio of Chase, Iosivas and Burton.

    The Bengals starting defense also started strong, pressing the Buccaneers’ backups into a 3 and out on the first drive. After that, Tampa Bay’s offense gained good chunks of yards and managed some big plays. Without Sheldon Rankins and BJ Hill in the middle of the defensive line the rush defense left a little to be desired. But Dax Hill looked right at home at cornerback after switching positions from safety and had 3 passes broken up and even a near interception (which should have been challenged after being ruled incomplete). The biggest defensive story of the night was linebacker Maema Njongmeta, an undrafted free agent from Wisconsin, who lead the team with 10 total tackles.

    Although the Bengals didn’t manage to pull out the win, winning isn’t necessarily the most important thing in these preseason games. Most importantly, Joe Burrow and the offense looked in sync, which is the direct result of their major contributors being healthy and in camp together. They also escaped the game with those key players healthy and ready for the next game, which will be against the Chicago Bears on August 17 at 1:00 PM.

    As for the Cincinnati Reds, they had their own titanic struggle to face this weekend. The Milwaukee Brewers were coming off of a series against the Atlanta Braves where they amassed 52 hits, 34 runs, and 8 home runs. The Brewers carried that fire into their series with the Reds, scoring 8 runs in the first win of the 3-game set. Milwaukee torched Carson Spiers for those 8 runs in just 5 innings before the bullpen took over. The trio of Jakob Junis, Fernando Cruz and Yosver Zulueta stepped in and held the Brewers hitless over the final 3 innings of the game.

    In game 2 it was yet another story of the Reds bats going missing in action. Cincinnati actually out-hit Milwaukee 3-2 but managed to score a grand total of zero runs. The difference in their 1-0 loss was a solo home run by Rhys Hoskins in the bottom of the 8th inning. It was also another tragic tale of a waste of a gem of an outing by a Reds pitcher. This time the victim was Nick Martinez, who has turned out to be one of the teams best signings in recent memory. Though not technically a starter he filled in as one in game 2 and threw 7 innings of 1-hit baseball and has been a pitcher who has started games, came in relief, and whatever was asked of him, has answered the call.

    Game 3 was a bit of a different story. The Brewers jumped out to a 2-0 lead and the Reds could have folded, but they managed to tie it up in the fourth inning. They then took the lead in the 5th after a Tyler Stephenson solo home run. Milwaukee, like the great team they are, refused to go away and tied it again in the bottom of the 6th and the Reds had yet another chance to pack it in and let another game slip away. But they continued to fight and went out ahead 4-3 on a Spencer Steer sacrifice fly that was nearly a grand slam. Alexis Diaz then came in in the bottom of the 9th and shut the Brewers down to preserve the win in just 14 tidy pitches with 2 strikeouts.

    The Brewers series gave Reds fans a little bit of everything in terms of emotions. Cincinnati battled back after being shell shocked a bit in game 1. Game 2 showed that Nick Martinez is a solid piece of this pitching staff in a variety of roles. Game 3 showed that this team still has plenty of fight left in it, even if things get tough. Although the 2024 playoffs might be out of reach for them, the team has plenty left to prove and to fight for, and Reds fans will have a plethora of highlights left to cheer for before the clock strikes midnight on this baseball season.

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    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.