COMMUNITY JOURNAL CLERMONT 75¢
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2013
Your Community Press newspaper serving Amelia, Batavia, Batavia Township, New Richmond, Ohio Township, Pierce Township, Union Township, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Township
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
Amelia councilman saves life while campaigning Hot dogs, heroics and the Heimlich maneuver
Amelia Mayor Todd Hart thanks Councilman Derrick Campbell for saving a man’s life recently by performing the Heimlich maneuver.
By Keith BieryGolick kbierygolick@communitypress.com
AMELIA — It was an eventful evening. That’s the first thing a smiling Amelia Councilman Derrick Campbell says about a recent “meet the candidates” night. It was neither tough questions nor intense debate that made it eventful. It was more life-threatening than that. Chad Deimling, a young man in his 20s, sat with his mother across the table from Campbell. “I could see him turning red,
Amelia Councilman Derrick Campbell hugs Chad Deimling. Campbell performed the Heimlich maneuver on Deimling recently, saving his life. PROVIDED
starting to panic,” Campbell said. Eating a hot dog, Deimling choked. His mom grabbed his arms, lifting them in the air. She started hitting him on the back. The situation worsened.
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Deimling grew more red. Campbell stepped around the table and performed the Heimlich maneuver. “That’s the first time I ever did it,” Campbell said. He wrapped his arms around
Deimling and squeezed. Once. Nothing happened. Twice. Deimling was now on the verge of passing out. “He tensed up. It’s almost like they’re fighting against you,” Campbell said.
“I gave him the hardest squeeze I could give.” On his third try the hot dog dislodged from Deimling’s throat. “It’s not like you see on TV,” Campbell said. “Nothing popped out.” But Deimling could breath again. He gave the council member a bear hug. “Anybody would have done it,” Campbell said. “I just happened to be the closest.” While Campbell tried to defer credit, Mayor Todd Hart did no such thing. “I think it’s very special when somebody does something like this, take someone else they don’t know and make it See SAVES, Page A2
Pierce Twp. wants to buy land Officials want to improve Lewis, White Oak road intersection By Lisa Wakeland lwakeland@communitypress.com
Pierce Township is pushing ahead with plans for the vacant property at White Oak and Lewis roads. The 2.5-acre site is a former Clermont County water services facility and has been unused for more than a year. Initially, township trustees considered forming a community improvement corporation to help buy the property from the county, but they put off that decision for now. “I don’t want to further delay the purchase of the property on the corner,” Trustee Richard Riebel said at a recent meeting. The Board of Trustees instructed staff to pursue an agreement with Clermont County, which still owns the land and building. Pierce Township has expressed an interest in the site to make improvements to the inter-
section. Sam Patel, who owns Super Sam Food Mart at the intersection of White Oak Road and Ohio Pike, said any improvements would help as long as they didn’t affect in-and-out traffic for the businesses along the intersection. “It’s a tricky intersection and a different way for traffic (to come together), and in the evening it’s very congested,” he said. “It needs improvement, but it’s tricky on how you are going to resolve the problem.” Patel said it would be best to create a link between the two roads, between the old building and garage that sits on the property. That cut through, he said, would probably help with some of the traffic that often backs up along the road. Johnny Cranfill, of Royal 1 Auto Sales at Ohio Pike and Lewis, said he’s seen accidents there, especially when it gets busy and people run the stop signs. But Rick Harris, who works at Tombstone Cycles, said most of the accidents have been fender benders, and the intersection of Amelia-Olive Branch Road and Ohio Pike is a bigger probSee LAND, Page A2
This aerial image from Google Maps shows the intersection of White Oak and Lewis roads, near Ohio Pike. Pierce Township wants the former water services property to make improvements at the intersection. PROVIDED
FOOD
HEY HOWARD!
These no-fail shortbread cookies freeze well as dough or baked, but not iced, cookies. Full story, B3
Scam artists are using what continue to be tough economic times for many to try to get money from them – so you need to beware. Full story, B4
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Vol. 33 No. 31 © 2013 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED