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WESTERN HILLS 50¢
Elder’s Rhakim Johnson has his hand raised after his first-round win at the OHSAA state tournament in Columbus March 1. NICK DUDUKOVICH/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Panther second Elder senior wrestler Rahkim Johnson was looking to build on his fifth-place finish last season at the Ohio High School Athletic Association State Tournament. He did just that with a secondplace finish. See story, A7
Election results If you are looking for results from yesterday’s elections, you will not find them here as the Western Hills Press went to press before the voting started. To find out who won, or any election question, go to Cincinnati.Com/election.
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Your Community Press newspaper serving Addyston, Bridgetown, Cheviot, Cleves, Covedale, Dent, Green Township, Mack, Miami Township, North Bend, Westwood
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
No fireworks in Green Twp. July 3 concert also casualty of budget
The Green Township trustees have canceled the July 3 fireworks this year. According to an email from the township, the trustees made the decision to cancel the 2012 concert and fireworks due to budget constraints. Trustee David Linnenberg said he and the other board members have discussed the annual holiday event at length,
but the township cannot afford to host it in this economy. He said it costs the township roughly $29,000 to put on the display. Trustee Tony Rosiello said he and his wife enjoyed taking their daughters to the show each year, but he agreed the township should cancel it this summer as one of the ways the township is tightening its belt. “It’s the low-hanging fruit we have to start with,” Rosiello said. The email from the township
said resources need to be reallocated to make certain adequate funding is available for essential township services. Trustee Rocky Boiman echoed those sentiments. “With only so many discretionary dollars out there, we want to best use those funds for road improvements, police and fire,” he said. The email stated, “Hopefully, the July 3rd concert and fireworks event return in future years.” “We sincerely thank all the
Jointly
Cleves sponsors park cleanup
Green Township will establish its second Joint Economic Development District with Cheviot, encompassing the site where the Christ Hospital and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center are constructing medical office buildings at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Filview Circle. See story, A3
For lent Rita’s Kitchen has a recipe that is just right for Lent - her mom’s salmon patties. See story, B3
Your online community Visit Cincinnati.com/local to find news, sports, photos, events and more from your community. You’ll find content from The Community Press, The Cincinnati Enquirer and your neighbors.
St. Antoninus eighth-graders, from left, Brent Bender, Jake Perrmann and Mark Burger listen to trivia questions as they practice for their upcoming academic competition. KURT BACKSCHEIDER/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Academic teams ready for contest
St. Antoninus hopes for a repeat win
Jerry Besse, a social studies and science teacher at St. Antoninus School, quizzes his students on a variety of topics as he prepares the academic team for its upcoming competition. KURT
By Kurt Backscheider kbackscheider@communitypress.com
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businesses and residents who have shown their support over the years to make this event one of the highlights in Green Township. We also thank the many volunteers who have given up their holidays over the years and assisted the Township to put on this wonderful event,” according to the email. The township wrote in the email that if a business is interested in donating money to continue the fireworks officials “would be very interested in discussing a donation.”
Mark Burger and Hannah McKenna hope their academic team can repeat its winning performance from last year. The St. Antoninus School students are members of the eighth-grade academic team and have been preparing for the upcoming “It’s Academic” competition at La Salle High School on Thursday, March 8. The eighth-grade team is comprised of the same seven students who placed first in the seventh-grade competition last year, and they’re looking forward to the possibility of bringing home another first place win for St. Antoninus. “Winning last year was a lot
BACKSCHEIDER/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
of fun,” Burger said. “It would be great to win again.” St. Antoninus social studies and science teacher Jerry Besse, who volunteers to coach the seventh- and eighth-grade academic teams each year, said this year’s competition
will pit 11 area grade schools against one another. The seventh-grade competition takes place Tuesday, March 6. Teams earn points by buzzing in and correctly answering a variety of trivia questions covering topics like math, religion, history, science and literature, he said. “It’s a very exciting competition,” he said. He’s been quizzing the St. Antoninus teams every day after school since the beginning of January to help them get ready for the contest. See ACADEMIC, Page A2
After 2011, the wettest year on record, produced repeated flooding along the Great Miami River, the 60-acre Cleves Community Park, which borders the river, it is in desperate need of a cleanup. Cleves invites all community members and organizations to join in the first annual “Cleves Community Park Clean-Up Day” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. SaturStacy day, March 10. Volunteers are asked to check in at the shelter in the middle of the park to receive supplies such as gloves, bags and rakes and details on an age-appropriate task to complete. Refreshments and food will be provided to all volunteers. Dumpsters from Clift Contractors have been donated to haul away the debris. Mayor Danny Stacy said the debris from the many floods in recent months has left the Park in need of help before spring. “Cleves Community Park is a wonderful asset used by the residents of the Village of Cleves and many more in the surrounding areas,” he said. “We want to insure its safe and full use to the many groups and individuals who utilize it. “We are proud to be the home field for the Three Rivers Athletic Association baseball, softball and soccer teams, Cincinnati West Soccer Club, Westside Lacrosse as well as many other youth teams.” Cleves Community Park, formerly Gulf Park, is on Henderson Kupfer Road, which runs off U.S. 50. Organizers say if a rain date for the event is needed, it is set from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 17.
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