Empower Youth of Bethel, 2016

Clermont County Job & Family Services and its partner Easterseals are looking for youth and employers to participate in the 2017 Summer Youth Employment Initiative. In 2016, 127 youth and 48 employers participated in the program in Clermont County.

There is no cost to employers -- Easterseals is the employer of record and responsible for payroll and administration.

Youth must be 14-18 years old and meet certain household income requirements. If you are interested in working this summer, and earning $10 an hour, contact JFS Director Judy Eschmann at 513.732.7212 or e-mail her at Judy.Eschmann@jfs.ohio.gov. The application packet is located at OhioMeansJobs-Clermont.

Employers who are interested should contact Sophie Charlton with Easterseals at 513.309.7493 or scharlton@eastersealsgc.org.

A stop during a directed patrol in 2016.

As of May 25, the Sheriff's Office has conducted six directed patrols in 2017.  Directed patrols are coordinated efforts with Sheriff's patrol units, canine units, detectives, and narcotics agents targeted at those driving while under the influence of drugs. 

The directed patrols have resulted in 69 traffic stops and eight arrests for possession of drugs -- including six arrests for possession of heroin -- and seven arrests for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Six people were arrested on local warrants, one on an out-of-county warrant, and one out-of-state fugitive was arrested. Eleven were arrested for driving with a suspended license.

Chief Deputy Chris Stratton also reported that officers have successfully used Narcan 17 times in 2017 to revive individuals who overdosed on heroin or other opiates.

Clermont Sheriff's Office

Commissioner Ed Humphrey goes On Location with County Engineer Pat Manger to several in-progress road construction projects throughout the county. In this video, he talks to Pat about the road work being done at the new West Clermont High School site.

Progress is being made at the 242-acre South Afton Commerce Park in Williamsburg Township. Recenty, Barrett Paving completed the intermediate course of asphalt, shown in the photo. Coming up is the completion of the lift station for the sanitary sewer, the connection of a force main for wastewater, and final topsoil grading. "We have recently had a significant amount of interest in the site from potential users," said Andy Kuchta, Director of Community and Economic Development. "We're optimistic that the commerce park will see its first company begin construction in 2017."  When fully built out, the industrial park is projected to provide 3,500 jobs.

The Ohio River Sweep -- sponsored by ORSANCO -- will be held from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, June 17. This annual cleanup has been held since 1989, and since then, thousands of volunteers have removed tons of trash from the 3,000 miles of the Ohio shoreline and its tributaries. The great volunteers of Clermont County have been a big help over those years. 

Staging areas will be held in Chilo, Moscow, Neville, and New Richmond. Chilo Lock #34 Park is appropriate for older teens and adults due to rough terrain. Volunteers in the Moscow area will meet at Moscow's riverfront park at 222 Second St. In Neville, volunteers should gather in the parking lot of the boat ramp on Morgan Street, and in New Richmond volunteers will meet at the bandstand.

"Volunteers will be asked to sign a waiver, and minors must have a parent or caregiver's signature," said Becky Ploucha of the Valley View Foundation. "They should dress for the weather; I always suggest long pants and closed-toe shoes. They'll receive a T-shirt, gloves and bags."

For more information, contact Ploucha at ors.clermont@gmail.com or call/text 513.218.4094. 

Ohio River Sweep

The county recycling dropoff site on State Route 125 at Auxier Trucking & Excavating is being discontinued because of illegal dumping.

Paul Braasch, Director of the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District, said, "Every week items which were clearly non-recyclables, including furniture, mattresses, plastic playhouses and tires, were being dumped at the site."

The Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District  pays Rumpke to provide the dropoff recycling to residents at no cost. "Due to the illegal dumping an additional crew would have to go to the site weekly to remove the dumped trash," Braasch said.   "It is a shame that a few irresponsible individuals caused the end of a valuable service for the public. This is the fourth location that has been discontinued due to illegal dumping."

The Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District will look for an alternative site and provide additional video surveillance at other sites.

• Have a blue or green tint.
• Look like spilled green paint on the water.
• Have a thin film on top of the water.
• Have a bad odor.

Read more here

Friday, June 9: Family Campfire Night (7- 9:30 p.m. @ Chilo Lock 34 Park) Join the Clermont County Park District for an evening of storytelling and s'mores at Chilo Lock #34 Park! Listen to storytellers bring local history to life. Free; call 513.240.2615 for reservations.

Sunday, June 11: Scenic River Sunday -- Mammal Madness (10-11 a.m. @ Little Miami Scenic River & Trail Center) Animals have many adaptations that help them survive in their habitat. Learn how to identify some of our favorite local animals by their adaptations, and by searching for animal clues during our outdoor hike.

Wednesday, June 14: Wildlife Wednesday -- Rocking out with Fossils (10-11 a.m. @ Little Miami Scenic River & Trail Center) Learn the names of our Ordovician fossils and search for them in O'Bannon Creek. You'll get to take some home.

Thursday, June 22: Creatures of the Night Hike (8:30-9:30 p.m. @ Pattison Park) Learn about our local nocturnal wildlife and learn how to identify what you see and hear.

June 26-30: Summer Camp - Nature Sleuths (ages 6-7) & River Camp (ages 8-10) 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. @ Chilo Lock 34 Park

BOARD NEEDS MEMBERS: If you have an interest in mental health and/or substance abuse issues, and you live in Clermont County, you may be interested in serving on the Mental Health and Recovery Board. The board currently has two openings and will have four more as of July 1. Read more here.

STUDENTS CELEBRATE: Commissioner David Painter was the guest of Willowville Elementary third-grader Lily Ballenger on May 25 for the school's 40th annual Memorial Day Parade. The students sang patriotic songs to honor the veterans who were there. State Rep. Doug Green, Sheriff Steven Leahy, Chief Chris Stratton, Union Township Trustees Matt Beamer and John McGraw also attended. For Willowville, Memorial Day has a special resonance. Matt Maupin attended school there. Matt, a Batavia native, was in the Army Reserve when he was captured and later killed in Iraq. All of Clermont County and indeed Greater Cincinnati rallied around his family during those years. His family began the Yellow Ribbon Support Center.

OVI CERTIFICATION: The Clermont County OVI Court Specialized Docket has earned final certification from the Ohio Supreme Court's Commission on Specialized Dockets. The OVI Court works with offenders who have been charged with operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol. To receive the certification, the court had to submit an application, undergo a site visit, and provide specific program materials in response to certification standards that went in to effect in January 2014. Read more here.

AT THE LIBRARY:  Spy School, 10 a.m. Saturday, June 10, Williamsburg Library. Discover the double agent in this interactive adventure game. New sessions begin at 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
* Meet a Penguin, 11 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at the Milford-Miami Township Library.
* Over There, 2 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at the Amelia Library. Author and historian Gary Knepp will talk about Clermont County residents who fought in World War ! and how families helped at home.
* Maker Festival, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at the Union Township Library. Learn how to be a maker.
* Challenging Fake News, 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 27, at the Union Township Library. Learn how to spot fake news.