Clermont County buildings will be illuminated green Nov. 7-13 as part of Operation Green Light, a new initiative of the National Association of Counties (NACo) to support military veterans. The initiative raises awareness about the unique challenges faced by many veterans and the resources that are available at the county, state and federal level to assist veterans and their families.

Operation Green Light is spearheaded by the National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers, building upon the successful efforts of the New York State Association of Counties and the NYS County Veteran Service Officers’ Association in 2021.

In addition to lighting county buildings, residents and businesses are encouraged to participate by simply changing one light bulb in their house to a green bulb. This can be an exterior light that neighbors and passersby see, or an interior light that sparks a conversation with friends.

By shining a green light, we let our veterans know that they are seen, appreciated and supported. While this event is focused around the week of Veterans Day, participants are encouraged to continue shining the light year-round. Residents can share their participation on social media using the hashtag #OperationGreenLight.

The Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 10 promoted Jessica Wiederhold to director of the Clermont County Department of Public Safety Services, effective Aug. 13. The board also recognized John Kiskaden, who retired after 12 years as director.

“For those of us who have known you for many, many years, we are going to miss you,” said Bonnie Batchler, president, Board of County Commissioners. 

“I couldn’t have done it without the support of the board,” Kiskaden said. “I appreciate everything the board has done, and prior boards, to make this a better place.”

Wiederhold began her career with Clermont County in 2012, serving for five years as a dispatcher. She was an administrative assistant in the Clermont County Public Defender’s Office for about two years before returning to Public Safety Services in 2019 as a project manager. She advanced to program administrator and assistant director before the latest promotion.

Wiederhold praised the strong team in the county’s 911 Communications Center and Dominick Daulton, program administrator in Public Safety Services.

“I want to thank the board and John for everything you have done for me,” she said.

Small businesses make up 99 percent of all employers in the United States, and are responsible for 67 percent of new jobs since 1995. Thriving small businesses are the best indicator of a healthy economy and the lifeblood of local commerce. 

If you have ever wanted to start a business, we make it easy here in Clermont County.

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Patty McKinley, program manager for the Telecommunications Division in the Clermont County Information Systems Department, went to New Richmond High School with Andy Mays, who became director of the Clermont Transportation Connection (CTC) in May.

In fact, her dad Allen McKinley was Mays’ bus driver before becoming director of CTC’s predecessor in 1979.

Mays ended up working in transportation for the school district before becoming the first CTC director employed directly by Clermont County this year. Previous directors worked for FirstGroup, a transit company.

“That’s pretty cool,” said Patty McKinley, who graduated in 1982, a year ahead of Mays. “It was just really fun to catch up and share stories, especially since my dad is gone.”

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Photo: Allen McKinley at the Clermont County Fair. He served on the Fair Board for 16 years.

Clermont Transportation Connection (CTC) bus driver Dale Knapp reconnected with one of his former regular riders at the recent 2022 National Night Out. CTC has been participating in events to build awareness about its services.

At the National Night Out, the former rider came up and said to Knapp: "You look familiar.”Come to find out, she rode Knapp's fixed route downtown to work every day, several years ago. She had her two young girls with her. She commented that she commuted on the bus when she was pregnant with both of them, and how nice it was to be able to relax during the ride, instead of dealing with the headaches of driving, especially while pregnant. Since that time, she has changed jobs and unfortunately, CTC services can’t accommodate her new commute.  

Lee Ann Watson, Ph.D., started on Aug. 1 as executive director of the Clermont County Mental Health & Recovery Board (CCMHRB). (She is shown speaking at the kickoff of the Clermont Addiction and Recovery Partnership earlier this year.)

Watson replaces Karen Scherra, who retired after leading the organization for 25 years. Watson has served as the board’s associate director for 15 years. She has developed strong relationships with providers, law enforcement, and community leaders, said Patty Lawrence, chair of the CCMHRB. 

“Lee Ann and I have always worked as a team and I believe she will maintain the foundation I established at the board, but also bring a fresh perspective and implement new ideas, and I am excited about the future of our behavioral system under her leadership,” Scherra said.

The Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board is responsible for planning, monitoring, evaluating and funding all publicly funded prevention and treatment services and recovery supports in the county. The board does not provide any direct services for mental illness and addiction, but contracts with local non-profit agencies – Child Focus, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health and Hope Community Center – to provide needed services. It is governed by a 14-member, volunteer Board of Directors, appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS),

The Clermont County Suicide Prevention Coalition will host the 21st Annual Candlelight Vigil and Wellness Event to remember, honor and cherish the lives of individuals lost to suicide. The event takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept, 8, at Sycamore Park, 4082 SR 132, Batavia.

Anyone who wishes to learn more about suicide prevention and general mental health wellness is welcome to attend to help stop the stigma against mental illness.

This year the event will be held in-person and via Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/clermont.board/

To send names to have a candle lit in honor of a loved one, email cknoblauch@ccmhrb.org.

The Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board awarded 11 mini-grants to local organizations for July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023. 

The board plans, funds and monitors mental health and addiction services locally. The grants will fund programs that enhance mental health and/or prevent addiction in Clermont County. The grant applications were initially reviewed by a three-member committee. A total of $30,000 was allocated, with maximum funding per project of $4,000.

Read more here

David Painter, vice president of the Board of County Commissioners in Clermont County, has been appointed chair of the Environment, Energy and Land Use Steering Committee of the National Association of Counties (NACo).

 “I am honored for the opportunity to fulfill such an important role,” Painter said. “These are critical areas for the future of our country. They impact every one of us as we go about our daily lives. Rest assured that I will do my best as we move ahead with these vital matters.” 

Read more here

University of Cincinnati environmental engineering major Isaiah Brinson appreciates first-hand experience gained as special projects intern at Clermont County Water Resources. He’s also grateful for the support of department staff during the 3-month internship.

“I’ve definitely got a lot of engineering experience," he said. "That’s why I wanted to come to this department. I’m still learning. It’s definitely been very useful.”

Earlier this year, Water Resources created an internship position to recruit engineering students who are pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, including students at the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science. Brinson is the first hire for this new position.

Read more here

Cleanup from the July 6 tornadoes continues. Learn how crews safely removed downed and damaged trees from Clermont County Park District’s Kathryn Stagge-Marr Park and disc golf course in this video report: https://youtu.be/7w3-o9EAsI4

Boy Scout Harmon Kahl, a junior at Batavia High School, raised more than $9,000 through hotdog stand sales and donations for his Eagle Scout project – a Safe Bucket filled with supplies for emergencies such as an active shooter or another emergency in a school.

Kahl told the Board of County Commissioners at a recent meeting that he will place a bucket in all 138 classrooms in Batavia School District. Each bucket contains a Ziploc bag with bandages, water bottles, Kleenex, a tourniquet, blankets, granola bars and flashlights. (Twelve extra buckets have been made for additional rooms.)

Kahl said he spoke with Chief Kevin Riley at Central Joint Fire-EMS District to determine what would go in the bucket. They decided that basic medical supplies were appropriate.

“The idea behind these is that something is better than nothing,” Kahl said. “…In the end, if you can bandage something up, rather than not, it’s at least going to do something.”

The project cost $7,500. So far, Kahl has raised more than $9,000. Extra funds will help pay to replace items when they expire. 

Commissioner Claire Corcoran praised Kahl for his “great idea.”

“Growing up, I had a fear of active shooters and stuff,” Kahl said, in response to a question from Commissioner David Painter. “I looked around and said, ‘What would I do if someone got shot? There would be no option for me.’ So I feel like this will take care of my fear. This will help alleviate children’s fear or maybe their parents’ fear, if something were to happen.”

If you travel in Pierce Township, Goshen Township or on Beechmont Avenue, keep an eye out for billboards promoting the OH Against OD campaign.

Five billboards have been purchased by Clermont County Public Health and Clermont County Mental Health & Recovery Board. They will appear in September and October, also carrying the logo of the Clermont Addiction & Recovery Partnership (formerly the Opiate Task Force).

For more information, see OHagainstOD.ohio.gov.

Join the Clermont Soil & Water Conservation District on Thursday evening, Sept. 15 as it celebrates its 79th year of conservation activities in the county. This year, the district’s annual meeting is being held at Shor Park on Tealtown Road, beginning at 5 p.m. Prior to the meeting, district staff will give a tour of a project to restore a stream that traverses the park. Dinner will be provided by 32Q from Batavia 

At the meeting, one member of the Board of Supervisors will be elected to serve a three year term beginning Jan. 1, 2023. The two candidates for supervisor are Connie O’Connor and Lacy Walker. County residents and landowners can vote in person at the district office in the County Fairgrounds, request an absentee ballot by email, phone or mail, or in person during the annual meeting. For more information on the election and supervisor candidates, visit www.clermontswcd.org. 

Dinner tickets ($15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under) must be purchased in advance. There is no cost to attend the meeting or to vote in the supervisor election. For more information, contact Connie Miller at cmiller@clermontcountyohio.gov, or call (513) 732-7075 ext. 2.

September is National Library Card Sign Up Month at the Clermont County Public Library. Visit your local branch and sign up for a library card to receive a free tote bag. Your library has free notary service; genealogy resources; Ancestry.com Library Edition; 3D printers; Adobe Creative Suite at select branches; maker and craft programs; book clubs; online tools for auto repair, language instruction, and homework help; LinkedIn Learning; storytimes; library lockers so you can pick up holds 24/7; meeting rooms; a monthly law clinic; study rooms at the Owensville and Miami Township Branches; low-cost printing; scanning and faxing service; a huge selection of online books, audiobooks, movies, magazines, and music; and of course, lots of books including the latest bestsellers.

Check out these ways to get involved in the Great Outdoor Weekend in Clermont County Parks. The weekend offers a multi-regional outdoor sampler of free activities aimed at getting people outside the weekend of Sept. 24-25. 

East Fork Canoe Adventure

Join the Clermont County Park District and the Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District for an hour-long canoe trip down the East Fork of the Little Miami River. Enjoy the scenery as we search for beaver, wood ducks, turtles and other aquatic wildlife. Children 10 and over are welcome! Participants need to be able to get in and out of canoes and walk through shallow waters. You will get wet! Meet at Sportsman Club at 1901 Elklick Rd, Batavia, OH 45103. Pre-registration is required. Paddling is 9:30-11 a.m., but participants should arrive 15-20 minutes early to get set up and signed in. Waivers are required.

• Specific start/end times

• Teens (ages 13-18), Adults, Seniors

• Neither strollers nor wheelchairs can be accommodated

• Cancelled with heavy rain or severe weather

Maximum of 28 participants

Contact Person: Robin Green

Phone: 513-760-8393

Email: rgreen@clermontcountyohio.gov

Registration https://clermontparkdist.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=25

Clermont County Hike, Bike and S’more

Join Clermont County Parks, East Fork State Park and the Kiwanis of East Fork region for an evening on the Williamsburg to Batavia Hike/Bike Trail. We’ll meet at the Cain Run Bridge in East Fork State Park, and participants can bike or walk with us to our destination at the East Fork Nature Center. There, you’ll find naturalists on hand sharing their knowledge of Ohio wildlife, Kiwanis volunteers grilling hot dogs and handing out snacks, and a fire where you can make your own yummy s’mores treat before heading back to the bridge. Join us at Paradise Brewing afterwards to support a small business and enjoy a tasty beverage. Event is from 4-7 p.m. 

• Specific start/end times

• Entire Family, Children (ages 0-6), Children (ages 7-12), Teens (ages 13-18), Adults, Seniors

• This event/location is accessible to both strollers and wheelchairs

• Pet-friendly

• This event will be canceled if it rains

Although there is no physical address, the parking lot for the Cain Run Bridge can be found at the end of Williamsburg-Bantam Road in the East Fork Wildlife Area

Contact Person: Niki Marengo

Phone: 513-685-3176

Email: nmarengo@clermontcountyohio.go

The team at the new Purina plant under construction in Williamsburg Township recently donated more than 380 pounds to IPM Food Pantry in Clermont County. This donation was made in celebration of Nestlé Cares Day. 

"Giving back to the communities where we live and work has always been a priority for both Nestlé (our parent company) and Purina, and the annual Nestlé Cares campaign is one way we get to celebrate that work each year," a Purina spokeswoman said. "At Nestlé, we want to leave the world better than we found it. The Nestlé Cares program is inspired by our purpose to be a force for good and unlock the power of food to enhance the quality of life for everyone."

Local healthcare and law enforcement experts are worried about the influx of fentanyl into Clermont County and surrounding areas.

The Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) national "One Pill Can Kill" campaign is aimed at bringing attention to the fact that fentanyl is now being found in counterfeit pills and even marijuana.

Read more here

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health offers free Narcan training in Clermont County. Those who go through the 25-minute training are given information on how Narcan works, are shown the proper way to administer it, and are given a free kit to take with them. 

"Narcan is a safe and free tool that can save lives," said Lee Ann Watson, executive director of the Clermont County Mental Health & Recovery Board 

Read more here

The 2022 Clermont County Fair is now under wraps and has once again, set a new measure of success. 4-H’ers participated in many activities throughout the week in addition to showing livestock and special interest projects.

These events included the Skillathon, 4-H Dog Show, Communications Contest, Cloverbud Day, Sphero Robot STEM Challenge, Jr. Bake-It, and the Fruit & Veggie Car Derby. Members reported making new friends, seeing old friends, and enjoying delicious fair food.

Skillathon: 153 youth participated in Skillathon, 67 of those attended the practice offered by the 4-H Committee prior 

Dog Show: Members competed in obedience, showmanship, and rally classes

General Project Judging: There were 257 projects completed by 193 youth members. 11 of our State Fair Delegates received Outstanding and 1 Clock Trophy

Communications Contest: 20 individuals and teams competed. Commissioner Claire Corcoran and co-judge Kathy Bruynis selected all first-place winners to be State Fair Delegates

Cloverbud Day: 39 Cloverbuds from 14 different 4-H clubs participated. Members reported their favorite part was meeting 2022 Junior Fair Royalty, who conducted interviews and assisted with crafts

STEM Challenge: 9 teams; each consisting of 4 members, programmed Sphero robots to race in heats 

Jr. Bake-It: Members baked homemade treats with 29 total entries across 3 age divisions

Fruit & Veggie Car Derby: Record registration numbers with 63 teams! Judged by Chief Deputy Stratton and Captain Allen with the Clermont County Sherriff’s Office

You can find photos from these events and more here: (Clermont.osu.edu)

Click Here to view the 2022 Junior Fair Results