MT. HEALTHY, Ohio — At Tuesday's Mt. Healthy School Board meeting, the first since voters rejected a tax levy to fund the district board members voted to approve a fiscal workbook and financial projection including significant cuts The plan would still leave the district $35,407,283 in the red at the end of fiscal year 2029 The projection raised alarm bells for representatives of the Mt Healthy Teachers Association who attended the meeting to review the numbers "We're very concerned," said MHTA Vice President Joe Ohradzansky The treasurer's Financial Recovery Plan called for significant cost-saving measures in fiscal year 2026 Other significant changes included efforts for increased grant review greater transparency internally and with the public with the implementation of BoardDocs and greater financial tracking with the use of SCView.Ohradzansky said the cuts needed to stay away from the classroom we can't afford to take anymore here," he said if the students are going to be given the best chance at a quality education they deserve then no more cuts can come out of the classroom." The board voted to both approve the Five Year Forecast Report and advance the recovery plan for state review The board planned to meet again in early December to further consider budget reductions or revenue increases Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library Healthy Branch's grand opening celebration Saturday is just a block down the street from the current location ribbon-cutting and stay for activities like: Learn More About the Celebration The current branch, 7608 Hamilton Ave. is currently offering curbside pickup only until 8 p.m 1 so staff can prepare for the Grand Opening Celebration on Nov The new location includes great features requested by the community like a meeting room vibrant space that truly reflects the needs and energy of this community," said Lacey Wehrle “We’re excited to offer a library that’s more than just a place to read – it’s a place to connect even pitched in with a ceremonial "book brigade" on October 17 The event featured community stakeholders and CHPL staff standing side-by-side to hand off ceremonial final books from the current Mt marking the final move to its new location one block away "What [the Library] provides to people is amazing...It's going to be another wonderful chapter in Mt Dozens of events for all ages are already scheduled at the new Mt Healthy Branch – including many customer-favorites Teen/Tween programs: Mondays and Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Upcoming Mt. Healthy Events The estimated $6.3 million relocation was made possible through the generous support of Hamilton County as a result of the 1 mill levy that passed in May 2018 The new location is a renovation of a vacant CVS building into a one-of-a-kind community space Learn more about the Mt. Healthy Branch relocation project on the CHPL Facility Master Plan section of the Library's website What are you most excited about at the new Mt BiblioWeb: webapp02 Version 4.26.1 Last updated 2025/04/27 08:09 After failing to win over voters in the Nov Healthy City Schools is putting another levy on the ballot this year to dig itself out of a financial hole The district's Financial Planning and Supervision Commission voted Thursday to proceed with a five-year emergency levy on the May ballot The levy is expected to generate $1.5 million annually RELATED: Their ballot measures failed. Now these school districts are preparing to make cuts The commission has assumed much of the responsibilities of Mt Healthy's Board of Education since the district was put in fiscal emergency in early 2024 The state auditor assigned the designation after the district's previous treasurer discovered a financial forecasting error leading to a projected budget deficit of $10.8 million the district has made significant cuts to close its budget gap and to repay a nearly $11 million state loan to cover its expenses for the year Healthy district rejected the proposed continuous levy The school district will look to do better this time around RELATED: A tale of two levies: Ohio districts ask voters for money Superintendent Valerie Hawkins told the commission the new levy won't fix the district's financial issues "We are hopeful that this will be some money at least coming in," she said and has more cuts planned in the coming years the school system will still likely freeze employee salaries and make cuts to athletics and student transportation Ohio — Mount Healthy High School named AJ Williams its head football coach pending Mount Healthy City Schools District Board of Education approval in February is a former University of Michigan football player who competed all four years with the Wolverines He was most recently the Loveland defensive coordinator for two seasons He was also the Loveland defensive line coach for two seasons Williams succeeds former Mount Healthy head coach Jordan Stevens Stevens was the Mount Healthy head coach for the past three seasons He led Mount Healthy to a 10-3 record and a Division II regional semifinalist finish in 2024 Williams met with the Mount Healthy team on Tuesday and said he can’t wait to get started He said the positive vibe around the team was palpable Tuesday with the weightlifting program starting Wednesday “I feel blessed to have the opportunity,” Williams said “The energy and enthusiasm around those kids — it was great to be around.” Mount Healthy athletic director Terell Davis said Williams is committed to developing student-athletes and he admires his leadership qualities “He is a leader on and off the field,” Davis said Williams played his youth football for the Tri-County Eagles and Hilltop Hawks Little League teams Williams earned all-state honors at Sycamore and committed to compete at Michigan Williams was a four-year letter-winner at Michigan and appeared in 49 games with 13 starts He started his coaching career at Sycamore where he coached tight ends and the offensive line Williams said he is in the process of completing his coaching staff Former Miami University and Auburn University player Marshall Taylor “I think Mount Healthy hit a home run with AJ,” said Mason offensive coordinator Scott Dattilo “He is a high energy guy that’s going to be generate a lot of excitement for a program that’s always succeeded.” Dattilo said Williams has a genuine enthusiasm for the game and that will translate to the Mount Healthy team Mount Healthy is scheduled to open the season at West Clermont in August SIGN UP: Subscribe to our high school sports newsletter Ohio — From the outside of The Highsteppers Dance Studio tucked away in a strip mall in Mount Healthy Step inside and you are met with smiling faces in photos on the wall and dozens of trophies — some three feet tall — throughout the room Kelli Dobson started the Highsteppers 25 years ago and turned it into a nationally recognized dance team "Highsteppers is a ministry for me," said Dobson who spends her day as a research scientist at Cincinnati Children's Medical Center "God let me know a long time ago that I needed to do something in my life and that I was actually put here to bless children in the kingdom." so dancing became the vehicle for her to do more than teach young ladies to keep a beat "I always tell people that come in here and they look at the trophies 'You know my girls really don't remember the trophy experience but they do remember the experience that's involved in it and they remember the impact that that season had or the experience had on them because we instill life skills here so it's way more than just dance,'" Dobson said "Dance we just use as a shuttle to instill these life skills." "All of these things that play into being that successful adult that well-rounded adult that's ready for the world." Janyla Godfrey is 15 and has been dancing with Highsteppers for a few years She said the group gives her mentors who have taught her the importance of sisterhood and so much more "I think when I came to Highsteppers I learned more about myself and how I can embrace more self-love and self-respect than I did when I came in here," she said she's only been dancing for a couple of years "What I learned about myself is don't be afraid to show who you are and what you do," said Godfrey She's a straight-A student at Winton Woods Educational excellence is a requirement for the Highsteppers Dobson said nearly all the girls who graduate from the program go on to live prosperous lives become professionals in the community and are immediately part of what they call "the sisterhood." That sisterhood comes back to the Highsteppers to teach and mentor the current students Dobson said it's important for her Highsteppers to see these women who have walked in the same steps that they walk now Dobson knows that some of the girls coming into the program are in an at-risk category had they never stepped foot into her studio they may have gone down a much different path When the girls come into the studio my gift outside of the dance piece is to be able to see in them what they can't see in themselves." The challenges these girls face outside of her studio have changed through the years she's had to change her approach with them What hasn't changed is that she may challenge them and she may correct them When asked if she thinks she and the program have saved lives She donates all of her time at Highsteppers seeing the impact she has had on young ladies' lives is what she calls "my payment." Ohio — Lawmakers have introduced two bills to the Ohio House and Senate in an effort to stabilize the financial crisis at Mt after the district suddenly learned it was millions of dollars in deficit At the end of 2023 the treasurer of the district at the time submitted a financial forecast that led district officials to believe the district was in a $2.6 million surplus; however after a new treasurer ran their own analysis with new forecasting tools the district said it suddenly learned there was instead a $5 million deficit lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 341 to Senate Committee and House Bill 701 has been introduced in the House The bills aim to turn a $10.8 million solvency assistance loan the district received into a grant instead RELATED: Mt. Healthy City Schools moving forward after levy vote fails on Election Day The school district said if that were to happen Healthy City School District to stabilize financially ensuring resources are directed where they are needed most — our students and classrooms." The loan was given to the district after the district learned of the deficit and worked to declare a fiscal emergency RELATED: 'We can't afford any more hits' | Teachers union reacts as Mt. Healthy Schools stare down financial crisis "We are incredibly thankful for the leadership of Senators Blessing and Ingram Representative Abrams and all who are advocating for this vital legislation," said Dr "Their understanding of our district's unique challenges and commitment to Ohio's students underscore the importance of this critical measure." Healthy School District serves many underserved students in the region it has been designated as "a 100% poverty district" with a high amount of students in need of special education services experiencing homelessness or facing other economic hardships Ohio — The Mount Healthy football team won its third consecutive game Friday night defeating visiting Taft 20-16 in the WCPO 9 Friday Football Game of the Week "It means we're putting something together," Mount Healthy coach Jordan Stevens said "Two powerhouse teams coming together kind of figuring it out," Stevens said Mount Healthy senior QB Jahmeir Spain got the scoring started with a 24-yard touchdown pass to WR Jeremiah Sanders in the first quarter junior RB Karvis Davis scored on a 7-yard run to help make it 14-0 Taft sophomore QB Monsanna Torbert connected with junior WR Nijia Hill for a 96-yard touchdown Torbert then scored on a 2-point conversion senior RB Raishawn Cotton scored what would be the game-winning touchdown for the Owls Torbert was able to once again run it in for the Senators with senior Jahvion Jarmon finding Hill for another 2-point conversion Friday’s game was the first contest of a home-and-home series between Mount Healthy and Taft "It's turning out to be a great battle not only for us as teams but for the city in general," Stevens said the game was played with limited attendance Friday night — only parents and guardians of students as well as pre-approved adults were admitted after a Taft High School student was shot near the school shortly after dismissal Thursday afternoon Mount Healthy (3-1) plays at Fenwick (2-2) Sept Taft (3-1) plays at Thurgood Marshall (0-4) Sept Ohio — The Harrison High School football program likes to say it drinks the green juice There was no doubt that the Wildcats brought the energy Friday night in a 49-26 win over visiting Mount Healthy in a key Southwest Ohio Conference matchup It was the WCPO 9 Friday Football Game of the Week "It was awesome," Harrison coach Derek Rehage said (Junior defensive lineman) Logan White and (sophomore defensive back) Ben Markarian had huge games we threw the ball - we kind of did whatever we wanted In the second half we didn't play as well but we kind of hung on." There were plenty of computer points at stake in Division II "It's huge — it puts us in the driver's seat for the league," Rehage said Harrison led 21-0 early in the second quarter after senior running back Cole Koops scored his second touchdown run of the game He scored on a 65-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage Koop finished with 130 yards rushing and two touchdowns Junior wide receiver Josh Adelsperger had two receptions for 41 yards and two touchdowns Senior quarterback Dickie Engel threw for three touchdowns in the game Harrison's defense put the game away when Markarian recorded two pick-6s in the third quarter while White finished the game with 17 tackles and tied his own program-record five sacks "I told you the other day he's pretty good," Rehage said of the junior defensive lineman We struggle with him on our offense and our offensive line every day (in practice) He just does everything that he does really Junior linebacker Brycen Deller (11 tackles) and senior linebacker Jayden Little (10 tackles) were among other defensive leaders for the Wildcats This is the second straight season that Harrison defeated Mount Healthy in the regular season The top eight seeds in each region host first-round playoff games starting Nov Mount Healthy plays host to Dayton Belmont Oct SIGN UP: Subscribe to our high school sports newsletter Ohio — A loaded gun was found inside a student's backpack at Mt According to a letter that was sent to families school staff noticed "what appeared to be a vaping device" being passed between two students were taken to a secure office where their bags were searched by security staff staff found a loaded firearm inside one of the student's bags "At no point was the weapon displayed or used to threaten anyone on campus," reads the letter The district said the school did not go on any sort of lockdown "since the situation was contained and did not pose an active threat." The district did not say what kind of disciplinary measures would be leveled against the student who had the gun The district did not mention any interaction between the student and law enforcement Ohio — Harrison High School football coach Derek Rehage and Mount Healthy coach Jordan Stevens understand there is plenty at stake in their highly-anticipated Southwest Ohio Conference matchup Friday night Mount Healthy and us are probably the best two teams on paper coming into the league,” Rehage said “And our kids and I think their kids know that if you win this game you’re probably going to be sitting in the driver’s seat for the league title.” The WCPO 9 Friday Football Game of the Week also represents a significant amount of computer points as the postseason draws near Harrison (5-1) is No. 3 in the Division II, Region 8 standings while Mount Healthy (5-1) is No “This matchup with Harrison is huge,” Stevens said Friday night is the SWOC opener after playing non-conference opponents for the first six weeks The Wildcats’ only loss was at Clinton-Massie (21-17) Sept Harrison bounced back last week with a 49-14 win at Campbell County to conclude September “We just handled the adversity,” Rehage said “Getting moved from Friday to Saturday (due to the weather) and showing up having to play a game at 11 o’clock is a little different for the kids but we handled it really well Harrison is known for running the football with opportunities for long pass plays It is going to be very tough for us but these are the games we need to see how good we really are I just want to see us improve upon what we do and enjoy the process of improvement.” The Wildcats are led by several players including senior quarterback Dickie Engel who has thrown for 941 yards and 12 touchdowns “His lead is what sets our tone on offense,” Rehage said Senior running back Cole Koops has rushed for 924 yards and seven touchdowns He has 15-plus touches in five games this season “I tell Cole all the time when we see him make a big run it just kind of energizes our offense,” Rehage said Junior wide receiver Josh Adelsperger has 26 receptions for 440 yards and five touchdowns The Wildcats have played solid defense all season Harrison has outscored its opponents 239-89 Junior defensive lineman Logan White has 45 tackles including 8 ½ sacks He set a single-game program record with five sacks in the Wildcats’ 49-19 win over visiting Indian Hill Sept “He’s been a really good player for us,” Rehage said Rehage said Friday night’s result could be determined by who controls the line of scrimmage That includes whether each defense can put pressure on the respective quarterbacks Mount Healthy senior quarterback Jahmeir Spain has thrown for 1,757 yards and 19 touchdowns “He’s done a much better job running the ball this year.” Mount Healthy’s run game has been effective and the passing game has been versatile Senior running back Nashoun Crittendon rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown last week in a 29-16 win over visiting Northwest Senior Jai'mier Scott (Wisconsin verbal commit) has 26 receptions for 419 yards and four touchdowns Senior wide receiver Jeremiah Sanders has 17 receptions for 344 yards and five touchdowns Senior linebacker Raishawn Cotton (97 tackles senior inside linebacker Tyshawn Spain (68 tackles) senior linebacker Darren Stewart (4 1/2 sacks) and senior defensive end Ty Watkins (42 tackles including 4 1/2 sacks) are among the defensive leaders “They got athletes everywhere is really what I’ve seen from them,” Rehage said “When you take one thing away they have another thing that they’re trying to beat you with so (Mount Healthy coach) Jordan (Stevens) has done a great job over there.” The Mt. Healthy branch library is nearly ready to open its new location, but first, crews have to move thousands of books into the new space. The books don't have to go far, just one block north on Hamilton Ave. Library staff, Mt. Healthy leaders, employees from local businesses, and community members turned out Thursday morning to kick off the move by forming a "book bucket brigade" to move the first books in a human chain from the current location to the new one in a renovated former CVS store. "The replacement of the Mt. Healthy branch was identified as a top goal in the library's facility master plan, with the recommendation to relocate to a different facility for full accessibility," said Paula Brehm-Heeger, the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe director of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library during the ceremonial book brigade. The library purchased the former CVS location shortly after its closure was announced. Brehm-Heeger says Mt. Healthy community leaders were quick to point out its ideal location. "The minute this thing was maybe going to close, people were calling us, 'Hey, you might want to look, I think the CVS is going to be leaving this building, and can you look at it?' We immediately got a lot of response from Mt. Healthy because they had always been interested in keeping the library here, keeping it in this area." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tana Weingartner (@tanaweingartner) The new location takes advantage of the former pharmacy's drive-up window but it's challenging to get in," Brehm-Heeger points out "[The new branch] has an entrance that allows people to walk right in from this great parking lot it provides more space and allows for accessibility." one large meeting area and several smaller ones and — at 10,000-square feet — double the square footage of the old location Healthy library has been around for 125 years; and in its current location for 73 years "As we open a new chapter in the new branch we can look forward to the increased space We will have more for our children and teens to explore and learn while connecting with others We will also have more for our adults and seniors to enjoy — a nice reading area or private meeting space you can always visit us through our drive through and pick up your holds." Which books were selected to make the move first The Public Library: A Photographic Essay by Robert Dawson; Meet a Librarian by Annmarie Anderson; Work Better Together by Jen Fisher and Anh Nguyen Phillips; and Healthy by Sue Korn Wilson and Kathleen Mulloy Tamarkin The cost of the new branch project is $6.3 million A grand opening and ribbon cutting is scheduled for Nov CINCINNATI — Taft and Mount Healthy high schools have agreed to restrict attendance to Friday's football showdown after a Taft High School student was shot Thursday The shooting happened near Taft High School on Thursday; police said a 13-year-old boy was shot in the arm He was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and is expected to recover from the injury ahead of a non-conference matchup between Taft (Division IV) and Mount Healthy (Division II) a spokesperson for Mount Healthy schools said attendance for the football game will be limited only parents and guardians of students and pre-approved adults will be allowed to attend the game — no students "This decision is a temporary measure to ensure a safe and controlled environment for everyone attending," said the Mount Healthy spokesperson "We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain the security of the game." Fans supporting Mount Healthy High School should enter the game through Adams Road and park near the baseball and softball fields Fans rooting on Taft High School should park on the Hamilton Avenue side In collaboration with local law enforcement we have made the decision to limit attendance for the upcoming football game against Taft on 9/13/2024 Attendance will be restricted to parents/guardians and pre-approved adults Police have not released any information on who may have shot the 13-year-old shortly after Taft High School dismissed for the day but Cincinnati Public Schools said the high school will have additional security and counselors available during class Friday This isn't the first high school football matchup affected by violent crime this season outside the stadium and did not involve any students from either school Batavia also won't be facing down Shroder at Stargel Stadium Friday, as originally scheduled because of the shooting near Taft, teams announced Thursday. That game is instead rescheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday at Walnut Hills The matchup between Taft and Mount Healthy is the WCPO 9 Friday Football Game of the Week Mount Healthy (2-1) has won back-to-back games after it lost the season opener to West Clermont Mount Healthy rallied from a 10-0 second quarter deficit last week to defeat visiting Wilmington 19-13 “I liked that we had to fight and claw for a win,” Mount Healthy coach Jordan Stevens said “Wilmington is a tough opponent every year and I loved that we didn’t quit This week we’ve emphasized just stacking days and getting better As long as we’re getting better each day and each game then that’s all we can do.” Taft has a 3-0 record for the first time the 2020 season The Senators is trying to earn a 4-0 record for the first time in 30-plus years according to Taft athletic director Austin Gullett “I’m most excited about our effort,” Williams said We’re treating every game like a state championship.” staff and community members gathered at St Healthy on Tuesday to discuss their lack of confidence and worries within the Mt Healthy Schools parent Keyone Allen if she had any trust or confidence in MHCSD That is the mindset of many in the community and the problem led to the current superintendent and the current board," said Angelo Brice Healthy reverend and organizer of Tuesday night’s meeting One of the first problems, he said, was the district letting go of 80 staff members “In addition to those 60 to 80 people that were fired and laid off and told to get jobs elsewhere “There were almost 100 people that resigned.” The district claims Brice's numbers are not accurate "While initial notices were sent to approximately 80 staff members many of these individuals were subsequently recalled about 100 staff members have left the district," according to a district statement emailed to WCPO on Thursday A few months later, a state audit looking into MHCSD was released, showing they were on the path to a $90 million deficit by 2028 A former employee and alum of MHCSD who wished to stay anonymous due to fear of retaliation told us they were shocked to hear of the financial distress the district was facing "How did it happen so quickly that it actually affected students That people were concerned about getting paid their salaries students receiving the resources that they needed to be successful and from a community member standpoint and alum They added that the fact that dedicated and invested staff jobs were in jeopardy because of financial incompetence saddened them With these two major issues and others looming over the district — such as a lack of space in schools minimal trust from the community and a $11 million loan to pay back to the state — community members are worried come the first day of school "I have no doubt that these students are going to have a problem," Brice said "It's either you're going to have an over-capacitated classroom or you're going to be teaching from home virtually because you don't have enough teachers." the goal was to allow the public to voice their concerns and get some questions answered "I hope that we all come up with a plan that's going to be beneficial for the children I want their education to be good," Allen said Brice said any questions he could not answer on Tuesday night he would take straight to the board But he also has his own ideas on how to solve the district's issues "They (MHCSD board and superintendent) had everything they needed to do a sufficient job," he said When asked if he wanted a new administration or a new board MT. HEALTHY, Ohio — Members of Mt. Healthy City School's Financial Planning and Supervision Commission met Wednesday to work towards solutions for the district's finances just one day after its tax levy failed The school district has had recent financial troubles, making large cuts to staff back in May they are discussing updates to their financial forecast and possible reductions to avoid a deficit While it was a regularly scheduled meeting they did mention the impact of 56% of voters rejecting the levy Healthy City Schools said on its website the levy would have provided funding for teacher and staff salaries they are trying to find solutions while discussing if levies should be put on future ballots we will keep working to provide the best possible educational environment for every child in our district," Superintendent Valerie Hawkins said in a statement following the election "We remain vigilant in our pursuit to find creative solutions that sustain and enhance the quality of education in our schools even as we navigate the challenges ahead." the district was given a draft of its Financial Recovery Plan from the State of Ohio Leaders within the district have been working on the plan before it is presented to the Board of Education the financial plan will be sent back to the state As the committee works on the Financial Recovery Plan the district's treasurer is working on a new forecast for the district which the superintendent told WCPO will be released later in December Hawkins told WCPO that the district is working to eliminate any deficit and coordinating what has to be cut to keep costs down When Jordan Stevens took over as the head coach of the Mount Healthy Fighting Owls before the 2022 season The Owls hadn’t had a winning season in the Southwest Ohio Conference (SWOC) since 2017 Especially disappointing since the team won the first four SWOC titles after the conference was founded in 2012 where players hold their teammates accountable like brothers would but that makes high-pressure game situations feel like everyday occurrences one way that the program has changed since he took over is that college football is now an expectation a star on offense and defense for the Fighting Owls committed to Wisconsin over offers from Miami (Fla.) QB Jahmeir Spain is in the process of choosing between eight offers Edge rusher Ty Watkins has seven FBS offers so far At least 12 more players on Mount Healthy’s current roster have received offers to play college football at some level College football isn’t the only part of life after high school football that’s important to Stevens In addition to teaching his players to be good at football he works hard to help mold them into stand-up individuals He’s most proud of the character of the young men on his football team Their only loss came in the season’s opening game survived one score games against Wilmington and Taft (who not many expected them to beat) and this week beat Fenwick 35-10 Both Mount Healthy’s offense and defense believe that they are the team’s main strength Spain led the SWOC by a wide margin in passing yards with 1,198 He’s also tops in the conference with 13 touchdown passes to just two interceptions and he’s completing nearly 70% of his passes and gaining more than 12 yards per pass attempt He has a strong arm and a quick release with strong accuracy He spreads the ball all over the field; Mount Healthy already has five 100-yard receivers and another receiver with 70 The Fighting Owls are mainly an air-attack but they can get yards on the ground when they need to The team is currently averaging 5.3 yards per carry on 67 attempts they play with an almost frenetic find the ball mentality The team credits that mentality as to why it's forcing more than two fumbles per game so far Edge rushers Ty Watkins and Darren Stewart say that their goal is to meet at the ball on every play Linebacker Raishawn Cotton already has 65 tackles has chipped in 40 tackles and seven tackles for loss and that part of the unit is loaded with players who will take the field at the next level Mount Healthy should win that one without much sweat comes arguably the team’s biggest test of the season which won the SWOC last year and eventually lost 50-36 to No 1 seed Anderson in the Region 8 semifinals just lost its first game of the season this week 21-17 to reigning Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference champion Clinton-Massie Harrison handed East Central its first loss in 23 games The Wildcats are odds-on favorites to repeat as SWOC champions again MOUNT HEALTHY, Ohio — Saturday the family of 42-year-old Reginald Simpson memorialized him. The father of four was killed in a shooting in Mount Healthy on Sept The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office says Simpson was "an innocent bystander and not the intended target." The sheriff's office said Reginald Simpson was sitting in his vehicle near the Speedway gas station in the 7300 block of Hamilton Avenue at around 3 a.m Saturday family and friends spoke to WCPO saying they want Simpson to be remembered not for that tragic moment two weeks ago but as the loving father and family man he was The suspects are still at large and according to loved ones leads are few “You can’t even understand it," Simpson's college roommate DJ David Roseman told WCPO Loved ones described Simpson as a "hero." Friends told WCPO after Saturday's memorial that Simpson was always present and active for his family and his community In wake of his death loved ones told WCPO they are pushing for answers and for anyone that might know anything to come forward “This the type of guy we don’t sweep under the rug," Waver said "This the type of guy I don’t want to hear ten years from now this is an unsolved case Because if he’s reckless enough to go shoot at a gas station with people in it During their investigation into the shooting detectives learned the suspects had followed their intended targets there from the Hilltop Plaza Shopping Center While the vehicle they were driving has been recovered The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information involving the shooting to call their tip line at 513-586-5533 or 513-825-1500 Ohio — The 42-year-old man killed in a shooting in Mount Healthy on Sept 28 was "an innocent bystander and not the intended target," the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said Friday afternoon The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information involving the shooting to call their tipline at 513-586-5533 or 513-825-1500 CINCINNATI — One of Greater Cincinnati’s most anticipated high school football games this week will be at Mount Healthy as the Owls host undefeated Taft “This will be electrifying,” Taft coach Tyler Williams said This non-conference matchup between Taft (Division IV) and Mount Healthy (Division II) is the first of a home-and-home series between the programs It is also the WCPO 9 Friday Football Game of the Week Mount Healthy is led by several players including senior defensive back Jai’mier Scott (Wisconsin verbal commit) who had 13 tackles (11 solo) and an interception last week Mount Healthy senior quarterback Jahmeir Spain has thrown for 975 yards and 12 touchdowns through three games He entered second place on the state record list for most touchdown passes in a game (8) in a Week 2 victory at Ross “I’ve been following him since he was in Little League,” Williams said They’ve got one of the best defensive backs in the state of Ohio They do a great job coaching those young men — making sure they’re prepared.” Mount Healthy is also led by senior wide receivers Larry Fannon (15 receptions for 258 yards and two touchdowns) and Jeremiah Sanders (11 receptions for 238 yards and three touchdowns) along with several defensive players including senior linebacker Raishawn Cotton (51 tackles Williams and Stevens have known each other for a number of years and decided to create this regular-season matchup “I’m excited for our kids to get down there and have some great competition like that,” Williams said “See some speed that’s definitely similar to us See some more athletes that’s similar to our kids It’s going to come down to who makes less mistakes Who wants it more — and it’s going to be rowdy.” The Senators defeated visiting Alter 36-7 Sept 6 for the team’s second straight win over a Greater Catholic League opponent The Senators defeated visiting Chaminade Julienne Aug And they’ve really handled their opponents It should be a good game and I hope we just continue to get better.” Taft is led by several players including senior halfback/running back Aaron Dowdell Jr. who has rushed for 255 yards and three touchdowns and has 33 tackles two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on defense “Aaron Dowdell has done an amazing job leading our team on offense and defense,” Williams said Junior middle linebacker Adam Kirtley has 32 tackles including four sacks “He’s a great addition with Aaron Dowdell – them side by side has been a wrecking ball.” Senior defensive end/offensive tackle Drayden Pavey (Purdue commit) is among Taft’s leaders “He has kicked it in another gear,” Williams said Sophomore quarterback Monsanna Torbert has thrown for 501 yards and three touchdowns He’s also rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns Junior wide receiver/outside linebacker Nijia Hill has also been a spark for the Senators Senior wide receiver/cornerback Jahvion Jarmon had a 56-yard touchdown reception and a punt return for a touchdown last week Jarmon has scholarship offers from Bowling Green “He’s a very dynamic player,” Williams said Always has a smile on his face and he’s lightning fast.” Williams said games like Friday night continue to be challenges that will help the Senators in the postseason “I do feel like we should be in a state championship the last three years,” Williams said “And I think it’s been small things keeping us from that so we treat each game like a state championship You’ll see some of those results with some of our play with some of the teams we play at Mercy Fairfield Hospital with Brittany Beck by her side She was born the daughter of Raymond Lee Johnson and Christine (Culver) Shands Raymond Lee Johnson and Christine Shands and brothers by her HOO/ ResCare Community Living Family along with many other friends she has made along her life’s journey Connie was preceded in death by her brother A Celebration of Life for Connie will be held on Thursday Please Click Here to View the Video Tribute ICYMI: Candyland Creations and More Celebrates Open House South Ripley’s Lanter Picks Up Milken Award in LA Ohio — Mount Healthy senior quarterback Jahmeir Spain was in the locker room prior to the Week 2 game at Ross when he made a promise to himself “I told myself I had to win us the game,” Spain said Spain showed that leadership in a 62-35 win at Ross Aug He was 21 of 29 passing for 453 yards and eight touchdowns – including five scores by halftime - in the victory over the Rams “It’s amazing when things click for him,” Mount Healthy coach Jordan Stevens said So when things start to click for him the vision becomes extremely broad It was really special to see not just it happen it was special to see him expect it to happen.” Spain’s memorable performance earned him the WCPO 9 Gold Star Athlete of the Week The 17-year-old Spain has heard quite the reaction from classmates and friends since his memorable game to complete the calendar month of August ’Man eight touchdowns in a game,’” Spain said Spain’s eight passing touchdowns is tied for second in the Ohio High School Athletic Association state record book for most passing touchdowns (8) in a game. He joins the likes of Joe Burrow and Ben Roethlisberger on that prestigious list. “That’s something I always wanted to do as a kid The three-year starter also broke school records for most passing yards and most passing touchdowns in a game “I think it means the world to him just because he plays with that chip on his shoulder,” Stevens said “He was a kid three years ago where people didn’t believe in him And I think Mount Healthy football – he’s created it And it’s amazing at the fact that he embodies Mount Healthy football because he plays with that chip on his shoulder.” Boston College has shown interest since Friday’s game The crazy thing is everyone is excited about eight touchdowns I tell everyone I’m not excited because I get to see it every day in practice.” Spain said he can’t wait to showcase his quarterback talent at the next level but he’s considering all of his options he wants to keep a perspective on this season Mount Healthy (1-1) plays host to Wilmington (1-1) Friday night “If I want to be on that mission and stay on that mission I got to keep my head on focus,” Spain said Spain is the second player of the week this season after Moeller junior quarterback Matt Ponatoski earned the recognition last week. MOUNT HEALTHY, Ohio — While some local school districts' proposed levies passed this November This means multiple local districts will face cuts School leaders say due to the way Ohio funds its schools local districts depend on the passage of local levies to maintain what they already have as the cost of education continues to rise Despite coming up short with voters this year some districts will return to voters again in 2025 to avoid even more damaging cuts Healthy City School District is one of the districts hit harder After district officials discovered some accounting errors, Mt. Healthy found itself in a serious financial hole. According to the district they are projecting a $13 million deficit in 2025 assistant superintendent of student services and transportation "I strongly feel this is where I was meant to be." They've also done things internally to address the budget shortfall. The district's financial recovery planincludes a new district credit card policy that requires mandatory sign-out for usage a new system to approve all district purchases and the district has refined Human resources and payroll processes “My message is that there are amazing professionals education professionals working in this district who show up every day for the students and families of Mt Healthy and we will continue to do that so that we can provide the absolute best options in education for our students," Wilson said Milford Exempted Village Schools and Clinton-Massie Local Schools are also facing budget challenges after failed levies in November Healthy School District rejected a tax levy on Tuesday leaving the district already under fiscal emergency to face additional cuts The levy was expected to generate approximately $1.5 million annually Ohio Auditor Keith Faber declared the district in a fiscal emergency in April citing an operating deficit exceeding $10 million state leaders have been collaborating with district officials to devise a financial recovery plan a task now likely made harder by the levy’s failure district leaders announced the layoff of 80 employees Healthy parents Collins and Alyssia Hall expressed concern about the impact on their children's education "It's a lot of concerns," said Collins "We're just hoping that they get the best education going forward when it comes to support the financial aspect." The district's website acknowledges budget shortfalls increased class sizes and reduced services Specific cuts have not been announced following the levy’s rejection Valerie Hawkins addressed the situation in a statement posted to the district's Facebook page we will keep working to provide the best possible educational environment for every child in our district We remain vigilant in our pursuit to find creative solutions that sustain and enhance the quality of education in our schools even as we navigate the challenges ahead," said Dr The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce held a special meeting with the district and the finance committee of the Financial Planning and Supervision Commission on Wednesday to discuss a draft of the financial recovery plan School board member William Carter said the commission provided guidance on the path to financial recovery The board is expected to discuss the next steps at their meeting on Tuesday "Hopefully they can come to an agreement to get us out of this emergency state with the finances," said Alyssia Voters also turned down levies in several other local districts Ohio (WKRC) - The Mount Healthy School District is grappling with its financial future Ohio's auditor declared the district in a fiscal emergency prompting district leaders to devise a recovery plan voters turned down the district's proposed levy These cuts include slashing $100,000 from the athletics budget and saving $150,000 by eliminating non-local professional development the district plans to transition to state minimum transportation a move expected to save $1.3 million annually The district has already cut 130 positions the district still faces a projected $6 million daily cash flow deficit by May "Is something going to have to be done Yeah." Interim Treasurer Robert Hancock said "Unless somebody's got $6 million in cuts or revenue enhancements that we don't know about something is going to have to occur this year and we'll continue through that process." The specifics of further actions were not discussed at the meeting vice president of the Mount Healthy Teachers Association and a teacher in the district and there's so much worry; there's so much concern about the next step," Ohradzansky said "Where are we going to be a month from now Ohio's Financial Planning and Supervision Commission must approve the proposed cuts before they become official The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for December 9 Ohio (WKRC) - Jahmeir Span passed for three touchdowns and ran one in himself to propel Mt Following an Owls turnover in the first quarter the Rams would strike first on a Lem Grayson rushing touchdown Span would then strike for the first TD toss with a pass to Jamier Scott that would go for 70 yards Span would also connect with receivers Larry Fannon and Ace Cooper before putting Mt Healthy up three scores on a keeper to make it 28-7 as Colton Emerson would find James Britt for six to open up the third quarter the comeback would fall short; backed up near its own end zone Badin would take a safety to close out the scoring The Owls advance to take on undefeated Anderson police sayFox19 staffA man is dead after he was shot in Mount Healthy early Saturday morning according to a news release from Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Mount Healthy Police Chief Jerome Deidesheimer requested assistance from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office around 3 a.m for the report of a shooting near the Speedway gas station on the 7300 block of Hamilton Avenue they discovered that 42-year-old Reginald Simpson was sitting in his vehicle during the shooting He was hit by a bullet and died at the scene Deputies have not said if they have a suspect or if anyone else was hit Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040 Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this report and the coaching carousel is just starting to get spinning About a half-dozen Cincinnati schools have head football coaching openings, and more may be to come. A few schools have filled their openings, most notably Colerain by hiring former Mount Healthy coach Jordan Stevens here are the head coaching moves that have been made around Cincinnati: Previously one of Cincinnati's most dominant football programs Colerain has fallen on hard times in recent years After winning at least a share of the Greater Miami Conference title every season from 2000 to 2019 going undefeated in-conference from 2008 to 2019 and winning a state title in 2004 the Cardinals are coming off two winless seasons in 2023 and 2024 Colerain's reign of success came under two of the area's iconic coaches Kerry Coombs coached the team from 1991 to 2006 and later went on to coach for Ohio State and most recently at the University of Cincinnati as the special teams and cornerbacks coach Tom Bolden took over at Colerain after Coombs left and coached the Cardinals until 2018 Since leaving Colerain for the head job at Lakota West before the 2019 season Bolden has led the Firebirds to six straight playoff appearances and four of the last five Greater Miami Conference Titles a Pittsburgh-area native who played defensive line and tight end at Miami University is coming off a three-season stint as the head coach at Mount Healthy where he compiled a 23-12 record and led the Owls to the Division II regional semifinals in 2024 Mount Healthy has sent multiple players to the Division I level under Stevens Athlete Jai'mier Scott is committed to playing at Wisconsin athlete Jeremiah Sanders has committed to Youngstown State and edge rusher Ty Watkins will start his college career at Akron next season Quarterback Jahmeir Spain has eight Division I offers from schools like Marshall At least 11 more players on Mount Healthy's 2024 roster received offers to play college football at some level It's a tantalizing opportunity for the 37-year-old Stevens If he takes Colerain from the doldrums of two straight winless seasons back to its previous heights he'll etch his name among the elite of the elite for Cincinnati-area football coaches It's the kind of job where success can vault a coach to the next level whether that's high levels of college or even the pros Blanchester went 11-10 in two seasons under Schmitz making the postseason in his first year before losing to Bethel-Tate 35-20 in the opening round The school is expected to begin interviewing candidates for its next head football coach in the coming weeks According to Blanchester director of athletics Brad Ballinger the school received more than 20 applicants for its open head coaching position 3 and expects to complete a second round of interviews in the coming weeks Brausch, who was a head coach around Cincinnati for 21 years and led Lebanon to the 1998 Division II state title, retired after just one year at the helm of the Gators After going 7-4 and winning Gamble's first-ever Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference Blue Division title in 2022 the Gators went 4-5 in 2023 and 0-6 in 2024 Davis was the winner of the 2023 Doc Collins Award which is presented by the Southwest Ohio Football Coaches Association to a coach who "has contributed beyond the sidelines." According to David Miller Davis is expected to remain in the role of head coach through the season Davis and the athletic department are currently working to finalize a staff around Davis Who is Loveland's football coach in 2025?Out: Brian Damewood Damewood's hiring to Loveland was announced on June 7 Loveland went 3-7 and finished tied for sixth place in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in 2024 the only team to put up more than 21 points on Anderson before the state semifinal The Tigers won the Division II state championship in 2013 in their fourth season ever making the playoffs and their first since 2002 said that the school is "headed to the finish line" in naming its new head coach and that the move should be announced early next week The Fighting Owls have traditionally had a strong program They won the first four Southwest Ohio Conference (SWOC) titles after the conference was formed in 2012 But before Stevens took over the program before the 2022 season Mount Healthy hadn't had a winning season in the SWOC since 2017 the team went 10-3 and lost to eventual state finalist Anderson in the Division II regional semifinals Mount Healthy City Schools posted an application form for its head varsity football coach opening with a deadline of Jan Who is Simon Kenton's head football coach in 2025?Out: Roy Lucas Jr., resigned after four seasons Wynn comes to Simon Kenton from Mason County High School where he led the football team to 36 wins over the last four seasons he led the Royals to their best season in school history finishing 13-1 and winning the district and regional championships before losing in the state semifinals where he inherited a three-win team and led them to 18 wins the following three seasons Sycamore's athletic director Andrew Ovington told the Enquirer that the school received over 50 applications for its head coach opening and plans to conduct interviews this week Mt. Healthy High School has hired former Loveland assistant A.J. Williams as its next football coach He was the defensive line coach in 2021 and 2022 before being promoted to defensive coordinator for the past two seasons is a heck of a coach and an even better man Healthy," Loveland athletic director Jayson Bruce said Williams was a tight end at the University of Michigan from 2012 to 2015 catching 17 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown He played his high school ball at Sycamore under longtime coach Scott Dattilo and was named to the Greater Miami Conference's second team as a junior and the first team as a senior He primarily played on the offensive line for the Aviators Sycamore went 8-3 in Williams' senior year who went 23-12 in three seasons before leaving for Colerain The Owls went 10-3 in 2024 and advanced to the Division II regional semifinals Public school districts across Ohio say they’re running out of money From the largest city districts to the smallest ones in urban and rural communities Five Ohio public school districts are under state fiscal oversight meaning they’re in a financial crisis or on the brink of one Healthy City Schools outside of Cincinnati is the only with the most severe fiscal emergency designation many of the reductions public districts are considering for the future are already happening The school district found itself in a massive financial hole just over a year ago when its newly hired treasurer discovered accounting errors by her predecessor revealing the district would enter deficit spending in a few years The school system was placed in a state of fiscal caution by the Ohio auditor A later state audit uncovered more mistakes Healthy had spent several million on funding for building projects and hiring new teachers with money they didn’t have Healthy’s Board of Education was forced to hand over their decision-making powers to a state-run financial planning commission The commission has the final say on what the district needs to cut to eliminate its $10.7 million deficit “$10.7 million in a district where our whole budget is $45 million is just catastrophic,” Mt Healthy Superintendent Valerie Hawkins said The district took a loan from the state to cover its deficit and keep its school system operating for the year but the loan needs to be paid back within two years Healthy started downsizing in a hurry so it could pay off what it owed Around 100 full-time employees were laid off The district added participation fees to its once-free athletics program cut its transportation down and shrunk its graduation ceremony These reductions have been rippling through the district this year Healthy for 20 years says because many teachers were either laid off or resigned “This year I have 180 [students] in five classes Kinser says that’s made it harder for students that need extra help to get the attention they need and it’s tightened the schedules of many teachers Healthy senior Dashayla Wordlaw and her classmates say they don’t know every detail about the financial crisis so she was upset about having to pay fees during her last year of high school But the biggest let down for her was the change to graduation Healthy used to hold its graduation inside the University of Cincinnati’s basketball arena This year it’ll be at a smaller venue inside a local church so instead of having the whole family there only a few members of her family will see her walk across the stage it’s the future of the school district that has her the most concerned eliminate substitutes at the middle and high school levels entirely and may charge fees for kids to attend preschool The district is also considering renting out its early learning center to bring in more revenue school leaders would still need to find millions more to cut to reach solvency Trinh worries that by the time she’s a senior so I’m not sure when I graduate if I’ll have the resources I need,” she said School leaders claim they’re running out of things to cut to meet their budget so the school is looking to Columbus for a lifeline Republican Ohio State Senator Bill Blessing introduced a bill in late 2024 that would turn the school’s $10.7 million loan into a grant effectively resolving the debt and clearing a path to solvency But the bill didn’t get far before the end of legislative session the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the state auditor are wary of such a bill because they’re worried it might give other public school districts the greenlight to spend money without consequences “We have found there’s been some general hesitancy towards this there is a certain degree of moral hazard to bailout,’” Blessing said so he plans to reintroduce the bill later this year the financial relief likely won’t arrive until later this year or next year unless it gets slipped into a modified version of the state’s budget bill Healthy’s financial situation rather than help Mike DeWine’s proposed biennial budget bill reveals the proposal would cut current funding for traditional public schools by $103.4 million over two years while adding funding to programs for charter and private schools The superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools says DeWine’s proposal would reduce the district’s funding by $27 million over two years Superintendents in Cleveland and Columbus have voiced similar concerns other school districts could find themselves in a similar situation if their funding dries up “But what happens when you start seeing more and more districts in this predicament?” Springfield Local Schools in Akron has been under fiscal watch for nearly four years and Trimble Local Schools was placed under fiscal watch in January after spending more money than it had Trimble’s superintendent says before long it’ll likely turn into a fiscal emergency Magadore Local Schools and Ravenna City Schools outside of Akron are listed as under fiscal watch With all the uncertainty around the future of the U.S Department of Education and the frequent failure of local school tax levies around the state Blessing says Ohio’s school funding issue will need to be addressed in the statehouse CINCINNATI — Mount Healthy senior quarterback Jahmeir Spain has committed to play football at Lake Erie College according to former Mount Healthy coach Jordan Stevens has accepted a full scholarship at Lake Erie College an NCAA Division II program in Painesville “I am just extremely proud of Jah,” said Stevens, who is now the Colerain head coach. “A young man that truly exemplifies a leader The thing I’m most proud of is the growth and maturity over these past three years I am blessed and excited to be a part of his journey.” a Division II first team all-state quarterback threw for 3,646 yards and 40 touchdowns this past season for Mount Healthy (10-3) He rushed for 200 yards and six touchdowns Spain threw for 453 yards and eight touchdowns in a 62-35 win at Ross in Week 2 of the 2024 season. His eight touchdowns passing is tied for third in the Ohio High School Athletic Association record book He also joined the OHSAA state record list category of passing touchdowns for a season (40). Spain threw for 8,396 yards in his career which is also on the OHSAA state list for most career passing yards. MOUNT HEALTHY, Ohio — Gun violence cast a shadow over Friday night football at Mount Healthy High School as officials implemented some new safety protocols for the game against Taft Information Technology High School only parents and guardians as well as pre-approved adults were allowed to watch the game between the Owls and Senators Fans also had to enter through different gates — one for each team and so that we all felt that it would be a safe environment,” interim Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent Shauna Murphy said These restrictions come just one day after a shooting near Taft High School that left a 13-year-old student injured. Police say there are no suspects at this time It is also one week after shots were fired outside a Friday night game between Cincinnati Country Day and North College Hill “What is happening across our country as it relates to gun violence and gun violence that comes close to schools has to stop,” Murphy said We spoke with fans outside Mount Healthy's stadium before the game to hear their thoughts on the game's safety restrictions “It makes it safer but it does away with the sport,” Taft fan Charlie Lang said “It’s kinda sad that it has to come to this but I know it’s for the safety of the kids and everyone in the stands,” said Lashauna Turnage Turnage said her son and others were upset that students could not attend the game he said a lot of kids in school were salty because they couldn’t come to the game,” Turnage said The parking lot that is usually packed on Friday nights was virtually empty just minutes before the game began due to the attendance restrictions — something fans worried may affect morale you know you wanna play in front of fans,” Lang said But parents and other adult supporters made sure they brought the energy cheering Mount Healthy on to a 20-16 win in a close game They said they hope the violence between youths comes to an end “I just wish the kids would stop all the violence and get out here and be kids,” said Turnage