SHARONVILLE, Ohio – Ford Motor will showcase its U.S. manufacturing might this week as it celebrates a “refresh” of two of its most popular vehicles, built with transmissions made in suburban Cincinnati Ford recently took an Enquirer reporter and photographer on a tour of the plant in Sharonville which operates 24 hours a day and employs 2,000 – one quarter of Ford’s 7,800 manufacturing employees across Ohio Its roof covers enough space to hold 42 football fields "Ford welcomes and appreciates these decisions by President Trump which will help mitigate the impact of tariffs on automakers suppliers and consumers," Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement "We will continue to work closely with the administration in support of the president’s vision for a healthy and growing auto industry in America." Ford disclosures say higher tariffs could make its vehicles more expensive and disrupt a supply chain for the company that operates multiple factories in China This week, Ford will use the refresh to showcase the 12,000 Ford jobs at its two assembly plants in Louisville but will also make a nod to its network of facilities providing critical parts and support including four in Ohio: an assembly plant in Avon Lake; engine factories in Cleveland and Lima; and its Sharonville transmission plant just 17 miles from downtown Cincinnati and within the I-275 loop the hulking 2.4 million-square-foot facility (twice the size of the Kenwood Towne Centre shopping mall) produces 3,500 transmissions a day that power some of Ford’s most popular vehicles: the F-150 pickup the F-250 pickup and the F-Series Super-Duty pickups hundreds of employees work each of its three shifts a day but they are spread out throughout the sprawling facility that smells like metal and is abuzz with the constant operation of machinery Clusters of workers are seen at various stations along assembly lines that are also equiped with robots for heavy lifting (a transmission weighs more than 200 pounds) One out of eight of Ohio’s 688,000 manufacturing jobs are in the auto industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics The state employs 85,000 auto workers with most making auto parts for assembly in Michigan or elsewhere “Ford’s results and operations could be adversely affected,” the company wrote in its “risk factors” section or other countries could “disrupt existing supply chains impose additional costs …  (and) make our products more expensive for customers and … less competitive.” The auto manufacturer added Trump’s tariff increases on imports from Canada Mexico and China “should they be implemented and sustained for an extended period of time OKI Wanna Know is our feature where you get to ask the questions we uncover the history of a mansion in the middle of industry Robb Burns of Florence has a question about something in Sharonville "I wanna know about the house that's in a very industrial area It's a large mansion that sits near Mosteller and Crescentville Road right next to a (United Dairy Farmers)," he says I just want to know the story behind the house (and) how it has survived all this time with all the commercial build-up around it." yellow-bricked building is surrounded by a paved driveway The east fork of the Mill Creek marks the western boundary Almost every building nearby is either a warehouse the neighborhood didn't always look like this Beth Johnson says in the 19th and early 20th centuries "And it was a summer home and farmland for Louis Hauck." Johnson is the executive director for Cincinnati Preservation Their offices are in the Hauck mansion in the West End that was the home of one of Cincinnati's beer barons: John Hauck "John Windisch and John Hauck had a brewery together John Hauck bought him out of it," she says often called the Dayton Street Brewery as well." Like many of Cincinnati's other wealthy residents Louis Hauck, his wife Frieda, and their children, Cornelius before building the northern mansion in 1904 and so it was a little more comfortable than down by the river," Johnson says "They would grow their hops and their barley Today most of our breweries probably bring in their barley all of the wheat — the stuff that they need to make the beer," she says like Christian Moerlein also had farms nearby Louis went on to become president of Lincoln National Bank According to the Society of Historic Sharonville the farmland around the mansion started disappearing in the late 1960s Johnson says eventually the mansion was no longer a home and then it was sold and it became an event center," she says and so there really wasn't a reason to tear it down Johnson says it's in great shape for a 121-year-old house "The mechanical systems I believe have all been updated People can go find the listing and the pictures are fabulous She said "find the listing." Yes. It's for sale on the corner of Crescentville and Mosteller The company bought the house and the land to expand that nearby store A spokesman says they have no other plans for the property The mansion is zoned for "general business," which could include an office or event center Johnson says she doesn't know what will happen to it Maybe it could actually be turned into a brewery That would be a use that would fit well within an industrial area and would be a fitting re-use for a former beer baron's house." Ohio — Police are investigating after a Saturday morning crash along I-75 left two men dead OSHP said a 20-year-old man was driving a Nissan Altima southbound on I-75 when he traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a pole Several southbound lanes were shut down for hours after the crash The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Sharonville Police Department Sharonville Fire Department and the Hamilton County Coroner's Office The crash remains under investigation at this time A 20-year-old Sharonville man has been accused of repeatedly raping a 12-year-old girl over several months and impregnating her The man was indicted Wednesday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on charges of rape according to the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office The Enquirer is not naming the man to protect the girl's identity. The man and the girl are relatives The man is accused of repeatedly raping the 12-year-old between October 2024 and January 2025 CINCINNATI — Boating enthusiasts in Greater Cincinnati will have a new event to look forward to this year as the first Cincy Boat Expo launches at the Sharonville Convention Center It will feature more than 75 boats and exclusive deals aimed at kicking off the boating season Four of Greater Cincinnati’s leading boat dealers have partnered up to bring the event to life Sea Ray of Cincinnati and Taylor’s South Shore Marina and bow riders from top brands like Sea Ray “With an incredible selection of boats and a new venue this year’s show has something for everyone in Greater Cincinnati Dayton and the surrounding areas,” said Ed Alf president of Sea Ray of Cincinnati in a press release The 65,000-square-foot venue will also feature marine retail displays from local businesses including Wake Cumberland Watersports and Haynes Fiberglass Boat Repair Special promotional days include free admission for first responders and military members on Feb The new expo in Sharonville will help provide a space for boaters to meet before the long-running Cincinnati boat sport and travel show has happened for more than 66 years For tickets and event details, visit CincyBoatExpo.com Two men in their 20s died in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 in Sharonville Saturday a 20-year-old man was driving a Nissan Altima southbound on I-75 when the vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a pole Both the driver and a 28-year-old male passenger were pronounced dead at the scene Police did not release the identity of either person one local thrift store has been transforming the way residents shop while working to protect the environment and assist local nonprofits "We started our business to keep items out of the landfill so that was our goal,” said Sarah Hoffer “We also want to give back to the community so we donate a portion of our sales each month to a different nonprofit." King's Treasures has a wide array of products, including furniture, electronics, antiques and clothing — all from junk and moving companies. These items represent over 60% of the solid waste that is brought to Ohio landfills each year 13.2 million of the 22 million tons of waste in the state's landfill were everyday items King's Treasures hopes to find a new home for many of those “We were able to divert over 800,000 pounds from Cincinnati landfills last year,” said Jack Brendamour that’s about 75 school buses worth of weight We’re making a real impact with things that don’t need to be thrown away; we’re finding homes for them.” WATCH: How King's Treasures helps customers 'shop with a purpose' King's Treasures commitment to sustainability not only benefits the environment but also provides anaffordable shopping experience for the community Shoppers can furnish an entire apartment for less than $300 and a set of a table and four chairs is $48 “The quality and the selection — you have a lot of things,” said customers but this one you guys have a lot of stuff." Each week, the inventory at the thrift shop turns over, ensuring that there is always a new treasure to be found. This month, the shop is supporting a local charity, Hope Fur Pets as part of its initiative to give back to the community “300 million tons of trash (is) hitting America’s landfills right now and I wanted to do something green but also philanthropic,” Brendamour said This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy A retired Sharonville police lieutenant facing prostitution charges pleaded guilty to a single reduced charge of disorderly conduct Keith Schoonover, 59, was initially charged with engaging in prostitution and soliciting after Blue Ash police conducted an undercover operation at the Holiday Inn Express on Creek Road in early December Schoonover pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct The engaging in prostitution charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement Prosecutors did not request probation or jail time for Schoonover He paid a $250 fine and $110 in court costs Engaging in prostitution is a first-degree misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine Schoonover pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and a $250 fine The Enquirer reached out to Schoonover's lawyer who had not responded to requests for comment at the time of this report The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office handled the prosecution in the case Spokesperson Jacob Hamblin said the case was primarily handled by the prior administration Officers who were staging for the undercover operation reported that Schoonover engaged in small talk with them before entering a room at the hotel A woman later told the officers she had sex with a man matching Schoonover's description Blue Ash police contacted Schoonover who told police that he "admits to making a date" but that he did not engage in sexual activity with the woman The report states Schoonover told police that the woman was on the phone when he entered Schoonover said he did not use a burner phone or alternate number to set up the date "Schoonover stated he is familiar with those types of numbers because he would set up prostitution stings with different lines in his prior job," the report states According to the Sharonville Police Department's Facebook page, Schoonover retired in October after 31 years of service Sharonville officials said Schoonover retired in good standing Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSHARONVILLE Ohio (WXIX) - Minor injuries were reported in a crash involving a semi and a pickup truck in Sharonville It was reported on Mosteller Road at the westbound Interstate 275 ramp just before 7 a.m The northbound lanes of Mosteller Road closed for about a half hour and the I-275 ramps onto Mosteller Road also were impacted See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description Ohio — A retired Sharonville police lieutenant was arrested in Blue Ash during an undercover operation according to a press release from Blue Ash police Officers arrested 58-year-old Keith Schoonover for soliciting prostitution Blue Ash police said they were conducting an undercover operation at around 3 p.m on December 4 at the Holiday Inn Express on Creek Road; Schoonover was arrested "as a result of the investigation," police said Blue Ash Police Chief Scott Noel said the undercover operation wasn't specifically aimed at apprehending Schoonover; they didn't realize who he was until he was arrested we all knew it because I mean we are a neighboring police agency,” said Noel “I've personally known Keith for almost 30 years.” Video from Blue Ash police's interrogation of Schoonover obtained by WCPO on Friday showed Schoonover's reaction to the situation "I hate that I put you in this spot," Schoonover told officers officers were watching Schoonover at the hotel and "upon completing the undercover prostitution operation I showed a picture of Schoonover's face to the female asking if he looked familiar." The police report says the woman identified him as a man who was just in her room; the woman showed officers a text exchange between them where Schoonover agreed to meet her for half an hour for $200 When police interviewed Schoonover over the phone he told officers he did make a "date" with the woman at the hotel but never actually engaged in any transaction because she was in the bathroom arguing on the phone the whole time Schoonover told police he was concerned about being robbed after she didn't emerge for 10 to 15 minutes "Four years with Indianapolis PD and 31 years with Sharonville," said Schoonover to officers during his interview "I somehow made it all those years without being stupid and then a month and a half after my retirement I make a stupid mistake." The Sharonville Police Department said Schoonover was a former employee of the City of Sharonville In an official statement from the police department "he is currently a private citizen and afforded the rights as such." According to a social media post announcing Schoonover's retirement Noel said undercover operations like this one aren't unusual for Blue Ash police “It’s no secret that the Blue Ash police department targets prostitution arrests," Noel said the fact that we still make them sometimes is surprising to me because we do it and we don’t hide it it’s an uncover operation but we’re not quiet about it.” The latest court records and Blue Ash police department data show less than 50 arrests this year first-time homebuyers often qualify for special benefits designed to make the process easier and more affordable These benefits may include lower minimum down payments helping to alleviate some of the financial burdens that come with purchasing a home Local 12 is teaming up with area experts to host an informative forum This will be held at the Sharonville Convention Center on March 11 from 4 to 6 p.m This collaboration will offer valuable insights and advice on navigating the home-buying journey and making the most of the benefits designed specifically for first-time buyers Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from professionals who can guide you through the process and help you take the next steps toward homeownership and the latest information on how to make your dream of owning a home a reality Ohio — A Sharonville man is accused of raping and impregnating a girl under the age of 13 Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said in a release 20-year-old Sergio Santiago-Calo is indicted on three charges of rape each with a penalty of up to 11 years in prison after he allegedly raped a girl under age 13 multiple times between October 2024 and January 2025 "I will not tolerate abuse of children in this community," Pillich said in the release "This adult man preyed on a young girl and stole her innocence He will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Each of Santiago-Calo's charges carry a penalty of up to 11 years in prison an extravaganza celebrating all things strange took place Saturday at the Sharonville Convention Center The event served as a marketplace for treasures from artists and small businesses offering attendees a chance to explore unique and unusual items Visitors had the opportunity to kick-start new hobbies with classes at WOE Labs For those interested in something more permanent the Oddity Ink Parlour provided tattoo services A highlight of the expo was a one-of-a-kind deformed exhibit A retired Sharonville police lieutenant was arrested Thursday on charges of soliciting prostitution according to the Blue Ash Police Department was arrested as part of an undercover operation conducted Dec 4 at the Holiday Inn Express on Creek Road Officers who were staging for the undercover operation reported that Schoonover engaged in small talk with them with before entering a room at the hotel The woman later told the officers she had sex with a man matching Schoonover's description Schoonover was issued two citations on Dec Sharonville police confirmed Schoonover is a former employee and said in a statement that he "retired in good standing" after many years of service with the department "He is currently a private citizen and afforded the rights as such," the statement added According to the Sharonville Police Department's Facebook page, Schoonover retired in October after 31 years of service Ohio — In an effort to assist local veterans in need the Sharonville Police Department has teamed up with the nonprofit Blue Star Families to create crisis boxes who served his country through federal service and the Coast Guard before returning home shared with us his work to develop a veteran response team within the department “Geri contacted me a few weeks back and expressed an interest in collaborating on outreach efforts for veterans,” Altman said “It was a perfect opportunity to make a difference.” The partnership focuses on collecting essential items for veterans who may be struggling — particularly with the recent cold weather Officers will be able to hand out the boxes filled with vital necessities like warm clothing “When they come across a veteran that may be in crisis they can actually give them one of these boxes to kind of help them in their transition whether they're going to some sort of shelter or someplace for the evening The purpose of the crisis boxes is both immediate and symbolic “They provide essential support in that moment while also reminding veterans that we appreciate their service and that we are here for them,” Maples said fostering connections with veterans also opens up pathways to additional resources “I carry a portfolio of contacts for local organizations nonprofits and mental health services with me while on patrol I can hand these out to veterans and ensure they know where to turn for help — now or in the future,” he said Donations can be dropped off at the Sharonville Police Department’s main entrance throughout the week Your contributions can make a significant impact on the lives of local veterans in crisis To find out more information about Blue Star Families, you can visit their website If you have a veteran story to tell in your community, email homefront@wcpo.com. You also can join the Homefront Facebook group, follow Craig McKee on Facebook and find more Homefront stories here. Sharonville police are seeking information about a man accused of raping a Subway restaurant employee at gunpoint Thursday morning is charged with rape and aggravated robbery in Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Heather Russell set his bond at $100,000 during an arraignment Friday morning Police said in an affidavit that Eckis followed the victim into the restaurant before holding her at gunpoint He then stole money from the cash register and fled the scene on a bicycle Officers were dispatched to the Mosteller Road restaurant just after 7 a.m and then responded to a nearby gas station where they found Eckis with a handgun and cash he admitted to taking money from the business and "having sexual intercourse with the victim," the document states Police said Eckis' arrest was based on video evidence and the victim's statements to investigators Eckis was booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center on Thursday morning A grand jury is expected to hear his case by Dec Anyone with information about Eckis is urged to contact the Sharonville Police Department at 513-563-1147 FEMA could draw up a new flood plain map for part of Sharonville The review comes after a multi-million dollar project that was completed earlier this year Safety Service Director Jim Lukas says in 2016 the Ohio Department of Transportation announced plans to replace a culvert under Main Street “Our mayor had the foresight of saying ‘Hey we have existing issues with the undersized culvert,' ” Lukas says we learned that just enlarging the culvert would really not do much.” and added some features to an upstream retention dam RELATED: Northside residents look for help cleaning up after flooding Public Works Director Stephen Busam says the project should help downtown businesses and neighbors the design modeling shows we will remove a majority of our properties from the 100 year flood plain The stream in question is a tributary of the Mill Creek The project should take downtown Sharonville out of the 100 year flood plain Lukas says the project cost about $3.7 million Ohio (WKRC) - A veteran in Sharonville is celebrating Veterans Day with a new roof on his home He received the new roof through a program for veterans, Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project which provides free roofs to veterans across the nation He has watched most of his neighbors have their roofs replaced and is grateful it's now his turn "The houses around in this neighborhood are deteriorating fairly quickly at this time," Carver explained "The Sharonville community veterans program found a way to get a new roof put on before it really goes under like some of the others are already doing in the neighborhood." said a typical roof replacement would cost a homeowner at least $13,000 "Sharonville started a veterans outreach program," Carver explained "It's in combination with the fire and police departments and they'll look on people and make sure they're doing fine." Officer Joel Altman with the Sharonville Police Department nominated Carver for the program Coast Guard veteran and said he understands the need to for veterans to stay connected with their communities I worked alongside a lot of veterans," Altman explained "I met a lot of great people that served in different branches and different eras in times I wanted to give back to the community and started a veterans outreach program in Sharonville a year or so ago." more than 600 veterans have benefitted from this program across the nation Ohio (WKRC) - Fire broke out at a Sharonville shopping center early Thursday morning Fire crews were called to the center on Lebanon Road before 7 a.m The strip mall houses Patel Brothers grocery The Patel Brothers Facebook page said the store will be closed until further notice Photos from the Sharonville Fire Department show heavy damage No word how the fire started or if other stores were impacted.