65 year old Pamela Sue Harville was due to make her first appearance in Butler County Common Pleas Court Thursday morning. She was indicted on five counts, including aggravated murder, two counts of murder, and two counts of felonious assault in the shooting death of her husband, 65yo David Harville, at the couple's Reily Township home last week. Detectives say Mr. Harville had been shot several times, including at least once in the head. Harville's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Daniel Allnutt, filed a written plea of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity late Wednesday morning. Allnutt also filed a suggestion of incompetency with the court, asking Judge Daniel Haughey for a competency exam and hearing.

(Photo: Pamela Sue Harville, Butler County Jail)

Thousands of people crowded parks and other public areas throughout Butler County to witness the Great Eclipse of 2024 Monday. The weather cooperated as skies cleared hours before the celestial event. Families and individuals from all walks of life came together at venues like Marcum Park in Hamilton, Heroes Park in Fairfield Township, and Memorial Park in Oxford to take in the historic sight, sitting on blankets and lawn chairs, and wearing eclipse glasses. Starting at 3:08pm, the skies darkened, and the sun dimmed until it became totally obscured by the moon, as the crowds gasped and cheered at the eerie, yet beautiful scene. Depending on the location, the sun stayed behind the moon for a few seconds, or close to three minutes before coming out with a "diamond ring" effect. In Trenton, more than 20 couples exchanged wedding vows prior to the eclipse. The next total eclipse in Ohio will take place on September 14, 2099.

(Eclipse Photo Courtesy of Shay Smith)

Eclipse Day has arrived in Butler County, with the celestial event expected to happen in our skies shortly after 3:00 this afternoon. All but the southwest part of Butler County is in the zone of totality. Hamilton's Marcum Park, Oxford's Memorial Park, and Trenton Community Park are expected to draw the largest crowds in the county. Downtown Hamilton will see 1:43 of totality, while the moon will throw complete shade on the sun for 2:52 in Uptown Oxford. Trenton Park will see 1:55 of totality, as well as a mass wedding, officiated by Mayor Ryan Perry. The National Weather Service is predicting mostly sunny skies to arrive by eclipse time, with a chance of some high-level clouds that may or may not impede viewing. Traffic is expected to be heavy on local highways as hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world visit the region. Make sure your phones are charged and you fill up your gas tank before you begin your travels to that perfect location.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Tuesday, March 5th on Badin High School's new $15 million Matandy Sports Complex, which includes the Lanni Family Stadium, at Badin's New London Road campus. Hamilton Mayor Pat Moeller, Matandy Steel founder Frank Pfirman, and Athletic Director Goeff Melzer were among the speakers at the event. The field at the stadium will be named in honor of late football coaching legend Terry Malone, and the track will bear the name of the Hamilton Community Foundation. Officials say $12 million has been raised for the project so far. The stadium should be completed by late spring of 2025, and the first football game will be played that fall, with the first opponent likely the Edgewood Cougars.

A Fairfield Township man is facing charges after allegedly firing a bullet at another motorist during a road rage incident in Blue Ash. 21 year old Noah Winkler allegedly got into an altercation with a second driver on Cornell Road and Kenwood Road around 7:00am Thursday. Police say Winkler pulled out a .380 semi-automatic pistol and fired a shot at the other driver, missing them by inches. The bullet ended up in the center console. The other driver was able to get Winkler's license plate number, and called police. Winkler was later arrested at his home on Red Coat Drive. He is facing one count of Attempted Murder, one count of Felonious Assault, and one count of Tampering with evidence, after allegedly throwing the gun into a drainage area near the scene of the shooting. The weapon was later recovered after a K-9 search. 

Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser has honored two Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers for their actions during the capture of four violent inmates who had escaped from the St. Francois Detention Center in Farmington, Missouri in January of 2023. Troopers Justin Adleta and Dominic O'Neill pulled the escapee's vehicle over for a traffic stop at By-Pass Four and Ohio-129, before the vehicle fled the scene, and led the troopers on a chase that ended when the suspects bailed from the car in a Liberty Township neighborhood. Adleta and O'Neill captured two of the suspects, and the others were captured hours later after a massive manhunt involving K-9's and drones. Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser on Friday presented Troopers Adleta and O'Neill with his 7th annual Meritorious Service Award.
 

(Photo provided by the Butler County Prosecutor's Office)

The 12th District Court of Appeals has upheld the rape conviction of a Hamilton man. 64 year old Thomas Lee Marshall was convicted of raping and sexually abusing a young girl from 2001 to 2006. He is serving a life sentence with parole after 10 years. He is scheduled to be released from prison in May of 2032. The victim had kept a diary where she recounted instances of abuse at the hands of Marshall.

The Butler County General Health District says a suspected case of meningococcal disease has been diagnosed in a Miami University student in Oxford. The agency is trying to find anyone who may have been in close contact with the student, and are offering them antibiotics for the rare disease. Meningococcal disease can lead to cases of meningitis or septicemia. Both could be deadly. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, and a purple rash. If you have any questions, contact the General Health District at (513) 863-1770.

More Information: 
Butler County General Health District Release

An early morning crash involving a tractor trailer was one of two accidents that caused major delays for motorists on southbound Interstate 75 in eastern Butler County Friday. The semi ended up on its side off the right side of the road, just south of the Allen Road overpass around 4:30am. The right two lanes of southbound 75 were closed for five hours as crews worked to get the truck back on its tires. Two people were taken to UC Hospital West Chester for facial injuries. A later crash with injuries on southbound 75 at Cincinnati-Dayton Road caused traffic to back up all the way to the interchange with Ohio 129.

(Photo Courtesy: ODOT)

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones' recent warnings about America being vulnerable to terrorist attacks has struck a chord with national conservative media. Sheriff Jones has been a guest on a number of national networks and shows the past couple of weeks, including Fox News Channel, Newsmax, One America Network, and Blaze TV. Jones called a news conference after a National Association of Sheriff's meeting with FBI Director Christopher Wray, who told the group it wasn't a matter of if, but when America would be hit with a large scale terrorist attack. Jones says the attack could take many forms, including a cyber assault, which could cripple the power grid and other infrastructure. Jones is offering classes to the public on preparing for an emergency. The first round of classes was booked solid within an hour of going on line.

West Chester and Butler County leaders will help cut the ribbon during ceremonies Wednesday marking the grand opening of the new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World location in West Chester.  Nine-time "Angler of the Year" and TV personality Roland Martin, and TV host Jimmy Houston will be among the celebrities taking part in the Evening for Conservation which follows the 6:00pm ribbon cutting. The store will open for normal business hours on Thursday. The 125,000 square foot store will consolidate the Cincinnati Mills location, which closed January 13th, and the Cabela's near Liberty Center, which will close after Saturday, February 24th.

The Ohio Supreme Court has disbarred a
Hamilton attorney for misleading clients, misusing their settlement funds, and neglecting their cases. Dennis Adams has been ordered to pay more than $25,000 dollars in restitution to three clients who were harmed by his actions. Adams pleaded guilty to a charge of theft by deception, and was sentenced to five years of community control late last year in Butler County Common Pleas Court. Adams was a longtime public defender for the county until his legal issues arose.

(Photo: Ohio Supreme Court)
 

If you want to vote in the March 19th primary
and haven't registered yet, you have until 9:00pm Tuesday, March 20th to get it done. The Butler County Board of Elections was open extended hours for last-minute registrations. Early voting was due to begin Wednesday, March 21 in the primaries for President, U.S. Senate, statehouse, and county races. The Board of Elections at 1802 Princeton Road will be open the following hours for early voting:

February 21st-23rd: 8:00am-5:00pm

February 26th-March 1st: 8:00am-5:00pm
March 4th-March 8th: 8:00am-5:00pm
Saturday March 9th, 8:00am-4:00pm
Monday March 11th: 7:30am-7:30pm
Tuesday March 12th:7:30am-8:30pm
March 13th-March 15th: 7:30am-7:30pm
Saturday March 16th: 8:00am-4:00pm
Sunday March 17th: 1:00pm-5:00pm

Sunday March 19th: Election Day
 

A West Chester man is due to appear in court 
in connection with yesterday's incident at the Walmart on Cincinnati-Dayton Road. 26yo Joshua Knowlton is accused of stealing a machete and a Modelo beer from the store, then firing a couple of shots into the ground behind the store. The gunfire triggered a massive police search that ended with Knowlton's arrest at his Summerhill Drive address.

Butler County Eclipse Viewing Locations

Keehner Park               3:10:13pm      99.94%*

Liberty Center             3:10:15pm       99.98%*

Fairfield Twp Park       3:09:24pm        1:24
Fort Liberty                   3:09:50pm       39 sec.
Furfield Park                 3:09:21pm       1:03
Gilmore Metropark     3:09:38pm       47 sec
Governor Bebb            3:08:26pm       2:21
Hamilton High              3:09:01pm       1:58
Hanover Park               3:08:46pm        2:16
Harbin Park                  3:09:31pm        48 sec.
Jefferson Park              3:09:14pm        1:31
Marcum Park                3:09:08pm       1:43
Monroe Park                 3:09:52pm        54 sec
Oxford Memorial         3:08:24pm        2:52
Potter's Golf Course   3:09:04pm        1:46
Ross High School         3:09:08pm        1:23
Smith Park (Midtwn)   3:09:20pm         2:00
Spooky Nook                 3:09:07pm        1:47
Trenton Park                 3:09:17pm        1:55

*Not in Totality Zone

Mass Wedding Planned During Eclipse

The City of Trenton is planning a big event during the Great Eclipse of 2024 on April 8th.
Mayor Ryan Perry will hold a mass wedding during an eclipse celebration at Trenton Community Park on Dell Road. The event will run from 2:00pm-4:00pm, with the wedding taking place in the amphitheatre beginning at 3:00pm. If you are planning to get married that day, you need to bring your marriage certificate, and other necessary paperwork to the event. Married couples are also invited to renew their vows during the wedding ceremony.

Schools Closing On Eclipse Day

Most Butler County school districts will be closed on April 8th, the day of the Great Eclipse of 2024. All but the southeast corner of Butler County is in the zone of totality. Thousands of visitors are expected to flock to the region to view the total eclipse. The Butler County Emergency Management Agency says local residents can expect traffic issues the weekend before the eclipse, with crowded restaurants and businesses. They are recommending that you fill up your gas tank and visit the grocery store before the weekend, because lines may be long with high demand from visitors.

GREAT ECLIPSE OF 2024 RESOURCES

NASA 2024 Eclipse Page

Great American Eclipse Page

Google Eclipse Map From Xavier Jubier

Butler County EMA Eclipse Tips

Ohio Eclipse Resource Page

Travel Butler County Eclipse Page

The Ohio State Patrol is investigating a fatal vehicle versus pedestrian crash on I-75 Southbound near the Middletown exit Tuesday Night. 45yo Darrin Fields of Englewood was on the highway when he was hit by a Chevy Impala driven by 80yo Stanley Kaleta of West Chester. Fields was pronounced dead at the scene. There's no word what he was doing on the highway. Kaleta was not injured in the crash.

Ohio voters approved Issue One, a constitutional amendment allowing abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, and Issue Two, which legalizes recreational marijuana in the Buckeye State. Close to 2.2 million Ohioans voted in favor of the pro-abortion amendment, compared to nearly 1.7 million who voted against the measure, which amounts to a 57% to 43% win. Voters approved the marijuana issue by the same margin, although 29,617 more voters cast ballots on Issue One.

The Hamilton City School District is planning to extend spring break by one day because of the Great Eclipse of 2024, which will happen the afternoon of April 8th. Superintendent Michael Holbrook told board members he has spoken with other districts, and they are planning to do the same. Most of Butler County and the City of Hamilton will be in the path of totality. Holbrook says traffic could be an issue, as well as employees calling off work, which could impact transportation and cafeteria operations. Every student in the Hamilton City School District will receive special eclipse viewing glasses, to keep them from getting eye damage from the sun. At Hamilton's Marcum Park, the eclipse will begin at 1:52pm. Totality will begin at 3:09pm, lasting 1 minute 43 seconds. In Uptown Oxford, totality will run 2 minutes 52 seconds. In Greenville, which is in Darke County, totality will run nearly 4 minutes.

GREAT ECLIPSE OF 2024 RESOURCES

NASA 2024 Eclipse Page

Great American Eclipse Page

Google Maps Totality Zone xjubier@free.fr

Tuesday is the final day to register to vote in the upcoming election, which begins with early voting on Wednesday. The Butler County Board of Elections on 1802 Princeton Road Suite 600 will be open from 8:30am-9:00pm Tuesday to accept last minute registrations. Early voting will begin Wednesday morning at 8:00am. Municipal, village, and township elections will be held, as well as local school boards. State and local issues will also be on the ballot, including pro-abortion Issue One and marijuana legalization Issue Two.

The Board will be open for in-person early voting during the following hours:

Week 1: October 11 – October 13
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each weekday (Wednesday through Friday)

Week 2: October 16 – October 20
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each weekday
(Monday through Friday)

Week 3: October 23 – October 27
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on each weekday
(Monday through Friday)

Week 4: October 30 – November 5
7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
(Monday, October 30th)

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
(Tuesday, October 31st)

7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
(Wednesday, November 1st through Friday November 3rd)

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(Saturday, November 4th)

1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(Sunday, November 5th)

The Butler County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal crash in Milford Township on Friday. 24 year old Benjammin Ramirez-Julian of Richmond, Indiana was heading southbound on Hamilton-Richmond Road (OH-177) south of Sommerville Road around 6:52am when he lost control on the wet pavement and went off the east side of the road, striking a ditch, and causing the vehicle to roll over multiple times. Ramirez-Julian was ejected from the vehicle, and pronounced dead at the scene by the Butler County Coroner's Office.

Longtime Hamilton High School booster and school board member Anna Harvey has passed away. She was 87. Harvey was president of the booster's club for three decades, and served on the school board from 2001-2013, during the height of the school district's building program. She was the mother of current Big Blue Athletic Director Missy Harvey. Visitation is from 11:30am-2:00pm Thursday, October 5th at Weigel Funeral Home, 980 NW Washington Boulevard. Funeral services will begin Thursday at 2:00pm. Back in 2013, Harvey told WMOH she hoped she would be remembered for her devotion to make things better for the kids and parents of Hamilton City Schools, especially the new school buildings.

A Milford teen has admitted to his role in the shooting death of a Hamilton girl back in 2018. 19 year old Jordan Spain pleaded guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of 16 year old Sydney Garcia-Tovar as she sat in a car in July 2018 at the Tyler's Creek Townhomes on Wildbranch Road in Fairfield Township. Spain faces up to 11 years in prison for the involuntary manslaughter charge, and an additional three years on a gun specification. He will be sentenced on November 1st by Judge Gregory Howard. A second man, Markeylnd Townsend, will be back in court October 4th, where he is facing similar charges in the death of Garcia-Tovar.

The Butler County Coroner's Office is trying to identify a body found near downtown Hamilton Tuesday afternoon. Hamilton police and paramedics were called to the railroad tracks near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Pershing Avenue, near the former site of the train depot. CSX workers who were inspecting their property found a decomposing body near a woodline west of the tracks. Hamilton police detectives were called to the scene. There's no word yet on ID or how the victim may have died.