Hamilton city leaders say the long awaited move of the historial train depot building downtown will begin Tuesday. City Engineer Rich Engle says the two story section of the depot will be moved first, starting at 9:00am. Martin Luther King Boulevard will be shut down between Maple Avenue and Pershing Avenue. Those who want to view the move can gather on the west side of MLK.
The building has already been hoisted onto blocks in anticipation of the move.

Hamilton City Council heard from several residents of the North End, upset about two proposed routes for the North Hamilton Crossing project. Both routes would run thorugh the North End ball diamonds and into the neighborhood. Neighbors are concerned about being displaced by the project, which is meant to alleviate traffic from the Spooky Nook sports and event complex. The road would be similar to the Jim Blount Overpass and South Hamilton Crossing. Neighbors say they're also concerned about losing the ballfields, playgrounds, and splash pad. They also have enviromental concerns if the city builds a road over the Chem-Dyne superfund site. A public input meeting on the proposed routes will be held on January 23rd 5:30-7:30pm at Fairwood Elementary School, 281 North Fair Avenue.

Ohio's employment picture remained steady in November, with no large bump in holiday hiring. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says the unemployment rate for November was 4.2%, unchanged from October's report. Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 5,500 over the month, from a revised 5,504,400 in October 2022 to 5,509,900 in November 2022, according to a news release issued by the state. The report says the number of workers unemployed in Ohio in November was 243,000, up from 242,000 in October. In November 2022, the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 61.3%, down from 61.5% in October 2022 and down from 61.5% in November 2021. 

The Butler County Engineer's Office says the Cox Road extension from the Butler Regional Highway is open in both directions as of 3:30am Wednesday, December 14th. The new configuration means the Liberty Way exit off eastbound State Route 129 is closed permanently. Motorists can access Liberty Way using the Cincinnati-Dayton Road exit, or by taking a right off the Cox Road roundabout. They can also access Liberty Way further east by taking Veterans Boulevard past the new COSTCO store. Engineer Greg Wilkens says the traffic signal at Cox Road and Liberty Way is undergoing changes to timing to help with the flow of traffic. The $32 million project should totally wrap up by spring.

A longtime township trustee in St. Clair Township has passed away. Tom Barnes died Friday at the Hospice of Hamilton. He was 84. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at the Avance Funeral Home, 4976 Winton Road in Fairfield. Visitation is 5:00-7:00pm and services will follow.

The bribery and corruption trial of Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds is scheduled to get underway Monday in Butler County Common Pleas Court. Reynolds is accused of leveraging his public office to further personal interest. Visiting Judge Daniel Hogan has ordered a pool of 150 potential jurors to show up Monday. Hogan also indicated in his filing Thursday that the trial is expected to last 14 days. The Ohio Attorney General's office is prosecuting the case.

Morgan Township Trustees held a special meeting Saturday morning to accept the resignation of Township Administrator/Fire Chief Jeff Galloway. The embattled chief has been the focus of an investigation into issues involving his compensation. The trustees also decided to terminate the investigation being done for the township by the human resources firm Clemans Nelson. The state auditor's office will continue their investigation into the matter. 

(Photo Courtesy: Morgan Township  Fire Department on Facebook)

The head of Butler County's convention and visitor's bureau is leaving his job. Travel Butler County President and CEO Mark Hecquet has
accepted a similar position with the Springfield,

Missouri Convention and Visitor's Bureau. He has been with the Butler County agency at least 16 years. He leaves just as Spooky Nook, the largest indoor sporting and convention complex in North America, begins to host sporting events this weekend at the former Champion Mill along the Great Miami River. Hecquet will begin duties January 17th in Springfield.

Butler County State Representative Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton) says she found it "a tad terrifying" when she learned surgical assistants do not need a license to perform their duties in Ohio. Carruthers and fellow representative Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) introduced House Bill 196, which will require those assisting with surgeries to be licenced by he State Medical Board. Under the bill, surgical assistants must renew their license every two years, undergoing continuing education in order to qualify for the license renewal. The bill passed the Ohio House 69-12 last week. 52nd District Representative Jennifer Gross voted against the legislation. The bill was introduced in the Ohio Senate Tuesday.

(Photo Credit: Sara Carruther's Office

Ohio hunters bagged 71,932 deer during last
week's deer gun season statewide, which was an increase over the three year average of 68,534.
Last year, 70,381 deer were shot. Butler County saw a decrease in deer tagged during the gun hunting season. Hunters in the county shot 270 deer last week, compared to a three year average of 352. There will be another weekend of hunting allowed December 17th and 18th.

Photo Credit: ODNR