The City of Hamilton and its customers will soon be paying more for garbage collection services in the city. The current five year contract with Rumpke is expiring at the end of the December, and the proposed deal beginning in 2025 will result in a 46% increase in the cost to the city, from $18 million to $26.4 million. All current services will remain the same, including one free visit to the transfer station for residents each year, according to Adam Helms, Director of Residential Services for the city. Customers will see their monthly garbage rate fees increase, starting in January. Low income households will see their rates go up from $16.93/month to $19.75/month. All other households will see thier rates go from $19.17/month to $24.78 in 2025, $25.88 in 2026, $27.59 in 2027, $28.47 in 2028, and $28.76 the final year of the contract. Commercial customers will also see increases. The city also says Rumpke will replace lost or stolen bins with their brown Rumpke bins, instead of the blue bins with the city logo (pictured), a move which will save up to $80,000 a year. City council is expected to officially approve the new rates in November.

Ross Township Police and the Butler County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that happened Wednesday. A 22 year old male was operating his 2021 Suzuki motorcycle eastbound on the 2000 block of Ross Hanover Road when he lost control, traveled off the right side of the road, and hit a fence. Ross Township paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Police say he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

 

(Photo Courtesy: Ross Township Police Department on Facebook)

Election month is underway in Butler County, as early voting continues at the Board of Elections office located at 1802 Princeton Road. The board released the following information, including dates and instructions for absentee balloting by mail. Remember to bring a legal ID when you vote:

 
Week 3: October 21- October 27
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on each weekday (Monday through Friday)

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 26th

1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 27^th

 

Week 4: October 28 - November 3

7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Monday, October 28^th)

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Tuesday, October 29^th)

7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Wednesday, October 30^th through Friday, November 1^st)

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on (Saturday, November 2^nd)(Saturday before Election Day)

1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on (Sunday, November 3^rd)(Sunday before Election Day)

Note: No Voting on the Monday before Election Day, per House Bill 458

 

Voters may also vote absentee by mail:

The completed application must be received by the close of business on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. An application may be downloaded from our website: elections.bcohio.gov, or voters may call the Board of Elections to request an application be mailed at 513-887-3700.

 

Mail your application to:

Butler County Board of Elections

Princeton Road Campus

1802 Princeton Road, Suite 600

Hamilton, Ohio 45011

 

Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Monday, November 4, 2024, and received by the Board of Elections by Saturday, November 9, 2024, to be counted. Voters can also deliver their ballots in person or use our secure drop box located outside our building. If a voter needs help returning their ballot, the person assisting must deliver it in person to the Board’s office and complete the required attestation form prescribed by the Ohio Secretary of State. All hand-delivered ballots must arrive at the Board’s office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

Vote-by-mail ballots may not be returned to a polling location on Election Day.

 

Voters with a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may request an accessible ballot by completing Secretary of State form 11-G.

 

If a voter or voter’s minor child is hospitalized due to a medical emergency on Election Day, you should contact the Board of Elections. Voters with such an emergency may apply for an absentee ballot until 3:00 p.m. on Election Day.

 

Out-of-country Civilian and Uniformed Armed Service ballots must be received by the Board of Elections by Saturday, November 9, 2024, in order to count. 

 

The Board also released details on an Early 
Voting traffic detour beginning October 21st:
 

Due to the expected high turnout of early voters at the Board of Elections for the November 5, 2024 Presidential Election, Northbound Hampshire from SR 129 to Princeton Rd. will be closed during early voting hours starting Monday, October 21, 2024.

 

“While working with the County Sheriff, Engineer, City of Hamilton and Ohio Department of Transportation, it was determined that eliminating traffic turning left from Hampshire would allow for better traffic flow and prevent congestion on State Route 129,” said Deputy Director Eric Corbin. See below for the dates and times of the lane closure.

 

Dates and Times of Closure- Subject to Change; for updates, please check our website at elections.bcohio.gov

October 21 – October 27

9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on each weekday (Monday through Friday)

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 26

1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 27

October 28 – November 3

8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on each weekday (Monday through Friday)

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 2 (Saturday before Election Day)

1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 3 (Sunday before Election Day)

 

Detour:

Eastbound SR 129: Take Exit 18 onto Bypass 4. Turn left on Bypass 4. Turn left on Princeton Rd. The Board of Elections is located at the end of Princeton Rd.

Westbound SR 129: Take Exit 18 onto Bypass 4, Turn right on Bypass 4. Turn left on Princeton Rd. The Board of Elections is located at the end of Princeton Rd.

Exiting: When leaving the Board of Elections, Hampshire is open southbound to SR 129.

                                                                         

A dozen members of Butler County's Incident Management Team have deployed to Florida, awaiting the arrival of Hurricane Milton. They will help local rescuers with response and recovery efforts over the next 14 days. Ohio Task Force One and Matthew 25 Ministries also have boots on the ground in Florida. The group was requested by the State of Florida and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Milton could be one of the strongest hurricanes to hit Florida's Gulf Coast. Milton was a Category 5 storm early Wednesday morning, but weakened a bit into a Category 4 storm as it approached an expected night time landfall.

 

(Photo Courtesy: Butler County IMT's Facebook Page)

Butler County farmers are eligible for low-interest disaster loans from the US Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency. Butler and five other Ohio counties have been declared primary disaster areas due to the recent drought. Adams, Brown, Clermont, Coshocton, and Hamilton Counties were included in the declaration as well. Preble County farmers will also be eligible for assistance, because they are contiguous to Butler County. 
 

USDA: Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool

 

(Photo Courtesy: USDA/Jack Dykinga

Charlie Hustle is gone. Reds legend Pete Rose, who is baseball's reigning hit king, passed away Monday at his Las Vegas home. He was 83. The Clark County Coroner's Office says Rose died from heart disease, and he also suffered from diabetes mellitus. Rose had attended a memoribilia show in Nashville Sunday, along with Big Red Machine teammates George Foster, Tony Perez, Dave Concepcion, and Ken Griffey Senior. The Rose statue outside Great American Ballpark has become a makeshiftmemorial since word of his passing. Fans have been dropping off roses, baseballs, and even jerseys on the statue depicting Rose sliding headfirst. Here are reactions to the news:

 

Cincinnati Reds: 
The Cincinnati Reds extend their deepest condolences to the family, friends, and teammates of Reds Hall of Famer Pete Rose, who passed away earlier today at the age of 83.

 

“Our hearts are deeply saddened by the news of Pete’s passing,” said Bob Castellini, Reds Principal Owner and Managing Partner. “He was one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen, and every team he played for was better because of him. Pete was a Red through and through. No one loved the game more than Pete and no one loved Pete more than Reds Country. We must never forget what he accomplished.”

 

Rose, a 17-time All-Star, is the all-time MLB leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and singles (3,215). He won three World Series (1975 & 76 with the Reds, 1980 with the Phillies), three batting titles (1968, ’69 & ’73), one National League Most Valuable Player Award (1973), two Gold Glove Awards (1969, ’70), NL Rookie of the Year Award (1963) and 1975 World Series MVP. In 1999, Rose was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

 

Rose was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2016 and his iconic #14 was retired the same year. His statue outside Great American Ball Park was dedicated in 2017.

 

Johnny Bench

There will never be another like Pete Rose! He battled his entire life, making it to the Big Leagues on determination and grit. He wanted to win every game and get 3 , no make that 4…no, 5 hits everyday. He won batting title because he had the desire and the goal. He wanted Ty Cobb’s record. Will we ever see this again? 13 seasons of 190+ hits. 3,562 games played. 5,929 times on base. Rookie of the Year, All Star, Gold Glover, Silver Slugger, MVP and World Series Champion. A local kid from Cincinnati who became a King. We were teammates, business partners and more importantly, in spite of what everyone thought, we were friends. I will miss him dearly.