WMOH 1450 The Ticket would like to extend a warm Happy Holidays to our listeners and readers. Get ready for some exciting changes coming in the new year!

(Fairfield Township)--Ribbon cutting ceremonies were held Wednesday on the newest McDonald's restaurant in Butler County. Fairfield Township officials joined owners Derrick and Kara Tafur to celebrate the grand opening of the location on Princeton Road and Menard's Boulevard. The restaurant will initially employ 70 workers, but they're expected to grow to 90 crew members in 2025. The Tafurs presented a check to the Fairfield Township Fire Department during the ceremony. As part of the grand opening celebration, coffee will be sold for $1 through January 12th.

 

(Photos: Courtesy of McDonald's)

(Liberty Township)--A favorite chicken restaurant in the south is coming to Butler County. Liberty Township Trustees approved plans for a Zaxby's at the Freedom Pointe development Tuesday night. Trustees also approved an El-Rancho Grande Mexican restaurant and a drive-through coffee and donut shop at Freedom Pointe, which is where the Costco warehouse is located. Plans for a hotel at the site have fallen through, according to officials with Hen-Jur, LLC, developers at the site. Construction is underway for Relay 129, a luxury 372 unit apartment complex by Hills Properties. 

(Middletown)--Middletown City Council says they are giving both assistant city managers an equal  chance to try out for the top job. That's why they have named Ashley Combs Acting City Manager, effective January 1st. Nathan Cahall, who has been serving as acting city manager since August, will return to the assistant city manager's job. Cahall took over after the sudden resignation of City Manager Paul Lolli, who later became a member of city council. Combs has been with the city the past nine years, starting as a planner. 

(Fairfield)--A Fairfield man was arrested Wednesday afternoon after his indictment on child porn charges. 35 year old Konrad Haight is facing a 30 count indictment on charges of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor. According to court records, the alleged incidents occured on June 11th and July 16th of this year. Haight was due to be arraigned Friday in Butler County Common Pleas Court.

(Milford Township)--A former teacher's aide with the Talawanda School District was jailed Wednesday night on a child endangering charge. 36 year old Heather Keller allegedly
abused a disabled student at Bogan Elementary School last week. Court records say she grabbed the victim by his face and neck, and pushed his head into the back of his wheelchair. Keller also allegedly flicked the victim's face with her fingers, and the incident was captured on camera. Keller resigned from her job prior to a disciplinary hearing. She was arraigned Thursday, and was released from the Butler County Jail after posting $5,000 bond.

(West Chester)--A 32-year veteran of the West Chester Police Department will become its 9th chief of police. Brian Rebholz was sworn in during Tuesday's West Chester Township Trustee's meeting. Chief Rebholz joined the department in 1992, and worked his way through the ranks, becoming a captain in 2009, and Assistant Chief in 2016. Rebholz became interim Chief after Chief Joel Herzog announced his retirement in July. Rebholz has a bachelor's degree from Indiana Weslyan University, and a master's degree from Miami University. He is a 2019 graduate of the FBI National Academy.

 

(Photo Courtesy: West Chester Township)

(Hamilton)--A committee appointed by the Hamilton School Board has come back with a recommendation on what to do about cellphone usage in schools. The group surveyed parents, students, and staff members to get their feelings on how the district should proceed. Committee members are recommending a ban of cellphone usage by students in all district buildings, although they would be allowed to bring their phones to school. Parents overwhelmingly told the district they wanted their kids to be able to bring their cellphones for safety reasons. The school board will make a decision in early 2025, with the new policy going into effect at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.

(Hamilton)---Hamilton firefighters are investigating a house fire that caused heavy damage to an East Side home. The flames broke out Thursday afternoon at 1308 Hanover Street. Deputy Fire Chief Matt Garland told WMOH News that first responders encountered light smoke showing when they arrived on the scene, and fire on the second floor. No injuries were reported to residents or firefighters. The home has heavy damage to the second floor. The cause remains under investigation. Crews were called back to the home late Thursday night for a re-kindle.

(Hamilton)--Hamilton police held their final roll call at their South Front Street Headquarters this week, as they completed the move to the new Hamilton Justice Center at 801 South 8th Street. Public Safety Director Scott Scrimmizzi says it was "a little sad" to say goodbye the former building, where he spent 32 years of his law enforcement career. He says the move has gone "without a hitch," calling the new building "awesome." Detectives and administrative offices moved into the building first, followed by patrol officers on Tuesday. Hamilton Municipal Court plans to move into the building by January 24th. The courtroom address will be 700 Hanover Street. Police say their non-emergency number will remain (513) 868-5811.

(Fairfield)--Fairfield City Council has approved a job creation incentive agreement for Schneider Electric's  proposed $25 million expansion at their facility on Union Centre Boulevard. The company is planning to invest $9 million in building improvements and $16 million in new machinery and equipment. The expansion is expected to create 100 new full-time jobs, with an annual payroll of $5.5 million. The company says 169 full-time jobs will be retained. Under the agreement, the city will give the company a 36% grant on income tax collected for eight years. The measure was passed as an emergency ordinance.

A Butler County judicial legend has passed away. Judge John R. Moser died on Thanksgiving Day, surrounded by family. He was 97. Moser served as a common pleas judge from 1979 1999. Two of his most famous cases were the murder case of John Fryman in 1987, and the 1994 trial of Crossbow Killers Melissa Grasa and Ronald Branham. Moser retired from the bench in 1999, and then became a master gardener, using his talents to beautify Hamilton's parks, intersections, and whatever else that needed  fixing up. Moser planted over 400 trees for the city, and a park was named in his honor on Heaton Street in the North End. Moser has donated his body to the UC Medical Center for science.