WILLIAMSPORT, Pa — Hamilton's West Side Little League All-Stars will open play Thursday at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, carrying both the Great Lakes Regional championship and a record for the most World Series appearances by any team. Manager Tim Nichting’s squad faces the Mountain Region champion at 2 p.m. at Howard J. Lamade Stadium. West Side will make its sixth trip to the World Series, the most in Little League history. Nichting tells WMOH the team arrived early in Williamsport and has already experienced the full whirlwind that comes with the biggest stage in youth baseball. “It’s kinda crazy and hectic the first few days,” Nichting said. “Getting your uniforms, they get all new bats, shoes, batting gloves… and the crazy part that people don’t really know is they all get interviewed and some of them gotta do a commercial. It’s a crazy world up here.”

The players took part in the annual World Series parade Monday night and have been signing small souvenir balls tossed up by young fans, then throwing them back. “My kids are having a ball,” Nichting said. Former major leaguer Steve Garvey served as master of ceremonies at one event. Nichting introduced himself, though he noted most of the 12-year-olds on the roster weren’t around when Garvey was a star. He is also hoping the group runs into Todd Frazier, who has been spotted in the area. After the initial excitement of new gear and media attention, the focus has sharpened. “Everything seemed to get honed in here the last couple days, focused on what’s at hand,” Nichting said. The team got a good night’s sleep and went to bed early ahead of the opener. Nichting likes what he has seen from his pitching staff and expects Boone Treadway to get the start Thursday. “This team, when we watch them, seem to take a lot of strikes, so we think Boone pounds the strike zone better than anybody… and he’s kinda had the hot hand too, so we’ll probably ride that hot hand.” The Mountain Region club looks solid on video, but Nichting said every team in Williamsport is capable. “We think we can compete with anybody here and, let’s hope we throw strikes and we should be alright tomorrow.” Support from the Hamilton area has poured in. Former major leaguers with local ties, including Aaron Cook, Ricky Stone, and other one-time West Side players, have sent messages. Manager Jim Tracy, a Hamilton product, also reached out. “Hamilton has a great history of its own players,” Nichting said. “Just awesome… love it to death, and just wanna thank ’em all for all the love and support.” Security around the complex is tighter than in past years. “They’re just protecting everybody’s kids,” Nichting said. “Sometimes it seems a little much, but the bottom line is they’re protecting everybody’s kids, so you can’t argue that.” The players have been outfitted with new helmets, bats, shoes, batting gloves, gloves, headbands and arm bands. “They’re living large, no doubt about it,” the manager said with a laugh. Nichting closed with a message to the home community: “Thank you to all of Hamilton for all their love and support… we’re proud to represent Hamilton, Ohio.”

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© Photo Courtesy of Little League Baseball

FAIRFIELD — The City of Fairfield has been awarded $40 million in federal funding for a major infrastructure project aimed at improving safety, reducing traffic congestion and strengthening rail transportation through Butler County. U.S. Sen. Jon Husted announced Thursday that he secured the federal funding for Fairfield’s Symmes Road Grade Separation project. The project will eliminate two at-grade railroad crossings at Symmes Road and North Gilmore Road by constructing an overpass that will carry traffic over a major rail corridor used by CSX, Norfolk Southern and Amtrak. The rail line sees nearly 50 trains each day. Symmes Road is a major east-west route through Fairfield, carrying more than 12,000 vehicles daily. City officials say separating vehicle and rail traffic will improve emergency response times, reduce congestion and eliminate the possibility of collisions at the two crossings. Husted said the project also will help support economic growth in the area. “This project is about making Fairfield safer and keeping people, products and the economy moving forward,” Husted said. “Separating road and rail traffic will reduce congestion and the risk of collisions, improve emergency response times and make it more efficient for students, families and workers to get where they need to go.” Fairfield Mayor Steve Miller called the federal award a transformational moment for the city and the region. For decades, the railroad crossings have been viewed as a barrier to safety, mobility and economic development. Miller said the federal funding gives Fairfield the resources needed to finally address the problem. The Butler County Transportation Improvement District has also been pursuing the project for more than three decades. Executive Director Dan Corey said eliminating the crossings will enhance safety and connectivity and benefit the community for generations. The project is also expected to support the area's growing logistics and distribution industry, with millions of square feet of new development currently under construction nearby. In addition to improving roadway traffic, the project is expected to create more than four miles of uninterrupted rail track north of Cincinnati's congested rail terminals. Officials say that will improve the movement of both freight and passenger trains through the region. U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson said the project has long been a priority for Fairfield because the crossings affect daily traffic, emergency response and businesses that depend on the corridor. The $40 million comes through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program, a federal program supporting major rail infrastructure projects. Husted said he advocated for the Fairfield project in a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The project is expected to improve public safety, reduce traffic congestion, strengthen rail operations and support continued economic development in Fairfield and throughout Butler County.

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(Image Courtesy: City of Fairfield)

WHITESTOWN, INDIANA--The West Side Little League All-Stars punched their ticket to the Little League World Series with a 6-0 win over LaGrange, Kentucky in the Great Lakes Regional Final. Boone Treadway pitched a complete game one-hitter, striking out nine batters to pick up the win. Hamilton scored all six runs in the first inning, highlighted by Josiah Infante's two out, two run homer. Hamilton will begin play in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Thursday August 20, 2:00pm against the Mountain regional champion. 

(Image Credit: Chris Vogt, The Report Ohio)

HAMILTON — The west side Kroger was evacuated yesterday after someone made a comment to a store employee that was percieved as a threat.  Police came with a full response, and found the person who made the statement, which was determined to be misinterpreted, according to Police Chief Trent Chenoweth at the scene. No weapons were found, and no charges have been filed. The store re-opened around 6pm.

HAMILTON — Hamilton-based vertical farming company 80 Acres Farms announced Monday that it is winding down operations after failing to secure the financing needed to continue the business. In a statement, the company said it had made "an exhaustive effort to find a way forward" but ultimately could not obtain the capital required to keep operating. "For a decade, our team has proven that vertical farming can work at scale—building and operating indoor farms that ultimately supplied more than 18,000 retail locations across the U.S.," the company said. "Unfortunately, under current circumstances, we could not secure the capital required to continue that work." 80 Acres Farms has been one of the nation's leading vertical farming companies, producing leafy greens, herbs, microgreens and salad products inside climate-controlled indoor facilities using hydroponic growing systems. The company said its technology uses 100 percent renewable electricity and up to 95 percent less water than traditional farming. The Hamilton-based company expanded rapidly over the past decade, with its products sold in more than 17,000 retail locations nationwide. Just weeks ago, the company highlighted the advantages of indoor farming during a nationwide Cyclospora outbreak, noting that its closed-loop growing system eliminates many of the contamination pathways associated with outdoor agriculture.

The company thanked its employees, retail partners and the communities that supported its growth. "We have seen vertical farming's potential up close, and we still believe that this industry is just getting started, and that we have helped plant the seeds for generations of future harvests," the statement said. The announcement did not specify how many employees will be affected or provide a timeline for winding down operations. The company's headquarters are located at One Renaissance Center in downtown Hamilton.

 

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WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP — The Voices of America Country Music Festival will not return to VOA MetroPark after its 2026 event, according to West Chester Township officials. The township announced Wednesday that it informed festival organizer Further Concepts and Investors, LLC, doing business as Further Festivals, in early June that it would not renew the license agreement for use of township property beyond next year. Officials said the advance notice gives organizers time to secure a new location for future festivals.

The original agreement included automatic renewals for the 2025 and 2026 festivals, but any events in 2027 or 2028 required mutual agreement between the township and festival organizers. After reviewing the event's continued growth, township leaders determined the current site is no longer the right long-term fit.

Township officials said hosting an event of the festival's size requires significant commitments for public safety, traffic management, operational planning and restoring the property afterward. The release also states the festival "has not produced a measurable local economic benefit sufficient to offset these impacts."

Despite the decision, West Chester thanked festival organizers, first responders and community partners who have helped make the event possible over the years. Township officials said they remain committed to working with Further Festivals and regional partners to ensure the 2026 festival is held safely and in full compliance with the existing license agreement.

The township's announcement does not indicate where the festival may relocate after 2026, and organizers have not announced future plans.

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(Image Courtesy: Voices of America Festival)