FAIRFIELD, Ohio — Fairfield Police are investigating a suspected robbery-homicide after a man was found dead inside a jewelry store on Dixie Highway Tuesday afternoon. Officers were dispatched to Everest Jewelers at 6679 Dixie Highway around 12:54 p.m. Tuesday, October 20, following a report of a disturbance involving gunshots. When officers arrived, they discovered a deceased man inside the business. Police say the incident is being investigated as a robbery-homicide. Authorities have not released the victim's identity or provided information about possible suspects. The business describes itself as offering "traditional, cultural and modern Nepalese/Asian jewelries, gifts & household" items. Police have not disclosed whether any merchandise was taken or the circumstances surrounding the reported gunfire. The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact Fairfield Police Sgt. Bryan Carnes at 513-867-6005.
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Three companies are seeking to open Hamilton's first marijuana dispensary, proposing locations on the city's west side that could bring new jobs, investment and hundreds of customers daily. But there's a catch: All three proposed locations are within a mile of one another, and Hamilton's recently adopted zoning regulations prohibit cannabis dispensaries from operating within that distance. That means only one of the three businesses is likely to receive the city's final zoning certification. The applicants are UpLift Dispensaries, RISE Dispensary Hamilton and BEYOND HELLO, all established operators in Ohio's cannabis industry. Hamilton City Council is scheduled to hold public hearings on all three applications Wednesday, October 28, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at 345 High Street. The proposals follow City Council's July decision to permit medical and adult-use marijuana dispensaries as conditional uses in certain commercial zoning districts, ending the city's longstanding prohibition on the businesses.

UpLift Dispensaries — 877 NW Washington Boulevard

Cascade Southern Ohio LLC proposes opening an UpLift dispensary in an existing commercial building at 877 NW Washington Boulevard, Suite C, immediately west of Shooters Bar & Grill. The company plans to renovate approximately 5,809 square feet of space formerly associated with the property's movie theater operation. UpLift describes itself as a locally owned, family-operated cannabis business that began operating in 2021. The company says it already operates two dispensaries in Ohio, with two additional locations under development. The proposed Hamilton location would become its fifth store.

Of the three proposals, UpLift projects the largest workforce, with 35 to 45 employees. The company estimates between 350 and 400 customers daily. Proposed operating hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. The plans include 46 parking spaces, surveillance cameras throughout the building, armed third-party security during operating hours, silent alarms and secure vaults for cash and cannabis products. A fenced delivery area would be established at the rear of the building.

The company says its existing state dispensary license and experience operating other locations would allow it to move forward quickly if approved.
 

RISE Dispensary Hamilton — 845 NW Washington Boulevard

GTI Ohio LLC is proposing a new dispensary at 845 NW Washington Boulevard, on property behind the veterinary hospital and near El Mariachi restaurant. The company operates under the RISE Dispensary brand and already has six licensed dispensaries in Ohio, according to its application. Unlike UpLift, which would renovate existing space, RISE proposes constructing a new retail building on the approximately 2.41-acre property. The Hamilton location would employ approximately 20 people and could attract between 200 and 300 customers on busy days. Proposed operating hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. The company's plans call for extensive security measures, including around-the-clock video surveillance, restricted-access areas, covered windows and state-required tracking of cannabis products. The property currently shares driveway access with neighboring businesses, including the veterinary hospital, Legacy Martial Arts and El Mariachi. Traffic circulation and access arrangements would be subject to city review. The RISE proposal is especially close to UpLift's proposed location, putting the two companies in direct competition under Hamilton's one-mile separation requirement.
 

BEYOND HELLO — 1520 Main Street

Jushi RJK OH LLC, a subsidiary of Jushi Holdings Inc., proposes constructing a BEYOND HELLO dispensary at 1520 Main Street, immediately north of the intersection with Northwest Washington Boulevard. The property is currently an overflow parking area associated with the nearby Applebee's restaurant. Jushi proposes investing approximately $2.5 million to construct a new, single-story, 2,400-square-foot retail building with 33 parking spaces.

The company operates cannabis businesses in several states and says it already has seven dispensaries in Ohio. Its Hamilton location would serve both medical marijuana patients and adult-use customers. The project would employ approximately nine to 14 people, with an estimated 200 to 300 customers daily.

Recommended operating hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Jushi describes the development as an opportunity to transform an underused paved parking area into a new commercial business without displacing existing buildings or businesses.

How Hamilton will choose

All three proposals received recommendations for approval from the Hamilton Planning Commission following its September 17 meeting. However, those recommendations do not guarantee that any applicant will be permitted to open. Under Hamilton's zoning ordinance, cannabis dispensaries must be separated by at least one mile, measured in a straight line between the nearest points of the properties involved. When multiple applications fall within that distance, the city will certify only one location as complying with local zoning requirements. Priority generally goes to the first applicant receiving City Council conditional-use approval. If multiple applicants receive approval at the same Council meeting, priority goes to the application that was first submitted and accepted as complete by the city's Planning Department. The city also makes clear that Council is not required to approve any particular application. Even if multiple conditional-use requests are approved, only one applicant within the restricted area can receive the city's required zoning certification for state licensing. Hamilton's regulations also prohibit dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools, licensed child-care facilities, youth centers or preschools, and within 500 feet of churches, public playgrounds, libraries and opioid treatment programs. On-site consumption is prohibited, and cannabis products cannot be visible from public streets or sidewalks.

Decision approaching

The applications represent three different approaches to entering Hamilton's newly permitted cannabis market: renovating an existing commercial space, developing vacant commercial property, or replacing an underused parking area with a new retail building. Together, the applicants project dozens of potential jobs and hundreds of daily customer visits, although those estimates are contingent on approval and operation. Council's first readings and public hearings are scheduled for October 28, with second readings scheduled for November 11. The outcome will determine which, if any, of the three companies gets the opportunity to establish a dispensary in Hamilton.
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(Image Courtesy: City of Hamilton)

Longtime Reily Township Trustee C. Nicholas “Nick” Schwab, whose public service in Butler County spanned more than four decades, died Oct. 1. Schwab, 83, served as a Reily Township trustee for 43 years and remained in office until his death. His service extended well beyond township government, including decades as a volunteer emergency medical responder and leadership positions in agricultural, township and community organizations at both the county and state levels. For Schwab, his attachment to Reily Township was also personal. In his township biography, he said his favorite part of living in Reily was its people. He also enjoyed the township’s open spaces and fresh air. Schwab spent 38 years as a volunteer National Registered EMT with the Reily Fire Department and served 27 years as a lieutenant with the Reily Township Volunteer Life Squad before retiring in December 2025. He was also an EMS continuing education instructor for the state of Ohio and a member of the Society of Fire Service Instructors. Schwab's involvement in township government extended to the state level. He was active in the Ohio Township Association and graduated from its Leadership Academy. He was also one of four township officials from across Ohio elected to the Ohio Township Association Risk Management Authority Board. Schwab was elected to a fifth term on the OTARMA board in 2025 and served at various times as chair, vice-chair and secretary. Locally, Schwab was a member of the Butler County Trustee and Fiscal Officer Association, where he had served as vice president, president and executive committeeman. Agriculture was another major part of Schwab's life. After earning a bachelor's degree in agriculture from The Ohio State University and taking postgraduate classes at Miami University, Schwab operated his family's Reily Township farm, raising beef cattle and hogs and growing crops. His township biography also noted his enjoyment of attending cattle shows around the country.

Schwab served as president of the Butler County Farm Bureau and the Extension Support Committee and was a past member of the Butler County Emergency Management Association Executive Committee. His agricultural and community work brought several honors, including the Butler County Farm Bureau's Golden Tractor Award, the Butler County Soil and Water Conservation District's Cooperator of the Year award and recognition as a Friend of Agriculture by the Butler County Farm Bureau. Schwab and his late wife, Carol, were also longtime supporters of Butler County 4-H and the Butler County Junior Fair. They received the Ed Zorn Memorial Family Extension Award in 2008 for their involvement with 4-H. Born Oct. 18, 1942, in Cincinnati, Schwab grew up in Colerain Township and graduated from Roger Bacon High School. He met Carol while attending Ohio State, and the couple married in 1965 before settling in Reily Township more than 50 years ago. They were married for 51 years before Carol's death in 2016. Schwab is survived by four sons, 12 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter, along with his siblings and extended family. A longtime member of St. Mary Church in Oxford, Schwab's Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will follow at St. Aloysius Church Cemetery in Shandon. His family has requested memorial contributions be made to the Reily Township Fire and Life Squad or Shared Harvest Foodbank.

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Nearly 1,500 Butler County voters had already cast ballots by early Tuesday evening as voting began for the Nov. 3 general election. According to unofficial turnout figures from the Butler County Board of Elections, 1,485 ballots had been cast as of 6:10 p.m. Tuesday, representing 0.60% of the county’s 248,787 eligible voters. The Board of Elections’ party-turnout figures showed 550 Republican voters, 530 Democrats, 403 unaffiliated voters and two Libertarians had cast ballots. Early in-person voting opened Tuesday morning at the Board of Elections office at 1802 Princeton Road in Hamilton and continues through Sunday, Nov. 1.  Election officials are already preparing for heavier traffic as Election Day approaches. Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, northbound Hampshire Drive between State Route 129 and Princeton Road will be closed during early-voting hours because of expected high turnout.  Board of Elections Director Nicole Unzicker said the traffic plan was developed with the Butler County Sheriff's Office, Butler County Engineer's Office, City of Hamilton, Ohio Department of Transportation and county commissioners.During the closure, motorists traveling either direction on State Route 129 are being directed to Exit 18 at Bypass 4 and then to Princeton Road. Hampshire Drive will remain open southbound for motorists leaving the Board of Elections and returning to State Route 129.  Early voting hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 23, with Saturday voting from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 24th. Hours expand during the final week, including evening hours and weekend voting. The final day of early in-person voting is Sunday, Nov. 1, from 1 to 5 p.m. There will be no in-person voting Monday, Nov. 2.  Voters can also cast absentee ballots by mail. Applications must be received by 8:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2 and received by the Board of Elections no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Completed absentee ballots may also be returned directly to the Board of Elections or its secure drop box by 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, Election Day.
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Two newly rebuilt rest areas along Interstate 75 in Butler County are now open following a $16 million investment in the facilities. The northbound and southbound rest areas are located just south of the Monroe exit. The former buildings were demolished and replaced at a cost of approximately $8 million each. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine joined state and local officials Monday to mark the opening of the new facilities, part of a statewide effort to replace aging rest areas while also using the stops to promote Ohio destinations. DeWine visited the southbound Butler County facility, where displays highlight attractions including the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Harriet Beecher Stowe House, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Findlay Market and Caesar Creek State Park. The facility also prominently features Cincinnati's American Sign Museum, with displays highlighting nearly a century of American signage. “In Ohio, the Heart of it All, our rest areas are not only a place for travelers to stop and stretch their legs, but also provide an opportunity to tell Ohio’s amazing stories,” DeWine said. The new Butler County facilities include amenities that go well beyond the traditional highway rest stop, including native Ohio plants, dog trails, rocking chairs and Storybook Trails where children can read a Dolly Parton Imagination Library book while walking a short trail with their families. Accessibility was also incorporated into the design. Family restrooms include universal changing stations with adjustable tables designed for people with disabilities or medical conditions and their caregivers. ODOT Director Pam Boratyn said the redesigned facilities are intended to serve as both safe stopping places and gateways to surrounding communities. “By providing cleaner, more accessible facilities with expanded truck parking, updated amenities, and features that highlight local attractions, we’re creating gateways that invite travelers to stop, explore, and support our communities and businesses,” Boratyn said. The Butler County project is part of a much larger overhaul of Ohio's highway rest areas. DeWine's plan calls for 36 new rest areas and upgrades to more than 40 others by the end of 2026. Two additional rebuilt I-75 rest areas have opened in Auglaize County near Wapakoneta. State officials say the redesigned facilities are also intended to promote tourism. Ohio recorded $58 billion in visitor spending in 2025, supporting more than 447,000 jobs. For Butler County, the $16 million project replaces both aging I-75 rest-area buildings along one of Southwest Ohio's busiest transportation corridors while giving travelers a new introduction to attractions throughout the region.
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(Photo Courtesy: Governor DeWine's Office)

Ohio motorists are being urged to keep a closer watch for deer as the state enters the months when the animals are most active — and collisions with them are becoming considerably more expensive. AAA Club Alliance says deer activity increases during the fall mating season from October through December, putting more animals on and near Ohio roadways. Chelsea Sick, spokesperson for AAA Club Alliance in Ohio, said drivers need to be particularly cautious around dawn and dusk. “Right now is fall mating season for deer,” Sick said. “We’re going to see more of those animals out on our roadways, crossing roads unexpectedly.” Sick said deer are particularly active between 5 and 8 a.m. and again between 5 and 8 p.m., times that coincide with morning and evening travel for many motorists. AAA recommends drivers reduce their speed and continually scan both sides of the road, particularly near wooded areas, ponds, streams, golf courses and locations marked by deer-crossing signs. Drivers should also remember that seeing one deer may mean more are nearby. “Deer often travel in groups, so if you see one crossing or standing near the road, others may be close behind,” Sick said. When there is no approaching traffic, high beams can give motorists additional time to spot an animal. Sick said the additional illumination can also reflect from a deer's eyes, making it easier to see. AAA advises motorists not to swerve if a deer suddenly enters their path. Leaving the lane can result in a more serious collision with another vehicle or roadside object. Beyond the safety risk, the financial consequences of hitting a deer have risen sharply. AAA data shows the average animal-strike insurance claim among its Ohio policyholders reached $7,424 in 2025 — approximately 45% higher than in 2020. Sick said much of that increase can be traced to technology now built into vehicles. Cameras, radar and driver-assistance equipment are increasingly located in areas frequently damaged in deer collisions, including bumpers, grilles, mirrors and windshields. “A lot of that technology is in the front of our cars,” Sick said. “Those are the areas most impacted by an animal strike, and so that's what's driving these costs up here in Ohio.” While most animal collisions result primarily in property damage, some have deadly consequences. According to figures cited by AAA from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, nearly 2,000 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving animals from 2015 through 2024, an average of 196 deaths annually. Seventy-three people were killed in animal-related crashes in Ohio during that period. If a collision with a deer does occur, AAA recommends motorists move their vehicle to a safe location when possible, turn on their hazard lights and contact law enforcement. Drivers should not approach an injured animal because it may behave unpredictably. Sick said motorists should also understand their auto insurance coverage. Damage caused by striking an animal is generally handled through comprehensive coverage rather than collision coverage. For the next several months, however, prevention begins with recognizing when and where motorists are most likely to encounter deer. “It's not just property damage that could really cost you. It could even cost a life,” Sick said. “Slowing your speed during those peak times, really keeping your eye on both sides of the roadways, is a really important step to keep your family safe.”

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