Vaccination plans: Butler County officials formalize steps for the next wave of residents
The rollout of the novel coronavirus vaccine is progressing slow in Butler County, and health officials are asking the public for their patience.
More than 361,600 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Ohio to those in Phase 1A or Phase 1B of the vaccination program, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the slow rollout is happening because “we don’t have enough.”
“We hope this is going to increase as we move forward, that will be additional streams (of the vaccine will be) flowing in,” he said during his Thursday afternoon press conference. “We literally have to take this one week at a time.”
Pedestrian killed in crash near McDonald’s in Hamilton
A man was killed early this morning in Hamilton while crossing a street near a busy intersection, according to police.
The 46-year-old was fatally struck by a vehicle about 5:45 a.m. on Witt Way. The road is near railroad tracks and behind the McDonald’s on High Street and Martin King Jr. Boulevard (Route 127).
The crash remains under investigation, according to Sgt. Rich Burkhardt. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene.
This ugly Hamilton lot will soon become a home for insect growth and plant life
In a celebration of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., two dozen volunteers on Saturday will begin creating a “pollinator park” that will provide nectar and egg-laying locations for insects, and also will provide fresh food for the nearby New Life Mission.
The volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday on two scrubby pieces of land next to railroad tracks at the eastern edge of Hamilton’s Second Ward neighborhood, also known as Riverview.
“It’s about 9,000-square-feet of nothing,” said city resident Jeff Gambrell, a leader of the project who has created an environmental organization called Go Green Hamilton.
United Way offering $250 to Butler County families suffering during coronavirus
Families with children in four Butler County school districts are eligible for up to $250 to assist with emergency needs under a new program supported by United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s Middletown area center.
United Way is partnering with Community Building Institute of Middletown to help 160 families with acute needs, many related to COVID-19, but also aims to connect them to long-term services, according to the United Way.
CBI will work with liaisons from each of the four area school districts — Middletown, Monroe, Edgewood and Madison — to identify families in need with school-age children. Each family can receive a maximum of $250 to assist with expenses not covered by other area social services, according to the United Way. While many needs are of a chronic nature due to long-term poverty, this fund will be focused on acute situations, especially those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fairfield to hold special meetings in city manager search process
Fairfield City Council did not discuss the process to hire a new city manager as anticipated earlier this week because state law doesn’t allow it.
Instead, Mayor Steve Miller said City Council will meet Tuesday, and then have special meetings on the Mondays between council meetings. Council meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Tuesday’s meeting, which will be at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, will discuss the process of hiring a new city manager.
“I think probably the best way to do it,” said Miller. “We’ve got to do this and do it right. We do ourselves a disservice if we squeeze it in after one of these meetings. Everyone’s tired after these meetings.”
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PHOTOS: Historic images of the paper mills that once drove Middletown industry
Paper mills used to be a driving economic force in Middletown, which is shown in historic photos.