Child severely burned now recovered, West Side honored with parade and more: 5 uplifting stories this week

Hamilton West Side Little League All-Stars were honored for their performance in the Little League World Series with a parade and ceremony on the stage at RiversEdge Amphitheater Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021 in Hamilton. NICK GRAHAM / STAFF

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Hamilton West Side Little League All-Stars were honored for their performance in the Little League World Series with a parade and ceremony on the stage at RiversEdge Amphitheater Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021 in Hamilton. NICK GRAHAM / STAFF

Here’s a look at five positive Butler County stories that were in the news this week:


McCrabb: Butler County child severely burned in bonfire now recovered as family looks back 1 year later

Drew Puckett, 3, plays at a park Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021 in Hanover Township. Puckett was treated by Shriner's Children's Ohio for severe burns to his feet last year after he walked through hot coals that remained after a campfire. NICK GRAHAM / STAFF

Credit: Nick Graham

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Credit: Nick Graham

Drew Puckett was oblivious to the commotion around him.

He was at Hanover Park on a hot and humid Thursday morning with his mother, younger brother, Aiden, and grandmother along with two members of the media and a representative from Shriners Children’s Ohio.

His mother was being interviewed while Drew’s picture was being taken.

He didn’t care. He was sitting on a miniature green bulldozer and was content scooping up rocks and sand in the bucket. His face, bare feet and clothes were covered in dirt.

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New taco shop coming to site of former pizza restaurant in Middletown

Hector's Taco Shop is set to open next month in the former space occupied by Don's Pizza, ????. The restaurant is owned by Hector Gonzalez. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

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Hector Gonzalez believes he can succeed where two pizza restaurants failed.

The 47-year-old Beavercreek resident has leased the space formerly occupied by pizza restaurants and he plans to open Hector’s Taco Shop by the middle of September. The restaurant will open at 1126 Central Ave. in Middletown, where Blast Pizza and later Don’s Pizza operated until it closed in May due to an employee shortage.

Gonzalez owns and operates Hector’s Taco Shop near Wright State University in Fairborn. After talking to his friend Ron Decker, a Middletown architect, and Scott Lewis, whose family owns several downtown buildings, Gonzalez was convinced to open his second location.

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Anticipated HUB on Main to open soon: What to expect

The building soon to be occupied by the HUB on Main bar and eatery (HUB stands for Hamilton's Urban Backyard) should open on Labor Day. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

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With marked progress in recent weeks, the HUB on Main bar and family-friendly indoor/outdoor eating place is hoping to open soon.

It’s technically not a restaurant because dining options will be provided by food trucks that will rotate in a “food-truck court” at the back of the property.

In recent weeks, artificial turf has been laid down in the beer-garden style outdoor area, which will be covered and enclosed during the winter. The HUB in its name stands for “Hamilton’s Urban Backyard.”

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Company to expand its cardboard-box manufacturing, perhaps in Hamilton

Saica Group President Ramón Alejandro told the Journal-News his company plans an aggressive $800 million expansion in the United States over the next five years years, with plans to add other manufacturing plants and a paper mill in the Midwest. Pictured is construction work on the Sacia plant in Hamilton. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Credit: Nick Graham

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Credit: Nick Graham

It’s possible that Hamilton, or some other area in southwest Ohio, could be the site of a new paper mill operated by Saica Group, the Spain-based company that’s building a cardboard-box-manufacturing factory in Hamilton.

Saica Group President Ramón Alejandro told the Journal-News his company plans an aggressive $800 million expansion in the United States over the next five years, with plans to add other manufacturing plants and a paper mill in the Midwest. The expansion may include company acquisitions or new plant construction.

Overall, the company plans to spend $2.8 billion on expansions globally through 2030, Alejandro said.

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Spooky Nook latest: More than 2 dozen events already booked for 2022

Media was invited to tour the Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill complex under construction Friday, April 30, 2021 in Hamilton. The sports complex side and convention and hotel space combined will be over 1 million sq. feet when completed. Mill One will feature a fitness center, climbing and adventure center, hardwood courts, sports courts, turf fields and more. Mill Two, pictured, by the river is the conference center and will feature 233 hotel rooms, 16 conference rooms and 60,000 sq. feet of tenant/ lease space. NICK GRAHAM / STAFF

Credit: Nick Graham

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Credit: Nick Graham

Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill is close to having about 30 sports weekends booked for 2022, and they will be locked in once the local booking system is in place.

The immense indoor sports complex is still scheduled to open around the end of this year, but events are being scheduled for April and later, Lisa Disbro, the facility’s director of hospitality, recently told an online audience gathered by the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

So far, the only event announced for Spooky Nook has been the 65th Model T Tour held by the Model T Ford Club International from July 17-22, 2022. That was announced in June.

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AND, for an extra sixth story of the day ...

PHOTOS: Hamilton West Side Little League team honored with parade

Hamilton West Side Little League All-Stars were honored for their performance in the Little League World Series with a parade and ceremony on the stage at RiversEdge Amphitheater Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021 in Hamilton. NICK GRAHAM / STAFF

Credit: Nick Graham

icon to expand image

Credit: Nick Graham

Hamilton West Side Little League All-Stars were honored for their performance in the Little League World Series with a parade and ceremony on the stage at RiversEdge Amphitheater Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021 in Hamilton. NICK GRAHAM / STAFF

SEE ALL OF THE PHOTOS


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