2023: The Year in Review, Part 1

The Highland County Press is recapping some of the top stories from 2023. The following is Part 1 of the series.

January

• State Senator Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro) and State Rep. Bob Peterson (R-Washington Court House) took their respective oaths of office Jan. 3.

• On Jan. 5, the McClain girls wrestling team earned the first dual meet win in program history, defeating Jackson, 24-6 at JHS. 

• Whiteoak senior Landon Barnett scored his 1,000th career point in a 56-46 boys basketball win over the visiting Manchester Greyhounds.

• Highland County commissioners held their 2023 organizational meeting Jan. 9, with the board appointing Terry Britton to serve as commission president. 

• The Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education met Jan. 9, where Bill Myers was reappointed board president and Beverly Rhoads was selected as vice president for 2023. 

• Wilmington College sponsored a trip to the Jan. 9 NCAA football championship game, sending their sports management students to Los Angeles for an opportunity to work at SoFi Stadium in a number of capacities. Among these students was 2022 Hillsboro Christian Academy graduate Tyler Tomera.

• During their Jan. 11 meeting, Highland County commissioners announced that parties reached an agreement in ongoing union negotiations with the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, for a three-year contract.

• Hillsboro Mayor Justin Harsha delivered his annual State of the City report during the Jan. 12 Hillsboro City Council meeting, highlighting several accomplishments of the city in the past year and sharing a positive outlook for 2023. 

• A contract for the Roberts Lane extension design and an ordinance to place an issue on the primary election ballot were among the legislation considered by Hillsboro City Council members in their first meeting of the 2023 calendar year Jan. 12. New council member Jo Sanborn was also welcomed in her first meeting. 

• Walker Real Estate Advisors announced Jan. 18 that Glenn Hess has been inducted in the Ohio Auctioneers Association's Hall of Fame. 

• Highland County commissioners voted to expend over a million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funding during their Jan. 18 meeting, officially earmarking the money for two previously discussed projects. Via resolution, commissioners voted 3-0 to direct a portion of the county’s Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) payment to the Highland County Fairgrounds livestock building project, in the amount of $885,000. They also voted 3-0 to approve an accompanying $1,247,000 contract with Perkins Carmack Construction, LLC. Also approved was a resolution to direct a portion of the county’s CLFRF payment to the Rainsboro Sanitary Sewer Force Main project in the amount of $178,208.76; and an accompanying contract with Unger Construction.

• After five months of correspondence between the Village of Greenfield and the Highland County Land Reutilization Corporation, the county’s land bank board agreed Jan. 19 to pay $50,000 toward the demolition of the former Elliott Hotel building in Greenfield. 

• Wright State's Cierra Lively broke an indoor school record in the high jump at 1.64 meters as the Wright State track and field program competed at the Mastodon Invitational on Jan. 21 inside the Lutheran Health Fieldhouse. The clearance by the sophomore bested the previous record mark of 1.63 meters held by Kristina Bennett and herself. 

• Arguments in the Larry Householder and Matt Borges criminal trial began in the Southern District of Ohio Jan. 24. (Months later, The Highland County Press also broke the story that the jury foreman was McClain High School educator and longtime coach Jarrod Haines.) 

• During a special meeting Jan. 30, Highland County Land Reutilization Corporation board members voted to accept a $78,000 bid for brownfield work at the site of the former Rocky Fork Truck Stop.

• After nearly 36 years of service to Merchants National Bank, James (Jim) D. Evans, President and Chief Operating Officer, retired Jan. 31. 

February

• The Whiteoak Lady Wildcats gained a share of the SHAC championship after defeating the Manchester Lady Greyhounds 63-27 on Feb. 2. Whiteoak’s championship was shared with Peebles, as both teams finished 7-6 in conference play and 13-9 in the regular season. This was Whiteoak’s first championship season — and first with a winning record — in 15 years.

• The Fairfield Local High School Athletic Department hosted the inaugural Chad Hodson Classic on Feb. 4. The CHC was developed to honor the life and memory of 1998 Fairfield High graduate and former Lions coach Chad Hodson, who passed away in 2019 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. A portion of the proceeds from the Classic will be given to the Chad Hodson Memorial Scholarship, which will be annually presented to a Fairfield senior in Hodson’s memory. 

• Fairfield girls basketball senior Peyton Magee earned her 1,000th career point in the Lady Lions’ 67-17 win over the visiting Blanchester Lady Wildcats Feb. 4 at the Chad Hodson Classic. 

• On Feb. 4, McClain FFA took a team of four students — Abby Mustard, Mackenzie Corbin, Hunter Miller and Brooke Baldwin — to The Ohio State Engineering Building to participate in the Agricultural Communications CDE, where they earned state runner-up honors. 

• On Feb. 9, the Paint Valley Alcohol Drug Abuse and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board announced that Penny Dehner, executive director, planned to retire in April. The Board of Directors selected Melanie Swisher to succeed Dehner as executive director on April 8.

• Highland County EMA Director Dave Bushelman reported that on Feb. 9, the communications tower at the Highland County Justice Center was damaged during high winds. According to the National Weather Service, there were reports of wind gusts as high as 48 miles per hour in Highland County that day. The old tower was taken down and replaced with a temporary tower supplied by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

• The Fairfield Lions boys basketball team and first-year head coach Quentin Williams earned Fairfield’s first perfect conference record since 1976, as well as their first-ever undefeated regular-season record, Friday, Feb. 11. In the win over Lynchburg-Clay, LC senior Brady Chisman also earned his 1,000th career point.

• A streak that began in 2008 finally came to an end Feb. 15, as the sectional championship drought concluded with the No. 6 Whiteoak Lady ’Cats defeating the No. 11 seeded Western Latham Lady Indians, 47-30.

• The African American Awareness Research Council and the Highland County District Library presented the annual Black History Month program Feb. 18 at the Hillsboro Church of the Nazarene. The 2023 program honored Dr. Craig McKinney for his accomplishments. Guest speaker George Ford also gave a presentation on the history of the C.R. Patterson and Sons carriage company.

• Following a one-day trial in Highland County Common Pleas Court, a Leesburg woman was convicted of two felony counts Feb. 21 and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Rebecca M. Martin was indicted in August 2022 on one count each of grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony. The jury deliberated for 35 minutes before finding Martin guilty of both charges.

• Miami University women's basketball senior and former Lynchburg-Clay standout Peyton Scott was named to the 2022-23 Academic All-District® Women's Basketball Team, selected by College Sports Communicators, on Feb. 21.

• Lynchburg-Clay Middle School announced Feb. 23 that LCMS principal Dr. Casey Smith was selected as one of the 2023-24 Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators Principal of the Year nominees. 

• Highland County ACCESS, a program created to build a stronger Highland County workforce, celebrated the program’s official kickoff with a ribbon cutting from the Highland County Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 24.

• McClain junior Elana Unger earned a spot on the podium in two events at the 2023 OHSAA Swimming & Diving State Tournament Feb. 24, as she qualified for both state Para-Swimming events for a second straight season. She earned a third-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle, and in the 100-yard backstroke event, Unger was fifth place. 

• The University of Cincinnati men's track and field team claimed its first American Athletic Conference Championship, and first track title since 2004, Feb. 25. The AAC championship marked Hillsboro senior Austin Goolsby’s final indoor meet. He placed fifth in pole vault with a jump of 16-8.25.

• The National Honor Society announced Feb. 27 that Fairfield senior Peyton Magee was selected as an NHS Scholarship semifinalist. This prestigious honor earned Magee a $3,200 scholarship award.

• Though the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs lost their Division III SE District Semifinal game on Feb. 28 to the No. 1 state-ranked Minford Falcons, 77-52, the Mustangs saw senior Ian Waits earn his 1,000th career point in the final moments of his high school career. 

March

• The storybook season for the Fairfield Lions had its final chapter written March 2 in the Division IV SE District Finals as their undefeated streak of 24 consecutive wins came to a close as the Franklin Furnace Green Bobcats defeated the Lions, 43-38 at the Ohio University Convocation Center. 

• WVNU’s Danny Dodds was selected as a recipient of the OHSAA/SEDAB 2023 Media Award for his coverage of the student-athletes in the Southeast District. Dodds was honored March 2 at the Ohio University Convocation Center. 

• A tornado touched down in Highland County March 3 at approximately 5:23 p.m. The tornado touched down southwest of Hillsboro, moving from St. Rt. 138 through the communities of Fairview and Willettsville, toward the Village of Highland. The tornado caused damage to approximately 20 homes, a church and multiple barns and outbuildings in the area. 

• It was standing room only at the Highland County Chamber of Commerce’s 11th annual Ag is Everyone’s Business event on March 3 at Boeckmann Farms. Speakers included Brian Baldridge, recently appointed Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture; Ty Higgins, Senior Director of Communications and Media Relations for Ohio Farm Bureau; and keynote speaker Amanda Radke, a fifth-generation rancher from Mitchell, S.D., and ag industry columnist and speaker. 

• Whiteoak junior Jake Ward made his state bowling debut March 4, earning a 74th-place finish on the highest stage of them all at the OHSAA Division II State Bowling Tournament. Ward scored a 508 in the individual tournament.

• The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association All-Southeast District boys basketball teams were announced with 12 Highland County players selected by members of the media. This year’s list included three Highland County boys basketball players (Landon Barnett, Brady Chisman and T.J. Mootz) earning first-team honors in their respective divisions. In addition, Fairfield first-year head coach Quentin Williams was selected as Coach of the Year for Division IV. 

• The 40th annual Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association All-Southeast District girls basketball teams were released March 4, with 10 Highland County players selected by members of the media. Highland County’s lone first-team honoree was Fairfield senior Peyton Magee.

• After 23 years of academic and spiritual service, the closure of St. Mary Catholic School in Hillsboro after the 2022-23 school year was announced, as confirmed to The Highland County Press March 6.

• Representatives of the Highland County Society for Children and Adults and site sponsors Merchants National Bank introduced the poster child and poster adult for the 51st annual Ernie Blankenship Radio-Telethon March 6. Eric Cruea, 19, was this year’s poster adult, and Addie Johnson, 6, served as poster child. Their mothers attended the event with them and shared their children’s stories, along with testifying about the Society’s impact on their families. 

• It was a party over three decades in the making March 7, as outgoing Highland County auditor Bill Fawley was celebrated by friends, family and public officials from across the state upon his retirement. Fawley served as county auditor for 32 years, having most recently been elected in November 2018 for his eighth term in office.

• Peyton Scott was named third-team All-MAC by the conference office on March 7.

• Festival of the Bells committee president Tom Zile announced plans for this year’s festival — including the artists for the annual concert series — and recognized longtime committee member Rick Williams March 8. Williams officially retired from the committee in December 2022 after 34 years of service, including 26 as committee president or co-chairman. His wife, Connie, also stepped down after two decades of service as a committee member and treasurer.

• Shawn M. Howland, 22, of Greenfield was sentenced March 8 to 24 months in prison, after pleading guilty to aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, a third-degree felony.

• Celebrating 4-H Week as well as Highland County 4-H’s centennial, representatives from the Extension Office and local 4-H members were on hand March 8 to accept a proclamation from Highland County commissioners.

• During the March 8 commissioners meeting, Highland County Emergency Management Agency Director David Bushelman provided an overview of the county’s emergency response efforts after two confirmed tornadoes touched down March 3. As a result of the tornadoes and high winds, Bushelman said approximately “20 percent of customers in Highland County,” or about 4,500 households, lost power.

• The United States District Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced March 9 that a federal jury found former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and codefendant and former Ohio Republican Party chair Matt Borges guilty of “participating in a racketeering conspiracy involving $61 million in bribes paid to pass and uphold a billion-dollar nuclear plant bailout.”

• Steven Conrad resigned March 9 as Hillsboro city treasurer, effective immediately, while Hillsboro Mayor Justin Harsha appointed Dawson Barreras as treasurer hours later. 

• Darcy Binegar, 26, of Greenfield was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison March 9, after previously pleading guilty to four counts of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine.

• The Ohio School Boards Association recognized Steve Cox of the Bright Local School Board of Education as a recipient of the 2023 OSBA Service Award March 9.

• Alex Butler was sworn in as Highland County Auditor on March 10 at his Hillsboro home. 

• On March 11 at 2:39 p.m., the Hillsboro Police Department responded to 801 Treewood Drive (North West St.), Hillsboro, in reference to a 911 call. Upon officers' arrival, it was determined that a 53-year-old man had suffered a fatal gunshot wound. The Hillsboro Police Department requested assistance from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, BCI&I for crime scene processing. 

• Four local wrestlers competed at the 2023 OHSAA State Wrestling Championships held in Columbus at the Jerome Schottenstein Center during the weekend of March 11. McClain’s Ethan Hill competed in the 215 pound weight class in Division II, finishing the event 0-2, and Nikkiah Smith went 0-2 in the 190-pound class. For Hillsboro, Natasha Knight was 1-2 in the 155-pound class, and Mia Skinner was 0-2 in the 115-pound weight class.

• The 2022-23 Hillsboro Indians boys bowling team competed at the Division I OHSAA State Bowling Championships March 11 at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl, where they made the championship round of eight. The Indians placed eighth overall out of the 16 teams in the event, as they fell to No. 1 seeded Hilliard Davidson (HHS was the No. 8 seed in the bracket).

• Fairfield head coach Quentin Williams was presented the Southern Hills Athletic Conference Boys Basketball Coach of the Year award during the SHAC winter sports banquet March 12. Whiteoak’s Landon Barnett earned Co-Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors for the 2022-23 season.

• The Highland County Land Bank collaborated with the Ohio Department of Development, Tetra Tech and Thompson Petroleum to complete the UST system removal, building demolition and the disposal of petroleum-contaminated soil at the former Rocky Fork Truck Stop, as announced by the land bank March 15.

• Highland County commissioners voted to make a budget modification in the amount of $200,000 for Children Services March 15, as Highland County Job & Family Services Director Jeremy Ratcliff spoke about a recent increase in children in HCCS care. Ratcliff said the agency was “short on funds” for their January placement costs, as the 2023 calendar year started with 80 new investigations.

• On March 15, the Bright Local Board of Education unanimously voted to approve Jason Iles to become the next superintendent of the Bright Local School District. Jason Iles had served as the Whiteoak JH/HS principal over the last four years. 

• The UC Clermont women’s basketball team claimed the 2023 Small College Division II National Championship for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association in a 60-46 win over the Johnson & Wales Charlotte Wildcats March 16 at Virginia State University. The team included Ella Newkirk, a Fairfield graduate.

• Governor Mike DeWine announced March 16 that his administration is awarding more than half a million dollars in grants that will help more teenagers in low-income families get access to free driver training. The City of Hillsboro received $10,000 as part of the new Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program. 

• Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Brianne Abbott read a lengthy Imagine Hillsboro strategic plan review and report at the Hillsboro City Council’s March 16 meeting. Hillsboro City Council members and city administration continued discussion of the Roberts Lane extension and other infrastructure improvements during the meeting. During his report, Hillsboro Mayor Justin Harsha gave council members and others in attendance a copy of the most recent design for the Roberts Lane extension.

• Evans Landscaping crews began working to demolish the former Elliott Hotel in the Village of Greenfield March 20. 

• The development of the practice field has been a proposed project for the Greenfield schools for a few years now, and on March 20, an official groundbreaking was held at what is to be 750 McClain Ave. 

• The Division III and IV girls basketball All-Ohio teams were announced March 20 by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. Highland County honorees included Fairfield senior Peyton Magee (Div. III Second Team); Lynchburg-Clay juniors Jade Massey and Addison West and Fairfield junior Faith Donley (all Div. III Honorable Mention); and Whiteoak junior Jaylie Parr (Div. IV Honorable Mention).

• A Highland County man was sentenced March 21 for his role in a federal drug conspiracy case. Judge Douglas R. Cole in U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio sentenced Jeremy Jones to 33 months in prison, with credit for time served. Jones was also ordered to forfeit $5,844 in U.S. currency and 10 separate weapons.

• Highland County commissioners issued a proclamation honoring the Fairfield Lions boys basketball team during the March 22 commission meeting.

• The Highland County Republican Party celebrated its 2023 Lincoln Day Dinner March 22 in Hillsboro at the Hillsboro Global Methodist Church Robison Hall, with 150 guests enjoying an evening of good food and fellowship. Speakers included Ohio GOP Chair Alex Triantaflou and keynote speaker Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. Paint Township Trustee and Republican Central Committee member Steven M. Karnes was named “Republican of the Year.”

• Deciding it was time to advance in his education career, McClain’s Jarrod Haines stepped down as the head coach of the Lady Tigers basketball program after 10 years and accepted the role of assistant principal at Edward Lee McClain High School, as reported March 22.

• Highland County commissioners voted to issue the first PILOT invoice — a first half-year payment of $450,000 — for the New Market Solar March 22 meeting. Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve sending the letter and invoice to Liberty I Renewables - Hecate Energy for the first “service payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), including the additional annual service payment.”

• The Division III and IV boys basketball All-Ohio teams were announced March 22 by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. Named to the team from Highland County were Lynchburg-Clay senior Brady Chisman (Div. III Special Mention), Whiteoak senior Landon Barnett (Div. IV Special Mention) and Fairfield senior TJ Mootz (Div. IV Special Mention).

• A then-former Highland County deputy sheriff  appeared in Highland County Common Pleas Court March 23 and pleaded not guilty to a bill of information charging him with reckless homicide. Special Prosecutor Anthony Pierson, Assistant Ohio Attorney General, filed the bill of information charging Jonathan Dustin Malone of Hillsboro with the third-degree felony.

• On March 28, the Greenfield Police Department along with the Highland County Task Force served a search warrant at 645 McKell Avenue in Greenfield. The warrant was the result of an investigation into fentanyl trafficking in the Greenfield area which investigators found largely centered around 645 McKell Ave. Arrested were Daryl Bumgarner, 34, and Hope Rowland, 25, both of Greenfield. Bond was set at $1 million for each.

• Southern State Community College announced March 29 that two SSCC students were named Coca-Cola Academic Team scholars. As part of the 2023 Coca-Cola Academic Team, Robert (Alex) Bradshaw, of Martinsville in Clinton County, was named a Silver Scholar and received a $1,250 scholarship. Peyton Magee, of Hillsboro in Highland County, was named a Bronze Scholar and received a $1,000 scholarship.

• After two appointments in the same day with Greenfield City Manager Todd Wilkin, Highland County commissioners agreed March 29 to honor their commitment to contribute $125,000 in grant match dollars toward Greenfield’s $3.4 million rail line project.

• The Hillsboro and Greenfield Rotary Clubs, in conjunction with event sponsor Merchants National Bank and the support of numerous individuals, businesses and organizations across the county, reached a milestone not seen in Highland County in a decade and a half. The 51st annual Ernie Blankenship Radio-Telethon raised $150,434 for the Highland County Society for Children and Adults March 29. This year’s telethon marked the first time that the amount raised has surpassed $150,000 since 2008.

• On the 50th anniversary of the day the final U.S. troops left Vietnam, Highland County recognized its “Fallen Sons” and its surviving veterans during a National Vietnam War Veterans Day observance March 29 at the Hillsboro Eagles 1161 Aerie and at the Highland County Veterans Memorial.

• The Cincinnati Reds’ Opening Day festivities March 30 included the annual parade, which included marching bands from Lynchburg-Clay High School and Whiteoak High School.

April

• The Board of Trustees of Wilmington College April 2 announced the departure of President Trevor Bates, effective immediately. During this transitional period, the Board has appointed Dr. Corey Cockerill, a respected leader within the College community, as interim president. This will ensure a "smooth and uninterrupted continuation" of its academic and administrative activities.

Cockerill, a faculty member since 2008, serves as assistant dean of academic affairs/professor of communication arts and agriculture. Cockerill, of Leesburg, is also a member of the Fairfield Local Schools Board of Education.

• The Fourth District Court of Appeals April 3 overruled a second appeal attempt by a former Village of Highland councilman who received four sentences of life without parole in August 2021 after a jury found him guilty of raping a child over an eight-year period. The Fourth District Court of Appeals’ decision overruled Aaron Ludwick’s three assignments of error.

• Both of the Hillsboro FFA business classes and other chapter members took the online exam for grain merchandising. The top members were Ashley Kimball, Caiden Fauber, Abby Miller and Ben Remsing, who competed at the state level on April 4. Overall, the team placed third in the state competition. Kimball placed fourth in the state individually.

• Highland County commissioners voted April 5 to commit $750,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the City of Hillsboro’s planned Roberts Lane extension. 

• The Highland County Board of Commissioners celebrated the official grand opening of the new Highland County Dog Pound facility and location with a ribbon cutting from the Highland County Chamber of Commerce on April 7. Owned by the Highland County Board of Commissioners, the Highland County Dog Pound is located at 9480 North Shore Drive in Hillsboro.

• Whiteoak’s Kaden Moon-Stone pitched a no-hitter April 8 where WHS defeated Rock Hill 20-0 as part of the 2023 Deb’s Classic Whiteoak Wooden Bat Invitational. The Wildcats also won the tournament.

• The former mayor of Sardinia was sentenced in U.S. District Court April 10 to serve 28 months in prison for stealing more than $700,000 from the family-owned business for which she worked. Tina Coday-Townes, 49, pleaded guilty Oct. 20, 2022 to wire fraud. She was also ordered to pay $697,000 in restitution to her former employer, $11,500 to the State of Ohio for fraudulently paid unemployment benefits and $35,000 to West American Insurance Company.

• A Highland County woman was sentenced April 11 to 10 years in prison, with credit for time served, after pleading guilty to her role in a federal drug conspiracy. Lisa Davis was one of 28 individuals charged in a superseding indictment filed in the Southern District of Ohio in October 2019. According to federal court records, Davis pleaded guilty to the narcotics conspiracy charge in July 2020. During a sentencing hearing held April 11 in the Southern District of Ohio, Judge Douglas R. Cole sentenced Davis to 120 months imprisonment with credit for time served. Davis was also ordered to make the following forfeitures: $4,791 in U.S. currency; $1,053 in U.S. currency; three handguns; two rifles; two pistols; two shotguns; and a revolver.

• Less than three years after settling an ongoing delinquent tax issue, Hangar 6 owner George Matthews filed a civil lawsuit April 12 against the Highland County Board of Commissioners and Highland County Airport Authority, seeking “a full refund of all amounts paid.” In June 2020, Highland County Treasurer Vickie Warnock filed action against Hangar 6, Inc. et al., seeking $28,092.88 in delinquent taxes since 2007 (payable in 2008) from the North Shore Drive business. The taxes were then paid in August 2020, and the case was dismissed. In the new lawsuit, Hangar 6 raised issues with the April 5, 2001 lease agreement between Hangar 6 and the county and with the “years of harassment, assessments and coerced payments” Hangar 6 alleges the county has imposed. The case is still pending.

• Hillsboro City Council moved forward with plans for funding the Roberts Lane extension, while a motion to approve an emergency resolution for municipal mowing services failed by a rare 1-5 vote, during the April 13 council meeting. Following their respective third readings and the recommendation of the finance committee, council voted 5-1 to approve two pieces of legislation for funding the Roberts Lane extension.

• A crowd shared their views on a proposal to implement a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) in uptown Hillsboro during the April 13 Hillsboro City Council meeting, as council received the application from administration and heard the first reading of legislation for the possible DORA. Not only were the citizens almost evenly divided — nine comments were against the DORA, seven were in favor of it — but later in the  meeting, council was also divided on the question of whether to hold a public hearing for further debate. After a tie-breaking vote by council president Tom Eichinger, it was determined not to hold a hearing.

• The stage was set for both the Fairfield Lions and Whiteoak Wildcats to put on a highly skilled display of baseball on April 13, especially from the mound. Other than one inning where the host Wildcats committed two errors — which led to Fairfield runs — the game was flawlessly played between two of the strongest teams in southern Ohio. Both teams were ranked in the state for Division IV by the OHSBCA, with WHS No. 3 and Fairfield No. 20. WHS senior pitcher Landon Barnett and Fairfield junior pitcher Gabe Fouch saw their pitches hit in the 80s. They both kept their opponents off-balanced, and neither allowed an earned run, but when the final out was made, it was the Lions left standing, defeating the previously undefeated Wildcats, 2-0.

• Greenfield was gearing up for grant-funded projects, according to City Manager Todd Wilkin during his report to council at their meeting April 17. Wilkin discussed the village being the recipient of two CDBG awards, one for two new tornado sirens and the other for a project to alleviate the massive flooding that occurs at Sycamore Circle on the west end of town; a $450,000 grant and a zero-percent interest $1 million loan for rebuilding the infrastructure of a portion of Fourth Street; and in the final stages of being awarded more than $1.5 million for water repairs.

• Honda announced April 17 it has honored 54 North American suppliers for outstanding performance in supplying the company with parts and materials during 2022, with Weastec, Inc. in Hillsboro receiving an award for Excellence in Quality and Delivery and the Challenging Spirit Award.

• A dream that started almost 20 years ago recently became reality for a Leesburg native, as 2010 Fairfield graduate Cody Davidson completed the 2023 Boston Marathon April 17.

• On April 18, the Ohio Educational Service Center Association recognized Ohio’s top students from across the state during the 34th Annual Franklin B. Walter All-Scholastic Awards Program, held at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center, following the OESCA’s annual spring meeting. Evan Fender of Hillsboro High School was selected as the Highland County recipient.

• As Mackenzie Edison marked her one-year anniversary as Highland County land bank coordinator, the Highland County Land Reutilization Corporation board discussed and celebrated the successes of two state grant programs throughout their April 20 meeting. Edison announced that all Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Grant projects — a total of 19 properties in Hillsboro (11), Mowrystown (five) and Lynchburg (three) — had been officially completed. Edison also reported that the first phase of the Rocky Fork Truck Stop Brownfield project was “completed,” with the site cleared and “all the tanks removed.”

• In an 8-1 vote, members of the Ohio Power Siting Board and two local ad hoc board members voted to issue a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need for the construction of the Palomino Solar project in Dodson and Union Townships during a meeting April 20.

• On April 22, Hillsboro won a non-conference doubleheader against Williamsburg at home, by scores of 10-0 and 8-4. In game one, the Lady Indians saw Camryn Spruell toss a no-hitter.

• Former McClain Lady Tigers basketball standout Shania Massie was officially announced as the MHS varsity girls basketball head coach April 24 with the Greenfield Exempted Village Schools Board approving of the recommendation for her to become the head coach.

• Highland County Republican Party Executive Chair Paulette Donley announced April 24 the appointment of Deborah J. Sansone as Hillsboro city treasurer. 

• On April 25, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss filed an entry denying a motion to dismiss the case against then-former Highland County deputy sheriff Jonathan Dustin Malone.

• Individuals from the Village of Greenfield attended a third meeting in the same month to discuss a federal funding request April 26, while Greenfield City Manager Todd Wilkin and county commissioners engaged in their third public disagreement over finances — on four separate issues — in the past five months.  

• The Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board announced April 26 that Kelly Dennis had recently joined its staff as the new Associate Director.

• Highland County commissioners took a major step toward the county’s planned sewer improvements at Rocky Fork Lake, as they voted to award the Rocky Fork Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project (Phase 1) bid to Doll Layman, Ltd., in the amount of $2,597,700.

• Ohio State Fair officials announced the 2023 Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board, as reported April 27. The 2023 Junior Fair Board (JFB) was comprised of 20 young Ohioans from 12 Ohio counties, including Sara Newsome, President, 4-H, Second Year, and Wyatt Morrow, At-Large, First Year, both from Highland County.

• Following a trial in Highland County Common Pleas Court April 27, a jury convicted Jennifer M. Baker, 60, of Hillsboro woman of a second-degree felony charge of felonious assault. The jury found Baker guilty of felonious assault and not guilty of a lesser finding of aggravated assault stemming from a “sudden passion or in a sudden fit of rage.”

• Whiteoak senior pitcher Landon Barnett recorded a perfect game April 27 as the Wildcats dominated host Manchester by a 13-0 score in five innings.

• The Hillsboro Business Complex, LLC in collaboration with JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development and the city of Hillsboro, April 28 announced a $1,038,000 investment to redevelop three adjacent buildings in the historic section of downtown Hillsboro. The planned development includes the renovation of existing office space on the ground floor and the creation of co-working/shared workspace on the second floor of all three buildings.

• The McClain FFA chapter took four members — Toree Wareiks, Hannah Crago, Cade Sponcil and Hunter Miller — to the state livestock judging contest on April 28, where the team placed seventh. 

• The District 13-OH6 Lions Convention was held April 28-29 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Blue Ash. Lion Chris Hamlin from the Lynchburg Lions Club was named Lion of the Year for Zone 7. She received a special trophy and was introduced at the annual awards banquet.
 
• On April 29, five McClain FFA members — Maguire Ross, Brooke Baldwin, Reese Roble, Avery Murphy and Addison Goddard — competed in an agricultural issues FFA contest and placed sixth in the state.

• The New Way to Recovery Drug Court Docket of the Highland County Common Pleas Court celebrated its largest-ever graduating class Sunday, April 30, with 12 individuals recognized in the fourth graduation ceremony in the program’s history. The April 2023 graduating class included Amber Blankenship, Daniel Breakfield, Travis Carter, Anthony Gillingham, Lacey Hensley, Mike Hornschemeier, Joshua Knisley, Melody Schrader, Larry Smith, Jayson Vilvens, Kevin Wright and Sydney Yoakem.