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Sunday, January 23, 2011
Amelia grad returns from Afghanistan Mulvaney served for a year in a remote outpost BY BRETT ROLLER Sun staff
The Clermont County Commissioners recently welcomed Army Specialist Vincent Mulvaney home from what has been dubbed the deadliest place on Earth. Commissioner Bob Proud said the valley has been given the nickname due to almost daily fire fights between American soldiers and Taliban forces. The valley was also featured in a National Geographic documentary titled “Restrepo.” Mulvaney spent a week short of a year in Korengal Valley in Afghanistan where 42 American soldiers were killed between 2001 and 2010. He was part of the force involved in the withdrawal from the valley last spring. The remote base tucked away among the hills along the Afghanistan and Pakistan borders could only be reached by helicopter, which made resupply difficult. Every Clermont soldier the
PHOTO / BRETT ROLLER
Welcoming Army Spc. Vincent Mulvaney, center, home from Afghanistan are, from left, Veteran’s Service Commissioners Ken Cook, Don Chandler, Bob Derr, and Howard Daugherty, and Clermont County Commissioner Archie Wilson, Mulvaney, Commissioner Ed Humphrey, District director for Jean Schmidt Gertrude Whitaker, Commissioner Bob Proud, and Veteran’s Services officer Frank Morrow.
commissioners have recognized has spoken of the importance of receiving mail and packages from home, but the supply problems also disrupted mail service for his unit. “It was pretty important to all of us. Getting something from home boosted our spirits,” Mulvaney said. “We
would always share packages with each other.” He said they went two months without receiving anything. Not only did they not have mail coming in, but they did not have mail going out. The lack of letters also took its toll on his parents, Carolyn and William.
“He could usually call home right before they went out (on patrol) to let us know they were OK,” Carolyn Mulvaney said. “As a parent I waited for those phone calls or checked on him on Facebook.” She emphasized the importance of supporting the soldiers.
“I’d like to say thank you to the families and community that supports the troops,” Carolyn Mulvaney said. “It is a blessing and they need all the support.” In addition to foot patrols, Mulvaney said he frequently met with the elders of the local tribe. Part of his role in the
region was to develop a relationship with the tribe in an effort to gain their support in finding the Taliban. “We would sit down and try to come up with solutions,” Mulvaney said. “It was pretty clear though, they didn’t want See Soldier, Page 2
Duke Energy awarded Milford man arrested on 13th OVI, weapons charge 20 percent tax reduction Hodge last held a valid drivers license in 1987 A Milford man is facing multiple felony charges after he was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while impaired and carrying a concealed weapon. If convicted it will be the 52-year-old David Hodge’s 13th DUI conviction. At about 12:20 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 13 a Miami Township officer approached Hodge’s stopped vehicle on state Route 126 near Miamiville with the intention of providing assistance to the driver of a disable vehicle. According to a press, release the officer offered Hodge a ride to a nearby residence and gave him a pat-down before admitting him into the cruiser. During the pat down, Hodge allegedly reached for a pistol in his trouser pocket, which the officer quickly obtained.
The officer also located a box of ammunition in Hodge’s pocket. Hodge was placed under arrest for concealing a weapon. Upon further inspection, the officer found six rounds were missing from the ammunition box. All six were found in the revolver, and two had been fired. A second officer was called to the scene to perform a field sobriety test and Hodge admitted to consuming alcohol and driving to the location. Hodge was transported to Clermont County Jail and charged with the felony of driving under the influence with at least five prior DUI convictions in the last 20 years, driving under suspension for driving without insurance, using unauthorized registration plates, possession of
BY BRETT ROLLER Sun staff
Hodge
a deadly weapon with a previous felony conviction, and carrying a concealed weapon. Hodge has been convicted of OVI six times in the last 20 years and has 12 lifetime offenses. He has several convictions in northern Clermont County since 1998 including a 2001 arrest by the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office for driving under the influence and aggravated trafficking in See Hodge, Page 3
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This week’s photograph, submitted by Peggy Hall, was taken on SR 133 near Bethel. The Clermont County Beauty Spot is one of a series of weekly pictures published from nominations from our readers. If you know of a spot, public or secret, in the county you think is without compare, tell our photographer where it is located by calling (513) 732-2511, Ext. 119, or submit a photograph of that special someplace.
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News for the New Richmond Exempted Village School District is better than expected, but the district will lose $334,000 annually following an announcement from Ohio Tax Commissioner Richard Levin. The Ohio Tax Commission has granted a 20 percent reduction in tax valuation of Duke Energy’s generating plant equipment. Duke originally applied for a 40 percent reduction of the valuation of its generating equipment and its transmission and distribution equipment. A reduction on transmission and distribution equipment was denied. The reduction means the school district will lose tax revenue from Duke’s
Beckjord plant. “Although the decision could have resulted in a $1.4 million loss to the New Richmond Exempted Village School District, we will lose $334,432 annually,” New Richmond’s Chief Financial Officer Teresa Napier said in a press release. “Our district suffered the largest loss in the State of Ohio.” Duke has 60 days to appeal the ruling and according to the press release they have already re-filed a petition of reassessment of their transmission and distribution equipment. Clermont County Auditor Linda Fraley has the option to file an appeal on behalf of the county. The denial of the reduction on transmission and distribution equipment prevented a county wide loss of about
$5.87 million annually in property taxes. The devaluation is retroactive to 2009 taxes. Duke originally filed their petition in Dec. 2009. They paid the full value of their first payment in February 2010 then withheld 20 percent of the taxes due in the second half of the year. Napier said the district setup an escrow account with $734,000 at the end of the district’s fiscal year on June 30, 2010 to prepare for a potential refund. She said the approval of only a portion of Duke’s request meant the district will not likely need to refund any taxes. “We’re just waiting for the end of the 60 day window (for Duke to file an appeal) before we release the escrow,” Napier said. “We try to operate here as conservative as possible.” The loss of revenue from Duke’s property taxes is just
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STAFF REPORT
Revenue loss totals $334K for New Richmond schools
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1777 St. Rt. 125, Hamersville, OH.