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Holding on Stories on how we are making it through the year

T

hough it seemed at times it would never end, 2020 is in its fi nal days.

The year dragged us through a pandemic, social unrest and economic disaster. And as the hours and days and weeks ran together, we lived from one crisis to the next. It felt never-ending. But in that time, we found ways to persevere, to make it through the

next hour and day and week. We did it by fi nding what matters most to us.

The Enquirer staff spent the past nine months gathering the stories of those who found what they needed to navigate this most diffi cult year.

For some, it was an object, a memento, a piece of jewelry. For others, it was a person, a friend or relative, or a cause that gave life purpose.

Their stories appear in a special section inside today’s paper.

CORONAVIRUS VACCINE

What happens when it arrives?

Anne Saker Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

With the scheduled Dec. 15 arrival of dozens of dry-ice coolers, Ohio and Kentucky will deploy a new defense against the novel coronavirus – vials of vaccine invented, tested and put into service in record time. Here’s what we know about who is in line for the vaccines, as well as their distribution and storage.

First in line, and then ...

For at least the fi rst three weeks of availability, the Ohio Department of Health has directed that only people to be vaccinated are: h hospital caregivers. h residents and staff at nursing homes. h residents and staff at assisted-living homes. h residents and staff of psychiatric

facilities. h residents and staff at Ohio veterans homes. h residents and staff of group homes or centers and EMS responders.

Kentucky’s draft plan for distribution generally mirrors Ohio’s. Last week, Gov. Andy Beshear told the commonwealth’s school superintendents to prepare for vaccination campaigns for See VACCINE, Page 12A

Mary Burns, a UC pharmacist, prepares a dose on Aug. 24, the fi rst day the Moderna vaccine was administered in a UC/UC Health trial. PROVIDED, COLLEEN KELLEY/UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

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First COVID-19 vaccine shipments set to begin arriving in states Monday. 1B

‘Highway boondoggle’

Weather

Cincinnati’s Eastern Bypass makes list of nation’s worst projects. Local, 4A

High 45° ❚ Low 38° Blustery, colder Forecast, 2A

Volume 180th | No. 248 Home delivery pricing inside Subscribe 800-876-4500 ©2020 $3.00 The Cincinnati Enquirer

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

WEATHER

Find interactive radar, storm warnings, live storm chaser video, school closings and global weather searchable by city or ZIP code at Cincinnati.com/weather.

After three consecutive days with high temperatures in the 60s, a fairly rare occurrence in Cincinnati, the weather is headed back to normal, or colder, until Saturday. A series of small storm systems will head our way out of the Four Corners region. The first will bring some cloudiness to most of the region Monday, but Monday morning, east of I-71, a light mix of rain and snow may fall. Wednesday morning, the second system could be a troublemaker for Cincinnati. It looks like the arrival of light snow will coincide with the morning commute. Air temperatures will be colder than freezing, and ground temperatures will be cold enough for the snow to stick. Accumulations will be 2 inches or less, but you know what snow does to Cincinnati traffic.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS The Enquirer is committed to accuracy and will correct all errors of substance. To reach us, contact reader representative Robin Buchanan at 513-768-8308 or email her at accuracy@enquirer.com. Please include whether you are responding to content online, in social media or in the newspaper.

LOTTERIES OHIO

THE NATION

U.S. FORECAST

w- weather: s- sunny, pc- partly cloudy, sh- showers, t- thunderstorms, r- rain, sf- snow flurries, sn- snow, i- ice.

CITY

TODAY HI LO W

Akron 41 Albany !Albany, N.Y.49 Albuquerque 41 Amarillo 34 Anchorage 27 Asheville 62 Atlanta 66 Atlantic City 64 Austin 73 Baltimore 63 Baton Rouge 71 Birmingham 65 Bismarck 23 Boise 34 Boston 58 Buffalo 40 Burlington, Vt. 49 Charleston, S.C. 75 Charleston, W.Va. 51 Charlotte, N.C. 68 Cheyenne 32 Chicago 37 Cleveland 39 Columbia, S.C. 71 Columbus 43 Concord, N.H. 50 Dallas-Ft. Worth 46 Daytona Beach 77 Denver 37 Des Moines 33 Detroit 38 El Paso 52 Evansville 45 Fairbanks 1 Fort Lauderdale 82 Fort Myers 82 Fort Wayne 40 Grand Rapids 37 Great Falls 23 Hartford 58 Honolulu 85 Houston 70 Indianapolis 41 Jackson, Miss.

63 Jacksonville 77 Kansas City 42 Key West 79 Knoxville 60 Las Vegas 49

32 c 30 c 24 s 20 pc 22 c 43 pc 50 pc 41 pc 36 pc 42 pc 46 r 44 c 0 pc 25 c 35 pc 32 sf 29 r 59 c 37 c 53 pc 18 s 25 pc 31 c 56 sh 33 c 27 c 32 sh 64 pc 20 s 16 s 29 c 27 pc 33 c -3 pc 68 pc 66 pc 27 c 29 c 16 c 32 pc 70 pc 41 r 29 c 41 r 61 pc 24 c 72 pc 42 c 35 pc

Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation.

Temperature bands are highs for the day

MON HI LO W

CITY

TODAY HI LO W

MON HI LO W

38 36 42 47 27 47 56 44 55 45 54 51 20 35 39 38 36 71 43 59 36 32 37 63 40 36 52 77 37 27 37 55 43 9 83 79 35 33 35 38 85 53 36 50 75 41 79 48 57

Lexington Little Rock Los Angeles Louisville Madison Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Mobile Naples Nashville New Orleans New York City Norfolk, Va. Oklahoma City Omaha Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland, Maine Portland, Ore. Providence Raleigh Reno Richmond Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Antonio San Diego San Francisco San Jose Santa Fe St. Ste. Marie Seattle Sioux Falls South Bend Springfield, Ill. Syracuse Tampa Toledo Traverse City Tucson Tulsa Washington, D.C. Wichita Wilmington, N.C.

48 44 66 49 31 50 81 35 33 69 80 54 72 59 67 35 36 79 61 63 44 47 44 60 66 48 68 54 40 38 73 69 59 59 37 29 45 36 39 39 47 77 41 34 63 38 63 40 72

42 49 66 45 26 47 84 30 22 58 78 46 56 43 58 42 29 78 43 63 38 37 47 40 60 41 48 57 41 34 59 65 57 58 38 28 48 25 33 37 39 76 38 30 67 42 46 41 71

25 pc 24 pc 24 s 23 s 21 pc 25 r 36 r 29 r 35 s 30 r 39 pc 33 pc 7c 20 pc 30 sn 25 pc 21 pc 42 t 24 pc 32 r 17 c 20 pc 25 pc 36 r 23 pc 24 pc 36 s 61 t 18 c 16 pc 20 pc 33 s 25 s -2 sn 68 pc 66 pc 22 pc 18 pc 24 sn 27 sn 73 t 42 pc 23 s 32 s 51 t 24 pc 71 pc 29 r 37 s

37 c 33 r 49 pc 38 c 19 pc 36 r 69 pc 24 pc 14 s 49 r 66 pc 38 c 51 r 40 pc 53 pc 20 sn 15 s 63 pc 41 pc 43 s 33 c 29 c 40 r 34 pc 53 pc 28 r 46 pc 42 r 29 c 27 c 36 sh 50 s 48 r 46 r 15 s 23 pc 41 r 12 s 27 c 25 c 31 sn 65 pc 29 c 27 c 39 s 23 sn 43 pc 18 sn 58 sh

24 pc 28 s 46 s 27 s 8 pc 31 s 69 pc 18 pc 11 c 38 pc 67 pc 29 pc 45 pc 31 r 38 r 29 s 18 pc 62 t 31 r 39 s 25 sn 26 pc 40 r 29 r 32 r 23 pc 31 r 34 pc 25 pc 21 sn 36 s 45 pc 44 pc 40 pc 18 s 9 sn 42 c 17 c 22 pc 20 pc 25 c 63 t 20 pc 20 sf 34 s 29 s 32 r 27 pc 38 r

IN THE SKY

NEW Dec. 14

FIRST Dec. 21

FULL Dec. 29

(Drawings: Dec. 12) Pick 3 (early): 0 6 0 Pick 4 (early): 4 4 4 5 Pick 5 (early): 4 4 9 9 1 (Drawings: Dec. 11) Pick 3 (late): 3 5 8 Pick 4 (late): 1 9 5 3 Pick 5 (late): 0 5 3 7 5 Rolling Cash 5: 7 9 15 25 29 Classic Lotto: Saturday’s jackpot was an estimated $1.7 million.

LAST Jan. 6

Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset

Today

Tomorrow

7:49 a.m.

5:16 p.m.

6:31 a.m.

4:31 p.m.

7:49 a.m.

5:16 p.m.

7:46 a.m.

5:21 p.m.

110s 100s 90s 80s 70s 60s 50s 40s 30s 20s 10s 0s -0s -10s

KENTUCKY (Drawings: Dec. 12) Pick 3 (early): 5 6 6 Pick 4 (early): 2 3 7 6 (Drawings: Dec. 11) Pick 3 (late): 2 5 5 Pick 4 (late): 3 4 4 3 Cash Ball: 3 4 8 25, 9

INDIANA Cold

Warm

Stationary Showers T-storms

RIVER LEVELS RIVER

Flurries

Snow

Previous level

25.4 12.0 33.5 12.0 12.0

27.50 17.30 33.80 17.10 17.40

Pool Level

Previous level

Flood Stage

2.80 5.60 6.20 3.00

28 17 18 20

Licking (Falmouth) Little Miami (Milford) Great Miami (Hamilton) Whitewater (Brookville)

Ice

Levels as of 7 a.m. Saturday. Sunday’s forecast is for 7 a.m. Pool levels reflect the normal river level.

Pool Level

Cincinnati Markland Dam Maysville Meldahl Dam Portsmouth

OTHER RIVERS

Rain

12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0

ALMANAC

Rising

From Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport through 5 p.m. yest.

TEMPERATURE High/low ........................... 62/52 Normal high/low ............... 42/27 Record high ................. 70 (2015) Record low .................. -3 (1962) HUMIDITY High .................................... 86% Low ..................................... 49% PRECIPITATION Last 24 hours ...................... 0.06” Month to date .................... 0.08” Normal month to date ........ 1.34” Year to date ...................... 45.91” Normal year to date ......... 40.59”

Flood Stage

52.0 51.0 50.0 51.0 55.0

Falling

Forecast

26.90 15.20 34.00 16.00 15.70 Forecast

2.80 5.50 6.20 3.20

MEGA MILLIONS (Drawings: Dec. 11) 19 31 37 55 67 Megaball: 25 Megaplier: 4X Tuesday’s jackpot is an estimated $291 million.

Unchanged

AIR QUALITY

POWERBALL

Pollution...................58/Moderate Main pollutant ............ Particulates

Saturday’s jackpot was an an estimated $277 million.

Pollen data will return in the spring.

Source: Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services

EXTREMES Saturday for the 48 contiguous states.

Highest ..................... Zapata, TX 87 Lowest .... Antero Reservoir, CO -22 Forecasts and graphics provided

by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020

TODAY IN HISTORY Today is Dec. 13. On this date in: 1769: Dartmouth College in New Hampshire received its charter.

1918: President Woodrow Wilson arrived in France, becoming the first chief executive to visit Europe while in office.

THE LOCAL BUZZ Cincy breweries show up big at U.S. Open Beer Championship The winners of the annual U.S. Open Beer Championship were announced Sunday, and Greater Cincinnati-area breweries made a statement with their strong showings this year.

Most notable among the results: Loveland’s Narrow Path Brewing came in third place overall, behind only Deschutes Brewery (Bend, Oregon) and Monday Night Garage Brewing (Atlanta). Narrow Path racked up three gold medals in the competition. Winners included English Dissent (English mild ale), Tri-Kettle Tripel (Belgian Tripel) and Cerise Sauvage (barrel-aged sour).

I’ve had the pleasure of drinking the lattermost of the three – it was one of the best sours I had all year.

Big props to Narrow Path for this remarkable achievement. In a year in which adversity has been a constant, Narrow Path has handled it better than most.

Some other eyebrow-raising highlights from this year’s U.S. Open Beer Championship: h Despite having been around for less than a year, Third Eye in Sharonville has continued to impress. Third Eye Higher Purpose won a gold medal for best cream stout. Its Groovy Baby! took second behind Narrow Path in the English

(Drawings: Dec. 12) Daily 3 (early): 07 01 01 (SB: 07) Daily 4 (early): 00 05 08 03 (SB: 07) (Drawings: Dec. 11) Daily 3 (late): 03 05 01 (SB: 06) Daily 4 (late): 02 05 02 01 (SB: 06) Hoosier Lottery: Saturday’s jackpot was an estimated $1.8 million.

Narrow Path Brewing Co. in Loveland is joining the All Together beer collaboration. PROVIDED

Download the app Want to keep up with the local buzz? Download the Cincinnati.com smartphone app for all the latest news, sports and information you need to stay informed.

mild ale category, while its Perfect Sight scored bronze for best brown ale. Municipal Brew Works in Hamilton racked up four medals in the competition, scoring gold in the English summer ale category for its Approachable Blonde Ale. The rest of those medals? All silver. h Listermann was the only other area brewery to score four medals, which included a gold medal for its fl agship

Chickow! in the nut beer category. Listermann’s other core beer, Nutcase peanut butter porter, took silver for best peanut butter beer. h Fresh off its fi rst medal at the Great American Beer Festival, Fretboard followed up with two gold medals at the U.S. Open. Crazy Train, which had scored Fretboard silver at GABF, took gold for best Belgian pale ale, while its Bootsy IPA was the best brut IPA in this year’s fi eld. h One area brewery that had been fl ying under the radar for me is now squarely in my sights. The Common Beer Co. in Mason won gold in the herb and spice beer category with Fly Rod, while its Dark Cloud schwarzbier was good enough to take bronze in that category. h Other gold medalists included Streetside Raspberry Beret (berliner weisse), HighGrain Oost (Belgian strong style specialty ale), Big Ash Porter’s Porter (porter), Nine Giant Minor Swing (American-Belgo style ale), and Grainworks Scottish MISTS (Scottish Ale). h Brink, MadTree, March First, MPH, Northern Row and Rhinegeist also took home medals from the competition. The full list of winners can be found on the competition’s website, usopenbeer.com.

– Matt Koesters, Special to The Enquirer

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1977: Air Indiana Flight 216, a DC-3 carrying the University of Evansville basketball team on a flight to Nashville, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 29 people on board.

1978: The Philadelphia Mint began stamping the Susan B. Anthony dollar.

2000: Republican George W. Bush claimed the presidency a day after the U.S. Supreme Court shut down further recounts of disputed ballots in Florida; Democrat Al Gore conceded, delivering a call for national unity.

2001: The Pentagon publicly released a captured videotape of Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaida leader said the deaths and destruction achieved by the September 11 attacks exceeded his “most optimistic” expectations.

2002: Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as Boston archbishop because of the priest sex abuse scandal.

2003: Saddam Hussein was captured

by U.S. forces while hiding in a hole under a farmhouse in Adwar, Iraq, near his hometown of Tikrit.

2007: Major League Baseball’s Mitchell Report was released, identifying 85 names to differing degrees in connection with the alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Corrections and clarifications

Our goal is to promptly correct errors. Email us at accuracy@ enquirer.com to report a mistake or call 513-768-8308. Describe the error, where you saw it, the date, page number, or the URL.

Contact us

Customer Service .......................................................................... 1-800-876-4500 Editor and Vice President ........................................Beryl Love | 513-768-8500 Advertising ................................................ Brandie B. Davisson | 513-768-8182 Obituaries ............................................................................................. 513-768-8400

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

THE ENQUIRER

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COMMENTARY

Man who’s exposed City Hall corruption must stay on job 2. Three politicians have been from Cincinnati City Council.

The incoming Biden administration should also consider putting politics aside when deciding what to do with the appointment of the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.

DeVillers has worked in the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Many of the public corruption cases DeVillers is pursuing started during the Obama administration.

DeVillers worked under Obama-appointed U.S. Attorney Ben Glassman to get the investigations started before succeeding the Cincinnati resident in November 2019.

A New York native, DeVillers is an outsider with a backbone. He spent time in Iraq investigating terrorists and was part of a team of prosecutors that helped to convict Saddam Hussein on war crimes and genocide.

DeVillers prosecuted a vicious Columbus street gang four years ago, work that required around-the-clock security at his Central Ohio home.

It takes a fearless outsider to go against the political establishment and their big-money interests to indict a power player like Republican Larry Householder and party darling like Democrat P.G. Sittenfeld.

Politics Extra Jason Williams Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Consider this column both praise and a plea.

It’s an appreciation of federal prosecutor David DeVillers and his all-out crackdown on corrupt politicians in Cincinnati, Columbus and across Ohio’s southern hemisphere.

It’s also a request to the incoming Biden administration and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown to give serious consideration to retaining DeVillers, who’s proven to DeVillers be exactly what the public needs during his fi rst year as the region’s top federal law enforcement offi cial.

It shouldn’t matter that Trump appointed DeVillers. He’s proven that he’s no political hack.

DeVillers is a career prosecutor who’s shown no regard for political affi liation in his unrelenting pursuit of corrupt politicians. His elected offi cial indictment scoreboard reads: Republicans 2, Democrats

DeVillers’ biggest victory so far has been the indictment of Trumpbacking Householder, whose colleagues removed him as Ohio House Speaker after he was arrested on federal corruption charges last summer.

In fact, DeVillers has busted more Republicans when factoring in all the non-elected associates who were supposedly involved in Householder’s alleged $61 million bribery scheme.

The other three indicted elected offi cials have come from Cincinnati City Council, where Democrats P.G. Sittenfeld and Tamaya Dennard and Republican Jeff Pastor have all been arrested this year on payto-play charges.

With a new president set to take offi ce next month, the jockeying for political appointments is well underway. As Ohio’s Democrat senator, Brown will lead the eff ort to vet and recommend a U.S. attorney candidate to the White House. Republican Rob Portman, Ohio’s junior U.S. senator, will also have input.

Former Hamilton County Judge Fanon Rucker has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the region’s U.S. attorney.

Rucker is respected and has a strong resume, but his – or anyone’s – appointment should at least be delayed for sev-

eral months. There’s no time to waste bringing a new prosecutor up to speed on the cases, let alone run the risk of a new U.S. attorney deemphasizing public corruption.

The Sittenfeld and Pastor arrests were just last month. Only Dennard’s case has been closed, with her being recently sentenced to 18 months in a federal prison after she pleaded guilty to honest wire services fraud.

DeVillers has left open the possibility that he’s not done investigating City Hall corruption.

“The idea is to reverse course on this corruption,” DeVillers recently told The Enquirer’s That’s So Cincinnati podcast. “We as prosecutors ... it’s our job to make sure that culture changes.”

Culture change takes time. The arrogant, Trump-like defi ant public statements this week made by Dennard and Sittenfeld show some people aren’t getting it and there’s still much work to be done.

Why stop DeVillers’ momentum now? He’s earned the right to fi nish the job.

Contact Enquirer political columnist Jason Williams by email at jwilliams@enquirer. com and on Twitter @jwilliamscincy. Catch Jason on 700 WLW from 9 p.m. to midnight on Saturday.

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Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Cincinnati’s proposed Eastern Bypass is at the top of a new list of “highway boondoggles.”

The list from the United States Public Interest Research Group and Frontier Group details “big projects” with “bigger price tags” and “limited benefi ts.”

The report says the proposed bypass – which does not seem to have gained much local traction, anyway – would “cause sprawling development and overwhelm the Ohio Department of Transportation’s construction budget.”

The Eastern Bypass is a proposed outer loop around the current outer loop that would go roughly 70 miles, from Springboro to Crittenden in Grant County.

The bypass is projected to cost between $5.3 billion and $7.3 billion, and it has failed to garner broad community support.

“It’s just bad on its face, and it doesn’t even deserve study,” Derek Bauman, a transit proponent and Cincinnati City Council candidate, told The Enquirer in 2019.

The boondoggle list notes the project’s high cost and says it would lead to more driving and more pollution.

It also notes, as The Enquirer reported in January, that an Ohio Department of Transportation study concluded the bypass is not a good solution to congestion.

From the study: “It is ODOT’s opinion that no further expenditures of funding and staff time be put toward the CEB (Cincinnati Eastern Bypass).”

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group is a nonprofi t that bills itself as an advocate for the public. It was founded by former presidential candidate Ralph Nader.

Frontier Group is a research group dedicated to health and sustainability.

Other boondoggles on the list: h a loop 1604 expansion in Texas, h the I-57 interchange in Illinois, h the Birmingham Northern Beltline in Alabama, h the I-526 extension in South Carolina, h M-Cores in Florida, h and the Southeast Connector in Texas.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

BACKSTORY

Despite confession, 1989 slaying unsolved Newport chief will look at inmate’s allegations Amber Hunt Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

For the families of victims killed in unsolved murders, life has been at a standstill for a long time, even before the pandemic arrived.

The Enquirer is highlighting a series of cold cases, summarized and analyzed by the journalists whose careers largely focus on unsolved murders: the creators of Cincinnati.com’s Accused podcast. If you have any information on any unsolved case, please reach out to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Suggestions for cases to highlight can be sent to accused@enquirer.com.

The crime: Sherry Armstrong was on the cusp of a reinvention. The 33year-old former beauty queen had left Clear Lake, Wisconsin, after a divorce and had big plans for her next phase: She planned to enroll at Northern Kentucky University to get a degree in psychology, and she’d just taken a job in public relations at Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

She’d also found new love, moving into a home on Putnam Street in Newport, Kentucky, with her boyfriend, Lance Ellinghausen.

On Nov. 11, 1989, while Ellinghausen was at work at a Covington restaurant, Armstrong was brutally attacked. Her boyfriend came home to fi nd her lifeless body inside a side door of his house. She’d been stabbed more than 20 times.

Thirty-one years later, the case is unsolved – despite a convicted murderer repeatedly telling reporters that he is the killer.

The confession: In a letter to The Enquirer, prison inmate Clifton Cousins said he needed to clear his conscience. He wrote: “Every night, I see her face. I can’t sleep. I’ve ask’d mental health to give me some meds that will make me sleep.

I need to clear my conscious so I can obtain piece.” (Typos and misspellings

This Nov. 14, 1989, story ran in The Enquirer three days after Sherry Armstrong was fatally stabbed in her Newport, Kentucky, home. No one has ever been charged in the 33-year-old woman’s death, despite a convicted killer named Clifton Cousins confessing twice to Enquirer reporters over 25 years. FILE

are as written.)

That letter reached me in November 2019. It mentioned that this wasn’t the fi rst time Cousins had written a reporter to confess this murder. Sure enough, an archive search shows that in 1994, Cousins had written the Enquirer saying: “Sir, I’d like to say that I want to clear my mind.”

Sometimes attention seekers admit to crimes they didn’t commit, but it’s fairly rare that someone would persist with the same claim on the same victim for a quarter-century.

The Enquirer covered Armstrong’s death initially with two briefs that ran inside the paper, followed by a short inside story quoting her boyfriend, Ellinghausen, and his mother, who’d had dinner with Armstrong the night of the stabbing.

Though the now-defunct Cincinnati Post covered the case in more detail, it’s been decades since the last time I can fi nd it mentioned in the news. Why would Cousins have even remembered that case if he weren’t involved in it, much less confess to it?

In his letter to me, Cousins described the attack and shared details I can’t fi nd reported in newspaper coverage of Armstrong’s death.

I requested the case fi le from New-

port police last fall and at fi rst was refused. Following up this week, new-ish Newport Police Chief Chris Fangman (he started the job about a year ago) said he’d be eager to track down any new leads and said he’d dig up the case fi le to compare the details with the ones provided by Cousins. Just Friday, the department released some records, though they’re understandably holding back on ones they think might be key to someday getting a conviction.

So who’s the convict? According to court records and his own letters, Clifton Cousins is a violent man. He’s serving up to life in Youngstown’s Ohio State Penitentiary on 1992 murder convictions in the slayings of two Cleveland women in 1988 and 1989. In 1996, he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter while already in prison. For that, he was sentenced to another 10 to 25-year sentence.

Cousins is also an erratic man. In 2005, he allegedly made threats against President Bush and his family, earning him a fi ve-year sentence in federal prison.

Apparently, Cousins was unhappy that the federal stint was to be served concurrently with his state murder convictions. In 2006 he wrote U.S. District Judge David Dowd Jr. asking him

to change his state sentence so he could serve it in a federal prison or to allow him to serve the federal time immediately.

The judge responded that he did not have the authority to do what Cousins asked, prompting Cousins to write back threatening to kill Dowd and behead Dowd’s “wife, dogs, kids,” as well as destroy federal buildings “by way of explosion.” Three years later, he allegedly sent the judge an envelope containing a white powder that he said was arsenic and warned him that he might soon be poisoned or killed by a pipe bomb, according to a 2010 indictment.

Why hasn’t he been charged with killing Sherry Armstrong? It seems Newport police didn’t believe his 1994 confession because charges never followed. In 1997, Newport Police Lt. Pat Moore told an Enquirer reporter: “The fellow can confess, but if there is no evidence to support it, we cannot proceed with it.”

They might well have good reason to discount the confession, but that reason’s never been reported, and the police offi cials in charge today weren’t in charge back when Cousins confessed the fi rst time.

It seems odd that a confession elicited by police is often deemed enough evidence to charge someone with murder (and, very often, land a conviction), but this volunteered confession doesn’t seem to carry the same weight. It’s not a bad thing for investigators to be skeptical, though.

So what now? Newport Chief Fangman says the department will take another look at Cousins’ allegations and compare details to see if Cousins’ description fi ts.

Got tips? Newport Police’s criminal investigations section is at 859-2923626. Feel free to send info our way as well: accused@enquirer.com.

Accused, reported by Enquirer journalists Amber Hunt and Amanda Rossmann, is an award-winning podcast investigating cold cases with three seasons available on all mainstream platforms such as Apple Podcasts and also at www.accusedpodcast.com.

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cincinnati.com

|

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

STAY SAFE OHIO

PROTOCOL 1. STAY AT HOME. Home is the safest place. Only leave home for household essentials, medical care, work, and school.

If possible, use drive-thru, curbside pick-up, or delivery services to limit face-to-face contact with others or shop online.

2. Wear your mask.

Wear a mask whenever you are around anyone you don’t live with.

3. Keep interactions short and stay apart.

The more people you interact with and the longer amount of time you spend together, the higher your risk of becoming infected or spreading the virus to others.

4. Wash your hands.

Clean hands are a key to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

5. Work from home.

Everyone who can work from home should work from home. All meetings should be virtual.

7. Don’t eat or drink with anyone outside of your household.

Eating and drinking with others is risky because you can’t wear a mask while eating and drinking.

Limiting meals to those within your own household is safest.

Home delivery, curbside pick-up, drive-thru windows, and take-out services are the best options when getting meals out.

8. Limit travel.

This is a holiday to stay close to home. Remember that spread happens only when you are in contact with others.

9. Keep weddings and funerals safe.

Conduct weddings and funerals in a COVID-safe way.

10. Enjoy safe holiday activities!

Stay connected with friends and family who don’t live in your home by calling, using video chat, or through social media.

Choose drive-thru holiday light shows and virtual celebrations over in-person holiday activities.

6. Celebrate safe. Celebrate small.

As people gather for the holidays, remember that older family members and those with medical conditions are especially vulnerable to COVID-19, so take extra measures to protect them.

coronavirus.ohio.gov

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

Power lift recliner would off er independence Norwood woman needs help to move in residence John Johnston United Way of Greater Cincinnati

The Enquirer and United Way of Greater Cincinnati have joined forces for the 34th year to help families in need with the Wish List program. This is the third of eight stories that will run this month.

Judy Roth lies in her bed in her Norwood apartment. The bespectacled 76year-old, propped up by a pillow, apologizes for not fi xing her gray hair for visitors. Outside, the sun is shining brightly, but the living room where Roth sleeps and spends most of her time is dim, save for the fl ickering light of a TV. Beside the bed is the walker that Roth uses to move around the apartment. But she cannot get out of bed by herself. Nor can she stand or sit down without help.

She relies on assistance from her daughter Teri, who lives with her.

For much of Roth’s life, she struggled with painful back and neck problems.

But that didn’t stop her from earning a paycheck. “Except for a few months off after childbirth, I worked since I was in high school,” she says.

For many years she held bookkeeping jobs at local companies, handling accounts payable and receivable or providing customer service. She married and had three children. After she and her husband divorced, they remained on friendly terms, she says. He died nearly 30 years ago.

Her chronic pain persisted. In 1994, after nothing else she tried had worked, Roth decided to undergo surgery on two herniated discs in her neck.

“I thought it would be an easy surgery,” her daughter Teri says. “A few days of recovery and she’d be home.”

But when Roth awoke after the operation, “All I could do was open my eyes,” she says. “I’m looking at my mother and my sister, like, ‘What’s going on? Why can’t I move?’ ” Complications occurred during surgery. Roth’s spinal cord was damaged.

Her arms and legs were paralyzed.

Over time, she regained the use of her limbs. But despite extensive rehab, she has limited use of her hands. Her struggles also have included recurring bladder infections, pneumonia, neuropathy in both feet, osteoporosis and fi bromyalgia.

In 2008, Roth suff ered a heart attack.

She now wears a pacemaker. In 2016, she broke her right thigh bone. A year later, she broke bones in her left shin and calf, as well as in her left foot. Such setbacks resulted in lengthy hospitalizations and long rehabilitations.

Now, in order to stand, Roth must be helped up by her daughter, who also has

Judy Roth, 76, of Norwood is primarily confi ned to her bed and lives with her daughter Teri Roth, right. They would like an electric lift chair, which would greatly help Judy get in and out of bed. PHOTOS BY GLENN HARTONG FOR THE ENQUIRER

Judy Roth of Norwood is primarily confi ned to her bed. Here, she shows the crippling effects of arthritis to her hands, which limits her ability to grasp and hold. “My family still needs me,” she says.

chronic back and shoulder issues. And so, Roth’s wish is for a power lift recliner chair, as recommended by the agency that assists her, Cincinnati Area Senior Services. The chair will provide “more stability when standing up, and more independence, because then I can get around using the walker,” she says.

Despite her many challenges, Roth

Will Ohio lawmakers override Gov. DeWine?

Jessie Balmert Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

COLUMBUS – Since March, Ohioans have debated the right balance of government restrictions and freedom of choice when responding to a once-in-acentury pandemic.

So perhaps it’s no surprise that their legislators are having that same debate.

Lawmakers in Ohio’s GOP-controlled Legislature have a choice: whether to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s recent veto of Senate Bill 311, which would limit Ohio Department of Health’s power to quarantine or isolate people. Only those directly exposed to COVID-19 or diagnosed with the disease could be forced to stay home.

Some lawmakers are clamoring to override DeWine’s veto quickly, but that didn’t happen Wednesday.

That override is a stick that lawmakers can use to negotiate with DeWine to get what they really want.

What they really want might be eliminating criminal penalties on public health orders and imposing civil fi nes instead. They could push to make sure small businesses aren’t closed when their competitors remain open.

Negotiations between DeWine’s team and Republican lawmakers continue. The bill is one of several lawmakers have passed to limit DeWine’s authority to require masks, close certain businesses and enforce penalties on those who violate health orders.

“We’re talking to them about possible alternatives because I think we all want the same thing,” Senate President Larry

Obhof said. “We all want people to be safe. We all want people to be healthy, but we also don’t want to have future shutdowns and we don’t want to have the impact on people’s economic wellbeing and on their liberty that they’ve had this year.”

If those conversations break down, Obhof has said he would override DeWine’s veto. The Medina Republican says he has the 20 votes needed for an override.

The ball would then be in the Ohio House of Representative’s court. It’s not clear whether the House would have the 60 votes needed to override DeWine’s veto, especially if the chamber’s number of positive COVID-19 cases rises.

On Tuesday, more than a dozen lawmakers were absent after four legislators – two Republicans and two Democrats – tested positive for COVID-19.

Any override must happen before the end of the year for the law to take eff ect, and Ohio lawmakers have just one more day of fl oor votes scheduled.

When asked if the positive COVID-19 tests were aff ecting business in the House, Speaker Bob Cupp said lawmakers were getting their work done.

“We’ve tried to make the post-election session this year a little more rational than some other sessions,” said Cupp, R-Lima. “We’re narrowing the things that we have to get done.”

Cupp said House Republicans want Senate Bill 311 to become law, but the override process begins in the Ohio Senate. Negotiations about overrides and state health department restrictions largely haven’t included Democrats, said House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes.

says she has much to live for. She vows to not give up.

“I can’t. I just can’t,” she says. In addition to her three adult children, she has fi ve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. “My family still needs me. I’m the matriarch.”

JUDY’S WISH: A power lift recliner chair.

ESTIMATED COST: $1,299.

How to help Donations can be made online at www.uwgc.org/wishlist. You can also mail donations to: The Wish List, P.O. Box 6207, Cincinnati, OH 45206.

John Johnston is the content writer at United Way and a former Enquirer reporter.

Grant to boost Enquirer’s coverage in the suburbs Carl Weiser Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Residents of Butler, Warren and Clermont counties will be getting more coverage from The Enquirer thanks to a grant announced Tuesday.

The Enquirer newsroom was awarded the grant by Report for America, a national service program that places emerging journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities.

The grant will help pay for a suburban Cincinnati watchdog reporter to scrutinize governments and institutions that aff ect the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents in those three Southwest Ohio counties.

The position will be modeled on a similar one for Northern Kentucky, created in 2019. Report for America corps member Julia Fair has exposed misbehavior by a local judge, erratic enforcement of local mask orders and a host of other stories that would otherwise never have come to light. Like all Report for America corps members, Fair also volunteers in the community, helping student journalists.

“Our partnership with Report for America has been a huge success, yielding important stories for our readers in Northern Kentucky,” said Beryl Love, executive editor of The Enquirer. “I’m thrilled that in these challenging times for newsrooms across the country, we now can provide that same boost in coverage for Ohio readers outside of Hamilton County.”

The Enquirer is seeking a local part-

Downtown Mason, Ohio. LIZ DUFOUR/ THE ENQUIRER

ner to help pay for the reporters, one of the requirements of the grant. If interested, contact Carl Weiser at cweiser@enquirer.com Launched in 2017 and donor-fi nanced, Report for America aims to create a new, sustainable system that provides Americans with the information they need to improve their communities, hold powerful institutions accountable and rebuild trust in the media.

“With the local news system shrinking, it’s important that we both put more and more reporters in the fi eld – and that we help newsrooms that are working toward becoming more sustainable, and more grounded in the community,” said Steve Waldman, president and co-founder of Report for America.

Report for America is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, an awardwinning nonprofi t media organization with an established track record of training and supporting teams of emerging journalists around the world.

Applications are available at Report for America.

cincinnati.com

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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Vaccine distribution a reminder of 1960 Lines formed on ‘Sabin Sunday’ to avoid polio Jeff Suess Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

The fi rst shipment of coronavirus vaccines may start arriving next week, pending emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

A committee of leading U.S. vaccine scientists recommended Thursday that the FDA authorize the fi rst COVID-19 vaccine for Americans.

For many Americans, this vaccine roll-out may seem unprecedented, but folks with longer memories have gone through this before with the polio vaccine.

The poliovirus was a constant threat through the mid-1950s. Every summer, thousands of children were stricken with the highly infectious virus that often caused infantile paralysis. Children placed into iron lungs – tank respirators shaped like torpedoes that helped them breathe – was a nightmare for parents and children.

Then, Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine was widely released in 1955, with the doses given by injection. The cases of polio went down considerably, but the virus

Parents and children lined up for the Sabin oral polio vaccine at Stratford Manor Clinic in Madisonville on April 26, 1960. THE ENQUIRER FILE PHOTO

was not eliminated.

“The Salk vaccine protected individuals from disease, but did not stop them from being silent transmitters of the poliovirus,” Thomas Abraham wrote in

“Polio: The Odyssey of Eradication.”

Dr. Albert B. Sabin, a researcher at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, developed the oral polio vaccine and administered the fi rst mass dosage in the U.S.

here in Cincinnati.

On April 24, 1960, a day known as “Sabin Sunday,” 20,000 local preschool-age children lined up at the offi ces of 300 doctors all across Cincinnati to take the free vaccine in the form of a spoonful of cherry-fl avored syrup.

This was a milder way of taking the vaccine than Salk’s polio vaccine injection. For some kids, this made a big difference.

“Beats a needle, any day of the week,” read a caption in The Enquirer the next day.

Jeff rey Sherman, son of songwriter Robert Sherman, tweeted this week how his experience with the oral polio vaccine, which went into wide distribution in 1962, inspired a classic Disney song: “When I was a kid we got the polio vaccine. My dad, working on Mary Poppins, asked how my day was. I told him about the vaccine. ‘Didn’t it hurt?’ I said they put it on a sugar cube and you ate it.

He called my uncle Dick and the next day they wrote ‘A Spoonful of Sugar.’”

Sabin’s oral vaccine induced the body to create antibodies that would attack the wild virus, so the poliovirus was unable to reproduce and be transmitted.

It took both the Salk and Sabin vaccines to nearly eradicate polio across the world.

94% of retail shoppers, workers follow mask order Jackie Borchardt Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

COLUMBUS – About 94% of retail store employees and customers were complying with the state’s mask mandate when state inspectors made the rounds last week.

Inspectors from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation visited 230 stores in 32 counties last week. They cited only one for failing to comply with rules: Cairo Quick Mart in Lima.

From Nov. 23 to 29, inspectors witnessed 7,321 customers – 94.4% were

wearing a face covering over their chin and nose. Of the 2,347 employees observed, 94.6% were correctly wearing masks.

Of the stores visited last week, 93% had signs notifying customers of the mask requirement. Inspection results will be posted each Thursday on the state’s coronavirus website.

A team of 100 BWC inspectors will review protocols at retail stores, but not bars and restaurants, statewide. The increased enforcement is one tool Gov. Mike DeWine announced in mid-November to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The goal is to increase compliance with the state’s mask mandate, which has been in place since late July. Employees have been required to wear face coverings, with exceptions, since May. The stricter enforcement order requires stores to: h post a sign at the entrance indicating masks are required, h post a maximum capacity limit to ensure 6 feet of physical distance can be maintained throughout the store, h place markers on the fl oor to distance customers standing in lines, and h designate an on-site compliance offi cer for each business location.

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The order says employees are “not required to put themselves in jeopardy or risk harm” enforcing the order.

Inspectors have visited 693 stores and found, overall, 93.2% of customers and 93.7% of employees were properly wearing masks. About 94% of businesses, overall, were observed following social distancing rules – 97% of the businesses inspected last week were following the guidelines.

Stores can receive a warning on fi rst off ense. For subsequent off enses, a store will be forced to close for up to 24 hours “to allow any airborne COVID-19 droplets to dissipate.”

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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cincinnati.com

THE ENQUIRER

|

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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11A

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12A

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

Vaccine Continued from Page 1A

teachers.

All vaccination will be voluntary.

It’s not clear yet the order of vaccination after Phase 1A. The states are waiting for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is developing the guidance, to recommend who is next, but the Ohio Department of Health has a draft plan that lists priorities.

Phase 1B would vaccinate older adults living in congregate or overcrowded settings and people at signifi cantly higher risk for COVID-19 because they have underlying health conditions.

Phase 2 is where the jockeying comes in. This expansion of vaccination would include: h Critical risk workers essential to society (e.g., healthcare and public health operations and human services operations) and at high risk of exposure. h Teachers and school staff . h People of all ages with underlying health conditions. h Older adults not included in Phase 1. h People in homeless shelters. h People and staff in prisons, jails and detention centers. h People in group homes for individuals with physical or mental disabilities or in recovery.

Phase 3 would cover young adults, children, workers in essential industries and occupations not included in phases 1 and 2. Phase 4 is everyone else.

Because quantities of vaccine will be limited, public health offi cials urge maintaining vigilance about maskwearing, hand-washing and social distancing. It could be at least a year before enough people are vaccinated to ease the health safeguards.

The clinical research has shown that the vaccine candidates do not generate serious side eff ects two months after the second injection. A side eff ect, such as a sore arm or lethargy, is a signal that the vaccine successfully triggered an immune reaction for the virus to be blocked.

CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens will be delivering and administering the vaccinations to nursing homes.

What we don’t know: Who’s precisely next in line for the vaccine. Teachers, unions for grocery workers and other organizations for essential workers are jostling for the chance.

Greg Kesterman, Hamilton County health commissioner, said the federal government has to lead on developing an order for vaccines “because the goal to is to stop the virus, and you can’t do that if in one community, they give it to one group fi rst, and in another community, they give it to another.”

What we won’t know for quite a while: How long immunity from the vaccine will last. The vaccines were invented, put through clinical trials and brought to market inside a year. We don’t have enough information about the longevity of their eff ects.

A long, cold ride for vaccines What we know: Right now, two vaccine makers await a ruling from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that their products are safe and eff ective and can go to market under emergency authorization. But public health agencies and hospitals, with long experience in planning vaccination campaigns, didn’t wait for FDA approval to get ready. The delivery system is set up and ready to receive the doses.

The two leading candidate vaccines each pack slightly diff erent pieces of ge-

Jorge Ruiz of Cincinnati, in blue vest, is a participant in the trial for a coronavirus vaccine at UC Health. Ruiz spoke with Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the chief advisor for the federal Operation Warp Speed, the umbrella program for developing a vaccine. Dr. Carl Fichtenbaum, right, an infectious disease expert, is overseeing the UC Health clinical trial PROVIDED

netic material from the virus. When injected, the messenger RNA makes the human immune system familiar enough with the virus to fi ght it off .

The vaccines don’t prevent infection.

But they stop it from progressing into the disease COVID-19, which has killed at least 283,000 Americans, including more than 6,600 Ohioans and more than 2,000 in Kentucky.

“We’ve been told to expect weekly deliveries. It’s unclear how much volume will come, but it will be a good logistics problem to have.”

Greg Kesterman

health commissioner of Hamilton County

The vaccines are taken in two doses, like the two-shot series for shingles. The coronavirus vaccines, because they carry genetic material, require super-cold temperatures from the factory to distribution. The vials are packed in dry-ice coolers, a huge boost to Cold Jet of Loveland. For more than 30 years, the company has built dry-ice makers, and in 2020, sales have exploded more than 200% over 2019, said spokeswoman Lauren McNutt. Strong demand is expected well into 2021.

The vaccine manufacturers are the New York giant Pfi zer, working with the German company BioNTech, and the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based fi rm Moderna. Both companies ran Cincinnati test sites for the fi nal clinical trials.

Last week, Gov. Mike DeWine announced the delivery schedule for Ohio.

On Dec. 15, Pfi zer delivers 9,750 doses to 10 Ohio hospitals, including the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and 88,725 doses to Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy across the state, which will supply nursing homes.

On Dec. 22, Pfi zer delivers another 123,000 doses for nursing homes and staff . Moderna delivers 201,000 doses to 98 hospitals for health care workers caring for COVID-19 patients and 108 health departments for emergency medical service workers and fi rst responders.

The next week, the exact date is not certain, as Pfi zer delivers another 148,000 doses and Moderna another

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89,000 for workers and patients in hospitals and nursing homes.

Kentucky is expecting 12,000 vaccine doses from Pfi zer-BioNTech in the fi rst delivery, perhaps as soon as the FDA grants emergency authorization, Gov. Andy Beshear said earlier this month.

St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood will be among 11 hospitals to receive the shipment of Pfi zer vaccine, all for hospi-

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tal workers.

Beshear said he expects another 26,000 Pfi zer doses before the end of the year, and 77,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine. The fi rst Moderna shipment is expected Dec. 20 and the rest ahead of New Year’s Day. Two-thirds of the doses in the later deliveries will go to Kentucky’s nursing homes for workers and residents.

What we don’t know: These delivery totals are for the whole state. It’s not clear yet how the shipments will be further divided for each of Ohio’s 88 counties, a decision that rests with the Ohio Department of Health.

Federal and state authorities have not released information on vaccine shipments past the end of December. But, “We’ve been told to expect weekly deliveries,” said Greg Kesterman, health com-

missioner of Hamilton County. “It’s unclear how much volume will come, but it will be a good logistics problem to have.”

The really cold spots around the region What we know: The cold chain doesn’t stop at delivery. Pfi zer’s vaccine candidate must be shipped and stored at minus-94. Once transferred to refrigeration to thaw for injection, it must be used within fi ve days. Moderna’s candidate must be shipped and stored at -4 but can be stored for six months. Once in refrigeration, it keeps for up to 30 days.

Ohio hospital offi cials say they have the storage capacity for their doses of vaccine. Hamilton County has already purchased a 25.7 cubic-foot ultra-cold freezer, and another is ordered, said Nick Crossley, the county’s emergency management director. He said each unit could hold about 60,000 doses.

The county also has two walk-in coolers and one walk-in freezer. “We’re fi nishing getting everything powered up,” Crossley said. Then his team is ready to receive the deliveries and store them.

When ODH decides on how to apportion the doses as they arrive at county facilities, local public health offi cials from other jurisdictions can collect their shares. Crossley said the county also is storing masks, gloves, gowns and other personal protective equipment for people handling and distributing the vaccines.

What we don’t know: The location of the county’s vaccine supply isn’t being disclosed to protect people, equipment and the doses, Crossley said.

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FOR COMMISSIONER PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Nominating Council (Nominating Council) is seeking applications for the position of commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (Commission) to fill a vacancy for the term commencing on April 11, 2021, and ending on April 10, 2026. This is a full-time position with a salary range of $73,715 to $195,728. While the Nominating Council seeks and evaluates applicants, the appointment itself is made by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and a commissioner’s actual salary will be determined by the Governor. The normal state of Ohio benefits package will be provided.

The Commission is responsible for regulating investor-owned public utilities in the state of Ohio. Section 4901.02(D) of the Ohio Revised Code requires that a commissioner have a minimum of three years’ experience in one or more of the following fields: economics, law, finance, accounting, engineering, physical or natural sciences, natural resources, or environmental studies. No person employed by a public utility subject to regulation by the Commission or holding stocks or bonds of a regulated public utility may be appointed a commissioner.

A commissioner must be a resident of Ohio.

The Revised Code also specifies that the Commission may consist of no more than three members of the same political affiliation. Political affiliation is based upon one’s vote in the last primary election as defined under Sections 3513.19 and 3513.05 of the Ohio Revised Code. Based upon the present composition of the Commission, this position may be filled by an applicant of any political affiliation. Appointments are subject to a background check by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Applicants are required to send a current resume with a one-page cover letter attached. In the cover letter, the applicant must (1) indicate the applicant’s expertise in the areas of energy, transportation, or communications technology, if any; (2) explain why the applicant’s prior experience makes him or her qualified to be a commissioner or why the applicant is otherwise qualified to be a commissioner; and (3) state his or her political party affiliation or independent status.

Due to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, applications including the required resume and cover letter must be 1) sent or delivered to: Public Utilities Commission Nominating Council, c/o Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, 180 E. Broad Street, 11th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3793; or 2) emailed to PUCNominatingCouncil@puco.ohio.gov. Hand deliveries must be made by appointment by contacting the PUCO Docketing Division (614) 466-4095 or Docketing@puco.ohio.gov to schedule an appointment, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. To be considered, applications must be received by the Nominating Council by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 7, 2021. Faxed applications will not be considered.

For further information, contact the Nominating Council coordinator, Angela Hawkins, at (614) 466-0122.

Information regarding the position and application requirements may be found at the Commission’s website: www.puco.ohio.gov The members of the Nominating Council will review the applications and select individuals to be interviewed for this position. Interested persons may submit comments to the members of the Nominating Council regarding any of the applicants. Comments should be submitted to the Nominating Council coordinator. Persons interested in receiving a list of the names of persons submitting applications or selected to be interviewed should notify the Nominating Council coordinator at the above address or telephone number. The Nominating Council will determine the four most qualified persons for the position and submit those names to Governor DeWine who will then select the commissioner.

CE-GCI0545922-01

cincinnati.com

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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Reform measures in new police contract Arbitration process to change in 3-year contract Cameron Knight Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

A new proposed contract between the city and police aims to make it easier to discipline offi cers – and provides raises.

Cincinnati city offi cials announced Friday they have reached a new threeyear tentative contract deal with the Fraternal Order of Police, Queen City Lodge #69.

In October, City Council unanimously passed Mayor John Cranley’s motion to make offi cer discipline a priority in negotiating the new contract. Cranley said he wanted to “make it easier, not harder, for the Chief to appropriately discipline offi cers.”

City Manager Paula Boggs Muething outlined three changes to the discipline process, which come in the wake of national protests this summer over police behavior.

Arbitration reform Cranley said he believes Cincinnati is the fi rst major city to change its arbitration process in response to calls for police reform.

State law requires that offi cer discipline goes through an arbitration process, if necessary, rather than the traditional court system.

This process is supposed to be cheaper and quicker than the court process. In the past, the police union and the city have received a random list of 10 arbitrators and taken turns crossing off people until only one remains.

A 2020 Report on Police Reform and Racial Justice co-authored by Cranley and other mayors say, for arbitrators, “their livelihood depends on being acceptable to the union.”

The new process will use a panel of three arbitrators who will issue an anonymous decision, so no one arbitrator can be pinpointed as pro-police or pro-management.

Cincinnati police union president Dan Hils said he understood the perception the current arbitration process cre-

ates. He added that not every offi cer wanted to give this concession.

“We wanted to work on this problem together. It’s a balance, it’s a negotiation,” Hils said. “If that gives the public more trust in their police force, I think it’s a win across the board.”

Of the eight resolved arbitration cases between the city and police since 2018, Boggs Muething said arbitrators have reduced or reversed the discipline in seven of those cases.

Cranley said he’s not sure if the changes will shift decisions toward management or not, but that it’s a worthwhile experiment.

“Trying something new and innovative, once again, is what Cincinnati is doing today,” Cranley said. “Only time will tell.”

Peer review of discipline is gone Under the current contract, low-level discipline is subject to peer review by other offi cers. That peer-review system, which often overturns punishments for offi cers, will no longer be used, Boggs Muething said. The city administration said over the past three years 79 offi cerdiscipline cases have gone through the peer-review process. In only 23 of the cases did the peer reviewer “sustain” the discipline.

“It is human nature for offi cers to be more sympathetic to their peers than a supervisor or neutral arbiter might be,” Boggs Muething said. “Peer review’s impact on sustained disciplines makes it increasingly diffi cult for the police chief and city manager to appropriately discipline offi cers.”

Police union president Dan Hils said many cities do have a peer-review process Cranley said the process disrupts the chain of command, exacerbates racial tension and creates a perception that offi cers are never held accountable.

Expunging discipline records Discipline actions are expunged from an offi cer’s personnel fi le after a certain period of time, either three to fi ve years depending on the severity of the punishment.

Once an action is cleared from an offi cer’s record, it can no longer be consid-

Cincinnati Police Department badge.

CARA OWSLEY/THE ENQUIRER

“Trying something new and innovative, once again, is what Cincinnati is doing today. Only time will tell.”

Mayor John Cranley

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What’s next

ered in further discipline cases. Repeat off enders may not face steeper punishments under this system.

The new contract lowers the bar for disciplinary action to remain on an offi cer’s record for fi ve years instead of three, and serious off enses will remain on the offi cer’s record for seven years.

The Cincinnati Black United Front and other reform organizations have called for abandoning expungement altogether.

Cranley said the administration asked for an off ense to remain on records for even longer and the fi nal terms were arrived at through negotiation.

The tentative contract was been approved by the police union, which allowed voting over the course of three days. Hils said it was “overwhelmingly” supported by the member. City Council must also vote to approve the contract.

Boggs Muething said City Council will be asked to vote on the contract Wednesday.

She said the ongoing work of the Collaborative Agreement puts Cincinnati in better position than many cities when it comes to instituting and addressing the concerns of the millions of people calling for police reform across the country.

The Cincinnati Police Department and city administration have been asked to review and evaluate the city’s policing policies to see if they are in line with the recommendations in this year’s Report on Police Reform and Racial Justice issued by the Council of Mayors. That evaluation has not yet been completed, but offi cials said Friday the process is near completion.

Raises for officers Police offi cers will receive a 5% raise next year, a 4% raise in 2022 and a 3% raise in 2023.

There are about 1,000 offi cers on the force. Once those offi cers are out of the police academy, they start at $61,500 a year and can make up to $75,000 as their base rate with extra pay for overtime and

US$

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details.

Averaging the starting and top pay rate shows that an average offi cer will get a $3,412.50 raise next year, which will cost the city about $3.4 million more in police wages.

Boggs Muething said police and city workers have been on the frontlines of the pandemic and summer protests.

“They deserve it. They have been through a lot this year,” Cranley said.

He added police have been subjected to “outrageous rhetoric” prompting even progressive police chiefs to quit and retention rates to fall across the country.

At the same time, gun violence has spiked.

“We need our police offi cers more than ever,” Cranley said. “We can reward our offi cers for their hard work and bravery...and not be ashamed of it. And we can say like any organization, it has to have the ability to eff ectuate a chain of command.”

The mayor said he is confi dent of the offi ce of budget and fi nance will fi nd the funds needed for the raises. He said cuts made earlier in the year in preparation for COVID-19 turned out to be larger than what was needed.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

House GOP member ignored guidelines Hambley didn’t inform others of positive test Jake Zuckerman OhioCapitalJournal.com

A Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives who contracted COVID-19 skirted public health guidance, potentially exposing fellow lawmakers and staff to the new coronavirus that causes the disease.

Democratic members and staff , meanwhile, say they were never informed of Rep. Stephen Hambley’s positive diagnosis, despite his appearances at fl oor sessions and committee hearings after testing positive.

At least four lawmakers (two Democrats and two Republicans) who attended a Dec. 2 House Finance Committee hearing alongside Hambley have since contracted COVID-19. The defi nitive source of their infections is not known.

Hambley received positive results from two tests taken on Nov. 22 and Nov. 28, he said in an interview Wednesday.

Nine Democratic lawmakers in total are currently either sick or awaiting test results, according to a Democratic spokeswoman. A House Republican spokeswoman did not answer questions about other cases among Republicans.

On Nov. 17, Hambley says he spent about 90 minutes in close contact with an aide. That aide received a positive COVID-19 test result Nov. 19, Hambley said.

Hambley publicly announced word of the aide’s test results to the House Civil Justice Committee, which he runs, that day.

“Before we start, I do need to announce that one of our staff members was diagnosed this morning with covid,” he said. “I’m asking all members and staff to please take the abundant amount of caution — masking, distance, sanitation, so forth. The administration as well as the leadership has been informed of this and we’re following the necessary safety protocols.”

However, the committee continued its work regardless of CDC guidelines recommending those exposed to the vi-

CE-GCI0481335-01

rus to isolate from others.

Sometime after the announcement, Hambley left the room to attend a House State and Local Government Committee hearing, which was set to fi eld testimony and vote on Senate Bill 311, which restricts the ability of the Ohio Department of Health to issue quarantine and isolation orders related to the pandemic.

Committee footage shows a masked Hambley sitting a short distance from Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff , chief medical offi cer for ODH. Vanderhoff attended to testify against the bill, making the case that the legislation would hinder ODH’s ability to respond to COVID-19 and keep Ohio healthy.

Hambley can be seen intermittently for about 45 minutes before voting for the bill, later vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine. An ODH spokeswoman said Vanderhoff was masked the entire time and consistently far more than 6 feet from the representative. He is also now well outside his quarantine period and did not show any symptoms.

According to CDC guidance, if you have been exposed to the coronavirus, you should quarantine for 10 days, or seven days if you test negative. People can spread the virus up to 72 hours before exhibiting symptoms.

In an interview, Hambley said he began to experience fl u-like symptoms Nov. 21. He was tested the next day and later learned he indeed contracted COVID-19.

Hambley said he informed the offi ce of House Speaker Bob Cupp, R-Lima, and House administrative staff . Democrats, however, say they were never warned of Hambley’s situation and have expressed outrage regarding the absence of contact tracing or information sharing as cases emerge.

“It’s indefensible that he would show up with COVID,” said House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes, D-Akron, in a statement.

Many House Republicans refuse to wear masks, which peer–reviewed scientifi c research suggests reduces the risk of spreading the new coronavirus.

House Republicans have repeatedly voted down eff orts from Democrats to mandate mask wearing among members and staff .

Rep. Stephen Hambley, R-Brunswick, at left. He learned a staffer tested positive for COVID-19. Despite having spent 90 minutes with the staffer two days prior, he attended a committee hearing to fi eld testimony from Ohio Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, at right.

THE OHIO CHANNEL

Taylor Jach, a Cupp spokeswoman, did not respond to written inquiries including whether Democrats were warned of the positive cases, whether anyone is conducting any contact tracing, and others.

“I don’t know what the policy is, all I can say is they handle it within the staff s,” Hambley said.

Hambley was tested again Nov. 28 and the results came back positive. Regardless, he attended the House Finance meeting the morning of Dec. 2.

He has not tested negative since becoming infected.

According to the CDC, people who had symptomatic COVID-19 can be with others at least 10 days after symptoms fi rst appeared if they don’t have a fever and other symptoms are improving.

Hambley attended the hearing 11 days after he says symptoms fi rst appeared.

He denied that he could have transmitted the virus at that hearing.

“There’s no doubt in my mind it was well outside that window,” he said.

Dr. Mark Cameron, an immunologist at Case Western Reserve University, disagreed. He said while a positive test could be picking up on dead virus, it could also indicate that Hambley was still shedding and spreading coronavirus.

The clock should have restarted after Hambley’s second positive test, Camer-

on said.

“If he had a positive test several days before those meetings, he was still shedding virus, regardless of how long he had been infected,” Cameron said.

The precise source of the four lawmakers’ infections is unclear. Jach, without presenting any evidence, claimed to another media outlet that the infections occurred outside the Statehouse.

What’s clearer, however, is how basic infection control protocols that public health experts advise could have reduced the risk of viral spread.

For instance, many Republicans still refuse to wear masks, even as the House outbreak continues.

Contact tracing could prevent one case from turning into four cases — a reporter who attended the Dec. 2 hearing has not been contacted by any health department or House staff about the exposure.

“You could take full issue with anyone that does not take an exposure or a positive test seriously, and basically sound the alarm in terms of people they met with, worked with, and who should know about this risk,” Cameron said.

The House outbreak comes as the pandemic hits new highs in Ohio on a daily basis. ODH announced more than 10,000 new cases and 84 new deaths on Wednesday.

All told, at least 520,000 Ohioans have contracted COVID-19, though health offi cials say this is likely an underestimation. Nearly 7,200 have died, and more than 31,000 have been hospitalized.

Hambley insisted in an interview that he followed the CDC and ODH’s guidance and makes sure to wear a mask.

However, footage from recent House fl oor sessions show Hambley giving fl oor speeches and meandering about the House fl oor, not wearing a mask.

Hambley is not seeking reelection.

On Dec. 2, he gave a farewell speech, about 15 minutes in duration, to the chamber. He was maskless the whole time.

Tyler Buchanan contributed to this report. This story was updated at 11:40 a.m. Thursday with comment from the Ohio Department of Health.

cincinnati.com

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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Outdoors organization helps veterans heal Activities ‘therapeutic’ for wounded Ohioans Sheridan Hendrix Columbus Dispatch USA TODAY NETWORK

Things changed for Ron Leach when he came back from Iraq the second time.

Leach served two tours in the Army – Operation Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom – and he saw things that no man should, he said. His experiences made him angry and stressed.

“I was a raving (jerk) when I got home,” said Leach, 51, of Marshallville in Wayne County.

One thing he didn’t expect to change though was his feelings towards hunting.

Leach always considered himself an outdoorsman, and he loved the feeling of being in nature, away from the world for a while. But hunting, he said, is still a dirty thing.

“The blood and guts part kind of got to me and made me remember things I didn’t want to,” Leach said. “I thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ “ It wasn’t until his wife found Ohio Veterans Outdoors, a volunteer-run organization that promotes wounded veterans’ wellness through the outdoors and education, that Leach learned how to cope.

Ohio Veterans Outdoors was founded in June 2016 by Brian Luce, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot who was injured in a plane crash in Afghanistan in 2010.

Luce said the crash not only left him with physical injuries – a traumatic brain injury, a broken back and broken leg – but he also dealing with the mental and emotional eff ects of trauma.

In 2013, Luce went on a whitetail deer hunt in Florida through the Wounded Warrior Project. The weekend was a chance for Luce to escape reality for a while and meet other veterans who were seeking the same camaraderie and peace that he was. Coming home at the end of the trip, Luce said he snapped back to the real world and kept working through the trauma of the crash.

Luce said he wanted to create a similar space for veterans to connect with the outdoors to help the transition back to civilian life and to learn to cope with whatever struggles they might be experienc-

A buck hides in a thicket of brush at Jeffrey Park in Bexley on Nov. 10. BARBARA J. PERENIC/COLUMBUS DISPATCH

ing.

What was going to just be a small, annual deer hunt grew because of support and donations Luce received.

Ohio Veterans Outdoors puts on about a dozen events a year. About four to eight veterans participate in each event. It’s a group large enough that everyone should be able to fi nd someone they can connect with and small enough that no one gets lost in the mix, Luce said.

The organization has hunting and fi shing trips planned for each season.

In the fall, there’s a duck hunt and a squirrel hunt. There are also hunts during both deer-archery and deer-gun seasons. This year’s deer-gun season begins today and runs through Dec. 6, with a bonus weekend Dec. 19-20.

In the winter, there’s pheasant hunting, and in the spring they do a turkey hunt. Fishing weekends are planned throughout the spring and summer.

Luce said they’ve even tried activities such as intro to scuba and hiking trips to make sure there’s something for everyone. They also put on a shooting sport event for those who aren’t interested in hunting but still like to shoot.

This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s been a little harder to get people together for events, Luce said.

The annual archery deer-hunting trip, for example, had a few last-minute can-

cellations because of COVID-19 exposures. But thanks to the solitary nature of hunting, Luce said they’ve still be able to get together with some social-distancing considerations.

This year’s deer-gun week hunt is still on, scheduled for the season’s bonus weekend in mid-December.

But Ohio Veterans Outdoors is so much more than just getting the biggest buck or fi sh, Luce said.

“We focus less on the harvest and focus more on the experience that the vets have,” he said. “That they are comfortable, that they feel they can relax, that they can speak their mind and talk to whoever they’re with.”

There’s something disarming about sitting in a tree stand with a guy you’ve never met before, Luce said. Before long, you’re getting to know one another, when you served, and building a bond.

“Brotherhood and sisterhood, that bond doesn’t go away,” Leach said.

“They’ve gone through what you’re trying to go through by yourself. You think you can get through it alone and you won’t.”

The group also raises awareness about veteran health issues in Ohio’s rural communities. In the United States, about 18 veterans die by suicide daily, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Aff airs (though some groups estimate that number is higher.)

Living in a rural area means there are fewer mental health resources available than in metro areas, Luce said. But that doesn’t mean there still aren’t resources available to those in need of help.

“We don’t claim to be a therapy center, but through personal experience and feedback, we know being outdoors and sharing these hunting and fi shing experiences is actually very therapeutic,” Luce said.

Leach doesn’t like to admit it (because he knows the others guys will give him a hard time,) but he says you can really feel the love walking around an Ohio Veterans Outdoors event.

“The worst part is when it’s over. You get so much stress and agony relived just being with them, it hurts when I leave,” Leach said.

On top of building new friendships, Leach said he’s learned to cope with some of his anger and post-traumatic stress disorder. He remembers one hunting trip a few years ago when another veteran asked Luce some inconsiderate questions around the campfi re. Leach said he would’ve punched the guy in the face right there if it had been him. But instead, he saw Luce respond with patience and restraint.

“When I see myself in situations where people are jackasses, I remember Brian and how eloquently and maturely he handles people,” Leach said. “That was years ago and I still remember.”

It’s not easy coming home from war, Leach said. But Ohio Veterans Outdoors – the camaraderie, the campfi res, the solitude in nature – has made him feel normal again, if only for a weekend.

“For me, and I hate to say it, but it keeps a bullet out of my head,” Leach said. “Honest to God, they really do. It’s easy to think I’m not good for nothing, and at night the demons come to visit me.

If you are in suicidal crisis, call 911 or go to an emergency room. Help also is available at Ohio’s 24/7 Crisis Text Line by texting 4HOPE to 741741. Or call the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Hotline at 614-221-5445; the Teen Suicide Prevention Hotline at 614-294-3300; the national Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1800-273-8255/TALK (1-888-628-9454 for Spanish speakers); or the Veterans’ Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.

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16A

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

Why are immigrants more likely to get coronavirus?

Are You Generally Healthy?

Danae King Columbus Dispatch USA TODAY NETWORK

Muhammed Omar discovered the impact of COVID-19 the hard way when his wife and two children tested positive.

His 35-year-old wife, Amina Ali Abdullahi, was hospitalized and put on a ventilator earlier this month and released two weeks later on Nov. 16. The scare prompted Omar to warn his relatives in Somalia and ask his children’s school to allow them to take classes online.

Infection rates are higher for immigrants than native-born residents because of poverty and living and work conditions that make physical distancing diffi cult, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in France, which found rates as twice as high in some countries.

In Columbus, Dr. Jamie Robinson, a family medicine physician and director of Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center‘s immigrant and refugee clinic, has seen a higher incidence rate in her patients as well.

“I think just like anything it’s probably multifactorial,” Robinson said.

Many refugees lack education about the virus and live in multigenerational homes, work in essential jobs with low pay and don’t have the ability to stay home from work to reduce risk of exposure, experts said.

Omar, 38, of the Northwest Side, said some immigrants don’t trust that the virus is real and said he’s seen local mosques stop social distancing and fail to require masks. He said he has talked to mosque leaders, but they told him that they don’t believe masks work.

It’s even worse in his native country, he said. Omar said he was talking to his brother in Somalia while his wife was hospitalized.

“I told him to be careful, I said ‘Don’t take this virus easily, you are in Somalia, you might not get the medical care you need,’” Omar said. “He was laughing.”

Omar’s brother said people who wear masks in Somalia are made fun of and bullied.

Amina Abdule, co-owner and a family nurse practitioner at the Medcare Clinic on the West Side, has seen similar false beliefs among her patients, 95% of whom are immigrants, many from Somalia like she is.

“Someone will tell them this is created and then they believe it,” Abdule said.

“So they ignore the truth and they ignore the symptoms and you will see a lot of people who will argue ‘COVID is a lie, there is no COVID.’ ” Within the local immigrant community, COVID-19 is taboo, Abdule said.

“HIV used to be a taboo. I feel like COVID is becoming the same thing,” Abdule said. “If you tell them ‘You have symptoms of COVID, let me test you,’ they say ‘No, I don’t have COVID.’ ” There’s also a sense of mistrust between some immigrant communities and health care providers, Abdule said.

“They think hospitals are killing people because nobody goes into the hospital and comes back healthy. They all die from COVID problems,” she said, which isn’t true.

Immigrants are also more likely to be uninsured, which may mean they are concerned with costs associated with getting a COVID-19 test, said Samantha

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Muhammed Omar and his wife Amina Ali Abdullahi, refugees from Somalia, with their two daughters. PROVIDED

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Artiga, vice president and director of racial equity and health policy with Kaiser Family Foundation, a Washington, D.C.based nonprofi t group focused on national health issues. They may also not have a regular doctor and face more barriers to care, she said.

A lack of preventive health care is also pervasive among immigrants and refugees, said Yolanda Board, director of organizational development at North Community Counseling Centers in Columbus.

Board works with the Bhutanese Nepali community in central Ohio and said she has seen COVID-19 disproportionately impact immigrants.

She said if no one in a household is advocating for members to wear a mask, sanitize and distance, other members might not know they that they should.

“I think the other challenge is it’s not something you can see … until someone gets sick,” Board said.

The counseling center has done social media videos and posts to reach Bhutanese-Nepali immigrants and educate them about the virus.

“We’re not trying to use fear but we’ve got to remain realistic.” she said. “You don’t want to make it out to be this big boogeyman … You don’t want people walking around in a constant state of fear, but we do have to be on our toes.”

Some of Robinson’s patients are scared of the virus, so much so that they are scared to come to the clinic that she runs to receive care.

Trusted messengers are key to educating immigrants about the virus, Artiga said.

“That really means utilizing local leaders that have a shared background of the people you’re trying to reach,” she said.

Abdule said she thinks the virus spreads so quickly among immigrants partly because many don’t know all the symptoms.

“If they have a fever they don’t believe it’s COVID,” even if it could be, she said.

Robinson said it’s harder to social distance if “maybe you live in a smaller home and there’s eight people there and two work in a factory and two get it and they bring it home to everybody.”

It’s also nearly impossible to quarantine one member of a large household unless the person leaves the home, Board said. The nature of many immigrants’ work also doesn’t allow for working from home.

“A lot of these people have essential jobs that might be putting them at risk,” Robinson said.

Many immigrants and refugees work in warehouses, food service, construction, hospitality and other jobs that can’t be done remotely, according to the Pew Research Center.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

OHIO

Internet access still diffi cult in Appalachia Problem persistent in region for decades Ceili Doyle Columbus Dispatch USA TODAY NETWORK

AMESVILLE, Ohio – Heather Mitchell is overwhelmed.

The single mom of three boys struggles just to send a text message.

She and her sons – Micah, 6, River, 4, and Wren, 2 — have been living without consistent internet access in Athens County for nearly eight years. The family moved to Amesville, a village about 80 miles southeast of Columbus and 13 miles northeast of Athens, about a year and a half ago.

“Where we’re at, there’s no provider,” Mitchell said.

Forget a Wi-Fi connection: If the 33year-old wants to send a text, she has to huddle in the corner of her house. Outside, what looks like a triangular cone is attached to a baking sheet from a toaster oven and tacked onto a skinny pole.

The contraption, a Verizon Wireless LTE booster, strengthens the signal of Mitchell’s phone – one strained text message at a time. Her father added the extra scrap of metal from the toaster oven so they could get a better connection.

The Mitchells are among hundreds of thousands of families challenged by modern economic, education and health-care systems while living without internet access in rural Ohio. COVID-19 has exacerbated the issue, but the problem has been persistent in Appalachia for decades.

Sitting outside, with southeastern Ohio’s rolling hills in the backdrop, Mitchell said she is content to live an unplugged lifestyle.

But lack of access is exhausting.

Mitchell juggled her eldest son’s transition from in-person to remote learning this past spring while preparing for the upcoming school year, attempted to fi le unemployment for the part-time job she lost, and managed clients in her other position at a nearby rape crisis center – all without steady, or barely any, access to the internet.

She is constantly frustrated by everybody’s suggestion to just move closer in

Heather Mitchell sits on her front porch with her three sons, Wren, 2, right, River 4, center, and Micah, 6, left, on Aug. 31 in Amesville, Ohio. Mitchell, a single mother who works for a rape crisis center in Athens County, has struggled with the lack of affordable and consistent internet access at her rural home.

JOSHUA A. BICKEL/COLUMBUS DISPATCH

town, where there’s better cellphone reception. Rent in town, Mitchell said, would cost at least twice as much as they pay for their three-bedroom, two-bath country home on Henry Road outside Amesville proper.

“This is a low-income area, even as a professional … I don’t make enough to afford a house the size my family needs in town,” she said. “So my options are really limited.”

Defi ning the digital divide In 2018, advocates fi rst began discussing the problem in earnest, but no one really understood just how sweeping it was, Misty Crosby said.

Crosby, director of the Buckeye Hills Regional Council, a southeastern Ohio coalition of local governments that serve eight Appalachian counties, explained that in order for the Federal Communication Commission to determine who has broadband service, internet carriers fi le mapping data with the agency twice a year.

“A lot of reports were being fi led to the FCC, saying areas (in rural Ohio) were covered,” she said. “And yeah, it says we

have service, but we don’t actually have service.”

So in 2019 Buckeye Hills applied for a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to conduct an eight-county study — in Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Washington counties — in partnership with Ohio University and the Athens County Economic Development Council.

The results showed that 80% to 90% of households (in areas with 20 or fewer households per square mile) have no access to broadband. The council estimated that more than 340,000 households, approximately 1 million residents, in Ohio do not have any internet access.

FCC spokeswoman Annie Veigle told The Dispatch that the number of rural Americans with service to the agency’s standard broadband speed, 25 megabits per second for downloads and 3 megabits per second for uploads, or 25/3 Mbps, has more than tripled from 2016 to 2018.

The agency also has set aside billions of dollars in federal programming to incentivize internet providers to expand rural America’s internet access.

“Since taking offi ce, Chairman (Ajit)

Pai’s singular focus on closing the digital divide has produced real results for Americans,” the FCC wrote in a statement.

But Buckeye Hills’ broadband consultant, Tom Reid, said that FCC maps often overstate service coverage and that the agency does not independently verify the data provided by the internet carriers and used to compile the maps.

According to an example from the study, internet carriers including Frontier Telecommunications can claim they serve 14 households in a single census block, spread out over 740 acres in Meigs County. But in reality, Frontier provides coverage to only one household in that census block, at a speed of 10/1 Mbps, signifi cantly lower than the FCC’s broadband standard.

This overstatement can prevent certain regions from becoming eligible for the FCC’s connectivity programs because the agency will assume the area is covered, Reid said.

In a statement, Frontier spokesman Javier Mendoza told The Dispatch the company “understands the unique challenges of serving rural communities,” but did not directly answer a question about the discrepancy between Buckeye Hill’s fi ndings and the data Frontier submits to the FCC about how many households it serves in a specifi c census block.

“This problem is really this bad and vast,” Crosby said. “There’s a sense of urgency here ... every day, every day, we’re falling behind in rural Appalachian Ohio.”

Discrepancy in data In 2015, former FCC Commissioner Tom Wheeler updated the agency’s defi nition of broadband to 25/3 Mbps.

But Crosby and Reid say 25/3 Mbps is not an appropriate benchmark for the 21st century. In Franklin County, almost 100% of households in Franklin County can access internet speeds of 100/10 Mbps.

“We believe rural, Appalachian Ohioans deserve the same speeds and the same reliability as those that are in more-populous areas of the country,” Crosby said.

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Ohio

Continued from previous page

It’s diffi cult to watch Netfl ix and also check your email or download a fi le using the FCC’s standard bandwidth connection, the Buckeye Hills director said.

“So imagine a household that’s got four users, or fi ve users or children trying to go to school and parents trying to work from home,” Crosby said, “And they’re all trying to use a 25/3 Mbps bandwidth connection. It’s just not doable.”

Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, who serves Appalachian Ohio in Ohio’s 6th congressional district, spanning from Columbiana to Scioto counties, agreed.

“I daresay there is not a lawmaker or decision maker from the president all the way down to township commissioner that does not understand,” he said, “that in the 21st century, access to high-speed internet is as important to quality of life as plumbing, water and electricity are.”

Without that access, Amesville Mayor Gary Goosman fears his village will fall behind.

In Amesville, which recorded a population of 154 residents in the 2010 U.S. Census, there are two main internet providers according to the FCC: Frontier and Hughes Network Systems, a satellite company. But Frontier is basically “the only game in town.”

Future of rural broadband in Ohio Ohio has 25 electric co-ops that serve 77 mostly rural counties under Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives (OEC).

And while only one of those co-ops offers broadband, OEC’s Director of Government Aff airs Marc Armstrong said the members have asked them to expand services.

In June, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 13, which would designate $20 million for providers through the Residential Broadband Expansion program and enable electric cooperatives to apply as well.

The senate must decide whether to pass the bill before the end of the year, Armstrong said.

“We support the funding,” he added.

“But we would like to see the state make an even greater investment.”

One provision in House Bill 13, a rule regulating how much cooperatives charge telecommunication companies to rent their electrical poles, concerns OEC’s CEO Patrick O’Loughlin.

That revenue allows cooperatives to provide utilities at a subsidized cost to their members. But in testimony to the Ohio House Finance Committee O’Loughlin warned the provision would ensure co-ops won’t be able to fully recover the rental cost from private carriers.

“If given this handout,” he wrote, “There is nothing to suggest that cable/ telecom providers would then off er new internet access to any Ohioan.”

If Ohio wants to expand access to those without any internet as well as those with 25/3 Mbps or less in a meaningful way, Buckeye Hills’ Reid said, House Bill 13 is just a start.

“The state needs to run 45,000 miles of optic-fi ber cables to replace the decrepit copper wires lying throughout Appalachia Ohio,” he said. “It will take $2.3 billion to reach, but it will also create 9,000 jobs and provide a $1 billion increase in GDP.” In order to make a viable business model, $1.7 million would also need to be subsidized to rural residents, Reid added.

Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted have made broadband connectivity a priority in their administration.

They awarded nearly 1,000 school districts broadband education grants

last month, allowing schools to purchase mobile hot spots and internet-enabled devices.

Husted is also the founder and director of InnovateOhio, a department dedicated to technological advancement. In December 2019 the administration released Ohio’s broadband strategy through InnovateOhio, acknowledging that access is a “critical barrier” for a million Ohioans.

But money remains the number one obstacle to unfettered connectivity, Husted said in an interview with The Dispatch.

“How do you provide services to all of the people who don’t have it and the private sector won’t provide it?” Husted asked.

He said the state is considering a variety of options including bidding on federal grant money to provide rural residents subsidies. JobsOhio is also working with private sector partners on how they might expand coverage and InnovateOhio is working with new satellite technologies such as Starlink, a SpaceX initiative.

They are aggressively pursuing everything because Husted wants to make sure tomorrow’s investment won’t end up inadequate fi ve years later.

“In the dream world we would be able to work with USDA and the Economic Development Administration and FCC along with our state partners, public and private, to develop a plan and have laws and regulations that would make that easier to happen,” John Carey said.

But Carey, director of the Ohio Governor’s Offi ce of Appalachia, said communities with accessibility plans are going to be able to reach federal funding fi rst.

“We have to be realistic about what can and can’t happen,” the director added.

Will that require the federal government to step in and provide broadband assistance to Appalachia, similar to how President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal-era programs brought electricity to the region nearly a 100 years ago? Husted said the answer is complicated.

“The federal government’s going to have to be involved from the standpoint of providing regulatory relief,” Husted said. But he dismissed that a long-term solution in Ohio would require “a New Deal kind of thing.”

cincinnati.com

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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19A

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Amesville’s horizon In September Heather Mitchell began loading jump drives onto the family computer for her preschooler and fi rst-grader, squeezing in a couple hours for her boys to learn before bedtime.

“Their teachers have lesson plans and videos on the jump drive,” she said.

“They do an assignment and then I take a picture of it on my phone and email it to them when I go to work.”

“There’s no version of this that’s not labor-intensive,” she added.

Amesville Mayor Gary Goosman is still frustrated by the lack of state or federal attention his village receives. There are no plans he’s heard of to expand broadband out into the country or add towers that would increase cell service.

He hasn’t talked much with Buckeye Hills about becoming eligible for the FCC’s spring auction — the second half of the agency’s $20.4 billion investment to provide subsidies to internet carriers.

“At some point we’ll seriously decide,” he said.

Mitchell wishes central Ohioans understood the constraints the lack of internet access puts on otherwise hardworking Appalachians.

“I think it’s probably inevitable at some point that we’ll have to move,” she said.

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20A

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

ARTS &LIFE

Arguably the fi nest Tiger Eye still in existence, this 17 × 11 inch (43.2 × 27.9 cm) vase by Matthew Daly (1900) features the deep, spectacular Tiger Eye shimmer and two cranes painted under the glaze.

This vase helped Rookwood Pottery gain acclaim at the 1900 Paris Exposition.

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Jeff Suess Cincinnati Enquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK

e think we know Rookwood Pottery. The tile mantle in our grandmother’s house. The fl oor-to-ceiling tiles at the Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor at Union Terminal. The decorative vases at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

But do we really know Rookwood?

In its heyday, from 1880 to 1941, Rookwood Pottery was renowned across the

globe, winning numerous awards for innovative designs and glazes and sparking the birth of American art pottery.

That’s the story found in “Rookwood: The Rediscovery and Revival of an American Icon,” a glossy book by Bob Batchelor that features more than 300 photos of Rookwood’s history and artworks.

The author of “The Bourbon King,” last year’s biography on local bootlegger George Remus, wanted to “bring Rookwood’s past back to light,” he told The

Enquirer.

There has been a revival of Rookwood as the venerable brand returned to Cincinnati in 2006, opening a Race Street factory in Over-the-Rhine.

“Even though Rookwood is a thriving local business, people didn’t know its history or its global importance,” Batchelor said.

The history begins with Maria Longworth Nichols Storer, who founded See ROOKWOOD, Page 14AA

Get the crayons back out.

It’s time to Dress the Snowman Rasputin Todd Cincinnati Enquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK

We had so much fun paging through all your Dress the Turkey submissions this year that we decided to add a little more fun to the last month of this torrential 2020. Meet Toby, he’s a snowman. And he needs some clothes. We’re hoping you and your kiddos might be in the mood to draw some on him for us.

Add whatever you want, give him some bling, slap a hat on his head, turn him into a Santa Snowman, give him an all-around 2020 theme ... It’s all up to you.

When you’re done with your masterpiece, just take a picture of it (or scan it) and email it to rtodd@enquirer.com by Sunday, Dec. 20. (Get the most techy person in the house to help out, the higher resolution you can send, the more likely we are to love it.) Please include your name, age and neighborhood of residence in the email.

We’ll print some of our favorites in The Enquirer on Christmas Day. Happy Holidays from Toby the Snowman!

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

Gifts for the gardener on your list In the Garden Denny McKeown Guest columnist

As the holidays near, many of us fi nd ourselves scrambling to come up with gift ideas for some of our friends and relatives. Have you considered that they may be gardeners? Interest in gardening has been on the uptick for the last several years and has accelerated during the pandemic. There are many ways to garden, so there are many directions you can go to fi nd gifts for gardeners.

You may know someone who has just become fi rst-time homeowner. There are certain tools that should be staples in the tool shed of every homeowner.

Here is a list of tools needs for the basic maintenance of a home landscape.

Pruning Shears: A good, sharp pair of pruning shears are needed for general pruning of all plants. You will want to get a pair that is large enough, and strong enough, to prune branches up to a half an inch in diameter.

Pruning Saw: A pruning saw is used to remove larger branches that a pruner cannot handle. A saw would be useful in removing low branches from trees. It is also useful for cutting the large branches of shrubs you are radically pruning Shovel: A long handled shovel that has a blade that comes to a rounded point is just what is needed to dig larger holes for trees and shrubs.

Spade: This is also for digging. It has a shorter handle that has a rectangular blade. This tool can also be used to dig holes. With the rectangular blade the edge can be sharpened. With a sharp blade it is the best tool to cut through

roots to remove or transplant existing plants.

Hand Trowel: This is basically a handheld shovel used for planting small annuals and perennials.

Besides tools, you can also give your favorite gardener the gift of knowledge.

There are literally thousands of books written about gardening. When shopping for a gardening book, make sure you are buying one that is specifi c to our region and climate. You do not want to buy a book that has plants that will not grow in our area. You also do not want a book that suggest methods that do not apply to our gardens and landscapes.

The last book I wrote, the revised edition of "The Gardening Book for Ohio" is the type of book I am recommending. It was published in 2000, and the information still applies to today’s gardens.

Gardeners also like to experience nature outside of their own landscapes. A membership to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden would be a great gift.

The zoo is much more than animals.

They have one of the greatest displays of plants you will fi nd anywhere in the country. Many of the plants you buy from greenhouses and garden centers began in trial gardens at the zoo. The zoo also has programs you can participate in like its Plants for Pollinators program.

The Cincinnati Zoo is a great place to enhance and embrace your knowledge of nature for the whole family. Like many businesses the zoo has suff ered fi nancially during the pandemic. Buying a membership will help support the many eff orts of the zoo that benefi t the entire community.

There is always the one gift you can never go wrong with – a gift card. Almost every business sells them and that would certainly include garden centers and greenhouses.

Gardening tools and gift cards make great gifts for the gardeners in your list.

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$100 VISA® Reward Debit Card: $100 Visa® reward debit card requires service activation. You will receive a claim voucher via email within 24 hours and the voucher must be returned within 60 days. Your $100 Visa® reward debit card will arrive in approximately 6-8 weeks. Card is issued by MetaBank®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit after the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply. EQUIPMENT: Equipment shown may require additional fees. Touchscreen shown only available with upgrade to premium packages. ADT 6-MONTH MONEY BACK GUARANTEE: Money Back guarantee only applies after ADT has made attempts to resolve a system related issue and has not been able to resolve that issue within the first six months of your contract. Equipment must be fully removed before a refund will be processed. Conditions preventing normal system operation cannot be caused by the customer. ADT THEFT PROTECTION GUARANTEE: The Customer presenting ADT with this ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE will be eligible to receive a reimbursement of up to five hundred dollars ($500) of Customer’s homeowner’s insurance deductible (if any) if, and only if, ALL of the following requirements are met to ADT’s reasonable satisfaction: (i) the property loss was the result of a burglary that took place while the security system installed at Customer’s protected premises was in good working order and was “on,” and while all of Customer’s doors and windows were locked; and (ii) the intruder entered the residence through a door, window or other area equipped with an ADT detection device, and such detection device was not “bypassed”; and (iii) Customer is not in any way in default under the ADT Residential Systems Customer’s Order; and (iv) Customer files a written claim with their homeowner’s insurance company, and such claim is not rejected or otherwise contested by the insurer; and (v) Customer reports the burglary loss to the appropriate police department and obtains a written police report; and (vi) Customer provides ADT with copies of the insurance claim report, the police report within sixty (60) days of the property loss and proof of settlement by insurance carrier; and (vii) Customer certifies in writing to ADT (by signing this ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE and presenting it to ADT within sixty [60] days of the property loss) that all of the foregoing requirements have been satisfied. Customer understands that presentation of this ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE signed by Customer is required and understands that ADT reserves the right to reject any application for reimbursement that does not comply with ALL of the requirements. Photocopies or other reproductions of this Certificate will NOT be accepted. By signing below, Customer certifies to ADT that all of the foregoing requirements have been satisfied. Please mail to: ADT Security Services, Account Management Support Center, Attn: Theft Protection Guarantee Claims, 14200 E. Exposition Avenue, Aurora, CO 80012. BASIC SYSTEM: $99 Installation. 36-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($1,007.64). 24-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($671.76) for California.

Offer applies to homeowners only. Basic system requires landline phone. Offer valid for new ADT Authorized Premier Provider customers only and not on purchases from ADT LLC. Cannot be combined with any other offer. The $27.99 Offer does not include Quality Service Plan (QSP), ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. VIDEO LITE: ADT Video Lite is an additional $299.00 Customer Installation Charge. 36-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $59.99 per month ($2,159.64). 24-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $59.99 per month ($1,439.76) for California, including Quality Service Plan (QSP) Form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account. Early termination fees apply. Offer applies to homeowners only. Local permit fees may be required. Satisfactory credit history required. Certain restrictions may apply. Offer valid for new ADT Authorized Dealer customers only and not on purchases from ADT LLC. Other rate plans available. Cannot be combined with any other offer. ADT COMMAND: ADT Command Interactive Solution Services (“ADT Command”), which help you manage your home environment and family lifestyle, requires the purchase and/or activation of an ADT alarm system with monitored burglary service and a compatible computer, cell phone or PDA with Internet and email access. These ADT Command Interactive Solutions Services do not cover the operation or maintenance of any household equipment/systems that are connected to the ADT Command Interactive Solutions Services/Equipment. All ADT Command Interactive Solutions Services are not available with the various levels of ADT Command Interactive Solutions Services. All ADT Command Interactive Solutions Services may not be available in all geographic areas. Standard message and data rates may apply to text alerts. You may be required to pay additional charges to purchase equipment required to utilize the ADT Pulse Interactive Solutions Services features you desire. Two-way encryption only available with compatible SIX devices. GENERAL: For all offers, the form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account, satisfactory credit history is required and termination fee applies. Certain packages require approved landline phone. Local permit fees may be required. Certain restrictions may apply. Additional monitoring fees required for some services. For example, Burglary, Fire, Carbon Monoxide and Emergency Alert monitoring requires purchase and/or activation of an ADT security system with monitored Burglary, Fire, Carbon Monoxide and Emergency Alert devices and are an additional charge. Additional equipment may be purchased for an additional charge. Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. Prices subject to change. Prices may vary by market. Some insurance companies offer discounts on Homeowner’s Insurance. Please consult your insurance company. Photos are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect the exact product/service actually provided. LICENSES: AL-21-001104, AR-CMPY.0001725, AZ-ROC217517, CA-ACO6320, CT-ELC.0193944-L5, DC-EMS902653, DC-602516000016, DE-07-212, FL-EC13003427, GA-LVA205395, IA-AS-0206, ID-ELE-SJ-39131, IL-127.001042, IN-C.P.D. Reg. No. – 19-08088, City of Indianapolis: LAC-000156, KY-City of Louisville: 483, LA-F1914, LA-F1915, LA-F1082, MA-1355C, MD-107-1626, ME-LM50017382, MI-3601205773, MN-TS01807, MO-City of St. Louis: CC#354, St. Louis County: 100194, MS-15007958, MT-PSP-ELS-LIC-247, NC-25310-SP-FA/LV, NC-1622-CSA, NE-14451, NJ Burglar Alarm Lic. # -NJ-34BF00021800, NM-353366, NV-0068518, City of Las Vegas: 3000008296, NY-Licensed by the N.Y.S. Department of State UID#12000317691, NYS #12000286451, OH-53891446, City of Cincinnati: AC86, OK-AC1048, OR-170997, Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration Number: PA022999, RI-3582, RI-7508, SC-BAC5630, SD- 1025-7001-ET, TN-1520, TX-B13734, ACR-3492, UT-6422596-6501, VA-115120, VT-ES-2382(7C), WA-602588694/ECPROTEYH934RS, WI-City of Milwaukee: PAS-0002966, WV-WV042433, WY-LV-G-21499 3750 Priority Way South Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46240 ©2020 DEFENDERS, Inc. dba Protect Your Home

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THE AMISH COOK

Lemony chocolate cheesecake is a family favorite The Amish Cook ‘s Lemony Chocolate Cheesecake

Gloria Yoder Special to Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

This week I will introduce you to the most beautiful lady I spoke with on our trip to Ohio. Her name is Mary, she is 88 years old and a grandmother to my husband Daniel. True beauty shines through her entire being as she kindly and tenderly visits with those around her. Though her hearing isn’t the greatest – even with hearing aids – she is always there to lend a listening ear or off er words of encouragement.

Traveling went relatively well, despite driving through rain, traffi c jams, and trying to quiet a teething Joshua in his car seat. Needless to say, we were all incredibly thankful to be ‘home’ with Daniel’s parents.

On the evening of Thanksgiving, Grandma and Grandpa planned to join us at Daniel’s parents for supper and the evening. I looked forward to my time with them, especially Grandma. After supper, I happened to be just at the right spot at the right moment to hear a brother-in-law ask Grandma what Grandpa has done for her that she appreciates. After thinking a bit, she said, “What means the most to me are the times he gives me direction and encouragement spiritually.” Turning the clock of time back 60 years, she reminisced how he would help her by washing out the bucket full of cloth diapers in the morning.

Turning to 87-year-old Grandpa, brother-in-law asked, “So what do you appreciate about Grandma?”

He responded with, “All the meals she cooks for me, and for standing with me and supporting my leadership all these years.” Grandpa was ordained a minister 64 years ago and still takes his turn to preach. They are celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary. I wonder what will my and Daniel’s story be in 50 or 60 years?

While the grown-ups chatted, the children played with playdough made

by Daniel’s sister Mary. As Mary helped the children get started making playdough cookies, dolls, blankets and even

Ingredients: Crust: 11⁄ 4 cup flour 1 tsp. lemon peel 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar ⁄ 2 cup butter, chilled and cubed

1

Filling: 4 (8 oz. packages) cream cheese, softened 11⁄ 4 cup sugar 2 Tbsp. flour 2 Tbsp. lemon juice 2 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream ⁄ 2 cup sour cream

1

2 tsp. vanilla 4 eggs, well beaten 10 oz. white baking chocolate, melted and cooled 2 tsp. grated lemon peel

This lemony chocolate cheesecake is a hit with the Yoder family.

Instructions:

GLORIA YODER/PROVIDED

1. Place a 9-inch spring form pan on a double thickness of heavy duty foil (about 18 inch square) securely wrap foil around pan. Set aside.

2. In a small bowl combine crust ingredients until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and one inch up the sides of the prepared pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 325 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

bottles, she told them how Grandma would make playdough for her and her cousins on Thanksgiving Day. They spent countless hours making all sorts of imaginary things.

All too soon, it was time to settle down after a big day. That is, after I slipped into the pantry for a bite-sized piece of Mary’s most amazing cheesecake. I passed Mary on the way out and,

3. In a large mixing bowl beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour, lemon juice, cream, sour cream and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating on low speed just until combined. Stir in white chocolate and lemon peel.

4. Pour mixture into crust. Place pan in a large baking pan and add 1 inch hot

chuckling, told her that I couldn’t do this every day. Of course, she didn’t care a bit. Bless her giving heart, she would do anything in her power for us, including serving her specialty, cheesecake, at all hours of the day.

The next morning I was groggily waking up, listening to the murmur of voices in the kitchen under our bedroom when the door opened. Julia slipped in, hold-

water to the larger pan. Bake at 350 for 65-85 minutes or until center is just set and to appears dull. Remove the pan from water bath and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen sides. Cool one hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove from sides of pan before slicing.

Yield: 12 servings

ing a plate with a slice of cheesecake. I blinked in surprise. “Mom, you’ve got to taste this cheesecake! It’s the best one Mary ever made.” After hugging her a thank you, she was off again. She knows my crush on cheesecakes, and bless her dearest heart; she even served it in bed.

Is this what it feels like to have children growing up?

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BEER WORLD

It’s the most wonderful time ... for some beer Christmases of my childhood. If you’d prefer your winter beer hopped up, you could do a lot worse. But when I think of Rhinegeist and the holidays, the fi rst thing I think of is Pure Fury, a pale ale brewed with Cascade, Amarillo and Mosaic hops. Although it hasn’t dropped yet this season, I’m certain I’ll be excited when I see those red, orange and yellow stripes back on the shelf.

Matt Koesters Special to Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

When I was approached to write about beer for The Enquirer back at the beginning of February, I had envisioned a column chock-full of event news. The early pieces I did on Cincy Winter Beerfest and Bockfest were the kind of stuff I expected to do pretty often.

Needless to say, that hasn’t happened. Instead, 2020 happened. And therefore, virtually nothing has been happening, and the stuff that is happening is happening virtually – except for the stuff that we wish wasn’t happening at all. That’s all out in the real world.

But there are a few things 2020 just can’t take away from us. December is still the holiday season; in the world of craft beer, this is when all of the fun Christmas ales and winter warmers hit the shelves. I consider beer just as big a part of the most wonderful time of the year as ugly sweaters and strings of LEDs. Christmas ales are a lot like Christmas music – once you’ve had your fi ll, it’s really easy to get sick of them. But for these next few weeks, these winter wonders will brighten your virtual family gatherings (or at least make them more tolerable).

Taft’s Let’s start local, and we’ll start with the brewery that has two diff erent winter beers on shelves right now. First up: the ever-popular Santa’s Bribe Christmas Cookie Ale, a dark ale brewed with cinnamon, ginger and vanilla. Although there are some Taft’s fans that would prefer to see the return of Liquid Advent, Santa’s Bribe has become an annual tradition. Maybe it’s the excellent depiction of William Howard Taft-aClaus spreading Christmas cheer in his fl ying bathtub.

If you’re looking for something lighter, Nellies Winter Sweet Orange Ale has you covered. This wheat ale brewed with sweet orange peel and coriander screams to be served in the same way as

Great Lakes Of all the out-of-market breweries, I think Great Lakes has the area’s most popular Christmas ale. In fact, according to Cleveland.com, Great Lakes relies on its Christmas ale for 20% of its annual sales, despite being only available for eight weeks. Brewed with spices and honey, Great Lakes Christmas Ale is simply a classic.

Thirsty Dog

The apple streusel inspired ale from Sonder Brewing.

MATT KOESTERS FOR THE ENQUIRER

Blue Moon: with an orange wedge along the top of the glass.

Sonder “This Beer is Named After the Band from a 1990s Christmas Movie” isn’t just a complete sentence. It’s the name Sonder has decided to give this year’s version of the brewery’s apple streusel-inspired ale. Unlike some of the other offerings on this list, Sonder’s apple streuse-ale has quite a strong chance of becoming the gateway for non-craft drinkers into the world of craft beer. It’s simply delicious.

MadTree Up until last week, I was worried I would never see snow in Cincinnati

again. Then I walked into a Kroger and saw it sitting at the end of the craft beer cooler. Thundersnow, as the name implies, is a pretty intense experience for a beer. At 8.5% ABV, this Scottish ale with ginger, nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon is defi nitely one of the stronger winter ales you’ll come across. It drinks even bigger – while I wouldn’t call it hot, Thundersnow can come across as fairly boozy.

This isn’t a beer that will win over newcomers to the craft beer scene, but it’s certainly a fan favorite among seasoned Cincinnati craft fans.

Rhinegeist The city’s largest brewery calls Dad its hoppy holiday ale, which I think is a perfectly fi ne red ale. The tartan pattern on the can even reminds me of the

A long time ago, a former Great Lakes brewer left for Akron to work at Thirsty Dog, and it wasn’t long after that rumors about the two breweries’ Christmas ales being based on the same recipe started to emerge. Point of order: Thirsty Dog’s 12 Dogs of Christmas is a very diff erent beer from Great Lakes Christmas Ale. At 8.3% ABV, it’s nearly a full percentage point stronger than Great Lakes’ 7.5%, and if you go by IBUs – that’s International Bitterness Units to the uninitiated – 12 Dogs of Christmas is ever so slightly less hoppy. But it’s defi nitely got a lot more of those holidays spices that make Christmas ales what they are. Which one is better? It depends on who you ask.

Troegs The only non-Ohio brewery I’m going to acknowledge here, the Pennsylvaniabased Troegs produces a couple of my favorite seasonal beers. Mad Elf, a Belgian strong dark ale with cherries and honey, is defi nitely not for everyone. But for those who enjoy the fl avors imparted

by Belgian yeast, this is absolutely an annual must-buy.

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THE ENQUIRER

THINGS TO DO IN CINCY

END GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! Motherfolk plays its annual holiday show at 20th Century Theatre. PROVIDED Luann Gibbs Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are constantly monitoring event cancellations, but please double check with venues and organizers to confi rm events are still taking place.

Monday, Dec. 14 GAMES: Holiday Movie & Music Trivia, 6:30 p.m. The Pub at Rookwood, 2692 Madison Road, Norwood. Ugly sweater contest and trivia. Free.

SHOPPING: Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market Virtual Storefront, now through Dec. 31. Searchable hub that connects holiday shoppers with more than 100 local and small business vendors. facebook.com/cincyholidaymarket.

SHOPPING: Exchange Village, open daily, Newport on the Levee, One Levee Way, Newport. Indoors, sociallydistanced artisan market geared toward holiday shopping. Featuring 10 local businesses.

Tuesday, Dec. 15 FOOD: Holiday Beer and Donut Pairing, 5-8 p.m., Taft's Brewing Co., 4831 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village. Flight of four different beers paired with fresh donuts from Peace

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Love & Little Donuts. Self-guided pairing lasts one hour. $12. eventbrite. com.

MUSIC: Live at Lunch, 12:10 p.m., Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. 4th St., Downtown. Buffalo Ridge Jazz Band.

Free.

513-621-1817; cincinnaticathedral.com.

SHOPPING: Off Ludlow Gallery, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, 2-6 p.m. FridaySaturday, 3408 Ormand St., Clifton.

All-volunteer art gallery turns into holiday gift boutique with unique items created by local artists and craftsmen.

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Wednesday, Dec. 16 SHOPPING: Holiday Art Market, Kennedy Heights Art Center, 6546 Montgomery Road. Featuring 20 new local artist vendors. Masks required.

Runs Wednesday-Saturday Nov. 14Dec. 23. Closed Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Free timed entry tickets available 513-631-4278; kennedyarts.org.

THEATRE: The Drunk Santa X-mas Spectacular, 7:30 p.m., Esquire Theater, 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton. The saucy Aussie is back with a brand new holiday extravaganza. Benefi ts Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. $20 per person. cincyshakes.com.

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Thursday, Dec. 17 ART ENDING SOON: Art North, 3-7 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Saturday, Westheimer Gallery at Sharonville Cultural Arts Center, 11165 Reading Road. 31 local artists display works in photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, fabric and more. Runs Nov. 6-Dec. 19. Closed Nov. 26-28. Information: sharonvillecac@gmail.com.

CHARITY/MUSIC/VIRTUAL: Jim Brickman "Comfort & Joy at Home Live" Virtually, 7 p.m. Dec. 17. One-ofa-kind live, personal concert with piano sensation Jim Brickman. A portion of each ticket benefi ts Fairfi eld Community Arts Center.

Tickets: jimbrickman.com/fairfi eld.

CHARITY: Sustainable Suds Happy Hour, 4-7 p.m., High Grain Brewery, 6860 Plainfi eld Road, Silverton. Benefi ts Hamilton County Special Olympics Ohio. Runs Thursdays Dec. 3-17. highgrainbrewing.com.

GAMES: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Trivia, 7 p.m., West Side Brewing, 3044 Harrison Ave., Westwood. Hosted by Trivia with a Twist. Free.

GAMES: Holiday Movie Trivia, 7-9 p.m., 13 Below Brewery, 7391 Forbes Road, Sayler Park. Hosted by Last Call Trivia. Free.

HOLIDAY/DANCE/VIRTUAL OPENING: Cincinnati Ballet's The Nutcracker. Runs Dec. 17-23. Recorded at Music Hall following strict health and safety protocols. cballet.org.

Friday, Dec. 18 ART OPENING: Frank Duveneck: American Master, 11-5 p.m., Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. First comprehensive exhibition of the artist's work in more than 30 years. Features more than 90 from the museum's holdings, as well as 35 pieces on loan from collections across the country. Runs Dec. 18March 28. cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

ART: Final Friday, 5-9 p.m., Pendleton Art Center, 1310 Pendleton St. Comprised of 4 buildings with over 250 artists. View and purchase art directly from artists. Free admission. $5 valet

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ART/VIRTUAL: Video Premiere, Intro to Artists and Exhibition Tour, 7 p.m. livestreamed on Wave Pool Gallery Facebook page.

FOOD: Grinchmas Brunch, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Keystone Bar & Grill, 3384 Erie Ave., Hyde Park. Grinch mac and cheese, who-hash and roast beast.

Themed cocktails.

HOLIDAY/MUSIC: Holiday Music Series, 1-2 p.m. Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown. Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra performs holiday music. Included in museum admission. $8-$12. taftmuseum.org.

MUSIC: Motherfolk, 8-10 p.m., 20th Century Theater, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley. Socially distanced Christmas show. Special guests Tedious & Brief. $18-$30. eventbrite.com.

SHOPPING/HOLIDAY: Hippie Holiday Market, noon-6 p.m., Riverfront Live, 4343 Kellogg Ave., East End. 15 or more vendors sell wares.

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parking available. Artist of the month is Carol MacConnell, studio 709. Buyit-now $100 show on 8th floor.

COMEDY: Preacher Lawson, 7 and 9:15 p.m. Friday, 6 and 9 p.m. Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday, Funny Bone Comedy Club, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township.

Ages 21-up. $32. liberty.funnybone.com.

HOLIDAY: Black Santa Visits, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Kids can have a fi reside chat with Santa Claus through a plexiglass barrier. cincymuseum.com/holiday-junction.

HOLIDAY/MUSIC: The 12 Dames of Christmas, 8-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Playhouse in the Park, Marx Theatre, 962 Mount Adams Circle, Mount Adams. Socially distanced live performance by Emmy nominee Angela Ingersoll singing songs from a dozen yuletide divas including Judy Garland, Julie Andrews, Janis Joplin and more. $39-$54. 513421-3888; cincyplay.com.

MUSIC: Ed "Sax" Thomas Virtual Christmas Concert, 6:30-8:30 p.m., livestreaming on Facebook page. 20% of all tips benefi t Cincinnati Youth Collaborative.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

Famous Ohioans will make personalized videos for you (for a fee) trepreneur from Cincinnati who appeared on VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop,” $55.

Cathy Nesbitt-Stein, owner of Candy Apple’s Dance Center in Canton and a star of the Lifetime series “Dance Moms,” $45.

Angie Everhart, an Akron model and actress who appeared on “Celebrity Mole,” “The Real Gilligan’s Island” and “The Ex-Wives Club,” $30.

Chris Jamison, a former Capital University student who appeared on NBC’s “The Voice,” $30.

Chelsie Webster, a Lexington native who was a contestant on ABC’s “The Bachelor,” $25.

3447731001 Akron Beacon Journal USA TODAY NETWORK

Locked down during the pandemic?

Unable to go shopping for Christmas presents? This year, why not give the gift of celebrities?

Personalized videos featuring “your favorite stars” can be ordered via Cameo , a Chicago-based website that allows fans access to more than 30,000 celebrities.

Naturally, there’s a fee, and it varies from star to star.

A video from Caitlyn Jenner, for example, costs $2,500 while Dick Van Dyke charges $1,000, Richard Dreyfuss wants $999, Snoop Dogg fetches $900 and Chaka Khan seeks $600. On Cameo, you can fi nd everyone from Lindsay Lohan to Charlie Sheen to Fran Drescher to Billy Dee Williams to Bo Derek to Andrew Dice Clay.

Actors

How does Cameo work?

Fans go to cameo.com, search for a celebrity and request a video or a chat.

When a request is completed, usually within seven days, Cameo will email and text a link to a video to view, share or download. If for some reason the video isn’t completed, the hold on your credit card will be removed within fi ve to seven business days.

So if your wife adores Matthew Perry or your husband digs LeAnn Rimes or your daughter reveres Boosie Badazz or your son idolizes Troy Aikman, a personalized video might brighten their holidays.

If you don’t wish to pay for the real thing, Cameo also lists many celebrity impersonators, clearly marked as such.

Amuse your friends with fake Tom Cruise, Elvis Presley, Kim Jong-un, Lady Gaga, Donald Trump, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Marilyn Monroe or Robert De Niro.

There are also some names that stretch the defi nition of celebrity. Some charge as little as $1. Caveat emptor.

For this article, we scoured Cameo in search of stars with Ohio ties.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, a Cleveland native who hosts “The Dr. Oz Show,” requests $500 for a personalized video. Come-

“Family Feud” host Steve Harvey, a former Cleveland resident and Kent State alumnus, is among the celebrities featured on Cameo. PAUL R. GUINTA/INVISION/AP

dian and “Family Feud” host Steve Harvey, a former Clevelander and Kent State alum, suggests $450. Former Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer seeks $250, with all proceeds going to charity.

Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, a retired skater from Toledo, collects $100. Cleveland restaurateur and celebrity chef Michael Symon requests $95. Former Olympic gymnast Dominique Moceanu, a Medina County resident, asks $75. Gretchen Carlson, former Cleveland TV newscaster and former Fox News anchor, also seeks $75.

Here are some of the other Ohio celebrities we found on Cameo. Prices are subject to change.

“The Apprentice” and served as an aide to President Trump, $99.

Nina West, a drag queen from Greentown who appeared on VH1’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” $75.

Hazel-E, a rapper, publicist and en-

Reality TV stars Donna Marie Lombardi, a tattoo artist, piercer and cosmetologist from Cleveland who appeared on VH1’s “Black Ink Crew,” $200.

Omarosa Manigault Newman, a Youngstown native who appeared on

Omarosa Manigault Newman, a Youngstown native, appeared on “The Apprentice” and served as an aide to President Donald Trump.

MARY ALTAFFER/AP

Gates McFadden, a Cuyahoga Falls native famous for playing Dr. Beverly Crusher on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” $180.

Beverly D’Angelo, a Columbus native best known for portraying Ellen Griswold in the “Vacation” movies, $150.

Jake Abel, a Canton native who appeared in the “Supernatural” TV series and “Percy Jackson” fi lm series, $150.

Jamie Farr, a Toledo native who starred as Corporal Klinger on CBS-TV’s “M*A*S*H,” $125.

John de Lancie, a Kent State alumnus who played Q in the “Star Trek” series “The Next Generation,” “Deep Space Nine” and “Voyager,” $100.

Miranda May, a Bowling Green native who stars on the Disney Channel series “Bunk’d,” $100.

Adrianne Palicki, a Toledo native known for “Friday Night Lights,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “The Orville,” $75.

Dana DeLorenzo, a Youngstown native featured on Starz’s “Ash Vs. Evil Dead,” $60.

Eddie McClintock, a Canton native and character actor best known for Syfy’s “Warehouse 13,” $50.

Kaitlyn Black, a Copley native who starred on the CW’s “Hart of Dixie,” $25.

Rough and tough Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini,” former lightweight boxing champion from See VIDEOS, Page 11AA

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Videos Youngstown, $125.

Adrien Broner, a world champion boxer from Cincinnati, $100.

Buster Douglas, a former heavyweight boxing champion from Columbus, $60.

Ryan Nemeth, aka Briley Pierce, a former WWE wrestler from Cleveland, $35.

Jessica Eye, a mixed martial artist from Akron who competes in Ultimate Fighting Championship, $25.

Madman Fulton, a Toledo native and former WWE wrestler, $25.

Elder High School and Buff alo Bills standout Eric Wood, $89.

Baseball stars

Cleveland Browns legend Jim Brown, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, $320.

Former Browns players Bernie Kosar, $219; Joe Thomas, $173; Chris Spielman, $100; and Josh Cribbs, $75.

Current Browns players David Njoku, $200; Mack Wilson, $51; and Terrance Mitchell, $25.

Former Browns coach Hue Jackson, $60.

Bengals Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, $78.

Former Bengals players Terrell Owens, $350; Chad Ochocinco, $200; and Ickey Woods, $150.

Current Bengals players Trayveon Williams, $200; Khalid Kareem $20, Mason Schreck, $10; and Jordan Evans, $10.

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11AA

Comedians

Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose played with his hometown team from 1963 to 1978, returned in 1984 and remained as manager until 1989. JOHN MINCHILLO/AP

Football stars

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

er who sang in Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Rising Force and other groups, $30.

Mike Protich, Akron native and lead singer of Red Sun Rising, $25.

Andy Black, nee Andy Biersack, former SCPA student-turned-frontman for the rock band Black Veil Brides, does Cameo videos, often with his wife, fellow singer Juliet Simms. The pair’s work costs $75 a pop.

Continued from Page 10AA

Cleveland Browns legend Jim Brown led the team to glory from 1957 to 1965. AP FILE PHOTO

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Former Cleveland Indians stars Joe Carter, $129; Jason Kipnis, $100; Kenny Lofton, $75; Carlos Baerga, $30; Omar Vizquel, $28; and Greg Allen, $20.

Current Indians players: Daniel Johnson, $50; Oscar Mercardo, $30; Jordan Luplow, $20; and Logan Allen, $20.

Cincinnati Reds legends Johnny Bench, $200, and Pete Rose, $150.

Former Reds players Sean Casey, $100; Eric Davis, $99; Bronson Arroyo, $95; Jose Rijo, $69; Rob Dibble, $50; and George Foster, $49.

Current Reds players Amir Garrett, $125; Hunter Greene, $75; Brandon Finnegan, $50; and Kyle Farmer, $25.

Former Covington Latin High School and MLB star David Justice, $109.

Musicians Eddie Levert, Canton native and cofounder of the O’Jays, $135.

Howard Hewett Jr., an Akron native and Grammy-winning R&B singer of Shalamar, $100.

Richard Patrick, a former Clevelander who fronts the rock band Filter, $70.

Slim Jesus, a Hamilton rapper known for the song “Drill Time,” $60.

Tim “Ripper” Owens, the Akron rock-

John Caparulo, a stand-up comic from East Liverpool, $999.

David Wain, a comedian and writer from Shaker Heights, $100.

Gary Owen, Cincinnati-native comedian, $80.

Alan Cox, afternoon host on WMMS in Cleveland, $30.

Dave Hill, a Cleveland comedian and musician, $25.

Luke Null, a Cincinnati native and former cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” $25.

Pageant winners Heather Haburg, former Miss Greater Akron, $25.

Caroline Grace Williams, Miss Ohio 2019, $20.

And remember: Celebrities are in lockdown, too. Your cash can help brighten their holidays. For more information, go to cameo.com.

Basketball stars Former Cleveland Cavaliers coaches Tyronn Lue, $216, and Mike Fratello, $75.

Former Cavaliers players Ron Harper, $105; J.P. Macura, $55; Jeff Green, $40; Jaron Blossomgame, $25; and Dhantay Jones Sr., $15.

Current Cavaliers players Dylan Windler, $25, and Matt Mooney, $20.

Cleveland restaurateur Michael Symon is a celebrity chef and television personality. JEFFREY B. BOAN/AP

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

Listen to ‘Christmas Carol’ on the radio this year ‘A Christmas Carol’

David Lyman Special to Cincinnati Enquirer

When: Broadcast: 8 p.m. Dec. 23, 7 p.m.

Dec. 24; streaming thereafter

USA TODAY NETWORK

For many of us, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without Bruce Cromer.

Since 2005, he’s been the actor playing Ebenezer Scrooge in the Playhouse in the Park’s production of “A Christmas Carol.”

But this is 2020. And along with all the other weirdness we have lived through, the Playhouse’s holiday show has undergone as many plot twists as one of Dickens’ deliciously convoluted novels.

By late spring, “A Christmas Carol” looked like a goner. How could the Playhouse safely bring together 28 cast members, stage technicians, ushers and box offi ce personnel with an auditorium packed with 626 patrons?

In mid-July, artistic director Blake Robison off ered a solution. “A Christmas Carol” would be back. But it would look very diff erent. Audiences would be limited to 190. And instead of 28 actors, there would be just one. And that person would not be Cromer. Three months later, things changed again. The show was canceled, along with the rest of the Playhouse’s 2020-2021 mainstage season.

But again, it’s 2020. Expect the unexpected. So a couple of weeks ago, the Playhouse announced that it had cut a deal with WVXU and WMUB to broadcast and stream a one-person version of “A Christmas Carol.” The star? The inestimable Mr. Cromer.

“I’m so happy about this,” said Cromer, speaking by phone while walking his dog in Yellow Springs, where he lives.

“It’s such beautiful writing.”

Interestingly, even though Cromer is the quintessential man of the stage, he admits to a passion for radio plays.

“They give your imagination such a workout,” he said. “And I think Dickens is especially great for radio. Some people think he’s overwritten. But he is so descriptive that most of the time, all you really have to do is read him clearly and it’s all there.”

A simple thing for an actor of Cromer’s caliber, perhaps. But most actors would be stumped by the demands of creating dozens of characters using only

Where: WVXU (91.7 FM), WMUB (88.6 FM) Information: www.wvxu.org, cincyplay.com

you probably wouldn’t think about,” said Nielson, speaking from his home in Silver Spring, Maryland. “What does the room ‘sound’ like. You know – is there a fi re in the corner? Do we hear the sounds of people walking by the window outside? Is it windy enough outside that we hear it at the window? I love doing those sorts of things.”

Because of Cromer’s long relationship with the story, Robison commissioned him to prepare the script for the 60-minute production. As his starting point, he had the pared-down version of the story that Dickens himself read during his speaking tours.

Fortunately, “A Christmas Carol” is quite short in comparison with Dickens’ other novels. Still, there are dozens of characters. And Cromer had to fi nd a distinctive voice for every one of them.

“It would be easier if you could combine characters, I guess,” said Cromer.

“But why would you do that? Dickens’ characters are all so interesting.”

And funny, too. Aside from his fellow actors, Cromer admits that it’s the audience response that he’ll miss most.

“I’m a laugh whore, I admit it. I’ll do anything to get people chuckling. I’m begging for it. At the end of the play, though, when Scrooge is absolutely giddy with joy ...” Cromer is scrambling to fi nd words to describe the scene.

It’s understandable. That fi nal scene is what “A Christmas Carol” is all about.

It’s the scene in which Scrooge, described by Dickens as “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner” fi nds redemption.

“It’s such a glorious scene, isn’t it?” said Cromer, recalling the words that he wrote in the script he sent to Nielson – “Take us home with gladsome noise.

Make us cry with joy to the world, my friend.”

CINCINNATI

the voice.

“To me, the most fun about the radio broadcast is hearing Bruce’s virtuosity as a vocal actor,” said Playhouse artistic director Blake Robison. “I suspect this was a challenge for him. He is the most athletic, acrobatic Scrooge I’ve ever seen in my life. Take away that opportunity to be physical and you see what talent he still has.”

Robison recruited a longtime col-

league, noted sound designer Matthew M. Nielson, to add a full soundscape to the play: everything from street sounds and the clinking of Marley’s chains to a small suite of incidental music.

In truth, you’re unlikely to notice much of Nielson’s work. With most work of this sort, the sounds aren’t meant to stand out. They are, by their very nature, background.

“I make all kinds of decisions that

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To do Continued from Page 9AA

SHOPPING/HOLIDAY: Winter Market Final Weekend, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Runs Sat.Sun. through Dec. 20. Featuring regional artisans and crafters. Vendors vary each weekend. washington park.org.

Sunday, Dec. 20 FOOD: Christmas in the 90s Brunch, noon-3 p.m., Tin Roof, 160 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Reserve table. tinroofcincinnati.com.

GAMES: A Christmas Story Trivia, 6 p.m., Streetside Brewery, 4003 Eastern Ave., East End. Trivia with a Twist quizmaster Ryan B hosts. Free.

HOLIDAY: Black Santa, noon-4 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Black Santa visits every Sunday Nov. 29-Dec. 20 for socially distanced photos with your camera.

HOLIDAY: Photos with Santa, 4-6

p.m., Fifty West Brewing Co., 7668 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township. Socially distanced photo with Santa.

Tickets include one physical photo and one digital copy. Ticket covers one group and includes free hot cocoa for the kids. fi ftywestbrew.com/event/ photos-with-santa.

HOLIDAY/MUSIC: Outdoor Festival of Carols, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Wyoming Village Green, 400 Wyoming Ave. Socially distanced and masked outdoor event. Holiday sweater contest, free refreshments, candlelight singing. friendshipwyomming.com/christmas.

MUSIC: A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, 5 p.m., Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. Fourth St., Downtown.

Based on beloved service offered at King's College in Cambridge, England.

513-621-1817; cincinnaticathedral.com.

SHOPPING: Winter Market, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., MadTree Brewing, 3301 Madison Road, Oakley. Runs Sundays Nov. 1-May 10. Hyde Park farmers market moves indoors for the winter.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

“Rookwood: The Rediscovery and Revival of an American Icon” by Bob Batchelor. PROVIDED

Rookwood Continued from Page 1AA

Rookwood Pottery in 1880. She was the fi rst woman in America to found and manage a large manufacturing company, something largely unnoticed.

Maria (pronounced ma-RYE-ah) was the granddaughter of Cincinnati millionaire Nicholas Longworth, and the family fortune did supply the early funding, but Rookwood’s success was due to her artistic vision and tenacity to pursue her goals, all done 40 years before women were allowed to vote.

“I think that Maria’s story would resonate with people today in an important way because she is a female leader and a female hero but is almost wholly unknown outside of 50 miles around Cincinnati,” Batchelor said.

Storer was a decorative artist herself, favoring grotesque subjects like spiders and crabs on her vases. She hired local artists, many of them society women. In fact, it was the women of the time that were helping to form Cincinnati’s burgeoning arts scene.

“The women in Cincinnati were not only willing to support the arts, but they were willing to create the art,” Batchelor said.

Storer’s vision for Rookwood was a marriage of art and industry, to make practical ceramic goods that were pretty. Rookwood ended up virtually creating the notion of home art.

Batchelor likened Rookwood to a 19th-century high-tech start-up, depending on technical advances and recruiting the most talented artists and craftsmen.

And a little luck. Rookwood’s acclaimed Tiger Eye glaze with gold striations and fl ecks that shimmer in the light was reportedly a happy accident.

Within a few years, Rookwood was turning heads. Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain paid visits to the Rookwood factory on Eastern Avenue. Just nine years after its founding, Rookwood took the Gold Medal at the Paris Exposition in 1889, followed by the Grand Prix in 1900, and Rookwood’s reputation soared.

Batchelor recounts the entire history of Rookwood, giving credit where its due to the other leaders behind the scenes, like William Watts Taylor, who transformed Rookwood into an interna-

The Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor was cleaned during the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal restoration project.

It will be open and serving ice cream once again. MEG VOGEL/THE ENQUIRER

“The women in Cincinnati were not only willing to support the arts, but they were willing to create the art.”

Bob Batchelor

Maria Longworth Nichols Storer founded Rookwood Pottery in Cincinnati in 1880. PROVIDED

Maria Longworth Nichols Storer in the Rookwood Pottery design studio with the fi rst two decorators she hired: Matt Daly, at left, and Albert Valentien, seated.

tionally acclaimed business enterprise.

He also highlights many notable Rookwood artists, including Sara Sax, E.T. Hurley, William Hentschel and the venerated Japanese artist Kitaro Shirayamadani, who was the only Japanese man in Cincinnati when Stor- Shirayamadani er recruited him in 1887.

He created exquisite pieces for Rookwood for more than 50 years.

We forget that Rookwood isn’t solely

a Cincinnati story. Rookwood art tiles were coveted all over and found in fi ne hotels and offi ces in New York, Pittsburgh and St. Louis as well as Cincinnati. The Carew Tower arcade has a magnifi cent Rookwood arch, but the Rathskeller in Louisville’s Seelbach Hotel “is like nirvana for Rookwood afi cionados,” Batchelor said.

With the double whammy of the Great Depression and American tastes turning to mass-produced goods, Rookwood fi led for bankruptcy in 1941. The company and trademark changed

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hands many times, ending up in the stewardship of Michigan pottery collector Arthur Townley, who agreed to sell the brand and historic molds to Cincinnati investors in 2006.

The heritage of Rookwood is ingrained into Cincinnati history, with its roots – and decorative tiles – found all over the city.

“Rookwood put the crown jewel in the ‘Queen City of the West’ moniker,” Batchelor said.

That’s something we should all know.

This Gold Medal was awarded to Rookwood Pottery at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1889. PROVIDED

Kitaro Shirayamadani’s photo-realistic style is accentuated by the Black Iris Glaze used as background in this vase (1907). PROVIDED

Two Rookwood employees work in the large kiln at the Mount Adams factory. PROVIDED

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Mushroom has made it to the fi nal three on “The Masked Singer.” MICHAEL BECKER/FOX

TV’S BEST BETS Mike Hughes Special to Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Sunday, Dec. 13 “Your Honor” – 10 p.m., Showtime. Last week, this mini-series opened with fi erce jolts. After a fatal accident, a teen panicked and fled. His father (Bryan Cranston) started to go to police … until learning that the victim was the son of a mob boss. Now the judge starts a cover-up; he’s clever … except when he needs an excuse for why he called a cop. That propels compelling events tonight. If you prefer a holiday show? PBS has the delightful “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at 7:30; cable has fi ve new holiday movies.

Monday, Dec. 14 “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball” and “Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir” – 8 p.m., CW, 9 p.m., PBS. What a difference a year makes, when it comes to TV events. The Tabernacle concert was taped a year ago, with mega-size – 360-voice choir, 100-piece orchestra, 20,000 people in the audience – all backing Kelli O’Hara, who sings magnifi cently, plus readings from Richard Thomas. The “Ball” was produced this year, under social-distance standards. We get at-home music from Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, Sam Smith, Doja Cat, Shawn Mendes, Lewis Capaldi and The Weeknd.

Tuesday, Dec. 15 “Play On” – 8 p.m., CBS. Originally scheduled for a Saturday, this special – a fundraiser for WhyHunger and the NAACP Legal Fund – has been moved to a better night and beefed up. Packed into one hour will be music from Los Angeles (Andra Day, Ziggy Marley, Gary Clark Jr.), Nashville (Sheryl Crow, Maren Morris, Yola) and Los Angeles (Bon Jovi and Machine Gun Kelly, plus an all-star collaboration). “NCIS” slides to 9 p.m. for a rerun; at 10, switch to ABC for the “mid-season fi nale” of “Big Sky.”

Wednesday, Dec. 16 “The Masked Singer” fi nale – 8-10 p.m., Fox. Only three singers remain, hiding under the masks of Crocodile, Mushroom and Sun. They’ve already outlasted some strong music talent (Tori Kelly, Taylor Dane, Paul Anka, Clint Black and “singing surgeon” Dr. Elvis Francois), plus athletes (Chloe Kim, Lonzo Ball, Mark Sanchez) and more.

This night – after much commotion – all three fi nalists will be unmasked and we’ll have a winner. Two weeks later, the timeslot will temporarily go to “The Masked Dancer,” while this show re-masks.

Thursday, Dec. 17 “A Christmas Carol” (1999) – 8 and 10 p.m., TNT. This remains timely, as long as the world has warmth, joy and greed. Here is one of the best versions, perfectly played

by Patrick Stewart as Scrooge. It arrives on a three-Carol day. At 3:45 p.m., Freeform has the Jim Carrey version (2009); at 8 and 11:30 p.m., FX has a long (and often quite dreary) 2019 version with Guy Pearce. But if you want long and dark, catch “The Stand” on CBS All Access. Stephen King’s post-apocalyptic tale begins a richly crafted, nine week mini-series.

Friday, Dec. 18 “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” – 7 and 7:30 p.m., TNT. Speaking of Christmas classics, this is one of the best. Chuck Jones did the clever animation; Dr. Seuss wrote the witty story and the clever song. You can make this part of an all-cartoon night. ABC has “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” at 8 and “Shrek the Halls” at 8:30; both have so-so stories, but lush, movie-style animation. Freeform has the movie-length “Grinch” cartoon (2018) at 9. “The Star” at 11 and “Simpsons reruns at 1 and 1:30 a.m. And FX has animated movies the entire day.

Saturday, Dec. 19 Football – 8 p.m., ABC. Cincinnati fi nally gets its primetime moment, after spending most of the season in the top-10. Barring a late change, the Bearcats and Tulsa will wrap up a day of conference championships on ABC. It’s the Big 12 at noon (Oklahoma-Iowa State) and the ACC at 4 p.m. (Clemson-Notre Dame). There are four more championship games Saturday, including the Big Ten at noon on Fox and the SEC (Alabama-Florida) at 8 p.m, on CBS. And there are three Friday, including Pac-12 at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Dec 13

WLWT NBC WCPO ABC WKRC CBS CINCW WXIX FOX WKRP WCET PBS WSTR MYNET WDTN NBC WHIO CBS WPTO PBS WPTD PBS WKEF ABC WBDT CW WKOI WRGT FOX WCVN PBS

7PM

7:30

8PM

8:30

9PM

9:30

10PM

10:30

11PM

11:30

Football Night in Amer- (:20) Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills from Bills Stadium News (N) Buffalo beat Pittsburgh, 17-10, in 2019. (Live) 5 ica The Disney Holiday Supermarket Sweep: The Who Wants to Be a Mil- Card Sharks (N) WCPO 9 (N) (:35) Sports/ Dog Food. (N) lionaire? (N) Sorts 9 Singalong 60 Minutes Rudolph the Red-Nosed NCIS: Los Angeles: If NCIS: New Orleans: We All News (N) Sports AuReindeer the Fates. (N) Fall. (N) thority 12 Pandora (N) The Outpost (N) Men Men Seinfeld Girls 12.2 TMZ (4:25) NFL The OT The Bless the Bob’s Family Guy FOX19 NOW at 10 (N) News (N) Full Court (Live) Simpsons (N) Harts Burgers (N) (N) (N) 19 (Live) Office 25 Munsters Munsters Munsters Munsters Roseanne Roseanne Roseanne Roseanne Office Christmas Thanksgiv. Masterpiece: Sanditon. Masterpiece: Sanditon. Masterpiece: Sanditon. Lucy Worsley’s 12 Days 48 Bang Bang: Con- Major Crimes: Conspir- Central Central Local 12 Monk: Monk & Big Paid jugal. acy 1.

Ave. Ave. News (N) Game.

64 Football Night in Amer- (:20) Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills from Bills Stadium 2 News at Buffalo beat Pittsburgh, 17-10, in 2019. (Live) 11 pm 2 ica 60 Minutes Rudolph the Red-Nosed NCIS: Los Angeles: If NCIS: New Orleans: We All News (N) (:35) Judge Reindeer the Fates. (N) Fall. (N) Joe 7 WoodSongs: Riders In The Antiques Roadshow: American Experience: The Circus. The circus Austin City Limits: New Orleans. transformed American culture.

Kane Brown.

14 Sky. The Legacy List with Matt Masterpiece: Sanditon. Masterpiece: Sanditon. Masterpiece: Sanditon. Line of Separation 16 Paxton The Disney Holiday Supermarket Sweep: The Who Wants to Be a Mil- Card Sharks (N) News (N) Paid Dog Food. (N) lionaire? (N) 22 Singalong TMZ Celebrity gossip. Pandora: I Forgot More. The Outpost: From Para- News (N) 2 Broke Major Crimes: Snitch. Wit(N) dise. (N) Girls ness protection.

26 A Golden Christmas (2009) Reunited. ‘NR’ Firehouse (2016) 43 The Christmas Sitters (2020) ‘NR’ (4:25) NFL The OT The Bless the Bob’s Family Guy News Ring of Honor Wrestling Paid (Live) Simpsons (N) Harts Burgers (N) (N) 45 (Live) Together Christmas Masterpiece: Sanditon. Masterpiece: Sanditon. Masterpiece: Sanditon. Line of Separation (TV G) (TVPG) (TVPG) (TV14) (TV14) (N) 54 (TVPG)

USA TODAY BEST-SELLING BOOKS BOOKLIST.USATODAY.COM n Rank this week n Rank last week (F) Fiction (NF) Nonfi ction (P) Paperback (H)Hardcover (E) E-book Publisher in italics

THE TOP 10 1

1

A Promised Land Barack Obama

Former President Obama tells the story of his ascent to the White House and his time as president (NF) (H) Crown

2

—

Cat Kid Comic Club Dav Pilkey

Children: Li'l Petey, Flippy and Molly introduce a group of baby frogs to the art of comic making (F) (H) Scholastic

3

10 The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse/C. Mackesy

A tale of unlikely friendship among a young boy and animals (F) (H) HarperOne

4

3

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End Jeff Kinney

Children: When Greg Heffley and his family go on a cross-country camping trip, things do not go as planned; 15th in series (F) (H) Amulet Books

5

6

Dog Man: Grime and Youth: Dog Man faces a new problem and needs his pack to help him; Punishment ninth in series (F) (H) Graphix Dav Pilkey

6

2

Ready Player Two Ernest Cline

7

8

9

10

Days after winning James Halliday's contest, Wade Watts is off on a new quest that will change everything (F) (H) Ballantine

15 How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Dr. Seuss

How every Who in Who-ville almost lost Christmas; TV show, movie (F) (H) Random House

8

An unconventional memoir fi lled with raucous stories and hard-won wisdom from the Academy Award-winning actor (NF) (H) Crown

Greenlights Matthew McConaughey

13 A Time for Mercy John Grisham

Southern lawyer Jake Brigance defends a 16-year-old boy who is accused of murdering a local deputy (F) (H) Doubleday

4

Alex Cross investigates the murder of a glamorous Washington, D.C., socialite (F) (H) Little, Brown

Deadly Cross James Patterson

THE REST 11 14 The Ickabog/J.K. Rowling

12 18

13 43

14

7

15 24

16 —

17 12

18 19

19 —

20 11

Children: Best friends Bert and Daisy embark on a great adventure in search of a monster called Ickabog (F) (H) Scholastic Modern Comfort Food/Ina A collection of 65 comfort food recipes from the “Barefoot Garten Contessa” (NF) (H) Clarkson Potter Little Blue Truck’s ChristChildren: Little Blue Truck delivers Christmas trees to his animal mas/Alice Schertle friends (F) (H) Houghton Miffl in Harcourt The Return/Nicholas Sparks Trevor Benson returns to North Carolina after being injured in by a mortar blast in Afghanistan (F) (H) Grand Central Publishing Polar Express 30th Anniver- Children: Only believers can hear the bell; won the Caldecott sary Edition/Chris Van Medal (F) (H) Houghton Miffl in Books for Children Allsburg The MeatEater Guide to A guide to surviving everything from an extended wilderness Wilderness Skills and Surexploration to a day-long boat trip (NF) (P) Random House vival/Steven Rinella Daylight/David Baldacci FBI agent Atlee Pine’s search for her sister clashes with military investigator John Puller’s case; third in series (F) (H) Grand Central Publishing The Happy in a Hurry Cook- Subtitle: “100-Plus Fast and Easy New Recipes That Taste Like book/Steve Doocy, Kathy Home” (NF) (H) William Morrow Cookbooks Doocy My Little Golden Book Children: Biography about the late Supreme Court Justice (NF) About Ruth Bader Gins(H) Golden Books burg/Shana Corey; art by Margeaux Lucas Modern Warriors/Pete Subtitle: “Real Stories from Real Heroes” (NF) (H) Broadside Hegseth Books

WHAT AMERICA’S READING® The book list appears every Sunday.

For each title, the format and publisher listed are for the best-selling version of that title this week. Reporting outlets include Amazon.com, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble.com, Barnes & Noble Inc., Barnes & Noble e-books, BooksAMillion.com, Books-A-Million, Costco, Hudson Booksellers, Joseph-Beth Booksellers (Lexington, Ky.; Cincinnati, Charlotte, Cleveland, Pittsburgh), Kobo, Inc., Powell's Books (Portland, Ore.), Powells.com, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Schuler Books & Music (Grand Rapids, Okemos, Eastwood, Alpine, Mich.), Target, Tattered Cover Book Store (Denver).

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Vaccine begins arriving around nation Monday

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Approval kicks off huge logistical operation

Indonesia raid nets top terror suspect

Matthew Perrone and Mike Stobbe

Niniek Karmini

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON – The nation’s fi rst COVID-19 vaccine will begin arriving in states Monday morning, U.S. offi cials said Saturday, after the government gave the fi nal go-ahead to the shots needed to end an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans.

Trucks will roll out Sunday morning as shipping companies UPS and FedEx begin delivering Pfi zer’s vaccine to nearly 150 distribution centers across the states, said Army Gen. Gustave Perna of Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine development program. An additional 450 or so facilities will get the vaccine between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Initially, about 3 million shots are expected to be shipped nationwide. It was unclear exactly who would receive the fi rst doses of the vaccine, though health workers and nursing home residents were the priority. Perna said health authorities would decide.

A similar number of shots will be held back for those recipients’ second dose, which is needed for full protection from COVID-19.

The announcement Saturday kicks off a massive logistical operation involving the federal and state governments, private companies and health care workers to quickly distribute limited vaccine supplies throughout the U.S. Perna compared the eff ort to D-Day, the U.S.-led military off ensive that

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesian police arrested a man believed to be the military leader of the al-Qaidalinked Jemaah Islamiyah network who has eluded capture since 2003, authorities said Saturday.

Aris Sumarsono, known as Zulkarnaen, was arrested late Thursday by counterterrorism police without resistance in a raid at a house in East Lampung district on Sumatra island, said National Police spokesperson Ahmad Ramadhan.

Zulkarnaen is suspected of being involved in the making of bombs used in a series of attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, and a 2003 attack on the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, that killed 12, Ramadhan said.

He said Zulkarnaen, a biologist who was among the fi rst Indonesian militants to go to Afghanistan for training, is also accused of harboring Upik Lawanga, another bomb maker and a key Jemaah Islamiyah’ member. Lawanga was arrested in Lampung last week.

He had eluded capture since 2005 after being named as a suspect in an attack that killed more than 20 people at a market in Poso, known as a hotbed of Islamic militancy on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island.

“He is in custody and being questioned by investigators,” Ramadhan said of Zulkarnaen.

The fi rst vaccine shipments are expected to leave Pfi zer’s plant in Kalamazoo, Mich., via truck and then be flown to regional hubs. PAUL SANCYA/AP

turned the tide in World War II. “D-Day was the beginning of the end, and that’s where we are today,” Perna said in a news conference. But he added that it would take months of work and “diligence, courage and strength to eventually achieve victory.”

The fi rst shipments are expected to leave Pfi zer’s manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, via truck and then be fl own to regional hubs around the country. Medical distributor McKesson and pharmacy chains including CVS and Rite-Aid also are involved in local rollout.

In a key distribution challenge, the vaccine, co-developed with BioNTech, must be stored and shipped at ultra-low temperatures of about 94 degrees below zero. Pfi zer has developed shipping containers that use dry ice, and GPS-en-

abled sensors will allow the company to track each shipment and ensure it stays cold.

Distribution locations include hospitals and other sites able to meet those ultra-cold storage requirements.

Within three weeks, vaccines should be delivered to all vaccination sites identifi ed by state governments, such as local pharmacies, Perna said. The vaccine was timed to arrive Monday morning so that health workers would be available to receive the shots and begin giving them, Perna said.

It comes after the Food and Drug Administration late Friday authorized emergency use of the vaccine. The sign-off capped an unprecedented global race to speed vaccines through testing and review, chopping years off the normal development process.

World leaders set fresh climate goals

Spacecraft grounded by faulty engine

Biden reiterated his campaign pledge that his administration will set a target of cutting U.S. emissions to net zero “no later than 2050.”

Experts say commitments put forward by the international community in the past fi ve years have already improved the long-term outlook on climate change, making the worst-case scenarios less likely by the end of the century.

But wildfi res in the Amazon, Australia and America, fl oods in Bangladesh and East Africa, and record temperatures in the Arctic have highlighted the impact an increase of 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit since pre-industrial times is having on the planet.

“If we don’t change course, we may be headed for a catastrophic temperature rise of more than 3 degrees (Celsius) this century,” U.N. SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said, urging world leaders to declare a “climate emergency.”

The Paris agreement aims to cap global warming at well under 3.6 F, ideally no more than 2.7 F, by the end of the century.

Meeting the temperature target will require a phasing-out of fossil fuels and better protection for the world’s carbon-soaking forests, wetlands and oceans.

The U.N. chief called the announced U.S. return to the Paris accord “a very important signal.”

“We look forward for a very active U.S. leadership in climate action from now on,” Guterres said. “The United States is the largest economy in the world, it’s absolutely essential for our goals to be reached.”

Biden insisted that the dramatic economic shifts needed would be positive for American workers.

“We have before us an enormous economic opportunity to create jobs and prosperity at home and export clean American-made products around the world, harnessing our climate ambition in a way that is good for American workers and the U.S. economy,” he said.

Tennessee, Kentucky officials searching for escaped inmates

Oracle says it will move HQ from Silicon Valley to Texas

Iran executes exiled journalist who encouraged 2017 protests

AstraZeneca buying drug developer Alexion for $39 billion

PARIS, Tenn. – Authorities searched Saturday for two Tennessee inmates who escaped prison, kidnapped a Kentucky highway department employee and stole a resident’s truck, offi cials said. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Robert Brown and Christopher Osteen escaped Friday morning from Northwest Correctional Complex in Lake County, Tennessee. Brown is serving an 18-year sentence for aggravated rape and Osteen is serving an eight-year sentence for burglary, authorities said.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Tech giant Oracle Corp. said Friday it will move its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas, and let many employees choose their offi ce locations and decide whether to work from home. The business software maker said it will keep major hubs at its current home in Redwood City, California, and other locations. The move came the same week that Tesla founder Elon Musk announced that he moved to Austin. Musk had criticized California’s coronavirus restrictions.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Iran on Saturday executed an exiled journalist over his online work that helped inspire nationwide economic protests in 2017, a little more than a year after authorities tricked him into traveling to Iraq where he was abducted. Ruhollah Zam, 47, was one of several opposition fi gures successfully seized by Iranian intelligence operatives abroad recently.

The demonstrations began at the end of December 2017 and continued into 2018.

About 5,000 people reportedly were detained and 25 killed.

LONDON – Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said it’s buying U.S. drug developer Alexion in a deal worth $39 billion. Cambridge, England-based AstraZeneca PLC, which is involved in one of the eff orts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, said Saturday it’s using a combination of cash and shares for the acquisition of Boston-based Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. The boards of both companies approved the transaction, which still needs regulatory and shareholder approval. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021.

Frank Jordans and Jeff Schaeffer ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS – U.S. President-elect Joe Biden pledged Saturday to rejoin the Paris climate accord on the fi rst day of his presidency, as world leaders staged a virtual gathering to celebrate the fi fth anniversary of the international pact aimed at curbing global warming.

Heads of state and government from over 70 countries took part in the event – hosted by Britain, France, Italy, Chile and the United Nations – to announce greater eff orts in cutting the greenhouse gas emissions that fuel global warming.

The outgoing administration of President Donald Trump, who pulled Washington out of the Paris accord, wasn’t represented at the online gathering. But in a written statement sent shortly before it began, Biden made clear the U.S. was waiting on the sidelines to join again and noted that Washington was key to negotiating the 2015 agreement, which has since been ratifi ed by almost all countries.

“The United States will rejoin the Paris Agreement on day one of my presidency,” Biden said. “I’ll immediately start working with my counterparts around the world to do all that we possibly can, including by convening the leaders of major economies for a climate summit within my fi rst 100 days in offi ce.”

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the Climate Ambition Summit 2020 video conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris. YOAN VALAT/AP

Susan Montoya Bryan and Paul Davenport ASSOCIATED PRESS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A Virgin Galactic test fl ight Saturday ended prematurely when the spacecraft landed safely at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico after its rocket engine failed to ignite high above the Earth.

“The ignition sequence for the rocket motor did not complete. Vehicle and crew are in great shape,” Virgin Galactic said in a brief statement on Twitter.

“We have several motors ready at Spaceport America. We will check the vehicle and be back to fl ight soon.”

The fl ight was the fi rst from Virgin Galactic’s headquarters at Spaceport America, a futuristic desert outpost.

Before fi rst announcing the spacecraft’s safe return to land and then the problem with the rocket, Virgin Galactic’s in-fl ight communications were cryptic and sparse during a 15-minute period that began with an announcement that the spacecraft was “go for release” from the aircraft that carried it to the release altitude.

A previous Virgin Galactic news release said release would occur at about 50,000 feet.

NATION & WORLD WATCH

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OHIO

Nation & World

Police bust 100-plus at Paris march ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS – Paris police took more than 100 people into custody at what quickly became a tense and sometimes illtempered protest Saturday against proposed security laws, with offi cers wading into the crowds of several thousand to haul away suspected trouble-makers.

Police targeted protesters they suspected might coalesce together into violent groups like those who vandalized stores and vehicles and attacked offi cers at previous demonstrations.

Paris police reported at least 119 arrests. Long lines of riot offi cers and police vehicles with blue lights fl ashing escorted Saturday’s march through rain-slickened streets in Paris. They hemmed in protesters, seeking to prevent the fl are-up of violence that marked many previous demonstrations. A police water cannon doused demonstrators at the end of the march, as night fell.

Marchers were protesting against a proposed security law that has sparked successive weekends of demonstrations and against a draft law aimed at combating Islamist radicalism.

The security bill’s most contested measure could make it more diffi cult to fi lm police offi cers. It aims to outlaw the publication of images with intent to cause harm to police. Critics fear it could erode media freedom and make it more diffi cult to expose police brutality. The provision caused such an uproar that the government has decided to rewrite it.

Slogans on placards carried by marchers in Paris said “I will never stop fi lming” and “Camera equals mutilation?”

Ethiopia massacre could be ‘tip of the iceberg’ Survivors disagree on aggressors, victims Fay Abuelgasim, Nariman El-Mofty and Cara Anna ASSOCIATED PRESS

UMM RAKOUBA, Sudan – The only thing the survivors can agree on is that hundreds of people were slaughtered in a single Ethiopian town.

Witnesses say security forces and their allies attacked civilians in MaiKadra with machetes and knives or strangled them with ropes. The stench of bodies lingered for days during the early chaos of the Ethiopian government’s off ensive in the defi ant Tigray region last month. Several mass graves have been reported.

What happened beginning Nov. 9 in the agricultural town near the Sudanese border has become the most visible atrocity in a war largely conducted in the shadows.

Witnesses in Mai-Kadra told the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International that ethnic Tigrayan forces and allies attacked Amhara – one of Ethiopia’s largest ethnic groups but a minority in Tigray. In Sudan, where nearly 50,000 have fl ed, one ethnic Amhara refugee gave The Associated Press a similar account.

But more than a dozen Tigrayan refugees told the AP it was the other way around: In strikingly similar stories, they said they and others were targeted by Ethiopian federal forces and allied Amhara regional troops. It’s possible that civilians from both ethnicities were targeted, Amnesty now says.

“Anyone they found, they would kill,” Tesfaalem Germay, an ethnic Tigrayan who fl ed to Sudan with his fam-

Witnesses from Mai-Kadra, Ethiopia, split on the attackers in a massacre: some say they were Tigrayan forces, others point to national forces. NARIMAN EL-MOFTY/AP

ily, said of Ethiopian and Amhara forces.

But another refugee, Abebete Refe, told the AP that many ethnic Amhara like him who stayed behind were massacred by Tigrayan forces.

The confl icting accounts are emblematic of a war about which little is truly known since Ethiopian forces entered Tigray on Nov. 4 and sealed off the region from the world, restricting access to journalists and aid workers alike. For weeks, food and other supplies have run alarmingly low. Last week Ethiopia’s security forces shot at and briefl y detained U.N. staff ers making the fi rst assessment of how to deliver aid, a senior Ethiopian offi cial said.

Ethiopia’s government and the Tigray one have turned out opposing reports. Each side has seized on the killings in Mai-Kadra to support its cause.

But Mai-Kadra “is just the tip of the

iceberg,” Amnesty researcher Fisseha Tekle told an event on Tuesday as fears grow about atrocities elsewhere in Tigray. “Other credible allegations are emerging ... not only in Mai-Kadra but also” in the nearby town of Humera, the town of Dansha and the Tigray capital, Mekele.

The AP has been unable to obtain permission to travel to the Tigray region and has been unable to independently verify the reports of the massacre. Neither Amnesty International nor the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission agreed to requests to speak with witnesses they interviewed.

The U.N. human rights offi ce last week called for independent investigations into the confl ict, but Ethiopian offi cials have rejected what they call interference, saying the government doesn’t need a “babysitter.”

ANALYSIS

Trump had no chance with court Justices vow to uphold Constitution, not politics

Justices profess adherence to the Constitution.

Shown here are Elena Kagan, left, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts and Samuel Alito.

Richard Wolf USA TODAY

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court’s refusal to help Donald Trump change the result of the 2020 election should come as no surprise for the very reason the president hoped to win the case: The court is conservative.

That means the three justices who owe their seats on the nation’s highest bench to Trump, as well as others nominated by Republican presidents, profess adherence to the Constitution and the precise text of federal statutes. They don’t just make stuff up.

So when Texas, backed by Trump and a cadre of Republican state attorneys general and members of Congress, asked the court to block election results from Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, it stood no chance of prevailing.

“The hallmark of conservative jurisprudence is respect for established law,” said Michael McConnell, director of the constitutional law center at Stanford Law School and a former federal appeals court judge appointed by President George W. Bush.

“No one should be surprised that the justices, like the Trump-appointed lower court judges in all these elected cases, followed the law.”

The law took them invariably in one direction, for a number of reasons: h Texas lacked legal standing because it “has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another state conducts its elections,” the court said in its brief order Friday. h The state sought to leapfrog lower courts by framing the case as one in which the Supreme Court has “original jurisdiction.” h Principles of federalism dictate that states decide for themselves how to run their elections. h Governors already had certifi ed the votes, making the challenge tardy, if not moot.

PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS, AP

h Millions of voters could have been disenfranchised if their legally cast ballots were discounted.

“Texas is asking the Supreme Court to take up a case in which it would have to fi nd its own facts, in which it isn’t remotely obvious why Texas is the right plaintiff , and in which time is of the essence,” said Stephen Vladeck, an expert on federal courts at the University of Texas School of Law. “The posture in which the factual and legal arguments were presented necessarily made it impossible for those arguments to be taken seriously, even by the justices who might otherwise have been inclined to do so.”

Associate Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, for instance, have urged the court to exercise more often its authority to hear disputes between states without requiring them to start in lower courts. But the Supreme Court still has discretion to deny outlandish requests.

Thomas and Alito said Friday they would have granted Texas’ request to make its case, but “would not grant other relief.”

“They may be conservative on legal and social issues, but they recognize that Texas’ claim was political theater, not a valid legal action, and that it would be impossible for the Supreme Court to serve as a trial court to evaluate allegations of election fraud in multiple states,” said John Bellinger, who served during Bush’s administration as legal adviser at

the State Department. “To have taken the case would have delayed the transition and caused a constitutional crisis.”

What sets the justices and other federal judges apart from elected offi cials is their life tenure, which insulates them from political pressure. While scores of GOP offi cials saw political benefi t in siding with Trump, judges and justices had no similar reasons.

“Politicians ... will sometimes take truly awful positions on legal issues for political reasons. Judges have a diff erent structure of incentives,” said Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. “They don’t have the same need to cater to a political base or to the whims of Donald Trump. And they have stronger incentives to care about the precedent they are establishing.”

Thus it was that when Trump’s law-

yers urged the Supreme Court this year to block Congress and New York prosecutors from gaining access to the president’s fi nancial records, Associate Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s fi rst two nominees, agreed that the president is not immune from criminal investigation.

Trump’s third nominee, Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, assured the Senate Judiciary Committee in October that she would not be beholden to Trump if called upon to weigh in on the election.

“I certainly hope that all members of the committee have more confi dence in my integrity than to think that I would allow myself to be used as a pawn to decide the election for the American people,” Barrett said.

Similarly, Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer joined the court’s unanimous 1997 ruling that President Bill Clinton could not sidestep a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones.

“To be sure, justices may often have views on legal subjects that lead them to understand the law one way or another,” said Eugene Volokh, a libertarian professor at UCLA School of Law. “But they try hard to honestly apply their understanding of the law, without regard to which political fi gures will benefi t from a decision.”

Jonathan Adler, a professor at Case Western Reserve School of Law, put it succinctly: “Law matters,” he said. “Judges are not politicians in robes.”

Due to the holiday, our office hours and obituary placement times may vary.

Please contact us at 855-288-3511 or obits@enquirer.com for further details.

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ETC. CAROLYN HAX

Wife keeps love letters from ex-boyfriends Dear Carolyn: Why would my wife keep love letters and other keepsakes from past relationships and not tell me about them? I happened upon these boxes in the basement after a recent fl ood. It’s very confusing, especially since I told her all about my life before her and now I discover all these secrets.

– Confused Confused: Are you asking this as a rhetorical question? It sounds that way – like a why-me cry of anguish. If so, then I understand. Even when we can think rationally about our current loves’ past loves – and past lives, the “before,” whatever it contained, because there had to be one to make them the people they are – seeing something in hard

copy can still have a visceral punch.

If you’re actually looking for reasons, then, OK: Throwing things away can feel just as wrong as keeping them. These are artifacts of a life. Her life. Boxes in basements in fl ood zones are as good a compromise with herself as any.

Or, she decided to decide later what to do with it all, then forgot about it.

(That’s my signature move.)

Or she’s more private about and possessive of her past than you are. It doesn’t have to mean anything bigger than that.

Or, she actively, fully intends to go through this stuff and dispose of it thoughtfully, and has intended to since she fi rst stashed it, and procrastinates

like there’s prize money waiting for the one who gets around to it last.

Or she harbors a secret longing for each of these past loves.

These possibilities are in, based on what I’ve seen, roughly descending order of likelihood. Especially since the keepsakes represent relationships-plural, not just one, I fi nd it hard to imagine they have meaning beyond nostalgia – and even then, it’s probably nostalgia more for her youth than for the exes themselves. Seeing as she left them all behind but still has herself. And you.

You probably can learn enough to get past this just by asking her, but only if you avoid putting her on the defensive.

You’re hurt, so be sure to spell out that

you’re fact-fi nding, not fi nger-pointing.

“I’m surprised you kept these. Any reason you never mentioned them?” Or, if you can get there, try genuine-and-notmanipulative levity: “Anyone I need to worry about?” Then, wait till you hear her reasoning before you decide you have a problem. Possibly the most universally applicable advice there is.

And if you ultimately take issue with her choice, then say so, without fi ngerpointing: “When I think of these boxes, I feel ___.”

Email Carolyn at tellme@ washpost.com, follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/carolyn.hax or chat with her online at noon Eastern time each Friday at washingtonpost.com.

In an email to The New York Times, the actor said: “I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalizations. I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt.”

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

PEOPLE

Actor Dick Van Dyke is 95. Actor Christopher Plummer is 91. Country singer Buck White of The Whites is 90.

Actor-singer John Davidson is 79.

Actor Kathy Garver (“Family Affair”) is 75. Singer Ted Nugent is 72. Guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (The Doobie Brothers) is 72.

Country singer Randy Owen of Alabama is 71.

Actor Wendie Malick Foxx (“Hot in Cleveland”) is 70. Country singer John Anderson is 66. Singer Morris Day of The Time is 64. Actor Steve Buscemi is 63. Actor Johnny Whitaker (“Family Affair”) is 61. Reality TV star NeNe Leakes (“The New Normal”) is 54.

Actor-comedian Jamie Foxx is 53.

Actor Lusia Strus (“50 First Dates”) is 53. TV personality Debbie Matenopoulos is 46. Actor James Kyson Lee (“Heroes”) is 45 Actor Kimee Balmilero (“Hawaii Five-0”) is 41. Singer Taylor Swift is 31.

‘Cheer’ star Jerry Harris indicted on new child sex charges

he was arrested on child pornography charges in September.

“Cheer” star Jerry Harris, already facing federal child pornography charges, was indicted on new charges that allege he solicited sex from minors at cheerleading competitions and convinced teenage boys to send him obHarris scene photographs and videos of themselves.

The new seven-count indictment that was made public Friday was not unexpected. In the original complaint fi led in September, prosecutors alleged not only that Harris admitted to FBI agents to asking a teenage boy to send him lewd photographs of himself but also that he requested child pornography via Snapchat from at least 10 to 15 others he knew to be minors.

Harris, 21, has been held in a federal detention facility without bond since

FKA twigs sues Shia LaBeouf, alleging abusive relationship Singer FKA twigs fi led a lawsuit Friday alleging that Shia LaBeouf was physically and emotionally abusive during their relationship from 2018 to 2019, saying her experience was part of a pattern of terrorizing women for the 34year-old actor.

“Shia LaBeouf hurts women,” the lawsuit fi led in Los Angeles Superior Court said in its opening lines. “He uses them. He abuses them, both physically and mentally. He is dangerous.”

FKA twigs – a 32-year-old British singer and actress whose legal name is Tahliah Barnett – alleges in the lawsuit that LaBeouf left her in a constant state of fear and humiliation, once slammed her into a car, tried to strangle her and knowingly gave her a sexually transmitted disease.

Blue Ivy Carter announced as a Grammy nominee Blue Ivy Carter is an offi cial Grammy nominee.

When the Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 2021 Grammys last month, Beyoncé scored a nomination for best music video for “Brown Skin Girl,” on which Ivy Carter is credited as a featured artist. The 8-yearold’s name did not appear on the nominees list, but the Grammys recently updated its website to include her.

The update also includes Nigerian singer Wizkid, who appears on the song and video.

“Where are my manners?”

“I’ve been meaning to thank you for your leaf-filled gutters.

Access to your attic. The whole nine yards.”

A pest with manners. That does you a lot of good, doesn’t it? In fact, this little guy can truly be harmful.

Gutters, filled with leaves and such, are an attractive nuisance. So squirrels, notorious chewers, can gnaw away up there letting themselves—and other

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Or we clean them for free.

SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY. CALL FOR DETAILS. EXPIRES DECEMBER 31, 2020

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OHIO

Obituaries TODAY’S OBITUARIES AND DEATH NOTICES

Name *Ahlers, Donald B. *Andreadis, Paul S. *Ashworth, James Beuerlein Jr., Louis Joseph *Bockerstette, Audrey C. *Bonekamp Collins, Marian Brandenburg, Russell Brayton, Richard L. *Brengelman, Jerry Britton, Kaye M. Brunton, Grover W. Burroughs, Ralph V. *Campbell, Jessica Rae *Childress, Gertrude Lee Hawkins *Clarkson, James E. *Conlon, Patrick James Creutzinger , Robert *Creutzinger , Robert“Cootie” *Deimling, Ruth H *DelConte, Arthur J. *DiPuccio, Adam J. Dincler, Patrick *Dolle, Patricia O. Dollenmayer, Joe W. *Edelman, June Vena Strand Faulkner, Charles *Ferguson, Rosalinda (Rose) Gall *Fish, Clara *Ford, Cora Aleta Fox, Karol Jean Fuller, Darryl *Geis, Mary *Gibbons, Jean K. *Goins Jr. , Joseph“Joe”Allen *Goodman, Diane Kassel Goodwin III, Joshura Green, Charlie *Grua, Dean Thomas *Harmeling, Joan Ruth Harrison, Shirley *Harrison, Wayne *Hartke (nee Bowling), Betty Lou Hobbs, Marliena *Hodges, Donald *Hoelker, William“Bill” Hollin, Cecil Hopkins, Loretta S. *Hunter I, Dr. John Andrew Jenkins Jr., Richard T. *Johnson, Maynard R. *Kalvin, Eugene“Gene”George *Kanter, Joseph *Kinney, Marjorie Ann Aszman *Kircher, Joyce C. Kirton, Anthony Knight, Willie *Knock, Richard *Koelling, Wayne *Kramer, Dan R. *Kummerle, Werner Leaks, Betty Lewis, David C. Leyes, Cheri Lynn Logemann, LaVada Alene Manning, Richard Charles *Marx, Sr, Richard“Dick” *Maupin, Pearl Ann *McCoy (nee Hohmann), Margaret T. McDay, Mosa *Mergenthal, Michael P. *Miller, Dolores *Mohrfield, Martha *Moore, Betty R. *Morrison, Norma *Nesi, Marlene Nichting, Kathleen“Kathi” *O’Connor, Barbara A. *Petrou, Peter A. Phillips, Lillie Ranford Jr., Dannie Riley, James Roberson, Vision Latrese *Romans, Barbara J. *Rowe, Margot Vitale *Ryan , Mary Ann *Salyards, Donald *Scheibenzuber, Allen *Schrepferman, William W. *Schroeder, Donald P. *Schuckman, Peggy A. Sester, Ronnie *Smith, Fred Dana *Snapp, Arthur *Stargle, Jeffrey W. *Stephenson, Robbi Stogsdill, Betty J. *Stubblefield, Norma Jean *Thomas, Jr., Charles L.“Tom” *Tollefsen, Helen Funke Turner, Donna Sue *Urlage, Reverend Robert J. *Venters, Lorraine Watkins, Eric Weathers, Eva *Weber, David Christian *Webster, Wayne Douglas Wooten, Rodriquez *Wrenn, George A. *Wynn, Donna Jean Barth *von Stade, Frederick H.

Age 91 98 76 60 91 101 79 56 75 74 85 82 35 93 67 89 89 96 87 87 75 91 94 93 81 75 89 79 59 63 86 89 65 66 79 68 89 78 79 87 80 78 86 93 77 77 66 81 94 97 95 90 66 54 82 78 96 85 87 87 62 85 86 93 93 104 58 71 89 93 91 96 70 88 93 76 71 61 28 92 81 75 89 91 79 89 72 75 82 85 62 69 87 89 91 92 66 89 91 61 78 83 70 60 94 85 97

Town, State Death Date Arrangements Cincinnati 11-Dec Hodapp Funeral Home 07-Dec Geo. H. Rohde & Son Funeral Home Morrow 01-Dec Tufts Schildmeyer - Loveland Cincinnati 05-Dec Radel Funeral Home Colerain Township 07-Dec Neidhard Young Funeral Home Cincinnati 03-Dec Hodapp Funeral Home Harrison 08-Dec Brater Winter Funeral Home (Harrison) Morrow 10-Dec Cremation Society of Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati 08-Dec Meyer Funeral Home & Crematory Cincinnati 03-Dec Preston Charles Funeral Home Waynesville 09-Dec Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home Hillsboro 10-Dec Tufts Schildmeyer Family Funeral Homes Covington 09-Dec Serenity Funeral Care 08-Dec Thompson, Hall & Jordan Funeral Home Maysville, KY Brell and Son 05-Dec Geo. H. Rohde & Son Funeral Home Cincinnati 11-Dec Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home Cincinnati 11-Dec Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home 08-Dec T. P. White & Sons Funeral Home 09-Dec Vitt, Stermer & Anderson Harrison 10-Dec Neidhard Minges Funeral Home Southgate, KY 04-Dec Fares J. Radel Funeral Home Cincinnati 07-Dec George Rohde & Son Funeral Home Modest 11-Dec Evans Funeral Home - Milford 30-Nov Shorten and Ryan Funeral Home Felicity 10-Dec Cahall Funeral Home-Georgetown Racine 08-Dec 07-Dec Hodapp Funeral Home Fort Thomas 12-Dec Dobbling, Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home Cincinnati 07-Dec Walker Funeral Home Cincinnati 07-Dec J.C. BATTLE & SONS FH 03-Dec Hodapp Funeral Home Cincinnati 06-Dec Thomas-Justin Funeral Home 05-Dec Serenity Funeral Care Newport 12-Dec Weil Kahn Funeral Home Cincinnati 11-Dec J.C Battle & Sons FH Williamsburg 11-Dec Evans Funeral Home - Milford Hebron 07-Dec Linnemann Funeral Homes Cincinnati 10-Dec Spring Grove Funeral Homes Cincinnati 05-Dec Newcomer - Northwest 10-Dec Hodapp Funeral Home Montgomery 09-Dec Strawser&Staley-StrawserFuneralHomesBlueAshandDeerPark,OH. Harrison 07-Dec Brater Winter Funeral Home (Harrison) Petersburg 11-Dec Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron Cincinnati 09-Dec Meyer & Geiser Funeral Home Harrison 07-Dec Brater Winter Funeral Home (Harrison) Waynesville 01-Dec Cremation Society of Greater Cincinnati Hilton Head Island 08-Dec Sauls Funeral Home Harrison 10-Dec Brater Winter Funeral Home (Harrison) Cincinnati 19-Nov Spring Grove Funeral Homes Cincinnati 08-Dec Hodapp Funeral Home 30-Nov Los Angeles, CA 05-Nov Mt. Healthy 10-Dec Neidhard Young Funeral Home Cincinnati 05-Dec J.C. Battle & Sons Funeral Home 08-Dec Walker Funeral Home Cincinnati Union 08-Dec Cooper Funeral Home Lawrenceburg, IN 07-Dec Spring Grove Funeral Homes 11-Dec Mihovk Rosenacker Funeral Home Indian Hill 04-Dec Thomas-Justin Funeral Home Cincinnati 02-Dec Walker Funeral Home Loveland 08-Dec Tufts Schildmeyer Family Funeral Home - Loveland Waynesville 10-Dec Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home in Waynesville Petersburg 01-Dec Advantage Cremation Care Cincinnati 06-Dec Mihovk Rosenacker Funeral Home Cincinnati 10-Dec Neidhard Minges Funeral Home Cincinnati 09-Dec Frederick Funeral Home Cincinnati 02-Dec Hodapp Funeral Home Cincinnati 25-Nov J.C. Battle & Sons Funeral Home 08-Dec Vorhis and Ryan Loveland 03-Jan Tufts Schildmeyer Family Funeral Homes 05-Dec Hodapp Funeral Home Indian Hill 05-Dec George Rohde & Son Funeral Home Loveland 29-Nov Tufts Schildmeyer - Loveland Cincinnati 05-Dec Spring Grove Funeral Homes Harrison 09-Dec Neidhard Minges Funeral Home Erlanger 07-Dec Linnemann Funeral Homes 04-Dec T. P. White & Sons Funeral Home Cincinnati 08-Dec J.C. Battle & Sons Funeral Home Cincinnati 08-Dec Walker Funeral Home Georgetown 10-Dec Cahall Funeral Home-Georgetown Cincinnati 04-Dec Preston Charles Funeral Home Blue Ash 09-Dec Strawser&Staley-StrawserFuneralHomesBlueAshandDeerPark,OH. Cincinnati 09-Dec George Rohde & Son Funeral Home Independence 10-Dec Linnemann Funeral Homes (Erlanger) Mishawaka 05-Dec Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home Cincinnati 10-Dec Spring Grove Funeral Homes 08-Dec Geo. H. Rohde & Son Funeral Home 06-Dec Dalbert Woodruff & Isenogle Funeral Home Cincinnati 07-Dec Advantage Cremation Care Independence 09-Dec Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Homes Cincinnati 10-Dec Dobbling, Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home Nowood 10-Dec Naegele Kleb & Ihlendorf Funeral Home Mason 10-Dec Vorhis and Ryan, Norwood Gunnison, CO 02-Nov Quercus Grove 10-Dec Markland Funeral Home Loveland 08-Nov Evans Funeral Home - Milford Cincinnati 05-Dec Spring Grove Funeral Homes Terrace Park 08-Dec Craver-Riggs Funeral Home Newport 09-Dec Serenity Funeral Care 09-Dec Connley Brothers Funeral Home 10-Dec T. P. White & Sons Funeral Home Cincinnati 10-Dec J.C. Battle & Son Funeral Home Cincinnati 07-Dec J.C. Battle & Sons Funeral Home Green Township 08-Dec Meyer Funeral Home & Crematory Ludlow 27-Nov Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home Cincinnati 07-Dec J.C. Battle & Sons Funeral Home Cincinnati 07-Dec Spring Grove Funeral Homes 04-Dec Delray Beach, FL 28-Nov -

* Additional information in display obituaries

Obituaries appear in print and online at www.legacy.com/obituaries/Cincinnati

Donald B. Ahlers CINCINNATI - age 91, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2020.

He was born March 24, 1929 to Edward and Anna (nee Boelscher) Ahlers.

Preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Joan (nee Kane), by his 2 sisters, Joan Scahill and Carol Marck and by his dear daughter, Catherine Tobler. He is survived by his sons, Edward (Brenda), Steven (Diane), Thomas (Maria) and Eric and by his daughter, Annie (Ring). Also survived by his 9 grandchildren, Alex, Jonathan, Stephanie, Joe, Eryn, Drew, Katie Jo, Bennett and Emma and by 5 great-grandchildren, Danika, Preston, Olivia, Sophia and Valerie. Don was a proud graduate of St. Xavier HS, XU and the UC College of Law. He attended the Naval School of Justice and served in the JAG branch of the Marine Corps. He worked as General Counsel for American Druggists Insurance Co and was active in civics (College Hill Forum), politics (Hamilton County Democratic Party) and as a 65 year member of St. Clare Parish in College Hill. Visitation will be held privately for immediate family only. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Clare Church, followed by a private burial at St. Mary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to St. Xavier HS or to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Online condolences may be expressed at www. hodappfuneralhome.com.

Audrey C. Bockerstette COLERAIN TOWNSHIP

- Audrey Clare Bockerstette (nee Ohmer) Beloved wife of the late John “Jack” Bockerstette. Dear mother of Cheri Bockerstette, Cindy (Woody) O’Banion, Mary Webster, Randy (Bev), David and Jim (David Chalk) Bockerstette. Loving grandmother of David O’Banion, Kelly Carty, Bradley Hammond, Darrell Hammond, Jessica Morris, Amy Daniels, Amber Kempf, Michael Fishback, D.J. Chalk, Kristen Strzynski, Johanna Chalk, the late Christina Holcomb and 22 great grandchildren. Passed away Monday, December 7, 2020. Age 91 years. Visitation will be held at Neidhard Young Funeral Home, 7401 Hamilton Avenue, Mt. Healthy on Monday, December 14 from 10 AM until the time of funeral service at 12 Noon. Masks and social distancing will be required of all those attending. Memorials may be directed to Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church or Triple Creek Retirement Community.

To join the funeral service virtually by webcast on Monday December 14 at 12 Noon or to leave condolences for the family, please visit Audrey’s obituary at neidhardyoungfuneralhome.com

Ohio

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Marian Bonekamp Collins CINCINNATI - Marian Bonekamp Collins was born 101 years ago to Joe and Hilda Jung Bonekamp. She was the oldest and last remaining sibling to Richard (Norma), Dottie (Dick) Slaughter, Angela (Charlie) Poticha, Norbert, and Eileen (aka Corky).

As a teen, she worked in her father’s bakery as a cashier which ignited her financial prowess. Working as a comptometer operator at Aluminum Industries led to meeting her husband Paul M. Collins in 1937.

Their first date was at a Roger Bacon alumnae dance.

They married in February 1941 and remained so for 60 years until his death. Throughout their marriage Paul wrote poems about his beloved Marian. Theirs was truly a partnership.

During World War II Marian and their first child (the late Gail Collins Berger), rode a train cross-country to live with Paul when he was stationed at Williams Field Army Air Corps Base in Chandler, AZ. Marian worked on base as a bookkeeper in the Officers Headquarters.

After the War, Paul and Marian bought their first home on Craig Avenue in Cheviot where their son Paul Michael (Mike) and Patricia (Trish) Ann joined big-sister Gail. In 1959 they moved to Jessup Road in White Oak. Marian volunteered throughout her life: for Providence Hospital as one of the founders of their ‘pink ladies’ group and for their yearly fundraiser, Fantasy Ball for which she made numerous beautiful evening gowns. She was an expert seamstress. For many, many years she was a regular at St. James Church office in White Oak where she counted weekly collections, and worked for the Archbishops Fund drive. She ushered at Sunday Masses, and worked on the bereavement committee well into her nineties. Her Faith was very important to her.

In 1975 her husband Paul started his own company, The Paul M. Collins Brick Company. Marian handled all the bookkeeping and accounting. One year they were audited by the IRS and after they saw her ledgers and details

(pre-computers), they said it was no longer necessary to check the business records: everything was in perfect order!

Throughout her adult life, crossword puzzles, Bridge and Pinochle were her favorite pastimes, having been in multiple Bridge groups; first with husband Paul, then after his death, with friends from church. She played Pinochle at the Green Township Senior Citizens Center until the age of 97: at about the same time she gave up driving! She was an impeccable dresser, always looking regal and being the perfect lady.

With her daughter and daughter-in-law by her side, she passed away peacefully at her daughter Trisha’s house on December 3, 2020, after a sixweek decline brought on by a blood clot. She had just celebrated her 101st birthday with her family in early October with carrot cake, ice cream, and of course masks! Since May 2019, she had resided at Twin Towers in College Hill.

She leaves behind son Mike (Pam), daughter Patricia “Trish” (Tom Callos) and son-in-law Fred Berger. She was loving Grandmother to Martin David (Nancy) and the late Mark Todd Berger, Adam (Tricia) Collins and the late Amber (Bob) James, Triffon (Stacey) Callos and Courtney (Scott) Dilley.

She was Great-Grandmother to Sidney and Emma Berger, Jacob Yagich, Olivia Collins (Jonnie) Niesz, Anna and Isabella Wright, Paul, Ellie, and Peter Collins, Zoe and Eli Callos, Liam and Lucas Dilley, and David, Zachary, Jonah, and Gabrielle James. Numerous nieces, nephews and countless friends remain to remember her.

In early November when she was admitted to Hospice, she told one of the doctors; “Doctor, I’ve had 101 years of life and I have been blessed. What more could a person ask for?”

Marian requested that memorials be directed to her late granddaughters fund: The Amber Collins James Nursing Scholarship Endowment, UC/ BlueAsh Campus, 9555 Plainfield Road, Cinti, OH 45236. Due to Covid, a future Mass will be held at St. James White Oak. You can watch her memorial service at Hodappfuneralhome.com. Condolences at hodappfuneralhome. com

Paul S. Andreadis - - On Monday, December 7, 2020 Paul S. An-

James Ashworth MORROW - James (Jim) Charles Ashworth, 76, of Morrow, passed away December 1, 2020. He was born a son of Texas to Jack and Evelyn (Chandler) Ashworth in Arlington, TX on March 19, 1944. At the age of 17, Jim suffered a football injury that caused significant quadriplegia which slowed him down but inspired a mighty will to overcome any challenge. He attended University of Texas at Arlington and began his career working in the theme park industry in various corporate and operational positions at Six Flags. His career took him to Great Adventures in New Jersey and finally to Ohio, when Taft Broadcasting brought him on board to manage operations at Kings Island, Hanna Barbera, and Coney Island. With his southern twang, he would often joke that he “was a carney at heart.” Later Jim was employed by American Financial Group as Sr. Vice President of American Money Management and was an important voice in real estate development in Mason and Warren County. He served on several park boards, zoning commissions, and the Mason Port Authority. In 2005, he established Recreation Management Services, a management company that currently operates the City of Mason Golf Center. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl (Cherry) Ashworth; daughter Courtney Ashworth; son Christopher (Nicki) Ashworth; stepson Chuck Yellig; step daughters Carrie (Brett) Buttner, and Cate (Jay) Becker; grandchildren Pierson D’Enbeau, Coco Ashworth, Madeleine (and Justin) Tarter, Alex Yellig and Charlie Buttner; great grandchildren Harrison & Adelynne Tarter; and niece Leilani Ashworth. A lover of dogs and barbeque, Jim had serious brisket skills and could “cook like a bona fide cowboy,” surrounded by a pack of dogs at his beloved home, Camp Ashworth. Hardworking, fair, loyal, and generous, Jim was a man of principal and high humor devoted to the things and people he loved. Due to the pandemic, a celebration of life will be planned at a later date when family, friends, and colleagues can reminisce together safely about a life well lived. Memorial donations can be made to The Humane Association of Warren County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center - 230 Cook Road, Lebanon, OH 45036 or to Circle Tail (service dogs for people with disabilities) - 8834 Carey Street, Pleasant Plain, OH, 45162. www.tuftsschildmeyer.com

dreadis passed away at the Ohio Veterans Home in Georgetown, OH. He lived 98 amazing years. Preceded in death by his parents, Savas and Orea Andreadis, his wife, Shirley Andreadis, and step-son, Michael Grippa. He is survived by his siblings: Sophie and Harry (Patricia) Andreadis and his step-son, Sam (Karen) Grippa. Father in law of Laura Morgan. He was Papaw to grandchildren, Stacey (Joey) Martin and Nicholas (Panya) Grippa and is also survived by his great-grandson, Lincoln Martin. He was Uncle Paul to Maureen, Paul (Debby), Sue (Sayed), Steve (Maya), Mark, Will, Lou (Andrea), Jake (Dawn) Andreadis and Joan (Doug) Shockley. In addition, he has ten great-nieces, four great-nephews, and one great-great nephew, Harry Paul Milo.

Born in Constantinople, Paul emigrated with his mother from Thessaloniki at age 7 to join his father in Cincinnati. Upon graduation from Woodward High School in 1942, Paul immediately enlisted in the US Army Air Corps, serving in North Africa, Italy, and the Pacific. After his December 1945 discharge, Paul returned home to work with his parents in the family business, New York Dry Cleaners on Main Street, which opened in 1928, and the Vine & Clifton Cleaners in downtown Cincinnati. When his parents retired, Paul continued to run the business with his sister, Sophie until their retirement in 2008. New York Dry Cleaners was inducted into the Over the Rhine Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame in 2000. When not working, Paul could be found enjoying his status as the oldest member of the Cincinnati Athletic Club, which he joined in 1952, on-board cruises with his beloved wife, Shirley, or during summer months playing at Coney Island. He was also honored to be a member of the Scottish Rite, Oakley Masonic Lodge. Despite his Alzheimer’s disease, a highlight of his later years was taking an Honor Flight to Washington, DC in August 2017, accompanied by his son, Sam. Due to Covid restrictions, a private funeral service for family will be on Monday, December 14 at 11 a.m. Friends who would like to attend virtually may live stream the service at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbmFlqRiHRyPN_gH1-jLKtA/live or on the Parish website, www.htsnchurch. org. A celebration of Paul’s life will take place at safer time in the future.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Cincinnati Museum of Athletics, Attn.: CAC Capital Campaign, 111 Shillito Place, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

Condolences to rohdefuneral.com.

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Jerry Brengelman

James E. Clarkson

CINCINNATI - Beloved husband of Marylyn Brengelman (Nee Tallarigo) for 51 years.

Loving father of Craig D. (Carol) Brengelman and Christopher D. Brengelman. Devoted Popal of Andrew, Lydia and Avery Brengelman.

Dear brother of the late Janice Murphy. Also survived by his nieces, nephews, other family and friends. Passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 75 years of age. Visitation at MEYER FUNERAL HOME, 5864 Bridgetown Rd., on SATURDAY from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Followed by Mass of Christian Burial at St. Teresa of Avila Church, 1175 Overlook Ave., at 11:00 AM. Memorials may be made to Ohio Christian Academy, 4419 Nelson Rd., Middletown, OH 45042. www.bjmeyer. com

MAYSVILLE, KY James E. Clarkson, longtime Maysville Attorney. Survived by his children, James D. Clarkson, Susan Hixenbaugh, Paula McGee. Services were Nov. 24.

Condolences at www. brellandson.com

OHIO

Robert “Cootie” Creutzinger CINCINNATI - Rob-

ert Creutzinger, 89 of Cincinnati, passed away on December 11, 2020. Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences to www. ronaldbjones.com.

Gertrude Lee Hawkins Childress Gertrude Lee Hawkins Childress was born to the late Jerome Lee and Anna Belle Hawkins on March 26, 1927 in Lexington, KY. She departed this earthly life and went home to be with the Lord on Dec. 8th. She graduated from Central High School in Louisville, KY at the age of 16 and attended the University of Louisville. She and her late husband Willard owned and operated a small grocery store in Cincinnati for many years. Later, she worked for the H & S Pogue Company. She was a member of the Morning Star Baptist Church and had the gifts of giving, helping, and teaching.

Daughter, Vivian preceded her in death. She leaves to cherish her memory 2 sons: Jerome Childress, Gregory Childress (Sharon); 5 daughters: Wilma Hickland (Gordy), Bettie Palmer (Tony), Judith Boyd (Michael), Irell Wallace and Belva Grevious; 13 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Services will be held at Thompson Hall & Jordan funeral home on Wednesday Dec. 16, Visitation 10 -11am, Funeral 11:00am.

Patrick James Conlon

Mary Geis

- - Patrick James Conlon, 67, passed away on Saturday, December 5, 2020 after a seven-month battle with cancer. He is survived by his beloved Sharon McGraw (nee Twachtman) and by his daughters Elizabeth Conlon Doran (Brendan) and Katherine Feldmann (Daniel). He is also survived by his siblings the Most Revered R. Daniel Conlon, Michael (Cynthia), Gregory (Lee Ann), Mary Kay (Chip Plumb), William (Gail) and many cherished nieces and nephews.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Patrick was the son of Robert Joseph Conlon and the late Carla Jane Conlon (nee Holzman). He graduated from Purcell High School and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati leading to a successful career in technology sales.

A lifelong spiritual seeker, he walked the path of a good and faithful servant teaching many years of Sunday school, helping the homeless, and coaching youth sports. He strove to live his mantra of “peace and love.” In his retirement he traveled with Sharon, cared for his father, spent time with loved ones and, especially, relished his role as “Grandtini” to his adoring granddaughters.

Patrick will be remembered for his outsized personality, jovial spirit, and passion for life. He had an infectious smile with an Irish twinkle in his eye.

He was lover of music who danced intentionally to his own beat. He will be greatly missed by the many friends and family whose lives he touched.

The funeral services will be postponed until we can safely celebrate his full life.

Memorial donations may be made to an organization close to Patrick’s heart: Brad’s Blessings, c/o Jerry Giesting, 5922 Cambridge Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45230. Condolences to rohdefuneral.com.

Mary “Louise” Geis, beloved mother of David (Mary Jane) Geis, Karen Broering, Ken (Sandy) Geis, Diane (late George) Michael and the late Robert Geis. Mary is also survived by 10 Grandchildren and 10 Great-Grandchildren.

Sister of Ann (late Clifford) Perry and the late Joan Kuhlman. Mary passed away December 3, 2020, at the age of 86, after a long courageous battle with breast cancer. A private Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Susanna on December 11, with family and friends.

Ruth H Deimling Ruth H Deimling died peacefully surrounded by family on December 8, 2020 at the tender age of 96 years. Ruth Elizabeth was born November 12, 1924 to George A. and Henrietta (nee Leist) Henry in California, Ohio.

Ruth graduated from Anderson High School and was a Cincinnati Bell operator during WWII. She married her childhood friend Francis (Frank) J. Deimling on June 30, 1945 and together they raised five children in Mount Washington, Ohio. For the next 75 years she nurtured their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and their extended families. Ruth was a devout Catholic especially devoted to Mary and a loving mother to Gregory (Joan) Deimling, Karen Sue (Donald) Brown, Michael (Mitra) Deimling, Judith (Jessie) Steelman, and Linda (Halan) Schwartz; grandmother to Carissa (Damian) Stephens, Tiffany (Paul) O’Neill, Brandy (Troy) Svensson, Christopher (Aimee) Brown, Candice (Anthony) Spinelli, Matthew (Summer) Steelman, Danielle Brown (Joshua Black), Dustin (Julia) Steelman, Jason Brown, Shaen Deimling (Giahoa Nguyen), Arian Deimling (Madeline Geer) and Kameran Deimling; and great grandmother to 17. Ruth was a Brownie Scout leader until she and Frank realized a lifelong dream in 1966 when they purchased a small insurance business, Globe Insurance Agency located in Hyde Park, Ohio.

They rapidly grew the business into a large, family-owned Independent Insurance Agency currently serving the tristate area. They shared the thrill of horse racing and the serenity of golfing with anyone willing to go along.

Ruth developed a driven sense of community involvement, and upon her retirement became an active volunteer at Mercy Hospital Anderson and the Anderson Historical Society as well as St. Vincent de Paul at St. Jerome Church and the Aramatheans Group at Guardian Angels Church. Her passion was genealogy and Ruth contributed extensively to the history of both the Henry and Deimling families following their early immigration to the United States in the 1800’s. Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years (2009) and her younger brother, George N. Henry. Due to COVID restrictions the family held private services, including a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Jerome Parish Church, on December 11, 2020. Memorials can be made to Hospice of Cincinnati, St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Jerome Church, or a charity of your choice. To leave a condolence or to view the complete obituary, please go to www.tpwhite.com

Arthur J. DelConte Adam J. DiPuccio HARRISON - Age 87 of

Harrison passed peacefully in the company of family and entered the glory of heaven on December 10, 2020. Beloved husband for 56 years of the late Grace (Hellmann) DiPuccio.Loving father of Tina (Tom) Bailey, GiGi DiPuccio (Kurt McKenna), Monica Auxier, Andy (Tera) DiPuccio and Tony (Nancy) DiPuccio.

Cherished grandfather of Stephanie (Rick) Jett, Branden (Samantha) Westenberg, Nick Bailey, Zach (Katie) and Josh Bailey, Travis Neimeister and Lyssa (Dillon) Holte, Kyle, Jenna and Gabby DiPuccio. Great-grandfather of Aiden Westenberg, Kaden & Zane Bailey. Dear brother of Al DiPuccio, Angie Richardson and the late Francis Rupp, Frank, Mario and Roy DiPuccio. Preceded in death by his parents Roy & Rose (Ciccullo) DiPuccio. Visitation Tuesday, Dec 15, from 9am to 10:30am at The Neidhard-Minges Funeral Home 10385 New Haven Rd., (Harrison) followed by Funeral Mass 11am at St. John the Baptist Church, Harrison. Burial Gate of Heaven Cemetery with military honors. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Hospice of Cincinnati neidhardminges.com

Beloved husband of the late Barbara DelConte (nee Schummer), loving father of Diana “Dee” (Jo) DelConte, Anthony DelConte, Kristina DelConte, and Greg (Kelly) DelConte, dear grandfather of Jordan (Chuck) Lack, brother of Anthony (the late Dolores) DelConte, many nieces and nephews. Passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Age 87. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, December 19th 10AM at St. Dominic Church. (Masks Must Be Worn) For those not attending Mass, a live stream is available at stdominicdelhi.org (then click view Mass online, then click live steam) In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Cincinnati. www.vittstermeranderson.com

Ohio

Patricia O. Dolle CINCINNATI - Patricia (nee O’Connell) Dolle, 91, passed away peacefully into her eternal life on Monday, December 7, 2020 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Patricia was born January 1, 1929 to Thomas and Marie (nee Martz) O’Connell in Hyde Park.

She attended St. Mary’s School through high school, in Hyde Park. Patricia married the love of her life William “Bill” Lodge Dolle Jr., March 15, 1952. Together they raised their seven children in a home filled with LOVE in Wyoming, Ohio. Patricia was a devoted wife with a strong catholic faith. She was a long-time member of St Rose Church and Holy Childhood (summer months) in Harbor Springs, Michigan. She took great pride in all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Patricia was preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years, Bill Dolle and her son, Mark Dolle. She is survived by her remaining 6 children: Peter (Dagmar) Dolle of Berlin, Germany, Stephen Dolle of Los Angeles, California, Liz (Mike) Johnson of Mandeville, Louisiana, Chris (Marilyn) Dolle of Wyoming, Ohio, Patrick (Laura) Dolle of Mariemont and Trey (Meghan) Dolle of Mt. Lookout. And brother, Jim (Rosie) O’Connell of Cincinnati. Also survived by 15 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Due to Covid restrictions, a private Mass of Christian Burial was held for the family Thursday, December 10, 2020 at St. Rose Church. Memorials may be made directed to the Freestore Foodbank, 1141 Central Pkwy., Cincinnati, OH 45202, or a charity of your choice in memory of Patricia’s generous spirit. Online condolences may be expressed at rohdefuneral. com

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Jean K. Gibbons Rosalinda (Rose) Gall Ferguson RACINE - Rosalinda (Rose) Gall Ferguson passed away peacefully on December 8, 2020 in Racine, WI at age 75.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 52 years, John Ferguson Sr. and by children Kay (Jamie) Connelly, John (Kelley) Ferguson Jr., Noelle (Chad) Brigham, Mike (Jenny) Ferguson and Eileen (Brett) Collins. She is also survived by her siblings Stephanie Rottinghaus, George (Taffy) Gall, Michelle Gall, Phil (Vicki) Gall, Suzie Gruber and Charles Gall. She is preceded in death by her parents George and Linda Gall and her brother Tom Gall. She had 13 grandchildren.

Rose was a 1963 graduate of Our Lady of Angels High School and later attended University of Cincinnati where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Rose began her career working at Proctor & Gamble and eventually became a homemaker, focused on raising her five children. Rose loved children so much that she had a second career as teacher. But no job was better to Rose than being a grandmother. She will be remembered for her warm smile, her kind spirit and loving heart.

The memorial services will be held at St. Alphonsus in Greendale, WI on Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the Alzheimer’s Association: http://act. alz.org/goto/roseferguson

June Vena Strand Edelman Cincinnati, Ohio – June Edelman, age 93, was born in Sydney, Australia to the late Gertrude Vena Wells Strand and Harry Strand. June passed away on November 30, 2020.

Growing up in Australia, June often told stories of her childhood in a town called Mosman in New South Wales. As WW II converged on the Pacific, June would leave high school and find work at Luna Park Sydney amusement park. Nestled on the Sydney Harbour, the park served as the perfect location for young servicemen to treat their girlfriends to a day out. For June and her friends, it was also the perfect vista to watch the American Naval ships come into the harbour.

Most likely she stood at the window as the USS Birmingham came into view, carrying the man she would spend the rest of her life with. She met her future husband, Herbert L. Edelman, at the age of 17. Herbert, a United States Naval officer, stationed in Sydney, fell in love with June and Australia.

They met at an officer’s dance. They married in 1946. Not long after their marriage, June would board the last war bride ship bound for America, named the USS Mariposa. Docking in the San Francisco Bay harbor, June would make her way across the country to Brooklyn, NY, where she would meet her American family. June and Herb’s life together spanned 58 years.

June and Herb raised their family and continued to grow Herb’s career in the ink and pigment industry, which took them to Pensacola, FL, Atlanta, GA, Hartsdale, NY, Stamford, CT, Cincinnati, OH, and Ramsey, NJ. Upon retirement, June and Herb moved back to Cincinnati to be closer to family.

June and Herb travelled extensively throughout their life together. Their hearts were never far from Australia. Their mutual love for the sunburnt country took them back to Australia over 25 times during their married life.

June will always be remembered as a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, and dear friend. Her infectious laugh, love of life, and positive attitude was unparalleled. Her family will forever cherish their life and time spent with June on the Outer Banks, family dinners, backyard parties, enjoying a cup of tea, and always just a sliver. June found her way into many hearts.

June is predeceased by Herbert Leonard Edelman, her husband of 58 years, her son, Mark L. Edelman (late Wanda), and brother Tony Strand. She is survived by brother Dennis Strand (late Valerie) of Canberra, Australia, daughters, Leslie J. Carlotti (late Dino), Meredith A. Raffel (Timothy), grandchildren Gina (Paul) , Dana, Melissa (Brian) , Amy, Kyle (Tara), Parker, Erik (Mary), and great-grandchildren Kirsten, Cameron, Mason, Teddy, and Finn. June always felt great love and affection for her nieces and nephews, including Marilyn, Mitchell, Michael, Jeffrey, Jennifer, Sally, Georgia, Harriet, Emma, and Mathew, Greg, Birte, and Nicola.

The family would like to thank Twin Lakes Retirement Community, Homewell Care Services of Cincinnati, and Queen City Hospice for their kindness and dedication to June.

Services were held in private. A celebration of life will be held in 2021.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Greater Cincinnati PBS Station, CET.

Clara Fish Clara Alice Fish (nee Grooms) passed away Monday, December 7, 2020. Loving wife of the late James Fish, beloved mother of Jim (Tracey) Fish and Barbara (Bob) Wykoff.

Devoted grandmother of Gregory Fish and Joey (Amy) Wykoff.

Great-grandmother of Corey Fish, Wyatt and Brooklyn Wykoff.

Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Clara was the Cafeteria Manager at Princeton Jr. School. She was the treasurer of the Sharonville V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary. She was a lovely person and will be greatly missed. Private graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Sophie’s Angel Run 6513 Greenoak Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45248. Condolences to the family may be made at www.hodappfuneralhome.com

CINCINNATI - Jean (nee Klundt) Gibbons passed away on December 6, 2020 at the age of 89. She was the loving mother of Beth (Bill) Flynn and Ann (Mark) Caesar. Dear grandmother of Kendall (Brian) Baird, Kiley (Adam) Bell, Erik Flynn, and Meg, Celia and Ginny Caesar. She was preceded in death by her husband, Weir Gibbons, and was a loyal only child to her parents John and Edith Klundt.

Jean was a life-time Cincinnati resident and graduated from Withrow High School and Miami University. She raised her two daughters in the Kenwood Hills neighborhood of Madeira, where she found lifelong friends and created treasured memories. Friends were an important part of Jean’s life and she cultivated friendships in all that she did - teaching at Dale Park school, attending Madeira-Silverwood Presbyterian Church, volunteering with P.E.O. and Bethesda North Hospital, and most recently living at The Seasons. Jean never missed an opportunity to be involved and active.

Because of COVID-19, Funeral services will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bethesda North Foundation at 10500 Montgomery Rd. (45242), Madeira- Silverwood Presbyterian Church at 8000 Miami Ave, (45243), or the Freestore Foodbank at 1141 Central Pkwy, (45202).

Diane Kassel Goodman November 19, 1935December 12, 2020 Preceded in death by her devoted husband Stanley who passed away in 2015. Diane and Stanley shared 59 years of joy and adventure together. She is survived by her children: Julie and Stephen Lerner; Jeffrey Goodman and Rebeca Arbona; and, Dr. Richard and Karen Goodman.

Diane has seven grandchildren: Jeremy and Dr. David and Alesy Lerner; Sofia and Marcus Goodman; and, Brian, Melissa, and Jennifer Goodman.

She is survived by her brother Jack (Lois) Kassel, Naples, Florida, and remembered fondly by her confidante and companion Mark Berliant.

Diane graduated from Walnut Hills High School, attended Vassar College, graduated from the University of Cincinnati, and completed graduate studies at Xavier University. She had a career as a job specialist at Jewish Vocational Services and later Schonberg Associates. She received certification as a member of International Associates of Career Management Professionals.

Diane served on the boards of Talbert House, Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Services, Jewish Vocational Service and Hilb Scholarship Committee. She achieved the title of Gold Life Master from the American Contract Bridge League. A wise, warm, and open listener and mentor to family, friends, and clients, Diane cared deeply about all who made her life so rich and meaningful. It is requested that contributions be made to either Stanley Goodman Scholarship Fund at Walnut Hills High School, Jewish Vocational Services, or Talbert House. www.weilkahnfuneralhome.com

Wayne Harrison Wayne Lee Harrison “Pop”, beloved husband of Marlene Shotwell-Harrison (nee Alcoke), loving father of Douglas (Bridgette) Harrison, Dennis (Beth) Harrison and Cindy (Bill) Menth, step-father of David (Alicia) Shotwell and Debbie (Robert) Walker, caring grandfather of Terry, Drew and Claire Harrison; Jeremy and Lindsay Abbott; Tyler and Jordan Shotwell; Trenton, Jared and Cole Walker. Brother of the late Sharon Gilbert. Known and loved by all as Pop. Wayne was a dedicated member of the Teamsters Union for over 40 years. He passed away Thursday, December 10, 2020, at the age of 79. A public graveside service will be held Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at Spring Grove Cemetery 4521 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45232 friends and family are invited to meet inside the main gate of the cemetery at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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Dan R. Kramer Dan R. Kramer, beloved husband of Mary Patricia “Pat” Kramer (nee Moran); loving father of Mark (Rachel), Paul (Angie), Jim (Lisa), and the late Lois Kramer; cherished grandfather of five; dear brother of the late Mary Ellen Fisher of Niles, MI; and resident of White Oak for 50 years, passed away Friday, December 11, 2020 at 12:22am at the age of 96. Mass of Christian Burial on Tue. Dec. 15th at 10am at St. James Church White Oak. In lieu of flowers, memorials requested to a charity of donor’s choice.

Mihovk-Rosenacker honored to serve. www. mrfh.com

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THE ENQUIRER

OHIO

Dr. John Andrew Hunter I

Joyce C. Kircher

HILTON HEAD ISLAND - Dr. John Andrew Hunter I of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, passed away peacefully at home on December 8, 2020, surrounded by family and love.

John was born in Kirksville, MO, on January 1, 1943, and grew up in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He attended Cuyahoga Falls High School where he excelled in academics and sports (golf and wrestling). He attended The Ohio State University for undergraduate and Dental School where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta and Psi Omega fraternities. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a Dental Officer for two years in Fort Gordon, GA. After the army, John moved to Cincinnati to complete his residency and met his wife, Charlene.

They started their family and lived in and around the Cincinnati area for the next 3 decades, all while maintaining his oral surgery practice until his retirement.

During this time they would develop life-long relationships with friends through work, travel and sports, particularly tennis. John had many great friends that would come and play at their court in Harrison, Ohio, and tales of antics both on-and off-court abound today.

His love of nature kept him outdoors, tending to his flowers, gardens and landscaping. In winter months, John would be found in his workshop creating gorgeous stained-glass windows. He had a very inquisitive mind and loved great conversation, folk music, Corvettes, and his pets. An ardent Buckeye fan, he was a longtime season ticket holder for football and enjoyed his time back on campus. John was an avid traveler and loved exploring the beautiful world, most notably our National Parks. Family vacations were captured with a camera in-hand, seeking the perfect spot to watch sunsets, with requisite slide shows to follow at home. Always known for being in a pleasant mood, many will miss his calm demeanor, charisma, quick wit and ever-present smile. Upon retirement, John and his wife moved to Hilton Head Island, SC, where he was able to enjoy golf almost year-round.

John is survived by his wife of 47 years, Charlene (née Waggal); their daughter Stephanie Bamonte, her husband Anthony and granddaughter Maristella and grandson Tazio of Hilton Head Island, SC; son John Andrew II “Andy” and granddaughter Bella McCane of Guilford, IN; sister Nancy (Jack) Baker of Chagrin Falls, OH, and Chandler, AZ; numerous nieces and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Harold “Hal” and Blanche Hunter.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Special Olympics of Northern Kentucky, PO Box 393, Florence, KY, 41022.

MT. HEALTHY, OH Joyce C. Kircher (nee Gutzwiller) passed on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 90 years. Joyce was married to Bill, the love of her life, for 67 years until his death in 2019. Joyce is survived by children Carol (Jim) Boerger, Jim (Cheryl) Kircher, Kathy Kircher, and Dave (Linda) Kircher. Joyce’s grandchildren are Brad (Michelle) and Dan (Laura) Boerger, Kevin and Jamie Kircher, Katie (Kevin) Siefker, Angela (Brian) Siefert, Caroline, Michael, and Brian Spencer, and Bruce and Georgia Kircher. Joyce’s great grandchildren are Thomas, Ben, Summer, Molly, and Lydia Boerger, Declan, Benjamin, Luke, and Theo Siefert, and Korinne, Kourtney, and Kody Siefker. Joyce’s parents were Raymond and Bertha Gutzwiller and her in-laws were William C. and Theresa (Tess) (Keller) Kircher. Joyce was a long term resident of Mt Healthy and a member of Assumption parish. In addition to Bill and her family, Joyce’s passions included painting, traveling, and cooking, always with dessert. Visitation will be private; a celebration of Joyce’s life will be held later in 2021. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00AM at the Church of the Assumption, 7711 Joseph Street, Mt. Healthy on Thursday, December 17. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Mt. Healthy. Donations to Friarworks, 1615 Vine St., Ste1, Cincinnati, OH 45202 would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.

Condolences may be sent to the family at neidhardyoungfuneralhome.com

Eugene “Gene” George Kalvin CINCINNATI - 94, passed away peacefully December 8th at Maple Knoll Community in Springfield Township.

He is survived by his daughters Pat Kalvin, Peggy Schneble, Susan Maguire, Kathy Hartmann and Carol Cantor and his daughterin-law Tina Yelkin. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary and sons, Mike and Tom. The full obituary can be read at hodappfuneralhome.com

Maynard R. Johnson CINCINNATI - Maynard R. Johnson, born July 29, 1939 in Carthage, Missouri to Elmer R. and May Hill Johnson. Maynard died from health complications exacerbated by Covid-19, on November 19, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is survived by his wife Sara L. Johnson, whom he married in 1963.

He is also survived by daughter Rachel Johnson Zahnd (Nathan L. Zahnd), and son Anders R.B. Johnson (Joan Walker). Maynard and Sara have four grandchildren, Honesty Zahnd, Sage Zahnd, May Madison Walker and Sylvia Pearl Walker.

Maynard attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, MA, graduating in 1961 with a BS in Food Technology and Biochemical Engineering. He received the Order of the Coif and a Juris Doctor at the University of MO School of Law. Moving to Midland Michigan, he became a Patent Attorney for the Dow Chemical Company. In 1981, Dow’s pharmaceutical interests became Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, and moved to Cincinnati. Maynard moved with them, serving as Senior Patent Counsel, working with pharmaceuticals, vaccines, company subsidiaries, and specializing in Intellectual property law. Two of his patent products at Merrell Dow were Nicorette nicotine gum and the Nicoderm nicotine patch.

In 1995, One of the patent cases he was involved with, was an appeal to the House of Lords (the UK counterpart to the US Supreme Court). Maynard served over his 33 years, as Patent Counsel and VP for Merrell Dow, Hoechst Marion Rousel, and Aventis, from which he retired. Maynard and his wife were involved in researching and performing music of England, Ireland, Scotland, and early music in America. They recorded five albums, and also researched and published books of and about music. Services are being held at the convenience of the family. To leave online condolences go to www.springgrove.org

Joan Ruth Harmeling CINCINNATI - Joan

Ruth (nee Dirheimer) Harmeling, 89, passed away Thursday, December 10, 2020. Born July 26, 1931 in Covington, KY, daughter to the late James and Gertrude (nee Moddeman) Dirheimer.

Beloved wife to the late Raymond G. Harmeling.

Dear mother of Steve Harmeling, Mary (John) Macaluso, Patti (Joe) Ruwe, and the late Mike Harmeling. Grandmother of Kyle (Laura), Bret (Sarah), and Stefon Harmeling, Nick (Jessica) and Ben (Corrine) Macaluso, Daniel and Amanda Ruwe. Great-grandmother to Vinny and Leo. Sister to Mary Lou Marquette and the late James and Robert Dirheimer.

Family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 15 from 5:00P.M. to 7:00P.M. at Spring Grove Funeral Home, 4389 Spring Grove Ave. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Aloysius of Gonzaga Church on Wednesday, December 16 at 10:30 A.M. Entombment to follow at New St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Elder High School Annual Fund, 3900 Vincent Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45205.

Wayne Koelling L AW R E N C E B U RG , IN - Wayne Koelling

passed away at home in Lawrenceburg, IN on December 7th. He was born in Indianapolis, IN on May 19th, 1942. He is preceded in death by his father Allison P. Koelling, his mother Marthabelle Bond Koelling, his step-mother Jean Day Koelling, his sister Carol French, and his brother Randall Koelling. He is survived by his loving wife Linda; his sons Brian (Kathy), Jesse (Julie), & Jerry (Melissa); and his grandchildren Kyle, Tyler, Lauren, Carson, Kylie, Morgan, Brooke, Connor, Jared, Alex, & Jake.

He served in the United States Navy. he was a proud Pipefitter and member of the Local 392.

He was a member of the American Legion Miller-Stockum Post 485. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church. His greatest love in life was his family.

A private family service will take place on December 14th at 9:30 AM at Spring Grove Funeral Home, with entombment to follow at Spring Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Peace Lutheran Church (1451 Ebenezer Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45233), the American Legion Post 485 (29 E State Rd, Cleves, OH 45002), or a charity of your choice in honor of Wayne.

Werner Kummerle INDIAN HILL - It is with great sadness that the family of Werner Kummerle announces his unexpected passing, on December 4th, 2020 at the age of 85.

Werner will be lovingly remembered by his wife Sue of 47 years and his children Tina (Jan), Kip (Jennifer), and Kevin (Tina)Kummerle. Werner will be sorely missed by his eight grandchildren Lily, Ellie, Sully, Kamden, Owen, Mila, Elias and Isabella. He is survived by his siblings Ursel Kurtz, Alfred Kümmerle, and Ruth Kümmerle-Helbing.

He was born on July 14, 1935 in Tübingen, Germany to the late Maria and Karl Kümmerle.

He grew up during WWII and at age 13 he began an apprenticeship to learn to become a baker. The economic situation was very difficult after the war and the apprenticeship allowed him to get a work sponsorship to come to the United States.

During his early time in the country he had an opportunity to work for Kron Tool and Die and to learn about machining, which he embraced. He then joined the army and became a paratrooper in the US Army 82nd airborne. After returning from his military duty, he continued in the machine tool industry for 11 years. In 1971 he and his wife Sue started their own company, Metalex Manufacturing. Metalex grew to 120 employees gaining an industry reputation for making difficult, high quality parts. Werner always valued the people who worked at Metalex and viewed them as his extended family. He focused on continuous improvement and created a management/ leadership development system called Interaction Without Boundaries, in which people are required to communicate openly, work together and operate with a winning attitude. In 2021 Metalex will celebrate its 50th anniversary, with his legacy being carried forward by the next generation of leaders and teammates that Werner mentored.

Due to Covid we hosted a private family service.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to the Neediest Kids of All.

Ohio

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William “Bill” Hoelker CINCINNATI - Hoelker, William E. (Eymard) “Bill”, devoted husband of the late Jean Ann (nee Schaffer) Hoelker, loving father of Julie (Tom) Clyde, Jim (Patty) Hoelker, Jeff (Caren) Hoelker, Jill (John) DeHaven, Joe (Louise) Hoelker, Jodie (Bryan) Humpert, Jeanna (Scott) Meyer, Jackie (Tim) Daly, cherished grandfather of 24 and great grandfather of 12, dear brother of the late Edmund Hoelker Jr, Mary Stella Bedinghaus, Jack Hoelker and Ruth Wernke, passed away peacefully December 9, 2020 at the age of 86 with all his 8 children present. Bill was born January 7, 1934 in Cincinnati. He was the son of the late Edward Hoelker & Helen (nee Meiners). Bill grew up as a westsider on Gilsey Avenue and attended St Williams School then Elder High School. He started dating Jean in high school. After high school, he was drafted into Military service with active duty in Fort Hood Texas. Due to his 2 year college degree, Bill was an officer, and that was a big deal back then he would modestly state. Bill had a jeep and was in charge of the mail room and weekly trained the entire patrol of 400 men. During his service, he pulled a trick on Mom. He had to get dentures and mailed his tooth plate in a nice little box. Mom rounded up all her nurse friends to open it thinking it was some special jewelry. Dad would giggle so hard telling that story to us. They married 8/24/57. Bill had a few hobbies, he loved pets: he raised a dog Recon in the service until his Commander directed him to get rid of the dog as it was messing up the grounds. He raised fish for decades – he loved breeding angel fish. Bill was a big fisherman; he would take Jean

on fishing dates to the local lakes Snows and Lake Nina. He took a trip to Traverse City Michigan with his friends and caught the big one, a 5lb 14oz bass that qualified him to be in the CheCheGon Club and has a plaque. He had very good luck at the race tracks and the boats and many in the family copied his bets and would win big also. Dad frowned on that as his winnings were then diluted. His most cherished hobby is how well he kept his yard.

By July 4th, his landscaping was the envy of the neighbors and decorated to the hilt. They could never win the best decorated house prize on the 4th of July since they started and ran the parade for 47 years.He was very proud of his heritage and spoke many times where the Hoelker’s settled in Oldenburg Indiana. Growing up, his Godmother Sister Ancilla “Angi” would take him 3-4 times a year and over all summer back to Oldenburg on the train. The Hoelker Oldenburg House was the first one to get an inside bathroom. It was always fun when Bill would attend the annual July Freudenfest in Oldenburg visiting all his family that came in from out of town. We cannot remember him ever missing any of our events growing up even though he very busy with his work as a builder “Hoelker Homes”. After his 5 daughters graduated from McAuley high school, all attended many Alumni Father Daughter Dance where he was the most popular one photo’d every year. Bill was a devoted Catholic, loved attending Sunday mass and wearing his rosary around his neck keeping Jesus close to him.There will be no Visitation. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday December 17, 2020, Noon at St. Ann Catholic Church, 2900 W. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45239.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Elder High School, 3900 Vincent Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45205. www.meyergeiser.com.

Richard Knock UNION - Richard Ronald Knock, 82 of Union, KY passed away on December 8th, 2020. He was born in Cold Spring, KY in 1938 to his parents Philip and Leona (French) Knock, whom have since preceded him in death. Richard was very active in his life making friends and touching many lives along the way. He never met a stranger. He was currently a member of the First Baptist Church of Walton, KY. Masonic Affiliations: Alexandria Lodge #152, Covington Scottish Rite, Covington York Rite, Knights Templar and Syrian Shrine. He held the high honors of the Knight Commander Court of Honor, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry; Honorary 33rd Degree, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry; and the 50 year Membership Recognition of Alexandria Lodge #152.

His current Activities included; President, Chairman & CEO Knock Investments, Union, KY; President, Chairman & CEO Omaha Enterprises, LLC, Union, KY; Chairman & President J & R Asset Management, LLC; Chairman & President Covington Scottish Rite Foundation; Chairman The Knock Family Foundation, Inc., Union, KY; Board of Trustees and formerly Board Chairman, University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, KY; Chairman of Board of Commissioners, Boone County Water District; and Board Member Boone Florence Water Commission.

Previous Activities; Commissioner Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, Commissioner Boone County Planning & Zoning Commission (Chairman – Long Range Planning Committee); Board Member Northern Kentucky Greater Cincinnati Airport Board (Governor Ernie Fletcher appointment); Commissioner Tallstacks, Inc., Cincinnati, OH; Member of Major Gift Committee St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation Board, Edgewood, KY; Director Florida East Coast Railroad, St. Augustine, FL (Florida East Coast Industries, St. Augustine, FL); Member Cardinal Hill of Northern Kentucky, Florence, KY; Chairman of Board Lakeside Nursing Home, Highland Heights, KY; Member Board of Directors American Music Scholarship Association, Cincinnati, OH; Chairman & CEO (Retired), International Transit, Inc., Cincinnati, OH; Intermodal Transportation Services, Inc., Cincinnati, OH; United States Consolidators, Cincinnati, OH; Quality Financial Network, Inc., Cincinnati, OH; Quail Ridge Sportsman’s Club, Inc., Sunman, IN; BlueStone Land Co., LLC, Sunman, IN; Executive Vice President Spade Continental Express, Cincinnati, OH; Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, Cincinnati, OH.

Distinguished Business Awards - “Cincinnati Enquirer/Arthur Andersen Greater Cincinnati 100” For Years 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 & 1988.

Education - University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Oh Business Administration –Commerce Major in Traffic and Transportation.

Accomplishments - Mayor (Ch. of Bd. Trustees), Cold Spring, KY (1962 – 1964); Honorary Doctorate of Laws, University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, KY Presentations - National Academy of Science Intermodal Forum, Woods Hole, MA; Southeast Shippers Advisory Board, Tampa, FL; National Council Physical Distribution Management, Chicago, IL; National Intermodal Forum & Expo, Atlanta, GA; National Association of Shippers Advisory Board, Savannah, GA; American Society of Traffic & Transportation, New York, NY Grocery Manufacturers of America, Colorado Springs, CO; University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. In his leisure time he had enjoyed golf, fishing, hunting in many places in the U.S. and worldwide, traveling with his wife and friends, and spending time on his farm with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife Jo Ann Creekmore Knock; Son, P. David (Bonnie) Knock: Daughters: Darlene Kelley, Janlyn (Denny) Myers, Sherri (Jeff) Brooks, Mary Knock and Bonnie Ann Knock. Brothers: Jack (preceded) Viola Knock; Bill (preceded) Sue Knock and Louis Knock (preceded). Sisters: Mary (Joe) Scheben (both preceded); Bonnie (Ray) Gray; Pat (preceded) Bino Bianco; and Ruth Knock (preceded). Grandchildren: Tayler (Kelly) Fulmer, Bridget (Michael) Tanner, Jessica (Joe) Murrell, Billy Bramel, Rachel Knock and Jacob Knock, along with 5 great grandchildren. Also survived by his long time dear friend Del Osburn.

Due to the restrictions of Covid 19, all services will be private, at the First Baptist Church of Walton with the burial service following at Highlands Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell, KY. Memorials in his honor are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1893, Memphis, TN 38101-9950 - www.stjude.org; Shriners Hospital of Cincinnati Donor Development, 3229 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229 - www.donate.lovetotherescue.org; or the Northern Kentucky Salvation Army, Covington KY - https://give.salvationarmy.org/team/329245 Cooper Funeral Home is serving the family.

Joseph Kanter LOS ANGELES, CA - Joseph H. Kanter, a busi-

nessman and philanthropist, died peacefully in Los Angeles, on November 30, 2020. He was 97 years old.

Kanter was born on November 15, 1923 in Tarrant, Alabama. During World War II, he served in the 102nd infantry and landed on Omaha Beach. Then he fought through France, Holland, and Germany.

After his father’s death while Kanter was serving overseas, he returned to his native Alabama and ran his family’s general store. He formed a company to build veterans housing and became one of the largest apartment builders and “new town” developers in the United States.

In 1953, Kanter married singer/songwriter Nancy Reed. They settled in Cincinnati; Kanter developed the city of Forest Park, Ohio. He became a major landholder in southeast Florida and established a second home in Miami Beach. Kanter entered the banking business as the owner of the National Bank of Florida; he later purchased and ran Guarantee Savings and Loan financial operations throughout California. Kanter also started a movie production company; among other films, he produced Academy Award nominated “Ironweed,” starring Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep.

Throughout his life, Kanter’s entrepreneurial savvy and civic voluntarism earned him special recognition. In 1958, Esquire magazine named him one of 54 “Bright Young Men in Science, Politics, Arts, and Business.” In 1962, he won the State of Israel Award for Leadership, recognizing his service as Chairman of the United Jewish Appeal. In 1975, he received the B’nai B’rith Humanitarian Award. In 1984, he was awarded an honorary master’s degree from The George Washington University. Kanter was also a lifelong amateur tennis player; he won several singles tournaments in the United States and in Europe. Kanter’s patriotic vision catalyzed the National Conference on Citizenship; he succeeded former Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark to serve as its Chairman and President. In 2014, Kanter was awarded the Knight of the French Foreign Legion Award at an event held at the United States Capitol. In 2020, Kanter’s family arranged for 20,000 acres of his holdings in the Florida Everglades to be sold to the state of Florida, to ensure preservation for future generations.

As a philanthropist, Kanter was a longtime advocate of efforts to improve public health. In 1964, he established the Joseph H. Kanter Family Foundation; since then, it has supported educational institutions, physical fitness initiatives, health outcomes research, and other charitable endeavors.

Kanter is survived by his sister, Shirley Osband; by his wife of over 67 years, Nancy; by his children, Harry, Hillary (William), Mary, and John (Staci); and by his five grandchildren, Alexandra (Jesse), Reed, Matthew, Charlie, and Emily.

Marjorie Ann Aszman Kinney Marjorie Ann Aszman Kinney, had an abiding love for the fine arts, gardening and horticulture, history, English literature, and most of all, her family.

She was born in Newtown, Ohio on October 3, 1924, to Howard and Cecile Aszman. She died peacefully on November 5, 2020, surrounded by her family in the same room in which she was born.

She was an accomplished painter in her own right, taking painting classes at the Cincinnati Woman’s Club up until her last year.

Her love of gardens and horticulture took her to famous gardens all over the world. English gardens were her favorite, and in her home garden she forever battled against deer and rabbits.

She graduated from Terrace Park High School and went on to graduate from the University of Cincinnati DAAP. A voracious reader up through her last days, there was never a book she wouldn’t tackle, be it historical, scientific, horticultural or religious.

She was a senior in high school when she met Aldon M. Kinney, Jr. and on June 13, 1942, they married. Their marriage lasted 50 years and together they had three children who were the center of their lives.

Her life was devoted to God and her family. Her deep faith directed her every move and the strength that she has passed on to all in her family will never diminish. Never condemning with a mean word or thought, her offering of continual support ruled the way she spent her life, and she was always a joy to be around.

There was never any activity or event in which she would not want to participate. Whether it was a sporting event of one of her great-grandchildren or a school play or a concert or an art exhibition or even an English footpath walk over muddy terrain, she just simply never wanted to miss out on anything.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Aldon M. Kinney, Jr. and her sister, Joyce A. Geiger. She is survived by her children Gael K. Coleman, Aldon M. Kinney III, and Roxanne K. Wiley, 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, all of whom she listed in her final words in this life.

Memorials can be made to Calvary Evangelical Free Church, 498 White Plains Road, Trumbull, CT 06611 (office@Calvaryefc.com) or Young Life greaterfairfield.younglife.org or Cincinnati Parks Foundation at cincinnatiparksfoundation.org.

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Michael P. Mergenthal Michael Mergenthal, age 71, passed away on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. Michael was born on November 15, 1949, the son of Stanly Mergenthal and Elsie Glaub Mergenthal.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; and one sister, Patty Elay and one brother Stephen Mergenthal. He leaves behind his brother David Mergenthal (Marita) of Indiana and his nephews and niece; Brandon Ealy, Steve and Misty Mergenthal.

Visitation is at Vorhis & Ryan Funeral Home, 5501 Montgomery Road, Norwood, OH on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 from 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM. Mass of Christian Burial is at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, corner of Drex Ave. and Montgomery Road, Norwood, Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 10:00 AM. Burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Pearl Ann Maupin CINCINNATI Maupin, Pearl Ann (nee Johnston), beloved wife of the late Frank A. Maupin and the late Stanley R. Koehler. Devoted mother of Linda Nickol, Debra (late Bob) Saner, Carole (Joe) Griec and the late Thomas Johnston.

Step-mother of Frank (Margie) Maupin, Deborah Maupin and the late Sharon Sloane.

Loving grandmother of 12 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Dear sister of the late Evelyn Johnson. Pearl passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, age 93. Pearl was a Past President of VFW Brownsway and very involved as a volunteer at Cincinnati VA Medical Center. Visitation at Frederick Funeral Home, 2553 Banning Rd., on Tuesday (Dec. 15) from 11:00 AM until time of service at 12:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to, Covenant Hospice, 3001 Lake Brook Blvd., Suite 101, Knoxville, TN 37909.

Special condolences may be expressed at www.frederickfh.com

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THE ENQUIRER

Dolores Miller LOVELAND - Dolores Hamilton Miller. age 89, passed away December 3, 2020. Preceded in death by Jack Miller, Keith Hamilton, and her daughter Joy Muennich. Survived by her daughter Sharon Hamilton; grandsons Nathan and Nicholas Muennich; and sisters Theresa Ryan and Pauline King. Private services were held. tuftsschildmeyer.com

OHIO

Margaret T. McCoy (nee Hohmann) CINCINNATI - Margaret T. McCoy (nee Hohmann) died peacefully in her home on December 2 at the age of 104. The beloved wife of Raymond F. McCoy, deceased, and devoted mother of Thomas R.(Judy) McCoy, Kathleen Case, Peggy (Gary) Hall, John J. McCoy, James P. (Donna) McCoy, Patricia J. McCoy. Loving grandmother of eight, and great grandmother of eight. Her legacy is that of a strong and loving family. Private family service will be held in the future.

Richard “Dick” Marx, Sr CINCINNATI - Richard D. Marx, Sr. passed away quietly and peacefully Thursday December 10 at the age of 93, surrounded by his family. Richard was born in Cincinnati Ohio on July 20, 1927.

He graduated from Elder High School and served in the US Navy. He married Mary Ellen Carroll on January 6, 1951, and they had Seven children together. They were founding members of St. Jude parish in Western Hills. He received his Masters Degree from Xavier University. Richard was loving Father to Peter (Karen), Patrick, (Suzette), Connie, Andrew (Judy), Susan (Mike Brenner), Richard (Debbie), and Sally. He was preceded in death by his loving wife and his son, Richard Jr. He worked his entire career with General Electric Aircraft Engines. After retirement, he wintered in the Sarasota, Florida area. He enjoyed sailing and golfing. Richard was loving Father of 7, loving Grandfather to 16 and loving Great grandfather to 21, all of whom will miss his calm and steadying influence in their lives. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, December 16th at 10:30 AM at St. Jude Church 5924 Bridgetown Rd. Interment will be at St. Aloysius Cemetery 4366 Bridgetown Rd. Donations may be made to Ohio Right To Life or Bayley Place. www.neidhardminges.com

Betty R. Moore INDIAN HILL - Betty R. (Teipel Whitehouse) Moore, loving wife of the late Alfred Moore, beloved daughter of the late Lee and Dora E. Teipel, passed away after a decade long battle with Alzheimer’s and a recent Covid infection, on December 5, 2020. She is survived by her loving children, son, William L. Whitehouse III (Liz) with grandsons, John B. Whitehouse and Lucas Whitehouse; daughter, Lea A. Ward with grandsons, Brady A. Ward, Wade H. Ward (Casey), and granddaughter, Dora E. Barrett (Charley) and three great-grandchildren, Teipel, Emery, & John.

In addition, step-daughter, Alexandra MooreWulsin (Bill) with children, Lela and Lucien and step-son, Jeremiah Moore (Amy) with children, Cadence (Micah), Ellie, and Anson. She was born in Covington, Ky., on December 14, 1928 and graduated from Dixie Heights High School, held degrees in Math and English from the University of Kentucky and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. All services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to cure Alzheimer’s online at https://foundation. uc.edu/Heimann or mailed to: UC Foundation “Heimann Chair/Dr. Shatz”, PO Box 19970, Cincinnati, OH 45219. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rohdefuneral.com

Martha Mohrfield

Marlene Nesi

Martha Eickenhorst Mohrfield, 93, of Greenwood, Indiana passed away on December 5, 2020 at Bickford of Greenwood due to complications of Covid-19. Private graveside services will take place at Rest Haven Memorial Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. For full obituary please see Hodappfuneralhome. com

CINCINNATI - NESI, Marlene (nee Jaeger) died peacefully on December 5, 2020. Survived by her husband Frank, loving grandmother to Brian (Brittany) Klems and Jennie (Danny) Bickel, great grandchildren Ella, Chris, Anna, Carson, and Mia, her dog, Max, and many close family and friends. Preceded in death by her daughter, Kathy and son-inlaw, Roger Klems, and her sister Gloria Ketz.

Marlene was a graduate of Walnut Hills High School and the University of Cincinnati. She was also a long-time member (and secretary) of the Sons of Italy, and had retired from a fulfilling career with the Hamilton County Auditor’s Office. Due to Covid, services will be held at a later date when we are all able to gather and honor her safely. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Save the Animals Foundation, https:// www.staf.org/index. php/idonate/.

Norma Morrison LOVELAND - Norma Virginia Morrison, 96, died peacefully on November 29. Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, she was the beloved wife of 66 years to the late Gene Morrison. Survived by son Mark Morrison (Kay) and daughters Donna Potts (David), Deborah Lee Oberlag (late Steve), Denise Morrison and late daughter Dianne Smith’s husband Joe (Katie). Nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-greatgrandchild. Family will gather in Gerald, MO to celebrate her amazing life. Full obituary at www.tuftsschildmeyer. com.

Peter A. Petrou Peter A. Petrou, age 93, formerly of Cleves, died December 4, 2020.

He was the beloved husband of Mary Kay Petrou (nee Ford) and loving son of the late Anastas and Sultana Petrou. Proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. A private interment was held at Bridgetown Cemetery. T.P. White & Sons Funeral Home serving the family.

Betty Lou (nee Bowling) Hartke MONTGOMERY Passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2020.

Widow of Raymond Hartke. Mother to Roger (Cheryl) Hartke and Rhonda (Chris) Grage. Grandmother of Jennifer (Trew) Quackenbush, Nicholas (Amanda) Hartke, Danielle (Steven) Polizzi and Andrew (Chelsea) Grage. Five great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren. Sister of Charlie Bowling, preceded in death by J.D. Bowling. Visitation is Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 3:00 pm until the funeral at 4:00 pm. at the Montgomery Assembly of God church 7950 Pfeiffer Rd, Montgomery, OH 45242.

Memorials suggested to MAG church. Burial will be in the Rest Haven Cemetery. Online condolences at www. strawserfuneralhome. com

Barbara J. Romans BLUE ASH - Age, 92, passed away Wednesday December 9, 2020.

Widow of George Romans Sr. and loving mother of George Romans Jr., Debbie and the late Rosie Romans. Barbara retired from Cincinnati Public Schools with her final teaching years at Silverton. Long time member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Private services will be observed by the family and burial in Rest Haven Burial Park at Evendale.

Memorials suggested to Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Arrangements are under the professional care of Strawser Funeral Home - Blue Ash. Online guestbook at www.strawserfuneralhome.com

Donald Salyards MISHAWAKA - Don Salyards, 89, formerly of Cincinnati, died peacefully on Dec. 5.

Married to Rose Marie (Hetzelberger) for 41 years. Proud GE engineer for 34 years.

Member of the Elfun Society, POPSEE, and Metallic Club. Survived by daughter Jill (Jacob) Mark, grandchildren Sophie and Sam, sister LaVon Berger, and loving nephews and cousins. Interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery in Tiffin, Ohio. Memorial mass and reception will be held at All Saints Church in Cincinnati when public health conditions improve.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Cincinnati Parks Foundation.

Read Don’s full obituary at www.halbritterwickens.com.

Allen Scheibenzuber CINCINNATI - Allen beloved husband of the late Jean Scheibenzuber (nee Femeyer). Loving father of Stephen (Linda) Scheibenzuber, Christine (Timothy) Schuckman, Sally (Jeff Moore) Fulton, and Mark (Susan) Scheibenzuber.

Dear grandfather of Nicholas, Zachary, Andrew Hubbard, David, Lisa Scheibenzuber and seven great-grandchildren. Allen passed away Thursday, December 10, 2020 at age 91. Mass of Christian Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Burial will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Cincinnati.

Donald P. Schroeder Donald “Don” Paul Schroeder passed away December 6, 2020. Don was born November 22, 1931 in St. Louis, MO. He was a veteran of 4 years in Naval aviation electronics, achieving the rate of AT2. Following earning a MS in educational technology degree from Syracuse University, he was hired by Cincinnati Public Schools where he worked in the Resource Services Department for 21 years.

Don was also adjunct professor of the basic audiovisual course at various area universities, filling in when regular faculty was indisposed. Interment will be 11:00 am on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at Vine Street Hill Cemetery Mausoleum columbarium.

Ohio

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Margot Vitale Rowe

Jeffrey W. Stargle

Helen Funke Tollefsen

CINCINNATI - Margot (nee Vitale) Rowe. Mother, Nona, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Friend. Margot died peacefully with her children at her bedside on December 9th, 2020. Margot was born to Guy Louis Vitale and Marguerite Rinella Vitale and raised in Galesburg, Illinois. It was in Galesburg where she met and married her husband of 57 years Bruce Rowe. Margot attended Purdue University and studied speech pathology. Margot participated in the first college student visit to the Soviet Union in 1960 at the height of the cold war.

Travel has always been one of her passions and later in life she enjoyed tours around the world.

Her favorites included a safari in South Africa and a trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica. Margot and Bruce moved to Cincinnati in 1979 to pursue a business opportunity and lived on the east side ever since. Margot raised two children and enjoyed the company of her grandchildren: John and Caroline became the greatest source of joy she would come to know in later life. Margot took pride in helping loved ones through challenging times of their lives. Her empathy and ability to actively listen ran deep. In her last years she suffered a cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s. Her family would like to express special gratitude to her team of compassionate caregivers, especially Cindy Moore, who was her constant companion near the end. Margot is survived by her husband of 57 years Bruce, daughter Joy and son Brian, brother Mike, sister Marcia, and grandchildren John and Caroline. Preceded in death by her parents and younger brother Guy L. Vitale, Jr. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the G.L Vitale Family Foundation which awards grants to support the needs of the community in her hometown of Galesburg. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 0509, Galesburg, IL 61402-0509. For full obituary and online condolences please visit www.rohdefuneral.com

MASON - Jeffrey Wayne Stargle passed away peacefully on December 10, 2020, at age 62 after a long courageous fight against many health issues. He was born on November 8, 1958, in Cincinnati, Ohio. By age 15 Jeff knew what he wanted to be after watching firefighters battle an apartment fire near his home in Norwood. In 1975, he began doing ride alongs with Engine 29 in the West End with the Cincinnati Fire Explorers Program.

He then began living his dream as a firefighter in the US Air Force from 1977-1979 at Shaw AFB in Sumter, SC. On August 16, 1982, he began his almost 30 year career with the Norwood Fire Department. Firefighting meant everything to Jeff. He also loved his church, family and friends.

Never will there be a kinder person. His Godliness and kindness to others set an example that we can only strive to reach. The impact he had on all of us is immeasurable and he will be deeply missed by all who were lucky enough to know him. Jeff is survived by his wife Sherry (King) and his son, Tyler. Jeff is also survived by his inlaws, Clyde and Eudell King, brother-in-law, Tim King and his mother, Betty McClain of Prescott Valley, AZ. Jeff is preceded in death by his father, Otha Herman Stargle. Jeff ’s Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, December 18, 2020 at First Baptist Church of South Lebanon, 505 Mason Rd., South Lebanon, OH 45065. Masks and social distancing will be required. Visitation will be from 10am-12pm, followed immediately by a service and interment at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mason, Ohio. Condolences to vorhisandryan.com

TERRACE PARK - Helen Funke Tollefsen, of Terrace Park, Ohio, died peacefully on December 8, 2020. She was 92 years old. Beloved wife of Elmer (Ace) Tollefsen, loving mother to Scott Tollefsen and Blake (Joan) Tollefsen, cherished grandmother to Gabrielle and Caroline Tollefsen and friend to many. She was preceded in death by her precious granddaughter, Sarah, her parents, Carl and Charlotte Funke, her brother William, and his wife, Katherine. Helen was born on April 1, 1928, in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was a Withrow High School and University of Cincinnati graduate and was a beloved 3rd-grade teacher at Terrace Park Elementary for over 20 years. She had many interests including gardening, flower arranging, knitting, playing bridge, reading, and traveling. Helen was very active in the Altar Guild at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, the Terrace Park Garden Club, the Terrace Park Woman’s Club, the T.T.T Society, and her treasured “Teachers Group”. She read for many years to the children of St. Thomas Nursery School. Helen loved watching her granddaughters perform in various ballet and theatre productions and was a long-time subscriber to the Cincinnati Opera.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to keep everyone safe, services will be private for immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National T.T.T. Society (6919 Vista Dr., West Des Moines, Iowa, 50266), which supports underprivileged children attending summer camp, or St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Terrace Park, Ohio. Condolences may be expressed online at www.craver-riggs.com.

William W. Schrepferman - - William W.“Bill” Schrepferman, of Cincinnati, passed away peacefully at his home on December 8, 2020 after a long and mighty battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Leukemia. He was born in Richmond, Indiana on May 5, 1941 to Raymond and Jane Schrepferman. He grew up in Connersville, Indiana with his 4 siblings, Susie, Barbara, Marybeth and Tom. He went to Miami University where he graduated in 1962 with a Business Degree. Bill is survived by his devoted wife, Karen of 58 years and their three children, Bradley (Kristen), Jeffrey (Beth) and Julie George (Scott). Bill also was an admiring and loving grandfather to 7 – Alexandra, Emily, Kevin, Adam, Zo, Alex, and Sam. Bill spent his entire career in the Human Resources field. He moved to Cincinnati to join Baldwin & Associates in 1993 and retired with the firm (now Gilman Partners) in 2017.

Bill went by many titles throughout his life – husband, dad, brother, boss, coach, Vincennes, papa and even “Bubba” but the one thing that was consistent with every role he played was his devotion to the people he served.

He was unapologetically loyal to his family and the many friends he made and kept throughout his life.

Bill was an active member of the Catholic Church and devoted a good amount of his time serving the community through distributing communion at Christ Hospital and working with the St. Vincent DePaul Society at Christ the King Church in Mount Lookout. His compassion and empathy for those in need was inspiring to many and appreciated by all.

Bill was a youth basketball coach for 47 years in 3 different parish schools in Dayton, Minneapolis, and Cincinnati. Not only did he effectively teach the fundamentals of basketball, but he also taught life lessons to junior high boys (and one year of girls) that many have thanked him for well into their adult lives.

An avid sports fan, Bill could be found most of his adult life rooting for the Cincinnati Reds and Ohio State Buckeyes. His family has lots of fond memories of his devotion to the Big Red Machine, trips to Riverfront Stadium and maybe some yelling at the TV during games! He coached his sons for many years in basketball, baseball and one miserable year of soccer and was always present at his daughter’s gymnastics meets. He learned to love the sport of swimming, hockey and even dance, being his grandchildren’s biggest cheerleader. He also was known to make a wager or two with his family and friends.

The family is honoring Bill’s wishes to postpone his memorial service to a later date when his friends and family can safely gather. In his last act of giving, Bill chose to donate his body to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Donations in memory of Bill can be made to the Christ the King Chapter of SVDP, 952 Rennel Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45226. Condolences to rohdefuneral.com.

Arthur Snapp NOWOOD - Arthur, beloved husband of Peggy (nee Cahall), went to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at the age of 85. Residence Norwood. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 16 at 12 PM, where visitation will begin at 11 AM at the Naegele Funeral Home, Norwood, Ohio. Art’s family is rejoicing knowing he is where he wanted to be, with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of choice.

Condolences at www. naegelefuneralhome. com

Norma Jean Stubblefield LOVELAND - Norma Jean (nee Harris) Stubblefield beloved wife of the late John Hubert Stubblefield; loving mother of John C. Stubblefield, David L. Stubblefield, Stella E. Schneider, Harry D. Stubblefield and Gary N. Stubblefield; 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson.

Tuesday December 8, 2020. Age 89. Residence Loveland, formerly of Mt Orab. Visitation will be held at the Evans Funeral Home, 741 Center St., Milford, OH 45150 on Monday December 14th from 1 PM until time of funeral service at 2 PM. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Miamiville, OH. www. evansfuneralhome.com

Frederick H. von Stade DELRAY BEACH, FL - December 6, 1922 -- November 28, 2020 Frederick H. von Stade passed away peacefully in his home in Delray Beach, FL on November 28, 2020, eight days shy of his 98th birthday. He was born in Old Westbury, NY, one of eight children of Kathryn Steele and F. Skiddy von Stade. Fred attended St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire and Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Shortly after graduation from Fountain Valley in 1942, he began pre-med studies at Harvard University. Later that same year he enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the First General Hospital, Bellevue, Medical Corps where he served for 4 years during WWII in England and France.

Upon returning from the war, Fred enrolled in the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where he majored in Piano.

In 1951, he married Carolyn L. Carrier from Cincinnati, the love of his life and the mother of their 4 children, Dudley, Carol, Francie and Melissa. Fred was also the proud grandfather of 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

In 1953, Fred began his 31-year career at Taft Broadcasting which included two appointments as General Manager of TV stations: WKYT in Lexington, KY and WTVN in Columbus, Ohio.

He retired from Taft Broadcasting in 1984 as a Senior Vice President.

While residing in Columbus, Fred was actively engaged in civic leadership. He served on the boards of the Columbus Center for the Performing Arts, the Ohio Theater, Children’s Hospital, the Columbus Museum of Art, Junior Achievement and was President of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. He also served as Senior Warden at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and on the Board of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. Above and beyond Fred’s many years of professional and philanthropic leadership he will be most remembered by his family and friends for his extraordinary sense of humor, his quick wit, his musical gifts, and his outrageous charm. To know him was to love him.

Mr. von Stade’s family welcome all who might wish to donate to the Frederick von Stade Music Study Endowment at Fountain Valley School (6155 Fountain Valley School Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80911). Donations can also be made on line at: fvs.edu.

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OHIO

Peggy A. Schuckman CINCINNATI - 1948 - 2020 Peggy Ann Schuckman (nee Bietsch), 72, passed away peacefully with her daughter Katie holding her hand, on December 7, 2020 at Hospice of Cincinnati. Peggy Ann was born on July 22, 1948 in Delhi, OH to the late Russell and Audrey Kramer Bietsch. Preceded in death by her precious sister, Pat Bietsch, OSF and dearest nephew, John Thomas Bietsch, both in 2019. Beloved mother of Stephanie, Rich, SJ; Kate (Jason Hedges), and Steve. Blessed grandmother or Shi’mama of George Oliver Schuckman Hedges. Peggy is survived by her brother, Tom (TR and Vicki Mattos) Bietsch, Sr. of Lincoln, CA; Crow brother John (Laverne) Buffalo of Tohatchi, New Mexico (Navajo Nation); and Northern Cheyenne sister April Martin (Jed) Chalfant of Busby, MT and her Waples cousins. Aunt Peg is survived by many loved nieces and nephews and grands too. Known for her quick wit and captivating character, Peggy graduated high school from Seton as a “Saint” in 1967, after endeavoring to be like her sister, Sr. Mary Martha, as a postulant at Oldenburg Academy. Yet this Franciscan bond with her sister Pat forever strengthened Peggy, as she grew in her radiance and resolve. Married life saw her governing over PTA and CYO meetings and fundraisers: Fish Fry’s, Spaghetti Dinners, Summer Festivals and Calico Christmases, at Nativity School and Parish in Pleasant Ridge, OH, where she raised her four kids, highlighting her natural leadership talents: networking, organizing and delegating in the community spirit. This is where she met her true loves for life, The Girls: Rose, Jeanette, Carmela, and Kathy. Peggy is most proud of her children and joy filled with grandson, Georgie. Yet her most prized accomplishment is achieving her master’s in Human Resources and Labor and Employment Relations from the University of Cincinnati in 2008 at the age of 60. Peggy was a longtime negotiator for Pepsi®, Multi-Color Corporation, and retired from Coca-Cola® Refreshments in 2011. Celebration of Peggy’s life will be at St. Francis Xavier Church (downtown Cincinnati) at 611 Sycamore St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 on Monday, December 21, 2020.

Visitation with her family at 9 a.m. and Funeral Mass to follow at 10 a.m.

For those out of town or cannot attend due to COVID-19 precautions, please join the mass streaming at http://www.stxchurch.org/. Masks and social distancing required of all those attending in person. A private family burial will be held at Holy Family Church Cemetery, Oldenburg, IN. In lieu of flowers, all memorials may be directed to the Sisters of St. Francis, PO Box 100, Oldenburg, IN 47036 or online at http://www.oldenburgfranciscans.org/. Condolences may be sent to the family at 2251 Wolfangel Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45244.

David Christian Weber GREEN TOWNSHIP

Robbi Stephenson GUNNISON, CO The world lost Robbi (Keinath) Stephenson, a beloved mother, sister, aunt & friend on 11/2/20 in Gunnison, Colorado.

Roberta Lynn was born to Alice & William Keinath on 7/24/51 in Cincinnati, Oh. She graduated from Wyoming HS and attended Miami University.

Robbi had two beloved children, Rebekah & Joshua.

Robbi is survived by sisters Patti Kruthaupt (Greg) and Marcy Wakeman (Richard).

She is survived by her children, nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alice and William Keinath, brother, William D Keinath & nephew Scott Kruthaupt.

Memorial may be made to Gunnison Valley Home Health 148 Tomichi Ave Suite B, Gunnison, CO 81230.

A celebration of life is planned in Gunnison for 6/20/21

Charles L. “Tom” Thomas, Jr. CINCINNATI - Charles Louis Thomas, Jr., 91, of

Cincinnati, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his residence on Saturday, December 5, 2020.

Born January 18, 1929 in Cincinnati to the late Charles Louis Thomas and Mary Waite Thomas.

In addition to his parents, “Tom” was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Joan Harshman Thomas and his sister Francis Thomas Gurganus.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Michael Remick Thomas (Lucy) of Saint Simons Island, GA, Anne Thomas Schmidt (Peter) of Stuart, FL and Charles Louis Thomas III (Elizabeth) of Cincinnati; 9 loving grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

Tom was a member of the Cincinnati Country Club, the Commonwealth Club and the Harbour Ridge Golf and Country Club in Palm City, FL. Throughout his life, he served on many boards with a special focus on the American Farm School (Thessaloniki, Greece), Cincinnati Country Club, Little Cumberland Island (Georgia), and Playhouse in the Park.

He served our country in the US Army during the Korean Conflict from 1950-1952. He received his BA from Kenyon College in 1950 and his MBA from Michigan State in 1955. “Charlie” worked for the Kroger Company in Cincinnati, Atlanta and Nashville for 35 years, retiring as Senior Vice President in 1985. He continued working as a successful business advisor to many.

He had many interests including worldwide traveling with his wife and family, golfing, skiing, sailing, tennis, playing bridge, writing, and mentoring.

One of his deepest loves was his home on Little Cumberland Island, which he named “Mud Hole Manor”. He was a very positive and happy man marked by good fortune. Tom was a role model to many and a stranger to few. He was an inspirational father and grandfather fondly known as “Hawk”. He was a true gentleman and a man of integrity.

He will be laid to rest at Spring Grove Cemetery next to his wife, Joan.

Memorial Services will be held privately by the family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to American Farm School ( US Office, 800 3rd Ave, Suite 2800, New York, NY 10022) or Hospice of Cincinnati (PO Box 633597, Cincinnati, OH 45263) in memory of Charles Thomas.

Online condolences and tributes may be sent to the family by visiting www.springgrove.org.

Arrangements by Spring Grove Funeral Home, 4389 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati.

- Beloved husband of Kathleen S. Weber (Nee Stare) for 62 years. Loving father of Theresa (Mark) Bengel, David A. (Lisa) Weber, Michael (Jenifer) Weber, Fr. James Weber, Angela (Dr. David) Ficker, Eric (Marian) Weber, Katrina (Jeffrey) Klein, Victoria (Joseph) Hahn and the late Christopher Weber. Devoted grandfather of Mark (Paula), Andrew (Mary), Matthew (Kara), Timothy (Sarah), Craig (Julie) Bengel, Julia (Jason) Krupp, Peter (Isabel) Bengel, David (Renee), Gretchen, Brian, Grace, Sophia Weber, Lauren, Anna, Kerstin Ficker, William, Edward Weber, Brandon, Adam, Nicholas Klein, Genevieve, Sarah, Emilia, Caroline, James Hahn and great grandfather of Lillie, Lena, Abigail, Nora, James, Thomas, Eleanor, Mason, Morgan, Jane, Elizabeth, Adalyn, Rose, Owen, Elias and Flannery. Cherished son of the late Louis and Helen Weber. Dear brother of Jonathan Weber and the late L. Lodge Weber. Dear brother-in-law of Helene S. (Joseph) Fondacaro, Cheryl S. (G. Wesley) Archiable and the late Marilyn Larkin.

Also survived by his nieces, nephews, other family and friends. Faithful member of St. Antoninus Parish and long time member of the Oriental Order of Groundhogs. Passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 83 years of age.

Visitation at MEYER FUNERAL HOME, 5864 Bridgetown Rd., TODAY from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Mass of Christian Burial at on MONDAY at St. Cecilia Church, 3105 Madison Rd., at 10:30 AM. Memorials may be made to the Serra Club of Cincinnati, 100 E. 8th St., Cincinnati, OH 45202. www.bjmeyer.com

George A. Wrenn CINCINNATI - George A. Wrenn. Beloved husband of the late Marion Wrenn for 59 years.

Loving father of Rhonda Wrenn, Kimberly (Gregory) Jones, and George Wrenn, Jr. (Gina). Devoted grandfather of Steven Dinkins, Kristopher (Jennifer) Jones, Kara (Thomas) Campbell, and Jamey (Tiffany) Jones. Adored great-grandfather of Kyron, London, Vivienne, and Estella. Board Member Princeton City Schools (President 197678), member Pride of the Valley Masonic Lodge # 95 and US Army WWII veteran. Passed away December 7, 2020 at the age of 94. Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. until time of service 2:00 p.m. at the Spring Grove Funeral Homes, 4389 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223. Interment Spring Grove Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to the Princeton Scholarship Fund. Sympathy may be expressed, and a live streaming link of the service may be found at springgrove.org.

Donna Jean Barth Wynn Lorraine Venters Lorraine Venters (nee Worthman) wife of the late Jim Venters, beloved mother of Jim (Jackie) Venters and Barb (Steve) Drees, dear Gramma of Jamie (Patrick) Quigley, Jenny (Dale) Krauser, Stephanie and Christina Drees. Also survived by 7 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. Died Dec. 10, 2020 at age 91. Residence Mt. Washington. Friends may visit at T P WHITE & SONS Funeral Home 2050 Beechmont Ave. Mt. Washington on Wed. Dec. 16, 2020 from 5-7 PM. A Private Service will be held later.

Memorials to Neediest Kids of All.

Donna Jean Barth Wynn, affectionately known as Nana Donna, leaves a legacy of kindness and love. Donna, 85, left this world on December 4, after a sudden heart attack. She loved traveling, singing, and her wine, but, above all else, she loved her family. She leaves her five children: Tracey Henry (George), Kimberly Barth, Thomas A. Barth III (Dea) Courtney B. Brooks (Vickie), and Hilary B. Brock (Thomas), 13 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. Donna is also survived by her sister Barbara Salchow Syme, as well as many nieces, nephews, family members, and friends. For over 50 years, Donna was a member of Sweet Adelines International. She sang in numerous choruses most recently the Cincinnati Sound Chorus and Seven Hills. A Celebration of Donna’s Life will be held in the summer. While Donna may no longer be with us on this earth, her memory lives on in all who love her. Donations may be made to Matthew 25:Ministries or the charities supported by ESA sorority, both of which she was an active member and volunteer.

The Enquirer

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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1C

SPORTS

High school football Running back Corey Kiner means more to Roger Bacon than just being only the third Ohio Mr. Football winner from Greater Cincinnati, 5C

Paul Daugherty Columnist Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

So, what really is the plan?

Reds off ering mixed signals with moves

Freshman forward Tari Eason, driving past a Tennessee defender, ended the game playing center, a position that he had never practiced. The Bearcats lost to the 12th-ranked Vols, 65-56 to fall to 2-2. CALVIN MATTHEIS/POOL VIA NEWS SENTINEL

A poor fi nish leads to an Orange crusher Cats’ senior star players saddled with foul trouble and off ense goes cold late Charlie Goldsmith Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Senior forward Keith Williams had waited all game for a chance like this one.

The University of Cincinnati’s senior forward had spent most of Saturday’s game at No. 12 Tennessee on the bench with foul trouble and had hardly touched the ball. But when UC trailed Tennessee by fi ve points with 50 seconds left, Williams was open in the left corner for a three-point shot that could have changed the game.

It clanked off the side of the backboard UC’s two leading scorers, Williams and senior center Chris Vogt, were sidelined by foul trouble for most of the game. And the Bearcats could never fi nd

a consistent source of off ense in a 65-56 loss on the road against the Volunteers.

“That was tough not having (Williams) out there with us for the majority of the game because he’s one of our most valuable players,” junior guard David DeJulius said. “He just couldn’t get that rhythm, but we’ve got to fi gure it out.”

Williams scored six points in 15 minutes, and Vogt had four points in 16 minutes before fouling out. Even though two of the Bearcats’ best players were out for most of the game, UC had a chance to beat the highest ranked team it has played over the last two seasons.

But what could have been a signature win on the Bearcats’ NCAA Tournament resume turned into the second time this season UC has lost a late lead to a top-25 caliber team.

The Bearcats made one of their fi nal

10 shots against one of the best defenses head coach John Brannen said he has coached against.

“Tennessee is a Final Four caliber team with a Hall of Fame coach and fi ve-star players who play extremely hard,” Brannen said. “We don’t take moral victories, but at the same time the fact that we had some foul trouble and had to play diff erent lineups… our guys put themselves in position to win.”

Just like UC’s loss to Xavier, the Bearcats off ense couldn’t create open shots consistently down the stretch.

But against the Volunteers, UC faced more diffi cult circumstances.

The Bearcats announced Saturday that junior center Mamoudou Diarra had opted out for the rest of the season, leaving UC with three active big men. All three of them were in foul trouble the entire game, so Brannen used lineups that had hardly played together.

See BEARCATS, Page 7C

In just the past 11 days, the Reds have freed Archie Bradley and traded Raisel Iglesias, arguably their two best relief pitchers. They did it to shave about $14 million from their payroll, not to bring championship baseball back to Cincinnati.

By themselves the two moves aren’t reason for panic. The Reds still have Amir Garrett, Lucas Sims, Tejay Antone and whoever doesn’t win a spot in the starting rotation. Bradley and Iglesias are closers. Closers are overrated in a well-run bullpen. The Reds can overcome the loss.

Can they overcome the thinking?

Last winter, the club dropped $140 million on free agents. It was a welcome sign the Reds were keeping a promise to their fans: We will spend when we can contend. They signed to long-term deals Sonny Gray, Mike Moustakas, Shogo Akiyama and Nick Castellanos. They were building something, because surely you don’t make that sort of fi nancial commitment believing it’s a one-year splurge.

No one does that.

Well.

Parting with Bradley and Iglesias eased the pressure on GM Nick Krall to trade Gray. It has not changed the perception that the Reds are a team without a plan, an organization run on impatience and emotion, the polar opposite of, say, the Tampa Bay Rays.

You could blame the virus. The Reds lost something close to $100 million last year. But where was the plan, preCovid? And if you’re planning for the next three to fi ve years, what is $14 million spent on two good pitchers? It is next to nothing.

Dick Williams is gone, replaced by Krall, a solid organizational guy. The Reds hired no one to replace Krall, so he will be worked to death. Meantime, the Philadelphia Phillies just brought See DAUGHERTY, Page 2C

Non-tendering reliever Archie Bradley and trading closer Raisel Iglesias were clearly cost-cutting moves by the Reds. ENQUIRER FILE

Draft decision could aff ect where Williams plays Charlie Goldsmith Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Six years ago, Jonah Williams didn’t have just one position.

He was an off ensive lineman, that much was certain. But when college recruiters from all the top programs across the country watched him play at Folsom High School in California, they saw him play just about anywhere.

That’s the way Williams was brought up as an off ensive lineman — to play every position on the off ensive line.

“Of course he sees himself as an NFL left tackle and rightfully so,” Kris Richardson, who coached Williams in high

Jonah Williams has played left tackle his fi rst two seasons as a Bengal, but that could change next season depending on the draft. USA TODAY

school and now is the off ensive line coach at Sacramento State, told The Enquirer. “But you’re talking about a guy that can play all fi ve positions because he’s a natural athlete and he’s committed to developing his skills.”

In 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals could have a much diff erent off ensive line.

Williams will likely remain one of its most important pieces.

The biggest potential addition could be the University of Oregon’s Penei Sewell, an elite tackle who the Bengals could select with a top 5 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Before opting out of this year’s college football season, Sewell was such a good left tackle at Oregon that he received multiple Heisman Tro-

phy votes in 2019. Like Williams, Sewell has played both tackle positions during his football career.

So if the Bengals add a tackle like Sewell, where will they play Williams?

On Dec. 9, the Bengals placed Williams on the injured reserve list. Williams had started 10 games at left tackle during the season, and the Bengals 2019 fi rst round draft pick held his own against elite pass rushers like the Los Angeles Chargers’ Joey Bosa.

But his 2020 season left room for improvement.

“Everybody on off ense has kind of had their ups and downs,” Bengals head See BENGALS XTRA, Page 6C

2C

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

Daugherty

REDS XTRA

So, why would you trade Gray?

Continued from Page 1C

Bobby Nightengale Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

There’s been a lot of turnover on the Cincinnati Reds’ pitching staff this winter: Trevor Bauer and Anthony DeSclafani entered free agency. Robert Stephenson was traded for Jeff Hoff man, another highly rated prospect that hasn’t reached his potential. Archie Bradley wasn’t tendered a contract and released. Raisel Iglesias was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in a salary dump.

It’s a clear step back from the pitching staff that carried the Reds to the postseason this year, but the next thing to watch is what happens with Sonny Gray. He’s been incredible in his two seasons in Cincinnati, outperforming the three-year contract extension he signed when he was traded from the New York Yankees, and he’s emerged as one of the leaders of the club.

The Reds are listening to off ers for Gray, which isn’t unusual for teams, but the team’s tight payroll this off season raises the odds of Gray being traded compared to other years. The Chicago White Sox, who recently traded for starter Lance Lynn, inquired about Gray beforehand, but those talks didn’t advance far, according to a source.

“I wouldn’t say we’re looking to move anybody,” Reds general manager Nick Krall said after the Iglesias trade Monday. “If we found a deal that presented itself and that made sense for us, I think we’d have to consider it. I don’t want to say we’re not going to move anybody, but I also don’t want to say, ‘hey, we’re defi nitely moving ‘X’ or ‘Y.’” The Reds, at this stage in the off season, have Gray, Luis Castillo, Wade Miley and Tyler Mahle set to anchor the rotation. It’s not as fearsome as it was last season, but that group gives the Reds a chance to remain competitive in 2021.

Take away Gray, who fi nished seventh in the National League Cy Young voting in 2019, and expectations for the team drop considerably. So, why are the Reds entertaining trade off ers for one of the NL’s top pitchers?

Why the Reds are listening The No. 1 reason why the Reds are entertaining off ers for Gray is because of their payroll situation. They saved about $13 million by cutting Bradley and dumping Iglesias. They saved about another $5 million when they didn’t tender contracts to catcher Curt Casali and outfi elder Brian Goodwin.

Krall said the Iglesias trade was a move to help “reallocate resources.” It’s unclear how much of those savings will be used to strictly lower payroll compared to money that can be spent toward a shortstop or pitching depth.

What makes Gray attractive to other teams is the lack of elite options on the free-agent market. The top starters behind Bauer are probably Masahiro Tanaka and Jake Odorizzi. Gray is owed $21.5 million over the next two seasons, plus a $13 million club option for 2023.

Considering Mike Minor signed a two-year, $18 million contract and Drew Smyly signed a one-year, $11 million deal, and Gray’s contract is a boost to his value for teams.

There aren’t many recent examples of a player of Gray’s caliber being traded with three years remaining on his con-

Reds starting pitcher Sonny Gray is owed a reasonable $21.5 million over the next two seasons, plus a $13 million club option for 2023. USA TODAY SPORTS

tract, but the Tampa Bay Rays received Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows and Shane Baz when they traded starter Chris Archer to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018. That deal has been widely panned from Pittsburgh’s perspective.

“I would say that we’ve had hits on just about everybody on our roster,” Krall said. “We’re just taking this one thing at a time. If it makes sense for our club and our organization now and in the future, then I think we’re going to at least listen to it and explore it.”

The Reds don’t have much of a history of trading a player at his peak value – that set them back in their 2015 rebuild – but it’s an area where teams like the Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks have fared well.

The diffi culty for cash-strapped teams is trying to predict when an elite player will regress. If one wants to nitpick, Gray has dealt with injuries in each of the past two seasons. He pitched with bone chips in his elbow during the 2019 season and he was sidelined for a couple of weeks in September with a back strain. Perhaps, there’s more risk for a pitcher who relies a lot on breaking balls.

Why Reds shouldn’t trade Gray He’s essentially reinvented himself with pitching coach Derek Johnson, his college pitching coach, after he fell out of the Yankees’ rotation in 2018. In two years with the Reds, he’s 16-11 with 3.07 ERA and 277 strikeouts in 231 1/3 innings.

The Reds are trying to reduce payroll and it’s hard to see how they can replace Gray with anyone near his production at

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a lower cost that would help them remain competitive in 2021. An elite shortstop like Francisco Lindor is projected to make $20 million next season. Trevor Story will make $17.5 million.

The NL Central is essentially up for grabs in 2021. No team has improved their roster this winter. But it doesn’t make sense for the Reds to take a major step back when their lineup is fi lled with players who should be near their primes in third baseman Eugenio Suárez and outfi elders Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker.

There is no replacing a Cy Young winner like Bauer in the rotation, but Gray has ace-level stuff . He was the team’s Opening Day starter last season. He rated really well in some advanced pitching metrics, including a 3.05 FIP (fi elding independent pitching), despite his back injury worsening his numbers in September.

Gray, who turned 31 in November, had a career-high strikeout rate in 2020 and he excelled at limiting hits and homers, especially for a pitcher at Great American Ball Park. There’s nothing wrong with listening to off ers and gauging the market for players, but Gray’s leadership and the value of his contract make it unlikely to fi nd a comparable off er in return.

“I think one of the great things about working in a small market is you have to be creative in what you’re doing,” Krall said. “We’re always going to be a small market and that’s not a bad thing. We’re just trying to be creative in how we can fi gure out how to improve this roster and this organization for the long haul.”

in Dave Dombrowski to run their baseball side. He’s been one of the brightest general managers in baseball for 30 years.

You can’t general-manage a baseball team in one-year pieces. It defi es the job description. You can’t build something when the people at the top have other ideas.

The Reds didn’t maximize their hauls from dealing Aroldis Chapman, Todd Frazier, Johnny Cueto and Billy Hamilton because they waited too long to make them available. They waited too long because The Big Man couldn’t be persuaded to deal them when they were most valuable.

“We can’t trade fan favorites, we need fans coming to the park” was the faulty logic. If a team calls and off ers to back up the prospect truck for Luis Castillo, you can’t say Castillo is untouchable. There’s nothing wrong with having a big heart, unless you’re running a pro team. Then it kills you.

The Rays are successful in part because they’re bloodless when it comes to acquiring and jettisoning players.

The Rays are no more sentimental than a hedge-fund trader. If they think they can make their team better in the long run by trading a popular player, they will. It’s a constant churn with them. The plan never varies.

The Reds are All In one year, then chop two top relievers the next.

Two years ago, the Rays traded a young all-star starting pitcher, Chris Archer, for two underachieving major leaguers and a recent No. 1 draft pick.

Archer is unemployed. Austin Meadows is an All-Star, Tyler Glasnow is a mid-rotation starter and last spring Baseball America ranked Shane Baz, 21, as the 71st-best prospect.

Other contending teams trade prospects for stars. The Rays trade stars for prospects. Their collective eye for unproven talent is very good.

Isn’t that right, Randy Arozarena?

In the past, Bob Castellini has asked his top brass to tell him how Tampa Bay and the Oakland A’s overcome small payrolls to make the postseason.

They’ve given him power points on the subject. They start with having smart people and a tested, successful plan from which you rarely stray.

What’s the Reds plan?

Long-term, I mean. Not this week.

The Rays have a very good farm system. Twenty percent of their 60-man roster is made up of fi rst-round draft picks. Their youthful talent allows them some payroll fl exibility. They judge players analytically, not by how big their names are. That’s a reason in the 2020 ALDS, the team with Mike Brosseau and Ji-man Choi beat the team with Giancarlo Stanton and Gerrit Cole.

The Rays hired Joe Maddon when Maddon was unknown. They gave GM deluxe Andrew Friedman a job. The Reds hired pitching guru Caleb Cotham before the ’19 season, a very smart move. Cotham left here last month, to become the Phillies pitching coach.

Might the Reds have kept Cotham?

Bradley is a workhorse with a live arm, pitching in his prime. The Reds got him for outfi elder Stuart Fairchild, a 23-year-old former second-round draft pick, and Josh Van Meter, a useful utility man. Bradley pitched all of 17 innings for the 2020 Reds.

Now he’s gone.

What’s the plan?

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cincinnati.com

ADVICE FOR FANS

Bonds and Clemens?

Then why not Rose?

Mike Bass Special to The Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Editor’s note: This is a weekly column from former sports reporter and editor Mike Bass. Bass will be contributing to The Enquirer by off ering advice for sports fans, athletes and youth sports parents and coaches through a weekly Q&A. To ask a question of Bass for potential publication, email him at mikebass3838@gmail.com. And get the conversation going on Twitter @SportsFanCoach1.

Let’s go straight to the email: Why does MLB allow cheaters to be placed on the Hall of Fame ballot when all their justifying stats were achieved illegally? If you consider all the game outcomes they tainted the Commissioner should bar them from consideration.

Pete Rose’s gambling tainted only a fraction of the games that can be attributed to Clemens and Bonds. Where’s the justice?

Mike, from Villa Hills Mike and I began exchanging emails shortly after the new ballot was released.

Mike’s view: It is unfair for MLB to exclude Rose from a Hall that is open for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Rose admitted gambling. Bonds and Clemens never admitted knowingly using steroids. Rose wins on character and statistics.

“And ALL of his stats were fairly earned; he actually put forth 110% eff ort every day to the delight of true baseball fans – even many who lived in competing cities,” Mike wrote.

Mike’s conclusion: It’s about money.

“The two cheating players on the ballot played in very large advertising DOLLARS markets, San Francisco and Boston,” Mike wrote. “And MLB wants to be popular in those markets.”

Mike’s concern: The Hall is sending a

disturbing message to fans of all ages, and to players: Cheating is OK, we won’t penalize you if you get caught and we’ll even let you into Cooperstown.

Mike is not alone seeing the inconsistency of Rose versus Bonds-Clemens. He clearly values baseball’s integrity, so if he believes a wrong message is being sent, it makes sense this would trouble him.

How might it serve Mike to look at this in a slightly diff erent way? To hear how the Hall unwittingly created this mess?

In early 1991, the Hall deemed anyone on baseball’s permanently ineligible list to be ineligible for the Hall, too.

It denied this was the Pete Rose Rule, but guess who would have become Hall-eligible later that year.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America objected. Why not trust the writers to vote, as usual? Instead, the Hall clumsily avoided the potential awkwardness of Rose being elected … and inadvertently produced more awkwardness now.

The Hall has no grounds to exclude Bonds, Clemens or any other player linked to performance-enhancing drugs. Where would it draw the line?

Someone who reportedly tested positive when MLB results were supposed to be anonymous, when there were no penalties, when some of the names reported are inaccurate, when the player denies ever using? Should Sammy Sosa be excluded? Should David Ortiz?

Would it exclude players punished

by MLB? Bonds and Clemens still would be safe.

I agree with Mike that MLB’s money grab is at play here, just not market size. MLB ignored the steroid issue for too long, enjoying the attention (and revenue) from artifi cially aided home runs.

I and other BBWAA members are trying to sort out how to handle Steroid Era players. Good. It is the writers’ role, and it should have been with Rose.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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3C

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Winter sports gearing up Melanie Laughman and Shelby Dermer Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

In a vote that ended Dec. 11, Cincinnati.com readers selected winners for the Cincinnati Enquirer Athlete of the Week, presented by Mercy Health, for the Nov. 30-Dec. 6 voting period.

Winners will receive a certifi cate, sent through the school’s athletic department, after the end of the season.

This week’s winners are: Winter team, boys: Georgetown High School bowling - They set a school record with a team score of 2,621 in a conference win over Felicity Nov. 30. They were led by Kaleb Franklin with a 497 series. Austin Whisman and Taylor Lucas both had 435 series.

Winter team, girls: Felicity-Franklin basketball – They are off to a 3-0 start, including wins over Clermont Northeastern Dec. 5 and Blanchester Nov. 30.

Football team: Newport Central Catholic – Off the strength of Joey Runyon’s four rushing touchdowns and two defensive interceptions, Newport Central Catholic beat Holy Cross 42-21 to advance to the state semifi nal in Class 1A. Football player: Joey Runyon, Newport Central Catholic – He rushed 28 times for 191 yards and four touchdowns in the 42-21 win over Holy Cross. He also had two interceptions and seven tackles on defense, getting a net 30 yards on the interception returns.

Boys basketball player, big school: Trey Killens, Mason – The senior guard leads the Comets and the Greater Miami Conference in scoring with a 26 points per game average after scoring 30 in the Dec. 1 win over Springboro and 31 in the win over Lakota West Dec. 4.

Boys basketball player, small school: Carson Seemann, McNicholas – The senior guard had 24 points in the 61-50 loss to Roger Bacon, nearly getting a double-double with nine rebounds and a steal.

Girls basketball player, big school: Bronwyn Light, Little Miami – She scored a season-high and team-high 26 points in the 61-51 win over Eastern Cincinnati Conference rival Walnut Hills Dec. 5, adding 12 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.

Girls basketball player, small school: Angela Jones, Felicity-Franklin – The sophomore guard had 28 points, three steals, one block, one assist and four rebounds to help the league-leading Cardinals beat Blanchester 69-38 Nov. 30. She leads the SBAAC in points per game with 23.5.

Boys bowler: Taylor Lucas, Georgetown – The senior led the team to victory over Goshen on Dec. 1 with a twogame series of 455. His individual games were 258, and 197.

Girls bowler: Kat Blanford, Ursuline - The junior led the team to a victory over Mount Notre Dame Dec. 3 with an overall individual score of 333.

Boys swimmer/diver: Kory Kaiser, West Clermont – He had great swims versus Anderson and Turpin. He put up a personal best to win the boys 100 freestyle.

Girls swimmer/diver: Brooke Smith, West Clermont – The sophomore smashed her previous school record in the 100 breaststroke by more than three seconds to win the event against Turpin and Anderson. She also went a personal best time to win the 100 freestyle.

Wrestler: Ethan Smith, Roger Bacon – The freshman who wrestles at 132 pounds was 4-1 with two pins and an overtime victory against Milford, North College Hill, Northwest and Wyoming.

Ice hockey: Zachary Bohn, St. Xavier – He scored two goals, one of which was the go-ahead goal, to help them win 5-3 over Walsh Jesuit Dec. 6.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

No state repeat for CovCath Scott Springer Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

PARK HILLS, Ky - On a rare, beautiful night for football in December, Covington Catholic had a miserable night. In a rematch of last year’s Kentucky 5A state semifi nal, Bowling Green avenged last season’s 28-0 loss by convincingly defeating the Colonels 20-0.

It was the fi rst shutout of Covington Catholic since Moeller High School blanked them 39-0 six years ago.

Senior Caleb Jacob fi nished a notable career with a night he would just as soon erase. The Colonels quarterback was intercepted fi ve times and had a fumble.

Throwing for 10 touchdowns and running for 15 this season, he had trouble maneuvering the off ense against a tough Bowling Green defense that recorded its fourth shutout of the season.

Jacob fi nished 16 for 37 passing for only 107 yards, while running for 50 yards.

“You’ve got to give a lot of credit to them,” Colonels coach Eddie Eviston said. “We haven’t turned the ball over all that much this year. Anyone that knows football knows that if you turn the ball over that many times it’s going to be tough to win.”

CovCath fi nishes 10-2 and the highlight of the season may be the fact that they even got a dozen games in given the coronavirus pandemic.

Though a successful season, it’s the fi rst time the Colonels have lost more than one game since 2016’s 9-4 mark.

Coach Eviston’s crew won state titles in 2017 and 2019 with unblemished records and were 2018 runners-up with just one loss.

“They were fortunate to play,” Eviston said. “High school football is the greatest thing. These guys are feeling it.

They had a heck of a run. I always had confi dence we were going to play a season. The fact that we were able to get this many games in and get to the fourth round of the playoff s, that’s fantastic really.”

Bowling Green is 9-2 heading to the state fi nal with their only losses being to powerhouse Louisville Trinity and South Warren, the 5A 2018 champ.

Shelby Dermer Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Caleb Jacob and Covington Catholic saw an impressive season end in the state semifi nals with a loss to Bowling Green. GEOFF BLANKENSHIP FOR THE ENQUIRER

Bowling Green later defeated South Warren in round two of the playoff s.

Quarterback Connor Cooper ran for two Purples touchdowns sandwiched around a score from running back Javeius Bunton. Cooper fi nished with 123 yards on the ground, while Bunton, whom Cov Cath held down last year, rattled off 149 yards.

Dylan Echols led Bowling Green’s defense with three interceptions. The Purples held the Colonels to 100 yards on the ground and kept them completely out of the red zone.

“That was all God right there,” Echols said. “I was able to make plays for my teammates and I was happy to do that.”

After Covington Catholic was forced to punt on its opening possession, Bowling Green struck quickly with Connor Cooper reeling off a 72-yard touchdown run down the right sideline. That would be the only score of the quarter as the Colonels couldn’t sniff the positive side of the 50-yard line.

Following an interception by Dylan Echols at the 23-yard line in the second frame, it looked like the Purples would pounce again. Cooper ran to the 2-yard line but fumbled with Ryan Schneider recovering.

CovCath couldn’t capitalize but on defense used an Owen Nally interception to snuff out a Purples drive. It didn’t

last long as Jacob was shortly picked off by Rece Jones. That led to a oneyard touchdown run by Javeius Buron.

A two-point try failed but the Purples led by two scores.

The Colonels did cross the 50-yard line in the third quarter as a Ryan Schneider run got them as close as the 34, their best position of the night. But, the Purples defense pulled off another stop and CovCath had to punt.

A second interception by Bowling Green’s Echols was returned for a score, but there was a block in the back. Cooper eventually ran the ball in from the 4-yard line to give the Purples a 20-point cushion.

In the fourth, Echols would add a third pick of Jacob which might as well have been the fi nal straw. With just under a minute left, CovCath turned the ball over on downs and the Purple pack on the visiting side began to celebrate.

“It’s a great opportunity to make history, that’s what we’re doing,” Echols said. “We wanted to make history and beat a team we’ve never beaten.”

Bowling Green advances to the state title game on 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 vs. either Frederick Douglass or Owensboro at Kroger Field in Lexington.

Hergott made sure Tigers weren’t done James Weber Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

In what has been a wide-open race for Kentucky Mr. Football this year, the Northern Kentucky nominee made his pitch on a wild night of state semifi nal games in Kentucky.

Beechwood senior quarterback Cameron Hergott made a statement Friday night, leading the Tigers to a frenetic 3534 win over West Carter in a Class 2A state semifi nal. Beechwood will play Lexington Christian in the state championship game Dec. 18 in Lexington.

“All the excitement,” said Beechwood’s Brady Moore. “Everyone working so hard in the off season with COVID and all of that. It’s fi nally paying off , going to state. It’s a dream come true.”

Hergott’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Moore, followed by a two-point pass play to Moore, gave Beechwood a 35-34 lead with 2:32 to go in the game.

West Carter drove to the Beechwood 47, but a huge sack by junior Tanner Jackson on third down eff ectively ended the Comets’ chances.

Hergott threw for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and three for the game, and also rushed for two scores.

His fi nal play punctuated a wild fourth quarter in which the teams scored two touchdowns apiece in a six-minute span.

“That was the funnest game I’ve ever played,” Hergott said. “In the second half, we turned it up. We knew what we had to do. We just fought our tails off the whole time. It was great.”

Hergott, who is uncommitted to college football yet but is getting Division I looks, is one of the leading candidates for Mr. Football in a year where most of the seniors who are committed to major college football programs play positions that normally don’t win Mr. Football.

Hergott came into the game with more than 2,000 passing yards and 21 TDs, and 885 rushing yards and 12 scores.

“Cameron Hergott, hands down, is absolutely incredible,” said Beechwood head coach Noel Rash. “It’s that simple.

NewCath comes up short in semifi nals

Beechwood celebrates with its state semifi nal champion trophy.

JAMES WEBER/THE ENQUIRER

If there’s a better player in the state, I have yet to see him. He is incredible.”

Beechwood led 20-0 late in the fi rst half and turned the ball over deep in West Carter territory after the Tigers had a chance to take a four-touchdown lead.

West Carter took the momentum and scored with 1:33 to go in the half. Leetavious Cline, who had only 23 rushing yards to that point, had a couple of double-digit gains.

WC took the second-half kickoff and scored within three minutes, as Perry hit his top target, Jackson Bond, for a 21yard score.

WC then executed a surprise onside kick and recovered. The Comets went down and scored with seven minutes to go in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Cline, who surpassed the 2,000-yard mark for the season during the drive.

Cline, who set the school career rushing record last week against Walton-Verona, became the fi rst Comet to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a season.

West Carter went for two after missing the PAT on the previous drive.

Beechwood stuff ed Cline for a big loss, and the Tigers led 20-19 going into the fi nal quarter.

Beechwood came right back as Hergott launched a bomb to McCormack.

The tall, lanky sophomore leaped in the end zone to beat a defender who was draped all over him. McCormack appeared to bobble the ball momentarily but held on for a 34-yard touchdown.

Colin Graman’s PAT tied it at 27 with

6:58 to go.

“McCormack, you throw the ball up to that kid, and he’ll catch it over anybody,” Hergott said. “He’s unbelievable. Brady Moore runs great routes.

They all do: Parker Mason, Mitchell Berger. They’re awesome. They’re the best receiving corps I’ve ever had.”

West Carter took the lead less than two minutes later, when Perry found the speedy Jackson Bond wide open over the middle for a 31-yard touchdown. The PAT made it 34-27.

Beechwood started at the 50 after Bomani Hughes returned a squib kick.

Hergott had two runs of 5 and 9 yards, then a 9-yard pass to Berger to set up fi rst and 10 at the Comets 34.

Hergott launched a long pass to Moore, who caught it at the pylon near the sideline to pull Beechwood within one at 34-33.

“They were in press overage, so I knew I had to go outside,” Moore said.

“Cam trusted me and he threw a great ball.”

Beechwood went for two. Hergott dropped back and had to elude a pair of tacklers. He spun and briefl y touched his hand to the turf before rolling out to his right and fi nding Moore in the back of the end zone for the winning points.

The play call was made well in advance of the moment.

“With fi ve minutes left to go when we got the ball back, we made a decision then,” Rash said. “We’re going for two. I told them to have a play ready.

The off ensive staff had said that’s what they wanted to do. Cam improvised a little bit. The guys have to keep moving, they can’t stand still. Cam has that great athleticism that kept him in the play, and he was able to make the throw late.”

Said Hergott: “I had to do something on my own because the guys weren’t open and I had to get them open. My guys got open for me and I delivered the ball. It was awesome.”

Said Moore: “That was a great play

by Cam. He was scrambling around, buying time for us to get open, and he threw another perfect pass.”

JOHNSON COUNTY - Third-year head coach Stephen Lickert has authored Newport Central Catholic’s return to being one of the top prep programs in Northern Kentucky. After a 10-win season in 2019 and a trip to the state quarterfi nals, Lickert led the Thoroughbreds to the doorstep of the Class 1A state championship game this fall.

But Newport Central Catholic’s bid to reach the state title game for the 15th time in program history – and 12th time this century – expired Friday night after a 21-7 loss to Paintsville in the Class 1A state semifi nals.

Paintsville advances to the Class 1A state championship game for the second year in a row. The Tigers will face Kentucky Country Day – a 27-7 winner over Williamsburg Friday night – next Friday morning at the University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field. Paintsville is 0-3 all-time in state championship games, including a 43-0 loss to Pikeville last December.

Newport Central Catholic was shut out in back-to-back weeks to end the regular season, but had back-to-back 40-point outings in the playoff s leading up to Friday’s road game. The Thoroughbreds’ off ense got off to a hot start, going 80 yards on 11 plays on their opening possession behind quarterback Malaki Herndon. The senior was 3-for-3 on the drive on third down, including a 46-yard touchdown toss to running back Joey Runyon to give Newport Central Catholic a 7-0 lead with 1:03 left in the fi rst quarter.

The success was short-lived, however, as Paintsville would notch a shutout the rest of the way.

The Tigers have held eight of their 12 opponents under 18 points this season. Newport Central Catholic’s fi nal six possessions resulted in three punts, a fumble, a turnover on downs and a missed 51-yard fi eld goal at the end of the fi rst half.

The diff erence was made in the trenches as Newport Central Catholic struggled to fi nd a running game, totaling just 39 yards. Meanwhile, the Tigers operated most of the night on the ground, running for 350 yards with its lethal three-headed monster in the backfi eld.

The leader was sophomore Harris Phelps, who ran for 200 yards on 27 carries and provided all of his team’s scoring with three trips to the end zone.

Luke Hyden added 75 yards on nine attempts and quarterback Karsten Poe ran 11 times for 50 yards.

Phelps ran for a 37-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to tie it 7-7.

With 8:06 left in the third, his 37-yard scoring scamper gave Paintsville a lead it would not relinquish.

Newport Central Catholic was able to keep the game close with an opportunistic defense that capitalized on a few Paintsville missteps.

Herndon, who fi nished 9-of-18 for 125 yards, hit wide receiver Quentin Meyer for 23 yards on the fi nal play of the third quarter to move into Paintsville territory. NewCath would reach the Paintsville 32, but Herndon’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

The Tigers would respond with a 10play, 68-yard drive of all runs that chewed up over six minutes of clock.

Phelps’ 11-yard jolt with 3:06 remaining sealed Paintsville’s return to Lexington.

NewCath quarterback Malaki Herndon threw for 125 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s 21-7 loss to Paintsville. JEFF DEAN FOR THE ENQUIRER

cincinnati.com

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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5C

OHIO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Ohio’s Mr. Football is more than football Scott Springer Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

ST. BERNARD - When Denean Frost was congratulated by a co-worker Thursday about her son, it was the fi rst she had heard about Corey Kiner being named Ohio’s Mr. Football.

Roger Bacon High School had a couple of days’ notice, but Kiner didn’t want to tell his mother knowing she can’t keep a secret.

“I can’t, I can’t!” Frost confi rmed.

“He’s telling the truth. Wonderful news!”

Frost was all decked out in a purple jacket soon after, the colors of Corey’s next team, the LSU Tigers. He’ll offi cially make the jump from “Bacon” to Baton Rouge when he signs his national letterof-intent next Wednesday, Dec. 16 on Early Signing Day. This Thursday was for public celebration as OHSAA Senior Director of Communications Tim Stried made the drive from Columbus to present Kiner his trophy.

Classmates and teammates all fi ltered into the multi-purpose room at Roger Bacon to watch the presentation and view videos of Kiner in action on and off the fi eld. Drivers on the Norwood Lateral between I-71 and I-75 will soon see plenty of Corey Kiner as a billboard will go up near the Mercy Health Complex showing off the 5-foot-10, 210pound bruising running back’s latest honors.

It started as a Twitter edit made by assistant athletic director Brandon Spaeth and the next thing you know AD Steve Rossi had made arrangements for motorists to wave to No. 22 on the Spartans.

“That’s the type of thing you dream about as a kid, especially growing up as a football player when you see your favorite athletes on billboards,” Kiner said.

Kiner plans on posting a selfi e near the billboard, but the courageous carrier

A Corey Kiner billboard edit created by Roger Bacon assistant athletic director Brandon Spaeth. ROGER BACON ATHLETICS

of the football has no plans to climb up for a closer look or to autograph the unique honor.

“I’m scared of heights,” he said to the chuckling crowd.

On the other hand, he’s taken Roger Bacon’s football program to new heights and to the playoff s the last two seasons.

Before his arrival, the Spartans hadn’t played in the postseason since 2010.

His 7,130 career rushing yards equates to over four miles of mowing guys down and he’s visited the end zone 125 times wearing a Roger Bacon helmet for head coach Mike Blaut. Blaut and assistant AD Spaeth are Roger Bacon grads oozing in pride right now, as is assistant coach and former Cincinnati Bearcat linebacker Solomon Tentman who has guided Kiner.

“He can change direction, catch it out of the backfi eld, catch it in the slot, run between the tackles, run outside and break away,” Tentman said. “You get Corey Kiner, you get someone that’s a fearless competitor. That’s a guy that’s going to compete his tail off in whatever he does.”

The entire staff at Roger Bacon hopes to see it up front and personal at LSU, for several reasons.

“I’m a big gumbo fan,” Tentman said.

“I’ve got to get down there and get some gumbo. They’ve got some jambalaya too. LSU is a crazy environment. I’m excited to get down there and watch him

play.”

Kiner’s honor gives Cincinnati backto-back Mr. Footballs as Wyoming’s Evan Prater (now a Cincinnati Bearcat) won last season. Before that, Norwood’s Marc Edwards (Notre Dame, fi ve NFL teams) was the area’s fi rst 28 years ago.

“He said congratulations and all that,” Kiner said of a phone call from Prater Thursday. “I was thanking him for being a good role model to me. I look up to Evan Prater. When he won the award last year, I said to myself, ‘I want to do what he did’. We brought it home two years in a row.”

Kiner’s father, Clifton, predicted his son would break school records and win Mr. Football Clifton also went to Roger Bacon. Before enrolling his son, he was advised that with Corey’s talent, coaches would fi nd him.

“So I said why not a small school?”

Clifton Kiner said. “Be a big fi sh in a small pond where the school environment is comfortable. They (Roger Bacon) knew the Kiner name but it probably wasn’t for all good stuff . It’s all good stuff going forward.”

Good stuff is all you hear in the halls about Kiner.

He makes it a point to visit with younger kids after games. When he’s not playing, he’s often at the activities of his classmates. The school has even posted video of Kiner sweeping up in the stands after an on-campus basket-

ball game.

Brandon Spaeth has become a local editing whiz thanks to the notoriety of his work with Corey Kiner. With each offer, Spaeth would one-up himself be it Kiner running with a Minnesota Golden Gopher in his hand or an Ohio State Buckeye. In the end, the LSU Tigers chased him down after off ering about a year ago.

“I looked yesterday and there’s about two gigs of data on his fi le on my computer,” Spaeth said. “I’ve discovered a new hobby and I’ve been able to be in talks with high-level recruits to do theirs. All of that’s thanks to Mr. Kiner, Mr. Football.”

Spaeth has witnessed fi rst-hand many acts of kindness by Kiner and detailed that in numerous emails to the OHSAA and media members across the state.

When sophomore Timyone Andrew, a sophomore, tore an ACL in a scrimmage against Madeira, Kiner sprung into action. Andrew couldn’t get to a bench to get examined, so Kiner brought a bench over 30 yards to him so a doctor could check out his teammate.

Other examples include mopping up a Gatorade spill in the locker room.

When asked if he made a mess, he replied “No, someone else spilled but I just wanted to clean it up since no one else did.”

For a custodian on staff , Kiner made a custom Roger Bacon football shirt and had his Spartan teammates sign it for him on his birthday.

And, he once found a dollar bill.

“He came and gave me a single dollar bill,” Spaeth said. “I asked him what it was for and he said he found it on the ground. He said it wasn’t his and hopefully whoever dropped it, would come back and get it. I said, ‘Corey, it’s a dollar,’ and he was like, ‘Yeah, I found it and it’s not mine.’”

Should he excel at LSU like Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow did, he may be fi nding more dollars in the future.

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6C

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

THE ENQUIRER

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BENGALS PROBABLE LINEUPS

Bengals OFFENSE Name Brandon Allen Giovani Bernard Tee Higgins Tyler Boyd A.J. Green Drew Sample Hakeem Adeniji Xavier Su’a-Filo Trey Hopkins Quinton Spain Bobby Hart

Pos. QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT

DEFENSE Name Sam Hubbard Mike Daniels Christian Covington Carl Lawson Josh Bynes Germaine Pratt Mackensie Alexander Darius Phillips William Jackson III Vonn Bell Jessie Bates III SPECIAL TEAMS Name Randy Bullock Kevin Huber Clark Harris Brandon Wilson Alex Erickson

No. 8 25 85 83 18 89 77 72 66 67 68

Height 6’2 5’9 6’4 6’2 6’4 6’4 6’4 6’4 6’3 6’4 6’5

Weight 209 205 215 203 210 258 302 312 316 330 310

Pos. No. Height DE 94 6’5 DT 76 6’0 DT 99 6’2 DE 58 6’2 LB 56 6’1 LB 57 6’2 NCB 21 5’10 CB 23 5’10 CB 22 6’0 S 24 5’11 S 30 6’1

Pos. K P LS KR PR

No. 4 10 46 40 12

Height 5’9 6’1 6’5 5’10 6’0

Year 4 8 R 5 10 2 R 7 5 6 6

Weight 265 310 300 265 235 245 192 190 196 205 200

Weight 211 210 250 200 195

Year 3 9 6 4 10 2 5 3 5 5 3 Year 8 12 12 4 5

COWBOYS OFFENSE Name Andy Dalton Ezekiel Elliott Amari Cooper CeeDee Lamb Michael Gallup Dalton Schultz Cameron Erving Connor Williams Joe Looney Connor McGovern Terence Steele

Pos. QB RB WR WR W TE LT LG C RG RT

DEFENSE Name DeMarcus Lawrence Neville Gallimore Antwaun Woods Aldon Smith Leighton Vander Esch Jaylon Smith Chidobe Awuzie Jourdan Lewis Anthony Brown Donovan Wilson Xavier Woods SPECIAL TEAMS Name Greg Zuerlein Hunter Niswander L.P. Ladouceur Tony Pollard CeeDee Lamb

No. 14 21 19 88 13 86 75 52 73 66 78

Height 6’2 6’0 6’1 6’2 6’1 6’5 6’5 6’5 6’3 6’5 6’6

Weight 220 228 210 189 198 244 313 298 315 308 310

Pos. No. Height DE 90 6’3 DT 96 6’2 DT 99 6’1 DE 58 6’4 MLB 55 6’4 WLB 54 6’2 CB 24 6’0 CB 26 5’10 CB 30 5’11 SS 37 6’0 FS 25 5’11

Pos. K P LS KR PR

No. 2 1 91 20 88

Height 6’0 6’4 6’5 6’0 6’2

Weight 265 307 318 265 256 245 202 195 196 204 202

Weight 191 243 256 209 189

Year 10 5 6 R 3 3 6 3 9 2 R Year 7 R 3 6 3 4 4 4 5 2 4 Year 9 1 16 2 R

AT A GLANCE Cowboys (3-9) at Bengals (2-9-1) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox Opening line – Cowboys by 31⁄ 2 Record vs. spread – Cowboys 2-10, Bengals 7-5 Series record – Cowboys lead 8-4 Last meeting – Cowboys beat Bengals 28-14 on Oct. 9, 2016 at Dallas Last week – Bengals lost to Dolphins 19-7; Cowboys lost to Ravens 34-17 AP Pro32 ranking – Cowboys No. 29, Bengals No. 30 Bengals offense – Overall (27), rush (30), pass (18).

Bengals defense – Overall (26), rush (29), pass (25).

Cowboys offense – Overall (9), rush (17), pass (9).

Cowboys defense – Overall (24), rush (32), pass (6).

Streak, stats and notes – Dallas has won four of the last five meetings. … A Dallas loss would tie the franchise’s longest losing streak against AFC teams at seven. It’s happened twice previously, from 1987-89 and 2000-02. … First-year Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is 14-25-1 since the start of his last full season in Green Bay in 2017. He had eight straight winning seasons with the Packers before that. McCarthy was out of football last year after a midseason firing in 2018. … Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott had five touchdowns rushing through five games but has none since. His only TD in the past seven games was a receiving score in the only win in that stretch, Nov. 22 at Minnesota. … The Dallas defense is last in the NFL in points allowed (33 per game) and yards rushing (168 per game). … The Bengals have dropped four straight games. … There were 48 players on NFL rosters who entered the league as draft picks of the Bengals. That’s three more than any other team in the league.

Associated Press

Getting the running game going should be key factor Tyler Dragon Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

With four games left, the Cincinnati Bengals hope to get back in the win column before the sun sets on their season.

The Bengals return to Paul Brown Stadium this week to take on the Dallas Cowboys. Cincinnati welcomes back Andy Dalton in the Week 14 matchup.

Dalton spent his fi rst nine NFL seasons in Cincinnati.

The Bengals released him last off season and he eventually signed with the Cowboys.

Both teams are without their starting quarterbacks for the remainder of the season. Brandon Allen is slated to get his third start with the Bengals and Dalton is starting his sixth game as a Cowboy.

“It’s going to be weird for sure,” Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard said of facing Dalton on Sunday.

“I’ve gone against him in practice, but seeing him in another uniform, on the other side of the fi eld, will be interesting.”

The Cowboys have an 8-4 all-time series advantage over Cincinnati. Dallas has won three consecutive games against the Bengals. Cincinnati’s last win versus Dallas was in 2004.

Here are three keys to the Week 14 contest: Can Bengals run on worst run defense in the league? Bengals coach Zac Taylor didn’t rule out the possibility of Joe Mixon returning this season, but the Bengals starting running back won’t play this week.

Mixon’s been on injured reserve since Nov. 21.

Cincinnati’s struggled to run the football without Mixon in the backfi eld. The Bengals rushing off ense ranks 30th in the NFL. “We have to be more consistent with the run game and put ourselves in better situations,” Taylor said.

Cincinnati’s averaged just 50 yards rushing in its last three games.

“It’s our job to get the run going,” Bengals center Trey Hopkins said. “These last few weeks we haven’t been as good as we would have liked.”

The team’s frequent off ensive line adjustments certainly don’t help. The Bengals are expected to start their ninth diff erent O-line combination this week.

Still, the Cowboys have the worst run defense in the NFL. Baltimore gashed Dallas for 294 yards on Tuesday night.

Even without Mixon, the Bengals should try to run the football with running backs Giovani Bernard, Sa-

Bengals Xtra Continued from Page 1C

coach Zac Taylor said. “We need more consistency across the board from everybody. (Williams) has played (10) games in his NFL career. So he hasn’t had the fl uid stretch that he anticipated.”

If the Bengals place Sewell at left tackle, Williams could move to the other side of the off ensive line for the 2021 season.

It’s the type of move Williams has prepared for his entire football career.

At Folsom, Richardson could have plugged and played Williams at left tackle. But he didn’t think that was the best strategy to develop Williams, who was already one of the most highly rated recruits in the country. Williams took reps at both tackle positions, both guard spots and center.

“We could move him around based on where we wanted to run the football,” Richardson said. “If we wanted to run the ball to the right, we put Jonah on the right. If we wanted to run the ball left, we put Jonah on the left. He was one of the best players on one of the greatest teams in state history.”

From Richardson’s perspective, if Williams hadn’t had that experience in high school, he might not have started every game he played at Alabama. The Crimson Tide recruited Williams as a left tackle. When he got to campus, the coaching staff immediately noticed his versatility.

During the off season, Alabama’s coaches told Williams they could focus on developing him as a left tackle. Or they could fi nd a way to get him on the fi eld sooner.

“We knew he could play on the left side, he could go to guard or even long snap,” former Alabama off ensive line coach Brent Key told The Enquirer. “He was such an athletic kid (that) that accelerated the process.”

Williams took that path, and he took reps at tackle, at guard and at center during the off season. “(Williams) could have been a fi rst team All-American center if that’s where they wanted to play him,” Richardson said. “When you’re as athletic as (Williams), the transition between diff erent spots on the line is pretty simple. It’s just a matter of taking diff erent reps with a diff erent stagger in your stance and being able to train your body.”

Alabama typically plays its best fi ve off ensive linemen regardless of position. Williams immediately started at right tackle for the Crimson Tide, and he was named a freshman All-American.

For his sophomore year, Williams moved to left tackle, and for the fi rst time he focused on playing only one position Even though Williams had limited experience playing left tackle before his sophomore season, Key said it Williams made an easy transition to left tackle –– Williams was a third team All-American as a junior and a fi rst team All-American as a senior.

maje Perine and Trayveon Williams in an attempt to take advantage of Dallas’ poor run defense.

Bend but don’t break on defense: The Cowboys have some play-makers on off ense. Running back Ezekiel Elliott is the key to the Cowboys’ off ense but the club has a trio of wide receivers that have at least 600 yards receiving heading into Week 14.

“Off ensively, there’s a lot of talent over there on offense,” Taylor said. “Those receivers, Andy (Dalton) is a veteran quarterback, those guys up front are fi ghting their tails off , the tight end has been playing well and obviously they’ve got Zeke and some good backs.

So, you see a lot of talent on the fi eld when you watch their off ense in particular.”

Dallas has the ninth ranked pass off ense in the NFL, but the Cowboys will try to feature Elliott versus a below average Bengals run defense.

“Yeah, obviously it starts with Ezekiel Elliott … I know what type of player he is. He’s a powerful downhill runner. He can really do damage,” Hubbard said.

“He was the league leader for a few years, and he’s got that potential every time he touches the ball.”

Lou Anarumo’s defense hasn’t allowed more than 20 points in the past three games. They need to continue that streak this weekend versus a Cowboys team that struggles to complete drives with touchdowns.

The defense’s familiarity with Dalton should also serve as an advantage.

Upgrade second half performance: The Bengals have been outscored 49-10 in the second half the previous four games. They’ve held a lead at the break in two of those games.

Furthermore, the Bengals have been outscored 30-0 in the third quarter since Week 8. The last time Cincinnati scored in the third quarter was Week 7.

The Bengals have been woeful in the second half this season. Cincinnati is 1-5 when leading at halftime.

The coaching staff has to make better second-half adjustments and players have to execute and fi nish.

“That’s something that we’re addressing with our guys,” Taylor said. “Really, the last four weeks it’s been an issue for us. That’s a key to something that we’ve got to change if we want to win these games down the stretch because these fi rst halves have been dirty and a grind, but like I said we go into halftime feeling good about the control that we have in the game. Then the third quarter hasn’t been that way.”

“It was just a matter of reps,” Key said. “There’s the technique piece that goes with it, but you have to have your own self determination if you want to do that.

You have to put in the work, and then it’s just a matter of cumulative reps doing it over and over so you understand it so well you can’t get it wrong.”

After Williams’ college career ended and as he prepared for the 2019 NFL Draft, Richardson said Williams wasn’t set on playing one specifi c position in the NFL. But almost everyone viewed Williams’ longterm future at either tackle spot.

On draft night, the Bengals took Williams with the 11th pick, making him the fi rst tackle off the board.

Williams missed the entire 2019 season with a shoulder injury. But there was no question that Williams would be the Bengals starter at left tackle for 2020. His athleticism, quick feet and knowledge of the game made him a good fi t to protect quarterback Joe Burrow’s blind side.

Then the entire off ensive line, including Williams, struggled keeping Burrow from taking hits.

“It’s certainly not the season (Williams) anticipated having with the injuries and the consistent fl ow and the rhythm he can get into,” Taylor said. “But he’s shown some good things for us.”

Since the Bengals have already allowed 44 sacks this season and lost Burrow to a season-ending knee injury, Cincinnati could look to make signifi cant changes to its off ensive line. And if the current NFL Draft order holds, the Bengals will be in line to draft Sewell.

Sewell –– a 6-foot-6, 320 pound 20-year-old –- is known for his athleticism, power and intelligence.

Even though Sewell played right tackle in high school, he was the best left tackle in college football during the 2019 season.

If the Bengals take Sewell, either he or Williams would have to move to right tackle.

“When you’re a committed guy like (Williams), you’re going to do the extra things to be ready to switch positions,” Richardson said. “That just makes him even more valuable.”

That transition isn’t a diffi cult one, Key said. He compared moving from left tackle to right tackle with switching which hand you golf with.

“If somebody plays 18 holes right-handed their whole life and then you go out and play that course left-handed, over the course of time you can learn to do it the same way,” Key said.

Most off ensive line coaches, Richardson said, use their better tackle on the left side so they can defend the right-side edge rusher one-on-one and shift the rest of the off ensive line the other way. For an off ense that relies on drop back passing –– which is what the Bengals do with Burrow –– that creates a bigger pocket on the quarterback’s strong side.

As a result, the off ensive lineman who is more athletic often gets placed at left tackle.. Key said it’s simple for an off ensive lineman to switch sides.

“Good left tackles can play right tackle, and good right tackles can play left tackle,” Key said. “It’s just reps.”

cincinnati.com

COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYSIS

Let’s create a Super Bowl for ‘little’ guys Bill Koch Former Enquirer reporter

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about sports in the pandemic year of 2020 it’s that anything goes.

In college basketball, the NCAA Tournament was cancelled in March and never restarted due to COVID-19. But nine months later, with even more COVID cases ravaging the country, a fresh regular season continues unabated.

In college football, the Big Ten Conference announced on August 11 that it wouldn’t risk the health of its studentathletes by allowing them to play football during a pandemic only to change its mind after deciding that the studentathletes’ health isn’t as important as keeping the TV money fl owing.

As the season has unfolded, games have been postponed and rescheduled at a moment’s notice. Venerable rivalries like Ohio State-Michigan and Cincinnati-Miami have been lost.

Last week a game was created out of thin air when BYU played at Coastal Carolina four days after the game was scheduled. It turned out to be one of the most entertaining contests of the season.

This week the Big Ten again reversed itself to make sure Ohio State gets a chance to play in the Big Ten championship game with a path to the four-team national championship playoff when it allowed the Buckeyes to qualify even though they’ve played fewer than six games, which was originally set as a minimum requirement.

Here’s something else that fans of teams in the so-called Group of Five conferences have learned – that regardless of how good their team is, it will never be allowed to play for the national championship. That much was evident after the 8-0 UC Bearcats, who have been sidelined since November 21 due to coronavirus issues, fell from No. 7 in the College Football Playoff rankings to No. 8. They were passed by Iowa State, an 8-2 team from the Power Five Big 12.

The 2020 Bearcats have produced

one of the most impressive seasons in school history, potentially even better than the 2009 team that won the Big East Conference championship and just missed qualifying for the national title game under the old Bowl Championship Series rules.

In 2009, the Big East was one of six major conferences with an automatic path to the national title game. But Big East football no longer exists. UC now plays in the American Athletic Conference, considered a second-class citizen by the Power Five of the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Pac-12 and Big 12.

So the best these Bearcats can hope for is a berth in a New Year’s Day bowl game that goes to the Group of Five program with the highest ranking in the CFP rankings. That’s the consolation prize the Power Five conferences dangled in front of the Group of Five when they set up the current system.

As things stand, UC would earn the New Year’s Day bowl game. But they can do better. And they don’t need approval from the Power Five.

In a year where anything goes, the top four schools in the CFP rankings – UC, Coastal Carolina, BYU and Louisiana-Lafayette in the latest rankings – should get together and stage their own college football playoff to determine their national champion. To show there are no hard feelings – even though there are – they could then propose to the Power Five that the two champions play in a winner-take-all college football Super Bowl.

Of course, the big boys aren’t likely to go for that because, well, they’d have nothing to gain and everything to lose. Fine. In that case, the Group of Five winner would declare itself the national champion, a distinction every bit as legitimate as the Power Five’s national champion declaration, given that the Power Five winner declined to prove its mettle on the fi eld.

Since we’re making this up as we go along, who’s to say which would be the true national champion? It would be very 2020.

Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

With respect to No. 7/8 (AP/Coaches) Houston, Tennessee may be the best opponent the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team faces this season.

Despite being pummeled with foul trouble and having its best player limited to a season-low six points, the Bearcats found themselves leading the No. 12/16 Volunteers 53-51 with less than 6:00 to play, only to lose 65-56 Saturday in Knoxville, Tennessee.

“Tennessee’s a Final Four-caliber team,” Cincinnati coach John Brannen said. “Hall of Fame coach, fi ve-star players who play extremely hard, extremely hard. I’ve seen two what I would call great defensive teams in my career, and it’s Texas Tech at the national championship (2019), and the potential of this team. I think Coach (Rick) Barnes will get that out of them.

“I think coming in here and competing against these guys was really good.

We don’t take moral victories, but at the same time, the fact that we had some foul trouble, and they had to play diff erent lineups and really had to kind of open things up and play a little bit diff erent off ensively, I thought our guys put themselves in position to win. We’re just not a very good executing team yet.

We’re just not.”

The Tennessee (2-0) victory avenged its 78-66 loss last season at UC and snapped the Bearcats’ three-game winning streak against the Volunteers.

Next up: Cincinnati (2-2) opens American Athletic Conference play against South Florida (4-2) on Wednesday at Fifth Third Arena (7 p.m. on ESPN2/ESPNU).

“We won a ton of close games last year,” Brannen said. “We’ll be in that position again. Over the course of the next three days, we gotta become better at execution.”

What we learned from Saturday’s loss:

Preseason fi rst-team All-AAC selection Keith Williams scored just six points. He had seven points in the season opener against Lipscomb. The common denominator in Williams’ two lackluster off ensive eff orts this season was his inability to stay on the court.

Just as he did against Lipscomb, Williams picked up two quick fouls. The senior guard scored four points in just fi ve minutes in the fi rst half.

Williams picked up his third foul with 16:35 to play. He saw just 15 minutes of action on the day.

“I think there was too much fouling on our part, fi rst and foremost,” Brannen said. “And I thought we got really, really, really tough calls late. I’ve been in this building, won twice in this building, been in this building quite a few years, been in the SEC six years. (I) love the crew tonight. Love them. (I) think they’re good. We all have tough days. I just thought the discrepancy was ... uh ...”

Cincinnati had more fouls (12) than made fi eld goals (nine) in the fi rst half.

The Bearcats were called for 26 total fouls, while Tennessee was whistled for 10.

The Volunteers made 25 of 30 freethrow attempts. Cincinnati shot 4 for 7 from the foul line.

There’s no way around it. The disparity at the free-throw line was obvious and proved to be the diff erence.

UC had six players with at least three fouls, including 6-foot-8 freshman Tari Eason, 6-foot-10 graduate transfer Rapolas Ivanauskas and 7-foot-1 senior Chris Vogt. With those three limited, mixed with the absence of 6-foot-9 forward Mamoudou Diarra, who did not travel with the team after electing to opt out of the remainder of the season due to health and safety concerns amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Tennessee outrebounded the Bearcats 14-6 on the off ensive glass.

Vogt fouled out for the third straight game. The preseason second-team AllAAC selection fi nished with four points and fi ve boards.

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7C

Smith’s touchdown return sparks Alabama in rout ASSOCIATED PRESS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – DeVonta Smith returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown as No. 1 Alabama scored 28 points in a span of 11 minutes in the fi rst half and rolled past Arkansas 52-3 on Saturday.

After the teams traded fi eld goals, Smith started the Crimson Tide (10-0, CFP No. 1) barrage. Najee Harris scored consecutive touchdowns just 14e seconds apart and a fi nal plunge from 1 yard by Brian Robinson Jr. had Alabama in cruising toward the Southeastern Conference championship game next week against No. 6 Florida.

It was an otherwise quiet day for Smith, with three catches for 22 yards, but the receiver bolstered his surging case for Heisman Trophy consideration on one play.

Crimson Tide defenders racked up eight sacks, the fi fth of which resulted in a fumble by Arkansas quarterback Feliepe Franks which was recovered

by DJ Dale at the Razorbacks 4. Harris scored on the next play.

Alabama allowed just 188 yards and kept Arkansas (3-7) from registering a fi rst down during a streak of seven straight possessions from the fi rst quarter to the third.

No. 12 Georgia 49, No. 25 Missouri 14: JT Daniels threw three touchdown passes, two of them to George Pickens as Georgia broke away from Missouri.

Zamir White ran for 126 yards and a score while Georgia (7-2) dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Missouri (5-4) managed just 200 yards of off ense after topping the 600-yard mark each of the past two weeks.

The game was tied at 14 when Pickens reached to his shoe tops to gather in a 36-yard touchdown toss from Daniels in the fi nal minute of the fi rst half. The pair connected again on the fi rst drive of the second half, with Pickens catching a short pass on a slant route, stepping out of a tackle attempt and racing 31 yards for a score.

Daniels completed 16 of 27 passes

Bearcats learning, growing as they go Foul trouble continues to plague Cincinnati

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 25 ROUNDUP

UC BASKETBALL ANALYSIS

Keith Jenkins

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“I need to make sure those guys learn how to defend without fouling, but there’s a physicality piece too,” Brannen said. “There might be four or fi ve NBA players out there (for Tennessee), so their physicality causes us to foul, too, a little bit”

Bearcats struggling to execute, particularly down the stretch In its two losses this season (Saturday and the 77-69 loss against Xavier on Dec. 6), Cincinnati had leads late in the game and fumbled them both.

The Bearcats managed just three points in the fi nal 6:00 Saturday. Williams being on the bench in foul trouble for half of that span didn’t help.

“We just gotta execute down the stretch better,” said guard David DeJulius, who hit a 3-pointer to put UC ahead 53-51 at the 6:00 mark. “We feel like there was a lot of play calls, we just gotta do a better job of not only getting into sets, but being more effi cient when we’re getting into sets. Coach B (Brannen), he’s a guru, he’s a genius.

He drew up some great sets. I feel like if we execute and get into them, we’ll be successful.”

DeJulius fi nished with 11 points, seven assists and three steals.

Jeremiah Davenport is a human spark plug The former Moeller High School standout had a career-high 14 points off the bench. Eleven of those came in the fi rst half when Williams was stuck next to Brannen.

The 6-foot-7 guard shot 4 of 7 from behind the 3-point line and was forced to use his length inside with Cincinnati’s big men hampered with fouls.

“That’s just my job, coming in, being the spark,” he said.

Davenport continues to be a muchneeded boost for the Bearcats in a season where they’re unable to feed off the energy of the crowd, home or away.

Davenport will be a valuable piece going forward.

for 299 yards. Pickens caught fi ve passes for 126 yards and James Cook caught a TD pass and ran for a score.

No. 15 Northwestern 28, Illinois 10: Cam Porter ran for a career-high 142 yards and two touchdowns, Evan Hull added a season-best 149 yards on the ground, and Northwestern tuned up for the Big Ten championship game with a win.

Porter came in with just 32 yards and one TD. But the freshman broke out in a big way, leading the Wildcats (6-1, 6-1, No. 14 CFP) to an easy victory over the Illini (2-5, 2-5).

Northwestern’s focus now shifts to the Big Ten championship game against No. 3 Ohio State next week. It’s the second title matchup in three years between the teams.

Northwestern won the Big Ten West after fi nishing last in the division in 2019. The Buckeyes had their ticket to Indianapolis punched when conference administrators and athletic directors called an audible, voting to drop the sixgame requirement for eligibility.

Utah 38, No. 21 Colorado 21: Ty Jordan scored twice, including a gamesealing 66-yard TD burst, and Utah’s revamped defense forced three turnovers to help the Utes to thwart the Buff aloes’ Pac-12 title hopes.

The soon-to-be-unseated Pac-12 South champion Utes (2-2, 2-2 Pac-12) found their footing on the frozen fi eld in the second half, turning around 21-10 defi cit by scoring 28 unanswered points.

Colorado freshman receiver/returner Brenden Rice, the son of Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice, showed off his speed by scoring twice – on an 81-yard punt return and on a 61-yard catch off a bubble screen. But it wasn’t enough as the Buffaloes (4-1, 3-1, No. 21 CFP) suff ered their fi rst loss under new coach Karl Dorrell during the earliest kickoff (10:05 a.m. local time) in Folsom Field history.

As things currently stand, it ends Colorado’s Pac-12 title aspirations. The Buff aloes needed a win along with UCLA beating No. 16 Southern California later Saturday to capture the South.

Bearcats Continued from Page 1C

While Williams and Vogt sat most of the game, freshman forward Tari Eason spent most of the game at center, where he had barely practiced this season. Eason, freshman guard Mike Saunders Jr. and sophomore guard Zach Harvey all played their most minutes of the season. “(Eason) was playing the fi ve (center) at the end of the game, so there’s no way he’s going to know the fi vespot plays,” Brannen said. “We had to change everything, and I thought our coaching staff did a phenomenal job.”

The Bearcats were a few baskets away from beating the SEC favorites.

The Bearcats led by 53-51 with six minutes left in the second half. The Volunteers went without a fi eld goal for a six minute stretch late in the second half, which put UC in position to win the game.

But Tennessee found a way to put points on the board since UC couldn’t defend without fouling. Tennessee fi nished 25-for-30 from the free throw line, and the Volunteers made eight free throws in the last fi ve minutes to ice the win.

While Tennessee took 30 free throws, the Bearcats took only seven free throws on Saturday.

Vogt fouled out for the third straight game, and UC allowed its opponent to take at least 25 free throws for the third consecutive games.

“When it comes down to the last fi ve minutes, we need focus and intensity,” sophomore guard Jeremiah Davenport said. “We’re most defi nitely going to work on that.”

DeJulius gave UC’s off ense a chance with Williams and Vogt out of rhythm.

Brannen had DeJulius create shots for himself at the end of the game. But DeJulius shot 5-for-17 from the fi eld for 11 points, and he missed all fi ve shots he took in the last fi ve minutes.

“We tried to get to the basket, and we felt like we had the advantage getting into the paint,” DeJulius said. “I feel like I had some good looks that didn’t go down. I was just trying to put the pressure on the refs to give us a call, but it didn’t go that way. We’ve got to execute better down the stretch.”

8C

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

UC BASKETBALL

AAC looking to be evenly matched again Keith Jenkins and Charlie Goldsmith Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

In March 2020, the American Athletic Conference standings ended in a three-way tie for the top spot. Cincinnati, Houston and Tulsa didn’t get to settle that in the AAC Tournament, which was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The AAC is wide open again this season. Even though Connecticut left the league for the Big East, seven of the 11remaining teams had a winning record last season.

Cincinnati 2019-20: 20-10, 13-5 Key Players: G Keith Williams, F Rapolas Ivanauskas, C Chris Vogt Outlook: The defending American Athletic Conference regular-season champions graduated two of their leading scorers, Jarron Cumberland and Tre Scott. But head coach John Brannen reshaped the roster with impact transfers and a highly rated recruiting class.

Michigan transfer David DeJulius averaged 7.0 points per game for the Wolverines last season, and forward Rapolas Ivanauskas won 2019 Patriot League Player of the Year. Ivanauskas also scored 21 points in a game against Cincinnati last season while playing for Colgate, one of the best low-major teams in the NCAA. The Bearcats also added four three- and four-star prospects, including forward Tari Eason and guard Mike Saunders. Returning starters Keith Williams and Chris Vogt project to be Cincinnati’s leading scorers, and they both averaged double-digit points last season. The Bearcats have won at least 20 games in each of the last 10 seasons.

East Carolina 2019-20: 11-20, 5-13 Key Players: F Jayden Gardner, G Tremont Robinson-White, G Tristen Newton.

Outlook: Since East Carolina hired head coach Joe Dooley from Florida Gulf Coast in 2018, the Pirates still haven’t won more than 11 games in a season.

East Carolina had a below average offense and defense in 2019-20, but the Pirates return their six best players. Forward Jayden Gardner led the conference last season with 19.7 points per game and ranked third in the league with 9.2 rebounds per game. The Pirates have ten transfers on the roster, including four who started for East Carolina last season. Guard Tremont RobinsonWhite averaged 7.2 points per game for the Pirates last season and started almost every game, and guard Tristen Newton averaged 11 points per game and a team-high 3.7 assists.

Houston 2019-20: 23-8, 13-5 Key Players: G Caleb Mills, G Quentin Grimes, G DeJon Jarreau Outlook: Houston returns one of the most talented rosters in the conference and a backcourt that stacks up against any team in the NCAA. According to KenPom, Houston ranked fi rst in the AAC and 14th in college basketball last season, and the Cougars backcourt led that success. Sophomore guard Caleb Mills led Houston in scoring last season with 13.2 points per game, and he was one of the 15 most aggressive scorers in the NCAA. Former fi ve-star recruit Quentin Grimes averaged 12.1 points per game while shooting 44.3 percent from the fi eld. Head coach Kelvin Sampson has led Houston to 20-plus wins in each of the last fi ve seasons, and Houston tied with the Bearcats and Tulsa for the 2019-20 conference title. Houston won the league outright in 2018-19 and has fi nished in the top three of the AAC standings in each of the last fi ve seasons.

Memphis 2019-20: 21-10, 10-8 Key Players: C Moussa Cisse, G Landers Nolley, G Boogie Ellis, G Lester Quinones Outlook: For the second consecutive season, Memphis has more incoming talent than any team in the AAC. This year, head coach Penny Hardaway has added fi ve-star recruit Moussa Cisse and standout transfer Landers Nolley.

Cisse picked Memphis over off ers from Kansas, Kentucky and others, and 24/7 Sports ranked Cisse as the second-best center in the 2020 recruiting class. Nolley averaged 15.5 points per game at Virginia Tech last season and was named to the ACC All-Freshman team. Memphis also returns sophomore guards Boogie Ellis and Lester Quinones, who were both starters last season. Memphis had the fi fth-best defense in the NCAA in 2019-20.

SMU 2019-20: 19-11, 9-9 Key Players: G Tyson Jolly, G Kendric

Keith Williams and the Bearcats fi nished in a three-way tie with Houston and Tulsa before the conference tournament was canceled. ALBERT CESARE/ENQUIRER FILE

Davis, F Feron Hunt Outlook: Last season, SMU won 18 of its fi rst 24 games before stumbling down the stretch and fi nishing the year in ninth place in the AAC. SMU returns two third-team all-AAC guards, senior Tyson Jolly and junior Kendric Davis.

Jolly averaged a team-high 14.5 points per game in 2019-20 while shooting 38.2 percent from three-point range. Davis scored 14.2 points per game last season and led SMU with 6.7 assists per game.

Former SMU forward Isiaha Mike declared for the NBA Draft, leaving an opening in the Mustangs’ starting lineup.

South Florida 2019-20: 14-17, 7-11 Key Players: G/F Justin Brown, G David Collins, F Michael Durr, F Alexis Yetna Outlook: In an uncertain and unprecedented off season, South Florida coach Brian Gregory has slept rather well knowing Alexis Yetna is coming back. After missing all of last season with a torn ACL, the 2019 AAC Freshman of the Year is set to return to the lineup.

The 6-foot-8, 234-pound Paris native began his career in Tampa by leading the league with 9.6 rebounds per game and 15 double-doubles. Yetna also added 12.3 points per game and shot 36.8 percent from three-point range. Yetna and senior guard David Collins, who led the team with 13.7 points per game a season ago, will provide a facelift for the Bulls, and specifi cally Gregory who sits four victories shy of 300 for his career.

Temple 2019-20: 14-17, 6-12 Key Players: F Jake Forrester, F J.P. Moorman II, F De’Vondre Perry Outlook: Temple ended last season by losing its last fi ve games and six of their last seven. It was a turbulent end to coach Aaron McKie’s fi rst season at the helm. The former Owls star took over a program that hasn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 2013. McKie will have to replace his leading scorer from a season ago in second-team all-AAC performer Quinton Rose (16,4 points per game) and his leading rebounder in Nate Pierre-Louis (8.5 rebounds per game). McKie also will need greater contributions from senior forwards J.P. Moorman II and De’Vondre Perry. Wisconsin transfer Taj Strickland could be surprise for Temple, assuming the sophomore guard is healthy after undergoing right shoulder surgery in August. The Owls are routinely stout defensively, but they will need waivers for Butler transfer Khalif Battle and former Southeast Missouri guard Sage Tolbert in order to stay afl oat on the off ensive end.

Tulane 2019-20: 12-18, 4-14 Key Players: F Kevin Cross, G Jaylen Forbes, G Jordan Walker, G Gabe Watson Outlook: Tulane managed just four wins in league play last season. It was a tough campaign for fi rst-year coach Ron Hunter, who took over the program after

Memphis coach Penny Hardaway added fi ve-star recruit Moussa Cisse, beating out teams such as Kentucky and Kansas. THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL

leading Georgia State to six postseason appearances in eight seasons, including three trips to the NCAA Tournament.

But help is on the way for the Green Wave. Southern Mississippi transfer Gabe Watson, Alabama transfer Jaylen Forbes and former Nebraska forward Kevin Cross have all been declared eligible to play immediately. The three newcomers, along with returning guard Jordan Walker, will provide a fresh look for Hunter as he looks to reshape the Green Wave.

Tulsa 2019-20: 21-10, 13-5 Key Players: G Darien Jackson, G Elijah Joiner, G Brandon Rachal Outlook: Tulsa won six of its last eight games to earn a share of the regular-season conference championship last season. The Golden Hurricane will have to replace fi rst-team all-AAC forward Martins Igbanu. But that’s where Brandon Rachal comes in. The 6-foot-6 senior guard earned third-team all-AAC honors last season after averaging 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds and leading the team in blocks (18), steals (45) and rebounds (174). Rachal will pace a Golden Hurricane club that exceeded expectations last season and will look to do the same in 2020-21. Transfers Keyshawn Embery-Simpson (Arkansas) and Curtis Haywood (Georgia Tech) should help.

UCF 2019-20: 16-14, 7-11 Key Players: C Moses Bol, C Avery Diggs, G Darin Green Outlook: UCF’s 2020-21 hopes took a massive hit on Oct. 13 when 6-foot-11 forward Collin Smith elected to opt out of the season due to health concerns.

Smith averaged a team-high 12.6 points and 6.3 rebounds and fi nished either fi rst or second on the team in minutes, fi eld goals, steals and blocks last season. Avery Diggs, a 6-foot-11 senior, and the 7-foot-1 Moses Bol, who redshirted last season, will look to replace Smith’s size inside, while sophomore guard Darin Green (10.1 points per game last season) should shoulder more of the scoring load for coach Johnny Dawkins’ squad.

Wichita State 2019-20: 23-8, 11-7 Key Players: G Dexter Dennis, G Tyson, Etienne, F Trey Wade, Outlook: The big story surrounding the Wichita State program is head coach Gregg Marshall. The 57-year-old coach is under investigation for allegedly physically and emotionally abusing his players. Marshall, who has led the Shockers to seven NCAA Tournament appearances and a Final Four (2013), has denied all allegations. As for the team, Dexter Dennis and Tyson Etienne are the top returning scorers for a club that started 15-1 last season, only to be forced to settle for a NIT bid. Dennis, a 6-foot-5 junior, who withdrew his name from consideration for the 2020 NBA Draft and returned for his junior season, averaged 9.2 points per game and fi ve rebounds per game last year. Etienne earned 17 starts as a freshman and tallied 9.4 points per game. The two and 6foot-8 forward Trey Wade look to lead the Shockers out of a turbulent off season.

Players to watch Jayden Gardner, F, Jr., ECU The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Jayden Gardner earned second-team all-AAC honors last season after leading The American in scoring with 19.7 points per game. Gardner ranked third in the AAC in rebounding (9.2) and fourth in fi eldgoal percentage (.521). Gardner was one of only three players in conference history to fi nish among the top fi ve in the league in scoring and rebounding in the same season.

Moussa Cisse, C, Fr., Memphis Memphis newcomer Moussa Cisse was a consensus fi ve-star recruit and one of the best centers in the 2020 high school class last season. The 6-foot-10, 220-pound 2020 Tennessee Mr. Basketball chose to play for Penny Hardaway at Memphis over off ers from Kentucky, Florida and others. Cisse followed former high school teammate Precious Achiuwa to Memphis. Achiuwa earned fi rst-team All-AAC honors last season as a freshman before declaring for the NBA Draft.

Caleb Mills, G, So., Houston Caleb Mills fi nished 13th in The American last season with 13.2 points per game as a freshman. The 6-foot-3 guard earned second-team all-AAC honors and became only the second freshman in school history to lead Houston in scoring, joining Rob Williams (1979-80). Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson will put the ball in Mills’ hands a lot this season, creating plenty of room for Mills to have an even better sophomore campaign Preseason projections: Player of the year: Caleb Mills, G, Houston Rookie of the year: Moussa Cisse, C, Memphis All-Conference teams: First team: Caleb Mills, G, So., Houston, 6-3, 165 Quentin Grimes, G, Jr. Houston, 6-5, 205 Landers Nolley II, G, So. Memphis, 6-7, 230 Keith Williams, G, Sr., Cincinnati, 6-5, 215 Jayden Gardner, F, Jr. East Carolina, 6’7, 235 Second team: Kendric Davis, G, Jr., SMU, 5-11, 180 Brandon Rachal, G, Jr., Tulsa, 6’6, 220 Alexis Yetna, F, Jr. USF, 6-8, 234 Rapolas Ivanauskas, F, Sr. Cincinnati, 6-10, 230 Moussa Cisse, C, Fr. Memphis, 6’10, 220 Recruiting watch: Cincinnati: The Bearcats have the best recruiting class in the conference, according to 24/7 Sports. Forward Tari Eason, an athletic 6’8 forward from Washington headlines the class. But lightning quick guard Mike Saunders Jr. from Indiana could play the biggest role this season.

Houston: Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson added one top 100 recruit and two more three star players. Point guard Tramon Mark is ranked No. 79 in the country and is one of the top 20 point guards in his recruiting class.

Memphis: Memphis only added one big name recruit this year, but Moussa Cisse will be one of the best freshmen in the country. Cisse ranks 10th in the country, and as a rim running and shot blocking center drew off ers from all of the blue blood schools.

Wichita State: The Shockers have a balanced class with four three-star recruits. Three of them came from the junior college route, and Ricky Council IV is the only true freshman. Council is a top-400 player and a shooting guard with off ers from Rice and Appalachian State.

cincinnati.com

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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9C

XAVIER SPOTLIGHT: ADAM KUNKEL

Transfer has brought unfailing desire Adam Baum Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

There’s a lot that can be learned by watching a team’s bench during a college basketball game. The focus is usually on the action, and rightfully so, but every once in awhile, look at the bench.

The bench can tell a story all on its own.

If you were fortunate to be one of the 300 fans allowed into Cintas Center for the Xavier University men’s team’s fi rst fi ve home games, you may have noticed the Musketeers’ bench. Not because it looks diff erent – chairs spread out all over, coaches in khakis, masks and quarter-zip pullovers – but because of its energy.

Not all the time, but sometimes that energy can tell you everything you need to know about a team and its players.

A big part of that Xavier energy has been Adam Kunkel.

When Kunkel transferred from Belmont University, he intended to redshirt this season to prepare physically for the competition change at Xavier. But when the NCAA announced that this season would be a free year of eligibility for all winter student-athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xavier re-evaluated the situation with Kunkel and his family.

“Going in, he was expecting to sit out this year,” said Kunkel’s dad, Greg.

“When he had the chance to possibly play this year, I just think the anxiousness of wanting to play, I think it was hard on him. He’s a total team player. He loves Xavier. He loves practicing. When he’s out on the court he gives his all, and when he’s sitting on the bench he gives his all for his teammates.

“That’s always been his personality.”

Through the fi rst fi ve games, Kunkel’s energy from the bench was visible, and he provided it with a sort of cloud hanging over his head.

His fate was in the hands of the NCAA, a governing body that Kunkel watched deny the waiver of his teammate, Ben Stanley.

“It was hard,” said Kunkel, a local kid from Cooper High School in Northern

Adam Kunkel didn’t know he was going to be able to play in the Crosstown Shootout until the middle of practice the day before. ENQUIRER FILE

Kentucky. “I wanted to get out there on that court as quick as possible and ... seeing Ben go through that waiver process and get that denied, it defi nitely put a little damper on my mood and my thought process as I was thinking about mine.”

Kunkel did his best to stay positive.

“If it’s God’s will, he’ll will it to happen,” he said.

When Xavier lost three players to quarantine the day before the season started, Kunkel was essentially relegated to the scout team in practice. While he was waiting on his waiver, his job became helping prepare his teammates for games. It’s a selfl ess and often thankless job that most fans never get to see, but it’s so important to the fi nished product seen on TV. The day before Sunday’s Crosstown Shootout, Kunkel was playing on the scout team during practice when he said he noticed Mario Mercurio, Xavier’s associate athletic director for basketball administration, talking to head coach Travis Steele.

Then Steele called Kunkel over off the scout team and told them all the news.

“He said, ‘just to let you guys know, you got your waiver,’ ” Kunkel said. “All the guys were yelling and jumping and hugging me. That feeling was pretty cool.”

When practice ended, he called his dad.

“The phone call was a surprise because they did put the waiver in late ...

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

we kept waiting it out,” Greg Kunkel said. “Adam was hoping to hear something by that week, but once Friday passed, I was thinking, ‘OK, it’s not going to happen this week, maybe next week.’ ” Greg Kunkel couldn’t contain his emotions when his son called. He was mentally preparing for a season in which he might not get to watch his son play, and he’s been watching his son play since he was little.

“To be able to share that with my pops was defi nitely a great feeling,” Adam Kunkel said. “He’s been there with me through thick and thin, seen all the hard work I’ve put in, same with my mom, and being able to share that information with them that I’m going to be able to get an extra year and play this year was a great feeling.”

Steele watched the video of Kunkel calling his dad and said, “Just shows you how much emotion ... that’s what this whole thing’s about. And Adam, it means a lot to him. He wanted to be out there with his teammates, with his brothers, and play, and he obviously wanted to be in the Shootout, being a young man from here. That’s what this is all about, helping them get to where they want to go, helping them become a better person, a better player, and I couldn’t be more happy for Adam.”

‘I knew it was going in’ Greg Kunkel had never seen the Crosstown Shootout in person. He’d watched it on TV, but he’d never been.

He was there on Sunday at Fifth Third Arena to see his son make his Xavier debut.

“It’s the stuff I dreamed of as a kid,” Adam Kunkel said. “Playing in moments like that, obviously it’s not the same because of all the COVID restrictions and how we can’t have fans, but being able to be a part of that rivalry was indescribable.”

Kunkel’s freshman year at Belmont, the fi rst shot he took in his fi rst game was a 3-pointer.

“He made that one,” said Greg Kunkel, who played college football at the University of Kentucky.

Adam Kunkel’s fi rst shot at Xavier was also a 3-pointer. He made that one, too.

As he was running down the court against UC, Adam Kunkel said he saw a spot in the corner and he knew he was going to shoot. He watched Colby Jones drive to the basket right in front of him, and he knew when his defender moved away from him to help, Jones would kick it out to him.

“I knew it was going in right when I let it off my fi ngers,” he said.

There’s an unmistakable joy some bring to a basketball court. That’s how Kunkel plays, and it’s visible whether he’s in the game or on the bench.

Personality is essential to a team the same way size and athleticism are.

When asked about Kunkel’s personality and the energy he brings the Musketeers even when he’s on the bench, Steele said: “I think it’s huge. He’s a winner. He’s won everywhere he’s been. He was well-coached in high school by Tim Sullivan over at Cooper. He’s been wellcoached at Belmont. And he’s always won. He knows what it takes to win.

That’s sacrifi ce. And he’s truly invested in his teammates, which is hard to do because we all have egos, every single one of us, or else we wouldn’t be where we’re at today.

“But we also understand it takes a level of sacrifi ce that you’re truly invested in your teammates and your brothers, and that’s Adam. Adam does that every single day in practice. Shoot, he didn’t know if he was gonna play in the Shootout until the middle of practice on Saturday, but his attitude and his eff ort and helping our team get ready for that game was impeccable, and it just tells you who he is.

“And not just Adam; you look at all of our guys, whether it’s Colby, C.J. (Wilcher), KyKy (Tandy), all those guys bring great energy. Ben Stanley, who’s not even playing right now, he could be over there sulking because he wants to be out there playing as well, but he didn’t sulk at all. He just brings great energy, and he’s invested in his teammates and he’s invested in our program.

“That means we’ve got winners and we’ve got the right people.”

UK BASKETBALL

Reasons for hope, but concerns are lingering Jon Hale

Louisville Courier Journal USA TODAY NETWORK

Florida forward Keyontae Johnson collapsed coming out of a timeout against rival Florida State and needed emergency medical attention. MATT STAMEY/AP

Florida forward Johnson collapses vs. Florida St. ASSOCIATED PRESS

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida coach Mike White declined to do any postgame media interviews. He wanted to get to the hospital to be near Keyontae Johnson’s side as quickly as possible.

No one could blame him.

Johnson, the Southeastern Conference’s preseason player of the year, collapsed coming out of a timeout against rival Florida State and needed emergency medical attention Saturday.

Johnson was taken off the fl oor on a stretcher and rushed to Tallahassee Memorial for evaluation. The team said he was in critical but stable condition and later said he would remain in the hospital overnight.

“I know you’re fi ghting bro,” teammate Tre Mann tweeted long after the game ended. “God got you.”

Johnson had just dunked in transition before he crumpled to the fl oor as the team broke its huddle. Several Gators were in tears and a couple buried their faces in towels as White gathered them in prayer.

Offi cials sent both teams to the locker room to regroup, and the game continued a few minutes later. Florida

State coach Leonard Hamilton said administrators gave the Gators the option of continuing and said they ultimately decided to play.

Florida clearly wasn’t the same afterward, getting outscored 80-60 following Johnson’s sudden and disconcerting exit. The 20th-ranked Seminoles won 83-71, extending their winning streak in the series to seven and their winning streak at home to 26.

“Please keep praying for @Keyontae and his family,” White posted on Twitter. “We all love him.”

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl gathered his team together after practice, told them about Johnson’s situation and asked them join an assistant in prayer.

The team posted a video of it on social media.

Johnson, a 6-foot-5 junior from Norfolk, Virginia, averaged a team-high 14 points last season to go along with 7.1 rebounds. He also led the Gators with 38 steals.

He scored fi ve points in four minutes Saturday.

“Those types of things can aff ect you in some adverse ways,” Hamilton said.

“We’re just all hopeful and praying that he’s OK.”

LEXINGTON – First, the bad.

Kentucky basketball is three games under .500 for the fi rst time at any point of a season since 1989 when Eddie Sutton’s last UK team fi nished the season at 13-19. The Wildcats have started a season by losing four of the fi rst fi ve games for the fi rst time since 1984. John Calipari’s team trailed Notre Dame by 22 points at halftime Saturday, marking the largest halftime defi cit in a home game in program history.

But for all that concern, Kentucky did rally to have a chance at a buzzerbeating win before Olivier Sarr’s lastsecond jumper bounced off the rim for a 64-63 loss.

“There’s hope now,” Calipari said after the game. “If that’s who we are, those 20 (second-half) minutes, there’s hope. All right, now we’ve got to play 40.”

Calipari may have found some answers in the Wildcats’ latest loss.

Freshman Terrence Clarke was not exactly an unstoppable force after moving to point guard, but the off ense did at least look more dangerous with him as the primary ball-handler. In the second half, Calipari was forced to bring full-court pressure, helpinglight a spark under a young team that has lacked energy for long stretches of the fi rst fi ve games.

Sarr bounced back from a disappointing showing against Georgia Tech with 22 points on 11-of-16 shooting to go with seven rebounds, off ering Kentucky a clear go-to weapon on offense.

“I think it was just a sense of urgency,” Sarr said of Kentucky’s secondhalf comeback. “We can’t let that happen though, because we see how good of a team we are when we fi ght. It didn’t happen in the fi rst half. It’s tough against these teams to fi ght back after 20 points down. That second half is a great lesson, and we’ve

With Saturday’s 64-63 loss to Notre Dame, Kentucky is three games under .500 for the fi rst time since 1989 when Eddie Sutton was the head coach.

THE COURIER JOURNAL

got to keep going like that every game.”

No matter how inexperienced Kentucky’s roster is, the fact that players needed a 22-point defi cit to realize that fi ght was necessary is troubling. And to be clear, even during the comeback, there were still reasons to doubt Kentucky’s woes have suddenly been cured.

Calipari’s postgame comments suggested some players’ minutes are at risk moving forward as the Hall of Fame coach builds off the fi ght shown by the Wildcats who were on the fl oor for the majority of the comeback.

“Just moving forward, we’ve got to be hungrier,” said sophomore forward Jacob Toppin, who Calipari praised for his eff ort despite contributing just two points and three rebounds in 18 minutes. “We’ve got to come from the jump, we’ve got to play more aggressive at the start.”

Sarr expressed confi dence the second-half comeback will be the spark needed to salvage Kentucky’s dreadful start to the pandemic-altered season.

Perhaps that will prove true, but the challenge will not get any easier with a neutral-site game against a UCLA team on a fi ve-game winning streak and a rivalry game at No. 24 Louisville looming.

10C

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

LOCAL SCOREBOARD LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS All-Ohio Football Teams Division I Offensive Players of the Year: Liam Clifford, St. Xavier, sr. and Lorenzo Styles Jr., Pickerington Central, sr.

Defensive Player of the Year: Gabe Powers, Marysville, jr.

Coaches of the Year: Bryan Johnson, Westerville North First Team Offense QB: Judah Holtzclaw, Westerville Central, 6-6, 220, sr.; Ian Kipp, Mentor, 6-2, 215, sr.; Brogan McCaughey, i St. Xavier, 6-1, 185, jr.; Te'Sean Smoot, Springfield, 6-0, 184, jr.

RB: Bryon Threats, Dublin Coffman, 5-10, 195, sr.; Connor Walendzak, Perrysburg, 5-11, 195, so.; Keyshawn Stephens, Hamilton, 6-0, 200, sr.

WR: Lorenzo Styles Jr., Pickerington Central, 6-1, 190, sr.: Jack Arnold, Berea-Midpark, 6-0, 175, Jr.; Markus Allen, Clayton Northmont, 6-3, 210, sr.; Liam Clifford, i St. Xavier, 6-2, 190, sr.; Luke Hensley, Medina 6-2, 200, sr.

TE: Josh Kattus, Moeller, 6-4, 245, jr.

OL: Keaton Snyder, Pickerington Central, 6-2, 275, sr.; Braedon Elwer, New Albany, 6-4, 250, sr.; Blake Miller, Strongsville, 6-6, 315, Jr.; Cade Zimmerly, Perrysburg, 6-1, 260, sr.; Tegra Tshabola, Lakota West, 6-6, 300, jr.; Aamil Wagner, Huber Heights Wayne, 6-7, 260, jr.; Mason Mennell, Stow-Munroe Falls, 6-4, 300, jr.

K: Casey Magyar, Dublin Coffman, 6-0, 175, sr.

Defense DL: Hammond Russell, Dublin Coffman, 6-4, 240, sr.; Jesse Stevens, Elyria, 6-2, 235, Sr.; Dontay Corleone, Colerain, 6-2, 325, sr.; Giovanni Albanese, St. Xavier, 6-0, 280, Sr.; Mani Powell, Canton McKinley, 6-2, 225, jr.

LB: Gabe Powers, Marysville, 6-4, 215, jr.; Zeke Healy, Westerville Central, 5-10, 200, sr.; Aidan Hubbard, Cleveland St. Ignatius, 6-4, 225, Sr.; C.J. Hankins, Lakewood St. Edward, 5-11, 220, Sr.; Matthew Devine, St. Xavier, 6-0, 220, sr.;Jackson Kuwatch, Lakota West, 6-4, 220, sr.; Nathan Spatny, Medina, 6-1, 225, sr.

DB: Michael Gravely Jr., Euclid, 6-1, 197, Sr.; Cam Smith, Euclid, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Alex Afari, Lakota West, 6-3, 200, jr.; Jyaire Brown, Lakota West, 6-0, 175, jr.; Delian Bradley, Springfield, 6-0, 185, jr.; Rod Moore, Clayton Northmont, 6-0, 185, sr.; Johnny Kulich, Massillon Jackson, 6-3, 180, sr.

P: Matthew Dapore, Springboro, 5-11, 180, sr.

Second Team Offense QB: AJ Mirgon, Hilliard Bradley, 6-0, 180, 185, sr.; Cade Rice, Clayton Northmont, 6-3, 215, sr.; Drew Allar, Medina, 6-5, 220, jr.

RB: Aidan Kenley, Olentangy Liberty, 5-11, 185, sr.; Ron Blackman, Gahanna, 6-0, 190, sr,; Jaheim Atkinson, Elyria, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Jaydan Mayes, Fairfield, 5-11, 175, sr.

WR: Caden Konczak, Olentangy Orange, 5-9, 165, sr.; Armond Scott, Euclid, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Drew Ramsey, Elder, 6-1, 200, jr.

OL: Carter Smith, Olentangy Liberty, 6-6, 250, jr.; Dalton Hall, Reynoldsburg, 6-5, 290, sr.; Gavin Rohrs, Marysville, 6-3, 285, jr.; Hunter Colao, Mentor, 6-0, 275, Sr.; Thomas Aden, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-2, 285, Sr.; Landon Fickell, Moeller, 6-5, 270, sr.; Brian Parker, St. Xavier, 6-5, 275, jr.; Mao Glynn, Walnut Hills, 6-3, 285, sr.

K: Andrew Smith, Mentor, 6-5, 200, Sr. Defense DL: Greg Predina, Mentor, 6-4, 245, Sr.; Bennett Adler, Cleveland St. Ignatius, 6-3, 240, Sr.; Aneesh Vyas, Lakota West, 6-2, 270, sr.; Luke Montgomery, Findlay, 6-5, 265, so.

LB: Devon Williams, Dublin Coffman, 6-1, 218, sr.; Evan Boyd, Mentor, 5-11, 205, Sr.; Jack Higgins, Perrysburg, 6-2, 220, sr.; Cameron Junior, Middletown, 6-1, 210, sr.

DB: Delaney Wilburn, Groveport, 6-0, 185, jr.; Perryion Benton, Elyria, senior, 5-9, 155; Jaylen Castleberry, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Leroy Bowers, Princeton, 6-2, 200, sr.; Jonah Lytle, Canton McKinley, 5-11, 175, sr.

P: Josh Laisure, Olentangy Orange, 5-11, 165, sr.

Third Team Offense QB: Blake Horvath, Hilliard Darby, 6-2, 190, jr.; Mekhi Lynn, Princeton, 6-2, 180, jr.

RB: Ryan Kern, Marysville, 5-11, 185, sr.; Nick Mosley, Pickerington Central, 5-11, 205, sr.; Khalil Eichelberger, Solon, 5-10, 205, sr.

WR: Hutch Baird, Mentor, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Titan Case, Springboro, 6-0, 185, sr.; Anthony Brown, Springfield, 5-10, 165, so.; Dalen Stovall, Stow-Munroe Falls, 6-4, 195, sr.

OL: Will Jados, Westerville Central, 6-7, 285, sr.; Simon France, Elyria, 6-2, 256, Sr.; Gus Salopek, Cleveland St. Ignatius, 6-5, 235, Sr.; Paul Rodriguez, Mason, 6-5, 305, sr.; Van Shyjka, Stow-Munroe Falls, 6-4, 290, jr.; Stefan Monahan, Canton McKinley, 6-8, 295, jr.

K: Matt Howard, Lakota West, 5-11, 175, sr.

Defense DL: Michael Ballenger, Upper Arlington, 6-0, 210, sr.; Javon Edwards, Cleveland Heights, 6-0, 235, Sr.; Eli Newburg, Clayton Northmont, 6-2, 220, sr.; Brandon Smith, Fairfield, 6-1, 265, sr.

LB: Brennan Albertini, Westerville North, 6-0, 210, sr.; Ryan Merrill, Euclid, 5-11, 215, So.; Jon Bruder, Centerville, 5-10, 215, sr.; Aden Miller, Lakota West, 5-11, 210, jr.

DB: Atiba Fitz, Euclid, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Jahdae Walker, Shaker Heights, 6-5, 190, Sr.; Elisha Baxter, Findlay, 6-0, 160, sr.; Gabe Dubois, St. Xavier, 5-9, 170, sr.

P: Justin Slattery, Lakewood St. Edward, 5-11, 180, sr.

Honorable Mention QB: Dijon Jennings, Reynoldsburg, 6-0, 188, jr.; Christian Gulgin, Perrysburg, 6-1, 190, sr.; Elijah Wesley, Canton McKinley, 6-3, 195, sr.

RB: Carson Gresock, Upper Arlington, 5-10, 210, jr.; Isaac James, Findlay, 6-1, 168, jr.; Brenden Craig, Massillon Jackson, 5-11, 145, jr.

WR: Ben Ireland, Findlay, 6-0, 174, jr.; Aidan Pratt, Perrysburg, 5-11, 185, sr.; Kaleb Wannamaker Toledo Start, 5-11, 150, sr.

OL: Daniel Warnsman, Dublin Coffman, 6-3, 285, sr.; Evan Winans, Findlay, 6-0, 225, sr.; Bryce Keller, Toledo Whitmer, 6-3, 275, jr.; Xavier Wolf, Perrysburg, 6-3, 270, sr.; Darius Latimore, Toledo Start, 6-0, 250, sr.; Tomas Rimac, Brunswick, 6-6, 290, sr.; Otto Weight, Medina, 6-3, 285, sr.

K: Jax Hudson, Perrysburg, 5-9, 150, sr.

DL: C.J. Doggette, Pickerington Central, 6-2, 280, jr.; Zindale Graf, Lancaster, 5-11, 220, sr.; Elijah Hawk, Pickerington North, 6-4, 239, sr.; Reuben Simiyu, Westerville North, 6-2, 240, sr.; Ryan Musgrove, Perrysburg, 6-0, 215, sr.; Owen Francis, Perrysburg, 6-0, 215, sr.; Marcus Ensley, Toledo Start, 5-11, 250, jr.; Kris Artis, Centerville, 6-3, 230, sr.; Dorian Boyland, Medina, 6-2, 225, sr.

LB: Reece Dykstra, Thomas Worthington, 6-2, 230, sr.; Connor Jones, Hilliard Darby, 6-2, 230, jr.; Marco Landolfi, Upper Arlington, 5-11, 175, sr.; Brian Yamokoski, Olentangy Liberty, 6-0, 190, sr.; Jayden Gibson, Toledo Whitmer, 6-0, 200, jr.; Zane Zaborowski, Perrysburg, 6-0, 215, sr.; Philip Quansah, Clayton Northmont, 5-10, 222, sr.; Andrew Haber, Brunswick, 5-10, 210, sr.; Quintyn McKinley, Brunswick, 5-9, 195, sr.; Brett Blauner, Massillon Jackson, 6-1, 185, sr.; Matt Hamula, Medina, 5-10, 185, jr.

DB: Vince Francescone, Westerville Central, 6-0, 175, sr.; Brock Kidwell, New Albany, 6-0, 185, jr.; Alex “Sonny” Styles, Pickerington Central, 6-4, 205, so.; Cameron Darrington, Perrysburg, 6-1, 185,

sr.; Kanyon Gagich, Perrysburg, 6-0, 195, jr.; Zach Rhynes, Toledo Start, 5-10, 190, sr.; David Hamrick, Brunswick, 5-9, 160, jr.; Nehemiah Stovall, Canton McKinley, 6-1, 175, sr.; Clayton Mosher, Stow-Munroe Falls, 6-0, 195, sr.

P: Max Roth, Findlay, 6-0, 160, jr.; Jacob Dye, Brunswick, 6-0, 180, sr.

Division II Offensive Player of the Year: Zach Branam, La Salle, sr.

Defensive Player of the Year: Kharion Davis, Akron Archbishop Hoban, sr.

Coach of the year: Greg Bonifay, Riverside Stebbins First Team Offense QB: Peter Pedrozo, Westerville South, 5-11, 180, sr.; Jacob Moeller, Olentangy Berlin, 6-5, 175, sr.; Niko Pappas, Avon, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Brady Lichtenberg, Toledo St. John’s, QB, 6-2, 190, sr.; Jacob Paltani, Hudson, 5-9, 165, sr.; Conner Ashby, North Canton Hoover, 6-1, 180, sr.; Zach Branam, La Salle, 5-11, 200, sr.

RB: Stephan Byrd, Canal Winchester, 6-0, 210, jr.; Kentrell Marks, Parma Heights Valley Forge, 6-1, 185, Jr.; Prentiss Reasonover, Toledo Central Catholic, RB, 5-11, 205, sr.; Joshua Lemon, Massillon Perry, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Victor Dawson, Akron Archbishop Hoban, 6-0, 225, sr.

WR: Kaden Saunders, Westerville South, 6-0, 175, jr.; Jeremy Jonozzo, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 5-11, 165, Sr.; Thomas Zsiros, Toledo St. John’s, WR, 6-3, 200, sr.; Jayden Ballard, Massillon Washington, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Reis Stocksdale, Little Miami, 5-11, 180, sr.

OL: Tyler O’Reilly, Westerville South, 6-2, 250, jr.; Ryan Baer, Eastlake North, 6-7, 320, Jr.; Alex Padgett, Avon Lake, 6-5, 300, Sr.; Ethan Green, Fremont Ross, OL, 6-7, 255, jr.; Terrence Rankl, Massillon Washington, 6-5, 285, Sr.; Kevin Toth, Hudson, 6-6, 264, sr.; David Wohlabaugh, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, 6-6, 295, sr.; Paul Haywood, La Salle, 6-3, 300, jr.

K: Jake Vidmar, Hudson, 5-9, 165, sr.

First Team Defense DL: Jamarius Dinkins, Columbus Walnut Ridge, 6-6, 270, sr.; Kadyn Viancourt, Avon Lake, 6-0, 192, Sr.; Matt Watson, Painesville Riverside, 6-3, 270, Sr.; Darryl Peterson III, Akron Archbishop Hoban, 6-3, 242, sr.; Andrew Booker, Winton Woods, 6-2, 220, sr.; Caiden Woullard, Massillon Washington, 6-4, 235, Sr.; Jerell Lewis, Piqua, 6-2, 243, sr.

LB: Blaine Riley, Canal Winchester, 6-0, 230, sr.; Saivion Colbert, Ashtabula Lakeside, sr.; Jaidan Wise, Massillon Washington, 6-1, 200, sr.; Damon Ollison II, Akron Archbishop Hoban, 6-0, 220, sr.; Cayman Williams, Massillon Perry, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Hunter Warner, Fairborn, 6-2, 210, sr.

DB: Orlando Jones, Columbus Independence, 6-1, 175, sr.; Alden Steele, Amherst Steele, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Da’Shun Tanner, Toledo Central Catholic, DB, 5-10, 175, sr.; Kharion Davis, Akron Archbishop Hoban, 5-11, 170, sr.; Jaylen Johnson, Cincinnati La Salle, 6-2, 215, sr.; Devonta Smith, Cincinnati La Salle,, 6-0, 180, sr.

P: Mitchell Tomasek, Worthington Kilbourne, 6-3, 190, sr.; Mitchell Evans, Wadsworth, 6-7, 250, sr.

Second Team Offense QB: Joe Labas, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 6-4, 190, Sr.; QB Shane Hamm, Akron Archbishop Hoban, 6-0, 200, sr.; Michale Wingfield, Winton Woods, 6-2, 205, sr.; Devin Sherwood, Austintown Fitch, 5-11, 185, jr.

RB: Gage Duesler, Avon Lake, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Ca'ron Coleman, Piqua, 5-9, 183, sr.; Ty Stylski, Kings, 5-10, 195, sr.; Drew Lightner, Hudson, 5-10, 180, sr.

WR: Bennett Lawrence, Olentangy Berlin, 6-0, 180, jr.; Cayden Dougherty, Worthington Kilbourne, 5-10, 160, sr.; Bryson Hammer, Fremont Ross, WR, 5-10, 160, so.; Brock Henne, North Canton Hoover, 6-5, 205, sr.; Trey Martin, Green, 6-1, 185, jr.

OL: Cole Troyer, Olentangy Berlin, 6-2, 280, sr.; Mason Bingham, Avon, 5-11, 240, Sr.; Chris Sennett, Toledo Central Catholic, OL, 6-3, 280, sr.; Anthony Brumbaugh, Massillon Perry, 6-2, 245, sr.; Gabe Hickman, Turpin, 6-0, 248, sr.; Caleb Lyons, Piqua, 6-4, 288, jr.

K: Justin Rader, Olentangy Berlin, 6-0, 150, sr.

Defense DL: Correy Craddolph, Columbus Northland, 5-10, 220, jr.; Anthony Donahue, Ashtabula Lakeside, 6-2. 195. jr.; Charlie Morehead, Toledo St. Francis, DL, 6-2, 285, sr.; Brody Foley, Anderson, 6-6, 230, jr.; Mike Miller, Massillon Washington, 6-2, 235, sr.; John Jackson, Barberton, 6-2, 260, jr.

LB: Josh Engle, Parma Heights Valley Forge, 5-10, 185, Jr.; Nate Cikalo, Avon Lake, 5-11, 182, Sr.; Chris Jackson, Toledo Central Catholic, LB, 6-2, 210, jr.; Nick Maricocchi, Uniontown Lake, 5-10, 185, sr.; Cam Sanders, Winton Woods, 6-0, 210, sr.; Ryan Prusinowski, North Canton Hoover, 6-0, 230, sr.; Luke Bauer, Akron Archbishop Hoban, LB, 6-1, 245, sr.

DB: Chris Gales, Cleveland Benedictine, 6-1, 204, Sr.; Delonte Hall, Maple Heights, 5-10, 178, Sr.; Martavien Johnson, Massillon Washington, 5-9, 170, Sr.; AJ Kirk, Akron Archbishop Hoban, 6-1, 200, sr.; Devonte Armstrong, Massillon Perry, 5-8, 155, sr.; Tamarion Crumpley, Winton Woods, 6-2, 180, sr.

P: Magnus Haines, Massillon Washington, 5-11, 180, Sr. Third Team Offense QB: Kaden Doup, Olentangy, 5-10, 175, sr.; Jackson Kuhn, Anderson, 6-1, 195, sr.

RB: Caden Williams, Big Walnut, 5-10, 215, sr.; Javarus Leach, Columbus Walnut Ridge, 5-10, 208, sr.; Tyron Darby, West Carrollton, 6-1, 185, jr.

WR: Marvin Conkle, Cleveland Benedictine, 6-1, 180, Jr.; Ty Weatherspoon, Amherst Steele, 6-4, 195, Sr.; Nick Barr, Troy, 6-2, 185, sr.; Cam Hering, Harrison, 5-10, 180, sr.; Joey Faulkner, Anderson, 5-10, 180, jr.

TE: Joe Trent, Dublin Jerome, 6-5, 210, sr.

OL: Luke Kirin, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 6-4, 290, Sr.; Luke Beltavski, Cleveland Benedictine, 6-2, 290, Sr.; Josh Henderson, Wooster, 6-2, 290, sr.; Luke Petit, Akron Archbishop Hoban, 6-4, 284, sr.; Jacob Moorman, Troy, 6-3, 320, sr.; Adrian Razo, Kings, 6-2, 330, sr.

K: Owen Wiley, Avon Lake, 5-11, 165, Jr.; Jackson Trombley, Piqua, 5-11, 177, so.

Defense DL: Ethan Hand, Olentangy, 6-0, 240, sr.; Lavell Gibson, Amherst Steele, 6-2, 235, Sr.; Rayshawn Galloway, Toledo Bowsher, 6-3, 200, sr.; Will Myres, Turpin, 6-0, 202, sr.; Jabari Felton, Warren G. Harding, 6-1, 215, sr.; Koty Henry, Wooster, 6-0, 220, sr.

LB: Jacob Arndt, Marion Harding, 5-9, 180, jr.; Landon Johnson, Olentangy, 5-10, 210, sr.; Derell Bedingfield Jr., Cleveland Benedictine, 6-2, 190, Jr.; Devon Hunter, Avon, 5-11, 200, Sr.; Carson Clark, Fremont Ross, LB, 6-1, 235, sr.; Nate Leskovac, Austintown Fitch, 5-11, 180, sr.; Johnathan Heisa, Hudson, 5-11, 195, sr.; Zack Gaither, Xenia, 6-5, 220, sr.; Emarion Perkins, Warren G. Harding, 6-0, 195, sr.

DB: Billy Simpson, Avon Lake, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Jaymar Hargrove-Mundy, La Salle, 6-0, 175, sr.; Jeremy Holloway, Riverside Stebbins, 6-4, 185, sr.; Dwight Lewis, Fairborn, 6-2, 180, sr.

P: Arlind Bengu, Avon, 5-11, 170, Sr.

Honorable Mention QB: Amare Jenkins, Dublin Scioto, 6-2, 160, jr.; Kaden Holmes, Fremont Ross, 5-10, 160, so.

RB: Gage Lowery, Watkins Memorial, 5-10, 195, sr.; Caden McCarty, Logan, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Steven McCoy, Toledo St. Francis, 5-10, 190, jr.; Charles Reninger, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, 6-0, 205, sr.; Willtrell Hartson, Massillon Washington, 5-10, 200, so.

WR: Tae’Shaun Johnson, Toledo Central Catholic, 5-11, 190, sr.; Anthony Vann, Fremont Ross, 6-1, 185, so.; Jorden Berry, West Carrollton, 5-10, 165, jr.; Nic Pucci, Harrison, 5-8, 160, sr.; Barret Labus, Wadsworth, 6-0, 200, sr.; Andrew Wilson-Lamp, Massillon Washington, 6-3, 170, sr.

OL: Mason Fry, Canal Winchester, 6-4, 282, so.; Max Martin-Lee, Dublin Scioto, 6-3, 310, sr.; Jesse Williamson, Licking Heights, 6-2, 215, sr.; Toby Wilson, Olentangy, 6-3, 280, sr.; Evan White, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, 6-4, 250, jr.; E.J. Johnson, Toledo St. Francis, 6-6, 245, sr.; Jack Bauer, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, 6-4, 240, jr.

K: Cole Tishler, Toledo Central Catholic, 6-0, 190, jr.; Andrew Lastovka, Macedonia Nordonia, 5-9, 143, jr.

DL: Zion Bowling, Teays Valley, 6-1, 185, sr.; Henry Pierce, Logan, 6-2, 190, Sr.; Ty Cobb, Oregon Clay, 6-2, 225, jr.; Alex Greene, Troy, 6-2, 210, sr.; Anthony Baltimore, West Carrollton, 6-2, 240, sr.

LB: Kahli Horton-Campbell, Westerville South, 6-1, 180, sr.; Ethan Laslo, Mount Vernon, 6-0, 210, sr.; Brian Wilson, Worthington Kilbourne, 5-10, 195, sr.; Adam Miller, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, 6-0, 205, sr.; Bryce Kahl, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, 5-11, 175, jr.; Seven Blue, Winton Woods, jr.; Will Guy, Turpin, 6-2, 192, sr.; Casey O'Toole, Anderson, 6-2, 220, jr.

DB: Brandon Armstrong, Westerville South, 5-9, 155, jr.; Zion Freeman-Walker, Dublin Scioto, 6-0, 165, sr.; Caleb Gossett, Olentangy, 6-2, 185, sr.; Chase Saneholtz, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, 6-0, 190, sr.; Shy’Twan James, Toledo Central Catholic, 6-2, 180, sr.; K.J. Dunston, Toledo St. Francis, 6-0, 180, sr.; Andrew Naugle, Oregon Clay, 5-9, 200, sr.; Terence Thomas, Boardman, 5-11, 180, jr.

P: Alex Kasee, Sylvania Northview, 5-10, 140, so.; Anthony Scott, Trenton Edgewood, 5-11, 170, sr.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL SATURDAY, MEN No. 12 Tennessee 65, Cincinnati 56 CINCINNATI (2-2) Eason 4-11 0-1 10, Vogt 2-2 0-0 4, Adams-Woods 2-5 1-1 5, DeJulius 5-17 0-0 11, Williams 2-5 1-2 6, Davenport 5-8 0-1 14, Ivanauskas 0-4 2-2 2, Harvey 1-4 0-0 2, Saunders 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 22-58 4-7 56.

TENNESSEE (2-0) Fulkerson 4-11 7-8 15, Bailey 3-9 0-0 7, James 1-5 6-6 8, Vescovi 2-6 2-2 7, Pons 4-9 0-0 8, Springer 3-8 5-6 11, Johnson 2-6 3-6 7, Anosike 0-4 2-2 2, Nkamhoua 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-59 25-30 65.

Halftime—Tennessee 30-24. 3-Point Goals-Cincinnati 8-28 (Davenport 4-7, Eason 2-6, Williams 1-3, DeJulius 1-6, Adams-Woods 0-1, Ivanauskas 0-2, Harvey 0-3), Tennessee 2-12 (Bailey 1-4, Vescovi 1-4, Pons 0-1, Johnson 0-3).

Fouled Out-Vogt. Rebounds-Cincinnati 28 (Eason 7), Tennessee 39 (Fulkerson 12).

Assists_Cincinnati 11 (DeJulius 7), Tennessee 9 (James, Vescovi 3). Total Fouls-Cincinnati 26, Tennessee 10. A-4,191 (21,678).

Notre Dame 64, Kentucky 63 NOTRE DAME (2-2) Durham 2-3 0-0 4, Laszewski 6-10 7-7 21, Goodwin 3-8 2-2 9, Hubb 8-17 0-0 18, Ryan 2-8 1-1 6, Djogo 1-3 0-0 3, Zona 1-3 1-2 3, Sanders 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-52 11-12 64.

KENTUCKY (1-4) Jackson 0-1 1-2 1, Sarr 11-16 0-1 22, Boston 5-15 2-2 14, Clarke 6-13 0-0 14, Mintz 3-9 1-1 7, Askew 1-2 0-0 3, Toppin 1-5 0-0 2, Ware 0-0 0-0 0, Fletcher 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-62 4-6 63.

Halftime—Notre Dame 48-26. 3-Point Goals-Notre Dame 7-21 (Hubb 2-6, Laszewski 2-6, Goodwin 1-1, Djogo 1-3, Ryan 1-4, Zona 0-1), Kentucky 5-23 (Clarke 2-4, Boston 2-8, Askew 1-2, Fletcher 0-1, Sarr 0-1, Toppin 0-2, Mintz 0-5).

Rebounds-Notre Dame 28 (Laszewski 9), Kentucky 28 (Sarr 7). Assists-Notre Dame 9 (Ryan 4), Kentucky 14 (Mintz 4). Total Fouls-Notre Dame 12, Kentucky 16.

A-3,075 (23,500).

Top 25 Schedule Saturday's games No. 6 Illinois at Missouri, late No. 7 Houston vs. Rice, canceled No. 12 Tennessee beat Cincinnati 65-56 No. 16 North Carolina vs. Elon, canceled No. 17 Texas Tech vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, late No. 20 Florida St. beat Florida, 83-71 Sunday's Games No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 13 Texas, 3 p.m.

No. 3 Iowa vs Northern Illinois, 2 p.m.

No. 4 Michigan St. vs. Oakland, Noon No. 5 Kansas vs. Tarleton St., 2 p.m.

No. 11 West Virginia vs. No. 19 Richmond, 1 p.m.

No. 18 Virginia vs. William & Mary, 6 p.m.

No. 22 Ohio St. vs. Cleveland St., 4 p.m.

No. 23 Arizona St. at Grand Canyon, 4 p.m.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL Louisville 45, Wake Forest 21, SATURDAY Wake Forest 7 3 3 8 — 21 Louisville 0 21 7 17 — 45 First Quarter WF—Morin 10 pass from Hartman (Sciba kick), 8:04.

Second Quarter LOU—H.Hall 2 run (J.Turner kick), 6:46.

WF—FG Sciba 45, 4:57.

LOU—Cunningham 5 run (J.Turner kick), 4:09.

LOU—H.Hall 1 run (J.Turner kick), 1:04.

Third Quarter LOU—Sherman 4 pass from Cunningham (J.Turner kick), 8:03.

WF—FG Sciba 31, 5:26.

Fourth Quarter WF—Roberson 37 pass from Hartman (Roberson pass from Hartman), 13:24.

LOU—Watkins 23 run (J.Turner kick), 7:17.

LOU—FG J.Turner 40, 5:36.

LOU—Ford 22 pass from Cunningham (J.Turner kick), 2:17.

WF LOU First downs 17 19 Rushes-yards 31-127 47-254 Passing 224 199 Comp-Att-Int 17-41-1 17-23-0 Return Yards 98 31 Punts-Avg. 6-41.5 4-43.5 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards 5-39 7-32 Time of Possession 23:07 36:53 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Wake Forest, Beal-Smith 14-58, Ellison 9-50, Hartman 4-11, A.Marshall 4-8.

Louisville, Mitchell 20-168, Cunningham 13-38, H.Hall 12-27, Watkins 1-23, Harwell 1-(minus 2).

PASSING—Wake Forest, Hartman 17-41-1-224. Louisville, Harwell 1-1-0-4, Cunningham 16-22-0-195.

RECEIVING—Wake Forest, Roberson 9-138, Whiteheart 2-38, Morin 2-23, Perry 1-14, Chapman 1-7, Beal-Smith 1-4, K.Williams 1-0. Louisville, D.Fitzpatrick 6-77, B.Smith 3-53, Ford 3-35, Watkins 2-15, Sherman 2-8, Do.Jones 1-11.

HORSE RACING Turfway Park Results,SATURDAY NOTE: NOT COMPLETE AT TIME OF PRINT

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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11C

THE BACKSTOP NATIONAL SCOREBOARD SCOREBOARD All times EST

NFL NFL Glance AMERICAN CONFERENCE East Buffalo Miami New England N.Y. Jets Indianapolis Tennessee Houston Jacksonville Pittsburgh Cleveland Baltimore Cincinnati

W L T Pct

9 3 0 .750 8 4 0 .667 6 7 0 .462 0 12 0.000 South

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PA

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333 306 303 212 277 279 180 353

8 4 0 .667 328 273 8 4 0 .667 359 326 4 8 0 .333 288 323 1 11 0 .083 251 352 North

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11 9 7 2

1 0 .917 3 0 .750 5 0 .583 9 1 .208 West

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x-Kansas City 11 1 0 .917 370 Las Vegas 7 5 0 .583 323 Denver 4 8 0 .333 225 L.A. Chargers 3 9 0 .250 277 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East N.Y. Giants Washington Philadelphia Dallas x-New Orleans Tampa Bay Atlanta Carolina Green Bay Minnesota Chicago Detroit

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PA

254 347 320 345

PA

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PA

10 2 0 .833 347 241 7 5 0 .583 344 280 4 8 0 .333 311 302 4 8 0 .333 280 300 North W L T Pct

9 6 5 5

3 0 .750 6 0 .500 7 0 .417 7 0 .417 West

W L T Pct

PF

PA

379 319 246 286

299 329 284 358

PF

PA

L.A. Rams 9 4 0 .692 325 246 Seattle 8 4 0 .667 353 321 Arizona 6 6 0 .500 332 296 San Francisco 5 7 0 .417 285 288 x-clinched playoff spot Thursday’s Game L.A. Rams 24, New England 3 Sunday’s Games Arizona at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.

Dallas at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Denver at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Houston at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Kansas City at Miami, 1 p.m.

Minnesota at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Tennessee at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Indianapolis at Las Vegas, 4:05 p.m.

N.Y. Jets at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

Atlanta at L.A. Chargers, 4:25 p.m.

Green Bay at Detroit, 4:25 p.m.

New Orleans at Philadelphia, 4:25 p.m.

Washington at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Buffalo, 8:20 p.m.

Monday’s Game Baltimore at Cleveland, 8:15 p.m.

NBA Preseason Glance Friday’s Games New York 90, Detroit 84 Orlando 116, Atlanta 112 Houston 125, Chicago 104 L.A. Lakers 87, L.A. Clippers 81 Portland 127, Sacramento 102 Saturday’s Games Indiana at Cleveland, late Oklahoma City at San Antonio, late Toronto at Charlotte, late

Dallas at Milwaukee, late Memphis at Minnesota, late Denver at Golden State, late Phoenix at Utah, late Sunday’s Games Orlando at Atlanta, 5 p.m.

Washington at Brooklyn, 6 p.m.

New York at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Houston at Chicago, 8 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, 8:30 p.m.

Sacramento at Portland, 9 p.m.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL College Football Scores (Subject to change) Thursday’s games SOUTH Pittsburgh 34, Georgia Tech 20 Southern Miss. 45, FAU 31 Friday’s games SOUTHWEST North Texas 45, UTEP 43 FAR WEST Arizona St. 70, Arizona 7 San Jose St. 30, Nevada 20 Saturday’s games EAST Penn St. 39, Michigan St. 24 Rutgers 27, Maryland 24, OT SOUTH Louisville 45, Wake Forest 21 MIDWEST Ball St. 30, W. Michigan 27 E. Michigan 41, N. Illinois 33 Georgia 49, Missouri 14 Minnesota 24, Nebraska 17 Northwestern 28, Illinois 10 SOUTHWEST Alabama 52, Arkansas 3 UAB 21, Rice 16 FAR WEST Utah 38, Colorado 21 2020 College Football Playoff Rankings Dec. 8 Record 1. Alabama 9-0 2. Notre Dame 10-0 3. Clemson 9-1 4. Ohio State 5-0 5. Texas A&M 7-1 6. Florida 8-1 7. Iowa State 8-2 8. Cincinnati 8-0 9. Georgia 6-2 10. Miami 8-1 11. Oklahoma 7-2 12. Indiana 6-1 13. Coastal Carolina 10-0 14. Northwestern 5-1 15. USC 4-0 16. Iowa 5-2 17. North Carolina 7-3 18. BYU 9-1 19. Louisiana-Lafayette 9-1 20. Texas 6-3 21. Colorado 4-0 22. Oklahoma State 6-3 23. NC State 8-3 24. Tulsa 6-1 25. Missouri 5-3 The playoff semifinals match the No. 1 seed vs. the No. 4 seed, and No. 2 will face No. 3. The semifinals will be hosted at the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2021.

The championship game will be played on Jan. 11, 2021 at Miami Gardens, Fla.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL Saturday’s Men’s College Basketball Scores EAST Bryant 81, Stony Brook 72 La Salle 58, Drexel 48 Syracuse 101, Boston College 63 SOUTH Chattanooga 81, North Georgia 63 Florida Gulf Coast 66, Miami 62

Florida St. 83, Florida 71 Furman 86, Flagler 61 Kennesaw St. 72, Dalton State 62 Liberty 73, Columbia International 26 North Carolina 73, NC Central 67 Notre Dame 64, Kentucky 63 South Alabama 76, Southern Miss. 75 South Florida 58, Wofford 56 Tennessee 65, Cincinnati 56 Tulane 67, Ark.-Pine Bluff 56 UNC-Asheville 80, High Point 67 MIDWEST Akron 97, Cedarville 49 Detroit 67, W. Michigan 57 IUPUI 69, Tennessee St. 66 Oklahoma St. 67, Wichita St. 64 Toledo 64, UMKC 57 SOUTHWEST Abilene Christian 83, McMurry 46 TCU 73, Texas A&M 55 Texas Tech 77, Texas A&M-CC 57 FAR WEST Dixie State 73, Denver 70 Hawaii 83, Hawaii Pacific 50 Men’s Top 25 College Basketball Schedule Sunday No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 13 Texas, 3 p.m.

No. 3 Iowa vs Northern Illinois, 2 p.m.

No. 4 Michigan St. vs. Oakland, Noon No. 5 Kansas vs. Tarleton St., 2 p.m.

No. 11 West Virginia vs. No. 19 Richmond, 1 p.m.

No. 18 Virginia vs. William & Mary, 6 p.m.

No. 22 Ohio St. vs. Cleveland St., 4 p.m.

No. 23 Arizona St. at Grand Canyon, 4 p.m.

Saturday’s Women’s College Basketball Scores EAST Army 51, Quinnipiac 50 UConn 79, Mass.-Lowell 23 SOUTH Georgia Southern 118, Coastal Georgia 48 Louisiana-Monroe 68, Northwestern St. 55 Memphis 69, McNeese St. 48 Mississippi 86, MVSU 46 N. Kentucky 61, Robert Morris 33 Presbyterian 68, ETSU 38 SC State 69, UNC-Asheville 60 MIDWEST Cent. Michigan 79, Cincinnati 62 Iowa St. 85, N. Dakota St. 64 Kansas St. 66, Nebraska-Omaha 59 Milwaukee 61, Green Bay 58 Oakland 76, Ill.-Chicago 70 UMKC 89, SIU-Edwardsville 81 Valparaiso 75, W. Michigan 51 Wright St. 75, Detroit 55 SOUTHWEST Houston Baptist 103, McMurry 30 FAR WEST Nevada 74, Sacramento St. 61 S. Utah 84, Grand Canyon 83 OTHER Tarleton State 95, Champion Christian College 27 Women’s Top 25 College Basketball Schedule Sunday No. 1 Stanford at California, 10 p.m.

No. 2 Louisville vs. North Carolina, 4 p.m.

No. 4 NC State at Boston College, 2 p.m.

No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 15 Oregon St., 7 p.m.

No. 9 Kentucky vs. Samford, 2 p.m.

No. 10 Texas A&M vs. Abilene Christian, 6 p.m.

No. 11 UCLA at Southern California, 3 p.m.

No. 13 Arkansas vs. Central Arkansas, 3 p.m.

No. 15 Indiana vs. Butler, TBA No. 21 Missouri St. at Missouri, 3 p.m.

No. 23 Texas vs. Tennessee, 5 p.m.

No. 24 DePaul vs. Loyola Chicago, 4 p.m.

No. 25 Gonzaga vs. Montana, 5 p.m.

MLB Calendar Jan. 15 — International amateur signing

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN)

North Alabama at Indiana Rhode Island at Western Kentucky Oakland at Michigan State Richmond at West Virginia N. Kentucky at Kent State Penn State at Michigan Northern Illinois at Iowa Mississippi Valley State at Vanderbilt Texas at Baylor San Francisco at California Cleveland State at Ohio State Southern Illinois (Edwardsville) at Northwestern Portland State at Washington State St. John's at Georgetown Stanford at Southern California COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN)

Clemson at Pittsburgh North Carolina State at Boston College South Alabama at Auburn Tennessee at Texas Abilene Christian at Texas A&M Oregon at Oregon State Stanford at California COLLEGE HOCKEY (MEN)

Ohio State at Notre Dame GOLF

LPGA Tour: The U.S. Open PGA Tour: The QBE Shootout PGA Tour: The QBE Shootout LPGA Tour: The U.S. Open NBA BASKETBALL

Preseason: Washington at Brooklyn Preseason: LA Clippers at LA Lakers NFL FOOTBALL

Dallas at Bengals

Indianapolis at Las Vegas Green Bay at Detroit Pittsburgh at Buffalo RUGBY

European Champions Cup: Glasgow at Exeter, Group Stage, Group B (taped) SKIING

FIS: Alpine Skiing World Cup, Courchevel, France (taped) FIS: Cross-Country World Cup, Davos, Switzerland (taped) FIS: Ski Flying World Championships, Planica, Slovenia (taped)

NBCSN

SOCCER (MEN)

Premier League: Sheffield United at Southampton Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur at Crystal Palace Premier League: Liverpool at Fulham Premier League: Burnley at Arsenal SURFING

WSL: The Maui Pro, Championship Tour

MLS MLS Cup Saturday, Dec. 12 Seattle at Columbus, 8 p.m.

GOLF LPGA Tour Women's Open Championship Friday At Champions Golf Course Houston, Texas Cypress Creek Yardage: 6,731; Par: 71 Jackrabbit Yardage: 6,558; Par 71 Purse: $1.3 million (a) Second Round Leaders Hinako Shibuno 68-67-135 -7 (a)Linn Grant 69-69-138 -4 (a)Kaitlyn Papp 71-68-139 -3 Megan Khang 70-69-139 -3 Amy Olson 67-72-139 -3 Lindsey Weaver 70-70-140 -2 Sarah Schmelzel 71-69-140 -2 Ashleigh Buhai 71-69-140 -2 Cristie Kerr 71-69-140 -2 Stacy Lewis 72-68-140 -2 Ariya Jutanugarn 70-70-140 -2 Moriya Jutanugarn 68-72-140 -2 Yuka Saso 69-71-140 -2 Azahara Munoz 71-70-141 -1 Yealimi Noh 72-69-141 -1 Lizette Salas 72-69-141 -1 Lydia Ko 71-70-141 -1 Sei Young Kim 72-69-141 -1 (a)Ingrid Lindblad 72-69-141 -1 Minyoung2 Lee 74-68-142 E Jodi Ewart Shadoff 70-72-142 E (a)P. Roussin-Bouchard 70-72-142 E (a)Maja Stark 70-72-142 E Jenny Shin 72-70-142 E Charley Hull 69-73-142 E Jeongeun Lee6 73-69-142 E Jennifer Kupcho 70-72-142 E A Lim Kim 68-74-142 E Perrine Delacour 72-71-143 +1 Hyejin Choi 70-73-143 +1 (a)Gabriela Ruffels 71-72-143 +1 Danielle Kang 72-71-143 +1 Jin Young Ko 73-70-143 +1 Seon Woo Bae 75-68-143 +1 Inbee Park 71-72-143 +1 Cheyenne Knight 75-69-144 +2 Mone Inami 73-71-144 +2 Linnea Strom 69-75-144 +2 Lauren Stephenson 72-72-144 +2 Pernilla Lindberg 74-70-144 +2 Mina Harigae 70-74-144 +2 Kana Mikashima 75-69-144 +2 Nasa Hataoka 71-73-144 +2 Hae Ran Ryu 72-72-144 +2 Anna Nordqvist 73-71-144 +2 Narin An 72-72-144 +2 Bronte Law 73-72-145 +3 Chella Choi 73-72-145 +3

Mi Hyang Lee 72-73-145 +3 Eri Okayama 76-69-145 +3 Su Oh 75-70-145 +3 Brittany Lincicome 70-75-145 +3 Jennifer Song 77-68-145 +3 Mamiko Higa 73-72-145 +3 Brooke Henderson 72-73-145 +3 Minjee Lee 74-71-145 +3 Hannah Green 72-73-145 +3 Sophia Popov 69-76-145 +3 So Yeon Ryu 72-73-145 +3 Jessica Korda 72-73-145 +3 Ally Ewing 73-72-145 +3 Madelene Sagstrom 74-71-145 +3 Gaby Lopez 74-71-145 +3 Yui Kawamoto 73-72-145 +3 Sayaka Takahashi 73-72-145 +3 Ji Yeong Kim 75-70-145 +3 European Tour Golf DP World Tour Championship Par Scores Saturday At Jumeirah Golf Estates Dubai, UAE Purse: $1.2 million Yardage: 7,675; Par: 72 Third Round Patrick Reed 70-64-71- 205 -11 Laurie Canter 71-66-68- 205 -11 Matthew Fitzpatrick 68-68-69- 205 -11 Lee Westwood 70-68-68- 206 -10 Viktor Hovland 71-69-66- 206 -10 Adri Arnaus 71-68-67- 206 -10 Robert Macintyre 68-72-66- 206 -10 Sami Valimaki 69-69-69- 207 -9 Danny Willett 72-67-69- 208 -8 Tyrrel Hatton 69-68-72- 209 -7 Andy Sullivan 71-71-67- 209 -7 Martin Kaymer 69-70-71- 210 -6 Branden Grace 72-66-72- 210 -6 Victor Perez 67-74-69- 210 -6 Erik Van Rooyen 68-73-70- 211 -5 Brandon Stone 73-71-67- 211 -5 Collin Morikawa 72-70-69- 211 -5 Shaun Norris 72-69-71- 212 -4 Tommy Fleetwood 69-69-74- 212 -4 Callum Shinkwin 70-71-71- 212 -4 C. Bezuidenhout 71-71-70- 212 -4 Marc Warren 72-72-68- 212 -4 Henrik Stenson 70-71-72- 213 -3 Ian Poulter 74-68-71- 213 -3 Kalle Samooja 74-68-71- 213 -3 George Coetzee 71-72-70- 213 -3 Matt Wallace 72-71-70- 213 -3 Marcus Kinhult 76-69-68- 213 -3 Sungjae Im 75-70-68- 213 -3 Sean Crocker 70-76-67- 213 -3 Garrick Higgo 70-77-66- 213 -3 Adrian Otaegui 75-66-73- 214 -2 Jamie Donaldson 70-75-69- 214 -2 Wil Besseling 72-73-69- 214 -2 Justin Harding 77-69-68- 214 -2 Joost Luiten 71-73-71- 215 -1 Dean Burmester 76-67-72- 215 -1 Masahiro Kawamura 72-73-70- 215 -1 Thomas Pieters 71-70-75- 216 E J. Janewattananond 70-73-73- 216 E Bernd Wiesberger 76-71-69- 216 E Thomas Detry 74-73-69- 216 E Wilco Nienaber 79-70-67- 216 E Tom Lewis 78-68-71- 217 +1 Joachim B. Hansen 74-72-71- 217 +1 Jordan Smith 74-72-71- 217 +1 Pablo Larrazabal 73-74-70- 217 +1 Scott Jamieson 74-70-74- 218 +2 Robert Rock 73-73-72- 218 +2 Jorge Campillo 72-74-72- 218 +2 Antoine Rozner 75-73-70- 218 +2 Connor Syme 73-73-72- 218 +2 Ross Fisher 73-75-70- 218 +2 Renato Paratore 75-73-70- 218 +2 John Catlin 75-74-69- 218 +2 Matthieu Pavon 74-76-69- 219 +3 Eddie Pepperell 78-73-69- 220 +4 Aaron Rai 72-76-73- 221 +5 Rasmus Hojgaard 76-68-78- 222 +6 Benjamin Hebert 75-77-70- 222 +6 Gavin Green 70-78-74- 222 +6 Marcus Armitage 73-74-76- 223 +7 Grant Forrest 75-74-75- 224 +8 Sam Horsfield 77-74-73- 224 +8 Graeme Mcdowell 73-WD-

BETTING LINE

Favorite

Pregame.com Line COLLEGE BASKETBALL Sunday Line

MICHIGAN ST 26 BWLING GREEN 3 W KENTUCKY 21⁄ 2 UMASS 3 W. VIRGINIA 7 MARSHALL 3 KENT ST 6 IOWA 31 MICHIGAN 71⁄ 2 W MICHIGAN 11 DRAKE 12 Loyola of Chi. 71⁄ 2 BAYLOR 8 San Francisco 3 RICE 21⁄ 2 N’WESTERN 20 OHIO STATE 241⁄ 2 CAL POLY 1 BOISE ST 17 Arizona St 81⁄ 2 WASH. ST 11 Jacksonville St 3 Mercer 41⁄ 2 GEORGETWN PK SOUTHRN CAL 1

Favorite

College Football Saturday

Ohio State Oklahoma Clemson CINCINNATI Alabama

Favorite

Green Bay Tennessee Dallas Arizona Houston CAROLINA TAMPA BAY Kansas City Indianapolis SEATTLE New Orleans San Francisco BUFFALO Favorite

Baltimore

O T O/U

19 20 41⁄ 2 5 7 11 12 15 14 13

59 581⁄ 2 611⁄ 2 46 72

Underdog

N’western Iowa St Notre Dame Tulsa Florida

NFL Sunday

O

Underdog

Oakland Wright St Rhode Island N’EASTERN Richmond Ohio N. Kentucky N. Illinois Penn St Milwaukee Air Force ILL.-CHICAGO Texas CALIFORNIA New Mexico SIU-Edwardsville Cleveland St San Jose St Weber State GRAND CANYN Portland State TENN TECH GA SOUTHERN St. Johns Stanford

T O/U

Underdog

61⁄ 2 81⁄ 2 55 DETROIT 81⁄ 2 71⁄ 2 521⁄ 2 JCKSNVILLE 1 3 ⁄ 2 3 43 CINCINNATI 3 21⁄ 2 451⁄ 2 NY GIANTS 11⁄ 2 11⁄ 2 451⁄ 2 CHICAGO 4 3 45 Denver 6 6 52 Minnesota 7 7 501⁄ 2 MIAMI 21⁄ 2 3 511⁄ 2 LAS VEGAS 15 141⁄ 2 47 NY Jets 61⁄ 2 71⁄ 2 421⁄ 2 PHILA. 5 3 43 Washington +2 2 48 Pittsburgh Monday

O T O/U

2 21⁄ 2 47

Underdog

CLEVELAND

TRANSACTIONS Saturday’s Transactions FOOTBALL National Football League WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM — Signed T David Steinmetz from the practice squad. Elevated RB Javon Leake from the practice squad. Place DE Ryan Anderson on the reserve/injured list.

HOCKEY National Hockey League ARIZONA COYOTES — Named Hunter Cherni as head video coordinator.

TODAY IN SPORTS Dec. 13 1942 – The Washington Redskins win the NFL Championship with a 14-6 victory over the Chicago Bears.

1958 – Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings scores his 400th NHL goal in a 2-2 tie against the Montreal Canadiens. Howe ties the game in the third period, beating goaltender Jacques Plante at 9:46, Howe joins Maurice Richard as the only players in NHL history to reach 400.

1981 – John McEnroe and Roscoe Tanner lead the United States to a 3-1 victory over Argentina in the Davis Cup final.

1983 – Detroit beats Denver 186-184 in triple overtime in the highest-scoring game in NBA history. Isiah Thomas scores 47 and John Long adds 41 for the Pistons.

Denver’s Kiki Vandeweghe had 51 points.

UPCOMING

AUTO RACING

Formula One: The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit World of Outlaws: The Late Model Firecracker (taped) World of Outlaws: The NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars (taped) Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series: The Pro Buggy/Pro 2 (taped)

period opens.

Feb. 1-19 — Salary arbitration hearings, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Feb. 17 — Voluntary reporting date for pitchers, catchers and injured players.

Feb. 22 — Voluntary reporting date for other players.

Feb. 27 — Mandatory reporting date.

March 15 — Last day to place a player on waivers for 30 days termination pay.

March 27 — Last day to offer a retention bonus to an eligible player attending spring training with a minor league contract.

March 30 — Last day to place a player on waivers for 45 days termination pay.

April 1 — Opening day, active rosters reduced to 26 players.

July 13 — All-Star Game, Atlanta.

July 25 — Hall of Fame induction, Cooperstown, N.Y. Dec. 1 — Collective bargaining agreement expires, 11:59 p.m. EST. Dec. 15 — International amateur signing period closes.

Sun. vs. Dallas, 1 p.m.

Dec. 21 vs. Pittsburgh, 8:15 p.m.

Dec. 27 at Houston, 1 p.m.

Wed. MBB vs. USF, 7 p.m.

Wed. WBB at Houston, 8 p.m.

Dec. 19 FB vs. Tulsa, 8 p.m.

Sun. WBB vs. North Carolina, ppd Wed. MBB vs. NC State, 7 p.m.

Sun. WBB vs. Samford, 2 p.m.

Wed. WBB at DePaul, 3 p.m.

Tues. MBB vs. Buffalo, 5:30 p.m.

Tues. WBB at Central Michigan, 2 p.m.

Sun. MBB vs. Cleveland State, 4 p.m.

Wed. MBB vs. Purdue, 7 p.m.

Sun. WBB vs. Wofford, 2 p.m.

Mon. WBB vs. Indiana State, 7 p.m.

Sun. MBB at Kent State, 2 p.m.

Sun. WBB vs. Robert Morris, 2 p.m.

SPORTS IN BRIEF Former Xavier star Bluiett gets shot with Utah Jazz The Utah Jazz announced Friday the signing of former Xavier University standout Trevon Bluiett.

The statement announcing Bluiett’s deal did not release the terms of the deal, which is team policy.

Bluiett played in 41 games in the 2019-20 season with the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League and averaged 14.9 points per game, shooting 49% from the fi eld and 43% from 3point range.

Bluiett, 26, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Xavier basketball players of all time, and his collegiate resume backs that up. Bluiett ranks second in Xavier history in total points and he holds the all-time 3-point record.

He was part of Xavier’s fi rst-ever Big East Conference championship and the program’s fi rst No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Adam Baum

NBA is back in action, in more unusual circumstances And the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers were home, with nobody there to watch.

The NBA preseason – a truncated 49-game, nine-day sprint – opened Friday with a fi ve-game slate, action returning to NBA arenas for the fi rst time in exactly nine months. Coaches debuted with their new teams: Stephen Silas with Houston, Tom Thibodeau with New York, Billy Donovan with Chicago and Tyronn Lue with the Los Angeles Clippers.

As will be the case in most buildings, at least to start the season, almost nobody was at any of these games.

Verstappen earns the pole in Abu Dhabi with blazing lap YAS ISLAND, Abu Dhabi – Red Bull driver Max Verstappen produced a stunning last lap and beat both Mercedes cars to take pole position for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

He was .025 seconds ahead of Valtteri Bottas and .086 clear of world champion Lewis Hamilton for his fi rst pole of the season and third of his career.

“Mega, mega lap!” Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner yelled over the radio when Verstappen crossed the line under fl oodlights at the Yas Marina circuit.

Associated Press

12C

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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The Enquirer

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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1D

BUSINESS

Let history show h Forum: Attorney says U.S. debt crisis will end badly for everyone. 5D

Founder of Moerlein Brewing laid off Hardman, 20 others victims of outsourcing Quinlan Bentley Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

The founder of Christian Moerlein Brewing Company has been laid off following a decision by the brewery’s owner to outsource its beer production.

Cincinnati Beverage Company, which owns the Moerlein, Little Kings, Hudepohl and Burger Beer brands, announced Monday that it has signed a production deal with another local brewing company, eff ectively ceasing production at its 1621 Moore St. location.

“It was the single hardest thing that I’ve ever done professionally.”

Jay Woffington

Christmas decorations are hot sellers this year Many stores are seeing their supply quickly depleted due to unexpectedly high demand

A

Patrick Cooley Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY NETWORK

fter sales of holiday decor and Christmas ornaments underperformed in 2019, the Columbus store Elm & Iron ordered less of the merchandise than usual in 2020. h That turned out to be a miscalculation. h “Most of ours is almost gone,” said Shell Sindle, who works in production and development for the store, which which has locations in Clintonville and Easton.

Stores are experiencing an explosion in demand for Christmas decor this season as more Ohioans stay home for the holidays and seek to add some seasonal spice to their homesteads. The unexpectedly high demand for decorations and ornaments means that many stores are seeing their supply quickly depleted.

Homeowners looking to spend this weekend hanging outdoor lights might fi nd themselves scrambling to fi nd all

they need.

At Home, a national chain of home goods stores with locations in Hilliard, Polaris and the Far East Side, is experiencing strong fourth quarter sales in 2020, driven largely by sales of seasonal items like Christmas decor, said Jamie Jo Boulogne, a senior vice president and the company’s general merchandising

Nikki Welsh, left, and her husband, Matthew, of Marysville, shop for holiday decorations on Dec. 3 at Red Stable Gifts in Columbus. More Ohioans are staying home for the holidays and seeking to add some seasonal spice to their properties.

Cincinnati Beverage Company CEO, on laying off Moerlein founder Greg Hardman and a 20-person production team

The move to outsource beer production is aimed at improving the production effi ciency and scalability of its brands, Cincinnati Beverage Company CEO Jay Woffi ngton told the Enquirer.

But that decision has resulted in the fi rings of Greg Hardman, Moerlein’s founder, as well as its 20-person production team, he said on Tuesday.

The company acquired all four brands back in March, shortly before Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered nonessential businesses to close in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Woffi ngton said.

“Executing a business plan that was built pre-COVID, all of a sudden smack dab in the middle of COVID was very challenging,” he said. “So, we’ve really used that opportunity to ... really scrutinize everything that we do.”

Of the fi rings, he said, “It was the See MOERLEIN, Page 3D

JOSHUA A. BICKEL/ COLUMBUS DISPATCH

See DECORATIONS, Page 4D

Christian Moerlein Brewing Company will cease production at 1621 Moore St. CHRISTIAN MOERLEIN BREWING COMPANY

Kings Island opening resort with cottages, RV sites Chris Mayhew Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Kings Island is about to welcome people to camp out near the amusement park’s roller coasters and rides.

The Cincinnati area entertainment destination in Warren County will open a new campground in spring 2021.

Kings Island calls it Camp Cedar.

The $27 million Camp Cedar will be a year-round outdoor luxury resort, according to a release from Kings Island.

The resort will include a pool and space to park 164 full-service recreational vehicles (RVs), according to the release. Amenities will also include: h Camp Cedar will open with 73 cottages with 100 additional cottages planned to be built. h Adult-exclusive pools. h Ponds. h A walking trail. h Unique dining options.

h Bathhouses. h Laundry facility. h Fire pits. h Grills. h Picnic tables.

Kings Island Camp Cedar is owned

by Small Brothers, LLC and Terra Firma Associates, according to the release.

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, the owner of Kings Island, will manage the camp, according to the release.

The general contractor on the project is Cleveland Construction. McHarris Architects is the project architect.

The Kleingers Group is the project’s civil engineer.

“It’s natural for us to partner with Cedar Fair, the owners of Kings Island,” said Jon Small, dhairman and CEO of Small Brothers in the release. “As a top destination in the area, their ability to entertain and provide a place to create lasting memories is exactly the type of experience we want our visitors to have at Kings Island Camp Cedar.”

An artist’s rendering shows what a poolside recreation area should look like when the new Camp Cedar is opened in spring 2021. KINGS ISLAND/PROVIDED

2D

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

BUSINESS

‘Slumlord’ Facebook comment not defamatory Strictly Legal Jack Greiner Guest columnist

An Iowa appellate court recently affi rmed a trial court’s award of summary judgment against an apartment owner who’d fi led a libel suit against a Facebook poster who’d referred to him as a “slumlord.” The Court found that in the context of a heated Facebook exchange, the comment was opinion and non-actionable.

The case started when a woman in Sloan, Iowa, identifi ed in the lawsuit as K.L, began constructing a dog care facility next to the Bauer Apartments. Richard Bauer, the trustee of the trust that owned the apartment complex, was concerned about his new furry neighbors. As the court put it, “[d]uring the course of the construction of the dog care facility, Bauer contacted K.L. to express concerns that the outdoor ‘dog run’ may become a nuisance issue and could be in vi-

olation of Sloan’s zoning ordinance.

Bauer also contacted the Sloan city council about his concerns. When his concerns were not addressed to his satisfaction, Bauer fi led suit against the city, alleging the city failed to enforce its zoning ordinances.”

In response, K.L. began commenting about the situation on her Facebook page. What could possibly go wrong there? A third party named Bradley Brinkman decided to weigh in with his own scatological commentary as follows: “It is because of s*** like this that I need to run for mayor! Mr. Bauer, you sir are a PIECE OF S***!!! Let’s not sugar coat things here people, [K.L.] runs a respectable business in this town! You sir are nothing more than a Slum Lord! Period. I would love for you to walk across the street to the east of your ooh so precious property and discuss this with me!”

Bauer sued Brinkman for libel, contending that his reputation was damaged by being labeled a “slumlord.” The trial court granted summary judgment for Brinkman and Bauer asked the Iowa

appellate court to overturn that decision.

Unfortunately for Bauer, the appellate court found that he was barking up the wrong tree.

In reaching its decision, the appellate court applied a four factor test to determine if the comment was opinion. A person cannot be liable for defamation for stating an opinion. And courts are frequently asked to decide if a comment constitutes opinion. The Iowa test is similar to that used in other states. It looks at (1) whether the “statement ‘has a precise core of meaning for which a consensus of understanding exists or, conversely, whether the statement is indefi nite and ambiguous’”; (2) the degree to which the statement is “objectively capable of proof or disproof ”; (3) “the context in which the” statement occurs; and (4) “the broader social context into which” the statement fi ts.

In considering the fi rst two factors, the Iowa court concluded that the term “slumlord” simply didn’t have a suffi ciently precise meaning to make it capable of proof or disproof. Bauer proposed a defi nition of the term that described a

slumlord as “unscrupulous” and one who acts without concern for tenants.

The court considered this defi nition so subjective as to be impossible of proof.

On the last two items that look at context, the court took note of the fact that Brinkman joined an already heated Facebook string. In the court’s view Brinkman’s “statements were made by adding to a chain of comments started between private individuals expressing disgruntlement over Bauer’s dispute with the city regarding K.L.’s dog care facility. ... it was clearly an exchange of opinions about the topic at hand.”

The court noted that it was not saying that “statements made on Facebook or other social media forums cannot be defamatory as a categorical rule.” But in this particular instance, Brinkman was expressing an opinion, which, albeit vulgar and off ensive, didn’t support Bauer’s claims. Not sure if this prompted Bauer to exclaim “doggone it.”

Jack Greiner is managing partner of Graydon law fi rm in Cincinnati. He represents Enquirer Media in First Amendment and media issues.

Why you need to understand Roth IRA’s ‘5-year’ rule Allworth Advice Amy Wagner & Nathan Bachrach Guest columnists

Question: Shannon in Pendleton County: I’m changing jobs and want to roll over my Roth 401(k) to my Roth IRA. How does the 5-year rule work in a situation like this?

A: We’re glad you’re asking about this because sometimes the fi ve-year rule can trip up people. As a refresher, in order to withdraw earnings from a Roth IRA tax free, you must be at least age 59 1⁄ 2 and you must have held the account for at least fi ve years (contributions can come out at any time tax free and penalty free). However, if you’re rolling over a Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA this fi ve-year clock gets ‘reset,’ so to speak. And the age of the Roth IRA is key to the whole puzzle.

For example, let’s say you’ve held your Roth IRA for six years and you’ve had your Roth 401(k) for four years. In this case, your Roth IRA clearly meets the fi ve-year rule, so if you roll over your Roth 401(k), you’re good to go. No ‘reset’

is necessary.

But what if we fl ip the scenario and say you’ve held your Roth IRA for four years and your Roth 401(k) for six years?

In this case, even though your Roth 401(k) meets the fi ve-year rule, your Roth IRA doesn’t. This means, once you complete the rollover, you would still have to wait another year until your Roth IRA hits that fi ve-year threshold before you can make any tax-free earnings withdrawals (assuming you’re also at least age 59 1⁄ 2).

Here’s The Allworth Advice: Roth IRAs are a great savings tool, but they come with specifi c rules. Be sure you keep careful records of when you opened it and made your fi rst contribution.

Q: Sean from Loveland: How can I help my son start building a credit history? He’s 16.

A: It’s good that you’re thinking ahead about something like this. Because a credit score can impact everything from car loan payments, to insurance rates, to whether or not a landlord will rent to someone, to whether or not an employer will hire someone – and building a strong credit score can be a laborious process, especially for a young adult.

One of the easiest ways to help your son is by adding him to one of your credit cards as an ‘authorized user.’ This will al-

low him to basically ‘piggyback’ off of your credit behavior. Assuming you have a strong credit score and positive credit habits, your son’s credit history will start refl ecting the same thing. But remember, it’s still your card – so any debt he racks up (or doesn’t pay) is still technically your responsibility.

If you decide to move forward with this idea, check with your card issuer about any potential fees that adding an authorized user will trigger. It’s free for most, but there are a few exceptions.

Also, double check to make sure a minor can be added (most cards require authorized users to be at least 13 years old, so there will likely be no issue with your situation). Furthermore, consider asking the issuer what type of authorized user information it will report to the major credit bureaus since that data will subsequently show up on your son’s credit history. According to creditcards.com, some issuers will report only positive items, but others will report both positive and negative items.

When your son fi nally has his own credit card in his own name (which legally can’t happen until age 21 in most cases), don’t be in too much of a hurry to remove him as an authorized user. Once you do, he’ll lose all that shared credit history. So, wait several months at minimum – even a few years.

The Allworth Advice is that adding a child as an authorized user is an easy way to give them a leg up since building credit from scratch can be diffi cult. Just make sure they – and you – practice responsible credit habits during this time.

Otherwise, this strategy will hurt more than help.

Every week, Allworth Financial’s Nathan Bachrach and Amy Wagner answer your questions. If you, a friend, or someone in your family has a money issue or problem, feel free to send those questions to yourmoney@enquirer.com.

Responses are for informational purposes only and individuals should consider whether any general recommendations in these responses are suitable for their particular circumstances based on investment objectives, fi nancial situation and needs. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specifi c issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional adviser of his/her choosing, including a tax adviser and/or attorney.

Retirement planning services off ered through Allworth Financial, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Securities off ered through AW Securities, a Registered Broker/Dealer, member FINRA/ SIPC. Call 513-469-7500 or visit allworthfi nancial.com.

Americans can pay their credit card bills – for now Federal relief will soon be coming to an end Ken Sweet ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK – The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t stopped Americans from keeping up with their credit card payments, thanks in large part to government relief programs passed by Congress earlier this year.

For some, however, the ability to keep buying things with plastic and then pay the bill likely depends on whether current negotiations in Washington produce another round of economic aid.

Many existing aid measures are set to soon expire.

The pandemic plunged the U.S. economy into a deep recession, costing millions of Americans their jobs and businesses. While the economy has recovered somewhat, the latest report on the job market shows the pace of hiring has slowed in the face of a wave of new COVID-19 cases.

While the banking industry has not shared industry wide statistics, the major credit card issuers – JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Capital One and American Express – have reported relatively stable delinquency rates despite the recession. Even Capital One, which lends to borrowers who may be less creditworthy, reported a decline in delinquency rates since a momentary spike earlier this year.

But both industry data and analysts

The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t stopped Americans from keeping up with their credit card payments, thanks in large part to government relief programs passed

by Congress earlier this year. JENNY KANE/AP

have made it clear: The measures the government took earlier this year have worked. Without them, the industry and cardholders would be in deeper trouble.

“The stimulus and unemployment benefi ts have defi nitely helped the lower end of (credit card borrowers),” said Sanjay Sakhrani, an analyst at investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.

As part of the $2 trillion coronavirus aid bill Congress enacted in March, most Americans got a $1,200 stimulus check.

While the Census Bureau found that the bulk of Americans used their funds toward household expenses, roughly one out of fi ve used it to pay down debt. Experts also argue that some household expenses would have ended up on credit cards were it not for stimulus checks and healthy unemployment benefi ts.

In some ways, what’s going on in the credit card market also refl ects the diverging fortunes of those impacted by the pandemic.

Since the Great Recession more than 10 years ago, few mainstream credit card companies have put eff ort into lending to subprime borrowers or to the poor. Credit card companies are now focusing most of their attention on middle- to upperclass borrowers, who typically have jobs allowing them to work remotely and are not in businesses that have been shut down due to the virus.

Even so, many middle-class individuals who do work in industries impacted by the pandemic have gotten fi nancial relief through extended unemployment benefi ts or government and private programs that have allowed borrowers to

enter into forbearance or deferred payment programs.

“But those measures are now sunsetting, and (once they are gone, these borrowers) are most likely to be the fi rst to feel pressure and pain,” said Sakhrani of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.

Congress appears to be making progress toward an agreement on a new COVID-19 relief bill in the $1 trillion range. Additional unemployment benefi ts are likely, though it’s unclear if Americans will see another round of stimulus checks.

Credit card executives have for months been bracing for the impact on their customers if there is no new aid. “(Like our competitors), our customers are also helped by external factors such as the impact of record levels of government stimulus and the broad availability of forbearance programs,” said Jeff Campbell, American Express’ chief fi nancial offi cer, in October with a call with investors. “As a result, we do remain cautious about the potential for future shocks to the economy.”

One point of uncertainty is how banks are reporting their credit card loans. The coronavirus aid bill and government regulators have required the industry to provide borrowers accommodations and relief without having to report these loans as troubled on their balance sheets, which accounting rules would otherwise require the banks to report as losses.

In the absence of these programs and regulations, it’s unclear whether delinquencies would be higher, at least on paper.

cincinnati.com

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BUSINESS MINORITY BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Florence entrepreneur co-founded TSP Solutions We are ‘learning to thrive in a challenging time’

After McGregor began working for himself at TSP Solutions, he learned that a successful business needs both its revenues and capital from private investments to succeed.

McGregor also learned that having a “tremendous partner and team” of fi ve employees goes a long way, too.

“I am an African American and it was challenging at times in this space because there are not many African Americans in this industry,” he said. “I was able to connect with the TMSDC (TriState Minority Supplier Development Council) to bring some level of marketing and visibility to our business. We are now working with the MBA (Minority Business Accelerator) to continue to help us grow our business.

“We are a company that is learning to thrive in a challenging time for most small businesses in general.”

Jeanne Houck Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK

Charlie McGregor worked more than 15 years in sales for other people’s companies, but he always believed he would end up at the helm of his own fi rm.

McGregor was right.

He and business partner Vince Spencer bid goodbye to their bosses and launched TSP Solutions, a minorityowned-and-operated business in Florence, in 2007.

McGregor, who lives in Florence, is president. Spencer, who lives in Union, is vice president of the company.

TSP Solutions makes energy-curable coatings and specialty inks, synthetic resin and pine chemicals for print and packaging, automotive and industrial markets.

The company is certifi ed by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

“It was always my end game to have my own business,” McGregor said.

“I believe that there are so many opportunities to continue to build equity in yourself and have a bigger impact in your community.”

McGregor, 49, is from Miami.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in occupational safety and health, both from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

McGregor has since learned many more things outside the classroom.

He got a lot of practical experience working for Greif Inc., a manufacturer of industrial packaging based in Delaware, Ohio, and for Champion Industries, a commercial printing fi rm, a businessform manufacturer and supplier of offi ce supplies based in Huntington, West Virginia.

'Don't be afraid to fail'

Charlie McGregor, co-founder and president of TSP Solutions, which makes coatings, specialty inks and chemicals for print and packaging. ROOTED CREATIVE

McGregor encourages other business people to follow their dreams.

“My advice would be to be prepared to take some steps and sacrifi ce backwards before you can move forward,” he said.

“Don't be afraid to fail, and be consistent.

“I continue to keep God at the center of our business because apart from him we can do nothing.”

McGregor is a board member of Northern Kentucky Young Life and belongs to a small faith-based group and a men’s faith-based group.

When he has free time, he likes to spend it with family and friends.

McGregor and his wife of 25 years, Summer, have four adult children.

And, “I love sports in general,” he said.

The Enquirer is partnering with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber on this Minority Business Spotlight series.

This is the 11th of 12 stories that will appear on Cincinnati.com and The Enquirer. Videos and photos for the series were provided by Rooted Creative for the Cincinnati Minority Business Collaborative.

MILLENNIAL MONEY

10 money insights distilled over 25 years of experience stant marketing is having a reason to say no to temptations. You do that by establishing fi nancial goals. That doesn’t just mean the far-off “saving for retirement.”

It could mean saving for a trip to the Bahamas. You know, when people get back to traveling to the Bahamas.

Gregory Karp NerdWallet

The importance of money has less to do with aff ording the newest iPhone or measuring career success, and far more to do with the core of being human: freedom, ego, stress and relationships.

How we use and think about money – not just accumulating lots of it – literally can determine our happiness during the roughly 30,000 days many of us are privileged to be alive.

Those are a few of the big-picture insights I learned in 25 years of writing about money.

In 1995, some of the last millennials were being born, a jury said O.J. Simpson was not guilty and “Toy Story” played in theaters.

It’s also the year I became business news editor at a daily newspaper in Pennsylvania, where I started editing guest columns written by local fi nancial planners and stockbrokers. I quickly became fascinated with the baffl ing world of personal fi nance.

How could I graduate from college – with a business degree, no less – and still not know the basics of how money works for real people in the real world?

Saving, investing, taxes, credit and insurance – it’s almost as if personal fi nance was confusing on purpose.

Sometimes, it is.

I had the privilege as a fi nancial journalist to fi gure out some of it by interviewing smart people about money for the next 25 years – through the dotcom bubble of 2001, the housing bubble of 2008 and the pandemic of 2020.

Here are things I learned:

Moerlein Continued from Page 1D

single hardest thing that I’ve ever done professionally.”

Since taking over the business earlier

Saving, investing, taxes, credit and insurance – it’s almost as if personal fi nance was confusing on purpose.

Sometimes, it is. WILFREDO LEE/AP FILE

It will rain If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s that bad stuff happens, no matter who you are. A rainy-day fund is fundamental to keep us fi nancially safer in case of an unexpected large expense, job loss or even globe-ravaging viruses.

Start with $500 squirreled away and aim to build it to three to six months of living expenses. Breadwinners die, people get sick, and cars crash. You also need the right insurance to keep you from fi nancial ruin.

Where goals live To help set goals, review your calendar and bank statements. Where you spend your time and money is who you are. Time and money are what you change to become who you want to be.

Budgeting is overrated There, I said it. But if you’re not going to create a household budget, at least regularly examine your past spending and categorize it. Financial websites and apps can help. Money leaks will be obvious, as will ideas for intentional spending.

The ledger has two sides You can’t out-earn dumb spending, and you can’t nickel-and-dime your way to prosperity. When it comes to money management, you have income and outgo. The rest is just details. On the other hand, it really helps to know some details.

means investing.

Where credit’s due In 1995, you couldn’t even look up your credit score or see your credit reports. Now, you can and should. Poor credit means you could be denied for not only a loan or credit card but also for a job or an account with the electric company to turn the lights on.

Ride to prosperity If you’re vigilant with only one purchase in your life, make it your next car.

New cars, especially luxury brands, are wealth-repellent to all but the richest among us. That’s because of high newcar prices and their wicked depreciation, not to mention interest if you’re fi nancing it. Buying used is far better advice now than in 1995, when that often meant “buying someone else’s problems.” Today, used cars are far more dependable.

It’s unfair

The antidote to the poison of con-

Most people cannot get ahead solely by trading their time for money at a job.

Instead, your money needs to make its own money. You can’t do that with minuscule bank interest anymore, so it

Money smarts are insuffi cient to overcome some fi nancial woes: stagnant wages coupled with rocketing costs for health care, housing and education, to name a few. And some careers simply don’t pay as much as others, despite requiring similar skills. That leads to different money problems and opportunities for diff erent people. And yes, economic inequities also exist by race and sex. That means those with extra can be sloppier with money. Those living closer to the margin? They are forced to make better money decisions every day.

this year, Woffi ngton said he’s noticed a lot of negative reviews regarding product quality, but this move aims to fi x that.

“The challenge is that requires an entire review, from seed to sip, of how that product gets made, how it gets handled, how it gets distributed, everything,” he said, adding the current brewing facility

is too outdated to deliver the desired level of quality.

But it was important for the company to keep its beer production in Cincinnati, Woffi ngton said. “... the legacy of Cincinnati’s brewing heritage is really impressive,” he said.

“And to think about these brands as not

being made here. I think it just would be very diffi cult.”

Cincinnati Beverage Company has not disclosed the name of the local brewing company it’s partnering with.

In June, the company closed the Christian Moerlein Malthouse Taproom in Over-the-Rhine indefi nitely.

Marketing matters Advertising existed 25 years ago, but not on a computer in your pocket that you look at 100 times a day. And not with ads targeting you as an individual.

Temptation to buy has never been greater thanks to the evolution of technology and social media.

Score a goal

Time-for-money is a fail

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THE ENQUIRER

BUSINESS

Decorations Continued from Page 1D

manager.

“I think we’re all pleasantly surprised,” she said. “We’re defi nitely exceeding expectations.”

Even the third quarter saw a 20% increase over last year, partially because shopping for Christmas decorations started earlier.

“The customer(s) started calling and stopping by earlier than any other prior year,” Boulogne said.

Dan Friedman owns Light Before Christmas on the Far West Side, which installs Christmas lights on homes and businesses. He said demand is up 25% to 30% compared to previous years.

“People are looking for a little happiness, a little joy,” he said. “One way (to fi nd that) might be through decorations.”

The spike in sales hasn’t benefi ted everyone. Jeff Smith, owner of the Red Stable souvenir and gift shop in German Village, said the shop continues to experience a reduction in sales across the board this year, including among Christmas-themed products.

“People are still buying,” he said, but the store saw reduced foot traffi c thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

The store sells items through its website, but Smith said most of its Christmas decorations and ornaments aren’t listed there because “it’s one-of-a-kind stuff .”

Retailers attribute the enhanced interest in Christmas decorating to the increased amount of time customers are spending at home. (Travel over this year’s Thanksgiving holiday dropped by more than half compared to 2019, according to AAA.) As they spend more time at home, central Ohioans “are more interested in having their house decorated,” Friedman said.

Boulogne said shoppers are also looking for pleasant activities in an uncertain time.

“Decorating for Christmas brings people joy,” she said.

Stores both large and small said they are close to running out of some Christ-

Holiday decorations sit out for sale on Dec. 3 at Red Stable Gifts in Columbus.

Holiday decorations are in high demand this season, with many stores seeing shortages of items. JOSHUA A. BICKEL/COLUMBUS DISPATCH

mas items.

“From my own personal shopping experience out in the world, I noticed a lack of lights to be found in various markets,” said Jennifer Roy, who owns the Urban Emporium in Bexley, which sells items from local artists.

The spike in demand will likely lead to “some suppression of inventory,” Boulogne said.

“I don’t think any of us expected the demand we have,” she said.

She said At Home was able to acquire more inventory as the season wore on, and she expects the store’s supply to outlast that of its competitors.

Even as demand for their services wanes as Christmas gets closer, “we’re still getting 30 or 40 requests for estimates a day,” Friedman said. But “by the end of this week I don’t know if we’ll have any more room on the production schedule.”

Consumers’ interest also has turned to diff erent items this season, according to retailers.

“Ornaments are going much bigger than in previous years,” Sindle said.

Retailers say specialty items acknowledging the unique struggles of 2020 are especially popular.

The Urban Emporium sells plenty of those items, Roy said, including a wood cutout of a house that reads “I’ll be home for the Holidays, I’ve been there all year already.”

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cincinnati.com

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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5D

FORUM COVID-19 protections for workers still sorely lacking Your turn Magda Orlander and Jorge Lopez Guest columnists

Throughout COVID-19 there has been a lack of genuine concern for worker protections. Despite the early public demonstrations of gratitude for medical and frontline workers, the term “essential workers” has eff ectively remained a buzz word with little to show for in practice.

Meaningful protective measures are still sorely lacking, as the pandemic is reaching new highs in terms of infections and deaths almost daily.

COVID-19 has spread through workplaces from offi ces to factories to retail stores across the country because employers fail to adopt CDC guidelines, and even go out of their way to lobby against public health directives that would make workplaces safer. Over eight months into this pandemic, workers across industries report that they still lack basic health and safety protections.

Despite only having 4% of the global population, the USA has seen roughly 22% of COVID-19 deaths worldwide.

And our numbers are not improving: roughly a quarter of new infections were reported in November. And while local recommendations are encouraging people to limit their personal interactions, avoiding crowds and forgoing social activities this holiday season, few public directives actually address the main site of spread: the workplace.

As time has passed and economies have reopened, rates of infection, hospitalizations and deaths have been See PROTECTIONS, Page 7D

A Tom Bihn factory that shifted its production from travel bags to face masks during the COVID-19 outbreak.

JOE NICHOLSON

IT’S NECESSARY

In this April fi le photo, a sign displaying the size of the national debt is displayed along an empty K Street in Washington.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Debt crisis in US will end badly for everyone Your Turn Mark Combs Guest columnist

“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.” – Thomas Jeff erson With the various stimulus packages this year, our national debt has eclipsed $25 trillion. The founders of our country would be aghast that America has descended from being the single-largest creditor nation in the history of the world to being the single-largest debtor nation in the history of the world over the past 60 years.

Jeff erson famously warned that “(W)e must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.” Despite the advent of Keynesian economic theory in the 1930s, that mindset prevailed until 1960.

In 1960, the last year of the Eisenhower administration, the national debt stood at $291 billion as the country was recovering from World War II, the Kore-

It is disheartening to watch as politicians spurn the wisdom of the ages. an War and a recession. Yet, the federal government had a balanced budget without consideration of Social Security receipts that were regarded as a separate trust fund.

For historical perspective, the national debt hovered under $1 trillion when President Reagan took offi ce. By 2000, the national debt escalated to $5.6 trillion. During the last two years of the Clinton administration, modest surpluses were achieved as President Clinton worked with a Republican-controlled Congress. Those budgets notably included Social Security receipts, but they were still small steps toward fi scal responsibility.

The unconscionable levels of federal defi cit spending that followed resulted in the national debt growing to nearly

$10 trillion by 2008, when President Obama took offi ce.

By the end of his eight years in offi ce, the national debt had more than doubled to $20 trillion. Now, with COVID-19 stimulus packages, politicians have added trillions more.

In an ideal world, politicians would thrash out the budget priorities based on the tax revenue allotted to them instead of borrowing with no plan or intention to repay their inter-generational theft.

Both political parties know that a vast majority of voters are either oblivious to the problem or are desensitized to the steady erosion of the dollar so that they no longer perceive it as a threat to our nation’s freedom and prosperity.

The Bowles-Simpson Commission and Report of 2010 off ered a brief ray of hope that spending could be curbed.

Sadly, Democratic politicians have an insatiable spending addiction. Republican politicians have paid lip service to it, but have either lacked political will or clout to do anything about it. Rabid parSee COMBS, Page 7D

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Those who back rigged election should resign A petition for a roll-call vote should be made in both the Senate and House of Representatives asking our legislators whether they believe the president’s claims that the 2020 election was rigged is true or not. Those who say “true” should be asked to immediately resign since this calls into question the legitimacy of their own elections. They can’t have it both ways.

Keith Thompson, Fort Thomas

Neither Biden signs nor cross are hateful A recent letter to the editor contrasted a home displaying a 15-foot illuminated cross with a nearby home displaying 30 Biden signs and asks, “Who is kindling the fl ames of hate?” I would have to say neither. The Biden signs must annoy Trump supporters, but the cross could be annoying to Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, those seeking the Tao and others who don’t celebrate Christmas. A democratic system of voting and freedom of religion are cornerstones of American democracy, and we would do well not to let them slip through our fi ngers.

Robert Sharkey, West Chester

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THE ENQUIRER

OPINION

WRITING LETTERS OR OP-EDS: Letters of up to 200 words may be submitted by fi lling out the form at static.cincinnati.com/letter/ or emailing letters@enquirer.com. Include name, address, community and daytime phone number. Op-eds are submitted the same way except they should be 500-600 words and also include a one-sentence bio and head shot. Submissions may be edited for space and clarity.

What to do when apart? Fry potatoes anyway Your Turn Katie Vogel Guest columnist

It’s a basic human inclination to huddle together in the darkest part of the year, create light by any means necessary, and get tanked.

My people have a pretty simple operating system for the darkest day of the year. While Hanukkah is not a major holiday, it does celebrate a radical rebellion against assimilation, which I’m here for. It’s also an opportunity to burn down your house accidentally with the cooking oil of your choice, get some good burns from oil splatters, and defi nitely grate the skin off of your fi nger when you miss the potato or onion for the latke batter.

There’s another opportunity to set your possessions afl ame with a religiously signifi cant candelabra. And because it’s dark and cold, there’s usually a fair bit of vodka.

Somehow, it’s always turned out OK and the fi re department has yet to be called for assistance. When cooking for a crowd, somehow there’s a rhythm to the grating of potatoes and no one gets a piece of a fi nger in their potato pancake.

Mercifully, no one has yet come down with alcohol poisoning from my husband’s infused vodka creations.

So yes, usually we get rowdy – longest, darkest days of the year and all of that. We’ve been celebrating like this since we started dating in 2007. But it’s 2020 and I’m certain things could not be more diff erent than when we were surreptitiously toasting l’chaims – to life – with truly awful bottom-shelf vodka in the basement of my dorm with a few friends.

This year, it’s just us. I’m not stresscleaning the house in advance of guests.

It’s not 15 kinds of cookies, a pound of homemade sour cream, a gallon of freshly made applesauce, 300 latkes, and my husband doing some impressive footwork around guests who are always drawn to the kitchen for an extra-fresh pancake. There isn’t a four-foot long todo list and menu dangling precariously off of my fridge.

After giving up all of our major holiday celebrations this year and the people, places, and comfort that come with those celebrations, Hanukkah seems more minor and smaller than ever.

While there’s a bitter taste in my mouth as I think about all of the things that haven’t happened this year, our typical Hanukkah celebration on an enormous scale is a very small thing to give up. As of writing this, Dec. 9 represented the deadliest day to date in the pandemic. I’m fi nding myself becoming numb to the obituaries and the numbers because they’ve become too large to easily imag-

Latkes, or potato pancakes, are an easy, traditional treat for Hanukkah.

COURTESY RITA HEIKENFELD

ine. I know I’m not alone in feeling this level of burnout and sadness.

But by the time we get to Christmas, it’s likely that more than 300,000 Americans will have perished.

There’s a practice in public health called harm-reduction. It’s the acknowledgment that people will always take part in risky behaviors, so it’s time to make those behaviors less risky. Shame is rarely a motivator that results in changing behaviors. No one will stop my husband from frying latkes for Chanukah, but he wears kitchen shoes and long sleeves and not imbibe while handling molten oil.

In the darkest days of the year, we have some choices about how we cope with this shadow of a pandemic. We can choose to worship at the altar of individualism and carry on as normal, because

our happiness and enjoyment, however fl eeting, is what matters. Or we can consider that this season, when we are called to bring more light to the world, that it’s OK for that act to be a little smaller.

While no guests have been in my house since March, there’s still a 20pound bag of Idaho potatoes and a drawer full of Vidalia onions. We’ll decorate and load up a friend’s Radio Flyer with an electric menorah and a chafi ng dish stuff ed with 100 or so latkes and deliver them to neighbors’ porches along with some jelly donuts and some individual containers of homemade applesauce and sour cream. I’m certain my husband will somehow remember to bring a little tipple in a fl ask.

We aren’t meant to be alone at this time of year. And this season is bitter.

Trying to behave as though everything is normal – which it most certainly is not – will only cause us more grief. But bringing light to the darkness isn’t something that requires gathering en masse to light menorahs or open presents.

It requires a little bit of creativity, pride in our traditions and identity, and a fi rm belief that this moment will pass.

And a Radio Flyer full of potato pancakes can’t hurt.

Katie Vogel is a communications consultant who lives in Northside with her husband and fl ock of very rowdy chickens.

Heed CDC’s advice for remainder of holiday season Your Turn Dr. Roosevelt Walker III Guest columnist

December brings not only the traditional American holiday season, but in 2020, it is heralding the worsening of the much-expected COVID-19 fall surge.

Clearly, the warnings of this surge being worse than the devastation of the spring and summer of this year were accurate.

Infections are exploding as evidenced by the over 205,000 new infections diagnosed on Dec. 3. Hospitalizations in the U.S. reached a pandemic high record of 101,000. The lives of over 277,000 Americans have ended due to this virus, including over 2,700 snuff ed out on Dec. 3. This number represents the deadliest day since the pandemic began. We lost more Americans in twoday period than the total number of our soldiers killed during our two-decade confl ict in Afghanistan.

An infection rate of less than 5% is present in only seven states. The White House taskforce is predicting another surge on top of this current increase due to this past Thanksgiving travel. We are

likely to see another dramatic rise in cases, hospitalizations and deaths two to three weeks after the recent Thanksgiving weekend. These health impacts are in addition to the severe economic devastation associated with this viral pandemic.

There is some good news! Two vaccine manufacturers have requested Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA. Pfi zer says that its vaccine is slightly over 95% eff ective and Moderna is reporting 94.5% vaccine effectiveness. If the EUAs are granted, these two vaccines will be available to health care providers and nursing home residents in the latter part of this month.

It is projected that vaccines will be available for the public, depending upon people’s severity of risk, beginning in January 2021. It is further expected that every citizen will have the ability to be vaccinated by the end of June 2021. Because we are in “the most diffi cult time in the public health history of this country,” according to the head of the CDC, we must still mask to save tens of thousands of lives.

African Americans continue to be disproportionately impacted by this dreadful disease. People of African descent, compared to Caucasians, are 2.6

times as likely to contract the disease, 4.7 times as likely to be hospitalized, and 2.1 times as likely to die from COVID-19 infection. If the death rate from COVID-19 was the same for African Americans as for Caucasians, 25,000 more Black Americans would be alive today.

A greater proportion of Black businesses are shuttered, nonessential jobs lost, and the education of Black children is more severely aff ected by being out of the classroom. It stands to reason that those who have been disproportionately aff ected by COVID-19 will be assured the appropriate benefi t of vaccines. Unfortunately, the historical and understandable distrust of the health care system is superimposed on the politicization of this rapidly developed vaccine.

A Pew Research poll from October 2020 revealed that only 32% of African American adults would take a COVID-19 vaccine. Convincing the skeptical will require data transparency, the silence of any politician not promoting the public health good, a monumental public relations campaign, and buy in from trusted community members. It takes extraordinary eff ort to overcome mistrust.

No matter your ethnicity or religious identifi cation, family and friend gatherings are the hallmarks of this American

holiday season. The CDC advice for us not to travel over Thanksgiving was not adequately heeded. The USA is about to see the ramifi cations of these individual decisions. We health care providers hope and encourage all Americans to heed the CDC recommendation over the remainder of this season.

Do not travel, but still celebrate this holiday season with those who live in your household. The CDC also recommends that we wear masks when outside of our homes, or even at home if someone visits who does not usually live there. New data shows that if 95% of Americans wear masks, 66,000 American lives will be spared by April 1, 2021.

Because of the emotional stress caused by COVID-19, Americans assuredly anticipated this holiday season as a respite from isolation and despair.

Yet, we must dig deep as Americans and wait a little longer. Get your fl u vaccine, MASK up, WASH your hands, WATCH your distance and avoid crowds and WAIT to get vaccinated.

Dr. Roosevelt Walker III is president of the Cincinnati Medical Association. Dr. Clyde Henderson is treasurer of the Cincinnati Medical Association and chairman of the Medical Executive Committee.

Time for great escape of the big brat in White House Kathleen Parker Columnist

In the fi lm version of Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons,” the most memorable scene features the pope’s camerlengo, or right-hand man, hijacking a helicopter from St. Peter’s Square, along with, implausibly, a vessel containing antimatter.

The camerlengo ostensibly intends to save the Vatican from an antimatter attack plotted by various church conspirators. In fact, the plotter is the camerlengo himself. What matters today is that the camerlengo bails out just before the chopper explodes and, wearing a parachute, fl oats celestially to the basilica roof, where he kneels in prayer and is proclaimed a hero-savior.

I’ve ruined the movie if you haven’t seen it, but stand by: Another movie about getaways is in the making, starring President Donald Trump, who is said to be plotting a dramatic exit from the White House – aboard Marine One in his last government-subsidized chopper

ride, followed by a fl ight to Florida for a rally timed opposite the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden.

What a sad little man.

Of course, Trump might have based his fantasy escape from any of several action fl icks, but “Angels and Demons” off ers several obvious parallels: Trump’s messianic self-regard, his acute narcissism, his need for maximum attention and cinematic diversion.

He’s a legend in his own mind, and a reality-TV celebrity to boot. Nothing so ordinary as acquiescence or participation in the inauguration would suit his supreme ridiculousness. Not only has Trump refused to concede to Biden, but he has also declined to invite him to the White House, as is customary, much less signal he’ll attend the inauguration.

As we’ve long known, he’s a brat. A big, bawling baby who wants his paci.

It’s little wonder that Trump was so attracted to North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, the man-boy whose people’s coerced loyalty Trump envied. If only Trump could have commanded such devotion from His People, he said in so many words.

They say the very rich are diff erent from you and me, and this is certainly true when it comes to the rules. Born to

wealth and privilege, little-boy Trump has never had to play by the regular rules of conduct: personal, business or otherwise. His talent for making deals at the expense of lesser mortals – combined with his strategic use of bankruptcy as a money-making instrument – has basically allowed him to proclaim victory on the backs of the screwed.

Today, those backs belong to the American voters who decided he should no longer win. The guy who can’t stop talking about winning has lost and simply can’t, or refuses to, believe it. This is the man who said dead and wounded troops were losers – and that the late Sen. John McCain was a hero only because he was captured.

I can think of few who so richly deserved losing as Donald J. Trump – for his lack of character alone. If he managed some things well during his four years in the White House, he should get credit, possibly for removing barriers to the speedy development of the coronavirus vaccine. But he likely won’t be remembered for what little good he did. His poor sportsmanship upon losing fair and square has overwhelmed any public sympathy or the fare-thee-well extended to those who accept defeat gracefully.

Trump doesn’t just make himself look bad; he makes the country look bad. For this, he should be shuttled out of town riding a jackass backward, wearing a clown suit. He might take a few Republicans with him.

Although Trump’s bogus, conspiratorial claims – from faulty Dominion voting systems to widespread voter fraud - have been repeatedly debunked, only 27 House and Senate Republicans acknowledge that Biden won, exhaustive reporting by The Washington Post shows.

By attaching themselves to Trump’s lies and fallacies, these Republicans in denial are captives themselves, prisoners of the president’s madness and nothing like heroes. The ultimate irony is that Trump despises people like them. He may demand submission, but he is contemptuous of their weakness. He knows he’s selling snake oil, but he also knows that people need to believe in snake oil.

Finally, the barker has run out of magic potion and soon will parachute into a Florida rally, where he’ll shout to the heavens not a benediction but the same deranged rant: “I won. I won. I won.” Pray there is no sequel.

Write to Kathleen Parker: kathleenparker@washpost.com.

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FORUM LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

My father died of loneliness, not COVID-19 Perhaps The Enquirer would like to show another face of COVID-19. That could be my father who was a resident of a nursing home. Our family took him out to breakfast, lunch, doctors visits, etc., at least twice a week, and visited him almost daily until the COVID-19 lockdown in March. From that point on, my father was isolated and alone. He declined, and on June 3, he died. Not from COVID-19, but from loneliness and isolation. My father earned four bronze stars in WWII and was an American defender. He did not deserve to die alone. When I read your article about the face of COVID-19, all I felt was jealousy that Dr. Mobley can be with his mother as she approaches the end of her life. His blaming staff for not following protocol is unwarranted.

Instead of blame, focus should be on how to allow visitation safely so no one else in nursing homes dies from loneliness or COVID-19.

Kathleen Ernst, Westwood

End this election farce now Recently, I spoke to Rob Portman’s offi ce (I refuse to call him senator), telling them I considered the phone call to be the most important of my lifetime. After spending approximately 25 years as a registered Republican, I felt that I deserved some response. Instead, I received a specious and garbled response to my request to end this election farce.

Again, he states for us “not to worry,” it will all be over in a COUPLE WEEKS! We do not have a couple weeks, as our population is being decimated by this virus while the incumbent is twiddling his thumbs, destroying America! And our electoral system has already been destroyed! Please, I beg America, stand up and tell these greedy politicians to place

country over party and as Mitt Romney said, stop this “madness!”

Liz Gilday, Mount Washington

Demand schools be reopened for the sake of the children Cincinnati Public schools are closing classrooms and will provide children education remotely because of staff issues. So teachers put in a few hours at home and get full pay and children get shorted on education. For many children this is little or no education. This shutdown will aff ect many children for the rest of their lives. Parents demand schools be opened for your kids’ sake.

David Loebach, Anderson Township

New Anderson mascot creating buzz, unifi ed community What proud and happy days these are for Anderson Township. My Dec. 7 Enquirer tells me you’re in an early phase of voting to choose a new school mascot.

Protections Continued from Page 5D

rising chiefl y among working-age populations, disproportionately aff ecting working-age Black, Latinx and Native American people.

Workers in industries related to health care and fi rst responders, warehousing and transportation, public-facing occupations and food production have been especially at risk. One study found that between 6-8% of cases have been related to major meat-packing and poultry plants. In part, this is because these workplaces are often large scale outfi ts, with hundreds of workers often working side by side, with little to no PPE and in poorly ventilated facilities, making them hotspots for the spread.

Additionally, these essential workers are disproportionately low-income with little or no access to health benefi ts and paid sick leave, rely on public transportation and live in crowded households that further contribute to community spread. Researchers have found that “residents of counties with meatpacking plants were 51% more likely to have contracted the coronavirus by July 21 and 37% more likely to die from the virus.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been publishing data on workplace complaints related to COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. Over 40,000 have been reported since March, and almost 30,000 of them have been closed. As of Aug. 23, only four

Combs Continued from Page 5D

tisanship off ers no hope for reason or compromise.

Even more disturbing than the national debt is the specter of unfunded liabilities – promises made by our govern-

Ted Thornton, Southwest Airlines flight crew member, discusses measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 on Oct. 13. THOMAS HAWTHORNE/ARIZONA REPUBLIC

citations had been issued nationwide.

Especially because of its lack of funding and legitimate infl uence, in the vast majority of cases OSHA has failed to act beyond sending a letter warning companies to do better.

OSHA inspections overall are actually down by two-thirds compared to past years. Not only are they failing to meaningfully follow-up on COVID-19 complaints, but other safety issues may be going unaddressed as well.

In the Tristate area, there are currently 71 closed COVID-19 OSHA complaints, of which only two led to onsite inspec-

tions. Whistleblowers are kept anonymous, but the details of the reports are made public. Local complaints include dental offi ces with no PPE, a nursing facility where employees diagnosed with COVID-19 immediately returned to work, and airlines allowing a COVID-19 positive attendant to work, then prohibiting the employee’s coworkers from quarantining. Although manufacturing is generally the most common industry with COVID-19 complaints, they only account for 35% of the report.

Many employers are requiring employees to work while they are either sick

ment to us – that now stand at a staggering $101 trillion for Social Security and Medicare alone. Some estimates range as high as $210 trillion for all unfunded liabilities. These promises were made to assure reelection with the knowledge that those same politicians would no longer be in offi ce to be held accountable for their rapacious spending.

For decades, our presidents and

members of Congress have repeatedly demonstrated that they are unprincipled and undisciplined, and “we the people” will ultimately be shackled by their betrayal.

I have no crystal ball to know when or how the debt crisis will unfold, but it will end badly for everyone. It will be especially hard on the coming generations.

It is disheartening to watch as politi-

Next year will bring the excitement of the roll-out to Anderson High and its feeder schools. The fall air will carry the buzz of a more unifi ed community, all geeked up for the new logos and spirit wear. Though a hard core will still strut the old stuff for a while, it won’t amount to much. You’ve already seen how Miami University, a place with strong ties to Anderson, dropped the same vile name you’re replacing. Today, the greater Miami community couldn’t begin to imagine that bit of history being written any other way, And hey, I know I can’t vote, but I really do like “Admirals.” The alliteration is exhilarating and the logo options limitless.

Jack Brennan, Clifton

Kroger profi ting from pandemic I am sorry that Kroger’s stock price fell, but how does profi t increase by 140% when total sales increased only 6%?

Sounds like someone is profi ting from pandemic.

Mark Miller, Lawrenceburg

or potentially sick: risking spreading COVID-19 to other employees and customers. Sometimes the issue is negligence. If an employee wants to come into work less than 14 days after contracting COVID, the employer does not keep them from doing so. At a number of sites, employees have become infected and their coworkers are told if they want to selfquarantine, they can quit. Again, these employers are facing no repercussions outside of a strongly worded letter, if any.

With OSHA as well as federal, state and local leadership doing so little, it is up to frontline workers and communities to advocate for ourselves and our coworkers. All over the country, essential workers have been taking direct action and organizing together to demand safety and improve hazard pay and sick leave benefi ts. Workers are going on strike, delivering petitions to their employers, organizing for local and statewide policies and starting safety and health committees at their workplaces.

If your employer has not taken COVID-19 seriously, and is not providing adequate health and safety protections, the good news is that you and your coworkers can take action. And you are not alone. You can reach out to us at the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center at 513621-5991. Together we can ensure that everyone is safe.

Magda Orlander is program coordinator at the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center in Downtown Cincinnati.

Jorge Lopez is vice chair of the Board of Directors for the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center.

cians spurn the wisdom of the ages. I conclude with a quote from another of our founders.

“There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword.

The other is by debt.” – John Adams 1826.

Mark Combs is an attorney who lives in Symmes Township.

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H O L D I NG O N

How the year revealed us

A

ll our lives we’ve been told time is relative. h Now we know what that means. h This year has made us rethink the concept of time. It’s as if we’ve lost days and hours and entire months, as if the year has held time stock-still. But in that time, we’ve grown, dreamed, adapted, suff ered, built up, loved, cared, mourned, learned. h It has served as a reminder that life is writ both large and small. h How have we gotten through this time? h With the familiar, the beloved, the unexpected. h We are fi nding what matters to us. We are holding on.

A time to mourn, and a time to dance

A time to keep silent, and a time to speak

A time to gain, and a time to lose

A time to break down, a time to build up

A time to embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

Pages 2-3

Pages 4-6

Pages 7-9

Pages 10-12

Pages 13-14

2020: The Year that Revealed Us A 50-minute documentary which chronicles this year of upheaval. View it at cincinnati.com

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A TIME TO MOURN, AND A TIME TO DANCE

Sherry Kleckner touches the locket which contains some of her father’s ashes. He died from COVID-19 in April. MEG VOGEL/THE ENQUIRER

S

The locket

ometimes, when she’s asked about the coronavirus, Sherry Kleckner reaches for the silver locket she wears around her neck. h She slides the locket gently up and down the chain as she listens, running her thumb over the words etched onto the polished surface: No longer by my side but forever in my heart. h People turn to Sherry for answers because she’s a medical assistant who’s spent countless hours since March giving coronavirus tests and quizzing patients about their coughs, sniffl es and fevers. They think she might know something they don’t.

They ask if the virus is just another fl u bug, or if they really need to take so many precautions. They ask if it’s a hoax.

“Is it real?”

If they’re persistent, Sherry might tell them about her father, a 6-foot, 4-inch bear of a man who went home from work one day this spring with a sore throat and a headache.

Gary Hahn rarely did that sort of thing. He was a strong, tough guy who rode Harleys, fi xed car engines and once walked around on a broken leg for days before calling a doctor.

By the end of March, he was in a hospital bed with a tube down his throat. By the fi rst week of April, he couldn’t take in enough oxygen to keep his organs functioning.

Sherry wasn’t allowed to visit, but a nurse arranged a video call on her phone. Sherry said, “I love you,” and started to cry. Her dad was unconscious and had lost so much weight she barely recognized him.

Ask Sherry about her dad now and her hand goes again to the heart-shaped locket, which is encircled by two silver rings and fi lled with her

Ask Sherry about her dad now and her hand goes again to the heart-shaped locket, which is encircled by two silver rings and filled with her father's ashes.

Gary Hahn's memorial took place in Delhi on a Saturday in July. Family and friends drank beer, shared stories and poured his ashes in two places on the property. MEG VOGEL/ THE ENQUIRER

father's ashes. She wears it every day because she believes her father's presence gives her strength to do the work she must do, to go on living her life.

She believes people must hold on to what they need and what they love to survive, to get through these days and weeks and months that feel impossible. Unreal.

What are we living through? Is it real?

In her hand, the locket is cold and hard and heavier than it looks. It feels real to her.

– Dan Horn

My friends I just feel trapped. h It’s this virus going around the whole world, and you have to stay home. Daddy told me a bit about it, and I mostly learned from Daddy and the TV. It’s called the coronavirus, but I’m not so sure what happens when you catch it.

I don’t think about it much at all. I’m not very worried, because I have my kitty cat. h I usually see a lot of friends during the summer. Like my friends Arthur and Silas. Silas lives the next block over and up a block, and Arthur lives right next to the school. We play with them a lot. We used to get out like every day, but now we only get out like once a week, just to get some fresh air. It makes me feel kind of trapped with my sister. She’s a lot of trouble. She seriously is.

We started the school year at home. I like it, but I want to go back to the building. I feel like this place is just not right. I’ve never really worked at home, so I fi nd it pretty hard to focus.

It’s going to be diff erent when we go back to school. We’re not going to leave our classroom very much, we might not do it all the days of the week, and we might even have lunch in our room.

We’re also going to have to wear masks. We bought some masks, and they’re really comfortable. They’re like, uh, cotton? But not the really, really fl uff y kind, just kind of the cloth.

I really want to see my friends more often. I just want to go somewhere for a whole day and see other people.

– Nina Salzman, 7, of Bellevue, Kentucky, as told to Hannah Sparling

Nina Salzman acclimated well to remote learning – and she especially enjoyed getting to sleep in – but the then- 7-year-old was still relieved and excited when she fi nally got to return to the classroom with her friends. MEG VOGEL/THE ENQUIRER

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The wand Back in March, Lori Hicks struggled to fi nd a way to make funerals the thing they are designed to be: Something the living could share and hold onto. h Because the living, while allowed to mourn, were not allowed to gather to do so. No fl ower arrangement, no number of written notes, could do what a funeral does, she thought.

For months, her funeral home was quiet.

She asked people to wait outside, opening the door to tell them they could step forward to the next blue line. Couches were moved so close to each other, no one could sit on them.

At one point, the funeral director even kept the lights off in the chapel to discourage people from coming in. One day, she found herself at a cemetery, standing next to where a young girl was buried, spritzing each person who touched the casket with hand sanitizer.

It was too much. Or maybe it wasn’t. Lori had a high-risk son at home. And if she got sick, there were only three other employees.

The funeral home would likely close.

She couldn't sleep.

In May, Lori’s brother-in-law came up with an idea. One he shared with local fi rst responders and his sister’s funeral home.

He attached an ultraviolet light, and all its electrical connections, to a long piece of wood.

His homemade creation looked a little bit like a lightsaber, and it became part of the funeral’s sanitation process. Etched onto the device is Lori’s name, but she calls it “Wanda.”

Nothing is certain, especially now. But health offi cials do believe UV light can help

Jack Mueller, owner of Mueller Funeral Home, disinfects the building with ultraviolet light after a service this summer. In the spring, large-scale services were prohibited. Funeral home employees now use tape to indicate where guests can stand during a visitation. MEG VOGEL/THE ENQUIRER

disinfect areas where the coronavirus is present.

In July, Lori helped the husband of a 69year-old music teacher celebrate her life on what would have been her 70th birthday. It was one of the larger services Lori had done this year. Chairs were set up to form lines for the visitation, and there was blue tape on the fl oor. Next to the registry were two cups, one for clean pens – and one for dirty pens.

The front door was propped open. In an offi ce, there were Clorox wipes and a pile of masks. Near the urn, a man approached the

Etched onto the device is Lori’s name, but she calls it “Wanda.”

Jimmy Cheung, right, and his girlfriend Angela Lau perform for an audience over Zoom and YouTube during a concert from his home in Cincinnati on Saturday, July 18, 2020. The couple purchased a concert piano via Facebook Marketplace after the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music closed its practice rooms due to the coronavirus pandemic. GRACE PRITCHETT/THE ENQUIRER

The piano When Jimmy Cheung performs Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 26 in E fl at major, he cranes his neck over the keys of the piano. His fi ngers fl oat, pulse and crash into the keys. h The doctoral student posts the recording to YouTube. It’s not the same as a live performance, of course. He misses an audience. h But this piece is special, Jimmy says. In his head, the three movements – “Lebewohl” (farewell), “Abwesenheit” (absence) and “Wiedersehen” (reunion) – mimic the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The “farewell” happened in March, Jimmy said, when he had to say goodbye to the people he saw every day, the work he took for granted, the mundane moments and the simple joys of normal, pre-pandemic life.

“I was also thinking about my career,” Jimmy said of those early days of the shutdown.

“Music, especially, relies on a lot of people gathering together. I was like, yeah, if this is not going to end, I’m, like, my career is done,

The “farewell” happened in March. In April and into May, and perhaps even still is the second movement: “absence.”

As for the third movement, “the return,” Jimmy says, we aren’t there yet.

widower and expressed his sympathy. The man did this with his hands behind his back.

Both wore masks.

After the service, which ended with a toast, the owner of the funeral home slowly passed "Wanda" over doorknobs, couches and tables.

Anything that might have been touched.

He wore two pairs of sunglasses, to protect himself from the UV light. He knew he looked ridiculous. But that silly wand meant that he and Lori could keep their doors open.

And Lori could fi nally sleep.

– Keith BieryGolick

basically.”

In April into May, and perhaps even still is the second movement: “absence.” Jimmy said this represents sadness, depression. The absence of friends, family, students, teachers and coworkers.

But, for him, an additional defi ciency: The absence of a real piano.

Jimmy and his live-in girlfriend, Angela Lau, also a piano performance student at CCM UC's College-Conservatory of Music , made do with donated keyboards for over three months while the pianos in CCM’s practice rooms sat untouched, collecting dust, unusable as the university forfeited in-person operations due to COVID-19 safety protocols.

Practicing the piano on a keyboard, though, is like learning to drive on a video game, Jimmy said. It’s like a simulation; the keyboard can’t quite capture the nuances of a real piano.

“For example, if we play a note, a diff erent part of our fi ngers would actually produce a diff erent sound. Very subtle diff erence, yeah.

But if it’s just a keyboard, no matter if you use your elbow to play, it’s just, it’s gonna sound the same,” he said.

Jimmy says the day the university closed their practice rooms was "really traumatic" for him. He walked up to the building and swiped his student ID card, but the door didn't open.

"And I almost wanted to cry at that point," Jimmy said.

Jimmy and Angela decided they couldn't go on without an acoustic instrument. In July, the couple fi nally purchased a concert piano of their own from Facebook Marketplace.

They took a trip down to Louisville to pick it up, and relief showed in Jimmy's face in the weeks following the purchase. He's been playing since he was 7, he says. Music has been with him for pretty much his whole life.

The piano, played every day, is the focal point of his and Angela's studies, livelihood and passion.

That would have seemed a happy note in all this chaos, which included, of course, Jimmy’s inability to go home any time soon to visit his parents in Hong Kong.

But, on Aug. 26, Jimmy got a call from his landlord saying that a neighbor was “terribly upset” with his piano playing, and demanded he not play at all. So, the absence continued; though less so, as the university’s practice rooms have started to become available, with limitations.

It’s like a new coda. More deprivation, this time, with more personal ramifi cations.

As for the third movement, “the return,” Jimmy says, we aren’t there yet.

– Madeline Mitchell

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THE ENQUIRER

A TIME TO KEEP SILENT, AND A TIME TO SPEAK

Courtney James with her children, Kairo Jackson, 2, and Judah White, 6, at their home in Fairfi eld, Wednesday, Sept.

30, 2020. The single mom who is an OB-GYN nurse at UC West Chester, contracted COVID-19 in April. She still suffers some symptoms. LIZ DUFOUR/THE ENQUIRER

C

Facebook

ourtney James is a 27-year-old single mother to Judah, 6, and Jackson, 2. A labor and delivery nurse at UC Health West Chester Hospital, she was only a few weeks into her employment there when she tested positive for the coronavirus. Virtually alone, she took to Facebook to talk to friends. h April 26: Can someone sell me some Lysol. Please. h April 26: I still feel lethargic. No taste or smell. No appetite. My house is a mess. I keep ordering food because I’m too weak to cook it ... I am not okay.

“I am truly blessed and thankful for all of you! ”

April 28: Forget the fl u swab. I wouldn’t wish the covid swab on my worst enemy April 28: Does anyone know much about covid and symptoms? I swear today feels like I’m a little more winded than usual and a little coughing is happening today. But I’m a nurse and I over think things and it could be allergies….

April 30: Update: My results came back and they were positive. Just hoping that the mild symptoms I have had are all that I get and that my family stays safe. Haven’t been employed 91 days at my job so I can’t use pto.

Would have been 91 days may 10th… Can’t fi nd cleaning supplies in the store. My kids are driving me crazy. But I’m thankful. I’m alive and I’ll be okay!

May 1: Anyone know of any grants or assistance for nurses that are sick? Can’t get pto or a leave. Just looking for resources only.

Thanks!

May 2: Me and the boys were wined today by a beautiful mama who told me she wanted to make me smile. These ... weeks have been rough for me and it’s like I forgot all about it when I saw this at my door. Me and the boys are so thankful. We love our surprise!! Thank you so so much May 6: God has literally been showing out with all of the support and love I’ve been given ... Whether is was words of encouragement, groceries, or money I am truly blessed and thankful for all of you!

May 7: Trying my hardest to get out of this house and go retest for covid. It hurts so bad I don’t wanna go.

May 8: Update: I started feeling congestion and sneezing again. Mild cough. But I have allergies and the weather is changing. I retook my Covid test yesterday. It came back positive today. Who knows if the symptoms are at all related.

My symptoms come and go. Consistently I have not had a fever or taste/smell. 10 more days and then I retest again. My bills are taken care of through the month. I Have groceries. I owe it all to family and friends who’ve been so wonderful during this time. Just keep praying for us May 16: Corona freeeeeeee July 2: I see and have been talking to so many people who fear they are covid positive and are scared. It’s okay to be scared. It’s scary. But I just realized that early recognition helps slow the spread of the virus. Also, remember everyone’s symptoms are diff erent. You all are strong and will make it through this. I’m an example that it is possible!

– Briana Rice

Ballots Sherry Poland is a planner, but she wasn't ready for March 9. That's when she got an order from the secretary of state, just one week before Ohio's primary election, closing all polling places at senior centers because of the coronavirus. h Uh, oh, she thought. That’s dozens of polling places. As the director of elections in Hamilton County, Sherry knew this was a big problem. h And then, because she’s a planner, she started thinking about what might come next, and she realized just how much work was ahead.

If she couldn’t use those polling places, she’d have to fi nd new places willing to open their doors during a pandemic. And if the coronavirus was such a health risk, she might lose hundreds of elderly poll workers who were afraid to work. And if they’re scared, voters would be scared, too, and might want to vote by mail instead of in person.

And the election was a week away.

Sure enough, half her poll workers quit.

Thousands of absentee ballot applications poured in. Nothing about this election was normal.

Sherry got a reprieve when Gov. Mike DeWine postponed the March 17 primary, but it was a short one. The new plan: Everyone votes by mail.

Like most election offi cials, Sherry wasn’t

Sherry Poland, director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections, takes a second to look at her phone as she helps on the fi rst day of early voting, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. KAREEM ELGAZZAR/THE ENQUIRER

ready for that. Ohio had never held an all-mail vote before.

Sherry got to work on a plan. She ordered tens of thousands of envelopes and hired a local printing company to label them. She found another printer to make the thousands of absentee ballots that would go inside those envelopes.

And she rallied her staff to process the applications and mail out the ballots. They worked 12-hour days, six days a week. They wore masks and gloves and tried not to sit too close. Everyone pitched in.

But there were so many requests. One day they got 7,000. The next, 10,000. Every request had to be checked to make sure the voter was legitimate, and every returned ballot had to be checked for valid signatures, driver’s license numbers and voter registration. They needed to move fast, but they couldn’t trade accuracy for speed.

Sherry arrived at 5 a.m. on primary election night and left when the counting was done, around 4 a.m.

Sherry felt she was constantly struggling to catch up, like running in slow motion in a dream. She thought about the oath she took when she was hired, when she swore to do her job to “the best of my ability.”

Sherry and her staff started counting ballots the night of April 28, election night, but it was slow work. Absentee ballots were still arriving that day. She’d never seen so many.

Sherry arrived at 5 a.m. that day and left when the counting was done, around 4 a.m.

When she got home, she did what she always does after an election. She drank a glass of wine.

Then she went to bed.

The next day, Sherry got up and started thinking about the general election Nov. 3.

There would be more voters then. More ballots. More problems.

She needed a new plan.

– Sharon Coolidge

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Cincinnati police officer Nedra Ward is an investigator with District 4, specializing in domestic violence cases. The mother of three sons said she understands the anger that roiled the country this summer. LIZ DUFOUR/THE ENQUIRER

The badge Nedra Ward headed out for another day of keeping watch over Cincinnati's streets while protesters – angry about the death of George Floyd in particular, and the mistreatment of Blacks by police in general – gathered to march and sing and scream. h She was wearing gear she hadn't worn since training nearly 20 years ago and had hoped to never wear again: bulletproof vest, arm and leg guards, a 35-pound belt equipped with a gun and baton.

Before Floyd – a Black man killed by a white offi cer – not much had changed for Nedra in the pandemic. She not only was considered essential, but her job as a city police offi cer had unwittingly prepared her to keep her focus while the world around her seemed to be crumbling.

The single mother of three sons, she would go to work as usual, help the domestic violence survivors and missing children who consumed her days, and then go home to focus

on her family.

After Floyd, everything changed. Her days got exhaustingly long. She barely saw her 22year-old twins and her 14-year-old high schooler. She adopted a thankless routine: wake up, go to work, leave her uniform in the garage, shower, sleep, repeat.

Even the work part of the day was like nothing she’d ever known.

“I was standing on the front line, getting cursed out, people telling me, ‘Why don’t you

“I feel like we’re falling apart, nobody caring about each other.

How do we get back to us, back to respecting each other?”

quit your job?’” she said.

The offi cer gets it. In fact, some of her family members were among the protesters. But the anger directed at her, as a Black woman wearing a badge, was tough.

Her career had started in the wake of the 2001 riots, after which she joined the department to make sure people who looked like her were represented on the force.

She loves her job. It lets her help people, which her grandfather taught her was the most important thing.

But now she realized that far more people in the community view police in an "us vs. them" kind of light.

But the job had to be done. So she stood in her riot gear, absorbed the profanity hurled at her, and prayed that she wouldn't keel over when her feet fell asleep from the unfamiliar weight of her extra equipment.

At day's end, she went home and surveyed the grooves in her skin left behind by the vests and shields, and she replayed the angry jeers in her mind.

“I feel like we’re falling apart, nobody caring about each other,” she said. “How do we get back to us, back to respecting each other?”

– Amber Hunt

The mic Sometime last spring, Geoff Tate read a Facebook post by a fellow Cincinnati standup comic who wrote that as a woman she felt unwelcome at a local comedy club. h It’s not like he didn’t know about inequities within his profession. He would too often see club shows where a lineup of four comedians looks like this: white guy, white guy, white guy, white guy. He had talked to club bookers about the need for more diversity in standup comedy. h So he knew. But now he has more time to think about it.

Thinking about stuff , then making people see truths while they laugh at themselves is, in fact, the job description.

And he was trying to be generous to those who employ him. He said when it comes to comedy booking, simple laziness can have the same eff ect as overt racism: If a white male comedy booker needs to fi ll a spot on a bill, the easy thing to do is ask one of his friends, who is often another white male.

But he wondered aloud if he was a contributor to racism or sexism in the Cincinnati comedy scene.

The verdict: “Probably. I never tried to keep someone out because they were diff erent from me, but I’m sure I’ve been complicit. That’s a given. I’m positive I’ve been complicit. I’ve been complicit in all of this, my whole life, every time before I ever thought about something, I was complicit in the problem.

"If I were willing to take a stronger stance, there wouldn’t already be three white guys on the show. Maybe if I set a better example, there wouldn’t already be a lack of diversity, like that

wouldn’t be endemic in the group or the club,” he says.

As the months wore on and news events and reactions to them roiled the nation, Geoff did what he could. He protested publicly and made his beliefs as visible as possible.

He’s thinking about the changes he can make, when 2020 is over and clubs are open again for real business. When the microphone he holds on stage will be a tool for social justice of some kind. For now, he’s working at Kings Island’s photo booth, the same job he had in high school. He is not writing jokes about 2020 because he says there’s nothing funny about it.

Still, “when I go on the road, I’m not going to be taking other white guys with me. That’s for sure,” he says. “I don’t want to sound like virtue signaling or whatever, but I’ll be taking women or people of color from Cincinnati with me when I start working the road again. That’s the way it is. The white guys aren’t in any trouble. There’s no shortage of them.”

– Chris Varias

Geoff Tate, a comedian, has stopped touring during the pandemic, giving him and his brother Troy more time to play frisbee golf.

AMANDA ROSSMANN/ THE ENQUIRER

“I’ll be taking women or people of color from Cincinnati with me when I start working the road again. That’s the way it is. The white guys aren’t in any trouble.

There’s no shortage of them.”

6G

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

Protest organizer Monica Onyedika, of Clifton, led protests at the intersection of Ezzard Charles Drive and Central Avenue with Cincinnati Police Headquarters in the background. Onyedika encouraged hope while denouncing violence. PHOTOS BY KAREEM ELGAZZAR/THE ENQUIRER

The songs What happened to George Floyd wasn’t going to go unnoticed. It was so egregious. I don’t think there’s any other response you could have but outrage. Many of us felt we just had to do something. If my nephews were going to ask me some day, what did you do in the summer of 2020, I didn’t want to say, “Oh, I posted on Facebook.” h We defi nitely wanted to use song as a tool of unifi cation. That’s why I love music so much. There’s so much power. When you hit a certain note and hit a vibration, you feel it. When you sing, it’s so much more than just saying it. When you sing, it takes your whole body.

Monica Onyedika sings to the crowd at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Music has been there for me my while life. ... Sometimes, you just need to sing a song.

We’ve come too far, We can’t turn ’round.

We’ll fl ood the streets with justice, We are freedom bound.

Music has been there for me my whole life, in rough times, hard times, sad times. Sometimes, you just need to sing a song. And there are songs that we all sing, not just songs that you know, or I know. There are songs that we know. Songs that we sing.

So, we built this little community that was singing for freedom. When you’re at the march, when you’re in the protest, when you’re in the movement, we’re a community.

We sing these songs.

I went down to the rich man’s house, And I took back what he stole from me.

I took back my dignity I took back my humanity I tell people all the time, I’ve been black my whole life. So, my whole life, I’ve been aware.

When I go shopping, I’m asked, “Are you lost?

Are you in the right place?” I’ve been told, “You probably can’t aff ord anything here.” I’ve been told, “You’re pretty for a black girl.” I’ve been called the N-word.

I dated a boy in high school whose parents liked me until they realized he was dating me.

They grounded him so he wouldn’t be able to go to homecoming with me, because that wouldn’t be acceptable.

Those things happen.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

Although we may not know where the road will lead, We know that love will always guide our feet.

It’s taking a risk to stand in front of a bunch of strangers and say, “OK, I’m going to sing this song.” I love seeing people do that.

You can fi ght for freedom in a lot of ways.

Fighting for freedom, fi ghting for justice, fi ghting for equity, fi ghting for the liberation of Black people is exhausting, time-consuming, painful work that will probably not end in my lifetime. We have to take care of ourselves while we do it.

And if healing comes through the music, perfect. Perfect.

– Monica Onyedika, organizer of vigils outside District 1 police headquarters last summer, as told to Dan Horn

cincinnati.com

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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7G

A TIME TO GAIN, AND A TIME TO LOSE

When Kelti Ziese and her husband, Tanner, bought a rusted-out, double-decker bus, they didn’t know exactly what they would use it for but they knew it was a special fi nd. Now the Zieses are trying to get the bus renovated and incorporated into their new tater tot/boozy milkshake bar in Bellevue, Kentucky. But business has been tough. AMANDA ROSSMANN/THE ENQUIRER

K

The big bus

elti Ziese considers herself an optimist. It’s the only way to explain why she bought a rusted-out, double-decker bus a few years ago for a business she and her husband hoped to open one day. h When they settled on a restaurant – a tater tot and boozy milkshake shop – Kelti thought the bus would be a great way to put them on the map. She imagined smiling diners posing for Instagram photos in front of the bus while sipping shakes and sharing baskets of tots. h It would be the 21st century equivalent of a giant neon arrow pointing to their little shop in Bellevue, Kentucky. h Come for the bus! Stay for the tater tots!

Then the pandemic hit. The home goods business Kelti ran with her husband, Tanner, shut down with the rest of the economy. The dream of opening a restaurant became a nightmare. Even the dog-sitting gig they had on the side fell apart because no one was traveling.

It occurred to Kelti that everything she and her husband did to make money involved being around people. And now they lived in a world where they couldn’t be around people.

Her biggest fears were always from the unknown – not knowing how long the shutdown

would last or how long the virus would stick around.

She worried about reopening the home goods store too soon and having customers think she was being fl ippant about safety. She worried about staying closed too long, causing the businesses to fail. She worried about paying rent and draining their bank account when neither business was open. And she worried about not paying rent and losing their storefronts.

Kelti and her husband struggled to adapt.

They cut spending and worked out a deal with

their landlords to do repairs at their rental properties in exchange for a break on rent.

Plumbing, power washing, painting, drywall.

Anything to stay afl oat.

They reopened their home goods store this summer and opened the tater tot shop, Nomad, this fall. They’re doing enough business to get by. They’re only open a couple days a week, but they’ve been making enough to pay their part-time employees. They aren’t paying themselves right now.

Their long-term goal is to make back what they invested in a couple years and start taking some kind of salaries themselves.

Kelti is trying again to be optimistic, but she worries. Winter weather makes sociallydistanced dining on Nomad’s patio diffi cult, and another surge in the pandemic could shut down everything again.

All her plans depend on something she can’t control.

And while she worries, the double-decker bus she once believed would draw business from far and wide sits in a gravel parking lot in Wilder, Kentucky.

It needs restoration work.

That’s not in the budget any time soon.

– Hannah Sparling

Kelti is trying again to be optimistic, but she worries. ... All her plans depend on something she can’t control.

And while she worries, the double-decker bus she once believed would draw business from far and wide sits in a gravel parking lot in Wilder, Kentucky.

The journal A few years ago, Latroya Goines opened a spiral notebook and drew a picture of the house she wanted to live in some day. h It was a modest house, a little ranch with a small front yard, but it felt hopelessly out of reach. She and her husband, Jesse, who once lived in a homeless shelter, struggled just to pay the rent for their apartment. h And then it happened. Latroya got a job as a home health aide, Jesse went to work as a janitor and they saved enough to rent a house in Westwood for $850 a month.

It was as if Latroya had made her dream real just by putting pen to paper.

Latroya started writing in a journal almost every day, fi lling notebooks with ideas and doodles, Bible verses and inspirational quotes. She was passionate about it. She believed the words and images could be a blueprint for the life she wanted to lead.

“Write your vision,” Jesse said.

Then the pandemic hit, and everything closed down around her. Suddenly, the life she aspired to in those wire-bound notebooks didn’t seem as attainable as it once did.

Latroya’s hours were cut. Jesse’s job vanished. The janitorial business they were trying to start was put on hold.

By early May, they needed help from Legal Aid to pay the rent and food stamps to feed their three young children.

Latroya’s journals became more practical

and less aspirational. She repurposed them to help make sense of a changed world.

Now, alongside her hopes and dreams, are daily affi rmations encouraging her to believe better times are ahead.

And next to these are row after row of numbers and dates: A list of the rent payments due in the coming months on the house she once imagined in another notebook, in another time.

As the end of the year approaches, Latroya thinks they will be OK. She thinks they will be able to keep the house.

But she worries. In her journal, a few lines below the list of rent payments, she reminds herself that having a dream is no guarantee she’ll get to live one.

“I would rather try and fail,” she writes, “than not try at all.”

– Dan Horn

Latroya Goines holds tightly to her notebook outside of her Westwood home.

Latroya started writing in a journal almost every day, fi lling notebooks with ideas and doodles, Bible verses and inspirational quotes. CARA OWSLEY/THE ENQUIRER

Latroya started writing in a journal almost every day, filling notebooks with ideas and doodles, Bible verses and inspirational quotes. She was passionate about it. She believed the words and images couldbe a blueprint for the life she wanted to lead.

8G

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

Tucker Barnhart (16) chats with third-base coach J.R. House during a game in September. Masks were required for coaches and umpires, players were spread out on the benches (and into the stands) and there were restrictions for how players interacted in the clubhouse. MEG VOGEL/THE ENQUIRER

Baseball season It was constant stress. I wanted to be around my family, but I wondered if it was safe enough for them to be around me. Every time I went on a road trip with the Reds, I didn’t know when I would see my family next because of things that are out of my control. h I had a son born at the end of July, at the beginning of the season, so I was away from them for roughly 4 1⁄ 2 weeks after he was born, so he could get all of his checkups. Then we were nervous bringing him back over to Cincinnati not knowing what was going to happen with the season.

When the team had a scare in August, I sent my family home, so they were safe. The Cardinals and Marlins had outbreaks at the beginning of the season and we didn’t know if we were next.

A few of us stuck around the clubhouse that night, just talking about how we should approach this, so that we didn’t, for the lack of a better term, eff up.

When I got home, I slept upstairs in a bed-

room, away from my family. And then when we all got up in the morning, I wore a mask around them and helped them move the car and they left.

We would test between 9-11 a.m. and then we’d get the results roughly between 10 p.m. and midnight. Anxiously awaiting the results on a nightly basis added to the stress, for sure. I cleaned up around the house and picked up all my older son’s toys that he left

Every time I went on a road trip with the Reds, I didn’t know when I would see my family next because of things that are out of my control.

when they abruptly had to leave.

I love to play golf, so I did a curbside pickup for about 200 cheap golf balls at Dick’s Sporting Goods. I have a fi eld across the street from my house, so I just pounded a bunch of golf balls into the fi eld. Other than that, I watched some movies.

To be honest, it’s what we signed up for, but anxiously awaiting the test results that we were getting nightly was stressful. I mean, I’ve done everything I’m supposed to do, but then obviously with everything about this virus, you could do everything you’re supposed to do and you still contract it somehow.

It seemed day in and day out for me that I was worried – obviously, always worried about them – about when I was going to see them again. We were in a situation where we have to try to forget about it and get back to playing ball.

– Tucker Barnhart, as told to Bobby Nightengale

Before the pandemic shut down the sport for three months, Tucker Barnhart smiles after a bullpen session at the beginning of spring training in February.

KAREEM ELGAZZAR/ THE ENQUIRER

cincinnati.com

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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9G

After her graduation ceremony was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Stevie Wolf receives her diploma after one fi nal walk with her family through Mount Notre Dame High School in Reading, Ohio, on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. SAM GREENE/THE ENQUIRER

Volleyball It was a trip she was looking forward to. A few months before the end of her senior year, Stevie Wolf and her mom, Jeanne, headed to Colorado for a club volleyball tournament. h Just like that – not even two weeks into March – it was canceled. h They scrambled to get home, worried about making it back safely, only to return home to a life that looked and felt much diff erent than when they left.

The last two months of high school became a remote journey from the comfort of home.

No prom, no graduation, no parties to celebrate the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next.

The day after she was supposed to gradu-

No prom, no graduation, no parties to celebrate the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next.

ate – a normally triumphant scene that would have been fi lled with her family and friends – Stevie walked the halls of Mount Notre Dame High School.

Pictures from the last four years were pinned on the front of lockers, a reminder of the memories and moments she was leaving

behind. Teachers cheered and congratulated her as she walked by their classrooms for the fi nal time.

It wasn’t the ending she envisioned, but it off ered her the chance to turn the page to the opportunity ahead: a scholarship to study and play volleyball at Xavier University.

Stevie moved into the dorms in early August. She passed her fi rst college test, a COVID-19 screening.

Then the Big East Conference moved women’s volleyball from fall to spring.

The 19-year-old texted: “Like all this hope I was holding out for a season just got squashed. I had a moment that night when I just let it all sink in and I got very emotional.”

If that promise of a spring season holds true, it will be a full year since Stevie has played competitive volleyball, a sport that’s run like a river through her life for as long as she can remember.

It’s something she doesn’t mind waiting for.

– Adam Baum

Cologne Before getting out of his car, Jordan Kennedy reached for the small blue vial of cologne and dabbed a little on. h The smell reminded him of the beach, and he thought it was a nice way to begin his workday at Kroger. It was mid-June and customers were buying up food and supplies like crazy. Every day seemed more chaotic than the last. h Jordan took a deep breath. He couldn’t smell the cologne.

Jordan didn’t know how he caught the coronavirus. He’d been working for months during the pandemic as a customer service manager, an essential worker exposed to hundreds of people a day, but there was no way to know for sure he got it on the job.

For a week or so, the virus felt like a bad fl u.

Aches and fever. A dry cough. It was over in a couple weeks. He tested negative and went back to work.

But the virus either roared back, or he somehow caught it again, because a few weeks later he couldn’t breathe. His oxygen levels plunged. The doctors said he had COVID-pneumonia and talked about putting him on a ventilator.

Jordan is 28 and had never thought much

Jordan Kennedy, a 28-year-old Kroger worker, poses in his car on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 near his store in Hamilton, Ohio. He was twice diagnosed with COVID-19, missing almost three months of work and spending four days in the hospital. SAM GREENE/THE ENQUIRER

about dying, but he thought about it then.

Doctors put Jordan on heavy medication and breathing treatments. Every four hours, a nurse would give him medication that he breathed in with oxygen through a mask and tube.

It induced vomiting that expelled the fl uid that had been fi lling up his lungs. He threw up during the treatments and he’d throw up on and off for hours after a treatment. Then another treatment would begin.

He didn't want to go on a ventilator. He'd heard enough about COVID-19 to know how serious that was. He knew that some people

Jordan is 28 and had never thought much about dying, but he thought about it then.

who go on ventilators never come off them.

He talked to his mom and his sister. He prayed a lot.

He wanted to see his family. He wanted his life back, his job, his routine.

It took weeks, but Jordan got better. His airways cleared. His breathing came easier. And by the end of the summer, he found himself again sitting in his car in the Kroger parking lot, reaching for the blue vial of cologne, ready to begin his workday.

He dabbed it on and breathed deep. It smelled like the beach.

– Alex Coolidge

10G

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

A TIME TO BREAK DOWN, A TIME TO BUILD UP

Rae Kuhn, who was furloughed from her job as a scenic charge artist at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, works on a digital piece of art at home in Bellevue, Ky. Kuhn said she expects to be furloughed until January. ALBERT CESARE/THE ENQUIRER

L

The art

ess than 24 hours after the triumph of a sold-out opening night, scenic charge artist Rae Kuhn’s elation imploded. The producing artistic director of Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, D. Lynn Meyers closed the show in response to the coronavirus. h Two weeks later, Rae was furloughed. “It was a dream job. I felt like I had fi nally found my career.”

Art was her life. At fi rst, Rae relished the opportunity to paint more, though she was a bit pained by the realization that she got paid more in unemployment benefi ts than she did when she was employed. Still, as other businesses began re-opening, the theater industry remained in a state of total collapse.

It dawned on her then that her choice of life’s work was not really all that valued in an

essential economy. Then she got to thinking about what was being considered essential.

And some of those choices didn’t seem all that essential to her.

That shortsightedness infuriated Rae. “Because of them, we’re still out of work,” she said.

Then George Floyd’s name was added to the list of those who die needlessly in the

“What the hell is going on with this country?

This isn’t the America they told us was out there.”

hands of authorities because they are Black.

“What the hell is going on with this country?,” she railed. “This isn’t the America they told us was out there.”

Now the painting she did had a purpose.

Let’s do those ETC murals here…

ETC has scheduled a January reopening.

But as each day passes, that feels more a pipe dream than a solid plan.

“Honestly, that doesn’t bother me. I know I’m still out of a job. I just think it’s smart to keep everyone safe and take this as seriously as possible.”

Besides, the uncertainty has provided a diff erent opportunity for Rae and partner Jack Murphy. In September, they started renovating and plan to move into the Norwood house of her grandfather, who moved to assisted living last year.

There are economic benefi ts to the move.

No rent, for one. And Rae is relieved that the house will stay in the family. But the biggest benefi t is the chance to be busy.

“It’s good to be building and painting and fi xing things. I’ve missed working with my hands.”

– David Lyman

Rae Kuhn stands outside Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, where she works as a scenic artist, in Over-The-Rhine on Aug. 4, 2020. "I'm extremely lucky that my place of business was open to me producing portraits of some of the victims of police police brutality," Kuhn said. Kuhn's donated portraits of Timothy Thomas,, Samuel DuBose, Breonna Taylor, and Roger Owensby Jr, all of whom died at the hands of police.

ALBERT CESARE/ THE ENQUIRER

cincinnati.com

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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11G

Carolyn Bruns, of Newport, pulls boxes of food at the Brighton Center pantry in June. Since the pandemic began, Bruns has felt compelled to help others, fi rst by organizing a mask-making group and then by volunteering her time at the Brighton Center. She considers the work her “job.” AMANDA ROSSMANN/THE ENQUIRER

The baskets To prepare for something meaningful to do during the pandemic, Carolyn Bruns read all she could about similar widespread epidemics, their history and their economic impact. h Economic impact. That hit her. Translated, to Carolyn, that meant families were going to suff er. h “And then my mind went to food. If you don’t have food … I mean, talk about your worries piling up. It’s a place I could never imagine being. It’s a place I’ve never been,” Carolyn said.

So, in July, when she realized this thing was not going away fast, she signed up to volunteer at the Brighton Center every week.

She was ready. She’d spent the fi rst few

months of the pandemic making masks, running errands for friends, hanging a giant sheet off her house that encouraged anyone who passed by.

“If you don’t have food …

I mean, talk about your worries piling up. It’s a place I could never imagine being.

It’s a place I’ve never been.”

In between stocking and packing, Carolyn learned how people plan their fi nances if they’re laid off . Food, she said, is easier to get than money for utilities or rent. So people lean on food banks fi rst.

Most hardly know how to act. Seniors she delivers to chat with her some, but some of the younger adults quietly just say, “thanks,” take the box and close the door.

This is not the norm for them, she knows.

To get food dropped off at their door. It’s painful.

She hates that. There is nothing wrong with needing help. There is something wonderful in giving it.

"There is a constant need,” she says, adding that the need is not going away any time soon.

At the Brighton Center alone, that need is three times what it used to be.

Carolyn stays busy.

– Terry DeMio

Pastor Chuck Mingo of Crossroads Church, which contacted 13,000 of its members by phone after the church closed due to COVID-19. PHIL DIDION/THE ENQUIRER

The spreadsheet Pastor Chuck Mingo has 13,000 members at his Crossroads Church. And that’s just at its Oakley campus. h The pandemic came. The church doors closed. h Its pastor worried: What is a church when people can no longer gather? h The banner on Crossroads’ website said, “The church was never buildings,” and Pastor Mingo knew this was true. But he needed more than a slogan. He needed to fi nd a way to stay connected to his people in a suddenly disconnected world.

He met with the staff and kicked around ideas. Someone suggested they call every member of the church, anyone who ever signed their name and left a phone number.

It sounded crazy and impossible. There were thousands of names and numbers. It also sounded like the right thing to do. “You need to know your church knows you,” he said.

It sounded crazy and impossible. ...

It also sounded like the right thing to do.

They made a spreadsheet that listed every name and number. And they color-coded it.

Blue for people they hadn’t reached, yellow for those who required a follow-up, red for those who needed help.

Some calls were quick, maybe a minute or two. Others lasted hours. The unemployed worried about paying bills. The lonely struggled with isolation. The sick feared they’d catch the virus.

It took eight weeks to call every number on the spreadsheet. When they were done, the pastor thought about all the names not on the spreadsheet, all the people who’d attended services and never left a name or number. All the people who might be scared and alone out there.

They weren’t fi nished with their work.

They weren’t even close.

– Cameron Knight

12G

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

Tests In the corner of Jimmy Jackson’s elementary school offi ce, dozens of boxes stack halfway up the wall, a reminder of a school year truncated by the coronavirus. h They are a constant reminder to the school counselor of the damage the virus has caused. A reminder of damage he can’t even know about yet. h It’s just September.

Jimmy worries about all the kids at his school, especially those with special needs.

Especially those with individualized-learning plans, some of which have expired. Those students need to be reevaluated in person all the time. That’s not happening now.

The counselor is also worried about more immediate things, like trying to fi gure out where and when students can eat lunch, because only 55 are allowed in the cafeteria at once.

But the boxes sit, taunting him, because the tests inside them could tell a story about how to help kids. Are they passing? Do they need to be held back? Do they need special help? The tests are supposed to hold the key.

To add insult to injury, the state hasn’t given guidance about what to do with the tests.

So they remain in those boxes, unused.

He has been a counselor for 10 years. He’s always enjoyed his job and takes pride in helping his students. Now, he wonders if public education is truly his calling.

– Luann Gibbs

Elementary school guidance counselor Jimmy Jackson worries about the pandemic’s impact on student education. SAM GREENE/THE ENQUIRER

He’s always enjoyed his job and takes pride in helping his students.

Now, he wonders if public education is truly his calling.

Kim Webb, Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky executive director, takes a Zoom meeting in her home in Florence, Ky. ALBERT CESARE/THE ENQUIRER

The beds In late June, Kim Webb looked around at the homeless shelter she runs in Northern Kentucky and her courage fl agged. h The small band of people left to run the shelter now that social distancing and protective gear was in place were meeting to review the contingency plan to their already encumbered contingency plan. h There was so much need. h “It’s not like I can just shut the building down and send people to the street," Kim said. "It's not like I can just close the business.”

Kim had read that the city of Portland, Oregon, had put some of its homeless in hotels that were, for the most part, empty anyway.

So Kim called around to some hotels, and she found out that many were not interested. Or they just weren’t ready to take this step.

Kim didn’t blame them. Everybody was dealing with the new normal.

In the spring, she had not been sure if the pandemic would still be around to disrupt her summer work program. That was out the door

now. No way to save those 20 or so men who worked while they lived at the shelter for free to save money for an apartment. Instead, the pandemic reduced the program to just fi ve men.

She tried to think positively. At a staff meeting, she asked for those assembled to “tell me a couple of great things that happened yesterday, because at the end of the day, you know, rather than focus on the things that you didn't get done, focus on the things

“Rather than focus on the things that you didn't get done, focus on the things that you got done or focus on the things that really were good yesterday.”

that you got done or focus on the things that really were good yesterday.”

But the pandemic kept getting worse. Her nonprofi t worked because she does a lot of face-to-face work, and that was now impossible because of the virus. “When you're in the business of helping people and, all of a sudden, the very things that you feel make it successful are quickly being replaced by safety precautions. You know, having to wear a face mask when you're in front of the guests, not being able to, you know, really stand close enough to a guest.”

Somewhere in there, she admitted to some “moral fatigue.”

And it’s not like she had a reservoir to pull from.

At the beginning of this year from hell, her brother had died by suicide and she was still working through that, wanting to be open about it, wanting to use that well of empathy in her work, and fi nding herself drained.

But she rallied. And then, after George Floyd’s death, she grappled with the deep peril others live with daily.

It shamed her that she had not fully understood until now.

– Julia Fair

cincinnati.com

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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13G

A TIME TO EMBRACE, A TIME TO REFRAIN FROM EMBRACING

Julia Guichard, professor and chair of the Miami University Department of Theatre, might have been a complete shut-in during the pandemic were it not for her two “furbabies,” Tillie (left) and Maggie. Walking the dogs got her out of the house in spots like Kennedy Triangle. SAM GREENE/THE ENQUIRER

J

The dogs

ulia Guichard and her husband, Stirling Shelton, don’t have children.

Instead, they have two spoiled dogs – dogs that, in 2020, became even more important to them than ever before. h Without those dogs, Julia and Stirling might have become shut-ins, never leaving the house. But 3-year-old Maggie and old lady Tillie needed to be walked, and the couple worried about them getting bored, so it was for the dogs that they slapped on their masks and explored new parks across the region. h One Friday night in mid-June, Tillie began peeing blood. The couple rushed her to the emergency vet clinic.

The clinic allowed pets to be dropped off curbside, but they couldn't go inside with Tillie. They had to hand her off to a complete stranger.

They also couldn't leave.

“They’re like, ‘You have to stay here in case we need you,’” Julia said.

Problem was, it was past 8 p.m. and Julia hadn’t eaten. Her nerves frayed with worry, she waited and waited. Her stomach growled.

She knows this is small, in the big scheme of things. ... But the dogs have been here with them through this ... provided comfort, company.

Around 10 p.m, she left Stirling with the car – surely, the clinic would be fi ne with half of the couple being on hand – and walked to a nearby Wendy's, up to the drive-thru window, which was open for business.

Problem: Drive-thrus won’t sell to people on foot.

“I’m really hungry,” she pleaded. “And my dog’s in the emergency room, is there any way – can I please just make an order and pick it up?”

When the employees again said no, Julia broke. It wasn’t just about being hungry or being forced to drop a sick dog curbside or being held captive in the parking lot by a veterinarian.

It was all of those things piled atop each other, mixed with fear and panic and frustration of a sort Julia had never known.

She knows this is small, in the big scheme of things. That this is a fi rst-world problem.

That she is very privileged.

But the dogs have been here with them through this. They have provided comfort, company.

She was doing her best.

– Amber Hunt

The calendar She was the fi rst to clear out of the offi ce. A breast cancer survivor, you were not going to fi nd Patricia Trombetta practicing law from anywhere but home for a few weeks. h She and husband, Kim, were early adopters of the new protocols.

They didn’t go anywhere. They didn’t see anybody. Only Kim went out to shop for groceries. h This was a sacrifi ce. The couple had carefully crafted a life that was always centered someplace away from home. They had tickets to the theater, season tickets to FC Cincinnati, the Bengals. They went to the casino every Friday night. They loved bars and bar food, fancy dining and locally-owned eateries. She loved shopping, sometimes buying, but always browsing. Their lives were best when they were among other people.

OK. They could do this for a while.

Then they got sick. Patricia fi gured that Kim had brought it home by way of the grocery store. This was so early that mask-requirements had been nonexistent and it was really the only place he’d gone.

Both had the virus. Both got through, Patricia way better than her husband who still struggled to breathe.

Patricia then wondered why, if she’d already had the thing, why she couldn’t just go back to life as it was before. She began to question the restrictions. Were masks really necessary? And why did stores close off their dressing rooms but still allow customers to buy and

return clothing?

It rankled her. A lawyer, she even became suspicious of the whole COVID narrative.

Were the numbers real? She doubted it. Did she want the government to tell her what to do? No. Did she want some consistency in how things were shut down or open? Yes, she did.

Was this getting stupid? It was.

Patricia was in disbelief. Once the face of caution, she fi lled with skepticism.

She has remained so. She questions the COVID protocols and feels that whoever came up with them isn’t thinking them through thoroughly. Why can some businesses be open and others can’t? It’s so random and in-

Patricia Trombetta, 65, an attorney from Newport has returned to working in her downtown Cincinnati office after 8 months and a battle with coronavirus. HANNAH RUHOFF/THE ENQUIRER

They had season tickets to the Bengals.

They went to the casino every Friday night ... Then they got sick.

consistent.

She and her husband go out now, even if he is continuing to struggle with breathing, even when walking their neighborhood is hard for him. They want to go back to the way things were before.

She believes the election will make this all go away. No matter who wins.

It’s just been too convenient for the politicians. Too inconvenient for the rest of us.

The whole thing makes her mad.

Her empty calendar is not a comfort for now.

Fill it and the world will be good again.

– Luann Gibbs

14G

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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THE ENQUIRER

Deborah KurtzEby protests the governor’s stay-at-home order at a rally near the Butler County Courthouse in May. Out of a job for two months, the West Chester Township woman grew frustrated, because what once looked temporary had begun to look permanent. MEG VOGEL/ THE ENQUIRER

Mass In May, Deborah Kurtz-Eby stood outside a courthouse in Hamilton with dozens of people who were as frustrated as her. She held a sign above her head: Honk for freedom, it read, imploring others to embrace the freedom she has, freedom from the tyranny of the pandemic. h It had taken her a few weeks to come to this.

But now, Deborah knew exactly who she was and what she believed. h She believed this would be quick.

In March, when the 54-year-old walked out of the dental offi ce where she works as a patient coordinator, she confi dently told her coworkers, “See you in two weeks.”

She was out of a job for two months.

Deborah quarantined at home in Butler County. She kept her kids from their friends.

Her own friends invited her to Tennessee; she didn’t go. She was careful. She waved to her

mom from the end of her driveway.

A deeply devout woman, she decided against going to Mass, even though her church continued to be open. She didn’t want to put her family at risk. She even missed Good Friday service. It was the fi rst time she could remember not going to church on that day. She watched online, but she felt sad.

She felt guilty.

Two days after Good Friday, she attended Easter Sunday service. ... No one wanted to get too close.

Tears filled her eyes. Deborah is tired of living in fear. Fear of the virus. Fear of the unknown.

She was struggling. She worried her son wouldn’t graduate high school, and she worried about what college might look like for him. She talked to friends who owned small businesses – friends who were struggling even more than her. She went to her dental offi ce and checked the voicemail messages.

People needed help. People were angry.

And it was in that moment, when she was at home instead of at church, where she decided: Her faith was going to get her through this, not be part of her struggle.

She was done. This was in God’s hands. All of it was. Like it always had been for her. Only fear the Lord, not any other thing.

Two days after Good Friday, she attended Easter Sunday service. As she sat in her pew, she saw friends she hadn’t seen in a month.

One by one, they stopped at the end of the aisle and waved.

No one wanted to get too close. Tears fi lled her eyes. Deborah is tired of living in fear.

Fear of the virus. Fear of the unknown.

Now, when she sees her mom, she doesn’t stop at the end of the driveway.

– Keith BieryGolick

The notecards Donna Kinney settles into the big plaid chair in her small apartment and reaches for a box fi lled with greeting cards. h She chooses a card decorated with a bright blue and green hummingbird and begins to write. h Hope you are doing well. h Donna is not doing well, at least not lately. It’s mid-July and she can count on one hand the number of times she’s been out of her Hyde Park apartment building since the pandemic began in March.

As a 75-year-old cancer survivor, Donna decided early on she had to quarantine herself. It was the right choice, though not an easy one.

She is comfortable here, surrounded by family photos and mementos from her travels, but she also is alone.

Just want to say hi and let you know you are not forgotten!

Donna is writing this note to the receptionist at the Hyde Park Senior Center, where she was a regular before the virus. She’s written dozens of notes like this, maybe more than a hundred, since the start of the pandemic.

In the early days of the shutdown, Donna wrote confi dently to friends about coping with the isolation. Never married and childless, she’d been on her own for decades. She had plenty of movies and books. She had Meals on Wheels. She was built for this, she told friends.

She'd be just fi ne.

May you be at peace with your life and know it will get better.

These days, Donna is less certain. She hears the voices of her neighbor’s children through the apartment walls, and she misses going on walks with them. She talks to friends on the phone, and she thinks how much she’d like to meet them for dinner or to give them a hug.

Her nurse practitioner suggested a few weeks ago she talk to a psychologist, so Donna

did. The psychologist asked if she was suicidal.

Donna told her she wasn’t, but she was struggling. It’s hard, she said, to do this alone.

We are all in this together.

As she writes these words, Donna wants to believe they are true. She thinks people are mostly good, but she gets angry when she sees someone without a mask or watches a TV report about college students partying. She thinks this is selfi sh and will make the pandemic last longer.

And she does not want it to last longer. A few days ago, she fell asleep in her chair at 8 p.m. while watching TV and awoke thinking it was morning. She looked at her watch and realized she’d only been dozing 15 minutes.

Every minute, every hour, every day folds into the next.

Love, hugs and prayers, Donna.

Donna puts down her pen, slips the card into an envelope and places a stamp on the corner.

She knows the note is not the same as being there. It’s no substitute for a smile, a hug, a hand on the shoulder. But it’s what Donna has right now, and it will have to be enough.

Tomorrow, she will walk downstairs to the mailbox and drop the envelope inside. Then she will return to her apartment to begin another day.

– Dan Horn

Donna Kinney stands in the hallway of her O’Bryonville apartment this summer, looking at old family photos. A cancer survivor who lives alone, Kinney has stayed in her apartment for most of this year to avoid the coronavirus. MEG VOGEL/ THE ENQUIRER

She knows a note is no substitute for a smile, a hug, a hand on the shoulder. But it’s what Donna has right now, and it will have to be enough.

Kinney spends time every week writing notes and mailing them to friends and acquaintances she can no longer see in person. MEG VOGEL/ THE ENQUIRER

ABOUT THIS 9-MONTH PROJECT Reporters: Adam Baum, Keith Biery Golick, Alexander Coolidge, Sharon Coolidge, Terry DeMio, Julia Fair, Luann Gibbs, Dan Horn, Amber Hunt, Cameron Knight, David Lyman, Madeline Mitchell, Bobby Nightengale, Briana Rice, Hannah Sparling and Chris Varias

Photojournalists: Amanda Rossmann, Meg Vogel, Albert Cesare, Phil Didion, Liz Dufour, Kareem Elgazaar, Sam Greene, Cara Owsley and Grace Pritchett Narrative editor: Amy Wilson

Photo editor: Cara Owsley Documentary producers: Amanda Rossmann and Meg Vogel Documentary writer and narrator: Dan Horn

Special section designer: Kyle Slagle/USA TODAY NETWORK Design Center Digital designers: Andrea Brunty and Kyle Omphroy/USA TODAY NETWORK Storytelling Studio