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Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Harrison, West Harrison, Crosby, Harrison & Whitewater TWPs.
Harrison Twp/City JEDD sued
Splishin’ and a Splashin’
Joint Economic Development District under fire from landowners seeking to sell to Jehovah’s Witnesses The landowners brokering a deal to sell property in the Harrison Township/City jawad@registerpublications.com of Harrison Joint Economic Development District to the Jehovah’s Witnesses have sued the city, mayor and director of public works. The civil suit claims the city is required but has not issued a decision on whether Harrison will extend sanitary sewer service to about 100 acres owned by Dry Fork Farms off Simonson Road, even though an application has been filed. At the heart of the issue is the city’s objection to a worship center in the JEDD, said Mayor Joel McGuire, stressing the district was created for economic development and the center does not meet the threshold. The landowners and Realtor want Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas to issue a writ, called a mandamus, ordering Harrison to extend the sewerage line. The suit claims the city is required by Harrison ordinance to respond one way or the other in writing. Dangling the decision in limbo threatens Dry Fork’s ability to finalize development with the Jehovah’s Witnesses and prevents development of the land “to serve a potential industrial user on the other side of the road extension.” The delay puts Dry Fork in jeopardy of potentially losing $6 million in property sales, according to the suit. Assistant Mayor Jim Robertson, a member of council’s law committee, stressed the JEDD agreement with the township specifies the park is for industry and commercial businesses. There is no provision for worship centers. Joe Awad Harrison Press Editor
Difference of opinion
“At this time, I would say the lawsuit essentially boils down to a difference of opinion as to what the city will do and what the city must do, and that’s really going to be the question,” said Robertson. The city has exclusive rights from the Environmental Protection Agency to provide sewerage service to Harrison Township, where the JEDD is located. Property within the JEDD is owned by individuals and corporations. “The question is, ‘because we have the right to serve the township does that create the duty to serve the township?’ That’s really the legal question you are dealing with here,” said Robertson. Jim Robertson McGuire said there is no duty, and no sewer service will be provided “unless a court of law orders it.” The “original concept” calls for the JEDD to generate seven jobs per acre, added Robinson. The Jehovah’s Witnesses plan to build a 3,000-seat, 87,000-square-foot assembly hall that would include 1,729 parking spaces, and living quarters for a groundskeeper, the only employee planned.
Religious discrimination
The lawsuit also claims city leaders “have colluded to block the development of the Jehovah’s Witness Assembly
See Lawsuit, page 10
photo by Patricia Huelseman/Harrison Press
Bus loads of eager canoers and kayakers hit the river on Saturday, July 19. The group launched their rental boats at a beach on the Whitewater River owned by Green Acres Canoe and Kayak Rental. Just off Kilby Road, Green Acres is said to be the fastest growing canoe rental shop in the United States. For more pictures and a story, see page 8.
New general manager, Register Publications April Fritch appreciates the importance and integrity of community news April Fritch, 53, Lawrenceburg, has been jawad@registerpublications.com named general manager of Register Publications, the largest print media business in Dearborn and Ohio counties and in the Greater Harrison region of Southwest Ohio.
apps and constantly improving our Websites gives our readers more options to enjoy our products, and gives advertisers more opportunities to reach our subscribers and other folks who visit our Websites.” Fritch pointed out subscribers invite Register Publications’ newspapers into their homes, and many people read them from front to back, which is a decisive advantage for local advertisers. “They want the information and the advertising in our papers, April Fritch whether they choose to subscribe to the traditional format or go online,” she said. Fritch’s father, Bill Fritch, began his career at The Greensburg Daily News, and went on to become a reporter, sports editor, columnist, and copy editor at newspapers in northwestern Indiana. “I grew up with the newspaper. I had a love of the newspaper before my relationship here ever started. It’s easy for me to sell, and easy for me to promote. It’s easy for me because I believe in it,” said Fritch.
Speeding driver charged with homicide
Repairs slated for New Haven Road
Joe Awad Harrison Press Editor
Fritch, named to the position by company owner Murray Cohen, has been advertising director for nearly two years. She will retain her responsibilities as ad director, but also will oversee daily operations of the media company’s other departments, including circulation, distribution, Internet, and production. “I come from a sales background, with the last 18 years spent in print sales,” said Fritch. “We will continue to ensure that we provide our readers and advertisers with excellent products. The team at Register Publications is by far one of the most helpful and cooperative groups of employees that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. “Our team will continue to review our newspapers and special sections to provide the community with compelling, interesting, and useful information.” Fritch, who comes from a newspaper family, said she has been an avid reader of and subscriber to the local papers for the 25 years she has lived in Dearborn County. “I feel many years from now there still will be a place for community newspapers,” said Fritch. “But as trends change, I’m aware that providing mobile
Scott D. Williams, 27, Miami Township, has been charged with the phuelseman@registerpublications.com homicide of 29-year-old Jena Nicole Higgins, the mother of four who was left for dead on Cilley Road in Whitewater Township. On Sunday, June 15, Williams was driving on Cilley Road, just east of Kilby Road in his 1970 Pontiac LeMans. Higgins was his passenger. Though the speed limit is posted at 35 miles per hour, Hamilton County investigators charge that Williams was driving at a minimum of 90 mph when he lost control of his car and struck two trees and a utility pole which resulted in Higgins’ death. Williams, who investigators say had a blood alcohol content of 0.121, fled the scene leaving Higgins behind. The following day, the car was discovered in heavy brush about 30 feet south of the road. Higgins was pronounced dead at the scene. Meanwhile, Williams tried to report his car stolen. Further investigations by the Sheriff’s Traffic Safety Unit, partnering Patricia Huelseman Harrison Press Staff Writer
On the Inside • Volleyball season heats up, Page 8 • Photography contest, Page 2 • Autism Spectrum Disorder study, Page 3 • Arrest made in five-car theft, Page 10 Copyright Register Publications, 2014
89th Year, No. 30
See Homicide, page 10
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New Haven Road in Patricia Huelseman Crosby Township Harrison Press Staff Writer wasn’t scheduled phuelseman@registerpublications.com to be repaired but with residual funds from other road projects in Hamilton County, crews will resurface about 1.6 miles of the road before the year’s end, said Township Trustee Chris Dole.
New Haven Road from Crosby Road to Ohio 128 will be resurfaced with a 2.5-inch asphalt overlay, and 3-foot berms will be put on the north side and south side of the road, according to the Hamilton County Engineer’s Office. The engineers estimate the cost at about $875,000. Bids will be taken on Thursday, Aug. 14. The work should be completed by early December. The road construction may cause headaches but Dole said he doesn’t anticipate detours, and stressed the work will put the repaired stretch of New Haven Road in optimal condition.
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