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James Harden, an inmate at Lebanon Correctional Institution, pats a calf on the head at the LCI farm. The 1,200-acre LCI farm includes 800 cattle. Crops are grown to feed the cows, and the cows’ milk feeds inmates statewide, / The enquirer/CARA OWSLEY

Paul McKibben reports:

When the new Warren County racino opens in Turtlecreek Township in 2014, its closest neighbor will be the state’s most unusual prison.

The Lebanon Correctional Institute, near a busy Interstate 75 interchange (Exit 29), is one of 10 Ohio working prison farms. It is home to nearly 800 head of cattle that roam some 1,700 acres of rolling hills along Ohio 63. Its caretakers are minimum-security inmates.

The prison also manufactures license plates and validation stickers for every motorist in Ohio. That work is part of the Ohio Penal Industries, a self-sufficient agency within the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction that manufactures goods such as furniture. Any government or nonprofit agency can buy the goods.

In another unique program, inmates crochet baby blankets and other items for a Dayton veterans hospital.

“I’m trying to raise my kids from here,” said LCI inmate Larry Chapman, 39, of Springfield Township, a convicted drug dealer serving an 11-year-sentence.

Chapman has four children ages 7-13 and works in the prison’s recycling program. “How am I going to tell them to go get a job when I don’t have one?”

(more…)

Posted in: News, Warren County |

Tags: Tags: crochet, dairy farm, employment, ernie moore, inmates, lebanon correctional institute, ohio department of rehabilitation and correction, prison, real men crochet, warren correctional institution, work, work programs

The city of Mason is on the fast-track to hiring nine additional full-time firefighter/paramedics positions.

Six of those positions were made possible thanks largely to a two-year $1.1 million grant awarded through FEMA. The three other hires are to fill existing positions, said Fire Chief John Moore.

The Staffing Adequate Fire Emergency Response — or SAFER — grant is a competitive grant program that aids departments in hiring personnel to meet staffing standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

The new positions will swell the department’s ranks to 36 full-time firefighters/paramedics, in addition to six uniformed personnel, including the chief and deputy chiefs, said Moore.

The hiring process is mostly complete and the new hires could be on the payroll as soon as the end of March, he said.

Current staffing demands are split 50-50 amongst the department’s full-time staff and 24 part-time firefighters, only half of whom are also paramedics. The new positions will reduce dependence on part-time personnel by about 15 percent, said Moore.

The grant covers between 66-75 percent of the costs of the new employees, he said. Costs to maintain those positions after the two-year grant’s end have been factored into the department’s future budget predictions.

“We hope that will stabilize the staffing and allow us to staff to the national standard levels of staffing,” said Moore.

City Manager Eric Hansen said the move is a cost-cutting one that will save the department money over time.

“If you can get part-time firefighters and if you can get them consistently, that’s a cheaper way to staff than full time,” he said. “But they become increasingly difficult to get and when they’re not there, that creates a hole that often is filled with overtime, which is more expensive than full time.”

The department struggles with about a 25 percent attrition rate amongst part-time staffers, said Moore. Administrative costs are also incurred in training and equipping such a large part-time staff.

“That’s kind of the nature of the beast. They’re looking for a full-time job and we’re looking for quality people and the people who get the (full-time) jobs are quality people,” he explained. “We’re competing for those good people. They come and then move on to full-time jobs. It’s a competitive world.”

The city maintains two fire stations, which handle more than 3,600 calls each year. Its annual emergency services budget is around $5.9 million, said Moore.

Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: city of mason, employment, eric hansen, fema, firefighters, hire, jobs, john moore, mason, mason fire department, paramedics, positions, safer, staffing adequete fire emergency response

Union members from around the country rally at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing to protest a vote on “right to work” legislation. / Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Paul E. Kostyu reports:

The divisive battle over “right-to-work” legislation could be coming to Ohio next year.

As neighboring Michigan moved Tuesday to become a “right-to-work” state – and 10,000 protesters jammed the lawn of its Capitol – Ohio groups who support the laws say Ohio has to follow suit or watch jobs leave.

• Poll: Would you like to see a “right-to-work” amendment on the fall ballot

“When we are working with companies who want to investigate locations, the first question on their list is right to work,” said Phillip Parker, president and chief executive officer of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. He later backed off his statement at an afternoon press conference, but there are other indications the fight may be coming to Ohio.

A group called Ohioans for Workplace Freedom is gathering signatures to put the issue on the fall ballot. They need 385,253.

“Indiana has done this. Michigan will. What choice will Ohio have,” tea party activist Chris Littleton of West Chester told the Toledo Blade this week. “This is economic jet fuel for job creation, wage growth and a vibrant Ohio economy. If two border states do this, how can Ohio afford not to do this?”

Senate Minority Leader Eric H. Kearney, D-North Avondale, told the Enquirer there are efforts by Republicans to introduce right-to-work legislation next year, but he could not identify who was leading that effort. House and Senate Republicans, however, deny there is any effort underway.

“Right-to-work” legislation means no one can be required to join a labor union or pay union dues. That would prevent closed shops or workplaces that require union membership to get a job.

(more…)

Posted in: Government, News, Ohio |

Tags: Tags: chris littleton, election, employment, jobs, John Kasich, michigan, ohio, ohioans for workplace freedom, phillip parker, rick snyder, right to work, union

A worker operates a game at Kings Island. The Mason theme park is hiring for its 2013 season. Provided

Job-seekers can get a head start on summer jobs at Kings Island starting this weekend.

The Mason amusement park will begin accepting online applications Saturday at www.visitkingsisland.com for more than 4,000 seasonal positions in the 2013 season, which begins April 27.

The park is hiring in all areas of park operation, including admissions, call center, cash control, entertainment, food and beverage, fire and safety, games and rides, guest services, lifeguards, security and warehouse, among others.

Applicants must be at least 15 years of age. The park will contact qualified applicants to schedule an on-site interview.

For more information, call the park at 513-754-5748 or go to www.visitkingsisland.com.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Kings Island |

Tags: Tags: applications, employment, hiring, interviews, jobs, kings island, mason, theme park

Carl Weiser reports:

Remember the Chick-fil-A appreciation day?  Thousands of people here in Greater Cincinnati, as well as nationally, lined up to show support for the chain’s CEO, who said he opposed same sex marriage.   The comments drew criticism from supporters of same-sex marriage who organized boycotts and a kiss-in.

Now Papa John’s finds itself in same situation – reviled and targeted for boycott by some, and the target of an “appreciation day” on Friday by others.

The Facebook page organizing the appreciation day was launched after Papa John’s CEO said he would cut employee hours as a result of the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare.

“There are over 2,600 Papa John’s stores in the United States. Let’s flood all of them like we flooded Chick-Fil-A,” writes the organizer, Justen Charters, who identifies himself as a founder of a group called Rebooting America.

There’s one Papa John’s location in Mason at 5612 Tylersville Road.

What do you think?

Posted in: Events |

Tags: Tags: affordable care act, appreciation day, boycott, chick-fil-a, employment, facebook, health care, health insurance, justen charters, obama care, papa john's, rebooting america

Cliff Peale reports:

What college student wouldn’t want a $15-an-hour job, asks Dave Dougherty.

Dougherty, the former chief executive officer at Convergys Corp., has formed a new nonprofit group to make that happen.

Called Education at Work, the venture will operate call centers for a client roster that already includes Macy’s and Cincinnati Bell.

Dougherty will pay college students starting at $9 per hour, plus tuition benefits up to $6,000 a year. Students must be taking at least one college class to qualify and the amount depends on their grade point average.

In short, he’s putting profits from the business into the tuition payments. He sees the potential for 5,000 students working in multiple call centers around Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

“That’s putting a meaningful dent in raising the education level in this community and the job skills level in this community,” said Dougherty, who headed the Cincinnati USA Partnership development group for a year ending in March 2012 after leaving Convergys in 2010.

The new company starts operations as an entire generation of college students is carrying crippling debt, now approaching $1 trillion nationally.

In Ohio, seniors graduating in 2010 carried an average $27,713 in debt, No. 7 in the country, while Kentucky students graduated with average debt of $19,375, ranking No. 43, according to the Project on Student Debt.

(more…)

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: call center, cincinnati bell, cincinnati usa, college students, convergys, credits, dave dougherty, education, education at work, employment, jobs, loans, macy's, student debt, tuition

Lisa Bernard-Kuhn reports:

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: business, call center, cincinnati bell, employment, jobs, startek inc, ted torbeck

A worker operates a game at Kings Island. The Mason theme park is hiring for its fall season. Provided

Kings Island is hiring for its fall season.

The Mason theme park is accepting applications for positions in the following fields: admissions, call center, cash control, entertainment, food and beverage, fire and safety, games, guest services, merchandise, rides, security, sweeps and warehouse.

Applicants must be 15 or older.  Submit an application online at www.visitkingsisland.com.  Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an on-site interview.

The park is open daily through Aug. 26.  Weekend operation begins Aug. 31.  Halloween Haunt is open on weekends from Sept. 21 through Oct. 27.

For more information, go to www.visitkingsisland.com or call 513-754-5748.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Business, Kings Island, News |

Tags: Tags: cedar fair, employment, fall, halloween haunt, hiring, jobs, kings island, mason, theme park

Lisa Bernard Kuhn & Alex Coolidge report:

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: bob mcdonald, crest, debt, employment, job cuts, jobs, layoffs, manufacturing, P&G, pampers, pringles, procter & gamble, restructuring plan, snacks unit, tide

Area residents can explore adult education programs and local employment opportunities Wednesday, Aug. 8 at the Warren County Career Center.

The center will hold an open house and job fair from noon to 8 p.m. that day at its Lebanon facility, 3525 North S.R. 48.

Coordinators and instructors will provide tours of the center’s various labs and provide more information about its adult education programs.  Counselors will also be on-hand to assess career interests, speak about financial aid and admission requirements.

Business owners are invited to a complimentary noon luncheon about the center’s new assessment and testing center and its job placement center resource for area employers, which is set to open in September.

General information tours will begin in the Media Center every half hour between 1-7 p.m.   The job fair will be held from 1-7 p.m. in the WCCC Commons area.  Free hot dogs and hamburgers will be offered throughout the day.

The event concludes at 7 p.m. with a free outdoor concert by the Centerville Community Band.  Concert-goers are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.

Programs beginning in the fall include: advanced manufacturing technologies including electrical power line mechanic, HVAC technician and AWS certified welding; cosmetology; health & medical professions including medical assisting, billing and coding, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy technician and EKG technician; heavy equipment/site construction technology; information technology; basic police officer academy; certified business professional; Microsoft certified application specialist; commercial truck driver training; computer software training; and public safety services.

To register for the lunch or job fair or both, call 513-932-5677 or go to www.mywccc.org.

Posted in: Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: adult education, education, employment, job fair, jobs, open house, warren county career center