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Ryan Widmer professes his innocence in an interview with The Enquier's Janice Morse after his conviction last February in the death of his wife, Sarah. Widmer's attorneys filed a second notice of appeal for a new trial last week. File photo

An attorney for Ryan Widmer has filed a second notice of appeal in the continuing legal battle seeking a fourth trial for the convicted murderer.

Attorney Michele Berry filed an appeal on Wednesday asking the 12th District Court of Appeals to overrule Warren County Common Pleas Judge Neal Bronson’s Jan. 18 ruling on her petition for a new trial.

Widmer, 31, who last lived in Mason, is serving 15 years to life in prison after a jury convicted him of murder last February in the 2008 drowning of his wife, Sarah, 24, in their Hamilton Township bathtub. It was his third trial, following two mistrials.

• Photos: Ryan Widmer speaks with The Enquirer
• Photos: Ryan Widmer convicted of murder
• LIKE MasonBuzz on Facebook for the latest Widmer case updates
  

Widmer already has an appeal of his conviction pending before the 12th District Court, but that brief did not contain issues presented in the motion to Bronson, explained Berry.

“You can’t ask the appellate court to review an issue until the trial court has had a chance to review it first. Now, since we lost the petition with Bronson, we have to appeal that denial as well and present all those new claims to the appellate court,” said Berry.

In those motions, Widmer’s lawyers wanted Bronson to order genetic testing that could show whether Sarah Widmer suffered from a genetic disorder than can disrupt heartbeats.  They argued that such an undetected medical problem may have contributed to her drowning.

Widmer’s lawyers claimed the jury should have heard evidence that emerged after Widmer’s conviction showing that the lead investigator on the case, Lt. Jeff Braley, had likely made false representations about his job history and education on employment documents.

Bronson had refused to allow Widmer’s lawyers to grill Braley on those credibility issues largely because Braley had denied making the false claims. Braley resigned from the Hamilton Township police force in June after an independent investigator told trustees there was reason to consider launching a pre-disciplinary hearing over issues with his honesty.

Widmer’s attorneys also asserted that the jury lost its way and that authorities made crucial mistakes, including improperly seizing the bathtub in which Sarah Widmer had drowned.

“I’m going to request that the appellate court consolidate the two appeals so that when we eventually have an oral argument we can address all the claims at the same time,” said Berry.

Widmer has protested his innocence in post-conviction interviews, but did not testify during his trials.  Berry has vowed to fight all the way to federal court if necessary.

“We have strong claims that warrant a new trial, and we will be relentless in our efforts to get that result,” she said.

Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell said he had no comment on the second appeal.

Janice Morse contributed to this story

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Related stories:

• Widmer lawyer vows fight after fourth trial denied
• Widmer lawyers: Bathtub seized improperly
• Ryan Widmer: “I’ll never give up”
• Ryan Widmer found guilty of murder

Posted in: News, Widmer Trial |

Tags: Tags: 12th district court of appeals, appeal, attorney, fourth trial, genetic testing, jeff braley, judge neal bronson, lawyer, michele berry, middletown, new trial, ryan widmer, warren county common pleas court

Jeff Braley, then the lead detective for Hamilton Township Police, testifies in the second murder trial of Ryan Widmer, of Mason. File photo

Posted in: News, Widmer Trial |

Tags: Tags: civil rights, fraud, hamilton township, jeff braley, konrad kircher, mary pritcher, murder, resume, ryan widmer, sarah widmer, ted pritchard, trial

Former Hamilton Twp. Lt. Det. Jeff Braley testifies in the murder trial of Ryan Widmer, who last lived in Mason. Braley, who resigned from the department, is now embroiled in a non-related civil suit. File photo

Posted in: News, Widmer Trial |

Tags: Tags: civil rights, fraud, hamilton township, jeff braley, konrad kircher, mary pritcher, murder, resume, ryan widmer, sarah widmer, ted pritchard, trial

Former Hamilton Twp. Lt. Det. Jeff Braley testifies in the murder trial of Ryan Widmer, who last lived in Mason and was convicted in his third trial. Braley, who resigned from the department, is now embroiled in a non-related civil suit. File photo

Janice Morse reports:

A federal court jury is about to begin deliberating in the case of Warren County residents who accuse police of unlawfully raiding an adult birthday party, falsely arresting two partygoers and maliciously prosecuting them.

As of 1:30 p.m., Judge Susan J. Dlott was still providing jurors with detailed instructions as to how to decide the case under both state and federal laws. The trial began Monday in U.S. District Court, Cincinnati, over a party that happened four and a half years ago.

In their civil lawsuit, Hamilton Township residents Ted and Mary Pritchard and two young men who attended their 2007 party — Kevin Clark and Zach Christman — allege police conspired to raid the Pritchards’ party under false pretenses, then tried to cover-up their alleged wrongdoing. Judge Dlott has already ruled that Christman’s right against false arrest was violated under federal law, but the jury must decide whether his right against false arrest was violated under state law.

Wilson Weisenfelder, a lawyer defending Hamilton Township police, asked the jury to grant little or no monetary damages for Christman. Weisenfelder also argued that there was no evidence of a conspiracy or cover-up. He again repeated what he had told the jury in opening statements — that the case was about police trying to do their jobs.

Konrad Kircher, who represents the Pritchards, Clark and Christman, said that, for jurors to believe that, they would have to “ignore a mountain of contrary evidence.”

He said the Pritchards have a constitutional right to be free from unlawful intrusion of police on their premises — and that police concocted a scenario to try to justify going onto the Pritchards’ property. That included a bogus telephone report of loud noise coming from the property, which is located on an acre of land largely isolated from other homes, Kircher said.

A Hamilton Township officer’s wife, Gail Gilbert, who was then living in Butler County, miles away from the party location, called a dispatcher in Warren County and reported: “I hear a lot of yelling and screaming from the 10,000 block of Schlotmann (Road)…I’d rather remain anonymous…it sounds like a big-ol’ party or somethin’ goin’ on.”

Kircher told the jury that Mrs. Gilbert made the call after her husband’s supervisor, Lt. Phil Johnson, asked Officer Roger Gilbert to request the call be made. Kircher played a recording of call for the jury to hear and said, “I want you to ask yourselves: Is this a reluctant wallflower who doesn’t want to cooperate?” Kircher suggested Mrs. Gilbert was an enthusiastic participant in the alleged conspiracy, which could have helped advance her husband’s career if everything had gone as planned.

(more…)

Posted in: News, Widmer Trial |

Tags: Tags: civil rights, fraud, hamilton township, jeff braley, konrad kircher, mary pritcher, murder, resume, ryan widmer, sarah widmer, ted pritchard, trial

Jeff Braley, then the lead detective for Hamilton Township Police, testifies in the second murder trial of Ryan Widmer, of Mason. File photo

Janice Morse reports:

The former detective from the Ryan Widmer murder case testified for about a half hour Monday in an unrelated federal court civil-rights trial, denying allegations that he and other officers “conspired” to raid an adult birthday party under false pretenses.

“I didn’t put together anything, sir…I did not plan anything,” Jeff Braley, a former police lieutenant, said in response to a question from Konrad Kircher, a lawyer representing Ted and Mary Pritchard of Hamilton Township and two other people.

Kircher questioned Braley about events surrounding the 2007 incident on the Pritchards’ property.

Kircher did not ask Braley about his employment credentials as part of his testimony today, although Kircher was allowed to explore that topic in a pretrial deposition.

Braley has denied making false statements found in his employment records. He resigned last year after an investigation into those documents.

In the Pritchard case, the family and their partygoers allege that nearly two dozen officers stormed the property in 2007 based on unsupported suspicions of underage drinking, court records say. The party was being thrown for Ted Pritchard’s 52nd birthday and for the Pritchards’ son’s 21st birthday, Kircher said.

The Pritchard family later learned that the raid happened partly because a Hamilton Township officer’s wife called the Hamilton Township police department from her Butler County home, pretending to be calling from Warren County and reporting she heard loud noise coming from the Prtichards’ party, court records say.

Prospective jurors in the Pritchard case denied recognizing Braley from the highly publicized Widmer case, which ended with Widmer, now 31, who last lived in Mason, being convicted in the 2008 bathtub drowning of his wife. His case went to trial three times before he was convicted a year ago. Only two of the prospective jurors in the Pritchard case said they followed any phase of the Widmer case closely.

Posted in: Crime, News, Widmer Trial |

Tags: Tags: civil rights, fraud, hamilton township, jeff braley, konrad kircher, mary pritcher, murder, resume, ryan widmer, sarah widmer, ted pritchard, trial

Did authorities — including the lead detective on the Ryan Widmer murder case — illegally raid an adult birthday party and falsely arrest partygoers?

That’s among the main questions that a jury will be asked to decide in a federal civil-rights lawsuit trial that begins today in U.S. District Court, Cincinnati.

Jury selection began this morning in the case involving a family in Warren County’s Hamilton Township.

As part of the trial, former Widmer murder case detective Jeff Braley once again will face being grilled about his alleged resume fraud, court records indicate.

Braley and other officers are accused of conspiring to raid an adult birthday party under false pretenses, then falsely arresting partygoers, whose charges were later dropped. The Pritchard family and their partygoers allege that nearly two dozen officers and state liquor agents stormed the property in 2007 based on unsupported suspicions of underage drinking, court records say. The party was being thrown for Ted Pritchard’s 51st birthday, court records say.

The Pritchard family later learned that the raid happened partly because a Hamilton Township officer’s wife called the Hamilton Township police department from her Butler County home, pretending to be calling from Warren County and reporting she heard loud noise coming from the Prtichards’ party, court records say.

Prospective jurors in the Pritchard case denied recognizing Braley from the highly publicized Widmer case, which ended with Widmer, now 31, who last lived in Mason, being convicted in the 2008 bathtub drowning of his wife. His case went to trial three times, but only two of the prospective jurors in the Pritchard case said they followed any phase of the case closely.

Braley resigned last year after an investigation into false statements on some of his employment documents, though he denied ever making the misrepresentations. Lawyers for Widmer, who is serving 15 years to life in prison for murder, say that Braley’s credibility issues raise questions about the integrity of the Widmer investigation.

A Warren County judge rejected that argument earlier this month. Widmer’s lawyers say they will appeal.

Posted in: Crime, News, Widmer Trial |

Tags: Tags: bathtub murder, birthday party, civil rights, fraud, hamilton township police, jeff braley, lawsuit, lt. jeff braley, murder, pritchard, resume fraud, ryan widmer, sarah widmer, ted pritchard, u.s. district court, warren county

Janice Morse reports:

A Warren County court has denied Ryan Widmer’s attempt to secure a fourth trial, but his lawyer vows to fight all the way to federal court if necessary.

Widmer, now 31, is serving 15 years to life in prison after a jury convicted him of murder last February in the 2008 drowning of his wife, Sarah, 24, in their Hamilton Township bathtub. It was his third trial, following two mistrials in a case that stirred intense public debate.

• Photos: Ryan Widmer speaks with The Enquirer
• Photos: Ryan Widmer convicted of murder

On Tuesday, the county Common Pleas Court denied Widmer’s motion for a new trial.

The decision comes just as a national TV program is planning a rebroadcast of an episode about “the Bathtub Mystery” – and as the lead detective in the Widmer case prepares to appear in an unrelated federal court case that raises questions about his credibility.

Details of Tuesday’s decision were not immediately available; the prosecutor’s office gave no comment in its news release. Michele Berry, Widmer’s lawyer, said she had not been informed of the outcome until a reporter contacted her seeking comment.

Berry said she doesn’t know the reasons for the ruling, but she will appeal it to the Ohio 12th District Court of Appeals in Middletown, where Widmer’s main appeal is already pending.

“If we don’t succeed in the state courts, we will proceed to the federal courts. We have strong claims that warrant a new trial, and we will be relentless in our efforts to get that result,” she said.

In its ruling Tuesday, the Warren county court also refused to order genetic testing on any usable DNA from Sarah Widmer. Although she was cremated, Ryan Widmer’s lawyers say there may be blood or other tissues that would allow for the testing. Ryan Widmer’s lawyers were seeking those tests because they wanted to find out whether Sarah Widmer may have suffered from a genetic condition that can cause a heart-rhythm disturbance. They argue that such an undetected medical problem may have contributed to her drowning.

Prosecutors have contended there was sufficient evidence to support Widmer’s conviction, and that the evidence included marks on her head and neck areas that were suggestive of force. Defense witnesses said the marks could be attributed to life-saving efforts.

On Sunday, the national TV program, Dateline NBC, has scheduled a rebroadcast of its segment featuring Widmer’s case, a spokeswoman for the program, Amy Lynn, confirmed Tuesday. The program will air at 7 p.m. on NBC’s local affiliate, WLWT-TV, Channel 5. “The Bathtub Mystery” episode was first broadcast nationally last May.

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Posted in: Crime, News, Widmer Trial |

Tags: Tags: appeal, convicted, conviction, dateline, fourth trial, mason, michele berry, motion, murder, mystery in the master bathroom, ryan widmer, sarah widmer, the bathtub mystery, trial

Janice Morse reports:

A Warren County court has denied Ryan Widmer’s attempt to secure a fourth trial, shifting the focus of his continuing legal battle to an appeals court.

Widmer, now 31, was convicted last February of murder in the 2008 drowning of his wife, Sarah, 24, in their Hamilton Township bathtub. It was his third trial, following two mistrials.

• Photos: Ryan Widmer speaks with The Enquirer
• Photos: Ryan Widmer convicted of murder

On Tuesday, the county Common Pleas Court denied Widmer’s motion for a new trial, the county prosecutor’s office said in a news release.

Widmer’s appeal of his conviction is still pending with the Ohio 12th District Court of Appeals in Middletown.

In its ruling Tuesday, the county court also refused to order genetic testing on any usable DNA from Sarah Widmer. Widmer’s lawyers were seeking those tests because they wanted to see whether Sarah Widmer may have suffered from a genetic condition that can cause a heart-rhythm disturbance. They argue that such an undetected medical problem may have contributed to her drowning.

Widmer has protested his innocence in post-conviction interviews, but did not testify during his trials.

Prosecutors have contended there was sufficient evidence to support Widmer’s conviction, and that the evidence included marks on her head and neck areas that were suggestive of force.

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Related stories:

• Widmer lawyers: Bathtub seized improperly
• Widmer judge won’t run for re-election
• Prosecutors agree to give Widmer lawyers more time for appeal
• Ryan Widmer’s lawyer needs more time for appeal
• Ryan Widmer: “I’ll never give up”
• Widmer attorneys file notice of appeal to higher court
• Widmer’s defense lawyers fight for 4th trial
• Widmer jurors speak out amidst defense reports of juror misconduct
• Ryan Widmer found guilty of murder

Posted in: Crime, News, Widmer Trial |

Tags: Tags: appeal, bathtub murder, dateline, denied, dna, motion, ohio 12th district court of appeals, ryan widmer, sarah widmer, warren county common pleas court

In MasonBuzz’s first annual Year in Review, readers are asked to count down the top local stories of the year. Vote in the poll below for the story you believe should be the top Mason story of the year (if you are unable to vote in the poll, please hard refresh your browser or leave your vote in the comments field). Select up to 2 stories. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29 with results to be posted on Saturday, Dec. 31.

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Ryan Widmer convicted in third murder trial

In what has been called Greater Cincinnati’s “trial(s) of the year,” Ryan Widmer was convicted in his third murder trial in the 2008 drowning death of his wife, Sarah Widmer. Widmer, 32, who last lived in Mason, was sentenced in February to 15 years to life in prison. The Colerain Township native has maintained his innocence. He was convicted in his first trial in 2009 but the verdict was set aside because of jury misconduct. His 2010 trial resulted in a hung jury. His attorneys have appealed the third jury’s verdict and have asked for a fourth trial.

Kings Island opens new attractions

The region’s premier amusement park saw the opening of two new attractions this year and announced the expansion of a third major attraction for next year. Kings Island debuted the world’s largest animatronic dinosaur park, Dinosaurs Alive!, in April and its newest thrill ride, WindSeeker, in June. The park, which was also honored in September for the best kids’ area in the world by Amusement Today, this year announced a $10 million Soak City water park expansion that will double its size to 33 acres for 2012.

Mason named among best places to live

In August, Money magazine has confirmed what many Mason residents have long suspected. The magazine announced Mason to be the 24th best place to live in its national survey of smaller towns and cities. The city of 33,100 was cited for its high-ranking schools, recreational opportunities and housing prices.

Western & Southern Open welcomes world’s top tennis players

For the first time ever, the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason hosted top-tier men’s and women’s tournaments simultaneously during the same week in the largest Western & Southern Open. The new combined format joined Rome, Madrid, Miami and Indian Wells as the only other cities in the world hosting the same caliber events for both sexes at the same time. To make room for the larger event, the Lindner Family Tennis Center underwent a 5.4 acre expansion adding six new courts, a new entrance and ticket office, retail plaza and family restrooms.

Miss Ohio pedals into town amidst fanfare

Miss Ohio Ellen Bryan pedaled into Mason this summer amidst fanfare and smiles. The pageant contestant visited Mason in September on the third stop on a 45-city bike tour across Ohio to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals of Ohio.

Disgraced Mason teacher heads to prison

A Warren County judge rejected the insanity plea of a former Mason teacher accused of having sex with students and sentenced her to four years in prison. Stacy Schuler, 33, was found guilty of 16 felony counts of sexual battery and three misdemeanor counts of providing alcohol to minors following a four-day bench trial in October. Schuler resigned from her job in February as a health and physical education teacher and trainer with Mason Schools. She will be eligible for judicial release after six months.

Huckabee comments propel Mason to center of state Issue 2 debate

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee’s comments at a pancake breakfast in Mason in October propelled the city to the forefront of the state debate on Issue 2, a ballot referendum on Senate Bill 5, which would have limited the ability of public workers to negotiate for wages, working conditions and pension benefits. Huckabee galvanized hundreds of supporters of Issue 2 by jokingly urging them to stop opponents from voting. The comments drew national attention with MasonBuzz’s coverage and audio clip of the comments featured on such popular liberal blogs as Politico, the Huffington Post and Mother Jones, as well as aired on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews and The Ed Schultz Show. Voters rejected Issue 2 at the polls in November.

Mason bands take national stage

Mason High School bands took the national stage not once, but twice this year. In March, the school’s symphony and symphonic bands performed on one of music’s most grand stages, New York City’s Carnegie Hall. The 124 performers in Mason’s band performed as part of “The Best of the Midwest” concert in an evening time slot usually set aside for college and professional bands. Then, in November, the school’s marching band was chosen as just one of 12 bands of 92 to advance to the Grand National finals, where they finished as the top-placing Ohio band and tenth in the nation. The competition, held at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, is considered to the “Super Bowl” of competitions for high school marching bands.

Mason seats three on City Council, names new mayor

Mason city voters returned two former council veterans and voted in one newcomer to Mason’s City Council in November. Incoming council members Tom Grossmann, Victor Kidd and Barbara Berry-Spaeth were elected to four-year terms on city council. Grossmann and Kidd previously served on city council while it is a first term for Berry-Spaeth. Incumbent Mike Gilb, a lawyer and former state representative for a northern area of Ohio, lost his seat in the race. The other two seats replaced council members Christine Shimrock, who chose not to seek a second term, and Tony Bradburn, who was forced to leave due to term limits. Council also tapped David Nichols, who’s served as vice mayor for the past two years, as mayor in a December organizational meeting.

Mason woman follows dream on prime-time TV

Danielle Withers, 27, of Mason, is realizing her dreams of becoming a professional singer after appearing on the third season of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” this fall. The weekly series hosted by Nick Lachey follows 16 a cappella groups from across the country as they compete for a Sony Music recording contract and $200,000 cash prize. Withers and her group, Afro-Blue, made it to the top final four groups before being voted off. But for Withers, a 2002 Mason grad and Homecoming Queen, the dream has just begun — she moved to Los Angeles in November to pursue the professional opportunities generated by her appearance on the reality show.

Mason Schools receives statewide honors, awards

It’s been a banner year for Mason Schools. The 11,000-student district, which consistently ranks among the top 10 of Ohio’s 614 districts, racked up a number of awards and honors this year for academic growth and achievement, financial record-keeping and instituting a new child sexual abuse curriculum.The district kicked off the year in March by landing on the College Board’s AP Achievement List for gains in advanced placement course access and student performance — an achievement it repeated again in December. In August, the district reported that it had returned to the state’s top academic ranking of “Excellent With Distinction.” The district also ranked fifth in the state this year for more year-to-year academic growth, according to a numeric ranking of Ohio school districts compiled by a nonprofit consulting company. The district ended the year as one of five Ohio school districts to be recognized with the 2011 SOAR Award for Significant Progress.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: afro-blue, awards, bands of america, barbara berry spaeth, boomerang bay, carnegie hall, city council, danielle withers, david nichols, dinosaurs alive, election, ellen bryan, honors, issue 2, kings island, lindner family tennis center, mason high school, mason marching band, mason schools, mike huckabee, miss ohio, money magazine, murder, nbc, ohio, ryan widmer, sarah widmer, sb 5, sb5, soak city, stacy schuler, teacher, tennis, the sing-off, tom grossmann, trial, victor kidd, w&s open, western & southern open, windseeker

Mason earns national kudos. Greater Cincinnati’s trial of the year. Miss Ohio pedals into town. The world’s top tennis players converge on Mason. A disgraced teacher goes to prison. New attractions open at the region’s premier amusement park. Mason’s band takes the national stage. New faces appear on City Council. Controversial comments propel Mason to center of Ohio’s public workers debate. A Mason woman follows her dream on prime-time TV.

These were just some of the breaking news stories to hit Mason in 2011 and that commanded our online attention. Now, in MasonBuzz’s first annual Year in Review, readers are asked to count down the top local stories of the year. Vote in the poll below for the story you believe should be the top Mason story of the year (if you are unable to vote in the poll, please refresh your browser or leave your vote in the comments field).  Select up to 2 stories.  Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29 with results to be posted on Saturday, Dec. 31.

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Ryan Widmer convicted in third murder trial

In what has been called Greater Cincinnati’s “trial(s) of the year,” Ryan Widmer was convicted in his third murder trial in the 2008 drowning death of his wife, Sarah Widmer. Widmer, 32, who last lived in Mason, was sentenced in February to 15 years to life in prison. The Colerain Township native has maintained his innocence. He was convicted in his first trial in 2009 but the verdict was set aside because of jury misconduct. His 2010 trial resulted in a hung jury. His attorneys have appealed the third jury’s verdict and have asked for a fourth trial.

Kings Island opens new attractions

The region’s premier amusement park saw the opening of two new attractions this year and announced the expansion of a third major attraction for next year. Kings Island debuted the world’s largest animatronic dinosaur park, Dinosaurs Alive!, in April and its newest thrill ride, WindSeeker, in June. The park, which was also honored in September for the best kids’ area in the world by Amusement Today, this year announced a $10 million Soak City water park expansion that will double its size to 33 acres for 2012.

Mason named among best places to live

In August, Money magazine has confirmed what many Mason residents have long suspected. The magazine announced Mason to be the 24th best place to live in its national survey of smaller towns and cities. The city of 33,100 was cited for its high-ranking schools, recreational opportunities and housing prices.

Western & Southern Open welcomes world’s top tennis players

For the first time ever, the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason hosted top-tier men’s and women’s tournaments simultaneously during the same week in the largest Western & Southern Open. The new combined format joined Rome, Madrid, Miami and Indian Wells as the only other cities in the world hosting the same caliber events for both sexes at the same time. To make room for the larger event, the Lindner Family Tennis Center underwent a 5.4 acre expansion adding six new courts, a new entrance and ticket office, retail plaza and family restrooms.

Miss Ohio pedals into town amidst fanfare

Miss Ohio Ellen Bryan pedaled into Mason this summer amidst fanfare and smiles.  The pageant contestant visited Mason in September on the third stop on a 45-city bike tour across Ohio to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals of Ohio.

Disgraced Mason teacher heads to prison

A Warren County judge rejected the insanity plea of a former Mason teacher accused of having sex with students and sentenced her to four years in prison.  Stacy Schuler, 33, was found guilty of 16 felony counts of sexual battery and three misdemeanor counts of providing alcohol to minors following a four-day bench trial in October.  Schuler resigned from her job in February as a health and physical education teacher and trainer with Mason Schools.  She will be eligible for judicial release after six months.

Huckabee comments propel Mason to center of state Issue 2 debate

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee’s comments at a pancake breakfast in Mason in October propelled the city to the forefront of the state debate on Issue 2, a ballot referendum on Senate Bill 5, which would have limited the ability of public workers to negotiate for wages, working conditions and pension benefits.  Huckabee galvanized hundreds of supporters of Issue 2 by jokingly urging them to stop opponents from voting.  The comments drew national attention with MasonBuzz’s coverage and audio clip of the comments featured on such popular liberal blogs as Politico, the Huffington Post and Mother Jones, as well as aired on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews and The Ed Schultz Show.  Voters rejected Issue 2 at the polls in November.

Mason bands take national stage

Mason High School bands took the national stage not once, but twice this year.  In March, the school’s symphony and symphonic bands performed on one of music’s most grand stages, New York City’s Carnegie Hall.  The 124 performers in Mason’s band performed as part of “The Best of the Midwest” concert in an evening time slot usually set aside for college and professional bands.  Then, in November, the school’s marching band was chosen as just one of 12 bands of 92 to advance to the Grand National finals, where they finished as the top-placing Ohio band and tenth in the nation.  The competition, held at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, is considered to the “Super Bowl” of competitions for high school marching bands.

Mason seats three on City Council, names new mayor

Mason city voters returned two former council veterans and voted in one newcomer to Mason’s City Council in November.  Incoming council members Tom Grossmann, Victor Kidd and Barbara Berry-Spaeth were elected to four-year terms on city council.  Grossmann and Kidd previously served on city council while it is a first term for Berry-Spaeth.  Incumbent Mike Gilb, a lawyer and former state representative for a northern area of Ohio, lost his seat in the race.  The other two seats replaced council members Christine Shimrock, who chose not to seek a second term, and Tony Bradburn, who was forced to leave due to term limits.  Council also tapped David Nichols, who’s served as vice mayor for the past two years, as mayor in a December organizational meeting.

Mason woman follows dream on prime-time TV

Danielle Withers, 27, of Mason, is realizing her dreams of becoming a professional singer after appearing on the third season of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” this fall.  The weekly series hosted by Nick Lachey follows 16 a cappella groups from across the country as they compete for a Sony Music recording contract and $200,000 cash prize.  Withers and her group, Afro-Blue, made it to the top final four groups before being voted off.  But for Withers, a 2002 Mason grad and Homecoming Queen, the dream has just begun — she moved to Los Angeles in November to pursue the professional opportunities generated by her appearance on the reality show.

Mason Schools receives statewide honors, awards

It’s been a banner year for Mason Schools.  The 11,000-student district, which consistently ranks among the top 10 of Ohio’s 614 districts, racked up a number of awards and honors this year for academic growth and achievement, financial record-keeping and instituting a new child sexual abuse curriculum.The district kicked off the year in March by landing on the College Board’s AP Achievement List for gains in advanced placement course access and student performance — an achievement it repeated again in December.  In August, the district reported that it had returned  to the state’s top academic ranking of “Excellent With Distinction.”  The district also ranked fifth in the state this year for more year-to-year academic growth, according to a numeric ranking of Ohio school districts compiled by a nonprofit consulting company.  The district ended the year as one of five Ohio school districts to be recognized with the 2011 SOAR Award for Significant Progress.

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

Tags: Tags: 2011, afro-blue, bands of america, barbara berry spaeth, boomerang bay, business, carnegie, comets, danielle withers, david nichols, dino park, dinosaurs alive, ellen bryan, issue 2, kings island, mason, mason high school, mason marching band, mason schools, mayor, mike huckabee, miss ohio, money magazine, murder, news, ohio, ryan widmer, sarah widmer, sb 5, sb5, schools, senate bill 5, soak city, stacy schuler, tennis, the sing-off, tom grossmann, trial, victor kidd, w&s, western & southern open, windseeker, year in review