BP Express buys league banners

New Richmond High School principal Diane Spinnati (left) is pictured with River City Express PB owners John and Jennifer Jones under the SBAAC team banners on display at the high school gym. John and Jennifer donated $3000 to the high school for the purchase of team banners in addition to their sponsorship of the school's internet radio site www.newrichmond.localsportsradio.com.

"We're from New Richmond and want to give something back to the community," said John Jones. "We were already a sponsor of the school's radio broadcasts so when athletic director Doug Foote approached us about the need for the team banners we were happy to help."

In addition to fuel products, River City Express PB offers a complete line of convenience needs along with take-out meals including Lil' Chet's Chicken.

High School flag dedication video

Kevin Wolfe recorded this video of the flag dedication ceremony at the high school Jan. 9 in honor of retiring school board member Ralph Shepherd. Click on the Play button below to watch the ceremony.

Channel 12 report on music room

Channel 12 reporter and New Richmond resident Rich Jaffe reported on the renovations to the vocal music room at New Richmond High School to improve air quality. Superintendent Tom Durbin was interviewed for the report.

Click here to watch Rich Jaffe's report

NRMS students design city of the future

New Richmond Middle School faculty advisor Vicky Phillips(left), Analiese Rohdes, Jenny Roberts, Audrey Feiler and engineer mentor Bill Ehlers with New Richmond Middle School's Alpha Seti Six city of the future at COSI in Columbus.

While they still love their New Richmond community, some students at New Richmond Middle School came up with a better place to live, albeit 150 years from now.

That place is Alpha Seti Six, located just east of Australia, which features floating residential areas and green energy. It’s a city they designed for the Ohio Regional of Future City Competition held in January at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus.



New Richmond was one of only 19 schools in Ohio to compete at COSI. The Future City project is an engineering mentorship for middle school students in which the students design a city at least 150 years in the future using Sim City software.

They also researched engineering concepts, invented new technology and wrote essays and narratives about the city. The students then created a three-dimensional model of the city, within certain restraints (dimensions, money spent, etc.), using mostly recycled materials, and containing a moving part.

Their design included renewable energy sources of solar, wind, water, waves and gravitational pull including a working model of a water turbine.

While they did not finish in the top five in the competition, the New Richmond Middle School team was recognized for their design.

“We won't know the final places until later when the results are released, but we know that we were not in the top five teams overall,” said faculty adviser Vicky Phillips.
“But we did receive an honorable mention award for the Best Computer City Design. Our city was designed by Kurt Greifenkamp.”

Students on the NRMS team were Greifenkamp, Stone Oliver, Nathan Rostetter, Tristan Williams (eighth graders) and John Buckingham, Miles Burnham, Audrey Feiler, Jenny Roberts, Analiese Rohdes, and Stephen Wolf (seventh graders). Roberts, Rohdes, and Feiler were the presenters at COSI where the project was judged by a panel of engineers.

Roberts, Rohdes, Buckingham, Williams, Oliver, Greifenkamp and Rostetter wrote an 874 word essay for the project.

“Our engineer mentor was Mr. Bill Ehlers, and his expertise was a great asset to the team,” said Phillips. Mr. Ehlers is a retired engineer who worked for Procter & Gamble and the U.S. Navy.

High school choir gets breathing room

New Richmond High School’s award-winning choirs will be breathing a little easier when they hit the high notes during practice sessions in the school’s vocal music room.

The vocal music room has been renovated with new carpet and a repaired and expanded ventilation system. Storage areas in other parts of the building were found for book shelves and bins stacked along the walls to open up the room for the maximum of 120 students the fire code allows.

New Richmond superintendent Tom Durbin (right) inspects the new ventilation system and other improvements to classroom 108 at the high school with head custodian Tina Roehm and New Richmond High School music director Doug Heflin.

“We became concerned about the air quality of the room after high school principal Diane Spinnati contacted me in December about a student having an asthma attack in room 108,” said New Richmond superintendent of schools Tom Durbin. “We immediately ordered an air quality test for the room.”

Proactive Consulting Services performed an initial screening of the classroom on Dec. 8 and an extensive indoor air quality screening Dec. 14. Both the initial and follow-up screenings by Proactive Consulting found that “classroom 108 was, in general, in good condition structurally with no visually obvious environmental problems evident.”

Proactive recommended replacing the carpeting, cleaning the HVAC system and checking optimum ventilation rates when there were large class sizes in the classroom.

The choir room at New Richmond High School gets new carpet, more open space and an 8-vent full-room ventilation system.

The Proactive reports concluded:
“Visual inspection indicates that classroom 108 is, in general, in good condition structurally and environmentally, except the carpeting is significantly worn and stained from traffic. There were no visually obvious environmental problems evident. The fungal spore levels indoors were lower than that outdoors, but elevated levels of AspergilluslPen icillium- like fungal spores were detected indoors compared to outdoor levels. Aspergillus/Penicillium-like fungal spores detected indoors are commonly detected at similar levels outdoors in the warmer months of the year, but elevated Aspergillus/Penicillium-like fungal spores levels detected indoors during the cooler months of the year indicate a contribution from an indoor source. The carpeting may be this source. Steps should be taken to minimize the potential for exposure to mold and other allergens in the school.”

Based on the Proactive report, Durbin had the carpet removed and replaced with a non-porous and easily cleanable carpet and had a thorough inspection of the HVAC air handler for Room 108. The check revealed a partially clogged air coil. The coil was cleaned and the drip pan and filters replaced.

“In addition to a complete cleaning we replaced all of the duct work from the air handler to Room 108,” said Durbin. “And we’ve extended the duct work to the back of the room.”

The original ventilation system had two wall registers that were located near the return air vents.

“The air wasn’t getting to the back of the room,” noted Durbin. “The new duct work extends to the back of the room with eight vents, four on each side.”

Now that the new duct work is in place, Durbin has ordered more air sample tests.

“I’ve requested two types of tests,” said Durbin, “a regular air quality test and an aggressive air quality test typically done in buildings where asbestos has been removed. In addition, we are going to take air samples in the band room (which is next to the choir room) and other rooms in the high school.”

Book shelves and storage bins were moved to other areas of the high school to open up more space for choir students.

The Clermont County Health District inspected the adjoining band room for mold on Jan. 20 and found “no evidence of moisture or mold.”

Durbin also had the choir room inspected by New Richmond fire chief Mark Baird to establish an occupancy rate.

“The room is cleared for 120 students and 10 staff members for a total of 130,” said Durbin.

The student total is just enough for the school’s renowned Troubadours group which is limited to 120 singers.

“The 120 limit is a competitive limit,” noted Durbin, “and is not a limit set by us.”

Custodian cleans up in WEBN contest

New Richmond High School custodian Gracie Lemar-Miller joined Mike Williams (center) and Rodney Simpson from WEBN promotions in setting up the $3100 break room she won for the high school in WEBN's Break Room contest.

New Richmond High School custodian Gracie Lemar-Miller has always been one of the school's most popular staff members for her work in helping keep the building spotless. But her popularity soars every time a staff member goes into the staff lounge.

Staffers using the lounge are now greeted by two 42-inch flat screen televisions complete with blue ray dvd players and game consoles, a surround sound music system, refrigerator, microwave, toaster and a gourmet coffee maker. The lucky ones even had three boxes of Kit Kat candy, all compliments of Lemar-Miller, who won the $3100 of lounge equipment in WEBN Radio's Break Room Contest.

"I just wanted to do something for our staff," said Lemar-Miller. "This is the first thing I've ever won."

New Richmond High School principal Diane Spinatti (right), vice principal Jay Blavatt and guidance counselor Carol Ann Coulter look over the $3100 in equipment that school custodian Gracie Lemar-Miller won for the school's staff lounge in WEBN Radio's Break Room Contest.

New flag dedicated at high school

New Richmond superintendent of schools Tom Durbin surprised retiring school board member Ralph Shepherd by dedicating a new flag at the high school gym in his honor at the Jan. 9 Hall of Fame basketball game.

The automated flag will drop from the rafters during the playing of the National Anthem during events at the high school gymnasium.

Mr. Shepherd, who retired at the end of 2009 after serving on the school board for 20 years during which time he never missed a board meeting, is active in veterans affairs and the promotion of Americaism in the schools and community.

Mr. Sherpherd (center) salutes during the playing of the National Anthem. He was joined by present and former school board members (from left)Ben Bird, Sharon Stark, Kevin Walriver, David Hawkins and David Painter.

Monroe students in giving mood

Clermont County Humane Society volunteer Nancy Walters thanks Monroe Elementary second and third grade students for their gifts to the Society's Animal Shelter. Third grade teacher Janet Grooms (background) holds a rescued dog from the shelter.

There were no Scrooges at Monroe Elementary this holiday season.

Monroe students voted to give up their traditional gift exchange parties in favor of making donations to charitable organizations such as the Clermont County Humane Society’s Animal Shelter to the Ronald McDonald House.

The second grade classes of teachers Greg Chandler, Staci Heiden, Jennifer Huelsmann and Melanie Shoemaker and third grade classes of teachers Janet Grooms, Jennifer Mills and Cathy Singleton started the tradition in 2008 when they voted to bring in items for the Animal Shelter in lieu of a gift exchange party. This year the spirit of giving swept through the school.

The second and third grade classes again voted to support the Animal Shelter. The kindergarten and first grade classes of teachers Rachel Hale, Barbara Holman, Patricia Piper, Leigh Fritz, Malinda Hawkins and Beverley Lesko voted to support the Boys and Girls Club. The fifth grade classes of teachers Megan Ehlers, Rachel Fehr and Julie Yaden choose the Ronald McDonald House while the sixth grade classes of teachers Janice Fender, Elizabeth Florea and Lauren Lindsley split their gifts between the Animal Shelter and St. Joseph's Orphanage.

In addition to filling large Santa bags for the orphanage, Mrs. Fender’s students wrote letters to the orphans telling them a little bit about themselves, their community and school and how they came to the decision to donate their "exchange gifts.

“I think it is wonderful that the students of Monroe Elementary are so caring and giving,” said Monroe principal Mark Bailey. “This is something the students wanted to do. They did not receive any encouragement from our staff. “

In addition to the gifts from the students, Monroe collected 3,096 food items for the New Richmond Food Pantry.

Monroe teachers Adrian Hawk and Karen McCann promoted the food drive by having students in their Art & Earth Club and G.A.T.E.S. Collaboration students design and build sculptures from donated items that will serve as a culminating product of the collection efforts.

Students involved in the art project were fourth grade students Kara O'Toole, Andrew Bach, Elise Bezold and Kiae Marshall; fifth grade students Jude Utsinger, Zachary Neeley, Cortney Smith and Elisabeth Walters; and sixth grade students Ben Hamilton, Cydney Stiles and Erin O'Toole.

“This helps to really send an important message to our community about the real meaning of the holiday season,” said Bailey.

Monroe fifth graders Zachary Neeley, Cortney Smith and Elizabeth Walters stand by the 'canstruction' art sculpture they created form canned goods donated by Monroe students to the New Richmond Food Pantry.


Monroe sixth graders Ben Hamilton, Cydney Stiles and Erin O'Toole stand by the 'canstruction' art sculpture they created form canned goods donated by Monroe students to the New Richmond Food Pantry.

Monroe fourth graders Andrew Bach, Elise Bezold and Kiae Marshall stand by the 'canstruction' art sculpture they created form canned goods donated by Monroe students to the New Richmond Food Pantry.