BATAVIA, Ohio (June 17, 2025) – Want to help clean up one of our most beautiful natural resources? Join the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District on Saturday morning June 28, for this year’s Ohio River Sweep!
Cleanup takes place along the banks of the river 9:00 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are invited to meet at any of the following locations:
Participants must fill out and submit a Registration Form and Waiver Form at www.springlitterclean.com
Please direct any questions or concerns to Kelley Snider at ksnider@newrichmond.org
BATAVIA, OHIO (June 9, 2025) – Approximately 42,000 second-half real estate tax bills were mailed on June 6, 2025, said Clermont County Treasurer, Jeannie M. Zurmehly.
The deadline for payment, without penalty, is July 9, 2025.
Taxes can be paid by mail or in person at the Treasurer’s Office on the second floor of the County Administration Building, 101 E. Main Street, Batavia, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday. Taxes may also be paid by credit card or e-check, go to www.clermonttreasurer.org.
A night deposit is located at the Main Street entrance of the Administration Building for payment of taxes after hours. Taxpayers with questions may call 513-732-7254 or email us at Treasurer@clermontcountyohio.gov.
Editor’s Update as of June 4, 2025: Christopher Davis and Anthony Miller, the two remaining defendants mentioned in the news release below, plead not guilty during their arraignments in Clermont County Municipal Court on June 4. Both are free on their own recognizance after posting bond. Davis’ trial date is scheduled for June 23. Miller’s trial is scheduled for June 25.
BATAVIA, OHIO (May 29, 2025) – The Clermont County Dog Warden has filed criminal charges of animal cruelty against four Bethel residents following the seizure and impoundment of their 38 dogs and seven ferrets found in squalid conditions earlier this month.
All four defendants lived in the house with the dogs and ferrets at 300 Campbell Lane, with 34 of the dogs confined to a single room. The dogs included a mix of breeds and ages but mostly Chinese Crested.
Please see the photos below of the animals at the time of the seizure Monday, May 5.
Two of the four defendants were arraigned yesterday, Wednesday, May 28, in Clermont County Municipal Court. Both plead not guilty.
A trial date for Terri Sprague has been set for June 26. Sprague, who owns the house where the animals were kept, has been charged with 41 counts of cruelty to a companion animal, a first-degree misdemeanor.
The trial date for the other defendant, Vicki Miller, is set for June 12. She is charged with four counts of cruelty to a companion animal and 34 counts of complicity.
Both Sprague and Miller were fingerprinted after the arraignment but are free on their own recognizance after posting bond.
The remaining two defendants have been served with warrants and are scheduled to be arraigned next Wednesday, June 4, also in Clermont County Municipal Court. Warrants were served on Christopher Davis and Anthony Miller on May 28.
Davis is Terri Sprague’s son, and Vicki and Anthony Miller are husband and wife, according to records filed with the court by Chief Dog Warden Tim Pappas and Deputy Dog Warden Sarah Steele.
Davis is being charged with one count of cruelty to a companion animal and 34 counts of complicity. Anthony Miller is being charged with four counts of cruelty to a companion animal and 34 counts of complicity.
The wardens obtained a search warrant from the court to enter the house earlier this month after one of the dogs was picked up by a local citizen who asked the dog warden for help identifying the owner and the circumstances surrounding the dog’s poor condition at the time it was found. The dog warden suspected a serious issue and visited the house and met with Sprague.
“The conditions we saw are hard to describe but they were the worst I’ve ever seen,” Steele said. “The smell of feces and urine were overpowering. The floor was covered inches deep in feces and the dogs were matted in feces and urine. None of the animals had fresh food or water. Their bowls were even filled with feces.”
The Clermont County Animal Shelter took possession of the animals after they were recovered by the wardens. The defendants lost possession of the animals when they failed to post bond to cover the cost of their care at the shelter. The court set that bond at $29,250 per month.
All but one dog has since been adopted or placed in foster care.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our team for their dedication throughout this situation,” said Kiarah Swartz, kennel administrator. “From consistently following proper kennel procedures to making quick, effective decisions and working tirelessly to place dogs into homes or with non-profit rescues – every effort made a difference. Situations like this can put immense strain on staff, but this team went above and beyond their core responsibilities. Their commitment has truly set a powerful standard for teamwork and collaboration at our shelter.”
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About the Clermont County Animal Shelter
The Clermont County Animal Shelter in Batavia, Ohio, is a public no-kill kennel that provides a safe and caring place for stray, lost and neglected dogs. The shelter takes in approximately 800 dogs a year and maintains an annual euthanasia rate of less than 2 percent. The county has managed daily operations of the shelter since 2021.
BATAVIA, OHIO (May 23, 2025) – Clermont County invites the public to share feedback on housing and community development challenges by taking our online survey by Sunday, June. 1.
The county’s Community and Economic Development Department is also hosting public meetings to gather input in person Wednesday evening, June 4, and virtually via Zoom on Monday afternoon, June 9. Details below.
The outreach will help the county develop its five-year consolidated and annual action plans needed to participate in Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grants and HOME programs.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 20, 2025) – Clermont County Commission President David Painter joined more than 60 county leaders from across Ohio in Washington this week to participate in the 2025 White House Leadership Conference, hosted by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo).
The two-day event on May 19 and 20 underscores the administration’s commitment to supporting counties and strengthening the relationship between federal and local governments. It gave Ohio’s county commissioners and executives the opportunity to speak directly with White House officials and cabinet secretaries about the real-world challenges their communities are facing — and how federal-local collaboration can help solve them.
“Being in Washington gave us a chance to share the real-life impact of federal policies on our communities,” said Painter, who is also president of CCAO in 2025. “It’s critical that county leaders have a seat at the table, and this event makes that possible.”
The White House’s broader State Leadership Conference initiative is designed to elevate local voices in national policy discussions.
Participants engaged with top-level federal officials including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner. In addition, briefings were delivered by representatives from the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, and Justice, who provided policy updates and answered questions directly from county leaders.
Discussions covered a wide range of issues, including:
White House officials emphasized their dedication to maintaining open lines of communication with local governments and working side by side with county officials to identify practical, community-driven solutions.
Attendees also visited the Vice President’s Executive Office Building, where they met with a senior member of Vice President Vance’s team to discuss shared priorities.
Many commissioners also took the opportunity to meet with members of their Congressional delegation to continue important conversations about federal support for local initiatives.
CCAO supports effective county government through legislative advocacy, education and training, quality enterprise service programs and a greater understanding of county government. By partnering with county commissioners, executives and council members, CCAO and its members work toward a shared goal of improving and advancing Ohio’s 88 counties. Stronger counties build a stronger Ohio.
BATAVIA, OHIO (May 23, 2025) – Clermont County Commissioner Bonnie Batchler has been named one of Cincy magazine’s Rising Stars for 2024.
Batchler is among 100 Greater Cincinnati area leaders in government, nonprofit, business and industry to receive the honor. The Rising Stars are included in Cincy magazine’s annual “Power 100” edition.
The special edition includes profiles on the 100 Rising Stars and Power 100 recipients.
Batchler began her tenure as a commissioner in 2021 after serving as a trustee for Pierce Township. She is a life-long resident of Clermont County, including nearly four decades in Pierce Township.
She retired as a Senior Credit Analyst from Senco Products after 37 years and has served in numerous public service roles over the years.
In the Cincy magazine profile, Batchler lists her proudest moment as “being a cancer survivor” for more than 13 years.
In addition to her roles in elected office, Batchler spent 14 years as the EMS Chief of the Pierce Township Volunteer Fire Department during the 1980s through the mid 1990s. She also served on the Pierce Township Board of Zoning Appeals in between terms as a trustee and was president of the Clermont County Township Association for eight years. She also served on the Board of Directors for Clermont County Community Services and the Senior Service Housing Board.
Currently, she is Vice President of the Board of County Commissioners and First Vice President of OKI Regional Council of Governments, as well as a board member of the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission, Clermont County Land Bank and the Clermont County Community Improvement Corporation. She also serves on the Local Emergency Planning Committee, County Investment Advisory Committee, and is Chair of the County Records Commission.
She is a member of the Clermont County Law Enforcement Appreciation Selection Committee and a member of the Ohio Public Works Commission grant committee.
BATAVIA, OHIO (April 21, 2025) – Clermont County Municipal Court Judge Anita Bechmann is receiving the 2025 Champions of Hope award from Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) at a gala benefit this Friday, April 25.
The nonprofit gives the award to community leaders whose vision and commitment help improve opportunities and outcomes for those who struggle with mental illness, substance use disorder and homelessness.
Bechmann serves as the administrative judge of the Clermont County Municipal Court and presides over both its specialized docket of cases involving mental health issues and violations for operating a vehicle while impaired. She started the mental health docket in 2023.
Those sentenced as part of Bechmann’s specialized dockets receive help from GCBHS’ service teams and clinical leaders.
“Judge Bechmann brings a vision and personal passion to the work,” said Alicia Fine, chief program officer and senior vice president for GCBHS in Clermont County. “She challenged us to come together with new strategies to build a new approach.”
Bechmann was appointed to the bench by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in July 2022, becoming the first female judge in Clermont County Municipal Court history. She was elected to the balance of the unexpired term in 2023.
Bechmann received her law degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1992 and her undergraduate degree from the College of Mount Saint Joseph, now Mount Saint Joseph University.
Bechmann started her career as an associate for a local attorney and then established her own private practice representing clients in criminal and civil matters for 10 years. In addition to state courts, she practiced before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She also represented children as their guardian ad litem in juvenile court and worked part time as an assistant public defender for Clermont County.
She accepted a full-time position as an assistant public defender in 2003 and served in the county’s juvenile and municipal courts. Later she was appointed as magistrate, overseeing criminal and civil matters in municipal court.
Bechmann is a member of the Clermont County Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Judicial College, and the Association of Municipal/County Judges of Ohio.
Bechmann has been active in the legal community for many years. She is a member of the Clermont County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and the Ohio Justice Alliance for Community Corrections.
She is a past member of the Ohio Association of Magistrates and the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense attorneys.
Bechmann also has served as a board member for CASA for Clermont Kids and Willow Center for Grieving Children.
Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy appointed Bechmann as a member of the Supreme Court of Ohio Advisory Committee of Language Services. In addition, Bechmann participates in Ohio’s Project ECHO for Adult Courts, which focuses on opioid and substance abuse disorders and interventions.
About Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services
Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCBHS) works to ensure people with mental illness, addiction, and related challenges lead healthy and productive lives. As the region’s largest behavioral healthcare organization, GCBHS seeks to make life better for more than 30,000 people every year by offering comprehensive mental and behavioral health services.
Clermont County Recognizes ‘Two Lights for Tomorrow’ Initiative Commemorating Key Historic Event
Artists to Share Designs for America 250 Mural and Grant Memorial Sculpture for Bethel Historical Museum
BATAVIA, OHIO (April 16, 2025) – At midnight this Friday, April 18, Clermont County will join communities across the United States by lighting two lanterns at its courthouse along Main Street to recognize the significance of Paul Revere’s historic 1775 ride that warned patriots of the pending British invasion.
“These lanterns symbolize Paul Revere’s refrain ‘one if by land, two if by sea’ as he rode through the countryside that fateful night before the battles of Lexington and Concord,” David Painter, president of the Clermont County Board of Commissioners, told the public during the board’s weekly meeting today. “This national initiative commemorates the start of the American Revolution.”
Jeff Blom, president of the Clermont County Convention and Visitors Bureau and co-chair of the Clermont County America 250 Committee, added: ““This is an exciting way to begin America 250 celebrations in Clermont County.”
The public is invited to participate in the commemoration by lighting two candles or lanterns at your home or business the evening of Friday, April 18, and to share your participation on social media with the hashtag #TwoLightsForTomorrow.
In addition to the lantern display, the Bethel Historical Society is unveiling designs for two significant works of art at a fundraiser tonight – one for America’s 250th birthday and the other honoring Clermont County native son President Ulysses S. Grant.
Traveling artist Ben Harrison will show designs for his America 250 mural with guests at the Grant Career Center in Bethel and Cincinnati sculptor Tom Tsuchiya will share a model of his statue depicting Grant, 19th century Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ely Parker and abolitionist and statesman Frederick Douglass.
Once completed, Bethel’s mural will be one of seven that will be on display on buildings in Clermont County during 2026 in Milford, Loveland, New Richmond, Williamsburg, and Miami and Union townships.
See images of Miami Township’s mural design unveiled late last year.
The Grant Memorial Sculpture will be installed next spring in front of the Bethel Historical Museum, 235 W. Plane St., Bethel, OH 45106.
Officials from Clermont County’s respective cities, villages and townships plan to hold ribbon cuttings as murals are completed later this spring, summer and fall. More details will be shared closer to the dates for each ribbon cutting.
Learn more about other America 250 events and activities across Ohio.
NEW RICHMOND, OHIO (April 11, 2025) – Clermont County Commissioner David Painter and New Richmond Village Administrator Kathryn Bailey held a news conference Friday, April 11, 2025, to discuss cleanup efforts and community resources for those affected by the recent flood. View a recording of the news conference via the link below.
NEW RICHMOND, OHIO (April 12, 2025) – Connect Clermont is accepting financial donations for those affected by the recent flood.
Donations can be made via cash or check to Connect Clermont c/o Disaster Relief Fund at any Park National Bank location or by U.S. Postal Service mail. Send your donation to Connect Clermont, 2400 Clermont Center Drive, Suite 100, Batavia, Ohio 45103.
Donations will be used to provide recovery assistance to survivors of the floods affecting Clermont County residents. Assistance may include home repairs, temporary and long-term housing, debris cleanup and insurance deductibles.
Connect Clermont is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax deductible. All proceeds benefit victims.
Resources:
Please note: The American Red Cross shelter is now closed.
If you are affected by the recent flood and aren’t sure which agency to contact for assistance, please call Clermont County’s Emergency Management Hotline: (513) 735-8000. Please leave a voicemail if you are calling after hours. Someone will get back to you on the next business day.
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