Submitted by Tracey Carson, Mason Schools

After using the district’s fifth snow day on Tuesday, Mason City Schools superintendent Dr. Gail Kist-Kline asked the school board to approve a calamity day make-up plan that would give students an alternative to making up days at the end of the year.

The board approved the plan during its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, and will ask the Ohio Department of Education to approve the calamity day alternative make-up plan.

Under Ohio Revised Code, a board of education may file an annual plan with the Ohio Department of Education to provide online learning opportunities for students in lieu of attendance on such excess days. The calamity day alternative make-up plan kicks in after a school district uses its five calamity days.

It requires each classroom teacher to develop lessons requiring equal or more instructional time that the student would receive for three school days in his or her teacher’s class. The lessons will be posted on Edline, the district’s secure online portal for accessing assignments and grades.

The district’s teachers union, the Mason Education Association, also agreed to the plan as called for by law.

“It is critical that our instruction not be interrupted. Losing five to eight days of learning in one trimester hurts the pace of our curriculum,” said Karrie Strickland, MEA president.

“If we can use technology to keep our curriculum moving, this helps us stay on pace. At the middle and high school levels, many of us will not have the same students at the end of third trimester that we have during the middle of second trimester. We need academic access to our students each day, so Edline can help us maintain our connection with our students even when the weather prevents our face to face contact so that learning continues.”

Each student has two weeks to complete the lesson.  If the student does not complete the lesson within the two-week time period, the student will receive an incomplete or failing grade unless a reason sufficient to the teacher is provided.

Students without access to a computer will be permitted to complete the posted lessons at school after school reopens.  Students utilizing this option will be granted two weeks from the date of reopening to complete their lessons.

If the student does not complete the lesson within this time period, he or she will receive an incomplete or failing grade unless a reason sufficient to the teacher is provided.  The district will provide access to district computers before, during, or after the school day (provided that the equipment is available and accessible at those times) or may provide a substantially similar paper lesson in order for students to complete the assignments.

“This has been a winter for the record books. This equitable plan will help ensure that students are accessing what they need for their coursework without having to make up days way into the summer,” said Dr. Kist-Kline.

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Michael D. Clark reports:

A former Kings Schools special education teacher is the target of a federal lawsuit filed Monday accusing her of physically and emotionally abusing five mentally and physically challenged students.

Amanda Kitcho taught special needs students at Columbia Elementary in the Warren County district until she negotiated a resignation agreement with district officials in March 2012.

The parents of five of her former students have sued both Kitcho and Kings school officials in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati contending their children suffered physical and emotional abuse.

Kitcho made one girl, who moves with the aid of a walker, “crawl like an animal” to the bathroom while screaming at her, restraining her with duct tape and secluding her in bathroom and a janitorial area, the lawsuit states.

Kitcho also “intentionally provoked and startled students into escalating behaviors … walled students behind dividers in the classroom, took food from the children’s lunches and deprived them of snacks,” according to the suit.

And Kings officials knew of the mistreatment but didn’t report it to law enforcement or inform parents that the district was investigating Kitcho, the suit states.

“Children with significant disabilities are the most vulnerable and invisible of our fellow citizens. They love and hurt just like anybody else. Their parents and grandparent guardians hope and suffer just like all parents and guardians,” said the parents’ attorney, Rick Ganulin. “Each child suffered directly and also suffered by having to observe the abuse of other children.”

Ganulin said one child suffers from glycosylation, which shortens her life and affects her mental and physical abilities.

Her mother and father, Amy and Michael McClellan, who now live with their daughter, Hannah, in Idaho Falls, said they remain “furious” about how then 11-year-old Hannah was treated by Kitcho during the 2010-2011 school year.

“We gave them a bubbly, happy little girl and what we got back at the end of the school year was nothing like that. We got a totally different child because she had such a fear of going to school,” Hannah’s mother said in an interview.

“I was personally lied to by Amanda Kitcho and I was lied to by the district.”

According to the lawsuit, a teacher’s aide, frustrated by the initial lack of action by Kings officials to investigate Kitcho, resigned and a school librarian reported her concerns to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the county prosecutor, but no charges were filed.

But according to sheriff’s documents obtained by The Enquirer, a detective who conducted the sheriff’s office investigation noted in his report that though Kitcho’s alleged actions did not merit criminal charges, “it was quite obvious that (she) was extremely mean spirited, verbally abusive and cruel toward these handicapped students and has no business teaching handicapped children.”

Kitcho did not immediately respond to message left at home seeking her comment.

Kings schools are closed Monday and messages left for Kings Superintendent Valerie Browning and other district officials did not elicit a response Monday.

The Kitcho case made headlines last year when Kings settled a public records lawsuit filed by the Coalition Opposed to Additiona Spending and Taxes

by agreeing to release the depositions of teacher aides and school administrators as part of the district’s investigation of Kitcho.

The first complaint about Kitcho came to Kings officials in October 2011 and by January 2012 the teacher was placed on paid leave. Kitcho, under a negotiated resignation agreement with the district in March 2012, received a letter of recommendation that included an excerpt from the teacher’s previously favorable job reviews.

Kings officials said they reported their investigation of Kitcho to the Ohio Department of Education as required by Ohio law.

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Mike Dyer reports:

The mere mention of a 15-0 record brings smiles to the faces of Mason senior Jenna Gunn and sophomore Lauren Van Kleunen.

The Comets understand the national and state rankings and the expectations that accompany that attention.

“We are going to get everyone’s best every night,” Van Kleunen said. “We know that going in.”

And the bulls-eye gets larger each week. But, that doesn’t deter the Comets – ranked No. 24 nationally by USA Today and the No. 1 team in the Associated Press Division I state poll.

“You have to think in the present,” Gunn said. “We are taking it game by game.”

Mason continued a very successful season with a 52-27 win over Canton McKinley on Saturday afternoon in the 11th annual Classic in the Country Challenge at Berlin Hiland High School.

Van Kleunen had 16 points on 6 of 7 from the field. She also had seven rebounds for the Comets.

“Honestly, I thought Lauren played extremely well,” Mason coach Rob Matula said.

Gunn, who is signed with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Gunn says the team has state championship aspirations but any thoughts of March would be premature.

“I can’t tell you how much she means to our program,” Matula said. “…She is the epitome of a leader.”

The Mason defense was very strong – holding McKinley to just four points in the second and fourth quarters.

Mason switched to a 2-3 zone and it did wonders. The length of the Mason defenders was enough to limit the McKinley perimeter shots.

“I really didn’t expect to hold them to 27 points,” Matula said. “…Our kids did a very good job.”

Junior Tazhia Petitt scored 12 points and had four rebounds for Canton McKinley (12-3).

McKinley led 10-9 at the end of the first quarter but did not reach double digits in any of the following three quarters.

Junior Tyler Newkirk added seven points and for rebounds for Canton McKinley, ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press state poll.

Mason next plays No. 4 state ranked Toledo Notre Dame at 5:15 p.m. Sunday in Berlin.

Mason still hasn’t lost a January game since Jan. 25, 2012 when it fell to Colerain (59-57 in overtime).

By Marc Hardin, Enquirer contributor

Mason diver Sydney Carr has been twisting and turning her body since she was a little girl practicing gymnastics. Whether she’s upside-down or up in the air in the middle of a somersault, the senior is smooth and comfortable doing her dives despite a list of injuries that could have derailed her career.

Having recovered from a fractured vertebrae, a broken wrist and lesser hurts, Carr is driven to succeed because she knows how grumpy she’ll get if she has to stay away from her favorite sport should lingering pain persist or another injury occur.

She’s hoping the setbacks are in the past and a solid finish at the state meet is in her future following yet another strong runner-up performance Sunday at the 1-meter diving championships of the Southwest Classic at University of Cincinnati’s Keating Aquatics Center.

Carr’s effort totaling 433.44 points was her second runner-up finish at a high-level meet in four weeks, and kept Greater Cincinnati divers from being swept out of Sunday’s top three spots by Dayton-area competitors.

Carr, second at December’s Battle of the States event featuring the best from Ohio and Kentucky, finished less than 15 points behind Southwest Classic winner Claire Schuermann of Kettering Alter, who scored 447.60.

Summit Country Day’s fifth-place Allison Brophy (412.56) was the next highest local finisher. Centerville’s Maddy Woods (417.48) and Katie Polk (414.81) were right behind Carr.

The Centerville duo was attempting to make it an Elks sweep. Centerville’s Noah Hickey won the boys’ Classic championship with a score of 441.45, outpointing runner-up Mitch Godar (412.95) of Elder.

Carr, calling herself day-to-day after taking a cortisone shot two weeks ago to ease back discomfort, was able to stay ahead of Woods and Polk on a two-and-half-somersault dive with a tuck that drew high scores

“I was really comfortable with it, and it was one of my last dives,” said Carr, who finished 13th at last season’s state meet. “I knew it was pretty close between me and (Schuermann) so I tried to do my best on all my dives.”

Carr is improving. On Sunday, she finished ahead of Polk, who was 10th at state. She also finished ahead of Sycamore’s Andrianna DiMasso, 12th at state, after placing ahead of DiMasso at the Battle of the States. Carr’s score was better than the 396.25 she posted at Battle of the States while helping Ohio to the team crown.

Making Sunday’s experience even more enjoyable for Carr was Mason teammate Aubrey Rose’s seventh-place finish with a score of 395.19, nearly 55 points better than Rose’s showing at Battle of the States.

Elder’s Godar held off boys’ third-place finisher Stewart Spanbauer of Summit Country Day with the help of a high-scoring one-and-a-half back somersault with a one-and-a-half twist.

“I thought I nailed it, and it felt pretty good coming out of the water,” said Godar, a 16th-place state finisher as a sophomore and 23rd as a junior. “My goal is top 10 at state this year, so I need to keep diving well.”

Mason coach Rob Matula has led the Comets to a No. 24 ranking in the USA Today Super 25. The Enquirer/ Tony Jones / The Enquirer/ Tony Jones

Mike Dyer reports:

Any national or statewide attention is an added bonus, but Mason girls’ basketball coach Rob Matula understands to keep it in perspective as his undefeated squad travels north for a pair of games this weekend.

Mason is ranked No. 24 nationally by the USA Today Super 25 rankings this week.

Mason (14-0), ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Division I state poll, next plays in the annual Classic in the Country event in Berlin, Ohio, this weekend.

The Comets play AP state-ranked No. 10 Canton McKinley at 3:15 p.m. Saturday and No. 4 state-ranked Toledo Notre Dame at 5:15 p.m. Sunday.

“It’s an honor,” Matula said of the national ranking. “It’s something you recognize someone is seeing your program in the light you want it to be.”

Mason is led by senior guard Jenna Gunn, who had 20 points, six rebounds and three assists in a win at Kings on Wednesday.

The Mason girls’ basketball team hasn’t lost a January game since Jan. 25, 2012 at Colerain (59-57 in overtime), according to the Greater Miami Conference website.

Mike Dyer reports:

The Mason girls’ basketball team is ranked No. 24 nationally by the USA Today Super 25.

Mason (13-0) plays at Kings tonight before it travels up north to play Canton McKinley at 3:15 p.m. Saturday at Berlin Hiland in the Classic in the Country in Holmes County.

The Comets, ranked No. 1 in the AP Division I state poll, play Toledo Notre Dame at 5:15 p.m. Sunday at Berlin Hiland.

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Construction of the world’s longest inverted roller coaster Banshee is headed into the home stretch.

The final two pieces of track for Kings Island’s $24 million coaster were delivered Wednesday from Clermont Steel Fabricators in Batavia to the Mason amusement park.

Four of Banshee’s seven inversions have already been constructed and the coaster is on track to make its debut when the park opens in April, park officials said.

• New KI coaster big business for area companies
• Video: First piece of Banshee track installed
• Photos: Local companies at work in building Banshee

Banshee will become the fastest B&M coaster in the nation, surpassing the previous record of 67 mph held by Busch Gardens-Williamsburg’s Alpengeist.

The ride starts with a 167-foot ascent before plunging 150 feet and pitching white-knuckled riders through a dive loop, vertical loop, zero-gravity roller, two batwing inversions, a second vertical loop and a 170 foot heartline finale.

The coaster represents the 364-acre Mason amusement park’s largest investment in its 42-year history, say park officials.

Video/Courtesy Kings Island

Shauna Steigerwald reports:

After a soft opening six or seven weeks ago, Louie’s Taphouse & Grill celebrated its grand opening in Deerfield Township last week. It’s located in the former Willie’s Sports Cafe at 8267 Arbor Square Drive, in the Arbor Square Shopping Center.

Howard Mason, CEO for the business, said it’s not a sports bar (though there are more than 20 TVs for those who do want to catch a game) but a full-service, family-friendly restaurant. The menu is American casual, with wings, burgers, steaks, seafood and the like, but there are also some New Orleans-inspired dishes, such as jambalaya and a shrimp po’ boy. Food is made from scratch, Mason said.

They’ve done some renovations, adding new flooring and new, brighter paint, and they’ve taken down the sports memorabilia. It’s a large space, about 8,000 square feet, and seats about 285 in the bar and dining areas.

There’s anew bar and new tap system, with 62 beers on tap; Mason said they’re hoping to eventually expand to 100.

Speaking of expanding, Mason said that he and his partners, one of whom has been involved in several restaurants in the Dayton and Beavercreek areas, are planning three additional locations. He hopes to open one of those locations in Downtown Cincinnati by late September, in time for football season. (The other locations will be in Dayton and Columbus, he said.)

11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday

513-770-0888; www.louiestaphouse.com 

David Wang talks to the judges about his project at the Science Fair at the 2013 Mason Middle School.(Photo by Tony Tribble)

Contributed by Tracey Carson, Mason Schools

The 2014 Mason City Schools Science Fair held at Mason Middle School needs judges. The Thursday, Feb. 6 event hosts approximately 250 middle and high school students, all eager to interact with and learn from members of our community who are interested in science.

SCHEDULE FOR MASON CITY SCHOOLS SCIENCE FAIR

Thursday, Feb. 6

3:00-3:45      Snacks Provided for Judges(Pizza and salad)

3:30              Meeting with the Judges

3:45 – 6:30     Judging in pairs

6:30 – 7:00     Exhibit open to the public

7:00 – 8:00     Awards presentation

Please email MMS Science Fair Coordinator Jay Reutter at reutterj@mason.k12.oh.us as soon as possible if you are willing to help judge our young scientists. A confirmation letter with directions will be sent by email. If you have any questions, please call 513 398-9035, ext. 44450 and ask for MMS Science Fair Coordinator Mark Campbell.

Lisa Bernard Kuhn reports:

A patient of a Mason spine surgeon facing dozens of malpractice lawsuits was awarded $790,000 by a Hamilton County Common Pleas jury Tuesday.

The jury found that Dr. Atiq Durrani was negligent in a 2009 spinal surgery on Crystal Pierce, of Green Township, in which he used “scare tactics” and lies to convince her that she would be paralyzed without the procedure.

It awarded Pierce, 33, $500,000 in punitive damages, another $500,000 for pain and suffering and $40,000 for one year of lost wages. But limits on malpractice payouts for pain and suffering will translate into about $790,000 in damages for her.

“This is a huge victory,” said Pierce’s lawyer Eric Deters, who represents more than 170 patients who have filed lawsuits against Durrani in Hamilton and Butler County courts.

Pierce, who suffers from constant neck and back pain she says is from Durrani’s surgery, said Tuesday she was relieved.

“I didn’t want him to be able to do this to anyone else,” she said. “I just hope every one left (who has sued him for malpractice) can find justice.”

Michael Lyon, Durrani’s lawyer, said he will likely appeal.

Durrani, whose Center for Advanced Spine Technologies has offices in Evendale and Florence, was tried in abenstia – having alerted Lyon in December that he had left the country and returned to Pakistan. Lyon reported the call to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which issued a warrant for his client’s arrest.

Jurors in the Pierce case were told – at the direction of visiting Hamilton County Judge Guy C. Guckenberger – only that Durrani elected not to attend the trial.

The jury’s decision, Deters said, was significant for the hundreds of patients he represents that have sued or plan to sue Durrani, who was suspended from practicing in Kentucky and Ohio in November.

In his closing arguments Monday, Deters portrayed Durrani as an unscrupulous physician who took advantage of Pierce when she came to him seeking a second opinion.

Pierce testified during the trial that Durrani told her she would be immediately paralyzed if she didn’t undergo two procedures he recommended. While a first helped her, a laminoplasty in January 2009 was unnecessary and required another physician’s intervention to remove screws from her spine that left her in pain, she said.

“Sometimes a banker has to say no to a loan. Sometimes surgeons have to say no to surgeries,” said Deters. “Durrani knew she was looking for options, so he played her.”

Lyon countered, calling Pierce’s case “absolutely hollow.” He defended Durrani by arguing that the doctor did the “best” he could to relieve Pierce’s neck and upper back pain when procedures from other physicians failed to help.

Durrani’s laminoplasty helped relieve the pain and issues Pierce initially came to the doctor for in 2009, Lyon said.

The conditions she lives with now – which includes a limited range of motion in her neck – could be from Pierce’s arthritis, Lyon’s argued.

“She has pain, no question,” Lyon said. “It has nothing to do with Dr. Durrani. He fixed her.”

The jury deliberated for about an hour on Monday, and more than four hours on Tuesday before delivering their verdict.

At least 21 other civil cases against Durrani have been scheduled for trial through 2015. The doctor also faces federal criminal charges for allegedly billing Medicare millions of dollars for unneeded surgeries that left many patients worse off.

Federal officials including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals are looking for the doctor. Officials have said it’s believed he traveled through Mexico into Brazil then fled to Pakistan in early December – a violation of conditions of his bail on the criminal charges.

When Durrani was arrested in July by federal agents he was forced to turnover his passport and prohibited from leaving the country without a federal judge’s permission. He sought that permission, citing a need to visit his sick father in Pakistan, but the court denied the request in September.

The Enquirer reports:

Monday’s prep scores:

Boys Bowling

•  Fairfield 2862, Mason 2579
•  High series: F–Newberry 462; Williams 454. M–Kirch 433; McPherson 413. Records: M 5-2, F 5-1.

 Girls’ bowling

•  Fairfield 2499, Mason 2287
•  High series: F–Alex 404. M–Mitchell 469

Our Town magazine is compiling a listing of civic groups that meet regularly in Mason and Deerfield Township neighborhoods. We will regularly share this list with readers who want to get involved in community service.

Clubs and organizations are asked to mail or email the following information:

• Name of civic or community group.
• Regular meeting time and date (for instance, the second Tuesday of the month).
• Regular meeting place. Please give exact location.
• Contact name, email and/or website.
• Description of club in 10 words or less.

Email this information to ndaly@enquirer.com or mail in to Nancy Daly, Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

The chief legal officer of a Mason company has had his license suspended for a third time, this time after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled he continued to practice law while his license was suspended.

In a 4-3 ruling Tuesday, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that David E. Troller engaged in attorney misconduct by practicing law for six years while his license was suspended and engaged in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness  to practice law.

The court suspended Troller’s license for two years, with a six-month stay provided he meet certain conditions.

Troller, of Terrace Park, served as chief legal officer of the Clopay Corporation from April 2002 to April 2012.

In December 2005, the Supreme Court suspended Troller for not registering and paying attorney fees for 2005-2007.  All Ohio attorneys on active or corporate status are required to register with the state’s Office of Attorney Services and pay a registration fee every odd-numbered year.

Troller received another suspension in May 2006 for failing to meet his continuing legal educational requirements for 2003-2004 and to pay a penalty for not meeting his education requirements for 2001-2002.

The suspensions prohibited Troller from providing legal advice or performing legal services.

In July 2012, the state’s disciplinary counsel charged Troller with failure to comply with the duties of a suspended attorney and continuing to practice law while his license was suspended.

During the disciplinary proceedings, Troller admitted to engaging in the practice of law at Clopay by working with outside counsel on pending litigation, negotiating and drafting contracts for the company and advising human resources personnel on employee terminations.

The court ruled that while Troller engaged in a “pattern of misconduct,” he cooperated in the disciplinary process and stopped providing legal advice at Clopay when notified of the investigation

The ruling also noted Troller’s charitable contributions, including post-hurricane relief and recovery efforts in New Orleans and Haiti and his service as a volunteer firefighter.

The court found that Troller does not pose further risk to the public and stayed the suspension for six months provided he engage in no further misconduct, pay all outstanding registration fees within 30 days and extend his contract with the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program for treatment of anxiety.

Troller remains employed at Clopay as the company’s vice president and chief legal officer, a company representative confirmed Tuesday.

Chrissie Thompson reports:

Get ready for a divisive spring in Warren and Butler counties.

State Rep. Pete Beck, R-Mason, is running for re-election in May, despite his indictment this summer on 16 felony counts for his alleged role in fraudulent business dealings. Political activist Mary Jo Kubicki, R-Deerfield Township, is taking him on, with endorsements that already include state Rep. Ron Maag, R-Salem Township, several Warren County elected officials and a few local mayors.

Beck filed his signatures to get on the ballot on Friday. Kubicki had filed hers on Tuesday.

Beck’s trial is currently scheduled to start April 7, a month before the May 6 primary. In an e-mail exchange Monday with Enquirer reporter Sheila McLaughlin, Beck’s attorney, Taft’s Ralph Kohnen, said he did not expect the date to change.

When I talked with Beck last week, I asked him how his campaign would handle the indictment.

“I think you all have already addressed it,” he said, referring to media coverage of the indictment.

Beck has stayed in office, despite calls for his resignation from the Republican Party and Speaker Bill Batchelder, R-Medina (who later said he was just making a suggestion).

Beck is a former Mason mayor and city council member. His fraud charges are related to Beck’s role in a West Chester startup software company called Christopher Technologies.

Kubicki, cousin of Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Barry Kubicki, has been active in Warren County Republican politics since moving to Deerfield Township in 2007. She has run campaigns for other candidates, served as president of the Warren County Young Republicans and went on to co-chair the Ohio Young Republicans.

Kubicki was eCampaign coordinator for the Kasich-Taylor for Ohio campaign and county co-chair for 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

By Tom Ramstetter, Enquirer contributor

Haley Vorherr’s only field goal of the game Saturday afternoon at Mason High School did not give her team the lead or tie the score in Mason’s 55-54 comeback win over Greater Miami Conference rival Lakota West.

But it was big.

The senior guard drained a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:05 to play in the fourth quarter to pull her team to within one point, turning the tide one final time in a game of changing tides. Sophomore guard Jailyn Mason followed seconds later with a jumper in the lane to give the Comets the lead for good at 53-52.

“I’m a senior this year and I’m getting a lot more playing time than I have previous years, so yeah, that’s probably the biggest shot I’ve hit in a game,” Vorherr said. “It felt really great.”

Senior guard Jenna Gunn sealed the win with two free throws in the final 30 seconds.

The Comets (13-0, 9-0 GMC), ranked No. 1 in the Enquirer Division I area coaches’ poll, completed a regular-season sweep of No. 3 Lakota West. Mason beat the Firebirds (9-4, 4-4) in the first matchup, 45-39 in overtime, Dec. 4 at Lakota West.

Mason trailed the entire first half Saturday and Lakota West led by as many as nine. But the Comets surged to a 36-31 lead midway through the third quarter. The Firebirds used a 14-3 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to take a 49-43 lead with less than four minutes to play.

There were five lead changes and three ties in the second half and the Comets were behind 52-48 when Vorherr got the ball in the corner.

“We were running spread and everybody was just moving the ball around and I ended up in the corner,” Vorherr said. “I was going to pass into Lauren (Van Kleunen) in the post, but the girl doubled down on her. I think she knew what I was going to do, so I just shot.”

It was the only shot she made in only three attempts.

“I told her that is why we believe in our players,” Mason coach Rob Matula said. “She’s a senior who played JV as a junior and she has just worked unbelievably hard on her game. We have confidence in her. Just calm and cool in the corner, she loaded it up and knocked it down. It was huge.”

West didn’t make a field goal the final four minutes of the game. Van Kleunen stopped the final Lakota West run with a traditional three-point play and a layup to cut the lead to 49-48 with two minutes to play.

“We’re definitely a second-half team,” Van Kleunen said. “We’re usually more mentally prepared to come out in the second half and that’s what we did.”

West opened the game on a 10-2 run and led 29-23 at halftime. Mason took its first lead at 32-31 with 3:59 to play in the third.

Stars of the Game: Gunn led Mason with 14 points. Van Kleunen added 13 and 10 rebounds, and Jailyn Mason scored 11 for the Comets.

Lakota West leading scorer Lauren Cannatelli scored eight in the first quarter and finished with 16. But sophomore guard Danielle Wells kept Lakota West in the game in the face of Mason’s third-quarter rally by scoring six of her 14 in the final two minutes of the period.

“There was a whole lot of toughness in the way that (Danielle) played,” Lakota West coach Andy Fishman said. “I thought that the other girls rallied around that. When we made that run in the fourth quarter to retake the lead, we were following Danielle Wells’s leadership.”

View From the Sideline: “That was an incredibly good basketball game between two really good teams,” Fishman said. “They came back on us, we came back on them. There were multiple lead changes and little swings. I give Mason’s girls credit. They made big plays down the stretch. We made big plays, but we also made some mistakes.

“It’s a fun game. I’d love to win it, but I’m proud of the way our girls battled. We just have to get better at finishing plays.”

Matula added, “I told somebody beforehand, our two teams mirror each other when it comes to position players. Cannatelli probably gives them more of a 3-point threat than we really have, but really we have a lot of similar players.

Cliff Turrell won Mason’s calendar photo contest in 2012 with his photo “Proud of our Heritage and Town.” Provided

Three Warren County communities have been ranked among the 50 safest cities in Ohio, according to a report released this month by security broker SafeWise Security Systems.

The SafeWise Report evaluated FBI crime data and in-house research of Ohio cities with populations of at least 20,000 residents since 2011.

Springboro ranked No. 8 on the list, followed by Mason at No. 15 and Lebanon at No. 23.

Other area cities making the list: Delhi Township (18); Springfield Township (34); Clermont County’s Miami Township (36); West Chester Township (45) and Goshen Township (46).

The report noted Springboro’s low crime rate, including no murders or rapes and only three vehicle break-ins reported in 2011.

Both Springboro and Mason were described as affluent communities recognized nationally as among the best places to live.

Last year, Money magazine ranked Mason No. 7 in its list of the top 50 small towns to live in the nation.  Springboro ranked No. 42 in the same list in 2011.

Those rankings were based on factors such as job opportunities, top-notch schools, safe streets, good weather, things to do and economic strength, among others.

A complete list is available at Safewise.com.

Dr. Atiq Durrani faces dozens of suits by former patients as well as federal charges of fraudulent billing. / Enquirer file

Lisa Bernard-Kuhn reports:

Closing arguments are expected today in the first trial of dozens of civil lawsuits filed against Mason spine surgeon Dr. Atiq Durrani. But Durrani won’t be in the courtroom.

Durrani – a Pakistani native – is being tried in absentia, having fled the country late last year, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which issued a warrant for his arrest in December.

More than 170 patients have sued Durrani in Hamilton and Butler county courts, most alleging that he performed unnecessary surgeries and botched many of them.

Crystal Pierce, of Green Township, was among the first to file a lawsuit in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court alleging that a surgery performed by Durrani in 2009 made her spine conditions worse and left her with agonizing pain.

Her lawyer Eric Deters represents most of the patients who have sued Durrani, and in several cases have also sued UC Health’s West Chester Hospital and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Corryville.

Durrani, whose Center for Advanced Spine Technologies has offices in Evendale and Florence, also is accused of fraudulently billing Medicare millions of dollars for unnecessary surgeries. He was arrested by federal agents on those criminal charges in July. A grand jury issued a 36-count indictment against him the following month.

That trial is scheduled for August, while the remaining cases have court dates scheduled through 2015.

During the current civil suit, jurors have only been told – at the direction of visiting Hamilton County Judge Guy C. Guckenberger – that Durrani has elected not to attend.

His absence presents big challenges for both sides of the courtroom, says John H. Metz, a Cincinnati lawyer with more than 35 years experience in medical malpractice.

“There are no slam dunk cases, even if the doctor isn’t present,” said Metz.

Durrani, who was suspended from practicing in Kentucky and Ohio in November, is being defended by Cincinnati lawyer Michael Lyon, a well-known medical malpractice attorney. Often defense lawyers in civil malpractice cases against physicians prefer to have their client testify, or at least be present, so the jury “can feel some sympathy for them,” said Metz.

The jury equates their sympathy with, “How can you fault someone for doing the best they could?” Metz said.

And for the plaintiff, no Durrani means no cross examination from Deters – who’s known for having an aggressive court-room manner.

“It’s a loss for Deters,” said Metz. “Usually, in cross examination you try to get the doctor to make certain concessions. If the doctor is evasive, or a smart aleck, that doesn’t translate to the jurors very well.”

Opening statements in Pierce’s case against Durrani began last Tuesday, with the remainder of the week dedicated to witness statements.

Pierce testified Wednesday that Durrani told her she would be immediately paralyzed if she didn’t undergo the procedures he recommended in 2009. While a first surgery helped her, a second in January 2009 was botched, according to testimony Thursday from Dr. Keith Wilkey, a St. Louis-based spine surgeon called by Deters. On Friday, jurors heard expert testimony that rebuffed Wilkey from Dr. Patrick McCormick, a neurosurgeon based in Toledo. McCormick said a laminoplasty performed on Pierce to remove pressure from her spinal chord and neck was indeed necessary and in line with what most physicians should have recommended for her spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal chord.

Meanwhile, the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Marshals offices are searching for Durrani. At the time of his arrest in August, Durrani was forced to hand over his passport to federal authorities and was forbidden to travel internationally.

Durrani later filed a request with federal courts to to visit Pakistan to see his terminally ill father, but the requiest was denied.

A log of Durrani’s legal woes

February 2013

Dozens of civil lawsuits begin to be filed in Hamilton and Butler county courts, mostly by lawyer Eric Deters on behalf of former Durrani patients.

July

Durrani is arrested at his Mason by federal agents on criminal health care fraud charges.

August

Durrani pleads not guilty to federal criminal charges. Grand jury issues what eventually becomes a 36-count indictment.

Durrani pleads not guilty to federal charges of health care fraud.

September

Federal court denies Durrani’s request to leave the U.S. to visit his terminally ill father in Pakistan.

November

Kentucky and Ohio medical boards suspends Durrani‘s medical license.

December

The U.S. Attorney’s office reports that Durrani has fled the country, issues a warrant for his arrest.

Sources: Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, Butler County Common Pleas Court, U.S. District Court

Mike Dyer reports:

Feb. 5 marks the start of the NCAA signing period for football, field hockey, soccer, track and field/cross country and men’s water polo for student-athletes in the 2014 class. The football regular period runs through April 1. The other sports have Aug.1 as the final signing date.

Here is a list of area college commits in those sports in the 2014 class in advance of the February National Signing Day. Included are five student athletes from Mason or Kings high schools. Additional commitments can be emailed to mdyer@enquirer.com. Schools and families may submit Signing Day photos to signingdayphotos@gmail.com in February.

*Indicates preferred walk-on.

FIELD HOCKEY

• Megan Goslee; Mount Notre Dame; Saint Louis
• Molly McGeeney; Mount Notre Dame; Grand Valley State

 BOYS’ SOCCER

• Jack Clark; Mason; UC
• Matt DeJesus; Summit Country Day; Carnegie Mellon
• Joe Gallagher; Clark Montessori; Kenyon
• Austin Harrell; St. Xavier; DePaul
• Gabe Welp; Lakota West; Brown

GIRLS’ SOCCER

• Rachel Ahrens; Ross; Rio Grande
• Amy Dean; Mount Notre Dame; Akron
• Jessica Frey; Seton; NKU
• Maegan Geraci; Norwood; Mount St. Joseph
• Samantha Goodwin; Seton; Thomas More
• Cassandra Nieman; Madeira; Xavier
• Maddie Volz; Mount Notre Dame; Anderson University (S.C.)
• Cassidy Young; Ross; Rio Grande
• Sydney Zinser; Kings; Belmont

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY

• Michael Hall; St. Xavier; Florida State
• Evan Stifel; St. Xavier; Belmont

GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD

• Loretta Blaut; Seton; UC
• Jordan Horning; Mason; NKU
• Jessica Tegge; Talawanda; NKU

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY

• Jessica Tegge; Talawanda; NKU

 FOOTBALL

• Nilijah Ballew; S; Walnut Hills; 6-2; 190; Louisville
• Drew Barker; QB; Conner; 6-4; 210; Kentucky (early enrollee)
• Michael Barwick; DT; Summit Country Day; 6-2; 297; Indiana
• Camden Baucke; OL; Loveland; 6-2; 255; Malone
• Robert Behanan; OL; Fairfield; 6-5; 285; Middle Tennessee State
• Tinashe Bere; LB; Sycamore; 6-1; 220; Duke
• Danny Burns; OL; Fairfield; 6-7 ½; 320; Louisville
• Nick Carovillano; DE; St. Xavier; 6-4; 245; Indiana
• Mike Edwards; S; Winton Woods; 5-11; 180; Kentucky
• Jalen Fox; DB; Wyoming; 5-11; 180; Ohio University
• Isaiah Gentry; WR; Moeller; 6-4; 175; Kent State
• Tyrell Gilbert; Athlete; Princeton; 6-1; 205; UC
• CJ Hilliard; RB; St. Xavier; 5-9; 190; Iowa
• Seth Hope; DE; Highlands; 6-3; 230; Cornell
• Keshun Horton; LB; Northwest; 6-1; 205; Notre Dame College
• Mikel Horton; RB; Lakota West; 6-1; 225; Kentucky (early enrollee)
• Reggie Howard; LB; Withrow; 6-3; 220; Kent State
• Sam Hubbard; FS; Moeller; 6-5; 220; Ohio State
• Derek Kief; La Salle; 6-5; 196; Alabama
• Quentin King; DL; Mason; 6-2 ½; 220; Malone
• Stephen Langenkamp; OL; Moeller; 6-2; 280
• Jarrett LaRubbio; OL; Lakota East; 6-5; 270
• Will Marty; QB; Wyoming; 6-4; 195; Butler
• Alex Pfeiffer; OL; Anderson; 6-5; 265; Toledo
• Kevin Pickett; OT; Elder; 6-4; 275; Eastern Illinois
• Devin Pike; TE; Elder; 6-5; 235; Louisville
• Gus Ragland; QB; Moeller; 6-2; 210; Miami University
• Kevin Rogers; TE; Anderson; 6-4; 210; Buffalo
• Shane Roy; DE; Reading; 6-5; 235; Pittsburgh
• Chance Sorrell; TE/DE; Middletown; 6-6; 260; Vanderbilt
• Matt Stewart; LB/RB; Mason; 6-1; 220; Naval Academy
• Nick True; TE; Highlands; 6-6; 240; Western Kentucky
• Ben Walling; OL; Simon Kenton; 6-5; 280; Grand Valley State
• Ryan Williamson; S; Colerain; 5-11 ½; 180; Buffalo
• Antonio Woods; QB; Summit Country Day; 6-1; 185; Penn

John Kiesewetter reports:

1979 Lebanon High School graduate Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey play Louisiana detectives investigating a cult murder of a prostitute in 1995 in HBO’s “True Detective” that debuts Sunday. Provided photo

Twenty years after “Cheers” ended, Woody Harrelson returns to a TV series in HBO’s “True Detective” crime drama (9 p.m. Sunday).

Here are some comments from my interview for my Sunday A&E story with Harrelson, a 1979 Lebanon High School graduate I’ve known since shortly after his debut as Woody Boyd on “Cheers” in 1985.

Woody and Matthew McConaughey play Louisiana detectives investigating a cult murder of a prostitute in 1995. The story is told in flashbacks from 2012, when new officers investigating a similar murder quiz former partners Martin Hart (Harrelson) and Rust Cohle (McConaughey).

His reaction when I told him with his paunchy makeup as Hart in 2012, he could pass as detective for the Lebanon police or Warren County Sheriff’s office: “I hope the Warren County Sheriff’s office reads this and thinks about deputizing me!”

He agreed with me that viewers (including me) might not recognize McConaughey’s present-day Rust Cohle character, with his shoulder-length hair. (HBO didn’t provide photos of the long-haired Cohle):

“I remember when I first saw him – Oh my God! I really didn’t recognize him when I first saw him. He was outside of his trailer… He was just walking along, and it took me a minute to recognize him. I really liked that look.”

Was switching from 1995 to 2012 difficult? Did they shoot all the 1995 scenes together, then the 2012 scenes?

“No, we bounced back and forth between the looks. Even in one day, we’d go from ’95 to 2012, you know.They could never book it that way (chronologically). It would be too expensive.”

So how did you keep it straight in your head?

“Matthew had it really psyched out. In his Airstream… there on one wall, he had the whole chronology start to finish. And it took up a goodly amount of space, but it was really helpful. If I had any questions, I’d just go in there and take a look. You really had to keep abreast to where you were in the story. It was one long sheet of paper, as long as a couch, across the back of his Airstream. That was up the whole time.”

Did you have a nice trailer too?

“I have a bus. It looks like what you’d expect of a hippie who lost his way from Maui. Or I guess I should say from Lebanon. But I wasn’t a hippe then.”

You’re now shooting “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” and “Part 2” till June in Atlanta with Josh Hutcherson from Northern Kentucky?

“He’s a great guy, Josh. I love Josh. Its really so fun hanging with him.”

When my Sunday story is posted, I’ll add the link here.

The Kings Board of Education is made up of members, from left, Robert Hinman, vice president; Kim Grant; William Russell, president; Bonnie Baker-Hicks; and Todd Overturf. Provided photo

A new face will be heading the Kings Board of Education.

William Russell was elected president of the five-member board, replacing Bonnie Baker-Hicks. First elected to the board in 2011, Russell was also selected to be the board’s representative on the governing board of the Warren County Career Center.

A retired owner of a consulting business, Russell replaced board member Bonnie Baker-Hicks on the career center’s governing board.

Assisting Russell this year is Robert Hinman, who was elected vice president. He is replacing Hale Husband who lost his bid for re-election in last November’s election.

The board agreed to continue to hold its regular meetings at 6:30 p.m., on the third Tuesday of each month at the Kings Education Center.

The next meeting will be Jan. 21.