As the year 2009 comes to a close, it’s a good time to reflect back over the past year and also look ahead to what may be on the horizon for 2010.

Seth Varner, Clermont Northeastern High School three-sport star athlete, has recently signed a college letter-of-intent to attend Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, where he plans to further his education and athletic career.

Ryan Anstaett, Batavia High School baseball star, recently signed a letter-of-intent to further his education and athletic career at Lake Erie College, Cleveland. He plans to major in the field of education.

Alex Lewis, New Richmond High School senior, has signed a college letter-of-intent to further his education and his swimming career at Cleveland State University. He plans to major in physics. At New Richmond High School, he became the third Lion swimming star to advance to the collegiate level of competition in the sport.

Clermont Northeastern’s Rockets and Glen Este’s Trojans achieved their first varsity girls basketball triumphs of the 2009-10 campaign. Both confrontations were conquests in their respective conferences and divisions. Milford’s E-Gals and Williamsburg’s Wildcats also added victories to their respective totals.

Bethel-Tate, Goshen, Milford, and Williamsburg were the victors among Clermont County’s high school varsity boys basketball squads in the most recent action that is experiencing a very abbreviated schedule of confrontations due to the holiday season. Bethel-Tate returned from Highland County with a 67-52 overtime victory over Lynchburg-Clay.

New Richmond boys and girls varsity swimming teams began their 2009-10 campaign by placing third at Cincinnati Country Day School. Greenfield McClain won both the boys and girls divisions of competition. The Tiger boys had 116 points and New Richmond 75. The Tiger girls gathered 131 points and New Richmond 38.

North Country Christmas Trees and the Pierce Township Police Department have teamed up to distribute Christmas trees to needy families in the Pierce Township area. North County Christmas Trees is located at 1275 Ohio Pike. North Country originally donated 12 Christmas trees and agreed to donate more as more needy families were identified.

The Greater Milford Area Historical Society presented copies of a restored panoramic photograph to several organizations in recognition of their support of the society’s efforts to preserve the history of Milford and its surrounding communities. The prints were presented to Lehr’s Meats, the City of Milford, the Milford Board of Education, and the Milford-Miami Chamber of Commerce.

Leonard Jesse Black, 77, of Milford, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Anderson Township. Black served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Funeral services were held Dec. 23 at Summerside United Methodist Church.