Good morning, Preble County. The line between justice and leniency blurred this week as Ernest Hatmaker received five years probation in a child pornography case, avoiding prison time through a plea agreement that dismissed more serious charges. While legal proceedings concluded in one corner of our community, an academic battle continues at Miami University, where retiring classics professor Deborah Lyons warns of dying humanities programs. After 21 years teaching ancient languages and mythologies, Lyons plans to retreat to Massachusetts with her three-legged cat Elvis while finishing two scholarly works.
Meanwhile, classroom dynamics at Miami have sparked debate after a student's letter described a DEI guest lecturer allegedly dismissing civil rights leaders as "old school" while framing race relations in divisive terms. The incident raises questions about how sensitive topics are presented in academic settings and whether current approaches foster unity or division among the student body.
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☕️ What's Brewing Locally
📄 Ohio man gets probation in child pornography investigation. Ernest Hatmaker will serve five years of community control after pleading no contest to possessing criminal tools. Originally facing multiple child pornography charges, Hatmaker benefited from a plea agreement that dismissed the more serious offenses. The investigation began when the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force alerted local authorities about Hatmaker potentially sharing illicit material through an app. If he violates his probation terms, he could face up to a year in prison.
📚 A classics professor sounds the alarm as humanities programs wither. Deborah Lyons, retiring after 21 years at Miami University, laments how the once-flourishing classical studies department has been reduced to just three majors within a merged department. Despite her love for teaching ancient languages and mythologies, Lyons plans to retire to Massachusetts to finish two books and spend time with her three-legged cat, Elvis. She worries that Miami is "squandering its riches" by consistently diminishing humanities programs, a trend she hopes will reverse before these valuable academic disciplines disappear entirely.
🎓 Student challenges DEI department's divisive classroom rhetoric. A non-traditional Miami University student recounts a troubling experience with a DEI guest lecturer who dismissed civil rights leaders as "old school" and framed race relations as "us versus them." The letter writer, Lee Fisher, questions Professor John-Charles Duffy's criticism of President Crawford regarding Ohio Senate Bill 1, suggesting Duffy lacks insight into Crawford's private stance. Fisher implies the DEI department's approach created division rather than unity among students, based on his first-hand classroom experience.
⚾ Baseball Scoreboard
| Team | Opponent | Score |
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National Trail (5-11) | ||
@ Newton Local | L 10-0 |
🥎 Softball Scoreboard
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National Trail (7-12) | ||
@ Newton Local | L 13-7 |
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