Warren County's Turtlecreek Township may not get an interchange, but it still will have a hospital, Middletown Regional Hospital officials pledged Thursday after their hopes for a new Interstate 75 interchange were dashed.

        “We will build a new hospital,” said Larry James, vice president of marketing for Middletown Regional. “We will move.”

        Meanwhile, a Butler County leader on Thursday suggested the hospital consider moving to his more-hospitable county instead.

        A committee of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Council of Governments voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to abandon consideration of an interchange at Greentree Road. Warren officials told the committee they didn't want the expense or the development it could bring.

        Middletown city and Middletown Regional Hospital want the interchange at Greentree Road because the hospital intends to move there from its landlocked site on McKnight Drive.

        “Our position is the same: This is a great project for Southwest Ohio,” Mr. James said. “And we still believe Greentree Road is the best location.”

        Butler Commissioner Michael Fox also said Middletown Regional's plans — which include not just a hospital but an entire health and technology campus — would be good for the region.

        “Most people around the world are begging for jobs,” Mr. Fox said. “Warren County officials seem to throw them out like yesterday's trash.”

        He suggested that Middletown Regional consider moving to Butler's Liberty Township instead, if there's a way that the city of Middletown still could receive revenue from the site.

        The planned expansion of the Michael A. Fox Highway interchange on I-75 will open up hundreds of acres to potential development, Mr. Fox said.

        Warren Commissioner Larry Crisenbery reiterated that the county is not against the hospital, but rather against putting it on Greentree.

        “I'd rather see it in Warren County (than in Butler), but the place for it is Ohio 122,” Mr. Crisenbery said.

        Mr. James had no comment on Mr. Fox's idea.

Council approves further studies
       

Basketball brawls bring cries of foul
Union Institute may shift staff
Boycott leaders stand by demands
GameWorks promises fun
Hospital still plans on moving
Lights still up for landmarks
Democrats vie for 33rd District seat
Luken seeks to use new power
Marge Schott offers stable home for wayward cow
Rare birth raises possibilities
Tristate A.M. Report
Women celebrate their faith at weekend events
BRONSON: Me, too
HOWARD: Some Good News
SMITH AMOS: Second thoughts
WELLS: Executions
Council approves further studies
Girls, 8 and 6, charged in fight
Hiking trails OK'd near firing range
New judge seats, levies on ballots
Southeastern Butler Chamber still growing
Turf war pits neighbors in assault case
Ohio National Guard seeks new armory site
Child-porn trial opens on April 1
Health agency to build $1 million care center
Ky. to cut school funding $14 million
Sewage dispute delaying museum
Shooting case back in court