Clermont Celebrities Take Center Stage at March Dancing with the Stars Gala

Batavia, Ohio.  He does a great job with law enforcement, but can he dance?  We’ll find out on March 4, 2010, when Clermont County Sheriff A.J. “Tim” Rodenberg performs a swing number with his dance partner Sarah Negley, competing for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy at the first annual Dancing with the Stars Extravaganza.  The event at the Eastgate Holiday Inn, located at 4501 Eastgate Boulevard in Union Township, between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., benefits Clerco, Inc., the non-profit board of the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCDD).

“If Simon Leis can dance at his age, I know I can exceed his performance,” laughed Rodenberg, referring to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s past performance in a dancing competition.  “My wife ‘volunteered’ me to be one of the featured dancers; it’s a great cause, but it’s difficult because of all the moves you have to do in the proper sequence.”

Also performing at the event, Clermont County Auditor Linda Fraley; she will be dancing the Cha Cha with Jeff Diesel.  “The only competition that worries me is the Sheriff,” said Fraley.  “I mean, he does carry a gun which could intimidate the judges!”

Other celebrity dance teams set to perform that evening are Jim Carter and Berta Velilla, Tom Dirr and Jessica Petre, Bill and Donna Dowdney, Lamonica and Evan Friedman, Carl and Barb Hartman, Kate and Bill Hawkins, Karen Scherra and David Horn, Tim and Laura Vogel, and CCDD Superintendent Sharon Woodrow with her grandson Christopher Lachat.

“This should be a really fun event to help us create awareness about our services and enable us to fund some of those programs,” said CCDD Director of Community Relations Lisa Davis.  “We invite everyone to come out and vote for their favorite couple.  Audience votes and the judge’s panel will determine who wins bragging rights and the Mirror Ball Trophy.”  For more information about event tickets, contact CCDD at (513) 732-4921.