State holds forum on environment

        FORT MITCHELL — The state wants to hear what Northern Kentucky residents have to say about making the commonwealth a cleaner place to live.

        The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet is holding a forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Drawbridge Inn.

        It will be one in a series of forums across the state.

        Cabinet officials are using the input to draw up a plan that tackles universal garbage collection and ways to clean up dumps, and recycle and reduce roadside litter.

        They will present their ideas to Gov. Paul Patton by Dec. 1. Mr. Patton has said he will put such a plan before the General Assembly next year.
       

Safe Halloween program offered

        FORT MITCHELL — The Erlanger-Fort Mitchell Rotary will sponsor its third annual Safe Halloween program for children on Oct. 29 at the Holiday Inn.

        From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., children from Erlanger and Fort Mitchell will be invited to take part in the event. Children can walk from room to room in a safe environment to gather candy and treats. Volunteers will monitor the halls.

        Last year about 700 children attended. Volunteers will be in costume and will pass out treats.
       

St. Elizabeth wins award for quality

        St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Northern Kentucky has received a top award for clinical quality improvement from Catholic Healthcare Partners, a five-state chain of hospitals and other health services based in Cincinnati.

        St. Elizabeth, a member of Catholic Healthcare Partners, was honored for three efforts in the past year: introducing a Post Interventional Care Unit for patients receiving cardiac angioplasties and stents; a Rapid Cardiac Evaluation Unit to treat patients with chest pain; and an emergency department “Nighthawk” project that improved analysis of X-rays during busy hours.

        The Medical Center has opened a diagnostic medical center in Union, a growing part of Boone County.

        The project involved converting half of a former IGA grocery store at 10134 U.S. 42 into an outpatient office for lab tests, X-rays and therapy services. The other half will be used by the Summit Medical Group for physician offices.
       

High-school seniors nominated for awards

        A group of 20 Northern Kentucky high-school seniors is competing in the Wendy's High School Heisman Program.

        They are: Jessica Barth (Highlands); Matt Bertke (Covington Catholic); Benjamin Conley (Dixie Heights); Jessica Cope (Dayton); Suzanne Funken (Ryle); Nathan Hall (Dayton); Robbie Huellemeier (Walton-Verona); Jeffrey Jackson (Scott); Kris Kellinghaus (Newport Central Catholic); Jennifer Kennedy (Campbell County); Holly Kreyling (Notre Dame Academy); Andrea McKean (Dixie Heights); Kate O'Toole (Villa Madonna Academy); Colleen Pairan (Scott); Katie Pohlgeers (Beechwood); David Rider (Highlands); Nick Sketch (Beechwood); Tony Whiles (Campbell County); Sarah Woods (Calvary Christian); and Joe Zuerner (Calvary Christian).

        The students were selected for their academic, athletic and community service accomplishments. The national male and female winners will be announced Dec. 8 and honored during the college football Heisman Trophy ceremony Dec. 9.
       

Microsoft to pay for computer training

        FRANKFORT — Microsoft Inc., the software giant, is giving Kentucky $300,000 for computer training to people leaving welfare.

        Viola Miller, secretary of the Cabinet for Families and Children, said the training would give some a legitimate shot at jobs with higher-than-average starting pay.

        It was announced Thursday that Microsoft is giving the money as a grant to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, which is to collaborate with Ms. Miller's agency to find prospects.

        The plan is to train at least 65 low-income people over two years. The money is to cover tuition, a computer that each student will build, and 18 months of Internet access. Training classes are planned in Northern Kentucky, the statement said.
       

Schools to post Ten Commandments

        SOMERSET — Pulaski County schools plan to post the Ten Commandments despite a lawsuit seeking to prevent government entities from posting the religious document.

        The district's Board of Education voted Tuesday night to allow interested third parties to hang a copy of it on school walls. It adopted a resolution similar to one in Laurel County.

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