SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP — An armed couple robbed a Bank One branch Thursday and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

A Hamilton County Sheriff's Office crime scene investigator dusts for fingerprints at the Bank One in Symmes Township. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        The man and woman, brandishing shiny handguns, ordered bank employees to the floor and demanded money at the branch at 7269 Kenwood Road in Sycamore Township, Hamilton County sheriff's deputies said.

        They fled in a blue minivan, which police recovered later. No one was injured in the robbery.

        Police described the two as black, and both wore black and white bandanas. The man is 20 to 25 years old, 6 feet 1 inch tall, and thin, with braided hair. The woman is in her mid-20s and 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a medium build. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.
       

Western Hills center fire damages 3 stores

        A fire at Roger's Hallmark in the Western Hills Shopping Center on Thursday night was contained inside the card store. Smoke damaged adjacent businesses, the Foot Action and Shoebilee! stores.

        District Chief Mark Maxwell estimated damage at $300,000. The fire is under investigation and he did not know a cause. The fire started in the card store, which had closed at 9 p.m. There were no injuries.
       

Police ask for help in finding 2 girls

        Police are asking for the public's help in locating two adolescent girls reported missing.

Malika Graham

        Police said 12-year-old Malika Graham, of the 1700 block of Portman Avenue, was last seen Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at 4901 Reading Road. She has short, black hair; brown eyes; and a medium complexion, and is 5 feet tall and weighs 90 pounds.

        She may be with Nakita Cromwell, 13, of the 1700 block of Greenview Place, who also was last seen Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at her home. She has a history of running away, police said. She is 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighs 100 pounds and has black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion.

        Anyone with information should call Cincinnati Police Personal Crimes Unit 352-6474 or Police District 4 at 352-3576.
       

Grand jury gets case of Fairfield teacher

        FAIRFIELD — A Butler County grand jury will decide whether to indict a former Fairfield music teacher on a charge of sexual misconduct involving a female student five years ago.

        Fairfield Municipal Judge Joyce Campbell on Thursday continued a recognizance bond for Brian D. Schweikert, 40, of Fairfield, after he waived a preliminary hearing.

        Fairfield Police charged him May 25 with one count of sexual battery after a former student told a Fairfield High School teacher.

        Mr. Schweikert could face up to five years in prison and maximum fine of $10,000.
       

Groundbreaking for school building

        MONROE — A groundbreaking for Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School will be 3 p.m. Sunday at its new site in Liberty Township.

        The 3-year-old school purchased 24.5 acres on the east side of Yankee Road. Students have been meeting in rented space in the basement at Our Mother of Sorrows Church.
       

Mt. Washington man charged in fatal crash

        A Mount Washington man was charged Wednesday with vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter for a June 14 crash in Colerain Township.

        Kenneth L. McPeek, 33, of the 6600 block of Beechmont Avenue, is accused of driving a dump truck into a car driven by Eugena Hoke, 52, of Bridgetown, killing her.
       

Barrett to chair United Way campaign

        John Barrett, president and chief executive officer of the Western-Southern Life Insurance Co., is the chairman of the 2001 United Way Campaign.

        More than 160 agencies are receiving funds from the $60 million raised during the 2000 United Way campaign. This year's campaign kicks off Sept. 6 and runs through Oct. 26.

Suit seeks to block penalties on tests

        COLUMBUS — Opponents of state proficiency tests filed a lawsuit Thursday to stop the state from penalizing students and districts on the basis of low test scores.

        The seven parents and educators who are plaintiffs say the tests hurt students whose schools don't have enough money. Ohio's constitution doesn't allow the state to punish students based on the size of a school's budget, said Joshua Cohen, a lawyer for the group.
       

Shooting suspect escapes custody

        Authorities say a 25-year-old man charged with 14 counts of attempted murder and 14 counts of felonious assault escaped Thursday from Roselawn's Summit Behavioral Healthcare center.

        Stephon J. Johnson, of North Fairmount, was part of a group playing volleyball when he scaled a wall and jumped a fence at 2:45 p.m.

        A judge had ordered Mr. Johnson confined at Summit in March after deeming him mentally incompetent. In January, police said Mr. Johnson fired at police from inside a Mulberry Street building. One of the shots wounded a minister driving by.
       

Government service in new office

        MIDDLETOWN — The new office of the Social Security Administration will open with full service at 9 a.m. Monday at 3860 Towne Blvd., across from the Meijer store near Towne Mall.

        There will be limited service today at the current Middletown location, 1330 Manchester Ave. Clients are asked to visit the Hamilton office at 1710 S. Erie Blvd., or call (800) 772-1213 or go online to www.ssa.gov.

        The Social Security Administration has five offices in Greater Cincinnati: Middletown, Hamilton, Cincinnati Downtown, Cincinnati North and Batavia.

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