Banks in Clifton Heights and Green Township were robbed Monday. Police made an arrest in one of the robberies within minutes and think they may have solved two other robberies by doing so.

        Monday's bring the total number of Greater Cincinnati bank robberies this year to 49.

        Police said Clifton Heights Loan & Building Co. at 201 W. McMillan Ave. was robbed Monday afternoon by a man who fled on foot. Thomas Holloway, 54, of the 1900 block of Colerain avenue, was arrested a short time later across the street.

        He was stopped by Cincinnati Police Officer Jacob Maple, who was searching for a man who robbed the KFC restaurant on Calhoun Street less than an hour before. He arrested Mr. Holloway after he saw him run across the street from the bank because Mr. Holloway matched the description of the KFC robber. Later, Mr. Holloway was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and a count of robbery involving the Shell service station on Calhoun Street on Sunday.

        At 10:55 a.m. Monday, the Guardian Savings Bank at 5091 Colerain Ave. was robbed by a man who police said was nearly struck by a car while running from the bank.

        The robber said he had a gun but none was shown. No one was hurt and an undisclosed amount of money was taken.
       

Man sentenced to jail in home-repair scheme

               HAMILTON — A Middletown man who admitted to cheating more than a dozen people — mostly elderly — out of about $45,000 has been sentenced to 34 months in prison.

        Donald M. Taylor, 41, was sentenced Monday by Judge Matthew Crehan of Butler County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty to 15 criminal charges.

        Judge Crehan also ordered him to make full restitution to the victims.

        Mr. Taylor promised to perform handyman-type home improvements, accepted payments and then failed to do the work he had agreed to, authorities said.

        He pleaded guilty to seven counts of theft by deception, a count of grand theft by deception, six counts of theft by decep tion from an elderly person and petty theft by deception.

        In exchange for his guilty plea, the prosecution dropped a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
       

Finneytown schools seek board applicants

               Finneytown Board of Education is seeking applications to fill a position vacated by board member Brad King.

        Mr. King resigned to become the district's interim director of administrative services for 150 days, effective July 10. He is filling a vacancy created when John Borchers resigned to take a similar position in the Milford School District.

        Application packets are available at the board office, 8916 Fontainebleau Terrace. Applicants will need to provide a resume and letter of intent no later than Monday. The board will interview candidates July 30 and will announce its selection July 31.

        The person chosen will serve on the school board through 2001, and will need to run for election on the November ballot to continue on the board.

        For more information, call 728-3700.
       

Pool water tested for meningitis virus

               BELLBROOK, Ohio — The state health department plans to test water samples taken from an apartment complex swimming pool that some residents fear may harbor viral meningitis.

        The virus has infected two children at the 180-unit apartment complex near this Southwest Ohio village in the past two months, Sugarcreek Township Fire Chief Randy Pavlak said Sunday.

        Viral meningitis is an inflammation of the covering of the brain and spine. It causes fever, headache, stiff neck and fatigue.

        In 1999, there were 508 cases of viral meningitis reported statewide, none fatal.

        The pool at the Bayberry Cove apartments was closed Sunday after several residents told medics that a child had expelled feces in the pool, Chief Pavlak said.

        “There's an extreme slight chance it could be passed that way,” he said.

        Bellbrook is about 10 miles southeast of Dayton.

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