Teen struck, killed on Interstate 275

        SPRINGBORO — A 14-year-old girl was killed after she was struck by a southbound vehicle on Interstate 75 near Springboro early Saturday morning, said troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Lebanon Post.

        Police are seeking the identity of the girl, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Granada McNeil, 25, of Fairfield will not be ticketed.

        Troopers said the girl was walking away from the median when she was struck at 3:43 a.m. She was wearing blue jeans, a black sweater and brown shoes.
       

Fairfax hears plans to prevent flooding

        FAIRFAX - The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers recommended Friday three major plans to prevent flooding.

        About 75 residents gathered to hear the plans that entail buyouts, environmental restoration and channel modification along the floodplain.

        Council members will seek input at their Nov. 19 session, which begins at 7:30 p.m.

        In July, flooding killed two people and damaged 75 houses. Many of those home owners have said they want the federal government to buy and demolish their homes.

        The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Fairfax officials to devise a plan to prevent flooding.
       

Suspect in drug case faces federal charges

        Francisco Javier Rodriguez, 35, faces federal charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine after authorities arrested him Oct. 19 in Cincinnati.

        Police said Mr. Rodriguez came here to collect $520,000 for previous transactions. He was arrested by the Regional Enforcement Narcotics Unit (RENU).

        Police said Mr. Rodriguez supplied five people arrested by RENU about three weeks ago. Those arrested were Lewis Dacus, 35, and Vanessa Hughes, 21, both of Cincinnati, one person from Columbus, Ohio, and two from California.

        They were charged with possessing a controlled substance that they intended to distribute.

        That investigation began in Cincinnati but concluded in Columbus, where investigators seized 103 pounds of cocaine with a street value of more than $7 million.

        The seizure is the largest ever by RENU.
       

Former presidential candidate to speak

        John Anderson, the Illinois congressman who received 6 million votes as a 1980 independent presidential candidate, will speak at Xavier University at 7 p.m. Thursday.

        His talk, “Making Our World More Democratic: A Response to Terrorism,” will be in Conaton Board Room in Schmidt Hall, sponsored by Xavier's Peace and Justice Programs.

        Mr. Anderson is president of the World Federalist Association and chairman of the non-partisan Center for Voting and Democracy.

        He also teaches law and political science at Nova Southeastern Law School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
       

Candidate forums set for Warren County

        Several candidate forums are scheduled in Warren County in the next two weeks.

        The League of Women Voters will moderate three candidate nights. All start at 7 p.m.

        • Deerfield Township trustees, Monday, at Lakeview United Church of Christ.

        • Lebanon City Council, Lebanon City Schools and Turtlecreek Township trustees, Wednesday, Lebanon City Hall.

        • Springboro City Council, Springboro City Schools and Clearcreek Township trustees, Nov. 1, Springboro High School.

        The Mason Landen Kings Chamber of Commerce also is sponsoring a “Meet the Candidates Night,” Tuesday at the Kings Island Resort and Conference Center in Mason.

        The lineup: 6-6:55 p.m., Kings Local School District and the Mason School District; 7-7:55 p.m., Deerfield Township trustees; and 8-9:30 p.m., Mason City Council.
       

Memorial service to honor 9/11 victims

        Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will hold a 40-day memorial service today for the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

        The service will offer prayers of protection for our country and troops and in remembrance of those who lost their lives.

        The number 40 holds special meaning to Orthodox Christians, and it is customary for the church to hold 40-day memorials after the death of a loved one.

        The service begins at 7 p.m. at 7000 Winton Road, Finneytown.

Anderson firefighters honored for N.Y. effort

        ANDERSON TOWNSHIP — Steve Ober and Tom Riemar, firefighters with the Anderson Township Fire Department, were recognized Thursday by the township's board of trustees with certificates of appreciation for their participation in search-and-rescue efforts following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City.

        Both men were part of a contingent of firefighters from Hamilton County who were sent to New York as part of an Urban Search and Rescue Task Force coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

        They participated in the search effort for nine days.

        Trustee Peggy Reis said that while many participated in the rescue efforts, “what makes this different is that these two heroic young men are our own.”
       

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