Northern Kentucky police have recovered 10 all-terrain vehicles and other outdoor items valued up to $50,000 in a theft ring being operated out of three counties.

        Campbell County and Alexandria police worked with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force to recover the vehicles and make five arrests, officers announced Friday.

        They said the vehicles were stolen this fall from Campbell, Pendleton and Bracken counties.

        Kyle Chant, 18, of Alexandria was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property.

        Jon Davis, 20, of Alexandria was charged with receiving stolen property, and three drug trafficking and possession charges.

        Nicholas Schertler, 20, of Alexandria was charged with receiving stolen property and possessing drug paraphernalia.

        Two juveniles also were charged.

        Campbell County police say the investigation is not complete and more charges are likely.
       

Hoxworth looking for donors for blood drive

               Tristate residents are encouraged to give the gift of lifeDec. 29 by donating blood during Hoxworth Blood Center's annual holiday blood drive.

        The drive will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at five neighborhood blood centers. Refreshments will be served.

        Centers are Hoxworth Anderson, Five Mile Center, 7715 Five Mile Road; Hoxworth Fort Mitchell at Fort Mitchell Station Shopping Center, 2220 Grandview Dr.; Hoxworth Western Hills, 2345 Ferguson Road; Hoxworth Blue Ash, 4310 Hunt Road; and Hoxworth Tri-County, Olde Gate Plaza, 280 Northland Blvd.

        For information, or to make an appointment to donate blood, call (513) 451-0910 or 1-800-830-1091, or access the Web site at www.hoxworth.org.
       

Kids can make Christmas crafts

               COVINGTON — Children can make a Victorian Christmas cracker for New Year's Day at free craft sessions Dec. 26-28 at the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Devou Park.

        The craft sessions will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

        The craft activity is offered along with the museum's holiday toy trains, an interactive train display with an old-fashioned playroom for every child's delight. The holiday toy trains will run through Jan. 6.
       

Volunteers sought for Christmas dinner

               COVINGTON — The Mental Health Association of Northern Kentucky is seeking volunteers for its 14th annual Christmas Day dinner at the Point Pavilion.

        The dinner, which is co-sponsored by the Sunday Morning Club, is for people who are needy, lonely or have no place to go during the holidays. Each person who attends receives new underwear and socks. Kids receive toys, a picture with Santa and miscellaneous gifts.

        Volunteers are needed to set up and clean up, wrap gifts, wash dishes and play with children. Donations of toys, and/or cash also are sought.

        To donate your time or money, contact Diane Meiners at (859) 292-2485 between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
       

E-mail threats land man on probation

               PADUCAH — A former Murray State University student said Friday he was just trying to get out of taking his finals when he sent two e-mail bomb threats to the student government president.

        “It was a prank,” Seamus Coffey, 19, of Murray, told U.S. District Judge Edward H. Johnstone, of the threats sent on April 30 and May 2.

        Mr. Coffey pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting electronic communications in interstate commerce containing a threat of injury to others.

        In exchange for the guilty plea, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sparks recommended Mr. Coffey be placed on probation for three years.

        Mr. Coffey faced up to five years in jail and a fine of $250,000.

        He is scheduled to be sentenced March 18.
       

12 empty train cars derail in W. Virginia

               KANAWHA FALLS, W.Va. — Twelve cars of a CSX train derailed Friday morning in Fayette County.

        No injuries were reported, said spokesman David Hall of the railroad's Louisville, Ky., office.

        The empty coal cars went off the track about 8:10 a.m. in the Kanawha Falls area.

        Several of the cars went into the Kanawha River, Mr. Hall said.

        The train was traveling from Hinton to Danville. It consisted of two locomotives and 93 empty coal cars.

        CSX contractors were called to the scene Friday morning to rerail the cars with cranes.

        Mr. Hall said it was too early to tell Friday when the track would be cleared.

        The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
       

Louisville native Foster Brooks dies

               LOS ANGELES — Louisville native comedian Foster Brooks, a television personality known for his “Lovable Lush” fake drunk act, has died. He was 89.

        The comic, who appeared as a panelist on Match Game in the 1970s and Circus of the Stars in 1979, had a pacemaker and died at his Encino home from apparent heart trouble, said family friend Milton Metz, a Louisville, Ky., broadcaster.

        The bearded, silver-maned Mr. Brooks had supporting roles in comedies such as The Villain (1979), Oddballs and Cannonball Run II (both 1984).

        He also co-starred on the Robin Williams sitcom Mork & Mindyfor one season in 1981.

        Mr. Brooks frequently would appear on the Las Vegas stage or as a talk show guest and pretend to be drunk, stumbling about the stage and swallowing burps while he interacted with those around him.

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