In a major crackdown, nine school principals, two police chiefs and a county education officer were arrested and jailed last week.

        Uh, well, they weren't real arrests. They were participating in a fund drive that raised $30,000 in “bail money” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Greater Cincinnati.

But it looked real. The suspects were picked up by uniformed deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department, using cruiser cars.

        “They were allowed to make phone calls from cell phones we provided them,” said Linda O'Brien, MDA district director.

        Bill Walborn, principal of Assumption School, 1500 McMakin St., Mount Healthy, considered his trip to jail for a good cause a good example for students and the entire community.

        He was arrested about 11:30 a.m. last Wednesday. To get out from behind bars, he had to call on friends and colleagues to bail him out.

        They raised $740.

        “It turned out to be a good thing,” Mr. Walborn said, after calling his friends. “I was back at school about 1 p.m.”

        Others arrested were: Bill Walker, principal of Fellowship Community Christian School, 2965 Blue Rock Road, White Oak.

        Hazel Ross, principal of Rex Ralph Elementary, 1310 Adams Road, Mount Healthy.

        Steven Hoock, principal of Finneytown Middle School and Keith Kleinfelter, principal of Finneytown High School, both at 8916 Fontaine Bleau Terrace, Finneytown.

        Gregg Tracy, principal of Cottonwood Elementary School, 8513 Cottonwood Drive, Finneytown.

        Eugene Blalock, principal of North Middle School, 2170 Struble Road, New Burlington.

        Becky Karlak, principal of Taylor Elementary School, 3173 Springdale Road, Bevis.

        Judy Mayfield, principal of Mount Airy Elementary School, 5730 Colerain Ave., Mount Airy.

        Linda Giuliano, principal of Lakeside Elementary School, 825 Lakeridge Drive, Springfield Township, didn't get arrested because she wasn't at the school. But she turned in about $700.

        Bill Bodgan of the Hamilton County Education Office, Police Chiefs Steven Sarver of Colerain Township and Al Schaefer of Mount Healthy.

        “This was the biggest one-day event we have ever had in this area,” Mrs. O'Brien said.

        Olive Garden restaurant, 9654 Colerain Ave., Bevis, provided the jail, lunch and beverages.

        MDA serves 900 local families with neuromuscular disease by providing clinics at Unversity Hospital and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

        It provides a special camp each summer.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are committing random acts of kindness that are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at (513) 768-8362; at ahoward@enquirer.com; or by fax at (513) 768-8340.
       

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