UNION TOWNSHIP — West Clermont Local School District rolls out its 10 new small high schools today at a Small Schools Fair.

        The fair is for eighth-, ninth- and 10th-graders, and their parents, from 6:30-9 p.m. on both high school campuses: Glen Este, 4342 Gleneste-Withamsville Road, and Amelia, 1351 Clough Pike.

        Designers of each school will be available on both campuses. Students can register at the fair, at school or from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at both high schools. Course descriptions are online at www.westcler.org.

        The district is restructuring its high schools into smaller schools of interest. They open in August.

        Schools at Glen Este are: School of Scientific Studies; West Clermont Institute of the Performing Arts; School of American Studies; Human Kinetics and Wellness School; and School of Communications and Technology.

        Amelia schools are: School for World Studies; International Baccalaureate; Math, Science and Technology Academy; School of Creative Arts and Design; School of Business and Technology.

Two bus routes alter schedules

               The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority is changing two routes.

        The Route 78 Carthage line will have several time changes both inbound and outbound as of March 4.

        The Route 71 Fields Ertel/Kings Island Express service will resume Saturday and Sunday beginning April 6.

        For further information, call MetroCenter at 621-4455 or visit Metro's Web site at www.sorta.com.

Bengal Armour has court date today

               Bengals strong safety Jojuan Armour is to appear in Hamilton County Municipal Court today to answer an assault charge.

        Nathaniel Brooks of Fiesta Drive in Forest Park filed a complaint claiming that Mr. Armour assaulted him during a scuffle in the parking lot of a Forest Park nightclub on Sept. 14.

File for Homestead Exemption until June 3

               The Homestead Exemption filing period is under way, with a deadline of June 3.

        In order to qualify for the exemption that reduces property taxes, homeowners must meet the following requirements:

        • Be 65 years of age or older or be totally and permanently disabled.

        • Have owned and occupied your home by Jan. 1.

        • Have a total income of $24,100 or less.

Passenger who told about knife in court

               COLUMBUS — A passenger who told a radio talk show audience that he had made it through airport security with a 5-inch knife pleaded innocent on Monday to a federal weapons charge.

        Robert Hedrick, 37, of Delaware, is charged with traveling on an aircraft with a concealed dangerous weapon, a felony punishable by a maximum 10 years in prison. U.S. Magistrate Mark Abel scheduled an April 15 trial before U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley.

        Other than entering his plea, Mr. Hedrick said nothing during his five-minute arraignment. He declined to comment outside the courtroom. He remained free on a $20,000 bond.

        Mr. Hedrick was arrested on Jan. 25 at Port Columbus International Airport.

        He said he had cleared the security checkpoint in Greensboro, N.C., earlier with a belt buckle that was actually a sheath holding the knife with a 3-inch blade, authorities said.

        After arriving in Pittsburgh on the US Airways Express flight, Mr. Hedrick called radio station WTVN talk show host John Corby and told him he was surprised he got through the checkpoint. He told authorities after his arrest that he didn't realize he had the knife until later.

        Shortly after the call was broadcast, listeners began to call airport police, Columbus police and the FBI, according to an FBI statement. Mr. Hedrick was arrested when he arrived in Columbus.

Public schools holding job fair

               Southwest Ohio public school districts will hold a job fair next month.

        Anyone interested in teaching, administrative or support positions can attend the 3rd Annual Education Job Fair March 23 at Scarlet Oaks Career Campus, 3245 E. Kemper Road, Sharonville.

        Representatives from more than 50 school districts - from urban, suburban and rural - will be there, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

        No advance registration is required. Applicants should bring their resumes.

        The job fair is sponsored by the Southwest Ohio School Personnel Association. For more information, visit www.effronassociates.com.

Man sent to prison for killing infant
AKRON — A Summit County judge sentenced a man to 23 years to life in prison for beating a child to death.
               A jury on Feb. 14 found Orlando Powe, 31, guilty of murder, child endangerment and felonious assault in the death of Elijah Amos, 3 months.

        Mr. Powe hit Elijah on the head, fracturing the infant's skull, according to trial testimony. He placed Elijah on a bed for five hours before the child's mother, Elbony Amos, came home to find her baby's body.

        Prosecutors said the baby's crying sent Mr. Powe into a rage while he baby-sitting alone on June 18.

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