ANDERSON TOWNSHIP — The township's board of trustees has chosen Assistant Fire Chief Mark Ober to succeed Fire Chief Dan Esslinger, who is retiring May 4 after serving as chief since October 1996.

        Asst. Chief Ober, 44, who began with the Anderson Township Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter in 1976, will negotiate the terms and conditions of his job with Henry Dolive, township administrator, before formally taking over as chief.

        Asst. Chief Ober was chosen from among three candidates screened by a search committee — which included township officials and fire officials from other communities — and interviewed by the board of trustees.

        “There were a number of qualified candidates,” said Trustee Al Peter. “We had candidates from as far away as Wisconsin and Illinois.”

        Said Trustee Peggy Reis, “I consider this one of the most important decisions I might make as your trustee. He's highly qualified and we're excited about it.”

        Asst. Chief Ober has been with the fire department 26 years. He became a full-time firefighter with the department in 1977, was promoted to lieutenant in 1982 and to assistant fire chief in 1994.

        Chief Esslinger, 54, has been a firefighter since 1968, working for the Cincinnati Fire Division before joining the Anderson Township Fire Department in 1973.

        “He is someone who will always give 110 percent,” the chief said of Asst. Chief Ober. “He has the capability of continuing and improving what we have going in the township.”

        The township has about 60 firefighters and operates four fire stations.

Union tells teachers to reject pay plan
Owensby death to get FBI scrutiny
Bengals fan finally home
Job market grows grim for new college graduates
Graduation looms at colleges
A day for discoveries
Anderson finds chief within
Appeal wins teen new trial
GOP state senator Nugent is arrested on DUI charge
Jewish tragedy remembered in student exhibit
NCH cop charged after standoff
Saved Wisp singin' the blues no more
TANK adds route along riverfront
Tristate A.M. Report
MCNUTT: Neighborhoods
RADEL: To catch a thief
SAMPLES: Fair housing
THOMPSON: Faith Matters
Black teacher says Lakota improving
Fire damages Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house at Miami U.
Her hair will find a new head
Hogan seeks county office
Lebanon ends search at home
Man sentenced in death of unborn son
Patient-abuse trial date set
Resource officers facing sex charges
School takes precautions
Sierra Club rallies for Little Miami
Three Sycamore students ace SATs
Board won't back clemency plea
Rules on drug tests for children unchanged
Bid for Hyundai plant cost Kentucky at least $130,000
Chandler steps toward run
Protesters threaten lawsuit