WEST CHESTER TWP. — Educators at Adena Elementary School are hoping the school's neighbors will provide extra eyes to help curb a growing vandalism problem.

        Between June 11 and Sept. 17, police took six reports of damage or break-ins at the school, mostly on weekends or overnight. It has included two shattered windows in the principal's office, stolen school carnival prizes from the Parent Teacher Organization's shed on the property, and the spray-painting of obscenities and graffiti on the school.

        “It seems to be happening more frequently and is of a more serious nature,” Principal Tony Bagshaw said Wednesday. “This past summer seems to be more of a concern.”

        Wednesday, PTO members began distributing a letter written by Mr. Bagshaw to homes surrounding the school, said Mary Ann Ramhap, Adena's PTO president. The letter asks anyone who sees anything suspicious at the school to call West Chester Township police or school officials.

        In the letter, Mr. Bagshaw describes five incidents:

        • Spray painting obscenities on the building on several occasions

        • Skateboarding on and damaging new benches paid for by the PTO

        • Breaking into the PTO storage shed to steal items.

        • The shattering of two large picture windows during a three-day period a week before school started.

        • A branch thrown at another picture window this week, and obscenities painted on the building.

        Ms. Ramhap said she has had to replace the PTO shed lock three times this summer. . On one occasion, a small fire was set.

        “My biggest concern is someone getting in there and getting hurt.,” she said.

        Sgt. Mike Quinn said police are increasing their patrols near the school.

        “It's unusual to have that many (incidents) at a school,” Sgt. Quinn said. “We are still investigating the graffiti. There are names on the walls and other evidence we're processing. We have no prime suspects yet.”

        There were 36 business break-ins in the township between June 13 and Sept. 2, police said. Serious crime is also on the increase, with 1,441 serious crimes reported in 2000, 1,654 reported last year and 1,296 reported through the end of August, said Chief Bruce John.

        “We have graffiti damage all the time,” the chief said. “It seems to move from one place to another.

        “I have no doubt that once we get it under control (at the school) it will move someplace else.”

Heading downtown? Good luck
NKU students help free wrongly convicted man
2003 National Merit Semifinalists
St. Xavier, Sycamore top Ohio in National Merit semifinalists
Allegations discussed at picnic
Bickering halts students' checks
WWII band of brothers together 57 years later
City Hall hears it from the west side
Councilman proposes $500 littering fine
Mall builders want tax break
Seniors ask: Why cut us?
Students watch $272 million in action
Tristate A.M. Report
PULFER: A father's lament
Activists in Springboro file suit against city over sign regulations
Flyover leads to charges of pot-growing
Judge getting tougher with teen drivers
Small church, lots of support
Springdale police kill one coyote
West Chester school seeks help to fight break-ins, vandalism
Charges imminent in death, dismemberment
Coalition's prescription drug plan gains bipartisan support
Enrollment in police, medic programs rising
Poll: Taft skating, Deters sweating
Arts center names new president
Covington wary of influx of massage-parlor sex
Kentucky News Briefs
Loans, incentives lure artists to town
Pilot yelled, 'Brakes!' but they worked after crash
Records give glimpse of turmoil at nursing home