Compiled from staff and wire reports

Two bank robberies under investigation

GREEN TWP. - Hamilton County sheriff's deputies are investigating two bank robberies in Green Township on Friday.

There were no injuries in either robbery, and no arrests have been made.

The first holdup occurred shortly before noon at Cincinnati Central Credit Union, 3636 Werk Road.

Three men entered the credit union and one of them announced a holdup. Two of the suspects obtained an undisclosed amount of cash from a teller while the third stayed near the front door.

The men fled on foot, west in the parking lot. A police dog was unable to locate them.

NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING: A shooting victim is wheeled to an ambulance after three people were shot early Saturday morning at Martin's Club at 282 Stark St. in Over-the-Rhine. Police said one person suffered two gunshots to the abdomen, another was shot in the left thigh, and the third was wounded in the foot. All victims were taken to University Hospital. No more information was available. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

The first robber is black, 25-30 years old, about 5-feet-8 and weighs 180 pounds. He was wearing a dark hooded coat, ski cap and sunglasses. The second suspect is black, 25-30 years old, about 5-feet-8 and 180 pounds. He has brown eyes and a goatee. He was wearing a dark blue sweatshirt and a blue or black ski cap. The third suspect is black, 25-30 years old, about 5-feet-6, weighs about 150 pounds, has a light complexion and a light growth of beard. He was wearing a black ski cap and baggy black denim shorts with oversized pockets.

The second robbery occurred at 3:10 p.m. at the U.S. Bank located inside a Thriftway store at 3491 North Bend Road.

A man, possibly Hispanic, entered the bank and handed the teller a note. The suspect was handed an undisclosed amount of cash by a teller and fled out the store's front doors.

No weapon was shown.

The man is about 50 years old, 5-feet-7 and weighs about 200 pounds. He had a mustache and dark hair. He was wearing khaki pants, a green jacket, a "Panama Jack" style hat and dark glasses.

Anyone with information about either robbery is asked to call the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office at 825-1500 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.

Collision kills driver, injures two others

An Avondale man died early Friday in Cincinnati's 35th fatal traffic accident of the year.

Paul Jackson, 24, was headed south on May Street in Walnut Hills about 2:30 a.m. when he was hit broadside in the intersection with East McMillan Street, police said. The other driver, Danielle White, 26, of Walnut Hills, failed to stop for a stoplight and hit Mr. Jackson's car, police said.

Mr. Jackson and Ms. White both were taken to University Hospital, where Mr. Jackson died. Ms. White is in serious condition.

A passenger in Ms. White's car, Terrance Washington, 32, also of Walnut Hills, was taken to University Hospital, where he was in serious condition.

Police said the wreck was alcohol-related and that the investigation is continuing.

Clermont to begin animal shelter work

Clermont County commissioners and the county's Humane Society will break ground on a new animal shelter later this month.

A ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at 4025 Filager Road, Batavia.

The new 10,750-square-foot building will be almost twice the size of the current facility and will include separate kennels for dogs and cats. It will also contain exam rooms, spaying and neutering services, as well as grooming areas for adoptable animals.

The building is expected to cost about $800,000 and is being financed with state, county and Humane Society funds.

Completion of the project is slated for August 2003.

Guatemalan bishop to say Mass for fiesta

A bishop from Guatemala is scheduled to say a Mass in honor of the Festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint.

Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini will serve as celebrant for the 7 p.m. Thursday program at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 115 W. Seymour Ave., Carthage.

Following the program, which will be primarily in Spanish with some English elements, a fiesta will be held at the church.

The festival celebrates the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary to a baptized Aztec Indian, Juan Diego, in 1531. The image of the apparition was emblazoned on Juan Diego's shawl, which today remains preserved in a Mexico City basilica where thousands make pilgrimages annually to view it. Although the event is Mexican in origin, "it is a celebration of the Americas, including the United States," said Margaret Singer of Su Casa Hispanic Ministry Center.

Information: Su Casa, 761-1588.

Hamilton police seek comments from public

HAMILTON - The public's comments are being sought about the city police department's performance, as part of the department's recertification process through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

The department, which first obtained accreditation in 1990, is seeking reaccreditation on 443 professional law enforcement standards relating to: policy and procedures; organizational management; law-enforcement operations and support services.

Comments may be given at a public session at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 in City Council chambers on the first floor, One Renaissance Center, 345 High St.

People who cannot attend the meeting also may make comments by calling the accreditation assessment team at 868-5811, ext. 1918, from 1 to 5 p.m. that same day.

All in-person or telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the police department's ability to conform to the accreditation standards. A copy of the standards is available for review by contacting Accreditation Manager Mike Collopy at 868-5811, ext. 1082.

Written comments also are being accepted. Those should be directed to: The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Inc., 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, Va. 22030-2201.

Contract awarded for Mound cleanup

MIAMISBURG, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded a $314 million contract to CH2M Hill Inc. for accelerated cleanup of the Mound nuclear weapons plant.

The contract will transfer the Mound site to the Miamisburg Mound Community Improvement Corp. for industrial use by March 31, 2006, the Energy Department said Thursday.

"This is a significant development for the community because it brings us closer to our vision of redeveloping the Mound Advanced Technology Center as an industry and technology park," said Don Koller, a Community Improvement Corp. trustee.

When the U.S. Energy Department ended nuclear production at Mound in 1996, tritium and other radioactive material remained in components and processing systems.

Mound began making triggers and detonators for nuclear weapons in 1949.

Denver-based CH2M Hill, which has an office in Dayton, has more than 10,500 employees working in 165 offices worldwide.