Compiled from staff and wire reports

Guard unit mobilized from Middletown

A Middletown-based Ohio National Guard company that assisted in airport security last year has been called to active duty again, for possible overseas deployment.

About 130 members of the 324th Military Police Company, based at the armory on South Main Street in Middletown, have been mobilized and leave for Fort Knox, Ky., on Monday, where they will await deployment orders.

In October 2001, about 100 members of the Middletown unit and its sister company in Youngstown were put on active duty and assigned to airport security.

Barrel racer Vicki Cargle of Armuchee, Ga., takes a spill Thursday in the Longhorn World Championship Rodeo. The event continues through Sunday at Cincinnati Gardens. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

The 324th includes many police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians from around Ohio.

Sunday, the unit will hold a farewell ceremony at the Middletown armory.

Booth wants to be named to state board

Cincinnati City Councilman Paul Booth is seeking appointment to the State Personnel Board of Review, bolstering speculation he will not seek re-election in November.

State law prohibits members of the board from holding any other public office, so Booth would have to give up his council seat if selected.

Booth is being considered for the Democratic seat on the three-member board, which is appointed by Gov. Bob Taft. A decision could come as soon as next week.

"All this is very nebulous. There's nothing been promised," Booth saidThe board resolves employment disputes in state and county governments and advises on civil service law. The salary is full-time and set by the governor, between $45,198 and $89,710 a year.

Four ticketed in I-75 accident

LEBANON - Four drivers have been cited in connection with the chain-reaction collision on Interstate 75 Wednesday that seriously injured two construction workers.

One of those workers, Ron Gambrell, 52, of Northside, on Thursday was downgraded to critical condition at University Hospital. Bonnie Mills, 37, of Hamilton, remains in serious condition at a Dayton hospital.

They were struck by a car that swerved into the median where they worked on a cable-barrier system near Ohio 63.

Charged in the accident:

Roy Willhelm, 51, of Hamilton, driver of a construction truck that reportedly pulled into the high-speed lane of southbound I-75, touching off the accident. He is cited with failure to yield.

Michael Grabeman, 27, of Dayton, driver of a Chrysler PT Cruiser that struck the workers and then hit a truck. He is charged with failure to control.

Thomas Colligan, 22, Franklin, charged with failure to maintain assured clear distance.

Erin Kehr, 26, of Middletown, charged with failure to maintain assured clear distance.

Father-son team of robbers sentenced

A Hamilton father and son have been sentenced to more than 17 years in jail for an April 2002 bank heist in Hamilton.

U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott this week sentenced Walter M. Pugh Jr., 45, to 221 months in prison, and sentenced his 22-year-old son, Tyreese Dorran Pugh, to 214 months in prison.

A U.S. District Court jury had convicted both men for the robbery of the First National Bank of Southern Ohio on Peck Road in Hamilton. The robbers were armed with a shotgun and handgun.

Walter Pugh was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, bank robbery and the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. Tyreese Pugh was convicted of the same crimes, plus possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

5 show to talk over school bond issue

Just five people turned out Thursday for Cincinnati Public Schools' public forum on a pending bond issue for an unprecedented school construction project.

The school board is expected to vote Monday to place a $480 million bond issue on the May 6 ballot. The bond issue would help finance a $1 billion four-phase project to build 35 new schools and renovate 31 others over the next decade.

Among those who spoke in favor of the bond issue were Mark Turner, president of the school advocacy group Cincinnatians Active to Support Education. Rep. Tom Brinkman Jr., who founded the anti-tax group Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes, came out to speak against asking taxpayers for the money to pay for the project.