Miami University applications at a high

The Olsen twins may not be attending, but applications for admission to Miami University are at an all-time high, both in the number of students applying and their academic qualifications.

The last day to submit applications was Jan. 31, and numbers are still being tabulated, but early results show the number stands at 13,700 applications for 3,450 openings for the fall.

That's up 15 percent from last year's total at this time of 11,934, said Provost Ronald Crutcher.

Their academic records are high, too, saidMiami President James Garland. As a group, those admitted have an average ACT score of 28 compared with the national average of 22 out of a possible 36. And their average SAT score is 1255 out of a possible 1600.

Evendale to purchase 2 new police cruisers

EVENDALE - Village Council members unanimously agreed Thursday to purchase two 2003 Crown Victoria police cruisers for about $50,000.

The vehicles will be added to the eight-cruiser fleet in the spring, which will lead the police department to sell two others.

Butler commissioners OK board's contract

HAMILTON - The Butler County commissioners have approved a three-year contract for 146 employees of the Butler County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

The contract, which affects employees with the Professionals Guild of Ohio, calls for a 3 percent wage increase in the first year. Salary increases for the second and third years will be negotiated after the state budget for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 is approved and voters decide the fate of a 1-mill levy renewal in 2004.

The Professionals Guild of Ohio represents about half of the agency's employees.

The bargaining unit includes workers who provide direct care, such as habilitation assistants, trainers and instructor assistants; as well as secretaries, mechanics, maintenance workers and custodians.

Homestead credit deadline June 2

The deadline to file for Homestead Exemption, a reduction on property taxes, in June 2. In order to qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

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

• Own and occupy your home by Jan. 1 of the application year.

• Have a total income of $24,700 or less.

For information, call the Hamilton County Auditor's Office at 946-4099.

Armed man robs bank, flees with cash

A man armed with a handgun robbed the U.S. Bank at 201 W. Fourth St. Friday morning.

There were no reported injuries, and the man escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The man entered the bank at 10:45 a.m. and flashed a sliver semiautomatic handgun, Cincinnati police said. After obtaining the cash, he fled west on Fourth Street.

The man is black, in his late 30s or early 40s, about 5-feet-8 and weighs 170 pounds. He is balding and has a moustache and goatee.

He was wearing a black nylon jacket with a hood.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Cincinnati Police Criminal Investigations Section at 352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.