Compiled from staff and wire reports

Rally for troops in Iraq at noon today

A rally to support U.S. troops as the nation prepares for possible war in Iraq will be held at noon today at Fountain Square.

Organized by 55WKRC radio, the event will include the singing of the national anthem; the pledge of allegiance; and speeches by politicians, firefighters, police officers, and members of the armed forces.

Participants are urged to bring banners and flags.

Three Rivers hires new superintendent

CLEVES - Rhonda Bohannon, assistant superintendent at Talawanda City Schools in Oxford, is the new superintendent of Three Rivers Local School District.

The school board Monday hired Bohannon effective Aug. 1. She was offered a three-year contract with salary and benefits to be determined.

The board received about 25 applicants for the job in the 2,000-student district, which includes the communities of Addyston, Cleves, Miami Heights and North Bend.

Bohannon replaces Richard Scherer, who is retiring after 18 years at the end of July.

YMCA celebrates Butler renovations

FAIRFIELD - The Great Miami Valley YMCA this week is celebrating extensive renovations and expansions at two of its Butler County branches.

Rededication ceremonies will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Fairfield Family YMCA, 5220 Bibury Road.

Rededication ceremonies were held Tuesday for the Hamilton West YMCA, 1307 N.W. Washington Blvd.

The renovations and expansions cost more than $4 million and were financed with capital campaign funds. Great Miami Valley YMCA also operates the Hamilton Central Y and the new East Butler County Y.

Mason affirms storm water pact

MASON - City Council approved its storm water management program Monday as required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

The plan addresses issues including public education, runoff control and pollution prevention.

City Engineer Richard Fair said it is an extension of the storm water management practices the city already has, including sewer cleaning programs and publishing articles in the city newsletter.

The plan was supposed to be submitted to the Ohio EPA by Monday, but Fair said the city was given an extension to turn it in this week.

Many other governing bodies, including the Warren County commissioners, have already passed their plans.

Fairfield solicits comments on police

FAIRFIELD - The public is being invited to comment on the performance of the city police department, which is vying for its first national accreditation.

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. will be visiting the department April 12-16 to determine whether the department is complying with professional standards in four areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations and support services.

A copy of the standards is available for review at police headquarters, 4951 Dixie Highway.

Public comment on the department's performance will be accepted 6 to 7 p.m. April 14 during a session at the Fairfield City Building, 5350 Pleasant Ave. Anyone who cannot attend the session may offer comments by telephoning 515-8224 from 1-5 p.m. that day.

Written comments may be directed to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, VA 22030-2201.

For more information, contact Sgt. Greg Valandingham, 896-8252.

Hamilton offers fire academy for citizens

HAMILTON - The city's fire department will be conducting a citizens fire academy from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, April 1-June 3.

The program, which costs $20, is open to anyone who is 18 or older and lives or works in the city.

Participants will learn about fire prevention, rescue techniques, emergency communication, hazardous materials response, structural firefighting operations, civilians' use of automatic external defibrillators, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and traffic-crash extrications.

Applications are available at fire headquarters, 77 Pershing Ave., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Information: 868-5909, ext. 125.

Mason gives Spear 8-year tax abatement

MASON - City Council approved an eight-year tax abatement for Spear Inc. under the community reinvestment area program

The motion, approved Monday night, is for 100 percent of the labeling company's 40,000-square-foot expansion.

The company wants to add onto its 72,000square-foot building in the Kings Mills Industrial Park. The space will allow it to add another 60 people to its 160-person workforce by 2005.

The company, located in this Warren County city since 1990, makes labels for companies including Clairol's Herbal Essences, Snapple, Sutter Home Wine and Budweiser.

Two firefighters injured in Ripley

RIPLEY - Two Ripley firefighters were injured Tuesday morning when their firetruck went off the road on a downhill slope and rolled over into a culvert.

Assistant Fire Chief T.A. McCaughey and firefighter Mark Mussinan were treated at hospitals and released. McCaughey was treated at Brown County General Hospital, while Mussinan was flown to University Hospital.

The two were returning from a vehicle fire when the 1963 tanker overturned on Rankin Hill Road shortly after 11 a.m. Mussinan was driving, Ripley Fire Chief Tony Pfeffer said.

The firetruck was destroyed. No other vehicles were involved.

The accident remains under investigation; no charges have been filed, Ripley Police Chief Harvey Bowman said.

Madeira policeman fired after arrest

MADEIRA - A Madeira police officer who was arrested in connection with an alleged sexual assault in Las Vegas late last year has been fired.

Madeira officials confirmed the firing Tuesday of Officer Christopher Saylor, 29. He was arrested Dec. 14 after an incident at a Las Vegas hotel.

"The allegation is that he committed sexual assault and battery with intent to commit sexual assault," said Ron Bloxham, chief deputy district attorney for Clark County, Nev. "He was arrested. The case is still being investigated."