Compiled from staff and wire reports

Five war protesters arrested downtown

Cincinnati police arrested four adults and one juvenile during Thursday's anti-war protest at the federal building and Fountain Square downtown.

• Barb Wolf, 62, of Walnut Hills was arrested for obstructing official business. Police reports show Wolf and other protesters continued blocking traffic on Fifth Street despite police orders to move.

• Nathan Goedl, 26, of downtown was charged with obstructing official business and a pedestrian violation.

• Michael McCleese, 44, of Northside was charged with obstructing official business.

• Gregory Flannery, 49, no address available, was charged with obstructing official business.

• A 17-year-old juvenile was also arrested for obstructing official business and resisting arrest.

Thomas More footballplayer Ogbogu dies

A Thomas More College football player died early Friday of apparent natural causes, according to officials in the Fayette County Coroner's Office in Lexington.

Officials say Charles "Chuck" Ogbogu, whose brother Eric is a defensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals, died at 6:42 a.m. No details were given.

"This has nothing to do with football training," said Shea Titlow, deputy coroner.

School officials said late Friday that the college junior was headed to Lexington to visit either family or friends. Counselors will be available for students and members of the Thomas More football team.

Plans for a memorial service are pending.

Long-gone teacher's contract terminated

FAIRFIELD - The contract of a former West Elementary School teacher accused of stealing money has been terminated, nearly three years after she left the district.

The Fairfield Board of Education this week formally terminated the contract of Heather Stickler on the grounds of gross inefficiency and/or good cause, retroactive to April 20, 2000.

Stickler was accused of stealing $781.81 from a student council account at West Elementary School during the 1999-2000 school year.

At the time Stickler was a second-grade teacher and one of two advisers to the student government.

Superintendent Robert Farrell said the money has not been recovered. He declined further comment.

Stickler was charged with felony counts of theft in office and unauthorized use of property. A Butler County jury cleared her of any wrongdoing in November 2001.

She has not been in a Fairfield classroom since the money was discovered missing in March 2000.

"Twelve jurors unanimously decided that Heather did nothing wrong,'' said Stickler's attorney John O'Shea.

"I could not care less what a bunch of bureaucrats say about it a year and a half later. Heather is doing great.''

Church focuses on Iraqi children

Episcopalians will pass out pins emblazoned with names of Iraqi children at a 5 p.m. Sunday prayer service at Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. Fourth St.

A 24-hour interfaith prayer vigil for peace will follow.

Pin recipients are asked to wear them over their hearts and to pray for that child every morning.

"It's a reminder," said the Rev. Canon Kwasi Thornell. It's so that children "may live in peace."

We're concerned about children all over the world who have to grow up in war or oppression. War and oppression impacts people for the rest of their lives. Some will grow up with hatred and revenge in their hearts, especially if their parents are killed."

For more information, call 621-1817.

Apartment tenant indicted as arsonist

An Over-the-Rhine man is accused of starting a February fire at his apartment building.

A Hamilton County grand jury indicted Norman Jackson, 54, on two charges of arson, one for creating a risk to people in the building and the other for damage to the building.

If convicted, Jackson faces up to 18 years in prison.

On Feb. 18 Jackson doused himself and his 23 Green St. apartment with paint thinner and then lit himself on fire in an attempt to commit suicide, according to court records.

Firefighters found Jackson unconscious on a mattress on the floor, took him outside and revived him.

Dye pack explodes in suspect's pants

COLUMBUS - A bank robbery suspect learned a painful lesson: Never shove stolen money containing an explosive dye pack down your pants.

Shortly after the National City Bank downtown was robbed Thursday, police spotted John Gladney, 40, about a block away, walking strangely, in obvious pain.

Officers stopped Gladney and discovered he had been injured when the dye pack had exploded near his groin, said Sgt. Brent Mull, police spokesman.

Gladney was charged with aggravated robbery.