Bengals' new coach to address NAACP

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis will be guest speaker Wednesday at the Cincinnati branch of the NAACP's general membership meeting.

The meeting, free to the public, will start at 6 p.m. in the Thomas Moore building on Montgomery Road in Evanston. NAACP officials said Lewis would be introduced to the membership and residents and likely would deliver a motivational talk.

Lewis is the first African-American head coach in the Bengals' 35-year history. Some civil rights leaders hailed his hiring in January as a major coup for a city that has struggled with race relations the past two years.

Lewis, who directed the Baltimore Ravens' defense when that team won the Super Bowl two years ago, is one of three black head coaches in the NFL.

Teen climbing tree shocked by power line

MADEIRA - A 14-year-old Madeira boy was injured Friday after he came into contact with a power line while climbing a tree on Cherokee Drive.

The boy's name and condition are being withheld at the family's request.

The boy had climbed the tree to look at a squirrel's nest about 5:30 p.m. when the incident happened, Madeira and Indian Hill Fire Chief Steve Ashbrock said. He was near the top of the 30-foot tree when he was shocked, and fell about seven feet into the tree. Firefighters used an aerial ladder to rescue him.

"On our arrival we found the young man in the tree, conscious with burns," Ashbrock said. "We don't know whether he bumped the wire or inadvertently touched the wire."

The boy, who was conscious and talking to firefighters during the rescue, was airlifted to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "Right now he appears to be a very fortunate young man," Ashbrock said.

Drug counselor admits sexual misconduct

HAMILTON - A drug counselor pleaded guilty Friday to four charges of sexual misconduct with female clients.

Leroy Hardeman Jr., 48, of Hamilton had been scheduled to go on trial next week on eight charges in Butler County Common Pleas Court. He admitted to misdemeanor charges of sexual imposition, attempted sexual imposition and public indecency, along with a felony count of attempted sexual battery. Four other charges were dropped in exchange for the plea, said Barbara Schneider Carter, an assistant prosecutor.

He could receive a sentence of up to 18 months in jail or prison. Hardeman remains free on his promise to appear in court. Judge H.J. Bressler has set sentencing for 8:30 a.m. June 27.

Hardeman worked at Horizon Services in Middletown and Sojourner Recovery Services. Female clients he met there made the accusations, which led to an investigation.

Aurora police move during renovations

AURORA, Ind. - The police department in this riverside city will relocate to 308 Third St., effective Monday. The new site is the former Hastings Floral Shop. Police officials are unsure how long the relocation will last, Chief of Police Noel Houze Sr. said. The current station, at 218 Third St., will undergo renovations.

The police phone number will remain 812-926-1101.

Clifton fires under investigation

Officials are investigating a series of fires over the past week in the Clifton gaslight area, the most recent Thursday night.

The fire Thursday, at 310 Bryant Ave., damaged the basement storage area of a brick apartment building, said District Fire Chief Randy Freel. It started around 10 p.m. Some college students living in the building got out by the stairs, but firefighters had to help some older residents, Freel said. There were no injuries.

Fire investigators are still trying the cause of the fire, along with two other minor fires in the neighborhood in the past week.

Volunteers wanted for Ohio River sweep

Volunteers are needed to clean up trash along the Ohio River and its tributaries for Ohio River Sweep 2003 on June 21.

The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission has organized the annual riverbank cleanup since 1989.

To volunteer, call (800) 359-3977 or visitwww.orsanco.org.

Police ask help on alleged repo scheme

Cincinnati police are asking for people who may have been approached in a repossessed-vehicle scam to contact them.

On Friday, the Financial Crimes Squad arrested Denise Harrison, 34, of Cincinnati and charged her with two counts of grand theft. Police said Harrison posed as a bank employee and told victims she could purchase repossessed vehicles for them from the bank and get an employee discount. She took money, but never produced any vehicles.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Dennis Swingley at 352-6972 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.

Gunman cleans out cash advance store

COLUMBIA TWP. - A lone gunman cleaned out teller drawers and escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash Friday from the National Cash Advance store at 3288 Highland Ave.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said the man was black, about 35 years old, 6-feet, 2-inches tall and slender, wearing a black skullcap and a blue sweatshirt with the letters GB in white on the front. Police say entered the store just before 3 p.m., displayed a black revolver and announced a robbery. He took two female employees to a rear room, then removed cash from teller drawers in the front.

No one was injured.

Anyone with information should call the sheriff's office at 825-1500 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.

Nature center needs

ideas for saving farm

EVENDALE - If you want to help save Gorman Heritage Farm, Cincinnati Nature Center invites you to attend a 7 p.m. Monday brainstorming session at Evendale's Recreation Center, 10500 Reading Road.

Cincinnati Nature Center, which operates three facilities, wants ideas on how Gorman, a 100-year-old working farm, can be preserved.

Officials from the nonprofit group recently announced that managing Gorman is no longer financially sustainable. They plan to cease farm operations in August.

About 15,000 people, including school groups, visit the farm each year. The staff encourages them to explore the children's garden, chicken house and hiking trails.

- Compiled from staff and wire reports