Rally to welcome Nativity principal

PLEASANT RIDGE - A crowd of supporters was expected to greet Robert Herring on his return to work today as principal of the Nativity School. A rally was planned for 7:30 a.m. outside the school. Herring, who has led the K-8 Catholic school for 19 years, was fired Nov. 24 by the parish pastor, the Rev. Marc Sherlock, over unspecified "philosophical differences." Herring was reinstated Monday.

Ohio Guard deployments

COLUMBUSDespite Saddam's capture, thousands of National Guardsmen still will be activated next year to support military operations in Iraq, other countries and across the state. In the Iraq war, Ohio Army National Guard units have worked as engineers, military police, maintenance and transportation specialists. The Ohio Air National Guard has provided fighter pilots, air control, air refueling and airlift functions.

By the numbers:

• Total troop strength of the Ohio Army and Air National Guard today: 15,000 (5,000 Air; 10,000 Army).

• Ohio National Guard troops deployed today: 1,685.

• Since Sept. 11, 2001, about 5,000 total Ohio Air and Army National Guard troops have been on active duty.

• A soldier from Mansfield has died in Iraq. B5

DON'T MISS THIS

See 26 creches from around the world at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains, 325 W. Eighth St., through Jan. 4. The display is open noon to 2 p.m. weekdays, from 12:30-4 p.m. Saturdays and 12:30-5 p.m. Sundays.

TRAFFIC WATCH

• Crews will be working on Reed Hartman Highway in Blue Ash from Procter & Gamble Drive south to the Interstate 275 interchange through Thursday.

CORRECTION

A Tuesday story about Cincinnati's Zoo Academy incorrectly described Glen Schulte's title. He is a teacher who is team leader. The academy, before it was restructured, was considered a school, though with only an hour a day devoted to academics. And a description of the distribution of flu was only partly correct, Schulte said. Fish, he said, are used to control West Nile virus; they eat mosquitoes but don't contract the virus.