SPRINGFIELD TWP. - Authorities searched Wednesday for a 20-year-old Springfield Township man who is charged in a killing earlier this month.

Djuan Bell was charged with aggravated murder in the Dec. 12 shooting death of Laurice J. Welch, whose body was found in the 8700 block of Neptune Drive.

A 16-year-old boy was in custody, charged with obstructing justice and tampering with evidence in Welch's slaying.

Police charged Bell and the teen Tuesday after searching two undisclosed locations.

Anyone with information is asked to call Springfield Township police at 729-1300.

Men found ferrying tobacco from Ky.

MASON - Ohio state troopers seized about $50,000 in tobacco products Tuesday when they stopped a van on Interstate 71 near Mason.

Authorities said the van was from Kentucky and headed to an unknown location in Ohio. "We're still investigating where they were headed and who they were delivering to," said Robert Bray, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Taxation.

Bray said the three men in the van - Abdul Godil, Naeem Mirza and Victor Alfaro - were each charged with one count of trafficking in tobacco products with the intent to avoid taxation.

The tax on non-cigarette tobacco products is 17 percent in Ohio. Bray said the tax loss on the products seized in the van would have approached $9,000.

The van contained 165,000 cigars, 108 packs of chewing tobacco and 552 packs of loose cigarette tobacco.

Forum on possible Clermont ride cuts

BATAVIA - Riders of Clermont's transit system are invited to a public hearing in January to discuss funding deficits that could lead to service cuts.

The hearing will be Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Clermont County Administration Building, 101 E. Main St., in Batavia.

Because of the county agency's state mandated transition from a rural to an urban system, funding for the existing transit service has been reduced by about $500,000.

Clermont Transportation Connection is a door-to-door service. It operates seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Options include reducing hours of operation.

Amelia has opening on Village Council

AMELIA - Effective Jan. 1, Village Council will have a vacancy.

The open seat has a four-year term that expires Dec. 31, 2007. It is a non-elected position, officials said.

To apply, submit a letter by Jan. 2 to Amelia Village, 44 W. Main St., Amelia, 45102, Attn: council vacancy.

Applicants must be a registered voter of Amelia village and must have lived in Amelia for at least one year.

Information: 753-4747.

Truck traffic limited on Allen Road bridge

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Trucks weighing more than 20 tons were banned from the Allen Road bridge Wednesday after a recent inspection revealed structural deficiencies.

Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens said a high volume of truck traffic has accelerated the deterioration of the 47-year-old steel truss structure.

Wilkens said the county has reallocated funding and stepped up efforts to replace the bridge next year because it is considered an important link to the surrounding commercial area.

The bridge remains safe for passenger cars and lighter trucks, he said.

Sewer plant wins platinum award

COLERAIN TWP. - The Metropolitan Sewer District's treatment plant on Taylor Creek in western Hamilton County has received an award for its adherence to environmental rules.

The Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies gave the Taylor Creek plant its platinum award for five straight years of 100 percent compliance with regulations.

Five other MSD treatment plants around Hamilton County received gold awards for a year of 100 percent compliance.