County will fundtwo more flood buyouts

FAIRFAX - Village officials will get $150,000 to buy out two more floodprone homes - for a total of nine buyouts - the Hamilton County commissioners decided Wednesday.

It's part of the ongoing effort to protect residents from flooding along Little Duck Creek by moving them out of the floodplain. Two people died in a home during a heavy rain in 2001.

The money was left over from the county's 2003 federal grant for community infrastructure, Commissioner John Dowlin said, and is on top of $75,000 that Fairfax already received from that grant. The village also has received about $1 million from the state and federal emergency management agencies to buy out six homes and floodproof 17 more, Mayor Ted Shannon said.

Shannon estimates 12 homes need to be bought out and vacated, although the U.S. Corps of Engineers put the number at 41.

Loveland to honor King a day early

LOVELAND - The community's Martin Luther King Day observation will happen a day early in a cultural festival of music, food and fellowship Jan. 18.

The event, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Brown Building bingo hall at West Loveland Avenue and Karl Brown Way, will feature performances by The Urban Praise Chorale directed by James Wilcox Jr., and percussionist Dan Dorff Jr.Hosted by the Loveland Shalom Initiative, the event is free and open to all ages. Participants are asked to bring a salad or dessert to share. For information, call Judy Leever, 677-0691, or Terri Rogers, 677-1057.

Farm, greenspace preservation in works

HANOVER TWP. - The first of sixmeetings on township zoning revisions to protect Butler County farms and green space will be 7 p.m. Monday at the township hall, 2595 Old Oxford Highway (Ohio 130).

Butler County Commissioners will meet with residents, homebuilders, developers and business owners about the new "conservation zoning" options this winter in the six townships with county zoning. "I fear that Butler County could become one big cookie-cutter subdivision," says Commissioner Michael A. Fox. "Now's the time to have the discussion and see what steps we could take."

Commissioners also plan meetings Jan. 20 in Ross Township (7 p.m.), Jan. 27 in Milford Township (7 p.m.), Feb. 5 in Lemon Township (6 p.m.) and Feb. 9 in Oxford Township (time to be determined). A Madison Township meeting will be scheduled in February, says Derek Conklin, county administrator.

Residents can talk about Wal-Mart plan

DEERFIELD TWP. - The second zoning commission meeting on a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter will be Monday.

The 7 p.m. meeting will be at Lakeview United Church of Christ, 8639 Columbia Road, instead of the township meeting room because of the large crowd that is expected. About 150 residents attended the first zoning commission meeting on the development.

Township staff reports on the Supercenter and surrounding retail, Shoppes of Deerfield, will be available on the township's Web site, www.deerfieldtwp.com, by Jan. 8.

City offers new course in women's self-defense

LEBANON - The city is offering a new women's self-defense course to help teach how to avoid - and get out of - dangerous situations

The courses, offered Jan. 20 and 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Jan. 24 and 31 from 10:30 a.m. to noon, cost $40 and are open to all community members.

To register or receive more information, call Randy Duff, superintendent of the recreation department, at 228-3730.