Syrian Shriners and Shriners Burns Institute added another tribute to fallen firefighter Oscar Armstrong III, who was killed while battling a blaze in Bond Hill last year.

The groups presented the 2004 Syrian Shrine firefighter award for heroism to Armstrong's family in a ceremony last week at Shriners Burns Institute in Corryville.

Cincinnati Fire Division Chief Robert Wright and Cincinnati Firefighter Union Local 48 President Joe Arnold accepted the award for Armstrong.

Cliff Fullman, potentate of Syrian Shrine, who hosted the event, said the award was established in 2001 to recognize the important work firefighters do every day in the community.

Returning home

Karl Warden has been busy traveling in France with actor dancer Ben Vereen, performing in the musical Fosse. But he plans to make a stop back home in Cincinnati on Monday.

The 1997 graduate of Indian Hill High School will appear with Kathy Hyle at St. Ursula Academy in Walnut Hills in a benefit to help the school raise money for a trip to Europe to perform.

Warden, 24, had toured and performed in Cats and Chicago before joining Fosse.

He sings, dances and performs gymnastics.

"He is very good in gymnastics and was an excellent diver for the University of Tennessee,'' said his mother, Karol Warden of Loveland. "Traveling around the world is something he really loves.''

He will perform in Fosse Feb 17-29 at the Victoria Theatre in Dayton.

"But he will not perform on Feb 21 because he is going to take off so he can see his sister, Haley, play in her final home (basketball) game at Wittenberg University,'' Karol Warden said.

Vocational competition

Students at Northwest High School will compete against each other from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. today in the Local Vocational & Industry Clubs-Skills USA contests.

The event will be at the school's technical center, 10761 Pippin Road, Bevis.

Students compete in one of four trade skill contests, such as carpentry, residential wiring, residential plumbing and building maintenance.

Skills will be evaluated by professionals who work at the trades.

For more information, call 742-6351.

Transitions meeting

The Cincinnati Chapter of the American Association of University Women is hosting a career-related workshop next week.

From 5:30-9 p.m. Feb. 19, the chapter is having a Transitions Conference, an informational session for women interested in returning to school to either enhance or learn new skills for their careers.

For information, call 919-2277.

Fire chiefs install four

Four new officers of the Hamilton County Fire Chiefs Association were sworn in at the association's Jan. 21 meeting.

Montgomery Fire Chief Paul Wright is vice president; and Cheviot Fire Chief Donald Clark, Sharonville Fire Chief Dale Duermit and Madeira-Indian Hill Fire Chief Stephen Ashbrock were all sworn in as association trustees.

The new officers were elected for two-year terms.

Other officers are Evendale Fire Chief John Vail, president; Reading Fire Chief Kevin Kaiser, secretary; North College Hill Fire Chief Michael Lotz, treasurer; and Deer Park-Silverton Fire Chief Don Newman and Anderson Fire Chief Mark Ober, board members.

Colerain Township Fire Chief Bruce Smith is past president.

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