Area counties on EPA pollution list

Counties in Greater Cincinnati are among 26 in Ohio that may exceed new federal pollution limits, state environmental regulators said Tuesday. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency released the list Tuesday - which includes Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren - and announced the schedule for taking public comment before submitting the final list to the federal government. The counties would be listed as violating federal clean air standards for particulate matter, which are microscopic pollutants produced by cars, factories and coal-burning power plants. Ohio has three years to develop a plan to reduce the pollution after the government approves the final list. The state must meet the standard by 2009.

Ex-Union Twp. shares castoffs

BUTLER COUNTY - An 80-person, mostly volunteer fire department near Chillicothe will benefit from West Chester Township's unusual fire sale. The Butler County community, which changed its name from Union Township to West Chester Township four years ago, plans to sell old fire department materials marked "Union Township" for $1 to the Union Township Fire Department in Ross County. Included are 22 raincoats, 21 coveralls, 10 knit hats, four sweatshirts and 53 badges. The Ross County department was selected from the 27 Union Townships in Ohio because a part-time West Chester firefighter works near Chillicothe, Union Township Fire Chief Jamie Detherage said.

TRAFFIC WATCH

As replacement of the High Street bridge in Hamilton continues, watch for a minimum of one or two lane closures in each direction. Sidewalks on the north side of the bridge and the roadway between B Street and Monument Avenue are closed to pedestrian traffic.