Students in Princeton City Schools are the top penny pinchers in the state - and maybe the nation.

During the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2004 Pasta for Pennies campaign Jan. 27-Feb. 19, Princeton students raised $39,506.51. That amount exceeded their goal of $35,000 and beat every other Ohio school district.

But the results from Orange High School in Orange, Calif., are not yet in. Orange High School led the nation last year when students collected $32,119.08, just ahead of Princeton's $31,962.80

Princeton students had made a pledge to exceed last year's total and went into the campaign with the intent to be tops in the nation..

Orange High School students will conduct their campaign next month.

Amy Goohs-Hardman, one of the teachers at Princeton who helped coordinate the campaign, said the total will put Princeton among the nation's elite.

"This campaign has become a tradition that everyone looks forward to each winter," Goohs-Hardman said.

Students used bake sales, grocery store collections and classroom challenges to help generate contributions. The class that raised the most money won a party.

Gift of life

Mount Notre Dame senior Cindi Yaegel was among the 160 students at the school who rolled up their sleeves to participate in the "Gift of Life" blood drive.

The event is sponsored by the senior class at Mount Notre Dame in conjunction with the Hoxworth Blood Center. The drive was conducted in the school's courtyard Friday.

Since 1991, the Mount Notre Dame community has provided more than 1,000 donations.

Cindi is the daughter of Lonny and Theresa Yaegel, Deer Park.

Character league

Basketball will be used for more than developing skills in dribbling, passing and driving to the hoop in the Character Basketball League that starts March 6.

"This league is not about basketball," said Greg Leisinger, a league representative. "It is about where these kids will be in five or 10 years, and the people they will become."

The league, sponsored by CityCure, has two divisions - one for ages 8-10 and another for ages 11-13.

Leisinger said behavior and attitude are the most important elements. . Games are based on philosophies that everyone is a winner, good character counts and respect is the No. 1 rule.

For more information, call 527-5943, ext. 1.

Promoted to sergeant

HAMILTON - Hamilton police veteran Michael Waldeck was recently promoted to sergeant.

Waldeck joined the department as a police officer in 1989. He was promoted to detective in 1998, most recently assigned to the department's vice section.

"He actually had headed up our pharmaceuticals unit that dealt with investigation of abused pharmaceuticals," Police Chief Neil Ferdelman said.

"He's a good, solid officer that's worked here since 1989. He has a lot of law enforcement experience under his belt."

In his new position, he will be assigned as a patrol supervisor. The promotion, which took effect Feb. 16, filled an open position.

Waldeck's father, a retired Cincinnati police officer, presented him with the sergeant's badge at the promotion ceremony.

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