Support group, UC hold forum

The Faces And Voices of Recovery, a newly formed support group, and the University of Cincinnati's Addiction Studies Department co-sponsor a forum titled "Treatment in Crisis: Revisited," 9 a.m.-1 p.m. today , at Zimmer Hall on UC's West Campus, 2624 Clifton Ave., Clifton. The agenda includes keynote speaker Patricia Taylor, director of the National FAVOR organization. The event is free to the public.

Annual festival celebrates arts

PRINCETON - Princeton City School District's annual Festival of Arts is noon-5 p.m. Sunday at Princeton High School, 11080 Chester Road., Sharonville. The fest features art, music, drama and technology presentations by students and teachers. The event is free.

'Slow down to get around' trucks

Rumpke Inc. is teaming up with law-enforcement officials to make a TV commercial urging motorists to slow down near garbage trucks. In January, a Rumpke driver was killed and another injured when they were struck while collecting trash. The ads, "Slow Down to Get Around.'' air this summer.

Firm accused of dumping

MONROE - Butler County has given a Monroe company 10 days to explain - and propose a remedy for - the apparent dumping of a large amount of zinc chloride into the sewer system. Tony Parrott, director of the county's Department of Environmental Services, said the agency took samples and told Precision Packaging it had discharged an excessive amount of the substance, an ingredient in cleaning compounds. He said the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was notified. Failure to comply with the county's notice can result in surcharges and fines.

Movement begins to battle asthma

FRANKFORT - Health officials are seeking to start a statewide asthma-control program because a new report shows the disease is reaching epidemic levels in Kentucky. Dr. James Holsinger, secretary of the Health and Family Services Cabinet, announced a set of recommendations Thursday that include setting up a tracking system for Kentuckians who have the disease. Holsinger said asthma affects more than 200,000 people in the state, and about one-third of the cases are in children. Caring for asthmatics costs Kentucky taxpayers nearly $400 million annually in the Medicaid budget alone, he said. Holsinger said Kentucky has one of the highest rates of asthma in the United States, affecting 9.5 percent of adults. That's 2 percentage points higher than the national average. Asthma rates are even higher for Kentuckians who are obese or smoke, he said. Kentucky's adult smoking rate leads the nation, and the state ranks eighth in obesity.

TRAFFIC WATCH

DeCamp Road in Hanover Township will be closed starting Monday between Stillwell road and a mile south of Stillwell Beckett Road until May 3.

Monday, the left-turn lanes onto ramps to Interstate 71 on eastbound and westbound Montgomery Road will be closed until June 2005. The ramps will remain open.