Two local golfers flexed their muscles in the Long Drive contest in Dallas, Texas, last weekend. They have qualified to play in the Long Drive of America Invitational Tour, starting in Albuquerque, N.M., April 30.

They are Rock Hicks of Florence and David Powell of Montgomery.

Hicks said he came in fifth in the driving finals with a 391-yard drive.

They participated in the Long Drive Qualifying contest at Hank Haneys Driving Range against 48 golfers from around the world..

David Powell (left) and Rock Hicks, at Glenview Golf Course, have qualified for the Long Drive of America Invitational Tour. Hicks placed fifth and Powell came in 19th in the qualifying contest. The Cincinnati Enquirer/ERNEST COLEMAN

"I am excited to get the chance to play in the tour,'' said Hicks, 28, a technical recruiter at Ciber Inc., in Blue Ash. "I used a driver with a Harrison Shaft and an Ashton club head.''

Hicks said he remembers playing golf since he was 6 years old.

Powell, 38, is owner of Swings N Things, in Sharonville.

"My drive was 385 yards, using a Harrison Shaft and the Bang O Matic head,'' said Powell, who finished 19th.

The tour will start in Albuquerque and go through Tulsa, Okla.; Des Moines, Iowa,; Toronto, Calif.;Rockford. Ill.; Rochester, N.Y.; Richmond, Va., and the World Long Drive Championship Tournament in New York City.

Hicks' wife, Windi, and their two children will join him on the tour.

"We will stay in the host hotel that is provided for families,'' Windi Hicks said. "I am excited about the tour. It is big break for Rock.''

She is expecting their third child in August.

Named head of visitor board

An Anderson Township woman has been appointed chairwoman of the Board of the National Council for International Visitors.

Phyllis Layton-Perry was elected at NCIV's annual meeting Feb. 28-29 in Washington, D.C.

Layton-Perry was executive director of the International Visitors Council of Greater Cincinnati from 1993 to 1997.

"This is a voluntary position and I will probably go to Washington three or four times a year,'' Layton-Perry said. "We oversee visitors councils across the country. The National Council arranges for emerging leaders around the country to come to the United States. They meet with heads of departments and then we arrange for them to visit council in several cities. We try to show them the diversity of our country.''

Layton-Perry is active in the Anderson Township community, serving on the Forest Hills Board of Education. As director of finance and administration for the Greater Cincinnati Bicentennial Commission, she managed several hundred volunteers and a $27 million budget.

Girl Scouts deliver blankets

Seventh-grade Cadette Girl Scouts from Sycamore Junior High School, Troop Number 4678, delivered fleece blankets to children of St. Joseph Orphanage on Good Friday.

Donate clothes for charity

Graduates of Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Program are helping American Eagle Outfitters launch a program called "Shed Your Threads."

It is kind of like spring cleaning. It focuses on young adults who are asked to clean out their closets and take gently used clothing to American Eagle Outfitters stores.

It started Wednesday and will run through April 20.

The graduates are volunteering to make clothing pick-ups at American Eagle stores. The clothing will be given to teenagers who are served by the Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center.

Nicole McGalla, director of events and the American Eagle Outfitter Foundation, said the program fulfills the goals of the foundation, which is to give to teen programs that foster civic engagement, render safe places for teens to hang out, embrace diversity and encourage youth development.

Clothing can be dropped off at American Eagle Outfitters stores in malls in Florence, Northgate, Eastgate and Upper Valley in Springfield; Rookwood Commons in Norwood; Newport on the Levee, Tri County Center, Kenwood Towne Centre and Fairfield Commons.

For more information, call 961-4080