Armstrong reports for jury duty

For most of the past 35 years, Neil Armstrong has been known as the first man to set foot on the moon. But for the next few days, he'll be known as Juror No. 4. The 74-year-old former astronaut from Indian Hill reported for jury duty this week in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court and was assigned Thursday to a theft case in Judge Robert Ruehlman's courtroom. Although he's one of the most famous jurors in county history, Armstrong is taking a low-key approach. The jury form he filled out states only that he is "retired." "He's down here performing his civic duty ..." said Jury Commissioner Fritz Meyer. "He has kept a very low profile. He's a very nice gentleman."

EPA to finish cleanup soon

LIBERTY TWP. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will complete cleanup of the 10 acres immediately east of the lead-contaminated Lexington Manor in Liberty Township next week. "We did the grading last week, and we'll do the seeding next week," said Steve Renninger, U.S. EPA on-scene coordinator. The U.S. EPA found hazardous lead levels in the area as high as 70,000 parts per million. The acceptable standard is 400 parts per million. Lead removal from the five properties - one on Millikin Road and four on Megan Drive - was finished in December. The U.S. EPA paid for the $500,000 remediation, he said.

Taft kicks off reading challenge

Gov. Bob Taft kicked off the annual Governor's Summer Reading Challenge Thursday at Sherman Elementary school in Toledo by challenging Ohio students to read 20 books (or for 20 hours) this summer. The Governor's Challenge teams with schools, libraries and community organizations to keep children reading during the summer and raise awareness about the benefits of summer reading. A recent U.S. Department of Education publication indicates that summer lack of study seems to be the major reason why the academic gap between low- and high-income children grows throughout the elementary school years and that preventing these losses, especially over the first few summers, could reduce the gap significantly. To sign up, visit www.ohioreads.org.

TRAFFIC WATCH

Sheed Road is closed between the two intersections with Gaines Road in Colerain Township until June 7. Follow detours.