Fairfield school treasurer resigns

FAIRFIELD - A second Butler County school district is looking for a new treasurer.

Scott Gooding, 31, announced Thursday he will leave the Fairfield Schools May 31 to become treasurer of the Westerville Schools near Columbus - Ohio's ninth-largest district.

He has been Fairfield's treasurer since June 2001.

"It has been a pleasure working with the staff of Fairfield's schools and serving the citizens and children of this community,'' Gooding said. "This is the job I've always wanted - my dream job.''

Today is Edmund Pokora's last day in the Middletown Schools, a job he's held 15 years. He begins work as chief financial officer of the Butler Technology and Career Development Schools Monday.

Stearns & Foster fire officially arson

LOCKLAND - An act of arson caused last weekend's fire that severely damaged part of the former Stearns & Foster mattress factory, investigators said Thursday.Evidence collected at the scene will be sent for further analysis to the Atlanta laboratory of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

Now that arson has been identified as the cause, the bureau will work with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department to continue investigating the fire, said Patrick Berarducci, spokesman for the bureau's regional office in Cleveland.

No one was injured in the four-alarm fire, which began early Saturday and caused part of the complex to collapse. Owners of the 15-acre site hope to redevelop the property. More than 170 firefighters were called in.

Shelley's former county job filled

HAMILTON - Butler County Commissioners have hired Lisa M. Hurst, once an administrative assistant to former Commissioner Janet Clemmons, to replace Bob Shelley, who was fired two weeks ago.

Hurst, of Hamilton, starts Monday as the solid waste district coordinator for the Butler County Department of Environmental Services. She had worked for the Butler County auditor's office after Clemmons died in 1997.

Shelley, a Liberty Township trustee since 1986, was terminated April 22 after violating the county's sexual harassment policy twice in four months.

Caesar Creek will seek volunteerism

WAYNESVILLE - People who enjoy the great outdoors or who are looking for activities that will help preserve public lands are invited to a Volunteer Open House 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Caesar Creek Lake Visitor Center, 4020 N. Clarksville Road (near the dam). The event is hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to highlight available volunteer opportunities.

Information: (513) 897-1050.