Staff/Wire reports

Miami University is coming to the aid of the American Red Cross.

Using a $418,500 grant from the National Institutes of Health, university researchers are working to develop personal digital assistants that nurses can use to help disaster victims.

Information on the devices would include all local pharmacies, their phone numbers and hours of service, and contact information for providers of respiratory equipment and for other medical suppliers.

The purposes of the devices is to allow nurses to quickly help victims who lose their medications or supplies in a disaster, the university said.

Each year, the American Red Cross responds to more than 67,000 local and national disasters, ranging from floods, storms, wildfires and earthquakes to terrorist attacks.

Mason invites ideas for park planning

MASON - Have an idea for what the city should do with its 240-plus acres of undeveloped parkland? Planners want to hear it.

The city is hosting a series of "Plan Your Parks" workshops to get input for its park master plan.

The next meetings will be held 7 to 9 p.m. May 25 and May 27 at the municipal center, 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road.

The city has hired Woolpert LLP to lead the workshops and develop the plan.

Waynesville area recycles large items

WAYNESVILLE - Large household items such as lawnmowers, mattresses and bikes can be discarded at the Recycling Rally on Saturday.

The event is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents of Corwin, Waynesville and Wayne Township.

Items can be dropped off behind the school bus barn, 659 Dayton Road.

There is no fee to discard most items for recycling, though people must show proof of residency to participate.

There will be a fee to drop off appliances as well as automobile and light truck tires.

Cincinnati library in top 10 for circulation

In 2003, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County loaned more than 14.8 million books and materials, ranking seventh in circulation in the country for the second year in a row.

That's more than the public libraries in Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego and Dallas.

Despite the decline of the population of Hamilton County and a 10 percent drop in the library's budget and hours of operation in 2003, it remains among the busiest public libraries in the nation.

Forest Park plans pops concert June 25

FOREST PARK - The city has set June 25 as the date of its 15th anniversary Pops Concert on the Green.

Forest Park officials said they've secured more than $37,000 in corporate contributions for the event.

This year's Concert on the Green also will feature an expanded children's area with performers and magicians, a classic car show and fireworks.