Supporters walk for mental illness

Despite Saturday's rain, about 300 people participated in the inaugural walk for the Hamilton County chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. The 2-mile walk around Winton Woods park began at 8 a.m. The goal was to raise $50,000.

"I'm feeling pretty good about reaching that," said coordinator Debbie Baker. A total won't be known until the end of the week, she said. NAMI is a support group for individuals and families affected by mental illness. Information: (513) 948-3094.

Candlelight event on bridge tonight

The local observance of the 21st annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial will take place at dusk today at the Purple People Bridge. Participants are asked to gather on both sides of the bridge and bring a candle or flashlight. There is no formal program planned. Participants will be walking across the bridge and back.

The Greater Cincinnati AIDS Consortium is involved in organizing the local event, which commemorates the lives lost to AIDS and demonstrates support for those living with HIV/AIDS. It will take place in about 4,500 communities in 93 countries, making it the largest grassroots AIDS event to date, according to organizers.

Insects provoke allergic reaction

An Indiana man who cooked and ate nearly 30 cicadas sought medical treatment after suffering a strong allergic reaction to the sauteed insects. The man showed up at a Bloomington clinic Thursday covered from head-to-toe in hives, and sheepishly told a doctor he caught and ate the cicadas after sauteing them in butter with crushed garlic and basil.

"He said they didn't taste too bad, but his wife didn't care for the aroma," said Dr. Al Ripani, the doctor who treated the man. The man, who has a history of asthma and shellfish allergies, suffered a "significant allergic reaction," Ripani said.

TRAFFIC WATCH

Butterworth Road in Warren County's Hamilton Township is closed to traffic from Foster-Maineville Road to Sibey Road indefinitely due to the recent collapse of a culvert headwall. Traffic will be detoured using Ohio 48 and Foster-Maineville Road.