By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DEERFIELD TWP. - Township officials are trying to determine whether threats and intimidation are being used in the contentious seven-month debate over a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Nearly 200 postcards have been sent out by the township to people who have attended the Warren County Regional Planning commission, township zoning commission or township trustee meetings that concerned the store, said Community Development Director Tim Hershner. A 203,000-square-foot store was proposed in October.

The cards, which cost less than $1 each, according to township estimates, were sent out Thursday after the trustees' last meeting on the Mason-Montgomery Road development.

"We just want to make sure that if there's anything out there, that we catalog it," Township Administrator Greg Horwedel said.

As of Monday, Hershner said he had heard about a weekly newspaper reporter getting a threatening call.

He said he had seen only one e-mail from a resident, who said the process of speaking in public and being questioned by attorneys was intimidating.

A roundup of the feedback will be presented at Wednesday's trustee meeting.

Wal-Mart's attorney, Joseph Trauth, said neither the retail chain nor the developer has been involved in any intimidation or threats.

The Warren County Sheriff's Office was not aware of any threat investigations.

The proposed Shoppes of Deerfield development, which is anchored by the Wal-Mart Supercenter, has drawn criticism from residents.

They say the shopping and restaurants will increase traffic, cause more storm-water runoff and in general hurt the quality of life.

The Deerfield location is one of at least nine proposed or planned supercenters in Greater Cincinnati. Opposition has been vocal in several other communities, including Milford and Harrison.

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E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com