Champion Window Field christened

FLORENCE -The Florence Freedom's home got a new name Thursday. The field, under construction at U.S. 42 and Interstate 75, will be called Champion Window Field.

The Sharonville-based window manufacturer bought the naming rights to the minor league baseball stadium for 20 years, said Don Jones, vice president and general manager. The price was not disclosed.

Florence car dealer Tom Gill pulled out of a deal to name the stadium last year. The Frontier League team will open its season at the 4,500-seat stadium at 7:05 p.m. June 18. Team officials say the game is almost sold out. The team played its first season in Hamilton, Ohio, last year.

Vehicle emissions testing debated

In a push to end vehicle emissions testing for Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties the Kentucky Division for Air Quality is holding a public hearing next week to discuss other ways to reduce emissions to meet federal requirements. The hearing will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Otto Budig Theater on Northern Kentucky University's Highland Heights campus.

To remove the testing for Northern Kentucky, the 2004 General Assembly passed legislation that requires a report be submitted by Aug. 1 to amend the state's current plan for the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Other ways of reducing air pollutants must be identified for the EPA to remove vehicle testing.

Community honors new graduates

COVINGTON - Residents of Covington's Eastside neighborhood who received high school diplomas this year are getting a graduation party, courtesy of the Eastside Neighborhood Association and Oasis Inc. Former Bengals player Ickey Woods will be the featured speaker at a dinner and awards presentation and party at 6 p.m. today at Our Savior Church Hall on 246 E. 10th St.

Land conservancy buys Boone acreage

BURLINGTON - A preservation group in Boone County bought its first piece of land Tuesday.

The Boone Conservancy bought 129 acres in the Belleview Bottoms area that was owned by the Camargo Hunt Club.

The land adjoins the county's Middle Creek Park and Dinsmore Homestead and offers a view of the Ohio River from a ridge.

It is also near other preserved land, Boone Cliffs Nature Preserve and Split Rock Conservation Park. The conservancy decided to buy the land because of its proximity to those areas, said executive director Kim Adams, who would not disclose the purchase price.

"It was the perfect first purchase, and we hope it is only the beginning," she said.

The hunt club, whose members hunt foxes on horseback, will keep about 30 acres near the land where it has kennels and a barn. The club now does most of its hunting in Owen County.

The conservancy is a 5-year-old non-profit charitable land trust.

The group also has three conservation easements on about 35 acres.

Loan would be used to build sewage plant

ALEXANDRIA - Construction is closer to beginning at the Eastern Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant site in Campbell County now that the Sanitation District 1 board has authorized the application for a $28 million loan.

If approved, the loan would pay for construction of the treatment plant that is scheduled to be operational in 2007.

The 20-year loan with a 3.2 interest rate would come from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Money for the fund comes from both the Kentucky Division of Water and the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority.

Ohio official tells candidate he can't run

HAMILTON - Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell has ruled that Robert Patton, a retired Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper, can't be a Butler County sheriff's candidate in November.

Blackwell ruled that Patton wasn't promoted to the rank of sergeant, a state requirement for a sheriff's candidate. Patton had argued that he, at times, had served as the officer in charge, the equivalent of being a sergeant.

As an independent, Patton would have run against Richard Jones, a Republican, and Dale Richter, a Democrat. The Butler County Board of Elections deadlocked on the issue. The two Republicans on the board opposed his candidacy, while the two Democrats supported it.

Interviews begin for township administrator

LIBERTY TWP. - Interviews have begun with candidates for administrator in this Butler County township.

Three inteviewed so far are Dina Minneci, finance director for the city of Wyoming; Kevin Celarek, township administrator for Green Township, and Bruce Henry, former administrator and safety director in Blue Ash.

Former administrator Barry Tiffany was fired in January for the misuse of a township property.

Middletown Y no longer independent

MIDDLETOWN - After operating independently for 87 years, the Middletown Area YMCA has merged with the Hamilton-based Great Miami Valley YMCA.

The move "will significantly strengthen the Middletown Area YMCA and enable us to best secure our future," said James F. Akers, Middletown Y board president.

Amberley says owner of Ridge Club is lax

AMBERLEY VILLAGE - Village officials have accused the owner of the former Crest Hills Country Club of allowing it to deteriorate, creating fire code violations.

A motion filed in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court by attorney Stanley Chesley asks the court to order the Ridge Club, owner of the Crest Hills property, to make the necessary repairs. Chesley, a village resident, volunteered his services for the case.

The motion says a fire inspection revealed a disabled fire alarm system, exposed wires, improperly capped gas lines, substantial trash and other violations.

C. Francis Barrett, attorney for the Ridge Club, declined comment Thursday.

The Ridge Club has sued over the village's refusal to allow a housing development at the Crest Hills site.