Staff/Wire reports

DEERFIELD TWP. - This township is the latest Greater Cincinnati community to restrict trash collection to certain hours.

Starting June 28, collectors can only remove waste between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday or on Sundays.

Several other communities, including Mason, Miami Township and Florence, have limits on when trash can be picked up, partly to avoid the clanging of trash bins when people are sleeping.

Library offers summer reading program

BATAVIA - The Clermont County Public Library is trying to ensure local elementary school students keep their minds active during the lazy months of summer.

"Book Buddies," a summer reading program that pairs mentors with children in kindergarten through fourth grade, will begin June 14 at seven area branches of the county library system. The library is seeking volunteer teen or adult mentors to give students learning support.

For more information on becoming a mentor or registering a student for the program, which lasts until August 7, call one of the local library branches that is hosting the program: Bethel, (513) 734-2619; Doris Wood, (513) 732-2128; Felicity, (513) 876-4134; Owensville, (513) 732-6084; or Williamsburg, (513) 724-1070.

Safety center bids rejected as too high

SYMMES TWP. - Economic recovery is not helping the township get its safety center built.

Trustees rejected a second round of bids this week for construction of the $5 million center for firefighters and police because the proposals came in much higher than the estimated cost, administrator Gerald Beckman said.

He suggested that construction companies submitted higher bids because they already have enough work.

Trustees will now wait until fall or winter to rebid the job, which will delay construction of the safety center up to nine months, he said.

"We've got a firehouse. We've got a police department. So, there is no hurry. It's more prudent of us to see what's going on out there than to rush in and waste dollars," Beckman said.