Cicada eating helps raise funds

MASON - It was pecan pie with an added crunch. That was the cicada delicacy City Council members ate during Monday night's meeting as a fund-raising effort for the Mason Veterans Memorial. Egged on by Councilman Steve Osborne, the public officials were challenged to either eat a piece and pay only $50, or pay $100 and be spared from the dessert.

After some reluctance, everyone tried a piece - including Councilwoman Charlene Pelfrey, who had earlier turned up her nose to the idea. The pie-eating contest raised $500, according to city spokeswoman Jennifer Trepal.

Cincinnati ranks 60th out of 80

Cincinnati got a B- and ranked 60th in the nation among 80 large cities in a new report that examines the quality of children's lives based on health, education and community support. The report is the ninth in a series from Population Connection, an organization in Washington.

It concludes that America is becoming a more kid-friendly place with safer streets, lower rates of teen pregnancy and better access to comprehensive health care for mothers and children. But overall access to health care needs to be improved, and more work is needed to reduce teen pregnancy rates, the report said. Other Tristate city rankings: Indianapolis, eighth; Lexington, 18th; Louisville, 24th; and Columbus, 47th.

TRAFFIC

• Ohio 132 is closed near Lindale Road in Pierce Township, Clermont County, until Oct. 1. Follow posted detours.

• Princeton Road east of Ohio 747 in Liberty Township should reopen Thursday after damage from a water main break Tuesday is repaired.