DELHI TWP. - West-siders are invited to come to the Bayley Place Community Wellness Center today to send 500 packages to soldiers overseas for the Christmas holidays.

From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., volunteers at Bayley Place - near the College of Mount St. Joseph on Delhi Road - will form a packing assembly line where thousands of nonperishable items will be packaged to be sent to troops overseas. Children can draw pictures and write letters to be sent.

The group running the event, Military Support Connection, needs cash donations to cover the cost of postage, expected to be more than $7,000.

The items needed to send to troops include drink mixes, shampoo, baby wipes, lip balm, pain relievers, eye drops, itch relief cream, socks, music compact discs, DVDs, crossword puzzles and nonperishable foods such as beef jerky, peanuts, sunflower seeds and cereal bars.

More information is available at www.militarysupportconnection.com.

Loveland skate park grant in holding mode

LOVELAND - Nine months after city officials applied for a state NatureWorks grant to help build a skate park, they are no closer to getting an answer.

Applications were due to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources last February. However, state officials informed the city recently that a decision was postponed until the Ohio General Assembly passes a capital budget bill.

Loveland council had agreed to seek funding for the $60,000 skate park, which could be located at Lever Park, after a group of volunteer citizens and skateboarders said they couldn't raise the money to build it on their own.

The NatureWorks grant would require a 25 percent match. from the city.

Attorneys wanted to replace Butler judge

HAMILTON - Attorneys interested in serving as Butler County Common Pleas Court judge have until Nov. 19 to apply to the Butler County Republican Party.

A vacancy was created by the election of Judge H. J. Bressler to the 12th District Court of Appeals in Middletown on Tuesday. Candidates must live in Butler County and practiced law for six years, said Scott Lepsky, party political director.

Those interested should send a letter and resume to Lepsky, c/o the Butler County Republican Party, 4783 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, OH 45014.

The party's recommendation for filling the position will be send to Gov. Bob Taft, who makes the appointment.

Contributors: Reid Forgrave, Sheila McLaughlin, John Kiesewetter