The Journal News from Hamilton, Ohio • 11

WWW.JOURNAL-NEWS.COM Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Page C1 6 vie for top job HAMILTON County commissioners may have a pick for the job at Butler County Children Services this week after interviewing Monday, June 22, according to Commission President Donald Dixon. Commissioners have narrowed down the 57 applicants to six half from within the agency, which has a $30 million budget. They are vying for the responsibility of overseeing one of the most scrutinized agencies in Butler County, for a salary of up to $99,000. The are: 3 are already with Butler County Children Services; others also have experience Centers Acting agency director since the former director retired in March. Before that, Centers was agency director since 2006.

He also is the former executive director of the Warren County Children Services board, where he worked since 1987. Darlene Campbell Children Services intake director since January. Before that, she was its director of quality assurance and policy development. She has worked for the agency for more than 30 years, as an administrator since 1999. Peter Samples Juvenile justice specialist with the Kentucky Cabinet of Justice and Public Safety since 2007.

Prior to that, worked for 20 years as state chairman and executive director of the Kentucky Multi-County Task Forces on Child Abuse. He also has a background in criminal justice, attended the U.S. Federal Protective Services Academy and worked in protective services and law enforcement. Shana Trent Director of prevention and crisis services at Centerpoint Health in Cincinnati, specializing in mental health. Prior to that, she was director for clinical services for the Center for Children and Families, where she worked since 2002.

She has a background in children services in Hamilton County. Charles Lindeman Private mental health therapist in Cincinnati. He was director of Buckhorn Children and Family Services in Kentucky. William Morrison Children Services ombudsman since 2005. Before that, he was a federal program coordinator for the Department of Public Advocacy, where he worked since 1995.

Josh Sweigart, writer Group: Time for township to be city By Dave Greber Staff Writer A residents group says it wants to recoup the millions of dollars in taxes that leave West Chester Twp. every day at 5 p.m. To keep that money locally, the group, Committee for West Chester, says the township must incorporate. Committee members have begun collecting the nearly 4,500 signatures needed to seek county approval to place the issue before voters in May 2010. For the committee whose tag line is the moment is right for members say incorporation would lower taxes and improve government Chester residents currently foot the entire bill for township operating expenses through property taxes.

a host said Bill Zerkle, Committee for West Chester spokesman. support everybody, but nobody supports Zerkle said about 80 percent of the roughly 54,000 workers live outside the township, but use the services such as roads on a daily basis. If a 1 percent income tax were levied as part of the incorporation the limit by Ohio law without a separate ballot issue that 80 percent could contribute nearly $17 million on an annual basis. The remaining 20 percent of people who live and work in the community would raise nearly $8 million. Zerkle said the income tax could eliminate the need for a police and levies, which raised just over $20 million in property taxes in 2007.

The incorporation effort received mixed reviews from township trustees. population is too big to be run under the township Lee Wong said. is overdue for us to become a city. Catherine Stoker, however, said now is not the time. pretty much voting for a pig in a she said.

George Lang said incorporation would make West Chester less attractive for businesses. you want to kill economic development, you Lang said. only reason to incorporate is to raise more money, and we need it. trust government with more money. spend Spokesman says tens of thousands of workers live outside and pay for what they use within township.

Wind quintet kicks new HFSO performance By Richard Jones Staff Writer HAMILTON The Hamilton- Symphony Orchestra is expanding its offerings with the addition of a new Acts of series. to the generosity of Mr. Ernst Bever, we will offer this series of chamber music performed by small ensembles all over Butler said musical director Paul John Stanbery. can expect to hear our musicians popping up in all sorts of new First up is the Quintessential Wind Quintet, comprised of veteran members of the Hamilton- Symphony Orchestra, playing 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Miami Hamilton Downtown.

been playing together for over 20 said bassoonist Paula Aronoff. love playing chamber music and a quintet is such a cool ensemble because it combines four woodwinds and one brass to create a fullness of The repertoire ranges from Hayden and Mozart to George Gershwin and contemporary show tunes, she said, and for the Random Acts of Music performance, probably be keeping it the light The quintet also includes Jacqueline Bender, principal and a band director in the City Schools; Julie Fuqua, principal oboist and band director at Hopewell Junior School in the Lakota School District; Margaret Cheatum, clarinetist and an associate professor in the Business and Economics department at the University of Walters College; and Todd Fitter, principal French horn player and third horn with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dayton Opera Orchestra. Future Random Acts of Music include another performance at Miami Hamilton Downtown on July 30; an appearance at the Midday Music in Oxford series on Sept. 16, and a performance by the Hamilton Chamber Orchestra, featuring 25 of the best players, Sept. 20, Community Arts Center, the only scheduled program with an admission fee, which is $10.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or How to go What: The Quintessential Quintet When: 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25 Where: Miami Hamilton Downtown, 221 High St. Admission: Free Info: (513) 895-5151; www.hfso.org By Eric Schwartzberg Staff Writer MASON Kings Island has voluntarily shut down Son of Beast roller coaster after a woman claimed that she had suffered a head injury after riding the coaster last month, according to park Kings Island received feedback on June 16 from a guest regarding their experience on the ride several weeks prior, according to spokesman Don Helbig. because we take all comments seriously and proac tive, we immediately closed the ride and contacted the state of Ohio and told them we wanted to conduct a thorough maintenance Helbig also said it was too early to speculate when the ride will reopen. He also said the park is looking into why it took the guest two weeks to report the alleged injury.

Seventeen-year-olds Helen Benchetrit and Carol Perdomo of Florida said they rode The Beast on Monday and were planning to ride Son of Beast. that something else has happened, a little Perdomo said. However, she said anyone opting to board Son of Beast should have been aware a bumpy ride. you expect it if going on a wooden roller coast she said. Brandon Kamp, 14, of Cincinnati, said although he heard of prior reports regarding the ride, the May 31 report left him unconcerned.

would still ride he said. think a fun This the time Son of Beast has been closed. In the summer 2006, the ride sent 27 people to hospitals and an expert was called in to assess the Son of structural integrity. Later in 2006, a report by the state agriculture department stated a design caused a wooden beam to crack from the weight of the roller-coaster riders, causing the accident. As a result, Son of Beast had its 118-foot loop removed for Kings 2007 opening.

Son of Beast shut down Son of Beast wooden roller coaster at Kings Island amusement park is shown in 2000. The ride was shut down after a rider said she suffered a head injury on May 31. unknown when the ride will reopen. Staff photo by Ty Greenlees MASON KINGS ISLAND Woman reports a head injury on the ride; thorough maintenance review will be conducted. Local Read about Butler County news and issues.

Edgewood grad sees Obama sign law By Richard Wilson Staff Writer HAMILTON White House security held up Kyle Peavley and three other anti- tobacco teens who were supposed to join President Barack Obama on stage Monday, June 22, when he signed historic anti-tobacco legislation. The 2009 Edgewood High School graduate has been traveling the country the past four years pushing for tougher tobacco restrictions as part of the Ignite National campaign. Peavley said he and three others who were part of the campaign stood outside the White House for two hours after being told to wait by security. The group was allowed in toward the end of the ceremony, Peavley said, but another group of youths had already been selected to stand by the president. The 18-year-old said they all kind of bummed but were glad to witness the historic moment.

were able to see the president sign this historic piece of legislation that personally worked on for four he said. Peavley said been traveling to Washington three or four times each summer and lobbying members of Congress to pass tougher tobacco restrictions. The new law will force tobacco companies to disclose the ingredients in cigarettes and prohibits tobacco marketing aimed at teenagers. Peavley will start classes at the University of Cincinnati in the fall studying political science. also the only resident among four possible candidates to have already a petition to be on the November ballot in his bid to win a seat on Trenton City Council.

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