Infamous Peacocks Still on the Loose

The elusive pair of peacocks were first spotted on the morning of April 5 in the middle of the road at Bypass Ohio 4 and Hamilton-Mason Road. Since then the peacocks have been creating traffic hazards in the area with dozens of calls reporting that the birds have been darting in and out of traffic. Police have issued an alert about a pair of peacocks and the city of Fairfield animal control continues to look in vain for the pair.

Most recently an Ohio state trooper spotted the bird near the rest stop on Interstate 75 near the Monroe exit but, true to form, the peacock was able to evade capture once again. It isn't clear exactly where the peacocks came from, but authorities advise if you happen to spot one of these birds to be sure to call your local police station.

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Monroe High School's New Vocal Group, "Between the Lines"

Monroe High School has a new "pop-a cappella" group and their name is "Between the Lines" or "BLT." The group is made up mostly of kids who will be seniors next years. They rehearse each day, after school, from 2:45 - 4:45 PM and will be singing at high school events and events in the Monroe Community.

The group is being directed by Mark Jauss who, according to Main Street Monroe, says he is exciting about direction because the music is fun to perform and the group "has the potential to energize the entire Monroe choral program." BTL is made up of twenty students, however three of them will graduate this spring.

The singers are:

• Kaitlynn Nall (Soprano)
• Katya Hernandez (Soprano)
• Hannah Robertson (Soprano)
• Ellen Short (Soprano)
• Gayle Bryan (Soprano)
• Hannah Robbins (Alto)
• Nikki Larkin (Alto)
• Corinne Minor (Alto)
• Emily Hoover (Alto)
• Rachel Hoover (Alto)
• Jeff Mack (Tenor)
• Jay Miller (Tenor)
• Saxon Hall (Tenor)
• Eric Stone (Tenor)
• Troy Patrick (Tenor)
• Michael Luciano (Bass)
• Joshua Barrett (Bass)
• Brian Fiscus (Bass)
• Taylor Young (Bass)
• Matthew Kakaris (Vocal Percussionist)
  

The group's first performance will be the closing act at the Monroe High School Choir Concert, on Tuesday, May 18. It will take place in the school's auditorium at 7:00 PM. They will perform Lionel Richie's "You Are," which was arranged specifically for the group by a member of Wright State's "Fight Club," an all male a cappella group started by Jauss.

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Monroe Residents Help Nashville Flood Victims

Earlier this year, much of the Nashville, Tennessee area was flooded after nearly 20 inches of rain over the course of two days, resulting in property damage throughout the area and even the loss of several lives. According to Mayor Karl Dean, damages throughout the area will so far cost around $1.5 billion, and those numbers are expected to climb. People from all over the country are offering whatever they can do to help the devastated area and that includes the people of Monroe.

Next weekend, on Sunday May 15, the Monroe Hornets Football Team, together with the First Baptist Church of Monroe youth will be collecting clothes, shoes, etc., for flood victims. The event will last from noon to 3:00 PM.

There are two drop-off locations in the community. The first one is at Monroe High School and the other is at the First Baptist Church of Monroe. Football team members and members of the First Baptist Church and First Baptist Cur ch youth will be on hand to take any and all donations.

In addition to clothing items, monetary donations are also welcome to help pay for shipping the items to the Nashville flood victims. All checks must be made payable to the First Baptist Church of Monroe. For more information, check out Faith, Football, and the Flood.

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Free Fishing Days in Ohio

If you're looking for something to do this upcoming weekend, why not go fishing? The state of Ohio is offering "Free Fishing Days" on Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. This means anyone can fish in any of the state's public waters without having to have a fishing license. Normally, if you're over the age of sixteen, you must purchase a licenses to remove fish, frogs, and turtles from any Ohio water. Fishing licenses are $19 and are available at bait and tackle stores, outdoor outfitters, major department stores, and online at WildOhio.com.

Free Fishing Days began in 1993. The goal was to promote fishing as recreation in the state and encourage residents to buy a license. It's good for all Ohioans and includes all public water, including Lake Erie and the Ohio River. According to Ohio.gov, about 1.3 million people fish in the state each year. It also allows kids to experience the fun of fishing and provides families with a fun bonding activity.

If you do plan to take your child fishing, there are a few tips to remember. Keep it simple. Don't worry about the size of the fish your kid catches, they will be excited to catch anything. A simple rod and reel costs just between $15 and $30 and is easy for people of all ages to use. You'll probably want to take children shore fishing and don't plan to spend the entire day doing the same thing over and over. Also, be patient. As Ohio.gov says, "By concentrating all your attention on your young angler, you'll likely be developing a fishing buddy for a lifetime." And don't forget to bring a camera!

If you are interested in getting a license and fishing year-round, Ohio is a great place for the sport. In winter and early spring, walleye and steelhead trout can be found in northern streams. Spring is also great for catching sugeye and crappie. When the weather gets warmer, Lake Erie is known for its yellow perch, walleye and smallmouth bass and the Ohio River is a great place for striped bass fishing.

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Free College-Bound Event for Monroe High School Students

On Tuesday, April 27, at 6:00 PM, the Learning Enrichment & Assistance Program, LLC (LEAP) will host a free event for families with college-bound high school students. The event will take place at Hope Church in Mason, Ohio.

Vendor tables with presenters, graduation gifts, announcements, and more will be on hand to help students and their families learn more about the college experience. Presentations will include:

• Choosing a College Major that Sticks
• Financial and Other Benefits of Living Off-Campus
• College or Retirement: You Don't Have to Choose
• Campus Safety
• High School to Higher Education: Organizing a Smooth Home to Dorm Transition
• Maintaining a Healthy College Lifestyle
• Part-time Work and Full-time Students
• Insurance 101 for Families with College Students
• Online Living Balance Sheet: Simplifying Your Family & College Finances

And much more! The event is also for families of students already in college.

This event has helped prepare students for college and beyond for over ten years. For more information, visit www.leapcollegebound.eventbrite.com or call 513-754-2240.

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Monroe Vets Visit World War II Memorial in DC

A recent ABC story called, "Greatest Generation Gets the Wish of a Lifetime" featured a group of World War II veterans from the Mt. Pleasant Retirement Village in Monroe, who got, well, the "wish of a lifetime." The group was able to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.

United States Navy veteran Milton Mapou was just 19 when he joined the service in 1940. He recalls his time at Pearl Harbor in an interview with ABC, "Kamikazes came in and one of them peeled off and came right at us. As the ship was going down, I came to and I was laying there with my foot twisted around...all I could see was bone sticking out of my femur."

Mapou told ABC that visiting the World War II Memorial has been one of his biggest wishes. The trip was made possible by Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime. Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime is a nonprofit organization founded by Jeremy Bloom, a former Olympian and NFL wide receiver.

The group's executive director, Deirdre Moynihan told ABC she's "embarrassed" by what happens to some American veterans, "They don't expect and they don't ask for anything, but maybe they shouldn't have to ask. Maybe we should offer. Maybe we should all be standing there and say, 'What is it you need?'"

ABC goes on to talk about just how under appreciated the "Greatest Generation" is in today's society. From having problems finding a job to the lack of education today's students receive about the struggles our World War II veterans went through to fight for our freedom, many younger people do not understand exactly what it means to be a World War II veteran.

Mapou told ABC, "I went to one of the schools in Columbus and was giving talks about Pearl Harbor, and the first thing I asked them was, 'Do you know where Pearl Harbor is?' And not one of them knew where Pearl Harbor was. Schools don't teach them. They don't teach that stuff."

For more of the story, including photos and a video, visit: Greatest Generation Gets the Wish of a Lifetime

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April Events for Butler County

Spring has sprung in Butler County! It's time to get out of the house and get out on the town. Looking for something to do in April? Below are a few events you might want to consider.

April 2nd - Gather the whole family up for a performance of "The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi" at the Oxford Community Arts Center on Friday, April 2nd. The play begins at 7:30 PM and is great for kids ages four and up. It's performed by the Cincinnati Playhouse and is free to attend.

April 2nd & 3rd - If you don't have children, Little Sonoma in West Chester has a great event for adults. The "Best of 2010 Fest" takes place on the 2nd from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, as well as April 3rd from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Sample six award-winning wines from the 2010 Cincinnati Wine Festival. If you have a group of six or more, you'll want to call ahead (513-942-9463). Cheese and crackers will also be available. Cost to attend is $10.00.

April 10th - Is your child ready to show off their baseball skills? Then join the MLB/Pepsi Pitch, Hit, and Run in Hamilton. The event, which takes place at Foundation Field, is free, but make sure you bring a copy of your child's birth certificate. Festivities take place from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

April 14th - The Oxford Community Center's "Green Screen" program features films about science, art, and spirituality of the natural environment. This month's film is "They Killed Sister Dorthy." It will begin at 7:00 PM.

April 16th - Helen Welch will be performing at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Her act includes songs from jazz to Broadway, and after the show you can meet the artist, as well as enjoying hor d'oeurvres, wine, and beer. Tickets for members are $15.00 and $17.00 for non-members.

April 23rd & 24thAnother fun event for the whole family, the Miami University Men's Ice Hockey Team, along with the Miami University Synchronized Skating Teams will take part in a theatrical production: the Annual Spring Ice Show. The event, which takes place at the Goggin Ice Center at Miami University in Oxford, starts at 7:30 PM on Saturday and 4:00 PM on Sunday.

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