Batten down the hatches, haul anchors aweigh and, well, just insert your own nautical cliche here. With last week

1912 was an interesting year. Cincinnatian William Howard Taft was President of the United States. Redland Field opened in Cincinnati, later to be named Crosley Field.

Watching the light-hearted and animated adventures of the obnoxiously lovable ogre Shrek, along with his colorful companions, is entertaining and hilarious at times, but haven

It was a titanic confrontation between two fine Clermont County teams. Milford of the Greater Miami Conference finally nipped Amelia of the Fort Ancient Valley Conference in the bottom of the 16th inning to win 6-5. John Benza was the winning pitcher and Spencer Cox took the loss in this second round Division I battle at Midland Field, Amelia. Benza aided his own cause by smashing a home run among his three hits.

These guys have no plans to make a fuel of themselves. The Mount Carmel Fire football team’s plan is to set the Saturday night skies aflame with excitement and sportsmanship on a national and international plane of competition. Kyle Dincler, a football standout at Amelia High School from where he graduated in 1997, is the co-founder and majority owner of the Fire. John Reeves, a Turpin High grad, is the other owner and founder.

Jessica McFarland, Goshen High sports star, has signed a letter-of-intent to the University of Cincinnati’s Clermont College to continue her education and basketball career. McFarland earned 10 varsity letters – volleyball (two), basketball (four), and softball (four). She was a Southern Buckeye Conference American Division all-star in the latter two sports. She earned a school award for having the most assists on the hardwood.

Amelia boys turned in a very respectable effort in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference Cardinal (FAVC-C) Division track and field championships that took place at Kings High. Turpin won with 174.6 points, Kings had 116, Wilmington 94, Amelia 83, Walnut Hills 45, and Little Miami 8. Garrett Hart was the Barons’ leading scorer by earning titles in the long jump (20-feet, 4.5-inches), and the 100-meters high hurdles (15.07-seconds). Justin Brooks was second in the 400 dash (51.12) and 3,200 relay was second (8:20.93).

New Richmond’s boys have captured the Division II district track and field championship. Lion senior Eric Finan won two events including breaking his own district mark he set last year in the 1,600-meters run (4:20.21). Emily Tyler, Bethel-Tate junior, was the county’s other double winner as she swept the Division II hurdles events. Clermont County achieved 11 district titles including Glen Este senior Adam Chambers, Amelia junior Garrett Hart, Goshen junior Staci Hicks, New Richmond junior Jordan Yeardley, Goshen senior William Tedrick, New Richmond senior Rickey Schafer, and Batavia junior Andrew Avery.

For several years now, the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office and the Boys and Girls Club of Clermont County have made the first month of summer an interesting one for both law enforcement officers and children. The Junior Police Academy, a series of week-long educational interactions between kids and cops, will give kids around the county a chance to learn a little about being a law enforcement officer.

The West Clermont Board of Education has approved a $.25 increase in the district’s student lunch prices for the 2007-08 academic year. Assistant Superintendent of Administration and Personnel John Abegglen and West Clermont Supervisor of Food Service Operations Pam Sargent requested the price increase at the board’s regular meeting May 14.