SYCAMORE TWP. — Two ski-masked robbers, one armed with what appeared to be a handgun, snatched the purse of a 63-year-old Lazarus employee Sunday in the parking lot of Kenwood Towne Centre.

        The victim — who was not injured — was walking to her car about 6:15 p.m. when she was approached by two men, Hamilton County sheriff's deputies said.

        One man displayed what appeared to be a handgun and demanded the woman's purse.

        They fled in a newer model gold Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was last seen southbound on Kenwood Road toward Interstate 71.

        The incident remains under investigation by the criminal investigations section of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Patrol.
       

Motorcycle crash
injures man, woman

               A man and woman from Woodlawn were injured early Sunday in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 in Cincinnati.

        Matthew A. Shelton, 22, was driving south about 1:45 a.m. when he lost control and struck a light pole, Cincinnati police said. He was not wearing a seat belt and was listed in critical condition at University Hospital later Sunday, hospital officials said.

        A passenger, Carrie Witner, 22, also was injured and listed in serious condition at University Hospital. An investigation into the accident continues.
       

Web site offers
home energy advice

               The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the release of the new home improvement tool, which is now available for use on the Web site www.energystar.gov.

        The tool is a simple, Web-based home audit that provides residential consumers with the top five cost-effective, energy-efficient improvements they can make to their homes when doing renovations or repair projects.

        The tool prompts homeowners to enter their ZIP codes, then answer a series of questions relating to their homes' structures, heating and cooling systems, appliances and more. Homeowners can also type in their utility bill information for a more detailed assessment.

        The tool calculates energy consumption and suggests a wide range of upgrades, from tightening home envelopes or sealing and insulating ducts to reduce leaks and improve efficiency.
       

Bond Hill woman
charged in stabbing

               A Bond Hill woman was charged with felonious assault Saturday night after a fight in which a person was stabbed in the chest, Cincinnati District 5 police said.

        The fight occurred at 10:30 p.m. in an apartment in the 1600 block of Powers Street, Northside, police said.

        The name and condition of the victim were not available Sunday night.

        Angela Richey, 39, of the 1700 block of Dale Road, was arrested at the scene 10 minutes after the stabbing, police said.
       

State offers tips
for charitable giving

               COLUMBUS — Professional solicitors collected more than $118 million last year on behalf of 417 charities, according to statistics gathered by Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery.

        But only about 27 cents of every dollar donated actually went to the charities, the attorney general's research shows. Her tips for holiday giving:

        • Ask what percentage of your donation will go to the charity.

        • Ask whether the charity and processional solicitor are registered with the attorney general's office, as they are required to do.

        • Ask for the charity's address to see where the money will be used and inquire about specific services and programs it provides.

        • Never agree to give money over the phone if a caller is hesitant to answer questions, uses high-pressure sales tactics or offers to have a courier immediately pick up the donation.
       

Gunman robs woman
in Walnut Hills

               Cincinnati police are looking for a man who jumped into a woman's car and robbed her at gunpoint early Saturday in Walnut Hills.

        The woman, 26, said she was in the 2900 block of Stanton Avenue at 1:15 a.m. when the man demanded her purse, then fled with it, police said.

        The man is described as black, 20 to 27 years old, 5-feet-10-inches tall, weighing 150 pounds and wearing a black, red and white flannel shirt, black sweat shirt with hood, and a ski-type mask, police said.

        Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at (513) 352-3040. Callers can remain anonymous.
       

Deputy stumbles
onto drug lab

               WAYNE TOWNSHIP — A Clermont County sheriff's deputy's routine check of a disabled vehicle has led to the discovery of an illegal home methamphetamine lab.

        Equipment and paraphernalia used to manufacture methamphetamine were found inside a mobile home in the 6700 block of Garrison Spurling Road, Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg said Sunday.

        About noon Friday, a deputy spotted a car parked on Garrison Spurling Road that someone apparently had tried to hot-wire, the sheriff said.

        A witness pointed out a male who had just left the vehicle and the deputy pursued him to the mobile home.

        A female gave the deputy permission to enter the home and the deputy noticed the drug-making equipment, the sheriff said.

        The sheriff's office obtained a search warrant and confiscated drug-making materials, the sheriff said.

        No arrests had been made as of late Sunday.

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