Compiled from staff and wire reports

Avondale man given 30 years for robberies

An Avondale man who robbed a string of businesses in Cincinnati late last year after being released from prison is going back.

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Ann Marie Tracey on Friday sentenced Jeffrey Beard, 49, to spend 30 years in prison on a charge of aggravated robbery and 10 charges of robbery.

In late March a jury found Beard guilty of robbing two Clifton businesses, the Esquire Theatre and Osaka Silver. Beard also hit businesses in Hyde Park, Pleasant Ridge, Corryville and downtown.

Beard's method was always the same, police said. He chatted with the employee and asked for a bag. Then, he'd take out a gun and demand money. Employees at Number One Fashion in Pleasant Ridge foiled a robbery Nov. 23 by wrestling a gun away from Beard, then sitting on him until police arrived.

Beard was paroled from a state prison in August 2001 after his 1992 convictions in Hamilton County on two counts of aggravated robbery and two counts of theft, court records show.

Badin High School principal to retire

HAMILTON - Principal Margaret Winkeljohn will retire from Badin High School in June after 28 years at the school, the last 11 as principal.

Winkeljohn, 61, said she was retiring because she plans to marry Charles Hickle, a retired widower who lives in Findlay, Ohio. The two were classmates at Findlay High School.

"I have very mixed feelings about retiring," Winkeljohn said. "I'm very excited about the prospects of a whole new adventure in my life. But I've never really thought about retirement. I guess I just thought I'd die at my desk."

Winkeljohn joined the Badin staff as media specialist in 1974. She has taught English, served as the school's first development director, and been an assistant principal and dean of girls. She has coached swimming and diving, been the yearbook and newspaper adviser, and directed plays and the variety show.

Ohio first lady to speak on underage drinking

BLUE ASH - Ohio first lady Hope Taft will speak from 4-6 p.m. April 24 at Raymond Walters College.

Taft's speech will be on behalf of the Northeast Community Coalition, whose mission is to educate the public about laws regarding the serving of alcohol at teen parties. Taft will discuss these laws and the dangers of adolescent alcohol abuse.

The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth Campaign will also give a presentation.

The event is free to the public.

For information, contact Loretta Novince at 310-6261.

Workers sought to aid summer recreation

The Cincinnati Recreation Commission is seeking event maintenance staff for the upcoming season. Workers will help with Riverfest, KidsFest and other events at Sawyer Point.

Hours are irregular and include evenings and weekends. Applicants must be 18 or older and reside in Hamilton County. Those with driver's licenses are preferred, and a police check is required. Moderate to heavy labor will be involved with the jobs, which pay $7-$10 per hour.

Information: 352-6181.

Chess tournament team winners named

The Queen City Classic Scholastic Chess Tournament has announced team winners from last Saturday's competition at Paul Brown Stadium.

Schools that took first place were: Ruth Moyer Elementary, Fort Thomas, primary division; Kentucky Country Day, Louisville, elementary division; Highlands Middle School, Fort Thomas, middle-school division; and Cincinnati Country Day School, Indian Hill, high-school division.

Nearly 500 students in kindergarten through grade 12 participated in the tournament, sponsored by the Proscan Foundation and Cincinnati Bengals.

Pediatrics department among nation's top 4

The department of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center has been ranked fourth among pediatric programs at medical schools in the United States.

U.S. News & World Report's annual guide to America's best graduate schools ranks the department of pediatrics behind only Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University. The ranking is based on a survey of medical school deans and senior faculty.

"This ranking speaks to the quality of faculty in the department of pediatrics and their tremendous productivity," said Dr. Thomas Boat, who chairs the department and also directs The Children's Hospital Research Foundation.