COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will host an open house on Friday, Feb. 15 to educate lake users and community members on a proposed lake management plan for Acton Lake, which is located in Preble and Butler counties. 

After reviewing public input gathered over the past year, ODNR is considering a lake management proposal that would allow watercraft powered by more than 10 horsepower to access the lake, provided that they only operate at idle speed.

The open house will offer information about the regulatory process as well as provide lake users and area residents with an opportunity to submit written comments, ask questions and discuss lake issues with representatives from ODNR.

BUTLER COUNTY, OH (FOX19) - Butler County residents now have more opportunities to recycle household hazardous waste (HHW) and Freon appliances.

The Butler County Recycling and Solid Waste District has extended its long-term HHW and Freon appliance programs and is hosting a one-day event for HHW in October. In addition, the District is holding its annual one-day tire recycling event in November.

The Freon appliance collection program, which began in April, has been extended until Nov. 30, 2012. Residents can contact Unwanted Appliances at 1-888-886-9268 to schedule a curbside pick-up of their Freon appliance(s). Accepted items include refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. There is a limit of two “like” appliances per household.

WEST CHESTER, OH (FOX19) - West Chester Township is offering an evening class in emergency preparedness as part of its ongoing West Chester University – community education program.  

The class will focus on severe weather and will feature a speaker from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) who will discuss early predictions of severe weather. NOAA is the federal agency that includes the National Weather Service.

The class is designed to provide people in the township with the information needed to keep families and businesses safe during an emergency.  The West Chester University: Emergency Preparedness – Severe Weather class will be offered Tuesday, May 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the West Chester Library, 9363 Centre Pointe Drive.

The class will provide participants with the tools they need to plan for widespread community emergencies related to severe weather, as well as smaller crises in their homes and/or neighborhoods.