With the spring comes the severe thunderstorms and possible tornados.  To better prepare for the outcome, the National Weather Service trains volunteer severe weather spotters.  The class includes information on the role that volunteer severe weather spotters play in the warning process, the different types of severe weather, what to look for and how to spot severe weather and how to report it to the National Weather Service.  Also included is some basic severe weather safety information.

Trained volunteer severe weather spotters are extremely important to the warning process.  Each year about 1,500 to 1,800 new and return spotters are trained in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region.

Persons interested in attending the class or more information should contact the Kenton County Homeland Security & Emergency Management office at (859) 392-1481.

That’s just the type of help a new Fort Thomas company, The Essential Helper is offering.  For a flat fee of $25 per hour or even lower when a monthly package is purchased, The Essential Helper provides busy homes help with manage their time and quality of life issues.

The firm offers a variety of personal services including running errands, grocery and personal shopping, pet care, landscaping work, decorating advice and a host of other services that the company provides. 

The company’s website, www.theessentialhelper.com offers complete listing of services and pricing options as well as contact information for the firm.  A free consultation is available to help assist customers.

Erlanger based Toyota Boshoku is donating $25,000 to the American Red Cross to support victims devastated by recent tornadoes in Jackson , Tennessee where the company has a location.   Toyota Boshoku said 26 employees received damage to their homes.  None  were killed or injured by the tornadoes.

“We are very fortunate that our team members were not injured,” said Brent Goodman, human resources manager for ARJ Manufacturing, a Toyota Boshoku subsidiary in Jackson.  “We take pride in our team here and will do our best to support relief efforts in our communities.” 

“We share great grief during this sad time for those who lost their lives to this tragedy,” said Kiyoshi “Nate” Furuta, chairman and chief executive officer of Toyota Boshoku America .  “We pledge to support the American Red Cross with the hope that we can not only rebuild homes but, more importantly, assist in rebuilding lives.”

On Thursday, January 31, 2008 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Covington location participants can learn the basics of working with the press and how to write and submit press releases.

The Erlanger branch is hosting an educational event by American Red Cross experts on pandemic flu outbreaks both in the past and the possibility of a series outbreak in the future.  The event will be held Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

So, in a move that hasn’t been heard of in this area, the City of Erlanger will now begin charging people for accidents in the City of Erlanger. Not to worry if you are a resident of Erlanger as you won’t have to pay, for now.

Billing insurance companies for auto accidents is not unheard of, however it is new to this area. Paying for the police, firefighters and EMS units that respond to those accidents can be a costly venture for any city, especially when responding to accidents involving people that don’t pay taxes for that particular city.

So, if you have an accident in the City of Erlanger, here is what you can expect to pay for the response of police and other units. When police in Erlanger respond to an accident in which an out-of-town driver is at fault, the city plans to start issuing a bill: $14 for the first 30 minutes that an officer is on the scene and an additional $7 for every 15 minutes thereafter. Use of a police car brings an additional $154 charge.

So, if you are a resident of Erlanger, don’t worry, your taxes pay for your accident. However, if you live outside of Erlanger, you may want to be a little more cautious with your driving.