Because of the large number of disasters in the central part of the United States, the Ohio River Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross will be training disaster service workers who may be deployed to the disasters in Michigan, Indiana, Kansas and Iowa.

They will be offering training for Shelter Operations and Family Services - Providing Emergency Assistance. These classes will take place at the Chapter Office, 614 Glover St., Portsmouth.

The Shelter Operations Class will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, and Family Services will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. You must attend both Family Service Classes to get credit.

To attend these classes, you will need to register by 4 p.m. Tuesday. Call (888) 354-3293 or (740) 354-3293 to register.

OUS accepts registrations

Academically advanced and talented students entering first through sixth grades can spend two weeks of their summer in college at Ohio University-Southern's Academy of Excellence. The program will begin July 21 and runs through Aug. 1. The Academy of Excellence provides students a variety of interests to explore. Cost is $110 per student (includes two class sessions) and a limited number of partial scholarships are available for students who are eligible for the free or reduced-priced school lunch program.

Registration for the program is now open through June 30 (or until individual classes are full). Registration can be completed online at www.southern.ohiou.edu, then select "2008 Academy of Excellence." For those needing computer access to complete the registration, the Southern campus Learning, Assessment and Career Resource Center computer lab is available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with assistance available by a staff member. Parents will be required to sign a release form and to obtain the signature of an official at their child's school that the student is performing in the upper 5 percent of his or her class - or capable of performing in the upper 10 percent - or has exceptional creative abilities.

The class choices include some favorites from previous years, as well as new options.

This is the 26th year for the academy. For more information about the 2008 Academy of Excellence Summer Youth Program, contact Janet Long Wagner at (740) 533-4544 or wagnerj@ohio.edu.

From PDT staff reports