Thursday, June 11, 1998
An orthopedic doctor accused of fondling patients pleaded no-contest Wednesday to two counts of sexual imposition in Hamilton County Municipal court.
Dr. David Henry Gillis also pleaded no-contest to a charge of failure to keep records of controlled substances.
Judge Jack Rosen found Dr. Gillis guilty on all three misdemeanor charges and set sentencing for July 28. He faces a maximum of 60 days in jail for each sexual imposition charge and a maximum of 180 days in jail on the other charge. There is no mandatory sentence.
Ten other charges were dropped, including six for sexual imposition; three for public indecency and one for disorderly conduct, his attorney Kenneth Lawson said.
Six patients accused Dr. Gillis of fondling them and - or exposing himself during visits to his Corryville office.
City council opposes waiver of set-aside rules
Cincinnati City Council is urging the Ohio Public Works Commission to deny Hamilton County's request for a waiver or modification of state set-aside requirements for local projects paid for with state capital-improvement funds.
During Wednesday's weekly meeting, council passed a resolution 7-1 asking the state's public works commission to deny the exemption. The resolution, introduced by Councilman Dwight Tillery, simply puts the city on record as opposing the requested waiver. The councilman said state law requires counties to set aside 5 percent of construction contracts and 15 percent of purchases from minority firms when the work or purchases are funded by the state.
The resolution is in response to County Administrator David Krings' April 3 letter to Ohio's public works commission director asking for the waiver. It cited four road projects the county is to get state money for this year.
Phil Heimlich was the only councilman to vote against the resolution, cautioning that several court cases have knocked down such set-aside policies. Councilwoman Jeanette Cissell was not present.
Public to see designs for park on riverfront
Cincinnati residents can get their first glimpse of initial designs for a new park on the city's central riverfront at a public meeting June 18.
The meeting will start at 4 p.m. in council chambers at Cincinnati City Hall, 801 Plum St., downtown.
The plans to be presented were developed based on public comments received at the first public meeting April 23 and from numerous focus groups and advisory panels. Citizens will be able to review the plans and provide additional comments, which will be used to refine the plans.
New York boy, 6, dies in I-75 collision
SPRINGBORO -- A 6-year-old boy from New York died early Wednesday after the minivan he was riding in was rear-ended by a car on Interstate 75 near the Montgomery County line.
Samuel Halftown, 6, of Angola, N.Y., was riding in the cargo area of the 1995 Aerostar minivan when it was struck by a 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass shortly before 3 a.m., according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Lebanon post.
Both cars were traveling north on I-75 when the accident happened. Amanda Halftown, 19, of Angola, N.Y., received minor injuries in the accident. Details about her relationship with Samuel were not available from authorities.
The Oldsmobile was being driven by Deborah L. Williams, 36, of West Carrollton, Ohio, near Dayton. Charges have not been filed.
