Sunday, June 14, 1998
Don't put those umbrellas away just yet. After three days of storms, rain-weary Tristaters got a break during the day Saturday.
The Ohio side of the river today is expected to be mostly sunny with clouds rolling in late and a chance of showers tonight, according to the National Weather Service.
For Northern Kentucky, today's picture could be wetter with a chance of late afternoon thunderstorms. Storms are also likely tonight, and may hit the area Monday.
Friday evening's storms brought heavy rain and high winds. There were widespread reports of fallen trees and some 20,000 outages across the area.
By Saturday evening, a Cinergy spokesman said about 200 homes, widely scattered throughout the area, were powerless. He expected power to be restored Saturday night.
As of Saturday morning, Greater Cincinnati had received 5.68 inches of rain this month, according to the National Weather Service. Normal monthly total through June 13: 1.56.
And as of early Saturday, Greater Cincinnati had received 30.4 inches of rain so far in 1998, ahead of the normal year-to-date total of 19.11 inches.
Man pleads guilty in student's beating death
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A second man charged in the beating death of a college student from Cincinnati has pleaded guilty.
The body of Marcus Forte, a student at American Baptist College, was found in the Cumberland River, bound with duct tape.
Mitchell Harrison, of Nashville, was sentenced to 40 years in prison Friday after admitting to second-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping.
In March, Christopher Neighbours, of Murfreesboro, was sentenced to life in prison -- plus 25 years -- after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping.
Witnesses said Mr. Neighbours and several friends got angry when an acquaintance of Mr. Forte stole 3 pounds of marijuana during a drug deal that Mr. Forte helped to arrange in January 1997.
Police said Mr. Forte had been beaten with a golf club and stuffed into a car trunk before being thrown into Mill Creek.
His body was found about 40 miles away.
Bridge repairs close stretch of I-75 lane
Bridge repairs have closed the right lane of northbound I-75 between Galbraith Road and the General Electric Plant in Evendale. Traffic delays are expected to be significant.
Crews expect to be finished with the repairs by 6 a.m. Monday, but poor weather conditions or other unexpected delays could cause the lane to be closed longer.
City hopeful concert will cure cruising
The city of Cincinnati has scheduled Sunday night concerts at Eden Park's Seasongood Pavilion through July 5, hoping to curb the Sunday night cruising tradition there.
An estimated crowd of about 250 gathered for the first concert on May 31 to hear Tabatha and Ram-Z.
It's unclear whether the concert put a dent in the cruising because of a basketball playoff game and uncertain weather that night. Still, city officials want to see it if has an impact.
The cost of all five concerts will be $45,000, and the event was being sponsored by the city, the park board and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC), as well as WIZF-FM "The Wiz," said CRC spokesman Jess Parrott.
Organizers were still trying to confirm the entertainment for the four remaining concerts: today, June 21, June 28 and July 5. The concerts will run from 8 to 11 p.m.
It has long been a tradition for hundreds of youths, largely African-American, to spend the late afternoons and evenings in Eden Park; at closing time the crowds often head over to Corryville. City officials have been working on alternatives to driving around, because of complaints about noise and congestion from residents who live near those areas.
Girl injured Saturday in car crash on I-275
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS -- A 10-year-old girl riding with her aunt was seriously injured in a Saturday morning accident when the car her aunt was driving rear-ended a dump truck on Interstate 275.
Margaret Petry, 41, was driving east on 275 in the left lane when she came up behind the slow-moving truck loaded with hot black top. Campbell County Police said the truck was going about 45 mph when it was struck by Ms. Petry's car at 9:25 a.m.
Highland Heights, Campbell County and Southgate Police responded to the scene.
The 10-year-old was flown by AirCare to Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, where she underwent surgery. Her condition was unavailable.
Ms. Petry was taken to University Hospital, where she was treated. The truck's driver, Wallace Bates, 56, was not injured.
