Monday, August 31, 1998
An Evanston man was killed early Sunday when he lost control of his car, which struck a wall, fence and utility pole on William Howard Taft Road in Walnut Hills, Cincinnati police said.
Corey Sledge, 19, was westbound on Taft in the 1200 block, near Ashland Avenue, at 3:12 a.m. when the accident occurred. No other vehicles were involved.
Mr. Sledge, who was not wearing a seat belt, was taken to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The investigation into the cause of the crash is continuing.
Hoxworth honors student blood donors
WEST UNION -- High School students here are serious about giving blood.
With large numbers of West Union High School students giving at least twice during blood drives held last school year, the school in Adams County was the most generous of eight high schools honored by Hoxworth Blood Center for outstanding turnout during school blood drives.
The top donors among Class II schools (fewer than 300 juniors and seniors) and their participation rates were: West Union (128 percent); Ludlow High (89 percent); Newport Central Catholic (86 percent), and Fayetteville High (70 percent).
Leaders among Class I schools (more than 300 juniors and seniors) were: Seton High (37 percent); Elder High (34 percent); Roger Bacon (34 percent), and D. Russell Lee Vocational School (33 percent). Overall, high school students provide about 10 percent of area blood donations, Hoxworth officials said.
Part of Hillside Ave. to be closed for work
Beginning today, Hillside Avenue between Anderson Ferry Road and Baurichter Street in Cincinnati will be closed to through traffic so workers can install new storm sewers and replace the pavement. Detours will be posted.
The contractor for the $1.4 million project is Cincinnati-based Neyra Construction. The engineering division of the public works department is managing the project.
The project should conclude in mid-October, but the roads will reopen in late September.
Funds lacking to fix Dayton-area bridges
DAYTON, Ohio -- Engineers fear that several Dayton-area counties do not have adequate funds to repair deteriorating bridges that carry thousands of vehicles each day.
More than 740 bridges in the area are over 50 years old, meaning they could become structurally deficient and not capable of supporting the legal load limit of 40 tons, engineers said.
Montgomery County Engineer Joseph Litvin said he should be replacing at least 11 of the county's 537 bridges each year.
He replaced only seven bridges in 1997 and nine so far this year because of financial constraints, he said.
The number of deficient bridges in the county, meanwhile, has grown from 18 in 1996 to 26 in 1997 to 40 this year, he said.
The same problem exists in other counties.
Greene County Engineer Robert Geyer said 20 bridges will become deficient in the next few years.
Preble County Engineer J. Stephen Simmons said he needs $20 million to fix 130 bridges in that county. His annual budget is $600,000.
Two women shot dead; suspect in custody
BELLEVUE, Ohio -- Two women were found shot to death Sunday in a home in this city about 40 miles southeast of Toledo, police said.
The victims were identified as Sheri Gurley, 35, and Amy Cloum, 33, both of Bellevue. Both had been shot once with a handgun.
The shootings were being investigated as homicides and one suspect was in custody, police said.
Officers in this city declined to release other information, pending a news conference this morning. The Huron County coroner did not return a call seeking comment.
Hearings canceled on CHRC's future
Two September public hearings to discuss the fate of the city of Cincinnati-funded Cincinnati Human Relations Commission (CHRC) have been canceled.
City council's Health, Social and Children Services Committee had organized the meetings for Sept. 8 and Sept. 10 to discuss a council proposal to revamp CHRC. The proposal was authored by council members Minette Cooper, Dwight Tillery and Charlie Winburn.
Cancellation of the public meetings came after the city law department issued a report saying city council has "no authority whatsoever" to fundamentally change the CHRC.
CHRC is an Ohio non-profit corporation. The relationship between CHRC and the city is contractual; the commission's sole source of financing -- $450,000 annually -- comes from the city.
The commission is charged with promoting race relations through education, training and managing various programs.
Orientation meeting for new foster parents
Beech Acres holds an orientation meeting each month for those who want to become foster parents.
The meetings are 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at 6881 Beechmont Ave. Everyone is welcome.
The social service agency has children from age 6 to age 18 who need foster parents. For more information, call 231-6630.
Most Wanted suspect surrenders to police
A Cincinnati man featured last week in The Cincinnati Enquirer's Tristate Most Wanted surrendered to District 4 police Saturday night on charges including robbery and auto theft.
Fred Jones Jr., 36, of the 1900 block of Langdon Farm Road, was wanted in a July 20 robbery. His convictions include theft and carrying a concealed weapon.
