The University of Cincinnati and Miami University have started a blood feud.
The school that can line up the most students and supporters to give blood will win bragging rights and a trophy at the UC vs. Miami football game Oct. 24.
The blood drive runs from Mondayto Oct. 16. Blood donations will be shared by the Hoxworth Blood Center of Cincinnati and the Community Blood Center of Dayton (which has branches in Hamilton and Middletown.) For more information about donation locations, call 451-0910 or (800) 374-3354.
Don Heinrich Tolzmann, curator of the German-Americana Collection at the University of Cincinnati, will be honored Friday at a reception in Washington, D.C., for his role in establishing National German-American Day.
Mr. Tolzmann will be recognized at the Goethe Institute by the German-American Joint Action Committee as the "Father of German-American Day."
As head of the Society for German-American Studies in Cincinnati in 1986, Mr. Tolzmann led a national campaign to have Congress approve a resolution establishing a National German-American Day. The resolution was approved in 1987 and signed into law by President Reagan.
National German-American Day is Oct. 6.
Shaved heads to help victim of leukemia
At least 10 La Salle High School teachers will have their heads shaved Friday as part of a fund-raising effort for a former football player going through treatment for leukemia.
This fall, La Salle students have raised more than $5,000 for the family of Ben Kelhoffer, who was diagnosed with leukemia in October 1997 during his senior year. Their efforts are part of an ongoing fund-raising campaign.
The head shavings will occur at La Salle's homecoming pep rally. The money will be used to defray uncovered expenses from the family's multimonth stay in Seattle, where Mr. Kelhoffer recently received a stem-cell transplant.
Donations can be sent to the Ben Kelhoffer Leukemia Fund, in care of La Salle High School, 3091 W. North Bend Road, Cincinnati 45239.
Group changes name to UC Physicians
The University of Cincinnati Medical Associates, a group of 400 doctors of various specialties who serve as faculty for the UC College of Medicine, has changed its name to UC Physicians.
The group says its new name reflects efforts among the doctors to function as a more unified group.
Goodwill fest features crafts, baked goods
Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries' Service Guild will have its annual Down Home on the Farm festival Friday and Saturday.
The festival, which features arts and crafts, home-baked goods, a plant sale, old and new books and antiques, will be at the Goodwill facility in Woodlawn. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Proclamation ceremony notes crime prevention
The Cincinnati Police Division will kick off National Crime Prevention Month today with a proclamation from Mayor Roxanne Qualls.
Police and community leaders will meet at 1:30 p.m. in front of police headquarters, 310 Ezzard Charles Drive in the West End, to promote public awareness about crime prevention.
This year's theme is "The Power of Prevention," and officers will encourage public participation in crime-prevention activities such as volunteer work.
Fund to aid family of brothers killed in fire
A memorial fund has been set up to help the family of two hearing-impaired brothers killed in a fire Saturday in Madisonville.
Clarence Green, 36, rescued his uninjured 6-year-old son, Cameron, from the blaze. The boys' mother, Virginia Wilkerson, 34, who also is hearing-impaired, jumped from a second-story window and was going to catch her two oldest boys.
But the boys -- Chaz, 10, and Clarence Tray, 7 -- died before firefighters could reach them. KeyBank is accepting donations to be used for the family's medical and housing costs.
Mr. Green remains in critical condition at University Hospital. Contributions can be sent to KeyBank's Madisonville office, in care of the Wilkerson Family, 5727 Madison Road, Cincinnati 45227.
Law on civil suits opposed in high court
COLUMBUS -- Trial attorneys and unions asked the Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday to throw out a business-backed civil justice overhaul. The law, which took effect in January 1997, unconstitutionally prevents people from getting their day in court and getting what they're due if they win, the AFL-CIO and the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers say.
"This is a hostile takeover of the civil justice system," lawyer Robert Peck told the seven-member court.
Mr. Peck also said that the lawyers group was losing members because fewer lawyers are deciding to go into trial practice, and those who do are not being fully compensated because of caps on damages included in the law.
Critics say the law is an opportunity for businesses, hospitals and manufacturers to evade their responsibilities to provide safe goods and services. They also say lawmakers violated the state constitution's "single-subject" rule, which prohibits legislators from linking unrelated subjects in bills.
Backers of the law claim it will curb runaway jury awards for pain and suffering, lead to lower insurance premiums and product costs, and help companies figure out liability costs. Injured Ohioans still would be able to recover the costs of medical care, lost wages and other quantifiable damages, they note.
