U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel Thursday sentenced a second Clermont County man to 24 months in prison and a $5,000 fine for burning a cross to intimidate a white neighbor and her black male friend. William Steven "Duke" Bonham II, 27, of Goshen, is to report to a federal prison on Nov. 16. He admitted a conspiracy to violate rights and intimidation.
Codefendant Eugene Michael Coogan Jr., 21, of Newtonsville, was sentenced last month. The cross flared about 1 a.m. Feb. 22 at Cross and Main streets in Newtonsville, a village on Ohio 131, about 15 miles east of Interstate 275.
Workshop offers teaching ideas
Faith Evangelical Free Church in Milford is sponsoring a workshop on teaching ideas for parents Saturdayfrom 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Connected Concepts Workshop is $20, with all note-taking materials provided. The church is at 5910 Price Rd. in Milford. For reservations please call Patty Philpot at 321-7648.
Ind. woman killed in crash with truck
HOLTON, Ind. -- A 32-year-old Paris Crossing woman was killed Thursday afternoon in two-vehicle crash on U.S. 50 in Ripley County near the Jennings County line.
Indiana State Police said Debra K. Bowling, 32, of the S. County Road 650 W., was driving a 1991 Ford west on U.S. 50, when her car crossed the center line and struck a 1992 Freightline tractor trailer traveling east.
Ms. Bowling was pronounced dead at the scene, a mile west of Holton. The driver of the truck, Henry E. Corder, of Middletown, Ohio, was not injured.
Car kills striker crossing highway
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- A striking worker at Navistar International was killed Thursday when he was accidentally struck by a car as he crossed the highway near the picket line, authorities said.
The State Highway Patrol identified the victim as Jonathon G. McCurry, 31, of North Hampton.
Trooper Chris Dickens said the accident occurred at 5:55 a.m. in the southbound lanes of U.S. 68 just north of Springfield.
Trooper Dickens said Mr. McCurry had apparently left the picket line, crossed the highway and was returning to the picket line when he was hit. Mr. McCurry was pronounced dead at the scene.
The accident caused a chain reaction involving three vehicles and forced the shutdown of southbound 68 for more than three hours. "We are just horrified by what has happened," said Navistar spokeswoman Gretchen Rosswurm. "We extend our sympathy and concern to the family and our fellow Navistar employees."
The 150 workers at Navistar's truck-customizing plant went on strike Oct. 5 after they rejected a tentative contract agreement that union leaders had reached with the Chicago-based truckmaker.
Human bones found in garage
DAYTON, Ohio -- Two more human bones found in an old garage are being examined to try to determine their origin, a coroner's official said Thursday.
On Saturday, a woman dropped off two plastic bags of human and animal bones at Mother Earth Connection, a downtown store. The bones were turned over to the Montgomery County coroner's office. Ken Betz, director of the coroner's office, said the old, crumbling bones were found abandoned in a garage that was being cleaned out. Mr. Betz said the person who found the bones said the garage had once been used by members of a traveling carnival.
On Tuesday, said Mr. Betz, some kids who had also been going through the garage turned over two long human bones they had found and were going to use in a Halloween exhibit.
Mr. Betz said the bones are being examined by a forensic anthropologist and results are expected next week.
Dayton police Detective John Huber said he was not aware of any missing-person report that might explain the bones.
Ohio women trail in pay, report says
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When it comes to wages, professional advancement and political clout in elected offices, Ohio women are falling short, a women's group reported Thursday.
The Status of Women in Ohio report said median annual earnings of Ohio women is $24,700, which is $11,000 less than Ohio men.
Around the country, women are paid slightly more than 72 cents for every dollar men are paid, but in Ohio the gap is 3 cents worse, said the report from Ohio Women Inc., a nonprofit group which offers networking opportunities, small loans and grants to help women. Sallie Debolt, president of the group, acknowledged that the statistics do not take into account women whose earnings may be less because they choose to stay home or take part-time jobs.
"We don't know for sure what the actual impact is," she said.
Inspectors charged with misconduct
CLEVELAND -- A city inspector has been charged with accepting bribes and a second inspector was charged Thursday with falsifying timesheets and mileage expense reports.
Willie Wade was charged with five misdemeanor counts of bribery for allegedly accepting money from a property owner in the neighborhood where Mr. Wade checks building code violations.
Anthony Dizdar was charged with one felony count of theft for allegedly falsifying mileage reports and claiming he was at work when he actually was at a tavern, the city said.
Mr. Wade has been suspended and Mr. Dizdar faces suspension, the city said.
