The Cincinnati Board of Health plans a public hearing Nov. 12 to consider an increase of up to 15 percent in license fees for restaurants and grocery stores, and an 11 percent increase for swimming pools. Fees vary by the size of the restaurant. In 1999, fees would range from $120 to $454, up from $105 to $394.
The hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Cincinnati Health Department, 3101 Burnet Ave. in Corryville. For details or to sign up to speak, call Karen Turner at 357-7281.
13-year-old reported missing
Melynda Rowlett left St. Aloysius Orphanage on a Metro bus Monday night and hasn't been seen since.
The 13-year-old has spent the last few months in foster homes and the orphanage after family problems forced her mother to give up custody.
She was placed in the orphanage Sept. 22, the same month her grandmother, with whom she had been living, died.
Cincinnati police say Melynda is depressed and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. She also hasn't had her epilepsy medication since Monday. She also has an eating disorder.
A staff member last saw her getting on a bus in front of St. Aloysius, just off Reading Road in Bond Hill.
"She's never run away before from any of the foster places she's been in," said her mother, Genice Rowlett of Price Hill.
Melynda is described as white, 5-foot-6, 125 pounds, with blue eyes and sandy-blond, shoulder-length hair. She has braces on her top teeth. She left wearing a black sweat shirt, black ballcap, blue jeans and a black backpack.
Police ask anyone with information call Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.
19-year-old charged with raping youngster
NORTH COLLEGE HILL -- A 19-year-old was charged Thursday with sexually assaulting a 5-year-old boy his mother was baby-sitting.
Police charged Christopher McKibben of the 6800 block of Betts Avenue here with rape. The assault occurred at the Betts Avenue residence Oct. 16, police said.
Couple giving OU $6M for scholarships
ATHENS, Ohio -- A St. Louis couple are giving $6.25 million to Ohio University to endow 19 new undergraduate scholarships.
Will and Ann Lee Konneker announced the gifts -- to be awarded posthumously -- Wednesday.
Mr. Konneker, 76, is a retired nuclear physicist who received bachelor's and master's degrees from OU in the 1940s. He has chaired the national alumni association and various fund-raising campaigns for the university.
The money will pay for scholarship winners' tuition, room and board, and stipends for summer travel and programs. Some will help maintain an alumni center.
The Konnekers have donated more than $9.5 million to Ohio University.
Dad charged after son suffers head injury
DELHI TOWNSHIP -- A Cheviot man was charged with endangering children Thursday after police said his infant son suffered a head injury when his father tossed him in the air and his head struck the ceiling.
Police said Michael Fehr, 24, of the 3600 block of Alta Vista was tossing his son Oct. 17 at a residence in the 4300 block of Clover Hill Terrace.
Mr. Fehr shook the baby to make sure he was still breathing, but failed to tell anyone about the injury, police said.
The infant was admitted to the hospital Monday when he began having seizures. Doctors determined the infant, who was hospitalized four days, had suffered a cerebral hematoma and three fractured ribs, police said.
Two 14-year-olds charged in vandalism
HAMILTON -- Two 14-year-olds have been charged with a spate of vandalism in Fairway Hills.
After nearly a month of investigation, police Wednesday arrested the boys, who were released to their parents, police spokesman Sgt. Thomas E. Kilgour said.
Officer John Marcum said the boys were caught after Detectives Dave Collins and John Nethers worked with school officials to narrow the possible suspects. The youths are charged in connection with damaging property late Oct. 5 or early Oct. 6. One boy is charged with 25 counts of criminal damaging and five counts of petty theft; the other, with 25 counts of criminal damaging and one count of petty theft.
The vandalism included racist and profane graffiti on garage doors, flags and lawn decorations, and damaged vehicles and lights.
