Sunday, January 03, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
Health Alliance adopts new Pap test method
The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati has decided to switch how its hospitals and affiliated physicians conduct Pap tests to check for cervical cancer.
Alliance Laboratory Services — which serves University, Jewish, Christ, St. Luke and Fort Hamilton hospitals and hundreds of private physician offices — conducts about 250,000 Pap tests a year.
The lab has adopted the “ThinPrep Pap Test” introduced in 1996 by Cytyc Corp. of Boxborough, Mass., rather than the conventional smear method developed about 50 years ago. The test is easier for pathologists to read and better at detecting certain kinds of lesions, said Wendell O'Neal, vice president of the Alliance labs.
Highway work to close Central Ave. tonight
Central Avenue between Third and Fourth streets in downtown Cincinnati is scheduled to close from 9 p.m. today until 5 a.m. Tuesday so parts of the old Fort Washington Way can be torn down.
Drivers can use these detours:
• From southbound Central Avenue or the Fifth Street exit ramp, take Fifth Street and go south on Plum Street. Turn west on Third Street to Central Avenue.
• From westbound Fourth Street go south on Plum Street to Third Street. Go west on Third Street to Central Avenue.
• From northbound Central Avenue, take Third Street east to Elm Street. Go north on Elm Street to Fourth Street to connect with Central Avenue.
92-year-old takes part in New Year's swim
WATERVILLE, Ohio — About 40 people celebrated the new year with what's become a traditional dip into the icy waters of the Maumee River, while another 200 onlookers watched.
Several swimmers wound up with bloody ankles after being cut by ice in the river on Friday. But the oldest, 92-year-old Herb Mericle, emerged without a scratch.
Mr. Mericle needed help getting in and out of the water. But he made the New Year's Day dip for the 69th straight year. He said it was colder Friday than it's been in the last five years.
“As long as I can keep going out there, I will,” Mr. Mericle said.
Brian Lonsway, who has developed his own tradition of going into the Maumee while wearing a sports coat, tie and slacks, drove Mr. Mericle in a convertible, with the top down, from the river to his home in this Toledo suburb, where Mr. Mericle hosted the swimmers at a party.
Mr. Lonsway added a feature to his wardrobe by putting Christmas lights in his long, white beard.
Autopsy is scheduled on boy in hotel pool
TOLEDO, Ohio — The Lucas County coroner's office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death of a 12-year-old boy whose body was pulled from a hotel pool.
James Mims was pronounced dead Thursday at Toledo Hospital. He never regained consciousness after his body was discovered under water in the pool Dec. 26.
His elementary school basketball team was having a party at the time at the Comfort Inn. The boy's cousin, Mike Mims, said the child couldn't swim.
Ohio wants to know when address changes
COLUMBUS — Add this to your list of things to do when you move: Notify the state of your new address.
Otherwise, your Ohio driver's license could be suspended.
That is the result of an Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles policy that requires randomly selected drivers to provide proof of liability insurance.
Some argue that the policy is unfair.
Janet Ritter, of the American Automobile Association's Ohio chapter, said the lack of a forwarding address is just one reason that someone might not receive their mail.
“Who hasn't had a letter get lost in the mail? Even a second letter? What if you're out of town, on vacation? What if you're not home?” Ms. Ritter said.
“If you move and haven't sent a forwarding address, it is possible your license will be suspended without being notified,” said Leo Skinner, a spokesman for the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
For a year, the bureau will randomly send out letters to 280,000 of Ohio's 8.6 million registered drivers and give them 30 days to provide proof they have liability insurance. Proof can be a copy of an insurance card, copies of other insurance documents, or a form filled out by an insurance agent.
The mailings began in December.
If the bureau receives no response within 30 days, it will send a second letter to the same address, giving the motorist 15 more days to comply. After 45 days with no response, the bureau can suspend the motorist's license.
Amish man killed, kids hurt when car hits buggy
CANAAN, Ind. — An Amish farmer died and three of his children were injured when a pickup truck rear-ended their buggy as they returned from a New Year's Eve excursion, police said.
Victor Eicher, 36, of Canaan died instantly in Thursday's accident on Ind. 129, between Vevay and Versailles in far southeastern Indiana.
His 15-year-old son, Salon, was listed in serious but stable condition Saturday at University Hospital in Louisville. Katherine Eicher, 14, and Jacob Eicher, 13, were treated and released from the hospital.
“It's a miracle that anyone survived that accident,” said Indiana State Police Trooper Anthony Klettheimer.
The buggy was destroyed, and the horse died in the collision.
The accident occurred as Bernard Hartley, 16, of Canaan was returning home about 8:20 p.m. Thursday and slammed into Mr. Eicher's buggy, which was properly lit with mandatory reflectors and red lights.
Bernard, who was uninjured, was released into his parents' custody pending further investigation by the Switzerland County prosecutor.
Icy roads may still cause problems today
'99 already holds promise
Plenty of big news awaits Tristate
looks as if it will be lots of fun
Covington officer won't be unforgotten
Sound of church music is changing
'Miracle in progress': Boy coming back from accident
Checking in with a few old friends
Avondale McDonald House expanding
Creationists snap up exhibits for planned museum
Falmouth ready to buy more homes
Families, love bridge the 20th century
Health Foundation awards 8 grants
Missing-girl case featured on TV show
New college degree: managing cemeteries
Struggling rock hall hires 5th boss in five years
TRISTATE DIGEST
Some politicians to watch for
