Wednesday, January 06, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
City says it's not liable for landslide
The city of Cincinnati is “immune from liability for its past actions or failure” to act in connection with a landslide in the Clifton Ridge subdivision, according to an opinion released by the city law department Tuesday.
In October 1997, residents asked the city to share the responsibility of correcting the landslide. The slide affected 19 homes with values from $200,000 to $400,000.
The law department said heavy rainfall in 1996 likely triggered the landslide in Clifton. Nonetheless, city officials are concerned and want to find a solution.
One proposal is to construct an earth embankment at the base of the hillside. The cost is estimated at $300,000.
“One option available to the homeowners would be to petition the city for assessments for the purpose of constructing the embankment,” according to the law department's report.
Former firefighter pleads guilty to theft
A former Harrison firefighter pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of stealing $1,350 from the department's “Learn Not to Burn” fund.
R. Scott Kercheval pleaded guilty to one count of theft in office and now faces up to 18 months in jail. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 21 by Judge Ralph Winkler of Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
Mr. Kercheval, son of Harrison Councilwoman Judy Kercheval, resigned from the fire department last week.
He became a firefighter in 1981 and was the department's school fire education officer.
Mr. Kercheval was a finalist for Gold Star Chili 1996 Greater Cincinnati Firefighter of the Year and was named a National Fire Protection Association Champion for 1996.
The latter award allowed him to train as a Learn Not To Burn instructor. The fire education program is geared to elementary and preschool children.
LCI inmate dies during basketball
LEBANON — A Cincinnati man who was serving time in a Warren County prison has collapsed while playing basketball and died.
Jeffrey Williams, 26, was pronounced dead at 10:05 a.m. Monday at Middletown Regional Hospital, where he was taken after he became ill at Lebanon Correctional Institution.
Andy Willis, a Butler County coroner's investigator, said an autopsy Tuesday revealed a heart problem, leading to a preliminary ruling of death by natural causes.
Coroner Dr. Richard P. Burkhardt plans to wait several weeks for lab results before making an official ruling, Mr. Willis said.
In 1991, Mr. Williams began serving 14 to 40 years for Hamilton County convictions of felonious assault and involuntary manslaughter.
Hospital honors longtime chief
SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP — The atrium at Jewish Hospital in Kenwood has been named in honor of Warren Falberg, longtime chief executive of the Jewish Hospital system.
Mr. Falberg resigned Sept. 25 as senior executive officer of the Jewish Hospital and senior vice president of the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati.
During his 22-year career at Jewish Hospital, he oversaw the expansion of the Avondale-based hospital into a system, including acquiring the former Otto C. Epp Memorial Hospital in Kenwood in 1988. He played vital roles in making Jewish Hospital part of the Health Alliance in 1996 and in the recent expansion of the Kenwood hospital. The Kenwood site took over many of the services of the Avondale hospital when it closed in late 1997.
Huntington Bank robbed in Delhi
DELHI TOWNSHIP — The Huntington Bank branch in the 5000 block of Delhi Pike was robbed shortly after noon Tuesday by a man in his 20s who told a teller he had a gun.
The robber escaped on foot through the front door with an undermined amount of cash. He was last seen wearing a dark blue coat, possibly with stripes.
Anyone with information should contact Delhi Township police at 922-0060, or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.
Woman injured by shot from car
An Over-the-Rhine woman was in serious condition Tuesday at University Hospital after being shot in the chest Monday night.
Nicole Brooks, 20, was standing on the sidewalk at 530 E. 12th St. in Over-the-Rhine with a 16-year-old boy when a car pulled up and someone in the car yelled curse words and fired a shot, police said.
Police have not identified the shooter. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.
County suing city over juvenile jail
Two months after Cincinnati rejected Hamilton County's request to convert an old psychiatric hospital it owns in Bond Hill to a juvenile jail, the case is going to court.
In October, the city rejected the county's proposal to rezone the property and develop it into a juvenile jail. Now the county is claiming the zoning laws were improperly applied.
The county, in its Dec. 24 suit, is asking the court to reverse the city's decision and allow development.
City attorney Richard Ganulin said Tuesday it is likely the city will ask the court to dismiss the suit.
Inmate escapes
LONDON, Ohio — An inmate serving time for felonious assault escaped Tuesday from the Madison Correctional Institution, officials said, and authorities were looking for him.
Ransom Staley, who turns 51 today, was serving seven to 15 years for a conviction from Hocking County.
He escaped while on a work detail at about 8:30 a.m., a spokeswoman said.
Second storm arrives today
Property owners slide out of sidewalk duty
Most homeless find shelter from cold
Cold slows Fort Washington Way work
Alzheimer's Association Multi-Cultural Outreach program
Alzheimer's disease symptoms
Grammy nominees
Walks just to get out became a friendship
Bird owner crows to appeals court
Blue Ash native is Florida's new lieutenant governor
Boone Co. looks for school site
Bunning back in big leagues
Capitol beckons Lucas
City crafts retail roadmap
Daft for Taft? Say it with mug
dispatcher gets her job back
Driver charged in Good Samaritan's death
Ex-UC star wants confiscated $19,000 returned
Father, sons in tax trial reject powers of IRS, court
Fewer city roads 'good' or 'excellent'
Hamilton police era ends
Hollister appointed to House
Kenton sheriff's office gets raises
Lauryn Hill up for 10 Grammys
Let's-dissolve-Cleves trio want on council
Man found fit for child rape trial
Morrow, BFI head for next round
Neighbors barely knew man who froze in hallway
New drug can help lonely, troubled dogs
Slain woman's kin awarded $3 M
Snow keeps life busy at Turfway
Spreading the word about Alzheimer's
'Too rich' students receiving tuition credits
TRISTATE DIGEST
Warren budget of $35M OK'd
