Saturday, January 09, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
Political appointee can't get job back
A top public safety official under Democratic Gov. Richard Celeste who was fired during Republican Gov. George Voinovich's tenure should not get his job back, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Timothy E. Feeney's argument that his 1994 firing because of his political affiliation violated his constitutional rights to freedom of belief and association.
The court upheld lower courts which said political affiliation was an appropriate requirement for Mr. Feeney's job as traffic safety director in the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
Mr. Feeney's lawyer, Kevin Shoemaker of Columbus, did not return a telephone message to comment.
Mr. Feeney started work for the public safety department in 1988 and was promoted to traffic safety director. The Voinovich administration fired him in 1993.
The state Personnel Board of Review ruled that proper procedures for his firing were not followed, so he had to be reinstated with back pay and benefits.
He lost the job in 1994 when his position was eliminated.
Indictments allege Columbia Twp. thefts
A grand jury indicted three former Columbia Township officials Friday on charges of stealing township funds.
The indictment came two weeks after the officials — James Harmon, Debra Huff and Jeffrey Huff — withdrew their guilty pleas to the same charges.
The three defendants each face one count of theft in office and one count of tampering with records.
The charges were originally filed in October after a grand jury investigation found that they mishandled or stole about $210,000.
Before they were formally indicted, however, the three agreed to plead guilty. When they withdrew those pleas last month, prosecutors presented the case to another grand jury.
The charges in the indictment are identical to the charges in the original pleas. A trial date has not been set.
Man who caused death released from prison
A Mount Auburn man was freed from prison Friday after serving about half of his sentence for causing a 19-year-old woman to have a fatal heart attack.
Jeffrey Jackson, 22, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter last year for causing the death of Crystal Flagg.
Prosecutors said Mr. Jackson pinched and struck Ms. Flagg after she rebuffed his advances outside a West End nightclub.
They said the stress of the assault caused Ms. Flagg's heart attack.
The incident occurred in 1996 and Mr. Jackson was convicted last year in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
Judge Richard Niehaus granted a request for judicial release after prosecutors indicated that the victim's family would not oppose it.
Mr. Jackson, 23, served about 16 months of his three-year sentence.
Medicare HMOs offer coverage for travelers
Snowbirds who spend winters in Florida often have trouble with Medicare HMOs because many plans do not offer health networks in their get-away location. Now, they have a new option.
The American Association of Retired Persons and Minneapolis-based UnitedHealth Group have launched a Medicare Select plan that provides cross-coverage in 54 cities in 10 states, including 10 Ohio cities, Northern Kentucky, Florida and Texas.
More cities will be added during 1999, UnitedHealth officials said.
Sapp memorial won't take place today
The memorial service for Allen Dwight Sapp Jr., professor emeritus and former dean of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, set for 2 p.m. todayin Corbett Auditorium on the UC campus, will not take place. It will be rescheduled. The new date will be announced later.
EPA fighting OSHA on worker punishment
COLUMBUS — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has appealed a ruling that it illegally punished an employee who wrote critical memos about an investigation of cancer in Marion.
“We disagree with those findings,” spokeswoman Beth Gianforcaro said Thursday. “We will now be in a position to present the facts and more information for a judge to consider.”
The EPA said it fired investigator Paul Jayko last year for drinking on the job and filing false expense reports. Mr. Jayko said he was fired for being critical of the EPA investigation in Marion.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration sided with Mr. Jayko. It told the EPA to reimburse him for attorney fees, the 10 days he was suspended in July, remove the suspension from his record and reinstate him as the lead investigator in Marion.
The EPA appealed this week to the Department of Labor's administrative law judge in Washington. A hearing date has not been set.
Judge in Paducah lawsuit steps aside
PADUCAH, Ky. — A judge assigned to hear the lawsuit filed by the families of the three girls killed in a shooting at Heath High School recused himself on Friday.
The families filed their lawsuit against 45 people, including the killer, Michael Carneal; his family; and school officials and teachers.
The lawsuit, filed Dec. 2, 1998, alleges Mr. Carneal's parents and school personnel were negligent for failing to report his violent writings and erratic behavior.
The girls' parents cited three grounds as reason for McCracken Judge Jeff Hines to step aside.
They said Judge Hines has prior knowledge of the facts because he presided over Mr. Carneal's criminal proceedings.
They alleged that Judge Hines has a professional relationship with John Carneal, who is Michael's father and a well-known local lawyer.
And they alleged that Judge Hines is opposing them in a case now before the state Supreme Court.
Accident victim goes home after 'remarkable' recovery
Icy roads cause accidents
City vs. snow: Calling all trucks
Safety, money are top issues in school closings
Tristate terrorism: What it?
Types of chemical and biological weapons
Parting shot costs fire official
Rape suspect's mother sent to jail
Defendant acquitted of raping teen
Man kills co-worker, holds hostages
Mt. McKinley name safe for this session
Brave music lovers warmly rewarded
Clermont Co. moving creek to save bridge
Dearborn Co. gets some housing help
Good news: A life restored and class acts
N.Ky. has mixed success in legislative panels
New mayor finds rocky road
Ohio 4 tract seen as top jail site
Raga becomes trustee president
Split school district discouraged
TRISTATE DIGEST
West Clermont boosts academic time
