BY The Cincinnati Enquirer
A University of Cincinnati graduate is working to ensure the first manned mission to Mars is safe and comfortable.
James Lester, who graduated from Miamisburg High School near Dayton, has spent the past 20 months as a key designer on NASA's TransHab project, developing a module to serve as the astronauts' living quarters during the 400-day trip to Mars and back.
Mr. Lester is a design and analysis structural engineer for NASA. He also helped design a Mars Lander and the X-38, an emergency return vehicle for astronauts on the space station. His work with NASA began as a UC engineering co-op. Then, he worked with Mission Control in Houston and with the jets used in astronaut training.
Wildlife photographer will give presentation
The Rev. Theodore Thepe, a wildlife photographer, will speak on his work at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Raymond Walters College auditorium in Blue Ash.
Father Thepe's talk, illustrated with his work, is sponsored by the Sierra Club Miami Group. The Jesuit is an associate professor at Xavier University, teaching photography.
The program is free and open to the public.
Hyde Park Square comments invited
The Cincinnati Park Board will hold a public meeting
regarding Hyde Park Square improvements at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 26 at Knox Presbyterian Church, 3400 Michigan Ave.
The tentative design focuses on pedestrian safety and accessibility, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, restoration and maintenance of the Kilgour fountain and horticultural improvements. For information, call Doug Fraser at 421-4085.
Cincinnati State offers scholarships
Hamilton County high school seniors have until May 1 to apply for $1,000 Presidential Scholarships at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.
To qualify, a student must earn a high school diploma by the end of this school year, complete the admission process at Cincinnati State, be admitted to the college by May 1, and enroll at Cincinnati State as a full-time student in the summer or early fall term.
For more information, contact Cincinnati State's office of admission and counseling, 3520 Central Parkway.
Man arrested in two Burger King robberies
A Mount Airy man was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery Saturday night in connection with two holdups at the Burger King restaurant at 174 West McMillan Ave., said Cincinnati Police, District 5.
Scott Wooten, 36, of the 5100 block of Colerain Avenue, was taken into custody at 9:25 p.m. He was charged with two robberies and criminal damaging, and was served a warrant from Norwood police for disorderly conduct.
The Burger King was robbed on Thursday and Saturday, police said.
Fire damages series of lakeside boathouses
SANDUSKY -- More than 25 boathouses along the Lake Erie waterfront were damaged by a fire Saturday that was at least partially fueled by exploding gasoline from boats' tanks, fire officials said.
"That really accelerated the fire," said Sandusky assistant fire chief Mike Meinzer.
Snow-covered fire hydrants limited the water supply.
Cars parked along the area's already narrow roads also hindered firefighters, Mr. Meinzer said.
The fire spread quickly because the boathouses have wooden frames.
Mr. Meinzer said the fire remained under investigation, but early property damage estimates were at least $1 million.
No residents were injured. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries, Mr. Meinzer said.
Many of the one- and two-story wood-frame boathouses are used as homes year-round.
Two men arraigned in picnic-area death
GARFIELD HEIGHTS -- Bond has been set at $250,000 each for two men charged with aggravated murder in the shooting of a man whose body was found in a Cleveland Metroparks picnic area. Surendra Ramjit, 18, of Macedonia, and Bobby A. Johnson, 19, of Bedford, were arraigned in municipal court Saturday in the death of Clifford Beller Jr., 19, of North Olmsted.
Mr. Ramjit waived his right to a preliminary hearing and Mr. Johnson was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing Tuesday. Mr. Beller was found in his car in the parking lot at the Sagamore Grove picnic area. Walton Hills police Sgt. Dave Chorba, who was on routine patrol, found the body.
Mr. Beller died of three gunshot wounds to the back of the head, said Cuyahoga County Coroner Elizabeth Balraj.
Investigators think an argument about money led to the shooting.
Three being retried in Ohio man's death
KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Testimony will resume today in the retrial of three men accused of beating to death an Ohio man whose car hit a soup cart at a street dance.
John Beckett, 41, of Hamilton, died a few days after the Dec. 15, 1995, attack.
On trial are Rexford Thomas, 30, a soup vendor; Wayne McFarlane, 30, a shopkeeper; and Elvis Miller, 24, a jeweler, all of whom live in Flankers, a town near the Jamaican tourism capital of Montego Bay.
A jury was unable to reach a verdict in the first trial in 1997 and the judge ordered a second trial in Kingston, the capital.
Mr. Beckett, a supervisor at English Sports Information Processing in Montego Bay, was giving a Jamaican co-worker a ride home when the accident occurred.
Hazardous air cargo violations increase
CLEVELAND -- Federal regulators have not kept a 1996 commitment to control hazardous materials shipped by air on cargo and passenger flights, the Plain Dealer reported Sunday.
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued fewer and smaller fines for violating rules, opting instead for more warning letters, said the newspaper, citing agency records.
The FAA said 1,133 problems were reported in 1997. As of the end of August 1998, there were more than 1,600.
FAA spokeswoman Diane Spitaliere said Sunday that the number of reported violations has increased because of agency improvements, including expanding the staff.
Fines, warning letters and news releases help deter more problems, she said.
"The airlines are much more conscious of this now because they know we're out there," she said.
Airlines have different rules about what is allowed on board. Materials that could be hazardous include paints, flammable liquids, adhesives and perfumes.
