Wednesday, January 20, 1999
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2 teens arrested in Hamilton school fire
HAMILTON — Police arrested two teen-agers Tuesday night in connection with a fire last week at Wilson Junior High School.
The boys, 17 and 15, were arrested about 9 p.m Tuesday and charged with aggravated arson in the Juvenile Court of Butler County. Both boys were placed in the Juvenile Detention Center pending a court hearing. The Enquirer is not naming them because they are juveniles.
The 17-year-old is a student at Hamilton High School; the 15-year-old attends Wilson Junior High School.
Police said no other arrests are expected. The blaze, reported just before 3:30 a.m. Friday, destroyed the school's music room and caused at least $1 million in damage. The fire also caused damage to classrooms and a computer lab, and extensive smoke damage to the school's south wing.
The blaze is believed to be the worst to hit Hamilton City Schools in nearly three decades. Students have temporarily moved to Hamilton High School.
Engineer to discuss wonder of China's dam
Herb Preul a retired University of Cincinnati professor of engineering, will give a free, public lecture Thursday on the construction of China's Three Gorges Dam.
He likened the dammed Yangtze to the Great Wall or Panama Canal.
His talk — illustrated with drawings and slides from a recent visit — will be 7 p.m. at the Strader Room of UC's Tangeman University Center.
The dam, power plants and locks are to be completed in 2009. They are designed to control flooding and use the Yangtze in ways long dreamed of, Professor Preul said.
He and UC colleague Louis Laushey — hydraulic engineers with decades of experience in flood control and dam construction — were part of a delegation from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Study finds altitudes affect drug dosages
People who spend time in ski resorts and other high-altitude locations may discover the hard way that some of their prescription medications don't work the same way.
A study of 36 men in Chile, conducted by retired University of Cincinnati professor Dr. Wolfgang Ritschel and others at the University of Chile, found that body changes occurring at high altitude affected the strength of at least three medications — Demerol, lithium and acetazolamide.
People at high altitudes tend to produce more red blood cells and less plasma. The pH level of body fluids and the distribution of water in the body also change.
Depending on the drug, altitude changes can weaken the dose (resulting in less treatment for the health problem) or can strengthen the dose (increasing the risk of overdose).
These results suggest that drugs should be tested at different altitudes to give doctors better guidance on dose levels, Dr. Ritschel concluded.
Cheviot man guilty of jobless-pay fraud A 48-year-old Cheviot man was sentenced to 30 days in jail Tuesday after he was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining $2,370 in unemployment compensation.
Greg Hoffman of the 3300 block of Harrison Avenue was found guilty of unauthorized use by Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Elizabeth Mattingly.
Judge Mattingly then suspended the 30-day sentence on the condition that Mr. Hoffman make full restitution to the state of Ohio. Mr. Hoffman was placed on six months' probation. Charges had been filed against Mr. Hoffman by the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services (OBES), which administers the unemployment compensation program in Ohio. The court found that Mr. Hoffman was employed when he received $2,370 for 10 weeks in March through May 1997.
OBES routinely conducts computer cross checks of employer payroll records with records of those receiving unemployment benefits.
Two more arrested among "Most Wanted' Two more “Tristate's Most Wanted” suspects have been arrested, bringing the total to 665 suspects removed from the list out of the 1,053 suspects featured in The Cincinnati Enquirer.
• Jay Goodman, 34, of Rossmoyne, who was wanted in Cincinnati on a parole violation, was arrested last week under a different name in Sulphur Springs, Texas, on drug charges.
• An unknown fraud suspect pictured in this week's list has been identified as Thomas Hastings, who was indicted by a Hamilton County grand jury in October on charges of running a check-writing scheme.
The Enquirer publishes “Tristate's Most Wanted” each Monday. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Callers to 352-3040 can remain anonymous.
Temporary pact possible for construction manager
Hamilton County commissioners today will consider a temporary contract for construction management services for the new Reds ball park.
The county hired Huber, Hunt & Nichols Inc. as the construction manager for the stadium project but does not yet have a formal contract with the Indianapolis firm.
The temporary contract would pay the firm based on hourly rates and reimburseable expenses but will not exceed $300,000, according to the county resolution.
The temporary contract would extend through March, by which time a formal contract would be ready.
The new ballpark will be built just west of the Crown, on the riverfront site known informally as Baseball on Main, or the “Wedge.”
Man critical after auto crashes into parked car A 59-year-old Covedale man was seriously injured Tuesday afternoon when he crashed into a parked car on Boudinot Avenue in Westwood.
James. A. Cupito of the 4900 block of Western Hills Avenue was listed in critical condition late Tuesday in Good Samaritan Hospital.
Sgt. Mike Zwick said Mr. Cupito lost control of his vehicle in the 3900 block of Boudinot and hit a parked car on the right side of the roadway about 2 p.m.
A pre-existing medical condition may have caused the crash, he said.
Blood donations end plea to delay surgeries After a week of successful blood drives, Community Blood Center (CBC) has canceled an appeal for hospitals to postpone elective surgeries.
The blood bank, which supplies 26 hospitals in 15 counties, including Butler, Warren and Clinton, collected 2,616 units of whole blood and platelets after last week's emergency appeal for donors.
On Jan. 12, CBC asked hospitals to postpone elective surgeries, citing a 700-unit shortage of blood because of a drop in donations due to the holidays and inclement weather. As a result, the blood bank extended hours at its donor centers, including Middletown and Hamilton.
In an average week, CBC collects 1,300 units of blood from donors, spokeswoman Heidi M. Gordon said.
Show must go on at Wilson after arson
Social Security won't recognize child's rare disease
Second 911 operator gets job back
Strip-for-groceries teacher not guilty
Settlement closer over radiation tests
Moore says pick a passion in your life
Butler to pay Kenton Co. $425,000 to settle lawsuit
Dealer pleads guilty in art case
Driver with past indicted in fatality
Jerry Handorf's madcap world
Lucasville prison in lockdown after tip on security breach
Minority figures up on stadium
Officers ordered to attend counseling
Officials accused of role in jail death
School gym classes using fitness clubs
School leaders worry voters won't pay for improvements
Tickets for pope's visit tough to get
TV drama a dream for Ohio writer
Builder recommended for Boone Co. courthouse
Fire departments face dilemma
Flu arrives late in Tristate; only 2 confirmed cases in Ohio
Kenton studies schools' help line
Man gets 13 years for killing brother
Man shot, seriously wounded
'Need you to help' in Honduras
Newport misses out on funds
Planners lose leader in Monroe
Police reviews supported
Suspect captured after wild car chase
Township to contest annexation
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