Saturday, January 23, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
OSHA investigates construction job death
UNION TOWNSHIP — Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating Thursday's fatal construction accident at the Union Centre Commerce Park.
Scott R. Forbes, 39, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, was killed when a slab of concrete from a wall he was cutting fell on him. Mr. Forbes worked for Cut-Rite, a subcontractor working on a Procter & Gamble Co. 300,000-square-foot manufacturing and supply technology facility. Schumacher Dugan Construction Inc. of West Chester is the general contractor.
Steven Medlock, OSHA acting area director, said Friday the agency still is determining Cut-Rite's safety record. He expects to investigate the site with Cut-Rite's owners on Monday. Friday's weather and the owners being out of town delayed the site inspection.
Jury convicts man, 19, linked to violent robberies
One of three men police identified as ringleaders in a string of aggravated robberies over the summer was convicted Friday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
A jury found Kenneth Singleton Jr., 19, of Bond Hill, guilty of kidnapping, aggravated robbery and robbery.
Judge Ann Marie Tracey set sentencing for Feb. 24.
Police say Mr. Singleton was involved in a five-month string of similar violent robberies. His charges came from only a few of the 30 robberies thought to be related. In some of the cases, clerks were pistol-whipped.
Two other suspects have charges pending.
Errich Mincy, 20, of Kennedy Heights, is scheduled to be in court Monday on a domestic violence charge. He also faces indictments on two counts of aggravated robbery and two counts of robbery.
Jason Haynes, 20, of Bond Hill, faces four counts of kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery and two counts of robbery. His trial is set for Jan. 27.
Police chief candidates complete written exams
Ten of the 11 people eligible to replace retired Cincinnati Police Chief Michael Snowden have taken the first phase of civil service exams that will narrow the search for his successor.
Five assistant chiefs and five captains took written exams Wednesday and will move on to oral tests and interviews.
The top three scorers will proceed to more interviews with city administrators. City Manager John Shirey ultimately will choose the next top cop.
Only Capt. Phyllis Caskey, of District 5, opted not to take the test.
Those in the running are:
• Lt. Col. Richard Biehl, who is in charge of investigations.
• Lt. Col. Richard Janke, the most senior assistant chief, who is in charge of the administrative bureau.
• Lt. Col. James T. Smith, who commands the resource bureau.
• Lt. Col. Thomas Streicher Jr., leader of the patrol bureau.
• Lt. Col. Ronald Twitty, the first African-American in the police division's history to be promoted to assistant chief. He commands the support bureau.
• Capts. David Gregory in the planning section; Cindy Johns in the Criminal Investigation Section; Kenneth Jones in District 2; G. Alan Matthews in District 3; and Richard Schmalz, administrative assistant to the chief.
It will be the first opportunity for a woman or African-American to rise to chief of the Cincinnati force.
Enforcement would end on old parking tickets
No need to worry about those dog-eared, city of Cincinnati parking tickets dated October 1992 and earlier.
City council is expected to pass a law dismissing the tickets because the state has issued recycled license registration numbers, making it difficult to trace the offenders.
“License plate numbers used to identify the owner of a vehicle are no longer reliable (because) the same numbers may have been reissued to a different owner,” City Solicitor Fay Dupuis wrote in a report issued to council this week.
Ex-firefighter sentenced to probation for theft
A former Harrison firefighter was sentenced to three years' probation Thursday for stealing $1,350 from the department's “Learn Not to Burn” fund.
R. Scott Kercheval, son of Harrison councilwoman Judy Kercheval, resigned from the department in December.
He pleaded guilty earlier this month to theft in office and was sentenced Thursday by Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Ralph Winkler. The judge also ordered Mr. Kercheval to perform 200 hours of community service.
Although the judge cannot require a specific community service, he told Mr. Kercheval that “washing fire trucks” was a possibility.
Mr. Kercheval, a firefighter since 1981, was the department's school fire education officer and was responsible for the Learn Not to Burn school program geared to children.
Hamilton Co. deputy 1 of 2 hurt in crash
A Hamilton County deputy and a second man were injured Friday night in a two-car crash in North Bend.
Investigators were not releasing the names of the injured men late Friday. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening, rescue workers said. They were taken to separate hospitals for injuries that included bruised chests and head cuts, police said.
The accident happened about 7:30 p.m. at U.S. 50 and Miami Avenue.
According to preliminary reports, police said, the deputy was westbound on U.S. 50 in his cruiser when it struck the passenger-side corner of an eastbound car turning onto northbound Miami. Both vehicles spun about 180 degrees after impact and were heavily damaged, police said.
Chaplains see hope among young inmates
Anderson could add firefighters
Cincinnati schools to seek levy
Cincinnati's original TV weatherman dead
City might publicize sexual predators in newspaper ads
Coach may seek dismissal of charges
County gets mixed review on minority hiring for stadium
Developers pull out of land fight
Divorce program mandatory
Election officials exonerate GOP activist of '96 charges
Felon guard case tough to explain
Hearing set on home for pregnant teens
Heroic UPS driver honored
Kentucky has TV message for teens: Don't have sex
Leader chosen to dress up riverfront
Lebanon workers told not to speak to media
Miami students seek reasons for vandalism, arrests
Mother weeps at arraignment
Murder suspect argues one count
Officer placed on leave
Petronio gives audience an 'experience'
Police think suspect may be serial rapist
Prison suicide remains mystery after 2nd probe
Prosecutor finds self witness at DUI trial
Rain, snow-melt bring flooding
Retail sprouts at Tylersville and I-75
Retiree, 78, charged with child porn
Taft keeps youth services boss
TRISTATE DIGEST
Two robbery suspects arrested
Urban League celebrates 50 years in Cincinnati
Vanover convicted of killing boyfriend
Warren jail earns top rating
