Thursday, May 13, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
Charge dropped in teen's shooting
Hamilton County Juvenile Court has dropped a charge against a 14-year-old accused of accidentally shooting his 13-year-old friend on Mother's Day.
Cincinnati police had charged the boy as a juvenile with negligent assault after Brandon Lewis was shot in the head Sunday night in the 3100 block of Ferncrest Court in Westwood. Brandon remains in critical condition at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Police said the shooting appeared accidental. The boys had been playing with a .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol.
Juvenile court dropped the charge “without prejudice.” That means the boy could be charged again pending the police investigation, police said.
Job Corps Center wins renewed grant
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded the Management and Training Corp. a $10.8 million grant to continue the operations of the Cincinnati Job Corps Center.
The center is part of the national Job Corps, which has served more than 1.7 million disadvantaged youth since 1964.
In Cincinnati, the center provides academic, vocational and related services to 360 students a year.
Fire captain dismissed over incident at store
UNION TOWNSHIP — A fire department captain has been fired for not following department policy in two incidents, including one at a Sam's Club store that led to the firing of two other firefighters.
Clermont County's Union Township trustees fired Capt. Jay Turpin on Monday, said Township Administrator Ken Geis. Reached at his home Wednesday, Mr. Turpin declined to comment.
The Sam's Club incident happened in January, when Mr. Turpin is said to have, while in uniform, berated a store employee. Other employees saw the incident and reported it to Union Township firefighters, who relayed the information to their union officials.
The union officials — Lt. James Watkins and firefighter Spencer Thomas — were fired in March. Trustees said the men were insubordinate and in violation of township policies because they refused to name the firefighters who talked to store employees. The men argued that the names were part of confidential union business.
The second incident involved Mr. Turpin's actions at a bus accident, Mr. Geis said.
Miami Web site looks for arsonist
OXFORD — Miami University police have started a special Web site dedicated to the arson that damaged a residence hall early Sunday.
The site — www.muohio.edu/wanted — contains a brief summary of the incident, investigative details and a way to contact police with tips, said Miami spokeswoman Holly Wissing.
Police hope that the site — and a $5,000 reward offered by the state fire marshal's office — will prompt somebody to offer details.
The fire, at Hahne Hall, caused an estimated $10,000 to $20,000 damage about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. No one was injured.
University police may be reached at (513) 529-2222. Crimestoppers' number is (513) 352-3040.
Event features culture of African-Americans
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Historical Cultural Society celebrates 12 years of bringing African-American history and culture to the Tristate Saturday on Fountain Square.
The free event, which begins with a parade at 11 a.m., will include speakers, poetry readings, bands, choirs, drill teams, artists and musicians. It will conclude around 1:30 p.m.
Two local churches will be honored for outstanding service to the community : The Allen Temple AME Church, Roselawn, the Rev. Donald H. Jordan, pastor; and Union Baptist Church, downtown, the Rev. Orlando B. Yates, pastor.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. O'dell Owens, a Cincinnati physician and lecturer. Bishop Louise Freeman, a retired local educator and lecturer, will receive special recognition.
To volunteer or to secure a vendor's booth, call 542-6586.
Drake breaking ground on 102 apartments
The Drake Center plans a groundbreaking ceremony today to begin construction of more than 100 assisted-living apartments on its Hartwell campus.
The $9.8 million project is expected to be complete by summer 2000. It will include 30 units offering higher-level assistance services for patients recovering from stroke, brain injuries and other conditions requiring long-term rehabilitation, and 72 units offering services for more independent residents.
Man pleads guilty to shooting prosecutor
CLEVELAND — A man has pleaded guilty to shooting an incoming county prosecutor on orders from the Youngstown mob.
Paul Gains was wounded by a man who broke into his Boardman home on Dec. 14, 1996, days before Mr. Gains became Mahoning County prosecutor.
Mark Batcho, 32, from the Youngstown suburb of Campbell, admitted on Tuesday to shooting Mr. Gains.
He could be sentenced to 18 years in prison under a plea agreement reached Tuesday at a hearing in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court before visiting Judge Richard Markus.
Mr. Batcho agreed to testify against others indicted in a Mahoning County case on charges that include racketeering, attempted murder and felonious assault.
Mr. Batcho later was indicted on an unrelated attempted murder charge, which prosecutors dropped as part of the plea agreement.
Former mob boss Lenine Strollo pleaded guilty in February to federal racketeering charges and then testified in U.S. District Court against Bernie Altshuler, Jeff Riddle and Lavance Turnage, who were convicted and given life sentences.
Two girls suspended for pretend shooting
FINDLAY, Ohio — Two girls have been suspended for playing with a cap gun on a school bus and pretending to shoot classmates, school officials said.
The girls were suspended from Washington Elementary School for three days. Two other pupils received one-day suspensions. The children are ages 10 and 11.
The children were taking a field trip last Thursday when the two girls got the cap gun out of a classmate's backpack, the school said. There were no caps in the toy.
Another student told school officials a boy found the metal cap gun on the way to school. He gave it to a classmate, who put it in her backpack. Those two students received the one-day suspensions.
The school bans weapons, including look-alikes.
The parents of the two girls suspended for three days said the punishment was a knee-jerk reaction to the Littleton shootings.
Flynt, county proclaim 'total victory'
ENQUIRER EDITORIAL: Flynt loses; Cincinnati wins
Flynt: 'I haven't changed my position one bit'
Video porn fans will get over it
Videos still readily available
Councilman fights store relocation costs
Fountain fix-up to take fast track
Ugly fence just another sleazy threat
I-275 repaving project grows
Star Wars fans can't wait for Wednesday
Ticket buyers bond in 'Star Wars' line
Fernald getting rid of uranium wastes
Laptops give police more time for patrolling
Patton clarifies casinos stance
Tristate ready for Kosovars
Warren, Butler are invited to Olympics
XU arena plan upsets neighbors
Angels, in another light
Lebanon B&Bs to show off charm
Opera's about life in OTR
GET TO IT
Alexandria moving on sewer plan
Ashland honors 2 N.Ky. teachers
Captain waives appearance after arrest
Cold Spring chooses chief; Florence in its search process
Council concedes racial bias in sewer district
Ex-hospital CEO to lead care agency
Fairfield Schools to add teachers, expand alternative program
Fingers pointed over school levy failure
Griffin's successor likely to be named today
Insurer sues to get tax breaks
Newport's bell in New Orleans
Race car's message: No drugs
Railroad crossing deaths decrease
Reporter not off hook yet
Science teacher to aid NASA
Teacher won't be charged over nude photos
TRISTATE DIGEST
Trustee questions airport benefits
Warren Co. to kill firms' tax breaks
Water Works' good deed confuses some
Kenton GOP finds governing tough
