Wednesday, June 23, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
Sexual predator gets at least 21 years
A Blanchester, Ohio, man with convictions for sex crimes in three counties was declared a sexual predator Tuesday and sent to prison for at least 21 years.
Russell Cordes, 37, was convicted earlier this year in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on charges of rape and gross sexual imposition.
Prosecutors say he molested a 10-year-old Loveland girl for nearly one year in 1994.
They say he also has prior convictions for sex offenses in Brown and Clermont counties.
Judge Mark Schweikert sentenced Mr. Cordes to 10 to 25 years in prison and ordered him to serve the time while also serving the 21-year sentence he received for the Clermont case. He must serve at least 21 years before he is eligible for parole.
The judge also declared Mr. Cordes a sexual predator, which means he must register his name with the sheriff's office upon his release from prison.
Man, teen charged with attempted murder
A 16-year-old boy was indicted Tuesday on charges of shooting another teen over a $2 debt.
Tristian Watkins is charged with one count of attempted murder and could face up to 13 years in prison. Another man, 18-year-old Thomas Freeman, also is charged with attempted murder.
Mr. Watkins is accused of shooting 16-year-old Marcus Crooms three times with a .38-caliber revolver. Police say the three were arguing over the $2 debt when witnesses heard Mr. Freeman yell “kill the (expletive).”
Mom's boyfriend accused of raping child
A Hamilton County grand jury has indicted a 36-year-old Westwood man on five counts of rape.
A police investigation led to Andrew Nelson's arrest after a 10-year-old girl told school authorities about the alleged sexual abuse after a school “Good Touch, Bad Touch” program.
Mr. Nelson, of the 1900 block of Westwood-Northern Boulevard, had been the child's mother's boyfriend. He was arrested Monday by the Cincinnati Police Division's Violent Crimes Task Force. He is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center.
Two fires at Frisch's deemed suspicious
MASON — For the second time in three days, fire and police officials are investigating a suspicious fire at the Frisch's restaurant on Ohio 741 near Interstate 71.
A fire inside the building about 7:15 p.m. Monday did minimal damage to the restaurant, said Mason Fire Marshal Jamie Osborne. He would not release further details.
Late Saturday, fire crews were called to the restaurant and found smoldering materials that had been placed in the drop ceiling. That fire did not damage the building, and the restaurant was evacuated.
There were no injuries in either fire. Both incidents are under investigation by the Ohio Fire Marshal's Office and the Mason fire and police departments.
Fire in house causes $55,000 in damage
HAMILTON — A fire just after midnight Tuesday caused $55,000 damage to a two-story home.
When city firefighters arrived at the Heaton Street home they found the structure's first and second floors ablaze. No one was home.
Clifford MacBurney, arson investigator, was probing the cause of the blaze.
Police find kids, gun, cocaine in apartment
Cincinnati police searched Iris Jennings' English Woods neighborhood because of a report of a shooting Monday afternoon and came upon something unexpected, they say: three young children in an apartment with a gun and crack cocaine.
Police arrested Ms. Jennings on charges of child endangering and two felony drug charges.
Her children — ages 5, 3 and 1 — are in the care of family friends while the case is pending.
Reds ballpark meeting open to contractors
SHARONVILLE — The companies hired to build the new Reds ballpark will hold a forum Thursdayto explain to contractors how to get work on the project.
The meeting will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Sharonville Convention Center, and it marks the first community outreach associated with the ballpark project.
Huber, Hunt & Nichols and d.e. Foxx, the construction management team hired to build the new ballpark, will hold the meeting. Presentations will include how to obtain contract documents and bid on jobs, bonding and insurance and a garage associated with the project that could be bid within 90 days.
It will also include an overview of the project and a preliminary bid schedule. Presenters will explain the county's programs, which must include firms owned by minorities and women. The meeting is open to all companies that have an interest in the work.
Program offers ways to diffuse road rage
Those who want to avoid confrontations with aggressive drivers and learn more about identifying or controlling road rage can attend a free, two-hour program tonight at the Drake Center in Hartwell.
Drake and the American Automobile Association co-sponsor the program, which starts at 6:30 p.m. in Drake's conference center at 151 W. Galbraith Road. Registration is 6 to 6:30 p.m.
Bob Hock, director of Drake's psychology department, and David Willis, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, will speak.
Guy Karrick, spokesman for Drake, said the presentation will include information on behaviors that characterize aggressive drivers, accident statistics and tips to avoid confrontations with aggressive drivers.
For information, call 948-2544.
Maternity costs, care vary widely
UC students feel pinch as tuition rises 5%
Lie lands wrong sister in hot water
Voinovich wants more Serbia aid
City considering Web site to show off neighborhoods
Donations, notoriety grow after robbery of 9-year-old
Bishop joins drive against casinos
Patton touts higher tax and casinos
Roof fund may be used for fountain restoration
Sculpture leaving Sixth and Vine
Seniors win city leaders' visit to housing
Wastewater site raises stink
GET TO IT
Help for a calm delivery
Study shows positive impact
Smog can induce asthma problems
'Titanic' will launch trendy Broadway Series
Gilligan talks to Descartes, and it's all in the name of art
Allen House to be senior center
Anderson issues cleanup order
Boone Co. passes budget $10 million higher than this year
Church roof caves; nobody injured
Clermont welfare plan a model
Coke contract to bring annual $400,000 to Ross Local Schools yearly
Convict can't be reindicted after assault victim dies
Despite drought, farmers aren't panicking just yet
Drugs can intensify effects of too much sun
Glen Rogers convicted in Calif. killing
Jacor target of sexual harassment lawsuit
Kenton to seek delay in car tests
Kids can get taste of gardening
Lebanon aims to reel in 180 more jobs
Lebanon hosts tour of gardens
Mason high school called a priority
N. College Hill seeks game plan for progress
Neighbors leery of pit-to-park plan
Report dims chance of remodeled jail
Restoration nears for Emery Theatre
Suicide in vehicle 2nd in Butler this month
Teen indicted in rape attempt, 50¢ robbery
TRISTATE DIGEST
Warren Co. tax enough to pay cash for new building
