Wednesday, August 18, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
Boy, 15, convicted of taking gun to school
GEORGETOWN — A juvenile court judge found a 15-year-old boy guilty Tuesday of two felonies for taking a shotgun into Western Brown High School in April.
After a two-day trial before Judge Ronald Dvorachek, the Brown County juvenile court judge declared the boy guilty of bringing a firearm into a school and inducing panic.
The boy, whom the Enquirer is not naming because of his age, will be sentenced today by Judge Dvorachek. The boy could be released, or placed in juvenile custody for as little as six months or as much as six years, said Tresa Gossett, the assistant prosecutor handling the case.
No shots were fired in the April 23 incident at the Mount Orab school. A 12-gauge, pump-action, sawed-off shotgun was found inside the school. Police said the boy brought it as part of a quarrel over a girl.
Earlier, Judge Dvorachek denied a motion to move the boy's case into adult court. The boy, who has been held in juvenile detention in Warren County, did not return to school after his April 23 arrest.
Elmwood Place man found wounded
A 38-year-old Elmwood Place man was hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday after he was found in the Hartwell Kroger store parking lot.
Michael Boumer was being treated at University Hospital for an apparent gunshot wound, police said. An anonymous caller alerted police at 1:42 a.m.
Mr. Boumer's family describes him as severely mentally challenged, police said. He was well-known and well-liked in the neighborhood, where he was known as an active bicycle rider.
Investigators do not have a suspect or motive.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Cincinnati Police Division's homicide unit at 352-3542, or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.
Parents, grandparents plead in infant's death
CLEVELAND — The parents and grandparents of a 7-week-old boy have pleaded guilty in the child's death and will be sentenced in October.
Lawrence Clark, 22, and his wife, Michelle, 24, of suburban Parma, pleaded guilty Monday to felonious assault and three counts each of child endangering. The baby's grandparents, Richard and Mary Hlavsa, both 50, pleaded guilty to obstructing justice. Mr. Hlavsa also pleaded guilty to a charge of child endangering.
In a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped murder charges against the Clarks and a charge of involuntary manslaughter against Mr. Hlavsa.
The infant, Lawrence Clark Jr., died Nov. 19. Cuyahoga County Coroner Elizabeth Balraj said he had several injuries, including a broken arm and collarbone and bruises to the face, neck and arms.
Mrs. Clark told police that the boy was in a child carrier in his crib when she found him dead.
The Clarks could get up to 16 years in prison. Mr. Hlavsa faces up to five years in prison, and Mrs. Hlavsa could get a year. They will be sentenced Oct. 14.
Cleveland braces for Klan rally
Clevelanders are split about how to respond to a Ku Klux Klan rally Saturday, held at the same time as the annual Black Family Expo and hours before the Cleveland Browns play for the first time in their new stadium.
Many leaders in the local black and Jewish communities want people to ignore the Klan, saying that paying attention gives legitimacy to the white supremacist group's message and helps the KKK spread.
Mayor Michael R. White, who is black, has been criticized for refusing to stop the rally. Mr. White said blocking it would deny the Klan's freedom of speech.
The Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association says officers will be stretched too thin that day, so the rally should be rescheduled. A federal judge was expected to rule today about the union's lawsuit to block it.
Stanley Tolliver, an attorney who works closely with the NAACP, said ignoring the Klan doesn't send the right message.
“I don't see how you can confront the Klan by not coming,” he said. “We intend to have an orderly, dignified demonstration.”
Mr. White plans to keep KKK supporters and anti-Klan forces separated amid tight security.
Farm bureau chief raps Congress' plan
SWANTON, Ohio — The $7.4 billion farm-assistance plan awaiting approval in Congress is only a temporary fix and may send the wrong message to farmers, the head of the nation's largest farm organization said Tuesday.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Dean Kleckner told northwest Ohio farmers that while he supports the plan, it won't have much effect on the depressed crop prices that have left farmers struggling to break even.
“The biggest thing that affects prices is weather,” Mr. Kleckner said during a visit that included a news conference and a chat with farmers. “If the weather is bad, prices go up. Farm bills really don't have much to do with prices.”
The aid plan also would make more money available for farm loans — a move that would tell farmers to produce more. “That's not the answer,” Mr. Kleckner said.
At the top of his list for long-term solutions for improving the farm economy, Kleckner said a better insurance program is needed to help farmers when the weather and the economy go bad.
Man killed stealing tires, officer says
LONDON, Ohio — A man stealing tires at a Ford dealership died when the jack holding up a pickup truck slipped and crushed him, a sheriff's officer said.
Buckeye Ford employees found the body of Daniel Nolan, 47, of Dayton, when they arrived for work Monday morning, Lt. Jim Sabin of the Madison County sheriff's office said Tuesday.
Mr. Nolan had taken several sets of tires and wheels off new pickup trucks and placed them in a used pickup he had hot-wired, Lt. Sabin said.
3 neighborhoods need crossing guards
Cincinnati police need adults to work as public or parochial school crossing guards in Mount Washington, Mount Lookout and Hyde Park.
Most parochial school start classes Aug. 25; Cincinnati Public Schools start Aug. 31.
Crossing guards are paid for 11/2 hours of work each morning and afternoon. They must be drug-free, at least 18 years old and have no convictions or pending criminal charges.
New guards are trained to help children safely across busy intersections, and they can receive bus cards if they need transportation to and from work.
Anyone interested in becoming a crossing guard should call Nick Guerrera, 352-2500, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
Troubled son's letters gave warning
3 still missing after river wreck
'New grade' proposed to help poor readers
Gilligan to run for board of education
Pete Rose Way exit closed on I-75 south
Boy falls through apartment floor
City being sued by for suing gunmakers
Fixes on the way for tent jail
Police: Drug ring was near school
Tall Stacks to include tours of old homes
Faithful gather for Dalai Lama
Man found in cave, fearing meteor
Murder suspect accuses victim of break-in
Police patrol Boone schools
Shuttlesworth biography a civil rights story
Another book shows Shuttlesworth work
Don't expect school officials to catch kids' problems
Talk to the professionals
'Hard-news person' on the job at Channel 5
Dry summer unlikely to slow ragweed's effect
GET TO IT
How to help Turkey earthquake victimsc
UC prof's family escapes earthquake
Blood shortage eases - for now
Butler church makes case for teen home
CDC to help city learn from heat-related deaths
County debates cost of taking money for security
CPS considers 9 proposals for charter schools
Exposed asbestos slows Colonial Inn demolition
Funding stands test of recount
Indiana transfer students can cash in
Kenton seeking help in buyout of property
Mount Healthy asking for lower levy for fire service
New Miami to vote on school expansion
Patton: Paducah plant now OK
Pay fishing lake plan hits snag
Police identify body found in shed
250 raise stink over Gray Rd. landfill
School readies projects for year
TRISTATE DIGEST
Video store owner's conviction overturned
