Thursday, September 23, 1999
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Restaurateur cited after flap about car
A confrontation between restaurateur Jeff Ruby and a meter attendant that began in a downtown alley may be resolved in a Hamilton County courtroom.
Mr. Ruby was cited for menacing Tuesday near his new restaurant, at Seventh and Walnut streets, after he argued over a parking citation, according to police records. According to police records, Mr. Ruby told meter attendant John Begley: “I ought to kick your butt.”
Mr. Ruby, 51, who said he has a permit to park in Bowen Alley, denies threatening Mr. Begley, 49. He said he was ticketed in July by the same meter attendant, but that ticket was dismissed because a judge said he could park there.
“When I came over to him, I said, "Why are you ticketing me?' No matter who's in the alley — he doesn't ticket them, just me, twice,” said Mr. Ruby, also owner of the Precinct in Columbia-Tusculum and the Waterfront in Covington.
Mr. Ruby's account of events, which began shortly after 1 p.m.: Mr. Begley was about to write him a ticket, when Mr. Ruby confronted him. Then Mr. Ruby came around the car and Mr. Begley reached for his belt. Mr. Ruby said he stopped as the attendant struggled. That's when Mr. Begley Maced him in the eyes.
But Mr. Begley of Bridgetown said Mr. Ruby's “threatening advance toward” him was followed by spraying him with Mace.
Mr. Ruby said he is confident the citation will be dismissed at his Oct. 11 court date.
Earthquake awakens northeast Ohio towns
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio — A mild earthquake awakened people in communities east of Cleveland Wednesday, but no damage or injuries were reported.
The earthquake occurred about 6:02 a.m. and was centered near Painesville, about 25 miles northeast of Cleveland.
Its strength was estimated at 2.5 to 3.0 on the Richter scale, according to geophysicist John Minsch with the U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo.
An earthquake of 3.0 or less typically is felt by few people and only under favorable conditions, the survey said.
Trial opens against triple-murder suspect
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A man accused of killing two young girls and a woman told detectives the victims needed to die, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
During opening statements in the murder trial of William Sapp, Clark County Prosecutor Steve Schumaker said Mr. Sapp made the statement to detectives questioning him about a 1993 attack on a woman who survived.
Mr. Sapp is charged in the deaths and rapes of Phree Morrow, 12, and Martha Leach, 11, in August 1992. Four other people have been convicted of various charges in the deaths.
Mr. Sapp also is accused of killing Belinda Anderson, 33, whose body was found buried in a shallow grave in a Springfield garage in 1995. Ms. Anderson, who disappeared in September 1993, had been raped and badly beaten about the head, Mr. Schumaker said.
Rock hall of fame ballots sent out
CLEVELAND — Will Aerosmith be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, or will the hard rock veterans have to dream on? Will Queen make it into the rock hall, or will they be another one that bites the dust?
Those two bands, plus Eric Clapton, head up the list of 15 nominees for induction next year into the rock hall.
Musicians are eligible for nomination to the rock hall 25 years after the release of their first recording.
Ballots have been sent to more than 1,000 artists, producers, journalists and music industry executives by the New York-based Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Most voters received their ballots Tuesday.
The artists who win induction, as many as seven of the nominees, will be announced in November.
Also nominated are: rhythm and blues group the O'Jays; soul performer Solomon Burke; the 1970s funk and disco band Earth, Wind & Fire; doo-wop groups the Flamingos and the Moonglows; 1960s rockers the Lovin' Spoonful; jazz-rock group Steely Dan; rock 'n' roll pioneer Ritchie Valens; heavy-metal act Black Sabbath; singer-guitarist Bonnie Raitt; singer-songwriter Lou Reed and folk-influenced songwriter James Taylor.
Construction workers sue Cleveland group
CLEVELAND — Sixty-five workers are suing a real estate development company, claiming they were exposed to hazardous materials during renovation of two apartment complexes.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court seeks $100 million from Cleveland-based Forest City for work done in 1996 at Colony Woods, in Bellevue, Wash., and in 1995 at Knolls, in Orange, Calif.
Tom Kmiecik, Forest City assistant treasurer, said Wednesday the company does not comment about legal matters.
The lawsuit accuses Forest City of not taking required safety steps during removal of asbestos, molds and lead paint. It also said the company improperly disposed of hazardous materials in landfills.
Project managers told workers that no safety precautions were needed, that no asbestos was present and that the workers could be fired for not doing the job as instructed, the lawsuit said.
Company president admits ignoring crime
COLUMBUS — The president of a mail sorting business has admitted he knew about a plan to overcharge customers and shortchange the U.S. Postal Service.
James Gebbie, 48, of Medina, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of failing to report a felony. Other charges against him are to be dismissed as part of a plea bargain.
Prosecutors recommend Mr. Gebbie be placed on probation for six months, ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and pay $200,000 in fines and restitution.
Mr. Gebbie is president of Midwest Presort Mailing Services, a Cleveland-based company that sorts mail for private companies and forwards it to the postal service.
Prosecutors said the company illegally made $500,000 from January 1993 to August 1994, partly by not passing savings for low-rate mail to customers, and partly hiding high-rate mail in bundles of low-rate mail.
Earlier in the day, Ronald Hibbs, 48, of Orlando, Fla., a former manager of the company's defunct Columbus branch, pleaded guilty to the same charge. Mr. Hibbs faces as much as three years in prison. The government is not recommending a sentence in his case.
Dedicating a 'work of art'
Corbett gift recognizes CCM dean
Covington plans new apartments on choice site
Welcome to Romanesque orgy of kitsch
$16 million asked for museum
Trade a key to new jobs
Wine festival boosts safety efforts
Just being a mentor makes you special
Bunning versus Patton: No love lost
Blood at seriously low level
Build it, and they will eat
Courts need advocates for abused youngsters
Firefighters level blasts at management
NBC's 'Third Watch' worth watching
Norwood struggles with chief's actions
Package of pot arrives with arrest on delivery
Portune calls tactic illegal
Afghan Whigs tone it down
Church, developers vie for prime land
Church serving well as school
Deputy: Suspect minimized DUI state
School a struggle for homeless
Students can practice at Web site for state's proficiency examinations
Deerfield trustees consider home rule
Four proposed charter schools make pitches
Historical society to visit Gilded Age
Teen could face adult trial in car wreck
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