Saturday, October 16, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
$400,000 approved for UC medical center
WASHINGTON — Congress has approved another $400,000 for the renovation and expansion of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center complex, Cincinnati-area lawmakers announced Friday.
The money is contained in the final version of an appropriations bill for Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development that cleared the House late Thursday.
The $400,000 will go toward the $117 million that university officials plan to raise from government and private sources to complete the project.
When the project is finished in 2006, university officials expect to attract double the $118 million in federal research grants that the center gets now and make Cincinnati and the Ohio River Valley a leading site for biomedical research.
Money for the project was sought by Reps. Steve Chabot, R-Cincinnati; Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park; and Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio.
Aiken student turns himself in for gun
A 15-year-old student turned himself in to Cincinnati police Friday after he was accused of taking a gun to school the day before.
Officials at Aiken High School in College Hill got a tip about 2 p.m. Thursday that a male student had a firearm on school property, police said. When school had dismissed, a school official approached the student and asked to look in his book bag.
Inside, officials found a .38 caliber, chrome finished revolver, police said. The book bag also contained cartridges of a different caliber. The student then ran from the school.
The student turned himself in Friday to Cincinnati police's District 5 station. He is expected to face a court hearing today.
Weapons problems in Cincinnati Public Schools have decreased in recent years, from 10 guns found in district buildings in 1994-95, to none last year. Thursday's has been the only gun recovered this school year in district schools.
City will appeal gun lawsuit dismissal
Lawyers for the city of Cincinnati filed notice Friday that the city will appeal a Hamilton County judge's decision to dismiss its lawsuit against gun makers.
Joining nearly 30 other cities across the nation, Cincinnati filed suit earlier this year against gun manufacturers in an effort to recover costs of gun-related violence. The lawsuit says gun makers were “negligent” and “reckless” in the design and distribution of the weapons.
On Oct. 7, Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Ruehlman threw the case out, saying the misuse of firearms is beyond the control of gun makers and rejected the city's claim that manufacturers were negligent. The suit was was vague or not supported by law, he ruled.
“We are confident that we have a strong basis for appeal,” said Stanley Chesley, the lawyer representing the city. The appeal will ask the First District Court of Appeals in Cincinnati to reinstate the city's complaint.
4-year-old killed in Ashland fire
ASHLAND, Ohio — A 4-year-old girl, at home because her preschool was closed by a thunderstorm, was killed in a fire that destroyed her home.
Amanda Strock was found dead Thursday in an upstairs bedroom, fire chief Mark Burgess said.
Her mother, Lisa Strock, told the (Mansfield) News-Journal the fire started about 11 a.m. on a love seat in the living room and smoke followed Amanda as she ran upstairs.
“She just panicked,” Ms. Strock said. “The black smoke was just flowing up those steps.”
Ms. Strock grabbed her 22-month-old son, Frank Stamets Jr., and ran to neighbors for help.
An off-duty Ashland Count Sher iff's detective, Larry Martin, 48, who lives four doors away, grabbed a ladder and climbed into the house to try to rescue the girl. Mr. Martin was overcome by smoke. He was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. He was released Friday.
Indy police chief makes deal with squad
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Police Chief Michael Zunk made a deal with disgruntled hostage negotiators on Friday, heading off the mass resignation of most members of the crack squad.
Chief Zunk promised to create a training and evaluation program for the team and bring it under direct control of an assistant police chief.
His announcement came after a two-hour, closed-door meeting with team members after several told reporters they planned to resign over the reinstatement of an officer they believed to be unqualified.
The dispute never affected public safety, the chief said.
The changes Chief Zunk announced are designed to meet the concerns of those officers who threatened to resign, without violating the rights of Sgt. Dawn Higgins, the officer at the center of the controversy.
Police car camera records brutal beating
HAMMOND, Ind. — Video cameras inside police squad cars usually gather more evidence to be used against suspects. This time, a camera helped police catch one of their own.
Hammond Police Chief John Cory has recommended that Officer Gerald Doughty be fired for the alleged brutal beating of a motorist after a traffic stop, all captured on his squad car's video camera.
Chief Cory told the Board of Public Works and Safety the city's legal department is reviewing the tape of the Aug. 15 incident for possible criminal charges. The board has final say on Officer Doughty's firing.
Chief Cory said he recommended Officer Doughty's firing because of “very extreme” actions during Mr. O'Connor's arrest.
Mayor Duane Dedelow Jr. apologized for Officer Doughty's actions.
“I would like to offer an apology to Mr. O'Connor and his family for the treatment he received at the hands of Officer Doughty,” Mayor Dedelow said.
The Board of Public Works and Safety notified Officer Doughty of Chief Cory's recommendation Thursday. Officer Doughty has five days to appeal.
Judge allows waiter to stay on ballot
CROWN POINT, Ind. — A judge has ruled that a waiter who wants to be the first judge of the Lowell Town Court can stay on the ballot even though he is not a lawyer and therefore likely can't hold the office even if elected.
Lake Circuit Court Magistrate George Ivancevich on Thursday denied a motion by South Lake County Democrats who had hoped to keep Michael White, 45, off the ballot because he is not a lawyer. Mr. White was unopposed for the Republican nomination in the May primary.
A loophole in state law allowing a non-lawyer to file for judge was closed in May, which Mr. White's lawyer, Tracey Wetzstein, successfully argued was too late to affect the Lowell race.
Had South Lake County Democrats succeeded in their motion, Democratic candidate Thomas Vanes, 49, would have run without opposition.
Board candidates meeting with parents
BLUE ASH — Candidates for the Sycamore school board will discuss special education issues with parents at 7 p.m. Monday in the Media Center at E.H. Greene Intermediate School, 5200 Aldine Drive.
The forum is sponsored by a Sycamore group called Gifted Education Advocates and Resources (GEAR), formerly known as Parents Supporting Gifted Education.
Information: Carol Gardner, 891-2650.
Women can change lives of young girls
Everybody loves a riverboat parade
Today at Tall Stacks
Captains grab chance to socialize
Inland river cruises evoke Twain's era
On board the ... Dottie G
Paddle wheel part of new monument
Broadnax pitched for agency
Church settles over lost grave
Audit finds flaws at child agency
Reforms in Ky. education may provide model for Ohio
School boards: a slice of pure democracy
Transit plaza proposed for Northside
Y skate park opens today
Cancer kills Cincinnati policeman
GET TO IT
Here comes CitiRama
Jarvi gives CSO boost once again
Clearcreek on its 3rd levy try
Columbus mayor's race starts to heat up
Flights give bird's-eye view of Butler Co.
Former basketball player sentenced for sexual battery
Goshen tax needed for school plan
Husband found guilty of wife's shooting
More changes due at uranium plant
More Montgomery widening on way
Observatory invites visitors to sky fair
Officer is master of martial arts
Roeding will run to keep Senate seat
Splats all for a good cause
TRISTATE DIGEST
Volunteer school mentors may move with Starkist
