Friday, December 17, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
68-year-old man killed in fire at his home
MILLVILLE — A 68-year-oldman was killed Thursday night in a fire at his Betty Drive residence.
Butler County Coroner Dr. Richard Burkhardt said firefighters found Jesse Williams in a rear bedroom in the one-story home. His wife, Betty, who ran to a neighbor's residence to use the telephone to report the fire, suffered minor burns on her hands, Dr. Burkhardt said.
The Millville Fire Department responded to a report of fire at 85 Betty Drive at 7:20 p.m.
The cause of the blaze remained under investigation.
Suspicious package disabled in tree lot
NORWOOD — Police evacuated the area around the 3900 block of Montgomery Road on Thursday evening after a suspicious package was found on a Christmas tree lot.
The Cincinnati Bomb Squad used a high-pressure water cannon to disable the object, described as a small plastic tool box with what looked like a fuse coming from it, police said.
The bomb unit said the object has been submitted for analysis.
An employee selling Christmas trees found the object about 5:15 p.m. beneath a tree. The all-clear was given at 7:28 p.m.
Woman killed by car was 83, of Northside
A pedestrian killed Wednesday when struck by a car on Colerain Avenue in Northside has been identified by police as Edna Mae Gaines, 83, of the 4400 block of Colerain Avenue, Northside.
She was struck by a northbound car at 2:42 p.m. while trying to cross Colerain Avenue near her home, police said. There are no crosswalks where she was struck.
The death remains under investigation by the Cincinnati Police Division's traffic unit. No charges have been filed.
Residents sound off about parked trains
HURON, Ohio — With train traffic still creating major headaches in northern Ohio, state lawmakers met in this city Thursday to hear from residents, business owners and community leaders about how stopped trains are affecting everyday life.
Legislators and residents met to discuss what can be done about the problem of trains blocking roads.
Those from small towns complain that state laws limiting the maximum fines against railroads to $100 in some areas aren't enough.
“Right now, state law gives us a little plastic hammer,” said Oregon law director Paul Goldberg. “We want a big metal hammer.”
State lawmakers are working to increase the penalties against the railroads. One proposed bill would increase the maximum fine to $1,000.
Since CSX and Norfolk Southern Corp. began taking over Conrail's routes in June, train traffic has tripled in some areas. That congestion has forced the railroads to park trains on crossings and block the paths of cars, trucks and emergency vehicles.
Neal Zimmers, a lobbyist for CSX Corp., admitted the transition hasn't been smooth. But he said the railroad is trying to reduce the congestion.
$254,800 in fines proposed in fall death
CLEVELAND — Two contractors should pay a total of $254,800 in fines for unsafe conditions at a job site where a worker was killed in a fall in July, the government said Thursday.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed fines of $142,800 against Abrams Construction Inc. of Atlanta and $112,000 against Nerone & Sons Inc. of Cleveland.
Abrams was the general contractor and Nerone & Sons was handling construction work on a new Home Depot store in suburban Mentor when Milton Luther, 39, of Chardon, was killed in a 27-foot fall.
He was installing metal roof decking. OSHA said the roof wasn't properly protected against falls, the job site wasn't inspected sufficiently and employees weren't trained adequately about safety.
The companies have 15 days to pay the proposed fine or appeal to a review panel.
The companies didn't immediately comment on the proposed fine.
Mayor opposes gay-rights move
DAYTON, Ohio — Mayor Mike Turner says he sees no need to change the wording of the city's anti-discrimination law to add sexual orientation to the list of protected categories.
City Commissioner Mary Wiseman proposed the amendment Wednesday night.
Dozens of speakers in the packed commission chamber came forward, most objecting to the proposal. Many said gay people should not be protected because their lifestyle goes against teachings in the Bible.
But several said the amendment would provide a long overdue protection to gays.
“The issue is not whether the lifestyle is right or wrong. The issue is fairness to all people,” said the Rev. Raeanna Biddle, of Dayton's Eternal Joy Metropolitan Community Church.
Mr. Turner blocked a first reading of the proposed measure, meaning it cannot be voted on until at least Dec. 29.
6th Circuit court upholds conviction
The federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a suburban Toledo lawyer's conviction on charges that he helped steal a labor union's money. The court also threw out a related mail-fraud conviction.
The decision by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati is unlikely to change Norman Hartsel's prison term.
U.S. District Judge John Potter of Toledo sentenced him to two concurrent 15-month terms on convictions for mail fraud and for aiding and abetting embezzlement of union funds.
N. Stevens Newcomer, a lawyer for Mr. Hartsel, did not return a telephone call to his office requesting comment Thursday.
Flurry of threats plague Tristate schools
Accused officer's record mixed
Reburial ends family's long ordeal
City, strip bars settle on regulations
Hospitals and doctors busy, but it's not flu
Justin case in higher court
Lucasville payments held up by state
Rapist should stay in prison, prosecutor says
Restored fountain changing color
Teacher takes gifts to land where he was slave
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Reducing mistakes in medicine
Vote for Top Events of the Century
Ballet planning debut of original production
Burbank calling it quits next year
GET TO IT
Man needs help furnishing own place
Opera delays 'Aida' redesign, bid for grant
Teaching is what she loves to do
Walnut Hills pantry open again Saturday
Colerain to ask voters to replace road levy
Council president to step down
Crescent Springs singled out for high drunk-driving arrests
Fairfield schools head to retire
Indiana shooting called likely suicide
Judge urges deal in methadone fight
Mason, schools agree on terms
Paul Voinovich's firm did shoddy work, jury says
Porch-light beacons speed aid to seniors
Six-laner to replace historic span in Hamilton
TRISTATE DIGEST
22 who brought conventions to Northern Ky. to be honored
