Saturday, January 01, 2000
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Witnesses sought in van theft at IGA lot
Cincinnati police are looking for witnesses to the theft of a white van on Dec. 12 in the Newport Service Plus IGA store parking lot on Carothers Road.
The van, which has been recovered, was used early the next morning to haul away an automated teller machine from a Westwood Dairy Mart.
The van was stolen about 9 p.m. when the driver, a bakery goods delivery person, was inside the store.
The suspects in the auto theft were described as two black males in a primer-colored car, possibly a Trans Am, with a broken right headlight.
Police have arrested seven men in the ATM heist.
If you have any information, contact Crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040 or toll free at (888) 352-3040.
Scripps journalism school names director
ATHENS, Ohio — A professor at San Diego State University has been named director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, effective July 1.
Michael R. Real is director of the School of Communications at San Diego and a professor of telecommunications and film. His appointment at Ohio University was announced Thursday.
“Michael Real brings a wealth of administrative experience to the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, as well as a national scholarly reputation,” said Kathy Krendl, dean of the College of Communication at Ohio University.
Mr. Real previously was campus chaplain and instructor of ethics and religion at the University of Illinois and a professor of communication at the University of California at San Diego.
He replaces interim director Dan Riffe.
Monroe to swear in council members
MONROE — City council will meet in special session at 11 a.m. today in the city building to swear in council members, including new member Mike Morris. Council members will choose a mayor and vice mayor.
Council also will consider one piece of legislation. It includes having a second reading and vote on the application to rezone a 64-acre parcel on Todhunter Road from agricultural to single-family residential for a proposed housing development called Walnut Homes.
4 Republicans praised for perfect attendance
WEST CHESTER — Four southwest Ohio Republicans scored perfect attendance during the first portion of House of Representative sessions of the 123rd General Assembly.
House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, R-Reynoldsburg, recognized for perfect attendance and 100 percent voting records Rep. Gary Cates, R-West Chester; Rose Vesper, R-New Richmond; Gene Krebs, R-Camden; and Patricia Clancy, R-Colerain Township.
Of the state's 59 Republican representatives, 23 had perfect attendance, said Diane Schmitmeyer, spokeswoman for Ms. Davidson.
Program teaches kids about healthy eating
Students will have a new way to learn about healthy eating and food safety with the kickoff of Food Facts and Fun in January.
The Ohio State University Extension, Butler County, and 4-H Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program will offer activities to teach students about the food-guide pyramid, key nutrients, smart snacks and food safety.
The classes also will include information similar to those found on the Ohio State Proficiency Test.
Information: Peggy Cebelak, (513) 887-3722.
Fireworks merchant claims harassment
CLEVELAND — The owner of a northeast Ohio fireworks company said Friday that he is being harassed by a federal agency that has gotten a federal judge to order him to stop selling certain fireworks.
Thursday, Judge James Gwin ordered Midwest Fireworks Manufacturing Co. Inc., of Deerfield, two related companies and two corporate officers to stop distributing fireworks banned under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. Deerfield is in Portage County, about 50 miles southeast of Cleveland.
“We have been unmercifully harassed by this government agency,” Midwest Fireworks owner Larry Lomaz said of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
CPSC officials could not be reached for comment Friday. The agency was closed for New Year's Eve.
The court order comes after an investigation by CPSC and the U.S. Justice Department.
In June, a store owned by Midwest Fireworks in Conneaut, Ohio, was destroyed by fire. The company also has stores in Fort Wayne, Ind.; Tampa, Fla.; and Honolulu, Hawaii.
Mr. Lomaz, speaking by phone from Honolulu, said a notice of appeal was filed with the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati on Mr. Gwin's previous, preliminary order against Midwest.
He said the order concerns only a few items out of hundreds of fireworks the company sells. He said the items in question, including whistling bottle rockets, were not sold Friday, but the company would not destroy or get rid of them.
Lexington man sought in slaying
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Police obtained warrants Friday for the arrest of a 28-year-old Lexington man in an overnight killing.
The victim, Asuncion Lamas Diaz, also 28, was found dead by emergency crews in his residence on Georgetown Road shortly before midnight, according to the Fayette County coroner.
Police said they were seeking the arrest of Miguel Hernandez, who lived at the same address. They said Mr. Hernandez, thought to be in the Lexington-Georgetown area, would be charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence.
In a separate incident, 24-year-old DonDale Mitchell was pronounced dead after he was shot shortly after midnight in the parking lot of Thumper's Bar on Winchester Road. Mr. Mitchell was transported to the emergency room at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, where he died.
Police were investigating the case as a homicide. There was no indication that the two killings were related.
FBI to do free DNA test on Bullitt Co. girl's body SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. — The FBI will conduct DNA tests on hairs discovered on the body of a slain Bullitt County girl and will not charge the police agency investigating the case for the testing.
The tests look for DNA in the shafts of hair and typically cost about $2,500 per hair, Bullitt County Sheriff's Detective Jim Adams said.
Detective Adams said the resident agent at the Elizabethtown FBI post, Dennis Dvorjak, offered Thursday to do the more expensive DNA testing for free.
The Kentucky State Police laboratory tested several hairs using standard methods, but none of the samples produced DNA that matched any suspects in the case or confirmed that the hairs belonged to the young girl.
Jessica, a 17-year-old Bullitt Central High School senior, disappeared from the driveway of her family's home on Sept. 10. Her body was found in a wooded area about seven miles from her home on Sept. 27.
Authorities later determined that she had been beaten and strangled. No one has been charged in the case.
The FBI entered the case on Sept. 13, when it looked like the girl might have been kidnapped and taken across state lines. After her body was found, the bureau turned the investigation over to the Bullitt County Sheriff's Office.
During a Sept. 29 autopsy, investigators found six pubic hairs on Jessica's body that did not belong to her.
State police investigators also found hair similar in color and characteristics to Jessica's in bed linen seized during a search of a Bullitt County farm next to the Dishon residence and from a carpet scrubber police confiscated from a Shepherdsville grocery store.
Peace Bell rings in New Year for Tristaters
Glitter, music, gourmet feasts and champagne
Y2K? Pass the pizza
Beefed-up police have little to do
Class of '00 is aglow with knowing
City's new face emerging
Holiday gas price hikes draw county officials' fire
Airport enjoys decade of expansion
Father of Calif. gov dies in Montgomery
Fumes accompany warehouse fire
Silence of alarms questioned in fire
Fireman hurt, 2 dogs die in blaze
Culbertson remembered as gifted surgeon
Historic home to welcome new era
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