Friday, January 21, 2000
TRISTATE DIGEST
Cop's widow drops benefit claims
COLUMBUS — One day after she got an apology from Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery, the widow of Cincinnati police officer Daniel Pope on Thursday dropped her claims for state crime victims benefits.
Ms. Montgomery telephoned Linda Pope to apologize for the way her case was handled by her office. But she also said the status of Mrs. Pope's two claims had not changed: Neither was likely to be approved because of other death benefits that have been paid.
In a filing with the Ohio Court of Claims, one of Ms. Montgomery's assistants recommended that one of Mrs. Pope's claims be denied because Mrs. Pope didn't have “direct awareness” of her husband's December 1997 slaying, nor did she witness the immediate aftermath.
Mrs. Pope said Ms. Montgomery promised to make Ohio's Victims of Crime Compensation program more friendly to victims, and vowed to cut the time it takes to process a claim.
“They had a year of my life, but they won't get anymore,” Mrs. Pope said. “I'm done with them.”
Toddler in nanny's care chokes to death
MIAMI TOWNSHIP — A 23-month-old toddler apparently died of accidental choking after her nanny had left her to go to the bathroom Wednesday afternoon, Clermont County Police said Thursday.
Kylee Lillich, daughter of Traci and John Lillich of Merle Lane, was pronounced dead at Children's Hospital Medical Center (CHMC) where she was flown by helicopter. The Hamilton County coroner's office will conduct an autopsy to determine exact cause of death.
Hospital officials and police said there were no indications the death was anything other than an accident.
Police said Pam Gross, 40, of Hill Station Road, Goshen, was caring for the child and her twin brother.
Ms. Gross, who watched the toddlers while their parents worked, told investigators she joined the children in playing with some puzzles and told them they could play for a short time before they were to take a nap.
About two to three minutes later, Ms. Gross returned from the bathroom to find Kylee with her head wedged between a table and a chair and not breathing. She called for a life squad at 12:49 p.m. Miami Township paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the helicopter arrived.
Comedian-actor "shocked,' "depressed'
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Comedian-actor Richard Lewis said a reference to him in two Ohio State University media guides as a drunk has depressed him, but he hopes to turn it into something positive.
“I was, like, shocked. I was really depressed that I would be so defamed. It's absolutely an untruth. I am not a drunk,” Mr. Lewis said Thursday afternoon from his home in Los Angeles.
“I still want to deal with this as a positive thing. I'm not sure how.”
Mr. Lewis, 52, is listed on a page in the 1999-2000 men's and women's basketball media guides with other famous Ohio State alumni and a brief description of their accomplishments. Under Mr. Lewis' name are the words “actor, writer, comedian, drunk.”
University athletics communications director Gerry Emig, who supervised production of the guides, resigned last week, and university officials apologized to Mr. Lewis.
Parents to be paid in death of son
ELYRIA, Ohio — A Lorain County agency and an insurance company have agreed to pay $150,000 to the parents of a 2-year-old boy killed while in foster care.
Brett Scott and Sherri Yost filed a wrongful-death lawsuit after their son, Ryan Scott, suffered fatal head injuries two years ago while in the care of foster parents, Frank and Vicky Lowery.
Lorain County Children Services will pay $70,000, and the insurance company representing the foster parents will pay $80,000. A probate court document filed Wednesday said $70,906 would go to attorneys.
Meanwhile, the investigation of the death remains open. Cuyahoga County Coroner Elizabeth Balraj has ruled the death a homicide, saying the boy died from blunt impact to the head.
Part-time pastor accused of fraud
A part-time pastor at several Greater Cincinnati churches was indicted Thursday on charges of defrauding a charity.
Sean Johnson, 32, of Mt. Healthy, faces up to 18 months in jail if he is convicted of one count of theft. Prosecutors say he defrauded the Federated Department Stores Foundation of $55,000.
They say Mr. Johnson took advantage of the foundation's policy of matching donations that Federated employees make to charities. They say Mr. Johnson deceived churchgoers into signing forms that indicated they had made large donations to his charity, Sweet Indigo Publishing House.
Although those donations were never actually made, prosecutors say, Mr. Johnson collected matching funds from Federated's foundation.
Anti-Y2K software causes other problems
ELYRIA, Ohio — Thirty-one school districts that ducked a Y2K glitch by installing new computer software are facing different problems: slow computers and trouble preparing report cards.
Using the computer to add a study period for one student's schedule can take three minutes to five minutes, Mike Gillam, principal of the 2,100-student Elyria High School, said Thursday.
“It's outrageous. Our counselors are running into the same problem when they try to change a kid's schedule,” Mr. Gillam said.
Lloyd Wright, executive director of the Lake Erie Education Computer Association consortium, which installed the software, said he was confident that the problems would be resolved. He blamed the problems on the newness of the software and the short time frame for trying to install it.
Religious conference starts in Covington
A traveling religious conference described as “no agenda, no speaking schedule, just flowing with the spirit” takes place today through Sunday at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington.
“The Winds of God Conference: Meet Me At the River” includes speeches by Tommy Tenney, author of The God Chasers, Mark Hanby, an expert on church government and spiritual order, and Don Nori, founder of Destiny Image Publishers.
Meeting times are 9:30 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the convention center, 1 W. RiverCenter Blvd., Covington. On Sunday, meetings are 10:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Heritage Fellowship, 7216 Highway 42 in Florence.
NOW sponsors 2nd Choices Fair
The Cincinnati chapter of the National Organization for Women is sponsoring its second annual Choices Fair for teen-agers, parents and youth leaders. The free fair presents information to promote healthy sexuality.
Groups on hand to answer questions and provide information include: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati, the Gay/Lesbian/Straight Education Network, Planned Parenthood, the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, and the University of Cincinnati Women's Center.
The fair is from 1 to 4 p.m. at Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, 103 Taft Road.
Street deceit possibly criminal
Cincinnati teachers ready for strike vote
Council flips on lid over FWW
Sledder killed in park accident
Next winter challenge: Cold
Dressing warm important
Klan plans rally on square Saturday
Photo of lunar eclipse
Sex-ed compromise pleases no one
Taft totes political heft for schools plan
Area schools say dorm students ready for fires
Cincinnati wants to revive gun suit
City ban on drug offenders ruled illegal
Lebanon buyouts questioned
Off-duty firemen charged
Sabin Center expansion may shift east
Tristate's dominant HMOs evaluated
Audit faults ex-sheriff
Bid scandal bill in trouble
King events continue today
Mining in Boone probably inevitable
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Still hope for fire-ravaged school
East side, west side: Couple copes with culture clash
GET TO IT
'Sopranos' shrink hints at season
Drugstore war may be settled
Four of five quintuplets breathing almost on own
Layover enough time to get baby medication
Lockland hires first full-time fire chief
Man wanted in theft case held in S.C.
Planned jail full in days?
Professor admits stealing telescope lens in 1981
Quake could hit Midwest in 15 years
Skirt Game indoors Saturday
Some want street named for golfer
Student, dad, charged in scuffle
Students remake part of history
TRISTATE DIGEST
Union hopes to put on new face
