Saturday, March 11, 2000
TRISTATE DIGEST
Youths charged with auto theft, kidnapping
Two juveniles have been arrested on charges of stealing a car and kidnapping the 3-year-old girl who was buckled into a car seat on Thursday evening.
The children, whose ages were not released, were charged as juveniles with auto theft, kidnapping and felony child endangering. They are being held at the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Facility.
Kelly Meyer left her daughter unattended in her car while she carried a computer into the family apartment on Vienna Woods Drive at 8:20 p.m. Ms. Meyer told police she left the engine running to keep her daughter warm in the chilly weather. When she returned, the car was gone.
The girl was found unharmed less than a half-hour later in a nearby parking lot. The car was found abandoned about a mile away from where it was taken.
Bicyclist dies after being struck by car
HILLSBORO — A Clinton County man was killed when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle along Ohio 124 in Highland County on Thursday afternoon, troopers at the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in Wilmington said Friday.
Troopers said Wayne E. Sharp, 76, of Ohio 124, New Vienna, died at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, about six hours after the 1:40 p.m. accident. Mr. Sharp was riding the bicycle westbound on Ohio 124 near the Clinton County line. As he attempted to make a left turn onto Panhandle Road, he was struck by the car that was passing him as he turned the bike into it, troopers said.
Troopers identified the driver of the car as Marcella M. Barnett, 18, of Sharpsville Road, Hillsboro. She was not injured. No charges have been filed. The accident remains under investigation, troopers said.
Murder defendant competent for trial
LEBANON — A South Lebanon man charged with fatally shooting his neighbor and wounding his landlord during an October card game is competent to stand trial, a Warren County judge ruled Friday.
James Roark, 60, is jailed awaiting an April 17 trial in the aggravated murder of Jacqueline Sue Burns, 48, and the felonious assault of Kenneth Sunnycalb.
Mr. Roark has raised the insanity plea.
Witnesses told authorities Mr. Roark shot Mrs. Burns at her apartment Oct. 16 after she lost $200 to him in a game of “high card,” and could not pay him immediately.
Mr. Sunnycalb, who was seated on a couch next to Mrs. Burns when she was shot in the head, was grazed by the same bullet, authorities said.
Rape suspect indicted, faces life in prison
A Westwood man was indicted Friday on charges of repeatedly raping a woman who had given him a temporary home.
Prosecutors say Milton Craig, 25, returned an act of kindness with violence when he allegedly raped the woman at gunpoint on March 1. Mr. Craig, who is charged with seven counts of rape, could face life in prison if he is convicted.
The woman told police she befriended Mr. Craig in February and offered him a place to stay. He had just arrived from Toledo and had no place to live in Cincinnati.
Prosecutors say Mr. Craig put a pellet gun to the head of the woman's 2-year-old son and ordered her to disrobe. They say he raped her for more than four hours.
They say she escaped the house when Mr. Craig dozed off.
Nurse's aide charged with abusing patient
A nurse's aide was charged Thursday with abusing a 75-year-old patient at an Avondale nursing home.
Patricia Davis, 41, of Westwood, was indicted on one count of patient abuse. If convicted, she would face up to 18 months in prison.
Prosecutors say Ms. Davis punched Jean Homan as she was preparing the patient for a trip to the hospital on Feb. 25. Police say Ms. Homan, who was in a wheelchair, was struck once in the eye.
Prosecutors say Ms. Davis works for an outside contractor at the Glen Care Nursing Home in Avondale.
Trucks collide, killing two in northern Ohio
NEVADA, Ohio — Two tractor-trailer rigs collided Friday on U.S. 30, killing a driver and passenger in one of the trucks and closing the two-lane road for about 12 hours while the wreckage was cleared.
John Taylor, 32, of Trotwood, Ohio, was killed, the State Highway Patrol said. The passenger was not immediately identified.
Mr. Taylor drove his truck left of center into the path of a truck driven by Homer Knight, 55, of Columbia City, Ind., the patrol said.
Mr. Knight had minor injuries and was treated at Wyandot Memorial Hospital in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and released. Two passengers were in the truck but were not hurt.
Mr. Taylor's truck caught fire after the collision, which was reported about 4:50 a.m. The vehicle was burned so badly that authorities had trouble getting it removed from the road.
Nevada is about 60 miles north of Columbus.
Workshop to focus on worker shortage
The Greater Cincinnati Health Council has scheduled a workshop for this morning to address the region's health-care worker shortage and possibly recruit workers.
According to council officials, the Tristate's health community has been unable to keep up with the demand created by the aging of the area's population.
Presenters from health professions including physical and occupational therapy, nursing and pharmacy will discuss the shortage and how they are dealing with it.
A job fair will be held in conjunction with the workshop, which is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to noon at Drake Center, 151 W. Galbraith Road.
Two counties added to disaster-area list
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jackson and Pike counties have been added to the list of areas that President Clinton declared disasters after flooding in February and early March.
Friday's additions bring the number of counties eligible for state and federal assistance to seven. The others are Adams, Gallia, Lawrence, Meigs and Scioto.
The designation means flood victims can apply for housing assistance or low-interest loans to repair or replace damaged property.
The flooding contributed to the deaths of at least two people. Severe storms combined with water runoff to raise the Ohio River 2 feet above flood stage, swamping low-lying areas along its banks.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is coordinating the relief effort.
Dayton schools place bus driver on leave
DAYTON, Ohio — A school bus driver was placed on leave Friday after a report that the driver drove the bus around warning gates and across railroad tracks in the path of an approaching train.
“There were children on board,” said Dayton public schools spokeswoman Jill Moberley, citing the report by a citizen.
Ms. Moberley said the bus was taking the children to Patterson-Kennedy elementary school on the city's east side. She did not know how many children were on board.
Ms. Moberley said the school district is continuing to investigate the matter. She said the driver has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending a hearing.
Ms. Moberley would not identify the driver.
Catholics split on St. Pat's feast
Plight of needy changed man who had it all
False burglar alarms divert police
Reducing the chance of a false alarm
Students get a taste of space
Police: Crack cut to trickle
Sewer gas odor makes Reading students sick
Two students found with knife, razor
Bill hands airport $7.1M
Key Butler Democrat switches
Landmark sold to developer
Ruling keeps gun fight alive
Blaze devastates restaurant
Miss America's wedding plan stirs protest
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Ballet celebrates women brilliantly
GET TO IT
Violinist Oundjian shines in CSO conducting debut
208-room Hilton Garden Inn to be built near Levee project
5th floor turns into jail
Academic hall names 3 from N. Ky.
Elections director quits
Fans to sip Sunrise at Spiral Stakes
Glendale starts new long-range plan
Human rights advocates share stories
More burley farmers join tobacco lawsuit
Orange powder 'over everything'
Police seek 2 gunmen in Green Twp. holdup
Schools told to rehire drivers
TRISTATE DIGEST
Wild woods to get survey
