Thursday, March 30, 2000
AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH
Straus Tobacconist adds Florence store
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE — Straus Tobacconist will open a new location, its first in 120 years, at 7753 Mall Road in Florence on April 6.
Straus has been located at 410 Walnut St. in downtown Cincinnati since 1880.
The new location will be open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The location will offer a large selection to tobacco products as well as a walk-in humidor.
“We saw a definite need for quality tobacco products in Northern Kentucky,” said Jim Clark, president. “We're here to fill it.”
The store specializes in pipes, cigars, tobaccos and gifts.
Hospital foundation names vice president The Cincinnati Enquirer
HEBRON — Janice Way, who has a strong background in communications work, is St. Luke Community Foundation's new vice president.
She will be responsible for the development and special fund-raising events coordinated by St. Luke hospitals in Fort Thomas and Florence.
Ms. Way previously served as St. Luke's marketing and public relations director. She is a former medical/general assignment reporter and news anchor for WBIR-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., and has been active in the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
Cheerleading teams excel at contest The Cincinnati Enquirer
Two area cheerleading teams jumped, flipped and tumbled their way to first-place finishes in the AmeriCheer National Championships at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday.
Cheerleaders from the Raiders, part of the 10-team Northern Kentucky Youth Football league, placed first in the Junior Recreation Division, led by coaches Kim Steffen and Jerraine Dailey.
The Ryle High School Raidersplaced first in the Varsity Division, led by coach Sheila Reese. The Scott High School Eagles placed fourth in the Varsity Division, led by coach Pat Flores.
Students from more than 7,000 high schools competed.
Teacher pleads guilty to prostitution The Associated Press
LEXINGTON — An elementary school teacher arrested in February and charged with prostitution pleaded guilty to the charges Wednesday in Fayette District Court.
Susan Almgren, who taught first grade at Cassidy Elementary School, was arrested Feb. 11 at a Lexington motel after telling an undercover police officer that she and Tabitha Ann Lea, a 20-year-old stripper, would have sex with him for $360. Ms. Lea was charged with prostitution and possession of marijuana.
Ms. Almgren, 29, pleaded guilty to one charge of prostitution and one charge of running an escort service without a license. Since she had no past criminal history, the court levied a fine of $300.
“I'm ashamed, I'm sorry, and I'm ready to move on and make an appropriate life for me and my son,” said Ms. Almgren.
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Following her arrest, Ms. Almgren was suspended with pay from the Fayette County School District.
6 more electricians indicted by grand jury The Associated Press
SALYERSVILLE — A federal grand jury has indicted six more eastern Kentucky electricians on mail-fraud charges in North Carolina as a result of an investigation of bogus applications for trade-union cards.
Since December, at least 53 Kentucky workers — most of them from Magoffin County — have been charged in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, N.C., with submitting false information to the union to qualify for a higher job classification and better wages.
As of Tuesday, 43 had pleaded guilty to reduced misdemeanor charges, generally in exchange for suspended prison terms, fines and the loss of their union cards for a year.
Ralph J. Lykins, 37, of Salyersville, indicted last week, said he thought the young age of some journeymen applicants probably touched off the investigation. Some were as young as 19 or 20.
Other Kentuckians indicted were identified as Jamie Bailey, 27, of Royalton and Bradley Stuart Darnell, 25, Jeremy M. Puckett, 29, Raymond Mead, 31, and James Fitzpatrick, 29, all of Magoffin County.
Commission votes to charge mayor The Cincinnati Enquirer
HARRODSBURG — City commissioners voted to file administrative charges against the city's first female mayor in an effort to remove her from office.
Commissioners voted Tuesday to file 10 charges against Mayor Carol Dean Walters and Commissioner Jerry Royalty. A hearing is planned for April 11.
Among charges the two face: improper requests for official action, improper interference with departmental operations, retaliation, harassment, slander, creating a hostile work environment, coercion and intimidation.
Louisville tough draw, survey finds The Cincinnati Enquirer
LOUISVILLE — Most Kentuckians regard this as a city of opportunity, but a survey shows that many of them are not interested in living here.
The survey was designed to help Louisville officials figure out strategies to draw people to work in the area.
A solid majority of the respondents — 57 percent — thought job and educational opportunities were plentiful in the Louisville area.
Yet only about 31 percent of them indicated even a mild interest in moving to Louisville if assured of getting a good job, and 48 percent had little or no interest in relocating to the city.
Among the reasons they gave were a commitment to where they live (36 percent), family ties (15.5 percent) and attraction to small town and rural living (12 percent).
Gunman sought in fatal I-75 shooting
Sleepy? Put blame where it belongs
Officer apologizes for insult
Tax complaint may lead to change
Tax plan benefits non-public schools
Child rape case 'heartbreaking'
Death of 2-year-old described
Ruling may affect local nude dancing
Census seeks homeless amid bushes, trash bins
Drive-by killer no show in court
Watchdog keeps county on its toes
Margaret Thatcher to visit city Friday
Message to trucks removed
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Report: Ohio's charter schools get poor grades
Some doubt usefulness of lowered alcohol limit
Baseball treasures catch top dollar
Ailey show is paradise for purists
GET TO IT
Group works to bring outdoor drama to area
Ohio natives know enough to make movie in Maui
TRISTATE DIGEST
AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH
Carlisle School Board member departing, but not going far
Colerain gets spring cleanup
Council: Keep recruit class
Culture celebration is a real mixer
Drug strike force chief quits
Former deejay's death suspicious
Hamilton schools buy building for offices, training center
Ky. House passes firearms bill
Lebanon council must fill empty seat
Legislators stalemate over budget
Morrow man guilty of setting bar fire
N. Ky. studying east-west route
President of mental retardation board quits
Wyoming development on hold
