Friday, March 31, 2000
TRISTATE DIGEST
2 killed in pickup, tractor-trailer crash
WILMINGTON, Ohio — A New Richmond woman and an Oregonia man were killed early Thursday when the pickup truck they were riding in crashed into a tractor-trailer on an Interstate 71 ramp, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
Angela Changet and Bradley Sibcy, both 29, were pronounced dead at the scene. The tractor-trailer driver, Wesley Jernigan, 34, was not injured.
Police say the 1996 Chevrolet pickup was traveling west on Ohio 73 when it struck the big rig at 2 a.m. at the intersection of the southbound ramp to I-71.
Ms. Changet was wearing a seat belt but Mr. Sibcy was not, according to the report. The pickup went completely under the trailer of the semi-truck.
“Based on the amount of damage involved in the crash, it probably made no difference,” said Lt. Jeff Greene of the Wilmington barracks.
The crash remains under investigation. “At this time, it appears alcohol was a factor in the crash,” Lt. Greene said. “This is an unfortunate and tragic occurrence that could have been prevented.”
176 uncounted ballots from March 7 found
CLEVELAND — For the second time since the March 7 primary, a batch of uncounted ballots was found Thursday in a box used to transport votes to the Cuyahoga County elections board.
While conducting the official canvass of votes, 176 Republican ballots were found in a locked transfer case for a precinct in suburban Olmsted Township.
The ballots will be counted along with late-arriving votes from overseas as part of the official canvass of votes, according to Gwen Dillingham, acting director of the elections board.
Ms. Dillingham became director three weeks ago after the resignation of William Wilkins amid criticism from Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell over the handling of the election.
Water safety lessons for children offered
After a record number of near-drownings last summer, the Cincinnati Safe Kids Coalition has launched a public information campaign about water safety.
Last summer, Children's Hospital Medical Center treated 30 children after near-drownings. All of them could have been prevented, said Dr. Victor Garcia, director of trauma services.
The campaign, called April Pools Days, will offer water safety lessons for children from kindergarten through third grade. The Coalition sponsors include Children's Hospital, school nurses, Watson's Pool Accessories, the American Plastics Council and Ethicon Endo-Surgery. Organizations interested in participating should contact Anita Brentley, coalition coordinator, at 636-8639.
Lawyer pleads guilty to stealing from client
A Cincinnati lawyer pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing thousands of dollars from an 84-year-old client.
The lawyer, Ronald Bradley, admitted taking the money from Marien Reznor. Prosecutors say he deposited a $65,000 check intended for Ms. Reznor into his own account and began drawing checks on it.
Mr. Bradley, who has voluntarily surrendered his law license, is accused of taking about $25,000 from the account. He has since paid back all of the money.
Mr. Bradley pleaded guilty to one count of theft and faces up to 18 months in jail. He will be sentenced next month by Judge Richard Niehaus in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
Convicted molester accused of raping boy
MEDINA, Ohio — Convicted child molester Tony McKinney appeared to be reforming when his probation officer agreed to allow him to move in with a woman and her 6-year-old son.
But the officer didn't know that Mr. McKinney consistently had been violating his parole and that the boy's mother had been convicted of child endangering. Now Mr. McKinney is accused of raping the 6-year-old Guilford Township boy.
Mr. McKinney was arraigned this week on rape charges and faces up to life in prison if convicted.
In December 1995, he was convicted in Stark County Common Pleas Court of sexually molesting a 12-year-old girl. A two-year prison sentence was suspended, and Mr. McKinney was placed on five years' probation.
Last summer, Mr. McKinney asked his probation officer if he could move in with a woman and her 6-year-old son. Before the officer approved the request, he informed the woman of Mr. McKinney's conviction and made her attend some treatment sessions with him, said Joe Andrews, spokesman of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
John Carroll receives $20M gift, largest ever
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — In the largest gift ever made to John Carroll University, the founder of the Cablevision cable TV system pledged $20 million to the school Thursday.
The money from Charles and Helen Dolan will be used to construct a $60 million science and technology center. The new facility will be called the Charles and Helen Dolan Center for Science and Technology, said the Rev. Edward Glynn, the university's president.
The couple met 50 years ago in a logic class at John Carroll.
Officers' tips to benefit Special Olympics
COLERAIN TOWNSHIP — You might call it a bad pun for a good cause.
“Cops and Lobsters,” a fund-raiser to benefit Special Olympics, will be held tonight at the Red Lobster restaurant, 3564 Springdale Road.
Uniformed officers from Hamilton police and other Butler County law enforcement agencies will work as celebrity servers. Their tips will be donated to the charity.
Information: Sgt. Ed Buns, Hamilton police, 868-5811, Ext. 1395.
Mail census, get chance to win prize at event
Residents of Lincoln Heights are invited to mail in their 2000 Census forms at a celebration Saturday afternoon.
The village will hold a gathering from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in front of the Valley Homes at Leggett and Medosch. People are encouraged to come with their census forms and drop them in the mail. Each person who does so will get a ticket for door prizes that include a framed poster and products from retailers, including Wal Mart, Ponderosa and Blockbuster.
Help will be provided to those who need help filling out their census forms.
For more information, call the village hall at 733-5900.
Court denies claim man sentenced too harshly
A federal appeals court has rejected the claim of a man who argued that he was sentenced too severely for sending threatening letters to former Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters, now Ohio's treasurer.
Charles Howard Hudspeth appealed his sentence of 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He challenged a law that allows a more severe sentence for threatening an officer or employee of the government.
Mr. Hudspeth contended that the law pertained only to an officer or employee of the federal government. But the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that coverage extends to state and county employees.
Mr. Deters was prosecuting Mr. Hudspeth on state charges at the time the threats were made.
Hustler prepares to reopen downtown
Monroe Hustler store likely to get OK
River adds 3 digits to phone calls
Teacher convicted of sex with boy
Teacher's aide faces cocaine sale charges
Ohio tobacco bill threatens public health
Police narrow hunt for gunman
Major who refused vaccine leaves service
Mason teen put on house arrest
N.Ky. welcomes Hispanic families
Net class to assist at-home schoolers
Rally for health care reform
Teens avoid felony charge for fake IDs
Lawmakers wait to slice Ky.'s tobacco money pie
Patton to sign bill on commandments
Channel 9 wins third Peabody
ETC turns 15 with 10 premieres
GET TO IT
Nurse believes in healing power of touch
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
TRISTATE DIGEST
Unexplored rock height of adventure for climber
AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH
Buses to continue on routes
Children Services urged to add staff
Citizens learn ropes and hoses
City wants historic buildings developed
Education Expo Saturday
Evidence sought in worker's fall
Leaky school roofs finally due for repairs
Ludlow demotes assistant chief
Off-duty Newport officer arrested
Officer sues city over sex allegations
Retired exec may fill post
School board approves consultants
Students turn election into game
Two-alarm fire routs 18 apartment residents
2 men shot; police seek gunman
