Tuesday, April 11, 2000
Tristate digest
Ex-administrator jailed in scheme
Former Columbia Township Administrator James Harmon went to jail Monday for orchestrating a scheme that cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.
Mr. Harmon was convicted one year ago for spending public money on a $75,000 raise for himself, improper contracts for his friends and a personalized license plate for the car he bought with township money.
He also was accused of receiving $109,000 in improper payments from the state retirement system. He pleaded guilty last year to theft in office and tampering with records.
Mr. Harmon was sentenced to three years in prison last year by Judge Ann Marie Tracey. He has remained free on bond pending his appeal, which he lost last week.
At a hearing Monday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, Judge Tracey revoked his bond and sent him to jail.
Man sentenced in tavern arson
LEBANON — A Morrow man will spend the next 18 months in prison for breaking into a Morrow bar and burning it down in 1999.
Grady Gilkerson, 48, was convicted last month of arson and breaking and entering in the burning of the Rolling Hills bar. He was sentenced Monday to 18 months on the arson and 11 months on the breaking and entering conviction. The sentences will run concurrently.
The blaze destroyed the bar, but there were no injuries.
Head Start offers cup for enrollees
WARREN COUNTY — The Warren County Community Services Head Start Program is offering a Head Start sipper cup to the first 50 families who complete their 3- or 4-year-old's enrollment for next year before May 18.
There is no cost for enrollment in part-day Head Start.
In addition to morning and afternoon classes, a day care option is also available five days a week at the Lebanon and South Lebanon center for parents who work or attend school full time.
Warren County Community Services operates five Head Start sites, in Lebanon, South Lebanon and Morrow and two centers in Franklin. For information, call Brenda Smith at 695-2215 or 695-2219.
Inmate kills himself with plastic bag
An inmate being investigated because authorities thought he might escape killed himself Sunday night in the Hamilton County Justice Center, the sheriff's department said.
Richard Carroll, 25, of Milford, had been in isolation less than a day when he asphyxiated himself with a plastic bag that held his personal belongings, a department spokesman said.
He had been transferred to the justice center from the Queensgate facility Sunday because jailers learned of his plans to break out, said Steve Barnett, spokesman for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department.
It is not uncommon, Mr. Barnett said, for inmates recently transferred to be left with their belongings in a bag.
Mr. Carroll had been jailed since March 19. He faced charges of breaking and entering, theft and various traffic violations.
Gunman escapes after robbing bank
SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP- A man pulled a gun on a teller at the Provident Bank at 8087 Montgomery Road about 1:20 p.m. Monday, took an undetermined amount of money and left on foot.
Police described the suspect as white, about 30 and 5 feet 7 inches. He wore a red shirt and black trousers.
Indian guard fights order to cut hair
COLUMBUS — An American Indian prison guard is awaiting an Ohio Supreme Court decision on whether the state can order him to cut his hair.
Wendell Humphrey, 47, a corrections officer at Hocking Correctional Facility near Nelsonville, says his long hair is a symbol of his culture and religion as a Shoshone-Bannock Indian.
Three years ago, officials at the prison 55 miles southeast of Columbus ordered him to cut his hair or be fired.
A spokesman for Attorney General Betty Montgomery, said the state has a “compelling interest” to require uniform dress and appearance of its guards.
Second student joins pentagram lawsuit
ELWOOD, Ind. — A second student has joined a lawsuit against the Elwood school district over a ban against wearing pentagrams, a symbol of the Wiccan religion.
Elwood senior Shauntee Chaffin, 18, was added Monday to a complaint in U.S. District Court that alleges school officials stopped her from participating in a student-teaching program because she wears a pentagram, which looks like a five-pointed star inside a circle.
Ms. Chaffin is enrolled in the same “cadet teaching” program as original plaintiff Brandi Lehman, 17, who sued the Elwood Community School Corp. in March for not allowing her to wear a pentagram necklace.
Court outburst over, death sentence given
CANTON, Ohio — A two-time killer who shook up the jurors who convicted him by reciting their home addresses was sentenced to death Monday.
Stark County Common Pleas Court Judge John Boggins accepted the jury's recommendation and sentenced Michael Dean Scott, 22, of Akron, to death for killing two men.
On Saturday, Mr. Scott had shouted their home addresses at jurors after they decided he should get the death penalty.
City considers ban on dangerous metal
LORAIN, Ohio — City officials are considering whether to ban the storage or manufacture of beryllium, a metal that can cause a fatal lung disease.
City Councilwoman Kathy Tavenner proposed the ban. She fears that Cleveland-based Brush Wellman Inc. may decide to manufacture beryllium at its plant in the Lorain Industrial Park.
A spokesman said the company has no plans to resume production of beryllium in Lorain.
Call ends 20-year murder mystery
Crime victims can get aid via Web
Seats keep crew busy
Ad plan: Shame is the aim
Chapel restoration lets its glory shine
Radio host tried to lure girl for sex
Sturkey's cheesecake named ultimate dessert
Healing power of good kids
CCM Broadway babies outshine Pops
'Flames rolling over my head'
Gore making pair of campaign stops in Ohio, focusing on education
Sewer project rises in cost
Shooting of teen a mystery
Zoo seeks means of escape
A new role, a new mission
Gun locks will be given away
Lebanon asked to help save old house
Monroe to buy land
Bacon band off for north
Charlotte Church a classic at 14
Consumer gripes against airlines continue to rise
Gate has Norwood residents pleased
Money question stalls plan
Parents keep 4th-graders home from proficiency test
Police: Suspect in woman's death 'scared'
Prosecutor due in Hochbein case
Two schools get new leaders
State AG confirms inquiry
Trail proposal angers residents
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Tristate digest
