Saturday, May 06, 2000
TRISTATE DIGEST
Westwood woman sues drug company
By
Another Tristate resident has sued the giant drug company Warner-Lambert over allegations that its diabetes drug Rezulin triggered liver damage that consumers were not properly warned about.
After taking the drug for about two years, Wanda Valerius, of the 3200 block of Glenmore Avenue, Westwood, was diagnosed in January with cirrhosis of the liver that she contends was caused by Rezulin. Her lawsuit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati by Louise Roselle, an attorney with Waite Schneider Bayless & Chesley.
Last month, Oxford restaurateur Alan Weisman — represented by West Chester attorney Janet Abaray — filed a similar suit in U.S. District Court. Mr. Weisman is waiting for a liver transplant.
Rezulin was prescribed for Type II (adult onset) diabetes. The company took it off the market in March at federal request after Rezulin was linked to at least 61 deaths.
Opinion sought on Union Twp. park
The second of two public meetings to gather opinion about Union Township's newest park, at the former Voice Of America site, will be held Wednesday evening at Lakota West High School. Union Township officials said Butler County residents are welcome at the high school — off West Chester Road — at 6:30 p.m. to view three design proposals for the 330-acre site off of Tylersville Road.
A public work session will follow at 7 p.m., in which residents can offer comment on the designs, officials said.
A final design for the park, which township trustees plan to name the Voice of America Park, is scheduled to be unveiled in June.
Bowl to raise money for kids with AIDS
The pediatric AIDS organization For AIDS Children Everywhere will hold a fund-raiser today at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. at Del-Fair Bowling Lanes, Anderson Ferry and Delhi roads, Delhi Township.
The entry fee for the Scotch doubles bowling tournament is $20 a couple, and shoe rental is $1.25. Teams can consist of one man and one woman or two women with a combined average of less than 360.
Prize money is guaranteed for the first six places.
FACE is thought to be the only pediatric AIDS organization nationally led by a person with HIV and AIDS. The organization was founded in 1992 by Kelly Chambers, of Cleves, and it raises thousands of dollars for families with an HIV-positive member who are struggling with food, utility and clothing bills. FACE also takes children affected or infected by AIDS on outings to SeaWorld in Aurora, Ohio, and other amusement parks.
Information: 451-5800.
Police dog trained to detect explosives
There's a new dog in town, and he works for Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis.
Aspen is the only canine in Hamilton County certified to detect explosives. The 18-month-old yellow Labrador, after specialized training in Indiana and with the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport police, can sniff out most compounds used to make bombs.
Aspen's partner is Court Services Officer Steve Fischesser, a 14-year veteran of the sheriff's department. He and the dog will be available to help other area departments, too.
Volunteers sought for Moving Wall exhibit
The half-scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display July 8-14 at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. This will be the first time in several years the Moving Wall has visited the area.
Members of the community interested in volunteering to help with the project are invited to attend a meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the college's Conference Center, third floor, main building. Volunteers are needed for tasks such as handling food and drinks at the exhibit, emotional support and first aid.
Call Marian Wilson at 569-1414 to volunteer.
UC prof to speak on Trojan coffin
C. Brian Rose will speak Tuesday on the stone coffin he found near ancient Troy, inscribed with unmistakable images from the Trojan War.
Dr. Rose said the carved sarcophagus, with its bas reliefs, clearly showed the murder of the daughter of Trojan King Priam by Achilles' son.
Dr. Rose, head of Greek and Roman excavations at Troy, is associate professor of classics at the University of Cincinnati.
His talk, “Monumental tombs near Troy: recent discoveries,” comes with slides at 7:30 p.m. in 308 Blegan Library on the Clifton Avenue campus.
Another tomb included the sarcophagus of an 8-year-old girl, but unlike most, it had never been opened or looted, so jewelry and other artifacts were intact.
All of the tombs were from 500 to 400 B.C., and the discoveries at the Turkish site were as recent as last year, Dr. Rose said.
United Way giving programs more funds
MIDDLETOWN — The United Way and Community Chest has announced funding increases for existing agency programs in the Middletown area.
The allocations, based on a review of agency program outcomes, reflect an average increase of about four percent. They will be in effect from July 1 through June 30.
Police car hit, killing man during traffic stop
MORRISTOWN, Ohio — A car crashed into a State Highway Patrol cruiser Friday, killing a truck driver who had been pulled over on a traffic stop.
The trucker was inside the cruiser with a trooper, who escaped without serious injury, patrol spokesman Sgt. Gary Lewis said. The cruiser and truck were stopped along Interstate 70 near this eastern Ohio city when the crash occurred.
The impact pushed the cruiser into the truck, and the cruiser caught fire, Sgt. Lewis said.
The driver of the car helped get the truck driver out of the cruiser and later was taken to a hospital, Sgt. Lewis said. No information was immediately available on the driver's condition.
The names of the drivers and trooper were not released.
Mistrial denied with warning in murder case
FRANKLIN, Ind. — A judge Friday denied a defense request for a mistrial in the Michael Dean Overstreet capital murder case but warned attorneys she will take such a step if warranted.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Baldwin moved for a mistrial Thursday, saying prosecutors had hidden facts about testimony from Melissa Overstreet, the defendant's ex-wife.
Johnson Superior Court Judge Cynthia Emkes denied the motion, but said prosecutors should have disclosed what they knew about Mr. Overstreet's actions the day his van was cleaned. She warned Mr. Baldwin and Prosecutor Lance Hamner to adhere to trial rules.
“Be very careful on the ground you tread,” she warned the attorneys. “Absolutely any violation means I will grant a mistrial.”
Mr. Baldwin was surprised Thursday when Melissa Overstreet testified about her husband cleaning out his van two days after Franklin College student Kelly Eckart disappeared in September 1997.
Mr. Overstreet, 33, is charged with the murder, rape and confinement of Ms. Eckart. He faces a possible death sentence if convicted.
Diversity puts fresh twist on Derby
Driver in fatal crash sentenced 6 months
Proposed gold medal for Ali prompts fight
Fenwick principal survives stabbing
Average students also count
Jefferson reunion tests family ties
Kidnapping suspect in court
Driver tells sheriff he hit cyclist
Taft violin sold for record price
'Michael Ham-gelo' inspires students
GET TO IT
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
TRISTATE DIGEST
AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH
Attacker badly wounds woman
Bill eases option for employees
Derby survived wartime, depressions
Exam uses bricks, balloons
Frederick M. Moore, 66, was longtime printer for Enquirer
Free OSU tickets longtime tradition
Kenton tax plan blasted
Morgan school celebrates 100 years
Robbery case sent to federal court
Separate lawyer sought for kids
Traficant: FBI corrupt
