Wednesday, May 10, 2000
A.M. REPORT
Wrongfully imprisoned man to seek payback
An innocent man who spent 10 years in prison on a rape conviction will seek up to $250,000 from the state of Ohio.
Johnny Reeves, 51, was declared wrongfully imprisoned Monday after a hearing in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. Judge Melba Marsh made the decision after hearing testimony from Mr. Reeves and the woman who had accused him of raping her.
Mr. Reeves was freed from prison in July after the woman told a judge that her father — not Mr. Reeves — had raped her. She was 8 years old at the time.
She said her father threatened to kill her and her mother if she told the truth.
After her father committed suicide, she said, she told the truth about what happened. Prosecutors said the woman was lying now and had told the truth 10 years ago.
Judge Marsh, however, said the woman was convincing and consistent in her recantation. Mr. Reeves' attorney, Kevin Brewer, said the ruling clears the way for his client to claim $250,000 in compensation from the state.
Teen-ager accused of starting fire
A 16-year-old boy was charged with criminal damage Tuesday, accused of starting a fire that caused an estimated $25,000 damage to a Colerain Township residence.
The fire occurred at a residence in the 2700 block of Hazelton Court at 3:55 p.m. Tuesday, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said. The fire was started as result of the juvenile recklessly playing with matches, said the sheriff's office.
Police seek robber of pizza store
LEBANON — Police were searching Tuesday for a man who robbed a Domino's pizza at 915 N. Broadway St. and fled on a mountain bike.
An employee told investigators that the man entered the store at about midnight Monday and passed a note that read: "Hand me all your money and nobody gets hurt.” An undetermined amount of cash was taken, police said.
Drivers reminded not to block intersections
Cincinnati police want to remind motorists that they can be issued a $78 traffic citation for blocking an intersection.
Downtown traffic has increased recently, with patterns changing because of Third Street construction and crowds for Reds games and other downtown events.
One blocked intersection can stall traffic in each direction for several blocks, police say, leaving drivers frustrated and impatient, and creating a dangerous environment for pedestrians.
Fatal single-car wreck investigated
TURTLECREEK TOWNSHIP — State troopers continue to investigate the cause of a single-car crash that killed a 22-year-old Oregonia woman Monday.
Trooper Dan Brown, of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Lebanon post, said Melinda Fleck may have drifted off the right side of the roadnear Liberty-Keuter Road, then overcorrected her steering before losing control of her car and striking a tree at 8 a.m.
Schools forum is tonight in Springboro
Parents in Springboro will get a chance to air their opinions as the school district begins a search for a new superintendent tonight.
The Ohio School Boards Association, at the urging of the Springboro school board, will hold a community forum at the high school to gauge public sentiment.
The community has been in an uproar since March, when former Superintendent Gary Meier was forced out of his job with a $280,000 buyout. Since then, four other key administrators have left the district, raising parents' concerns about schools' stability.
The state School Boards Association has been asked by the Springboro board to help in its search for a new academic leader. The local board, the target of much of the residents' complaints, will not attend the forum.
The forum will be held in the high school's large group instruction room, starting at 7 p.m. and lasting about two hours.
Red Cross chief will speak at local meeting
Dr. Bernadine Healy, president and chief executive of the
American Red Cross, will speak May 17 at the 95th anniversary celebration of the Cincinnati Area American Red Cross chapter.
The annual meeting begins at noon at the Westin Hotel downtown.
The local Red Cross was formed in 1905 at the request of William Howard Taft, then secretary of war under President Theodore Roosevelt. It has responded to the 1937 flood, the 1974 tornadoes, the 1977 Beverly Hills Supper Club fire, the 1997 flood and the 1999 tornado.
Beyond disaster relief, the Red Cross distributes first-aid kits, offers health and safety training courses, and provides blood pressure screenings and other community services. For information about volunteering, call 579-3946.
Program sells kids' bicycle helmets
Warm weather means bike-riding time for children — and that means it's time to remind parents about bike helmets.
Helmets for toddlers and up can be bought for $10 to $15 through a community program run by the Kiwanis club, ChoiceCare/Humana and Children's Hospital Medical Center. For information, call 636-8639.
Columbine father to speak at church
The father of one of the Columbine High School massacre victims will visit the Tristate on Sunday to share the story of his daughter's faith.
Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, will speak at 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. at Liberty Heights Church, 9180 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, West Chester. Information: 777-6812.
Bourbon warehouse destroyed by fire
LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. — Fire consumed a bourbon warehouse Tuesday afternoon and threatened the city's water supply.
The fire at the Wild Turkey Distillery started between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. EDT at the end of a work shift, according to Greg Snyder, the director of operations at the plant.
Burning bourbon mixed with water from fire hoses and flowed down a gully beside the warehouse into the Kentucky River.
Anderson County sheriff's officials said the burning bourbon set fire to woods behind the water treatment plant. The plant was shut down shortly after the fire began, said Larry Hazlett, city public works director.
Endangered turtles to be returned to sea
COLUMBUS — After more than three months of care at the Columbus Zoo, two endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles are ready to be returned to the wild, officials said.
The turtles, which arrived at the zoo Jan. 24 after being found on the shore in Massachusetts, were to be flown Tuesday to Orlando, Fla., and released today on a beach near Cape Canaveral.
Deefield ponders/Nordstrom's cost
RADEL: Price tag
A closer look at Nordstrom
City council concerned about Warren store
KIESEWETTER: $30M contract proves Springer's resilience
A.M. REPORT
Auditor waives right to jury for trial
Big Game a big drain on Ohio Lottery
Chiquita's Hagin joins Bush staff
Elie Wiesel looks for meaning
Ex-school official denied in Ky.
Get to it
Getting tough on child-support payments bringing results
Kings schools ready to build
Lebanon city manager's actions probed
Man sought in drug thefts
Monroe measure aims to restrict Bristol's
Nuclear workers aid plan offered
Oxford EMS gets due thanks
Plan OK'd to divvy Middletown, Monroe teachers
Professor: Book overstates lack of objectivity
Robbery case goes to court
Six schools add social services
Springdale schoolkids take hands-on approach
Sundae raises spoons, awareness
Tax case fallout causes worries
Teen to be tried as adult in killing
The Arts Life: A theater is born
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
