Saturday, May 13, 2000
A.M. REPORT
Lawrenceburg man indicted in fatal crash
A Lawrenceburg man faces up to 14 years in prison if he is convicted of causing a fatal crash on Interstate 74.
Eric Tepe, 29, was indicted Friday on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, tampering with evidence and failure to stop after an accident. Prosecutors say Mr. Tepe drove his 1983 Econoline van into a motorcycle, killing Frank Volski, 46, of Mount Airy.
They say Mr. Volski had parked his motorcycle under an overpass on the afternoon of May 3 so he could wait out a storm. Prosecutors say Mr. Tepe apparently was driving on the berm of the highway in Green Township when he struck the motorcycle.
After the collision, they say, Mr. Tepe removed his van's license plates, discarded them and fled into a nearby woods. He turned himself in to police May 4.
N. Fairmount man accused of rape, assault
A North Fairmount man was indicted Friday on charges of raping and beating a woman who was attacked after refusing to trade sex for drugs.
Alsie Davis, 38, is charged with two counts of rape, two counts of felonious assault and one count of vandalism in the May 4 attack. If convicted, he faces up to 37 years in prison.
Prosecutors say he attacked a 46-year-old woman when she refused his offer to have sex in exchange for drugs.
They say he cut her several times on her hands. Police found the victim on a sidewalk in North Fairmount. After his arrest, prosecutors say, Mr. Davis
kicked out a police car window.
Policeman accused of phone harassment
A veteran Delhi Township police supervisor remains off duty as Cincinnati police investigate him for alleged telephone harassment.
Sgt. William Renner went on paid administrative leave Sunday, said Lt. Ric Ideker. He has been a member of the Delhi department since 1981.
Sgt. Renner, 43, was cited to court, Lt. Ideker said, not arrested. He faces two counts of the misdemeanor charge for allegedly making harassing calls to a woman.
The sergeant will remain on leave until the case is resolved. The process of filing internal charges also waits until the criminal case is resolved, Lt. Ideker said.
Sgt. Renner is scheduled to appear in court May 26.
GE donates lamps for Fountain Square
Hundreds of donated lamps by two General Electric companies will keep Cincinnati's newly restored Tyler Davidson Fountain brightly lighted for the next decade.
GE Aircraft Engines and GE Lighting announced Friday that they will replace for free all lights that burn out at the fountain over the next 10 years.
The donation is valued at about $60,000.
GE lights already illuminate several national landmarks — the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, Mount Rushmore and the Golden Gate Bridge.
“This is an exciting project for Cincinnati, and we wanted to offer our support long-term with a gift of world-class lamps,” said Jim McNerney, president and chief executive officer of GE Aircraft Engines.
As soon as the existing lights begin burning out, GE will replace them. It takes about 150 lamps to light the fountain.
Group donates money to Maineville school
MAINEVILLE — Students at Maineville Elementary School will get a technological boost thanks to a donation from an employee group in Mason.
Employees Committed to Helping Others, a group of workers at Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America in Mason, gave $1,392 to Maineville Elementary Friday afternoon. Maineville is in the Little Miami Schools district.
The money is to help students become more proficient with computers. Employees also wanted to help students with disabilities get the technical training and equipment they need to help their education.
The school will use the money to acquire computer software, books, tape recorders and other technical equipment, school officials said.
Device erupts at Ind. school, injuring student
ST. LEON, Ind — Investigators from the Indiana Bureau of Criminal Investigation joined Indiana State Police and Dearborn County Sheriff's detectives in investigatinga Thursday incident at East Central High School in which a chemical device erupted, injuring an 18-year-old student.
Troopers from the Indiana State Police post at Versailles said the student, Jennifer Craig, suffered scratches and lacerations when the chemical device erupted in a trash container where she had discarded a plastic soda bottle. She was treated at Dearborn County Hospital for injuries caused by flying debris from the chemical eruption and released.
Trooper Chip Ayers, commander of the ISP post, said Friday investigators are trying to determine if Ms. Craig unknowingly triggered the device by throwing the container into the trash or if the chemicals had been placed in the can and spontaneously erupted at the time Ms. Craig was there.
Investigators would not divulge the chemicals involved or details about the device.
When the device erupted at about 8:30 a.m., classes were in session. The building was not evacuated to protect the students since evacuation would put them in hallways that needed to be checked for safety, police said.
Ex-magistrate files discrimination suit
A former part-time magistrate in Hamilton County Probate Court claims in a lawsuit that Judge Wayne F. Wilke paid her a low salary because she is a woman.
Valerie B. Zummo filed the suit Friday in Common Pleas Court. The lawsuit states that Ms. Zummo, a magistrate for about five years, was paid 75 percent less than a male co-worker who had the same job.
She also claims she was paid less than two former part-time magistrates who also were male. Judge Wilke could not be reached for comment late Friday.
Ms. Zummo's lawsuit alleges the judge violated Ohio law by discriminating against her on the basis of her gender. She seeks damages and recovery of lost income.
Mason man could get death penalty in slaying
LEBANON — A Mason man who faces the electric chair in the slaying of his ex-wife's new husband last month will try to convince a jury that he was insane when he committed the crime.
Attorneys for Jeffrey Bornhoeft entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity in Warren County Common Pleas Court on Thursday.
Mr. Bornhoeft, 30, and a father of three, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder and a single count of aggravated burglary in the April 7 death of James Leonard ""Jamey” Johnson.
Mr. Bornhoeft remains in the Warren County Jail and is being held without bond.
First part of hospital renovation completed
FAIRFIELD — Mercy Hospital Fairfield has completed the first phase of a three-part renovation and expansion project with the opening of six new operating rooms.
The $9 million project began in March 1999 and has added 24,000 square feet to the 170,000-square-foot hospital.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday.
Events draw big crowds
Music Review
Diploma day a victory for many
Taft searches for tax solution
RAMSEY: Lesson in grace
Agency accuses former minister
Architects criticize ballpark design
Buying tobacco tough for teens
Falcons hatch brood - at last
Life springs anew at nature areas
Ballet Review
A.M. REPORT
Aim is to get kids on track
'Anything Goes' musical lures theater supporter
Around the Commonwealth
Candidate for Senate gets assist
Convention plan needs salesman
GET TO IT
Opponent for Lucas chosen
Pig Parade: The Piggest Show on Earth
Students charged with trespassing
What to save
Woman found dead in house by firefighters
Young man hopes to walk again
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
