Friday, September 01, 2000

Tristate A.M. Report

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Democrats choose Senate candidate

        The Democrats have a new candidate for Ohio's 8th District Senate seat.

        Stuart Manning, a computer company owner and president of the Cheviot Democratic Club, is the Hamilton County Democratic Party's candidate for the state Senate seat held by Colerain Township Republican Louis Blessing.

        The party's candidate in the March 7 primary, union activist Charlie Combs, withdrew recently.

        County Democratic Party co-chairman Tim Burke said Mr. Combs never intended to run in the fall; he was merely holding the spot until party leaders could find a candidate.

        The 8th District includes most of Cincinnati's western suburbs.

COOL QUACKERS: Katie Butcher (left) and Tara McCoy, eighth-graders at St. Bartholomew School in Finneytown, work at the Mayerson Distribution Center tagging some of the 50,000 ducks for the Rubber Duck Regatta fund-raiser Sunday for the FreeStore/FoodBank. Call 929-DUCKS to participate. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

       

Doan seeks retrial in Culberson killing

        Vincent Doan, convicted in 1997 of murdering Carrie Culberson and sentenced to life in prison without parole, asked a federal judge Thursday to order his release from the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.

        Mr. Doan was convicted of kidnapping and aggravated murder in connection with the disappearance of Miss Culberson, 22, of Blanchester. She disappeared in August 1996. Her body was never found.

        The Ohio 12th District Court of Appeals in Middletown ruled in March that Mr. Doan received a fair trial and that the evidence supported his conviction.

        The motion filed Thursday in U.S. District Court asks that the state be required to retry Mr. Doan or free him. It alleges errors or misconduct by prosecutors, jurors and the judge in the Clinton County trial.
       

Campground cost may exceed appraisal

        LEBANON — Cedarbrook Campground would cost the city a lot more than $810,000, owner Carrie Hill said Thursday.

        That's what the 24-acre site was appraised at and both sides thought the value was fair, City Manager James Patrick had told City Council members at a work session Tuesday.

        But Mrs. Hill said she felt the appraisal was low.

        “I did offer the campground to them, but not for that price,” she said. “We didn't talk price.”

        Lebanon is considering buying the year-round campground for eventual use as a park or an extension of a cemetery it abuts. The city has two funds containing $1.16 million that can be used only for parkland purchase and development.

        Mr. Patrick did not return calls Wednesday or Thursday, but Councilman Mark Flick said the city would have a difficult time justifying spending much more than the appraised value.
       

Golf Manor reviews trash pickup system

        GOLF MANOR — On Tuesday, Village council will discuss whether to contract with an independent waste collection company or to continue to fund garbage pickup service using village employees and equipment.

        The meeting has been prompted because the truck used to provide the service needs to be replaced.

        The special council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the village hall on Wiehe Road.
       

Seminar to discuss tenant drug dealers

        A seminar to help cope with tenants who deal drugs from apartments will be 9-11 a.m. Sept. 14 at the Queensgate Holiday Inn, 800 W. Eighth St.

        It is sponsored by the Cincinnati Neighborhood Action Strategy and Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Apartment Association. Free and open to the public, the seminar is meant for landlords, rental agents and neighbors.

        “The seminar will detail techniques which can be used to stop the spread of drug activity in rental property,” said Betty Baker, CNAS coordinator and assistant city manager.

        Speakers will include Rebecca McLean, assistant vice president of the apartment association, Police Spc. Dan Shoenfelt, and Pauline Daly, a North Avondale property owner.

        Seating is limited to 100. Reservations: janet.spitzmiler@rcc.org or 352-2627.
       

Science building wins pledge of $10 million

        ALLIANCE, Ohio — A Mount Union College alumna and her husband have pledged $10 million, the biggest single gift in the college's 154-year history, for a new science building.

        The gift announced Thursday was pledged by Vanita Bauknight Oelschlager of Akron, a 1963 Mount Union graduate and a college trustee, and her husband, Jim Oelschlager, president and chief executive of Oak Associates Ltd. of Akron, an investment management firm.

        “There is a definite need to upgrade our science facilities to match our increased interest and enrollment in the natural sciences,” said John L. Ewing Jr., college president.

        The couple pledged $10 million to the University of Akron for scholarships in June.

        Mount Union has an enrollment of 2,000 students.

Suspect sought in kidnappings

        LORAIN, Ohio — Police are still looking for a man suspected of breaking into an apartment and kidnapping his ex-girlfriend and their child.

        Police said Edward Carrion Jr., 29, was last seen Monday carrying his former girlfriend, Rachel Medina, to his car. The couple's 9-year-old daughter was with them.

        Ms. Medina's 6-year-old niece was left in the apartment after Mr. Carrion kicked in the front door, police said.

        A loaded handgun was found in the apartment hallway. Ms. Medina's niece saw the gun in Mr. Carrion's back pocket before he dropped it when he carried Ms. Medina out of the apartment, police said.

        Police said Mr. Carrion has been arrested at least five times on domestic abuse charges. He also has been arrested on weapons charges, police said.
       

Task force aims to prevent suicides

        LAPORTE, Ind. — The LaPorte County coroner has formed a suicide prevention task force to look at ways to encourage people to seek help after 18 suicides were reported in the county during the past eight months.

        The county's suicide rate is double the national average, said Coroner Vidya Kora.

        The national annual average for a population of 100,000 is nine suicides. LaPorte County has an estimated population of 109,000.

       

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Cop dragged to death
Householder had other alcohol offenses
6-year-old drowns in closed pool
XU to build 273-unit apartments
Corbett pledge for arts school campus: $2.6 million
Councilmen: Jet firm overreacts
Holiday patrols on full alert
Former minister denies swindling his investors
Summer heat late, but it had to come
Blood donors needed
Bush defends health-care record
Cincinnati police union wants city to preserve promotion-test results
Education Notes
Educator wins severance fight
Hamilton police to honor officer who saved woman
He got the area soccer ball rolling
Humane group lobbies county
“I built that stadium”
Mobile home residents can stay
Project could spell relief
Reading to update residents on school delay
Suspect indicted in rape, slaying
Teachers reduce demand for raise
Trustees want lawsuit dismissed
UK president search panel finishes tour
Get to it
In the schools
Kentucky News Briefs
Pig Parade: Porker's Wild
Tristate A.M. Report