Woman pleads not guilty in man's death

        A Mount Washington woman accused of killing her grandmother's boyfriend pleaded not guilty Thursday in Hamilton County Municipal Court.

        Stacey Hill, 18, is charged with murder in the Monday stabbing death of Bruce Reed. Ms. Hill was hospitalized after the incident with injuries police say she suffered during a fight with Mr. Reed. Ms. Hill said in court that she was defending herself when the stabbing took place.

        Police say Ms. Hill lived in a Sutton Avenue apartment with Mr. Reed and her grandmother, Regina Hill.
       

Two accused of scheme to avoid child payments

        Two Dayton, Ohio, doctors were charged Thursday with scheming to avoid child-support payments by hiding hundreds of thousands of dollars in income.

        Dr. Thomas George Olsen and Dr. Stephen B. Levitt both face charges of perjury and complicity. They are accused of working together to hide large sums of Dr. Olsen's income from domestic-relations officials in Hamilton County.

        Hamilton County prosecutors say Dr. Olsen, past president of the Ohio Dermatological Association, reported his income as $277,000 when it actually was $700,000.

        Dr. Levitt is charged because prosecutors say he helped Dr. Olsen forge court documents.
       

Woman's identity released in fatal crash

        MIDDLETOWN — Authorities on Thursday released the identity of a Middletown woman who was killed in a crash that critically injured two others Wednesday night.

        Brenda Deaton, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on University Boulevard between Logan and Woodlawn avenues.

        She was a passenger in a 1980s model Buick Skylark Custom driven by her husband, John Deaton, 31, who is in critical condition at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.

        Another passenger, Kara Deaton, 2, of Middletown, Mrs. Deaton's niece, was listed in critical condition at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati.

        Police said the vehicle was traveling south on University when it went off the right side of the road and struck a utility pole.

        Investigators say rainy weather might have been a factor in the crash. The accident is still under investigation.
       

Event to celebrate boxers' homecoming

        Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses will host a welcome-home celebration for two Cincin nati West End Olympic boxers.

        From 6 to 8 p.m. today, a reception will be held in honor of Dante Craig and Ricardo Williams Jr., two United States Olympic boxing team members.

        Visitors can meet and greet their coaches, former boxing champions, and family and friends as they celebrate the homecoming at Findlay Street Neighborhood House. Mr. Craig lost in his second bout, and Mr. Williams won the silver medal.

        Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, founded in 1945, is a nonprofit social service agency. Both Mr. Craig and Mr. Williams started their boxing careers through Seven Hills' United Way funded boxing program in the West End.

        For more information, William Brown or Theresa Brundage at 632-7111.
       

Link to I-75 opens in West Chester Twp.

        WEST CHESTER TWP. — A new road link opened Thursday afternoon in Butler County's fastest-growing township.

        Union Centre Boulevard, which connects to an Interstate 75 interchange in southeastern Butler County, has been extended and is open to Ohio 747. Officials from the county's Transportation Improvement District and West Chester Township held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the new intersection was opened hours later.

        Transportation officials say the new connection will relieve traffic backups on Ohio 747 by giving commuters another way to I-75.
       

Blessing, memorial for pets offered

        Be it a dog, a cat or an iguana, people who have lost a treasured pet can participate in a pet memorial service Saturday at the Mercy Franciscan Hospital in Mount Airy.

        Those with living pets also can participate in a “blessing of the animals” service to be conducted by the Rev. Aquinas Schneider, hospital chaplain. The ceremonies begin at 2 p.m. at the hospital's center lawn, 2446 Kipling Ave.

        For information, call 853-5987.
       

Anthem Inc. to cover diabetes education

        After seeing statistics indicating that diabetes rates in Ohio have increased more than 40 percent in the past decade, one of the state's largest health insurers has decided to cover the costs of teaching diabetics how to care for themselves.

        Anthem Inc., which runs Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Ohio and seven other states, will cover up to 12 hours of education for Ohio members newly diagnosed with diabetes. Anthem also will cover eight hours for diabetics whose conditions have changed significantly and three hours for diabetics who need refresher courses.

        The coverage requires a written physician's order to a certified diabetes educator who has an Anthem provider number, or to a hospital in an Anthem network.

        Anthem already offers diabetes education coverage in Kentucky and Indiana, where it has been required by state law. Ohio is one of 10 states nationwide that does not require diabetes education coverage, according to the Central Ohio Diabetes Association.
       

Park's maintenance weekend postponed

        LIBERTY TWP. — A maintenance weekend for Fort Liberty Playland that was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday has been postponed until Oct. 14-15 because of expected inclement weather.

        For more information about Fort Liberty's maintenance project or to volunteer, call Rick or Jane Titus at 844-1399.

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