Cincinnati man charged with murder

        COVINGTON — Jessie James Garth was indicted on murder charges by a Kenton County grand jury on Friday in connection with the death of Charles Lester Sherman, a transient whose body was found leaning against a retaining wall at 10th and Washington streets last October.

        Mr. Sherman was stabbed to death.

        On June of this year, Manuel Coulter, an acquaintance of Mr. Garth, told police that he saw Mr. Garth with a knife trying to cut the throat of Mr. Sherman, according to court records.

        Mr. Garth, 47, of Cincinnati, is being held at the Kenton County jail without bail.
       

Winning tickets lead to man's arrest

        COVINGTON — Police say luck had nothing to do with a Dry Ridge man's winning streak when it came to Kentucky Lottery tickets.

        Brian A. Taylor, 22, of 3 Angela Drive, was indicted on 10 counts of passing altered lottery tickets, a felony.

        Surveillance tapes at a Pike Street Shell station recorded Mr. Taylor cashing in 10 stolen lottery tickets, according to Independence police.

        An employee of a convenience store in Independence allegedly took several rolls of Kentucky Lottery instant-win tickets and gave “a large amount” of tickets to Mr. Taylor to cash in at area stores, according to court records.

        Court records didn't indicate how much the winning tickets were worth.

        Mr. Taylor is free on $5,000 bond.
       

Edgewood builder to host Draud event

        EDGEWOOD — State Rep. Jon Draud will hold a campaign fund-raiser Thursday at the Edgewood home of John and Bonnie Yeager.

        Mr. Draud, a Crestview Hills Republican, is running for re-election in the 63rd House District. Kenton County Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd is the scheduled speaker.

        The event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at 3261 Turkeyfoot Road. The suggested contribution is $50. Information and reservations: 341-7609.

        Mr. Draud, retired superintendent of the Ludlow schools, is a first-term lawmaker challenged in the election by Fort Mitchell Democrat Jeb Holbrook.

        The 63rd District includes Crescent Springs, Crestview Hills, Edgewood, Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright, Lakeside Park, Park Hills and Villa Hills.
       

Forum will focus on helping disabled

        COVINGTON — Northern Kentucky residents are invited to comment on a proposed three-year state plan to improve independent living services for the disabled.

        The Kentucky Statewide Independent Living Council is holding a forum at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at City Hall, 638 Madison St.

        The focus will be on services for minority groups and rural residents.

        Information: (502) 564-6606.
       

Two men honored at Thomas More

        Thomas More College honored two men with William A. Hughes Awards.

        Kentucky recipient was Charles R. Deters, a Crestview Hills lawyer and chairman of the Deters Co., which owns and operates Wendy's restaurants, Blue Pantry convenience stores and BP gas stations. Mr. Deters is an alumnus who served the college as an overseer and trustee.

        The Ohio recipient was William J. Williams, chairman of the board of Western-Southern Life Insurance Co. He has been on the boards of Xavier University and Georgetown University, from which he graduated.

        The awards, named for the former Roman Catholic bishop of Covington, honors people for significant contributions to Catholic higher education.
       

Abuse hearing will resume on Thursday

        NEWPORT — A preliminary hearing for Phillip Sarakatsannis, charged with abuse in the case of his mother who was found living in the garage of her cat-infested house in Fort Thomas, was continued until Thursday in Campbell District Court.

        This was the second continuance for Mr. Sarakatsannis, 32, of Wilder, who was charged by Fort Thomas police with felony criminal abuse after his mother, Bonnie Sarakatsannis, 69, was found in the garage of her house with broken bones and body sores.

        She reportedly had been lying on a sheet in the garage for three weeks. Police and animal welfare workers removed about 100 cats, some dead, from the home which according to police was in such bad shape it might have to be condemned.

        Mrs. Sarakatsannis died Sept. 30 at St. Elizabeth Hospital where she was taken after being removed from the garage. Authorities are still considering whether to change the charge against Mr. Sarakatsannis in light of his mother's death.
       

Gun purchase will bring notification

        FRANKFORT — Victims of domestic violence who obtain emergency protective orders will be notified when their abuser attempts to purchase a gun under a computer system being developed.

        Gov. Paul Patton made the announcement Friday at the inaugural meeting of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. The council was created as a part of legislation passed during the General Assembly.

        When a victim of domestic violence obtains a court protective order and provides a telephone number, the system will call with notice if the target of the order attempts to buy a gun through a licensed dealer who is abiding by the three-day waiting period.

        The state obtained a $48,000 federal grant to help underwrite the system, which is still being developed. A spokeswoman said it could be several months before it is in place.

        The notification system would be similar in practice to a system now in place that notifies crime victims when an inmate is released from state prison.
       

Fire ants spotted in lot near Murray

        MURRAY — Two fire ant mounds were found Wednesday, one day after University of Kentucky agriculture officials pronounced the state rid of its first reported mound.

        The mounds were in the landscaping of a parking lot at a business north of Murray.

        Rick McGee, owner of McGee Pest Control, said the mounds are small, about 12 to 14 inches across.

        The fire ant is known for a sting that leaves a blister. The ant lives in the Gulf Coast states and has invaded portions of Arkansas and southern Tennessee.

        Michael Madryga, state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said the ants don't migrate, but are transported to new areas by equipment and soil.

        The first case in Kentucky was reported in September in Reidland. The mounds were treated with Amdro, a slow-killing insecticide.

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