$7.2M approved for area road projects

        The Transportation Review Advisory Council, which approves state road and transportation projects for the Ohio Department of Transportation, has approved $7.2 million for three area road projects for the year.

        The list, released Wednesday, includes:

CHRISTMAS LAMB: The latest addition to the Holiday Fest North Pole Petting Corral at The Beach Waterpark is this newborn lamb, one of three born at the park Thursday. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        • $4.4 million to study the eastern corridor project that could ease congestion in eastern Hamilton and western Clermont counties.

        • $500,000 to improve the Ohio 32/Interstate 275 interchange.

        • $2.3 million to widen Interstate 75 in Butler County.

        The money will be available in 2005.

        The council also approved $7 million for further study of a light rail system along Interstate 71.
       

Officials investigate role of fight in death

        FAIRFIELD — The Butler County Coroner's Office is investigating whether a fistfight Monday could have played a role in the sudden death of a 29-year-old man Thursday.

        Christopher Saylor was pronounced dead at a residence in the 3900 block of Mack Road. A woman he had been visiting at that address called police just before 8 a.m. and reported finding him unresponsive, said Patricia Randolph, the coroner's chief investigator.

        Mr. Saylor had been knocked unconscious Monday night during a fight in the 1100 block of Symmes Road, Ms. Randolph said. He was treated at Mercy Hospital Fairfield and released.

        An autopsy is planned today.

Three teens admit placing racist poster

        LEBANON — Three Mason High School students will be sentenced in about a month after admitting they placed a racially inflammatory poster in the mailbox of a black schoolmate.

        The three boys pleaded guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor charges of ethnic intimidation and criminal mischief. A fourth boy has indicated he will take his case to trial.

GOLD MEDAL VISITOR: Olympian Bruce Jenner speaks at Bond Hill School on Thursday. The visit by the 1976 decathlon gold medal winner was sponsored by FamiliesFORWARD, a United Way agency. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        Warren County sheriff's deputies filed charges Oct. 28 against the white students, ages 15 and 16, after the black student's father saw someone in a car place something in his mailbox at 11:30 p.m.

        At least two of the teens told a Warren County deputy they were “bored” when they placed a poster, which read “White's Right,” in the mailbox in front of the home in the 8300 block of Timber Lane.

        No court date has been set for the sentencings. Prosecutors said the boys could face detention, counseling, community service or a combination.
       

Police seek robber of Dunkin' Donuts

        COLERAIN TOWNSHIP — A man carrying a silver handgun took an undetermined amount of money from a Dunkin' Donuts on Colerain Avenue early Thursday, and was last seen running north on Colerain.

        The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said the man was wearing a black ski mask when he entered the store at 12:10 a.m. He ordered a night manager and two employees to open the cash register and give him the money.

        None of the employees was injured.
       

Teen to be charged in fatal crash

        DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP — State troopers are expected to charge a 19-year-old Monroe teen with aggravated vehicular homicide today in a Wednesday night crash that killed his friend.

        Highway patrol officials said that Adam Spatz of Austin Smith Road lost control of his 1997 Saturn at 11:05 p.m. Wednesday in a curve on Brewer Road near Mason-Montgomery Road. The car hit a culvert and utility pole before overturning.

        Passenger Clinton Barnett, 20, of the 3200 block of Moyer Drive, Franklin, died at the scene.

        Mr. Spatz, who was convicted of drunken driving in 1999 in Middletown, refused a breath-alcohol test, said Dispatcher Travis Jones of the highway patrol in Lebanon. Two empty beer bottles were found in the car, according to the crash report.

        Mr. Spatz received minor injuries, Dispatcher Jones said.
       

Panel to examine CPS rating system

        The school accountability plan — a measure used to rate academic achievement of Cincinnati Public Schools — could see some changes next year.

        To make the plan more equitable, Jack Lewis, the district's director of research and evaluation, told Board of Education members Wednesday, a committee will be formed in January to consider changes to how schools are rated.

        The current plan rates schools primarily on their scores on the Ohio Proficiency Test, but also includes attendance and dropout rates.

        “There is no subjectivity in this plan,” said Mr. Lewis. “When we give a school a rating, it's all based on data.”

        Those ratings place a school in one of four categories: achievement, improvement, intervention and redesign.
       

Engineer pushes split of "hill-hopping' road

        TURTLECREEK TWP. — The Warren County engineer is recommending splitting McClure Road into two roads to stop teen drivers' hill-hopping there.

        Tearing up a small section of road at the main hill would be a relatively inexpensive way to prevent thrill-seekers from reaching a high speed on the rural township road, Neil Tunison said.

        The downside: Residents on the north part of McClure would only be able to use Ohio 63 and those on the east part, U.S. 42.

        Trustees, who will make the final decision, said they will discuss the options with residents at their Jan. 25 meeting.

        There have been several crashes on McClure, including one just over a year ago that killed two Mason High School athletes.
       

Dog alerted family to fire in home

        LIMA, Ohio — Extra treats should be in store for a Rottweiler named Ruffus.

        A family of five says the dog saved them from a fire that destroyed their home Monday morning.

        Clyde and Carole Dunlap were sleeping when Ruffus started howling and pawing at them in the middle of the night.

        Mrs. Dunlap awoke and saw the fire in the next room.

        Ruffus then went to the children's bedroom and began jumping on them to wake them up. The family escaped only moments before the house was consumed in flames.
       

Woman charged after teens' party

        NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio — A woman has been charged with allowing a stripper to perform at a teen party held by her daughter for a male friend's 18th birthday.

        Police Capt. Richard Thomas said Ann Salazar, 41, was charged with disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a felony punishable by up to one year in prison. Two 17-year-old boys, a 16-year-old girl and two 18-year-old men were charged with counts including underage drinking, fleeing police and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with the early Sunday party.

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