Price Hill man faces child-sex charges

        A Price Hill man faces life in prison if he's convicted of sexually abusing a child.

        Frederick Pruess, 50, was arrested at his Patrick Drive home Thursday by federal agents and Cincinnati police. He was charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a child under age 12 and sexual exploitation of children.

MENAGERIE AT THE MANGER: For three hours Thursday evening, middle school students at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy performed a Nativity scene, complete with live animals, carolers and earmuffed angels. More than 200 students took part in the campus event, rotating the roles. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        The FBI announced Mr. Pruess' arrest in a statement, but did not elaborate on what he allegedly did with the children. Officials from the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force searched his house for evidence.

        Conviction of federal sexual exploitation carries a possible penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison. Conviction of aggravated sexual abuse carries a possible life sentence.
       

Rumpke facility accepts Xmas trees

        Rumpke's NPK Compost facility is offering free Christmas tree recycling from Tuesday through January at their Colerain Township facility, 8968 East Miami River Road.

        Individual households may drop off their undecorated tree and receive a coupon for a Norway Spruce seedling, potted in NPK's rich compost. The coupon allows for a return trip in the spring to collect the seedling.

        Information: Mary Mulford at 353-1506.

Goodwill starts work on new facility

        WOODLAWN — Ohio Goodwill Industries Rehabilitation Center Inc. has broken ground for a new facility to house all donation and production needs on its property in Woodlawn. The project is expected to be completed in six months and cost about $3.5 million.

        Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries is a comprehensive rehabilitation organization that offers education and training services for people with physical, mental, psychological and social disabilities.

Family investigated in girl's Net affair

        DENNISON, Ohio — Police are investigating a couple and their 17-year-old daughter for allegedly helping a 14-year-old Florida girl flee the country to stay with a man she met over the Internet.

CHRISTMAS CLOSINGS

Postal service: No delivery Library: Closed. Banks: *Closed. Trash collection • Cincinnati: One-day delay for rest of week. • Rumpke: One-day delay for rest of week. • CSI: One-day delay for rest of week. Metro: Holiday schedule and fares. Parking meters: No coins required (Cincinnati). Courts: Closed. Government offices • Federal: Closed. • City and county: Closed • State: Closed *All Firstar, Fifth Third and Provident in-store banking centers are closed. Fifth Third Banking Center in Concourse B of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will be open.

        The Florida girl was reported missing from her home several months ago and allegedly stayed in Tuscarawas County for up to 20 days before she flew to Europe, Dennison police Chief Douglas Dunlap said.

        Police were led last month to the family in this city about 80 miles southeast of Cleveland after the sheriff's office in Polk County, Fla., searched the missing girl's home and found e-mail correspondence on her computer, Chief Dunlap said.

        An officer also interacted with the 17-year-old girl over the Internet and learned she had contact with the missing girl and was involved in a pornographic Web site.

        Dennison police searched the family's home last week and obtained computer equipment from which they discovered information about the missing girl and the Web site.
       

School official faces drug investigation

        CLEVELAND — An assistant principal in the Cleveland Municipal School District allegedly was found by police naked and high on drugs after chasing a woman down a street.

        Robert Singleton, assistant principal of Franklin D. Roosevelt Middle School, smoked five “rocks” of crack cocaine and “went crazy,” the woman told police.

DEDICATION: James Codell, secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Department, (left) and Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken unveil a plague at the dedication ceremonies Thursday for the newly completed Fort Washington Way renovation. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        The woman claimed Mr. Singleton, 45, chased her down a street and took off his clothes around 1:20 a.m. Friday.

        He was being restrained by his sons when police arrived, a police report said.

        Police took him to Meridia Huron Hospital, where a glass tube and a substance resembling crack cocaine fell out of his coat pocket, the report said.

        Mr. Singleton has not been charged or arrested, but the police narcotics unit is investigating, police said.

        Cleveland schools spokesman William Wendling said Mr. Singleton is on paid administrative leave until the district completes “a full and complete investigation, separate from police.”
       

Mystery water leak plagues Ohio city

        CADIZ, Ohio — Officials are asking residents to check their homes, especially if they haven't been there in a while, for a leak costing this village 100,000 gallons of water a day.

        “We have had a leak somewhere since Sunday,” said water department lab technician David Barr. “We have no idea where it is.”

        Tom Carter, the village's water superintendent, thinks someone might have turned a furnace down or off in an unused building and the pipes froze and broke.

        He said wherever the leak is, it's a big one — about 80 gallons a minute.

Dayton considers beggar-control law

        DAYTON, Ohio — A measure to control panhandling by requiring beggars to register with the police department could become law by next week.

        Downtown business owners applauded the proposal at Wednesday's City Commission meeting as a necessary step to stop con artists from preying on people frequenting their shops and restaurants.

        Advocates for the homeless and mentally ill said the registration requirement would at best be ignored and at worst lead to further injury to residents least able to defend themselves.

        Business owners and city officials say it targets “aggressive” panhandlers, those who have no disability but intimidate passersby into giving them money.

        A majority of the five-member commission approved the measure Wednesday, when an ordinance requiring registraton received its first reading. Another vote next week would be necessary for adoption.

        The ordinance would ban panhandling at night, on buses or at several city tourist spots. A panhandler would lose his registration card if he did not stay more than 3 feet away from people being confronted, or if he blocked them or their cars, or followed them after being rejected.

        People found panhandling without a license the first time would be directed to register. Later violations could subject the person to a $250 fine and 30 days in jail.
       

Hinton, Keating accorded honor
Weather could slow air travel
Tenants agree to yield spot for CAC
Victim's daughter, 7, could be key to slaying
GE-Aiken program on the grow
Apartment residents file suit over lack of landlord
Judge upholds abortion measure
Paper accused of revealing source
W. Chester lures medical campus
Agency opens up grievance process
School honors couple
Accused Hispanics notified of rights
Biological parents appeal to Ky. Supreme Court
Butler airport contracts awarded
Cathedral renovation plans proceed
Decision delayed on condemned house
Doctor's helicopter crash probed
Entire street glows in Edgewood
McConnell warms up for election
More charges heard vs. Dayton mayor
N.Ky. counties take good care of kids
Old friends from Cincinnati to help with inauguration
Panel finds aging schools 'appalling'
Promoters sue NCAA over basketball games
School board OKs teacher contract
Schools target ballot in Nov.
Schools' tax plan likely on fall ballot
State to warn of houseboat exhaust danger
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report