Helmets required for children riding

        GLENDALE — Village council has passed an ordinance that requires children to wear helmets when riding bicycles, scooters, skateboards or any other “human-propelled wheeled vehicle.”

        The law, which village officials believe to be the first of its kind in Hamilton County, took effect Dec. 19. It applies to anyone under 18.

        First offenses come with a written warning. Second offenses come with a fine, which can be waived with proof that a bike helmet has been purchased. Further offenses can be penalized with a fine or community service.

        The first Tristate child helmet law was passed last year by Waynesville in Warren County. When that law took effect on Aug. 17, it was one of a half-dozen similar laws throughout Ohio.

        From 1993 through 1997, Children's Hospital Medical Center reported treating 520 children for bicycle-related injuries. Of those, less than 10 percent were wearing helmets.
       

Woman convicted of murdering sick man

        A Mount Washington woman will face up to life in prison when she is sentenced next week for killing a cancer patient who had less than six months to live.

        Stacey Hill, 18, was convicted of murder late Monday in the death of Bruce Reed. Mr. Reed, 50, was stabbed to death Oct. 2 as he spoke on the phone with one of his daughters.

        While talking on the phone, prosecutors say, his daughter heard someone shout, “Today's the day you're going to die!” Moments later, the phone went dead.

        Prosecutors say Mr. Reed, who had recently been diagnosed with cancer, was stabbed nine times. He was the boyfriend of Ms. Hill's grandmother.

        A Hamilton County jury convicted Ms. Hill after a weeklong trial. She will be sentenced Feb. 15 by Common Pleas Judge Patrick Dinkelacker.
       

Event to benefit earthquake victims

        UNION TOWNSHIP — A second fund-raising dinner to benefit victims of India's recent earthquake will be held Saturday at the Hindu Temple in Clermont County's Summerside community.

        The dinner, co-sponsored by the Ankur India Earthquake Relief Fund (AIERF), begins at 6 p.m. at the Hindu Temple at 4920 Klatte Road. Cost is $25 per couple and no reservations are required. For information call the Hindu Temple at 528-3714.

        More than $32,000 was raised during the Feb. 3 earthquake charity dinner at Ankur Gujarati Samaj Community Center in Blue Ash. AIERF officials said they hope to raise $100,000 for India's earthquake victims.

        Cash and check donations can also be sent directly to the Ankur India Earthquake Relief Fund, P.O. Box 428575, Cincinnati, OH 45242.
       

Grand jury gets case of alleged meth lab

        MASON — Evidence against a Warren County man accused of manufacturing methamphetamine in a shed in Deerfield Township was referred to a grand jury Tuesday.

        Jason Wright, a 28-year-old Roachester man charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Mason Municipal Court.

        A Warren County grand jury will decide in coming weeks whether the evidence supports the felony charge.

        Mr. Wright was arrested Jan. 23 after Warren County sheriff's deputies, who were attempting to serve a warrant on a resident at the Ash Road property, found him in the shed. Several other people on the property escaped from police.

        Drug agents said they found cooking equipment and substances used to make methamphetamine in the shed, as well as 89 grams (about 3 ounces) of the drug. No methamphetamine was being manufactured at the time.

        Mr. Wright remains in the Warren County Jail, where he also is awaiting hearings on unrelated charges of domestic violence and obstructing official business.
       

Man accused of raping two girls

        FAIRFIELD — A Springfield Township man is in the Butler County Jail accused of raping two girls in one girl's Fairfield home.

        Fairfield police charged Russell Joseph Hite Jr., 42, with two counts of rape in connection with alleged attacks about 11:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at the home of the 11-year-old victim. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday in Fairfield Municipal Court.

        Fairfield Police Lt. Ken Colburn said Mr. Hite was an acquaintance of an 11-year-old girl, who reported that Mr. Hite fondled and raped her. The girl's 10-year-old friend also reported sexual activity between herself and Mr. Hite.

        Lt. Colburn said the matter is under investigation and declined to release further details.
       

Man pleads guilty in student's slaying

        A Walnut Hills man will serve 10 years in prison for his role in the fatal shooting of a student from West Africa.

        Merrow Cole, 21, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Tuesday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. He is one of three defendants charged in the death of 23-year-old Bubacarr Kassama.

        Prosecutors say Mr. Kassama was lured to a secluded area, robbed and shot to death on July 9. Mr. Kassama, a University of Cincinnati student, died at the scene.

        Mr. Cole agreed to plead guilty and accepted a 10-year sentence in exchange for prosecutors dropping the more serious charge of aggravated murder.
       

Organ donations in area increase

        The number of organ donors in Greater Cincinnati increased nearly 15 percent in 2000, while the number of organs collected increased nearly 10 percent, according to a report from the LifeCenter.

        The LifeCenter reported collecting 138 organs from 47 donors in 2000, compared to 126 organs collected from 41 donors in 1999.

        The LifeCenter attributed the improvements to increased public education and an increase in the rate of families consenting to donate loved ones' organs from 50 percent to 57 percent.

        Even so, 30 Tristate residents died while waiting for organ transplants. As of Feb. 5, there were 268 Tristate people on waiting lists for transplants.
       

Repairs would keep police flame burning

        Repairs are under way to the eternal flame at Cincinnati's police memorial.

        The flame has been not-so-eternal lately, a casualty sometimes of wind and rain.

        A new automatic igniter will be ordered to replace the ineffective one, said Keith Fangman, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, which maintains the memorial.

        Officers, particularly those who work across the street from the memorial at District 1 on Ezzard Charles Drive, have been reporting the flameless memorial lately. Some of them have relit it by hand.

        “People do notice it,” Mr. Fangman said, “which is nice.”

        The flame was installed in May 1998.

        The flame and the rest of the memorial are maintained by an FOP committee.

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