Gusty winds that swept across the Midwest on Friday blew a 20-foot steeple off a Campbell County church, caused AirCare in Cincinnati to be grounded and limited flights at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International airport.

        Meteorologists at the National Weather Service said a cold front stretching from as far as Lake Superior to Louisiana caused high winds, lightning and thunderstorms.

        Jim Lott, a meteorologist in Wilmington, said winds out of the southwest reached 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph at the airport in Boone County.

        Dudley Smith, director of air and ground transportation at University Hospital, said pilots decided about 1:30 Friday to ground the one helicopter they use between noon and midnight.

        Although helicopters can fly in winds up to 50 mph, high winds are not always good for patients.

        “We can actually fly now ... but it was a decision based more on the condition of the patient than the aircraft,” Mr. Smith said.

        Gerald Sandfoss, chief of Central Campbell Co. Fire District, said the wind blew a 20-foot steeple off its foundation at Rolling Hills Christian Church.

        It damaged the roof on the way down, then hit the side of the building and rolled onto some power lines facing U.S. 27, eventually landing on the sidewalk.

        “If the wires hadn't been there, it would have landed in traffic,” the chief said.

        The steeple damaged one of the electrical lines, almost slicing it in half, but Cinergy crews quickly repaired it.

        Dave Woodburn, spokesman for Cinergy, said that at 3 p.m., there were 2,400 households without power in Greater Cincinnati — 2,100 in Ohio and 300 in Kentucky. By 9 p.m., all power had been restored except to about 100 homes in Cler mont County.

        The worst-hit areas in Ohio were Franklin, Springboro, Fairfield, Sharonville and Middletown. In Kentucky, they included Villa Hills, Covington, Crescent Springs and Fort Mitchell.

        According to the National Weather Service, the weekend looks a little brighter but colder. Today will be mostly sunny with highs in the low 30s. Sunday will be mostly sunny but also chilly.

Winburn steps down from council
Bengals looking to settle seat suit
Pharmacies jockeying for drive-through room
Winds bring damage, outages
Chamber recognizes Cincinnati fixture
Mental-health system criticized
OxyContin use said likely to spread
SAMPLES: Fright sight
UC: Thou shalt do the right thing
Boy's project: surgery
Tower owner sues Hamilton
Vets to receive honorary diplomas
Anti-profiling lawyers team up
Audit: State's foster-care programs need work
Drug raid near Highlands nets 12
Four days in February for the birds
Horse farm's concrete icon missing
HOWARD: Neighborhoods
Immigrant sentenced to 10 years in slaying
Indictments issued in nursing home deaths
Judge allows depositions in mine case
Lebanon seeks way to buy gyms
Mayor orders files held
MCNUTT: Go Bouldering
Montgomery Inn opening in Ft. Mitchell
Mt. St. Joe offers high school honors program
Princeton Pike, Mulhauser crossings due for overhaul
UK president-designate pays calls in Capitol
Vandalism follows portfolio dispute
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report