Hamilton hospital begins expansion

        HAMILTON — Within weeks of an announcement that Mercy Hospital Hamilton would be closed by June, nearby Fort Hamilton Hospital has begun work to double the size of its emergency department.

        The project, estimated to cost $3.1 million, calls for increasing the hospital's emergency beds from 19 to 28; increasing the number of life squad bays from two to five; creating a special area for psychiatric emergencies; and increasing the size of waiting areas, trauma care areas and nursing stations.

        When complete in late 2002, the project is expected to double the emergency department's capacity to 60,000 patients a year, according to Jim Kingsbury, hospital senior vice president.
       

Ted Kennedy Jr. to help open new home

        Ted Kennedy Jr., 39, who lost a leg to bone cancer at age 12, will participate in the ribbon-cutting and grand opening Sunday of the Wellness Community's new Lynn Stern Center Home of Hope.

        The 1:30 p.m. ribbon cutting will be held at the center, 4918 Cooper Road, Blue Ash. Tours are from 2 to 4 p.m.

EAST END FIRE: Dan Rottmueller, a Cincinnati Fire Division captain, prepares to dump a shovelful of ash and debris as he and other investigators search for the cause of a house fire Tuesday morning. The three-alarm blaze broke out at about 6 a.m. in the 2100 block of Eastern Avenue. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        The center expects to provide support services for hundreds of Cincinnati-area people with cancer and their loved ones. Those services will include support groups, educational programs, art therapy, massage, tai chi, yoga and nutritional guidance.

        Mr. Kennedy, son of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., lectures throughout the world about his battle with cancer and how to approach life with a disability. He practices health and disability law with Wiggin and Dana, a Connecticut firm.

        In 1987, Lynn Stern co-founded the Cincinnati chapter of the Wellness Community, a free support program that helps more than 10,000 people a year. She was executive director from 1990 until she died of cancer in 1999.
       

Schools sign with architects, contractors

        The Cincinnati Board of Education approved $4.8 million in contracts with architects and construction managers who will spearhead the district's plans for $700 million in building renovations and repairs.

        A joint venture between URS Consultants of Sharonville and DNK Architects of Roselawn will act as the district's master architects, providing planning and initial design services for projects at 77 buildings through 2004. That contract will total $4.1 million.

        A partnership among Turner Construction Co., DAG Construction Co. and TYS Construction Services will act as the construction manager. The group will help implement the district's overall facility improvement plan and will be paid $731,328 through Dec. 31.
       

Seven arrested on drug charges

        NORWOOD — Several men are facing charges of dealing marijuana, cocaine and the drug ecstasy as part of a recent police crackdown on drug trafficking.

        Arrested were Gary Rishforth, 28, of Norwood, charged with three counts of trafficking in marijuana; James Knopf, 46, of Norwood, charged with two counts of trafficking in cocaine; Anthony Link, 20, of Norwood, charged with three counts of trafficking in marijuana; Tyrone Bronner, 19, formerly of Norwood, charged with one count of trafficking in ecstasy; Julius Chambers, 21, of Norwood, charged with four counts of trafficking in crack cocaine; and Robert Zimpleman, 26, of St. Bernard, charged with two counts of trafficking in cocaine.

CAR LOSES RACE WITH TRAIN: A 31-year-old Cincinnati woman was injured Tuesday afternoon when she drove her car into the path of a train on Gilmore Road in Fairfield. Police would not disclose the identity of the woman, who was taken to University Hospital. Witnesses told police the purple Chevrolet Cavalier drove around lowered gates. (Dick Swaim photo) | ZOOM |

        All were indicted by a Hamilton County grand jury over the past week, Norwood Police Chief William Schlie said Tuesday.

        Norwood police Monday arrested Maurice Mundy, 46, of Norwood on charges of possession of crack cocaine. The Norwood Drug Task Force also has drug-trafficking charges pending against Mr. Mundy, Chief Schlie said.
       

Bail set for man in 2-year-old's death

        MIDDLETOWN — Bail was set Tuesday at $250,000 for a 22-year-old man facing a murder charge in the death of a 2-year-old child.

        Prosecutors had sought a $1 million bail for E.Y. Lawson of Middletown, who surrendered to authorities Monday three days after a warrant for his arrest was issued.

        He is accused in the April 17 death of Christopher Long, his girlfriend's son. “My client is very, very upset over the death of this child and really looked upon this child as his own,” said Mr. Lawson's lawyer, Jerry M. Bryant.

        The child suffered severe head injuries, police have said.

        Mr. Lawson's preliminary hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. May1.

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