Former village clerk accused of theft

        Addyston's former village clerk was so upset by her re-election loss that she wrote herself a check for $2,800 from village funds, officials said Wednesday.

        Indicted on one count of felony theft in office, 38-year-old Barbara J. Fox — also known as Barbara King — is accused of cashing the check two weeks after her last day in office, March 30, 2000.

        Investigators said she was bitter about her loss to an opponent she considered to be inferior.

        Ms. Fox lost the November 1999 election to Margaret Ann Dozier by a more than 3-2 ratio.

        “She is said to have written the check to show Addyston officials she was more qualified than her successor in the office,” said Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen. He added that she believed the new clerk would not be savvy enough to catch the theft.

        “It's a unique defense strategy that the defendant will have ample opportunity to test before a judge in a criminal court,” Mr. Allen said. If convicted, Ms. Fox could be sentenced to 18 months in prison.
       

Mount Adams house burns in morning fire

        A Mount Adams man driving to work Wednesday morning looked up from his car on Interstate 71 to see flames shooting from his hillside home.

        He had spent the night at his girlfriend's.

        “I got off the interstate immediately and said, "Oh my gosh,'” said John Wimsatt, 63.

        The fire was reported by District Chief Howard Reed at 6:30 a.m. He was headed to work at Engine Company No. 3 at Ninth and Broadway when he saw smoke coming from the hill.

        The two-alarm fire at 1251 Elsinore Ave. caused $100,000 in damage, said District Fire Chief Stephen Kluesener. The cause was unknown Wednesday, but Mr. Wimsatt speculated that it was storm-related.

Race dialogues sponsored by Cinergy

        Cinergy is sponsoring the fourth in a series of race dialogue sessions aimed at the business community. The Dialogue Around the Square will take place from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday at Cinergy's headquarters, 139 E. Fourth St.

        The sessions are designed to encourage local businesspeople to interact with other organizations to find ways to address racial problems. Previous sessions, sponsored by WCPO Channel 9, Fifth Third Bank and Federated Department Stores, focused on reaching understanding and healing; this session and the last one focus on actions businesses can take.

        More than 50 people have attended each session.

        Upcoming sessions will be hosted by Cincinnati Bell, Health Alliance and Fidelity Investments. Global Lead Management Consulting in Cincinnati is administering thedialogues, which will culminate in an October event for National Diversity Week.
       

College scholarships available for poor

        The Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency (CAA) is offering college scholarships of up to $1,000 per person to low-income Hamilton county residents.

        Those interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree or already enrolled in a college or an accredited vocation, trade, technical or certification program are eligible.

        Applications will be accepted through Aug. 3, or until funds are depleted. $10,000 in scholarships are available. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of need. For an application, call the CAA's education department at (513) 569-4810, Ext. 18.
       

Cinergy lot reserved for Reds game today

        Those who park in the Cinergy Field Garage and Plaza during the day will need to find alternative parking to accommodate the Reds game today. All Cinergy Field parking is reserved for season parking pass holders during day baseball games. Remaining day games this season are Aug. 23 and Sept. 5 and 20.
       

Tavares will run again for secretary of state

        COLUMBUS — Democrat Charleta Tavares, unsuccessful in her bid for Ohio secretary of state in 1998, says she will run again for the office in 2002.

        “I thought about it long and hard, and it's what I really want to do,” Ms. Tavares, a Columbus city councilwoman, said Tuesday. Ms. Tavares lost to Ken Blackwell, a Cincinnati Republican, by 12 percentage points, 56-44. Mr. Blackwell plans to vacate the seat, announcing earlier this year that he will run for his former job of state treasurer in 2002. The current state treasurer, Republican Joseph Deters, plans to run for attorney general.
       

Cincinnatian dies in Virginia crash

        BLAND, Va. — A Cincinnatian was among five people killed in a head-on crash Wednesday on Interstate 77, about 10 miles from the West Virginia border.

        One car crossed the median and slammed into another vehicle before catching fire. All four occupants died. The driver of the other car — Renate Richter, 60, of Cincinnati — died en route to a hospital, authorities said.

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