HAMILTON — Don Daiker, former chairman of the Butler County Board of Elections, was fined $1,000 last week by the Ohio Elections Commission for trying to coerce a county board of elections employee to donate money to the Democratic Party.

        Mr. Daiker was chairman of the Butler County Democratic Party when he and Mark Conese were accused of threatening to fire Brent Dixon from a part-time Board of Elections job if he failed to contribute most of his $6,000 salary to the party.

        Mr. Conese, a former judge who was a member of the Board of Elections and chairman of the Democratic Party's Central Committee, and Mr. Daiker, have denied wrongdoing.

        Mr. Conese faces a hearing before the Ohio Elections Commission on Oct. 18. Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell removed Mr. Conese from the county Board of Elections in March after determining that the allegations were true.

        Mr. Conese later resigned as central committee chairman. Mr. Daiker stepped down last December as chairman of the county Board of Elections and of the Democratic Party.
       

Mt. Auburn man faces gun charges

               A 22-year-old Mount Auburn man was arrested early Saturday after police said he fired a weapon while passing a street corner and led them on a foot chase.

        Police charged Ronald Cockrell of the 500 block of Corporation Alley with carrying a concealed weapon, resisting arrest, obstructing official business, tampering with evidence, discharging a firearm, inducing panic and possession of a semiautomatic handgun.

        According to his arrest report, Mr. Cockrell fired a handgun at the intersection of Burnet and Erkenbrecher avenues in Avondale while in a car. Plainclothes Cincinnati police officers followed him to 534 Prospect, where they said he threw a weapon into woods.

        Police said Mr. Cockrell then led them on a foot chase before being caught in the 500 block of Hickory Street..
       

ODOT sets hearing on Ohio 131 work

               The Ohio Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting Tuesday concerning plans to improve Ohio 131 in Miami Township, in Clermont County, from Sherwood Drive to Cromley Drive.

        The meeting is scheduled for 4-7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the cafeteria of Milford Senior High School, 1 Eagles Way in Milford.

        For more information, call (800) 831-2142, Ext. 279.
       

Morrow landfill trial resumes today

               LEBANON — The trial resumes today over whether a landfill near Morrow can expand.

        It began in July but was postponed when it ran past its alloted time.

        Allied Waste Industries, owner of Browning-Ferris Industries, is appealing Warren County commissioners' refusal almost three years ago to rezone property adjacent to Bigfoot landfill to expand it.

        Bigfoot closed in 1999 when it reached capacity.

Wright fund-raisers seek corporations

               DAYTON, Ohio — Organizers of celebrations to commemorate the 100th anniversary in 2003 of the Wright brothers' first flight have raised about $20 million, but are desperately seeking corporate sponsors who can add another $20 million.

        Marketing experts say the tight economy makes that effort a difficult one, especially for an event that has such an abstract theme — the first heavier-than-air powered flight.

        There is also competition for those corporate dollars from centennial organizers in North Carolina and Virginia, where other celebrations are planned.
       

Egg farm neighbors awarded $19.7 million

               NEWARK, Ohio — A jury Sunday awarded neighbors of Buckeye Egg Farm about $19.7 million in damages, a judge said.

        The amount covers negligence by the state's largest egg farm and the nuisance of odors and fly infestations the neighbors say were caused by Buckeye Egg and its owner, Anton Pohlmann, Judge Gregory Frost said.

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