Woman hospitalized after stabbing attack

        Cincinnati Police are asking the public for help to find the man who stabbed a woman Wednesday morning as she headed into work at an off-campus office of Children's Hospital Medical Center in Avondale.

        The man stabbed Helen Forrester, 53, of Dent, several times in the face, arm, back and chest just after 6 a.m. as she got out of her car near the 2900 Vernon Place office building, police said.

        Employees in the building came to Ms. Forrester's assistance and called 911.

        Ms. Forrester, a hospital biller, was taken to University Hospital for surgery. She was in intensive care in serious condition Wednesday night.

        Investigators have isolated one of eight frames taken from a time-lapse camera near the parking lot of the building.

        “You can see him attack her out of nowhere and for no reason,” said Lt. Kurt Byrd, police spokesman.

        Police describe the stabber as black, between the ages of 15 and 25, of medium build, and wearing a red shirt, black pants and a gold earring in his right ear.

        A Children's Hospital spokeswoman said they would add extra security for the building, which is several blocks southeast of the Burnet Avenue hospital campus.
       

Hearing scheduled in abduction case

        HAMILTON — A juvenile court judge has set a Nov. 2 hearing date to determine whether a Butler County teen will be tried as an adult on charges that she abducted a 6-week-old baby.

        Judge David Niehaus will hear the case of the 15-year-old girl.

        On Sept. 5, the baby's mother, Jennifer Fugate, left the baby with the teen, who is her cousin. Police say they found the baby 30 hours later with the teen in Woodlawn.

Man arrested after standoff with police

        Police arrested an Avondale man early Wednesday morning after a seven-hour standoff.

        Leon McCollum, in his mid-50s, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, obstructing official business, aggravated menacing and inducing panic.

        Police say they had been looking for Mr. McCollum on a felony domestic violence warrant and caught up with him near his home, which is in the 600 block of Rockdale Avenue.

        Mr. McCollum pulled a knife and threatened to kill himself and the officers, police said. Officers fired 40mm sponge balls, but they had no effect.

        Officers followed the man as he entered his residence on Rockdale. After Mr. McCollum threatened police and himself again, officers fired two rounds of gas into the second-floor apartment.

        Police said Mr. McCollum then climbed out a window and onto a rooftop of the porch, still holding the knife.

        About 3:20 a.m., officers shot the man with a beanbag gun. He collapsed, dropped the knife and officers were able to arrest him.
       

Businesses penalized for alcohol sales

        OXFORD — The Ohio Liquor Control Commission has taken action against six liquor establishments for illegal alcohol sales to minors.

        Two businesses have had their licenses revoked because of repeated problems: the Dairy Mart on West Spring Street and Bruno's Pizza, 14 W. Park Place, the commission announced.

        Four other businesses received other penalties for underage sales:

        • Speedway Starvin' Marvin, 260 S. Locust St., a five-day license suspension or a $1,000 fine, plus an additional 30-day suspension for another violation.

        • Blimpie's Subs & Salads, 19-21 E. High St., an eight-day license suspension or payment of a $1,600 fine.

        • Seal Inc., known as First Run, 36 E. High St., a five-day license suspension or payment of a $1,000 fine.

        • Oxford Pit Stop, 5182 College Corner Pike, a five-day license suspension or payment of a $500 fine.

        The number of repeat violators has been “epidemic” in Oxford, home of Miami University, said Eddie Edwards, liquor commission chairman.
       

Britney Spears tix go on sale Saturday

        Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday for Britney Spears' Nov. 10 concert at Firstar Center.

        Tickets will be available at the Firstar Center box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, by phone (562-4949) and online (ticketmaster.com).

        Price and showtime for the event have not been announced.
       

Memorial service honors medical donors

        People who donated their bodies to medical education and research at the University of Cincinnati were honored Tuesday with a memorial service at Spring Grove Cemetery.

        Their remains were cremated and buried at plot where a monumnet states, “Through Their Thoughtfulness Knowledge Grows.”

        For information about the body donation program, contact Linda Oakes at (513) 558-5612 or via e-mail atlinda.oakes@uc.edu.
       

Lecture to feature Cuomo, Keyes

        HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — A canceled Northern Kentucky University lecture series featuring Mario Cuomo and Alan Keyes has been rescheduled for Nov. 27.

        Mr. Cuomo, the former Democratic governor of New York, and Alan Keyes, who ran for the GOP presidential nomination, were originally scheduled to speak at NKU's Highland Heights campus Sept. 18. But the event was postponed in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

        The lecture, “Governing in America: A New Vision,” will feature a discussion and question and answer session abut the challenges facing America and its leaders, said Chris Burns, chairman of the NKU Alumni Association.

        “The recent terrorist attacks will be something that all citizens will be interested in hearing about,” Mr. Burns said. “We are sure both of our speakers will have strong ideas on this issue as well as the many other moral dilemmas facing our nation today.”

        The event is sponsored by Scripps Howard Foundation, Community Press/Community Recorders, Speedway SuperAmerica, NKU Bookstore and the Cincinnati law firm of Waite, Schneider, Bayless and Chesley.

        For tickets and information call 859-572-5370.
       

Program offers help with heating bills
        Low-income Ohioans worried about their winter heating bills can seek financial help through the state's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

        The program pays a portion of an eligible family's heating bills. Applications will be accepted through March 31.

        The Ohio Department of Development's Community Development Division administers the program.

        For more information, call the HEAP hot line, (800) 282-0880. Applications can be picked up at local Department of Job and Family Services offices.

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