A Northside woman shot inside a Norwood restaurant Friday was upgraded to fair condition Sunday night at University Hospital, while her dinner date — also shot — remained in serious condition, hospital officials said.

        The woman's ex-boyfriend, Danny Williams, 33, of Over-the-Rhine, is expected to be arraigned today in Hamilton County Municipal Court on two counts of attempted murder.

        Trina Hatchett, 28, was hit in the chest and her companion at J Alexander's restaurant, Michael Smith, 30, was shot in the leg when Mr. Williams went on a shooting spree inside the upscale restaurant, police said.

        Ms. Hatchett and Mr. Williams bought a house together in the 4100 block of Gordon Street, Northside, in March, according to Hamilton County property records. A woman who answered the door at that home Sunday night identified herself as Ms. Hatchett's grandmother, but said she had no comment.

        The shooting sent patrons scrambling at the Rookwood Pavilion restaurant. Mr. Williams surrendered to Cincinnati police several hours later.
       

Deer hunters get bird's-eye view

               McARTHUR, Ohio — Some southeast Ohio deer hunters got a lift in scouting their spots for today's gun season opener. In return, they helped the nonprofit Vinton County Airport.

        Volunteer pilots spent Saturday taking 15 hunters and others on brief flights at $15 apiece.

        Rod Gervais circled about 1,000 feet over the area where he bagged a six-point buck last year.

        He downloaded coordinates in his hand-held global-positioning satellite device and took digital photos so he could map the terrain.

        The reconnaissance flights were the eighth and final fund-raiser of the year by Vinton County Pilots and Boosters. The 20-member group took over 24- hour airport operations in 1991, spokesman Nick Rupert said.
       

Flu, pneumonia shots offered this week

               HAMILTON — The Butler County Health Department is offering flu shots for $10 and pneumonia shots for $20 — both for adults — on the following dates:

        • Today, Butler County Health Department, 202 S. Monument St., Hamilton, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

        • Tuesday,Monroe City Building, James Monroe Community Room, Monroe, 10-11:30 a.m.

        • Thursday, Quality Farm & Fleet, 4525 Hamilton Middletown Road, Hamilton, 1-3 p.m.

        • Dec. 6, VFW Post 1069, 1367 Hicks Blvd., Fairfield, 1-5 p.m.

        Information: (513) 863-1770.
       

Convention centers on Lake Erie get looks

               CLEVELAND — More communities along Lake Erie are hoping to tap into the lake's potential for drawing convention delegates.

        Developers in Huron, on South Bass Island and in Ashtabula County are combining the lake setting and recreational activities with modern conference centers.

        Until now, the only lakefront property in Ohio that offered conference meeting space was Maumee Bay State Park, east of Toledo.

        The park averages about 500 conferences a year, ranging in size from 12 to 400 people, manager Patrick Czarny said.

        Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron in Erie County recently broke ground on a nearly $5 million, 1,200-person conference center slated to open next summer.

        In Ashtabula County, commissioners are considering a 120-room lodge and convention center in Geneva State Park, also on the lake.
       

Number of blacks on farms dropping

               RICHMOND, Ind. — Ronnie Armstead fulfilled a lifelong dream eight years ago when he bought a farm outside this east-central Indiana city, only to discover he's one of the state's few remaining black farmers.

        “There's not many of us,” Mr. Armstead, 54, told the Indianapolis Star. “I feel in years to come, there won't be any.”

        His fears may be well founded. Indiana was home to more than 40 all-black farming communities after the Civil War, but blacks now account for less than 0.1 percent of all Hoosier farmers.

        They number just 50 out of nearly 58,000, according to the 1997 agricultural census, the most recent survey.

        The national picture is similar. Blacks make up less than 1 percent of all farmers, compared with their peak of 14.3 percent in 1920. And when the census is conducted again next year, their numbers are expected to fall again.
       

Mayor wants to lure 600-room hotel

               LOUISVILLE — Mayor Dave Armstrong is proposing that the city offer more than $30 million in incentives for a planned 600-room Marriott hotel near the Kentucky International Convention Center.

        Among the incentives is a $27 million city contribution toward the 19-story hotel's estimated $100 million development cost.

        Mr. Armstrong also is proposing that the city acquire and clear the land for the project, estimated to cost $6 million; build one or two pedways that would cost $500,000 each; and, if needed, build an adjacent parking garage.

        Mr. Armstrong and local tourism officials say the hotel, which would serve as a convention headquarters, is needed to keep Louisville competitive in attracting trade shows and conventions.

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