Eastern Corridor study enters new phase

        Officials working on the Eastern Corridor Project, a proposed $800 million revamping of the transportation system on the east side of Greater Cincinnati, have begun the next phase of study — a preliminary engineering/environmental impact statement.

        The work is overseen by the Hamilton County Transportation Improvement District.

        The project is considering rerouting Ohio 32 along the Little Miami River, reworking some exits along Interstate 275 and adding commuter rail from downtown.

        In addition, the project now has a home. An office has opened in Madisonville at 4790 Red Bank Expressway, Suite 206. It is open to the public Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

        For further information, call 271-3898 or visit http://www.easterncorridor.org.
       

School district holds seminar for businesses

       Cincinnati Public Schools will hold its “Doing Business with Cincinnati Public Schools — Supplier Diversity Seminar for Underutilized Businesses” on Tuesday.

        The seminar is designed to provide information to female-owned and minority-owned businesses, and small businesses and contractors with earnings under $1 million annually whose owners are interested in supplying goods or services for the district.

        The seminar, which includes a free buffet luncheon, will be held 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Integrity Hall, 2081 Seymour Ave.

        Seating is limited to 300 businesses. To register, call 731-6308.
       

Miami Twp. trustees to decide Kohl's zoning

        MIAMI TOWNSHIP — Township trustees will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 to consider a request from Kohl's Department Stores for a zoning change on property it owns on Ohio 28.

        Kohl's has purchased about 14 acres on 28 between Woodspoint Drive and Buckwheat Road in Clermont County and plans to build a tore there. But 6.4 acres of the property is zoned residential.

        Kohl's requested the parcel be rezoned for business. The township's zoning commission approved the request.

        The trustees will consider the matter at the township building, 5900 McPicken Drive.

        A simple majority vote of the three trustees is needed to approve the zoning commission decision. But it would take a unanimous vote to overturn the commission.

        Kohl's wants to break ground in the summer, with a fall 2003 opening planned.
       

Skeletal remains found along alley

        Human skeletal remains found in an Over-the-Rhine alley Friday morning have ynot beenidentified, Cincinnati police said Friday night.

        An Over-the-Rhine resident walking his dog in Hust Alley, which runs east out of the 1900 block of Vine Street, found the extensively decomposed remains about 11 a.m., police said.

        The person's sex was not immediately evident, police said, nor the cause of death, although there were some scraps of women's clothing on the body.

        The Hamilton County Coroner's Office took the remains for examination. The Cincinnati Police Department's homicide squad is investigating.
       

Judge will rule on allowing statements

        A Hamilton County judge will decide Monday whether statements made to investigators by a Silverton woman accused of killing her son and burning his body will be allowed at trial.

        Attorneys for DeMarlo Hayes, 27, who is charged with one count of aggravated murder in the death of her 9-year-old son, Diarro, say her rights were violated when investigators insisted she take a lie-detector test against her will.

        During the test, according to a defense motion, Ms. Hayes made an incriminating statement. Defense lawyers want that information suppressed.

        Common Pleas Judge Richard Niehaus, following a hearing Friday, said he'd rule on the defense's request Monday.

        Police say Ms. Hayes reported her son missing May 11 and helped look for him.

        His burned body was found in Drake Park in Kennedy Heights, 2 miles from the family's home.

        If convicted, Ms. Hayes could face the death penalty.

XU professor named to genetics committee

        A Xavier University professor has been appointed to the national advisory committee on genetic testing.

        The Rev. Robert Baumiller, a Jesuit, was appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.

        A philosophy and biology professor, Father Baumiller teaches bioethics and medical genetics.

        Father Baumiller, who is associate dean for health education programs in the College of Social Sciences, will officially start the appointment Feb. 28 and continue through 2005 if the proper legislation is renewed.

        The committee will meet four times a year to look at federal policy in the area of genetic testing, how it should be used and what tests should be considered.

        Father Baumiller also serves on the Ohio Public Health Department's genetics task force.

Glenn speaks about glaucoma awareness

        Former astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn has been named national spokesman for Glaucoma Awareness Month, a public education campaign by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

        Mr. Glenn is one of the estimated 3 million people nationwide who have glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness. This year, for the first time, Medicare will cover the costs of glaucoma screenings.

        In the campaign, Mr. Glenn urges Americans to get regular eye exams.

        “I'll never forget the beautiful image of Earth as I looked from the space shuttle Discovery. If my glaucoma had not been caught in time, I never would have seen such a sight,” he says.

        For glaucoma information, call (800) 391-EYES.
       

Carthage bank robbed in 8th heist of year

        The Fifth Third Bank branch at 7001 Vine St. in Carthage was robbed Friday morning, the city's eighth bank robbery of the year.

        According to District 4 police, a man entered the bank about 10 a.m., showed the teller a note demanding money, and left with an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was shown.

        Police are looking for a black man in his late 20s or early 30s, 5 foot 7 inches tall, 140 to 150 pounds, wearing a dark knit skull cap, a black coat and dark pants. He was seen getting into a dark-colored Pontiac on 70th Street. The car turned north into the alley behind the bank.

        Police were able to trace the license plate, but no arrests were announced as of Friday evening.

        Anyone with information can call the Criminal Investigations Section at 352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.
       

Former Butler man guilty of nonsupport

        HAMILTON — A 38-year-old former Butler County man, , caught in September while crossing from Mexico into Texas, has been ordered to pay more than $37,000 in back child support.

        Christopher Roell, formerly of Middletown, pleaded guilty to two counts of nonsupport of dependents this week, the Butler County Prosecutor's Office said Friday. He stopped paying support in 1999.

        An 18-month prison term has been delayed on condition that Mr. Roell pay $3,000 immediately and an additional $10,000 by March 6. Judge Michael J. Sage will decide final sentencing then.
       

Massage parlor employee sentenced

        HAMILTON — The madam of a prostitution operation in a Middletown massage parlor has been sentenced to 90 days in the county jail.

        Nam K. Mun, 38, had pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted promotion of prostitution. She was sentenced by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Sage this week.

        Authorities say she operated a prostitution ring at the Clover Spa, 3925 Roosevelt Blvd., which was raided in April 2001.
       

Officer's wife faces hearing on drug counts

        FRANKLIN — A Franklin woman arrested by her police officer husband will have a pretrial hearing on drug charges in Franklin Municipal Court on Friday.

        Gina Dunham, 38, is charged with three counts of drug abuse and one count of possessing drug paraphernalia.

        Robert Henderson, 31, also faces drug charges and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing the same day.

        The pair were arrested Monday when Franklin Police Officer Steve Dunham went looking for his wife to discuss dinner plans, but she wasn't home. He said he found her at the home of a neighbor and discovered drug activity.

        Police Chief Robert Rockwood said officers had no idea that Mrs. Dunham might have been involved in drug activity.
       

Glenn speaks about glaucoma awareness

        Former astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn has been named national spokesman for Glaucoma Awareness Month, a public education campaign by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

        Mr. Glenn is one of the estimated 3 million people nationwide who have glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness. This year, for the first time, Medicare will cover the costs of glaucoma screenings.

        In the campaign, Mr. Glenn urges Americans to get regular eye exams.

        “I'll never forget the beautiful image of Earth as I looked from the space shuttle Discovery. If my glaucoma had not been caught in time, I never would have seen such a sight,” he says.

        For glaucoma information, call (800) 391-EYES.
       

Carthage bank robbed in 8th heist of year

        The Fifth Third Bank branch at 7001 Vine St. in Carthage was robbed Friday morning, the city's eighth bank robbery of the year.

        According to District 4 police, a man entered the bank about 10 a.m., showed the teller a note demanding money, and left with an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was shown.

        Police are looking for a black man in his late 20s or early 30s, 5 foot 7 inches tall, 140 to 150 pounds, wearing a dark knit skull cap, a black coat and dark pants. He was last seen getting into a dark-colored Pontiac on 70th Street. The car turned north into the alley behind the bank.

        Police were able to trace the license plate, but no arrests were announced as of Friday evening.

        Anyone with information can call the Criminal Investigations Section at 352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040. Callers can remain anonymous and may receive compensation for their information.

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