Thursday, February 28, 2002
Tristate A.M. Report
State office will not audit Cincinnati 2012
State Auditor Jim Petro's office will not perform an audit of Cincinnati 2012, the defunct organization that tried to bring the Summer Olympic Games to the Queen City.
State Rep. Chris Redfern, D-Port Clinton, asked the auditor's office to check the organizing group's spending of more than $188,000 in public money.
The state's Department of Development, which awarded the grant, already has audited Cincinnati 2012's books, questioning the spending of about $80,000 in grant money. Cincinnati 2012 responded this week, agreeing to return nearly $14,000 of that grant money and defending the use of the rest.
Mayor concerned by hate-crime reports
Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken said Wednesday he's concerned about news reports that a homicide in Mount Auburn this week is being investigated as a hate crime.
Police said Ricardo Rangel Tapia, 23, of Norwood, was killed at the intersection of East McMillan Street and Highland Avenue about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. Another man was injured in the shooting.
Police are looking for two men and two women in a cream-colored car who got into an argument with the victims, apparently over the Hispanic music they were playing.
The mayor asked the city manager to keep City Council informed of developments in the case.
Police ask that anyone with information about the shooting call Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.
Promoted officers to be sworn in today
The Cincinnati Police Department will swear in three new lieutenants and three sergeants in 11 a.m. ceremony today at District 1 police headquarters.
Those who will be promoted to lieutenant are Randy Webb, with the department since October 1998; Douglas Wiesman, who entered the police academy in May 1990; and Eliot Isaac, who joined the department in October 1998.
The newly promoted sergeants are Dwayne Wilson, with the department since January 1996; Carolyn Mock, with the department since September 1991; and Jerry Kinebrew, with the department since January 1997.
Former PTO treasurer sentenced to jail
HAMILTON — The former treasurer of Monroe Elementary School's Parent Teacher Organization will go to jail after being found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of theft.
Carrie Hubbard pleaded no contest to a reduced charge Wednesday under a plea agreement that reimburses the PTO and reduced the theft charge from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Butler County Area II Judge J.B. Connaughton found Mrs. Hubbard guilty and sentenced her to 90 days in jail, with 60 days suspended provided she pay restitution of $11,044.43. He also fined her $1,000 and put her on two years' probation.
Police said Mrs. Hubbard began taking the PTO's money instead of depositing it shortly after being appointed treasurer in September 2000.
Man in good condition after work accident
WHITEWATER TWP. — A worker escaped serious injury after a backhoe bucket fell and hit him while he was working in a 10-foot deep trench along Ohio 128 Wednesday morning.
Richard Kidd, 24, of Ironton, Ohio, was in good condition at University Hospital following the 10:20 a.m. incident. Rescuers pulled him from the trench near the intersection of U.S. 50.
A steel safety box being used in the construction project kept the trench from collapsing on the workers or rescuers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident, said William M. Murphy, area director for the Cincinnati OSHA office.
Firstar bank robber could be teen-ager
A robber believed to be a teen-ager hit the Firstar Bank on Harrison Avenue in Westwood on Wednesday afternoon.
The robber entered the bank about 12:25 p.m., showed the teller a note and demanded money, police said. The robber fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and was last seen running through a parking lot in the rear of the bank. No weapon was seen.
He is described as white, 17-19 years old, 5-foot-10, 150-160 pounds with light brown hair. He was wearing a light gray baggy sweat shirt with a hood; light blue baggy jeans; a gray skull cap; and round, black frame sunglasses.
The robbery was the ninth in Cincinnati this year.
Anyone with information on is asked to call the Cincinnati Police Department's criminal investigations section at 352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040. Callers can remain anonymous.
Lebanon council OKs apartment renovations
LEBANON — City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday night to support the planned renovation of low-income apartments.
Lebanon Commons, a 20-unit complex on Columbus Avenue, is in a sorry state, city officials say.
Buckeye Community Hope Foundation, which bought the property more than a year ago, wants to rehabilitate it, but has only $360,000 for the job. The Columbus-based company is applying for an additional $461,500 in state help — which requires local endorsement of the project.
Union will abide by boycott of Cincinnati
Text of letter
Schools gear up for state test time
Questions, answers about Ohio proficiency tests
Commission dudes pony up for skateboard fest
Navy mom beckons other parents
City cops, ATF work to get federal drug and gun charges
Contest lets fans leave their mark on ballpark
Councilmen address life quality
Home addition faces razing
Murder defendant faces decision on plea bargain
Norwood schools to buy Shea
Peter Max enters bid for escaped cow
Recents busts yield cocaine worth $4M
Response to reforms criticized
Sierra Club files suit against Hamilton Co.
Tristate A.M. Report
Witness says he saw fatal shots
PULFER: Cyber museum
HOWARD: Some Good News
RADEL: Unity Week
Business projects on ballot
Butler pols chew the fat on tax hike
County leaders back hospital
Hamilton man guilty of smut charges
Hamilton's new football coach praised
Lakota ponders adding office
Landfill cleanup questioned
Man who crossed median not guilty in fatal crash
OxyContin suit status argued
Agreement could drum up support for permanent college tuition cap
Tobacco farmers' fund eyed for budget
Bill on historic documents stays put
House votes for Sweet 16 review
Kentucky News Briefs
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