Water main break damages Saks

        Cincinnati firefighters on the scene early Friday morning were reporting “major water damage“ at the Saks Fifth Avenue department store downtown due to a water main break. Firefighters responded to the store at Fifth and Race Streets just after midnight.

        Closson's, the boutique furniture store located next to Saks at 410 Race St., also reportedly suffered some water damage.

Chabot opponent disqualified from race

        U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot now officially has no Democratic opposition in his bid for re-election.

        The Hamilton County Board of Elections has disqualified the candidacy of Michael Gann of Norwood for not having enough valid signatures on his nominating petitions. Mr. Gann was the only person seeking the Democratic nomination for the 1st Congressional District in the May 7 primary.

        The Democratic Party hopes to find someone who will file petitions by March 18 as a write-in. If that person gets at least 50 votes in the primary, he or she can run in the November general election as a Democrat.
       

Ralph Nader to speak at Xavier's arena

        Ralph Nader, consumer advocate and 2000 presidential candidate of the Green Party, will speak on “Globalization and Environmental Justice,” March 10 at Xavier University's Cintas Center Arena.

        The presentation is part of the Ethics/Religion & Society Lecture Series. It begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by a discussion. At 8:30 p.m. Mr. Nader will sign copies of his book, Crashing the Party: How to Tell the Truth and Still Run for President.

        The lecture is free and open to the public. No tickets are needed. Information: 745-3722.
       

Suspected molester charged in new case

        Suspected serial child molester Clyde Herald was named Thursday in a new indictment alleging sexual assault of a child.

        He faces two counts of gross sexual imposition and could be sentenced to 10 years in prison if convicted.

        Designated a sexual predator, Mr. Herald was indicted Feb. 8 on charges of felonious assault and endangering children for an incident that occurred in October. He is accused of assaulting a 6-year-old girl inside a Springdale department store.

        In this latest charge, handed up by a Hamilton County grand jury Thursday, the 48-year-old Cincinnati man is accused of fondling a 6-year-old girl twice inside a Norwood bookstore in December 1999.

        He is awaiting trial for another case in Northern Kentucky.
       

Car strikes parked cruiser on I-71

        SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP — A two-car crash on Interstate 71 near Ronald Reagan Highway late Wednesday slightly injured three people including a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy.

        The three were treated at Jewish Hospital in Kenwood and released.

        Robert Gentry, 25, of Sycamore Township was waiting for a tow truck and sitting in a parked cruiser with Deputy Kevin Singleton, 27, when it was struck by a 1993 Mercury Tracer driven by Michael Riesenbeck, 20, of Sycamore Township.

        The cruiser's emergency lights were on. The accident happened at 10:47 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-71.

        Mr. Riesenbeck was charged with failing to maintain assured clear distance.

Tribute Mass for outgoing bishop

        COVINGTON — The Diocese of Covington hosts a tribute Mass for Bishop Robert Muench at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, 1140 Madison Ave.

        Bishop Muench leaves March 12 for his new role as Bishop of Baton Rouge. He will be installed there March 14.

        Among guests at Saturday's Mass will be retired Bishop of Covington William Hughes and Archbishop Thomas Kelly of the Archdiocese of Louisville.

        A reception will be from 1-3 p.m. at Covington Catholic High School, 1600 Dixie Highway, Park Hills.
       

Indian Hill man seeks deal in drug case

        LEBANON — A 40-year-old Indian Hill businessman accused of photocopying a legitimate prescription to feed his addiction to the painkiller Vicodin has asked a judge to drop felony drug charges if he completes a rehabilitation program.

        Judge P. Daniel Fedders will decide in two weeks whether James J. Allen, a father of four who manages a business in Mason, will receive treatment in lieu of a conviction.

        During a hearing in Warren County Common Pleas Court Thursday, Mr. Allen, of Indian Hill Road, pleaded guilty to three charges of illegal processing of drug documents stemming from incidents in December and January.

        State law allows judges to erase low-level felony convictions involving drug abuse if a first-time offender completes a drug program.
       

Talawanda principal will stay on leave

        OXFORD — Talawanda Middle School Principal Charley Wittenberg will remain on administrative leave until his July 31 resignation.

        The Talawanda Board of Education accepted Mr. Wittenberg's resignation Wednesday. He had been on administrative leave during an investigation that began last month after a staff member brought information about Mr. Wittenberg to district officials.

        In a statement issued Thursday, the Talawanda Board of Education said the investigation has ended. It didn't give much information, but said that Mr. Wittenberg was not accused of any acts of indecency or criminal conduct.

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