BURLINGTON — Accident reports won't be ready for at least a few weeks, but driver fatigue is not considered to have been a factor in a Friday night accident that killed six Ohio college students returning from spring break.

        “There were several licensed drivers in the van. The girl whose father owns the van was not driving, which indicates that they were changing drivers,” said Major Jack Banks, Commander of the Boone County Sheriff's Dept. Bureau of Criminal investigations.

        The accident, at about 9 p.m. Friday night near the Verona exit of Interstate 71, killed six Ohio women who were Bowling Green State University students. The minivan they were riding in went out of control and was struck in the side by a tractor-trailer.

        All victims were declared dead at the scene. No charges are expected to be filed against the truck driver. A heavy rain was falling at the time of the accident.

        The sheriff's department is awaiting lab tests for toxicology results.

        “We don't believe that there are any other factors other than the weather at this point but procedurally we do toxicology on every fatal accident,” Maj. Banks said.

        Mother charged with leaving baby alone

        An Over-the-Rhine mother was arrested Sunday after leaving her 6-month-old baby alone in her apartment, police said.

        Anita Perry, 27, of West McMicken Avenue, was charged with endangering children after a neighbor reported the baby was alone in the apartment.

        Officers found the baby lying near a space heater, the arrest report said.

        She also was wanted on an outstanding warrant for aggravated menacing, police said.

        The baby was taken into protective custody by 241-KIDS.

        Anti-abortion views to make up defense

        Clayton Lee Waagner wants to make his anti-abortion views the centerpiece of his defense when he goes to trial on firearms charges next month.

        Mr. Waagner, 45, is suspected of mailing fake anthrax letters to abortion clinics across the country. He could face life in prison if he is convicted of firearms and stolen-weapons charges at his trial in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.

        In court papers filed Monday, Mr. Waagner asked a judge to let him argue in court that he acted “out of necessity” to protect the lives of unborn children.

        Mr. Waagner said he may argue that the charges against him stem from his desire to stop abortions, especially “partial-birth abortions.”

        “Defendant Waagner was deeply committed to the cause of protecting human life in the form of fighting against abortion,” Mr. Waagner wrote in a motion filed Monday.

        Mr. Waagner's request to make that argument will be decided by a judge before his trial on April 8. Mr. Waagner will act as his own attorney.

        Man pleads guilty in shooting death

        A 24-year-old Walnut Hills man pleaded guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter in the June death of Jonathan Johnson.

        Wan Morrison admitted shooting the 21-year-old Mr. Johnson multiple times June 25.

        The shooting took place on Short Vine Street in Corryville, following an argument.

        Mr. Morrison had initially been charged with one count of murder and one count of voluntary manslaughter. The first charge was reduced and the second was dismissed with his plea Monday.

        Mr. Morrison could be sentenced to four years in prison when he returns for sentencing April 18, before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Robert Kraft.

        Teens win character award in tournament

        COLUMBUS — A team of Over-the-Rhine teens won the “All Character” award at the 29th annual Lifeline National Basketball Tournament over the weekend.

        The Salvation Army Cincinnati Citadel team was one of 44 teams to compete, including several from Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

        The eight boys and one girl on the team are: Ricco Alexander, Tanisha Carter, brothers Richard, Marrion and Eddie Graves, Charles Kelow, Antonio Price, Damien Sellers, and Yosh Tombs, plus coach Khalif Morris and team manager Shaneka Kelow.

        The team receives a scholarship to cover the $250 entry fee for the Lifeline tournament to be held April 5 and 6, in Atlanta.

        Chamber presents annual awards

        MASON — Blackhawk Automotive Plastics and Margie ""Gerry” Walker have won top honors for 2001 from the Mason Landen Kings Chamber of Commerce.

        The announcement came Thursday at the chamber's annual dinner at the Manor House Banquet and Conference Center. The winners were selected by five or six-member committees of chamber members.

        Paige Bryan, Mason's economic development manager, said she nominated Blackhawk Automotive for the chambers Business of the Year award because the company is “committed to its employees, as well as the community, and continues to strive to make both environments a better place.”

        Ms. Walker was selected as Citizen of the Year in part for her 37 years of service on the Mason-Deerfield Fire Auxiliary, the 14 years working on the Mason Heritage Festival and for helping elderly people get around town.

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