City police chief in robbery chase

        An errand in Over-the-Rhine on Wednesday ended up with Cincinnati's police chief on his first pursuit in years.

        Chief Tom Streicher was waiting outside an Elm Street print shop as a colleague picked up business cards about 2:15 p.m.

        The chief saw a man run by. Another man, Michael Johnson, yelled to him, “That guy just robbed me.”

        The chief followed the running man in his unmarked Ford Taurus police car, calling for backup at 2:17 p.m. Chief Streicher said he briefly considered a foot chase, but he is 48 and the suspect was a young man and “I figured I would lose.”

        At least nine other officers responded.

        The chief eventually caught up with Leroy Mitchell, 23, of Pleasant Ridge, and grabbed him by the shirt. Mr. Mitchell was charged with theft of $1,537 Cartier glasses. The glasses were found in his pants, according to police.

UC cancels Spring Concert

        The University of Cincinnati has canceled today's Spring Concert because of ex-Fugee Wyclef Jean's last-minute decision not to perform.

        The hip-hop star canceled his headlining appearance Tuesday, citing “ongoing civil rights violations in Cincinnati.” He is the first entertainer to cancel a performance without being pressured by local boycott forces, signaling what could be widening support of the boycott.

        The school's decision to cancel the concert is “not at all” boycott-related, said Lucy Croft, UC director of student organizations and activities. UC had tentatively signed multiplatinum rapper Juvenile as a replacement, but changes in staging and other production problems caused UC to cancel the show.

        The concert, to be held in a scaled-down, 3,000-capacity Shoemaker Center, was not a sell-out. Refunds are available at point of purchase. Tickets purchased online or by phone will be credited to the purchaser's credit card.
       

Clermont County to hold auction

        BATAVIA — Vehicles, office furniture and computer items will be available at a public auction on Saturday, May 18, at the Old County Home, 4430 Ohio 222 in Batavia.

        The Clermont County auction will take place at 10 a.m. that day. Cars that have been impounded by the Clermont County Sheriff's Department will be among the property auctioned.

        For more information call Clermont County Facilities Management at 732-8850.
       

Portman named to Medicare drug panel

        Rep. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, has been appointed by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., to a new congressional group to study creation of a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

        The goals of the team are to lower the costs of prescription drugs, guarantee all seniors coverage, improve Medicare with more choices and more savings, and strengthen Medicare.

        The House has passed a bill to provide $350 billion over the next 10 years to strengthen Medicare, the government-run health insurance for the elderly, and develop a Medicare prescription drug plan.
       

Underground Railroad trekker in Columbus
        Joan Southgate, the 73-year-old Cleveland widow walking an Underground Railroad route across Ohio, has made it to Columbus.

        Mrs. Southgate, a retired teacher who began her walk April 2 in Ripley, is visiting Underground Railroad hiding spots along the way and speaking to schoolchildren.

        A 13-year-old boy from Mount Vernon, Ohio, won a school writing contest on slavery and joined the walk last week with relatives and friends.
       

Tax increase on cigarettes in doubt

        COLUMBUS — As retailers and health advocates sparred Wednesday over a proposed 50-cent cigarette tax increase, a member of Senate leadership said he doubts the tax will pass.

        Sen. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, said lingering concerns in the Senate Republican caucus will make it difficult to adopt the rate increase in the next few weeks.

        State officials need to fill a $500 million shortfall this year and a $750 million gap in 2003.

        Raising the tax on packs from 24 cents to 74 cents is expected to raise about $400 million for the state, but only $26 million for this year's shortfall.

        Wholesalers and convenience store owners testifying in committee on Wednesday called the tax increase misguided.

        “You're taxing a declining revenue source here,” said Rick Gummer, owner of Gummer Wholesale in Heath. “This increase will drive sales to border states.”

        The increase would give Ohio dramatically higher cigarette tax rates than all of its neighboring states except for Michigan. The tax in Kentucky is 3 cents a pack; it's 15.5 cents in Indiana.
       

Montgomery seeks cleanup volunteers

        MONTGOMERY — The city's Beautification and Tree Commission needs volunteers to help with its annual flower-planting endeavors throughout the city.

        At 9 a.m. May 11, volunteers are asked to register at Montgomery City Hall, 10101 Montgomery Road. They will then receive refreshments and their flower bed assignments.

        Other planting sessions are scheduled for Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, and from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.

        For more information, call Joyce Yock, volunteer coordinator, 792-8329..
       

Sabis school votes to seek new director

        In a heated meeting Wednesday, the board of Sabis International School voted to advertise for a new school director.

        The board of the Mount Auburn charter school also voted to consider a new curriculum to take the place of that offered by Sabis Educational Systems Inc., the for-profit management company that runs daily operations at the school.

        Meanwhile, angry parents fired off dozens of questions to the attorney for the board, James R. Greene III of Dayton, Ohio, demanding to know why decisions were being made without their input.

        At least two lawsuits have been filed recently to end wrangling between the board of the 650-student elementary school and the management company that runs it.

        While the school's board in March sued to dissolve the nonprofit school, board members now say they want to continue the school's operation under another management company.

        Sabis attorneys said they want to sit down with the board and its attorneys to find a reasonable solution without closing the school and terminating the Sabis contract.

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