A Madisonville man has been charged in the Saturday night death of a 45-year-old Oakley woman in what is believed to be an alcohol-related traffic crash, Cincinnati police said.

        Eric Tullis, 26, of the 2500 block of Madison Road, faces counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident.

        He is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center and will appear in court today.

        Mr. Tullis is accused of failing to stop for a red light at the intersection of Erie and Paxton roads in Hyde Park, slamming into Theresa Murrie's 1997 Saab 900, as she drove southbound on Paxton Road.

        Ms. Murrie, a mother of two, was pronounced dead at University Hospital upon arrival shortly after the 10:45 p.m. crash.

        Mr. Tullis fled the scene, police said, but was apprehended a short time later. He was not injured in the crash but was “highly intoxicated,” according to his arrest report. He refused to take a blood-alcohol test.

        Sixth-graders lauded for quick thinking

        LANCASTER, Ohio — Quick thinking and quick reflexes have brought national recognition to two sixth-graders from Sanderson Elementary School.

        Ethan Thrush and Justin Wright are among five school safety patrol teams receiving AAA's National School Safety Patrol Lifesaving Award this week in Washington.

        Their actions at school on Nov. 21 got them the award.

        On that morning a car streaked from the school parking lot, bearing down on a third-grader in the crosswalk. Ethan yelled at Justin to look out, and Justin went into the crosswalk, grabbed the girl by her jacket and pulled her to safety.

        The car sped past without stopping.

        The boys are among 24 sixth-graders on their school's safety patrol this year. They work from 8:30 a.m. until the school bell rings at 8:55 a.m., and when school lets out at 3:30 p.m.

        “They acted quickly, responsibly and bravely,” said Carol Spires, the school's principal.

        As part of the awards ceremony, the boys will serve as crossing guards for members of Congress outside the Capitol.

        U.S. senators to speak at town hall meeting

        U.S. Sens. Mike DeWine and George Voinovich, who represent Ohio, will discuss human rights issues at a town hall meeting at 10:30 a.m. Friday in an Over-the-Rhine church.

        The free event, sponsored by the Contact Center and the Welfare Rights Coalition, will be held at Nast Trinity Methodist Church, 1310 Race St.

        It will be moderated by Janell Walton of WCPO-TV (Channel 9).

        For information, call Charmaign Gilden, 381-4242.

        DUI alleged in 4-car crash

        GLENCOE, Ky. — State police arrested a Cincinnati man on drunken driving charges Sunday after he was involved in a four-vehicle crash along Interstate-71 that killed two people.

        Vince Rutledge, 38, was jailed in the Carroll County Detention Center and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol on Sunday, state police said.

        His car was traveling north on I-71 about 2 miles north of Glencoe at 12:10 a.m. EST, when he struck the rear end of a car in front of him, police said. The two cars swerved to either sides of the road, but a 1998 BMW behind Mr. Rutledge's car went into the southbound lane and struck a 1991 Ford Aerostar van head-on.

        A passenger in the BMW, whose name was not released, died at the scene. Richard Moskwa Jr., 24, of Hazel Park, Mich., who was riding in the Aerostar, died when he arrived at UK Medical Center at 2:30 a.m. EST., state police said.

        The driver of the BMW, Matthew S. Burton, 48, of Cincinnati, was flown to University Hospital in Cincinnati with serious injuries. Mr. Moskwa's father, Richard Moskwa Sr., who was driving the Aerostar, suffered serious injuries and was flown to the UK Medical Center. Four other people suffered in the crash received minor injuries.

        Mr. Rutledge wasn't injured.

        Home-repair help group has new home

        People Working Cooperatively, a local nonprofit agency that assists low-income homeowners with repairs, is moving its Bond Hill offices to double its work space.

        The agency will relocate from Shona Drive in Bond Hill to the former Messer Construction Co. offices on Paddock Road, also in Bond Hill.

        People Working Cooperatively plans to complete the move this summer.

        Founded in 1975, the agency has a full-time staff of 70 crafts people and administrative personnel, plus volunteers. It provides critical home repairs and emergency services for at-risk homeowners.

        For information: 351-7921.

        "Best Schools' garners national attention

        The Eastern Catholic Alliance of Schools for Excellence (E-CASE) has received national attention for its innovative technology program.

        The program, developed just over a year ago, is featured in the April issue of Today's Catholic Teacher, a publication that reaches more than 200,000 educators and school administrators across the country.

        Called “Best Schools,” the program is designed to support teachers as they integrate technology into their classrooms. While most E—CASE schools had adequate hardware and software, individual schools did not have the time or financial resources to research and invest in training.

        Offered in cooperation with Xavier University's Center of Excellence in Education, Best Schools provides 18 months of training for teachers from the 11 E-CASE schools.

        Home rehab group completes No. 44

        The Working in Neighborhoods program, a 22-year old nonprofit group that builds and rehabilitates old homes for Cincinnati's working poor, Sunday celebrated the completion of its 44th home in South Cumminsville.

        The refurbished two-story, two-bedroom home with a yard and full basement has been sold to Roberta Howard, a longtime resident and teacher's assistant for Cincinnati Public Schools.

        Sale price: $50,000.

        Sister Barbara Busch is executive director of Working in Neighborhoods. Her program has targeted the neighborhood to try to improve the home-ownership rate.

        Ottawa: New taxes for new business

        OTTAWA, Ohio — The last months before this village's largest and best-paying employer closes might not seem the best time to try to increase property taxes.

        But leaders in Ottawa say updated schools and other building projects are what the town needs to attract replacement businesses.

        “It's time that people start seeing some kind of construction to give them faith that something is happening,” Loehrke said.

        Village officials are endorsing a 4.98-mill bond issue in Tuesday's primary election to renovate and expand Ottawa-Glandorf High School. If it passes, the district might get state help for new elementary schools in Ottawa and neighboring Glandorf by 2010.

        Ottawa, 50 miles southwest of Toledo, also is providing $1.5 million in land and services for a new Putnam County YMCA and working on plans for a technology training center next door.

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