A one-car crash on northbound Interstate 75 sent three men to a hospital, Cincinnati police said.

        Roy King, 38, of Mount Airy, was driving a 1995 Jeep Wrangler just before 8 p.m. Saturday when he lost control, crossed two lanes of traffic, and plowed into a guard rail.

        Mr. King was ejected from the Jeep and landed in the center lane. He was in fair condition Sunday at University Hospital.

        Two passengers also were ejected: Kevin Lundy, 35, of Hyde Park, and Daniel Pullins, 18, of Golf Manor. Both men were taken to University Hospital, treated and released.

        The accident, which shut down northbound traffic on I-75 for nearly three hours Saturday night, remains under investigation.

Salesman accused of stealing pills

        HAMILTON — Police say a salesman stole an elderly woman's prescription painkillers while he was trying to sell her a burial plot.

        Dennis Fowler, 41, an employee of Rose Hill Cemetery, was arrested Friday in the 900 block of High Street for theft of drugs and possession of hydrocodone, a generic version of the painkiller Vicodin.

        While in the home of a 72-year-old woman last week, Mr. Fowler noticed her prescription medications. He asked her for a glass of water, and when she left the room to get it, Mr. Fowler took about 100 hydrocodone pills, police said.

        Police recovered 62 of the pills from Mr. Fowler's residence Friday, said Hamilton Police vice Sgt. Carl Sigmon.

        Mr. Fowler is free on bond awaiting a Wednesday court appearance.

Man charged with raping 6-year-old boy

        A Springfield Township man was arrested early Sunday and charged with raping a 6-year-old boy.

        Brian S. Niehaus, 25, of the 6800 block of Edmar Court, will appear in court Tuesday. Mr. Niehaus allegedly raped the childabout 5:30 p.m. Saturday as the two watched television in Mr. Niehaus' basement.

        Police took Mr. Niehaus into custody at 2:30 a.m. Sunday. The child's mother reported the incident to police.

Woman accused of driving into crowd

        A Forest Park woman who was arrested late Saturday is accused of driving her vehicle through a crowd outside a bar in March, striking two people.

        Temchisa Williams, 22, of the 1000 block of West Kemper Road, was charged with two counts of felonious assault. She posted $5,000 bond Sunday and was released until her next court appearance.

        Police say about 2:30 a.m. March 22, Ms. Williams drove her car through a crowd of people outside the Jazz in the Park Bar in the 1100 block of West Kemper Road.

        Two witnesses told police they heard her say “I'm about to run over these two (women),” while talking on her cellular telephone.

Newest firefighters likely last for a year

        Cincinnati's newest firefighters reported to work Sunday. They probably will be the last hired for more than a year.

        The 21 recruits — the department's 106th class — graduated Friday morning at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. Among them was Chief Robert Wright's son, Robert II, who stood as his father pinned on his new badge.

        Becoming probationary firefighters means the recruits' salaries jumped Sunday to $37,000 a year, from the $28,000 per year rate for trainees.

        They're expected to be the last class of new hires until January 2004. Chief Wright said he doesn't think there will be a need for the annual class that would begin this coming January, as he doesn't anticipate seeing the 30 to 35 retirements the department usually gets each year.

        The lack of new hires here comes despite calls nationally for more firefighters in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

More charges filed in insurance fraud

        CLEVELAND — A retired priest who formerly served in the Vatican faces additional charges that he participated in an insurance fraud scheme run by now-jailed financier Martin Frankel.

        Mississippi Attorney General Michael Moore has unsealed criminal charges accusing Monsignor Emilio Colagiovanni of conspiracy, mail fraud and making false statements to state insurance regulators.

        “The monsignor was a key part of Frankel's efforts to create a front for his fraudulent scheme,” said Charles Copeland, a lawyer for the Mississippi Department of Insurance, which earlier this month filed a civil case against Colagiovanni.

        The 82-year-old priest, who now lives with his sister in suburban Seven Hills, declined to comment on the allegations. The Vatican has denied the charges.

        Msgr. Colagiovanni's lawyer, Paul Mancino of Cleveland, accused insurance regulators of suing the Vatican “because it has deep pockets.”

Indiana raises park usage fees

       SPENCER, Ind. — Indiana residents taking in the great outdoors this summer at state parks will find shorter hours and some higher fees due to the state's budget crunch.

        Budget cuts hit few areas of state government harder than the park system, which took a $2.3-million cut — about 12 percent of its total funding. The state's reservoirs lost $950,000, or 11 percent.

        That drastic loss of funds has park officials struggling to provide the public with optimal opportunities within a tightened budget.

        All Indiana state park pools will close at 6 p.m., instead of 7 p.m. as in past summers. And the pool season, which used to run through Labor Day, will end Aug. 17.

        Other changes include reduced mowing and limited naturalist programs.

        Brooks said the goal of park employees is to make sure the cutbacks have a minimal impact on visitors.

        Park visitors will notice one change as soon as they reach the gate. In-state entrance fees have been increased by 33 percent this year — to $4, up from $3.

       Memorial Day closings
        Postal service No delivery.
       Library Closed.
       Banks *Closed
       Trash collection
       • Cincinnati: One-day delay.
       • Rumpke: Regular collection.
       • CFI: Regular collection.
       Metro Holiday schedules and fares.
       Parking meters No coins required (Cincinnati).
       Courts Closed.
       Government offices
       • Federal: Closed. • City and county: Closed.
       • State: Closed.
       Stock markets Closed.

        *In-store branches of Firstar Bank will be open holiday hours. The Fifth Third Banking Center at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will be open.

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