A Hamilton County grand jury Friday indicted a 35-year-old Evanston man in connection with the death of his estranged girlfriend.

        Christopher Echols of the 1500 block of Merrimac Street is charged with felonious assault and aggravated murder. Prosecutors say he beat Melissa June Wallace, 33, of Springfield Township, to death with a rock, put her body in the back of his sport utility vehicle and unsuccessfully tried to torch the vehicle.

        Police said they found Mr. Echols with a can of gasoline standing next to the vehicle. He had told a relative he was going to set himself, the car and body on fire, police said.

        Mr. Echols is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $1 million bond.
       

Brisbane mayor will speak on river cleanup

               At the River Cities Symposium on June 28, Jim Soorley, Brisbane, Australia's outspoken mayor, will discuss his efforts to clean up and improve life along the Brisbane River.

        He will speak at the symposium's luncheon, from noon to 1:45 p.m.

        The meeting, from 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, is sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the Metropolitan Growth Alliance.

        Its purpose is to inspire change in the community culture and shift the thinking to regional action.

        The conference costs $40, or $25 for the luncheon only.

        Additional information: www.mgacincinnati.org.
       

Bond set at $50,000 over explosive at game

               CLEVELAND — A municipal court judge on Saturday set bond at $50,000 each for three men accused of throwing an explosive device akin to a firecracker at a Cleveland Indians game.

        The explosion injured two people and briefly disrupted the ninth inning of the Indians' 5-1 win against Philadelphia at Jacobs Field.

        Donald Kreiger and Clifton Oliver, both 22, and Andrew Mendez, 20, were charged on Friday with felonious assault and aggravated arson for throwing the device, which fire officials said might have been homemade.

Ex-court clerk faces prison, restitution

               COLUMBUS — A former Mayor's Court clerk in suburban New Rome has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing $5,600 in court funds.

        Joyce Johnson, 44, apologized for the thefts before Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Alan Travis imposed the sentence and ordered her to pay back the money.

        Ms. Johnson pleaded guilty in April to theft in office and tampering with records. The combined maximum term for the felonies is 10 years.

        David Buchman, an assistant county prosecutor, said that between Jan. 1, 1999, and May 31, 2001, Ms. Johnson pocketed money from traffic ticket payments, then doctored receipts or destroyed records to conceal the thefts. She resigned last year after being confronted.

Hauck Road to close for railroad repairs

               SHARONVILLE — Hauck Road, near the intersection of Reading Road, will be closed the week of June 24 so that Norfolk Southern workers can replace a railroad crossing.

        The road will re-open during the first week of July. Specific dates have not been provided, said Christine Thompson, the mayor's assistant.
       

State worker resigns after porn discovered

               TOLEDO — An account executive who worked in an Ohio Job and Family Services Department district office resigned after the agency said it found child pornography on his computer.

        The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating Allan Schroeder, an 18-year employee of the department's Toledo office, who resigned Wednesday.

        Mr. Schroeder, 54, of Rossford, worked on the employment side of the agency. He confirmed Thursday that he has resigned, but would not discuss the allegations against him.

        State officials seized the computer and found pornographic images along with links to child-pornography Web sites, said Ken Marshall, the department's chief inspector.
       

Authorities identify three crash victims

               NEW WESTVILLE — Authorities have identified the three people killed on Wednesday when their car collided with a freight train in this western Ohio village.

        Belinda Sue Jaques, 17, and Ricky Dale Venters, 18, both of Camden, and Cody Rose, 18, of Gratis, died in the crash, the Preble County sheriff's office said Saturday.

        The bodies had been taken to the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory in Dayton for identification by a forensics dentist because they were burned severely.

        Lori Housewright, 17, who worked with Ms. Jaques, said many Camden residents recognized the 1992 Oldsmobile and the license plate. The sheriff's office said the car was struck as it entered a crossing marked only by a railroad crossing sign.

        Rudy Husband, spokesman for Norfolk Southern, said the train was traveling below the track speed limit of 60 mph, and the crew was doing everything properly.

Erpenbeck partied while company imploded
Freedom Center searches for slave-era artifacts
Freedom Center breaks ground Monday
PULFER: Freedom Center our chance to reclaim good name
UC sophomore crowned Miss Ohio
Over-the-Rhine school struggles to shape lives
Cincinnati CAN urges mentoring of at-risk kids
SMITH AMOS: Last chance to provide public input
Big cities feeling picked on by state
BRONSON: Top complaint about cops: 'There aren't enough'
Diverse crowd celebrates emancipation
Falwell's speech focuses on dignity
Local Digest
Residents give river a clean sweep
Special breed featured at dog show
Congrats
DeWine assesses nation's security in wake of 9-11
Travelers giving police keys to house
Presbyterians elect new leader
Race revs up fans
Teacher content standards lag
Fund-raiser searched for alcohol
LG&E faces charges in deaths
Maysville rep named Miss Kentucky
Poison ivy covers most of Kentucky
Wilkinson undergoes treatment