JACKSON TOWNSHIP — Sharon G. Boothby, 39, of Georgetown died Friday night after she crashed into a utility pole along Ohio 133 near Jackson Pike in Clermont County.

        Ms. Boothby was pronounced dead at the scene, said Lt. Paul Hermesof the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in Batavia.

        According to Lt. Hermes, Ms. Boothby was northbound on Ohio 133 about 10 p.m. when she veered left of center. She overcorrected and lost control of her car, striking a utility pole.

        A front-seat passenger, Virginia A. Gregory, 21, also of Georgetown, was transported to Clermont Mercy Hospital in Batavia, where she was treated for minor injuries and released.

        Both women were wearing seat belts. The crash remains under investigation.

One person hurt in two-vehicle accident

        TATE TOWNSHIP — A two-vehicle crash on Ohio 125 near Crane Schoolhouse Road in Clermont County left one person hospitalized Saturday morning.

        The man, whose name was being held pending notification of his relatives, was transported by helicopter to University Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.The other driver, Robert R. Moore, 55, of Batavia, was not injured.

        Mr. Moore was westbound on Ohio 125 when he stopped to turn left on Crane Schoolhouse Road and the unnamed driver struck his vehicle, a 1999 Ford F-450,

        in the rear, said Lt. Paul Hermes of the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in Batavia.

        Both drivers were using their seat belts, and alcohol was not a factor, Lt. Hermes said.

7 released from hospital after wrecks

        Two traffic crashes sent eight people to the hospital Friday.

        By Saturday, all but Sharde Stewart, 12, who was injured in a crash involving seven people, were released. She was listed in serious condition at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

        According to the Cincinnati Police Department's traffic division, Robert McClendon, 47, of the 700 block of Wayne Street in Walnut Hills, was northbound in the 4000 block of Victoria Parkway in North Avondale when he lost control of his car, left the roadway and careened at least 30 yards down into a ravine about 7 p.m.

        Mr. McClendon was transported to University Hospital along with Donna Stewart, 43, also of the 700 block of Wayne Street, and Latoya King, 20, of the 2400 block of Boone in Walnut Hills. All were treated for minor injuries.

        Four passengers who were children were taken to Children's Hospital. Besides Sharde, they were Erma King, 11, Kayla Lovette, 8, and Kyra Lovette, 4. They were treated for minor injuries. Mr. McClendon's case remains under investigation.

        In a separate crash, Wayne Allen, 27, of Sharonville, was westbound in the 1700 block of Tennessee Avenue in Bond Hill when he lost control of his vehicle shortly before 11 p.m. and struck a utility pole.

        He was treated at University, and was charged with failure to control his vehicle and other traffic-related charges.

Juror reverses belief on Traficant's guilt

        CLEVELAND - U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. finally convinced a juror from his corruption trial that the federal government had a vendetta against him.

        But it's about three months too late.

        Leo Glaser, the eighth juror picked for Mr. Traficant's nine-week trial, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer he thinks his vote to convict the Ohio Democrat of 10 felonies was a mistake. He came to that conclusion after watching televised testimony of Mr. Traficant's hearing last week before a House ethics panel.

        The panel recommended that Mr. Traficant be expelled from Congress. A vote by the full 435-member House could come next week.

Aviation pioneers stop for hall induction

        DAYTON, Ohio - When Dick Rutan gets off the ground, he's not used to stopping. He piloted an experimental airplane to the first nonstop around-the-world flight without refueling.

        But Mr. Rutan is planning a stop at the National Aviation Hall of Fame Saturday night.

        He is scheduled to be among the latest inductees, joining James Stockdale, a retired Navy vice admiral and highest-ranking prisoner of war in Vietnam; the late World War II ace Hub Zemke; and helicopter designer Frank Piasecki.

        “To be nominated to join this rank of aviation greats is such an honor,” Mr. Rutan said.

        Founded in Dayton in 1962 and later established by Congress, the hall has 174 inductees, including the Wright brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Neil Armstrong.

Newark man indicted in torture of boys

        NEWARK, Ohio - A man was indicted on charges that he punched two young relatives, hit them with baseball bats and rubber mallets and abused their genitals with pliers.

        Gary Lynn Duff, 42, was indicted Friday on 10 counts of child endangerment for allegedly torturing the boys, ages 10 and 13.

        Duff was in the Licking County jail Saturday in lieu of $50,000 bail.

        Licking County Assistant Prosecutor Rachelle Peloquin said Mr. Duff assaulted the boys from May 2000 to just before his arrest July 10. The abuse occurred at the family's home near Pataskala.

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