Woman due in court in fatal accident

A 23-year-old Blue Ash woman is scheduled to be arraigned this morning in Campbell County District Court on a charge that she was intoxicated when her vehicle crashed on the Combs Heil Bridge early Monday morning, killing a passenger.

Nicole Dattilo was charged with driving under the influence in the crash that killed 23-year-old Ryan Heck of Butler, Ky., said Campbell County police.

Ms. Dattilo was driving a Toyota GTS eastbound on Interstate 275 when it crashed into the bridge wall and a steel girder about 1:35 a.m., the sheriff's department said.

Ms. Dattilo and two other passengers suffered minor injuries in the crash, which ended with the vehicle flipping on its top.

The crash remains under investigation.

Concertgoers should plan for parking

Those attending the Bruce Springsteen concert and other events at U.S. Bank Arena should keep in mind that the Cinergy Field garage is closed.

There are parking garages south of Second Street between Paul Brown Stadium and the Cinergy Field demolition site. To access U.S. Bank Arena from there, follow Second Street to Main Street and take the new walkway through Great American Ball Park, which connects to the arena. Those parking in the riverfront lots will not be permitted to walk south or to use Mehring Way because of the Cinergy demolition.

There is also ample parking at various lots and garages north of Third Street. Pedestrians can take Main Street across Fort Washington Way to access the walkway.

Movie filming Sunday at Lexington track

Sunday is the last chance for Tristate residents to take part in the filming of Seabiscuit, during a major crowd scene at Keeneland Race Track near Lexington.

Filmmakers, who canceled plans to film scenes in Cincinnati, are inviting film fans to show up from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Crowd members - unlike on-camera extras - will not be paid. However, volunteers will be eligible for prize drawings and giveaways, including passes to the Seabiscuit premiere in 2003 (including air fare and hotel as needed), passes to the next Kentucky Derby, television sets, DVD players and T-shirts. Organizers also promise food and stunt races.

Volunteers must be at least 16 (with parental permission) and must stay on the set all day. Advance registration is required through www.beinamovie.com.

Firefighter chili to benefit charity

Cincinnati firefighters will serve chili today to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.

Homemade white chicken chili, by firefighter Curtis Chandler, will be on the stove at the Apple on Elm restaurant, 801 Elm St., downtown, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All proceeds go to the agency in Avondale that houses families of sick children. Firefighters sold 7 gallons of soup last week for the charity. The cooking continues Tuesdays through November.

Fund raising for memorial is slow

MASON - While several hundred people turned out for last weekend's Mason Veterans Memorial Community Challenge, it raised only about $3,200 toward the memorial's $500,000 to $600,000 cost.

Organizers had hoped to reach 60 to 75 city subdivisions during a Saturday morning fund-raiser, but had volunteers to reach only about 20, said Loretta Terry, a member of the memorial committee. Before the weekend, organizers had raised more than $100,000. They are selling $35 bricks that will be used in the site.

The memorial, located at the new municipal building on Mason-Montgomery Road, should be completed by Veterans' Day 2003. It features several pillars representing the devastating wars in American history, an eternal flame and a "wall of tears" flowing down black granite.

Ex-youth pastor faces sex charges

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - A former Fort Wayne youth pastor is accused of repeatedly having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl over the span of a year.

Steve Rios, 32, of Montpelier, Ohio, was arrested Saturday and charged with two felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor. He was released on $20,000 bond.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Mr. Rios, who was an associate and youth pastor at New Hope Worship Center in Fort Wayne, began having intercourse with the girl in June 2000.

A Child Protective Services caseworker in Ohio reported that the girl and Mr. Rios had sex five to 10 times at the youth pastor's Fort Wayne home during a three-week period in early June 2000. The caseworker's investigation uncovered a letter written by the girl to the head pastor of New Hope Worship Center stating the sexual intercourse occurred again in 2001, the Journal Gazette reported Monday.

The affidavit also said the girl told her cousin she got drunk with Mr. Rios and his wife one night. After the couple went to bed, Mr. Rios returned to the girl about 3 a.m. and had sex with her, the affidavit said.

Michael Bower of the New Hope Worship Center told a detective that Mr. Rios resigned last April after he confronted him about the relationship.

Indiana's oldest jewelry store closing

RICHMOND, Ind. - A downtown fixture that has been selling jewel-encrusted keepsakes for weddings, anniversaries and graduations for 149 years is nearing its end.

Sometime after the Christmas rush, Davis-Jenkins Jewelers will close its doors. Owner Barbara Davis tried to retire twice before, but said this time she's really leaving.

Davis-Jenkins Jewelers traces its history to 1853, when it was Jenkins Jewelers. In the early 1950s, the Davis family bought the business and merged the names.

That makes their jewelry store the oldest in Indiana, said Mrs. Davis, who ran the store with her husband, Stanley, and the help of their three sons.

Over half of districts still lack contracts

GARY, Ind. - The state's tightening purse strings and rising health insurance costs have left more than half of Indiana's school districts embroiled in lingering contract talks with teachers.

Among Indiana's 294 school districts, 166 have not yet settled teacher contracts, said Joe Ransal, director of research for the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board.

He called that an unusually high number and blamed it on a lack of state tuition support and increased health insurance costs.

Indiana schools have suffered because of a growing budget deficit estimated at about $700 million.