Kentucky man killed in head-on crash

INDEPENDENCE - A 49-year-old Independence man was killed in a two-car Christmas Eve wreck on a narrow stretch of Shaw Road in Kenton County.

Roman Borisovich Mirensky was a passenger in a red Ford Escort driven by his 16-year-old daughter, Independence police said. She was taken by Air Care to University Hospital, where she was listed in stable condition Tuesday night. Her name was not released.

The Escort was traveling east at 11:15 a.m. when it collided head-on with a Honda Prelude traveling westbound on Shaw Road, about a half mile west of Ky. 17.

The 17-year-old driver of the Prelude was treated for minor injuries at the scene. Police did not release his name.

A third vehicle was struck by debris from the crash, but no one in that vehicle was injured.

The road was closed for about four hours as officers from Independence and Erlanger investigated.

The accident was still under investigation Tuesday evening, and the cause was not known.

Police seek facts about headstone

An barely legible headstone records the tragic death of a child in 1820, before she reached her fourth birthday.

But the headstone no longer marks the burial plot of Elizabeth Williams, and police are seeking the public's help in returning it to its proper location.

The headstone recently was found abandoned in the yard of a residence in the 1100 block of Fairbanks Avenue in Price Hill.

The man who found it took it to the District 3 police station, but officers have not been able to locate the grave site.

The inscription reads: "In memory of Elizabeth Williams, who departed this life July 25th, 1820, aged 3 years 10 months."

District 3 officers have contacted cemeteries in the area, but no one has recognized the headstone, police said Thursday.

Police theorize the gravestone may have come from a very old family plot or from a cemetery outside the Greater Cincinnati area.

Anyone who has information about the headstone is asked to call the Cincinnati Police Department public information office at 352-3515.

Apply for passport at main library branch

Beginning Jan. 2, those needing passports will be able to apply at the main branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

The public documents and patents department at the Main Library, 800 Vine Street, will accept new passport applications on a first-come, first-serve basis from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Applications will be accepted by appointment only during limited weekend and evening hours.

"We'll have a special phone number set up to field passport questions," said John Graham, department manager.

"The number will have plenty of helpful recorded information, as well as the chance to speak with a staff member. We will also establish a separate Web site with specialized information."

Both the Web site and phone number will be activated Jan. 1: www.cincinnatilibrary.org/ or call 369-6976.

Salmonella reported in Clark County

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Several cases of salmonella have been traced to unpasteurized skim milk sold last month at Young's Jersey Dairy, health officials said.

Fourteen confirmed cases of the illness have been linked to the dairy, and preliminary tests show 16 other people may have been sickened, said Clark County Health Commissioner Charlie Patterson.

Some people didn't show any symptoms. Those who did experienced abdominal pain, diarrhea, chills, fever, nausea or vomiting.

Several people who became ill work at the diary, Mr. Patterson said.

All of those diagnosed with the bacterial infection were at Young's between Nov. 29 and Dec. 9 and each consumed unpasteurized milk or milkshakes made with unpasteurized milk, investigators said. Inspectors from the Clark County Combined Health District and the state departments of Health and Agriculture began combing the dairy Dec. 10, said Dan Young, its chief executive officer.

Trucker charged with threatening president

DAYTON, Ohio - A trucker who police said was overheard saying he was going to blow up the White House has been charged with threatening the president.

Norayr Avetisyan, 27, of Glendale, Calif., was held without bond Monday in the Montgomery County Jail in Dayton after police said he told another trucker on his citizens band radio that he had explosives in his truck and was headed to the White House.

No explosives were found after the truck was stopped Sunday, Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Robin Schmutz said.

Mr. Avetisyan was driving east on Interstate 70 near Indianapolis when someone overheard the conversation and notified authorities, Sgt. Schmutz said. A weigh scale for trucks in Preble County, near the Indiana state line, was opened so Mr. Avetisyan would have to stop, Sgt. Schmutz said.

Christmas Day closings

Postal Service: No delivery

Library: Closed

Banks: Closed

Trash collection

Cincinnati: One day delay

Rumpke: One day delay

CSI: One day delay

Metro: Holiday Schedule

Parking meters: No coins required

Courts: Closed

Government offices

Federal: Closed

City and county: Closed

State: Closed

Stock markets: Closed

Ohio E-Check: Closed