Tennessee woman killed in Ohio crash

A 23-year-old Tennessee woman was killed and a 37-year-old Greenfield, Ohio, man was critically injured in separate crashes Sunday in Clinton and Warren counties.

Jennifer Young of Hermitage, Tenn., died Sunday morning in a one-car crash on Interstate 71 in Liberty Township, Clinton County, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

Her husband, 23-year-old James Young, was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu south on I-71 near the Wilmington exit when he lost control and struck a concrete pillar. Mrs. Young died en route to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.

Both the Youngs were wearing seat belts when the crash occurred at 11:10 a.m.

Meanwhile, David Kichler was seriously injured when his wife lost control of a 1998 Toyota on Ohio 28 near Jackson-Runyan Road in Harlan Township and was hit by a pickup about 1:55 p.m. He was transported to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was in critical condition late Sunday.

Melissa Kichler, 35, two children - Morgan Kichler, 2, and Jacob Hookom, 14 - and the pickup driver, Jonathon Cochran, 38, of Pleasant Plain, also were injured and transported to area hospitals for treatment. Their conditions were not available Sunday night.

Updated flood maps coming this week

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will present updated flood plain maps Tuesday for areas along Mill Creek and East Fork Mill Creek in Hamilton County.

The maps - the results of two FEMA studies - will show the areas that have a significant risk of flooding. They are used to determine who must buy flood insurance and how much it will cost.

The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday on the first floor of the Metropolitan Sewer District building at 1081 Woodrow St., Cincinnati.

Indiana man dies in Darke County fire

HOLLANSBURG, Ohio - A fire killed an Indiana man Sunday morning at a home that had been converted from a meat market, officials said.

Phillip A. Franklin, 35, of Winchester, Ind., was pronounced dead at the scene, the Darke County Sheriff's Office said.

Three other adults got out of the house and refused to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Fire officials believe the fire started when a cigarette ignited a couch in the living room, Dayton television station WHIO reported.

Literacy Network offering training

The Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati is offering training classes to provide volunteer tutors to its various sites.

The Basic Tutor Training Class, formerly held in two six-hour sessions, is now taught monthly in one eight-hour Saturday class.

Volunteers who attend the training workshop learn about the special needs of adult learners and how to help develop their basic skills. Upon completing the session, the volunteers serve as aides in a GED or Adult Basic Literacy Education classroom, offer individualized attention in a group setting or work one-on-one with a GED or low-level reading student.

The class costs $20 to cover expenses. Sessions will be held Feb. 22, March 22, April 26, May 17, Aug. 23, Sept. 20, Oct. 28 and Nov. 22. To sign up, call (513) 621-7323.

Mahoning sheriff to cut 58 deputies

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Mahoning County sheriff, faced with a 22 percent budget cut, said 58 deputies will be laid off March 3 from a staff of about 240.

The number of layoffs could climb to 100, according to Sheriff Randall Wellington.

The total will depend on how much money unemployment benefits will cost, Sheriff Wellington said.

He said he would close a jail for offenders convicted of lesser, nonviolent crimes and would move them and deputies to the main jail to save money.

Battle for House seat set Indiana record

INDIANAPOLIS - The battle for a crucial Indiana House seat that was settled only by a recount was Indiana's most expensive Legislative race to date, the Indianapolis Star reported Sunday.

Democrat David Orentlicher, the victor, and Republican Jim Atterholt together spent $779,963 last year seeking the House District 86 seat. Their campaign spending shattered the prior Legislative spending record of $526,168 set in a 1998 Senate race that saw Sen. David Ford, R-Hartford City, win re-election.

- Compiled from staff and wire reports