River current pushes ferry into sandbar

Operators try rocking Boone No. 7 off a sandbar. | ZOOM |

Passengers cheer as the ferry boat is freed. (Craig Ruttle photos) | ZOOM |

A surprisingly strong river current Sunday pushed the Anderson Ferry just far enough off course to get stuck on a sandbar, leaving passengers stranded for nearly an hour.

High Boone No. 7, one of the ferry boats, was just leaving the Ohio side at about 5:50 p.m. when it drifted onto a sandbar about 10 feet from shore.

The ferry was freed by the tug boat Glenna-M. The passengers and vehicles on the ferry were never in any immediate danger, Cincinnati fire officials said.

Good Samaritan has faster scanner

Good Samaritan Hospital has installed a new, faster CT scanner that will allow better images of moving internal organs.

The $1.2 million Siemens Sensation 16 scanner can take a complete chest, abdomen and pelvis scan in about 13 seconds.

Doctors plan to use the scanner to improve diagnosis of lung cancer, brain tumors and conditions, and heart disease.

TriHealth, the hospital group that operates Good Samaritan, plans to install a similar scanner at Bethesda North Hospital in June.

Police will march to memorial today

Cincinnati police officers today will make their annual memorial march from downtown to police headquarters.

The Fountain Square ceremony begins at noon. From there, officers, their families and other supporters will walk to the police memorial across from District 1 on Ezzard Charles Drive.Law-enforcement departments around the country honor their fallen colleagues during the second week of May. The 15th annual national candlelight vigil is Tuesday at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Avondale homes to get smoke detectors

City firefighters, with help from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, will install smoke detectors in Avondale on Saturday.

During the next two years, more than 2,000 detectors will be installed in homes in city neighborhoods as part of a project sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati Safe Kids Coalition.

The firefighters from Engine 32 on Forest Avenue will install detectors from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will inspect detectors in homes that already have them.

No arrests yet in fire that killed 5

COLUMBUS - Fire officials acknowledge it may take a while to get the big break needed in the investigation of an arson that killed five college students last month.

"It's a tad early," fire Capt. Steve Saltsman said.

Officials say they know how the fire was set at the rooming house near Ohio State University, and they are continuing to knock on doors for tips. The reward fund for information has grown to $34,500.

"Someone out there knows what happened," Saltsman said.

Up to 20 people were in the house April 13 when the fire was set near the front door. Two Ohio State students and three from Ohio University died in the blaze.

Arson investigators still are trying to find out who ignited a dormitory at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., in Jan. 19, 2000, killing three freshmen at the university.

Politics is local when Bush visits Indy

INDIANAPOLIS - President Bush's trip to Indiana this week can be seen as all about votes.

Bush wants to win the vote of Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh for his tax-cut plan pending in Congress. And it will be surprising if he does not also put in a plug for departing White House budget director Mitch Daniels, who is expected to run for governor of Indiana.

Bush is scheduled to stay in Indianapolis tonight and speak Tuesday morning at the Indiana State Fairgrounds coliseum.

Daniels, Republican Sen. Dick Lugar and other members of Indiana's congressional delegation are expected to join Bush, said Luke Messer, executive director of the state Republican Party. Bayh, however, will not be on hand, his spokesman said.

About 7,000 people are expected to attend the speech, with the tickets available to the public all claimed within about a day after Bush's visit was announced Wednesday.

- Compiled from staff and wire reports