Butler Co. couple found shot to death

MADISON TWP. - Police found a Butler County couple shot to death in their home early Saturday in what investigators said appears to be a homicide-suicide.

County Sheriff's Detective Monte Mayer said police operators received a 911 call from a home in the 4000 block of Elk Creek Road just before 1 a.m. But the caller hung up. Police went to the house and received no response, so they forced their way in and found the bodies of George L. Spivey, 55, and Linda Roe, 39, both of the Elk Creek address.

Detectives said preliminary findings indicate a murder-suicide but the county coroner will determine their exact causes of death.

Party out of hand: one shot, 3 injured

ROSS TOWNSHIP - A 21-year-old man was shot and three others injured early Saturday morning after a fight broke out at a large party, Butler County Sheriff's Det. Monte Mayer said.

The incident took place about 2:50 a.m. at a home in the 1800 block of New London Road.

Nicholas Wagers, whose address was unavailable, was struck by gunshot pellets while riding as a passenger in a car near the party. He was treated at the scene.

Also injured: Mark McNamee, 21 of Fairfield; Lindsey Thieken, 18 of Hamilton; and Dane Etie, 19, of Fairfield. Authorities could not be specific about their injures. All three were taken to Fort Hamilton and Mercy hospitals. The only arrest stemming from the incident was Jordon Piatt of Fairfield, who was charged with disorderly conduct, misconduct at an emergency and resisting arrest.

Boy, 12, arrested in stolen-truck case

LEBANON - Police have arrested a 12-year-old Lebanon boy who they say stole a pickup last month and struck a 4-year-old girl, injuring her slightly.

Lebanon Police said they arrested the boy Friday and charged him with three juvenile counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, driving without an operator's license, reckless operation and leaving the scene of an accident. The boy had previously taken his mother's boyfriend's pickup truck for drives around the city without their knowledge, police said.

The boy was released into his mother's custody pending assignment of a court date, police said.

30 cows die as truck crashes at I-75 ramp

ERLANGER - Thirty cows died when the tractor-trailer carrying them crashed Saturday morning on the ramp from northbound Interstate 75 to westbound Interstate 275.

Erlanger police closed the ramp for about 81/2 hours after Oakley Cooper, 27, of Flemingsburg, lost control of a tractor-trailer owned by Ramey Trucking of Flemingsburg at 2:25 a.m. Police said the trailer broke lose from the truck and flipped onto its right side, skidding for more than 350 feet and striking a light pole.

Lightning blamed in fire at apartments

Lightning started a small fire at a Florence apartment complex Saturday afternoon when another rash of storms swept through the Tristate.

Florence Fire Captain Kelly Aylor said at 3 p.m. lightning hit the clubhouse roof of the Trellises apartment complex on Trellises Drive. The fire was contained to the clubhouse attic, but caused about $50,000 in damage.

Nobody was injured, Aylor said.

Between 2 and 3 inches of rain fell across the area Saturday afternoon, according to AccuWeather. Minor flooding occurred in parts of Butler and Warren counties and about 4,500 homes across the Tristate lost power.

- Compiled from staff and wire reports