Boone Co. priest dies at home

BURLINGTON - The Rev. Jerome Britt, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, was found dead of apparent natural causes Saturday.

Boone County Coroner Doug Stith said Britt, 48, died in his home at the parish either Friday evening or Saturday morning. Britt had a history of health problems.

Britt, a pet lover, was known for conducting a "blessing of the animals" service.

Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the parish, 5876 Veterans Way. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Cathedral and Basilica of the Assumption, Covington.

Students against death penalty

WALNUT HILLS - Several St. Ursula Academy students will join Mount Notre Dame, Seton, and St. Xavier High students Tuesday at the Lucasville penitentiary in a prayer vigil to protest the execution of William Wickline, who is scheduled to die by lethal injection for the 1982 death of Peggy Lerch in Columbus.

The St. Ursula students will leave the academy at 6 a.m. and will stop at Seton High for a prayer in the chapel, before continuing to Lucasville.

The students will hold a prayer vigil outside the penitentiary and be back at their schools by about 3 p.m.

Man gets 20 years for fatal crash

MAYSVILLE - A Northern Kentucky man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a drunken-driving accident that killed three people.

Kelly Applegate of Tollesboro was charged with three counts of second-degree manslaughter in the May deaths of Chad R. Lucas, 22, of May's Lick, and John Frye II, 21, and Danielle L. Stringer, 21, both of Maysville. He was also charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for injuring three people in another vehicle.

Applegate, who was seriously injured in the accident, walked into court with a limp. State police said his vehicle crossed the center line and struck two vehicles. He apologized and promised to educate others about drunken driving.

TRAFFIC WATCH

Watch for lane restrictions because of bridge replacement on East Columbia Parkway/U.S. 50 between Interstate 471 and Baines Street. The ramp from I-471 north to U.S. 50 east will be closed at times. To access Columbia Parkway/U.S. 50, continue north on I-471 and exit onto Sixth Street. Turn left onto Sycamore Street, then left again onto Fifth Street and proceed east over the Columbia Parkway viaduct onto east Columbia Parkway/U.S. 50.