The Enquirer

Vice President Dick Cheney helped GOP congressional candidate Geoff Davis raise an estimated $160,000 during a Monday afternoon campaign fund-raiser in Boone County.

The vice president delivered a 20-minute speech to the 230 Davis supporters who paid from $250 to $2,000 to attend the lunch at the Marriott Cincinnati Airport Hotel in Hebron. Cheney defended President Bush's policies and only briefly mentioned Monday's transfer of power from the U.S.-led military coalition to the newly established government of Iraq. Davis, who was introduced by former Cincinnati Bengal Anthony Munoz, presented Cheney with a Bengals jersey (above). Davis, a self-employed business consultant from Hebron, is running against Augusta Democrat Nick Clooney for the seat now occupied by Rep. Ken Lucas, a Boone County Democrat who is retiring.

Statue honors violence victims

A statue dedicated to victims of domestic violence was unveiled in Blanchester Monday as part of a memorial to Carrie Culberson. Culberson has been missing since 1996 and her former boyfriend, Vincent Doan, was convicted of murder, although her body has never been found. In 2001, the Culberson family settled a lawsuit with the village of Blanchester and its former chief of police, who was convicted of tampering with the investigation and search for her body. As part of that settlement, Blanchester agreed to donate land in front of a new village building and $10,000 toward the erection of a permanent memorial. Culberson's mother, Debbie, said the five-foot bronze statue represents all women and hopes it serves as inspiration for women in violent relationships.

TRAFFIC WATCH

• Millville Avenue in Hamilton will be restricted to one lane directed by flaggers between Smalley Boulevard and Gersam Avenue through Aug. 31.

• Traffic on southbound Mason-Montgomery Road in Hamilton County between the southbound Interstate 71 exit ramp and Fields Ertel Road will be detoured for the rest of the week. The detours are posted.

• River Road in Fairfield is closed between U.S. 27 and Gray Road for at least eight weeks. Follow posted detours.

• Utica Road is closed between Spring Meadow Drive and Pekin Road in Clearcreek Township, Warren County, for approximately six weeks. Follow posted detours.

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