Friday, May 29, 1998
If Cincinnati officials get their wish, Eden Park will be filled with the sound of music Sunday night -- not motors.
Hoping to curb the impromptu motorcade that clogs the park's streets on warm Sunday nights, city officials have organized a concert for 8 to 11 p.m. Sunday night in Seasongood Pavilion.
The event, hosted by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and WIZF-FM, features several musical acts, including Tabatha, Ricco, Ram-Z and Alisha.
Though the concert is free to the public, the event will cost the city roughly $10,000, said Wayne Bain, acting recreation director. He said the concert will be a litmus test to judge whether this provides a successful alternative to the Sunday night cruising.
Police: Man charged with bomb threat
A 28-year-old Felicity, Ohio, man has been charged with aggravated menacing for allegedly threatening to bomb a Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) officer.
Jerry Slaven of the 600 block of Minor Street allegedly threatened a BWC claims representative May 7 while discussing his claim over the telephone, said Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers. Mr. Slaven, arrested Wednesday, allegedly threatened to bomb the BWC office in Dayton, Ohio.
If convicted of the first-degree misdemeanor, Mr. Slaven could receive up to six months in jail and be fined up to $1,000. The patrol, which investigates criminal activity on state-owned and leased property, said its investigation is continuing.
Underground Railroad center hires lobby firm
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has hired a law firm to lobby on the center's behalf in Washington, D.C., center officials announced Thursday.
The Washington firm of Williams & Jensen will be charged with developing a strategy to keep lawmakers' attention on the freedom center as a prime way to preserve the legacy of the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped runaway slaves reach freedom.
Former Ohio Senate President Stan Aronoff and local consultant Dick Weiland will provide free local and state lobbying support for the project, the center said.
The $80 million museum is scheduled to open on Cincinnati's riverfront in 2003.
City manager's review discussed in private
Cincinnati City Council met behind closed doors Thursday to discuss the upcoming review of City Manager John Shirey's job performance.
Last year, council marked his performance review report card with an "average" rating and didn't give him a raise. When it surfaced last fall that Mr. Shirey was a finalist for the city manager's job in San Diego, council gave him a 4 percent raise. Mr. Shirey, city manager since 1993, makes $141,300.
Council's 30-minute executive session Thursday focused on the organization and "process" of conducting Mr. Shirey's review, said Councilman Dwight Tillery. A date for the review has not been set.
City votes to meet school funding in 2000
Cincinnati City Council on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution from Mayor Roxanne Qualls that calls for the city to meet its $100 million school funding commitment beginning in the year 2000.
That's when Hamilton County officials have pledged to begin kicking in the same amount -- $5 million for the next 20 years. The timing coincides with the opening of the new Bengals stadium.
In a 1995 agreement, city council and the county commissioners each pledged to pay the schools $100 million for capital improvements. The city has yet to approve a method of meeting its commitment.
