Wednesday, January 27, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
p9 River pollution case reargued
Criminal convictions for polluting the Ohio River should be reinstated against an Ohio barge company, a former executive and two towboat captains, the government argued Tuesday.
All were convicted in 1995 of violating the Clean Water Act for illegally dumping garbage. The convictions were thrown out in 1997 by U.S. District Judge Herman Weber.
“The fact remains there was insufficient evidence to support convictions,” said attorney Glenn Whitaker, representing M/G Transport Services Inc.
“Based on the evidence, it is hard to imagine how M/G could not be liable,” said attorney James Morgulec, representing the Justice Department.
The government has asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit in Cincinnati to reinstate the convictions of M/G Transport; its retired vice president of operations, J. Harschel Thomassee, of Paducah, Ky.; and tow captains Fred E. Morehead of Vienna, W.Va., and Robert S. Montgomery of Racine, Ohio.
M/G Transport, of Cincinnati, was a subsidiary of Midland Co. until it was sold in 1994.
Mill Creek erosion repair plan ready
Plans to repair Mill Creek erosion in Northside and Winton Place will be revealed at a public meeting at 8 p.m. Thursday.
The meeting, sponsored by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), will be at Old St. George Community Center, 42 Calhoun St.
A 2,500-foot section was stripped of vegetation and straightened as part of the unfinished flood-control project of the Army Corps of Engineers. The stretch was left with earthen banks that are eroding.
The plan includes covering the banks with rock, cutting a maintenance road between Salway Park playfields and the creek, and building a low-water crossing. The hearing is required before the OEPA can give a required permit to the corps to do the work.
Information: (614) 644-2001 or (937) 285-6357.
Duchess speaks on women's health
COLUMBUS — Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, said Tuesday that it wasn't until she confronted her own weight problem that she saw the need to speak out about women's health.
The duchess, who was in Columbus to help raise money for charity and heighten awareness of health issues, gave a speech before about 350 people at an invitation-only, $75-a-plate luncheon.
She spent the day with nursing students and touring Ohio State University Medical Center. She also painted a tile to be part of a fountain at the hospital.
Mom sentenced in heating duct death
BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio — A woman who said she didn't hear her toddler scream as he burned while lodged in a heating duct was sentenced to a year and a half in prison.
DeAnna McGee, 25, was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty last week to child endangering in the death of her 20-month-old son, Chad.
On Feb. 24, 1994, while his mother was sleeping, the boy removed a floor grating, crawled into a foot-wide duct and became stuck. He died of dehydration from his burns.
Appeals courts overturned two previous child endangering convictions, but Ms. McGee, of Bellefontaine, decided last week to avoid another trial and agreed to the plea.
Rapper acquitted of assaulting man
COLUMBUS — A Grammy-winning rapper thanked a jury that took less than an hour to acquit him of assault and disorderly conduct.
Members of the Franklin County Municipal Court jury said they were left with too many questions to convict “Bizzy Bone,” a singer with the group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. The group won the 1997 Grammy for best rap performance by a duo or group.
The rapper, whose real name is Bryon McCane, was accused of dragging an acquaintance down a flight of stairs during an altercation.
Man found slain in Hamilton garage
Hamilton police found the body of a 37-year-old man Tuesday in a garage behind a Maple Avenue residence.
James L. Sudberry, a Hamilton native who recently returned to the area after living in Colorado, apparently was stabbed to death before noon Tuesday, said Dr. Richard P. Burkhardt, Butler County Coroner.
Hamilton police responded to reports of suspicious activity at 3:55 p.m. Tuesday. Patrol officers discovered Mr. Sudberry's body hidden behind a 1980s-model Buick Regency in a one-car garage behind 1117 Maple Ave.
Mr. Sudberry's killing is the first Hamilton homicide of 1999. Homicide investigators continued to examine the scene late Tuesday night.
An autopsy will be performed today, Dr. Burkhardt said.
Concealed-weapons bill re-emerges
COLUMBUS — Rep. Ron Hood, betting that criminals would think twice about attacking someone who might be armed, renewed the debate Tuesday on legislation to allow law-abiding Ohioans to carry concealed weapons.
“It's important that people have the right to defend themselves by any means necessary,” the Canfield Republican told reporters before explaining the idea to fellow members of the House Criminal Justice Committee.
Mr. Hood's bill would allow Ohioans to carry concealed weapons as long as they are adults, don't use the weapons for criminal purposes and don't take them to places, such as schools, where guns are prohibited.
Lunchtime in a little town served warm
Pope gets rock-star greeting
Pope gets CD, music video
Pope's schedule
Chicago-Cincinnati bullet train gets nod
Silver Grove awaits word of 'rebirth'
Taft's minister: Spare Berry
Anti-tax activists rally against school levy
Parole board says no to serial killer
Some Tristate senators no-commenting on witness issue
Western residents split over growth
Instant dam limits gasoline spill
UC profs' 3-year deal approved
Bracing for new smiles
Braces? Here are warning signs
Braces? What to consider
'Seinfeld' lawyer argues case
City job could stay in family
Club gives stay-at-home mothers a reason to get out
Covington, Kenton Co. to share repair of road
Doctor says estrogen compounds problema
Drawbridge policy 'shortsighted,' convention group says
Driver guilty in chase, shootings
Fire's cause may remain a mystery
Ft. Washington Way closed tonight
GOP gives Patton pass in election
Jury acquits on DUI
Killer's friends get year
Last payment in pacemaker wires suit
Levy renewal may go to a vote
Missing teen's case hits national TV
No closed meetings, judge tells Lebanon
Pneumonia is peaking
Retired judge of appeals court dead at 72
School nurses do more
School technician dies in crash
TRISTATE DIGEST
Warren transit fares likely to rise
With help, injured boy battles back
