Wednesday, August 25, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
Fumes send 10 to hospitals
FOREST PARK — Carbon monoxide from construction at a new Chinese restaurant sent several people to the hospital and several animals outside for fresh air Tuesday.
Ten people went to area hospitals with elevated levels of carbon monoxide in their blood, Forest Park Fire Chief Robert Stegeman said. The potentially deadly gas came from crews working with poor ventilation at the China Garden Buffet in the Promenade Plaza shopping center at Kemper and Winton roads.
The people who fell ill worked at businesses adjoining the new restaurant, on the shopping center's south end, Mr. Stegeman said. The animals were patients of the Forest Park Animal Clinic, two doors down from China Garden Buffet.
Emergency crews responded about 4 p.m. to 911 calls from people at the shopping center reporting an odor of exhaust and complaining of headaches, nausea and fatigue, Mr. Stegeman said.
Emergency workers traced the carbon-monoxide fumes to the restaurant, where workers were cutting into a concrete floor with only open doors for ventilation.
Nine people — including the two construction workers — were taken by ambulance to the hospital. One went to Mercy Hospital-Fairfield. The others went to University Hospital. Another woman went to University on her own, fire officials said.
Two dogs and four cats were taken outside for fresh air, then placed under surveillance in the back of an air conditioned Hamilton County SPCA van.
About 6 p.m., the animals were carried back into the clinic, which, like the other affected businesses, had been aired out.
Work at the restaurant will not resume until Forest Park fire and building inspectors determine the area is properly ventilated, Mr. Stegeman said. Restaurant owner David Yang of Springboro could not be reached.
Driver, 25, dies after hitting guardrail
A 25-year-old West Harrison man died late Monday when he swerved into a guardrail on Interstate 74 in Dearborn County, Ind.
Timothy P. Fallon II, of 2071 Seeley Road, was driving westbound on I-74 about 11:55 p.m. when he began heading down an off-ramp to a truck weigh station near the Indiana-Ohio border. He tried to merge back into the westbound lanes, but struck the guardrail instead, according to the Indiana State Police.
His car skipped along the guardrail, then flipped over four times before it came to rest approximately 250 feet west of the initial point of contact. Mr. Fallon was ejected from the 1997 Jeep Wrangler and died at the scene.
The accident is under investigation.
Police investigate attempted abduction
HAMILTON — A dog may have helped prevent the attempted abduction of his female owner, a police report says.
Theresa Sue Glenn, 28, told police that a suspect emerged from some bushes in her rear yard in the 300 block of North 6th Street around 2:15 a.m. Sunday and grabbed her. The dog bit her attacker on his leg before he fled.
Ms. Glenn's shirt was ripped in the incident.
As of Tuesday, no one had been arrested in the offense, which police are investigating as an attempted abduction, said Officer Don Taylor, Hamilton police spokesman.
U.S., Toledo settle on access for disabled
TOLEDO — The U.S. Justice Department and the city have reached an agreement on making accessible to the disabled dozens of city sites, including community centers, fire stations and the downtown area Erie Street Market.
The out-of-court agreement is the result of more than a year of site visits and negotiations between the city and the Justice Department to address a complaint filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The city estimates it will cost about $130,000 this year to meet the requirements and a similar amount next year.
Bill Lann Lee, the Justice Department's acting assistant attorney general for civil rights, said the agreement “should serve as a model to other towns, cities, and counties.”
Mayor Carty Finkbeiner called the settlement “a very cooperative endeavor.”
Taft signs increase in coal-tax credit
COLUMBUS — Gov. Bob Taft has signed legislation that increases a coal-tax credit as a way to ease the burden of federal pollution rules.
“Part of Ohio's great economic diversity is our proud mining tradition in southern and eastern Ohio,” Mr. Taft said in a news release Tuesday.
The tax credit increases to $3 a ton from $1 to help offset the cost of pollution-control equipment utilities need to meet tougher Clean Air Act standards. The extra equipment is necessary because Ohio coal has a high sulfur content.
The legislation eliminates a cap on the credit equal to 20 percent of a utility's pollution-control equipment cost and a requirement that 90 percent of a company's coal come from Ohio to be eligible for the credit. The measure also updates the state's mining regulations.
Auditor questions sheriff's spending
COLUMBUS — The state auditor has raised more questions about spending by the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office in central Ohio.
An annual review of all county books by state Auditor Jim Petro's office questions about $42,000 for which Sheriff Gary K. DeMastry could not properly account.
The audit, released Tuesday, involves spending during last year, a time when auditors already were questioning spending by the sheriff, based in Lancaster, about 25 miles southeast of Columbus. A special prosecutor is looking into claims the sheriff's office misspent $287,257 from 1994 to 1997.
Among the expenses being newly questioned is $18,000 used by Sheriff DeMastry for “legitimate law enforcement purposes,” but for which he could not provide documentation.
Plan would reward environmental compliance
INDIANAPOLIS — A new environmental plan under consideration could allow Indiana companies to save as much as $25,000 a year by coming into compliance with state-mandated pollution standards.
The 100 Percent Club program was announced earlier this year by Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan and initially will target major environmental permit holders.
About 3,000 businesses and municipalities in Indiana pay for major permits, ranging from $500 to $200,000 a year. The permits bring in about $20 million a year.
Cash rebates for members of the 100 Percent Club could total up to $25,000 a year per company.
Tristate smoking, deaths top averages
Hate group targets Anderson
Hundreds of vets' graves overgrown
Kings Island closes second ride
Road work an obstacle to Riverfest
Votruba decries NKU's funding
Judge halts voucher program
Most Americans oppose full school vouchers
What's Your Opinion: Questions of fairness
Chief: Fire response was earlier
Ex-guard beats felony rap involving girl
GET TO IT
Jurisdiction argued in Justin hearing
Ross teens start school on sad note
Storms knock down trees, power lines
Birth control options
Contraceptive for males is still in works
Most common contraceptive methods
Buddhist monks perform for world peace
If you go: 'Mystical Music and Dance of Tibet'
McKechnie working on new show at Playhouse
'Blue's Clues' host very much alive
Agencies doing own pot testing
Bell fighting area-code change
Boone Co. citizens get a say in police study
Deputy city manager no longer 'interim'
Escapee from county jail to do more time
Forest Park paper ends run
Gravelrama ready to roll
Judge to say whether historic building may be torn down
Kenton proposal: Regulate sex-oriented businesses
Ky. GOP gains ground
Marchers protest Ohio death penalty
Mason to double size of park
Mental health clients find pals in program
Middletown mall burden, experts say
Mostly white jury chosen for Miami U. trial
Officer hurt in scrape with teen
Schools opt to build new rather than renovate old
Sewer fight shifts to site test
Six hurt in blast near Germantown
TRISTATE DIGEST
Union Twp. to pay for aerial map
Video seller pleads no contest
Video store is investigated
Warren to fight Deerfield over water, sewer plan
