Monday, February 21, 2000
TRISTATE DIGEST
Crash kills passenger; driver seriously hurt
A West End woman remained in serious condition at University Hospital Sunday after an early-morning car crash in Mount Airy in which her passenger was killed.
Brenda Peyton, 47, was northbound on Colerain Avenue at a high rate of speed at 12:15 a.m. when she lost control. Her car struck a utility pole near Tranquility Lane, the Cincinnati police traffic unit said.
Ms. Peyton's passenger, Vince Champion, 58, also of the West End, died at University Hospital Sunday morning, police said.
Police say the accident was alcohol-related. No charges have been filed.
Fire in Riverside under investigation
Cincinnati fire officials are investigating a Sunday fire that destroyed a vacantRiverside building.
The two-alarm fire in the 3800 block of Hillside Avenue was reported at 3:55 a.m. and caused $25,000 in damage, fire officials said. No one was injured.
Crash kills woman in Kennedy Heights
A Kennedy Heights woman was killed after losing control of her car and crashing Saturday night on Highland Drive, Cincinnati police said.
Stacey Schaefer, 29, died at University Hospital after being thrown from her car in the crash.
She was driving east on Highland Avenue about 5:10 p.m. near the intersection with Lester Road in Kennedy Heights when the car went off the right side of the road into a grassy area and struck a concrete parking stop bar, police said.
Neither Ms. Schaefer nor a passenger, Michael Beason, 29, of Sharonville, were wearing seat belts, police said. Mr. Beason was treated for minor injuries at University Hospital and released.
The accident remains under investigation.
Some lawmakers call for state tax cut
COLUMBUS — Now that the Legislature has adopted a plan to spend the state's share of the national tobacco settlement, some legislators say it is time to consider a tax cut.
“There may be a case for a tax cut,” Senate President Richard Finan, R-Evendale, told the Columbus Dispatch for a story Sunday.
Last week, the state adopted a $10.1 billion spending plan for the tobacco money. Much of it will go to repairing and building schools, health programs and medical research.
Mr. Finan said he still prefers the current system of granting a temporary income tax reduction if the state has a surplus, as it has since 1995.
But House Speaker Pro Tempore Randall Gardner, R-Bowling Green, plans to introduce legislation increasing the personal exemption on the state income tax to $2,000 from $1,050, phased in through 2005.
Mr. Gardner said the Legislative Budget Office calculated that increasing the exemption, the amount of income exempt from state taxation on an individual tax return, over five years would save $655.50 for the average family of four with $40,000 income.
Sen. Scott Nein, R-Middletown, told his colleagues that he is committed to seeing a broad-based tax cut come to a vote quickly.
Newspapers announce Senate endorsements
Former state representative and state solicitor Richard Cordray picked up two newspaper endorsements Sunday for the Democratic primary election for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Mike DeWine.
A third newspaper endorsed one of Mr. Cordray's opponents, the Rev. Martin McMickle of Cleveland.
“Cordray's background combines experience in law and government that distinguish him from his Democratic opponents ...” the Columbus Dispatch said in an editorial Sunday.
“Cordray brings that rare combination of experience, intelligence, common sense and tenacity that begs to be rewarded with high office,” The Plain Dealer said in an editorial.
But the Akron Beacon Journal said Mr. McMickle should be chosen over Mr. Cordray; Columbus businessman Ted Celeste, the brother of former Gov. Richard Celeste; and Cuyahoga County party activist Daniel Radakovich.
“As promising as Cordray is, he hasn't made as strong a case for his candidacy as the Rev. McMickle,” the newspaper said in an endorsement.
All three newspapers endorsed Mr. DeWine in the Republican race.
Special prosecutor will handle case
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A special prosecutor will investigate a confrontation between Monroe County Prosecutor Carl Salzmann and a motorist who trailed his car on a rain-slicked road.
Cheri Hudoff, 37, alleges that Mr. Salzmann grabbed her, shoved her against her car and pulled a gun after following her home Thursday night.
Mr. Salzmann said that before their confrontation, Ms. Hudoff trailed his car at high speed on slick roads and tried to pass him in a no-passing zone.
As Monroe County's top law enforcement official, he said he felt a duty to confront Ms. Hudoff after the alleged “road rage” incident because he wanted to get a dangerous driver off the road.
Because Ms. Hudoff wants to file charges, a special prosecutor is expected to be chosen Tuesday to investigate if charges are justified.
Mr. Salzmann, who was first elected in 1994, left it up to fellow Republican Sheriff Steve Sharp to determine if the incident should be investigated and if another agency should handle it.
Family bulldog kills 5-year-old boy
HUNTSBURG, Ohio — A 5-year-old boy playing in his yard was mauled and killed by the family's American bulldog.
Josiah Holden suffered bites to his neck and head during the attack Friday afternoon at his home, said Lt. Daniel McClelland of the Geauga County Sheriff's office.
The Cuyahoga County coroner's office conducted an autopsy Saturday but had not determined the cause of death, said John Doering, investigator with the Geauga County coroner's office.
A relative answering the Holdens' door Saturday in this town about 30 miles east of Cleveland said the family did not wish to comment.
The boy's 14-year-old sister and a neighbor beat the dog off the boy before calling 911. The dog's chain had wrapped around the boy's neck. Lt. McClelland said the family did not know what led the dog, named Oswald, to turn violent. It did not have a history of aggressiveness.
The dog was confiscated by the Geauga County dog warden and probably will be destroyed, he said.
Closings for
Presidents Day
Postal service ....... No delivery
Library ....... Open
Banks ....... Closed*
Trash collection
Cincinnati: ....... One-day delay entire week
Rumpke: ....... Regular schedule.
BFI: ....... Regular schedule.
Metro ....... Regular schedule.
Parking meters ....... Coins required (Cincinnati)
Courts ....... Closed. Room A open.
Government offices
Federal: ....... Closed
City and county: ....... Closed
State: ....... Closed
Stock markets ....... Closed
*Fifth Third banking centers in Kroger stores will be open.
Provident Bank centers in Thriftway stores will be open.
Firstar Bank in Meijer stores is open.
Licking recedes at Falmouth, but the Ohio's still rising
Flood-seasoned Falmouth relieved
Bush fund skirts cap on election donations
McCain banking on independents
School change proves victory for democracy
Census stresses effect of count on area's coffers
Nurse recruiting effort launched
Officials stuck on pay raises
Police probe pair of killings
City thinks high-tech in 2000
Gordeeva skating more smoothly through life
8 schools targeting substance abusers
Bill would give parity to mental disorders
Boone County to open second office for clerks
Forum goes beyond Mass
Street work in Norwood planned in two phases
Volunteers needed to help playland blossom
Wellness paired with health care
GET TO IT
TRISTATE DIGEST
