Police investigate 4-year-old's drowning

        COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP — The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a 4-year-old girl who drowned Friday in a pool at her grandparents' house in Madison Place.

        Capt. Terry Timmers of the Fairfax/Madison Place Fire Department said the call came in just after 6 p.m. from a house on Cambridge Avenue.

        He said the girl, Cirsten Sutter, was found by her grandfather, who pulled her out of the in-ground pool.

        “When we got to her she was lifeless,” said Capt. Timmers, who said the house is around the corner from the fire station.

        Capt. Timmer said the girl was pronounced dead at Jewish Hospital Kenwood.
       

Owner of adult store faces new charges

        Cincinnati police Friday charged Elyse Metcalf, owner of Elyse's Passion on Sycamore Street in Over-the-Rhine, with operating a sexually oriented business without a license.

WHY OHIO 4 WAS SLOW: This tractor-trailer, loaded with 47,000 pounds of air fresheners, overturned when its cargo shifted Friday afternoon on the ramp from westbound Ohio 63 to northbound Ohio 4 in Monroe. Cleanup took several hours. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        Police used a search warrant to enter the business, which they had been investigating for several months.

        In October, Ms. Metcalf moved her business from Northside to Over-the-Rhine, less than a block from the School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

        Subsequently, pandering obscenity charges were leveled against Ms. Metcalf, who faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

        That case has not been heard.
       

Judge hears case on fate of killer

        A Hamilton County judge will decide in two weeks on efforts to save killer John W. Byrd Jr. from execution.

        Common Pleas Judge Steven Martin heard arguments Friday about the credibility of an affidavit signed by another inmate who claims to have committed the murder for which the 37-year-old Mr. Byrd is to be executed.

        His attorneys contend they have a signed confession from John Brewer, one of Mr. Byrd's two accomplices in the 1983 robbery when store clerk Monte Tewksbury was stabbed to death.
       

Heart specialists using new test

        The Ohio Heart Health Center has begun using a new type of diagnostic test to measure a person's risk of dangerous irregular heart beats.

        In theory, the microvolt T-wave alternans test will help detect treatable heart problems before the person suffers sudden cardiac arrest.

        Using high-sensitivity electrodes, the test measures irregular T-wave signals not commonly picked up in a cardiac test.

        If patients have irregular T-waves, they can be followed with further tests, prescribed medications or, if needed, have surgery to implant a defibrillator, according to Dr. Theodore Chow, a member of the Ohio Heart group.
       

Robbery suspect nabbed after chase

        SHARONVILLE - A Hamilton man is facing charges after a Sharonville gas station was robbed early Friday and officers from several agencies were led on a 32-mile chase through parts of Butler and Hamilton counties.

        There were no injuries or accidents in the pursuit.

        John Newell, 38, has been charged with robbery, but other charges are possible.

        Police say the robber entered a Sunoco station at 11585 Chester Road about 2:20 a.m., pushed the clerk and removed cash from the register.

        “When she opened the cash register, he pushed her hand out of the way and grabbed some money,” Sharonville Police Detective Chris Wilson said. He said Mr. Mewell also is a “probable suspect in a similar robbery” Thursday night in Cincinnati.

        Police recovered about $140 from Mr. Newell, which the detective said was taken in the Sharonville robbery.

THE FACE IS FAMILIAR: Cincinnati firefighter Lt. Phil Ramstetter looks over a bronze statue Friday for which he was a model. The Verdin Bell Co. was commissioned to make the statue for a firefighters memorial in New York. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        Lincoln Heights police tried to stop his Cadillac in that suburb. Mr. Newell got onto northbound Interstate 75 and police chased him onto Interstate 275 west. Officers used stop sticks to deflate the car's tires on I-275 near Hamilton Avenue, Detective Wilson said.

        Mr. Newell fled on foot, but a Hamilton County sheriff's helicopter found him hiding in a construction site, police said.

        Other police agencies involved included Springdale, Forest Park and West Chester Township.
       

Citizens invited to fire academy

        HAMILTON — Applications are being accepted for the fire department's Citizens Fire Academy.

        The program begins June 19 and runs for nine weeks. Participants meet each Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. except during the July 4 holiday week.

        The academy is designed to educate the public about fire prevention as well as the fire department's operations.

        Applicants must be at least 18, reside in the city or have a close association with a business or agency in the city, have no prior felony arrests and no misdemeanor arrests in the past three years. Participants also must pay a $20 fee for uniforms and graduation ceremony expenses.

        Candidates will undergo criminal background checks and interviews as part of the selection process for the 15 available slots.

        Applications are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at fire headquarters, 77 Pershing Ave.

        Deadline for returning the applications is May 31.
       

Hamilton's Ryan will run for mayor

        HAMILTON — City Councilman Dan Ryan will run for mayor in November's general election.

        Mr. Ryan submitted petitions this week to the Butler County Board of Elections for the race.

        He is serving his first term on council and lives on Hamilton's West Side.

        Mayor Adolf Olivas has said he intends to run for re-election, but has not yet filed with the board of elections.

        Until voters approved a new city charter last year, the top vote-getter for City Council became mayor. But in this coming election, the mayor's race is separate from the council race.

        The mayor and the top three vote-getters for council will serve four-year terms. The next three vote-getters will serve for two years.
       

Harvey will say "Good day' at lunch

        Radio broadcaster Paul Harvey will be the keynote speaker at the Greater Cincinnati Salvation Army's 45th annual Civic & Recognition Luncheon May 16 at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati.

        The noon event honors volunteers and supporters and showcases agency work in the community.

        Tickets are $75 per person and $1,500 for a corporate table of 10. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

        For information or to obtain tickets, call 762-8605.
       

Discovery Channel has warehouse sale

        The Discovery Channel will donate a portion of its proceeds from a warehouse sale to benefit conservation education at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

        The sale will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 15-19 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 20 at the Reading Armory, 4100 Reading Road across from Avon Fields Golf Course.

        Items for sale will include jewelry, clothing, home furnishings, books, globes and videos.
       

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