The three Republicans on Cincinnati City Council have called a special council session for Friday to discuss a city investigation into why city money was given to a West End development group.

        Councilmen Phil Heimlich, Chris Monzel and Pat DeWine asked for the meeting.

        They want to question Glenda Smith-Johnston, the new manager of the Office of Municipal Investigation, on whether her predecessor as OMI manager, Kimberlee Gray, will be made available to answer questions from council when the OMI investigation report is submitted.

        In May, Ms. Gray told council members that City Manager John Shirey had interfered with her investigation into why city employees approved payments to Genesis Redevelopment Co. and the West End Community Council despite evidence of mismanagement.

        Mr. Shirey replaced Ms. Gray with Ms. Smith-Johnston in June. Ms. Gray is still an OMI investigator, but is no longer involved in the Genesis/West End investigation.
       

Victim in fatal car crash identified

               FELICITY — The woman killed in a one-car crash Tuesday evening near Felicity has been identified as Sarah J. Parker, 20, of Felicity.

        She was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other people were injured.

        Jamie L. Kaesheimer, 20, of Felicity was in serious condition Wednesday at University Hospital.

        Kelly L. Armacost, 18, of Felicity was treated at University Hospital and released.

        Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers say the women were in a 1993 Mazda headed east on Felicity-Higginsport Road when the driver failed to negotiate a curve and drove partially off the right side of the road.

        The driver then overcorrected, slid off the left side of the road and struck a tree. The accident happened just before 8 p.m.

        Troopers say the car was owned by Ms. Armacost, but they did not say who was driving.

        None of the occupants was wearing seat belts and all three were ejected from the vehicle, troopers said.

        The accident remains under investigation.
       

Firm to pay $250K in illegal workers case

               An employment staffing company has agreed to pay a $250,000 fine for supplying illegal workers to a West Chester Township firm in 1997, the Immigration and Naturalization Service said Wednesday.

        Randstad North America and the INS announced the settlement in a case that began with the arrest of 129 illegal workers at Chesapeake Display and Packaging.

        The violations were uncovered in an audit of the records of Century Temporary Services, the INS said.

        That firm, which employed the Mexican and Guatemalan workers who didn't have permits to work in the United States, was responsible for verifying the employment eligibility of people it hired and for the proper completion of required records.

        Randstad became responsible for the violations as result of corporate mergers that occurred after the 1997 arrests.
       

Finan named civilian aide for the Army

               COLUMBUS — Ohio Senate President Richard Finan, R-Evendale, was appointed civilian aide to the secretary of the Army for Ohio Wednesday.

        Mr. Finan will inform southern Ohio on Army missions, programs and objectives, and will advise Army officials on civilian issues. Ohio also has a civilian aide representing the northern half of the state.

        Candidates are chosen based on patriotism, leadership and their ability to increase the public's understanding of the Army. Mr. Finan served in the Army from 1954-56 as a security clearance analyst at Fourth Army Headquarters in San Antonio.

Hamilton police arrest 2 drug suspects

               HAMILTON — Police arrested two drug suspects Wednesday and confiscated two guns, a small amount of drugs and $20,000 cash from a Ludlow Street residence.

        The suspects, booked under the temporary names of “John Doe 1” and “John Doe 2,” were arrested after the police department's Special Weapons and Tactics team executed a search warrant in the 1200 block of Ludlow, said Officer Dave Crawford, Hamilton police spokesman.

        One of the suspects pointed a gun at an officer, but finally dropped it, Officer Crawford said. No shots were fired and no one was injured.
       

Students claim harassment in suit

               TOLEDO — Seven current and former high school students have filed a lawsuit against a school district, saying a teacher sexually harassed them and the school did nothing about it.

        Napoleon school officials say they investigated the allegations but found no evidence of sexual harassment, Superintendent Ken Hawley said.

        The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court alleges the speech teacher made inappropriate sexual comments, innuendoes, stares and gestures during last school year.

        The teacher, Michael Burke, remains on the job and will continue despite the lawsuit, Mr. Hawley said.

        A message seeking comment from Mr. Burke was left at the school Wednesday.

        The students, all girls, are seeking at least $25,000 in damages from Mr. Burke and the district.

        The students said the school failed to properly supervise Mr. Burke and did not take their complaints seriously.

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