Mason man, 21, dies in late-night crash

        LIBERTY TOWNSHIP — Butler County Sheriff's deputies are investigating a fatal wreck that occurred at about 1 a.m. Saturday on Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

        Marc Lytle Jr., 21, of Mason was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner's office.

THE JOY OF GIVING: Volunteers Carl Stroah and his son Christopher, 9, help pack boxes of food Saturday afternoon at the FreeStore/FoodBank in Over-the-Rhine. More than 100 volunteers packed food, which will be distributed to needy families for the Thanksgiving holiday. The meals will be distributed Monday through Wednesday at the agency's office, 112 E. Liberty St. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        Sheriff's deputies said Mr. Lytle failed to yield at a stop sign while driving a 1993 Saturn west on Millikin Road. Mr. Lytle's car collided with a 1980 Oldsmobile Omega traveling north on Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

        The Omega was driven by Amanda Lane, 22, of Kyles Station Road, Middletown. She was taken by Liberty Township Life Squad to a hospital authorities didn't identify.

1 man shot, 1 beaten in Monroe Township

        MONROE TOWNSHIP — A confrontion over a woman early Saturday left one man shot in the face and another severely beaten, police said.

        “It appears the shooting was the result of a love triangle of sorts,” Clermont County Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg said Saturday.

        The violence occurred about 3 a.m. in the garage of Kenneth Haas, 32, of the 1900 block of Clermontville-Laurel Road, the sheriff said. Mr. Haas had just returned home when he was confronted by Bert Dwayne Smith, 33, of the 2000 block of East Hall Road, New Richmond, the sheriff said.

        Mr. Smith shot Mr. Haas in the face with a .45-caliber handgun, but Mr. Haas was not seriously injured, Sheriff Rodenberg said. Mr. Haas then grabbed Mr. Smith and beat him severely, police said.

        Mr. Haas was treated for his facial wound at Clermont Mercy Hospital and released. Mr. Smith was taken to University Hospital in Cincinnati. His condition was not available late Saturday.

        Sheriff Rodenberg said Mr. Smith confronted Mr. Haas because he thought Mr. Haas was seeing his girlfriend.

        Mr. Smith was charged with with felonious assault with a firearm. Mr. Smith's brother, who drove him to Mr. Haas' home, was charged with complicity to felonious assault, police said.
       

Fatal Norwood fire under investigation

        NORWOOD — Firefighters continue to investigate what caused the Friday fire that killed an elderly woman in her home, 4530 Forest Ave.

        Betty Hoffman, 91, died when fire broke out and gutted the first floor of her two-story frame house at about 7:30 p.m. Neighbors saw light flickering in downstairs windows and called 911.

        The woman lived alone with her dog, which managed to escape. Neighbors said the dog kept trying to run back inside.

        It was the second fatal fire for Norwood firefighters this week. On Wednesday, Fred Roberts, 76, died in his Carthage Avenue apartment. His wife, Katherine, 76, sustained burns and remained in critical condition Saturday at University Hospital.
       

18-year-old critical after Adams Co. crash

        PEEBLES — A one-car wreck in Adams County early Saturday severely injured a Winchester woman.

        Amanda Owens, 18, was taken by helicopter to University Hospital, where she was in critical condition Saturday evening. Police said Ms. Owens was being treated for a head injury.

        The wreck on Fairfield Road was reported at 12:05 a.m., according to the Georgetown Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. No other details were available.
       

County will match drug task force money

        LEBANON — Warren County commissioners have promised to match dollar-for-dollar whatever local communities will contribute to the county drug task force.

        Director John Burke asked commissioners for $245,000 to pay the salaries of his four investigators.

        “As we get more people, we're able to be a lot more effective,” Mr. Burke said, noting that the task force made 115 arrests so far this year.

        But Commissioner Mike Kilburn said it gives cities and townships more buy-in if they help fund the task force, as they did in 2001. They committed Thursday to match whatever Mr. Burke raises from them.
       

Two construction workers hurt in fall

        NORTH BEND — Two construction workers received minor injuries Saturday morning when a section of scaffolding towering above them fell, according to a Cinergy spokesman.

        The two men were employed by contractors hired to install pollution control equipment at Cinergy's Miami Fort Generating Station on Brower Road. The injuries were reported to police at 10:37 a.m.

        Cinergy spokesman Steve Brash said one man injured his arm and the other man injured his leg. The two men were treated at Mercy Franciscan Hospital-Western Hills and released, a nursing supervisor said.

        Their names were not available.
       

Clermont wants to hear about Senior Services

        BATAVIA — The Clermont County Board of Commissioners wants to hear from senior citizens in the county who have used or plan to use Clermont Senior Services Inc. Senior Services contracts with the county to provide Meals on Wheels, transportation for medical appointments and social activities.

        The commissioners want to know how senior citizens rate the services, and whether they think new services should be added.

        The commission can be reached at 732-7300 or by writing Clermont County commissioners, 101 E. Main St., Batavia, 45103.
       
       

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