Piece of steel to be signed at ballpark

        Hamilton County officials are inviting you to sign your name on Great American Ball Park on Thursday.

        The public is invited to the Cinergy Field plaza between 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. to sign a piece of structural steel that will support the sunscreen at the new ballpark.

        The event coincides with eReds and the Florida Marlins game, which begins at 12:35 p.m.

        The steel is about 30 feet long and about 5 feet wide. It weighs about 3,000 pounds. The piece will be the last canopy truss to be installed, and will be placed on the southwest side of the park.

        The new ballpark is on schedule to be completed in 2003.
       

Two killed in Anderson crash

        ANDERSON TWP. — A 42-year-old Georgetown, Ohio man and an unidentified female passenger were killed Tuesday in a two-vehicle, head-on crash on Beechmont Avenue.

        The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office identified one of the victims as James M. Kuttler.

        The crash occurred at 6:19 p.m. at the intersection of Beechmont Avenue and Tallberry Drive, when Mr. Kuttler drove his eastbound 1992 Ford Festiva left of center and struck a westbound 1992 Chevrolet S-10 pickup struck, the sheriff's office said.

        The driver of the pickup, Robert J. Nash, 39, of Highmeadow Drive, Williamsburg, Ohio, was transported to University Hospital, where he was being treated late Tuesday and expected to be released.

        The crash remains under investigation by the traffic section of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Patrol.
       

Three remain in superintendent search

        READING — Two Greater Cincinnati principals are among three finalists for the superintendent's job at Reading Community City Schools.

        They are:

        • Raymond Bauer, principal, Princeton High School.

        • Scott Inskeep, principal, Reading Junior/Senior High School.

        • Scott Wilson, superintendent, Fairfield Local, Highland County.

        Forty-seven applicants from 10 states applied for the job. The board meets in executive session today to conduct a second round of interviews.

        In the district's superintendent's search, the board invited community members to participate in initial interviews.

        “The board has bent over backwards on this,” said Rick Lewis of the Ohio School Boards Association, which is assisting the district with its superintendent search. “They have included staff and community representatives.”

        The new superintendent will replace Sherry Parr, whose contract was not renewed. She was placed on paid administrative leave last month.
       

County auction raises $150,000

        BATAVIA — More than $150,000 was raised at the Clermont County auction Saturday at the Old Country Home on Ohio 222.

        A variety of items, including boats, office furniture, computers and vehicles that had been impounded by the Clermont County Sheriff's Department, were sold to more than 700 registered bidders.

        A 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air sold for $12,000, while a 1968 Chevelle was purchased for $11,000. Boats were auctioned, including one — a Maximum Cruiser — that went for $14,500.

        Ten percent of total sales goes to the auctioneer. The sheriff's department gets about $81,000. The rest of the proceeds go to the county general fund, Engineer's Office, General Health District, Department of Job and Family Services and the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities agency.        

Teens charged after pipe bomb explodes

        BATAVIA TWP. — Two Amelia 17-year-olds face charges after authorities say they ignited a homemade pipe bomb and destroyed a mailbox on their way to school Monday.

        There were no injuries and the mailbox selection appeared to be random, authorities said.

        A witness saw the incident and notified authorities. The boys' vehicle was stopped at a gas station in Milford within 30 minutes.

        The boy who police say made the bomb was charged with juvenile felony counts of arson and unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance. His companion was charged with a juvenile felony count of complicity to arson.

Baptist college invites evangelist to speak

        To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Temple Baptist College in Springdale, Jerry Falwell will speak at two school events in June.

        Mr. Falwell, an evangelist and chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., will speak at an alumni fund-raising banquet June 14 at the Best Western Hotel in Springdale.

On June 15, he will speak to the 22 graduates of the Bible college, which has an enrollment of about 140 students. The commencement ceremony is 10:30 a.m. at Landmark Baptist Temple in Evendale.

        Reservations are required for the fund-raising event, but commencement ceremonies are open to the public.

        For information, call the college at 851-3800.
       

Latest snowfall is recorded in Cleveland

        CLEVELAND — It was the latest snowfall ever recorded at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

        The snowfall on Monday surprised residents from Avon to Ashtabula and as far south as Chardon.

        In Cleveland, the average daily temperature has ranked this month as the seventh-coldest May on record. Lows temperatures in May have been below normal 16 of 20 days, according to the National Weather Service.

        Although rain is forecast for later this week, temperatures should reach the 60s and 70s beginning Wednesday.
       

Rapist sues hospital for lack of security

        SANDUSKY — A convicted rapist has sued the hospital where he raped a patient in her bed, saying the hospital failed to protect visitors and patients.

        Edward Brewer said in the lawsuit that Providence Hospital's “inadequate security in protecting visitors as well as their patients” caused him pain and suffering.

        Mr. Brewer, 47, was found guilty in October of rape and sexual battery for attacking a 44-year-old woman in her hospital bed in June 1998. The patient, who had cerebral palsy, was receiving chemotherapy and was unable to defend herself. He was visiting the woman, described as an acquaintance.

        The patient died in October 1998 of esophageal cancer.

        Mr. Brewer was sentenced to 10 years in prison and is now at North Central Correctional Institution in Marion.

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