A Hamilton County judge dismissed the county and two passengers in a June 2000 hill-hopping car accident from a lawsuit filed by the mother of one of two teens who died in the crash.

The lawsuit sought an undetermined amount in compensatory damages and punitive damages in excess of $25,000 from the county, the passengers and the driver in the Delhi Township accident, Michelle Luhn.

Mary Patricia McQuaide argued that county commissioners failed to repair a hump in the road that caused the driver to lose control of the sport utility vehicle and the passengers encouraged Luhn to drive recklessly.

Common Pleas Judge Thomas Nurre ruled Monday that Ms. Luhn intentionally sped toward the hump in the road to make the car go airborne. The road was not to blame and nor were the passengers, he said in his ruling.

Ms. Luhn, who remains a defendant in the lawsuit, pleaded guilty to juvenile counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.

She spent six months at Passages, a Cincinnati-based treatment program for troubled girls, and now speaks to other teens about her experience.

Essay, arts contest to honor Dr. King

In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 20, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission is sponsoring an essay and arts contest for Greater Cincinnati school children in grades 3-8.

Students in grades 3-5 are eligible to submit art contest entries illustrating the ideal neighborhood and grades 6-8 students may enter the essay contest focusing on the importance of fair housing.

The entries must be postmarked no later than Friday.

A winner from each grade will be announced Jan. 16 at the commission meeting and each will receive a $50 gift certificate.

Information: (614) 466-2785 or toll free (888) 278-7101.

Eight-car accident snarls I-275 traffic

SYCAMORE TWP. - An eight-car accident on Interstate 275 at Montgomery Road sent two people to the hospital with minor injuries and shut down eastbound lanes of I-275 for about an hour Monday morning.

Hamilton County sheriff's deputies said five cars were stopped or slowing on I-275 to exit onto Montgomery when a car rear-ended the fifth one about 9:26 a.m., causing a chain reaction crash.

A seventh car then came upon the accident and, trying to avoid it, swerved and hit yet another vehicle, Hamilton County sheriff's spokesman Steve Barnett said. Two of the drivers were taken to Bethesda North Hospital.

They were not identified and their conditions were not known Monday night. One man was cited for failing to maintain a secured clearing distance and a second driver was cited for failing to maintain control, Mr. Barnett said.

Mason collects items for gifts to needy

MASON - The city is collecting new, unwrapped toys, non-perishable food items and gift certificates for needy families this holiday season.

Through Friday, donations can be dropped off at the municipal center, 6000 Mason Montgomery Road, or at fire stations, 135 Mason-Montgomery Road and 5500 Cedar Village Drive.

Residents knowing someone who needs help should call 229-8540 with information.

Proposal would ban fees for tire air

CUYAHOGA FALLS - A councilman in this Akron suburb thinks it is wrong to charge a fee for air.

So John Schmidt is proposing an ordinance that would require any new gas station or one that remodels to offer free air.

Nearly 20 years ago, Cuyahoga Falls adopted a law requiring businesses that sell gasoline to provide air for tires as well. But in recent years, some of them have started charging 25 cents to 50 cents to use the air pumps.

Roger Dreyer, president of the Ohio Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, said if the city adopts the measure it would be the first in Ohio he's aware of to make such a requirement.

In fact, he said, he doesn't know of any other Ohio city that even requires that air be available at all gas stations.

Mr. Dreyer said air pumps are a frequent target of vandals, and some gas station owners attempt to recoup the expense by charging a small fee.

Mayor Don Robart said he's not sure the city can impose such a requirement, and he would consider vetoing it.

"I think it's anti-business," he said.

"And I think it's goofy."

Sycamore schools resume labor talks

Contract talks resumed Monday between Sycamore teachers and the school board, but no new developments were reported.

Talks are now being overseen by a federal mediator. The sides last met at the bargaining table on Nov. 18.

Teachers have been working without a contract since July 31, and last month voted for an intent to strike.

The key issues are health insurance premiums, base-salary increases, and fees between non-union teachers and the union. All but 60 of the district's 500 teachers are members of the Sycamore Education Association.

Susan Sauer, SEA president, said Monday night it wasn't clear when the two sides would meet again.

Watchdog agency discusses operations

The Citizen Complaint Authority, Cincinnati's new police watchdog agency, moved one step closer to operational status Monday, but remains without an executive director.

City Manager Valerie Lemmie's administration provided the board with a draft copy of its proposed rules at the board's second meeting Monday night, two weeks after CCA Chairwoman Nancy Minson complained that police reform efforts couldn't move forward as scheduled without them.

At its working session, board members discussed how the agency will operate. Two matters still under review: whether the board will be allowed to meet in secret to discuss cases, and how to count the 90-day deadline for reviewing cases.

The authority's first formal meeting will be Jan. 6.

The board will meet the first and third Monday of each month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at City Hall, 801 Plum St.

Sentencing ahead in molestation case

PAINESVILLE - A symphony violinist could be sentenced to 21 years in prison for sexually molesting two of his violin students at a private music school.

Pedro Morales, 31, admitted in court that he molested the 7- and 9-year-old girls after he blindfolded them and tried to rape one of them. He also admitted taking sexually explicit pictures of them.

Assistant Lake County Prosecutor Karen Kowall said Mr. Morales blindfolded the girls on the pretext that it was a learning technique.

- Compiled from staff and wire reports