The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 4

B2 Wednesday, Dkckmbkr 21, 1994 METRO The Cincinnati Enquirer AROUND THE TRISTATE Group home lacked proper license 24 at 112 E. Liberty St. in Over-the-Rhine. Items will be distributed Thursday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

at the FreeStoreFoodBank. Walnut Hills blaze left 2 1 homeless BY ADAM WEINTRAUB The Cincinnati Enquirer City officials are investigating a Walnut Hills group home that burned Sunday to determine why no city agency was notified that the building was no longer a two-family home. "Any time someone changes the use of a facility, we're supposed to be notified," said William Langev-in, director of buildings and inspections for the city. "In theory, no one takes occupancy until all the necessary permits have been is sued." No one was injured, but 21 people were driven from their homes in the three-alarm blaze Sunday. The electrical fire started in the space above the basement ceiling in the group home where 15 people were living at 936 Windsor then spread to a home next door.

Neither the building department nor the fire division had up-to-date records showing that 936 Windsor was a group home. "All of our records indicate that's a two-family home," said Langevin. A change to a multifami-ly or institutional use would involve both building code and zoning is sues, he said. "The last time we had been there (during a 1989 inspection) the building was vacant," said Cincinnati fire chief Thomas Steidel. "Had we known it was a group home, it would have been inspected more frequently." i Sometimes the city is notified by state licensing officials, but Langevin said he thinks the responsibility also lies with the home operator.

Minnie Vyatt, operator of the Love Center of Ohio group home, could not be reached for comment. The home came to the attention of state authorities in October, when the Department of Health received a complaint that a group home was being operated without a license, according to state records. On Oct. 13, surveyors from the health department's Bureau of Residential and Community Care conducted a surprise inspection at the home and determined it was an illegal adult care facility. They gave Wyatt 7 days to apply for a license.

On Oct. 20, she did. "They were not officially licensed yet" at the time of the fire, said health department spokesman Randy Hertzer. "But they were in the licensing process, and that was sufficient for our purposes," Hertzer said. 14-year fugitive's wish: Christmas at home and waved shyly when their mother was rolled into court.

Darren couldn't recall his reactions as a 15-year-old when his mother fled without a word. "How I felt about her? It's real hard after 14 years." Hanging together helped the family cope. "It worked out for us," Earl said. "She's the one who's been BY BEN L. KAUFMAN The Cincinnati Enquirer An accused embezzler arrested 14 years after vanishing from her job will have a bail hearing Thursday.

If she can satisfy Magistrate Jack Sherman Jr. that she won't flee again, Phyllis Jean Strub will celebrate Christmas with her family for the first time since 1979. Gray, grumbling and lame, the longtime fugitive appeared in court in Cincinnati on Tuesday. "They're treating me like dirt," she griped about U.S. marshals wheeling her into Sherman's court.

"It's not fair being in these hearings 'They're marshals) like dirt. It's being in without a (U.S. treating me not fair these hearings lawyer. Phyllis Jean Strub without a law- yer." It was Strub's initial appearance on a 28-count indictment after FBI agents found her living in poverty near New Orleans. Grand jurors said Strub embezzled $247,826 during the 1970s from the federally insured Nether-land Terrace Credit Union, where she was treasurer.

She fled the day an auditor arrived. "I didn't steal any money," Strub, 57, told Sherman. She stayed away to avoid otherwise News Tips: Call 24 hours a day to reach our recorded News Tip Hot Line: 768-8602. If it's an emergency, press zero when the recording begins to be connected with an editor between 8:30 a.m. and midnight.

OHIO Hebrew Union leader chosen as chancellor Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk has been elected chancellor of Hebrew Union College. He will retain the presidency until his successor is chosen. Gottschalk is closing out a quarter-century as president of the Reform Jewish institution with campuses in Cincinnati, Los Angeles, New York Gottschalk and Jerusalem. The office of chancellor was created for Gottschalk's predecessor, Nelson Glueck, but Glueck died before he could take the job. As chancellor, Gottschalk will represent the school at education, cultural and religious forums and work with his successor on new programs and funding.

The college, founded in Cincinnati in 1875, trains rabbis and other communal leaders as well as scholars of all faiths. Third suspect arrested A third suspect in the death of Marlon Yates was arrested Tuesday, 10 months after the 17-year-old Woodward High School student was gunned down in Roselawn. Morlando Johnson, 24, of Avondale was arrested at the DeKalb County jail in Atlanta about 7 a.m. and returned to Cincinnati. Johnson, of the 700 block of Whittier Street, is charged with aggravated murder, involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery.

Johnson is accused of firing the weapon that killed Yates on March 22. Another suspect, 21-year-old Willie Moton of Roselawn, was found not guilty in August. Charles Smith has aggravated robbery charges pending against him. German group leader The German-American Citizens League has sworn in Don Heinrich Tolzmann as its new president. The league, founded in 1895, serves as a civic association.

It sponsors German Dav Tolzmann in June and the German-American Heritage Month in October. 11 animals neglected MONROE TOWNSHIP Nine dogs six of them puppies and two cats were found neglected and starving at a Clermont County house Monday and Tuesday. One of the puppies had been decapitated by an apparently starving adult dog. Terry Davis, Clermont County communications supervisor, said officials have identified and tracked the owners to Indiana. He said county officials are pursuing felony charges against the owners.

Davis said that of the five puppies that were alive Tuesday night two probably will not survive. The animals are being kept at the Clermont County Animal Shelter. FreeStore needs food The FreeStoreFoodBank is accepting donations of non-perishable food items through Dec. 1 inexplicable "embarrassment to the family." Thursday, a court-appointed attorney is expected to seek her freedom on bail. Meanwhile, Strub remains in Boone County Jail.

"People with $94,000 of coke get out on bond all of the time," she complained. "Not in my court," Sherman shot back. Later, prosecutor John DiPuccio said nothing less than a family home should be posted as bond. Strub's son Darren will take her to his home near Shandon in But' ler County if bond is ar ranged. Failing that, the family plans to spend visit ing hours on Sunday at the jail, he said.

Divorce followed her disappearance, but plenty of love remains, her former husband, Earl Strub, said. "We never lost that." They wed when she was 17 and he was 22. Four children and 25 years later, she vanished. Christmas 1980 was "pretty bad," Earl recalled, and if it hadn't been for their daughter, Julia, and sons Darren, Donald and Daniel, Earl would have hidden in his grief. Earl, Darren, and Julia smiled Save $4.38 with these Donations will also be accepted today at any area car dealership.

FreeStore donation hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. today through Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Christmas Eve. Four guilty of fraud Federal authorities won four guilty pleas Monday in a crackdown on Social Security fraud in Southern Ohio. Twenty more people know they are targets of probes by the Secret Service and Department of Health and Human Services, Prosecutor John Di-Puccio said Tuesday.

The scams cost the public more than $250,000, he said. Pleading guilty to fraud were Patricia Hill, 60, of Pulte Avenue, Cincinnati; Charles Len-nex, 29, Portsmouth; Betty Taylor, 48, Portsmouth; and Jo Ann Slavin, Port William. All four are free on their promise to return to court for sentencing next year. Maximum punishments include one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Restitution is automatic, he said.

Money will be withheld from any payments to which the guilty defendants might be entitled. Funds to aid firefighter A fund-raising dinner and raffle has been planned to raise medical funds for Cincinnati firefighter Paula Duncan, who is seeking a bone marrow transplant to fight her breast cancer. The latest efforts come after the city's insurance administrator, Community Mutual, recommended against Duncan's coverage at this stage of her illness. University Hospital officials volunteered to perform the transplant and said they will address payment later. The transplant is to cost $167,000 with an annual follow-up of $27,500.

The $100-a-plate dinner is Jan. 11 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. A two-door, hatchback Hyundai will be raffled at the dinner. Raffle tickets are $5 and can be bought at the firefighters union by calling 241-3541. Tickets for the dinner can also be purchased at Local 48 of the Cincinnati Firefighters Union at 213 W.

Ninth Cincinnati 45202. Portman appointed WASHINGTON Rep. Rob Portman, R-Cincinnati, was appointed Tuesday to be one of the assistant majority whips in the 104th Congress. Portman was one of 36 Republicans appointed to the post by Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, the incoming House Majority Whip.

The assistant whips are charged with keeping track of where party members stand on issues and with helping to assess and build support for legislation on the House floor. KENTUCKY Chew OK in schools GRAYSON Carter County school employees will no longer be allowed to smoke cigarettes in classroom buildings. But they will still be able to use chewing tobacco. Bob Flaugher, a tobacco grower who is chairman of the Carter County Board of Education, said he had no choice but to pass a policy banning smoking because a federal mandate requires school districts to do so. INDIANA Payments proposed INDIANAPOLIS -Gov.

Evan Bayh on Tuesday proposed releasing more than $353 million in school support and property tax relief payments delayed several years ago in a budget-balancing bookkeeping maneuver. "It is my strong recommendation to the General Assembly that these cuts be restored," Bayh said. nstate in 1974 The Cincinnati EnquirerJerry Dowling Legal Notice Pursuant to Section 1742.12 of the Ohio Revised Code, MetLife Healthcare Network of Ohio, will hold an Open Enrollment period from December 1, 1994 through December 31, 1994 with an April 1, 1995 effective start date for coverage. During this Open Enrollment period, your application for membership cannot be declined on the basis of your health status unless you are confined in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or health care facility for a chronic illness or permanent injury at the time of application for coverage is made. Any person interested in receiving information or applying for coverage should contact MetLife Network of Ohio, Inc.

at' Mating Address: MetLife HealthCare Network of Ohio, Inc. 4501 Erskme Road Suite 150 Cincinnati, OH 45242 Telephone Number: 1 (800) 325-4262 The first quarterly payment is due no later than January 31, 1995. Premium payments are as follows: ,503.70 06.80 paying for 14 years." The retired trucker drove to Strub's former home in New Orleans. He didn't go in. "It was a shack.

It turned my stomach." "She didn't say nothing to us why she got that low," Earl said. Strub's poverty puzzled DiPuccio. "What did she do with the money?" he said. OFF LOW CLOSEOUT I PRICES OFF LOW CLOSEOUT PRICES Off Everything. INCREDIBLE SELL-OFF CLEARANCE TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 0 BEEF 'N CHEDDAR! -OR- CHICKEN SANDWICH! SELECT GROUP OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS Ornaments Tree Toppers Stockings and Stocking Holders Christmas Musicals, Water Balls and Nutcrackers Santa or Angel Figures Greenery Wreaths, Garlands and Christmas Centerpieces Gift Food Baskets 1995 WALL CALENDAR SELL-OFF Retail $10.95 to $13.95 CLOSEOUT $3.99 yy(t Priced as Mm-kpH TAKE AN ADDITIONAL valuable coupons from your friends atArby's.

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