The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 17

THE ENQUIRER WE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2005 B3 mEA News THE LATEST FROM WHERE WE LIVE Planning a holiday event? If your church, school, club or civic group is planning a holiday-related event between Thanksgiving and Christmas that is open to the public, The Enquirer will help you spread the word. Send information to or fax to Jennifer Koehler at (513) 768-8340. Briefly Trustee blames loss on pamphlet By Kimball Perry Enquirer staff writer Green Township Trustee Steve Grote blamed a pamphlet mailed by an anony Friday, adding he spent between $8,000 and $9,000 to have the pamphlet printed. Grote said Barnett called his home after the election and left two messages crowing about his involvement and how pleased he was Grote lost. mous person that accused him of criminal acts and other misdeeds for his failure to Instead, Grote filed a complaint against Barnett with the Ohio Elections Commission, asking it to investigate and accusing the pamphlet of violating Ohio law by making false statements in campaign literature.

The pamphlet accused Grote of "a criminal act," "self promotion and nepotism" and of "physically threaten (ing)" another elected official. After the pamphlet was mailed to Green Township residents, including Grote, Grote filed a police report. Grote noted he'd never received less than 7,800 votes in his other elections. Grote served as Green Township trustee from 1991-1995, as township clerk from 1995-1999 and again as trustee from 2001-2005. "I will deal with Mr.

Barnett in the course of the subsequent legal proceedings," Grote said Friday. Bring it on, Barnett countered. "Mr. Grote is in for a time he's probably not going to be pleased about. If he wants to play this game, he's going to.be sorry he's playing that," Barnett said.

E-mail kperryenquirer.com win re-election Nov. 8. Grote Now, the pamphlet's author and finan cier, Arnold Barnett, agreed it probably did contribute to the defeat. "We're fed up with Mr. Grote's, well, "I'm not asking to have the election results overturned," said Grote, whose 5,543 votes were 3,200 fewer than second-place finisher Chuck Mitchell and 4,400 behind trustee-elect Tracy Winkler.

what I consider his lack of better govern ment for Green Township, Barnett said NOW FOR THE DESSERT Missing teen, fugitive found Both were located in Middletown HAMILTON COUNTY GOP targets Web site The Hamilton County Republican Party went to court Friday to try to shut down a Web site it claims violates its trademark rights. The Web site, is the creation of Michael Dalton, 51, a Forest Park Democrat who also registered several other variations of the name just before the Nov, 8 election. The official Republican Party Web site is at The party requested a temporary restraining order in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, arguing there is "a likelihood of confusion" between the sites. Dalton did not return a phone call and an e-mail seeking comment. He said previously the party "fail(ed) to protect its turf and that the Web site is "free speech." Officer injured during chase A Cincinnati police officer was injured Friday night while chasing a man under investigation for drug activity.

The suspect, whose name was not released, fled from a traffic stop along River Road near the intersection of Burns, Sgt. Bryce Bez-dek said. Officer Robin Elliot chased the suspect near the railroad tracks, where she slipped and injured her thigh. Officers caught the suspect, who had a loaded revolver, Bezdek said. Elliot was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for X-rays.

HAMILTON Feds OK $2M for bridges The Butler County Engineer's Office said Friday that it will get more than $2 million from the federal government for bridge replacements in Ross and Reily townships. The money covers 95 percent of the cost. Design and engineering work is expected to begin soon for replacements of the Hamilton New London and the Reily Millville Road bridges. Construction is scheduled in 2011. Built in 1952, the narrow, two-lane Hamilton New London Road bridge spans Indian Creek and has a 20-ton load limit.

It received $1.1 million. The bridge was closed for five months in 1997 after high water in the rain-swollen creek washed out the bridge abutment and the adjoining roadway approach on the bridge's east side. The Reily Millville bridge, built in 1969, also crosses the Indian Creek and received $990,850. Trustees vote no to change Symmes Township trustees unanimously voted this week against a zoning change that would have allowed a proposed two-story medical and office building with a 128-space parking lot. The development was proposed by Design Build Solutions.

The vote followed a public hearing. The change would have been from residential to planned office for 4.2 acres on the east side of Snider Road, north of Interstate 71. Both the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission and the Symmes Zoning Commission earlier recom -4 4 3 iiiwi "as The EnquirerMeggan Booker Students with the Spirit Builders Club at Mount Healthy South Middle School have made 80 pumpkin pies to donate to the needy for Thanksgiving. At an after-school cooking session Friday are (from left): DeSean Daniels, math teacher Scott Heflin, Jalon Allen and D'Andre Wilcox. The boys are all seventh-graders.

Another teacher, Emily Harmon, organized a drive to gather the ingredients. By Christy Arnold Enquirer staff writer MIDDLETOWN The search for a missing Hamilton teen and her fugitive boyfriend ended here Friday night. Hamilton and Middletown police found Charlie "Megan" Southard, 16, and her 20-year-old boyfriend, Arturo Rivera Dorantes, in a home on Arlington Avenue in Middletown, according to Lt. Scott Scrimizzim of the Hamilton Police Department. Dorantes was arrested on charges that he raped an 11-year-old Hamilton girl last week.

He also faces a probation violation charge. Both Dorantes and Southard were taken Friday night to the Hamilton Police Department Southard's mother, Noel Wright, had not been told that police found her missing daughter, she said shortly before 9 p.m. Wright learned from a reporter that her daughter had been found. She said she was relieved. "I'm tired.

I haven't been to bed yet," Wright said Friday night Police issued an Amber Alert on Thursday afternoon after being told Dorantes abducted Southard. The alert attracted media attention with television stations plastering their photos numerous times throughout Thursday and into Friday. Police canceled the alert Friday after learning Southard had dated Dorantes and ran away with him last January, according to family members and police. Southard is seven months pregnant, her family said. Detectives continued following tips Friday in an effort to find the two.

It was unknown late Friday what led police to the Middletown home, where officials said Dorantes was hiding. Hamilton police said more charges may be filed against Dorantes. Southard and Dorantes had been dating for about three years, Wright said Thursday. The two tried to run away to Mexico last January, but the Border Patrol found Southard on a bus in Texas. E-mail carnoldenquirer.com Lebanon school cuts proposed By Sue Kiesewetter Enquirer contributor Superintendent's proposal would make up $600K shortfall, end district 'fiscal caution' LEBANON Two positions in the Leb anon Schools will be eliminated Jan.

1 and the contracts for three maintenance workers will be reduced from 12 months to nine as part of a cost-cutting package being put mended against the plan because it didn't conform with the township land-use plan. The trustees upheld those recommendations. The development was proposed by Design Build Solutions. WARREN COUNTY together by administrators. No one will be hired to replace business director Cary Furniss, who becomes the district's new treasurer Jan.

1. An office payroll specialist will be let go. The cuts are part of a plan of recovery needed to get the district out of a its "fiscal caution" designation. The state put the district in fiscal caution earlier this year after Man guilty in child porn case district time to have a state performance audit done. The audit may suggest ways to operate more efficiently.

"Whenever you look at a budget you look at both what's coming in and what's going out," said board member Katherine Poitinger. "We'll be keeping a constant eye on what we have and what we will be getting from grants and the state." Officials will have a better idea of expenses for the year after the heating season. Delaying approval of a final cost reduction package also allows time for discussions with the district's three employee groups on staffing and benefits. "We're working to find ways to make cuts that don't affect the kids directly. It's also a signal to our community that we heard them and need to tighten our belts," Sears said.

E-mail sueklfuse.net "We said all along we had to cut another $600,000," said Superintendent Bill Sears. "We wanted to stay true to our commitment that (these) cuts would stay away from the classroom." The January cuts should save the district more than $200,00, Furniss said. The board is expected to formally vote on the reductions next month. Sears said the district would also implement a $25 extracurricular transportation fee effective in with the 2006-2007 school year and would likely return instructional specialists to the classroom. A debt restructuring should save $203,460 next year.

Further cuts for the next school year won't be ready for board review and action until April, Furniss said. By men, the district would know how much state aid it will get and what tax values for next year will be. It will also give the A Warren Countv man was convicted Fri day on 58 felony charges for having child pornography on his home computer. Gregory Adams, 41, of Waynesville, faces school officials learned a projected $1.5 mil-tion shortfall was actually $4.7 million. A state audit report said the district's former treasurer wrongly moved millions of dollars and misstated available funds.

58 years in prison when he is sentenced in Warren County Common Pleas Court. A sentencing date has not been set. The charges stem from a tip to police in September 2004. That led detectives to Even with the Nov. 8 passage of an emergency levy that will bring $4.2 million each of the next three yearsto district coffers, permanent cuts had to be made this year search Adams' apartment and computers and next year to balance the budget.

Good Things Happening Kids get tips on calling for help by cell phone where they found more than yu pornographic images, Prosecutor Rachel Hut-zel said. A jury acquitted Adams of six charges of pandering obscenity this week. ANDERSON TOWNSHIP Storytellers featured Greater Anderson Promotes Peace will present a program of storytellers at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 1950 Nagel Road. The Vnalrl in rvininnrtinn with inined other volunteers and staff who were relocated because of Hurricane Ka- f3 in many other Tellabration programs being held Sunday.

leuaorauon is au aimuu event that started in 1988 to encourage incr The stories at the trina. The students are Alex Wong, Ian Powers, Jake Losey, Ryan Donnelly and Mis-ha Balkowiec. With the help of Bethany students and Girl Scout Troop 841, the eighth-graders collected new and used doming, toys, books, school supplies and personal care items for the families. Also the students, parents, and staff donated $1,400 to help the families begin their new lives in Ohio. The recognition was given at an honors assembly Nov.

4 at the school. Habitat houses headed south Two people from local Habitat offices Anderson event will include folklore and humorous tales. The program memoes Lyn Ford, an African-American storyteller, and Jonath and Harold Wright, who AnDalachian The lesson on using a cell phone was probably more fun for the elementary school children then, reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic. Verizon Wireless gave lessons at Beechwoods Elementary School in Greenhills, titled "Kids Dial 911." The company provides the program each year for kindergarten students and their parents. The lessons are about the importance of teaching young children how to use a wireless phone.

Tammy Gilman, a 911 dispatcher, gave a video presentation Tuesday to the children on the basics: when should they call 911, what happens when they call and what type of information they should tell the dispatcher, such as where they are and what happened. An explanation of the difference between wireless and landline phones was given by Verizon's Laura Merritt. She talked about the steps the kids should know to dial 911: power "on" the phone, there is no dial tone, dial 911, then hit "send." Merritt emphasized to the children the importance of knowing where you when you call or at least being able t() stories. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for worked with politicians, celebrities and Washington VIPs to build 51 frame houses to be shipped to the Gulf Coast and reconstructed for families in need. The two are Susan Schiller, executive director of Cincinnati Habitat; and Bill Huber, board member of Millcreek Valley Habitat.

The crew worked eight days to build the frame houses, which was part of "America Builds on the National Mall." The initiative is part of a larger nationwide effort by Habitat that engages partners and communities to frame interior and exterior walls that are then shipped to the Gulf Coast region and assembled into homes. "This is a wonderful opportunity for Cincinnati to not only help with hurricane relief, but also to call attention to the need for safe, decent, affordable shelter in Cincinnati and throughout our nation," said Schiller. "We do this everyday building homes, families, communities and hope, and it is an honor to be a part of this extraordinary response to the Gulf region." children and 512 tor tamiues. BATAVIA Dog licenses to go on sale Photo provided Beechwood klndergartners get a lesson in using a cell phone this week. describe surroundings to the dispatcher.

The kids were able to practice with the wireless phone with no power. They were also given a drill on a live wireless 911 call, prearranged with a dispatcher. Each child was given a reminder card explaining the process. Young helpers honored Five eighth-grade students at Glen-dale's Bethany School were recognized by Woodlawn Mayor Raymond Terrell for their efforts in helping families who Clermont County dog licenses go on sale Dec. 1, and owners have unui Jan.

6i to K0fnI-o Hipv ran be oenalized for an If you have a story about a student, resident or volunteer group that's making a difference, contact Allen Howard at (513) uujr uwuiv mivj i- unlicensed pet. The fee is $14 per dog or t-cn ironnni Rpnpwals can be done 768-8362, ahowar- pju yci fttmiv-i. with a credit card at www.clermontaudito- denquirer.com or -(513) 768-8340 org For more information, contact tne auditor's office ad office at (513) 732-7150..