The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 4

FROM PAGE A1 The Cincinnati Enquirer A4 Tuesday, June 15. 1999 WE Deer: Too many in county CONTINUED FROM PAGE Al fleBf DODUlaHOIl 600111 The deer population of Hamilton County's parks far exceeds the 10 to 20 deer per-square-mile density recommended by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Higher Mr. Kline said. densities result in a loss or plant nte ana sonyuirus ds wen a aw uimccmny to Deer problems aren't confined deer herd.

parks, Miami Whitewater Richardson foresi Sharon Woods Foresl -j- Preserve J. Vy XL ShawiBbBHcWI CINCINNATI EJ KENTUCKY Hitun Present I Wood Mound The district's deer population, measured by the animals' body heat during an aerial infrared survey on March 12 througn 19, follows: Area Infrared Deer sq miles count sq miles 0.5 58 116 6.1 318 52 1.5 69 46 0.3 14 46 0.2 9 45 4.1 106 26- Area Infrared Deer ar" sq miles count sq miles Mitchell mm: mtm Woods Memorial II 2.fc: 1 389JS IBS53 Nature. Preserve Withrow Nature Sharon Woods Preserve 0.4 59 147 Miami Whitewater Shawnee Lookout 1.6 230 144 Forest Richardson Forest Woodland Mound Preserve 0.4 52 130 Kroger Hills Newberry Wildlife Wtg. Triple Creek Sanctuary 0.15 19 127 Winton Woods About 20 percent more deer are roaming residential areas in Hamilton and surrounding counties, said Todd Haines, a district wildlife supervisor for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Deer are attracted to residential areas because of readily available food and safety, said Mr.

Haines, who oversees 17 counties in southwest Ohio. In Northern Kentucky, deer increases in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties have resulted in an additional two days for this year's hunting season in December, said John Phillips, coordinator of the deer program with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "We may see an overall reduction in population," he said of the prolonged hunting season, "but it won't solve the urban problems." In Hamilton County, the park district supplemented its $9,000 infrared survey, with University of Cincinnati botanist Denis Conover, who studied 10 "exclusion zones" areas of park land fenced off from the deer. He is comparing vegetation inside and outside the zones to gauge the impact of deer grazing. As herd information is gathered, park officials will begin planning how to deal with the overpopulation.

The most effective and commonly practiced solution, hunting, is not likely to score points among the public. Although Hamilton County officials have not yet considered that route, some see it as almost inevitable. "Obviously, they are recognizing there may be a problem and they are taking the right steps" by studying it, said Wildlife Division research biologist Mike Tonkovich, who tracks the state's deer population but leaves most management decisions up to individual, local jurisdictions. Hamilton County land manager Mr. Klein said this year could be a turning point in the decision-making process.

The results of the March infrared survey will likely be compared with another that could be conducted this winter. Hospitals: Critical care for Y2K bug CONTINUED FROM PAGE Al other medical services say they will be ready for 2000. Hospital concerns boil down to four big categories: Facilities: Will the heating systems, elevators, sprinklers, telephones and back-up power generators work? Clinical equipment: Will the ventilator machines, IV pumps, defibrillators, critical care monitors and other devices work? Information systems: Will the computers that track inventory, billing and medical records continue to function? Contingency planning: What should hospitals do if the Y2K bug bites utilities, banks, drug companies or other suppliers? One of the hardest-to-predict Y2K problems facing hospitals involves "embedded chips" in medical devices. No one is quite sure how many devices are equipped with internal clocks or date-sensitive chips that won't understand what the year 2000 means, nor what might happen as a result. Some clocks may fail, yet allow the device to continue functioning, much like a VCR can play tapes after a power outage even though the digital clock keeps blinking "12:00." Other internal clocks, however, may be tied into monitoring programs designed to turn off devices that haven't been properly maintained.

Such machines require upgrades or they might stop working come 2000. The problem is, not every machine can be tested. Some chips have clocks that cannot be reset. Some internal clocks cannot be moved back to the current date if they are moved forward for testing purposes. The American Hospital Association estimates that hospitals nationwide will spend a combined $8 billion dealing with the Y2K bug.

Mercy Health Systems estimates it has spent about $5 million on Y2K compliance at its sue affiliated hospitals and four long-term care centers, including about $1 million to replace telemetry equipment in its critical-care units. At Good Samaritan Hospital, a part of the TriHealth hospital group, some operating room devices sport green "Y2K OK" stickers; others still had red "Y2K NOT OK" stickers as recently as April 1. At the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, which includes six area hos the Cincinnati EnquirerCraig Ruttie Source: Hamilton County Park District The Cincinnati EnquirerR. Cosby LJUWJA Renee Ritchie demonstrates an ultrasound machine at Fairfield Mercy Hospital. Nationwide, hospitals are checking equipment for Year 2000 compliance and making contingency plans.

hospitals predict the Y2K bug will generate paperwork headaches, but not many life-threatening situations. Despite what the health officials say, chronic users of medical services say they still have questions about Y2K readiness. "What about all those people who depend on medications?" said Irv Laib-son, chief executive of a computer consulting company staffed by people with disabilities. "A lot of people with chronic illnesses only have a one-month supply of drugs. A big disruption in the transportation system could cut off their supply," Mr.

Laibson said. "What about all those people on dialysis machines? What happens if those machines don't work?" The dialysis machines will work, although some automated charting software may require upgrades, said a spokeswoman for Dialysis Specialists of Central Cincinnati. Meanwhile, most pharmacies will be able to fill prescriptions come Jan. 1. Like the hospitals, pharmacy industry The Cincinnati EnquirerCraig Ruttie University of Cincinnati botanist Denis Conover photographs a white pine defoliated by deer grazing at Miami Whitewater Forest.

and eating their gardens and landscaping. "That's one thing we can't say, (that) it's all deer (numbers increasing) "We have a lot of faith in the systems out there. None of our vendors wants to fail," said Leonard Puthoff, vice president of general services for St. Elizabeth. The Greater Cincinnati Health Council organized a Y2K planning committee more than a year ago to look into issues common to local hospitals.

"We think we're in pretty good shape," said Lynn Olman, council president. In addition to sharing tips on how to deal with Y2K, the council has brought in key service providers to discuss what their companies have done to be Y2K-ready. "We've met with representatives of Cinergy and Cincinnati Bell. They speak with great confidence that there will be no problems with service," Mr. Pieran-geli said.

"But we're planning to have adequate supplies for 72 hours, just in case." Unlike many businesses, hospitals have a long tradition of staying open during disasters. For example, every hospital in town can run on diesel back-up generators, typically for about three days before they have to be refueled. Rather than worrying whether equipment will work, the council's biggest concern has been preventing an urge to stockpile medicines, supplies, fuel and cash a panic reaction that could create the very shortages hospitals hope to avoid. "My biggest concern isn't whether the hospitals will function, but whether the community as a whole overreacts," Mr. Smith said.

The bottom line is that most medical care can be provided successfully without any computer help at all. At worst, A single survey is incomplete because deer travel between park land and natural, undeveloped habitat. There may have been more or fewer deer than usual in an area on the day it was monitored. And officials say they are concerned with the level of development around park land. As buffer areas of forest are converted to industrial and housing areas, more deer are pushed into increasingly isolated parks.

The result is an increase in Hamilton County car-deer accidents, which rose from 44 in 1980 to 647 in 1997. And more people complain about the animals invading their neighborhoods or it's all development. It's probably a little of both," said Jim Rahtz, park district communications director. officials worry mostly about excessive stockpiling, which could hamper access to medications near year's end even if all the computers work. Walgreen which operates more than 2,700 pharmacies nationwide, stalled a new pharmacy computer system in 1997 that was fully Y2K pitals, staff members have checked more than 40,000 pieces of equipment, including the University Air Care helicopters.

The helicopters will be able to fly, said Dudley Smith, Air Care director and chairman of disaster preparedness for University Hospital. In Northern Kentucky, St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center officials estimate they are 70 percent complete with their Y2K contingency planning. After two "table top" drills, the hospital found very few problems. Among them: a need for a back-up source of ice "We don't see any problems with drug supplies, as long as there isn't any irrational behavior," said Walgreen I don't want AN "AVERAGE" CD RATE.

I don't WANT rate. I don't want A "SO-SO" CD RATE. I WANT A GREAT CD RATE. spokesman Michael Polzin. We are recommending that patients order refill medications as they normally would, about five to seven days before their current prescription runs out." Luken: 'Pumped' for council race The Luken file Graduated: From Purcell High School, University of Notre Dame and the University of Cincinnati Law School.

Practiced law: Taft, Stettinius and Hollister. 1981: Elected to Cincinnati City Council. 1984-90: Served as Cincinnati mayor. 1990: Ran against Ken Black-well for the U.S. House seat formerly held by his father, Tom Luken.

Served one term before leaving politics for TV news. Jan. 1993: Began as a general assignment reporter for WLWT-TV. Later named to anchor position. Lives: Downtown.

Age: 47. CONTINUED FROM PAGE Al ticipated. Local Democrats have endorsed eight candidates, leaving one position open. "Charlie Luken will be a very strong candidate," said State Sen. Mark Mallo-ry, co-chairman of the local party.

His television job "has kept his name fresh, his image fresh." Mr. Luken, 47, was first elected to city council in 1981. He helped pass the city's top vote-getter system of electing a mayor in 1987 and was elected mayor that year and in 1989. In 1990, he won the 1st Congressional District seat now held by Rep. Steve Chabot.

Mr. Luken left Congress after one term and went to WLWT, first as a general assignment reporter and then as a news anchor. He hails from one of Cincinnati's Democratic dynasties: His father, Tom, served as a congressman for 16 years, as a city councilman and as mayor. Jim Luken, Tom's brother, was a city councilman, mayor and nemesis of Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa. Charlie Luken said his first order of business would be to fix the relationship with the city manager.

"There is a poisoned atmosphere in there right now," Mr. Luken said. "They either have to decide this is our guy and to stand by him, or they have to decide the relationship should end. "It cannot go on having city council members treat the city manager like a pincushion and have the city manager saying things like, 'If they don't like it, citizens review board, which is being formed. This fall's election is the last of the top vote-getter races.

Beginning in 2001, Cincinnati will directly elect its mayor, and the job will hold new power over city council. Mr. Luken said his interest in a council seat is not solely directed at a bid for the stronger mayor's job two years from now. "The next two years are too important," he said. "The future of the city is getting people to understand that it's a good place to live and wanting to move back into the city." At the same time, the stronger mayoral job is a tremendous opportunity to move the city forward, he said, but it will not end City Hall bickering as much as people hope.

Mr. Luken suggested a simpler, more effective change: Have council members run every four years instead of every two. Trained as a lawyer, Mr. Luken said he has talked to some law firms about a job, but will focus on the campaign for now. He will be getting a late start and hopes to raise $200,000 more than the $85,000 he spent last time he ran for council, but about half of what some candidates spend today.

Tim Burke, co-chairman of the local Democratic Party, said Mr. Luken's candidacy, which must be formally ratified by the party's nominating committee, will help maintain council's Democratic majority. hi i they can fire Council is preparing to evaluate the manager, and Mr. Luken called it "the critical event in city government." With focus and a clear agenda at City Hall, developers will do business in the city, Mr. Luken said.

Investment in housing and infrastructure is needed, he added. One thing city government has done right is improve relations between the police and the community, he said, though the Michael Carpenter shooting was "a terrible setback." He supports video cameras on police vehicles and a No Problem. Call 1-877-PICK-PNC or 1-888-PNCJRAS No replacement yet for Luken at Channel 5 If you're looking for a great rate on a CD, now's the time to come into PNC Bank. Because right now, and only right now, our 1 1 -month CD with this great rate is available when you deposit as little as $5,000. This great deal is only available for a short time.

So hurry in to PNC Bank. Before it's too late. It's what you want. ple who watched our news, and to the people I've worked with at Channel 5." Ms. Rashid is not affected by the change.

"We have a contract with Norma, and Norma is going to continue here," Mr. Rogala said. Ms. Rashid said she'll miss Mr. Luken, who anchored his final newscast Thursday from Crosley Square, before the station moved into a new Mount Auburn studio.

"He's an excellent politician and broadcaster, and anything he puts his mind to he'll do well," said. Monday because of personal finance issues and his contract. His two-year Channel 5 deal, which extended into next year, was terminated in a settlement signed Monday. Mr. Luken left Congress to become a Channel 5 reporter in January 1993, two weeks before the resignation of anchor Jerry Springer, another former mayor.

He was named main news co-anchor with Norma Rashid in 1994. Their newscast had been third in household ratings since then. "This has been coming for a while. It's just better for everybody," Mr. Luken said.

"I'm grat'il to the peo BY JOHN KIESEWETTER The Cincinnati Enquirer Although WLWT executives knew Charlie Luken was contemplating leaving the anchor desk for months, Channel 5 had no successor ready when he left the payroll Monday. "We've got a great team who will be filling in until we name a permanent replacement," said Rick Rogala, Channel 5 president and general manager. Mr. Luken, 47, the former mayor who joined Channel 5 news in 1993, saiJvtfiis resignation was announced PNC BANK tAnntuil I'rrrrntapr YM (AI'Y) nmtmlr nf mHimlum rbilr. Xmt mimes mmm fuiuh mil rvnnilhi on Arftmil mlh I'M Bank and may im ludr IRA transfer ami mttaumfrm allur ftnanrial msHlulitms.

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