The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 51

Tomorrow: Airport sold The sale of the Harrison Airport to Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is now official. SUBURBSWEST News tips: Editor: Nancy Berlier 768-8395, Fax 768-8340 The Cincinnati Enquirer Covering Hamilton County west of 1-75 Friday, August 11, 1995 C3 YOUR TOWN Heath told luolice of stra ggle surrounding her head. "I panicked," he told detectives several hours after the May 23, 1994, shooting. "I ran outside. I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing.

Nothing." A tape recording of his statement was played Thursday for jurors during Heath's trial on charges of attempted murder and aggravated burglary. Prosecutors say Heath, 36, shot his wife in cold blood and left her to die on the floor of her office. If a delivery man had not arrived several minutes later, she would have died, prosecutors say. "Did you check her to see if she was hurt?" Detective John Hinricks of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department asked Heath in the interview. "No, sir," the Price Hill man replied.

"She was laying on the floor. I guess you could call it face up. She was moving." Heath, who has been in jail since the shooting, also is awaiting trial in Warren County on an unrelated murder charge. He is accused of the 1985 strangulation of his then-girlfriend, Vendetta Cox. Throughout the statement, Heath's voice remained loud, clear and steady.

His voice did not falter, even as he described the shooting. Heath said that after the gun went off, he fled to Fairfield, where he sat in a mosquito-infested field for hours to think about what had happened. Several hours later, he called authorities and surren- dered. He told authorities that he had gone to Deanna's bar Janelle's, in Colerain Township, where the shooting occurred on Deanna's 28th birthday to try to make amends. He said the two had argued the day before, when Deanna had filed for divorce.

"I was telling her it didn't have to be like this," he said. Deanna pulled the gun on him. He said he grabbed "the business end of it," and the two fell to the floor. He said the gun fired as they struggled to control the gun. Deanna Heath is expected to testify next week.

Jury hears taped interview about shooting, fleeing BY KRISTEN DELGUZZI The Cincinnati Enquirer When the pistol he had in his hands discharged last spring, Gary Steven Heath panicked and left his estranged wife lying quietly on the floor, he told police. Clutching the weapon as he ran for the door, Heath glanced down at Deanna Ja-nelle Heath and saw that her eyes were open. He did not see the puddle of blood 7s- 1 I '--'i 4s A. i Delinquent fines erased by 'pay now' Money collected on the spot in N. College Hill mayor's court BY ANGELA T.

KOENIG Enquirer Contributor NORTH COLLEGE HILL Since a "pay now" policy was introduced in mayor's court last year, there have been no delinquent fines from defendants attending court. "We're not in the banking business," Mayor Dan Brooks said of the policy, whereby those assessed fines in mayor's court must pay on the spot or be found in contempt of court and go to jail. Only two people have had to go to jail for nonpayment since the policy began in January, 1994, he said, and 'they found the money somehow." The impetus to require immediate payment came because there were more than $90,000 in unpaid fines, some dating from the mid- Youth programs get more funds COLERAIN TOWNSHIP Teen Response Inc. got more than a pat on the back from township trustees this week it got continued use of township facilities and more money. The non-profit organization, founded in 1993 by two former Terrace Park police officers John Keuffer and Buddy Campbell offers recreational and educational programs to people 4 or older, but concentrates on youth programs.

In February, trustees approved a request by Keuffer and Campbell for $15,000 and use of facilities at the Skyline Community Center for six months. At their regular August meeting Tuesday, trustees approved another $15,000 and a six-month extension. "There's a good response to their programs," said David Foglesong, township administrator. According to Campbell, more than 200 people participate in the programs each week, of which more than 60 are age 12-18. In July, he said, almost a thousand people participated.

The programs include computer labs, recreational activities, day camps and teaching and educational workshops. The programs are funded by the township, the Hamilton County Recreation Commission and private donations, Foglesong said. Teen Response has similar programs at the Oakley Community Center. Fleming Road closed for month WYOMING Fleming Road is closed between Morts Pass and Flemington Drive for 30 days. Crews will be replacing storm sewers, water and gas lines and sidewalks.

Goodwill's job placement peaks WOODLAWN Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries reported a record 63 clients were placed in jobs in June. George Palmer, Goodwill's director of public relations and development, said "a variety of positions, as well as a wide range of pay scales, were achieved for persons with various disabilities." Jobs include kitchen aids, groundskeep-ers, maintenance work, dock work, assembly work, data entry, office assistants, construction work and accounting with pay scales ranging from $4.50 to $9 an hour. Despite the record number of placements, Palmer said, Goodwill is in need of positions for clients. Call 771-4800 if you know of a job opening. Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries is a comprehensive rehabilitation center offering a variety of vocational training programs and support services to individuals with physical, mental, psychological or social disabilities.

Sheed Road to close 8 months COLERAIN TOWNSHIP Beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, a portion of Sheed Road between Brierly Creek Road and Gaines Road will be closed to through traffic for approximately eight months. Hamilton County engineers are closing the road so the Metropolitan Sewer District can install a sanitary sewer system. DAYBOOK Community events Forest Park: Everybody's Best Friend Pet Celebration, today through Sunday at Forest Fair Mall. Pet contests, display booths and educational discussions.

Information: 671-2882. Mack: Our Lady of Visitation festival, p.m. today, 5-11 p.m. Saturday and 4-11 p.m. Sunday at 3172 South Road.

Chicken dinner, silent auction, game booths and rides. Miami Township: View the Perseid meteor shower at 8:30 p.m. at Mitchell Memorial Forest. Bring a lawn chair and meet at the stone shelter. Price Hill: St.

William festival, 6-11 p.m. today and Saturday, 5-11 p.m. Sunday at Sunset and St. William avenues. Union Township: 10th annual Civil War Living History Encampment, today through Sunday at Keehner Park.

Festivities include a ladies tea, history of the Confederate flag, a dance and a memorial tree dedication. Registration is $2. Information: 777-4980. Park's lake dredging on time Winton Woods work 40-45 complete BY LEW MOORES The Cincinnati Enquirer SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, the dredge sucks up silt from Winton Woods Lake, delivering it through pipes to a retention basin 30 acres wide and enclosed by earthen walls as high as 30 feet near the West Fork Dam of the Mill Creek. Andrie a Muskegon, shipping and dredging company, is right on schedule, Hamilton County Park District officials report, having used a hydraulic pump to suck up 400,000 cubic yards of silt from the lake.

The goal is to remove 930,000 cubic yards of silt. Before dredging began, the lake had been getting smaller because of silting that has been going on for four decades, leaving just 130 of its 188 acres navigable. It was built in 1951 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a flood-control reservoir and leased to the park district as a recreational lake. A building boom in the 1950s in the Greenhills-Forest Park area sent dirt and runoff into the lake.

"We're about 40-45 percent complete with the project," said Joy Landry, communications specialist with the park district. "Quite a bit of silt. But everything is going according to schedule. We'd like to have the dredging completed by winter." The project which costs $1.5 million for the dredging, and another $750,000 for the retention basin began in March. When it is completed, the lake will be cleaner and more hospitable for aquatic life.

The park district and a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources f-A 1970s. As of Monday, the city had collected more than $56,000 in fines assessed in mayor's court since January, 1994. Much of the older outstanding balance remains unpaid. "You'd be surprised how many people out there have no intention of paying the fine," if found guilty and left to follow up with payment later, said Police Chief Frank Zap- The Cincinnati EnquirerFred Straub The dredging platform sits in Winton Woods Lake as the operation continues 24 hours a day, seven days a week. pulla.

He said the policy has dra- Brooks: "Not in matically reduced the number of the banking police hours spent on recovering business" what are mostly small amounts of money. Before the policy, Zappulla said, "You had a very, very small percentage of people actually paying their fines." When someone is found to be in violation of city law they are issued a citation, which instructs them to appear in either mayor's court or Hamilton County Municipal Court. Prior to conducting court, Mayor Brooks makes an announcement that all fines assessed must be paid before leaving. According to Ohio law, cases heard in mayor's court are minor traffic violations and some misdemeanor criminal cases, Zappulla said. No second-time DUI, felony, or juvenile cases can by heard by the mayor.

Brooks said out of an average caseload of around 50 people found guilty per session, only a handful show up without money. Although the policy has curtailed any new indebtedness, there are still situations where mail-in fines don't make it to the city, Zappulla said. water is drained off. The dredge is now working on the west side of the Winton Road bridge. "Now is the time it's really getting into the heart of the project," Landry said.

"The dredge will start going quite a bit deeper (into the lake bottom). Up until now, it's been going about 8 feet deep. Within the next several days and then weeks, the dredge will be going 11 feet and then 15 feet deep. It's really getting into the serious work of the project now." are paying for it. Phil Andrie, president of Andrie which has done dredging work in the Great Lakes, has called the dredging of Winton Woods Lake a medium-size project for his company.

Using the hydraulic pump, a cutter head at the end of the pump stirs the lake bottom into a slurry solution, then sucks it up, pulling up both water and silt. The mixture is then piped into the retention basin. The silt settles to the bottom of the man-made crater, and the cleaner Whitewater Twp. makes 2nd zoning-issue try election, which is on the agenda for the Aug. 21.

trustees meeting. The deadline to file with the board of elections is Aug. 24. Last week, Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Crush declared the Aug. Trustees briefly considered appealing the ruling.

With the vote delayed until November, "We'll have more time to educate the people," as to how zoning will benefit the entire township, said Carol Anthony, president of Residents Against Local Landfill Expansions (RALLE). The citizens group formed more than a year ago to block the expansion of Monsanto's Bond Road landfill. In August, Monsanto applied to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) for a permit that would change the type and increase the amount of waste acceptable at the 128-acre site. In April, Rumpke announced a contract to purchase the land, contingent on permit approval. Township zoning could thwart the landfill expansion.

The proposed zoning plan designates Monsanto's land as a residential zone. If zoning is adopted prior to OEPA issuing the permit, any changes in the landfill's operation would be subject to the approval of the local zoning board. RALLE members hoped residents would adopt township zoning Aug. 8. "This is not a huge defeat as far as I'm concerned, its just another stumbling block," Anthony said.

1 OEPA officials said that before a permit can be approved, Monsanto must respond to a list of deficiencies issued in July. Agency officials have projected it will take at least 60 days to review the responses. Ken Perica, general superintendent at Monsanto's port plastics plant in Addyston, said the responses were scheduled to go out Wednesday. Trustees refile with county to get measure on ballot BY ANGELA T. KOENIG Enquirer Contributor WHITEWATER TOWNSHIP Rather than appeal a judge's recent decision that canceled Whitewater Township's Aug.

8 special election on adopting township zoning, township officials said they will refile with the Hamilton County Board of elections to get the issue on the November ballot. Zoning supporters opposed to a landfill expansion said the extra time will be put to good use. "We're definitely going to be putting it on in November," township trustee La-wanda Corman said. All trustees need do, she said, is pass a resolution approving the HOW TO REACH US Corman: Zoning 8 election invalid, ruling code "definitely" that all required elec-going on ballot tion documents were not on file at the board of elections before the 75 day pre-election deadline. Two private companies involved in a landfill deal Monsanto Co.

and Rumpke Corp. filed suit against the board of elections for certifying the election without having all the required documents. Homeowners' trees are roadblock for developer, township Address 4820 Business Center Way, Cincinnati 45246 Telephone 860-7100, (800) 336-7003 Fax 860-5190 Staff Directory Jim Rohrer 860-7114 Assistant Suburban Editor. Tanya Albert 860-7110 Covers Delhi Township, Forest Park, Greenhills, Lincoln Heights, Mount Healthy, North College Hill, Springdale and Whitewater Township. Kathleen Hillenmeyer 860-7117 Covers Finneytown, Lockland, Mount Healthy, North College Hill, Northwest, Oak Hills, Princeton, St.

Ber-nard-Elmwood Place, Southwest, Three Rivers, Win-ton Woods and Wyoming public and private schools. Steve Hoffman 733-1984 Covers suburban police. Julie Irwin 768-8379. Suburban general assignment reporter. Beth Menge 860-7104 Covers Addyston, Cheviot, Cleves, Glendale, Green Township, Miami Township, North Bend, Woodlawn and Dearborn County.

nursery, he said, estimates the value of his four trees at $1,000 and the cost of removal at $200 per tree. "If we can get a variance, we're all for letting them keep them," Gorman said. "Our concern is that this winter when the streets are all icy, everybody's going to expect the roads to be salted, he said. Judy Kiricaid, Fischer's director of public relations, said the developer is contracted to provide the homeowners with dedicated streets. She said that nowhere in the building plans are homeowners shown that the future right of way ever becomes homeowner property.

Trustees will view the site and make a decision at their September meeting. which trustees said they would consider if the homeowners association would accept liability for the trees. Otherwise, the township would be responsible for their care. The homeowners association, made up of three Yacht Club residents and four representatives of the builder, denied the request. "We notified homeowners that we had exhausted all efforts to keep the trees," and requested they be removed, Gorman said.

At a trustees meeting this week, Mills asked trustees to reconsider, claiming he was never told by the developer where not to plant trees. "It would surely kill the trees at this point," to remove them, he said. A private ry Fischer Builders. The problem is that the trees are in the future right of way, between the sidewalk and the street, which is the property of the developer until the streets are officially dedicated by township trustees. Without street dedications, none of the 27 homeowners can receive public road services.

Jim Gorman, the Northern Kentucky development company's vice president, said he notified homeowners earlier this month that the trees would have to be removed, either privately or by the developer, to get the streets dedicated, but not after making every effort to save the greenery. In June, he said the company asked that trustees approve a variance for the trees, BY ANGELA T. KOENIG Enquirer Contributor COLERAIN TOWNSHIP Alex Mills would like to keep his trees. Officials from Henry Fischer Builders say they would like Mills to keep his trees, but they need to dedicate Mill's street, which they claim cannot be accomplished until the trees are removed. Township trustees have promised to investigate.

Trustee President Patricia Clancy requested a stay of execution for about seven saplings Mills and two other homeowners planted in front of their Summerwind Court homes in the 3-year-old, upscale Yacht Club subdivision developed by Hen LewMoores 860-7113 Covers Colerain Township, Harrison, Elmwood Place, Lockland, Wyoming, Springfield, Crosby and Harrison townships. Forrest Sellers 860-7100 Government and school board listings..