Some of Today's State News Headlines
Today is Friday March 14, 2008
Here we go again: Blanchard River flooding expected in Findlay
FINDLAY (AP) - Yet again, the northwest Ohio city of Findlay is watching for flooding along the Blanchard River.
With rain in the forecast and last weekend's snow continuing to melt, the National Weather Service says the river is on its way to spilling over its banks and should top out late this morning at a few inches above what is considered flood level.
Minor flooding is expected, particularly near the city's Riverside Park.
It would be the ninth time the Blanchard has flooded in 15 months, including the devastating floods in August and early February.
Standing water from the melting snow has led to a number of road closures around Hancock County, which includes Findlay.
(Refer to page 1 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
‘Caged kids' father accused of hitting his wife
SANDUSKY (AP) - A man convicted of abusing some of his 11 adopted, special-needs children and making them sleep in cages has been accused of hitting his wife.
Michael Gravelle took a swing at his wife, hitting her in the shoulder during an argument Monday, police said. He also shook her, according to a police report.
Gravelle was charged with domestic violence and has been told to stay away from his wife. A message seeking comment was left for his attorney Thursday.
During the argument, Sharen Gravelle was upset that her husband was trying to sell some of her late father's tools, police said. She had finished loading the tools into a van when her husband grabbed her, she told police.
A woman who answered the phone at the Gravelle's home hung up Thursday.
Gravelle and his wife were sentenced in February 2007 to two years in prison after being convicted of child abuse and endangering for keeping some of the children in wire and wood enclosures. The Gravelles said the cages were intended to protect unruly and destructive children.
They have been free while their conviction is on appeal.
The children were placed in foster care in fall 2005, and the couple lost custody in March 2006.
The case led the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to increase oversight of cases where there are multiple special-needs children in one home.
(Refer to page 1 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
Government considers lowering the bar for ailing plant workers
DAYTON (AP) - The government is moving toward making it easier for Cold War-era workers at the Mound Plant near Miamisburg to seek medical benefits for cancers that may have been caused by exposure to radioactive material.
Congress will have the final say on a recommendation by the secretary for Health and Human Services.
The measure would cover people who worked at Mound for at least 250 days from 1949 until early 1959 and suffer from any of 22 cancers linked to radioactivity. They would not have to prove their illnesses were caused by toxic exposures in the workplace.
Workers at Mound made triggers and detonators for nuclear weapons.
(Refer to page 1 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
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