Some of Today's State News Headlines
Today is Thursday March 20, 2008
Cross-shaped fish sticks go for $78.77 on eBay
ELYRIA (AP) - What a northern Ohio woman billed as "Good Friday Miracle Fish Sticks" have sold for about $79 on eBay.
Victoria Landis of Elyria said in one box of frozen fish sticks, she found pairs stuck together like three crosses. Landis said they looked just like the familiar image of the crosses on Calvary Hill when Jesus was crucified.
She put the fish sticks back in the freezer and got them out several days ago to post on eBay in hopes of raising money for the new family van she has been praying for.
The auction ended this morning. Landis explained that the price includes the expected high cost of next-day shipping in five pounds of dry ice, so the unidentified buyer will have the fish sticks while it still is Holy Week.
(Refer to page 1 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
Chief: Officer who dragged man under cruiser tests clean
IRONTON (AP) - A southern Ohio police chief has released test results showing an officer was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol when he dragged a man beneath his police cruiser earlier this month.
Ironton Chief Jim Carey also said state investigators have completed their work on the case and will turn their findings over to the county prosecutor's office Monday.
Carey has said Officer Richard Fouts did not realize he had run over the man in the snow until he arrived at the police department March 8 and saw the body. Forty-six-year-old Guy Thomas was pronounced dead in the parking lot.
A nephew said Thomas had epilepsy and may have suffered an attack in the road.
Fouts has been placed on leave. He does not appear to have a listed phone number.
(Refer to page 1 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
Prosecutors want to garnish Traficant's pension to pay fine
CLEVELAND (AP) - Prosecutors want to tap into former Congressman Jim Traficant's pension to help pay about $93,000 he still owes in fines from his bribery conviction.
Richard J. French, an assistant U.S. attorney, filed an application last month in federal court to obtain money from the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System. Traficant has a state pension from his service as Mahoning County sheriff before he was elected to Congress.
An attorney from Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann's office filed a response to French's application, contending the funds are exempt from garnishment.
Traficant has paid about $57,000 of his $150,000 fine out of his federal pension, French said Wednesday.
Traficant, 66, who served nine terms in the House representing the Youngstown area, was convicted in 2002 of charges he received gifts and free labor from businessmen for his political help, and took cash kickbacks and free labor from staff.
He is serving an eight-year prison term at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minn. His projected release is Sept. 2, 2009.
(Refer to page 1 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
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