Yo quiero ads in police cars
CHAUNCEY — Ohio motorists driving too quickly through the village of Chauncey may be pulled over by a police cruiser advertising local specials at the grocery store.
The Athens County village is considering placing local and national advertisements in rolling billboards atop their cruisers. Otherwise, the cash-strapped community will not be able to afford updated law enforcement vehicles.
Government Acquisitions of Charlotte, N.C., is offering the deal to the village. The company’s Web site claims 76 communities in 23 states — including Portage, Ohio –have signed up for three-year leases.
Council President Bob Mattey discovered the police car deal on the Internet and won approval for the village to enter an agreement with Government Acquisitions.
More than one official, however, has questioned the legality of advertising on law enforcement vehicles.
Under a section of the Constitution last amended in 1912, local governments cannot raise money for any business. Commercialized cruisers, in the opinions of many, would cross the line.
Joe Case, a spokesman for Attorney General Betty Montgomery, said the attorney general’s office is studying the question and should deliver an opinion within a month.
SBC plans to make basic rates stable
COLUMBUS — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved a plan that will freeze rates on basic service provided by SBC Ameritech for Ohio residents.
Under the plan, rates for secondary services such as call waiting and second phone lines will be at the discretion of the company.
The plan calls on SBC to cap the price of basic service for the life of the deal and cap for two years the price of secondary services. Price increases after the initial two years would be limited to 10 percent each year.
PUCO chairman Alan Schirber told the Associated Press the plan allows competitive pricing in the local telephone market while securing rates for customer’s basic needs.
Former footballer pleads guilty
FREMONT — A man who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 4-year-old girl was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Jeffrey Green, a former football player at the University of Toledo, faced a maximum of 10 years in prison for the death of Samantha Morringelli. He was sentenced Monday.
The girl died two days after she was found unconscious in the home Green shared with the girl’s mother, Garla Morringelli.
An autopsy found the girl died from head injuries.
Green told authorities the child was choking, and he attempted to give her CPR and later shook the girl in attempt to aid her. She died on Aug. 10, 2001.
Green, a Fremont native, was as an offensive lineman from 1992 to 1994 at Toledo.
— Compiled by Zach Wittig
