Friday, March 27, 2009

Poisoning Police Face Charges

10 TV: Two deputies accused of tampering with an inmate's food at the downtown Franklin County Jail will face criminal charges, Franklin County Sheriff Jim Karnes said on Friday.

Karnes did not elaborate on the type of charges that would be filed… 10TV News learned last week that deputies Joseph Cantwell and Phillip Barnett were under investigation for allegedly enlisting an inmate to rub his genitalia on a sandwich. The deputies then allegedly fed the sandwich to an unsuspecting inmate...

Sources at the jail said that the deputies used a cell phone to take pictures of the alleged incident. Investigators said last week that Cantwell and Barnett were reassigned to the jail's control center where they would have no contact with inmates.

Attorney Byron Potts said Friday that he was considering filing a lawsuit on behalf of one of the inmates who claimed that the guards coerced him into performing the act by threatening him with solitary confinement. Potts claimed that his client was still facing harassment and was afraid to eat.

10TV News also learned on Friday that a lawsuit was filed nearly six months ago after a deputy admitted to tampering with an inmate's meal tray at the Jackson Pike Jail... In that instance, the deputy told investigators that in a "moment of weakness" he passed inmate Wes Blevins a tray with some milk "poured on top" of his food.

Blevins, who has since been released from jail, said he lost 22 pounds in 40 days because he was afraid to eat. The deputy who admitted pouring milk on Blevins' food received a day off work without pay…

Holiday Inn Checks Out

NBC 4: An Ohio State campus area institution will close its doors Monday afternoon. After 36 years of hosting potential students, cancer patients and the infamous Hineygate, the Holiday Inn on Lane is in its last weekend…

Fred Harris walks the reception area at the hotel as general manager for the last 35 years. For Harris, the final weekend is bittersweet. “We’ve made countless friends, long-lasting relationships that will go on long past the passing of the Holiday Inn,“ Harris said.

Home to the Hineygate since its inception 26 years ago, the Holiday Inn has hosted OSU fans every home game. Martin Sims runs the food and beverage department of the tailgate and remembers the meeting that gave birth to the popular pregame party and the good it has done for Central Ohio charities. “We’ve donated tens of thousands, no hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities here in Columbus. So in addition to having a great time, kids benefit from it, too,“ Sims said.

With the state high school basketball playoffs this weekend, young men and their families will be the last overnight guests at the hotel. The hotel closes at 2 p.m. Monday. When it opens again, OSU students will call it home, bringing to new memories to a building loaded with history.

Rec-surrection

NBC 4: When the budget ax fell early in 2009, the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department took the hit, as several centers closed as part of the mayor’s plan to fix a $96 million shortfall.

Now, there is new life for those centers as a proposed partnership to reopen their doors is discussed… Seven of the 11 recreation centers that were closed will either reopen again or begin limited operations.

Those centers include Tuttle, Krumm, Holton, Sawyer, Columbus Performing Arts, Golden Hobby Shop and Sullivant Gardens. Money will also be allocated to keep supporting the Douglas Recreation Center.

The centers will reopen their doors thanks to the hotel-motel excise tax fund and community partnerships. City Councilmember Priscilla Tyson is sponsoring legislation that will transfer $618,000 from the fund to help the partners run the recreation centers.

Moron Threatens Steve Mason

10 TV: Police said a man has been charged in connection with threats he made against the Columbus Blue Jackets -- specifically goalie Steve Mason -- during the team's shutout victory Thursday night over the Calgary Flames.

Peter Stenzel, 52, faces charges of inducing panic and menacing after allegedly making phone calls to the Blue Jackets in which he threatened the team and talked about bombing and shooting Mason… According to police, arena and team personnel contacted authorities after receiving three phone calls. Caller ID information led police to a home in northwest Columbus, where they found Stenzel, a native of Canada, wearing a Calgary Flames T-shirt.

The Blue Jackets released a statement Friday but did not go into much detail regarding Thursday's incident. Stenzel was expected to appear in court on Saturday.

INVITE: Sexy Saturdays

Commencement: 10:00

Venue: Sugar Bar (525 Park Street)

Mezzanine Drinks (Available 10:30 – 11:30 p.m.)
$1 Top Shelf Drinks

West Side Suffers Seventeen Robberies

10 TV: Police said at least 17 cars have been broken into in the last week on the city's west side. The break-ins have occurred in the area west of Interstate 71 and south of West Broad Street… Krystle McGrath, a member of the U.S. military, said she was packing her combat gear into her car on Dogwood Avenue when someone took several items.

Police said McGrath put her military backpack, her uniform and military body armor into her car, locked the vehicle and then went back inside to finish packing. When she returned to the car, one of the windows was broken and her gear was missing.

Several other items were also missing… Police said they were concerned that the thieves may use the body armor in other crimes. Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call police.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

McFadden’s McImitation

Less than twenty-four hours after Lodge Bar, McFadden’s has initiated their own twitter. As of this afternoon, McFadden’s had posted one tweet, which addressed their O-Bowl Patio Party. Lodge Bar has posted eight tweets, on subjects ranging from the Blue Jackets to the Clippers to College Mug Night.

McFadden’s has 8 followers and is following 95. Lodge Bar has 66 followers and is following 238. Lodge Bar and McFadden’s are two of the 81 followers of Gossip CBUS.

INVITE: O-Bowl Patio Party

Calendar: April 2 & 3

Commencement: 5:00

Venue: McFadden’s (South Campus)

Hot Dog Eating Contest ($50 Tab Prize)

Free Hot Dogs (6 – 8 p.m.)

Drinks (Available All Night)
$15
O-Bowls
$5 Domestic Pitchers

INVITE: Spring Break Bikini Contest

Commencement: 10:00

Venue: Sugar Bar (525 Park Street)

Bikini Contest

Mezzanine Drinks (Available 11 p.m. – Midnight)
$1
Top Shelf Drinks

Another Assault, Another Robbery, & Random Stupidity

10 TV: Police were searching for a group of people involved in an assault on Wednesday that left a 57-year-old man in critical condition. Investigators said the group of men and women drove to a home on Blemheim Road, located on the city's north side, at about 7:15 p.m. and got into a fight with a teenage girl. Officers said the teenager's grandfather, William Smith, tried to intervene and was punched and knocked to the ground. Smith, 57, suffered a head injury and was transported to Riverside Methodist Hospital. Police said he was in critical condition and was placed on life support. One of the men involved was described as black, 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing more than 300 pounds.

10 TV: Investigators were searching for a masked man who robbed a bank at gunpoint on Thursday. The man entered the Chase Bank, located at 2660 E. Main Street, at about 11 a.m., according to the FBI. He yelled for the employees to give him money or he would shoot. Investigators said he pointed the gun at two employees as they put money in a dark bag that he brought into the bank with him. The man took the money and fled the bank. He is described as black, 5 feet 9 inches tall with a thin build. The robber was wearing a grey jacket over a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, a tan cloth over his face, grey pants and dark shoes. Anyone with information is asked to call Bexley Police at 614-559-4444 or the FBI at 614-744-2168.

NBC 4: Authorities received a tip that marijuana allegedly was being sold at a Northwest Side drive-thru. CPD and its narcotics team started surveillance at PJ’s Drive-Thru, 1973 Hard Rd., Thursday morning. CPD said an employee sold marijuana to an undercover officer on the premises. That was when officers closed the drive-thru to search the business for drugs. Small amounts of marijuana were found inside the drive-thru, according to CPD. Officers said they believe the employee had been selling the marijuana on his own without knowledge of business owner.

INVITE: Hawaii Triathlon Team In Training Fundraiser

Commencement: 8:00
Conclusion: 10:00

Venue: Park Street Patio (533 Park Street)

Wristband Drinks (Available All Night)
$5 Fish Bowls
$2 pitchers
$1 bombs

Wristband Menu (Available All Night)
$1
Burgers
½ Price Pizzas

Performances
Empire Drift
DJ Nate


Proceeds Benefit
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

INVITE: South Beach Diet

Commencement: 10:00

Venue: Sugar Bar (525 Park Street)

Age Range: Male (21 and over); Female (19 and over)

VIP Access: Text (406-3072)

Free South Beach Trip Prize Package

Drinks (Available All Night)
$3 Martinis
$2 Bombs
$1
Wells

East Side Again Endures Bullets & Death

NBC 4: An East Side convenience-store clerk was fatally shot, and police continued to search for his killer. CPD was investigating the shooting as a robbery-homicide, and the incident happened within 15 seconds of the suspect entering the store.

Daniolo Perez, 48, was working by himself Wednesday morning at the Marathon gas station in the 3800 block of East Livingston Avenue. A suspect entered the store around 9 a.m., approached Perez, who was behind the counter, and fired one shot, according to CPD.

Perez was transported to Grant Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Perez was known as Papeh or Pop to his family and friends who said he worked 12-hour days, seven days a week to send money to his family in Gambia. Scanner traffic indicated Perez suffered a gunshot wound to the face, but police later said the gunshot wound was in the neck.

The male suspect was about 6 feet tall, weighed between 150 to 160 pounds, had a dark complexion and was dressed in dark clothing, including a black hoodie, according to police. One of the convenience store’s owners said they expected bulletproof glass to protect them, which was why the store clerks did not carry a gun.

Surveillance video captured the incident, and police plan to release an image of the suspect later Wednesday. The image does not give a great look at the suspect, though, which was why police said they are really hoping for a tip. The suspect reportedly left the scene in a dark-green vehicle, according to scanner traffic.

Another Pair of Arsons

NBC 4: Columbus fire was called out to two South Side arson fires Wednesday, and both could be gang-related, according to officials. Fire crews were called to Reeb Avenue and High Street before 1 p.m. Fire crews were called to the 1700 block of South 4th Street after 2 p.m. The two fires were about three blocks apart. Fire Chief David Whiting confirmed both fires were arson close to 3:30 p.m. Arson investigators were on both scenes. No one was injured.

Let’s assume for the moment that I understand murder or robbery’s rationale (which I don’t)… Those crimes are typically committed because the criminal wants something… What does arson get a criminal?

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

BREAKING: Spice Bar’s Brutal Assessment

On February 13, Gossip CBUS reported that Spice Bar would close this month. According to an employee familiar with the venue’s finances, how they remain open is a mystery.

“When we saw that report, we thought we were toast,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It’s not just what I’ve seen, it’s the crowds, its people who used to come here now go to Sugar or Brothers or Lodge. I’m waiting for the day I show up and the doors are locked. I cant imagine why it’s not happened.”

Given the current economic conditions, one could assume that lenient treatment or owner’s assets are sustaining Spice. Skye Bar enjoyed a similar arrangement prior to their close on January 15.

“Anything is possible,” said our source. “If you’re asking me, I cant say one way or the other, but my guess is something is being done. We aren’t the bar we were in 2006 or 2007. It’s not Chris [Corso] turning everything into gold around here. We’re in trouble. I know it. The street knows it. The city knows it. Its not if we close, its when.”

Originally developed by Sugar Bar Owners Chris Corso and Mike Gallicchio, the 6,290 square foot Spice Bar was purchased by BOMA Developer Tom Starker in October 2008. No one associated with Spice Bar could be reached for comment concerning this story.

Lodge Bar Launches Twitter

While virtually all venues utilize Facebook and MySpace, Lodge Bar has ventured into new territory with twitter. The micro blogging outlet, which Gossip CBUS has utilized since our inception, allows clients to rapidly share their activities and thoughts. As of this afternoon, Lodge Bar has posted three tweets (the term for twitter updates), the last of which addresses College Mug Night… Since our launch, Gossip CBUS has posted 1,741 tweets (an average of 15 per day).

From organizations to restaurants, several prominent city enterprises employ twitter. They include the Columbus Museum, Columbus Underground, Columbus Urban Life, Due Amici, Experience Columbus, Metro Mix Columbus, NBC 4, Sandbox Columbus, and You Scoop Columbus.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Police Chief Courts Media

NBC 4: A new vision is in place for the Columbus Division of Police as new Chief Walter Distelzweig takes over the reigns. But with new leadership comes new problems: a tight budget, no new recruiting class and tailoring specific crime-fighting strategies to the needs of its citizens.

Chief Distelzeig has spent the last 36 years working his way up the chain of command at Columbus police... He inherits a force on the verge of losing veteran officers to retirement and is being asked to do more with fewer dollars. Distelzweig hit the ground running nearly two weeks ago. “We had the President of the United States in town, had a very dear and close friend pass away and had a police-involved shooting, so it’s been busy,“ he said.

Among his first priorities is reorganizing the department. “The whole idea behind this internal look, so to speak, is we have to make sure that people are working at the times and the days that we need them,“ Distelzweig said.

As the department faces the loss of 50-plus veteran officers in 2011, Distelzweig said he plans to implement a mentor program to prepare officers as they advance. “Depending on what happens with the economy the rest of the year, our budget for 2010 obviously, I will be lobbying with the director, mayor and city council for hiring in 2010,“ he said.

Also on the chief’s priority list is returning the Summer Strike Force Initiative, acquiring funding for hiring and rehiring officers and preparing for reaccreditation. Distelzweig said his relationship with city hall is good and he feels open communication between himself, the safety director and the mayor is critical to keeping Columbus residents safe. “The major focus is doing the job with what we have and having confidence in the public to know that they have the best police department in the country,“ he said.

The division has made great strides when it comes to technological upgrades. The chief cited state-of-the-art computers in most cruisers and added that the department is working hard to enter the digital age with plans to allow citizens to file police reports online. “I don’t want to see us get to a point with technology where we are kind of held hostage in that we can’t do anything without the technology,“ he said.

Distelzweig also said he thinks the five-year term limit is a good thing because it allows other good men and women an opportunity to affect positive change in the department. “When my time is up, it’s up. Then somebody here will take the reigns in the department and that’s important that we keep the fresh ideas,“ he said.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

INVITE: New Kids on the Block Concert After Party

Calendar: April 3

Commencement: 10:00

Venue: Park Street Patio & Sugar Bar (525 & 533 Park Street)

Appearance
Donnie Wahlberg

INVITE: Celebrity Bartender Competition

Calendar: April 2

Commencement: 7:00

Conclusion: 10:00

Venue: Park Street Patio (533 Park Street)

Reservations: 571-6983 (Scott Polgar)

Complimentary Buffet (7 - 8:30 p.m.)

Photographs Available

Bartenders
Mike Commodore
Jimmy Jam
Kirk Herbstreit
Kent Merker
Rick Nash

Proceeds Benefit
Columbus Police Baseball
Get Behind the Badge

Co-Sponsors
Columbus Alive
Dream Seats
Portman, Foley, & Flint
Unishippers

INVITE: Pink Slip Reunion

Calendar: April 15

Commencement: 6:00

Conclusion: 10:00

Venue: Confluence Park (679 West Spring Street)

Cost: $20

Reservations: Lahr-Griffeth Events

Synopsis
This unique party formula brings the unemployed as a whole together to cushion the blow of getting let go. Although the mood is informal and upbeat, the aim is not merely to have a good time. Pink-slip parties are intended to help displaced professionals find new gigs. People who have received or who expect to receive a pink slip meet with potential recruiters and in-house human resource professionals at companies that are still hiring and are there specifically, seeking candidates. The parties help foster a more mature approach to hiring and getting hired. Job hunting has become “the new job”.

What if I am employed?
If you’re happy in your current position and think you have no need to attend a pink-slip party, you may want to consider taking a “peek” at what’s out there in terms of employment or just to network with others in your field of expertise. You should have a contingency plan even if there are no warning signs. Always have your resume up to date, get your references in place, and always network, network, network, even though there may not seem to be a need for it.

Sponsor
My Health Quoter

INVITE: Columbus Singles Wine Tasting

Calendar: April 15

Commencement: 6:00

Venue: Confluence Park (679 West Spring Street)

Cost: $20

Reservations: Lahr-Griffeth Events

Free hors d’oeuvres & Cash Bar

Complimentary “Wink” Drink

Live Music

INVITE: Beer Pong Tournament

Calendar: April 4

Commencement: 8:00

Venue: McFadden’s (South Campus)

Cost: $15 (Includes Beer Pitcher)

Reservations: Beta Pong

Winners Receive: $500
Second Receives: Port-O-Pong Table

Co-Sponsors
Beta Pong
Port-O-Pong

You Have Questions... I Have Answers

Since Gossip Cbus began, I’ve been swamped with e-mail (thanks for the love)… While I’ve tried to give individual responses to several, I also know that some of the questions are questions others may have and thus, answering them publicly would be better… Therefore, from time to time, I will answer questions where everyone can see them…

Q: Since you announced the Gossip Awards, you have not announced a lot of specifics. When can we expect those?
A: As you can likely imagine, an event on the scale of the Gossip Awards requires thousands of details. Everyone at the website has been working vigorously on aspects of the event and I promise you soon see announcements and items concerning presenters and sponsors.

Q: Two weeks ago, you announced Park Street Patio’s Celebrity Bartender Competition. When will you have more details?
A: We will unveil complete details tonight…

Q: Will Gossip CBUS be covering any Spring Break activities?
A: As Spring Break is an undefined, largely out of the city (or country) series of events, we will not have specific coverage. As always, we welcome stories or photos from those who participated.