Bond hearing postponed for ex-funeral director
CLEVELAND - A bond revocation hearing for a former Vienna funeral director charged with murdering his third wife was continued Wednesday until Dec. 17.
Meanwhile, Robert Girts' fourth wife, Ruth Girts, said she fears her husband, a Poland native whose murder convictions were twice overturned in the death of his third wife, Diane Girts.
Diane Girts was poisoned when potassium cyanide was sprinkled on her pasta salad 20 years ago.
Prosecutors in Cuyahoga County are preparing to retry Girts, 59, for a third time in the murder and have asked a judge there to revoke his $100,000 bond based on the claims of the fourth wife.
Geneva-on-the-Lake police arrested Girts last month after his current wife locked him out of her home following a Nov. 26 argument and he entered the home of her daughter. Girts pleaded not guilty last week to criminal mischief.
Robert Girts remains free on a personal recognizance bond set in Ashtabula County Court, where he is scheduled for a pre-trial Jan. 2.
Attorney reprimanded on problem with fees
WARREN - Warren attorney Gilbert Rucker III was recently publicly reprimanded by the Ohio Supreme Court for professional misconduct.
Rucker, who has practiced since 1986, cooperated with an investigation by the Trumbull County Bar Association that showed he neglected a case by failing to reasonably communicate with a client, failing to deposit the client's funds in an interest-bearing trust account and charging the client a non-refundable fee when the client was entitled to a refund if work on the case was not completed.
Rucker has no previous disciplinary record and had no dishonest or selfish motive, the court found. He made a good-faith effort to make restitution, according to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Legislature OKs plan
for more liquor licenses
WARREN - Both the Ohio House and Senate this week passed bills that would allow up to 15 new liquor licenses to be approved in the downtown Warren area.
The legislation is expected to be presented to the governor's office for his signature before Christmas.
If approved, current or new businesses at which 75 percent of profits are earned by activities other than selling liquor may be able to obtain these licenses.
Rep. Tom Letson, D-Warren, said the bill would allow activities, such as the annual Italian American Fest in Warren, to obtain temporary liquor permits for up to four days, instead of two days as currently allowed.
EGCC student services getting set to relocate
YOUNGSTOWN - Student services for Eastern Gateway Community College will be moving from the Choffin Career and Technical Center.
Beginning Monday, service functions such as admissions, academic advising, financial aid and other services temporarily will be located in the new Valley Center on Federal Plaza East in Youngstown.
The bookstore also will be closed beginning Monday but is scheduled to reopen Jan. 2.
"We appreciate our students and employees working throughout the fall semester in dual locations," said EGCC president Laura Meeks, who sees the relocation as a significant step in building the new Valley Center.
The former offices are under construction and will reopen by the start of the spring semester on Jan. 14. For more information, call 330-480-0726.
Coats for Kids giveaway runs Saturday in Warren
WARREN - The fifth annual Coats for Kids giveaway will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at North-Mar Church, 3855 E. Market St.
Bob Dean, organizer, said two coats will be given to each child on a first come, first-served basis. As of Wednesday, there were more than 2,500 new and gently used coats.
Tribune Chronicle