The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio (2024)

of THE J. TCF Saturday, July 13, 1991 CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Obituaries Mario Rolando He fled Castro's Cuba, then BY BEN L. KAUFMAN The Cincinnati Enquirer Mario Rolando Diaz a survivor of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, died Thursday of heart problems at Mercy Hospital, Hamilton. Mr. Diaz, 55, fled Cuba after Fidel Castro's forces occupied Havana.

"He knew Fidel from college," his wife, Jacqueline, said The Friday. Mexican "He knew Embassy he was helped a Communist." escape, his wife said. And he ended up as boss to sugar-cane cutters in Mexico. There, she said, his skills as Cuban sabre champion proved useful when a worker attacked him with a machete. He used the flat of his machete and beat the man to the ground, she said.

When the worker admitted he was whipped, Diaz promoted him to crew chief, his wife said. Soon after, Mr. Diaz entered the United States by swimming the Rio Grande. He was raised by affluent parents in Havana, and Mr. Diaz became an amateur pilot.

In the United States, he joined the Air Force, but within months the CIA recruited him for 2506 Brigade and the Bay of Pigs operation. He returned to Cuba in April, 1961, at the controls 01 a B-26 only to be shot down during the failed attempt to overthrow Castro. Twenty months later, he and most of the 1,200 captives were ransomed by the Kennedy administration with $50 million in medical supplies. Since then, Mr. Diaz had been active in Cuban emigre affairs as well as efforts to get veterans benefits for men who fought at the Bay of Pigs.

Jacqueline Diaz said the recent decision to give benefits to volunteers in the Flying Tigers, who fought the Japanese in early World War II, encouraged her husband. Mr. Diaz was chairman of the local chapter of the National Republican Hispanic Federation and president of the Cuban Federation of the Midwest. He was a delegate to the Junta Patriotica Cubana and a member of the Cuban Pilots Association as well as the Diaz returned in Bay Mario Diaz Jr. 55 of Pigs invasion Fraternal Order of Police.

"It is especially sad for us that died now because everycan see that from the condiCuba will be free in the near future," said Julio Estorino, navice president of the Junta in Estorino said Mr. Diaz was "a remarkable person," because was able to keep traditions alive isolated Cubans in the Mid- west. In his spare time, Mr. Diaz sponsored and coached the Babe Ruth baseball team of his 13-year-old son. Last week, he was taken from the diamond to the hospital for emergency surgery with a blood clot in his left leg.

The next day, the team won the Butler County championship for 13-year-olds. "He went out in grand style," his wife said. "He was so excited. We took him his trophy." Mr. Diaz had undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting from the University of Havana, and he was a certified public accountant in Cuba.

He lived in Fairfield, where he and his wife operated Reimbursem*nt Network an accounting firm specializing in Medicaid payments. The couple met in 1976 in Columbus, Ohio. "I was taking Spanish at the time at Ohio State and getting all A's," Jacqueline Diaz recalled. "As soon as I met Mario, my grades went to hell in a They married soon after and have one child, Matthew, 13. Mr.

Diaz had two children from a former marriage, Mario IlI and Lizzette M. Quisenberry, both of San Diego, and two grandchildren. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Sunday at the Paul R. Young Funeral Home, 3950 Pleasant Hamilton.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Monday at St. John Neumann Church, John Gray and Mill roads, Pleasant Run Farms. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Hamilton.

The family asks that memorials be made to the American Heart Association. Wilbur F. Wolfer Sr. BY ELIZABETH NEUS The Cincinnati Enquirer When Wilbur F. Wolfer children came to work in his Anderson Township pharmacy, he told them to make sure they knew every customer's name and used it.

"He was the epitome of the small-business owner who cared about his people very much," said a daughter, Mary Patricia Riehle of Anderson Township. It' was just one example of how much Mr. Wolfer cared about his community he also helped found a new parish, served as interim fire chief and worked as president of the local historical society. "We're planning on a very big funeral, because he was known in many circles," his daughter said. "But he did his thing very quietly.

He was not a publicity Mr. Wolfer died Wednesday at Mercy Anderson Hospital. He was 81. He was born in Mount Washington, graduated from the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy in 1933 and opened Wolfer's Forestville Pharmacy (in what eventually became Anderson Township) in 1934. The store at one time expanded to three locations.

"(Mr. Wolfer) was the only pharmacist, but all of us kids worked there," his daughter said. Riehle started as a soda jerk in eighth grade, and she and her brother and sisters delivered prescriptions, worked as clerks and stocked the shelves. None became a pharmacist, although she said she would have liked to. "A granddaughter has just graduated from pharmacy college, and he was very proud of her," she said.

During World War II, Mr. Wolfer acted as the neighborhood's unofficial doctor when the regular physicians went off to war. "It was just those little nitty-gritty things, the 'Gee, do you think I should go to the hospital for things," his daughter said. He retired from the business in 1974. ulate Heart of Mary parish.

Mr. Wolfer was a charter member of the Archbishop Moeller Council, Knights of Columbus and past Grand Knight of the Monsignor Gerde's Council. He also served de district deputy. He was a member of the Ohio State Pharmaceutical Association and the Hamilton County Pharmaceutical Association. For many years he was secretary of the Veteran Apothecaries Association, and he was made a lifetime member in 1990.

Sr. Periodically, the pharmacy took a back seat to the then-volunteer Anderson Township Fire Department. For a time, Mr. Wolfer was the acting fire chief, and when the siren went off, he responded. Customers who saw the "Closed gone to a fire" sign in the door usually waited until his return to get their prescriptions filled.

The Wolfer family also was instrumental in starting the Immac- Mr. Wolfer is also survived by two daughters, Kathleen Deimling of Anderson Township and Linda Chapman of Cherry Grove; a son, Wilbur "Bud" Wolfer Jr. of Anderson Township; two brothers, Albert Wolfer of Anderson Township and Charles V. "Dick" Wolfer of Port St. Lucie, 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at T.P. White and Sons Funeral Home, 2050 Beechmont Ave. in Anderson Township. A funeral Mass will be said Monday, at 10 a.m.

at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 7820 Beechmont Anderson Township. Burial will be in Guardian Angels Cemetery. Memorials can be sent to the Anderson Township Paramedic Fund, in care of the Anderson Township Fire Department, 7954 Beechmont Cincinnati 45255; or the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Warren R. Woodward investment broker his summer home illness.

He was 70. native, attended the Cincinnati Country Kent School in in Easton, Pa. in Italy with the a partner in the firm of Thayer of the Society member of the Club of Cincinnati. Wolfer Sr. Active in Long Island boating for many years, he was a member of the New York Yacht Club and the Devon Yacht Club in Amagansett, where he served as commodore for 11 years.

Mr. Woodward is survived by his wife of 43 years, Marianna Woodward; a son, Anthony R. Woodward; a daughter, Mrs. Willard Bunn III of Springfield, and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m.

today at St. Thomas Church in Amagansett. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Spring Grove Cemetery. Memorials can be sent to the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the Amagansett Village Improvement Society or a charity of the donor's choice.

the largest dischargers of toxic chemicals into the public sewers. "We certainly did not lie. There are penalties against that." According to state law, companies that recklessly or intentionally falsify the reports will be fined as much as $25,000 and company officials could be sent to prison for at least two years and no more than four, or a combination of both. "You cannot afford not to tell the truth," said Harold McCune, environmental affairs manager for Armco a steel manufacturer with a plant in Middletown. "We do our best to make the best estimate possible.

There's no reason to mislead. The penalty i is too stringent to do anything else but be honest." The U.S. EPA has required the nation's manufacturing plants to nual toxic release inven- Death Notices 5 John L. (Boob), beloved husband of Velma Aicholtz (nee Billingsley), devoted father of Karen Weber and Stephen L. Aicholtz, dear grandfather of Kristen Aicholtz, Jenna and Justin Weber.

Residence Newtown. Services will be held Monday at 10 A.M. from the Moore Funeral Home, 6708 Main Newtown, where friends may call from 7-9 P.M., Sunday. Eastern Dist. Fire Ass'n.

services, 7:30 P.M. Sunday. BARNES Walter age 90, of Tallahassee, FL, died Friday morning at Tallahasse Regional Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. He formerly lived in Eaton and had been Co-owner of Barnes Funeral Home in Eaton prior to his retirement in 1967. Survivors: daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Richard Farmer, of Cincinnati, OH; daughter, Wanda Koons, of Eaton; brother, Robert W.

PLANTHOLT Mary Mabel (nee Mann), beloved wife to the late Frank Joseph Plantholt, devoted mother of Frances Foster, Rosemary Gregory, Richard and Carl Plantholt, and the late Vivian Shotwell, Frank Plantholt, and Ralph Plantholt, also surviving are 15 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and great-great-grandchild. Friday, July 12, 1991. Resident of Bellevue, KY. Age 92 years. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday at 1:00 P.M., at Sacred Heart Church, Bellevue, KY.

Visitation will be Sunday from 4 until 8 P.M. at the Dobbling Funeral Home, Bellevue, KY. Memorials are suggested to Carmel Manor Nursing Home, Ft. Thomas, KY or the Newport Central Catholic High School, Newport, KY. RICHTER Thomas husband of Becky Inman Richter, father of Chris and Sara Richter, loving son of Allen Richter and Constance Kenker Richter, dear brother of Sandi Tieman, Allen Richter, Nancy Land, Sue McClanahan, Debbie and Tammy Richter.

Thursday, July 11, 1991. Visitation Monday from 11:30 A.M. until time of service at 1 P.M., at the Harry Meyer Geiser Funeral, 4989 Glenway Ave. (opposite the Covedale Cinema). ROEBEL Charles devoted husband of Lorraine Roebel (nee Braun), loving friend of Betty Jo Braun, dear step-father of Barry Whitton, dear step-father-in-law of Christine Whitton, loving grandfather of Heather, Brady, Mikaela, and Kyle Whitton, dear brother of Dolores Platenkamp, and the late Lawrence Roebel, also survived by many nieces and nephews.

On Thursday, July 11, 1991. Visitation B.J. Meyer Sons Overlook Funeral Home, 4841 Glenway Ave. (next to St. Teresa), on Monday 4:30 to 7:30 P.M., followed by Mass of Christian Burial, 8 P.M.

St. Antoninus Church. Remembrances may be made in the form of spiritual bouquets or Monsigner Ralph W. Beiting. St.

Jude Mission Center, R1. 2, Box 917, Louisa, KY. 41230 CONTINUED FROM PAGE B-1 town and Hamilton get about $3.5 million each. At the University of Cincinnati, the state subsidy will be $138.7 million this year and $141.7 million in fiscal year 1993. Some UC programs fared better than others: The Ohio Aerospace Institute, administered by UC, will receive $1.35 million this year and almost $1.5 million in fiscal year 1993 more than the $969,000 it received last year and about what Voinovich recommended.

Funding for the Area Health Education Center, a statewide program that sends medical students to rural areas to learn one-on-one from doctors in the field, was restored after Voinovich suggested that it be cut completely. Statewide, it will receive $1,782,000 this year and $1,831,500 next year. The clinical teaching subsidy, which goes toward educating medical students, will be funded at $11,421,878 this year and $11,992,972 next year. "It's not great," said Dr. Donald Harrison, senior vice president and provost for health affairs, "but it's not awful." Death Notices 5 ROBERS Virginia M.

(nee Wirth), beloved wife the late Joseph Robers, devoted mother of SR Mary Robers S.C., Ann Thompson, Virginia Weimer, Lois Shipp, Susan Bucheit, Joseph, Tom, Don, Dan, Bob, Gary, and Bill Robers, and the late Betty Stalford, also survived by 55 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. Thursday, July 11, 1991. Age 78. Visitation Sunday 4 to 8 P.M., at the Frederick Funeral Home, 2553 Banning Rd. at Pippin.

Mass of Christian Burial at Corpus Christi Church, Monday at 10 A.M. Memorials may be made to the Kidney Foundation of 2230 Victory Pkwy. Cinti. 45206. RUEHRWEIN Regina (nee Bauer), wife of the late Elmer H.

Ruehrwein, sister of Alma Stella Bauerle, St. Petersburg, FL, step-mother of Carol Schunk, and Richard Ruehrwein, of and beloved aunt of Jean Carol Zimmer and Jacquelyn Newton. July 9, 1991. Age 84. Private services.

Burial Spring Grove Cemetery. SCHLICHTER Emma C. (Burt) (nee Barhorst), widow of William Schlichter, loving mother of Arnold William C. and the late Ernest, James and Robert Burt, mother-in-law of Catherine Burt, devoted grandmother of 19 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, dear sister of Virginia Kiser. Suddenly Thursday, July 11, 1991.

Age 77 years. Resident of Columbus, OH. Friends may call at the Miller-Busse Borgmann FUneral Home, 3464 Central Pkwy at Clifton Hills Saturday 10 A.M. until time of funeral service at 12 Noon. Interment in Spring Grove Cemetery.

SCHULTZ Keith Richard, dearly beloved son of Richard and Mary Jo (Lambert) Schultz, dear brother of Craig Steven Schultz, maternal grandson of Dolores M. (Mendel) and John E. Lambert, paternal grandson of Andrew P. and Dorothy H. (Gaynor) Schultz, also survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Thursday, July 11, 1991. Age 4 years. Visitation Sunday from 6-8 P.M. at the Neidhard-Minges Funeral Home, 7043 Harrison Taylor's Creek. Mass of Christian Burial Monday, 10 A.M.

at St. Bernard's Church, Taylor's Creek. Burial Church Cemetery. memorials to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2011 Madison 45208. SMITH Nellie 1., devoted mother of Jane E.

Smith, grandmother of Judith Saunders and Michael Smith, great-grandmother of David Brown, Jennifer, and Cleveland Saunders, aunt of Frances Stephens, of Columbus, a host of other relatives and friends. July 8, 1991. Friends may call at Renfro Funeral Service, 647 Forest Avondale, Monday from 6 until time of funeral service at 7 P.M. Father Michael P.G.G. Randolph, officiating.

Interment Tuesday 9:30 A.M. Spring Grove Cemetery. SPECHTHOLD Emmet beloved husband of the late Catherine (Schuler) Spechthold, devoted father of Terry Wetzel, Sherry Beierle, and Beverly Kirby, dear brother of SR Mary Evangelita, S.N.D. and Marie Boyce, brother-in-law of Dorothy Spechthold, also survived by ten grandchildren. Thursday, July 11, 1991.

Resident of Forest Park. Friends may call at the Vorhis Funeral Home, 11365 Springfield Pk. Springdale, Monday, July 15 from 9:30 to 11 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial to follow, at St. Gabriel Church, 48 W.

Sharon Glendale, Monday at 11:15 A.M. If desired, sympathy may be expressed by memorial contribution to The Sisters of Notre Dame, Covington, KY. STEELE Tyler age 61. Beloved husband of Barbara Steele (nee Geisler), devoted father of Laura Davis, Kathryn Gold, Tyler, Tom, Jamie, and Andy Steele, brother of the late John R. Steele, Mary K.

(Cass) Wenning, -in-law of Martha Steele, father-in-law of William Davis, Donald Gold, Lisa, Mirlam, and Christine Steele, cousin of Ruth Brockman, also survived by nine grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. July 11, 1991. Friends may call at the Thomas Memorial, 7500 Montgomery Kenwood, Sunday 2-5 P.M. Mass of the Christian Burial, Monday 10 A.M., St. John The Evangelist Church, Deerpark.

Memorials may be directed to the Tyler Steele Memorial Fund. Camelot Lake (Andy's Home) 5099 Camelot Fairfield, OH 45014 Roger husband of Thelma Strickland (nee Eichhorn), father of Deborah, Terry, and Roger Strickland, brother of Verda Phillips and Paul Strickland, step father of Diane Hatley, Connie Wise, and Jo McClanahan. Residence Amelia, Ohio. Age 54 years. July 11, 1991.

Visitation 6 to 8 P.M. Sunday, Kennedy-Stevens Funeral Home, Bethel. Funeral service 10:30 A.M., Monday. Memorials: American Diabetes Associ- ation. TYREE Bessie (nee Peters), beloved wife of the late Matt Tyree, devoted mother of Donna Wilson, dear aunt of Barbara Harper, also survived by two sisters and two brothers.

Residence Oakley. July 10, 1991. Funeral service 10 A.M., Monday, from the Vielhauer-Clepper Funeral Home, 2961 Madison Rd. at Oakley where friends may call from 5-8 P.M., Sunday. Funerals For more complete information and address of the funeral director refer to the individual death notice below.

NAME TIME AICHOLTZ, John L. 10:00 A.M. BARNES, Walter M. 11:00 A.M. BECKMANN, Mildred H.

9:30 A.M. BRENNER, Helen 9:30 A.M. CRAGG, Dr. Nelson R. 10:30 A.M.

DAY, Elvira F. 10:00 A.M. ELLISON, Maurice 1:00 P.M. HAHN, Omer J. 2:00 P.M.

HALLBACK, Martha Purcell 10:00 A.M. HENDRICKS, Carrie 12:30 P.M. HOLT, Mary Back Kelly 11:00 A.M. LEFTIN, Charles 'Zook' 11:00 A.M. MOLEN, A Arval P.

2:00 P.M. MORFORD, Edison E. (Ed) 11:00 A.M. NOEL, James Sr. 10:00 A.M.

PLANTHOLT, Mary Mabel 1:00 P.M. RICHTER, Thomas E. 1:00 P.M. ROBERS, Virginia M. 10:00 A.M.

ROEBEL, Charles J. 8:00 P.M. RUEHRWEIN, Regina SCHLICHTER, Emma C. 12:00 P.M. SCHULTZ, Keith Richard 10:00 A.M.

SMITH, Nellie I. 7:00 P.M. SPECHTHOLD, Emmet R. 11:15 A.M. STEELE, Tyler E.

10:00 A.M. STRICKLAND, Roger R. 10:30 P.M. TYREE, Bessie 10:00 A.M. VINKE, Dr.

Theodore H. 11:30 A.M. VOET, Marie M. 10:00 A.M. WOLFER, Wilbur Sr.

10:00 A.M. WOODWARD, Warren Jr. 11:00 A.M. Death Notices 5 VINKE Dr. Theodore beloved husband of Eleanor Hawley Vinke, loving father of Mrs.

Eleanor Sweeney, Saranac Lake, NY, also three grandchildren. Thursday, July 11, 1991. Pinehurst, NC, formerly of Cinti. Funeral services will be Monday 11:30 A.M. at the Spring Grove Cemetery-Norman Chapel.

Arrangements by the W. Mack Johnson Funeral Home, Walnut Hills. VOET Marie M. (nee Pillen), beloved wife of Frank A. Voet, loving mother of Mrs.

Marilyn J. Adams and J. Donald Voet, mother-in-law of Richard J. Adams and Louise Voet, dear grandmother of 13 and greatgrandmother of 15. Member of St.

Ann's Altar Society and St. William Adult Club. July 10, 1991, age 94 years. Visitation, Sunday 5 to 8 P.M. at the Ralph Meyer- Deters Funeral Home, 4164 W.

8th with Mass of Christian Burial, Monday 10 A.M. at St. William Church. Memorials may be directed to the Pregnancy Problem Center, 4900 Glenway Ave. Cinti.

45205 or Masses. WOLFER Wilbur husband of the late Aurelia H. (Doll) Wolfer (nee Borger), devoted father of Mary Pat Riehle, Wilbur (Bud) Wolfer, Linda Chapman, Kathleen Deimling, and the late Ann K. Cooper, dear brother of Albert and Charles V. (Dick) Wolfer, and the late Clara Therese also survived by 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

July 10, 1991. Age 81 years. Residence Forestville. Mass of Christian Burial Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Monday, July 15, at 10 A.M. Friends may call at T.

P. White Sons Funeral Home, 2050 Beechmont Mt. Washington Sunday 5-9 P.M. Memorials may be sent to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church or Anderson Twp. Paramedic Fund.

Warren beloved husband of Marianna M. Woodward, father of Anthony R. Woodward and Jeannett Woodward Bunn, also leaves five grandchildren. Thursday, July 11, 1991. Amagansett, Long Island, NY.

Graveside services Wednesday, July 17 at 11 A.M. at Spring Grove Cemetery. If so desired, memorials may be made to the Greater Cincinnati Foundation or the charity of the donor's Choice. Schaefer Busby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Juggling Your Schedule? Need To Sell an Item? With CaliConnection you can place your Classified ad and be anywhere you want to be.

Call 421-6300. FUNERAL DATE HOME July 15 Moore July 16 Barnes (Eaton, OH) local Mario body tions tional Miami. very he among tory reports since 1987. The documents detail the company's releases of 320 hazardous chemicals into the environment air, water, landfills, sewer systems and underground wells. City council members, Hamilton County commissioners and neighborhood leaders have expressed serious concern about the high volume of toxins flowing in the underground network of MSD sewer lines.

MSD officials say the system can treat the chemicals so that the sewage that eventually flows into the Ohio River does not violate environmental regulations. But because some of the industrial waste is volatile, toxins could be escaping from the system through manhole covers, cracked sewers or basem*nt traps, officials said. July 15 Harry Meyer Geiser July 13 Egan-Ryan (Columbus) July 15 Thomas July 15 Dobbling July 16 Hall-Jordan July 15 Jo July 15 Allison Rose July 16 Paul R. Young July 16 Fitch-Denney, Lawrenceburg, IN July 15 Muehlenkamp-Erschell July 14 Laws-Carr-Moore (MiIan, IN) July 15 Vitt Stermer July 15 Quentin K. Staley July 15 Dobbling July 15 Harry Meyer Geiser July 15 Frederick July 15 B.J.

Meyer Sons Spring Grove Cemetery July 13 Miller, Busse Borgmann July 15 Neidhard-Minges July 15 Renfro July 15 Vorhis July 15 Thomas Memorial July 15 Kennedy-Stevens July 15 Vielhauer-Clepper July 15 W. Mack Johnson July 15 Ralph Meyer- Deters July 15 T.P. White Sons July 17 Schaefer Busby Death Notices 5 War War I Vet Veteran Veteran Forces Persian Gulf Monuments 10 REBOLD FUNERAL HOME Markers Monuments Flower Vases 3700 GLENMORE 661-6200 Announcements 20 BOLTON LUNSFORD A Golden Rule Funeral Home 3042 Harrison Ave. 661-4059 DALBERT-WOODRUFF FUNERAL HOME 922-1010 2880 Boudinot at Queen City J.J. GILLIGAN SON 2926 Woodburn 281-8311 ELDEN A.

GOOD 2620 ERIE AVE. 871-3433 Hodapp Funeral Homes Hamilton at Elikton 7401 Vine St. 541-1040 821-0805 Jamison Jamison Inc. West End Evanston 721-1616 961-7544 NURRE BROS. FUNERAL DIRECTORS 241-6929 RADEL FUNERAL SERVICE We Make A Difficult Time Easier.

SCHMIDT-DHONAU READING SHARONVILLE 948-1113 948-1113 TUFTS SCHILDMEYER Loveland 683-2430 Blanchester 783-2458 WEIL FUNERAL HOME 3001 READING RD. WITT, GOOD KELSCH OAKLEY SQ. 531-0105 Florists 35 The Florist Since 1865 Funeral Flowers of beauty distinction 961-6622 City Wide, 7 Day Delivery BY MARK SIEBERT The Cincinnati Enquirer Warren R. Woodward, a retired from Indian Hill, died Thursday at in Amagansett, N.Y., after a short Mr. Woodward, a Cincinnati Lotspeich School in Clifton and Day School.

He graduated from South Kent, and Lafayette College During World War II, he served 10th Mountain Division. He was Cincinnati investment brokerage Woodward and Co. Mr. Woodward was a past governor of Colonial Wars in Ohio and a Camargo Club and the University Sewers CONTINUED FROM PAGE B-1 they have learned it is in their best interest to comply. But what about the smaller Cindy DeWulf, coordinator of the OEPA's Toxic Release Inventory Division, called Trapp's assertion "stupid." "We did not massage the numbers.

We would never tamper with information to make some place or one county look Because the toxic reporting system relies on the honesty of polluting companies, a degree of error exists, DeWulf said. "But to the degree of 17 times more than any other county?" she asked. Companies are afraid to lie or intentionally submit false data on the pollution reports, said Joe Mackowski, vice president of operations at Interstate Metal Process near Toledo, a company among Metro fires operator of Access THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER canceled "essentially for non- Door-To-Door Transportation Services has been fired as the operator of Hamilton County's Access service for handicapped people. Door-to-Door's contract was terminated Friday, said Sallie Hilvers, Metro marketing director. There will be no break in service.

The new operator, ATE Transportation has already taken over the Access operation, including leasing some Door-to-Door vehicles. About 800 Access trips are made daily to more than 40 communities in the county. Door-to-Door has operated under contract to Metro since 1988. The company also operates other regular routes and bus and van service in several cities. The contract, which would have expired next June, was compliance," Hilvers said.

There were problems with adhering to schedules, runs were too long, and riders were often kept on vans longer than the 60-minute trip maximum, she said. Passengers also complained about broken air conditioners in the vehicles. "We have been dealing with company officials about these problems for several months," Hilvers said. Door -to-Door President Norman Traeger of Columbus and other officials could not be reached for comment Friday. Access service for the handicapped has been operated by Metro, through various contractors, since 1977.

It is subsidized by local, state and federal funding at a cost of $12.09 per passenger. Passengers pay per rided.