BOONE RECORDER Your Community Recorder newspaper serving all of Boone County
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2019 ❚ BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS ❚ PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK
Sheriff : Teen nearly kidnapped in school parking lot Says Conner High student was meeting man she met online Fox19
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State law prevents disclosure of where toxic chemicals in NKY are being kept Julia Fair Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY NETWORK
There are hundreds of companies in Northern Kentucky that hold toxic chemicals. But there are 23 that emergency workers think pose a “greater vulnerability,” than the rest if the toxic chemicals leaked. Where are they? Good question. State law won’t let The Enquirer know, or tell you, which companies pose the most risk. Or where they are, or what schools, housing developments and highways they might be near. Kentucky open records laws prevents that information from disclosure when there’s a chance it could threaten public safety and hinder “protecting against, mitigating, or responding to a terrorist act.” That exemption was added in 2005. The list of companies, however, are all on a special list watched by emergency workers. Hebron Fire Assistant Fire Chief William Fletcher knows which companies they are because of his role as Vice-Chair of the Northern Kentucky Emergency Planning Committee. That regional group monitors companies’ chemical leak emergency plans in fi ve counties: Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin and Pendleton. “Sleep well knowing there are folks doing good work for the safety and well being for the community,” said chairman Rodney Bell, who is also the Occupational Safety & Health Sen-
A hazmat crew assesses the mock chemical spill at Ohio University Chillicothe. The Northern Kentucky Emergency Planning Committee monitors companies’ chemical leak emergency plans in fi ve counties: Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin and Pendleton. While residents can request to see a specifi c company’s toxic chemical emergency response plan, they cannot fi nd out the volume of chemicals that company has. PHOTOS BY ROBERT MCGRAW/CHILLICOTHE GAZETTE
ior Manager at Sanitation District No. 1. The group collected emergency action plans from 350 companies in Northern Kentucky. That way, the regional committee can See CHEMICALS, Page 2A
“Sleep well knowing there are folks doing good work for the safety and well being for the community.” Rodney Bell, chairman of the Northern Kentucky Emergency Planning Committee
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BOONE COUNTY – A man from Las Vegas was arrested Monday after he attempted to kidnap a female student in the parking lot at Conner High School in Hebron, according to the Boone County Sheriff ’s Offi ce. The sheriff ’s offi ce says Benjamin J. Margitza, 18, fi rst met the victim through an online app about four years ago. According to authorities, there was minimal contact between the two, but within the past year Margitza contacted the victim and began making explicit, sexual statements while also obsessing over the victim by saying how he wanted to marry her. Margitza fl ew from Las Vegas to northern Kentucky late Saturday night with the intention of making contact with Margitza the victim. He approached her in the parking lot of Connor High School shortly before 11 a.m. and grabbed her arm. The victim screamed and began to ran away, but he continued to follow her. A male student heard what was going on and intervened. The victim then went into the school and told the School Resource Offi cer what happened. The offi cer located Margitza in the back of an Uber as he was trying to leave the Conner High School campus. Margitza told detectives that he would have followed the victim into the school if the male student hadn’t stopped him. In addition, Margitza said he intended to convince the victim to have sex with him once he got her back to his hotel. Margitza is charged with attempted kidnapping of a minor and criminal trespass. He’s being held at the Boone County Detention Center. No bond has been set at this time. Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this report.
According to authorities, there was minimal contact between the two, but within the past year Margitza contacted the victim and began making explicit, sexual statements while also obsessing over the victim by saying how he wanted to marry her.
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