KENTON RECORDER
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Greis on crash: ‘I feel responsibility. Those people died horribly.’
Christ Hospital Health Network’s plan to build an ambulatory surgery center on the site of the former Drawbridge Inn in Fort Mitchell is likely doomed by a court ruling. FILE
He takes the stand in court proceedings in his own defense
Judge blocks Christ Hospital’s efforts to build in Fort Mitchell Anne Saker Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY NETWORK
A new court ruling has likely scrapped plans for a Christ Hospital $23 million ambulatory surgery center on the old Drawbridge Inn site in Fort Mitchell – at least for now. Northern Kentucky “already has nine outpatient surgery facilities that are each less than 50 percent utilized, well under the 85 percent rule” required to show that there’s a need for more services, Judge Thomas Wingate of the Franklin County Circuit Court wrote in his June 20 ruling. “This duplication and proliferation necessarily impairs the cost efficiency of the health-care delivery
Jennie Key Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY NETWORK
system in the planning area,” Wingate said. Kentucky approved the $23 million project a year ago under the commonwealth’s certificate-of-need law, which requires government approval for any new medical facility. Christ Hospital officials have argued that St. Elizabeth, as Northern Kentucky’s primary health care provider, operates as a monopoly and needs the competition in surgery services. It’s not immediately clear if they will appeal the latest ruling. St. Elizabeth officials have said their system spends more than $100 million a year on care for the indigent and Medicaid patients and is shouldering See RULING, Page 2A
Find out where to watch area July 4 fireworks and parades Chris Mayhew Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY NETWORK
When it comes to celebrating Independence Day, Northern Kentucky’s “fort” cities are a good place as any to revel. Fort Thomas in Campbell County and Fort Mitchell in Kenton County throw daylong parties steeped in tradition and civic pride. In Campbell County’s biggest city, securing a spot to watch the annual Fourth of July parade is part of the tradition. After all, people line the streets to watch parades. “We set out our chairs the night before every year,” said Linda Slone, Fort Thomas resident and a parade organizer. The 8:15 a.m. Firecracker 5K Run/Walk through town, organized by the YMCA, the parade and a daylong festival in Tower Park are part of the Campbell County city’s Wednesday, July 4, celebration. Fireworks at 10 p.m. are the day’s finale. In Fort Mitchell, the city does nothing to stop people from claiming a spot to watch the traditional parade, City Administrator Sharmili Reddy said. “We let them have at it,” Reddy said. See FIREWORKS, Page 4A
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It was Christmas in July for Natalie Molina of Fairfield in her Santa themed wagon during last year’s Red, White and Liberty Red Wagon Parade.
See CRASH, Page 5A
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Daniel Greis said he was terrified as he drove side by side with Jesse Phillips on Staffordsburg Road Oct 26. He said the Dodge pickup truck Phillips drove kept pace with him after he swung out into the left lane to pass. “I tried to fall back, and he slowed down,” Greis said. Greis took the stand in his own defense Friday, recounting the day of the crash that killed the Pollitt family. He says his memory of events leading up to the accident returned gradually. He said he still has no recollection of the actual crash. Police say Daniel Greis, 58, was under the influence of marijuana and was legally drunk Oct. 26, when the Honda Pilot he was Daniel Greis driving hit the family’s Honda Accord on Staffordsburg Road in Independence as they drove to the home of the children’s grandfather. Samantha Malohn, 27, Rodney Pollitt Jr., 26, and their three children, Hailieann, 9, Brenden, 8, and 6year-old Cailie were each declared dead at the scene. Greis described his morning. He got home from his job around 6:30 a.m. He said he took four hits from a marijuana pipe to deal with back pain. He took his wife’s Honda Pilot to Tire Discounters to have its brakes checked. He tried to sleep, couldn’t and called his friend Bruce Grainger to see if he wanted to go fishing or play golf. They opted for golf at Hickory Sticks Golf Course in Campbell County. He says he drank from a half-filled leftover bourbon and Coke in a 17-ounce plastic soda bottle and took it with him as he left to pick up his friend. He drank it. Grainger drove the Pilot to the course and the friends played nine holes. Greis got a mett and a double Maker’s Mark over ice at the clubhouse, he said. They headed for the back nine. After the back nine, Greis drove back to Grainger’s home. Grainger said he asked his lifelong friend if he was too tired to drive home, and Greis assured him he was fine. He left. Greis said trouble began when he came upon the Dodge truck. He said he thought to pass it, he said, but there was an oncoming vehicle so he hung back. He said the truck was driving slowly in front of him, and he pulled out to pass. That’s when he says the truck, which has been identified as being driven by
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