South kenton recorder 110917

Page 1

SOUTH KENTON

RECORDER

CELEBRATING

120 YEARS

BUY ONE GET ONE

FREE!

Your Community Recorder newspaper serving Independence and Taylor Mill THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017

$1.00 BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS

‘Spitfire kind of woman’ headlines event Whitney served with US Army Reserves Melissa Reinert Cincinnati Enquirer

Samantha Malohn, left, and Rodney Pollitt Jr. along with their three children were killed in an auto crash on Staffordsburg Road in Independence on Oct. 26, 2017. PROVIDED

Driver in wreck that killed five faces murder charges Scott Wartman Cincinnati Enquirer

An Independence man will face five counts of murder and could spend the rest of his life in prison for a fatal crash that killed five members of a family. Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders announced the charges against Daniel Greis, 57, Thursday morning, Nov. 2. Sanders’ announcement came an hour and a half before the funeral for the Pollitt family – Rodney Pollitt, Jr., 26, Samantha Malohn, 27, and their three children, Hailieann Pollitt, 9, Brenden Pollitt, 8, and Cailie Pollitt, 6. On Oct. 26, Greis’ 2014 Honda Pilot crossed the double yellow line while cresting a hill on Staffordsburg Road in Independence, the criminal complaint stated. While in the oncoming lane, Greis’ car struck head-on the car carrying the Pollitt family. Sanders said the death penalty wasn’t an option since Greis didn’t intend to kill anyone. “In this case, I don’t think anyone is claiming Mr. Greis intended on killing anyone, only that his actions were in such disregard for human life that they rise to the level of wanton murder,”

From left, Hailieann Pollitt, 9, Brenden Pollitt, 8, and Cailie Pollitt, 6, were killed in a car accident with their parents Samantha Malohn Rodney Pollitt Jr. in Independence on Oct. 26, 2017. PROVIDED FROM FUNERAL HOME

Sanders said. Greis was legally intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level between .082 and .092 and had admitted to police he consumed alcohol and marijuana that day, the arrest warrant stated. He had been golfing earlier at a Campbell County golf course

and was on his way home. Sanders said he couldn’t say how fast Greis was traveling but could say that speed was a factor. The speed limit in that stretch of Staffordsburg Road is 55 miles per hour. Greis was attempting to pass another vehicle when the crash happened, Sanders said. He had attempted to pass the same car earlier but an oncoming car stopped him. Police want to talk to the driver of that oncoming car and urged the person to contact the Kenton County Police. The driver would have encountered Greis’ gray SUV while traveling eastbound on Staffordsburg Road between 4:30 p.m. and 4:50 p.m. on Oct. 26. Greis remains hospitalized under police guard somewhere in Kentucky, but Sanders said he couldn’t release the location. Sanders said Greis suffered bone fractures but doesn’t have life-threatening injuries. He will be transferred to the Kenton County Detention Center or medical facilities at Kentucky State Reformatory in La Grange once released from the hospital, Sanders said. “I’m not sure we’ll ever know what he See CHARGES, Page 2A

Contact us

FIND YOUR NEWS

News .........................283-0404 Retail advertising .......513-768-8404 Classified advertising ...513-421-6300 Delivery .......................781-4421

To see news submitted for your community, visit http://bit.ly/YourCommunities and select your community or click on the red box.

FORT MITCHELL – Perhaps she was inspired growing up with World War II icon Rosie the Riveter. Perhaps it was her uncles who served during the war. Or maybe it was just her fearless ambition. June Whitney herself isn’t quite sure. After visiting soldiers stationed in Korea through the American Red Cross, however, the young teacher knew she wanted to serve her country full-time. At age 27, Whitney was “taken in by the U.S. Army Reserves.” “I had wanted to go into the Air Force or Navy but had passed their entry age,” she said. “So I ended up in the Army Reserves. It was a good fit. I loved the way the Army operated – the hustle and bustle.” Whitney worked on the administrative side of things at various medical operations set up where troops were stationed. She served in California, Hawaii, New York, Virginia, Minnesota, Missouri, Florida, Japan, Korea and Honduras. “It was quite an experience,” Whitney, 81, said. “I don’t regret at all my service. I feel proud to have worked with our soldiers See VETERANS, Page 2A

Highland Cemetery will host the Northern Kentucky Veterans Day observance on Nov. 12. FILE PHOTO

Vol. 7 No. 20 © 2017 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

See page A2 for additional information

WE TREAT YOU. YOU RECOVER. GET BACK TO LIVING.

Accepting New Patients! Call Today!

Formerly Commonwealth Orthopaedic Centers and Reconstructive Orthopaedics

859-301-BONE (2663) www.OrthoCincy.com

29 Doctors. 11 Convenient Locations.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.