Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, August 26, 1994                   TAG: 9408260078
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN VIRGINIA

DANVILLE - The Rev. Robert Francis Ruth, priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, was charged Thursday with prostitution.

Police Major B.C. Elliott said Ruth, 60, was arrested at his home about 3 p.m.

The arrest stems from an Aug. 12 incident in a park. The charge states that Ruth offered $20 to undercover Detective J.L. Chaney and asked to perform oral sex on the officer.

Ruth was released from jail on $1,000 bond.

The prostitution charge is a misdemeanor. If convicted, Ruth could be sentenced to up to one year in prison and fined $1,000.

Richmond Diocese Bishop Walter Sullivan said Ruth would continue as the priest at Sacred Heart unless he is convicted.

- Associated Press

Bodies of family removed from plane

CHESTER GAP - Five bodies pulled Thursday from the wreckage of a small plane that crashed into a mountain ridge were identified as members of an Ohio family, state police said.

Traffic was briefly stopped along Skyline Drive so the bodies, which were found Wednesday, could be removed from the rugged terrain in Shenandoah National Park.

Mary Evans, a state police spokeswoman, said the Cherokee Six single-engine plane was piloted by Bill Peoples, 43, of Powell, Ohio. The other victims were identified as his wife, Mary, 36; their daughter, Nicole, 4; and his sons from a previous marriage, Nick, 12, and Nate, 11.

- Associated Press

Horse race betting makes ballot again

MANASSAS - Prince William County voters on Nov. 8 will reconsider whether to allow pari-mutuel wagering. The county's Circuit Court clerk certified Wednesday that supporters of a proposed horse track near Haymarket had gathered enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot.

In a 1989 referendum, 60 percent of Prince William voters approved horse betting.

The Virginia Racing Commission is scheduled to decide by Sept. 28 which of five applicants will receive Virginia's only horse racing track license. The other proposed track locations are in Virginia Beach, Portsmouth and New Kent County, which has two sites.

- Associated Press

Keywords:
HORSE RACING