Former GM workers invited to see plant documentary

Former GM workers invited to see plant documentary

DAYTON — Former workers of a shuttered General Motors Corp. SUV assembly plant in western Ohio have been invited to the free premiere of a documentary on the factory’s closing.

HBO’s “The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant,” directed by local filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, will be shown Aug. 19 at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center in Dayton.

The documentary follows plant workers and other members of the suburban Dayton community in the days before the closing of the plant, which employed about 1,000.

The plant closed Dec. 23 after 27 years.

Workers had been told about six months earlier that GM would close the plant because high gasoline prices were driving consumers away from SUVs. The film airs on HBO on Sept. 9.

Ohio police chief on leave, is accused of snooping

BRIDGEPORT, Ohio — One of two Ohio police chiefs accused of snooping on a celebrity surrogate mother has been placed on paid leave.

The village council in Bridgeport voted Monday to put Chief Chad Dojack on leave pending the outcome of the case, which involves the woman who carried twins for actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.

Dojack and Police Chief Barry Carpenter of neighboring Martins Ferry in southeastern Ohio pleaded not guilty Friday to several felonies. A special prosecutor said the men conspired to take items from the surrogate’s Martins Ferry home to sell to paparazzi.

Carpenter and his attorney met Monday with the Martins Ferry mayor and safety director.

Actor Moore breaks leg

LOS ANGELES — Actors are often told to break a leg, but “Criminal Minds” star Shemar Moore actually did it over the weekend.

Moore’s publicist, Staci Wolfe, says the 39-year-old actor was hit by a car while biking in LA on Saturday.

Group wants to put marker at Williams’ recording site

CINCINNATI — Music history preservationists have begun a fund drive for a historic marker at a site in Ohio where Hank Williams Sr. and other stars recorded.

The Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation and others who last year put a marker at the city’s historic King Records site plan one at the downtown former home of Herzog Recording Studios.

Supporters say they want to celebrate and preserve the history of the place where Williams recorded his haunting “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” 60 years ago, among other country hits. R&B singer Bull Moose Jackson and country stars such as Patti Page and Grandpa Jones also recorded at Herzog.

The campaign aims to raise $4,000 to $5,000 for the marker through a benefit concert by local musicians Aug. 22 in Newport, Ky.

Spielberg to receive award

PHILADELPHIA — Filmmaker Steven Spielberg will be awarded Philadelphia’s 2009 Liberty Medal for his artistic and humanitarian achievements.

The National Constitution Center made the announcement Tuesday. Former President Bill Clinton will present the award, which comes with a $100,000 cash prize, to Spielberg on Oct. 8.

Spielberg’s films include “Schindler’s List,” “Saving Private Ryan” and “The Color Purple.” He has also established a foundation to produce video and oral histories of Holocaust survivors.

The Liberty Medal was established in 1988 to honor individuals and organizations whose actions represent the founding principles of the United States.

Today’s birthdays

Actress Loni Anderson is 64. Singer Rick Derringer is 62. Actress Maureen McCormick is 53. Guitarist Pat Smear (Foo Fighters) is 50. Actress Tawny Kitaen is 48. Country fiddler Mark O’Connor is 48. Rapper Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys is 45. Actor Jonathan Silverman (“The Single Guy”) is 43. Country singer Terri Clark is 41.