Meter-Feeding Grandmother to Be Parade Marshal

Capitalizing on a parking meter-feeding grandmother’s notoriety, organizers of a parade celebrating the opening of the Cincinnati Reds baseball season said Friday she has been chosen as an honorary parade marshal.

But instead of putting coins in expired parking meters for motorists unknown to her--an act of generosity that earned her more than $500 in fines--Sylvia Stayton will place bags over the meters along the 18-block downtown route of Tuesday’s parade.

Stayton, 63, was arrested Oct. 24 for putting coins in meters as a Cincinnati policeman was ticketing cars. She was convicted by a Hamilton County Municipal Court jury of obstructing official business and fined $500 and court costs.

Stayton, who has four children and 10 grandchildren, argued that she did no wrong and refused to apologize in court for the incident. She is appealing the sentence.

Ohio Gov. George Voinovich will be the official parade marshal. He and Stayton will ride in separate convertibles in the parade, which will have about 150 entries including marching bands, decorated floats, and politicians galore, Gibbs said.

Marge Schott, controversial owner of the Reds, will not ride in the parade. Her public activities have been curtailed by Major League Baseball because she made racially offensive public statements.