One of Cincinnati's veteran police horses died Sunday after complications from emergency surgery.

        Cruiser, thought to be 14 or 15 years old, was found lying in his stall Sunday. A veterinarian determined that he had a tumor entangled in his intestine. He had undergone cancer treatment, but officers thought he had been doing better.

        Cruiser and his human partner, Officer Catherine Erhardt, were seen in the Cincinnati Opera's performance of Aida in 2000. Cruiser also often served as the riderless horse in police memorial ceremonies.

        When Cruiser worked downtown, he often got his favorite cookie treat from Gretchen's on Vine Street — white chocolate macadamia.

Ex-sewer chief's suit dismissed on appeal

        A federal appeals court on Monday rejected a lawsuit by the former director of the Metropolitan Sewer District, who said city and county officials ruined his reputation and forced him to resign.

        The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's dismissal of Thomas Quinn's lawsuit against Cincinnati and Hamilton County officials.

        U.S. District Judge Herman Weber dismissed Mr. Quinn's lawsuit in 1999, saying he should have requested a hearing to clear his name before he sued.

        Appeals judges Eric Clay, Alice Batchelder and James Carr on Monday unanimously upheld Judge Weber's decision.

        Mr. Quinn's lawyer, Marc Mezibov, did not return a call seeking comment on the appeals court's ruling.

        Mr. Quinn's lawsuit claimed that city and county officials damaged his career by making false statements about his job performance. He said he was forced to resign in April 1998 after the city manager threatened to fire him if he didn't leave on his own.

        City and county officials said Mr. Quinn did not follow proper procedures in some of the district's dealings with developers.

        In 1999, a special prosecutor ended a 16-month investigation by concluding there was no basis to file criminal charges against Mr. Quinn.

Stenographers hired to improve court record

        HAMILTON — Two court stenographers began working in Butler County Common Pleas Court last week in an effort to improve the county's system for documenting court proceedings.

        Administrative Judge Matthew Crehan on Monday said Tracy Greene and Jennifer Olivier are working part time in a pilot project that will be evaluated at year's end.

        The hirings come after concerns were raised about accuracy and completeness of records on compact-disc audio recordings that were produced by judges' assistants.

Ex-Bengal to speak at commencement

        FAIRFIELD — Former Bengals placekicker Jim Breech will deliver the commencement address to Southern Ohio College graduates 7 p.m. June 19 at the Tri-County Church of God on Ohio 4 in Fairfield.

        Mr. Breech, the Bengals all-time leading scorer, is a co-founder of the Superstar program with Athletes in Action. He has spoken to thousands of students about drug and alcohol abuse.

        No tickets are needed; the event is open to the public.

Warren Co. may end bus service to Dayton

        LEBANON — Warren County Transit is considering ending bus service to Dayton, Ohio, administrator Jerry Haddix said Monday.

        It may not be the best use of the $75,000 to $80,000 the county spends annually on the service to Dayton, he said.

        “We're looking at putting more routes in the county,” Mr. Haddix said.

        The buses make three runs a day to Dayton. It costs residents $3 to $4.25 each way.

        County commissioners will hold a hearing at 10:30 a.m. todayto get feedback on the proposal. Residents will have 30 days to submit comments to Mr. Haddix. He can be reached at (513) 695-1323; or at 406 Justice Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036; or e-mail haddjl@co.warren.oh.us.

Symmes seeks grant, mulls skateboard park

        SYMMES TOWNSHIP — Township administrators are applying for an Ohio Department of Natural Resources Nature Works grant. Trustees recently gave Administrator Gerald Beckman the OK to pursue the grant, which may be used for the construction of a $300,000 skateboard park.

Children's Hospital unit ranked among top

        The division of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ranks among the nation's top programs of its kind, according to a review by a scientific advisory committee.

        Experts from the Mayo Clinic and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto recently gave top rankings to Cincinnati Children's and similar units in Boston, Philadelphia and St. Louis. Results of the review were announced Monday.

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