Compiled from staff and wire reports

1 hurt in crash with police car

LEBANON - One person was seriously injured late Tuesday when a Warren County police cruiser collided with another vehicle on Ohio 63 near the Lebanon Correctional Institution.

The crash occurred about 10:55 p.m. when the driver of westbound vehicle failed to yield while attempting to turn left into a private drive and was struck on the passenger side by the eastbound police cruiser, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

A passenger in the vehicle suffered what were described as life-threatening injuries and was transported by Care Flight helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, the highway patrol said. The sheriff's deputy and the driver of the other vehicle suffered minor injuries.

UC athlete cleared on alcohol charge

A charge of underage drinking against Gino Guidugli, starting quarterback for the University of Cincinnati football team, was dismissed Tuesday in Hamilton County Municipal Court.

Guidugli

Judge Ralph E. Winkler dismissed the charge after prosecutors failed to produce toxicology results and officers involved in the case failed to appear in court as the trial was scheduled to begin, Philip E. Pitzer, Mr. Guidugli's attorney said Tuesday.

Mr. Guidugli was cited by police for underage drinking in September after he was found with a beer when officers responded to a fight at a fraternity house near the UC campus. Mr. Guidugli was not involved in the fight.

At a previous hearing, the prosecution had been ordered by the judge to produce Mr. Guidugli's toxicology results, Mr. Pitzer said.

Mr. Guidugli, a sophomore, is a graduate of Highlands High School in Fort Thomas.

Charter schools given conditional contracts

COLUMBUS - Two of the three charter schools the state school board approved for renewals Tuesday, including one in Over-the-Rhine, will get only probationary contracts so they can fix problems outlined in their five-year performance evaluations.

The one-year contracts for Oak Tree Montessori, an 81-student school at 20 E. Central Parkway, and City Day Community School in Dayton will require the schools to provide the Ohio Department of Education with plans for addressing areas of concern.

Portune undergoes spinal surgery

Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune was expected to remain in University Hospital for up to six days after undergoing surgery Tuesday, according to his staff.

Mr. Portune, 44, of Westwood had a noncancerous tumor removed from his spine to alleviate pressure on the nerves leading to the legs. Neurosurgeon John Tew termed the operation a success.

Suspect arrested in assault on officer

The man suspected of assaulting a Delhi Township police officer Monday turned himself in to police early Tuesday.

David Blackmon, 20, showed up at Cincinnati Police District 3 headquarters in Price Hill about 1 a.m. Officers had been looking for him since Detective James Wergers was hurt about 3:15 p.m. on Crestline Avenue in Price Hill while looking for Mr. Blackmon on a warrant for a December burglary in Delhi.

Officer Wergers was hit on the head with a rock. He was treated at University Hospital and released.

In the Dec. 30 burglary, a German gun was stolen while the 80-year-old resident of the house was asleep. Mr. Blackmon was taken to jail on that charge.

No additional charge has yet been added in the attack on the officer. Police still are looking for the other man involved in the rock incident. He was described as 5-foot-8, 170 pounds and wearing a gray shirt.

Wright-Pat medics deployed overseas

DAYTON, Ohio - About 50 medics from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are being deployed overseas to help in the war on terrorism, a base official said Tuesday.

Al Eakle, spokesman for the 74th Medical Group, said the group includes doctors and nurses. There are about 1,900 military and civilian members of the medical group.

Mr. Eakle would not say where the medics are going. The deployment will be for an indefinite period.

Kings Island to hire 4,000 employees

MASON - Paramount's Kings Island is hiring more than 4,000 seasonal employees for the 2003 season.

Potential hires, ages 15 and older, can attend a job fair at the park on Jan. 25, Feb. 8, Feb. 15, March 1 or March 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Another job fair will be held for teachers, bus drivers and other school employees on Feb. 17 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Help is needed in several departments, including guest relations, merchandise, ride operations and admissions. Some positions pay up to $9 an hour.

For more information, contact the park at 754-5748.

The 2003 operating season kicks off April 12.

Lebanon school board chooses officers

LEBANON - School board members unanimously selected Orville Robinson on Monday as president of the Lebanon Board of Education, returning the church pastor to the presidency for the second time.

The five-member board chose the Rev. Mr. Robinson, pastor of the Cornerstone Church of God, to succeed Donna Davis-Norris as board president for 2003. He is serving in his second term on the board and was previously president in 2001.

The board also unanimously chose first-term member Paul Brewer to serve as vice president.