Man gets probation for improper billing

A former Hamilton County sheriff's deputy was sentenced to a year on probation Friday after admitting he billed the county for off-duty work he didn't perform.

Robert Cronin, 31, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of attempted theft in office and tampering with evidence. He entered the plea after prosecutors agreed to drop more serious felony charges.

Common Pleas Judge Steven Martin sentenced Cronin to probation and barred him from working again as a law enforcement officer.

Prosecutors said Cronin billed the county for an off-duty detail at an Old Navy store but did not show up for the hours he claimed. They said Cronin was paid about $400 for the time he claimed to have worked.

5 Butler Co. women honored for efforts

MASON - Five Greater Cincinnati women were honored Friday at the second annual Southeastern Butler County Chamber of Commerce Women of Excellence Awards.

The awards celebrate contributions from women who, through their careers or volunteer work, have enhanced business, education, culture or philanthropy in the community and region.

This year's winners were selected from 20 nominations: Karen Grantz of Hamilton; Mari Louise Hubbard of Maineville; Wendy Hushak of Anderson Township; Eva Lande of Hamilton and Kitty VanCamp Wells of Liberty Township.

United Way raises $2.34M in Warren Co.

LEBANON - The Warren County United Way ended its extended fund-raising drive Friday, reaching 96 percent of the $2.45 million campaign goal.

The agency reported a total of $2.34 million in collections and pledges. The United Way had extended its fund-raising beyond the original Oct. 30 finale because at the time the group was $320,000 short and waiting for companies' campaigns to wrap up.

The Warren County United Way, which serves 31 agencies, just missed its $2.35 million target last year, collecting $2.32 million.

Man gets probation for role in theft ring

A Cincinnati man was sentenced to five years' probation Friday for his role in what prosecutors describe as a theft ring based in neighborhood stores throughout the city.

Gregory Hardimon, 58, pleaded guilty in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court to one count of receiving stolen property.

He is one of 19 people charged two months ago in connection with a scam to resell stolen goods at inflated prices at convenience stores. Although police initially suggested the men had ties to terrorists in the Middle East, they have since backed off that claim.

Common Pleas Judge Thomas Crush said he found that Hardimon and the others had no ties to terrorist organizations.

Student reports assault at library

OXFORD - A Talawanda High School student told police she was attacked at the Lane Public Library here on Oct. 28 by another student whom she knew.

Police described the assault as sexual imposition, or touching, but no arrests have been made.

The assault took place about 3 p.m. at the library, according to the police report.

This is the ninth sexual assault reported to the Oxford Police Department since the beginning of the school year.

Library officials said Friday that they believe the assault took place outside the library.

Student faces sanction for false attack report

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS - An investigation into a University of Cincinnati student's sexual assault claim has shown no evidence the incident took place.

In a campus-wide e-mail Friday, UC's Sexual Offense Response Team said police had determined "that no rape or other type of sexual offense had taken place."

The female student, who claimed to have been assaulted on her way to class in the Langsam Library garage just before 8 a.m. on Oct. 8, now faces sanctions for the false report, the e-mail said.

Traffic watch

For 24-hour traffic information call ARTIMIS at 333-3333 or 511 from Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky.

Interstate 471

Northbound is reduced to two lanes just north of the I-275 interchange until 9 p.m. Sunday.

Southbound is reduced to two lanes near the Grand avenue on ramp until 9 p.m. Sunday.

Northside/Mount Airy

Watch for construction crews on Kirby Road between Virginia Avenue and North Bend Road.