Compiled from staff and wire reports

DOWNTOWN - The city will show its holiday spirit today with Light up the Square - The Mayor's Holiday Lighting Celebration.

The day will begin with the opening of the ice rink on the square at 10 a.m. Holiday music will play throughout Fountain Square until 4:30 pm., when the City Hall Renaissance Orchestra will play.

The Cincinnati's Young People's Theater and the Mistics will follow with performances.

At 5:30 p.m. the ice rink will close to the public until 6:45 p.m. so that the Queen City Figure Skating Club can perform.

At 6:50 p.m., Fountain Square will shine brightly. Luken will count down and George Schaefer Jr., president of Fifth Third Bank, will throw the switch.

The Southern Gateway Chorus will perform until 7:15 p.m. and the ice rink will close at 9 p.m.

Two cars hit officer, but injury is minor

CAMP WASHINGTON - A Cincinnati police officer suffered a minor leg injury Thursday after he was hit by a car while investigating a traffic crash on westbound Interstate 74 off northbound Interstate 75.

Officer Jerry Enneking of the Cincinnati Police Traffic Unit was dispatched at 12:28 p.m. to investigate a traffic crash on the ramp. Before he got out of his police car, it was hit from behind by a westbound vehicle, said Sgt. Bill Coombs.

Enneking's emergency lights were activated and he was parked on the right berm.

He called for a police supervisor and additional officers to come the scene. Then, when he got out of his car to check the others for injuries, he was struck again, by a second, westbound car.

Videotape from the cruiser shows the officer was thrown over the hood of his car and, after landing on the pavement, slid under another car, Sgt. Coombs said.

"It's like wow," Enneking said from his home Thursday night after watching the video. "It's a good thing I moved when I did. If I had waited a little longer it would have been worse."

Enneking, 38, was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was treated and released for a right ankle and right knee injury. He has been a Cincinnati police officer for 15 years. An investigation continues.

Green Township plans surplus auction

GREEN TWP. - Several vehicles, old desks, playground and computer equipment are among the items up for sale Saturday at the township's annual surplus auction.

Bidding starts at 10 a.m. at the township maintenance garage, 6303 Harrison Ave. People can check out the items today from noon to 2 p.m. and on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Everything is sold as-is, and payment must be made in cash or certified check. A complete list of items for sale is on the township Web site, http://www.greentwp.org.

Donate some blood, get hockey tickets

Hoxworth Blood Center, in conjunction with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, is holding a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Eastgate Mall, 4601 Eastgate Boulevard.

All blood donors will receive two vouchers for two tickets to any Mighty Ducks hockey home game.

The Hoxworth Bloodmobile will be outside the west mall entrance between Sears and Kohl's.

'Light Up Middletown' includes balloons

MIDDLETOWN - The city will conduct its fifth annual Light Up Middletown festivities and holiday balloon glow at 5 p.m. today The official lighting of a 35-foot blue spruce, donated by Robert Baden, will start things off at Broad Street and Central Avenue. That will include a presentation of colors by the Middletown Division of Police Color Guard.

Sam Ashworth, president of the Middletown Historical Society, will dedicate the first in a series of murals being painted for the city's downtown area. A parade will follow to Smith Park, where Light Up Middletown and the balloon glow will be featured.

Miami student jailed for counterfeiting

HAMILTON - A former Miami University student was sentenced to a month in jail for counterfeiting money on her computer in her dormitory room.

Judge Michael Sage of Butler County Common Pleas Court said Wednesday that he was sending Tori Traficante, 20, to jail because she had breached a "social contract" with the court by getting into trouble while out on bond.

Traficante was arrested in September. She pleaded guilty to forgery and possession of criminal tools. She had faced a maximum sentence of up to a year in prison.

"She recognizes what she did was wrong," he said.

Grade school festival will be Saturday

DELHI TOWNSHIP - Frosty's Family Festival, sponsored by the C.O. Harrison Elementary School, will be Saturday, not Friday as reported earlier. A Santa Shop, crafters, baked goods, games and crafts are all part of the festival.

The festival will be 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the school, 585 Neeb Road.