Mayor Charlie Luken said Saturday that the state should establish a housing court in Cincinnati to go after slum landlords.

        The court would give the city more muscle to track down hard-to-find landlords with building violations, Mr. Luken said.

        In a speech to Price Hill residents, Mr. Luken also said:

        • The city should fight plans by the Metropolitan Housing Authority's Seminary Ridge housing project — even if the city has to take the battle to court. Mr. Luken wants single-family housing for the site.

        • He will propose stepped up litter control measures in neighborhoods, including stiffer penalties for littering and dumping.

JUST FEELING JOYFUL: Paula Showes, a member of Strong Woman Ministries, sings while working at the food booth during Community Fest Saturday. The event at the Northern Kentucky Community Center was part of the group's mission. It collects clothes, food and furniture for distribution to the needy. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        Mr. Luken's speech to the annual Price Hill Block Club and Residents Congress was supposed to be a debate on city housing policy but Charterite Courtis Fuller did not attend.

        Mr. Fuller said he will agree to only two broadcast debates before Election Day.
       

Jewelry store robbery leads to two arrests

        GLENDALE — Two men face aggravated robbery and other charges after allegedly holding a jewelry store employee hostage, stealing an undisclosed amount of jewelry, leading police on a chase and then crashing into a utility pole at Sharon and Chester roads.

        Robert Robinson, 28, and Curtis Hill, 30, were transported Saturday to University Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition.

        According to Springdale Police, they were armed with semi-automatic handguns when they entered Finer Diamonds, 137 E. Kemper Road, near Tri-County Mall, at about 11:45 a.m. An employee was on the phone with a law enforcer, who heard someone in the background order everyone to get down.

        Police rushed to the store.

        According to police, the robbers herded the employees and a customer into a restroom. Police said robbers held a gun to the head of an employee, but he managed to escape.

        Police said the two men ran from the store and drove away. in a sport utility vehicle.They crashed into a cruiser at Kemper and Chesterdale roads and then continued down Kemper, turned south on Chester, then crashed into the utility pole.

        Springdale Police Sgt. Josef Ture was injured in the pursuit. He was treated at Mercy Fairfield Hospital for minor injuries and released. The stolen jewelry was retrieved, police said.
       

Walnut Hills shooting sends man to hospital

        Norman Hamilton, 34, of Evendale was in serious condition at University Hospital after being shot Saturday morning and found inside his van on East McMillan Street in Walnut Hills.

        Cincinnati police said the shooting occurred at 9 a.m. Saturday. Mr. Hamilton was taken to University Hospital.

        Police are looking a heavy-set black man in his 40s who walks with a limp.
       

Bullies & Victims training program set

        The Academy of Medicine Alliance of Cincinnati is sponsoring a three-day training institute for educators on Bullies & Victims, a childhood anti-bullying program.

        The program will be held Tuesday through Thursday at Kilgour School, 1339 Herschel Ave., Hyde Park, and E.H. Greene Intermediate School, 5200 Aldine Drive, Blue Ash.

        SuEllen Fried, a nationally recognized author and child advocate responsible for the Bullies & Victims approach, will conduct the training.

        The cost is $150 per person. For information, call 632-0834 or e-mail amac1@usa.net.
       

Mayor's Fund outing
helps emergency fund

        HARRISON - The annual Harrison Mayor's Fund Golf Outing will take place Oct. 13, at the Brook Hill Golf Club in Brookville, Ind.

        The golf outing is the largest source of income for the Mayor's Fund, which provides year-round emergency assistance to needy families in the community, said coordinator Teri Hannon.

        “We probably help 25 to 30 families a year,” with housing, food, clothing or utilities, Ms. Hannon said, adding that an estimated 200 families are givenfood and toys at Christmas.

        The golf outing begins at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start.

        To obtain an application, call Peg Roudebush at 367-0234, Ext. 103, or Coke Powers, at 367-2323. Entry deadline is next Sunday.
       

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