John Hinterberger, Columnist And Radio Host, Hospitalized

Seattle Times restaurant critic and KING-AM talk-show host John Hinterberger was hospitalized yesterday.

His producer said today that Hinterberger showed symptoms of what may have been a mild stroke.

`He started to feel ill, with flulike symptoms, on Tuesday," said Barbara Nombalais. `"e took him yesterday afternoon. He's fine, he's stable, he's not in any pain, but they're running some tests" at Northwest Hospital in North Seattle.

"We thought he had the flu," said KING-AM program director Andy Ludlum. "In the next couple of days I'm sure we'll know a heck of a lot more."

Hinterberger is the host on KING-AM weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. His radio career was launched in 1991 after a long stint as a Seattle Times columnist. He still writes restaurant reviews for The Times.

"Hint," as he is known to friends and colleagues, is largely responsible for getting the ball rolling on the Seattle Commons park project. He wrote a newspaper column about the idea a few years ago and has advocated the project on his radio show.