Local Archived News   5/04                                              Subscribe Now                                            
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New group looks out for Union County land

Hospital honors returning veterans

City lists streets slated for repair
Fifth Street will be fixed first

CEO updates board on Memorial Physicians

Detlor guilty on three counts
Union County supports its sons and daughters
Hundreds turn out for troop rally
Mother tells court her side
County will celebrate dedication of WWII Memorial
Robinson Family Farm has seen more
than 100 years of agriculture
Trial of Amy Detlor opens
Darby 20-acre limit on hold
Marysville board approves city's TIF program
Local library is excellent source for post-secondary education
Speakers set for local Memorial Day ceremony
Storm damage minimal in U.C.
Developers find a zoning loophole
Darby plans bold zoning move
Coroner honored for 9/11 efforts
Trial starts Monday
Fairbanks High School announces award winners
Marysville High School announces award winners
MR/DD levy given the go ahead
Homeowner has had enough
Family pays for own repair work to keep sewage from flooding basement
Lightning strike causes power outage
FHS announces 2004 valedictorian, salutatorian
United Way announces new campaign chair
NU third graders turn it around
Harold Lewis staffers voice concerns
Vandal slashes tires on cop cars
After short foot pursuit he is apprehended
Herschel's, the home of some big, beefy burgers
Railyard plan may crumble
MR/DD axes pricey buyout plan
Fairbanks appoints high school principal
Triad says goodbye to superintendent Dr. Steve Johnson
Monument fund gets a boost
Tax plan set for development
Policy read for Coleman's Crossing
Firefighters, city agree  on contract
First concealed carry permit issued
Davis family finds luck in the horseshoe business
Not all classes end in June
Local teens indicted for Georgia shoot-out
Triad High School names top scholarship winners
Sentencing set in PTO scandal
Second troop support rally takes shape
Honda plans new paint line
Jackson Township Trustees opt to restore cemetery
Marysville announces valedictorian, salutatorian
Myths dispelled about cicada emergence
Medicare drug card enrollment can be confusing; may not be for everyone
County Commissioners waiting to take action on proposed MR/DD measure
Local cat's size draws national acclaim on afternoon TV show
City police report vehicle break-ins on rise
Historical site or eyesore?
Mock attack planned at Nestle
N. L. taking back its rights-of-way
Creative Travel has rolled with the punches of a changing industry
Teen dies in horrific crash
Car hits parked dump truck on Raymond Road
Harmony absent from Jerome Township meeting
Veterans are targets of scam
Sines steps down after long career at Ohio Reformatory

New group looks out for Union County land
By CINDY BRAKE
A new organization, the Union County Land Heritage Trust, is being
organized to encourage land use decisions that will have a long-term
positive affect on Union County.
Incorporated as a non-profit organization, the Trust is planning an
introductory meeting and membership kick-off for this summer.
Organizers include farmers, conservationists, public officials and
representatives from government agencies. Other interested residents,
business people and industry representatives are encouraged to bring
their perspectives to the organization.
 "The group's mission is to protect and conserve the farmland,
countryside, rural character, traditions and historically important
features in the area through promotion, cooperation and education. As
Union County continues to change, the Trust plans to work with
residents, public officials and businesses to maintain a balance of land
uses and help minimize the negative impacts of land use changes," said
acting chairman Peggy Kirk Hall, who is an attorney and legal educator
for Ohio State University Extension. Her family farms in northern Union
County.
"For longtime Union County residents, as well as newcomers, the county's
land resources are a valuable heritage. Just as the land use decisions
made by previous generations helped shape the county's development, the
decisions being made today will affect the county's future economic
viability, environmental health, agricultural productivity and quality
of life," Kirk Hall said.
"Today, Union County has a mix of land uses that combine to create
vibrant communities - industries provide the economic strength of stable
jobs; commercial businesses provide jobs while giving residents
convenient access to goods and services; roads and highways make the
county accessible to neighboring population centers; and residential
developments let families enjoy a high quality of life," she said.
Even so, shortsighted planning and rapid changes have caused some
growing pains for the county.
Kirk Hall points specifically to drainage back-ups, sewage disposal
problems, traffic bottlenecks and conflicts between landowners. At the
same time, the conversion of farm fields and natural areas to other uses
reduces the county's agricultural land base, decreases habitat for
wildlife and undermines the rural character that enhances quality of
life in the county.
Organizing members include Terri Gravatt, Union Soil and Water
conservation District administrator; Steve Stolte, Union County
Engineer; Harold Watters, OSU extension ag agent in Miami County and a
Union County farmer; and Gail Keck, Union County farmer.
For more information, e-mail the organization at
union_landtrust@earthlink.net.

Hospital honors returning veterans
From J-T staff reports:
Two employees returning from the Middle East were honored with a welcome
home barbecue Friday at Memorial Hospital of Union County.
Melody Cooper, a nuclear medicine technician who joined the hospital in
January 2000, served in Kuwait for a year. A sergeant in the Army
Reserve, she oversaw product development such as ad bills, posters and
radio announcements.
When the new currency without Saddam Hussein's picture on it came out,
her group was responsible for communicating to the people of Kuwait when
and where they could exchange the old currency for the new. They also
developed posters to assist the Iraqis with the recruitment of police
officers and wanted posters for regime members.
Jeff Ward, R.N., began at the hospital in August 2000. He has worked in
ICU, LifeWorks and the emergency department and also worked as nurse
supervisor.
Ward, a captain in the Air Force Reserve, spent 5 1/2 months in Qatar,
where he served as a flight nurse, flying into Baghdad to pick up
patients and take them to Kuwait or Qatar. He has been in the military
for approximately 18 years, including four years of active duty in the
Army.

City lists streets slated for repair
Fifth Street will be fixed first
By RYAN HORNS
Potholes may become a thing of the past in certain areas of Marysville.
The final list of streets chosen by city administrators to receive
needed repairs was released during Marysville city council's meeting
Thursday night.
Roads scheduled for work include:
1. Fifth Street from Grove Street to Court Street and from Plum Street
to Cherry Street, including the Five Points intersection.
2. Collins Avenue from Route 4 to Maple Street.
3. Main Street from Elwood venue to the Route 4 off-ramp.
4. Scottslawn Road at the U.S. 33 overpass.
5. 10th Street from Chestnut Street to east end.
6. Mill Wood Boulevard from Route 31 to west end.
7. Hickory Drive from Collins Avenue to Edgewood Street.
8. Edgewood Drive from Hickory Drive to Grove Street.
9. Greenwood Boulevard from Clover Knoll Court to east end.
City administrator Kathy House said the contract for the work should be
signed by July 1. She said repairs should be completed by October or
November.
"We have been developing a pavement maintenance program for this year
based on the expected million dollars that was recently authorized
legislatively," House said.
Talks with paving contractors have shown a "definite interest" to
complete the repairs this year, she said.
"All streets are ready except Fifth Street from Grove to Maple," she
said, "which has water line replacement work scheduled to be done this
summer."
House reported that additional work might be possible, depending on
contract prices and how much work is completed. She said city streets
and sanitation superintendent Joe Tracey has put a lot of time and
effort into coordinating the identification of appropriate streets.
She said $1 million doesn't go a long way for one year of work but the
city will continue doing these kind of repairs each year until the
streets are in good shape. The city also purchased a crack sealer and
will continue to spot repair roads as needed.
In other discussions, recent attention to Keith and Sue Nason's yard
sign on Hickory Drive proclaiming they weren't receiving financial help
from the city to fix flooding in their home was addressed by House.
The family recently spent an additional $4,000 to add a Flood-Gate
device to divert flood water from their home. The purchase adds to the
$50,000 they already spent on flooding repairs, which they feel has been
caused by poorly-organized city growth.
"Since there has been some recent press on the needs and effectiveness
of our sanity and stormwater collections systems, I'd like to pass along
some information recently gathered in-house regarding work since 2001 on
those systems," House said.
She reported that the city has spent $84,000 in the past three years on
projects to assess and correct problems within the sanitary system. They
have increased preventative maintenance of sanitary lines, clearing
possible blockages and killing root growth inside lines on a routine
basis.
In the past two years and even with a very wet spring in 2003, she
reported, there have been no reports of widespread flooding during storm
events. She said approximately $4,000 worth of materials were used on
minor flooding remedy projects with labor and expertise provided by the
streets department.
"As we continue to eliminate excess stormwater from the sanitary system
more capacity will be freed, meaning even fewer flooding events," she
said. "All of this work has been completed in an effort to serve as many
residents as possible with each project. Our efforts continue daily and
will be focused on impacting the larger populace. This does not mean we
will be unresponsive to individual residents."
House said that any residents who experience sewer issues on their
property are encouraged to contact the city for an immediate assessment
by the staff and if the problem is a result of public infrastructure
inadequacies, a remedy will be made as quickly as time and funds allow.
Sue Nason has said she hopes that all residents who have flooding will
directly contact the city so that city officials are aware the problem
still exists in many Marysville homes.
In other news:
. A new wastewater superintendent was picked to replace Tom Gault who
has resigned. Council approved the selection of Rick Varner who is
currently working at Delaware County facilities and helping Marysville
on a contractual basis. He is expected to start Sept. 1.
Fogt said that Gault will be missed because he has done an excellent job
for the city. He said Gault was able to keep talks productive and open
with the Ohio EPA, which saved the city from hefty fines.
The twist is that to bring Varner to Marysville, the city had to raise
the salary for the wastewater superintendent position from $54,075 to
$60,000. By doing this administrators feel they must now raise the
salary of the director of public service, Tracie Davies from $59,860 to
$61,650, because Davies, as the supervisor for the wastewater
superintendent, would be making less than her employee.
.  Council approved the Walker Meadows PUD application, set for the land
off Route 38 at Boerger Road. In addition, the TIF real property tax
exemption was passed for the Coleman's Crossing development

CEO updates board on Memorial Physicians
From J-T staff reports:
Memorial Hospital of Union County CEO Chip Hubbs gave the board of
trustees a brief update on the situation pertaining to Memorial
Physicians Inc. at Thursday's regular board meeting.
Hubbs said he is meeting weekly with MPI director Carl Swart and is
attending MPI board meetings to assess the situation. He said an
independent audit of client satisfaction will be done soon and it should
give a good indication of the future of the contract physicians group is
doing. Hubbs added that several doctors have left the practice.
The board approved changes to the hospital's vacation and attendance
incentive (sick leave) program, allowing employees to designate the date
of cashing in accrued sick leave or vacation pay. In the past, the
hospital established the date of payout.
Employees are being asked to consider the way they use sick leave.
A statement regarding the attendance incentive program reads: "The sick
leave benefit has been seen by some employees as an entitlement; they
are using the benefit as soon as it is accrued, rather than accumulating
the hours for further catastrophic needs as a bridge to their long-term
disability benefit. This type of sick leave utilization results in
unforeseen labor shortages and an increase in employee overtime or
contract/gemporary employee utilization."
Hubbs told the board that as a community involvement program, he has
offered employment to a man who has served his sentence the West Central
Community Correctional Facility and to an MR/DD client. The new
employees will be given appropriate jobs in a sort of test program to
see if those two agencies could be a source of labor.
The board adjourned into executive session to discuss a recently
resolved matter required to be kept confidential by state law; the
continued employment of an employee; and a trade secret of a county
hospital organized under ORC Chapter 339. No action was taken.

Detlor guilty on three counts
Jury does not convict her on most serious charge
By RYAN HORNS
The trial of Amy Detlor ended Wednesday with a rush of tears and
questions.
After almost four hours of deliberation, the 12-member jury panel ruled
that Detlor, 20, was guilty on all but one of the charges she faced. Yet
their results raised many questions, especially by members of Detlor's
family who were visibly upset.
Detlor was found guilty on the third-degree felony charge of endangering
children; on the third-degree felony reckless homicide charge; and on
the fifth-degree felony charge of gross abuse of a corpse. She was found
not guilty for the more serious first-degree felony charge of
involuntary manslaughter.
Detlor could face a maximum of more than six years in prison for the
charges, not to mention thousands of dollars in court fines.
The twist, however, is that Union County Common Pleas Judge Richard
Parrott decided to issue a pre-sentencing investigation before making up
his mind on Detlor's sentence. These investigations typically can last
anywhere from 21 to 28 days and the sentencing will be scheduled after
that.
Parrott told the court that it is normally his pattern to conduct the
sentence hearing right after the jury makes its decision and is still in
the courtroom.
"I think the jury has every right to know," he said.
Parrott said the ruling the jury presented shows mixed results. He
pointed out that their findings stated that Detlor endangered her child,
yet she had not caused the baby any serious physical harm. Because of
this stipulation, the endangering children charge must be reduced to a
misdemeanor. He said the inconsistency needed to be looked into further.

"The jury essentially removed the ability to find her guilty on
involuntary manslaughter," Union County Prosecutor Alison Boggs
explained this morning.
Because the jury reduced the endangering children charge, she said, it
made the involuntary manslaughter charge ineffective because it must be
based on a separate felony offense.
Regarding the jury's decision, Assistant Union County Prosecutor John
Heinkel said he was glad that the jury found Detlor accountable for her
actions. He also added that Detlor should have received a guilty verdict
on all counts.
"She has shown a total lack of remorse throughout this trial," he said.
"There will definitely be prison time for her."
After court had let out Wednesday afternoon, Detlor's attorney Michael
Streng said that he believed the jury would rule not guilty on all
charges once they heard both sides of the story.
"The judge gave us a fair trial," he said. "There is no doubt about
that."
Streng said that because this was Detlor's first run-in with the law it
would probably weigh on the length of any prison sentence imposed on
her. He also explained that Detlor may receive probation instead of
prison time.
Union County Sheriff's Detective Jon Kleiber, who was in charge of the
investigation, said he was glad the case has been resolved.
"We spent an exhaustive amount of time on the investigation," Kleiber
said. "I think that everyone did their job very well and that the
evidence in the case was presented accurately. The jury also did an
outstanding job in order to decide such a difficult case. I feel justice
has been served."
Kleiber added that Detlor's trial and all the media attention will
hopefully send a message to other young mothers facing similar tough
choices with an unexpected pregnancy.
He said he hopes young women will realize that they have options. They
can take advantage of the Safe Haven laws that allow mothers to leave
their children in the care of hospitals with no questions asked. It is
considered the best way to give a child the care it needs to ensure both
its safety and the safety of the mother.
Streng said Detlor's family is withholding comments on both the case and
the trial until after the sentencing hearing. No date has been set for
the hearing.
Streng added that the family would like to thank the community for the
support and prayers they have given them throughout the investigation
and trial.
"It was a tough case for everyone involved," Streng said, "a tough case
for the lawyers, the judge and the jury."


Union County supports its sons and daughters
Hundreds turn out for troop rally
By CHAD WILLIAMSON
For the second year in a row Union County put its best foot forward
without the cat calls of protesters.
The Union County Troop Support Rally on the downtown Marysville square
drew a crowd of a few hundred people. Although protesters have plagued
such rallies in other areas, the Union County version produced only
those who wished to support the troops fighting to war on terrorism.
Perhaps the most moving portion of the ceremony came from Army reserve
Sgt. Jason Heard who read letters of appreciation from local soldiers
written to the Union County Military Family Support Group. Heard read
several letters but one from Army Maj. Salvatore Petrovia was most
memorable.
Petrovia's letter detailed how a 21-year-old soldier under his command
had recently been killed during the conflict in Iraq, the first such
casualty in his brigade.
"It will always hurt to know we lost someone so young," the letter read.

Petrovia's letter said that the care package from the local support
group arrived the day of the fallen soldier's memorial service and
served to ease his pain.
"Thank you for making this terrible day bearable," he said.
Petrovia detailed the atrocities he has seen in Iraq and noted that even
he had his doubts about the U.S. involvement at first. Once he saw the
conditions of the country and the treatment of its citizens he changed
his mind.
That sentiment was also touched on by the featured speaker, Lt. Col.
Richard Genzman of the Ohio National Guard, who is also pastor at First
English Lutheran Church. Genzman said that debate over such a conflict
is normal but that doubt cannot trickle down to the troops.
"Don't let that debate deter your support for our soldiers," Genzman
said.
Genzman, who served as chaplain at Camp Virginia in Kuwait, ministered
to many soldiers heading into and coming from Iraq. He said support from
home had a visible effect on those soldiers.
He noted that cards, letters and packages from friends, family and
community members often lifted the spirits of the troops. Those without
such support had a tougher time dealing with the conditions, Genzman
reported.
He said the care package for the local support staff gave him strength
and he also praised the group for being there for the families of
deployed servicemen.
"Soldier and citizen alike can make a difference in this war on
terrorism," he said.

Mother tells court her side
By RYAN HORNS
Amy Detlor took the stand Tuesday afternoon to finally tell her side of
why she left her dead infant son on the banks of Treacle Creek in July.
Now it is up to a 12-member jury to decide if they believe her story.
After closing arguments Wednesday morning, the panel began deliberations
on the four counts against Detlor.
The 20-year-old Milford Center woman choked back tears as she spoke of
walking down the dirt road in the prairie reserve on July 1 with her
deceased child inside a dark green trash bag. She said she had always
enjoyed the flowers and the scenery there.
"I think at the time that was where I wanted to put him to rest," Detlor
said. "I wanted to put him in the flowers."
"You know that people can bury babies in the cemetery," Union County
Assistant Prosecutor John Heinkel said. "You know that people can bring
flowers to the cemetery . You didn't want this baby found, did you?"
Defense attorney Michael Streng used testimonies of several witnesses to
show that Detlor did not intend for the child to die. She had wanted to
give him up for adoption but did not know what to do when she suddenly
found herself giving birth.
Streng brought in Detlor's mother, grandmother and even her best friend
who described Detlor as a caring person and an excellent student who was
trying to work and pay her way through the pre-nursing program at
Columbus State Community College. Her mother said Detlor was always the
type of person who preferred handling problems on her own because she
refused to burden anyone.
Streng also brought in a physician who said he knew of other woman who
confused pregnancy with constipation and ended up giving birth in a
bathroom.
Detlor said at first she didn't even know she was pregnant.
"But I could slowly feel a knot develop in my stomach," Detlor
explained.
Heinkel asked why she never told anyone about the pregnancy and never
called 911 until her own life was in danger.
"The squad got there pretty fast for you," Heinkel said. "You don't
think it would get there just as fast for your baby?"
Detlor said she had to keep the pregnancy a secret, but the birth did
not go as she thought it would. She said she figured it would happen as
it does on television: Her water would break. She would take a taxi to
the hospital and would give birth and give the child up for adoption.
"I thought that I would know what to do," she said.
Detlor said that day she felt constipated and went into the bathroom at
around 7:30 a.m. While on the toilet she realized she was giving birth
and she lifted the infant out of the water and cleaned him off.
She said she believed the child was healthy and would be fine. She
thought he was breathing and his skin color appeared normal. But she
knew that she was bleeding profusely and was not doing well.
"He looked OK to me so I decided I needed to take care of myself," she
said.
Detlor began the drive from her grandmother's home in Columbus to
Milford Center. Once there, she could have some privacy and decide what
to do next. She began to feel light-headed from the loss of blood and
remembered that nurses often give orange juice to people after they give
blood, so she stopped at McDonald's in Plain City.
At this point the questions begin for prosecutors. Detlor claimed she
pulled a corner of the towel over the child's head to hide him in the
drive-thru and left him covered all the way to her mother's home at 16
Pleasant St. in Milford Center.
"I thought he was asleep," she said.
But when she pulled into her mother's driveway and uncovered the child,
she realized his skin color had changed.
"He had a blue cast to his skin," she said. "He didn't look like he had
before. I put my ear on his chest and I couldn't hear anything. He
wasn't moving."
She claimed that she doesn't remember leaving the child in the car and
going inside her parents' home and passing out for an unknown amount of
time. The next thing she remembers is arriving at the prairie reserve,
where she dropped the child underneath the railroad trestle near Treacle
Creek.
She then drove back to her parents' home.
"I just knew that if I didn't get help I was going to die," she said.
Detlor said that when she tried to commit suicide at the age of 15, her
mother was the one who was hurt the most. She knew her mother would be
heartbroken to find her daughter dead in her home, so she called 911.
Union County Coroner Dr. David Applegate gave the strongest testimony
for the prosecution when he said he felt Detlor's actions after giving
birth were suspicious.
"There was evidence leading us in the direction that she did not want
anyone to find the baby," he said.
Detlor did not seek help in delivering her baby, did not seek help when
it was born and chose to hide the baby in a place where it would not
easily be found.
"Those actions ruled out a SIDS death for me," Applegate said.
He also explained that Detlor's story of what happened fits 11 out of
the 14 behavior aspects of a homicide. He believes the baby died from
either asphyxiation or exposure but admitted that the autopsy evidence
does not show one way or another how the child died.
Applegate said he consulted three forensic pathologists before he came
to the decision that it was the mother's failure to take proper care of
the baby that caused the death.
"I had to be darned sure of what I was going to write," he said. "I owed
it to the baby and the mother to make sure I had all the facts.


County will celebrate dedication of WWII Memorial
From J-T staff reports:
Union County is planning its own recognition of the World War II
Memorial Saturday with a prayer breakfast, park dedication, jazz concert
and viewing of a live broadcast from Washington, D.C.
The activities are sponsored by American Legion Union Post 79, the
Hometown Heroes committee chaired by Claudia Bartow and the Union County
Veterans Memorial Auditorium fund of the Union County Foundation.
The official dedication of the national memorial will take place in
Washington, D.C., at 2 p.m. Saturday at the reflecting pool between the
Washington and Lincoln memorials.
The ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m. with a prayer breakfast at the First
United Methodist Church Burnside Family Life Center. The breakfast,
prepared by the women of the church, is free to all World War II
veterans. Rolly Rausch, commander of the American Legion Post 79 will
serve as emcee and the featured speakers are the Rev. Richard Genzman,
who as a chaplain with the Ohio National Guard, recently returned from
military duty in Kuwait, and Charlotte Coleman Eufinger, Union County
Probate and Juvenile Judge.
Music will be provided by Caroline Ohnsman and a brass ensemble under
the direction of Robert Sements.
Following the breakfast, a ceremony to dedicate Generals' Park will be
held at 10:30 a.m. in the courtyard adjacent to the auditorium on West
Sixth Street. The park will be established in memory of Maj. General
Robert S. Beighter and in honor of retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Oscar C.
Decker Jr. Highlighting the dedication will be the raising of a
specially designed generals' flag and military honors will be conducted
by the Union County Military Honor Guard.
The Union County Commissioners will present a proclamation and Bo
Johnstone and the military reenactment group will be on hand in
authentic uniform and with battle equipment.
A dedication day jazz concert will be held at the auditorium beginning
at 1 p.m. The free concert by The Fountainaires from Bellefontaine will
feature big band and patriotic favorites.
At 2 p.m., a live broadcast of the national WWII monument dedication
will be shown at the auditorium.
Tickets for the prayer breakfast are $5 and can be purchased from Rolly
Rausch American Family Insurance or the Plaza Barbershop near Community
Market.
The public is invited to take part in the activities.

Robinson Family Farm has seen more
than 100 years of agriculture
Max and Jeff Robinson are the third and fourth generations to farm the
family's land of Route 4 north of Marysville.
Max was raised with his two brothers, Merle and Don, on the homestead
farm purchased by the Robinson family in 1900. In 1947, Max and Patty
bought their 106-acre farm just north of the homestead soon after they
were married.
They raised two children, Beth and Jeff. Jeff, born in 1952, has been
farming with his father since he was old enough to see over the steering
wheel of a tractor. Over the years, the farming operation has grown from
250 acres to more than 2,000 acres of owned and rented farm land.
In the early 1960s, Max built a 4,000-layer chicken house and Beth and
Jeff were responsible for gathering eggs every day.
In the late 1960s, they went out of the chicken business and sold feeder
pigs from a 120-brood sow herd which they sold in the 1970s. Jeff has
bed between 10 and 150 head of feeder cattle every year since.
In 1982, Jeff and his wife Julie moved into the homestead house and have
raised four daughters there.
Max was elected a Union County Commissioner in 1971 and began handing
many of the farming responsibilities to Jeff, encouraging him to make
important decisions regarding all aspects of the farm, including
marketing.
Both Max and Jeff have been civic-minded. In addition to 20 years as a
county commissioner, Max has served on four school boards, served 12
years as a trustee of Memorial Hospital of Union County and currently
serves on the Union County Board of Elections. Jeff is a Leesburg
Township Trustee and a Leesburg Township volunteer fireman. He served 15
years on the Richwood Independent Fair Board and has volunteered as a
coach for the North Union summer league softball program for 17 years.
Patty retired as Municipal Clerk of Courts after 32 years.
Although Max has six granddaughters and a grandson, the future of
Robinson Farms is far from secure. Although Jeff and Julie's daughters
have helped with farming, they have no desire to receive the baton from
their father.
It takes a lifetime to learn the occupation of farming and usually a
father or grandfather is the teacher.
A farmer must be passionate about the job to withstand the obstacles of
weather, market, long hours and hard physical labor.
Fewer than 2 percent of people employed in the United States are farmers
and only 1 percent of those rely on it as their sole income.
These people feed more than 90 percent of the people in the world.
Max and Jeff agree that farming has changed and grown dramatically over
their lifetime and they say that one lesson that never changes is "You
reap what you sow."

Trial of Amy Detlor opens
Defense contends baby died as result of accidental suffocation
By RYAN HORNS
A pile of used tissues grew larger on the table in front of defendant
Amy Detlor as the first day of her trial progressed Monday.
Union County assistant prosecuting attorney John Heinkel called several
witnesses to establish the evidence indicating why Detlor, 19, has been
charged for the death of the infant boy she gave birth to on July 1,
2003.
Detlor faces one first-degree felony charge of involuntary manslaughter;
one third-degree felony endangering children charge; one third-degree
felony reckless homicide charge; and one fifth-degree felony charge of
abuse of a corpse.
Heinkel called Union County Sheriff's dispatcher Anne Barr, detectives
Mike Justice, Jon Kleiber and Eric Yoakam, Union Township Fire
Department EMT Alice Clark and BCI&I special agent Gary Wilgus to
testify.
The witnesses went over the facts of their investigations, beginning
with Detlor's 911 call to the Union County Sheriff's dispatching center
and ending with finding the baby near the banks of Treacle Creek. They
testified that Detlor admitted to giving birth that morning. They also
described how Detlor first claimed to have given birth with the help of
a friend named Tiffany in an abandoned house on Indianola Avenue in
Columbus.
Witnesses testified that Detlor later admitted that the birth actually
took place in a bathroom at her grandmother's home on Wythe Street in
Columbus and that Tiffany did not exist. They reported that Detlor said
she wrapped the baby in a small blue towel and drove to her parents home
at 16 Pleasant St. in Milford Center. It was at this location that she
made the call to dispatchers.
At one point Heinkel showed pictures of Detlor's deceased baby on large
cards he held up for witnesses. Detlor wept as the pictures were shown.
Heinkel raised questions such as why Detlor did not call 911 concerning
her baby or why she stopped at McDonald's to eat with her baby beside
her in the car. Clark testified that Detlor told her she was scared and
bleeding profusely after giving birth.
Several witnesses said Detlor told them she did not realize the baby was
dead until after she arrived at the Pleasant Street house. She said she
had stopped at the drive-thru because she was feeling light-headed and
needed orange juice.
In her defense, attorney Michael Streng raised several points. Through
questioning of the witnesses, he indicated that authorities do not have
much evidence of what actually happened on July 1, 2003, apart from
Detlor's statements. He also noted that perhaps Detlor allegedly lied
about the Tiffany scenario because her family has such high expectations
of her and she did not want to disappoint anyone.
Streng asked Justice if there was any evidence that showed Detlor had
suffocated the baby. Justice said there was not.
After the first day of the trial was over, Heinkel reported that he has
several more witnesses for today's session. He will bring Union County
Coroner Dr. David Applegate, former Franklin County Coroner and forensic
pathologist Dr. Robert Belding, representatives involved with Detlor's
classes from Columbus State Community College and Detlor's mother.
Streng said that for his defense, Detlor will take the stand today or
Wednesday.
Streng said he has been purposely tight-lipped about Detlor's defense.
"Her side will open up when she takes the stand to testify," Streng
said.
The day she testifies, he said, will be the first time many people have
heard her side of the story.


Darby 20-acre limit on hold
By CINDY BRAKE
The farms of LeRoy Holt and Marge Bailey along Rausch Road are less than
a mile apart, yet the neighbors are miles apart on what it best for the
Darby Township.
Bailey, a member of a steering committee that came up with the idea of
creating minimum lots of 20 acres, said the plan reflects the desires of
a majority of township residents. Holt said he has petitions signed by
149 people living in the proposed area and they disagree.
Holt, who is the zoning inspector for Milford Center, said he is in
favor of "good sensible zoning" but sees "selected red lining" or
favoritism on the proposed map. He asked for a reason. The board gave
none.
On a personal note, Holt said he and his wife bought their place in 1970
and he has no plans to sell, yet the proposed change could cost his
family between $200,000 and $400,000.
"Your potential action is no less than theft," Holt said during a Darby
Township Board of Zoning meeting Monday in Unionville Center with 75
people attending. "The minute you sign that paper, you've stolen from me
and my family."
Darby Township officials are talking about creating a new zoning
classification called A-1 that would change minimum lot splits to 20
acres with an easement option for smaller lots. No other townships in
Union County or the state of Ohio have tried this type of plan.
"This whole plan discriminates from the farmer," said Bob Beck, who
suggested that the board contact each landowner and ask them how they
want their land zoned.
"Why make the A-1 make all the sacrifices?," asked George Nichols.
"It's not right. If you want my land for green space, then come buy it,"
said Richard Grener.
Two of the five board of zoning members also voiced concern about the
plan.
"I don't like this," said Tom Zimmerman. "There's got to be a better
way."
Ron Scheiderer agreed, "There is no sense in it."
Calling for common sense, Scheiderer recommended that the board consider
comments that Union County Engineer Steve Stolte had submitted.
"I am concerned about the 20-acre minimum acreage in A-1. That seems
contrary to preserving agricultural land .... the model regulation
provides for a maximum lot size of five acres in A-1. Twenty acres can
be a number to use for determining the maximum allowable density. For
example, if someone owns 200 acres, they would be allowed to split off a
maximum of 10 lots (200 divided by 20), but the maximum lot size ought
to be five acres or less. The smaller you keep the maximum lot size, the
more agricultural land you preserve. The BZA would then grant variances
for anything greater than the maximum."
The only individuals in support of the proposed plan were steering
committee members. Harley Bodenbender, chairman of the steering
committee, admitted that the committee was composed of a majority of
small-lot property owners but he believes it reflects the majority of
township residents.
Board chairman David Gruenbaum said he is personally struggling with the
issue. Gruenbaum and board member Don Bailey assured the group that they
do not want to take away the rights of property owners. Gruenbaum said
the goal is to slow development and give development guidance.
The board of zoning decided to continue their discussion by inviting
Stolte to the next meeting. No date was set.

Agenda for Troop Rally
On Wednesday the second Union County Rally for the Troops event will be
held in Marysville.
The day's events will include:
6:15 to 6:45 p.m.
Residents are asked to gather for a parade at the Veterans Memorial
Auditorium and registration for local military families will be
conducted.
6:30 to 7 p.m.
Residents gather at Fifth and Main streets.
7 to 8 p.m.
The program will be held at the Town Square with guest speaker Col. Rich
Genzman, chaplain
7:45 p.m.
A group photo will be taken of crowd to send to the troops.
In addition to the festivities, T-shirts will be sold to benefit the
Military Family Support Group will be held. There will also be a message
board for residents to sign that will be sent to those serving. Free
flags and ribbons will be available.


Marysville board approves city's TIF program
 JUDY BOEHLER
The Marysville Board of Education approved participation in a Tax
Increment Financing program with the city of Marysville at Monday's
regular meeting. The program would exempt the TIF project area known as
the Coleman Crossing development from real property tax.
Superintendent Larry Zimmerman said the property tax on the $40 million
worth of property to be constructed in the TIF area will be waived for
30 years but comparable payments will be made to the school district in
lieu of taxes. He said the city of Marysville will lend the developers
$8 million to be sold in bonds so the roads and other improvements can
be put in, enabling the developer to sell land to businesses. Zimmerman
said payments to the schools will begin in 2006 and will average
$400,000 per year.
The board also approved an adjustment to the Mill Valley Elementary
School attendance area due to the growth of the area. Superintendent
Larry Zimmerman said the school has reached its capacity and children
from the new homes north and east of Creekview Intermediate School will
be bused to Navin Elementary School for the next few school years until
a new elementary school is built in Mill Valley.
The board also accepted the donation of a new baseball facility valued
at $150,000 from the Diamond Club. Located beside the varsity baseball
field, the facility includes batting cages and storage areas that can be
used year-round. Zimmerman said the project was funded by four years of
fundraising by parents.
The board heard presentations from Raymond Elementary School staff and
students about programs at the school and from the high school student
council.
In other business, the board:
 . Approved student fees for the high school and middle schools.
 . Approved membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association for
the 2004-05 school year.
 . Approved the elementary and intermediate schools handbook.
 . Approved a resolution to amend graduation requirements in the
Community School Sponsorship Contract for the Marysville Digital
Academy.
 . Approved the purchase of a piano for a cost of $1 from the Union
County Concert Association for the purpose of insurance. The piano was
purchased for the Community Concert Series and has been housed at the
high school for many years.
 . Approved a supplement to the Master Agreement with the Marysville
Education Association concerning tutors.
 . Approved a resolution to purchase the goods and services necessary to
replace sections of the roofs at Marysville Middle School and Edgewood
Elementary School from Duro-Last Roofing Inc.
 . Approved a Sept. 13-17 sixth grade overnight camp at Camp Templed
Hills in Belleville.
 . Approved donations from the Raymond PTO to Raymond Elementary School
of $1,190 for four lapel and headset microphones and $1,300 for books
for the bookroom; a donation of $7,500 from the Edgewood PTO to purchase
technology equipment.
In personnel matters, the board:
 . Accepted the resignation of teacher Tara Scott.
 . Approved one-year certified contracts for Karen Collins,
interpreter/aide on an as-need basis, Deborah Amsler-Danals, Aric Tucker
as middle school ISS teacher; teachers Leslie Boey, Elizabeth Chaffin,
Brent Johnson, William Kirby, Mary Scheiderer, Jeremy lfera, Melissa
Henn, Jennifer Palmer, Kelli Vasill and Shelly Wagner; intervention
specialists Kendra Clementz, Brock Walden and Lindsay Williamson;
substitute teacher Brenda Zimmerman; and Linda Murdock and Jyl Secrest
as home instructors.
 . Approved Cindy Gordon and Adam Brown as summer autism teachers and
Katie Hritz as on-call teacher.
 . Approved a supplemental contract for Aric Tucker as high school head
girls basketball coach.

Local library is excellent source for post-secondary education
By CORINNE BIX
Local residents are finding that they need not go any further than the
Marysville Public library for the information and resources they need
when pursuing a post-secondary degree.
As more and more people are taking advantage of on-line courses and/or
distance learning programs, they are finding that the local library can
support their studies just as well as an academic library.
Kellie Clark is a reference librarian at the Marysville Public Library.
She has been with the local branch since January of this year and
previously worked at the Otterbein College library in Westerville. Her
varied background can offer a lot to library patrons who are working on
post-secondary degrees.
"Since I've worked in both academic and public libraries, I am very
familiar with OhioLINK which is a database comprised of over 85 academic
institutions, consolidated into one central catalog," Clark explained.
"I am comfortable with navigating through the site and helping students
get the most from their home school."
In addition to OhioLINK, the MPL has access to several other academic
databases, which allows users to access academic journals, magazines and
newspapers. A majority of the items are available in full text, giving a
commuter student the advantage of not having to travel to the home
school for research.
Kathy Cassell, 51, has been working on her associate's degree since
2003. She is a distance learning student at Sinclair Community College
in Dayton.
"I started with Sinclair because I found I could get almost my entire
degree on?line," Cassell said.
Cassell has worked at Honda for the past 14 years. She said the
reasoning behind pursuing a degree in web development and user support
is a way to give her body a break after many years working the
physically intense assembly line.
She chose the Sinclair program because of the convenience. "After being
at Honda for eight hours and then to have to get back in the car.I just
didn't know if I could do it," Cassell said.
Cassell works on her course work from home but she uses the library to
take her tests. She explained that her course instructors send the
testing material to her proctor at the library and she makes
arrangements to take her exams in the comfort of her hometown.
"It saves me an hour and a half drive," she said. Since beginning her
course work at Sinclair she has had to travel to the campus only once to
deliver financial aid forms.
Gloria Findley, 37, and her husband moved to Marysville from Alabama
last year. Findley was working as a graduate assistant at Auburn
University before the move. She is currently finishing up her Ph.D. in
nutrition and food science.
"I was what they called ABD (all but dissertation), which means I
completed all my course work and some but not all of my dissertation
research," Findley said.
Findley approached the library about conducting a consumer-related
research project to gather data to complete her dissertation. She
presented her project to the library board of trustees to gain
permission to survey willing patrons for her study.
"As a result of my request, the board authorized surveys for academic
and educational purposes on library premises," Findley said, "I was very
pleased by the community participation in my survey."
Findley and her husband, who are currently building a house, didn't have
easy access to a computer. She used the library to access Auburn
University's scientific databases.
Clark said many people will be surprised to find that the library staff
can be more accessible than people at their home school or institution.
"We truly want to help them find what they need because we can be a very
active participant in the research project," Clark explained. "In a
society where we encounter a lot of information overload, it's nice to
have someone guide you through what is and isn't a credible resource on
the Internet, which is critical when putting together a research
project."
She said the most important thing to remember when using the library for
time-sensitive projects is to allow ample time to prepare and research
ro insure that, together with the guidance of the library staff, a
student can produce the best possible result.
Clark wants local patrons to know that the library staff is eager to
meet their needs because patron questions take a front seat to whatever
else a librarian might be working on.
More information on library hours and services may be obtained by
calling 642-1876 or visiting www.marysville.lib.oh.us.

Speakers set for local Memorial Day ceremony
Memorial Day celebrations on Monday will honor veterans who have
protected our country and the rest of the free world in many wars and
through peacetime.
Unionville Center
The Fairbanks Marching Band will honor veterans with a performance in
the Unionville Center Memorial Day parade and ceremony. The parade
begins at 9:45 a.m. with services in the cemetery at approximately 10:30
a.m.
North Lewisburg/Woodstock
American Legion Post 258 will hold parades and services in Woodstock and
North Lewisburg with the Triad High School band playing and the Rev.
Clarence Heis, who served as a U.S. Air Force chaplain in the Persian
Gulf, serving as the speaker.
The Woodstock parade will form at 8:30 a.m. on Burnwell Street beside
the Woodstock Community Church and will begin at 9 a.m., proceeding west
down West Bennett Street to the cemetery for a 9:30 a.m. service.
The North Lewisburg parade will form at 10 a.m. on West Townsend Street
in front of Carter's Garage and begin at 10:30, proceeding east on Route
245 through the business section to South Gregory Street. The service at
Maple Grove Cemetery will begin at 11 a.m.
Marysville
Memorial Day services in Marysville will begin at 9 a.m. at the North
Main Street bridge to honor the dead lost at sea. Lt. Col. Richard
Genzman, pastor of First English Lutheran Church, who recently returned
from Kuwait, will be the chaplain. Elizabeth Ward will play the Navy
hymn and those attending will be asked to join the singing.
The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. from Fifth and Plum streets and will
proceed on Fifth Street to Oakdale Cemetery with the Marysville High
School band furnishing parade music. Maj. Shaun Bailey, recently
returned from Iraq, will be the parade marshal. He will be accompanied
by his wife, Maj. Jennifer K.S. Bailey, who is on active duty at West
Point.
Scouts will hand out flags to the children, courtesy of American Legion
Post 79. Children should be encouraged to stand proudly when the flag
goes by and place their right hand over their heart.
In the case of rain, the parade will go to the Union County Veterans
Memorial Auditorium for the ceremonies. WUCO will announce the altered
route and location if necessary.
Ceremonies will begin at Oakdale Cemetery at 10 a.m. The Marysville
Middle School band will play at the cemetery at 9:30 a.m. and join the
high school band to provide music. Honored guests will be former
Prisoners of War, World War II veterans and anti-terrorism war veterans.

Bailey, the son of retired Col. Don and Marge Bailey, will be the guest
speaker. Bailey has served 12 years as an aero-medical evacuation
officer in Korea, Albania, Bosnia, Africa, Central America, Afghanistan,
Kuwait and Iraq and is currently on orders to assume command of the
542nd Medical Company (air ambulance) in Chunchon, Korea. His
decorations and awards include the Senior Aviator's Badge, the Bronze
Star and the Humanitarian Service Medal. He is a Marysville native and a
graduate of Fairbanks High School and Ohio State University.
Grant Underwood, son of Scott and Holly Underwood and one of the
American Legion Americanism winners this year, will read an article by
Sen. John McCain and lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Underwood is a
junior at Marysville High School where he is Student Council treasurer,
junior class vice president and member of the National Honor Society,
Mock Trial team, choir and varsity swimming team. He is organist at
First English Lutheran Church.
Gen. John Logan's 1868 Order establishing Decoration Day, the forerunner
of Memorial Day, will be read by Danielle Irvine, a senior at Fairbanks
High School. She is the daughter of Doug and Jan Irvine of Plain City
and is a member of the New California Presbyterian Church where she is
active in the youth group. She has been involved in FFA, FCCLA,
yearbook, Drama Club and National Honor Society and in nursing home
visits. She will attend Muskingum College to study middle childhood
education.
Marcus Geer, son of Mark and Linda Geer of Milford Center, will present
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Geer was the national winner of the
American Legion Americanism and Government test, winning a trip to
Washington, D.C., and has toured the Gettysburg battle site. He is a
sophomore at Fairbanks High School and is active in National Honor
Society, FFA and varsity swimming. He is also active in 4-H.
Short services will be conducted by the VFW and American Legion at the
Amrine and Catholic cemeteries after the Oakdale ceremonies.
The Marysville Memorial Day committee is composed of representatives of
American Legion Post 79, American Veterans Post 28, Blue Star Mothers
Chapter 41, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 55, Hannah Emerson Dustin
Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 3320

Storm damage minimal in U.C.
From J-T staff reports:
"Lucky" was the word Brad Gilbert, deputy director of the Union County
Emergency Management Agency used to describe the area's brush with a
strong line of thunderstorms Friday night.
While some areas of central Ohio were drilled with several inches of
rain, damaging wind, lightning and hail, Gilbert reported the Union
County area was fortunate.
According to National Weather Service rainfall records Pharisburg
residents received the heavies rainfall in the county at 2.19 inches.
Other recorded amounts were: Allen Center, .79 inches; Byhalia .60
inches and New California .24 inches.
Gilbert reported that the most serious incident was a lightning strike
on a garage off Raymond Road. The structure did catch fire but was
reportedly brought under control within 20 minutes by fire crews from
Liberty Township, Marysville, Leesburg Township and the Northern Union
County Fire District.
Gilbert also reported that one home in Marysville was also struck by
lightning but he did not know the extent of the damage.
Minor roadway flooding was also reported on Route 739 near Essex and on
Huber Hazen Road. He said the waters subsided quickly.
The EMA had only one report of a downed power line, that being on Elm
Street in Broadway. Five homes were reportedly without power from the
downed line, according to Gilbert.
Other damage reported to the EMA included a downed phone line in
Marysville and a fallen tree on Route 739 in Essex.
Gilbert reported that a few resident reported seeing clouds that
resembled funnel clouds, but trained weather spotters could not confirm
the reports.
Gilbert also said Union County avoided the hail that damaged homes and
vehicles in other parts of the state.


Developers find a zoning loophole
From J-T staff report:
Several Union County township officials received a wake-up call recently
when they learned that they have no authority over subdivisions.
Until now when large tracts of township land, zoned U-1, have been
subdivided, the property would be rezoned to R-1. Rezonings can be
overturned by referendums and that has stopped numerous development
plans in Jerome Township and one in Allen Township.
One developer in Darby Township, however, plans to subdivide his 310
acres into 81 lots and not rezone because each lot meets the U-1 zoning
requirements.
Darby Township zoning inspector Jim Butler asked Union County
Prosecuting Attorney Alison Boggs if he needed to rezone. Boggs said no.

"Specifically in the area of zoning and subdivision regulations and
plats, the legislature granted authority over subdivision plats to
county commissioners in ORC Chapter 711 .... ," states Union County
Prosecuting Attorney Alison Boggs in a March 1 letter. "A township's
general authority ... cannot be interpreted and/or expanded to give
townships control over subdivisions or plats. The board of trustees must
stay within the expressed authority of the statute."
Union County Engineer Steve Stolte agrees.
"If a developer can meet U-1 standards then they can develop a
subdivision with no zoning changes," Stolte said. "Townships only have
authority over the use of land. The county has authority over
subdivision regulations."
The news is a bit alarming to at least two Allen Township officials.
"This could be a lawsuit in our township," said Judy Walk, a member of
the Allen Township Zoning Commission, recently when meeting with the
Union County Commissioners. "This just really opens the door."
Allen Township officials are concerned specifically about one property
owner who was required to seek a rezoning, did and then was denied the
rezoning because of a referendum by the voters.
This question never really became an issue until now because most
subdivisions did not meet U-1 standards which vary from township to
township. Townships have authority only to set minimum lot sizes, use,
set backs and minimum building size, said Stolte.

Darby plans bold zoning move
By CINDY BRAKE
Darby Township officials are attempting to boldly go where no townships
have gone before in the world of zoning.
In the name of farmland preservation and while updating their zoning,
the township's board of zoning is talking about creating new zoning
classifications that include an A-1 district which will change minimum
lot splits to 20 acres in selected areas.
There's a catch, though.
A-1 landowners can sell lots that are smaller than 20 acres - if they
get a conditional use merit - but the balance of the land must be put
into a 30-year easement with no compensation. What that means is that an
A-1 landowner could sell a two-acre lot and set aside 18 acres to be
used only for agricultural purposes.
No other township in Union County, or even the nation, it appears, has
tried this type of plan.
Planner Stacey Boumis of Burns, Bertsch & Harris Inc. in Columbus was
hired by the township to help with the planning process.
She is unaware of any township that has a program similar to the one
Darby is considering. Preble County has created 40-acre minimum lot
zoning with no easement option and Madison County has a 20-acre minimum
lot rule - but both have county, not township, zoning.
Tom McQuiston of Preble County said his county had a 20-acre minimum lot
rule for years but increased it to 40 acres in 1997. The increased
acreage was in response to people dividing farms into 20-acre parcels.
McQuiston said what they found was that 20-acre lots are not a good use
of land. Since switching to 40 acres, McQuiston said growth has slowed
but not stopped.
Union County Engineer Steve Stolte said he disagrees with Darby
Township's approach.
"It's backwards," he said recently while meeting with the Union County
Board of Commissioners. He explained that if townships want to slow
development, they should consider maximum lot sizes, not minimum.
Stolte added that he questions whether 20-acre minimum lot splits would
hold up under a legal challenge.
Even Darby Township Zoning Board chairman David Gruenbaum, who farms in
Darby, and another younger farmer said that they do not believe this
proposed 20-acre rule will save farms. Boumis agrees that "20 acres is
not meant to be a viable farm."
So while everyone is talking about saving farmland, what they really
seem to mean is slowing down development.
Boumis said she recommended the set-aside idea as a way to preserve
farmland, a priority identified in the township's 2003 comprehensive
plan. She, however, recommended the easements be permanent. She said a
steering committee was uncomfortable with a permanent easement and
debated between10-, 20- and 30-year easements, finally settling with 30.
Boumis said the steering committee considered 30 years to be
generational and similar to the life of some federal conservation
programs such as the Wetlands Reserve Program or Grassland Reserve
Program.
"This is not a penalty. It is a way to help farmers from carving their
farms into 20-acre lots," Boumis said. She added that if the measure is
approved, township officials still have options such as waiving rezoning
fees for conditional use permits to allow people more flexibility.
"Darby Township is in a unique position," Boumis said.
Some farmers in the area don't see the plan in the same light as Boumis.

At a recent public hearing, one land owner said her family "has paid for
their land with blood, sweat and tears." She said she would be 85 years
old before her land would come out of an easement. "I don't think that's
right," she said.
Another land owner, George Nichols, told the board it appears that his
land is in the wrong place because it would fall into an A-1 area.
"I guess I'm on the wrong side of the track. Who drew these up?" he
asked about a proposed map that specifies what properties fall into A-1
districts. "My right to do something with it is gone."
The American Farmland Trust, which Boumis referred to, states that
easements were first seriously considered 25 years ago and have been
used by suburban and semi-rural parts of major metropolitan areas with
county populations of more than 100,000 and rapid population growth. The
trust notes that there is a potential to use easements to compliment
local planning and land use policies but few easement programs work this
way. Currently 1.8 million agricultural acres are under easements
nationwide.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture has overseen a statewide easement
donation program since 2000. The new law allows land owners to donate
development rights to the state or local government for protecting
productive farmland from non-agricultural uses. The state has paid an
average of $1,467 per acre to purchase easements on 37 farms and
preserve 7,447 acres since the program began.
Melanie Wilt, a spokesman with the Ohio Department of Agriculture,
explains that without paid easement options it just doesn't make sense
financially to keep land in agriculture when developers pay much more
per acre than farmers.
Darby Township isn't planning to pay for the easements.
The Darby Township Board of Zoning will meet Monday at 7 p.m. in the
township house at Unionville Center to discuss the plan and possibly
vote. If the board of zoning approves the plan it will be forwarded to
the township's board of trustees.

Coroner honored for 9/11 efforts
By RYAN HORNS
In the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks the American skies
were devoid of planes, except for a few flying emergency supplies to New
York in the middle of the night.
A Union County doctor was recently awarded for flying one of those
planes.
Union County Coroner and primary care physician Dr. David Applegate was
presented the 2003 Public Benefit Flying Award by the National
Aeronautic Association on April 26 for actions he took the night of
Sept. 11, 2001, to help the Red Cross get blood and supplies to victims
of the attacks with the use of his plane and piloting skills.
Applegate said he took part in the volunteer emergency flight because of
a call he received that day from fellow Volunteer Pilots Association
member Kevin Sell from Pennsylvania. Sell knew Applegate had no problem
flying in bad weather or at night, so he gave him a call.
Hours later Applegate was flying his plane in the middle of the night to
Oklahoma. He said it was perfect weather that night.
After landing in Oklahoma, his plane was loaded with 800 pounds of blood
and blood products.
"I was worried we wouldn't be able to get off the ground," he said.
The next leg of his journey was to Lexington, Ky, where he dropped off
the emergency blood supplies for the next volunteer pilots to take the
rest of the way to New York.
Flying alone in the sky that night was a completely new experience,
Applegate said.
"It was eerie. There was nothing out there," he said. "Even all the
radios were quiet."
In the immediate wake of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon, the federal government initiated emergency plans that until
then were being reserved for an all-out nuclear war. This included the
decision by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the
Federal Aviation Administration to ground all non-military aircraft in
U.S. airspace.
Applegate said a series of clearance and background checks was how he
spent the hours before taking off for Oklahoma.
"There was no fooling around," he said.
He said he answered any questions they had for him and everything went
smoothly. It wasn't until the clearance was all over that he discovered
the people he had been talking to were government officials working deep
within NORAD bunkers located in the Colorado mountains.
Applegate said he and Sells were chosen for the award because of the way
the Volunteer Pilots Association coordinated their volunteers to help
the victims. The awards ceremony was held April 26 at the Steven F.
Udvar Hazy Center, a newly-constructed National Air and Space Museum
branch of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
Applegate said he and Sells were given a front row seat for the
ceremony.
"There were some pretty neat people there," he said.
Among those in attendance were Dick Rutan, the first man to fly around
the world in nine days without refueling; two groups of astronaut crews
who conducted work on the International Space Station; Troy Bradley, who
flew a hot air balloon a distance of 1,017 miles; and three men who
piloted the first radio-controlled model air plane to cross the Atlantic
Ocean.
Applegate has been flying planes for the past 12 years and said he still
offers his services as a pilot several times a year to assist seriously
injured people or those suffering from rare diseases who are looking for
special care in other states. The patients often don't even know he's a
doctor.
He said he has plans to make another one of these flights in June.

Trial starts Monday
By RYAN HORNS
The trial concerning a young Milford Center woman who allegedly left her
newborn daughter on the banks of Treacle Creek in July will begin
Monday.
The trial of Amy Detlor, 19, starts Monday at 9 a.m. and is expected to
last four days. She is charged with one first-degree felony charge of
involuntary manslaughter; one third-degree felony endangering children
charge; one third-degree felony reckless homicide charge; and one
fifth-degree felony abuse of a corpse charge.
To date, the details concerning Detlor's defense have not been revealed
by her attorney Michael Streng.
What is known about the case is that on July 1, 2003, the Union County
Sheriff's Office received a call from Detlor at 16 Pleasant St. in
Milford Center. She was reportedly bleeding profusely after giving birth
earlier in the day.
According to court files, Detlor told authorities she no longer had
possession of the baby. Sheriff's deputies checked the home and found
blood, bloody towels and clothing strewn throughout the house. They did
not find the baby.
At Memorial Hospital of Union County, Detlor was questioned about the
birth, which she claimed occurred at 8 a.m. in Columbus. Sheriff's
reports state that Detlor fabricated a story about how she had been
assisted in the birth by a friend named "Tiffany" and had left the
newborn in her care in Columbus. Court files indicate that as the day
progressed, Detlor reportedly continued telling officer false
information regarding where she put the baby.
She later admitted she had given birth in a bathroom at 1904 Wythe
Street in Columbus. This was the home of her grandmother who Detlor said
was not aware the birth had occurred.
Detlor explained to deputies that after she gave birth she wrapped the
baby in a blue towel, placed it on the front passenger seat of her car
and drove away. She first stopped at McDonalds in Plain City and went
through the drive-thru. While doing this she covered the baby up so it
could not be seen.
Detlor claimed she then went to Milford Center to the Pleasant Street
address. At that time she removed the towel from the infant and realized
the child had died. Then she drove to the Milford Center Prairie Reserve
on Connor Road.
Detlor said she put the baby in a plastic trash bag she had in the car
and carried the child to an abandoned railroad trestle where she left it
in some high weeds. The sheriff's office later discovered the baby at
this location.
Streng said the list of witnesses will be lengthy.
Detlor also reportedly told Assistant Union County Coroner Dr. Zachary
Place that the baby had cried when it was born, reaffirming what Union
County Coroner Dr. David Applegate had reported when he said that the
child was born healthy.
Court files indicate that numerous people associated with the
investigation of the case and also Detlor's family will testify.
Subpoenaed for the trial are Gary Wilgus, a special agent with BCI&I;
Applegate, Union County Coroner; Regina Peal of Columbus State Community
College; Dr. Robert C. Belding, Former Franklin County Coroner as a
forensic pathologist; dispatcher Ann Barr; Jon Kleiber, Mike Justice and
Eric Yoakam of the Union County Sheriff's Office; and Brad Long of the
Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Fairbanks High School announces award winners
From J-T staff reports:
Fairbanks High School held its awards ceremony Friday morning in the
high school gymnasium.
Valedictorian John Williams received an honor diploma and an Award of
Merit, the Union County Bar Association Scholarship, John Philip Sousa
Award and National Honor Society Award. He was a Law Day Participant and
was named an Ohio High School Athletic Association Scholar Athlete. He
received an Americanism test award and was named an Elks Student of the
Year.
Salutatorian Nancy Taylor received an honor diploma, Award of Merit and
National Honor Society Award. She was offered a $14,300 University of
Chicago Grant.
Other awards include:
Voice of Democracy ? Danielle Irvine, Hannah Ryan and Amanda Meddles
Americanism Test ? Marcus Geer, Dawn Skedell, Ryan Conklin, Alex Bisker,
Brittany Lambert and Koriann Reed
Law Day Participants ? Austin Hill, Meghann Swartz, Dan Hutson, Trey
Locke, Mallory Koehn, Whitney Gorton, Greg Lawrenz, Nolan George,
Johnathan Rankin, Jim Vandre, Kori Weese, Ross Skoog, Danielle Irvine
and Hannah Ryan
Rotary A+ for Effort Award ? Trey Locke and Will Smith
Brian Nicol Scholarship ? Erin Burns
R. Kenneth Koltenbah Scholarship ? Austin Hill and Greg Lawrenz
DAR Citizenship Award ? Laura Scheiderer
American History Medal ? Emilie Noland
Senior Good Citizenship Award ? Kelly Alfrey and Dan Hutson
Phillip Ferryman Scholarship ? Amanda Meddles and Rachel Harbold
Art Box Scholarship ? Hannah Ryan
Ohio Board of Regents Award ? Dan Hutson, Erin Burns, Laura Scheiderer,
Stephanie Wright and Nathan Reed
Retired Teachers Association Scholarship ? Erin Burns
Fairbanks High School Faculty Scholarship ? Amanda Meddles
Milford Center Lions Club Scholarship ? Erin Burns, Nathan Reed, Troy
Toops, Whitney Gorton and Amanda Meddles
Ninth Bomber Veteran Bomber Association Scholarship ? Amanda Meddles
HOBY Leadership Winner ? Julie Vandre
Elks Scholarship ? Jim Vandre
Elks Student of the Year ? Hannah Ryan and John Williams
Gault Scholarship ? Ashley Jordan and Amanda Meddles
ATP Scholarship ? Whitney Gorton
Thrivent Financial Scholarship ? Laura Scheiderer
Sargent V. Chamberlain Scholarship ? Kori Weese
Music Awards ? all high school band and chorus members
Board of Education Scholarship ? Austin Hill
Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award ? Kelly Alfrey and Nathan Reed
OHSAA State Award for Service ? Steve Garrabrant
OHSSA Scholar Athlete Award ? Erin Burns
Award of Merit ? Erin Burns, Laura Scheiderer, Dan Hutson, Danielle
Irvine, Whitney Gorton, Nathan Reed, Amanda Meddles, Christy Doss,
Stephanie Wright, Mallory Koehn, Heather Hamilton, Amy Ciminello, Jenna
Logan, Rachel Harbold, Margaret Mullen, Ashley Jordan, Greg Lawrenz,
Hannah Ryan, Troy Toops, Luke Sutton, Abby Huber, Kelly Alfrey, William
Harms and Bailey Burns.
Honor Diplomas ? Erin Burns, Laura Scheiderer, Dan Hutson, Danielle
Irvine, Whitney Gorton, Nathan Reed, Amanda Meddles, Christy Doss,
Stephanie Wright, Mallory Koehn, Heather Hamilton, Amy Ciminello and
Jenny Logan.
National Honor Society Awards ? Seniors: Kelly Alfrey, Erin Burns, Amy
Ciminello, Christy Doss, Justin George, Whitney Gorton, Heather
Hamilton, Rachel Harbold, Daniel Hutson, Danielle Irvine, Killian
Johnson, Ashley Jordan, Mallory Koehn, Greg Lawrenz, Jenna Logan, Amanda
Meddles, Margaret Mullen, Nathan Reed, Hannah Ryan, Laura Scheiderer,
Troy Toops and Stephanie Wright; Juniors: David Abfall, Alex Bisker,
Brent Chandler, Ryan Conklin, Katie Greiner, Chris Grunert, Hannah
Hackett, Brittany Lambert, Amanda Lotycz, Adam Masters, Andrew Nicol,
Amanda Schrader, Christina Shoemaker, Kendra Supplee, Amanda Vollrath
and Julie Whittenburg; Sophomores: Rachel Adkins, Josh Clarridge, Mandy
Crosser, Sarah Dillon, Marcus Geer, Letitia George, Jenny Hlterman,
Alicia McCarty, Emilie Noland, Koriann Reed, Melody Stauffer, Megan
Swaney, Julie Vandre and Michelle Watkins.
Year-long Distinction Honor Roll ? Seniors: Erin Burns, Amy Ciminello,
Whitney Gorton, Heather Hamilton, Rachel Harbold, Daniel Hutson,
Danielle Irvine, Jenna Logan, Amanda Meddles, Laura Scheiderer, Nancy
Taylor, John Williams and Stephanie Wright; Juniors: Alex Bisker, Hannah
Hackett, Darin Hurst, Brittany Lambert, Derek Nicol, Amanda Lotycz,
Amanda Schrader, Kendra Supplee, Amanda Vollrath and Whitney Walls;
Sophomores: Rachel Adkins, Josh Clarridge, Mandy Crosser, Jennifer
Dautartas, Seth Eickhoff, Marcus Geer, Letitia George, Jennifer
Halterman, Alicia McCarty, Emilie Noland, Koriann Reed, Collen Shephard,
Megan Swaney, Julie Vandre, Christine Warneke, Michelle Watkins and Cory
Whitaker; Freshmen: Rachel Bisker, Ben Johnson, Zach Koehn, David
Lambert, Jason Link, Lauren Murray, Tristin Pankhurst and Rachel
Rinehart.
Year-long Merit Honor Roll  Seniors: Christy Doss, Mallory Koehn,
Margaret Mullen, Beth Rausch, Nathan Reed, Alvaro Rodriguez Sandoval,
Hannah Ryan, Dawn Skedell, Meghann Swartz and Troy Toops; Juniors: David
Abfall, Brent Barton, Zach Carder, Ryan Conklin, Jenny Fite, Katie
Greiner, Chris Grunert, Lee Ann Holtschulte, Jacob Kilfian, Amber
Morrison, Adam Masters, Lindsey Rooney, Christina Shoemaker, Levi Smith
and Julie Whittenburg; Sophomores: Tiffany Atwell, Zane Barker, Sarah
Dillon, Rachel Hatfield, Sherri Hoffman, Sarah Kelly, Deric King,
Courtney Koehn, Cassie Locke, Amanda Mapes, Brianne Nicol, Ryan
Picklesimer, Jessica Pittman, Jenny Schammel, Kaylee Shaw and Ashley
Short; Freshmen: Stacy Alderman, Morgan Burns, Sarah Cantrell, Kyle
Daniels, Elisabeth Haywood, Jeff Lucas, Ali meddles and Michael
Williamson.
Scholarships accepted:
Erin Burns ? Capital Trustee Scholarship, $7,000; Luther Heritage Grant,
Collegiate Fellowship, Batelle Scholar Achievement and Ohio Choice
Grant, $1,000 each.
Amy Ciminello  Point Park Academic Scholarship and Cinema and Digital
Arts, $3,000 each.
William Harms ? Ohio Choice Grant, $1,002; Ohio Instructional Grant,
$2,178; ONU Dean's Scholarship, $5,000; ONU Achievement Award, $3,500;
and ONU General Grant, $4,700.
Heather Hamilton ? Otterbein Dean's Award, $2,000; Ohio Choice Grant,
$1,000; and Otterbein Scholar Award, $4,500.
Daniel Hutson ? University Scholarship, $1,800; Ohio Board of Regents,
$2,205; and Scarlet and Gray Scholarship, $750.
Killian Johnson ? CCAD Dean's Award, $28,000.
Amanda Meddles ? OSU Dean's Scholarship, $1,000; and Buckeye Community
Award, $600.
Deanna Nicol  Imagine America, $1,000.
Nathan Reed  OSU Trustee Scholarship, $750; and Scarlet and Gray
Scholarship, $1,050.
Hannah Ryan Otterbein Scholar Award, $4,500; Ohio Choice Grant,
$1,002; Otterbein Endowed Scholarship, $1,200; Otterbein Art Portfolio
Scholarship, $1,000; and Otterbein Community Service Scholarship,
$1,500.
Laura Scheiderer ? Otterbein Dean's Award, $6,000; Otterbein President's
Award, $3,000; Otterbein Choice Grant, $1,000; and Premier Department
Scholar, $1,000.
Troy Toops Columbus State Partnership, $1,500.
Jim Vandre  The High School Select, $1,000; and Lincoln Tech
Scholarship, $1,500.
Stephanie Wright  ONU Trustee Merit Award, $17,000.

Marysville High School announces award winners
Marysville High School held its award ceremonies Thursday morning and
evening in the high school auditorium.
This year's valedictorian is Natasha Schimmoeller. Awards she received
are Third Year Academic, Academic Champion of the Classroom, Dispatch
Scholar Athlete, George Allemang, In The Halls and Marine Corps
Scholastic Excellence. She received the Malcolm and Barbara MacIvor
Scholarship, Nestle R&D Scholarship, National Honor Society Award,
NASSP/Herff Jone Principal's Leadership Award, Ohio Academic
Scholarship, Year Book Editor's Award, Outstanding English Student
Award, President's Education Award, State Board of Education Award of
Merit and Student Council Leadership Award.
Salutatorian Drew Kouri Received the Third Year Academic Honors Award,
MHS Alumni Scholarship, President's Education Award, State Board of
Education Award of Merit, Thelma Carey Mathematics Award, and Thrivent
Financial for Lutherans Scholarship. He was named an Academic Champion
of the Classroom.
The next two top-ranking students of the class of 2004 are Andy Thompson
and Danielle Tompkins.
Thompson earned Third Year Academic Honors, the DeKalb Award, FFA Alumni
Scholarship, Jin and Gum Hyun Scholarship, Nestle R&D Scholarship,
President's Education Award and State Board of Education Award of Merit.

Tompkins earned Third Year Academic Honors, State Board of Education
Award of Merit, President's Education Award, National Honor Society
Award, Academic Champion of the Classroom Award, Margaret M. Schultz
Latin Award, Memorial Hospital of Union County Medical Staff Scholarship
and MHS Alumni Scholarship.
Other awards made were:
Ohio Academic Scholarship ? Christopher Earl
National Merit Commended Scholar ? Dan Vetanovetz
Prudential Spirit of Community Service ? Michelle Tsai
Outstanding Business Student ? Emily Nicol
FFA Outstanding Leadership ? Melissa Hockensmith
DAR Good Citizenship ? Amanda Daniels and Jacob Froehlich
DAR American History ? Dexter Meyers
OHSSA Scholar Athlete ? Beth Mannasmith and Jordan Prozialeck
All Sports ? Lucas Engle and Erin Irish
Polly Widner Award ? Amanda Daniels
Barney Galloway Award ? Cory Maier
Dispatch Scholar Athlete ? Shawn Kibler
Wendy's High School Heisman ? Beth Mannasmith and Ian Rodenberger
Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete ? Ryan Butler
Year Book Editor ? Jordan Prozialeck
Elks Students of the Year ? Nate Kesee and Jessica Murdock
Simper Fidelis Award ? Audrey Rhodebeck
Outstanding Government Student ? Larsa Ramsini
Marguerite Williams Latin Award ? Christopher Earl
Nestle R&D Science ? Shawn Kibler
Jobs for Ohio Graduates ? Teri Spurlock, Heather Matson, Matt Newhart,
Will Smith and Jonathan Lanier
John A. Strickler Art Award ? Michael Chorey
Lions LEO Club Scholarship ? Tracy Rutherford, Emily Nicol and Aaron
Rausch
Rotary A+ for Effort ? Danielle Smith
Michael Padavano Scholarship ? Tracy Rutherford
Cramer Professionalism Scholarship ? Josh Eastman
Ingram Scholarship ? Carmen Ford
Jim Harmon MEA Scholarship ? Chelsea Eggleston
Jobs for Ohio Graduates Scholarship ? Jason Boysel, Jessica Potter, Joey
Shreve, Terri Spurlock and Shannon Wyatt
Kiwanis Scholarship ? Katherine Snider
Malcolm and Barbara MacIvor Scholarship ? Aaron Rausch, Emily Nicol and
Ryan Butler
Memorial Hospital of Union County Medical Staff Scholarship ? Jennifer
Lamb and Jacob Froehlich
MHS Alumni Scholarship ? Katelynn Pastor
Monarch Athletic Scholarship ? Erin Irish and Ian Rodenberger
Mount Carmel Lodge 303 F&M Scholarship ? Katherine Snider
Nel and Gene Hoopes Scholarship ? Jacob Froehlich
Pat Conlon Memorial Scholarship ? Jacob Froehlich
Striffler Edwards Journalism Scholarship ? Courtney Cooper
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Scholarship ? Josh Demidovich
Union County Retired Teachers Scholarship ? Emily Nicol
Union County Women's Bowling Association Scholarship ? Michael Page
United Methodist Men and Women Scholarship ? Aaron Rausch
Vocal Music Awards ? Maui Michel, Felisha Foster, Kara Stevens, Mark
Neville, Natalie Bowsher, Tanner Chapman, Kelsey Baird, Jordan Longest,
Kimberly Leininger, Josh Alleman, Lori Distelhorst, Lucas McCarty,
Jeremy McCarty, Sarah Eubanks, Luke Ahern, Valerie Soller and Katey
Rowland
Business Certification Awards ? Nick Bushong, Carmin Ford, Kacie Snider,
Lucas Engle, Audrey Rhodebeck, Carmin Ford, Josh Eastman an Josh Woolum
National Honor Society Senior Awards ? Sarah Bond, Lori Bridge, Leslie
Buckley, Nick Bushong, Ryan Butler, Stacey Compton, Courtney Cooper,
Megan Daum, Josh Demidovich, Grant Dennis, Emily Dietsch, Christopher
Earl, Josh Eastman, Chelsea Eggleston, Charissa Flint, Megan Freshwater,
Jacob Froehlich, Marina Gorokhovskaya, Melinda Himler, Amanda Hoehn,
Jessica Hunter, Erin Irish, Sarah Jordan, Natalie Joseph, Nathan Keesee,
Shawn Kibler, Amanda Kinsley, Jennifer Lamb, Kelsey Lester, Corinna
Merrill, Kyle Miller, Jessica Murdock, Emily Nicol, Matthew Owen,
Katelynn Pastor, Doug Pelanda, Ryan Plymale, Jordan Prozialeck, Aaron
Rausch, Amy Rees, Audrey Rhodebeck, Ian Rodenberger, Eric Rohrs, Katey
Rowland, John Rushmore, Ross Rutherford, Tracy Rutherford, Angela Simon,
Valerie Soller, Kirsten Spain, Jamie Spencer, Lauren Thrush, Katie
Tracy, Michelle Tsai, Kshiti Vaghela, Nicholas Wantz and Andrew
Zacharias
Student Council Leadership Awards ? Amanda Daniels, Courtney Cooper,
Grant Underwood, Sarah Bond, Amanda Hoehn, Natalie Joseph, Jessica
Murdock and Katie Tracy
Elks Students of the Month ? Charissa Flint, Amanda Hoehn, Nate Kesee,
Jeremy McCarty, Wade McComas, Kyle Miller, Jessica Murdock, Emily Nicol,
Angela Parkinson, Ryan Plymale, Jordan Prozialeck and Casey Snyder
Family and Consumer Science Awards ? Amanda Daniels, Amanda Moon,
Danielle Brentlinger, Amber Church, Jenny Lamb, Sarah Jordan, Tiffany
Giles, Arielle Harmon, Amanda Hoehn, Ian Rodenberger and Tracey
Rutherford
In the Halls Awards ? Lori Bridge, Rachel Haake, Luci Howard, Amanda
Kinsley, Emily Nicol, Angie Parkison, Aaron Rausch, Meg Tracey and Jenna
Yoder
Mock Trial Awards ? Sarah Bond, Lauren Brake, Allison Bruner, Sarah
Burns, Kathy Connolly, Courtney Cooper, Alasun Cunningham, Jacob Decot,
Ally Diaz, Lori Distelhorst, Andrea Elliott, Heather Ellis, Aaron
Fancey, Rachel Haake, Kayleigh Izzard, Kelley Hannah, Teresa Kim,
Frederic Labadie, Meagan Laird, Katelin Mantey, Megan McLurg, Danielle
Nichols, Amanda Owen, Larsa Ramsini, Amy Randall, Aaron Rausch, Virginia
Rogers, Eric Rohrs, Lyndsay Rush, Jan Shanklin, Jamie Shanklin, Caleb
Speicher, Zach Stillings, Ashley Taylor, Grant Underwood, Dan
Vetanovetz, Angela White, Greg White, Katie Williams and Erin Young
---
Editor's Note: Lists of other awards will appear in the newspaper as
space allows.

MR/DD levy given the go ahead
From J-T staff reports:
The Union County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted today to place
a 2.4-mill MR/DD replacement levy before voters during the August
special election.
"I think the Union County MR/DD Board has taken positive financial steps
to be more inline with other Union County agencies, making their levy
request more acceptable for the Union County voters," said commissioner
Jim Mitchell in a written statement.
Commissioner Gary Lee said, "The Union County MR/DD Board's actions have
said they are sensitive to the feelings of the people in Union County.
These kinds of decisions are difficult. Their board's actions will
ensure that necessary programs continue to be provided."
Commissioner Tom McCarthy added that "the board has made a good faith
effort to address our concerns."
Voters have turned down similar levy requests in March and November,
while the three commissioners have questioned the board's generous
compensation policies for staff and large carryover fund balance.
The current levy, due to expire at the end of this year, generates $1.9
million or 29 percent of this year's budget. A replacement levy is based
on new property values and would bring in an additional $700,000.
Since the two levy failures, the seven-member MR/DD board has scaled
back proposed employee raises and voted to close the Harold Lewis
Center's cafeteria which has lost more than $30,000 annually for several
years.
The board also implemented cost containment measures estimated to save
$573,000.
The board has stated that the Harold Lewis preschool program will close
at the end of the 2005 school year if a levy is not approved.
The Union County MR/DD provides services and support to 404 county
residents who have mental retardation or developmental disabilities.
Eligible people of all ages can receive services through the Harold
Lewis Center, U-Co-Industries, WorkNet and/or supported services.
The board's mission is to "increase opportunities for a quality of life,
community membership and personal developmental disabilities."


Homeowner has had enough
Family pays for own repair work to keep sewage from flooding basement
By RYAN HORNS
Marysville resident Sue Nason has seen more traffic by her house on
Hickory Drive lately since she put up a big sign in her front yard.
Standing on her lawn Wednesday, Nason said she hopes the sign sheds
light on a problem in Marysville.
The sign states "Funded by owner.  No city help. Ever. With 3 sewage
floods."
Her family has finally reached the breaking point in their efforts to
make city administrators admit that poorly-organized residential
development over the years has caused raw sewage to flood many
Marysville homes.
After flash flood warnings swept across Central Ohio Tuesday, Nason said
a familiar feeling returned: Worrying about the next flood.
Since 1993, the Nasons have spent more than $50,000 of their own money
repairing damages caused by three raw sewage floods in their basement
living room. They were dropped by their insurance provider and now can
be reimbursed only for a total loss.
Nason said her last hope is to spend another $4,000 on a product called
a Flood-Gate that is expected to solve their problem. The Flood-Gate was
invented by a retired plumber from Springfield who was trying to solve
sewage flooding in homes.
Nason said the reason the protest sign went up in her yard this week was
because the Flood-Gate materials arrived and she started receiving phone
calls from neighbors and friends telling her how glad they were that the
city had finally decided to fix her flooding problem. But she said
everyone assumed wrong.
"We decided to go all out," Nason said. "We wanted to let people know
that the city has done nothing to prevent flooding and has done nothing
to help us out."
What she can't understand is why Marysville would annex her neighborhood
and then deny any responsibility in maintaining it.
"We really feel badly treated," she said.
What she also can't understand is how differently other communities have
been responding to sewage flooding homes.
Nason never thought she'd become an unofficial expert on sewage flooding
but she has been cutting out newspaper articles on the topic from across
Ohio for years. Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman reportedly announced in
late April that he plans to set aside $1 million a year for three years
to provide grants to residents with sewage backups in their homes. In
Springfield, city officials have reimbursed about 30 residents up to
$4,500 to put the devices in their basements or yards.
Nason said her only response from Marysville officials has been that
residents must pay for the Flood-Gate themselves. She wonders why other
cities can claim responsibility for their poorly-organized development
in the past and yet Marysville will not.
In an Aug. 14, 2003, letter from city engineer Phil Roush, she was told
that "the installation of such system rests with the homeowner."
Kruse said this morning that Nason has every right to place the sign in
her yard as a protest.
"It's just our policy that we aren't going to fund these sort of
improvements to people's property," he said.
Kruse said it is not a policy Marysville is going to adapt, despite what
has been done in Columbus and Springfield.
"I really don't know why Columbus did that, or any other city," he said.

He said for the city to fund repairs such as this would be very
expensive, because many more residents would come forward asking the
same thing. The city is more focused on repairing the stormwater and
sewer lines in general in order to benefit the whole city. But he said
it will take time.
Numerous residents have approached the Nason family to organize a group
of Marysville residents to go after the city to pay for fixing their
flooding homes.
"We've been asked before to spearhead something," she said. "Keith and I
discussed it, but we came to the decision that we just want to deal with
the city on our own behalf . We agreed we didn't have the time."
She is also worried that many sewage flood victims are not cleaning
their homes professionally. The cost can run up to $2,500 but if it is
not performed their home could turn into a breeding ground for Hepatitis
B. She said many cleaning companies even turned the job down because of
the health risk to their workers.
But as work crews tore up her lawn for the third time this morning,
Nason called to say that other residents on Hickory Drive have been
talking to the work crews to learn more about the Flood-Gate. Looking at
the backhoes in her grass, she said it is ironic that at one time her
lawn was part of the Union County garden tour.
 She also feels bad for what will happen after their Flood-Gate is
installed. She said the sewage that used to flood her home will have to
go somewhere. Now some other home down the line may have a new problem
they didn't have before.
"It really shouldn't happen to people," she said. "We cannot walk away
from this house with no dime to show for it. We are in pure survival
mode."
With only one year of payments left on the home and with the Flood-Gate
installation already begun, she said they may finally be able to sell
their home and move to Logan County where they have already bought
property.
"It's sad to say this, after all the years we've lived in Marysville,"
Nason said. "But we would not recommend anyone move here."


Lightning strike causes power outage
Union Rural Electric reports that 300 members were without power
Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. because of a lightning strike on the
West Marysville Substation.
The lightning strike destroyed a switching device but URE crews were
able to restore electric service to affected members by feeding power
from the new Watkins Substation.
Crews expect to make repairs to the damaged equipment today. There were
other scattered outages as a result of the storm, reports Rick Shortell,
vice president of business development.


FHS announces 2004 valedictorian, salutatorian
 J-T staff reports:
John Williams, the son of Bob and Nancy Williams of Marysville, is the
valedictorian of the Fairbanks High School class of 2004.
Williams participated in four years of marching band, concert band and
basketball band and has been a squad leader the last three years. He is
a member of the National Honor Society, Mock Trial and Science Club.
Williams was selected as a National Merit Finalist this spring and has
been the highest male scorer in his grade on the Americana Legion
Americanism test for the past two years. He attended the American Legion
Buckeye Boys State last summer.
In sports, Williams played four years of varsity soccer an was a
co-captain the past two years. He has been involved in the wrestling
program for two years and helped coach the youth program and he
participated in one year of track.
Williams will attend the University of Notre Dame to major in aerospace
engineering.
Salutatorian Nancy Taylor is the daughter of Tim and Connie Taylor of
Watkins.
She has been an active member of band for eight years, has been first
chair clarinet for the past three years and took part in marching band
for a year. She is a three-year member of National Honor Society and
Mock Trial and a one-year member of Science Club. She volunteers for
Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Taylor will attend the pre-veterinary program at the University of
Chicago and plans to earn her degree in veterinary medicine from the
Ohio State University.


United Way announces new campaign chair
Coinciding with the unveiling of a new nationwide corporate logo, the
United Way of Union County is introducing the volunteer campaign chair
for 2004 and presenting a new theme for the upcoming campaign.
Michele Mercer of Marysville will assume the lead role on the campaign
committee that is responsible for raising funds for our community.
Mercer, with Sell4Free Box Realty and Box Custom Homes, has made
Marysville her home for eight years. She has been a United Way volunteer
since 2000 and has served as the publicity committee chair for the last
three years. During that time, she's seen firsthand the way United Way
makes an impact in our community.
"Daily we hear about or find different areas of need," Mercer said. "I
would really like us to be able to reach out and impact the community
more and more each year by finding and creating the solutions that
additional funding would allow us to do."
Mercer lives in Marysville with her husband, Jim.
Beginning today, United Way's across the country have a new look for the
first time in more than 30 years. The new logo modernizes the familiar
"helping hand" trademark. The new logo maintains the principal aspects
that make it one of the most recognizable symbols in corporate America:
 . A helping hand to symbolize United Way's support of services and
programs that in turn support people in our community.
 . The symbol of humankind cradled by the helping hand to indicate that
United Way cares about all people everywhere.
 . The rainbow emerging from the hand to shelter the human figure,
representing hope for a better tomorrow.
The 2004 campaign theme "Bringing neighbors together, improving lives"
feeds off the most critical portion of the United Way of Union County's
mission statement, which is "to improve the lives of people within our
community by raising, collecting and distributing funds." Last year, the
United Way campaign raised more than $681,000 for its 24 member agencies
and other funded partners in Union County.
But the United Way is more than just a fundraiser, working year round to
make an impact in our community by bringing to the same table people who
can help solve some of the critical social service issues facing Union
County today.

NU third graders turn it around
Scores soar on recent reading test after a terrible showing in the fall
By CHAD WILLIAMSON
In the fall the North Union School District got slapped in the face
twice.
When the results of the Third Grade Reading Achievement Test were
released, nearly 70 percent of NU third graders did not score at an
acceptable level. In fact, the largest percentage of students were
deemed to read at a "limited" level, the lowest level the results are
grouped into.
Then a Columbus newspaper found North Union's statistics and printed
them in a story for all of Central Ohio to see. NU students looked
unprepared, the teachers looked unqualified and the district was shamed.

"It was definitely a wake up call," North Union Superintendent Carol
Young said.
Young was convinced the scores did not reflect the intelligence of the
students or the dedication of the staff - and she was right.
Third graders across the state are tested twice each year and when NU's
spring results came in the students had turned it all around.
More than 75 percent of the students scored at a level of "proficient,"
"accelerated," or "advanced."
Third grade teachers received a standing ovation after the test results
were revealed at Monday's North Union Board of Education meeting.
Young said the original test results showed a lack of strategy rather
than a lack of knowledge.
"Our students are not test savvy," Young said.
She said there may have been some level of panic as students took the
test, their first such standardized proving ground.
She explained that many of the low scores were also the result of test
language being slightly different from the wording used in class. Others
simply answered questions with a "yes" or "no" when a longer answer was
required.
With test results being tied into new federal and state guidelines, the
staff members at North Union set out to ensure that their students
gained the confidence and knowhow to master the test.
Claibourne-Richwood Elementary principal Lisa Wolfe said the
administration and staff first sought to help "bubble students," those
who were on the fringe of reaching an acceptable score on the test.
Wolfe challenged each administrator and staff member to take on a
"bubble student" and work with him for 30 minutes per week.
The response was outstanding, Wolfe said, with some participants taking
on more than one student.
Young said the staff also had to embrace the four dirty words - teach to
the test.
While districts enjoy maintaining their individuality in lesson plans,
when a standardized test is the measuring stick, you have to conform,
Young said.
"I think all the Ohio schools are going that direction," she said.
She said teachers began to use wording and language from the test
questions in their lessons. Staffers also pushed students to explain
answers with more than a "yes" or "no."
Despite the student success of the spring test, administrators know that
the cycle could repeat itself again next year. Young noted that the late
start date of the first day of school in the district means the teachers
have less time to get students ready for the fall test.
She said that fact makes it mandatory that teachers look at standardized
test preparation as a year round process that begins the year before the
test is administered.

Harold Lewis staffers voice concerns
By CINDY BRAKE
Will the Harold Lewis Center remain open through June 2005, even if a
levy fails in November?
Will the HLC kitchen reopen if the levy passes?
Will there be a reduction in staff if the levy fails?
Three staff members came with their questions and concerns to the Union
County MR/DD board meeting Monday about their future and the future of
the Harold Lewis Center.
"We are all a little nervous," said Sheri Baker, a preschool instructor.

Voters turned down a 2.4-mill replacement levy request in November and
March. The current levy generates $1.9 million or 29 percent of this
year's budget and expires at the end of the year. A replacement levy is
based on new property values and would bring in an additional $700,000.
The MR/DD board wants to go to the voters again in August with an
identical request as March, however, the Union County Board of
Commissioners must first give the go ahead. The filing deadline for the
August election is Thursday. The commissioners are expected to act on
the MR/DD levy request on Thursday during their regular meeting.
The board has said the HLC will close if voters do not approve a levy
this year.
Kristin Raiter, a language development therapist, said the staff feels
as if they are caught in a political battle. "All we want is to keep our
jobs and keep the center open," she said.
MR/DD board president Bruce Davis responded by saying that the MR/DD
board and Union County Board of Commissioners have disagreed recently,
but that disagreements are not always bad.
Union County's three commissioners, who appoint the MR/DD board members,
have questioned the board's generous compensation policies for staff and
large carryover fund balance while citizens with disabilities and their
families are waiting for services.
Davis assured the staff that the HLC will remain open through June 2005,
even if the levy fails in November and staff will be maintained through
the school year.
If the center closes, children with disabilities would receive services
from their school districts, Davis said.
Concerning the kitchen reopening, Davis said the subject "may be
revisited" but offered no guarantees. The board voted to closed the HLC
cafeteria, which has lost more than $30,000 annually for several years,
at the end of this school year. MR/DD was the only preschool in the
county that provided meals. Even with the cafeteria closing, the
preschool will continue to provide nutritious snacks.
Calling it a "huge expense," Davis said the cafeteria has been a "point
of contention for a couple of years."
When asked what the board is doing to get a levy passed, board member
Bob Box said he is committed to making five telephone calls a day. One
staff member said she has moved to the county so she can vote on future
levies. The board also encouraged staff to talk with families that
receive services.
Also during the regular meeting, the board voted to join a taxpayer
lawsuit in Delaware County. The lawsuit questions the legality of an
emergency rule adopted by the Ohio Department of Job and Family
Services. The rule increases rates unreasonably, explained
superintendent Jerry Buerger. As an example, he said autistic services
would increase from $45,000 a year to $328,000 and nursing rates would
go from $55 an hour to $140.60.
Action to finalize the superintendent's contract was tabled with no
reason given. The board was to finalize the 2004-2005 contract for
Buerger who is in the second year of a three-year contract.
The board adjourned into executive session earlier in the meeting for
approximately an hour to consider the employment and compensation of
public employees and the investigation of complaints against public
employees or officials.
In other business, the board:
. Observed a moment of silence in memory of Alexis Coover who died May
6.
. Approved April operating expenses totaling $466,011.07.
. Appointed Wils VanDamm to the U-CO Industries Inc. board of directors.

. Passed a resolution to notify employees of its intent to employ for
the upcoming year. All employees have had an evaluation in the past year
and two will not be receiving any merit pay increased based upon the
results.
. Approved position descriptions.
. Approved contracts with Professional Speech Services Inc. at U-CO
Industries at a cost of $50 an hour for up to 160 hours annually and at
a cost of $38.50 an hour for 35 hours per week for 44 weeks at Harold
Lewis Center; Union County Health Department for intermittent nursing
services at a cost of $33 an hour; Occupational Therapy and Assistive
Technology Services at a rate of $47 an hour; ABC Therapies Inc. for
physical therapy services at a rate of $65 an hour; U-Co Industries Inc.
board of trustees for leasing 510 W. Fourth St. for adult daycare
services; and Medicaid Consulting Group Inc. of Reynoldsburg for
assistance in the implementation of self-determination/individual
budgeting services required by the state. A contract with the Delaware
Creative Housing Board to provide management and maintenance of
properties owned by Union County Housing Board was tabled as attorneys
work on the agreement.
. Authorized a payment of up $3,699 for fleet insurance and payment of
$7,895 for property insurance. The county realized a savings of more
than $7,000 from the 2003-2004 rates.
. Authorized payment of an employee health care contract. Rates are
$382.30 per month for single coverage and $1,032.28 for dependent
coverage. This is a 15.16 percent rate increase. MR/DD contributes
$774.22 per month for dependent health care coverage or 75 percent of
the cost. Staff asked for the board consider paying 80 percent but the
request was declined in light of budget constraints.
. Heard a special presentation about individual plans. Laura Zuriech
provided the board with an example of a 41-page plan that is required to
be developed at least annually to enable the agency to provide services
and to comply with local, state and federal regulations.
. Learned that the fifth annual levy open golf tournament is July 23 at
Timberview Golf Club.
Board members present were Bob Box, the Rev. Paul Whiteford, Bruce
Davis, John Anson, Dr. Helen Ahlborn, Beth Ayars and Steve Streng.
The next board meeting is June 21 at 4:30 p.m. The ethics council meets
at 4:20 p.m. and the annual board inservice training is June 7 from 5 to
9 p.m.


Vandal slashes tires on cop cars
After short foot pursuit he is apprehended
From J-T staff reports:
An unlucky vandal was arrested this morning after slashing tires on
police cruisers parked right behind the Marysville Police Department.
Police charged Ricky Organ, 58, of Mechanicsburg on two counts of
vandalism and one count of resisting arrest at 3:12 a.m.
"It was a foolish move," Marysville assistant police chief Glenn Nicol
said. "They found him out there while he was doing it."
There is even a surveillance camera pointed on the back of the
department, he said.
Organ ended up slashing 10 tires on three cruisers parked behind the
station at 125 E. Sixth St.
Police officers were reportedly processing another individual who had
been arrested at the time Organ was slashing the tires. When one of the
officers finished with the arrest he went out the back door to go on
patrol again and caught him in the act.
Nicol said a short foot chase ensued and Organ struggled with officers
as he was apprehended.
The crime did not hold up police patrols, Nicol said. Other vehicles
were available and the early morning hours were not particularly busy.
Several hours later police had the three disabled cruisers repaired and
ready for the road.
"The city mechanic did an excellent job," Nicol said. "He had them back
in service by 8 a.m."
The tires were replaced with used ones for now until new ones can be
purchased and installed, he said. The cost of the vandalism will
reportedly cost $66 per tire, or $660.



Herschel's, the home of some big, beefy burgers
David and Nora Grooms have owned and operated Herschel's since March
1997 and their children have been a part of the business.
The restaurant was built in 1973 and operated by the Borden Company as
one of its Borden Burger locations. The Grooms family bought it from
Borden in January 1977.
A daughter, Michelle, and son, Duane, worked at the business through
high school. Today, Michelle Wasserbeck and Duane Grooms are married and
running their own businesses.
Another Grooms son, Cody, a sophomore at Marysville High School, is now
working at Herschel's. Joe Kaing, a 20-year employee, is assistant
manager.
The business was named for David's father, Herschel, and that is also
David's middle name.
Grooms said his most-ordered breakfast item is probably the western
omelet. Other favorites are the shredded chicken sandwich and Coney
dogs. Then there are the burgers: The single is 1/3 pound, the double is
2/3 pound and the triple is a full pound of beef.
Grooms said customers are told that if they can eat two triples, the
third is free. No one has ever eaten more than two, he said.
Grooms said the business hires high school students mostly to work after
school until the 8 p.m. closing time. He said it gives the young people
a job that doesn't keep them out until 11 p.m. or later. Herschel's
closes for two weeks each July and the whole staff is on vacation at the
same time.
Herschel's is located at 465 N. Main St. and is open from 6 a.m. to 8
p.m. Monday through Saturday. The phone number is 644-0777.

Railyard plan may crumble
By CINDY BRAKE
"We've got the yard shut off. I think," said Bill Habig of the MidOhio
Regional Planning Commission Monday to the Union County Board of
Commissioners.
Habig was referring to a proposed intermodal railyard. In January, the
Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) announced plans to build a
200-acre railyard along the rail line that runs parallel to Industrial
Parkway south of Marysville from the Union County Airport to Scottslawn
Road.
COTA is promoting a $501 million project that would extend light rail
north from downtown Columbus. The key to the plan is acquiring an
existing CSX rail line in the Buckeye Yard near Roberts and Trabue
roads. In exchange for that line, COTA plans to build a new $30 million
intermodal yard.
Since the announcement, a local group calling itself CAIR - Citizens
Against Intermodal Railyard -  challenged the project, voicing concern
about health and safety standards. Public officials have officially
opposed the railyard's location south of Marysville.
In response to Habig's comments, Union County Commissioner Tom McCarthy
asked how the county can know for sure that the railyard is definitely
not coming to Union County.
Habig suggested that the commissioners contact COTA and CXS officials
directly.
The commissioners say that they have.
McCarthy said he talked for an hour recently on the telephone with two
top COTA officials and asked them for an official statement that Union
County is no longer under consideration. McCarthy said they would not
officially commit to withdrawing from Union County. Commissioner Gary
Lee accused CSX of not answering telephone inquiries.
"CSX has hidden behind the skirt of COTA this whole dance. We've been
trying to use the appropriate channels," Lee said.
Habig added that two other upcoming events will be good indicators about
the rail's future.
He said a COTA Community Advisory Committee will meet May 25 and is
expected to vote on whether to proceed with a levy request to Franklin
County voters in November. He predicted that the rail project is dead if
the advisory committee votes against going to the voters.
A rail system study is also expected to be completed soon, Habig said.
This study will determine the best location for a railyard, said  CAIR
spokesman Phil Shandle. He adds that alternate locations must be
considered by the National Environmental Policy Act, something that had
not been done this until CAIR voiced concerns.
In March, Union County was the only site being considered by COTA. That
apparently has changed, according to Habig and commissioner Jim
Mitchell.
Habig said COTA is now looking at Marion. Mitchell said "Bellefontaine
is really cooking on it," pointing out that it has a switching yard.
"This thing isn't over," Shandle said.
CAIR continues to hold weekly volunteer meetings at the Union County
Services Center on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. and has passed out thousands of
flyers.
"The goal is to keep the people of Marysville informed," Shandle said.

MR/DD axes pricey buyout plan
By CINDY BRAKE
A generous board policy, blamed as one reason for the failure of two
recent levies, was changed Monday by the Union County Board of MR/DD.
Board member Paul Whiteford called the move "a prudent decision to
make," while board member Bob Box said he feared the loss of employees.
"If we don't do it (change the policy) we will lose a whole lot of
employees," Whiteford said, referring to the possible closing of the
Harold Lewis Center in 2005 if a levy is not passed by November.
Whiteford called the decision a "less painful cut."
"The community has spoken," said board member Steve Streng. "We've got
to do something different."
Last year the board expanded its employee sick leave conversion policy
beyond what the Ohio Revised Code mandates. The 2003 MR/DD policy
offered certain long-term employees a buyout of 100 percent of their
accrued/unused sick leave at retirement or resignation. It also offered
benefits sooner than the ORC standard.
Streng said that last year's expanded policy was "originally based with
the best of intentions."
Board president Bruce Davis stated previously that the expanded policy
was an enticement to retain employees. He said a consultant presented
the idea about a year ago when the board was reviewing the whole salary
package.
Monday's action came under the watchful eye of the Union County Board of
Commissioners, who must approve MR/DD's request to go to the polls for a
third levy request in August. All three commissioners were at Monday
afternoon's meeting. The commissioners also appoint the MR/DD board
members. The MR/DD board oversees services for citizens for Union County
with disabilities and their families.
The MR/DD board is seeking to place a 2.4-mill replacement levy on the
ballot. The request is identical to two other levies that voters turned
down in March and November. The November levy failed by 102 votes and
the March levy failed by 564 votes.
The current levy generates $1,893,500 or 29 percent of this year's
budget. The replacement will be based on new property values and bring
in about $700,000 more than the current levy.
On May 6 the county commissioners said they were supportive but stopped
short of approving the request until this week's meeting. May 20 is the
filing deadline for the Aug. 3 special election. The commissioners are
expected to take action on the matter during their regular Thursday
meeting.
"It's a tough, tough decision," McCarthy said previously. "We want to
present something that is acceptable."
McCarthy and commissioner Jim Mitchell referred to the 2003 policy as
"generous" and an "excessive benefit package."
In a media release today, superintendent Jerry Buerger states the 2004
policy reverts back to the former policy in accordance with the Ohio
Revised Code for County Employees. The ORC provides a cash buy-out of 25
percent or a maximum of 30 days of a person's sick leave after at least
10 years of service. The board's revised policy does not place a cap on
the number of days.
The board voted six to one to scale the policy back. Box was the lone
dissenter.
This is one of a series of recent belt-tightening decisions made by the
MR/DD board since the second failure at the polls.
At the April meeting, the board held the line on salaries, even though
the budget had included a 4 percent increase. The board approved a 2.6
percent merit raise for staff who qualified and no cost of living
increase. Buerger said the raises will basically cover the increased
cost of insurance for employees who take part in the family program. The
board pays 100 percent of insurance costs for single coverage.
In March, the board voted to close the cafeteria in the Harold Lewis
Center which has lost more than $30,000 annually for several years.
MR/DD was the only preschool in the county that provided meals. MR/DD
will continue to serve a nutritious snack to all school children. The
board also implemented cost containment measures estimated to save
$573,000


Fairbanks appoints high school principal
By JUDY BOEHLER
Thomas Goodney will take over the reins at Fairbanks High School as
principal this summer. He replaces Larry Bettler who has been interim
principal this year.
Goodney has been principal at Preble Shawnee Local High School for the
past three years and was assistant principal for two years before that.
He taught and coached basketball at Preble from 1994 to 1997 and taught
English at Marquette Senior High School in Michigan from 1997 to 1999.
He  is a native of Spring Lake, Mich., and earned his undergraduate
degree at Northern Michigan University in Marquette and his master of
education degree at Miami of Ohio. His principalship licensure is from
the University of Dayton and he is working on a Ph.D. in educational
leadership at Miami.
Goodney said he is really impressed with Fairbanks and superintendent
Craycraft's vision for the district. He said he will be doing a lot of
learning and listening to find out where the board is headed and where
he will best fit it. He feels a high school is a service to families and
must help students find out what they are best suited to do.
Goodney chose to come to Fairbanks because it was a good "fit," he said.
The proximity of Columbus was also a factor. He and his wife, Diane, a
teacher, and their two young daughters will move to a home north of
Plain City in Darby Township.
The board heard from Craycraft that an emergency operation plan is being
developed on a model provided by the Union County Emergency Management
Agency; that a new housing development, the Reserve at New California,
will eventually contain 165 homes, 157 of them in the Fairbanks
district; and that Business Technical Services will evaluate the
district's telecommunications system with an aim of reducing costs.
The board approved summer trips for the middle school boys basketball
team to Capital University June 19 and 20; boys golf team to Soda Fork
State Park July 11 and 12; high school girls basketball team to Purdue
University June 25 to 27, Wilmington College July 15 and 16 and
Wilmington College (JV) July 12 and 13; high school boys basketball team
to Denison University June 11 and 12 and Bowling Green June 18 and 19;
and high school football team to Oh