Local Archived News   9/04                                              Subscribe Now                                            

Teen allegedly assaulted on way back  to school

Former sheriff  settles in to new job

Triad lawsuit progressing

Homeowners can get funding assistance

Suit over industrial park looms

Marysville enrollment figures outlined

Community concert celebrates Rodgers, Hart and Hammerstein

Library volunteerism grows

Man sentenced for injuring baby

Hospital CEO looks at future

Water bill deposits still topic of contention

Allen Twp. will buy tanker with grant money

Jo Jo's is a no go

Allen Twp. fire dept.
gets $175,000 grant

Man allegedly bilks elderly relative out of $50,000

Women's Center aims to be cozy
Phone troubles knock out 911 system
West building's fate is sealed
Triad sets plan in case levy fails
Anybody want to buy a gym?
North Union to sell elementary school gymnasium as part of  Oct. 2
auction
Fairbanks board discusses levy attempt
Minister opposes liquor license for proposed restaurant
Fireman injured fighting house fire
Commissioners extend deadline on issue of building's demolition
Cookbook's proceeds will go to research of childhood disease
From humble beginnings
Marysville   band program celebrates 75th anniversary
A Marysville woman who watched her son sentenced in Union County Common
Pleas Court to more than 27 years in prison is now suing the defense
attorney she believes dropped the ball.
Local man honored with Metritorious Service Medal
The 'gates of hell had opened up'
Child safety seat check planned
Residents want bigger barrier
Property owners near Richwood  industrial park  say small dirt hill
doesn't cut it
Fire at Scotts forces evacuation
Petro will be featured speaker
Route 31 resurfacing to begin Monday
25 years and counting
Honda honored on anniversary
Millcreek Twp. lowers taxes
Trustees vote to roll back inside millage
City officials discuss   land use on west side
Man guilty of battering 7-month-old son
Marcus Troglin could face 18 years in prison
Community Care Day is Tuesday
F.D. eyes N. Lewisburg village hall
Junior Miss hopefuls ready for Sunday program
Honda to build SUVs in Ohio
New Marysville City Administrator adjusts to life in
government
Agencies  have mixed results with Homeland  Security grants
Local group's music is timeless
The Late Bloomers simply love to play
Chief: Permits to hunt in       the city will not be issued

Teen allegedly assaulted on way back  to school
From J-T staff reports:
Marysville police are investigating the alleged assault Wednesday of a
15-year-old female by an unknown male.
According to police reports, the Marysville High School student was
walking back to the school from a doctor's appointment at around 11 a.m.
Wednesday. She was approaching the middle school when she reportedly
heard a noise behind her at 690 Amrine Mill Road and claimed she was
knocked to the ground and dragged by an unknown man.
Marysville Exempted Village School Superintendent Larry Zimmerman sent
out a letter to let parents know of the incident.
"The police were immediately notified and this situation is currently
under investigation," the letter states. "Although, we do not have more
details at this time, we thought this was serious enough to warrant your
attention."
The suspect is described as a 6-foot-tall white male weighing around 200
pounds. He was wearing a black sweatshirt and a red stocking cap and
blue jeans. He is believed to be between the ages of 40 and 50-years-old
and has a graying goatee.
Police stated that the student reported sitting on a bench on the Jim
Simmons Trail an hour with the male before she escaped when the suspect
attempted to steal her purse.
"This was reported to us and we will investigate," Marysville Police
Chief Floyd Golden said this morning.
As with similar incidents of assault, he said, residents should always
be aware of their surroundings and parents should know where their
children are at all times.
Reports indicate there were no signs of injury on the student, although
she claimed to have twisted her ankle in her attempt to escape.
Police reportedly patrolled the area after the report was filed and no
person matching the description was found.
A call placed to Zimmerman on the incident was not returned before press
time.

Former sheriff  settles in to new job
Overly is director of Ohio's Homeland Security Dept
By RYAN HORNS
Former Union County Sheriff John Overly spent 32 years in local law
enforcement. His move last year to director of Ohio's Homeland Security
Department was a big change.
"I still miss the county office staff and working with the public
there," Overly explained, "but it was a different task for myself."
Overly started in law enforcement in Union County when he was 18 years
old.
"I just turned 50," he laughed.
In that time Overly became sheriff and served six terms in that role.
With his new career, he said, the pace of his work has changed
dramatically and has been challenging but at the same time rewarding.
"There's not much time to think about myself," he said. "It's very fast
paced. All the states are playing catch up."
What they are catching up to is a new period of advanced scrutiny of
emergency preparedness for America.
Only recently has the Department of Homeland Security become an official
part of local government. It became a division of Ohio's Department of
Public Safety on Sept. 1.
The past year has been spent developing the Homeland Security Strategic
Plan, Overly said, which details the steps states will take for their
own action plans and funding measures. It lays out the plans for
infrastructure, assisting local law enforcement with training, grants
and bringing together counter-terrorism groups from all emergency
responder groups.
"Basically, good information sharing is one of our big roles right now,"
Overly said. "Because of the threat we're up against we have to be very
proactive to thwart terrorist activities."
He said that while the Federal Bureau of Investigation takes on the lead
role of investigating terrorist activities, Homeland Security has the
job of tying together state health departments, the national guard,
search and rescue squads, emergency management agencies, police and fire
departments and environmental protection agencies into a well-oiled
machine that responds quickly when needed.
"Ever since Sept. 11 many groups have come together to form better
working relationships then ever before," Overly said. "Ohio is
definitely more prepared than it was before. It's been a challenge to
get our message across in such a short period of time. The local chiefs
and agencies are the key players who make it work."
Overly said he usually tries to explain the process of Homeland Security
his own way.
"When I talk to various groups I tell them it is like an orchestra," he
said. "There are flutes, brass instruments, percussion and woodwinds who
have their specific parts and they work together to create one piece of
music."
"It may be kind of corny but it works for me," Overly laughed.
For Ohio he is the conductor, coordinating emergency responders who
already have the training and knowledge.
"They are all experts in their field," he said. "I look at my job more
as making sure everyone is reading from the same sheet of music and that
they are all in rhythm."
Now that the strategic plan has been completed, he said, the real work
can begin. That work has led him to forming relationships with
ambassadors from other countries. He took part in an Ohio exchange
program with Turkey to learn from emergency responders there who have
decades more experience fighting terrorism.
"The United States is new in dealing with terrorism," Overly said.
"Israel is so far advanced. It was an eye-opening experience."
There was not much time for checking out the local culture or seeing any
sights, he said. The trip was full of days visiting police academies,
sites, stations and laboratories.
Another challenge ahead is handling a new phenomenon of psychology
called fear management, handling the effect on people who turn on the
television or read the paper and hear about the worst of society.
"There is so much more for all of us to learn," Overly said.

Triad lawsuit progressing
District is suing over faulty  assessment prior to building project
By CORINNE BIX
Slow and steady seems to be the motto for most lawsuits and the Triad
schools are finding the old adage doesn't exclude them.
In January, the Triad school board authorized the law firm of Bricker
and Eckler to file suit against the architectural firm of Blunden,
Barclay and Robbie that assessed the Triad school buildings for the Ohio
School Facilities Commission (OSFC) in 1999.
Superintendent Dan Kaffenbarger said to the best of his knowledge both
sides in the case were to agree to mediation as of Sept. 20.
"I don't have official word if that's been decided," Kaffenbarger said,
"However, I assume it has been done."
The Ohio School Facilities Commission, a state agency, hired Blunden,
Barclay and Robbie to assess properties as part of a state mandated
appraisal program. The original assessment of $16 million for a new high
school and renovation of two existing buildings was given to the school
district and dictated the amount put on the ballot in November 1999.
After the issue was passed, the construction manager and the Triad hired
architectural firm concluded that there were many costs not addressed in
the original assessment. These added items totaling more than $5 million
included on-site sewage treatment, fire protection, a sanitary piping
upgrade, propane service loop and improvement of site circulation.
The district was forced to borrow $1.3 million in 2002, given the
incomplete 1999 assessment.
"We are hoping to be in mediation by January of 2005," district
treasurer Jill Smith said.
Kaffenbarger said the incomplete assessment is one of the contributors
to the district's recent financial distress.
In 2003, Wellston City Schools in Jackson County filed a similar lawsuit
against another OSFC hired architectural firm as a result of errors in a
1998 assessment regarding the renovation of their elementary building.
The law firm of Bricker and Eckler also represents Wellston City
Schools.
"As of this date, a judge in Franklin County has briefs from both
parties regarding a motion for a summary judgment as requested by the
attorneys for the architects," Dan Brisker, Wellston superintendent,
said, "There is no time frame in which he has to rule."
Brisker said if the judge denies the motion for a summary judgment both
parties will proceed to trial. In the event he grants the motion for a
summary judgment, which would be ruling against the district, the
district would then review all of their options which would include an
appeal.
Brisker also explained that, ironically, if the assessment had been done
correctly prior to the project, the people of Wellston would have passed
the same levy in 1998 despite a higher dollar assessment. He said this
is due to the OSFC formula, which would have only caused the state's
portion to go up.
Kaffenbarger said the Triad district would of course cooperate and be a
participant in whatever hearings are involved with their case.
"We know that our attorneys will guide us appropriately," Kaffenbarger
said.

Homeowners can get funding assistance
By RYAN HORNS
Marysville residents may be able to get some free home repair jobs if
they meet state requirements.
A relatively new program that hit Marysville is flourishing in central
Ohio due to the State of Ohio Office of Housing and Community
Partnerships and the Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP), all
through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC).
MORPC Director of Housing and Weathering Services Kathy Werkmeister said
the CHIP program offers $500,000 for Marysville home owners to split.
The funding must be spent by Aug. 31, 2005 and there are still project
openings to fill.
Werkmeister said Marysville became involved in the CHIP program on Sept.
1, 2003. Because it was the first program of this kind in the area it
took a few months to set up all the infrastructure and find work
contractors to participate. By February the project was in full swing
for those who applied. Public response was great initially, but has
since dropped off. The department now hopes to increase public awareness
of the funding available.
While MORPC has been working through flyers and word of mouth, the
department is hoping to find new candidates through a new home ownership
class it will begin holdi     ngonselectSaturdaysinOctober.
Earline Sullivan, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Senior Project
Coordinator for the CHIP program, said that since the project began in
Marysville, one roof has been fixed, one resident was tapped into the
city sewer lines and one other resident was able to have his basement
repaired.
Werkmeister said there are four funding opportunities for Marysville
residents. The first is the Single Family Rehabilitation program, which
offers six separate projects worth up to $35,000. A couple of the plans
are currently underway, although more are available. The second is the
Home Repair program, which offers a total of 19 homes $8,000 each to
repair one large project such as furnace/heating systems, leaking or
poor roof systems, faulty plumbing and electrical systems, lead-based
paint hazards and more. The third offers down payment help and any
needed home repair work for residents before purchasing a home. It
offers six separate families $16,333 in funding. The final program is
the Home Ownership Education Program geared toward classes being held in
October.
Ash Street resident Ronald Wolford said he received $8,000 through a
CHIP grant to fix his buckling basement walls. He saw an ad in the
newspaper around March or April about the funding available, went to a
couple of meetings with city officials and ended up being approved.
Construction work on the project began in June and several weeks later
his basement was fixed at no cost to him.
"I was well satisfied and well pleased with the work they did," Wolford
said. "For a retired person like me living on a limited income, I really
appreciated all the help you can get. It saved the walls in my basement.
I thought I was going to have to tap into my 401K in order to pay for
it."
Wolford also expressed thanks for the help he received along the way
from MORPC and the Marysville zoning department.
"The money is there," he said, "if people are aware of it."
Applicants will be required to provide source documentation for all
household income and the basis for determining eligibility will be gross
annual income. Self-employed applicants are permitted to deduct
business-related expenses.
In response to local requests, MORPC will assist communities in
compiling CHIP grant proposals and partner in administering the program.
Currently, the agency is involved with CHIP work in Ross County and
Chillicothe as well as Marysville.
Over the past 14 years, MORPC has assisted Ross County in receiving
several CHIPs.
The Marysville and Chillicothe CHIP grants, awarded last year, consist
of $500,000 for each community. Chillicothe's award also includes public
street and storm water improvements.
For more information on taking part in the Marysville CHIP program call
Earline Sullivan on Friday mornings, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 645-1046 or
Barb McCoy at the Marysville Zoning Department at 645-1028. Residents
may also call (800) 886-6772, Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m.

Suit over industrial park looms
By CHAD WILLIAMSON
The residents of Kells Lane in Richwood wanted a mountain instead of a
molehill.
Now it appears a court may decide who, if anyone, is to blame.
Kells Lane borders the new industrial park off Route 37 in the village
and the residents of that area say they were promised a buffer between
their homes and the park. That buffer came in the form of a four-foot
high mound of dirt with 164 trees planted on top of it.
Gene Klaiber, a former village council member and resident of Kells
Lane, said the mound and trees don't cut it. He added that he and his
neighbors have a meeting Wednesday at 11 a.m. with their Dublin-based
attorney who specializes in such disputes.
The Kells Lane development came to Richwood in the late 1980s and was
bordered by farmland until the adjacent property was sold to the village
in 2000 and rezoned from residential to manufacturing. Since then the
village and county have worked to secure grants for infrastructure
improvements and broke ground this summer for the park's first business,
MAI Manufacturing.
Once work on the site began, so did the problems, according to
neighbors.
A group of residents led by Klaiber approached council at the Sept. 13
meeting, voicing their displeasure with the project. Klaiber noted that
dirt, fumes and noise from the site work have essentially made it
impossible for residents to enjoy their own properties. He said
residents have been forced to keep windows closed all summer due to the
dirt in the air and the noise from the site begins as ear   lyas6a.m.,
including weekends.
Klaiber said he was forced to cancel a Labor day cookout at his home
because workers were moving dirt at the site.
Klaiber said the residents were promised that a barrier would be erected
to cut down the noise, dust and fumes but when a four-foot tall dirt
mound was put in place, Kells Lane residents returned to council wanting
more.
The result was a meeting Sept. 21 with residents, village, county and
economic development officials as well as representatives of the design
and construction firms.
Those involved with the industrial park maintain that the mound and
trees, which were planted the same day as the meeting, meet the
obligation of a buffer.
Eric Phillips, director of the Union County Economic Development Office,
said the only wording in the village codes relating to such barriers
says a four-foot mound is required when a parking lot is placed near
residences. He said the village codes do not spell out a specific buffer
requirement for businesses placed near residences.
Klaiber said the residents now want a wall put in place to allow them
some privacy.
Phillips said the six-foot-tall insulated metal fencing the residents
are calling for would cost $315,000. A concrete barrier, also mentioned
by residents as a solution, would cost about $150,000.
Piling additional dirt to make the existing mount taller is not an
option. For each added foot of height the mound would have to be widened
three feet at the base, cutting into the amount of usable land at the
site.
Phillips said a cedar fence would carry a price tag of $13-15,000, but
residents have said they would not accept that solution.
Klaiber said if the residents in the area had been involved in
discussions about the site, this complication would never have occurred.
He said the village and developer moved ahead with its plans without
considering residents of the area.
But Phillips says the best interest of the residents were considered all
along the way. He said the truck entrance to the site was moved and the
parking lot of MAI has been moved to the east side of the building to
lessen the effect on residents.
He added that $30,000 has been put into landscaping at the site.
Following an executive session of more than an hour to discuss pending
litigation, Richwood Mayor Bill Nibert said at Monday's meeting that
because the village does not own the land MAI is building on, it is not
responsible for any additional improvements at the site. The village
does, however, own the remaining land in the industrial park.
As he waited for the executive session to end, Klaiber said he and the
other residents planned to meet with their attorney Wednesday if no
resolution was found at Monday's meeting.

Marysville enrollment figures outlined
By JUDY BOEHLER
Superintendent Larry Zimmerman updated enrollment information and its
impact on the school district's construction plans at Monday night's
regular meeting of the Marysville Board of Edcuation.
Enrollment for the 2004-05 school year stands at 5,082, up by 230
students from the last day of the 2003-04 school year. During the past
seven years, enrollment has increased by 1,400 students or 41 percent.
At that rate, Zimmerman said, enrollment will stand at 6,000 by 2008.
The district will soon be out of classroom space, he said.
Mill Valley Elementary School is operating at capacity and Creekview
Intermediate School, where a new fifth grade classroom had to be added
this year, will reach its capacity next school year.
Zimmerman said more high school and middle school classroom space is
needed by 2007 and by 2008, a new intermediate school and a new
elementary school will be required. He said he is looking at creative
means of funding construction costs and will keep the board informed.
The board approved a resolution to allow the district to begin
interviewing for a construction manager and architect for construction
as it becomes necessary. Thomas and Marker acted as construction
managers and Marr Knapp & Crawfis was the architect for the last
building project which involved several buildings, additions and
renovations.
In other business, the board:
 . Accepted a donation from the P.O.W.E.R. Club for hiring an additional
high school wrestling coach; $200 from Barry Shanks for the autistic
program; and a television for the middles school TRAILS program from
Jenn Weikart.
 . Approved one day field trips to Washington, D.C., and Chicago or
Philadelphia for eighth-grade students and a trip to Chicago April 15-17
for the Jazz Ensembles.
 . Approved special education services contracts with Valerie E. Cook
for training and consultation services; Sarah Roddy, therapist;
Children's Center for Developmental Enrichment/Oakstone Academy; Logan
Educational Service Center for vision impaired services; and Catherine
L. Wright, physical therapist.
 . Approved participation in the French exchange program for high school
students.
 . Approved membership in the Alliance for Adequate School Funding, a
group which is comprised of school districts similar to Marysville who
are working together to keep the state from taking away personal
property taxes from the schools.
Personnel matters handled at Monday's meeting will be printed on the
Education Page Friday.

Community concert celebrates Rodgers, Hart and Hammerstein
Editor's note: The following review was written and submitted by Kay
Liggett, a member of the Community Concert Series committee.

A musical celebration ? that was last Community Concert.
It was glorious music we all knew and loved from the genius of Rodgers,
Hart and Hammerstein.
Act One featured the music of Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Lorenz Hart
who were 17 and 23 years old when they started writing this magnificent
music: "It's a Grand Night for Singing," "This Can't Be Love," "My Funny
Valentine" and "Ten Cents a Dance."
Act Two focused on the second phase of Rodgers' Broadway career when he
worked with Hammerstein. Hammerstein wrote the lyrics first and Rodgers
created the melodies to accompany them. "Oklahoma," "Carousel," "South
Pacific," "The King and I" and The Sound of Music" came from this era.
The performers did justice to "There Ain't Nothin' Like a Dame!" and a
flapper era Charleston.
The dance routines were clever, the costumes beautiful and the singers
and dancers were high energy. They sang about 40 songs to a seven-piece
orchestra, ending with a magnificent crescendo finale which earned a
standing ovation.
It was a great way to start our Community Concert season.

Library volunteerism grows
By JUDY BOEHLER
Anyone who has a few free hours every week can put those hours to good
use at the Marysville Public Library or the Raymond Branch.
Since June, the library has had a coordinator of volunteers, Denise
Birkhoff. Birkhoff works half-time and since June has created a program
for volunteers who, in the month of August, put in 204 hours of service.
Over the summer, about 40 people volunteered, she said.
"We want to make volunteering fun," she said. "We try to give them
challenging assignments to make their jobs fun. Shelving books gets old
fast."
Birkhoff has been a stay-at-home mom for the past eight years and before
that she worked at training adults in a corporate setting. She said her
whole family volunteers at the library.
Scotts, Honda and the hospital provide a lot of volunteer hours,
Birkhoff said, and people who are doing court-ordered community service
also help out. Other volunteers are high school students and just
private citizens who volunteer four to 10 hours a week.
One volunteer, John Magers, works mostly in the media department,
checking materials in and out. He said he works a lot of Monday mornings
when people are bringing back movies they took out for the weekend. He
also empties out the drop box.
Magers is retired from the recreation department in Columbus which also
depends on volunteers.
"Public places need help," he said.
He said his own children use the library all the time.
Erika Graney, a senior at Marysville High School, fulfilled a good bit
of her National Honor Society community service requirements during the
summer but has cut back during the school year. She does some computer
work and helps catalog books.
"I love books," she said, "and I get to see the titles as they come in."

Chelsea Sheldon is another MHS senior filling her NHS requirements. She
does a lot of computer and other electronics work, including org anizing
phone numbers and lists. She said her community service work is
increasing her ability with computers.
The children's library is Tiffany Butcher's area of interest while
earning her NHS community service hours. One of her latest contributions
is the bulletin board she designed in the children's section. Butcher
said she wants to be a teacher and is getting better at selecting books
for children to read.
Volunteering at the library frees up the paid staff to do the work they
have been trained to do and allows them to branch out into other
projects. For example, a project under way at the library is gathering
information on the history of downtown buildings under the direction of
reference assistant Sue Kienbaum, who would appreciate help from
volunteers.
Other opportunities range from creating displays to representing the
library at community events, from working with the facilities assistant
to driving for the interlibrary loan program and from story telling to
adopting a shelf at the library. All volunteers are given an orientation
and training.
Anyone with questions about the volunteer program can call Birkhoff at
642-1876, ext. 42, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Man sentenced for injuiring baby
Marcus Troglin will serve 11 years for allegedly breaking bones of
7-month-old
By RYAN HORNS
A man from Ada will serve 11 years in prison for reportedly squeezing
his 7-month-old son and breaking countless bones in his body.
While the boy was near death and most likely would have died without
hospital care, he is now reportedly healthy and recovering.
Marcus Troglin, 21, was found guilty on one second-degree felony assault
charge and two third-degree felony endangering children charges.
Union County Common Pleas Court Judge Richard Parrott ordered Troglin to
serve seven years jail time for the assault charge consecutively with a
four-year sentence for endangering children. Parrot decided to make the
remaining four year endangering children sentence run concurrently.
Parrott also ordered Troglin to pay restitution in the amount of $51,608
for medical bills paid by Medicaid.
  Marysville police detectives have been investigating the case against
Troglin since his wife brought the injured child into the Damascus
Urgent Care Center on Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.
  Court reports state that upon examination, the doctor immediately had
the boy transported to Memorial Hospital of Union County and he was
MedFlighted to Children's Hospital in Columbus. The injuries were
recognized as signs of abuse and were alleged to have been inflicted by
Troglin, who was with the child.
  It was discovered the child had 15 cracked ribs, a lacerated liver, a
punctured lung and bruising on the surface of his body.
  Doctors also discovered that many of the child's injuries had occurred
six to eight hours before the mother took him for care. During the
medical examination additional injuries were found on the boy that had
occurred one to two weeks earlier. Medical personnel discovered that the
boy's left collarbone was broken and both his left and right legs had
been fractured at least two weeks prior to Jan 16. His forearm had also
been broken anywhere from one to two weeks earlier.
  While Parrott did not give three consecutive sentences, he also did
not appear to sympathetic toward Troglin.
  "Not only have you taken no ownership of this crime but you tried to
blame the injuries on your 2-year-old son," he said. "I think you have
shocked the sensibilities of the community."
  Troglin claimed the child had received the injuries after being
accidentally flipped out of his play chair by his 2-year-old brother. He
said the older brother had also accidentally struck the child in the
head with a wiffle ball bat while playing. In addition, while sleeping,
the child often hit his head on the wooden columns on the crib walls and
the parents had wrapped the columns in blankets to prevent this from
happening.
  Even during his sentencing, Troglin's representation, Marion attorney
J.C, Ratliff, maintained the innocence of his client. He said Troglin
had no adult record other than one misdemeanor possession of drug
paraphernalia charge. He said no witnesses testified in the case on
Troglin's abuse of children or his wife. No neighbors testified against
him and police did not report making previous calls to the residence.
  Ratliff also said Troglin showed genuine remorse for the crime because
he testified under oath that he "probably should have taken the child
(for care) earlier than we did."
  "Either he is stupid for not doing that or he is sitting here an
innocent man," Ratliff said.
  "I do not consider him an innocent man," Parrot said.
  Parrott went on to explain that Troglin has a background of anger
management problems. As a juvenile he was convicted of assault in 1998
and complicity to assault in 2000. He also referred to the older
injuries found on the child during the medical examination. It showed
Troglin had been violent before.
  Amber Troglin, 19, was indicted on one third-degree felony child
endangering charge associated with the abuse to her son.

Hospital CEO looks at future
From J-T staff reports:
Members of the administration and board of trustees of Memorial Hospital
of Union County heard a report on the upcoming hospital gala, approved
roof repairs and discussed long range planning at their regular monthly
meeting held Thursday evening at the hospital.
Four members of the gala committee  - Susan Ehlers, Angela Ingram
Kristin Carfrey and Nanie Ingram - were present to outline the program
for the annual dinner/dance to be held Saturday, Nov. 6, at Made From
Scratch on Industrial Parkway. The theme for this year's event is "An
Auction To Remember," featuring local auctioneer Danny Westlake. Music
will be provided by a DJ.
Roof repairs for the medical offices and outpatient area were approved
by unanimous vote of the trustees. The cost is $111,000.
Hospital CEO Chip Hubbs discussed efforts of the 30-person planning
committee which has been meeting the past several weeks. He said ideas
include expansion of hospital facilities to include other parts of the
county.
"This is the Memorial Hospital of Union County," he said emphasizing
Union County, "not just Marysville's hospital."
He said Richwood and Plain City are being looked at for locating some
kind of facility as is the Mill Valley area. He mentioned the
possibility of an urgent care, outpatient or pediatrics unit.
Hubbs sees a shortage of physicians of all types as a problem in the
area, and hopes to draw more here with future action. He said he also
feels the hospital can do more in the oncology and cardiology
departments, and perhaps add a plastic surgeon.
To provide space for any new doctors, Hubbs said the planning committee
is checking into the possibility of buying the two physicians buildings
owned by Marysville Physicians, Inc. (MPI) on London Avenue and Damascus
Road. He said that in checking with MPI, he was told that a sale would
be considered.
In other matters, the trustees approved the following medical staff
appointments: Robert Anderson, MD, orthopedics, courtesy provisional
staff, department of surgery; Maria Maxwell, MD, family practice, active
provisional staff, department of medicine, and Joel T. Wehrmeyer, MD,
pediatrics, active staff, conclusion of provisional staff.
The group was reminded of the opening of the new $6 million Women's
Center (not $1.1 million as incorrectly reported in Wednesday's
Journal-Tribune) at the end of the month. A public open house will be
held on Wednesday, Sept. 29, from 5-7 p.m.
The board went into executive session to discuss legal and employee
matters.

Water bill deposits still topic of contention
By RYAN HORNS
Should the city put a clamp down on residents not paying their water
bills or is it something Marysville landlords should be taking care of
themselves?
The question, which has been raised during the past three city council
meetings, came up again last night.
Jim Ambrose, a Collingwood Court resident and landlord, asked council if
there has been any resolution to the matter. He said he has talked with
several other property owners who are also concerned.
"All we are asking for is a (money) deposit like all the other utilities
do," Ambrose said.
He is asking that the city require residents to pay a deposit before
their water services can be turned on. The deposit would help pay for
residents who skip out of their bills and switch apartments, leaving the
cost for landlords to pay.
Realtor Meg Michel said that she has conducted her own study of cities
similar in size to Marysville on the water bill question since the last
meeting. She said two-thirds of regional cities have a system set up for
dealing with the water bills. She said half of those cities ask for a
deposit and only two cities would turn on water services again for
residents who had outstanding bills.
Councilman John Gore said he did his own study by making a few calls. He
said while Bellefontaine collects a deposit, Urbana and Springfield
don't. He said it seems to be a 50/50 mix.
During the Sept. 8 council meeting city finance director John Morehart
and city law director Tim Aslaner reported that requiring the deposit
would be an "administrative headache." The city's stance is that
landlords should include the water bill cost in their rent.
Michel said it might come to the number of people who get motivated on
the issue and come to council to speak their minds.
Another issue that has been raised at council for the past two months is
Fogt's concern about the 18-inch clay tile going through the Coleman's
Crossing property. He said at the Sept. 18 meeting that local
businessman Pearl Drumm was concerned that the city should reinforce the
tile with concrete to protect it.
Fogt said the tile is 30 years old and only 3 inches of dirt protect it
from construction traffic. Fogt fears that the tile may break down and
cause drainage problems in the area. Because of construction it would be
easier and less costly to replace the tile now while there is nothing
built on the property.
"I have no idea if that is going to happen," Mayor Tom Kruse said. He
requested that Fogt come and meet with him to discuss the matter
further.
Fogt also said he is concerned about the current state of development in
Marysville.
"All the residential growth really scares me," he said.
He cited the studies of recent visiting author Jack Schultz, who wrote
"Boomtown USA." Schultz reported that in his research he found most
cities spend $1.27 for every $1 residential growth brings in. By letting
this happen in Marysville, the city is putting itself in more of a
financial bind.
In other discussions:
. The first reading on an ordinance regarding Oakdale Cemetery funding
was read. Morehart said that 10 percent of the lot sales at Oakdale
would go into the fund, which has raised $37,000. This ordinance would
make sure that the money would go toward cemetery capital projects.
Council president Nevin Taylor said that it would mean money raised in
Oakdale Cemetery would be used in Oakdale.
. Taylor read a statement from councilman John Marshall who thanked the
Eagles Lodge for donating $14,000 for the boys and girls soccer program

Allen Twp. will buy tanker with grant money
From J-T staff reports:
Allen Township fire chief Rod Goddard was surprised to find out his
department was the next recipient of Homeland Security funds.
Congresswoman Deborah Pryce announced Wednesday that $175,500 would be
given to help the department purchase a new vehicle.
Goddard said Thursday that his initial grant request asked for money to
pay for a new 3500 gallon tanker. The present one was created from
firefighters on their free time, by refurbishing a military fuel hauler.
The grant will go toward that vehicle purchase.
"It served us well for 12 years," Goddard said. "But it doesn't meet
current safety standards and it's hard getting replacement parts."
Goddard said the funding is a great thing for the community and he is
thankful for the federal assistance.
From here, he said, the department will sit down with Allen Township
trustees and open up the bidding process. The trustees will have to make
a 10 percent payment on the total cost of the grant and will also make
the final decision on the purchase.
"I'm very excited to receive this grant money," Goddard said. "But I'm
also respectful that this is the working man's tax money and so we will
be as frugal as possible to make the best of it.
He said he would like to thank the township trustees for their
leadership and direction.
With the help of the township clerk, fire department captain Dave
Hawkins, firefighter Lance Emberling and assistant administrator Alison
Hamilton, they were all able to sit down last Spring and work hard at
deciding what to include in the grant request.
"The need was there and we felt justified in our request," Goddard said.
"We're pleased to be able to bring more to Allen Township and Union
County.

Jo Jo's is a no go
Deli owner feels  her business  was not wanted; officials say codes must
be followed
By RYAN HORNS
Jo Jo's Deli was gone before the owner even had a chance to unlock the
doors in downtown Marysville. The sign went up, residents got excited
and then the sign went right back down.
Deli owner Billiejo Anderson stopped by her downtown space this morning
to gather up the last of her boxes and close the door on an experience
she said cost her thousands of dollars. Her deli will now open in two
weeks at 108 S. Main St. in Bellefontaine, across from the courthouse.
"I hope (my story) can help someone in the future," Anderson said.
"Especially because I was so passionate about opening up in my own home
town."
The reason for her relocation is one several business owners have
raised. Their side of the story is that working with Union County and
Marysville officials has been difficult on many levels. City and county
officials said it is more due to bad luck and the owners' lack of
knowledge regarding procedure.
Anderson said she hired an architect to review her business plan and she
received all the needed permits. There were a few code violations , but
she was advised the changes were not beyond her means.
"So I went ahead and put all my ducks in a row," she said.
Anderson quit her job as manager of the Marysville McDonalds. It was a
risky move, she said but she was told that in a couple weeks her plan
would come back approved and she could open.
More than a month later she was still waiting for the plan review
results. Her architect requested another review, to see how the two
would compare.
"We ended up hearing the results of the second inspection before we even
heard back on the first one," Anderson said. "To be honest I was taken
by surprise and very angry."
The results listed thousands of dollars in changes she was unprepared
for. Throughout the process she said no one communicated with her the
difficulties of opening a business in the downtown area. She was left
with no option but to pull out.
"The city really didn't act like they even wanted my business," Anderson
said. "It has been a nightmare. They made it as difficult as possible."
Whenever she called anyone with questions, she said, it would take weeks
to get a call back.
Even something as simple as putting up her sign was made into an ordeal,
she said. In Marysville it costs $75 for a sign permit. The city decided
her sign was actually three signs and charged her more than $150.
Sonny Montgomery, chief building inspector of the Union County Engineer
Office, said he feels bad about Anderson's experience. He agreed that
Anderson had to wait too long to get her plan review back. By law his
office has to take each plan review in the order they come in. Jo Jo's
Deli unfortunately arrived at the tail end of a sudden surge of plans.
"We have ... 30 days to act on a plan," he said. "We try to meet that
the best we can."
Montgomery said what all prospective business owners can learn from
Anderson's situation is that there are things owners should know coming
into a new business.
"We are subject to the State of Ohio Buildings Codes," he said. "Every
city has to go by the same codes."
He said the most important thing a person can do is hire an architect
and communicate with that person as much as possible. Together they can
write up a plan for the business, then submit it to his office for
review. If their plan falls within state codes the business is approved.
If they don't mesh with codes, they will get a correction letter showing
needed changes.
The letter can be scary but it is not meant to be the final word.
Montgomery said by working with the architect the plans can be modified
to meet state codes and everyone can come out ahead. It is a case of
patience and open communication with the building department.
In Anderson's case, Montgomery said, she may have been surprised by the
plan review letter and decided to back out before making changes.
"In this case what the designer may have seen as a minor problem, the
tenant saw as a major catastrophe," he said. "These things can take a
long time."
The second most important thing to know about opening a business, he
said, is to look for continual use space. In Anderson's case the
building was formerly used as a framing store, not a restaurant. This
meant numerous areas had to be updated to meet state restaurant codes.
Montgomery said a fire sprinkler system must be installed. By code
restaurants can only be one story facilities, so the top floor must
become an attic and the basement a crawl space because there are no
stairs leading out in case of a fire.
The owner of Stockyard Steak House, looking to move into the former
Elevator Brewery building, has also been reporting difficulties with the
process. But in this instance, Montgomery said the owner knows what he
is in for. The building was previously used as a restaurant, but they
want to add a new kitchen and a large cooler. Those parts have not been
approved and they will continue to work together until it meets codes.
The business is also trying to obtain a liquor permit.
Anderson said she didn't realize how bad it was in Marysville until she
went to Bellefontaine.
"I was able to talk to everybody I needed to talk to in one day,"
Anderson said. "In Bellefontaine I was greeted with open arms."
The cost for putting up her sign in Bellefontaine was just $10, she
said.
Recently, Anderson said, she saw a news article about how Marysville
wants to embrace new business in town. It made her laugh out loud.
"Actually it was more like a combination of laughing and crying," she
said.
Anderson said one way the city can help new businesses is by
reorganizing its system. She said the last thing on the list should not
be the plan review. The city should also be informing people that zoning
and building codes are strict and changes are costly.
"If they would have done that first it could have meant thousands of
dollars saved," she said. "I know about running a deli. But I don't know
about codes."

Allen Twp. fire dept.
gets $175,000 grant
Congresswoman Deborah Pryce announced Wednesday that the Allen Township
Fire Department was awarded a $175,500 grant to pay for a new
firefighting vehicle.
The grant is provided by the Department of Homeland Security as part of
its 2004 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
"Union County is an attractive place to live and with a growing
population, traditionally rural areas such as Allen Township find the
need to update their safety equipment to properly serve residents,"
Pryce said. "I'm happy to see that our Homeland Security dollars are
being used to protect all residents of Union County."
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program awards one-year grants
directly to fire departments to support the nation's firefighters and
the services they deliver. For the 2004 program, Congress appropriated
and President Bush signed into law $750 million in direct assistance to
firefighters.
The money will be used to improve the effectiveness of firefighting
operations, firefighter health and safety programs and to establish or
expand fire prevention programs throughout the United States.
This is the 17th round of funding from the grant program. Last month,
the Marysville Fire Department received a grant to purchase a
firefighting vehicle.

Man allegedly bilks elderly relative out of $50,000
By RYAN HORNS
A man from New Albany is facing arraignment this month after allegedly
stealing almost $50,000 from a 100-year-old Marysville woman.
David Bates, 28, is facing one second-degree felony charge of theft from
the elderly after allegedly stealing money from senior citizen Alice
Fredericks' accounts. According to Marysville police, Bates is her
great-nephew who had previously been given power of attorney over her
estate.
Fredericks' nephew Richard McKitrick has been caring for her in the
meantime. He explained that Bates was able to take advantage of her
because she was hospitalized at the time and Bates had access to her
accounts.
"While she was in the hospital he got in and started taking everything
away," McKitrick said. "But there was nothing wrong with her mentally."
When Fredericks found out about the theft, he said, she took away Bates'
power of attorney. Last year the Franklin County Probate Court appointed
Marysville attorney Perry Parsons to be her legal guardian in his place.

The very next day, Parsons said, Bates allegedly forged Fredericks' name
on her checks and was able to transfer the money out of one account at a
Columbus bank. The incident was discovered after family members thought
several transactions looked suspicious while looking over Fredericks'
accounts. Police were able to track the transactions to Bates on March
31.
Marysville detective Chad Seeberg has been investigating the case. He
presented his evidence to the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office and
they agreed something should be done.
"It's important people realize that we do financial investigations and
that we'll follow them out of town and do what we need to do to get our
person," Seeberg said.
According to the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office, Bates was indicted
Sept. 1. He was scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 15 but the date was
moved to Sept. 27.
Parsons said for a second-degree felony charge of theft from elderly,
Bates could get eight years in prison if convicted. He also reported
that Bates may be trying to work an arrangement with prosecutors to pay
back the money and strike a deal to get the charge lessened to a
third-degree felony.
"(Bates) told the courts he had put the money into a fund to hold for
her," McKitrick said. "But he left a complete paper trail of everything
he spent."
Seeberg said Fredericks is now hoping to get her money back so she
doesn't have to go into a nursing home. Parsons said Fredericks has paid
people to come to her home to care for her. The money bates allegedly
stole would have gone to ensure that care continued.
But Seeberg said getting the money back could prove difficult. Since the
almost $50,000 has dwindled down to "pretty much nothing."
"Looks like he spent almost every dime of it," Parsons said.
McKitrick said Fredericks has suffered from the loss.
"I hope someone learns from this," he said. "It's been quite devastating
for her. She worked hard all her life and she's just trying to hang on
now. She used to have a sizable sum of money but now it has been reduced
to virtually nothing."

Women's Center aims to be cozy
By CORINNE BIX
Patients and visitors alike will find the newly-completed Women's Health
Center at Memorial Hospital of Union County warm and inviting.
The official grand opening of the WHC will be Sept. 29 from 5-7 p.m.
with a private reception for donors of the hospital on Sept. 28.
"The neat thing about the WHC is the overwhelming community support that
helped to make it happen," said Chip Hubbs, president and CEO of
Memorial Hospital.
Nancy Conklin, vice president of marketing and development, said a total
of $1.1 million was raised for the project through the development
council under the leadership of Kevin Kern who served as the major gift
chairman.
"The Scotts Company contributed the lead gift with Honda of America Inc.
as the second lead gift," Conklin said.
In addition, significant donations were made by Memorial's hospital
auxiliary group in the amount of $100,000 for the nursery.
The project took two years to complete and covers more than 24,000
square feet. The upper level of the center is devoted to labor and
delivery while the lower level houses the mammography suite and imaging
center.
The new labor and delivery unit will increase the hospital's capacity
from 600 to 1,000 births per year. The birthing suites feature private
showers and Jacuzzi tubs. The unit also has family-centered waiting
rooms and private recovery rooms.
Sarah Whitten has delivered all of her children at Memorial, most
recently her fourth at the end of August.
"The new WHC is phenomenal, a true luxury," Whitten said of her recent
stay.
She enjoyed the décor of the center, which includes natural light and
warm earthtones. Whitten went on to say that when she now drives by the
hospital she misses her room.
Hubbs said the overall atmosphere in the WHC was a very important key to
the project.
"We are really trying to help create an environment that is positive,"
he said. "A hospital isn't only a place to go when you are sick but also
a place where you get well, a place where you can experience great joy."

Conklin explained that the joy of children born at Memorial can now be
celebrated through the Little Lambs program.
The Little Lambs mural will be in the waiting room of the labor and
delivery unit. Those wishing to make either a $100 or $250 gift will be
honored with a nameplate to be displayed on the mural.
"Melanie Behrens, Ruth Ann Raymond and Karen Long were the driving
forces behind this program and have recently raised over $3,600 which
will all be donated back to the WHC," Conklin said.
The WHC's new mammography unit will feature the R2 ImageChecker, which
is considered the industry's most advanced mammography technology. Hubbs
said the hope is through a more inviting atmosphere and advances in
creating a more comfortable mammogram experience, women will be
encouraged to visit the center for more routine and ultimately
preventative mammograms.
The lower level of the WHC will also support a variety of educational
programming. For example, The Little Hims and Hers program will provide
new parents with health education, resources and support as they begin
the   irfamilies,Conklinsaid.
Hubbs said women's health is vital to a hospital's growth. "The hospital
wants to show the community that they can access their healthcare
locally rather than traveling outside of the county," he said. "We have
the same equipment and we have been blessed with a really great medical
staff."
Whitten agrees and commented that her service after the birth of her son
was top notch.
"Everyone was so accommodating and whatever I needed was there, around
the clock cheer," she said.
Whitten said she would direct anyone new to the area to Memorial
Hospital.
"I would recommend Memorial highly because, given my own experience,
they have done an excellent job of providing myself and my family the
appropriate prenatal and postnatal care for each of my children."


Phone troubles knock out 911 system
From J-T staff reports:
Earlier this morning local emergency dispatchers were overwhelmed
dealing with a complete loss of 911 phone services.
"We experienced a 911 regional problem," Emergency Management Director
Randy Riffle said.
According to reports, emergency and public access to 911 and all
long-distance services were out. Plain City reportedly regained service
at around 10:20 a.m.
All other areas of the county remained without use.
It was reported that Nextel representatives informed city administrators
that their technicians did not know why the services were down at around
10:30 a.m.
Their public information staff said it must be a "huge cable cut"
because services were reported out all the way into the Bellefontaine
area.
Information on what residents can do in emergencies was being listed on
cable television channels and aired on radio stations in the region.
All dispatch calls were being routed through the Union County Sheriff's
Department until further notice.
Dave Reed with Sprint said information was sketchy this morning but he
believed a cable was cut sometime around 9:30 a.m. and the 911 emergency
lines in Bellefontaine and Marysville were affected.
He said every available employee at Sprint was working on the problem.

West building's fate is sealed
From J-T staff reports:
The "Eleventh Hour" effort to save the old West School Building from
demolition has ended. A group of 13 interested citizens which included
Marysville School Superintendent Larry Zimmerman met Monday evening at
the school administration office and concluded that their hope in having
the structure remodeled and utilized for other purposes was not
possible.
Earlier in the day, the Union County Commissioners voted 2-1 to proceed
with razing the former school. Gary Lee and Jim Mitchell voted in the
majority and Tom McCarthy dissented.
Waiting until the end of the day, the three commissioners spent much of
Monday and the previous week following up on impassioned pleas to save
the 90-year-old brick building. In the end, though, commissioners Gary
Lee and Jim Mitchell said the county had done all it could do.
"We did our best," Mitchell said.
Calling it one of the most difficult decisions he has made to date as a
commissioner, Lee pointed out that the school system walked away from
both the Sixth and Seventh Street buildings in 1990; the Architectural
Review Committee had unanimously approved the demolition earlier this
year; and city of Marysville officials have said they have no interest
in the structure. He also questioned the economic feasibility of recent
plans presented by preservationists.
The bid for demolition and construction of an 80-space parking lot was
let to the low bidders of Baumann Enterprises Inc. of Garfield Heights
for $271,500 and Area Energy & Electric Inc. of Marysville for $34,738.
Work is expected to begin wi  thintwoweeks.
McCarthy wanted the board to wait until Monday and allow
preservationists a chance to return with more information. At worst, he
reasoned, the delay might hinder black topping the site this fall. At
the best, he said, the county might find someone willing to invest $3
million in a public building.
Prior to the vote, the commissioners listened to an hour-long proposal
to create additional parking over a basin area near the building and
convert the building into 17 high-quality apartments, all at no cost to
the county. Redevelopment consultant and attorney Franklin Conaway said
he has been involved in similar projects throughout the country, most
recently in Albuquerque, N. M. He said he had several Columbus-area
developers in mind that would post a letter of credit.
Scott Underwood conducted the "Eleventh Hour" meeting and told those
attending that he had written a final letter to the commissioners,
ending the group's objection to the demolition. "I thanked them for at
least giving us the extra time to look at all alternatives," Underwood
said.
One of the main ideas the committee was looking at was use of the
building as a site for the Alternate Education Program which would help
needy special education students who are emotionally disturbed and
behaviorally handicapped. Currently, Zimmerman said, there are 80
youngsters who could benefit from such a facility. He said that about 36
of them are now being sent to other counties for their education and
training.
"The school district is responsible to pay for their education (and
busing) in the other counties and it is a lot cheaper to do it here,"
the superintendent said. "I also feel that we can do a better job for
those students and their families."
Ellen Traucht, who oversees the special education program and other
areas for the school, told the group that a building of about 10,000
square feet is needed to start, with expansion possible. She said the
building should be located in the city.
Rich Johnson, owner of ViaQuest, was involved in the group's effort to
use the structure for the special education program. It was explained
that his company couples state funding with private investors to provide
group homes and assistance with projects of this nature. He said there
was not sufficient time to find the necessary investors.
In addition to the lack of time, another stumbling block was the cost of
renovation. Zimmerman said the roof needed to be replaced and a new
heading system floors installed. That didn't include other items.
He said that remodeling of the Raymond building cost $80 a square foot
and that the cost at the West Building could be higher. A figure of $3
million to $3.5 million was mentioned. Conaway estimated renovation
would cost $3.8 million or $85 a square foot.
Even though the group decided to end their objection to the demolition,
Larry Ohnsman emphasized that older historic structures should be
preserved. "We can't keep a building here for 100 years, yet in Europe
there are buildings still in use which are 1,000 to 1,500 years old."
"I'm not criticizing myself or the commissioners for what is happening,"
Underwood added. "I feel we've made everyone think."



Triad sets plan in case levy fails
By CORINNE BIX
The Triad school board passed a contingency plan for reducing
expenditures for fiscal year 2006 in the event the upcoming tax levy
fails in November.
The contingency plan consists of four parts. The first would be the
initiation of a "pay-for-participation" program for all extra-curricular
activities. These activities would not include co-curricular activities
such as band and choir.
A proposed fee of $40 per sport (including cheerleading) was presented,
with a family maximum of $200.
Superintendent Dan Kaffenbarger explained that the proposed plan is
tentative and is subject to change as agreed to by the board.
The second part of the contingency plan includes eliminating six
teaching positions to be determined at a later date. The plan would also
close the high school cafeteria, making only vending machines available.
This would eliminate the cost of staffing and maintaining of food.
Lastly, the district would explore the option of eliminating high school
busing and going to one route for elementary and middle school students.

Kaffenbarger said that whether or not the levy passes some cuts may be
necessary given the district's finances and the continued lack of state
funding.
Treasurer Jill Williams plans to present the district's five-year
financial forecast next month. At that time and after the election, the
board will have more concrete numbers regarding the financial hurdles
facing the district.
The next board meeting will be Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. The next levy committee
meeting will be Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. The levy committee is seeking
volunteers to distribute brochures and place levy signs from 9 a.m. to
noon on  Oct. 16
The final levy committee meeting will be on Oct. 25 with a chili supper
at 6 p.m. and a community meeting to follow at 7 p.m.
In other business, the board:
 . Approved the following classified personnel for the 2004-2005 school
year: Will Nichols - head baseball coach; Larry Searles- JV baseball
coach; Phil Paxman- soccer coach; Denise Detling - MS basketball
cheerleading advisor; Cindy Alltop- soccer coach; Shari Dixon- head
softball coach; Rick Wilkins - JV softball coach; Payton Printz - track
and field head coach; Bruce Schlabach- assistant track and field coach;
Doug Miller- MS track and field coach; Scott Blackburn - MS activities
manager; Dawndee Zizzo -auxiliary instructor; Lee Claypool - director
of plays and vocal music director; Olivia Frost - Spanish; Kyle Huffman
- HS teacher mentor.
 . Approved the substitute teacher list as submitted by the
Madison-Champaign County ESC for the 2004-2005 school year.
 . Adopted the contingency plans as presented by the superintendent for
reducing expenditures for FY '06 in the event the tax issue fails.
 . Accepted the resignation of Lucille Middleton as substitute teacher
and tutor effective immediately.
  . Approved 8/19/2004 emergency hiring of Jacqueline Smith as
intervention specialist for the 2004-2005 school year
 . Approved Jane Runyan as elementary intervention coordinator and IAT
manager for the 2004-2005 school year. Her compensation of $6,480 is
paid by Grade 1-4 Special Education Access Grant
 . Approved Lindsay Quirk as after school community based tutor for the
2004-2005 school year with compensation of $5,985 paid by the Grade 1-4
Intervention grant .
 . Approved an FFA trip to Louisville, Ky., on Oct. 28-30 for the
National FFA Convention.
 . Approved an audiological service contract with Madison/Champaign ESC
for the 2004-2005 school year.
 . Approved David Parker as ninth grade proficiency test tutor for $520
to paid for by high school intervention money.
 . Approved Gayle Hiens as literacy coach for $3,500 to be paid for by
intervention grant money.


Anybody want to buy a gym?
North Union to sell elementary school gymnasium as part of  Oct. 2
auction
By CHAD WILLIAMSON
For sale: One elementary school gymnasium, cheap.
An Oct. 2 auction at the Claibourne Elementary in Richwood will feature
much of what is expected at a school auction - desks, chairs, kitchen
equipment, cabinets and even a 1989 pickup truck. But it also features a
little of the unexpected.
The gymnasium of the school is also going to be on the auction block.
The school does not have gymnasium enclosed in the structure but it does
have a 4,000-square-foot Golden Giant outbuilding. The facility was
dedicated on Oct. 2, 1983.
While a school gymnasium might seem like a high dollar item, NU
superintendent Carol Young explained that it probably won't draw a high
price. The facility has value, complete with basketball hoops and a
ventilation unit, but the snag lies in moving it.
Whoever purchases the building will have to tear the structure apart and
move it to a new location. That could cost a prospective buyer thousands
of dollars and cut into the value of the building.
Also complicating matters is the fact that the building has no floor. It
sits on a carpeted concrete slab and the buyer will have to secure a
similar base for the building.
Complicating matters further is the deadline for moving the building.
The facility must be taken by Nov. 6, meaning the building must be torn
down, moved and erected on a new slab in just more than a month.
When the district sold a similar building, the old North Union bus
garage, a few years ago, it went for $1,600. Young expects the gymnasium
to go for a similar price.
During Monday's school board meeting the issue of enrollment was also
discussed.
While some had felt that the new elementary school had created a boom in
enrollment, actual figures do not show much of an increase.
Young said overall enrollment across the district is actually down.
While the elementary school is seeing an increase in enrollment, it is
not at the level that was expected.
Young said residents may have perceived a housing boom in the area
recently but enrollment statistics are not showing it at the current
time.
Young said the district will need to look at ways to increase enrollment
in the future, particularly in light of the upcoming middle school
construction project. The size of the state-funded facility will be
determined by enrollment estimates.
In other business, the board:
. Heard a presentation on intervention from curriculum supervisor Bruce
Hoover.
. Accepted donations of $1,100 from the Richwood Bank for a wooden
playground tractor; $1,000 from Mills Chevrolet, Parrott Implement and
Doughboys Pizza for a wooden playground truck and $1,000 from Jack and
Melissa Conrath for the Heritage Room.
. Voted to approve permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2005.
. Approved a revised master plan developed by district personnel,
architects and the Ohio School Facilities Commission for district
facilities improvements under the Expedited Local Partnership Program.
. Accepted the resignation of Marcia Ziegler from her teaching contract
effective Nov. 8.
. Approved Amber Richardson and Andrea Cramer as substitute teachers "on
scale" effective the 61st day of continuous service.
. Voted to employ Tiffany Williams as middle school cheerleading
advisor.
. Approved a list of substitute personnel.
. Voted to designate the library at North Union Elementary as the Freda
M. Kyle Children's Library in honor of Kyle's contributions to the
community and school district.


Fairbanks board discusses levy attempt
By JUDY BOEHLER
The Fairbanks Board of Education discussed the campaign for the November
levy at Monday night's regular meeting.
The board in June approved a resolution of necessity for the renewal of
an existing levy which was passed as an emergency in 2000 and has
collected $640,000 per year. The levy which will appear on the Nov.
ballot would renew that levy with an increase of $699,000 per year.
More than 130 people attended a town meeting held in August and
A steering committee has been set up and plans are developing to erect
lawn signs, make speaking engagements, advertise in the media, write
letters to the editor and do a district-wide mailing. Special events
will include a chili supper and a wrap-up event the weekend before the
election.
Superintendent Jim Craycraft informed the board that a Millcreek
Township resident came to him with a proposal to designate the Millcreek
Township Hall a school bus stop to reduce the one-hour bus ride some
students in that area have to take. Craycraft said he would send letters
to the families on that bus route to get their feelings on the
designation.
Craycraft presented enrollment figures to the board showing that this
year's enrollment, without preschool and Tolles students, is 939, an
increase of 43 students. With preschool and Tolles figures, the number
is 976. Eighteen students have enrolled under the open enrollment
policy.
In personnel matters, the board:
 . Approved as substitute teachers Stanley Abrams, Brian Daeger, Floyd
Emery, Robert Gerber, Helen Hagerty, Kathy Handley, Mary Hoellirich, Jim
Jicha, Sarah Knebel, Karl Martin, Courtney Noel, Jane Riedmiller, Glenn
Saunders, Polly Searfos, Kerry Seyffer-Spraque, Amanda Smith, Keith
Turner, Anthony Aelker, Elizabeth Collins, Mark Davis, Shelly Detwiler,
Ann Keep, Katy Phillippo, Erica Pinney, Jonathan Schemer, Jack Thompson,
Dana Troyder, Evan McCormick, Chad Clark, Jennie DeMarco, Mary Hermann,
Thad Hicks, Rachel Jones, Alicia Thiel, Clinton Wagner, Kim Wegley,
Katie Appel, Jeanine Ellis, Lisa Ford, Marta Long, Jay Phillips,
Jennifer Rodda, Kristi Ugland, Ashley Shaw, Bob Bender, Michelle Brown,
Joseph Carr, Sarah Guilder, Kristen Haley, David Healy, Sarah Hoying and
Amie Wenger.
 . Approved certified contracts for Susan Miller as school counselor and
Melissa Vollrath at tutor for St. John's Lutheran School.
 . Approved athletic personnel for the 2004-05 school year: David
Reinhardt, fall, winter and spring weightlifting coordinator; Jason
Heard, middle school wrestling; John Gore, girls assistant varsity
basketball; Jennifer Harral, girls reserve basketball; Lori Phelps,
girls freshmen basketball; Dwayne Walk, eighth grade girls basketball;
Abby Stillings, seventh grade girls basketball; Lynn Martin, assistant
boys varsity basketball; Jason Grimes, boys reserve basketball; Tyronne
Hammond, boys freshman basketball; and Larry Morris, seventh grade boys
basketball.
 . Approved supplemental contracts for Jeffrey Merklin and David Saffle,
assistant Mock Trial advisors; Sarah Scott, seventh grade Power of the
Pen; Sarah Scott, middle school Swing Choir; Chip Fillman, middle school
yearbook and outdoor education; Mark Geer, Washington, D.C., trip
coordinator; Claudia Bartow, middle school student council; Matt
Humphrey, middle school Ski Club; Darla Hall-Barrett, IAT coordinator;
and Dave Clinger, National Junior Honor Society.

Minister opposes liquor license for proposed restaurant
By CINDY BRAKE
Craig Johnson hopes to open a steak house and restaurant at the former
Elevator Company, 404 S. Oak St., but first he wants a liquor license.
Monday afternoon the Liquor Control Division held an administrative
hearing in the Marysville City Building to consider the application for
a D1-2-3 liquor license. A decision is expected within a month.
The hearing officer explained that the D1-2-3 license is a
restaurant-type license that would permit the sale of beer and wine on
and off premises and spirituous liquor until 1 a.m.
Challenging the application was the Rev. David Elmore of Emmauel Baptist
Church, 309 S. Oak St.
Ohio law requires notification of permit applications to schools and
churches within 500 feet of the applicant and government entities.
James Vally, the hearing officer, said East Elementary is 355 feet,
Eljer Park is 115 feet and Emmanuel Baptist is 292 feet from the
restaurant property. The school and city did not request a hearing. John
Eufinger was present at the hearing as a city representative, but did
not speak to the issue.
Elmore first asked if the First Baptist Church located on Chestnut
Street had been contacted about the application. He said they had been
part of a previous application process for the same building. Vally said
he had no record of First Baptist being contacted.
Elmore said his objections to issuing a liquor permit were based on
safety, morality, Biblical and common sense.
Pointing out that there is a reason for the law requiring notification,
Elmore asked Vally what that reason was and also asked how alcohol
permits benefit a community. Vally said that he was present to hear
testimony and not to answer questions.
"Why do we need more?" he asked.
Quoting the Bible, Elmore said drunkenness is mentioned 53 times in a
negative light.
"God says stay away from that," Elmore said, adding that alcohol and
violence go hand in hand.
Pointing to a map showing the various schools, parks and applicant
location, Elmore identified more than 500 "targets" for drunk drivers,
adding that he did not understand how this could be a valid location.
Johnson said his restaurant is not focusing on alcohol.
"The first and foremost focus is a steak house and restaurant," Johnson
said.
The location formerly operated as a restaurant and brewery. Johnson said
he does not own the brewery and plans to open the restaurant for lunch
and dinner.

Fireman injured fighting house fire
A local fireman was injured battling a house fire at 1762 Damos Way
Friday.
According to information provided by the Marysville Fire Department
today, Marysville firefighter Darrel Sollars suffered minor back
injuries after a portion of the roof collapsed on him while he was
extinguishing flames.
He was transported to Memorial Hospital of Union County.
Assistant Marysville fire chief Johnie Myers said this morning that
Sollars was part of the Jerome Township fire crews. His injuries were
reportedly concentrated to his neck area, which he said was "jammed."
The fire, which was reported Friday at 11:55 a.m., reportedly started in
the first floor kitchen area of a home owned by Brian and Jennifer
Watts. The flames extended through the ceiling into the second floor
bedroom and into the attic and eventually broke through the roof,
causing the collapse.
Keith Watson, Marysville fire prevention lieutenant, reported today that
he is currently investigating the fire. He said materials have been sent
out for testing to discovered exactly how the blaze began.
The fire started at around 11:53 a.m. and crews stayed until after 3
p.m. extinguishing flames and overhauling and salvaging the property.
The family's dog was reportedly killed.

Commissioners extend deadline on issue of building's demolition
By CINDY BRAKE
Bob Meeder isn't ready to give up on the doomed county-owned Seventh
Street building yet and he has convinced two county commissioners to
wait three more days before signing a contract that would demolish the
90-year-old brick building and replace it with an 80-space parking lot.
Meeder asked the Union County Commissioners Thursday morning for three
more business days to present a case for saving the building that he
said was designed by an architectural icon, Frank L. Packard of
Columbus. Packard designed many buildings at Ohio State University, the
former governor's mansion, Columbus North High School, the Columbus Club
and the Chittenden Hotel.
Digging into his own pockets, Meeder said he has personally hired
architect George Haycock to prepare a feasibility study that will
determine if the building can be restored.
But at what cost, asked Union County Commissioners Jim Mitchell and Gary
Lee. Commissioner Tom McCarthy was out of town and not present at the
meeting. The board of commissioners has conducted at least two studies
on the building and estimate renovation would cost more than $3 million
- much more than the the cost of much needed parking spaces. Demolition
bids range from $34,738 to $339,400.
Yet, even after voting to seek bids for demolition and holding a
decommissioning ceremony, two of the three commissioners agreed to wait
until 3 p.m. Monday when Meeder promised to return with information from
Franklin Conaway of Chillicothe. Conaway is a redevelopment consultant
and attorney who has been involved in restoration projects in the
Columbus German Village area, Cincinnati's Union Station, Rhode Island,
Georgia, Cambridge and Circleville, Meeder said.
Meeder said he had contacted Ohio Northern University about an
off-campus facility, but was told the building didn't fit their plan.
Calling himself an ally not an adversary, Meeder suggested that the
building could be converted at no cost to the county into a commercial
building with apartments and retail space. Lee raised the question of
zoning and whether such a plan would be allowed.
 Conaway's plan will also include suggestions on solving the parking
problem, Meeder said. After Meeder had left the meeting, Union County
Facilities Manager Randy Riffle said he believed Conaway would suggest a
parking tower.
With cold weather approaching, the deadline to construct a parking lot
is drawing near because blacktop cannot be laid in cold temperatures.
Riffle added that trees need to be planted by the end of October.
Building demolition is expected to take 30 days.
Meeder pointed out that a decision to wait could save the county
demolition costs and provide a positive impact to the revitalization of
the downtown.
Mitchell told Meeder that the "squirm factor" would not be any less on
Monday, adding that an extension does not eliminate any problems.


Cookbook's proceeds will go to research of childhood disease
By CINDY BRAKE
A rare childhood disease has brought mothers from around the world
together to create a cookbook that will benefit Fanconi Anemia research.

Connie Simpson of Marysville is one of those mothers.
"In honor of Kyle Simpson and the thousands of other children who suffer
from Fanconi's Anemia, the F.A. families have put together a cookbook to
raise funds for research," Simpson said. "The recipes were sent from all
over the country and the cookbook is due out in October."
She said recipes are from every state in the United States, Canada,
Spain, Portugal and Italy.
Kyle, a fourth-grader at Edgewood Elementary School in Marysville, was
diagnosed with the devastating disease in 2000 and died on April 17,
2001, when he was 10 years old.
Connie submitted one of Kyle's favorite recipes, turkey meatloaf.
Ingredients are:
3 c. chopped onion
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 t. salt
1 t. black pepper
1/2 t. ground thyme
1/3 c. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c. chicken broth
2 Tbs. tomato paste
5 lb. ground turkey
11/2 c. crushed onion flavored crackers
3 eggs
3/4 c. ketchup
Mix all ingredients together in one large bowl. Mix thoroughly. This
recipe makes two nice size meatloaves. Divide mixture in half and put in
two loaf pans that have been sprayed with Pam spray and bake at 350
degrees for 11/2 hours. Cover the tops with plain ketchup the last 45
minutes of baking.
Connie said the cookbook idea began when Kim Connelly from Wisconsin and
Lisa Nash from Colorado, along with many other F.A. moms began putting a
cookbook together for a fundraising project. Each mother also included a
little information about her child.
All proceeds from the books will go directly to research, thanks to the
support of corporate donors. The books are expected to arrive in October
and need to be preordered. Cost is estimated to be between $10 and $12
each. Books can be ordered by calling Connie at 642-1421 and leaving a
name, phone number and quantity of copies. Connie said she will call
people when the books arrive. The books can be picked up at New
Beginnings Church in Marysville.
She said that F.A. families raise more than 85 percent of the funds
allocated to F.A. research and there is no federal funding.
"F.A. is a devastating disease. Many children are born with many
disabilities, one kidney, no thumbs, blood disorders and many develop
leukemia as well. Kyle's system quit producing blood platelets as well.
He had developed leukemia," Connie said. She estimates that 35 children
a year are diagnosed worldwide with the disease.

From humble beginnings
Marysville   band program celebrates 75th anniversary
By JUDY BOEHLER
The Marysville High School band program is celebrating its 75th
anniversary this year.
L.B. Reed started the band in 1929 and by the next year, there were 30
members. This year's band has more than 200 members.
A celebration marking the anniversary will be held during the Homecoming
football game Oct. 15. All MHS band alumni are asked to register and
gather on the track during half-time to be recognized. After the game, a
reception will be held in the high school band room. Alumni of the
marching band, concert band, orchestra and flag corps, along with drum
majors and majorettes and field commanders are invited.
Directors over the years have been Reed, Donald Euverard, Grace Hemmer,
Woodford Zimmerman, Nevin Lantry, David Keller, Howard Martin, Marilyn
Niebarger Quist, Bob Day, Bob Sements, Colleen Kent and Bill Thissen.
Middle school directors and assistants Joe Galvin, Robb Hildreth, Brian
Ash and Beckie Craig have helped with the band. All directors from Kevin
Lantry to the present are planning to attend the celebration.
In 1929, the uniform was a simple white shirt and tie. A blue cape lined
with red and blue caps trimmed in red were introduced in 1931
double-breasted blue coats, pants and plumed hats trimmed in red were
purchased in 1941. New uniforms were introduced in 1963 and again in
1980 and the current style was first worn in 1990.
The band has represented Marysville in many parades and competitions in
Ohio and elsewhere. In 1949, it performed in Put-in-Bay under Don
Euverard. The 1963 band, the best in the Mid-Eight League, was invited
to march in the International Lions Club Convention in Miami and so
impressed the Lions that they invited them to the 1964 International
Convention in Toronto. The band marched in the 1971 Cherry Blossom
Parade in Washington, D.C.
The band has competed in Troy and Dayton and performed at Band Days at
the University of Cincinnati and Miami University, River Days in
Portsmouth, the Marion Popcorn Festival and the Circleville Pumpkin
Show. In the last few years, the band was named Grand Champion at the
Toronto Music Fest, North American Music Fest in Myrtle Beach and the
Dixie Classic National Band Contest in Virginia Beach. It has performed
as a featured band in Disney's Main street Parade, the Outback Bowl and
the Sugar Bowl.
The band recorded LPs in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1969 and a cassette in
1989. An Anniversary Edition CD will include some re-recorded music from
the LPs, old fight songs played by the current band and current concert
and stand music. It will be available for purchase.
Mark and Pam Meyer may be contacted with questions or information at
644-4101.

A Marysville woman who watched her son sentenced in Union County Common
Pleas Court to more than 27 years in prison is now suing the defense
attorney she believes dropped the ball.
Anne Daniel is on a mission to get her son, Steven L. Horch, 36, out of
the Lebanon Correctional Institution. She said thousands of dollars were
paid to Columbus attorney Phillip Lon Allen to defend her son and keep
him out of jail. As power of attorney for Horch, Daniel is suing Allen
through the law firm Imhoff & Imhoff on the grounds of ineffective
counsel.
Daniel said a new judge from Delaware was appointed by the Ohio Supreme
Court to begin looking over Horch's appeal from his criminal conviction
at a conference meeting Friday, along with her attorney and Assistant
Union County Prosecutor John Heinkel.
Allen has not responded to calls placed to his law office for comment on
the litigation.
A Union County Grand Jury indicted Horch on April 3, 2003, on one count
of complicity to rape, three separate counts of pandering obscenity
involving a minor, three separate counts of pandering sexually oriented
matter involving a minor and three counts of rape.
Last year court hearings against Horch and his ex-wife Lara Swonguer,
33, piqued public interest because their cases centered around a video
tape made of Swonguer performing oral sex on her pre-teen son.
For her involvement, Swonguer is now serving five years at the Ohio
Reformatory for Women on sexual battery charges. After her sentencing,
prosecutors said they were going after Horch next.
"It hit me like a ton of bricks," Daniel said, recalling the day her son
was arrested. "By the time he is released from jail I'll be 88 years
old."
According to Daniel's lawsuit, in the winter of 2002 she contacted
Miller & Associates LLP for legal representation of her son. Miller &
Associates referred Allen as Horch's defense counsel but relations soon
went downhill.
Allen's alleged negligence was listed as failure to adequately
investigate the facts of the case and adequately prepare witnesses for
trial testimony and failure to file necessary motions or obtain rulings
from the court on specific motions detrimental to the case.
"As a result of the negligent conduct of the defendants, Horch was
convicted of numerous felony offenses and was incarcerated," the lawsuit
states.
The cost for the attorney was $21,000, which Daniel said forms the basis
of the complaint. She said she is asking for about $25,000 if a trial is
required.
"But it's not about the money," Daniel said. Instead, she is hoping to
clear the name of her son.
"Everything was totally embellished (in court)," she said, "and (Allen)
didn't even question it."
She said several instances affected her son's defense. Her lawsuit
states Horch did not deserve the jail time he received because he was a
first-time offender. Daniel also maintains that her son turned on the
video tape to record what he thought was his wife cheating on him with
her ex-husband. Since his arrest, she said, Swonguer's journal was found
and it allegedly confirms the affair Horch suspected.
Daniel said during Swonguer's trial, prosecutors also attempted to use
battered wife syndrome to explain why she committed the sexual acts. She
alleged that Horch threatened to beat her if she didn't. Her claim was
thrown out of court due to lack of hospital evidence, yet was brought up
during Horch's trial. She said Allen never questioned it.
Allen asked Danile to contact possible witnesses for statements for her
son during the trial preparation so she invited 30 people to her home
and they wrote out their statements and gave them to Allen. Only two of
the witnesses were called, she said.
Daniel said Swonguer's charges were reduced from rape to sexual battery
because prosecutors didn't know the exact date the tape was made. Yet a
month later during Horch's trial they suddenly knew. This was also not
questioned by Allen, she said.
"He totally let us down," she said. "He let me believe that he only had
our best interest at heart. He didn't."
Since her son was sent to prison, she said, her days have been spent
"putting on a happy face" But she said she will not give up her quest to
clear her son's name.
Daniel said her son is not perfect. He had problems in the past, but
overcame them and when he was indicted, she said, he was heavily
involved with running his painting business. The shop was thriving and
making money for the family. There was no time for him to get involved
with the criminal life the prosecutors said he was involved in because
he spent all his time developing paint processes or coaching baseball.
"He was so deeply involved in building this business - that is what he
did," she said.
The contract her son had for his painting business was revoked after his
arrest, she said. Then the new building he moved into for expansion was
also taken away.
"Our entire family is a family that pulls together. They are willing to
do anything they can because they know this isn't true," Daniel said.
"I'll never be ashamed to say my son is serving a prison term for
something he didn't do. I don't care what happens. I will continue . I
don't want any family to go through what we went through."

Local man honored with Metritorious Service Medal
From J-T staff reports:
United States Naval Reserve Commander Kenneth R. Denman of Marysville
has been recognized for outstanding meritorious service from December
2001 to June 2003 by the President of the United States.
Denman, a Marysville resident, was called to active duty with the U.S.
Naval Reserve after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The medal was presented
in April of this year.
The award is given to members of the Armed Forces of the United States
or members of the armed forces of a friendly foreign nation who
distinguish themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service
to the United States. To justify this decoration, the acts or services
rendered by an individual, regardless of grade or rate, must have been
comparable to that required for the Legion of Merit but in a duty of
lesser responsibility. The Meritorious Service Medal is the counterpart
of the Bronze Star Medal for the recognition of meritorious non-combat
service.
V.E. Clark, admiral of the United States Navy Chief of Naval Operations,
states that Denman is specifically honored for serving as
officer-in-charge, Terrorist Merchant Ship Imagery Watch and Red Cell,
Office of Naval Intelligent (ONI) from December 2001 to June 2003.
"Commander Denman consistently performed his demanding and complex
duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Demonstrating
superb, dynamic leadership, he created the blueprint for the Imagery
Watch. His outstanding contributions as Officer-in-Charge was essential
to the transition of ONI's watch floor from a crisis response team to a
national level maritime watch center. His dedicated efforts
significantly enhanced ONI's ability to support combat forces during
Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on
Terrorism.
"Commander Denman's outstanding administrative acumen and superb
management abilities ensured that essential civil maritime imagery
analysis was provided throughout the intelligent community. An expert in
aircraft aviation, he was highly sought after by Intelligence Agencies
as a major contributor in the generation of several publications on
probably terrorist threats and tactics used in association with small
aircraft against ships. His efforts paved the way for collaborating
events between ONI, Defense Intelligence Agency and Central Intelligence
Agency.
"Commander Denman's exceptional professionalism, personal initiative and
selfless dedication to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in
keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval
Services," Clark wrote.

The 'gates of hell had opened up'
By CINDY BRAKE
There story is about the truth and war, about one of the bloodiest
battles fought in the Pacific and about an island called Peleliu.
World War II veterans Joe B. Dodge of Marysville and his good friend and
fellow Marine George Peto are determined to share the truth about war
and especially about the little-reported Battle of Peleliu that began 60
years ago today when they were young men serving with the First Marine
Division. Their orders were to "take no prisoners, kill everyone. "
"I never saw a white flag," Dodge said.
The island measured two miles wide by six miles long. Half of it was
swamp and half was a coral mountain the soldiers called Bloody Nose
Ridge, Peto said. The Japanese operated their largest bomber air strip
in the Pacific on the island while hiding in 500 caves.
As a line sergeant, Peto came onto the island with 235 men in his
company. A day later, landing force casualties totaled 1,300. Peto, a
machine gunner, was one of 18 in his company to still be alive by the
end of the next day.
"We hung in there all night," Peto said.
After watching a close buddy die, Peto said killing the enemy became a
lot more personal.
"My friend's name was Henry Vastine Rucker and he got hit with a piece
of shrapnel real bad, his intestines were all messed up ... and he died
the next day aboard ship. And that sure put a different perspective on
my part in the war. That's why killing the (Japanese) was no problem at
all, in fact, at times it was an outright pleasure," Peto is quoted as
saying in the book, "Hell in the Pacific," by Jonathan Lewis and Ben
Steele.
After 24 hours on Peleliu, Peto said the Americans had gained 100 yards
on the beach. Surrounded by the enemy, seeing a friend blown out of the
water and a partner die by his side, Peto admits that he thought it was
a lost cause that first day. But orders were orders - take White Beach
and advance inland - so the Marines stood their ground. It was supposed
to be a simple task, not expected to take more than two to three days.
It took 72 days and in the end 9,600 Americans were wounded or killed.
More than 10,000 Japanese soldiers died, state printed reports.
"My experiences left me a sadder but wiser man," Peto said in "Heroes
from the Heartland" compiled by Claudia Robinson and the Fairbank's 2002
eighth grade class.
Dodge, a corporal qualified as a sharp shooter, had the job of climbing
the rocky Bloody Nose Ridge and demolishing caves where the Japanese
hid. He carried dynamite in a satchel and his best weapon, an M-1 Grand
Rifle, which he said saved his life many times.
Dodge spent more than 70 days between Bloody Nose Ridge and Death
Valley.
"Blackened cave walls bear testimony to the burning napalm projected by
U.S. flame throwers," writes (ret.) Col. Joseph H. Alexander, USMC, in
the September issue of "Leatherneck" magazine.
Alexander states that the slaughter and sacrifice of Peleliu went
largely unreported to the general public because some correspondents
declined to cover the obscure battle and some who landed with the troops
died there. Dodge acknowledges that the Pacific War was second and the
war in Germany was the first priority.
Peleliu, however, was important in disrupting the oil tankers to Japan
and protecting the Army as they advanced to the Philippines, according
to printed reports.
"If we would have lost the war, we would have been speaking German and
Japanese today in this country," Dodge said. "The sacrifice the American
people made so they could live in a better world today."
In the hopes of helping children become better citizens, Dodge and Peto
not only remember but talk to the younger generation about the machine
gun mortars rattling all night long saying it felt like the "gates of
hell had opened up;" about the green flies that covered everything;
about not being able to bury bodies in the rocky island and the
unbearable stench; about not being able to eat for seven days because
they didn't have any food; about having only two canteens of water to
drink and when that ran out taking canteens from dead bodies; about 110
degree temperatures; and about becoming "rock happy" or "Asiatic" after
they had been there too long.
"We're not bragging. We're not complaining. We're just telling the
truth," Dodge said about why he and Peto have visited more than 6,000
students in the past few years.
"These stories should never be lost," said teacher Claudia Robinson.
During their visits, Dodge and Peto welcome all questions about that
time in their lives.
Frequent questions are about how often they took baths and what they
ate. Dodge said soldiers took a bath whenever it rained or they could
swim in the Pacific. Their meals were mostly K Rations and C Rations -
chocolate or fruit bars or beef hash. In fact, Dodge like other soldiers
developed a liver infection because he lacked Vitamin A or C in his
diet. He was hospitalized for 30 days with jaundice acute infection,
while other soldiers died from the infection.
Some call Peleliu the forgotten battle but for Dodge and Peto the battle
and the names of those who gave their lives will be remembered,
especially today.

Child safety seat check planned
A free child safety eat check will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at
the Marysville Fire Department.
In order for safety seats to be effective, they must be used properly.
Technicians will make sure parents are following manufacturers'
guidelines. Serious injuries to children in a traffic crash are reduced
by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers when seats are
used properly.
Each check will take 20 to 30 minutes. No appointments are necessary.
The program is sponsored by the Union County Health Department's Safe
Communities/Safe Kids program, the sheriff's office and the fire
department.

Residents want bigger barrier
Property owners near Richwood  industrial park  say small dirt hill
doesn't cut it
By  CHAD WILLIAMSON
Residents in the area of the new Richwood Industrial Park are looking to
put up walls - or mounds.
At Monday's Richwood Council meeting Kells Lane resident Gene Klaiber
spoke on behalf of several residents in the area who do not feel the
village delivered on a promise made two years ago that construction at
the industrial park would not impact their lives.
"We've been lied to all the way through the thing," Klaiber said.
He said the village promised when it purchased the ground in the area
that if a business were to locate in the area, the residents would be
sent certified letters. Those letter never came, Klaiber said, and
construction on the site began.
He also said that building sites and roads are closer to the adjacent
properties than originally promised.
A bigger area of concern is a barrier to be placed between the home and
the industrial park. A dirt mound has been constructed but it is less
than four feet high, Klaiber said. The plans call for trees to
eventually be planted on top of the mound.
"Three or four feet of dirt - that's kind of a kick in the chops,"
Klaiber said.
Klaiber said the mound is insufficient for its purpose. He said the low
height does not keep down the noise from construction equipment and
diesel fumes and dirt easily drift onto the landowners' properties. He
said he has washed the dirt from his house twice this summer and will
need to do it again.
Klaiber said the residents have been forced to keep their windows closed
all summer because of the dirt and added that residents don't even have
the privacy to get a suntan in their backyards.
"We want our properties back," Klaiber said.
The group pointed out other areas in central Ohio where residential and
industrial or commercial areas adjoin that have mounds more than 10 feet
tall. Klaiber said a tall, effective barrier shows that the community
cares about the property owners.
"We didn't get any consideration at all," he said.
Council member Arlene Blue agreed with the residents and was ready to
put to village's money into corrective measures.
"I think these people have been kind of snookered," Blue said. "A
three-foot mound doesn't cut it."
Blue was ready for the village to fund an enlargement of the mound or
the installation of a wall.
But village solicitor Rick Rodger said the village didn't need to
shoulder all of the blame for the insufficient barrier. Interim village
administrator Jim Thompson agreed, noting that the design plans for the
industrial park call only for a three-foot mound.
Roger said the firm that designed the plans, Poggemeyer Design Group,
may share the blame or even the Union County officials who approved the
plan.
Klaiber said he is not against the construction of an industrial park.
It broadens the tax base of the village but it should not come at the
expense of the property owners, he said.
"We can use the tax base but ... take care of the neighbors," Klaiber
said.
He also estimated that the property owners in the area have seen a
decrease in the value of their homes. Klaiber said he does not want to
see the village drag its feet on the issue and noted that legal action
could be warranted.
Councilman Scott Jerew agreed that the issue required quick action. With
that in mind a meeting was set for Tuesday between the residents,
council, Poggemeyer Design Group and county officials

Fire at Scotts forces evacuation
From J-T staff reports:
A fire at The Scotts Company early this morning forced the evacuation of
employees for several hours.
Marysville fire department reports that at 4:29 a.m. today crews were
dispatched for a sulfur fire at 14111 Scottslawn Road. The location is
the Scotts Company's west plant.
Employees were evacuated from the building from 4:29 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
while crews from Marysville, Jerome Township, Allen Township and Union
Township cleared smoke, in the form of hydrogen sulfide, from the
building.
Reportedly the fire involved burning insulation around molten sulfur.
The fire was contained by 4:50 a.m. and damage was minimal.
No injuries were reported.

Petro will be featured speaker
Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro will be the featured speaker at the 2004
Republican Century Club banquet on Saturday.
As Ohio's attorney, Petro serves as legal counsel to the State of Ohio,
the governor and other statewide officials, the Ohio General Assembly
and all state departments, agencies, boards and commissions. In
addition, Petro issues formal legal opinions on questions of law
submitted by elected officials and prosecutors and provides
investigative support through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Before becoming Attorney General, Petro served Ohio in both the public
and private sectors. His legal experience spans about 30 years as a
practicing attorney, city law director and criminal prosecutor. He
served eight years as a Auditor of State, eight years in the Ohio House
of Representatives and four years as Cuyahoga County Commissioner before
being elected Attorney General in 2002.
Jim Westfall, Chairman of the Union County Republican Party said he
expects nearly 250 members of the Republican Century Club to attend this
year's fund raising event at the Catholic Community Center in
Marysville.

Route 31 resurfacing to begin Monday
A new resurfacing process designed to prolong pavement life span will
start on Route 31 in Union County Monday.
The new process involves sealing the cracks with a polymer type
material, then a layer of tar and a layer of gravel. The material is
then rolled over and mixed. There is a curing time of four to six hours.

Jack Marchbanks, Ohio Department of Transportation's District 6 deputy
director, said this is one of three pilot projects designed to prolong
pavement lifespan.
One lane of two-way traffic will take place from the Marysville north
corporation limits to Route 347. Work will take place Monday through
Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Some work may occur on Saturdays as
needed. Traffic delays of 15 to 20 minutes are to be expected during
work hours.
Approximately one week later the route will be re-surfaced with a layer
of asphalt which will smooth and seal the reinforced pavement.
The project is scheduled to be completed by September 30.
Motorists should be aware that loose gravel may develop during this
process. Loose gravel signs will be posted along the five-mile-long
project. A reduced speed limit of 35 miles per hour will also be posted.

25 years and counting
Honda honored on anniversary
By RYAN HORNS
When Honda of America manufacturing and the State of Ohio began working
together more than 25 years ago, Ohio Governor Bob Taft said, the basis
of that relationship was built on trust and mutual respect.
On Thursday afternoon Taft voiced Ohio's continued support of Honda
Motor Company's presence in the state during a ceremony attended by
hundreds of state and Honda officials at the Ohio State House atrium.
The city of Marysville came up a lot in conversation during the event,
as many showed their support for the auto company.
Under former Gov. Jim Rhodes' leadership 25 years ago, the state offered
a risky $3.6 million investment in order to help bring Honda to Ohio.
"For every dollar we spent," Taft said. "Honda has given back $226 in
return investment."
The partnership with Ohio was confirmed after the company recently
announced it would begin building        thenewAcuraSUVinthestate.Taft
said he spent Thursday morning in Marysville taking a test ride in the
new automobile.
Honda President and CEO Takeo Fukui accepted the Ohio Commodores award
which was presented by Taft to three Honda officials. Taft said the
award, given only to Ohio citizens who have contributed greatly to the
state, is the highest praise he can bestow as governor.
In return Fukui presented Taft with numerous symbolic framed pins that
represent the dream of Honda in America.
"Honda came to Ohio for a simple reason," Fukui said, "to meet the needs
of our customers in America. And the people of the state have enabled us
to accomplish this challenge. So it is very humbling to hear that our
efforts to satisfy our customers have also brought satisfaction to the
people of Ohio."
Fukui said that the key to Honda's success story in Ohio is that it was
not about investing in facilities and equipment but about investing in
people. A team of Honda associates came to Marysville 27 years ago and
they were impressed by the land and the location close to the
Transportation Research Center.
"I want you to know that we will never stop innovating," Fukui said.
"And never stop investing in the people and in the state of Ohio."
 Former state development director Jim Duerk, who helped close the Honda
deal with Rhodes, told those gathered that almost three decades ago he
happened to read a curious article in a former Columbus newspaper. It
reported that a Japanese car manufacturing company was looking to build
a plant in the United States.
Duerk said that he spoke to Rhodes about it and suggested maybe they go
to Japan in a week to start lobbying the company to build in Ohio.
Rhodes' response was, "No. We'll go tomorrow." They ended up leaving
early the next morning.
"That's how he worked," Duerk said about Rhodes. "He always said that if
you're going to do it - do it first."
Taft said it was Duerk and Rhodes who helped close the deal between Ohio
and Honda. He felt that the spirit of Rhodes was in the atrium
witnessing the special 25th anniversary celebration.
Duerk said Rhodes always considered Honda to be his crowned jewel
achievement.
"Honda is the perfect economic development success story," Ohio
Department of Development Director Bruce Johnson said. "Good things
result from investing in good companies."
Former Governor Richard Celeste, who served from 1982 to 1990, said that
with a trend nationally of large corporations laying off workers, Honda
has never followed suit.
"At no time in the last 25 years have any Honda employees been laid
off," Celeste said.
Celeste was asked if he found it difficult to keep Rhodes' word for
continued investment in Honda. Celeste said that it must be looked at in
relation to other factors going on at the time. Funding was not in
surplus and the state was experiencing 14.2 percent unemployment in
1983.
"The continued success of Honda was critically important," Celeste said.
"It made sense to do this."
State Representative Anthony Core, representative for Logan, Union and
Marion counties, said that he has been associated with Honda since high
school when he bought his first Honda dirt bike. Since then his family
has never owned anything other than Honda vehicles.
"Honda has always given us something to brag about in tough economic
times," Core said.

Millcreek Twp. lowers taxes
Trustees vote to roll back inside millage
From J-T staff reports:
Taxes are going down in Millcreek Township.
Millcreek Township's three trustees unanimously voted Tuesday during the
regular board meeting to reduce the inside millage rate from 1.7 to 1.4
mills, said board chairman Jim Schrader. He estimates the modest
decrease will return approximately $7,000 to the township's 1,200
residents.
"We're listening to the budget commission," Schrader said.
The decision comes after the Union County Budget Commission found that
general funds in several townships had more than doubled since 2000 with
no plans for the additional money. The commission encouraged townships
with growing balances to evaluate their needs and make adjustments
within the year.
After meeting in August with Union County Auditor Mary Snider, the
Millcreek trustees took a closer look at the township's balance sheet
and found that "stable income" sources historically equal expenses.
Schrader said the board's conservative decision is based on several
factors.
He said the township is faced with uncertain state funding, which is
their second largest source of income, and the loss of annexation
mitigation reimbursement funds from the city of Marysville after 2005.
Increasing policing expenses are projected as the trustees consider
hiring a fourth public safety officer with Jerome Township. Grants are
also ending this year that have assisted in covering portions of the
cost of the current officers.
Finally, Schrader said, the board decided there needs to be further
study before creating any reserve accounts.
"The board didn't want to create projects out of thin air," Schrader
said.

City officials discuss   land use on west side
By RYAN HORNS
City officials discussed what to do with a piece of land at the corner
of Raymond Road and West Fifth Street at Wednesday's city council
meeting.
Some felt spot could be the future location of a new fire station.
Others believe the public might better served if it is sold.
Mayor Tom Kruse said he plans to first appraise the land to see how much
it is worth.
Two pieces of legislation, one requesting authorization for the city to
appropriate $4,000 for an appraisal and another for the acceptance of
sealed bids for the sale of property, were read at the city council
meeting Wednesday night.
Councilmen John Gore and Mark Reams both questioned if the spot would
work well for a second fire station on the north side of the railroad
tracks, also providing easy access to U.S. 33.
Kruse said by selling the land the city could potentially make enough
money to buy another piece of land for the station and still have enough
left over to start paying for construction costs.
Reams agreed that there are many options on what could happen with the
land.
Councilman John Marshall, referring to the option of closing the current
station and building a replacement north of the tracks, said he felt
downtown business owners might be against the fire station being taken
out of the downtown area.
"We need to know what our assets are," Marshall said.
As a result of discussions, council voted to table indefinitely the
resolution to accept sealed bids for the sale but voted to pass the
third reading on appropriating the money to pay for an appraisal.
City law director Tim Aslaner spoke on a topic raised by local realtor
Matt Smith at the Aug. 26 council meeting. He said that the city has
been taking water bills and applying them to tax bills when unpaid by a
tenant. The tenant is the one who actually signs up for the water
service but the fees are then being dumped on the landlord if they leave
without paying.
Smith suggested the city require residents to pay a deposit to turn on
water services.
"Legally, that can be done," Aslaner said. "I don't find anything to
preclude us from doing that."
But he said it would be "an administrative headache."
"It just seems like more of an administrative problem than a legal
problem," he said.
City finance director John  Morehart agreed.
"It would be pretty excessive work," he said.
With water services going out to 6,000 people, he said, there is a lot
of in-and-out activity as tenants move from apartment to apartment. To
add to this, a year ago the utility clerk retired and there would only
be two people handling the workload the deposits would create.
Additional staff would have to be hired.
"I would be against that change," Morehart said.
Gore wondered if the city receives water applications and then
automatically turns on services before background checks on the public.
Morehart said that they do but if they become aware of previous
outstanding bills, they do something about it.
On the topic of street repairs, city administrator Kathy House said that
the city has awarded the bid to begin work    repavingcitystreets.Bids
for the project opened on Aug. 24 and a decision was made on Sept. 1.
She said work should be done before the close of this year.
"All the streets on our list will be able to be paved," House said.
"Except for concrete work on Collins Avenue."
In other council discussions:
. Kruse said all the work preparing the Coleman's Crossing TIFF has been
completed. From here all that is left is to complete construction.
. Kruse announced that Rebecca Shipley-Arnott has filled the recently
created tax administrator position. She will begin on   Monday.Hesaid
she was chosen out of 18 applications and resumes.
. House reported that a representative from the Ohio Department of
Homeland Security will be at the Marysville Fire Department Friday at
3:30 p.m. to present the city with a $675,000 enlarged check for the
purchase of a new ladder truck. She said that it should take Sutphen 10
to 12 months to construct the vehicle and the station should have it by
the end of 2005.

Man guilty of battering 7-month-old son
Marcus Troglin could face 18 years in prison
By  RYAN HORNS
On Wednesday an Ada man was found guilty of inflicting life-threatening
injuries on his 7-month-old son.
Union County Common Pleas Court jurors found Marcus Troglin, 21, guilty
on one second-degree felony felonious assault charge and two
third-degree felony endangering children charges. Troglin pleaded not
guilty to the charges on March 8. His sentence hearing is scheduled for
Sept. 24.
Marysville police detectives have been investigating the case against
Troglin since his wife brought the child into the Damascus Urgent Care
Center on Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. She said the family had noticed the child
had a knot on his side and that "popping" sounds could be heard when he
breathed or when they picked him up.
Court reports state that the upon examination, the doctor immediately
had the boy transported to Memorial Hospital of Union County and he was
MedFlighted to Children's Hospital in Columbus. The injuries were
recognized as signs of abuse and were alleged to have been inflicted by
Troglin, who was with the child.
"At 658 Meadows Drive the father handled (the child) in such a manner
that he cracked 15 of (his) ribs, lacerated (his) liver and punctured
(his) lung. (The child) also had bruising on his chest, his head and
right ear, his left side and leg," reports state.
Doctors also discovered that much of the child's injuries had occurred
six to eight hours before the mother took him to the urgent care center.
During the medical examination additional injuries were found on the boy
that had occurred one to two weeks earlier. Medical personnel discovered
that the boy's left collar bone was broken and both his left and right
legs had been fractured at least two weeks prior to Jan 16. His forearm
had also been broken anywhere from one to two weeks earlier.
However, Troglin's defense stated that the child had received the
injuries he had been accidentally flipped out of his play chair by his
2-year-old brother. Troglin said the older brother had also accidentally
struck the child in the head with a wiffle ball bat while playing.
When sleeping, he said, the child often hit his head on the wooden
columns on the crib walls, so they had wrapped the columns in blankets
to prevent this from happening. It was these incidents that he claimed
were probably the cause of the injuries.
Children's Hospital doctors did not agree. They reported the injuries
could only have been inflicted by at the hands of an adult possibly
squeezing the child, not a 2-year-old.
Reports state that Troglin had separated from his wife and she became
friends with the next door neighbor woman during that time. The neighbor
told police that she knew the child as a very good boy who fell asleep
easily. It had been that way while Troglin was not living in the
apartment.
But once Troglin moved back in with his wife things reportedly began to
change. According to police interview statements with the neighbor, "on
numerous occasions (the neighbor) heard Marcus yelling in the apartment
and (the boy) crying."
She reported hearing doors slam, arguments and, later, phone
conversations about abuse to the child.
"The child would probably have died had he not received medical
treatment when he did," social worker Jan Stonerook said in reports.
Troglin is now in the Tri-County Jail in Mechanicsburg awaiting his
sentencing hearing.
He could face up to 18 years in prison.
His wife, Amber Troglin, 19, was indicted on one third-degree felony
child endangering charge associated with the abuse to her son.
According to Assistant Union County Prosecutor John Heinkel, the date
for her trial has not yet been set.

Community Care Day is Tuesday
From J-T staff reports:
United Way of Union County's annual Community Care Day will be held
Tuesday, with 215 volunteers and 129 community service projects.
Community Care Day began eight years ago as a way for United Way to kick
off its annual fundraising campaign. It has evolved into an annual day
of caring that embodies the true spirit of volunteerism. Last year, 140
volunteers completed 74 service projects.
Traditional projects, such as yard work and housekeeping at the homes of
area senior citizens, remain on the schedule. Larger group projects will
be undertaken at the Marysville Public Library, Richwood Park, Union
County Humane Society, UCATS, The Gables at Green Pastures and the
Richwood Civic Center.
Community members can help by donating to a food and school clothes
drive to benefit the Marysville Food Pantry and Clothes Closet. Those
living within the city limits of Marysville can place non-perishable
food items and gently used school clothes in a plastic bag at their
front door by 9 a.m. to be picked up by volunteers. Those living outside
the city limits can drop off donations at the Catholic Community Center
from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The Food Pantry is in  need of staples such as peanut butter, Hamburger
Helper, spaghetti sauce and canned fruit and vegetables. The Clothes
Closet is seeking gently used wearable items such as sweaters and baby
clothes.
Community Care Day volunteers are from 36 area employers and they will
gather for breakfast at 7:45 a.m. at the Catholic Community Center
before leaving for their assigned projects. T-shirts and lunch will also
be provided. The meals and T-shirts are paid for by donations from Honda
and Scotts.

F.D. eyes N. Lewisburg village hall
North East Champaign County Fire District looking for permanent home
By CORINNE BIX
North Lewisburg city council members got into some lengthy discussion
after the North East Champaign County Fire District (NECCFD) approached
them about possibly acquiring the village municipal building.
The NECCFD is a taxing entity subdivision that serves North Lewisburg,
Woodstock, Rush Township and Wayne Township. Currently, the NECCFD is
based out of the village's municipal building. The fire district rents
space in the building for $500 a month.
For some time, the village and the fire district have been actively
seeking funding for a new fire station to adequately keep up with the
growing community.
Representatives from the NECCFD estimate that a new fire station would
cost between $1-1.5 million to build and maintain. To be prudent, the
fire district is exploring all possible options before embarking on an
undertaking that would ultimately tax area residents.
It came up at the last fire district board meeting that perhaps a
possibility would be to buy and renovate the entire village municipal
building.
After discussing the option at great length, council members agreed to
offer to the fire district the option to pay for a commercial estimate
of the municipal building. Village administrator Barry First surmised
that the estimate of the municipal building would put its fair market
value at more than $500,000.
Council said that the village would have to find a suitable location,
preferably uptown, to build a new municipal building before considering
the sale of the municipal building to the fire district. The village has
offered to donate to the fire district three acres of land north of the
park along East Street in the event that they opt to build a new fire
station.
"The reception of council is that they are open to exploring
possibilities if it's feasible to sell to the NECCFD and in the best
interest of all the parties involved," First said.
Council confirmed the appointment of new council member, Chris Woodard,
on Tuesday evening. Last month the council accepted the formal
resignation of council president Dwight Thompson.
Woodard, 32, of Townsend Street has been a resident of the village for
the past three years. He is married with two children. He said he and
his family plans to live in North Lewisburg for the long term and he is
looking forward to giving back to the community.
Gary Silcott, village engineer, reported that plans continue to move
forward for the future wastewater treatment plant. All the necessary
paperwork should be ready to be submitted to the EPA by December.
Silcott also reported that Jackson's Landing subdivision is coming
along. He brought up two issues that are being addressed with the
developers.
The first concern is the use of heavier duty pavement on the roads than
what is currently being considered. Silcott wants to make sure that the
pavement is durable enough to withstand large vehicles such as
sanitation trucks before the subdivision roads become the responsibility
of the village to maintain.
The village is also addressing some storm water drainage concerns.
Officer Glenn Kemp gave the Champaign County Sheriff's office report for
the village. In August 19 traffic citations were issued, nine warnings
were issued for traffic violations, 17 incident reports, 23 cases of
assistance given to citizens, 19 arrests made, three civil and criminal
papers served, 42 follow-up investigations completed, five instances of
juvenile contacts and one civic activity completed.
In other business, council:
 . Approved a resolution to sponsor the water resource restoration
program/Nature Conservancy Big Darby headwater project.
 . Approved Beggars Night to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 28 as
requested by the countywide mayor's association.
 . Accepted a village proclamation for Dwight Thompson who served on
village council from 1986 to August 2004.
 . Accepted a proclamation naming the week of Oct. 17-23 Caring Kitchen
Week in accordance with the Champaign County Youth Senate's drive to
collect items for the Urbana-based food shelter.
 . Approved the clerk's request to transfer $13,000 from the
transportation fund to the contractual service fund in the amount of
$6,000 and $7,000 to the capital improvement fund
 . Invited council, planning and zoning committees to the Regional
Planning Commission regular meeting at 1:15 p.m. Thursday.

Junior Miss hopefuls ready for Sunday program
From J-T staff reports:
The Union County Junior Miss Scholarship Program will be held Sunday at
7 p.m. at the Union County Veterans memorial Auditorium.
Nine young women will compete for the title and a share of more than
$14,000 in college scholarships. The winner will go to the Ohio Junior
Miss program in Mount Vernon in February.
The contestants will be evaluated in scholastics (20 percent), interview
and talent (25 percent each) and fitness and self-expression (15 percent
each.) The program's goal is to honor young women who excel in these
areas and encourage them to continue by completing their college
educations and assuming roles of leadership in their communities and
professions.
Five of the contestants are seniors at Marysville High School and the
four are seniors at Fairbanks.
Whitney Eggleston, daughter of Jeff and Wendy Eggleston of Marysville,
is a senior at Marysville High School. She plans to attend Ohio
Dominican University to prepare for a career in secondary education. Her
talent performance will be a piano piece, "Impossible," which she
composed. Her activities include the Cats Eye literary magazine,
marching, pep and concert band, choir, 4-H, Junior Fair Board,
cheerleading, teacher aid and peer tutor.
Allison Lemaster's vocal performance will be singing "Forget about the
Boy" from "Thoroughly Modern Millie." The daughter of Brad and Teri
Lemaster, she has made no decision on her college and career choices.
She is active in show choir, symphonic choir, Drama Club, Monarch Vibe,
Leo Club and Mock Trial.
Megan McCarthy is also undecided about her career and college but she
has been active in show choir, symphonic choir, 4-H, dance teams and
National Honor Society and she won the lip sync contest. She is the
daughter of Tom and Amy McCarthy. She will tap dance to "Flirt."
A career on Broadway and a recording contract are Kylee Pfarr's goals
but she has not yet selected a college. She is the daughter of Rick and
Tami Pfarr and she will be singing "Home" from "Phantom." She has been
active in musicals and plays, National Honor Society, show choir,
symphonic choir, track and Drama Club and was the Monarch Idol winner
and a lip sync talent winner.
Natalie Bowsher, daughter of David and Linda Bowsher, will attend
Otterbein College to study music education. She has been active in show
choir, Drama Club, National Honor Society, 4-H, symphonic choir and
school musicals and is listed in "Who's Who of American High School
Students." She will sing "I'm Not That Girl" from the musical, "Wicked."

Amanda Lotycz, daughter of Mark and Donna Lotycz, has decided on a
career in communications but has not yet selected a college. She will
tap dance to "Big Time" for her talent offering. Her activities include
Mock Trial, FCA, National Honor Society, FFA, softball, basketball,
class treasurer, 4-H, Science Club and International Club and she was a
junior class homecoming attendant.
Amanda Schrader plans to attend the Oberlin Conservatory of Music or
Otterbein College to prepare for a career in musical theater, music and
communications. The daughter of Jim and Kathy Schrader, she had taken
part in marching, pep and concert band, Drama Club, Mock Trial,
symphonic choir, 4-H, and her church youth group and she was a summer
theater workshop director. She will give a monolog from "Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland."
Kristina Short, daughter of Alfred and Annie Short, is planning a career
in law and politics and has plans to attend either the Ohio State
University or Purdue University. Her vocal offering will be "Colors of
the Wind" from "Pocahontas." She has been active in cheerleading, track,
4-H, FFA, FCCLA, yearbook and Big Brother Big Sister and she was
governor of Buckeye Girls State.
Chelsey Mabry plans to be an art or kindergarten teacher but has not yet
chosen a college. The daughter of Kevin and Nancy Mabry, she will give a
recitation of her own poem, "Hero." She has been active in FCA, golf,
FFA, 4-H, International Club and Chrysalis.

Honda to build SUVs in Ohio
Marysville or East Liberty plant will host production
On the eve of its 25th anniversary of manufacturing in the state, Honda
of America Mfg. today announced that a new Acura sport-utility vehicle
will be produced in Ohio starting in 2006.
Production of the all-new SUV will join a lineup in Ohio that includes
the Honda Accord, Civic, Element light truck and the Acura TL.
According to Don Hensley of Honda corporate communications the
determination on where the vehicle will be produced has not been made.
He said both the Marysville and East Liberty plants have the space and
equipment neccessary to produce the new model.
He said Honda company policy does not make public the capital investment
estimated for new model startups.
"Since we began auto production in 1982, our Ohio plants have focused
primarily on production of passenger cars," said Koki Hirashima, Honda
of America's president and CEO.  "Along with the model mix produced at
Honda's other plants in North America, this will position us for the
future ? providing added flexibility to meet the needs of our customers
for both cars and light trucks."
The new SUV will be placed in the Acura lineup beneath the MDX in both
price and size and will be the fourth performance and luxury Acura model
produced in North America
The announcement in Ohio reflects Honda's business strategy to
manufacture products close to the customer. In addition to passenger
cars, Honda has launched five all-new light truck models exclusively in
North America since 1998, including the all-new 2005 Odyssey that just
went into mass production in Alabama.
Most of these light trucks were designed and developed by American
engineers at Honda's U.S. R&D centers, including a major automotive
engineering complex in Ohio that houses a safety research crash-test
facility.
Honda's U.S. R&D operations have had a profound impact on Honda's
domestic parts sourcing.  Honda works closely with more than 600
supplier partners in North America, with purchases of parts and
materials exceeding $12 billion a year.
It was 25 years ago Friday, Sept. 10, 1979, that Honda of America Mfg.
began assembling products in America, when an Elsinore motorcycle rolled
off the line. Three years later, Honda became the first Japanese
automaker to produce automobiles in America.
Honda has invested more than $8 billion in 12 plants and other
operations in North America. Nearly eight of 10 vehicles Honda sells
here are made in those plants.
To meet market needs, Hirashima said, associates in Ohio have been
involved in major innovation projects, focusing on new levels of
quality, flexibility and efficiency for the future.
"This has increased our flexibility to produce a greater variety of cars
and light trucks in Ohio", he said.  "Today, even after 25 years, our
plants remain among the most efficient and competitive."
Using domestic and globally sourced parts, last year Honda of America
produced 677,000 Honda and Acura vehicles, as well as 108,500
motorcycles and ATVs and 1.1 million auto engines.
Honda's North American employment now totals more than 30,000 associates
at the company's 12 North American manufacturing plants, three major R&D
centers and dozens of other sales, parts and related facilities. With
the recent addition of a production line at Honda Manufacturing of
Alabama, Honda's total North American auto production capacity was
boosted from 1.25 million units to 1.4 million units.

New Marysville City Administrator adjusts to life in
government
By RYAN HORNS
Last year city administrator Kathy House resigned as principal of
Trinity Lutheran School, planning to lead a simple life of staying at
home with her children. A few months later she found herself working
alongside Mayor Tom Kruse in charge of administering an entire city.
Her family planned to selling their home and move into something
smaller, perhaps out in the country. House said she had been waiting
eight months for their home to sell and was contemplating finding a job
again. Then in October a knock came at the door and there was Kruse,
campaigning door to door in her neighborhood.
"He caught me at a weak moment," House said. "He ended up stopping twice
at my door while going around Green Pastures and I happened to be home
each time."
She had known Kruse as a parent at her school and said they chatted
about how their lives were doing and didn't really talk politics too
much that day. She didn't hear from him for some time after that. Then
on Jan. 2 she got a call from Kruse and he wanted to talk to her.
"He came to the house and we talked a long time and he told me about his
expectations and his vision for the city," she said.
Later on he called and said he thought she would be perfect for the job
of city administrator and she accepted.
"I'm at a time when I have spent the majority of my life in Marysville,"
she said. "I've been here longer than I lived in my hometown."
In 1982 House first came to Marysville with her mother to find a place
to live. She had just been offered a job at the Trinity Lutheran School
as a teacher. It was the first time she had made a permanent move from
her hometown of Fremont, aside from her college years at Capital
University.
What struck her immediately about Marysville was how people approached
her and introduced themselves on the street or wanted to get acquainted
as she walked through town. She said the behavior was refreshing to her
after having lived in a city of about 25,000 people.
"I was very impressed with the small town atmosphere," House said.
Overall, she said the change from being principal at a school to being
city administrator was surprisingly not a difficult move.
"It's not much different as a job than being a principal," she said.
Her previous job encompassed many positions within one, she explained.
As the principal, her duties spanned from school guidance counselor,
superintendent, financial manager and teacher to evaluating all the
staff and managing the latch-key program.
Schools are very political, she explained, and she found her new role
has remained the same ? getting to know how the organization works and
where the issues lie.
While she was appointed to work specifically with Kruse, House said, her
job is to make sure "all the cogs work together."
She said she has an advantage because as principal at Trinity she got to
know a lot of people around town over the years.
"It's really been a lot of fun," she said, "and I've enjoyed the
community support."
House said she is grateful for everyone's patience over the past several
months of learning about city issues.
"The staff here has been exceptional," she said, referring to city
engineer Phil Roush, human resources director Brian Dostanko, city
finance director John Morehart, law director Tim Aslaner and to city
emergency officials like police chief Floyd Golden and fire chief Gary
Johnson.
House said that Kruse is very serious about making Marysville strong in
the business economy. Together they would like to improve the quality of
life for Marysville's citizens by offering improved streets, more
shopping opportunities and helping the police and fire departments keep
things safe.
Honda, Scotts and Nestle are great, she said, but Marysville could use
more economic help for the future. Together, she said, their goal is to
plan for the future so that they can keep the capital ball rolling for
the next 20 years
More and more people will want to move here as they discovered what
Marysville is all about, she said, including the easy drive to Columbus
and the good school systems available for children. House finds herself
involved in a turning point for the growth of Marysville.
"It's kind of scary," she said. "We don't want to lose our small town
atmosphere, so that we grow so much that we start looking and acting
like a big city."
That is the challenge the current administration faces, she said, to
keep something positive happening in the city while keeping the charm
she enjoyed when she first arrived 22 years ago.

Agencies  have mixed results with Homeland  Security grants
By RYAN HORNS
While some Ohio agencies have voiced their distaste with the process of
acquiring Homeland Security Department grants, Union County officials
have reported mixed results.
Recent reports state that only one-fifth of the state's $194 million
federal fund has been spent and some Ohio agencies believe there is a
problem with how money is dispersed.
Union County Emergency Management Director Randy Riffle said the process
of requesting and receiving grants from the Homeland Security Department
is very detailed.
Riffle said grant requests should be for something that will help pull
together all departments of emergency responders from EMS to fire.
Counties should not be looking to buy something that they are never
going to use.
A potential Homeland Security funding recipient must look through the
federal list of grants and decide on a project to request money for.
They then write out the request which goes to the Homeland Security
Department who then decides if the grant will be given. Their decision
if forwarded to the federal level which disperses the money.
The key part of the process, Riffle said, is that once a county receives
its grant the money must be spent within 30 days. Counties must time the
30-day limit with their purchase orders so that they don't have to sit
on the money while waiting for their purchase. For example, Clark County
has been waiting for a year while their bomb robot is made.
Riffle said that because of the grants, the Union County EMA has been
able to piece together a comprehensive MARCS Radio system over the past
few years in order to update communications throughout the county.
Former Union County Sheriff John Overly, now director of the Ohio
Homeland Security Department, was approached to make Union County the
pilot program for the MARCS Radio three years ago. Since then the
communications upgrade has almost reached completion. To date, 100
percent of the law enforcement communication needs have been met as well
as 95 percent of the county fire departments. Radios still need to be
secured for Hardin County, which covers fire aid to northern areas of
Washington Township.
"So far within our county we have received $1.5 million toward the
system," Riffle said. The EMA has used this money to help Union County
emergency responders. Another $600,000 is available for the next round
of radios.
"This year or next year the county will be done setting up the MARCS
program," he said. "From there they will begin setting up a GIS mapping
program."
Other Homeland Security Department grants have benefited the Union
County Sheriff's Office and the Union County Health Department.
Jason Orcena, public information officer for the Union County Health
Department, said they received a $95,000 Public Health Infrastructure
Grant through the Ohio Department of Health. He explained that the
funding originally came from Homeland Security.
The grant is to be used to improve emergency preparedness and planning,
disease surveillance/investigation and epidemiology, health alert
network and information technology, communication of health risks and
health information to the public and education and training for health
professionals.
Orcena said that through the funds, the health department now employs
both an epidemiologist (a scientist in charge of controlling the spread
of plant and human disease) and a disaster preparedness coordinator.
"(The health department) has been able to update vital technology,
secure additional staff training, increase surveillance and ultimately
improve its ability to respond to both natural and man-made disasters,"
he said.
The Union County Sheriff's Office, however, has not had as much luck
with receiving grants they request. Since 2002 The Union County
Sheriff's Office has applied for and received about $37,000 in Ohio
Homeland Security Grants.
Grant writer Idella Feeley reported that between 2002-03 the sheriff's
office was awarded a $34,105.80 grant from the Ohio Criminal Justice
Service to go toward the MARCS Radio, personal protection kits and
training. The same year they were awarded $1,400 for more personal
protection kit funding. This year the office received $1,357.36 for
overtime pay from the Ohio Criminal Justice Service.
Feeley said that Union, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Franklin and
Madison counties (known collectively as Ohio Homeland Security Planning
Region #4) applied for a Homeland Security Grant with the Ohio Emergency
Management Agency.
"The grant was for MARCS radios, upgrade and conversion of a MARCS radio
tower, Personal Protective Kits, Automated Fingerprinting Identification
System/ Palm Portable Units, Automated External Defibrillators and
training.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office will be the administering agency,"
Feeley said. "We have been notified the group was only awarded the MARC
radio tower upgrade and conversion."
But she said getting Homeland Security grants has proven difficult.
Aside from funding applications for the county's MARCS Radio system, all
other requests are not as likely to get results.
She explained that many grant requests the office has made were valid
but turned down. The fingerprinting and identification system would have
proven useful to the Tri-County Regional Jail and ultimately benefited
Union, Champaign and Madison counties.

Local group's music is timeless
The Late Bloomers simply love to play
By RYAN HORNS
Every Monday the Windsor Manor Community Center gets a dose of what
Marysville musician Leona Rausch calls "happy music."
"They listen - they may talk a little bit - but I think they appreciate
it," Rausch said. Some people even get up and dance.
The Late Bloomers is their name and they are held together by a shared
love of playing music and being together for the sake of helping people
enjoy themselves.
The band officially started 18 years ago when pianist Mary Mathys, now
82, began playing piano and singing for the seniors. She said when she
moved to Marysville the center had no one to perform. Many who
frequented the center were glad when they found out there was a new
piano player.
"She's the star of the band and the person who put the whole thing
together," Rausch, 85, said.
After Mathys began volunteering her talents  at the Windsor Manor
Community Center, soon other musicians joined in and the Late Bloomers
band was formed. Since then they have performed around central Ohio,
including one stint in the early 1990s at the Ohio State Fair, at
numerous gigs at banquets, churches or senior events in the area.
"Basically anywhere there is someone who has the nerve to call us up and
ask us," bass player Wally Snyder laughed.
Currently Mathys performs with Rausch on guitar, Joe Elk on the
resonator guitar and Snyder, 80, on a homemade wash tub one-string bass.

Unfortunately, Mathys said, much of the original lineup either passed
away or moved to different cities over the years. Recently their singer
and washboard player, Charlie Thompson, also passed away. But she said
the band manages to pull itself back together with new members and
continue on.
"We love to play," Mathys explained.
Elk said they specialize in old standards from the 1920s through the
1960s.
"We thought (the seniors) mood needed a little oomph," Rausch laughed.
"We definitely give them a little oomph."
Elk, 67,  is the "baby" of the group, but the majority of the band
started playing music during the Great Depression. Rausch said she got a
crash course in performing when she was just 14 years old and has been
hooked ever since. One day her brother asked her to play banjo for their
family's house dance, but all she had was some practice playing the
mandolin.
"They were very common during the Depression," Rausch said about the
parties. "They happened every Saturday night and this time it was being
held at our house."
Her brother played the violin and that day they took to the stage for
their party. But during their set a pretty girl walked into the room and
caught her brother's eye.
Rausch said her brother suddenly told her, "Hey, will you play this next
song? I want to dance with that girl."
Dance numbers are fast, Rausch said, and her banjo skills were not that
developed yet. She could play a song only in the key of G. They went
into the standard "Old Gray Bonnet" without any problems but halfway
through, she discovered it changed to the dreaded key of C. She was lost
but she didn't let it ruin the number.
"My brother told me it was okay if you didn't know the chord, as long as
you kept the beat going," Rausch laughed.
That's the story of how she first started performing for people.
"We still play 'Old Gray Bonnet' today," she said.
Mathys said she started playing piano very young by copying people whom
she watched perform. One of her favorites was a man named Fred Wells.
"He was a minister," she said. "I'd get him to play piano for me
whenever he was around."
Snyder said he started playing the washtub bass by accident 20 years
ago. Back then he watched a man on-stage at a Christmas party playing
one and he thought it looked easy enough. So he made his own out of a
metal wash tub, a nylon rope and a hockey stick that he bends to create
tension and pitch. Since then he has managed to wear out two
instruments.
"I like all country and western," Snyder said, "basically anything with
a good rhythm to it."
Elk said he has been playing the resonator guitar, also known as the
dobro, for the past 35 years. He has always admired the talents of lap
steel player Shot Jackson and pedal steel player Buddy Emmons.
Despite being the same age as their audience, the members of the Late
Bloomers plan to keep playing as long as people will have them.
"I think they look forward to it every Monday," Snyder said

Chief: Permits to hunt in       the city will not be issued
The Marysville Police Department reported that safety is a concern now
that the first wave of hunting season has begun.
Today marks the first day for the hunting of squirrels, Canada geese,
teal and mourning doves. Marysville chief Floyd Golden reported this
morning that the question was raised whether the city may issue a permit
to hunt or kill geese within the city limits.
He said that it will not be allowed according to the city codified
ordinances.
Those ordinances state that "No person shall hunt, kill or attempt to
kill any animal or fowl by the use of firearms, bow and arrow, air rifle
or any other means within the corporate limits of the municipality."
"Therefore, the city does not have the authority to issue a permit to
hunt or kill geese within the city limits," Golden said. "The emphasis
is on hunting safety."