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From the 1/18/07 Dispatch: GRAPHIC: What's the price tag? GRAPHIC: Q&A: School funding GRAPHIC: Amendment support School-plan cost a guess Amendment would force funding to follow need; critic calls it ‘a massive money grab’ Thursday, January 18, 2007 Catherine Candisky and Jim Siegel THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Two governors and a decade’s worth of legislatures have failed to enact an adequate school-funding solution, so backers of a new plan are counting on voters to "get it right." A coalition of education advocates yesterday unveiled a proposed constitutional amendment for the November ballot that would guarantee a "high-quality education" to every student and cost the state hundreds of millions more. Supporters say their plan would improve schools and create a better-educated work force to boost Ohio’s economic competitiveness. In theory, the public education system would be based on what is needed in the classroom, not on how much it costs. In fact, voters would not learn the price tag until after the proposal is approved — a factor that prompted some of Ohio’s big-city mayors to withhold their support. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/18/20070118-A1-00.html From the 1/18/07 Mansfield News Journal: Some worry statewide school funding effort could hurt local campaigns By Lisa Miller News Journal Madison Local Schools Superintendent David Williamson acknowledged Wednesday he doesn't know the details of a proposed statewide November ballot issue to try to fix Ohio's school-funding system. But he said he is concerned that talk of the proposal might hurt the district's efforts to pass a 6.9-mill renewal levy in May. While he's all in favor of school-funding reform, Williamson said that even if voters were to approve a constitutional amendment on Nov. 6 "it's not going to be January 1 of 2008 that we're going to see new money coming to schools." Failure to pass the renewal would pose a "real problem," he said, because, as in other districts, a renewal "keeps you right where you're at." MORE: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/NEWS01/701180309/1002/rss01

From the 1/17/07 Dispatch: DOCUMENT: Read the full text of the proposed Ohio school funding-amendment (PDF) GRAPHIC: Highlights Initiative for schools slammed Proposed ballot issue tries to fix funding system Wednesday, January 17, 2007 Catherine Candisky and Jim Siegel THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Even before its official unveiling today, a proposed statewide school-funding issue is drawing heavy fire for removing legislative control and lacking specifics on costs that likely would total hundreds of millions of dollars. Undeterred after nearly a year of closeddoor meetings, a consortium of education advocates say they have come up with the long-awaited fix for Ohio’s unconstitutional school-funding system. The proposed constitutional amendment aims to guarantee students a high-quality education based on what is needed in the classroom, not what is available in the state budget. It would shift much of the tax burden for schools from local property owners to the state but does not specify how those dollars would be raised. Critics, including business leaders and state and local officials, have a laundry list of concerns. How much would it cost? Would taxes have to be increased or other areas of the state budget slashed to finance education? Would it invite more litigation? Does it divert too much money to wealthy districts? Is there enough accountability? MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/17/20070117-A1-01.html From same: ANALYSIS Plan might shortchange other services Wednesday, January 17, 2007 Joe Hallett THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A ballot proposal to fix school funding in Ohio shrewdly attempts to create powerful allies of university officials and mayors by mandating more state money annually for higher education and local governments. But advocates for poor children and the elderly who rely on Medicaid and other state programs worry that the proposed school-funding ballot initiative could mean less money for them. Then, too, there are concerns that fewer dollars for Ohio’s 32 prisons could cause unwanted consequences, including furloughs for some of the 46,800 inmates housed in them. Those questions and many others remain to be answered by proponents of the ballot initiative to be unveiled today. The plan would further embed primary and secondary education as state government’s highest spending priority. But the state spends billions more on many other services that, among other things, ensure that the mentally ill and mentally retarded can receive care and that state parks are open and clean. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/17/20070117-A4-01.html From the 1/17/07 St. Mary's Evening Leader: Group plans school funding amendment By KAY LOUTH Staff Writer MINSTER — A closely guarded secret is out. The Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding along with 10 other state educational organizations are renewing their push to change the way schools are funded in Ohio. The Coalition is going to ask Ohio voters on the November ballot to pass a constitutional amendment to make Ohio school funding unconstitutional. Also on the ballot, voters will be asked to remove school funding control from the legislature and give it to the State Board of Education According to Minster School District Superintendent Gayl Ray, the Coalition has been working on this initiative even before the November 2006 election but held off from the big push because of the situation with Governor Taft. And they’ve kept it pretty close to the vest as well. But the handwriting on the chalkboard is now being revealed. MORE: http://www.theeveningleader.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1616&Itemid=27

From the 1/16/07 PD: Strickland enters the fray to fix education Proposed amendment offered Wednesday Tuesday, January 16, 2007 Aaron Marshall Plain Dealer Bureau Columbus - When education advocates unveil a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday designed to "fix school funding," it will mark a new chapter in the generation-old battle over how Ohio pays for public education. It will also be the first time that those who think Ohio's political leaders have shirked their duties in not overhauling the system will find an advocate - not an adversary - in the governor's mansion. The problems facing state lawmakers are ancient - older even than the 13-year-old trial court ruling against the state - but Gov. Ted Strickland's entry into the political equation is new. During a recent interview, the Democrat stood behind several strongly worded briefs he has previously filed on behalf of the plaintiffs in the landmark school-funding case, even as he criticized the plan to be offered by many of those educators. MORE: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/116894073639640.xml&coll=2 From the 1/16/07 Dispatch: GRAPHIC: Helping public schools PUBLIC-SCHOOL FOUNDATIONS Donations not new to suburban districts Tuesday, January 16, 2007 Simone Sebastian THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH They’ve built school theaters, equipped classrooms and paid for college educations. Since the first public-school endowment was created in Franklin County in 1983, the increasingly popular funding sources have sent millions of dollars to local classrooms. Eleven of the 15 suburban school districts based in Franklin County have foundations, which are independently run nonprofit organizations that use private donations for public education. Collectively, they have about $4.9 million in their endowments. Local business leaders recently added one for the city school district, creating the Columbus Public Schools Education Foundation with up to $2 million in matching grants from Limited Brands. Foundations pay for the extras that school budgets can’t. Most often, grants go to student scholarships and teachers’ classroom projects. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/16/20070116-A1-02.html

From the 1/14/07 Dispatch: Schools fix would raise stakes Change would give funding a constitutional mandate Sunday, January 14, 2007 Catherine Candisky THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A proposed constitutional amendment aimed at fixing the state’s schoolfunding system would give every child in Ohio a "fundamental right" to a quality education, The Dispatch has learned. Making an education a "fundamental right" would create a court-enforceable mandate, a higher legal threshold than Ohio’s current constitutional requirement that the state maintain a "thorough and efficient" system of public schools. The ballot issue also would give sweeping new powers to the State Board of Education, charging the panel with determining the necessary investment in the public-school system. The proposal does not specify the cost or how additional money — which presumably will be needed — would be raised. That will be the job of the General Assembly, sources said. Supporters say they will launch an aggressive campaign to collect the roughly 400,000 signatures of registered voters needed to place the proposal on the November ballot. The plan will be unveiled at a news conference Wednesday morning in Columbus. Supporters say they will host rallies in February across the state. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/14/20070114-C1-02.html

From the 1/10/07 Dispatch: School-funding plan in works Education advocates will campaign for amending Ohio’s constitution Wednesday, January 10, 2007 Catherine Candisky THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ohioans will get their first look at the latest plan to fix the state’s schoolfunding system next Wednesday when education advocates submit their proposed constitutional amendment to the attorney general. Supporters say they will hold rallies across the state to mount a vigorous campaign to collect the roughly 400,000 signatures of registered voters required to place the issue on the November statewide ballot. The attempt by education advocates, who are frustrated by what they view as years of inaction by state legislators, would represent the first statewide school-funding issue since a doomed attempt in May 1998 by Gov. George V. Voinovich. That measure, opposed by most school groups, was swamped at the polls. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/10/20070110-C1-00.html

From the 1/5/07 Defiance Crescent-News: Area school officials agree: Reforming funding formula needed at state level January 5, 2007 By JENNY DERRINGER [email protected] One thing area school superintendents and treasurers agree about is the need for reforming the school funding formula at the state level. Ohio districts are struggling to keep expenses down but ultimately have to return to the voters on a regular basis seeking additional funding through the form of operating levies or income taxes. Under the current state formula for school funding, districts are coming up short. Districts are allocated less state aid than they otherwise would when local real estate values rise. The funding formula makes this adjustment on the assumption that local tax dollars will make up the difference, according to the Ohio House Democratic Caucus website. But House Bill 920, a constitutional amendment, keeps levies from keeping pace with inflation. School administrators call this phantom revenue, which makes it look like districts are taking in more money than they actually are. The reason: A county auditor has real property values reappraised every three years. Based on the new figures, the auditor calculates millage rates for tax levies on the new values that would raise the same dollar amount for each levy, readjusting the millage on that property. MORE: http://www.crescent-news.com/news/article/1444541

From the 12/31/06 Wooster Daily Record: Cost to educate clear as mud No clear-cut dollars and cents to school funding December 31, 2006 By LINDA HALL and MARC KOVAC Staff Writers WOOSTER -- The trend was crystal clear -- or at least appeared to be. School districts in Wayne and Holmes counties that met the "adequate yearly progress" student performance standard boosted per-student spending during the past five years more than those that did not meet the standard, according to an analysis of publicly available databases by The Daily Record. In fact, four of the five districts that met the AYP measure (Rittman, West Holmes, Southeast and Dalton) increased expenditures at the highest rates among the 12 area districts. Green, the other district that met AYP in 2005-06, ranked sixth. Those districts also decreased the number of students who didn't meet basic proficiency measures and improved performance index scores, often at higher rates than others in the two counties. All of which seemed to confirm assertions it's costing a lot more to educate students. MORE: http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/1359301

From the 12/30/07 Blade: Taft signs bill expanding use of school vouchers BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU COLUMBUS - Gov. Bob Taft yesterday signed into law a bill greatly expanding the number of parents eligible to apply for taxpayer-funded vouchers to send their children to the public, private, and religious schools of their choice. The bill also: • Includes provisions designed to increase oversight on quasipublic charter schools. • Expands the authority of the Ohio Department of Education to demand criminal background checks every five years on teachers it licenses. • Requires all schools, public and private, to report suspected misconduct by teachers to state licensing officials. MORE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061230/NEWS24/612300382/-1/NEWS

From the 12/26/06 Athens Messenger: Is lottery a zero-sum game for schools? MATT GALLAGHER Messenger staff writer Since its inception in 1974, the Ohio Lottery has contributed more than $13.5 billion to education. But whether or not the lottery has been a golden ticket for schools is not a cut and dried issue. Over the past year alone, the lottery has provided $646.3 million to school districts statewide. However, local educators contend that the money is not new money, and that the lottery money is eaten up through other cuts in state funding. They say that the money replaces other funding they used to get from the state, rather than providing additional revenue. The money goes to the general fund and is part of the money each school district receives from the state. School districts in Athens County received $3.8 million in lottery funds in 2005, the latest year data is available. Athens City Schools received $687,260, while Alexander Local Schools received $713,912, Federal Hocking Local Schools got $564,658, Nelsonville-York City Schools received $604,327, and Trimble Local Schools received $504,564. MORE: http://athensmessenger.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&ArticleID=2140

From the 12/21/06 PD: Stricter charter school rules OK'd Thursday, December 21, 2006 Scott Stephens Plain Dealer Reporter What's billed as a get-tough policy for charter schools is receiving kudos from an unlikely group: charter school advocates. A whirlwind of last-minute provisions, which Ohio's Republican lawmakers pushed through the waning hours of a lame-duck legislative session this week, include tough language on closing failing charter schools. Those provisions also include cracking down on potential conflicts of interest and even capping the pay of charter school board members. While Democrat legislative leaders say the provisions don't go far enough, operators of the publicly funded, privately operated schools - which function free of much bureaucratic red tape - are reaching out to shake hands with the long arm of the state. MORE: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/116669446742180.xml&coll=2 From the 12/21/06 Enquirer: School vouchers expanded More in area districts to be eligible to attend private institutions BY JENNIFER MROZOWSKI | [email protected] Cincinnati Public Schools was dealt another huge blow with the passage of revised school voucher legislation that would greatly expand the number of schools where students would be eligible to receive state-funded private school tuition. The bill, passed by the House and Senate and expected to be signed by Gov. Bob Taft, also would affect several suburban school districts this time around. The changes would allow students in several Mount Healthy, Middletown and Hamilton schools to attend private schools using a tuition voucher. Voucher advocates say the expansion is a blessing for students who had little hope of leaving poor-performing schools, but public school supporters say it's just another plan from a lame-duck administration to harm public education before a new Democratic governor takes the helm. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20061221/NEWS0102/612210352/

From the 12/20/06 Dispatch: Voucher plan startles city schools 27,352 students would be eligible in Columbus Wednesday, December 20, 2006 David Conrad FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Columbus Superintendent Gene Harris criticized legislative plans to expand a statewide voucher program without public debate or proof that the program was working. Under the new formula, students from 70 struggling Columbus Public Schools will be eligible to use vouchers to pay for private-school tuition. This year, the first where vouchers were offered statewide, 29 Columbus schools were on the list. Columbus has the most vouchereligible schools and accounts for about 30 percent of the total 235 buildings affected across the state. The next closest school district is Cincinnati, with 28. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/20/20061220-E1-01.html From the 12/20/06 Blade: 14 MORE TOLEDO SCHOOLS ON LIST Ohio lawmakers expand under-used voucher program By JIM PROVANCE BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU COLUMBUS - With three-quarters of Ohio's 14,000 school vouchers left unused in the program's inaugural year, lawmakers yesterday again expanded the pool of students eligible to apply. Students in 19 academically struggling Toledo Public Schools buildings, up from five currently, could apply for scholarships of $4,250 through eighth grade and $5,900 for high school toward tuition at the public, private, or religious schools of their choice. Lawmakers yesterday also approved measures toughening the math and lab science curriculum for high school students, setting dates to close failing charter schools, and giving the Department of Education authority to conduct regular criminal background checks on licensed teachers. The voucher and charter school provisions were inserted into a bill late Monday night and rushed through both the House and Senate yesterday to ensure the measure reached Gov. Bob Taft's desk before the current two-year session ends and his Democratic successor, Ted Strickland, takes office on Jan. 8. MORE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061220/NEWS04/612200467/-1/NEWS

From the 1/4/07 Findlay Courier: ThyssenKrupp announces layoffs at two facilities FOSTORIA -- ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft, which laid off 45 employees at its Fostoria plant last month, has followed that up this week with the elimination of more than 60 jobs at its Danville, Ill. machining operation. However, these latest layoffs are not related to the company's consolidation plan, expected to be announced next spring, which will close one of the plants... http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2007/Jan/ar_news_010407.asp#story5

From the 12/20/06 Fostoria Review Times: TK's decision: Tell 'ya later By RUSS ZIMMER staff writer With no decision expected from ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft for months, the city plans on using the interim to continue wooing the company. Because of "new financial considerations," ThyssenKrupp's executive board will hold off on selecting a host city for its consolidated facility, according to a Wednesday afternoon press release from the company... http://www.reviewtimes.com/News/backissues/2006/Dec/ar_news_122106.asp#story3

From the 1/22/07 (OU) Post: PHOTO: The new residence hall on South Green continues to take shape, showing a drastic difference since the beginning of Fall Quarter. Natalie Boydston / Staff Photographer / [email protected] Hall set to open in fall Jessica Holbrook / For The Post / [email protected] A new upperclassmen residence hall should be available on South Green for Fall Quarter, but if the building is not completed on time, renovations to other residence halls could be pushed back, university officials said. Lincoln Hall, which is scheduled for renovation at the start of next year, could remain open to house residents until the new hall is available, but students who are assigned to Lincoln would be given new assignments after its closure. The addition of a new residence hall will allow the university to take buildings offline for renovations. A proposed $100 million construction plan to renovate 12 residence halls, first introduced at the Dec. 1 Board of Trustees meeting, would send one or two halls offline each year until 2015, according to a Dec. 4 Post story. The addition of the new residence hall's 305 beds and the loss of Lincoln Hall's 204 beds will result in 146 additional beds. There are 7,307 students living in residence halls. Full article at http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/01/22/news/17121.html

Both from the 1/19/07 (OU) Post: OU presents campus plans Laura Bernheim / Staff Writer / [email protected] Ohio University officials gave students, faculty and the administrators an opportunity yesterday to participate in plans that could reshape the Athens campus over the next 10 years. University Planning & Implementation held an open forum to discuss a toolkit that contains information and data from studies involving on- and off-campus housing and space needs for academic purposes. “I have no problem finding needs on campus,” said Pam Callahan, university planner. “Our revenue just isn’t what it used to be, and that’s why this process is so necessary.” Students, faculty and administrators walked through Walter Hall Rotunda yesterday afternoon to view presentation boards that illustrated some of the drastic changes that could be in store for OU. Callahan gave a PowerPoint presentation to about 30 people at 4:30 p.m. http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/01/19/news/17105.html

From the 1/16/07 (OU) Post: PHOTO: The new roadway, scheduled to be completed in 2008 with offer Athens' citizens easier access to the new Baker Center from Richland Avenue Amanda Yezerski / Infograph Designer / [email protected] Road to new Baker to pave over Anderson Lab David Hendricks / [email protected] Construction of a road from Richland Avenue to the new Baker University Center is slated for completion in October 2008, a university official said. To improve access to the new center with the road, Ohio University is also demolishing the Anderson Laboratory building and constructing a $5.7 million expansion to Porter Hall. “It’s a challenge for the public to get there,” said John Kotowski, associate vice president for facilities. The project’s goal is better access to Porter, Baker and Bird Arena for the general public and service vehicles, he said. http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/01/16/news/16754.html

From the 1/11/07 Athens News: Communication school explores likely move to old Baker By David DeWitt Athens NEWS Campus Reporter Thursday, January 11th, 2007 Currently spread out among various campus buildings, Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication is working on finding a common home in the old Baker Center. The college has hired The Collaborative Inc., an architectural firm based in Toledo, to do a preliminary study to analyze the college's program needs and the structural soundness of Baker. The firm has been doing hands-on engineering and architectural research since August and has visited with faculty. Old Baker's purpose as a student center was transferred to the new Baker University Center earlier this month. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27018

From the 1/10/07 (OU) Post: PHOTO: Students returned from break to a different sight on Jeff Hill as the uneven and missing bricks that characterized the campus landmark were replaced by straw to foster the growth of grass. Stephanie Ramsay / For The Post / [email protected] Uprooting 100 years of history Dianne Selden / Staff Writer / [email protected] The de-bricking of Jeff Hill, the eastern end of Union Street, might represent a city-wide shift away from brick streets, Street Department Director Andy Stone said. Brick streets will be maintained around Court Street and the central business district, but other brick city streets will slowly shift to asphalt when the bricks deteriorate, Stone added. The Jeff Hill bricks were removed before students returned from Winter Intercession and were replaced by straw matting for $3,200, Stone said. The locally made bricks had been in place on Jeff Hill since about 1900 and had special beveled edges to accommodate horses, Stone said. Sloped city streets, such as the north end of Court Street, will be repaired with Jeff Hill’s old bricks, Stone added. Full article at http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/01/10/news/16696.html

From the 1/8/07 Athens News: 'Jeff Hill' unbricked, but its future still undecided By Nick Claussen Athens NEWS Associate Editor Monday, January 8th, 2007 All of the bricks have been removed from what used to be Jeff Hill on East Union Street, but city officials have not decided yet what will happen with the old road. The roadway was closed to traffic several years ago, but always has enjoyed a large amount of pedestrian traffic. The name Jeff Hill is short for Jefferson Hill, which refers to the large Ohio University dorm at the bottom of the hill. OU students walk up and down the roadway often throughout the day. Ray Hazlett, Athens service/safety director, said Friday that the roadway was in bad condition, so the city took out the bricks and planted grass. "It became a safety hazard," Hazlett said. City officials had been discussing what to do with the hill for some time, but putting a fence around the road was not feasible and would look bad, and taking out the bricks made the most sense, Hazlett said. Full article at http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=26986

From the 1/7/07 Dispatch: PHOTO: Multiple escalators transport students and faculty members inside Ohio University’s new five-story Baker Center, 1 Park Place. The center includes a restaurant, a coffeehouse, lots of lounge space and a shop with OU-themed items. CHRIS RUSSELL DISPATCH PHOTOS PHOTO: "This building brings a new face to campus," said senior Chad Silver, one of many students impressed with the new Baker Center. Nestled into a hillside, it connects upper and lower campus. All that and escalators, too Ohio U.’s brand-new student center is packed with amenities Sunday, January 07, 2007 Mary Beth Lane THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH ATHENS, Ohio — Fun fact about the new student center at Ohio University: It is the only building in Athens County that has escalators. That’s not all it has, but everyone from students to President Roderick McDavis mentioned the moving staircases as the new, $60 million Baker University Center opened last week. "I thought it looked like a mall, with all the escalators," Megan Baldwin said approvingly. The clean, modern appearance of the building appeals to the 21-year-old senior from Defiance, who is majoring in organizational communication. "More people are going to use it now." Students got their first taste of the building when they returned from the holiday break Wednesday. More at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/07/20070107-C1-02.html

From the 1/4/07 Athens News: New center seems to be a hit with students By Jonathan Hunt Athens NEWS Writer Thursday, January 4th, 2007 It's cavernous, shiny and swank, and most Ohio University students and parents who strolled through the new Baker University Center seemed duly impressed. OU's posh new student center opened to the public Tuesday afternoon, drawing mostly favorable reviews from visitors and a general sense that such a building has rarely, if ever, been seen in Athens. "The architecture's very upbeat, and it's very nice," said sophomore Mat Pecikonis of Columbus. "It's very pretty," agreed his friend Kevin Ley, a sophomore from Springboro. "I think it's nice - a much-needed change," said sophomore Aundrea Dean of Cincinnati. Anne Lombard, OU's assistant vice president for student affairs and director of Baker University Center and campus life, watched as scores of people rode escalators and gazed around the five-story atrium. By combining an attractive place to study, eat or just hang out with enough office and conference space to house all student organizations, said Lombard, the university has added something of great value. Read more at http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=26972

From the 12/30/06 Athens Messenger: Jeff Hill to get new look CASEY S. ELLIOTT Staff Writer Ohio University students returning to class next week will see a new version of Jeff Hill in Athens. City employees are removing the bricks from the street and replacing them with dirt and grass. Jeff Hill is a steep hill located on East Union Street, nicknamed for OU's nearby Jefferson Hall. It has been closed to vehicles since a water break in 2002 that washed out a lot of soil and sand, making city officials uncertain of the safety of driving on the road. Estimated costs to repair the street exceed $275,000, which doesn't include costs for replacing water and sewer lines buried there. http://athensmessenger.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&ArticleID=2185

From the 12/21/06 Athens Messenger: Another Construction Accident ELIZABETH GOUSSETIS Messenger staff writer A worker was transported to the hospital Wednesday morning after falling from the rotunda of Ohio University's new Baker Center when the ladder he was standing on slid out from under him. Ed Kinzel, of Akron-based Thomarios Painting, was working on the top part of the rotunda when the extension ladder, which was leaning against the wall, fell. The accident happened at about 8 a.m. This is the second time in as many days a subcontractor has been injured working on a project on campus. In an unrelated incident, Steven Snyder, a Valley Interior carpenter, suffered leg injuries on Tuesday when an unsupported wall he was working on fell on him and knocked over the scaffolding he was standing on. Snyder was working on OU's new South Green dorm building. Snyder was listed in fair condition at Grant Medical Center in Columbus Wednesday. Read more at http://athensmessenger.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&ArticleID=2113

From the 12/20/06 Athens Messenger: Construction worker injured ELIZABETH GOUSSETIS Messenger staff writer A construction worker who was working on the new Ohio University dorm on South Green was injured Tuesday afternoon when an unsupported wall he was working on fell on him. Steven Snyder, of Valley Interior, was listed in fair condition at Grant Medical Center in Columbus this morning. Snyder suffered injuries to his right leg. According to an Ohio University police report, Snyder was injured at 1:50 p.m. when an unsupported cinder block wall fell and knocked over the scaffolding he was standing on. He was secured to a guardrail with a harness. Snyder was lowered to the ground from the top floor by a crane. http://athensmessenger.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&ArticleID=2106

From the 1/11/07 Johnstown Independent: Raccoon Creek Preliminary plat OK'd for The Shoppes Thursday, January 11, 2007 By MARLA K. KUHLMAN Independent Staff Writer The Johnstown Planning and Zoning Commission approved a new preliminary plat Jan. 3 for The Shoppes at Raccoon Creek being developed by L&P Properties, of Columbus. Larry Greenberg, representing L&P, said he purchased the property along U.S. Route 62 across from Westview Drive about four weeks ago. A previous preliminary plan for The Shoppes by Goldspike Investments LLC was approved by the commission in 2005 but expired. At last week's meeting, the approved preliminary plat included three lots on 10.66 acres that are zoned general community commercial district. Two lots front the property. The first proposed building would be 6,781 square feet on 0.95 acre and the other would be 12,900 square feet on 1.8 acres. The third lot, a strip center, is behind the property on 2.6 acres. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=johnstown&story=sites/thisweeknews/011107/Johnstown/News/011107-News-288662.html