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Link contains photos. From the 7/7/07 Blade: Seneca courthouse suit to proceed after plaintiffs reveal IDs By JENNIFER FEEHAN BLADE STAFF WRITER TIFFIN - A lawsuit aimed at stopping the demolition of the Seneca County Courthouse will be allowed to proceed because six county residents who filed the complaint identified themselves for the court yesterday. Visiting Judge Charles Wittenberg, who is retired from Lucas County Common Pleas Court, had said he would dismiss the suit if the anonymous plaintiffs did not reveal their names and addresses by noon yesterday. John Barga, a Tiffin attorney who is representing the group, said at least seven other people contacted him last week saying they would be willing to put their names on the lawsuit if necessary, "but my original six clients decided they would step forward in spite of any criticism or public attack that they might receive." The plaintiffs - Nancy L. Cook, S. Rayella Engle, Lenora M. Livingston, Adams A. Engle, and Douglas E. Collar, all of Tiffin, and Jacqueline A. Fletcher, of Republic, Ohio - are all active in local historic preservation efforts. Full story: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070707/NEWS17/707070404/-1/RSS08

From the 7/7/07 DDN: Plans to renovate concourse at Dayton International on hold By John Nolan Staff Writer Saturday, July 07, 2007 DAYTON — Dayton International Airport's plan to renovate and reopen a concourse that has been closed for more than a decade is on hold because state money initially promised to start the project wasn't budgeted. That derailed the plan of Dayton's aviation director, Iftikhar Ahmad, to develop gates in Concourse D and try to win a federal commitment to assign staff there for an inspection station that could provide customs service for international passengers. He estimates it would cost $5 million to fully renovate and reopen the concourse, but said that $2.5 million would be sufficient to prepare enough space to make it easier to seek new flight service for the airport. In April, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher announced the state's intention to provide a $2.5 million grant to help Dayton International renovate and reopen its third concourse, shut down since a former Piedmont Airlines/US Air flight hub closed in 1992. State lawmakers ultimately did not include that money in Ohio's new two-year budget because the Dayton Development Coalition and local public officials did not include the airport project among a list of regional priorities for state funding, House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, said. Full article at http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/07/07/ddn070707airport.html

From the 7/7/07 Enquirer: Tri-County getting theme park Krazy City will fill part of former J.C. Penney BY MIKE BOYER | [email protected] SPRINGDALE - Krazy City, a family-oriented indoor theme park with a full-service restaurant, plans to open in Tri-County Mall early next year. Pomona, N.Y.-based Advantage Entertainment Centers Inc. said Friday it has leased 50,000 square feet vacated last year by J.C. Penney on the second level of the mall. Krazy City features rides, such as an 18,000-square-foot electric go-kart track, a nine-hole miniature golf course, a two-thirds-scale bowling alley, a build-it yourself toy factory and an assortment of arcade and prize-redemption games. "Cincinnati is the type of market that meets our criteria for family entertainment. Our key demographic is kids 14 and under," said Joseph Moore, president of Advantage, which opened its first Krazy City location in West Nyack, N.Y., last year and is opening in two more malls in New York and Connecticut this fall. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070707/BIZ01/707070327/

From the 7/6/07 Blade: Toledo water supply problems hold up Lost Peninsula development By BENJAMIN ALEXANDER-BLOCH BLADE STAFF WRITER ERIE - The development of 360 condominiums along the Lost Peninsula Marina is being held up while developers seek to boost the water supply from the city of Toledo. The peninsula is in Erie Township, just north of the Ohio-Michigan line, and the only way to access it by land is through Toledo. Bloomfield Township resident Mel Belovich and Chris Connolly already own about 550 docks along their parcel's 2.5 miles of exterior and interior water frontage. They are completing the final touches on their $2.5 million upgrade that includes a new 6,500-square-foot clubhouse, 2,000-square-foot pool, hot tub, paved roads, and landscaping. More at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/NEIGHBORS05/707050363

From the 7/6/07 Blade: Proposed committee for Sylvania, Sylvania Township merger is experienced By JANET ROMAKER BLADE STAFF WRITER Candidates for a possible Sylvania merger commission include business leaders, former elected officials, and other residents of the city of Sylvania and Sylvania Township who are active in community boards, organizations, and committees. Introduced last week by One Sylvania, the 10 candidates would serve on a merger commission if voters give the go- ahead this fall. One Sylvania, a group of community residents interested in further study of a possible merger, last week began circulating petitions in an effort to get the issue on the November general election ballot. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/NEIGHBORS05/707050344

From the 7/7/07 Enquirer: Liberty Twp. retail/condos on hold Developer wants to build center, 48 units along Ohio 747 BY SUE KIESEWETTER | ENQUIRER CONTRIBUTOR LIBERTY TWP. - A request for a zoning change that would add a retail center along Ohio 747 has been tabled for now. The project is proposed for a 10-acre site along the east side of Ohio 747 between Millikin and Kyles Station roads. Behind the 20,000-square-foot retail building, Todd Homes LLC plans to construct 48 condominiums, said Todd Hall, managing member. "We'd like to begin construction in spring 2008 on the residential," Hall said. "The land-use plan calls for transitional in that area so we would put the retail along Ohio 747 and the condos behind it." To do the project the way he envisions it, Hall said, his firm is requesting a zone change from business and residential to planned business and planned residential. The zoning change would allow him more flexibility in the placement of buildings and give the township more say on other aspects of the project. Last month the board of zoning appeals denied Hall's request for four variances related to setbacks and other matters, said Andrew Meyer, Liberty Township's senior zoning coordinator/planner. Until some proposed language changes are finalized, the matter would temporarily remain tabled at Hall's request, Meyer said. "I want to move forward as soon as possible," Hall said. The project, to be called Landings of Liberty Village, would include 48, mostly brick, ranch and two-story condominiums in the $150,000 to $170,000 price range. Buildings would contain two to eight units. Each condo would be 1,600 to 1,800 square feet, containing either two or three bedrooms. About 39 percent of the land would be set aside as open space. A fountain and gazebo are also planned for the site. No tenants for the retail portion have been identified yet, Hall said. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070707/NEWS01/707070397/1056/COL02

From the 7/7/07 Kentucky Post: Growth puts schools deep in hole By Tom O'Neill Post staff reporter Boone County School Superintendent Bryan Blavatt knows Frankfort's political landscape is as treacherous as a field full of holes. This isn't just any hole, though. Specifically, it's the one on Longbranch Road between Union and Burlington, where the district has finished excavating for a new elementary school but can do little more until more funding is secured for the project. Read more here: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AE/20070707/NEWS02/707070328/

From the 7/5/07 Yellow Springs News: Antioch College staff anticipated layoffs, but grieve anyway By Lauren Heaton Few of the 21 Antioch College employees who were laid off last week due to budgetary constraints were surprised about the decision. But many find it difficult to leave a place whose mission to prepare young people to change the world they believe in wholeheartedly. More at http://www.ysnews.com/stories/2007/07/070507_layoffs.html

From the 7/7/07 Springfield News-Sun: Judge rules wind test towers can stay By Rick Rouan Staff Writer Friday, July 06, 2007 URBANA — Two wind test towers built in Champaign County this year can stay up for now after a decision Friday in a case filed by neighbors of one of the towers. Champaign County Common Pleas Judge Roger Wilson Friday ruled that the towers, on Talbot and Ault roads, can stay up while the permits that allowed them to be built are appealed. Wilson Friday also declined to grant motions from two power companies' attorneys to dismiss the case. Champaign County residents Bob and Diane McConnell appealed to Wilson's court the decision by the Union Twp. Zoning Commission to allow New York-based wind energy developer Everpower to build a wind test tower on property adjacent to the McConnells' Ault Road land. They also appealed a permit for construction of a test tower near Talbot Road by Chicago-based Invenergy. Full article at http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/07/06/sns070707decision.html

From the 7/7/07 Fostoria Review Times: No news is good news with TK closing By RUSS ZIMMER staff writer While the parent company of a major employer is not ready to decide its Fostoria fate, negative factors are being noticed in the competition. ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft announced in November 2006 plans to consolidate their machining operations in either Fostoria or Danville, Ill. But Jeff Baker, labor and employee relations manager for ThyssenKrupp, said almost eight months later no decision is imminent... http://www.reviewtimes.com/News/backissues/2007/Jul/ar_news_070707.asp#story5

From the 7/7/07 Dispatch: Mortgage probe expands Dann checking whether credit-rating agencies played a role in fraud Saturday, July 7, 2007 3:28 AM By James Nash THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann said yesterday that his office is investigating whether three credit-rating agencies bear any responsibility for fraud committed by high-risk mortgage lenders. Dann said he is expanding his inquiry into mortgage fraud to include credit-rating agencies Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch. The rating agencies profit whenever an investment bank creates a subprime loan pool and continues to rate its securities triple-A, Dann said. The rating agencies thus became participants in fraud against investors -- such as Ohio pension systems -- that would shy away from lower-rated investments, Dann said. ... More at: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/07/07/SUBPRIME.ART_ART_07-07-07_C10_EQ77JKT.html?type=rss&cat=7

From the 7/7/07 Blade: Dana, 2 unions cut deal to save $100M annually By JON CHAVEZ BLADE BUSINESS WRITER Clearing a big hurdle toward exiting bankruptcy, Toledo's Dana Corp. yesterday announced an agreement with its two largest unions that will save it more than $100 million a year. The agreement will set up independent trust funds to provide health care coverage to its unionized retirees nationwide. The deal calls for Dana to contribute $780 million to the trust funds and ends the company's obligation for retiree health care. But how much those benefits for retirees will change is uncertain. About 16,400 retirees are covered. The agreement, subject to membership ratification and U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval, extends for four years labor contracts, to June, 2011, with the United Auto Workers and United Steelworkers. MORE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070707/BUSINESS03/707070411/-1/RSS04 From Bloomberg, 7/7/07: UAW-Dana health plan could become model BLOOMBERG NEWS SERVICE The United Auto Workers' agreement with bankrupt auto-parts maker Dana Corp. on an independent retiree health-care fund may be another sign that the union will accept a similar deal with General Motors Corp. or Ford Motor Co. The UAW and United Steelworkers unions will administer the new fund to help Dana exit court protection. The Steelworkers in December agreed to a similar fund at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., a plan that GM and Ford executives have said they're studying. MORE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070707/BUSINESS03/707070368/-1/RSS04

From the 7/6/07 Enquirer: Target coming to S. Lebanon THE ENQUIRER SOUTH LEBANON – A 126,000 square-foot Target store is the latest retailer to commit to the new Rivers Crossing power center development north of Ohio 48 here. Mayor James Smith said today the retailer will present final plans for the new store, expected to open late next year, at Tuesday’s village planning commission meeting. The new store will join the under construction Kohl’s store and Lowe’s home improvement store as anchors for the mixed use development by Bear Creek Capital LLC and partner CBL & Associates. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/BIZ01/307060016/1076/rss01

Smith Foundation to demolish neglected OTR properties Building Cincinnati, 7/3/07 The Smith Foundation has applied for demolition permits to demolish five buildings in Over-the-Rhine. On the chopping block are 208-214 W Liberty Street and 1711-1713 Elm Street. The properties on Elm were built around 1880. 212 Liberty was built around 1865 and 214 Liberty was built around 1885. 208 Liberty is a newer commercial space. This is property of Smith Foundation Properties (Gale Smith), which began buying properties in the early 2000s. The purpose was to rehabilitate the buildings in one of Over-the-Rhine's worst stretches and to make them a viable part of a new, revitalized Over-the-Rhine. Instead, the strategy appears to have been to let the buildings disintegrate and then to demolish them. No plans for redevelopment of the newly-created vacant lots or any of Smith's other properties in the immediate area have surfaced. According to its website* , Gale Smith is the President and Treasurer of the Smith Family Foundation, which is a non-profit serving the needs of local youth. The Smith Family Foundation offices are on the 200 block of W Liberty Street. WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE VIEW GOOGLE AERIAL MAP * The website looks like it hasn't been updated in a while. This seems pretty commonplace with non-profits' websites. http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/07/smith-foundation-to-demolish-neglected.html

Deters is dropping lawsuit challenging tax By Juliann Vachon | Post staff reporter An Independence attorney said he is dropping a lawsuit challenging an insurance premium tax he deems discriminatory to keep Kenton County Fiscal Court from implementing a county-wide tax. Eric Deters filed the lawsuit on March 9 in Kenton Circuit Court questioning the constitutionality of an 8 percent insurance premium tax that applies only to residents of the unincorporated area of Kenton County. Approved in February, the tax applies to all insurance premiums except for health and life policies and policies on equipment for farms or agricultural businesses. Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmondson, who serves as legal aid to the fiscal court, said in March that the fiscal court would assess the tax across the entire county if Deters won the case. Read full article here: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AE/20070706/NEWS02/707060344/

Model Property Development seeking federal funds for fourteen-building rehab Building Cincinnati, 7/3/07 Model Property Development has applied for Low Income Housing Tax Credits to rehabilitate 14 buildings in the West End and Avondale. The federal tax credits, which are distributed in Ohio through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA), are awarded each year for 10 years. The housing credit can be deducted from the building owner's federal taxable income. Model plans to use the funds to rehabilitate up to 72 low-income units at 1722-1730 and 2016 Baymiller Street; 945 Findlay Street; 1921-1923 Freeman Avenue; 849 and 1018 York Street in the West End; and 808 Cleveland Avenue in Avondale. The total project cost is $12.3 million. On June 6, City Council passed a resolution supporting the application. Council support improves the project's score in the OHFA assessment system. The OHFA is scheduled to announce the accepted applicants on August 1. http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/07/model-property-development-seeking.html FHL Bank awards $600,000 for Lebanon housing project Cincinnati Business Courier, 7/6/07 The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati is awarding $10.8 million in affordable housing grants for Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. One $600,000 grant was made in the Tri-State to help construct a 12-unit apartment building to serve very low-income, homeless people with special needs in Lebanon. The grant was awarded to New Housing Opportunities of Lebanon, through People's Community Bank of West Chester. The $1.1 million project also will be financed with a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Supportive Housing Program grant and a grant from People's Community. The tenants will have access to transportation and credit counseling and budgeting help, and a tenant organization will be formed. Peoples Community Bank will provide a construction loan, and will provide a cash contribution for the project.

NAPOLEON - HENRY COUNTY Crowd attends YMCA exploration meeting Defiance Crescent-News, 6/22/07 Some 20 individuals from various groups attended the second Napoleon YMCA exploration meeting organized by city resident Mike Cass. The meeting at 114 W. Washington St. served to continue organizing a group which will evaluate the possibility of bringing a YMCA to the city. Regional representatives of the Kiwanis club attended the meeting to offer their services in helping bring the YMCA to Napoleon. They report that local Kiwanis clubs often work with the YMCA in both programming and fund-raising efforts. The YMCA group plans to hold another meeting July 26 at 6 p.m. A YMCA representative is expected to be on hand to provide guidelines for evaluating the feasibility of starting a YMCA.

From the 7/5/07 Sun Courier: New developments Brecksville Road Realty and city are ending lawsuit Thursday, July 05, 2007 By Mike Kezdi The Sun Courier BRECKSVILLE City Council has authorized Mayor Jerry Hruby to sign an agreement that will end a lawsuit between the city and Brecksville Road Realty. Brecksville Road Realty had sought to rezone about 102 acres of the former B.F. Goodrich property at the southwest corner of Hillsdale Road and Parkview Drive from office/laboratory to residential... http://www.cleveland.com/suncourier/news/index.ssf?/base/news-0/118352253088990.xml&coll=4 Ruling will allow retail on Route 82 Sun Star, 7/5/07 A group of residents who took their battle to the Ohio Supreme Court in hopes of saving 49 acres of undeveloped land has lost their case. Three members of a citizens group called Save Our Unique Land tried to stop development of the wooded site on Royalton Road, adjacent to Interstate 71, that would result in retail stores on the acreage by Visconsi Companies... P&Z asks builder to enlarge lot sizes Chagrin Herald Sun, 7/5/07 The Planning and Zoning Commission wants developer William Joyce to enlarge lot sizes on his concept drawing for Holbrook Estates. The 14-home development is proposed off the north side of Holbrook Road...

From the 7/6/07 Youngstown Vindicator: Official unfazed by halt of drive The campaign intended to reform school funding in Ohio. By HAROLD GWIN VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER YOUNGSTOWN — Shelley Murray sees the decision to halt a campaign to get a school-funding constitutional amendment on the November ballot as a temporary setback. "It doesn't mean we're not going to pursue it again later," said Murray, a member of the Youngstown school board who spearheaded the local arm of the campaign to get the matter before the voters Nov. 6. The ballot issue was designed to correct Ohio's unconstitutional school-funding system by gradually increasing the state share of public education. It would have made a high-quality public education the right of every child in the state. http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/297380807407893.php

From Olentangy Valley News, 7/4/07: Powell's growth matchless in Ohio City grows 83.2 percent in six years since 2000 By MICHELLE BOLLMAN It is no surprise that Powell's quaint community has been attracting numerous families over the last few years. Now the numbers prove it. Recently released information from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Powell's population increased at a greater rate than any other city in Ohio between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2006. At the beginning of the new millennium, Powell had an estimated population of 6,723. On July 1 of last year, the city had an estimated population of 11,494 -- an 83.2 percent growth rate over six years. MORE: http://www.snponline.com/NEWS7-4/7-4_ovpowellcensus.html From ThisWeek Olentangy, 7/5/07: Trustees oppose Target, seek meeting Thursday, July 5, 2007 KELLEY YOUMAN TRUXALL ThisWeek Staff Writer Liberty Township Trustees agreed Monday night that they oppose a proposed Golf Village Target store but are divided on how much power they believe they have to stop it. Target last month submitted site engineering plans to Powell for a 132,360-square-foot store on 18.8 acres at the southeast corner of Sawmill Parkway and Home Road. While the potential Target site is in Powell, Liberty trustee Peggy Guzzo thinks the township should be allowed to review the application. She said this would be allowed under the terms of the CEDA (cooperative economic development agreement) reached between the township and city regarding annexation south of Home Road. Trustees Monday approved a motion 2-1 seeking a meeting with Powell officials to review the CEDA agreement and talk about Target's potential impact. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/070507/Powell/News/070507-News-381984.html

From the 7/6/07 Enquirer: Alleged bridge rapist: No deal THE ENQUIRER A man accused of a three-day crime spree that ended with the abduction and rape of a woman on the Purple People Bridge turned down a plea deal with prosecutors – which means the case will go to trial next month. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/NEWS01/307060018/-1/rss

From the 7/6/07 Dispatch: No explosives found Bomb squad responds to 6 calls Checking packages delayed commuters Friday, July 6, 2007 3:27 AM By Encarnacion Pyle THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A sixth suspicious package closed Downtown streets late last night and tested authorities' last nerves after hours of chasing one report after another. Columbus police said video captured two men leaving a gift-wrapped package at the Ohio Department of Education headquarters, on Front Street near Broad Street. A Fire Division bomb squad cut the red-and-white package open after a robot scanned it and determined it did not contain a bomb. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/07/06/bscare.ART_ART_07-06-07_B1_UF77COU.html?type=rss&cat=21

From the 7/6/07 Enquirer: August date set for Wal-Mart public hearing BY BRENNA R. KELLY | [email protected] Opponents of a planned Wal-Mart Supercenter in Florence say they will be ready when Boone County Planning Commission holds a hearing on the plan Aug. 1. On Thursday, the commission set the new date after the scheduled hearing was canceled last week. Read more here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070706/NEWS0103/707060380/

From the 7/6/07 DDN: SCLC takes Wright-Pat fight to Congress Organization alleges systemic discrimination at WPAFB. Plans prayer action rally for Saturday. By Ryan Justin Fox Staff Writer Friday, July 06, 2007 The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is still trying to take its fight against alleged systemic discrimination at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to Congress as it plans another prayer action rally Saturday outside the base... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/07/06/ddn070607sclc.html

From the 7/6/07 Marysville Journal-Tribune: Wind farms not planned Other counties in area have better conditions By MAC CORDELL The immense silhouette of rotating propellors could soon define the skyline of northwestern Ohio. Unlike the quaint windmills that dot the landscape of our fairy tales, these newer, sleeker wind turbines stand nearly 400 feet tall, and occupy very little ground space. Already a staple of the western United States, talk is mounting about construction of several of the utility-grade wind turbines in Logan and Champaign Counties. Earlier this year, Dennis Elliott, principal research scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, released a statement indicating that many portions of Ohio were windier than previously believed, causing utility companies to take another look at the Buckeye State. More at http://www.marysvillejt.com/web/index.php