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From the 5/26/07 Blade: NOVEMBER ELECTION TARTA may ask voters for 1.5-mill levy A levy asking voters' continued approval of a 1.5-mill operating levy for the TARTA bus system could go on the ballot in November. The finance committee of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority board of trustees yesterday recommended seeking a replacement 10-year levy. The existing 1.5-mill levy was last approved in 1997. As a replacement, it would result in additional revenue because it would be applied to current property values, rather than the property values in place 10 years ago. The new levy would generate about $10 million a year, up from the $7.5 million generated by the current levy. "This levy is critical to our continuing operations," said James Gee, TARTA general manager. "Essentially, it would be for continuation of the current service." The issue now moves to the full board, which meets June 7. The campaign for a replacement levy comes as TARTA is facing a potential revolt among its member communities. MORE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070526/NEWS11/705260394/-1/NEWS

Wow...cutting it a little close, aren't you Rando?

Cool.

From the 6/4/07 Athens News: Big student complex hits a few bumps in approval process By Jim Phillips Athens NEWS Senior Writer Monday, June 4th, 2007 Athens' law director has asked a judge to throw out a legal appeal filed by three city residents that challenges the city's issuance of a permit for a planned housing development off Richland Avenue. That permit, meanwhile, reportedly was revoked by the city last week, though apparently this was done based on a technical problem that can be fixed. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=28428

From the 5/17/07 Athens News: Stimson Avenue student housing project still a go By Nick Claussen Athens NEWS Associate Editor Thursday, May 17th, 2007 The Summit at Coates Run project is getting a lot of attention in Athens because it is being built as a single building, eliminating the need for approval from Athens City Council. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=28278

From the 5/8/07 Athens Messenger: Residents file appeal over planned development CASEY S. ELLIOTT Staff Writer Neighbors of a proposed student apartment complex in Athens have filed a court appeal seeking to stop development of the project. Greenbriar Drive residents Don and Joyce Lambert and Beechwood Drive resident Mark Heflin filed an appeal in Athens County Common Pleas Court. The controversial project, called The Summit at Coates Run, would be built behind the Ohio University Inn off Richland Avenue. http://athensmessenger.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&ArticleID=3454

From the 3/22/07 Athens News: Student-apartment developer withdraws plans; now what? By Nick Claussen Athens NEWS Associate Editor Thursday, March 22nd, 2007 Developers planning a student-housing apartment complex on Richland Avenue across the street from the University Courtyard complex have withdrawn one set of plans, and apparently will try to get a separate set of plans approved without a vote from Athens City Council. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27716

From the 3/15/07 Athens News: As council prepares to vote on south-side project, developers may change plans By Nick Claussen Athens NEWS Associate Editor Thursday, March 15th, 2007 Athens City Council is on track to vote on a south-side student-housing development in April, but by the time the vote is held, the developer may have changed plans for the project so a vote will not be required. Edwards Communities is proposing to build the Summit at Coates Run apartment complex on the ridgetop on Richland Avenue just across the street from the University Courtyard apartment complex and between the Ohio University Inn, Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center and Carriage Hill Apartments. In February, Rich Kirk of Edwards Communities said the plans called for a project that would have 257 apartment units and a total of 878 beds, along with a clubhouse building and room for eventual commercial development. Last week, the developers introduced a second set of plans for one large building that would still house roughly the same number of students. Because this proposal involves just one building, it's not a planned unit development (PUD) and therefore does not require approval from Athens City Council. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27664

From the 3/8/07 Athens News: Will developer try to get project approved as single building? By Nick Claussen Athens NEWS Associate Editor Thursday, March 8th, 2007 The developers behind a large apartment project planned for Richland Avenue have been pushing for Athens City Council to vote on the matter, but now they may have found a way to have their project approved without a vote. The development is the Summit at Coates Run apartment complex, which is planned for the hillside on Richland Avenue just across the street from the University Courtyard complex and between the Ohio University Inn, Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center and Carriage Hill Apartments. At a Feb. 27 Athens City Council committee meeting, developer Rich Kirk of Edwards Communities asked council to move quickly on the project. He is proposing a development that would have 257 apartment units, with a total of 878 beds. At that time, Kirk was proposing a development with several building, along with a clubhouse and space for eventual commercial development. Read more at http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27571

From the 3/1/07 Athens News: Council balks at developer's push for quick vote on big south-side project By Nick Claussen Athens NEWS Associate Editor Thursday, March 1st, 2007 The developer of a proposed Richland Avenue apartment complex asked Athens City Council members on Tuesday to schedule a vote quickly on his project, but they said they need more information and would not schedule a vote. To say the project is controversial is an understatement, as a wide variety of opinions were offered about the proposal at an Athens City Council committee meeting Tuesday evening. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27513

From the 3/1/07 DDN: National City shifting some jobs to India The banking chain won't say how many of its 2,200 Dayton-area jobs in mortgage operations will go overseas. By John Nolan Staff Writer Thursday, March 01, 2007 MIAMISBURG — National City Corp. will transfer an undisclosed number of jobs from its Dayton-area mortgage operations to India. "We can confirm that a decision has been made to outsource certain functions in Miamisburg," company spokesman Chris Kemper said Wednesday in a prepared statement. "While it is possible that some job impacts may occur, National City is absolutely dedicated to doing all we can to minimize employee impacts." Kemper also said National City plans to offer the affected employees other jobs within the company. The changes could take months to complete, Kemper said. Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/03/01/ddn030107natcity.html

From the 6/11/07 Canton Repository: Illegal alien here hoped for Congressional help BY KELLI YOUNG REPOSITORY STAFF WRITER NORTH CANTON Lidia is caught between two lives - one where she can freely drive a car and work, and one that promises better opportunities for her three sons. She dreams of watching her three boys - the twins are 12, and the youngest is 10 - attend college, get jobs and raise families. But she must watch from the shadows if the family continues to live in Stark County. As an illegal immigrant from Mexico, Lidia can't always attend her sons' activities. She can't drive them to appointments because she can't get a driver's license. And she can't help earn money for their college tuition because she can't get a job. The Repository has agreed not to disclose Lidia's last name to protect her identity. MORE: http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=359297

From the 6/10/07 Dispatch: Illegals face varying policies Some jurisdictions don't call feds in minor offenses Sunday, June 10, 2007 3:43 AM By Stephanie Czekalinski DISPATCH FRONTERAS When an illegal immigrant gets stopped for speeding or a missing taillight, he might get a ticket -- or an order to leave the country. It all depends where he is driving. As Congress struggles to pass comprehensive immigration legislation, law-enforcement agencies in central Ohio are left to develop their own policies on dealing with people they suspect are in the country illegally. Local police cannot enforce federal immigration laws, so they either can hand the immigrant a citation and send him on his way or call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and hold him until they get there. The result is a patchwork of policies. "It's sort of the luck of the draw," said Cmdr. Jeff Blackwell of the Columbus Police Division. "In minor crimes, we simply don't have the manpower to contact ICE on every person we encounter who doesn't have proper ID and may or may not be illegal." Blackwell said that has more to do with money and staffing than an attitude about someone's immigration status. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/06/10/ice.ART_ART_06-10-07_B1_T36VSCD.html?type=rss&cat=21

Link contains photos. From the 6/11/07 Hillsboro Times-Gazette: Smoking ban opposed Proposal would allow tavern owners to apply for smoking permit By KATIE WRIGHT The Times-Gazette A statewide proposal that would exempt some taverns from the Ohio Smoking Ban has local bar owners chomping at the bit to sign their names onto it, in hopes of restoring smoking privileges to their flagging businesses. The proposal, which comes eight months after the statewide ban on smoking that was approved overwhelmingly by voters last fall, would enable taverns to apply for a smoking license if their food sales do not exceed 10 percent of their overall income. Several Highland County bar owners are gearing up to campaign for the proposal, saying the majority of their customers would support it in a moment. "The smoking ban affected us very negatively," said Kyle Handlin, who runs Ye Old Tavern in Hillsboro. "We're a small business and food is a very small percentage of our sales. I can understand banning smoking in restaurants, but to ban it in places like ours is crazy." Read more: http://www.timesgazette.com/main.asp?SectionID=18&SubSectionID=175&ArticleID=144921

From the 6/10/07 PD: School financing plan has support Amendment favored in statewide survey Sunday, June 10, 2007 Scott Stephens Plain Dealer Reporter The legislature doesn't like it. The governor is cool to it. But regular Ohio residents strongly favor a constitutional amendment that would radically change the way the state pays for its public education system, according to a poll. http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/11814646277310.xml&coll=2 From the 6/10/07 Youngstown Vindicator: Voucher loophole triggers distress Officials say the program will cost the Liberty school district money. By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR. VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF LIBERTY — E.J. Blott Elementary School has been a part of the state's Educational Choice school voucher program for one year, and school officials say some parents have found a loophole in the program — a loophole that could cost the district thousands of dollars. Under the voucher program, the state will provide a $4,250 tuition voucher (or the actual tuition charged, whichever is lower) to the private school for each pupil enrolled under the program in kindergarten through the eighth grade. The voucher is $5,000 (or actual tuition, if it is lower) for grades nine through 12. http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/319063075000835.php

From the 6/9/07 Enquirer: Expanding schools send SOS Mason, others hurt by lack of funding for new students BY CINDY KRANZ | [email protected] School staffs and parents are lobbying legislators to amend the state budget to provide more money for high-growth school districts. District officials and residents from Lakota, Lebanon, Loveland, Mason and Milford have testified before the Senate Finance Committee and engaged in letter-writing campaigns to legislators. The high-growth districts are among 40 statewide that would receive no additional money for the next two years in the governor's proposed two-year budget. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070609/NEWS0102/706090402/

Council takes next step toward arts center ThisWeek Worthington, 6/7/07 "This may be an albatross around our necks, or it may be a stunning achievement." That was the summation offered by Worthington City Council member Dave Norstrom on Monday night as council took another step toward helping to build and operate an arts center to serve the Worthington school district. Before an audience of enthusiastic arts center supporters, council voted unanimously to move on to the next design step, and voted 6-1 to authorize the city to enter into a complex agreement that would share construction responsibilities between the city and the Worthington Arts Council. If all goes as presented on Monday, construction would begin on the addition and renovation of the old Packard Annex building in June, 2008. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/060707/Worthington/News/060707-News-368793.html

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From the 6/11/07 Dayton Business Journal: New home projects on deck for Greene County Dayton Business Journal - June 8, 2007 by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter Greene County is popping with plans for more housing with two new developments on tap in Beavercreek and Cedarville townships. Officials expect home construction to start this year on both projects, totaling 168 homes. Those projects are part of six new developments that will plant more than 1,000 homes in Greene County in the coming years. In spite of the downturn in the housing market, the area continues to bud with new developments. "Beavercreek has been a hotbed for residential housing," said Joe Harkleroad, president of Cedarville-based Brentwood Builders. "(And) the county is expanding to the east. There's no question about it." Greene County is attractive to builders because of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, new jobs expected to come there and due to the growth along the Interstate 675 corridor, said Walt Hibner, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Dayton and the Miami Valley. MORE: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/06/11/story5.html

From the 6/9/07 Enquirer: Zoning recommendation boosts development BY MIKE RUTLEDGE | [email protected] An office and retail development east of Turkeyfoot Road, across from Industrial Road, got a boost Thursday when the Kenton County Planning Commission recommended Independence officials rezone a 30-acre site from residential to a neighborhood commercial zone. Viox and Viox, on behalf of Eagle Development, has proposed a development with: - A pair of two-story office/retail buildings that together contain 92,000 square feet of first-floor and 40,000 square feet of office space. - 15,360-square-foot medical office. - 12,000-square-foot drug store. - About 10,800 square feet of restaurant space. - 4,200-square-foot convenience store with a gas station. - Another 6,200 square feet of office and retail space adjacent to the convenience store. - 3,000-square-foot bank. - A drive-through coffee shop or automatic banking machine. The planning commission recommended approval of the map change with a 15-1 vote, over the objections of about a dozen people who expressed concerns about traffic, living close to a commercial development and adequate screening and landscaping to separate the proposed development from nearby residences. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070609/NEWS0103/706090400/ Anderson Twp: Horizon Community Church project Building Cincinnati, 6/6/07 The proposed Horizon Community Church project will have a couple of public hearings this month. On June 7, the proposal will be reviewed by the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission (HCRPC). On June 18, the Anderson Township Zoning Commission will take those recommendations and hold a public hearing. Those recommendations will be passed along to the Board of Township Trustees. This item has not yet been added to their agenda. The purpose of these meetings is to rezone 117 acres from "H" Riverfront to "A-A CUP" Planned Residence, a zoning designation that allows churches. Horizon Community Church would then be allowed to erect a 160,000-square-foot* church and 1,200 space parking lot on the site of the former Indian Valley Golf Course. Building Cincinnati: Anderson Twp: Horizon Community Church project (5/8/07) * NOTE: Previous meetings in front of the HCRPC and the Hamilton County Rural Zoning Commission described a building of 210,000 square feet. Has this been scaled down? I don't know. http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/06/anderson-twp-horizon-community-church.html Fifth Third unit underwrites Mt. Healthy schools bonds Cincinnati Business Courier, 6/8/07 Mount Healthy students will get three new schools, thanks in part to a $33 million bond sales underwritten by Fifth Third Securities. The securities firm sold the notes issued by Mount Healthy City Schools under the Ohio School Facilities Commission Classroom Facilities Assistance Program, according to Andrew Brossart, vice president of public finance with Fifth Third Securities. The state funded 64 percent of the project, with the district paying for the remaining 36 percent. The Mount Healthy district plans to build two elementary schools and a junior/senior high school, replacing the six elementary schools and separate junior and senior high schools it now operates. Fifth Third Securities is a unit of Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB). Hearing is Tuesday about rec center Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/8/07 Loveland City Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday to determine whether to revive the proposal for a city recreation and aquatic center. Last month, Loveland voters rejected a proposed 0.2 percent income-tax increase that would have funded the $9.5 million center. The hearing will be at 8:30 p.m. in council chambers at the municipal building, 120 W. Loveland Ave. New high school on the way Kentucky Post, 6/7/07 When John Riehemann graduated from Lloyd Memorial High in 1980, the school was already outdated, its amenities - such as they were - a mirror of the Eisenhower era. Built in 1954, many of its classrooms only had one electrical outlet because the only use for them at the time was for a film projector. And the steam heating system required that the windows be opened when it kicked in. Fast forward the 27 years since Riehemann went off to college and a career. He's now the Lloyd principal, and the building on Bartlett Avenue in Erlanger keeps chugging along with all its limitations. Carry-out a hard sell for Madeira residents Suburban Life, 6/4/07 Some Madeira residents are up in arms about a potential carry-out business near their homes. They also expressed opposition to alcohol being sold at the site. The owner of a former gasoline station at Miami and Laurel avenues had requested a liquor license transfer to a carry-out, which would be located at Camargo Road and Camargo Greene Court. Residents came to the May 29 Madeira City Council meeting saying they didn't want a drive-through on their street. However, City Manager Tom Moeller said the business, which has not been built, would actually be a convenience store with a drive-up window on the side of the building.

Link contains photos. From the 6/9/07 Blade: NORTH TOLEDO MURDER Differing experts paint Jobe as scared kid, good liar By ROBIN ERB BLADE STAFF WRITER The decision about whether Robert Jobe should be tried as an adult for shooting a Toledo police detective to death wound through the field of clinical psychology yesterday as attorneys on both sides dissected the teenager's actions after the shooting. That he cleaned his gun with alcohol. That he munched on snacks during police questioning after his arrest. ... More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070609/NEWS02/706090394/-1/NEWS

From the 6/11/07 Dispatch: String of fires has Columbus neighbors on edge Teens, recent grads suspected in Northwest Side crimes Monday, June 11, 2007 3:26 AM By Suzanne Hoholik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ed Hackworth woke up early yesterday, glanced into his backyard and noticed something wrong with the trampoline. The jumping mat was gone. Someone had set it on fire overnight. Only the metal frame and some remnants of the blue edge pads remained. Several patches of grass underneath were black. He and his wife, Ruth, called the Columbus police and fire divisions. It wasn't until the Hackworths came back from church around noon yesterday that they realized that the fire set behind their Stancrest Road home was part of a larger pattern. Ten fires had been set in their Northwest Side neighborhood. Fire Division investigators think high-school students or recent graduates of nearby Worthington Kilbourne are the culprits because this has been a heavy weekend for end-of-the-year parties. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/06/11/fires.ART_ART_06-11-07_B1_OQ6VO3G.html?type=rss&cat=21

From the 6/10/07 Dispatch: City hopes 'john school' will curb prostitution Saturday classes will give men insight into their crime Sunday, June 10, 2007 3:43 AM By Mark Ferenchik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Men caught trying to pick up a prostitute in Columbus might soon find themselves in class. Dubbed "john school" in other cities, an eight-hour weekend course, to start next month in the Franklin County Courthouse, is designed to convince them that one conviction is enough. They'll learn about sexually transmitted diseases. They'll hear stories of johns who were robbed or killed. They'll learn how their search for sex fuels other neighborhood crime. And they'll listen to prostitutes' tales of drug addiction and other horrors. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/06/10/PROST.ART_ART_06-10-07_B1_T36VSCQ.html?type=rss&cat=21

Link contains photos. From the 6/9/07 Enquirer: Neighbors unite against bully With backing from police and city, block watch delivered the message BY KIMBALL PERRY | [email protected] Beth and Keith Greiner thought they had found the perfect neighborhood for their young family when they bought their Palos Street home April 1, 2003. It was on a quiet West Price Hill cul-de-sac with pretty, well-kept, older, affordable homes. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070609/NEWS01/706090357/

From the 6/11/07 Enquirer: Frugal Florence growing cash Mayor says surplus should keep city healthy for years BY BRENNA R. KELLY | [email protected] FLORENCE - While Boone County's budget for the next fiscal year includes about $3 million from the county's reserve fund to cover expenses, Florence plans to add more than $3 million to its reserves. Florence's $35.3 million budget for fiscal year 2008-09 will be bolstered by $5.6 million the city expects to take in through insurance and payroll taxes in the coming year. But that doesn't mean Florence will go on a spending spree. The new budget contains few new projects and eliminates one position. The city is trying to hold down expenses in hopes that the revenue from the tax increase will carry the city for the next nine to 10 years, said Finance Director Linda Chapman. View the full article here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070611/NEWS0103/706110374/1059/rss13