A capacity crowd attended last night’s Buckeye Bash at Winger’s on South Main in Bellefontaine.

The area’s biggest Ohio State-Michigan pregame party featured games, prizes, food, and fun throughout the evening.

Emcee Steve Freehauf and Buckeye Bash Coordinator Larry Middaugh put together several entertaining contests from 8-11 p.m.

Judy Kellogg of Bellefontaine won an Ohio State necklace compliments of Stephen’s Fine Jewelry.

Several other local companies donated prizes as well.

WPKO’s Ken Keller hosted a live broadcast, too.

The first 98 fans through the door received a free Buckeye Bash T-shirt.

Bill Tipple spoke with several Ohio State and Michigan fans about The Game.

Listen to their predictions.

You can see a couple of video highlights from the evening at the bottom of our home page.

Gary Kauffman, who’s never missed a Buckeye Bash, offered several photos from the evening.

Crews from the Logan County Engineer’s Office are progressing with the floor beam hanger repairs on the McColly Covered Bridge.

The historic bridge, located on County Road 13 between State Route 235 and Township Road 59, is scheduled to re-open on Wednesday at three p.m.

The roadway will be closed to all traffic during the final phase of repairs.

The engineer’s office has been working on the bridge for the last few weeks.

The Marysville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol has announced the recipients of the 2009 Trooper and 2009 Dispatcher of the Year Awards.

Trooper John D. Chaney, a four year veteran of the Patrol, has been selected as the 2009 Trooper of the Year at the Marysville Post.

The selection of Trooper Chaney is in recognition for his outstanding service during 2009 at the Marysville Post. Fellow officers and supervisors assigned at the Marysville Post chose Trooper Chaney based on his leadership abilities, professional ethics, courteous treatment of others, enthusiastic work attitude, and cooperation with supervisors, peers, and the public.

Trooper Chaney was placed in contention for the Piqua District, and State Trooper of the Year Awards, to be announced at a later date.

Trooper Chaney joined the Highway Patrol in 2005 and has served at the Toledo Post before transferring to the Marysville Post in 2007. Trooper Chaney is originally from Westerville and is a graduate of Westerville South High School and Otterbein College. Trooper Chaney is married and he and his wife reside in Franklin County.

Dispatcher Charles E. Williams, a 10 year veteran dispatcher for the Patrol, has been selected as the 2009 Dispatcher of the Year at the Marysville Post.

The selection of Dispatcher Williams is in recognition for his outstanding service during 2009 at the Marysville Post. Fellow dispatchers assigned at the Marysville Post chose Dispatcher Williams based on his professionalism, courteous treatment of others, knowledge and ability, enthusiastic work attitude, and cooperation with supervisors peers, and public.

Dispatcher Williams is in contention for the Piqua District, and State Dispatcher of the Year awards, to be announced at a later date.

Dispatcher Williams joined the Highway Patrol in 1999 and has served at the Marysville Post throughout his dispatching career. Dispatcher Williams is originally from Peoria, Ohio, and is a graduate of Marysville High School. He has also served the public as a deputy with the Union County Sheriff's Office from 1979 to 1995, where he attained the rank of Chief Deputy.

Dispatcher Williams resides in Union County with his wife and they have three children.

Detectives from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office arrested two area residents on drug-related charges after a traffic stop near Zanesfield yesterday afternoon around 5:30.

A westbound vehicle was stopped on Route 33 east of State Route 292.

Kendra Dysert, 23, and Eric Brite, 24, were each charged with possession of heroin, which is a fifth-degree felony.

Both of them live at 127 1/2 South Main Street, Ada.

Dysert (pictured, left) and Brite (pictured, below) were lodged in the Logan County Jail.

Authorities recovered about $360 worth of heroin.

Detectives continue their investigation and other charges are pending.

The Bellefontaine Police Department K-9 unit assisted at the scene.

The Ohio Hi-Point Career Center’s Taste of the Future Open House and Career Preview Expo was a big hit.

About 600 local residents toured the school last night to check out 18 different career tech programs.

Sophomores and their parents got a chance to visit labs and meet with Hi-Point teachers and students.

The Adult and Continuing Education Division was also showcased.

This program currently has about 3,000 students.

The career center’s high school satellite programs and career technical services like Animal Management were featured, too.

The Expo also included 7 local restaurants that provided menu samples.

Many folks bought a “tasting bracelet” for $3, and then enjoyed all-you-can-eat food from any of the restaurants (Donato’s, Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, Raymond House, Black Tie Cafe, The Whitmore House, Fazoli’s, and Hi-Point Inn). The money raised went towards the Ohio Hi-Point and Alumni and Friends Scholarship Funds.

Several prizes were given away, including an iPod Touch, Flip Cam, and $50 iTunes gift card.

Ohio Hi-Point Recruitment Placement Coordinator JoEtta Spain is urging prospective students to quickly complete their applications. Each Hi-Point program accepts about 25 students and the application deadline is mid-January.

Spain spoke with Bill Tipple about the event, including the importance of applying now.

Listen to her comments.

If you have questions about a program, contact Spain at 599-3010 or visit http://www.ohiohipoint.com/.

98.3 WPKO was live for most of the event. Here are some photos, including students being interviewed on the air.

Ohio’s youth deer-gun hunting season will be held Saturday and Sunday.

“The youth deer-gun hunting season provides young hunters the chance to experience the challenge of hunting and enjoy the outdoors with their families,” said David M. Graham, Chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. 

Young hunters killed 9,852 deer during last year’s two-day season. The Division of Wildlife anticipates more than 40,000 young hunters will participate in the upcoming hunt.

Hunters can share photos of their success in the field online by visiting wildohio.com and clicking on Photo Gallery. The photo submission process is easy and posted photos may be e-mailed to a friend.

The youth deer-gun season is open statewide to hunters 17 years old and younger. Hunters may take one deer of either sex during this season, in accordance with existing bag and deer-zone limits. Plugged shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, and bows are legal. All participants must wear hunter orange, possess a valid Ohio hunting license and a $12 youth-deer permit, and must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult in the field.

All other regularly scheduled hunting seasons will continue during the two-day youth season. However, other hunters, including deer-archery hunters, are required to wear hunter orange during this period.

This year, Ohio’s deer-gun season runs November 30th through December 6th, and the weekend of December 19th-20th. Details regarding Ohio’s various hunting seasons, including those exclusively for young hunters, can be found in the 2009-10 Ohio Hunting Regulations or by visiting wildohio.com.

Youth hunters that want to donate venison to the needy can do so at no cost. The Division of Wildlife is collaborating with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) to help pay for the processing of donated venison. All hunters who donate their deer to a food bank are not required to pay the processing cost as long as funding for the effort lasts. More information about this program can be found online at www.fhfh.org.

The 2009-2010 licenses will not be printed on weatherproof paper. Sportsmen and women should protect their licenses and permits from the elements by carrying them in a protective pouch or wallet.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

Deer hunting hours are half an hour before sunrise to sunset.

There are three deer check-in stations in the county, including the Bellefontaine Fire Department, Rushsylvania One Stop, and Lakeview Hardware.

The fire department will accept deer daily from 8-8.

The Rushsylvania One Stop will tag deer Monday through Thursday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lakeview Hardware will accept deer Monday through Saturday from 8-8 and Sunday from 10-4.

The Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities had its monthly meeting Thursday night at Bellefontaine High School’s Distance Learning Center at 5:00.

The board’s annual public forum was part of the night’s agenda, where each department presents their plans for the upcoming year.

Superintendent Joe Mancuso said the forum is required by the state. “We come up with goals based on the need we perceive from the people we serve.”

A resolution was passed that froze salaries for 2010 and Superintendent Mancuso said it’s because of the budget issues in the state that the salary freeze is in place. “It’s important that we look ahead at the fiscal future of the state, because we depend on them a lot for funding.”

The board also chose Board President Mike Sandlin as a delegate for the state’s Delegate Assembly, with Denyse Bayliss as the alternate. Boards from all 88 counties will have a delegate at the meeting and will vote on four different state resolutions, including one officially changing the board’s name to the Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Listen to Superintendent Mancuso talk about the public forum, the changes in the compensation plan, changes in policy and the delegate assembly.

After the board met, members then went over to the BHS cafeteria for RTC Industries’ holiday dinner. More than 300  people attended, with the Indian Lake Jazz Ensemble providing entertainment for the night.

The board meets again at 5:30 on January 16, 2010.

The atmosphere inside was warm despite the bone-chilling drizzle falling outside the Riverside School Board meeting Thursday night.

In the first meeting since voters passed the five-year 1.25% income tax operating levy earlier this month the board adjusted its projected five-year forecast, including the newly passed levy in its projections.

The tax will not take effect, however, until Jan. 1 and the district will not begin to see the revenue from that levy until April, according to Treasurer Paul Carpenter. When the district does begin to collect revenue, the initial gains will be modest, capping out at only $40,000 to start.

This operating levy was the first of its kind passed by the board since 1994.

Listen as Superintendent Jim Zerkle discusses the logistics of the newly-passed levy, as well the district’s obligation to voters who helped relieve some of the school’s financial burden.

Additional action taken by the board Thursday saw the group approve the hiring of Andy Phelps to serve as head varsity softball coach. Phelps will take over for long-time coach Rod Yoder, who resigned last summer.

The board also accepted donations from Tumbleweed Restaurant and Thompson, Dunlap and Heydinger, LTD to the Jennifer Birt Memorial Scholarship Fund; the pair of entities donated a total of $530 to the scholarship honoring Birt, who was killed in a car crash last June.

The board also accepted a $500 donation from Vic’s Country Cooking to the FFA.

The board will hold its last meeting of ‘09 when it meets again on Dec . 17.

The DeGraff Village Council cancelled their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday because of a lack of quarom.

Mayor Comer and the rest of council will meet in special session next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building.

The bids received for the cut wood from the three village trees will be opened and awarded at the meeting. All proceeds from the bid award will be donated to the Riverside District Community Service Scholarship Fund.

The Trustees of the Board of Public Affairs will conduct a water tower construction meeting on Tuesday, December 1st at 3 p.m. at the Municipal Building.

The next safety committee meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building.

The street committee meeting scheduled for November 30th has been cancelled.

Normally, DeGraff Council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month.

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office reports that a local driver suffered minor injuries in a crash on County Road 10 near Tree Links Wednesday morning around 7:45.

Sheriff Smith reports that Katherine Weber, 35, of 8274 County Road 101, Belle Center, was driving an ‘02 Chevy 250 pickup westbound on 10 when she went off the right side of the road and struck the guardrail.

Weber and her 1-year-old son, Landon, were transported to Mary Rutan Hospital by Tri-Valley EMS.

Katherine was wearing her seat belt and Landon was in a child restraint.

She was cited for failure to control and her truck suffered heavy damage.

The Ohio Hi-Point Joint Vocational School District’s Board of Education met in regular session Wednesday night at 7:00.

The board recognized standout students for their hard work, including their November students of the month, Christine Samples and Michael Overfield.

Christine is a Culinary Arts II student from West Liberty-Salem and Michael is a Cosmetology II student from Bellefontaine High School.

Also recognized was Information Technology student Dominic Rinaldi (pictured, right) from Upper Scioto Valley, who was elected as the Ohio State Parliamentarian for the Business Professionals of America. Superintendent Kim Davis said “He’ll be attending those statewide meetings and keeping them true to the parliamentary procedure, but of course he represents Ohio Hi-Point and Upper Scioto Valley as he does that. So, we’re really proud of Dominic and wish him the best.”

Thursday night the Career Center is hosting its Taste of the Future night for potential students, high school and adults. For $3 the public can purchase a “tasting” bracelet to sample local restaurants’ food at the event. The money made from the bracelets will contribute to the school’s scholarship fund.

Listen to Superintendent Davis talk about Dominic’s election and the Taste of the Future night.

The board scheduled their Organizational and Policy Committee meetings for January 2, 2010 at 8 and 9 a.m.

Ohio Hi-Point’s School Board meets again December 16 at 7:00 p.m., with its Christmas Dinner preceding at 6:00.

The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office responded to a serious injury accident south of Urbana around ten o’clock Wednesday morning.

Deputies report that Christopher Turner, 18, of rural Urbana, was driving a ‘93 Lincoln northbound on Route 68 at Hickory Grove Road when he lost control and crashed.

Turner said he was adjusting his radio. When he looked up, he saw a car that was stopped in traffic waiting to turn onto Hickory Grove.

Turner then went off the left side of the road and struck a tree.

His mother, Patsy Sanderson, 37, of rural Urbana, suffered extensive injuries.

CareFlight transported her from the scene to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.

Turner was treated at the scene.

He was cited for failure to control and his car suffered heavy damage.

The sheriff’s office says it appears that neither occupant was wearing a seat belt.

Urbana EMS and Moorefield Township EMS assisted at the scene.

Leaf pick up in Bellefontaine will wrap up later this week.

Service-Safety Director Jim Holycross says the street department will complete their leaf pick up this Friday.

If you still have leaves that need to be picked up, call the street department at 592-1736 or the mayor’s office at 592-4376.

The Bellefontaine Police Department handled a pickup/bicycle accident on West Columbus Avenue in front of the City Yard Waste Station yesterday afternoon around 3:30.

Officers report that Blake Wilson, 14, of 1109 West Columbus Avenue, Apt. 1, Bellefontaine, was riding a bicycle westbound on the sidewalk and Paul Tewksbury, 61, of 2261 Township Road 46 North, Bellefontaine, was driving a ‘98 Dodge Dakota pickup northbound from the waste station.

Wilson, who suffered minor injuries, was transported to Mary Rutan Hospital by Bellefontaine Fire and EMS.

The accident remains under investigation.

The Marysville Post of the State Highway Patrol responded to a hit-skip accident at the intersection of County Road 1 and Gunntown Road Tuesday afternoon around 5:15.

A red Honda that was northbound on County Road 1 turned left in front of a southbound ‘98 Hyundai Tiburon driven by Josh Jones, 16, of 400 Lincoln Boulevard, Apt. 40, Russells Point.

Jones’ vehicle went off the right side of the road and struck a guardrail.

Although Jones was not injured, his car suffered heavy damage.

He was wearing his seat belt.

The red Honda left the scene.

Bellefontaine Fire and EMS assisted at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

Four defendants were sentenced and two pled guilty before Logan County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark O’Connor earlier this week.

Justin Taylor (pictured), 20, of Belle Center, was sentenced to the West Central Community Based Correctional Facility, placed on community control for five years, and ordered to pay court costs and attorney fees for trafficking in drugs, complicity to trafficking in drugs, and breaking and entering.

Dustin Oakley, 19, of Lakeview, was sentenced to five years community control and ordered to pay a $500 fine, court costs, attorney fees, and restitution for breaking and entering.

Lorri Kuszpa, 33, of Sidney, was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay a $250 fine, court costs, and attorney fees for permitting drug abuse.

Roger Lattimer, 45, of Belle Center, was sentenced to ten days in the Logan County Jail, ordered to pay a $500 fine, court costs, and attorney fees, and his license was suspended for one year for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Michael Miranda (pictured), 46, of Bellefontaine, pled guilty to one count of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition. The Bellefontaine Police Department arrested Miranda last month. The alleged incident happened last spring with a 5-year-old Bellefontaine male. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing is scheduled for December 21st.

David Mathews, 48, of Huntsville, pled guilty to one count of weapons under disability. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing is scheduled for December 28th.

Logan County Republicans gathered at the Winner Barn Tuesday night for this year’s County Fall Rally.

Many local politicians were in attendance, and County Commissioner Tony Core introduced the night’s speaker, current Ohio Senator and 2010 candidate for Ohio Secretary of State, Jon Husted.

Husted talked about why he chose to come to Logan County for the evening. “I got invited to speak to this dinner tonight by my former colleague State Representative, now County Commissioner Tony Core, and I have a great group of volunteers from Logan County and I wanted to come see them all and share the message of why I’m running for Secretary of State.”

Senator Husted said he differs from his competition in a lot of ways including, “I’m an idea guy, with a lot of energy, who wants to see Ohio continue to try to reform the way state government works, to cut the spending that we don’t need and to invest in the things that we do.”

Husted (pictured, right) said his campaign will focus a lot on keeping elections fair. “People can be confident that there are no partisan games being played and that the Secretary of State is insuring the integrity of our elections.”

Listen to Senator Husted’s comments on why he came to Logan County, how he will stand out in the 2010 election, and what will be the biggest part of his campaign.

Dinner was provided by Whitmore House and drawings for door prizes were held after Husted’s speech.

Even though Ohio has experienced warmer than usual temperatures in the past few days, state government officials want to make sure residents are still preparing for winter.

The Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness (OCSWA) and Governor Ted Strickland has made this week (November 15-21) Ohio’s Winter Safety Awareness Week, to encourage households, schools, businesses and organizations to prepare now for severe winter weather.

The OCSWA recommends that residents do the following to prepare for the upcoming winter months:

Update your disaster preparedness plans. Make sure everyone in your home, business or school knows what to do in the event of severe weather. Post contact information of your local emergency management agency and prepare and practice safety drills that require evacuation.

Prepare winter disaster kits for the home and vehicle. Stock up on nonperishable foods and bottle water in your disaster kits; make sure your batteries in smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and radios are new. Winter emergency kits should include warm clothes, blankets, flashlights, new batteries, coats, hats, gloves, battery-operated or hand-cranked radio, first aid kit, and enough nonperishable food and water (one gallon per person, per day) to sustain each family member for at least three days. Make sure your vehicles have annual tune ups and maintenance checks, with at least half tank of fuel to reduce the chances of fuel-line freeze up.

Invest in a NOAA Public Alert/Weather Radio.

Mitigate your home for winter. Cut and remove low-hanging and dead tree branches. Ice, snow and strong winds can cause tree limbs to break and fall. Have your gutters cleaned; snow and ice build up quickly if gutters are clogged. Have your auxiliary heaters, furnaces and fireplaces maintenance checked or serviced before use. Review your homeowner’s insurance policy; invest in flood insurance.

For all your local severe weather updates be sure to listen to WPKO/WBLL and go to www.peakofohio.com

The Logan County Board of Elections (pictured) met today to certify the results of the November 3rd election.

After the provisional ballots were counted, the final voter turnout was just over 47 percent.

The 196 provisional votes tightened a few issues, but failed to change the outcome that was reported on election night.

An election-day oversight in Bellefontaine’s Fourth Ward B precinct left 26 votes uncounted for a pair of local businesses attempting to get a Sunday liquor license.

Election officials noticed around 10 a.m. on election day that poll workers had not handed out a ballot with local liquor options for Tumbleweed and La Palma restaurants to 51 voters.

Acting immediately, the Board of Elections notified the Secretary of State’s Office seeking guidance.

The state office informed the board it could either do nothing, or attempt to remedy the situation, though the office offered no advice regarding how the board could rectify its mistake.

In an effort to make things right, election officials attempted to phone the 51 voters, informing them of the problem and affording those affected the opportunity to return to their polling station and cast a ballot.

The board even left fliers at the houses of those it could not reach over the phone.

25 voters returned and cast ballots.

Tumbleweed’s issue passed 147-138 while La Palma’s issue was voted down 149-136.

After the provisional votes were counted, Tumbleweed passed 158-138 and La Palma failed 150-146.

La Palma officials are meeting with their attorney to consider an appeal.

The Riverside 1.25 percent income tax issue passed 708-694.

Prior to the provisional votes, the levy passed 699-684.

All four incumbents running for Zanesfield Village Council were write-in candidates.

Heather Clapsaddle received 27 votes, Mollie Johns had 23 votes, and Michael Failor and Roland Eugene Fout each received 20 votes.

No one opposed them.

In Shelby County, the provisional votes had a big impact on Sidney City Schools 9.9 mill operating levy.

On election night, the levy failed by 43 votes (4,378 to 4,335).

After the provisional ballots were counted, the issue finished in a tie 4,451 to 4,451.

A recount is expected over the next few weeks.

The filing deadline for the May primary is February 18th at 4 p.m.

The Marysville Post of the State Highway Patrol reports that two local drivers suffered minor injuries in a wreck near West Liberty Monday afternoon around 3:40.

Troopers responded to a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Route 245 and State Route 287 (near the Mac-O-Chee Castle).

Rickey Pack, 52, of 225 East Patterson Avenue, Bellefontaine, was driving a ‘99 Lincoln Navigator southbound on County Road 1 when he stopped at the stop sign, then pulled into the path of an eastbound ‘09 Hyundai Sonata operated by Linda Pooler, 65, of 9119 County Road 28, Zanesfield.

After hitting Pack, Pooler went off the right side of the road and struck an ‘06 Honda Ridgeline driven by Jerry Smucker, 50, of Columbus.

He was stopped northbound on 245 at 287.

West Liberty EMS transported Pack and Pooler to Mary Rutan Hospital.

Smucker was not injured.

The accident remains under investigation and charges are pending.

The Ohio Department of Health submitted an order for 182,700 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the weekend. The vaccine will be shipped directly to 467 local health departments, pediatricians and OB/GYNs in Ohio’s 88 counties.

The order includes 10,200 doses of nasal-spray vaccine and 172,500 shots of H1N1 flu vaccine.

The vaccine is intended for high-risk individuals including health care workers and EMS workers who provide direct patient care; pregnant women; people who live with or care for children less than 6 months; all people 6 months to 24 years; and people 25 to 64 years with chronic medical conditions.

Local providers may vaccinate some subset of the above group depending on vaccine supply and the demographic makeup of the patients they serve.

The vaccine orders should begin arriving at provider offices and clinics today, according to CDC.

ODH has previously ordered 1,419,500 doses of H1N1 vaccine, bringing Ohio’s total to 1,602,200 doses thus far. This represents Ohio’s total allotment at this time of H1N1 influenza vaccine. More vaccine is expected to be available in the coming weeks.

For more information on vaccine availability, check the ODH Web site at http://www.flu.ohio.gov or call the ODH H1N1 information line at 1-866-800-1404 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Logan County Health District will continue to host free shot clinics. The date and location of the next clinic has not been announced.

At the Indian Lake Board of Education meeting Monday night, the board set the date for the Lakeview Elementary public auction for this Saturday at 10 a.m. and its final preview and walk-through for Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Huntsville Elementary’s public auction date was also set for December 5th at 10 a.m. and the walk-through is set for Friday, December 4th 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Also announced at the meeting was the nomination of Indian Lake Elementary School for the 2010 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Award by the Ohio Department of Education.

Superintendent Bill McGlothlin said, “It’s quite an honor for the elementary just to receive the nomination, and it would be a tremendous honor to actually receive the award.”

The award winner will be announced in September 2010.

Listen to Superintendent McGlothlin’s comments about Monday’s meeting.

Finally, the board accepted the resignation for the purpose of retirement from longtime middle school art teacher Rae Fry. She has served Indian Lake for 28 years and will retire May 31st.

The next board meeting will be held Monday, December 21st at 6:30 p.m.

The Benjamin Logan Board of Education meeting focused on students achievements Monday night as the board met in regular session at 7:00.

Students were recognized from the high school, middle school and elementary for their accomplishments.

Larrilyn Yelton and Emily Jones were recognized as seniors of the month for October and November, and junior Katie Cole and 4th grader Shyann Hefner were recognized for their Ohio Associatio for Gifted Children Art Scholarships. Katie was awarded a $500 scholarship and Shyann received at $100 scholarship from the OAGC.

Middle School Principal Jim Cox (pictured, right) addressed the board about the Achievement Period program that the middle school is  currently using, which Cox said focuses on improving students’ study skills, character education and intervention/enrichment time.

Listen to Principal Cox talk about the program and how the school will be able to tell that it’s working.

At the end of the meeting, Board President Bill Ramsey talked about the Ohio School Board Association Conference that he recently attended and how some of the legislation passed will help Benjamin Logan Schools and their all-day, every day kindergarten. “We’ve been having all day, every day kindergarten for four years and we’ve been paying for part of that out of our general funds.”

Listen to Ramsey talk about the OSBA Conference and how the legislation will help Benjamin Logan Schools.

The board also passed a resolution to create a permanent improvement fund to go along with the 2.0 Permanent Improvement Levy, setting the budget for 2010 at $200,000. The district is basing the budget off of an estimation by the Logan County Auditor of how much the district will receive.

The members of the Bellefontaine School Board were in a pretty good mood Monday night when the group met in regular session.

Rather than meeting at the district’s main offices, as it almost always does, the board met inside the Sloan Distance Learning Center on the campus of Bellefontaine High School. The reason for the switch in location was to provide adequate room for the staff of Southeastern Elementary school after it was named a “School of Promise” by the state of Ohio for its two consecutive “Excellent” ratings on state report cards.

Superintendent Beth Harman recognized the staff during the Highlighting Bellefontaine City Schools portion of the meeting.

The district collected a total of $736 when it hosted a Volley For The Cure volleyball match against Benjamin Logan last month. Money was collected from a 50/50 raffle, a Real Men Wear Pink Campaign and the selling of pink Volley For The Cure t-shirts. Additionally, the Bellefontaine School District participated in Lee National Denim Day that saw district staff members pay five dollars for the right to wear jeans to school; the district raised $908 in the effort to raise funds for breast cancer awareness.

Early this fall, as part of the district goals for 2009, Harman challenged staff members to increase donation to the United Way by 4% district-wide. Upon conclusion of the campaign Harman reports staff members increased United Way donations by a staggering 17% over last year. All told, Bellefontaine staff members made 276 pledges totaling $22,255.

Bellefontaine Schools Treasurer Keith Krieger (pictured in blue shirt alongside Board President Tim O’Rielley) Monday introduced the five-year forecast to the board and reports that while revenues for the district are projected to remain flat over the next five years, the forecast is better than expected.

Krieger will be around to see at least most of that projection come to fruition as the board voted unanimously to renew his contract. Krieger’s new contract will officially take effect Jan. 1 and will run for the next four years until July 31, 2014.

Listen as Harman talks about the generosity of Bellefontaine’s schools staff, the five-year forecast and another resolution passed by the board dealing with the recently passed bond issue.

Listen as Krieger talks about his re-appointment and the five-year forecast. 

Finally, the board voted to offer one-year supplemental contracts to Brandon Bair (assistant freshman baseball coach) and Shannon Hodge (high school girls’ basketball).

Hodge will serve on a volunteer basis.

Because of conflicts in scheduling the board will meet only once next month, December 14th, at the board office at 6:30 p.m.

A West Liberty native is under investigation in the theft of H1NI influenza vaccine from a hospice center in Washington state.

Alissa Yoder, 37, reportedly took two vials of the vaccine from an unlocked medical refrigerator at Providence Sound HomeCare and Hospice, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Each vial contained 10 doses of the vaccine.

Yoder had been hired as a contractor at the hospice.

A detective said she was arrested Thursday after two other employees turned her in.

The stolen vaccine has not been recovered.

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office arrested a local man and his mother after a vehicle was vandalized at Captain’s Point late Saturday.

Deputies responded after a witness saw a man flatten all five tires on a nearby car.

After tracing the suspect’s license number, Norman Penick, Jr., 47, of 12101 Landon Road, Richwood, was charged with felony vandalism for damaging his girlfriend’s car.

His mother, Shirley Sparks, 68, of 6890 Township Road, 99, Huntsville, was charged with obstructing justice for not being truthful with deputies.

Both were arrested at Sparks’ residence and then lodged in the Logan County Jail early Sunday.

Penick did not give a reason for the incident.

Ohio Hi-Point Career Center has set the date for its annual Taste of the Future Open House and Career Preview Expo for Thursday from 4-7:30 p.m. at the Bellefontaine campus. The event allows prospective high school students, their parents, adults wanting to learn more about various programs and services, and the community to explore the opportunities available to them within the school district.

“Everyone is invited to attend this event and see first-hand the exciting programs and services we provide in the high school, through our Adult & Continuing Education Division and also our various high school satellite programs,” said Kim Davis, superintendent.

Along with tours of the high school and adult programs, an Expo area will feature local restaurants providing samples of food items on their menus. The restaurants include Donato’s Pizza, The Whitmore House, Black Tie Café, Raymond House, Fazoli’s, Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, and Ohio Hi-Point’s student-run restaurant, the Hi-Point Inn.  Guests can purchase a $3 all-you-can-eat tasting bracelet that benefits the Ohio Hi-Point Scholarship Fund. Children 5 and under receive a free bracelet. The school’s licensed preschool and daycare center will provide free babysitting at the event for adults who wish to take part in the Expo or other activities.

The Expo will also feature area colleges, satellite programs, adult educational services such as financial aid counseling and career assessments, and a stress-relief zone featuring chair massages and blood pressure screenings from Interim Health. Prizes and giveaways will also be a part of the evening, including an iPod Touch, Flip Cam, and $50 iTunes gift card.

For a full listing of activities, programs on-display and other Expo vendors, visit www.ohiohipoint.com.

For more information, call 599-3010, ext. 1403.

You can hear live coverage on 98.3 WPKO from 4-7.

The local section of Freedom Alliance will again be collecting gifts and care packages to be sent to service members on the front lines.

Last year the Christmas drive sent 1,672.2 pounds of goods in 178 “Gifts from Home” to service members serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.

This year the local branch has been assigned it’s own unit: Lt. Marke and the 37th Finance Detachment in Iraq. The unit has 26 members.

They have asked for webcams for each soldier and their family members. The specific webcam needed is a “Quick Cam Communicate MP Plus”.

With the webcams, the soldiers will be able to talk to their families for the holidays via Skype.

Freedom Alliance will also still be collecting packages for all troops in the Middle East conflicts.

The YMCA will be the collection point for items, boxes, and money.

Additionally, there will be a rally December 1st, the last date for collection before the mailing of all packages on December 2nd.

At the rally, David Two Ravens Russel, a petitioned member of the Wea (way-ah) Indian Nation of Lafayette, Indiana, and a 7th degree black belt of the International Martial Art of Tae Kwon Do, will be bringing a family drum to sing a “Veteran’s Honor” song and a “Warrior” song at 6:00 p.m., followed by a Tae Kwon Do demonstration with Master Campbell and their class.

For more information locally, contact Candy Bruns at (937) 468-2986, or visit www.freedomalliance.org.

For those interested in donating items for care packages, Ms. Bruns can provide a list of the most requested and desired items by deployed troops.

The Bellefontaine Fire Department responded to a small fire at Don Leiss’s 1262 County Road 31 North residence Saturday night around 6:30.

A chair in the basement caught on fire.

Residents were alerted by a smoke detector.

Leiss’s daughter, Pam Stevens, discovered the fire.

A visitor used a garden hose to quickly extinguish the fire.

The DeGraff Fire Department and Riverside EMS provided mutual aid.

Firefighters were on scene for about an hour.

Stevens, who’s pregnant, was taken by private vehicle to Union County Memorial Hospital as a precaution.

This week’s “In Sync” featured Logan County Wildlife Officer Adam Smith.

Smith, who lives in rural Lewistown, has been our local wildlife officer since July.

He graduated from Botkins in ’02 and then earned a criminal justice degree at Wright State in ’07.

Smith said his job duties are to enforce hunting, trapping, and fishing laws, educate young hunters, and work with conservation groups like Pheasants Forever and Whitetails Unlimited.

With deer gun season approaching, Smith stressed Ohio’s basic hunting rules.

Adam Smith discusses hunting rules for deer gun season

He said everyone in the field should wear hunter orange.

Deer hunting hours are half an hour before sunrise to sunset.

There are three deer check-in stations in the county, including the Bellefontaine Fire Department, Rushsylvania One Stop, and Lakeview Hardware.

The fire department will accept deer daily from 8-8.

The Rushsylvania One Stop will tag deer Monday through Thursday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lakeview Hardware will accept deer Monday through Saturday from 8-8 and Sunday from 10-4.

Youth deer gun season runs November 21st-22nd.

Deer gun season runs November 30th through December 6th.

An additional deer gun weekend will run December 19th-20th.

Muzzleloader season will be January 9th-12th.

If you questions for Smith, he can be reached at 614-644-3929 ext. 1208.

You can find more hunting information at www.wildohio.com.

“In Sync” airs Sunday mornings at 8:30 on 1390 WBLL and at 8:45 on WPKO.

The Bellefontaine City Schools Board meeting scheduled for Monday will be held at the Sloan High School Distance Learning Center.

The scheduled time of 6:30 p.m. remains unchanged.

The Weekly Agenda for Commissioners Core, Knight, and Bayliss, for the week of November 16th through November 20th:

Monday:

 

Tuesday:

8:00 a.m. Logan County Convention & Tourist Bureau Annual meeting – Logan County Museum

8:30 a.m. COMMISSION IN SESSION

8:30 a.m. Monthly meeting with Garis Pugh re: LCWPC

10:00 a.m. John Holtkamp re: funding

11:00 a.m. Natalie Comer and Ed Wallace re: economic development update

1:15 p.m. Elected Officials / Department Heads re: wc for 2011

6:30 p.m. Republican Fall Rally – Winner Barn

Wednesday:

9:00 a.m. Indian Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements – Phase 1A Upgrade construction meeting

9:30 a.m. Logan County FCFC – Discovery Center (CORE)

10:00 a.m. Indian Lake Slough Pump Station and Force Main – Phase 1B Upgrade construction meeting

12:00 p.m. Caring Hearts of Ohio meeting (CORE)

Thursday:

7:30 a.m. Family and Children First Council – Executive / Finance – Discovery Center (CORE)

12:15 p.m. Indian Lake High School – annual Thanksgiving dinner

1:30 p.m. Family and Children First – Service Management – Discovery Center (CORE)

2:00 p.m. Tri-County CAC (BAYLISS)

5:00 p.m. Thanksgiving Dinner at Logan Acres

6:00 p.m. RTC Industries Holiday Dinner – Bellefontaine High School

6:30 p.m. LUC Annual Dinner – 940 London Avenue, Marysville

Friday:

7:30 a.m. DBP Executive Board meeting – Dale’s Coffee (CORE)

7:30 a.m. Greater Logan County Area Community Improvement Corporation – Executive Committee meeting – Chamber Office (BAYLISS, CORE)

 

The Commission may also take up and act upon matters that have not yet been brought to the attention of the Commissioners or the Clerk/Administrator at the time of the preparation of this agenda.