Deputies from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office observed a suspected drug transaction in the 100 block of Carlisle Street in Quincy Thursday afternoon around 3:30.

Authorities initiated two stops and recovered a small amount of suspected marijuana and $60 in cash.

Charges against the two suspects were referred to the Logan County Prosecutor’s Office pending drug testing by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

One vehicle was seized by deputies for possible forfeiture.

The St. Paris Police Department assisted the sheriff’s office.

Union County Sheriff Rocky Nelson announced on Friday that he will be laying off ten deputies effective March 26, due to budget cuts.

The layoff notices were served this week from the Sheriff’s salary budget being cut by $256,446, which includes $243,054 that was transferred to the 911 salary account and money to address general fund overtime.

The cuts were also impacted by the pay raises that were kept by the three labor unions at the Sheriff’s Office. The deputies, dispatchers, sergeants and corporals are represented by the Fraternal Order of Police Ohio Labor Council. The Unions voted to keep pay increases of 14% for deputies, 13.5% for dispatchers, and 11.7% for sergeants and corporals that were negotiated in a three year contract that took affect in 2008.

The layoffs follow six civilian and one part time patrol deputy position that were laid off or abolished in March 2009 due to budget cuts. Sheriff Nelson was able to recall two of the civilian employees in October with help from federal stimulus funds.

As a result of the layoffs, Nelson will reduce the staffing of detectives down to three and the staffing of community education deputies to one. This means that community and school programs that the Sheriff’s Office conducts will be cancelled. The Sheriff’s Office will lose a canine and handler with the layoffs, as well as two public safety officers. The two public safety officers will not affect contracts that the Sheriff has with the townships in Union County and the Village of Milford Center.

This brings the total number to 15 employees that have been laid off in the last two years. Another eight positions cannot be filled due to lack of funds. These positions include two patrol deputies , two community education deputies, a human resource manager, and a three open supervisor positions. This is a 32% decrease in staffing in the last two years.

Written by student reporter and BHS junior Jessica Haushalter

The Bellefontaine High School bands and choirs performed at their annual winter concert on the evening of Tuesday March, 9th.

The Varsity Choir performed their two songs, Jazz Cantate and I Am a Small Part of the World. Women’s Glee performed All the Pretty Little Horses, Get On Board, and The Arrow and the Song. Mari Yanagisawa was the piano accompanist for the group. The newly formed Men’s Chorus sang three songs, Bound For Jubilee, We Sail the Ocean Blue, and We Shall Walk Through the Valley In Peace. BHS Honors Choir performed Set Me As a Seal, Even When God Is Silent, and Erev Shel Shoshanim (Evening of Roses). Noelle Dunn was the piano accompanist for the Men’s Chorus and Honors Choir.

The Concert Band played three songs, United Nations March, Encanto, and the Nathan Hale Trilogy. Symphonic Band played Allied Honor March, Flight of the Pegasus, and Chants Long Forgotten.

The concert was a dress rehearsal for the Women’s Glee, Men’s Chorus, Honors Choir, and both bands because they have their OMEA (Ohio Music Education Association) District Contest on Friday, March 12th and Saturday, March 13th.

Many students thought the bands and choirs did a very good job but they are hoping to do even better when contest comes around. Receiving a superior rating of a one at contest will send the band and choir to state contest which takes place on April 30th and May 1st. Other upcoming events for the music department include the All City Fine Arts Festival on Wednesday, April 14th and the BHS Orchestra Contest on Saturday, April 24th which is held at Kings Island.

Listen to BHS Honors Choir perform their contest piece “Set Me As a Seal”.

Listen to junior Brice Henry (pictured left) talk about the songs that the Honors Choir and Symphonic Band performed.

Listen to BHS Honors Choir perform their contest piece “Erev Shel Shoshnim (Evening of Roses)”.

Listen to junior Kyle Thomas (pictured right) talk about how the bands and choirs prepare for concerts.

Listen to BHS Honors Choir perform their contest piece “Even When God Is Silent”.

The Logan County Children’s Services Board accepted the resignation of Director John Holtkamp (pictured) Thursday night when the group met in regular session.

Holtkamp’s seemingly abrupt resignation, effective April 2, is in response to a job offer he received from Adult, Child, Family and Community Services in Durham County, North Carolina.

Holtkamp will serve as Division Director ACFCS, overseeing approximately 250 people in an agency that Holtkamp says is,"about ten times bigger than our agency.”

“This is a wonderful agency, in a wonderful community, Holtkamp said during Thursday’s meeting, “but opportunities like this do not come around very often.”

Listen as Holtkamp talks about his resignation, what he’ll miss about Logan County and the challenges that lie ahead.

“John has done an excellent job for us in the past seven years,” Board President Rev. Ron Irick said. “John will be greatly missed. He has done his job and done it well.”

Holtkamp was named the Director of Children’s Services nearly seven years ago, succeeding Caren Vernon who was director for more than two decades, and the agency flourished under his watch, garnering state both national recognition.

During his tenure as director, Children’s Services received National Accreditation, met 100% of Federal Child and Family Service Review Standards (only nine other Ohio counties met this standard) and achieved the lowest rate of staff turnover in the 13 county Western Ohio Region in the past three years.

Holtkamp also oversaw the passage of two levies—both of which by comfortable margins.

Children’s Services is expected to appoint a director on an interim basis and that initial search is expected to be conducted internally. Beginning Friday, March 12, the board will solicit resumes from interested agency employees and the board will meet in special session Thursday, March 25 to conduct interviews with those applying for the position.

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office arrested a driver and a passenger after a traffic stop north of Huntsville early today.

Deputies stopped a vehicle on State Route 117 at State Route 273 around 1:50 this morning.

Belinda Hutchison (pictured, left), 37, of 260 Reservoir, Lima, was charged with OVI, left of center, speed, and possession of drugs.

Passenger Brian Elkins (pictured, below), 27, of 1644 Randsburg Avenue, Columbus, was arrested on a warrant from Franklin County for failure to appear and was also issued a summons for obstructing official business.

Both of them were lodged in the Logan County Jail.

The Bellefontaine Police Department reports that a city man was struck by a car near downtown last night around 9:45.

Albert Waldren, 50, of 400 West Street, Apt. 10, told officers that he was struck while walking northbound at South Main Street and East Auburn Avenue.

After the accident, Waldren walked into Sandy’s Outlaws (214 South Main) to seek help.

When officers arrived, Bellefontaine Fire and EMS personnel were already treating Waldren outside the bar.

He was then transported to Mary Rutan Hospital.

The driver fled and remains at large.

Waldren said the car was a blue two-door, possibly a Chevy Cavalier.

If you saw the accident, contact police at 599-1010.

The Marysville Post of the State Highway Patrol responded to a two-vehicle wreck at the intersection of State Route 47 and State Route 292 near West Mansfield Thursday morning around seven o’clock.

Troopers report that Eric Barry, 39, of Kenton, was traveling northbound on 292 in a ‘94 Buick Regal when he failed to stop at the stop sign and crashed into Raleigh Oliver, 74, of 3480 County Road 5, Bellefontaine, who was traveling eastbound on 47 with his wife, Phyllis, 76, operating a ‘99 Dodge Ram pickup.

Phyllis Oliver was transported to Mary Rutan Hospital by Bokescreek EMS with non-life threatening injuries.

Both vehicles suffered heavy damage and were towed from the scene.

Barry was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign.

Raleigh, Phyllis, and Barry all were wearing their seatbelts.

The Marysville Post of the State Highway Patrol responded to a one-vehicle fatal rollover accident south of Lakeview last night around eleven o’clock.

Troopers report that Benjamin Veness, 32, of Lakeview, was driving a ‘96 Chevy S-10 pickup northbound on State Route 235 near County Road 52 when he lost control, went off the right side of the road, re-entered the road, and overturned.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Logan County Coroner Dr. Michael Failor.

Veness, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected.

Alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

A dog riding with Veness was not injured.

The dog was taken to the Humane Society serving Logan County for safe-keeping by the Logan County Dog Warden.

The Lakeview Fire Department, Indian Lake EMS, and the Logan County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.

The wreck remains under investigation.

This is the fourth fatal accident in Logan County this year.

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office arrested a local man Wednesday night for his recent relationship with a 16-year-old West Mansfield area girl.

Deputies were contacted by the girl’s mother yesterday afternoon around 4:30.

She was concerned about her daughter’s involvement with a 34-year-old man.

After meeting with both of them, deputies charged Amos Brock Britenstine (pictured), 34, of 3356 State Route 292, West Mansfield, with one count of contributing to the unruliness of a minor.

Britenstine told deputies that he and the girl would meet at the park in West Mansfield.

Both of them admitted to sexual activity over the last few weeks.

Britenstine was lodged in the Logan County Jail.

The 2010 Logan County Fair picture became a little clearer when fair board members met in regular session Wednesday night.

During her report, Secretary Bev Cotterman announced the Logan County Sheriff’s Office has been contracted to clean the grounds and restrooms during fair week at a cost of $4,000.

The sheriff’s office reached out to the board last month concerning the possibility of using inmate labor to clean the grounds. Inmates will clean the grounds daily, including the day after the fair as well as collect and sort trash so that it may be appropriately recycled.

According to Board President Keith Watson, the sheriff’s office estimate is $2,400 less than other grounds-cleaning bids received by the board.

Listen as Watson talks about the grounds-cleaning agreement with the sheriff’s office.

Cotterman also reported Wednesday night the fair board has contracted Clifford Kelly to supply and maintain porta-pots during this year’s fair at a cost of $2,600 and that Ramsey Concessions has been contracted to provide concessions for the April Demo Derby at a 20% return to the fair.

Lastly, board members discussed the replacement of the broken sign on Main St., south of downtown. During the recent rash of snowstorms the interior of the sign collected more than 15 inches of snow and Watson worries about the sign’s electrical system should it be left unprotected.

Cotterman said the board received a bid from Miller Graphics to replace the sign, but members agreed to collect more bids before a final decision is made.

The Fair Board will meet again April 14th at 7:30 p.m.

Three defendants were sentenced and two changed their pleas before Logan County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark O’Connor earlier this week.

Milecha Whitacre (pictured), 32, of Lakeview, was sentenced to two years in the Ohio Reformatory for Women and ordered to pay restitution for robbery.

John Clary, 19, of Bellefontaine, was sentenced to ninety days in the Logan County Jail, five years community control, and ordered to pay restitution, a $500 fine, court costs, and attorney fees for aggravated assault.

Jerome Johnson, 40, of Bellefontaine, was sentenced to five years community control and ordered to pay a $250 fine, attorney fees, and court costs for carrying a concealed weapon.

Lacy Grow, 27, of Bellefontaine, pled guilty to theft. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing is scheduled for April 12th.

Dustin Melson, 18, of Lakeview, pled guilty to breaking and entering and was placed on the prosecutor’s pretrial diversion program.

The Logan County Grand Jury indicted 15 people earlier this week.

Those indicted were:

Mashhud Petaway, 25, 430 West Kibby St., Lima; Aggravated Robbery (F1), Aggravated Burglary (F1), Weapons Under Disability (F3), and a parole violation

Tyler C. Robinson, 21, 222 Marshall St., Russells Point; Felonious Assault (F2)

Dustin J. Watkins, 28, 2329 CR 80, Alger; Failure to Comply (F3), Possession of Drugs (F5), specification of vehicle and cash

Kelly L. Stover, 26, 227 Park St., Russells Point; Illegal Conveyance (F3)

Kary Bulluck, 23, at large; Theft (F5), Misuse of Credit Card (F4), 5 counts of Forgery (F5)

Daniel May, 45, 2285 SR 47 West, Bellefontaine; 2 counts of Domestic Violence (F3)

Tavia L. Wright, 26, 313 1/2 N. Detroit St., Bellefontaine; Possession of Drugs (F4)

Tyrone C. Coleman, 31, 212 Evansville, Bellefontaine; Possession of Drugs (F5)

Brian Bell, 29, 729 Euclid Ave, Bellefontaine; Possession of Drugs (F5)

Charity Huffman, 24, 505 S. Detroit St., Bellefontaine; Possession of Drugs (F5)

Lesa Smith, 51, at large; 2 counts of Receiving Stolen Property (F5), 7 counts of Forgery (F5)

Harley Lewallen, 37, at large; 2 counts of Breaking and Entering (F5), Theft (F5)

Joshua Conatser, 19, 228 1/2, N. Main St., Sidney; 2 counts of Breaking and Entering (F5), Theft (F5)

Ohio Hi-Point Career Center held its Annual Appreciation Banquet Wednesday night in the school’s cafeteria. Plenty of members of Hi-Point’s Advisory Committees, as well as local leaders attended.

There are 52 advisory committees for Ohio Hi-Point, spanning every area of study in the school including Adult Education and satellite instruction.

Hi-Point Superintendent Kim Davis said Advisory Committees keep the school, “up-to-date on what is needed in our Career Tech programs as far as curriculum, equipment and supplies to make sure that we are preparing students to a level that will be expected of them when they go into the work force or when they go on to college.”

Listen to Superintendent Kim Davis discuss the Appreciation Banquet.

Keynote Speaker Daniel Meeks (pictured, right), a junior at Ohio Hi-Point’s Kenton satellite campus  in Agriculture Business and Production, spoke to the audience about how he changed once he got to high school and plans for his future at The Ohio State University.

Meeks said that the hands-on approach in the classrooms was the “easiest to remember. I could just remember what I feel.”

Listen to Meeks talk about his education at Hi-Point, plans for the future, and hands-on classes.

Awards were given to community members and an Advisory Committee during the banquet.

Recipients for the “Making a Difference Award” include: Heartland of Bellefontaine, Marysville Guidance Counselor Carol Isaacs, and Nancy Osborn.

The Advisory Committee of the Year Award went to the Adult Education Practical Nursing Program.

The Distinguished Alumni and Friends Award was received by Larry Lokai (pictured, left).

The nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Bellefontaine as a Tree City USA community for its commitment to urban forestry.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

All Tree City USA communities must meet four basic standards: qualifying communities must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

Bellefontaine meets all four criteria.

“We commend Bellefontaine’s elected officials, volunteers, and its citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest,” said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation.

“Trees provide numerous environmental, economical, and health benefits to millions of people each day and we applaud communities that make planting and caring for trees a top priority.”

It’s the 30th year Bellefontaine has earned this national designation.

A former Bellefontaine fourth-grade teacher that lost her job last year for soliciting sex online faces a new charge.

The Bellefontaine Police Department charged Amber Sommer (formerly Amber Carter), 36, of 328 East Sandusky Avenue, Bellefontaine, with child endangering Tuesday afternoon.

Sommer (pictured) has been at the Logan County Jail on a probation violation since last Wednesday afternoon.

Officers started their investigation after Sommer’s live-in boyfriend, Anthony McLaughlin, 45, contacted police about Internet activity between children and adults.

Sommer admitted that she sent a video chat of herself beating the bare buttocks of her 7-year-old son to appease her “master” in Dayton.

The “master”, Christopher Myers, 27, of 2800 Arden Avenue, Dayton, received the video over the Internet.

Police executed a search warrant at Myers’ home last Friday night.

Detectives have seized computers from Sommer and Myers.

The computers are being sent to a crime lab, which could take a few months to process.

Sommer met Myers over the Internet on a social networking dating site.

Sommer also has a 9-year-old son.

The boys are now in the custody of Sommer’s parents, who live outside of Logan County.

On February 10th, 2009, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sommer (Carter at the time) in the Bellefontaine Super 8 parking lot on a third-degree misdemeanor prostitution charge and a fifth-degree felony unauthorized use of property charge.

She allegedly used Craigslist on a school computer to arrange daytime services with clients.

Sommer resigned less than two weeks after her arrest.

The Ohio Department of Education revoked her teaching license last spring.

Around 450 Logan County residents came out to the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center to support Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society on Tuesday for this year’s Taste of Logan County event.

12 local food vendors donated their time and food items for the event including: Fazoli’s, Lee’s Chicken, Hunan Dynasty, Black Tie Catering, Brally’s Angels, Michael’s Pizza, Eileen’s Cookies, Plaza Inn, Chattan Loch, Whitmore House, Dairy Queen, and Swiss Haus Bakery and Cafe.

The event kicks off the event season for Logan County’s Relay for Life. Tara Zedeker, Logan County Relay for Life Events Co-Chair, said her goal for this year’s relay is 50 teams. The current number is at 30.

Listen to Tara Zedeker talk about this year’s Relay for Life and Taste of Logan County.

An auction was held after the dinner festivities. 106 items were donated by area Relay teams and businesses prior to the  event and ten more were added for a total of 116. Some items to be auctioned off include: Cleveland Cavalier Anderson “Wild Thing” Varejao Autographed Jersey with Certificate of Authenticity, two Ohio State Football Tickets, and a 16 x 20 Autographed Chris “Beanie” Wells framed photo. The event auctioneers were: Mick Lile, Bill Prater and Dick Campbell.

Attendees also learned about a new opportunity to help find a cure for cancer during the event. Mark Kaufman of Shelby County’s chapter of Relay for Life, talked about a new Cancer Prevention Study-3, that is looking for 500,000 volunteers to participate in.

Participants will take place in a 20-year study that will include an initial waist measurement and blood sample. They will then be sent a survey every two years. You must be between the ages of 30-65, never have been diagnosed with cancer, and are willing to make a long-term commitment to the study. The study, called CPS-3, will help determine the lifestyle and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer.

Those interested in participating may attend the Shelby County Relay on August 6.

The 2010 Logan County Relay for Life event will be on June 18th and 19th at Ohio Hi-Point Career Center.

The Bellefontaine City Council took a giant step towards removing the budget monkey from its back Tuesday night when the group met in regular session.

With only three weeks remaining before council is legally obligated to submit a permanent appropriations budget for 2010, council passed on first reading only Tuesday night a permanent budget for the year that Finance Committee Chairman Dave Henry called, “workable.”

The proposed budget cuts three city jobs—a water department employee, an administrative secretary and a worker from the street department—and calls for a reduction in hours for a tax clerk.

Equally interesting, perhaps more so, are those things which cannot be found in the proposed 2010 appropriations. The budget does not allow for pay increases for non-union workers nor does it allow for paving projects throughout the city. 

If adopted in its current state, the city will operate the year under a deficit of approximately $615,000—leaving the general fund balance hovering around two million dollars by the end of the year, according to projections.

Currently, the city is budgeted to spend about $7.9 million dollars this year. According to City Auditor Rob Storm, this number represents a drop in spending of more than $100,000 from 2009. Of course this massive cut in spending is in response to depleting city revenues. Storm reports the city collected about $500,000 fewer dollars last year than it did in 2008 and early income tax revenues for this year, “aren’t looking much better.”

The ordinance passed unanimously on first reading only Tuesday night and City Mayor Adam Brannon said the proposed measure will be voted on again at council’s next regular session meeting.

Brannon did not confirm that council would pass the budget ordinance on second and final reading. If the budget is not adopted during the next city council meeting, council members will have to hold a special meeting before the end of the month for the sole purpose of adopting the 2010 permanent budget.

The proposed budget was not the only ordinance up for first reading Tuesday night. Also passed on first reading only, council appears prepared to raise the ambulance rates for city residents.

Any bump in ambulance rates would mark the first such hike in five years, still leaving the city well below the cost neighboring communities like Marysville and Kenton by about $200.

The proposed rate increase would balloon the cost of an average ambulance response by $100. From $300 for most cases, to $400.

Brannon said Council will vote on this ordinance two more times and the measure is tentatively scheduled for adoption during council’s first meeting in April.

Lastly, council adopted Tuesday night stricter penalties for homeowners that allow their houses to fall below city and state code. This ordinance is in response to a string of complaints from city residents concerning the dilapidated houses littering the city, specifically those on East Chillicothe.

According to Brannon, the adopted ordinance makes it a misdemeanor for homeowners to ignore the calls from local government to clean and repair the homes and that misdemeanor charge balloons for each day the owner neglects to take action to rectify the situation.

Listen as Brannon reacts to the proposed budget and the other two ordinances considered by council Tuesday. 

Council will meet again March 23.

The Marysville Post of the State Highway Patrol responded to a two-vehicle injury accident at the intersection of State Route 117 and County Road 100 just north of Huntsville Tuesday afternoon around 3:30.

Troopers report that Alexandra Newland, 16, was operating a ‘97 Mercury Cougar with passenger Sierra Harris, 16, on 100 when, after stopping at the stop sign at the intersection of 100 and 117, Newland turned left into the path of Dennis Hinkle, 49, who was operating an ‘08 Hyundai Sonata.

Newland, Harris and Hinkle were transported to Mary Rutan Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Newland was cited for failure to yield.

Both vehicles suffered moderate damage.

A Miami County man that was involved in a fatal hit-skip accident near Lakeview last summer agreed to a plea deal Monday afternoon in Logan County Common Pleas Court.

Buster Morgan (pictured), 31, of West Milton, reportedly struck two pedestrians on State Route 366 near Captain’s Point around 1:30 a.m. on July 11th.

Port Jefferson residents Jeff Gates, 48, and his son, Scott Gates, 24, were attempting to cross 366 when they were struck by an older model blue four-door vehicle.

Jeff Gates was pronounced dead at the scene and Scott Gates suffered extensive injuries.

After striking both pedestrians, the vehicle left the scene southbound on State Route 235.

The State Highway Patrol identified the driver later that day, but troopers spent a few months putting their case together.

In October, Morgan was indicted for vehicular homicide (M1), tampering with evidence (F3), and two counts of failure to stop after an accident (F3 & F5).

On Monday, he pled guilty to two counts of failure to stop after an accident.

In exchange for the plea, the Logan County Prosecutor’s Office dropped the vehicular homicide and tampering with evidence charges.

Morgan could face up to six years in prison.

He will be sentenced on April 12th.

About 30 supporters of the Gates family attended Monday’s hearing.

Area scholars from across Logan County gathered inside the auditorium at Bellefontaine High School Monday night for the Annual Honors Dessert presented by the Bellefontaine Rotary Club.

The purpose of Monday’s event was to recognize 12th graders from county high schools with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better.

Monday night marked the 34th time in its 54-year history the Bellefontaine Rotary Club has hosted the honors dessert.

117 scholars, spanning eight schools trekked across the auditorium stage to receive a certificate of achievement and shake the hands of their respective school administrators.

After all certificates were handed out, Rotary District Governor Hans Berkel delivered the keynote address about life after school. Berkel directed his words to the students, challenging them to be leaders in society, not followers.

Listen as Berkel talks about the significance of Monday’s event and the importance of recognizing student achievement.

Students recognized Monday night:

 Bellefontaine High School Senior Scholars

Christopher Badenhop	Zachary Core	Katie King	Thomas Smith
Sarah Bechtel	Heather Devine	Connor Kress	MacKenzie Stokes
Heather Belcher	Jared Elton	Jessica LeVan	Caitlin Tassell
Lee Berg	Justin Frantz	Caitlin McLaughlin	David Thatcher
Kenzie Bible	Nicole Gamble	Christopher Meyer	Christopher Walker
Ryan Blankemeyer	Timothy Garman Jr.	MacKenzie Myers	Jordan Wilking
Jason Brunner	Christian Golden	Dylan Notestine	Brandon Winter
Heather Burk	Christian Goodrich	Natalie Orndorf	Wesley Winterhalter
Babriel Campbell	Tiffany Henry	Mark Salmons	Hannah Woods
Gregory Cloninger	Roshelle Hickerson	Susan Scott	Katelyn Yinger
Michelle Corbett	Thea Kennedy	Zachariah Showalter	Casey White

Benjamin Logan High School Senior Scholars

Allison Baker	Kirsten Fultz	Brittany Maxwell
Shannon Tynan	Caitlin Bowdle	Leland Gates
Evan Nolan	Steven Watson III	Brock Brogan
Kirsten Givens	Blake Rodenberger	Hope Whitacre
Devyn Brunner	Colleen Huey	Rachael SmithShannon
Larrilyn Yelton	Jarred Campbell	Emily Jones
Nicole Snell	Sarah Yoder	Alayna Coughlin
Ashley Kuch	Lauren Stahl	Krista Young
Andrea Dunn	Hilary Lantz	Anissa Tevis
Elizabeth Elizondo	Jaclyn Ludwig	Zandria Titus
Caitlyn Fields	Emma Lusby	Matthew Tremains

Indian Lake High School Senior Scholars

Jessica-Renee Abouaf	Natalie Cornelius	Jordan Kenton	Sadie Oyer
Kory Allison	Sarah Crissinger	Joshua Kenton	Robert Smayda
Lindsay Boehler	Sara Gibson	Heather Lalau	Michelle Watt
Lauren Brademeyer	Chelsey Hoyles	Taylor Norviel

Ohio Hi-Point High School Senior Scholars

Heather Burk	Daniel McCully
Robert Smayda	David Thatcher
Katie King	Mark Salmons
Ashley Kuch	Breanna Schrader

Riverside High School Senior Scholars

Kyle Baughman	Jenna Easton	Bethany Franks	Kelsey Guthrie
Danielle Lump	Daniel McCully	Jonathan Miller	Shana Smith
Eleni Tackett	Amber Watkins	Brandon Whitehead

West Liberty-Salem High School Senior Scholars

Caleb Zahller	Crystal King	Drew Hamren	Shelby Siegenthaler
Sara Naderer	Grace Yoder	Hannah Hartsel	Jacob Ingram
Jenna Hostetler	Austin Wilson	Jenna Core	Virginia Csillag
Tyler Shisler	Erin Snapp	Mary Harr	Erik Thomas

Ridgemont High School Senior Scholar

Breanna Schrader

Waynesfield-Goshen High School Senior Scholar

Christian Lament

The Marysville Post of the State Highway Patrol responded to a two-vehicle injury accident at County Road 18 and Township Road 200 (southwest of Bellefontaine) Monday afternoon around 1:45.

Heather Dauber, 24, of 127 Grand Avenue, Russells Point, was driving a ‘99 Pontiac Grand Am westbound on 200 when she pulled into the path of Phyllis Standley, 72, of 4488 County Road 18, Bellefontaine, who was operating a ‘98 Oldsmobile Regency southbound on 18.

Standley was transported to Mary Rutan Hospital by Bellefontaine Fire and EMS with incapacitating injuries.

Nigle Standley, 72, was riding with his wife. He was also transported to Mary Rutan Hospital.

Dauber was cited for failure to yield and driving under suspension.

She was not injured.

All three occupants were wearing their seat belts.

Standley’s car suffered heavy damage and Dauber’s car sustained moderate damage.

Three men responsible for a shooting that struck an Ohio Department of Natural Resources vehicle on private property last October recently entered guilty pleas with the Champaign County Prosecutor’s Office.

The bullet, shot by Todd Noel, narrowly missed the ODNR employees that were inside the vehicle in the area of Ford Road and Woodville Pike in rural Champaign County.

The following dispositions were entered on February 25th and March 3rd:

Jesse W. Coffey, 37, of 124 East Plum St., St. Paris, pleaded guilty to:
Hunt/Take Deer Closed Deer Season (M4), 3 counts of Hunt/Take Deer with Prohibited Firearm (M4), Hunting without Permission (M3), Prohibiting Jacklighting (M3), Criminal Trespassing (M4), Complicity to Improper Handling Firearms in a Motor Vehicle (F4), Prohibiting Injuring Persons or Property While Hunting (M1), Prohibiting Injuring Persons or Property While Hunting (M1), Obstructing Official Business (F5).

Todd M. Noel, 34, of 3875 Route 36 West, Urbana, pleaded guilty to:
No Hunting License (M4), Hunt/Take Deer Closed Season (M4), 3 counts of Hunt/Take Deer with Prohibited Firearm (M4), Hunting without Permission (M3), Prohibiting Jacklighting (M3), Criminal Trespassing (M4), Improper Handling Firearms in a Motor Vehicle (F4), Using Weapons While Intoxicated (M1), Prohibiting Injuring Persons or Property While Hunting (M1), Prohibiting Injuring Persons or Property While Hunting (M1)

Jacob E. Shepherd, 18, of 124 East Plum St., St. Paris, pleaded guilty to:
Underage Consumption (M1), Hunt/Take Deer Closed Season (M4), 3 counts of Hunt/Take Deer with Prohibited Firearm (M4), Hunting without Permission (M3), Prohibiting Jacklighting (M3), Criminal Trespassing (M4), Complicity to Improper Handling Firearms in a Motor Vehicle (F4), Prohibiting Injuring Persons or Property While Hunting (M1), Prohibiting Injuring Persons or Property While Hunting (M1)

Sentencing is scheduled for April 27.

West Liberty Village Council met in regular session Monday with an eventful evening on the books.

To start off the night a citizen came in to discuss the ordinance on citywide trash, stating his trash was not being picked up because his 45 gallon trash can was too large. He stated that his neighbor’s trash was being picked up, even though they don’t use trash cans.

“We ask that our citizens keep the smaller trash cans or use the recycling program and use the orange trash bags to throw away their trash so it makes it more manageable for our guys on the street department,” said Mayor Greg Hostetler.

Council advised the citizen to purchase orange trash bags or a smaller can to comply with the village’s ordinance.

Council member Jill McKelvey then brought up in old business that some citizens are not complying with the village’s Defecation Removal Ordinance.

McKelvey said that rather than putting their dog’s feces in a bag and throwing it away, residents are throwing bags on the ground, or neglecting to clean it up altogether.

Council then moved on to the topic of a new car for the village’s police department. West Liberty Police Chief Ron Murray had discussed the purchase of a new car before and final touches were put on the financing during the meeting.

Members approved the purchase of a Dodge Charger V8 to replace the 8-year-old Ford Crown Victoria the department currently owns. The village will be paying down half of the price, and financing the other half.

Listen to Mayor Hostetler discuss the meeting’s highlights.

Employees at the street and water departments as well as emergency responders will be required to take a driving program. According to Mayor Hostetler, the program is necessary to reduce insurance costs.

Also, it was announced that renovations to West Liberty’s Town Hall will be going into phase 2 this year. The first floor interior of the building will be remodeled for the township and village offices.

West Liberty Village Council will meet again on March 22.

The Bellefontaine Police Department arrested a city man on multiple charges following a domestic dispute at his home Friday night.

Officers were sent to an incident involving a drunk male at 328 Spring Avenue just after eleven p.m.

Beverly Robinson, 51, called police because she was afraid that live-in boyfriend Jeffrey Wick (pictured), 52, was going to hit her.

Moments after police arrived, Wick threatened Robinson.

Wick was quickly restrained and then charged with aggravated menacing and persistent disorderly conduct.

He was lodged in the Logan County Jail.

Two other adults witnessed the dispute.

No one was injured.

The second annual West Liberty-Salem Science Olympiad Tournament was a big success on Saturday.

The Tigers welcomed the best Science Olympiad teams from Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania.

Over 750 students filled classrooms, hallways, and both gymnasiums to showcase their scientific knowledge in a variety of competitions.

The West Liberty-Salem Middle School team finished 3rd overall against some of the top teams in the country while defending National Champions Solon Middle School and Centerville High School dominated with first place finishes.

(Here is a picture of the WLS Middle School Team.
Front Row: Coach Cara Wolfe, Coach Cameron Spencer, Jackson Sanborn, Jonathon Wolfe, Nick Davis, Dustin Wooten, Elizabeth Hance
Second Row: Nick Cordell, Alyssa Kauffman, Carrissa Magnuson, Zach Chapman, Jordon Wolfe, Olivia Fryman, Brandon Smoot, Coach Crystal Davis
Third Row: Victoria Benefiel, Sam Warye, Beau Humphrey, Cody Taylor, Sawyer Shafer, Rebekkah Gresh, Chris Davis, Miranda Etgen, Darby Thomas, Trevor Davis
Fourth Row: Corey Lianez, Colby Schwaderer, Kevin Olbrysh, Mollie Etgen, Matt Kauffman, Megan Etgen, Steven Bailey, Anna Naderer, Levi Spencer)

West Liberty-Salem will compete in the Grandview Regional Tournament on Saturday, March 13th.

The Ohio State Science Olympiad Tournament will be at The Ohio State University on April 17th.

West Liberty-Salem Middle School students placed in 20 of 23 events with 26 of 32 of the team members receiving medals and ribbons.

Below are the West Liberty-Salem Middle School medal and ribbon winners.

Gold Medals

Levi Spencer & Colby Schwaderer in Battery Buggy
Megan Etgen, Nick Davis, Sawyer Shafer & Levi Spencer in Pentathlon
Elizabeth Hance & Dustin Wooten in Crimebusters
Matt Kauffman & Megan Etgen in Wright Stuff

Silver Medals

Annie Steiner & Sam Warye in Battery Buggy

Bronze Medals

Colby Schwaderer & Levi Spencer in Fossils
Darby Thomas, Chris Davis, Jordon Wolfe & Miranda Etgen in Pentathlon
Elizabeth Hance & Dustin Wooten in Trajectory
Chris Davis & Jordon Wolfe in Wright Stuff

Ribbon Winners

4th Place      Mollie Etgen & Matt Kauffman in Road Scholar
5th Place      Rebekkah Gresh & Kevin Olbrysh in Bio-Process Lab
5th Place      Colby Schwaderer & Beau Humphrey in Dynamic Planet
5th Place      Elizabeth Hance & Anna Naderer in Junkyard Challenge
5th Place      Elizabeth Hance & Anna Naderer in Write It, Do It. 
5th Place      Rebekkah Gresh & Nick Davis in Meteorology
6th Place      Victoria Benefiel & Brandon Smoot in Battery Buggy
6th Place      Anna Naderer & Nick Davis in Compute This
6th Place      Megan Etgen & Matt Kauffman in Shock Value
6th Place      Tim McCall & Jackson Sanborn in Wright Stuff
7th Place      Megan Etgen & Sawyer Shafer in Can’t Judge a Powder
7th Place      Anna Naderer & Carrissa Magnuson in Elevated Bridges
7th Place      Dustin Wooten & Rebekkah Gresh in Solar System
8th Place      Trevor Davis & Cody Taylor in Physical Science Lab
8th Place      Sawyer Shafer & Levi Spencer in Experimental Design
8th Place      Kevin Olbrysh & Sawyer Shafer in Disease Detective
8th Place      Annie Steiner & Jonathon Wolfe in Elevated Bridges

Following a long standing Science Olympiad tradition, the West Liberty-Salem High School team members did not accept medals or ribbons at the invitational they hosted.

The Science Olympiad is North America’s most prestigious team science and technology competition. 

More information can be found at http://soinc.org/ and http://www.ced.osu.edu/scioly/

The Bellefontaine Rotary Club will host their 34th Annual Honors Dessert for Logan County high school seniors tonight at 7 o’clock at Bellefontaine High School.

The event will honor Logan County seniors who have achieved a 3.5 cumulative grade point average or higher.

Rotarians will recognize 117 students from eight local schools, including Bellefontaine, Benjamin Logan, Indian Lake, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, Ridgemont, Riverside, Waynesfield-Goshen, and West Liberty-Salem. Hans J. Berkel, Rotary’s District Governor, will be the keynote speaker. Interact presidents from Riverside and Bellefontaine will give the invocation and lead the guests in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Bellefontaine Rotary Club has hosted the Logan County Seniors Honor Dessert for the last 34 years of the club’s 54 years of local service. Angela Jacobs, Bellefontaine Rotary President said, “Rotarians are honored to recognize these young men and women for their commitment to academics. They are our future leaders.”

If you would like more information or seek membership in the Bellefontaine Rotary Club, please contact Angela Jacobs at 592-5688 or Club Secretary Tammy Gump at 593-0245 or visit www.rotary.org.

For the second consecutive day, a private plane has crashed locally.

The Marysville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a plane crash that occurred on Saturday at 12:40 p.m. at Grimes Field in Urbana.

The 1965 Piper Cherokee airplane was practicing maneuvers at the Champaign County Airport. The plane struck a snow bank while attempting to land, resulting in moderate damage to the aircraft.

The pilot, James Shiver II, 47, Columbus, and the passenger, Richard Willis, 73, Columbus, did not sustain any injuries in the crash.

Mr. Shiver, the owner of the plane, is a student pilot, and Mr. Willis was serving as his instructor.

The Federal Aviation Administration was notified. The Urbana Police Department, Urbana Fire and Rescue, and members of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

The Marysville Post of the State Highway Patrol reports that two central Indiana men were killed in a plane crash in rural Union County Friday.

Troopers report that a 2007 Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar Plus airplane was found in a field on Adams Road west of County Road 29 (about seven miles southeast of Marysville) around 8:30 last night.

The plane, which was scheduled to stop for fuel at the Union County Airport, was reported missing around 4:45 Friday afternoon. The aircraft was located by members of the Civil Air Patrol, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Highway Patrol.

Pilot Arthur Potter, 67, of Greenwood, Indiana, and passenger Frank Granato, 55, of Carmel, Indiana, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Union County Coroner.

The plane left the Greenwood Indiana Airport Friday morning at eight o’clock and was destined for New Castle, Pennsylvania.

The plane, which is owned by the Greenwood Flying Club LLC in Indianapolis, received severe damage.

The cause and time of the crash remain under investigation.

Crews from the State Patrol and Federal Aviation Administration continue to work at the crash scene today.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Emergency Management Agency, Jerome Township Fire Department, and the Civil Air Patrol assisted at the scene Friday night.

State Route 274 will be closed in both directions at the CSX Railroad crossing in Rushsylvania beginning Monday.

This section of SR 274 is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday.

The closure is due to crews making repairs to the railroad crossing.

The official detour during this time is US 68 and SR 273.

All work is weather permitting.

Bellefontaine City Schools will be operating on a one hour delay Wednesday due to Huddle Day. Teachers will be participating in staff development activities.

Starting Times will be 8:40 for BMS, 8:45 for BHS, 9:45 for Western Intermediate, and 10:00 for Northeastern and Southeastern Elementary.

Benjamin Logan Schools will be dismissing students at 2:00 on Wednesday and operating on a one hour delay Thursday for teacher in-service.

Monday, the Guidance office of West Liberty-Salem high school will hold an informational meeting for parents and current juniors who plan to attend a 2 or 4 year college.

The evening presentation will cover planning for the senior year, the college admission process, what colleges look for in an applicant, and a brief overview of financial aid.

Guest speakers will include representatives from Clark State Community College, The Ohio State University, and Urbana University.

The meeting will be held in the high school cafetorium from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

For more information, call the Guidance office at 465-3630 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) recently announced that $149,127 has been awarded to fire departments in central Ohio by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.

Two local districts were recipients of the grants: Indian Joint Fire District ($52,250) and Bokescreek Township Fire Department ($50,233).

AFG Grants target fire departments and EMS organizations that are unaffiliated with hospitals to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public and first-responder personnel.

The funds can be used for vehicle acquisition, operational and safety equipment updates, critically needed equipment, protective gear, training, and other resources needed to protect public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

Since 2001, nearly $4 billion in grant money has been awarded to first responder organizations.

The Weekly Agenda for Commissioners Core, Knight, and Bayliss for the week of March 8th through March 12th.

Monday:

Tuesday:

8:30 a.m. COMMISSION IN SESSION

3:30 p.m. Solid Waste Policy Board meeting

Wednesday:

6:00 p.m. Annual Appreciation Banquet – Ohio Hi Point (BAYLISS)

7:30 p.m. Fair Board meeting

Thursday:

8:30 a.m. COMMISSION IN SESSION

9:30 a.m. John Holtcamp and Ron Irick re: Children’s Services

10:00 a.m. Family Court Judges and CSEA re: IV-D

1:00 p.m. LUC meeting (BAYLISS)

Friday:

8:30 a.m. Logan County Catastrophic Emergency Operations Team meeting – Mary Rutan Hospital North/South Conference room (KNIGHT)

10:30 a.m. Indian Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant – construction meeting

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.