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Primarily serving Pataskala and surrounding areas
February 20, 2011
Etna considers biodiesel pilot program By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Etna Township is looking into a pilot project that involves trying to grow sunflower or canola crops for biofuel. The township’s economic development committee met Feb. 17 to discuss using abandoned lanes of state Route 158 for the pilot project to determine if the township could successfully grow
such crops on interstitial highway land and use the crop for biofuel. Committee member Mark Schaff said he has been exploring the idea with the Ohio Department of Transportation and that a meeting was scheduled for 3 p.m. March 17 at Route 158 and U.S. Route 40, with ODOT representatives in attendance to explore the possibility of establishing such a pilot program. “We want to expand the scope of the
gateway landscaping program to include sunflower seed and flax seed and other biodiesel fuels that are also very attractive,” Schaff said. “It’s possible to meet simultaneously the goal of the gateway landscaping program for beautification and to simultaneously produce fuel.” Township zoning official Chris Harkness said the project could help give Etna
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We’ll work out all the bugs on the abandoned section of Route 158 that would be the ideal perfect test site to say, ‘Let’s try it out. It’s not being used anyway. If we are successful there, we can talk about moving to U.S. Route 40, and then we can talk about moving to Interstate 70 …
MARK SCHAFF —committee member
See ETNA CONSIDERS, page A2
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Etna Township
DIFFICULT TO WATCH
Commission weighs development restrictions along 310 Prospective residents’ ages mentioned as issue By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Eric George/ThisWeek
Watkins Memorial High School head boys basketball coach Erin Woody holds his head in his hands as his team trails visiting St. Charles Prep 32-8 in the second quarter of their Feb. 15 game. Watkins lost 71-40. See Sports, page A9.
Levy or no levy
Licking Heights board begins budget-cut planning By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Licking Heights Board of Education met Feb. 15 to begin planning both for an 11.9-mill property-tax operating levy and for cuts that district officials know must come. Board president Mark Satterwhite said it is
difficult to propose cuts, but it is also responsible and necessary. “Some people say whenever there is a levy, the district puts out a list and it’s just blackmail or something,” Satterwhite said. “We have to deal with this every month because we’re always looking at our financing, so to me it’s just being honest. If this does not pass, you need to know
up front what we are dealing with. Even if it does pass, we will have to cut anyway just because of the way funding is going. We could not ask for a levy that would maintain everything we have right now.” Superintendent Thomas Tucker said the disSee BUDGET-CUT PLANNING, page A2
The Etna Township Zoning Commission met Feb. 16 to continue work on a proposed 86-acre development along state Route 310, between the Cameron Chase and Cumberland Trail subdivisions. The proposal covers land both east and west of Route 310 and would require construction of access roads that eventually would require a traffic signal. Attorney Connie Klema, on behalf of JBW properties, submitted the application in January. The land is zoned for agricultural use. The proposal calls for retail development on the west of Route 310 and professional office development on the east of Route 310, with residential development to the rear of each. Commissioners expressed concerns about age restrictions in both residential areas and in commercial areas of the proposal, including facilities for the elderly. Alternate commission member Mike Kerner said restrictions limiting commercial use to certain business codes would take care of any age issues. “I don’t know why we would entertain what age a person is there,” Kerner said. “Someone may be in a nursing-care facility for something other than old age — maybe breathing ailments or mobility ailments or other disabilities that require them to be in a continuous nursing-care facility. Does it matter if they are 24 years old or 36 or 50 or 70?” Commission member Bill Young said age restrictions are common, to separate elderly use from young family use. “But it’s possible (that families could occupy the properties) if you have attached condos,”Young said. “I would imagine they want a community where it’s primarily empty-nesters — older people without children with them. A lot of places will restrict it so you can have a grandchild come stay with you for a week of the year or something.” Commission chair Trent Stepp said he was concerned about ambiguity in “units” in zoning restrictions that would limit development to four units per acre. Commission members also discussed requiring See DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS, page A2
By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
Civil War letter reading
(Above, left) Jack Cruikshank of the West Licking Historical Society talks to Roland Eyears and Julie Barrett about his collection of Civil War items during a Civil War Letter Reading event at the United Methodist Church of Pataskala on Feb. 17. (Above, right) The featured speaker was John Cox. He read letters by his great-great-grandfather, Daniel Howell, who served with the 116 OVI during the Civil War.
SWL to use back of spring break for makeup By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Southwest Licking Board of Education has affirmed a makeup schedule for calamity days that will have all district students attending
school during the last two days of spring break, Thursday and Friday. Students also might have to attend school that Wednesday, in addition to days tacked on to the end of the school year. Superintendent Forest Yocum said
DIRECTORY News: (740) 888-6057 shummel@thisweeknews.com Sports: (740) 888-6054 sports@thisweeknews.com Advertising Sales: (740) 888-6024 kshockey@thisweeknews.com Classified: 1-800-686-SELL classified@thisweeknews.com
he thinks the General Assembly would return the number of calamity days from the current three days to five. Then-Gov. Ted Strickland had reduced the number of calamity days from five to three as part of his educational-reform bill two years
ago. With both the governor’s office and the General Assembly changing parties, many of Strickland’s education laws are being reviewed, including the calamity days. See SWL TO USE, page A8
Bonnie is up for adoption at All Tails ‘R’ Waggin in Pataskala. Her brother recently found a home but she is still waiting. To see a video of Bonnie, visit www.ThisWeekNews. com. For more information on adopting Bonnie, visit alltails.com or call (740) 927-0555.
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