50¢
Primarily serving Pataskala and surrounding areas
May 8, 2011
Pataskala
City council debates scavenging law By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Council member Bryan Lenzo said there is no burden to requiring scavengers to obtain property owners’ permission beforehand. “When somebody doesn’t want you doing it, that’s when we have issues,” Lenzo said. “I don’t see that it’s an inconvenience to ask permission if you want to engage in this activity.” Council member Bernie Brush said
Pataskala City Council revisited a pending anti-trash scavenger law May 2, as several county residents spoke in favor of scavenging because of recycling and economic benefits, even as some council members continued to express concerns about nuisances and trespassing.
he was ambivalent about requiring permits versus minimizing regulations. “Possibly, the permit is the way to separate who is doing the scavenging,” Brush said. “I agree, it probably should not be done at night. That’s when people are a little nervous, somebody’s out there in the dark, what are they doing. “It sounds like there is more concern in the old village and these concentrat-
ed areas. I am one for not having more ordinances and regulations if we can handle it in another fashion.” Council member Dan Hayes said he did not want to establish a permit process for the activity. “We’re already permitting solicitation,” Hayes said. “It’s trash picking. It’s fine. If we just start by not permitting it at dark, we can see how it goes.
I doubt that you’ll see people dumping trash cans over in the middle of the day. “Let’s just ban it at night hours and see what happens. If that works, great, if it doesn’t, we’ll look at it again. That will at least address the issue of loud trucks coming through the neighborhood at 4 a.m, and it might address litSee SCAVENGING LAW, page A3
Licking Heights
CELEBRATING A BIG LIFT
Franklin County voters spur levy passage By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
Weightlifter Brad Hobbs of the West Licking Warriors celebrates after competing in the bench press competition during the Area 6 Special Olympics meet at Denison University on May 1.
With a razor-thin margin of 85 votes, 1,463 to 1,378, the Licking Heights Local School district passed a 10-year, 11.92-mill emergency property-tax levy to replace an 8.92mill levy expiring this year. Licking County residents voted strongly against the levy, but Franklin County voters heavily supported it. In Franklin County, 67.86 percent of voters, or 737 of 1,086, were in favor of the levy, compared to only 41.37 percent, or 726 of 1755 voters, in Licking County. Treasurer Jennifer Vanover said passage of the levy should ensure the district can make it through two years before the board will have to return to taxpayers for more funding. “It gives us some room to evaluate and make the reductions that need to be made to make the levy last as long as it possibly can,” Vanover said. The board had originally projected adding staff to handle growth in student population
Southwest Licking
See LEVY PASSAGE, page A2
New principal hired at middle school y MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers The Southwest Licking school board held a brief special meeting May 4 to approve the hiring of a new principal at Watkins Middle School, which has been operating under the supervision of interim principal Don Sullivan since January. Kasey Rathburn, currently principal at Baldwin
Road Junior High School in Reynoldsburg, will start in the fall. “She comes with a very high recommendation from those who have worked with her,” said superintendent Forest Yocum. “Her strong suit is in curriculum but she also has a good reputation as a disciplinarian. We’re looking for some good things from her.” The board also approved final layoffs, “reduc-
tions in force,” for teachers and staff. “I’ve passed out 18 letters in the last couple of days to different people on staff, certificated and classified, because of the (reductions in force) situation,” Yocum said. “We’re not replacing most of the people who are retiring, as few as possible. But there may be a few situations where a few people See NEW PRINCIPAL, page A3
Etna trustees give final approval to 310 development By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers After hours of work that the Etna Township trustees and zoning commission began in January, trustees on May 3 took only minutes to give unanimous final approval of a planned-unit
development zoning plan for an 86acre commercial and residential development on state Route 310. The proposal covers land east and west of Route 310 and would require construction of access roads that eventually would require a traffic signal. “It’s a product we all can buy into,
DIRECTORY News: (740) 888-6088 nthompson@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 This year, JD Equipment will donate $10, $30, $50 or $70 for every 100, 300, 500 or 700 series John Deere lawn tractor sold. Proceeds benefit the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.
Year to date total $6,100
and it shows the willingness of Etna Township to prosper,” said trustee John Carlisle. Trustees said the zoning commission held three public hearings and trustees have held two. Attorney Connie Klema, who was representing JBW Properties, said in
addition to the public meetings, she had used the township hall to meet with residents of the area for their input. JBW Properties submitted the zoning application in January. The land, which was zoned for agricultural use,
Influential Etna Twp. resident dies Neil Ingle, of Etna Township, died early May 6. He was 75. His friends remember him as a great man and a great artist, whose sketches, paintings and pumpkin carvings will be remembered, said longtime friend Gary Burkholder. Ingle was a member of the Cumberland Trail Golf Course and stayed active politically, serving on the township’s economic-development commission and both Joint Economic Development Zone boards. See INGLE, page A2
See ETNA TRUSTEES, page A2
Sign up for breaking news & sports!
Click on mobile in the top right corner of ThisWeekNews.com to get community coverage delivered to your phone!
http://mobile.thisweeknews.com
“Serving You for the Future” Easton • Hilliard • Lancaster • London • Marion Wilmington • Washington Court House www.jdequipment.com
View exclusive videos, stories, photos and more. Connect with other fans, parents and athletes. CHAT WITH YOUR FRIENDS, CHEER ON YOUR TEAM.
John Deere X530 $5,999 • 54”Deck • Hydrostatic Transmission • Air Cooled • Hydraulic Lift System
Offer ends August 31, 2011. Prices and model availability may vary by dealer. Some restrictions apply; other special rates and terms may be available, so see your dealer for details and other financing options. Available at participating dealers. John Deere’s green and yellow color scheme, the leaping deer symbol and JOHN DEERE are trademarks of Deere & Company.