August 10, 2011
5.9-mill operating levy
Loss could cut 75 teachers, HS busing By GARY BUDZAK
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Hilliard Board of Education voted unanimously Aug. 8 to place a 5.9-mill operating levy on the November ballot, and discussed making $10.2-million in budget cuts if the levy fails.
Those cuts could include eliminating 75 teachers as well as bus service for high school students. “This step is not a threat, it is a requirement,” said Superintendent Dale McVey. Under state law, Ohio school districts that show a budget deficit as early as the second year of a f ive-year
forecast are required to list cuts in order to eliminate a budget deficit. The district is projecting a deficit of approximately $8 million for the 2012-13 school year. Last week in a special meeting, the board unanimously approved the 5.9mill rate, which is 1 mill lower than vot-
ers rejected in May. This week’s vote was to proceed with the submission of the additional tax levy to voters. If approved, the levy would generate $14,291,610.71 annually during the life of the levy, assuming the total current tax valuation of the district remains unchanged. The levy would cost property
owners about $181 in additional property taxes per each $100,000 of home value. School board President Doug Maggied has said that if the le vy were approved, the district would not seek any See LEVY LOSS, page A2
FIRE VS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Photos by Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
(Above) The Hilliard Police Department's Tony LaRosa, left, collides at home plate with Buck Spangler from the Norwich Township Fire Department during the seventh inning of a softball game between the two departments Aug. 5 at Roger Reynolds Municipal Park. (Left) Josh Cohill and Curtis Baker from the police department team shake hands with fire department team members Dan Buelow and Kris Lanning after the game. The fire department held off a late rally by the police department to win.
Flagpole from Ground Zero finds new home By GARY BUDZAK
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
A piece of history now stands in front of the Safety Services Building on Northwest Parkway — one of five flagpoles that was still intact after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The other four flagpoles are now at the Pentagon, which was one of the other targets hit by the terrorists on Sept. 11,2001. Police Chief Doug Francis said it w as a matter of good timing that the fifth flagpole came to Hilliard. Last May, a delegation from Hilliard and Norwich Township went to the site of Ground Zero in New York City to pick up steel from the former World Trade Center for Hilliard’s First Responders Park. While
in the hangar that housed the artifacts, Francis said, Mayor Don Schonhardt noticed five flagpoles against a wall. “He asked, ‘Can I get one of those?’” Francis said. “The supervisor there said, ‘No one’s put their name on it. I don’t see why not.’“ There was just one problem,though: At 55 feet, the pole was too long to put on a truck with the rest of the steel without having to get special permits,Francis said. So the pole was cut in half. “It has been sitting here at our f acility since last May,” Francis said. “We had to hire a company to put the pole back together. That was done a couple of months ago. They finished it up on July 14, and we got it delivered back here, and we put See FLAGPOLE, page A2
Roberts to challenge Cope for Norwich Township seat By GARY BUDZAK
In January, Roberts said he would not seek a third term on council. His term expires at the end of the year. Hilliard City Council member Tim “The final decision was made withRoberts has announced that he will run in the last couple of weeks,” Roberts for Norwich Township trustee in No- said of running for trustee. “It’s somevember. thing that I’ve thought about doing at “I’d lik e to imdifferent times. It’s a position I thought prove on the workI might like to seek at some point. I figing relationship beured now is as good a time as any to go tween the township ahead and do it.” and the city,” Roberts Roberts, 53, lives in Norwich Townsaid. “With my backship and the city of Hilliard. A 1975 ground, being a firegraduate of Hilliard High School, fighter, living in the Tim Roberts Roberts was a Norwich Township fireHilliard and townman for almost 13 years, retiring in 2006. ship area since 1961 and ha ving been on council, I offer a unique perspective.” See ROBERTS, page A2
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 614 members Kathy Herbert, left, Janice Koch, Robin Freeman and Leslie Hedge make a turn during their practice as an all-female color guard.
Post 614 Auxiliary r efor ms all-female color guar d unit By JESSICA WHITE
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
After two years without a local color guard, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 614 is reforming the group. Auxiliary president Dianne Schultz said the ladies’color guard has existed on and off since the Hilliard post was formed in the early 1930s. The
women were known as the “legionettes” until the 1980s, she said, and they won awards for their performances almost every year. “But life was different back then,” Schultz said. “There weren’t so many different things to do. People had more time.” Glenna Hagar, who joined the color guard around 2006, said she is creating an improved version of what the group was five years ago. With 11
members so far, the group trumps past years when it was “lucky to get three,” Hagar said. She said beginning this fall, the women will perform at traditional events like Hilliard high school football games and local parades,but they also want to be more involved in community affairs. See GUARD, page A3