Article source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/02/22/columbus-state-partnering-with-reynoldsburg-schools.html

Reynoldsburg police were investigating reports of counterfeit cash being used at businesses, 10TV News reported on Tuesday.

Police said that officials from two businesses on Taylor Road reported people trying to pay with fake money.

In one case, officers said that a woman tried to pay with a $100 bill.

When the clerk looked closer, she said that she noticed it was actually a $5 bill that had been washed with a $100 bill printed over the top.

Police said the shopper said that she did not know the bill was bogus and left.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for more information
 

Article source: http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2012/02/21/reynoldsburg-fake-bills-used-at-reynoldsburg-stores.html

The increase, and others like it, would bring in an additional $18,000 a year for the city,
based on permits issued in 2010. Still, administrators say the various permit fees are meant to
offset administrative costs, not make money.

Such fees vary greatly in Franklin County communities; some charge more than 10 times what other
suburbs ask. Some cities take pride in keeping their fees low, hoping to entice people to relocate
or to encourage development, but others think all of their costs should be recouped.

In Bexley, City Council members adopted the first increase since 2007 in December. The city had
been charging $40 for permits that cost $60 to process, said Kathy Rose, Building Department
manager. “It just didn’t make sense for us to lose money.”

Dublin and Hilliard have the highest zoning and variance fees of any central Ohio suburb. With
more land to develop, more applicants and larger staffs to manage the applications, the fees
reflect the added complexity in those communities, officials said.

For example, the fee for a commercial variance in Worthington is $50. Hilliard’s fee is $1,000.
A residential zoning application will cost you $100 in Grove City. In Dublin, it’s $1,995.

“I’ve never had anybody stand before me and say, ‘Your fees are too high,’  ” said Steve
Langworthy, Dublin’s director of land use and long-range planning.

Architect Richard Taylor didn’t complain to Langworthy. But he’s frustrated about spending $285
for a permit for an $85 sign he installed at his Dublin firm.

“The cost of that was discouraging,” Taylor said. His clients agree, including some who have
considered scrapping additions or remodeling projects.

Langworthy said each city has its own philosophy about setting fees.

“How much does it cost us to process, and is it fair to put this cost on the taxpayer? I think
it’s fair that the individual asking for the approvals bear the cost,” he said.

Grove City treats fees as an economic-development incentive.

“We don’t view it as a moneymaker or even breaking even,” said Chuck Boso, city
administrator.

Worthington is known for low fees. “We try to encourage people to get approval and go through
the process,” said Lynda Bitar, Worthington’s development coordinator. “We’ve never wanted to put
any roadblocks in the way of getting approval.”

High fees also might encourage people to side-step the application process, which could lead to
poor quality or even dangerous workmanship, she said.

Under Reynoldsburg’s proposed increases, George Igel, who paid $500 in 2010 to turn a house into
an office building, would be paying double that. At $1,000, it would be just shy of deterring his
project, he said.

Still, he considers the fees in Reynoldsburg to be fair. If he were in Dublin, he would be
paying about $4,000, a price he called “kind of ridiculous.”

“For what I’m doing, I wouldn’t pay that,” he said. “A lot of small businesses are barely making
enough for payments and utilities.”

Reynoldsburg’s proposal would mean that nearly all fees would go up. Residential rezoning would
go from $500 to $750; commercial rezoning would double, to $1,000. Development-plan modifications
would jump from $75 to $500. Those permits are rare in the city.

The increases are less drastic for the more-common permits, such as residential zoning
certificates, which would go from $40 to $50; and fence permits, $20 to $35.

The cost of processing planning and zoning permits has gone up since fees were last increased in
2007, said Matt Hansen, Reynoldsburg planning administrator.

“These fees were never considered a major source of revenue for the department,” Hansen said. “
Even with the increase, we’re still not even covering the cost of staffing.”

Council members will discuss the proposal at tonight’s service-committee meeting.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

qtruong@dispatch.com

Article source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/02/21/permit-fees-vary-widely-some-are-rising.html

Stewart Mandel can keep his job as steward of the SI.com All-America team. I’m happier choosing the annual All Two-Star (And Fewer) team, which honors the best underrated and — in some cases — completely unrated players in college football.

The 2012 team was especially fun to select. Walk-ons — the smartest, best-looking players on any college football team — filled several spots. How special is the moment for walk-ons right now? I had to leave one off the team because he was rated too high coming out of high school. I figured Missouri cornerback Randy Ponder would be a shoo-in for the 2012 team. Then I looked up his Rivals.com recruit profile and learned that Ponder was a three-star recruit with multiple FBS offers.

Walk-on or not, we can’t have three-star glory boys on this team.

And now for the annual disclaimer: This team is made up of players who will play college football in 2012. I know former Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden didn’t have a star rating. I know former Houston quarterback Case Keenum was a two-star. Please don’t e-mail to remind me. Also, I know current Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland was vastly underrated coming out of high school. But as a three-star, he wasn’t underrated enough.

Offense

QB Riley Nelson, Sr., BYU (Two stars in Class of 2006): Despite being named Utah’s Mr. Football in 2005, this Parade All-American (as an all-purpose player) didn’t get much attention outside of his home state. Nelson chose hometown Utah State, where his father, uncles, grandfathers and great-grandfathers had all been athletes, but he didn’t plan to play immediately. He wanted to grayshirt and then serve an LDS mission beginning in June 2007. Instead, Utah State’s backup quarterback was dismissed in April 2006, and Nelson decided to join the team immediately. He wound up starting the Aggies’ final seven games. How old is Nelson? He got shellacked by Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan, who still had another season to play. Nelson transferred to BYU after a mission to Spain, and he won the starting job in 2010. But Nelson suffered a shoulder injury in the Cougars’ third game, and then-freshman Jake Heaps ascended to the starting job. By the start of the 2011 season, Nelson was the backup quarterback and a gunner on the punt team. But after leading a miracle comeback against — of course — Utah State, Nelson made it clear he was BYU’s best quarterback. He capped the season by channeling Dan Marino’s fake spike to beat Tulsa. That’s the kind of savvy the All Two-Star (And Fewer) team needs in its signal-caller.

RB Dominique Whaley, Sr., Oklahoma (Zero stars in Class of 2008): In the All Two-Star (And Fewer) hierarchy, walk-ons trump two-stars. (For some reason, there are no one-stars.) Furthermore, walk-ons who came from nowhere trump preferred walk-ons who were well known to the coaching staff for which they eventually played. For that reason, Oklahoma’s Whaley — a former Subway Sandwich Artist — will be one of the 2012 team’s co-captains. Whaley, an Army brat, never lived in one place long enough to establish himself as a player. Whaley played as a freshman at Langston, an NAIA school near Oklahoma City, but he left school when his parents were deployed to Iraq and Whaley moved to Texas to help his grandmother care for his siblings. He walked on at Oklahoma as a complete unknown. After practices in 2010, he walked across the street and made $5 footlongs. During those practices, Whaley shredded Oklahoma’s defense. In 2011, he led the Sooners in rushing with 627 yards despite playing only six full games. Whaley’s season ended when he broke his ankle on the first play of the Kansas State game. He’ll miss spring practice, but Whaley is expected to return for preseason camp. The good news? He’s been rehabbing this semester as a scholarship player.

RB Le’Veon Bell, Jr., Michigan State (Two stars in Class of 2010): Edwin Baker might have turned pro because he thought he was ready for a new challenge, or he might have left East Lansing because he knew he was the second-best back on the Spartans’ roster. The 6-foot-2, 237-pound Bell averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored 13 rushing touchdowns while splitting time with Baker in 2011. Bell, who also caught 35 passes, will be a greater focal point of Michigan State’s offense in 2012. Bell grew up in the Columbus suburb of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and played at Groveport Madison High, but Ohio State never offered. Michigan State gave Bell his only Big Ten offer, and the Spartans beat out Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan and Marshall for Bell.

OT Justin Britt, Jr., Missouri (Two stars in Class of 2009): As a 6-5, 267-pounder in Lebanon, Mo., Britt had only begun to examine the recruiting process when the Tigers offered. The only place Britt had ever wanted to play was Missouri, so he accepted that offer immediately. No one else pursued the state champion wrestler very hard. It wouldn’t have mattered if they had. In 2011, Britt was expected to play guard before a preseason injury knocked out left tackle Elvis Fisher. Britt, who now weighs 295, took over at left tackle and started all 13 games. He finished the year by holding his own against North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples — a likely first-round draft pick — in the Independence Bowl.

OG Patrick Omameh, Sr., Michigan (Two stars in Class of 2008): Omameh makes his second appearance on the team after starting 13 games at right guard and helping the Wolverines to a Sugar Bowl win. Michigan, Michigan State and Cincinnati were the only AQ-conference schools with coaches who believed the undersized (236 pounds) defensive end from Columbus, Ohio, would grow into something special.

OG Lane Taylor, Sr., Oklahoma State (Two stars in Class of 2008): Dipping into Texas to unearth hidden gems has helped Oklahoma State rise from Big 12 also-ran to Big 12 champion. Taylor is yet another one of those gems. The only other Big 12 school to offer the Arlington native was Kansas. Taylor won a starting job as a redshirt freshman and has started ever since.

C B.J. Finney, So., Kansas State (Two stars in Class of 2010): Finney, whose flat-top makes him look a little like Sgt. Carter from Gomer Pyle, declined an offer from Ohio University to walk on in Manhattan. The Andale, Kan., native grew up a Kansas State fan, and he’s honored to play for Bill Snyder. But that haircut makes people think Finney works for Snyder. Though Finney was only a redshirt freshman in 2011, plenty of people thought he was a coach. “Sadly enough, I get told that all the time,” Finney told The Wichita Eagle in August. “I guess I look like a coach. Between wrestling and football, people are always coming up to me and asking, ‘Are you a coach?’ No, I’m a player. A freshman, actually.”

OT Ricky Wagner, Sr., Wisconsin (Zero stars in Class of 2008): Given the paydays earned by former left tackles Joe Thomas and Gabe Carimi, it would seem logical that Wisconsin would have a stockpile of highly rated offensive linemen waiting to take over the position each time a first-rounder leaves. The Badgers do have such a stockpile, but Wagner, a former walk-on tight end, beat out all of his higher rated teammates. In 2012, he’ll try to help the Badgers to a third consecutive Big Ten title.

WR Jared Abbrederis, Jr., Wisconsin (Zero stars in Class of 2009): A quarterback and track standout from Wautoma, Wisc., Abbrederis originally planned to walk on at Wisconsin. Not to the football team, though. Originally, Abbrederis hoped only to make the track team. But Wisconsin’s football coaches offered a walk-on spot before preseason camp, and Abbrederis accepted. Abbrederis spent his freshman season fulfilling glamorous assignments such as simulating Wofford’s quarterback, but he quickly proved himself in spring 2010 when he got a chance to play with Wisconsin’s offense. In 2011, Abbrederis led the Badgers in receiving yards with 933 despite being the second option behind Nick Toon. In 2012, Abbrederis will be the first option in the passing game.

WR Cody Hoffman, Jr., BYU (Two stars in Class of 2009): Sacramento State would have been the only school to recruit Hoffman out of tiny Crescent City, Calif., had it not been for a local teacher named Terry Vance. Vance was a roommate of BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall when the men were students at Oregon State, and Vance took notice of Hoffman dominating his high school competition and contacted his former roomie. Now 6-4 and 208 pounds, Hoffman is BYU’s top receiver and kickoff returner.

TE Ryan Griffin, Connecticut (Two stars in Class of 2008): Londonderry, N.H., isn’t a recruiting hotbed, so coaches can be forgiven for missing out on the 6-6, 248-pound Griffin, who has the potential to play his way from two-star recruit to NFL draft pick. UConn and New Hampshire were Griffin’s best two offers, and he chose the Huskies.

Defense

DE Nathan Brink, Jr., Michigan (Zero stars in Class of 2009): If all goes as planned, the 6-5, 263-pound Brink will take over one of the open starting jobs on Michigan’s defensive line this spring. He spent 2011 as a rotation player, but even that is amazing considering the fact that Brink walked on at Michigan at 220 pounds. Brink, who also played basketball in high school, made his way to Ann Arbor from Holland, Mich., thanks to a Florida connection. Brink’s high school position coach told MGoBlog.com that then-Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez knew Holland Christian coach Willie Snead from Snead’s days as the coach at Glades Central in Belle Glade, Fla. That relationship allowed Snead, in his first year at Holland Christian, to finagle a walk-on spot for Brink.

DT Nikita Whitlock, Jr., Wake Forest (Two stars in Class of 2009): Whitlock is listed at 5-11, which means he’s probably even shorter. Schools shied away from Whitlock because of his height, which is to be expected. While a too-tall nose guard presents his own set of issues, a 5-11 one probably can’t carry enough weight to be effective. Wake Forest was Whitlock’s only FBS offer, and that came at the 11th hour. “The reason I came to Wake was because it was either Wake or Iraq,” Whitlock told the Winston-Salem Journal. He’s serious. Whitlock told the paper that he had already spoken to an Army recruiter. If Wake coaches hadn’t offered, Whitlock would have enlisted. Instead, Whitlock stunned coaches and opponents by dominating at 260 pounds. In 2011, he led the Demon Deacons in tackles for loss with 14.

DT Roosevelt Nix, Jr., Kent State (Two stars in Class of 2009): Only a few miles from where Le’Veon Bell got ignored by most of the Big Ten, Nix starred at Reynoldsburg (Ohio) High. Like Whitlock, Nix scared off recruiters with his lack of height. At a listed 5-10 coming out of high school, he didn’t look the part of a college defensive lineman. He only plays like one. Nix — listed at 6-0 and 244 pounds by Kent State — didn’t sneak up on anyone after winning the MAC’s defensive player of the year award as a redshirt freshman in 2010, but he still played well despite being the focal point of opponents’ gameplans in 2011. Nix led the Golden Flashes in tackles for loss with 17. He also forced three fumbles.

DE Ben Gardner, Jr., Stanford (Two stars in Class of 2009): Gardner, a Mequon, Wisc., native whose only FBS offer came from the Cardinal, let down a legion of fans before the Fiesta Bowl when he sheared the best mullet college football has seen since Steve Taneyhill kept his business up front and his party in the back at South Carolina. No matter. Gardner, who racked up 10 tackles for loss in 2011, will bring his more aerodynamic look back in 2012 as part of a front seven that could be one of the nation’s best.

LB Khaseem Greene, Sr., Rutgers (Two stars in Class of 2008): Greene actually graduated from high school in Elizabeth, N.J., in 2007, but he spent a year at a Connecticut prep school to get his academics in order. Coming out of prep school, Greene had offers from Rutgers, Connecticut and Akron. He chose to return to his home state, and the Scarlet Knights are grateful. In 2011, Greene led Rutgers with 141 tackles.

LB Khalil Mack, Jr., Buffalo (Two stars in Class of 2009): Former Buffalo coach Turner Gill had to beat out Liberty to secure a commitment from Mack, who probably would start for all but a handful of schools in the country. As Tennessee prepared to face the Bulls last year, Volunteers coach Derek Dooley warned his offensive players repeatedly about No. 46. “He’s a hard worker,” Tennessee offensive tackle Ju’Wuan James told the Knoxville News-Sentinel. “Coach Dooley said he’s a guy that’s on the wrong team.” Mack finished third in the nation with 20.5 tackles for loss, and the 6-3, 248-pounder’s ability to disrupt an offense makes him perpetually fearsome. How fearsome? Mack even seems terrifying as he strums a Jason Mraz tune.

LB Daren Bates, Sr., Auburn (Two stars in Class of 2009): The All Two-Star (And Fewer) team may be running a nickel by next month. First-year Auburn defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder wants thicker linebackers on the Plains, and to achieve that end, VanGorder may have to move Bates back to safety, where he started as a freshman in 2009. That’s fine. With so many pass-happy teams out there, we’re more than happy to play with five defensive backs to get Bates — who started on a national title team — on the field.

CB Jordan Poyer, Sr., Oregon State (Two stars in Class of 2009): The Beavers beat out Idaho, Eastern Washington and Portland State for Poyer, who starred at Astoria (Ore.) High. Poyer was one of the few bright spots for Oregon State in 2011, and he was named to the All Pac-12 second team.

S Jordan Kovacs, Sr., Michigan (Zero stars in Class of 2008): Kovacs, another walk-on who came out of nowhere, joins Whaley as a co-captain. I first wrote about Kovacs in 2009 after he filled in admirably during the Wolverines’ win against Notre Dame. Since then, Kovacs has developed into one of the Big Ten’s best safeties. The kid who made the team from a student-body tryout has started 33 games, and he still has one more season to play.

S Hakeem Smith, Jr., Louisville (Two stars in Class of 2010): Smith followed his Big East Rookie of the Year season with a solid sophomore year. He finished second on the Cardinals with 84 tackles, and he broke up nine passes. The Cardinals plucked Smith out of suburban Atlanta without much competition. Smith committed to Steve Kragthorpe’s staff, but he has grown into a star playing for Charlie Strong.

CB Darqueze Dennard, Jr., Michigan State (Two stars in Class of 2010): Dennard should thank Christian Bryant every day for choosing Ohio State. Had Bryant, a four-star cornerback from Cleveland, chosen Michigan State instead of the Buckeyes, Spartans coaches wouldn’t have called Dennard in Dry Branch, Ga., days before National Signing Day with a scholarship offer. Dennard would have been choosing between Middle Tennessee State and Utah State. Instead, Dennard went to East Lansing, where he has become one of the Big Ten’s best young cornerbacks. Dennard also managed to exact some revenge on the home state team that ignored him. In the Outback Bowl against Georgia, Dennard’s third-quarter interception led to Michigan State’s first touchdown. Later in the quarter, Dennard intercepted another pass and returned it for a touchdown.

Specialists

P Ryan Allen, Sr., Louisiana Tech (Zero stars in Class of 2008): Wait a second. Where is LSU’s Brad Wing? Well, this team has no place for hyped-up recruits who carried three stars with them to college. Allen, from Salem, Ore., walked on at Oregon State, but he didn’t play in two years on the roster in Corvallis. So he transferred to Louisiana Tech before the 2010 season. In 2011, Allen won the Ray Guy Award. He pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 39 times and averaged 46.1 yards a punt.

PR Jared Abbrederis, Jr., Wisconsin (Zero stars in Class of 2009): He doesn’t just catch passes. Abbrederis finished third in the nation in punt return average in 2011 with 15.75 yards a return.

KR John Evans, So., Western Kentucky (Two stars in Class of 2011): Evans finished second in the nation in kickoff return average with 32.2 yards per return, and he proved once again that Hilltoppers coach Willie Taggart knows his home region. Taggart, once a high school star in Bradenton, Fla., plucked Evans from nearby Sarasota. Iowa State, Marshall and Middle Tennessee State were also interested, but Evans bonded with Taggart.

PK Drew Alleman, Sr., LSU (Two stars in Class of 2008): The exclusion of everyone’s favorite former Australian Rules footballer doesn’t mean LSU’s specialists won’t be represented here. Rivals.com listed Alleman as a two-star recruit, but he has delivered a five-star performance. In 2011, Alleman made 16 of 18 field goal attempts and 62 of 63 PAT attempts.

Article source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/02/20/all-two-star-team/index.html

Instead of inching toward the requirement that 100 percent of students be “proficient” on
standardized math and reading exams by 2014, Ohio would require schools to show improvement among
all students, regardless of race, family wealth or other factors.

Students still would need to take and pass tests and graduate on time. But Ohio’s system of
holding schools accountable would change dramatically.

The plan is outlined in a waiver request that the state Department of Education will submit by
Feb. 28 to President Barack Obama’s administration.

Among the proposed changes:

• Students no longer would be offered transfers to better schools or free tutoring if their
schools fail to improve enough in math or reading.

• Schools would be judged by the progress they make in closing the “achievement gap,” the
disparity in the academic performance between students of different races and backgrounds.

• Letter grades would replace the ratings listed on school report cards. (The Dispatch typically converts the ratings into a letter grade, such as an A for an “
excellent” rating.)

State Superintendent Stan W. Heffner said Ohio’s goal is to have students ready for college or a
career when they graduate from high school. And he’s talking about all students.

“How many years have we failed (to close the achievement gap) and not done anything about it?”
he asked.

More than 89 percent of white students statewide earned diplomas in 2010, the most-recent rates
available. But among black students, only 65.3 percent graduated. The graduation rate for Latino
students was 62.7 percent.

The 2001 No Child Left Behind law was the education centerpiece of former President George W.
Bush’s administration.

The law has been up for renewal since 2007, but Congress has been unable to agree on how it
should be updated. Until it is, Obama invited states that want to opt out of 11 major provisions to
submit their own plans for improving schools. Federal regulators have granted waivers to 11 states
so far.

Ohio is asking to opt out of all 11 provisions.

State officials say Ohio’s plan would increase expectations for students.

Heffner characterized Ohio’s plan as “a continuous improvement strategy,” one that seeks to give
a clear picture of how well students are performing and what progress is being made year to
year.

Reynoldsburg Superintendent Steve Dackin said Ohio’s plan would “raise the bar high so our kids
are ready to succeed. We need a diploma to mean something.”

Regardless of what happens to the waiver request, Ohio is revising standardized tests to fit
within the Common Core curriculum guidelines being adopted across the country, which are seen as
more rigorous. Some districts already have started using the Common Core guidelines, and all must
by 2014-15.

If Ohio’s waiver is approved, the state would disband a tutoring program that has dealt with
allegations of fraud and wrongdoing. Columbus schools and state and federal officials all have
investigated the “supplemental educational services” program, which is for children who attend
schools with low academic marks and high poverty.

Instead of providing tutoring, schools could use federal money to pay for longer school days or
longer school years.

Columbus Superintendent Gene Harris said she would welcome the end of the tutoring program,
which in Columbus took $3 million in federal money last school year.

“We are spending an enormous amount of time and effort just administering this,” she said. “
Having the opportunity to extend the school day and school year for our students would be a
positive thing.”

A waiver also would allow Ohio to ditch the federal definition of “highly qualified” teacher,
which measures only whether teachers are licensed in their subject area. Instead, Ohio’s school
report cards would show how effective teachers are based, in part, on how well their students
perform.

Ohio will be “shining a light” on academic disparities between student groups, Heffner said,
living up to a key component of the federal law. No Child Left Behind was designed to ensure all
types of students were making progress.

Under the state’s plan, schools would have to show that they’re increasing the percentage of
students who are passing exams each year. That state would set annual targets. The overall goal is
to cut in half the percentage of students who aren’t passing tests by 2016-17, compared with last
school year.

On the annual school report cards, schools would be given letter grades based on their
test-passage rates, graduation rates and a student growth measure called value-added.

Heffner cautioned that the results may not be pretty.

“Parents won’t see as many A’s” on school report cards, Heffner said.

jsmithrichards@dispatch.com

ccandisky@dispatch.com

Article source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/02/20/no-child-left-behind.html

PATASTAKA — When Lancaster’s qualifying wrestlers lined up for the national anthem prior to the finals at the sectional meet, it almost looked like a team photo shoot.

That’s how dominant the Ohio Capital Conference-Ohio Division champions were in dispatching the competition en route to winning their second straight Division I Sectional championship Saturday at Watkins Memorial High School. Nine Lancaster wrestlers made the finals, with three Golden Gales winning their respective weight classes. Lancaster won the meet by recording 220.5 points, beating out Hilliard Bradley (216.5 points) and Pickerington North.

“A lot of people contribute to the success of this program,” Lancaster coach Jon Spires said. “We had three freshmen, a sophomore, two juniors, and five seniors in the lineup today. That’s because the kids from our youth program come in ready to wrestle at a high level, and they know that if they want to wrestle, they have to be competitors.”

Spires credited his team for staying in the moment this week a week after winning the OCC-Ohio with an emotional victory over rival Pickerington Central.

“We enjoyed beating Pickerington Central, but we overcame that quickly and focused on the next task at hand. Wrestling is a sport where you can’t a week off in training and a second off in a match,” Spires said. “That’s great once you accomplish something, but you need to use it as motivation for our next match.”

Showcasing their immense depth, the Golden Gales had a wrestler had a wrestler in each grade level reach the finals. Jacob Spearman started Lancaster’s run in the finals by tallying a pin in the 113-pound weight class. Classmate Ben Barnhart-Sullivan followed suit by winning his 126-pound finals match. He defeated OCC-Ohio rival Will Boykin of Reynoldsburg.

“I had to wrestle hard. The kid was strong, so I used my technique and caught him on his back,” Barnhart-Sullivan said. “We’ve been serious and focused all season from top to bottom. That’s what has helped us a lot. Coach Spires has kept our heads in it, and has kept us in line all season.”

Article source: http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20120218/HSSPORTS/120218006/Gales-breeze-past-competition-en-route-sectional-championship-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage

REYNOLDSBURG — Tenants living at Independence Village Apartments are surrounded by trash, unsecured apartments, and a lack of property management.

Several people contacted ABC6/FOX28 after they received notice their electric and water would be turned off because of unpaid bills by management.

“We pay our bills, make our checks out on time,” said Clarence Wagner. “To be treated like this is unfair!”

ABC6/FOX28 did some digging and found out the property’s owner is in financial trouble and is in the process of transferring ownership. 

Despite the lack of property maintenance, tenants are obligated by law to pay rent says housing service, Columbus Urban League. If they don’t pay rent they could face eviction.

Still, tenants are demanding someone clean up the problem.

“I don’t know too many people that can up and move within a weeks time before water gets cut off before the trash gets worse, before this situation gets to the point where it draws nice and rats and anything else that comes in here,” said Wagner.

—–
Reporter: Dave DetlingReynoldsburg Rental Problems, Property Management Missing

Posted: Saturday, February 18 2012, 11:06 PM EST

Article source: http://www.abc6onyourside.com/shared/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wsyx_vid_16236.shtml

An ordinance, which will be put to a vote during Tuesday’s Heath City Council meeting, would prevent secondhand dealers that buy and sell used items from accepting gift cards, Shepherd said.

Thieves have returned stolen items to retail stores without a receipt and received a store gift card. They then take the gift card and sell it to a pawn shop or secondhand dealer for a profit, Shepherd said.

“It’s kind of a new industry,” Shepherd said.

Kevin A. Marlowe, of Columbus, was indicted Thursday for allegedly working with accomplices to buy inexpensive blinds from Lowe’s, then using the receipt to leave the store with more expensive blinds, Heath Detective Mark Phillips said.

Police allege they then exchanged the expensive blinds for gift cards, totaling $1,100 to $1,500, at Lowe’s stores in Lancaster and Reynoldsburg between Nov. 1 and Dec. 4, Phillips said.

Marlowe was indicted on nine counts of theft, each a fifth-degree felony. The indictment included thefts from the Heath store and other Ohio Lowe’s, Phillips said.

Heath police started electronically tracking purchases of secondhand dealers this past April. A review of seven months of records revealed many were selling gift cards received for stolen merchandise, Shepherd said.

One business paid people $15,000 during that time — half the price of the $30,000 worth of gift cards accepted, Shepherd said.

“We didn’t know it was that big of a deal,” Shepherd said.

The council’s Safety Committee modeled the ordinance off another Ohio city that faced similar problems with shoplifting via gift cards, said Shepherd, adding he hasn’t received much feedback from the secondhand dealers.

Shepherd said retailers see the practice of giving store credit or gift cards for exchanges as good customer service, but it has created a different kind of shoplifter.

Article source: http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20120218/NEWS01/202180304/Heath-might-ban-pawn-shops-from-buying-selling-gift-cards

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Newark’s suffocating defense held Lancaster to a field goal or fewer in three of the four quarters. The Golden Gales shot 18 percent from the field in a 50-19 loss in Ohio Capital Conference-Ohio Division play at Jimmy Allen Gymnasium.

“They imposed their will,” Lancaster coach Joe Hites said. “It was their senior night. We played awfully hard on our senior night, too, but that is no excuse. It was very evident the hustle plays were theirs.”

Foul trouble contributed to the struggles early. Ben Kuhn and Caleb Hester both went to the bench within the first three minutes with two fouls apiece.

The Gales (6-14, 2-12) made only 1 of 10 shots in the first quarter as Newark made 7 of 12, including three 3-pointers.

“Every game we play, we talk about our defense first,” Newark coach Jeff Quackenbush said. “Your defense is something you can control. You can control your effort.”

Lancaster had its best offensive quarter in the second, but the Gales could not cut into a 15-point deficit. Ethan Jones penetrated inside of Newark’s scrambling perimeter defense, and he had all of his team-high six points.

Hester had his only basket in the quarter, but Newark (16-4, 11-3) slowed down the standout with physical post defense from Ben Barnhart, Daniel Logan and Grant Russell. The Gales also were unable to spread the floor, making 2 of 15 3-point attempts.

“They challenged a ton of our shots, too, but some of the shots that didn’t go in deflated our defensive effort, Hites said. “When a kid makes a great move and gets a good look and misses, it takes the wind out of the sails.”

Trailing 32-14 at halftime, Lancaster lost all touch in the third quarter. Newark’s defense loosened up, but the Gales could not find the basket. Ryan Thomas’ basket from the block with 4:43 left in the game was Lancaster’s only second-half field goal.

Logan led Newark with 16 points and nine rebounds. The Wildcats had a 34-22 edge on the glass.

The Gales’ first Division I tournament game is against a familiar foe. The Gales play Gahanna at 6 p.m. next Saturday at Reynoldsburg.

“The whole idea is you have to have a sense of urgency,” Hites said. “We put five seniors out on the floor as often as we could try to build that. This is the last go-round.”

Article source: http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20120218/HSSPORTS03/202180318/Wildcats-beat-Gales-boys-basketball-team?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7C%7Cs

The raids — in Lancaster, Pickerington, Fairfield Beach and Columbus — were spearheaded by the Fairfield-Hocking Major Crimes Unit.

“We are grateful to work closely with the officers of the Major Crimes Unit to fight the significant drug problem our community is facing,” Fairfield County Prosecutor Gregg Marx said while announcing the grand jury indictments.

The raids targeted heroin, crack cocaine and prescription opiates.

People indicted from the raid include:

» Frederick L. Easley, 43, 1620 E. Hudson St., Columbus. Two counts of trafficking in crack cocaine, fourth-degree and fifth-degree felonies.

» Anthony M. Easley-Smith, 23, 1366 Sheridan Drive, Lancaster. Trafficking in crack cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.

» Jeremy Crane, 27, 844 Elizabeth Drive, Lancaster. Trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony.

» James Walls, 33, 7133 Tent Church Road, Lancaster. Three counts of trafficking in cocaine, two fifth-degree felonies and one fourth-degree felony.

» Marie A. Agee-Mincey, 48, 2149 Woodward Ave., Columbus. Trafficking in crack cocaine, a fourth-degree felony.

» William Gibson, 24, 222 Shallow Ridge Place, Lancaster. Two counts of trafficking in drugs, fourth-degree felonies.

» Lisa Gibson, 28, 222 Shallow Ridge Place, Lancaster. Two counts of trafficking in drugs, fourth-degree felonies.

» Troy Seifert, 39, 126 N. Maple, Lancaster. Trafficking in cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.

» Paul Chris Rardain, 64, 13546 Shell Beach Road, Lot 31, Fairfield Beach. Two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, fourth-degree felonies.

» Kiley Woltz, 31, 950 Clayton Drive, Lancaster. Trafficking in heroin, a fourth-degree felony, and permitting drug abuse, a fifth-degree felony.

» Joshua Ward, 23, 3170 Hamburg Road, Lancaster. Trafficking in a counterfeit controlled substance, a fourth-degree felony.

» Tiya Carpenter, 44, 1930 Deerfield Court, Apt. B, Lancaster. Trafficking in heroin, a fourth-degree felony.

» Robert Carpenter, 40, 1930 Deerfield Court, Apt. B, Lancaster. Two counts of trafficking in heroin, one a fourth-degree and the other a fifth-degree felony.

» Joshua Petry, 30, 1925 W. Sixth Ave., Lancaster. Trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony.

» Andrew Morris, 26, 2270 Lake Road, Lancaster. Possession of heroin, fifth-degree felony.

» Raegan Kunkler, 34, Mockingbird Court, Pickerington. Possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.

» Laura Wells, 23, 6513 Bartlett Court, Reynoldsburg. Possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony.

» Michael Stevens, 36, 6337 James Rouse Blvd., Canal Winchester. Three counts of trafficking in cocaine, two fourth-degree felonies and a fifth-degree felony.

» Nicholas Engel, 30, 329 Columbus St., Lancaster. Tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor; resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.

» Jan Edie (Rough), 40, 1532 Graf St., Lancaster. Possession of heroin, possession of cocaine, and permitting drug abuse, all fifth-degree felonies; and endangering the welfare of a child, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Other indictments released from the county prosecutor’s office Friday that were not related to the last week’s drug raids included:

» Eric A. Pack, 28, 11950 Huntington Hills Drive, Pickerington. Operating a vehicle under the influence, a fourth-degree felony.

» Timothy C. Hiles, 41, homeless, of Chillicothe. Robbery, a third-degree felony.

» Tracy A. Zebrowski, 44, 163 Going Lane, Reynoldsburg. Possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony; illegal conveyance of a drug of abuse onto he grounds of a detention facility, a third-degree felony.

» William A. Bailey, 34, 12040 Ohio 56 W., Mount Sterling. Two counts of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony; trafficking in marijuana, a fourth-degree felony; and possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Article source: http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20120218/NEWS01/202180302/23-indicted-after-drug-sweep-Lancaster-other-cities?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7C%7Cp

An ordinance, which will be put to a vote at Heath City Council Tuesday, would prevent second-hand dealers that buy and sell used items from accepting gift cards, Shepherd said.

Thieves have returned stolen items to retail stores without a receipt and received a store gift card. They then take the gift card and sell it to a pawn shop or second-hand dealer for a profit, Shepherd said.

“It’s kind of a new industry,” Shepherd said.

Kevin A. Marlowe, of Columbus, was indicted Thursday for reportedly working with accomplices to purchase inexpensive blinds from Lowe’s, then using the receipt to leave the store with more expensive blinds, Heath Detective Mark Phillips said.

Police allege they then exchanged the expensive blinds for gift cards, totaling $1,100 to $1,500, at Lowe’s stores in Lancaster and Reynoldsburg between Nov. 1 and Dec. 4, Phillips said.

Marlowe was indicted on nine counts of theft, each a fifth-degree felony. The indictment included thefts from the Heath store and other Ohio Lowe’s, Phillips said.

Heath police started electronically tracking purchases of second-hand dealers last April. A review of seven months’ records revealed many were selling gift cards received for stolen merchandise, Shepherd said.

One business paid individuals $15,000 during that time — half the price of $30,000 worth of gift cards accepted, Shepherd said.

“We didn’t know it was that big of a deal,” Shepherd said.

The safety committee modeled the ordinance off another Ohio city that faced similar problems with shoplifting via gift cards, said Shepherd, adding that he hasn’t received much feedback from the second-hand dealers.

Shepherd said retailers see the practice of giving store credit or gift cards for exchanges as good customer service, but it has created a different kind of shoplifter.

Jessie Balmert can be reached at (740) 328-8548 or jbalmert@newarkadvocate.com

Article source: http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20120217/NEWS01/120217005/Heath-may-ban-pawn-shops-from-buying-selling-gift-cards

Qualifying rounds for the tournament are set to begin at 9 AM on Saturday, February 18, and the first round of match play will start at 9 AM on Sunday. Chad Roberts, 24, has been bowling since the young age of four and believes his experience will give him what he needs to compete against the professionals. However, as PBA Commissioner Tom Clark noted in an interview, success at the local level does not always carry over into high-pressure PBA tournaments. Despite the odds, however, Roberts will play on Saturday and hopes to perform well enough to earn himself a spot in Sunday’s finals.

Aside from Chad Roberts, I will also be keeping a close eye on Jason Belmonte and Osku Palermaa. As I reported on February 13, The two recently faced one another during the Chameleon Open in Las Vegas on February 12, and Belmonte helped knock Palermaa out of the running in the second game. Belmonte then proceeded to win the tournament with an awe-inspiring performance that included eight strikes in a row. Both Palermaa and Belmonte use the uncommon two-handed form and I always enjoy watching them ply their trade – especially against one another.

I plan to tune in to pba.com’s Xtra Frame, which will offer the tournament via live streaming video, to see if Roberts can indeed turn his local success into a PBA title. This type of scenario is one of the elements that I find most appealing about professional bowling. Unlike virtually all other professional sports, the PBA offers opportunities for amateurs to compete against athletes who play professionally. As such, instant bowling fame can be achieved by anyone with enough talent and perseverance to develop the necessary skills. That is an opportunity not widely offered in most other sports.

Christopher Brown is an avid bowler who closely follows PBA events but has never competed on a serious level. Above all, he appreciates the mutual respect and friendliness that is found within the bowling community. Bowling has proven to be a rewarding pastime for Chris and his two sons who share an equally strong attraction to the sport.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Article source: http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-10979078

Carrie Ghose
Staff reporter – Business First

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A Columbus nonprofit group working to bring medical services to the south side since the 2001 closure of Columbus Community Hospital 
 

Columbus Community Hospital
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has filled one of the building’s last vacant spots with an outpatient surgery center expected to open soon.

Backers of for-profit Specialty Surgery Center of Columbus LLC have raised $4.5 million, they reported Feb. 6 in a Securities and Exchange Commission 
 

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filing. The Ohio Department of Health 
 

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is awaiting a fire inspection report before approving its license to operate at 1430 S. High St.

“It’s something that’s badly needed,” said Dr. James Hicks, a Reynoldsburg chiropractor and a minority …

Carrie Ghose covers health care and medicine, higher education, technology and business services for Business First.

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Article source: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2012/02/17/surgery-center-rounds-out-former.html

Wednesday February 15, 2012 5:00 AM

State poll

Division I

Others: 11, Sylvania Northview 29. 12, Warren Howland (1) 24. 12,
Olentangy 24.

Division II

Division III

Division IV

District Tournament

Division I

At Olentangy Orange

Yesterday’s results

Watterson 69, Grove City 34

GC: Draper 5-2-15, Terry 3-0-7, Devinney 2-2-6, Kilgus 2-0-4, Mesler 0-2-2.
3-point goals: Draper 3, Terry.
Totals: 12-6-34.

WATT: Mayle 5-5-15, Andracki 4-2-12, Cantwell 5-0-10, Gavin 3-3-9, Cook 3-0-7,
Statzcar 2-0-5, Nikolai 2-1-5, Smith 1-0-2, Sauter 1-0-2, Aman 1-0-2.
3-point goals: Andracki 2, Cook, Statzcar.
Totals: 27-11-69.

Hilliard Darby 43, Dublin Scioto 39

DS: Buhigas 3-2-10, Collins 2-4-10, Jones 2-5-9, Pritchett 2-1-5, Thorndal 2-0-4,
Gooden 0-1-1.
3-point goals: Buhigas 2, Collins 2.
Totals: 11-13-39.

HD: Hilditch 4-0-12, Krumpe 5-2-12, Rispress 3-1-7, Esposito 1-2-5, Palsgrove
1-1-4, Scott 1-0-2, Bretz 0-1-1.
3-point goals: Hilditch 4, Esposito, Palsgrove.
Totals: 15-7-43.

Today’s games: Dublin Jerome vs. Delaware, 6 p.m.; Olentangy (7) vs. Westland,
7:45 p.m.

Thursday’s games: Westerville North vs. Hilliard Bradley, 6 p.m.; Groveport vs.
Reynoldsburg (1), 7:45 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 21: Westerville North-Hilliard Bradley winner vs. Lancaster, 6 p.m.;
Olentangy-Westland winner vs. Dublin Jerome-Delaware winner, 7:45 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 22: Groveport-Reynoldsburg winner vs. Franklin Heights, 6 p.m.;
Watterson (9) vs. Hilliard Darby, 7:45 p.m.

At Hilliard Davidson

Today’s games: Gahanna (6) vs. Canal Winchester, 6 p.m.; Olentangy Liberty vs.
Logan, 7:45 p.m.

Thursday’s games: Dublin Coffman (5) vs. Marysville, 6 p.m.; Pickerington North
(2) vs. Westerville Central, 7:45 p.m.

Saturday’s games: Mount Vernon vs. Upper Arlington (10), 6 p.m.; Worthington
Kilbourne vs. New Albany (11), 7:45 p.m.

At Westerville South

Today’s games: Marion-Franklin vs. Newark, 6 p.m.; Central Crossing (8) vs.
Pickerington Central, 7:45 p.m..

At Pickerington Central

Yesterday’s result

Olentangy Orange 72, Whetstone 31

WHET: Mascarello 4-0-11, Campbell 1-6-8, Harrison 2-0-4, A. Thomas 2-0-4, Darling
0-2-2, Khoury 0-1-1, T. Thomas 0-1-1.
3-point goals: Mascarello 3.
Totals: 9-10-31.

OO: Walker 9-1-19, Agler 4-5-15, Lewis 5-0-10, Joseph 3-0-8, Brooks 2-1-5,
Donatelli 1-1-3, Myers 1-0-3, Bundy 1-1-3, Werling 1-0-2, Lee 1-0-2, Gossard 1-0-2.
3-point goals: Agler 2, Joseph 2, Myers.
Totals: 29-9-72.

Thursday’s games: Hilliard Davidson vs. Westerville South, 6 p.m.; Zanesville (12)
vs. Thomas Worthington, 7:45 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 21: Olentangy Orange (3) vs. Walnut Ridge, 6 p.m.; Central Crossing-
Pickerington Central winner vs. Marion Franklin-Newark winner, 7:45 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 22: Zanesville-Thomas Worthington winner vs. Hilliard
Davidson-Westerville South winner, 6 p.m.; Briggs-Northland winner vs. Teays Valley-Chillicothe
winner, 7:45 p.m.

At Pickerington North

Saturday’s games: Teays Valley vs. Chillicothe, 6 p.m.; Briggs vs. Northland (4),
7:45 p.m.

Division II

At Pickerington North

Wednesday’s game: Mifflin (8) vs. Highland, 7 p.m.

Thursday’s games: Lakewood vs. Centennial (3), 6 p.m.; Beechcroft vs. Jonathan
Alder (1), 7:45 p.m.

Saturday’s games: Buckeye Valley vs. Whitehall, 1 p.m.; Amanda-Clearcreek vs.
Hartley (2), 2:45 p.m.

At Delaware

Wednesday’s game: Granville vs. Licking Valley (6), 7 p.m.

Thursday’s games: Bexley vs. Eastmoor Academy (5), 6 p.m.; Licking Heights vs.
DeSales (7), 7:45 p.m.

Saturday’s games: South vs. Big Walnut, 6 p.m.; London vs. Brookhaven (4), 7:45
p.m.

Southeast District

Thursday’s games: Athens vs. Fairfield Union at Albany Alexander, 6:15 p.m.;
Westfall vs. Washington C.H. at Adena, 6:15 p.m.

Monday’s result: Circleville 33, Hillsboro 24

Division III

At Worthington Christian

Thursday’s game: Cardington vs. Centerburg (4), 7 p.m.

Saturday’s games: East Knox vs. Liberty Union (3), 6 p.m.; North Union (2) vs.
Northmor, 7:45 p.m.

At New Albany

Thursday’s games: Mount Gilead vs. Columbus Academy, 6 p.m.; Grandview vs. Heath,
7:45 p.m.

Saturday’s games: Madison Plains vs. Pleasant (7), 1 p.m.; Johnstown (5) vs.
Ready, 2:45 p.m.

Division IV

At Lakewood

Today’s games: Newark Catholic (1) vs. International, 6 p.m.; Tree of Life (4) vs.
Grove City Christian, 7:45 p.m.

At Westerville Central

Thursday’s games: Worthington Christian (5) vs. Northside Christian, 6 p.m.;
Village Academy vs. Madison Christian, 7:45 p.m.

Regular season

Yesterday’s results

Area nonleague

Castalia Margaretta 75, Marion Harding 41

Clear Fork 54, Loudonville 48

Today’s game

Area nonleague

Ohio Deaf at Western Pennsylvania Deaf.

Area standings

City League

North Division

South Division

Central Catholic League

Ohio Capital Conference

Capital Division

Cardinal Division

Central Division

Ohio Division

Mid-State League

Ohio Division

Buckeye Division

Cardinal Division

Mid-Buckeye Conference

Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference

Red Division

Blue Division

MOCAL

Independents/others

Article source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2012/02/15/gbkx15-g7mg26o4-1.html

Ron asks all his supporters to visit MyBasementDoctor.com and click on the run/walk link at the top of the page to learn more and make a donation. The Basement Doctor will forward all donations to the fund.

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Article source: http://www.pr.com/press-release/391435

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Article source: http://www.postcrescent.com/usatoday/article/38551023?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs

The Columbus Dispatch

Thursday February 16, 2012 10:29 AM

BROOKE L
aVALLEY |
DISPATCH

Chad Roberts of Reynoldsburg takes a practice roll at Holiday Lanes in Whitehall.

Being a professional isn’t required to enter the Professional Bowling Association tournament
this weekend.

Amateurs will compete alongside the best bowlers in the country in the Ricart Ford Open, which
has replaced the Don Johnson Eliminator pro tournament last hosted by Sequoia Pro Bowl in 2010.

Among the 128 competitors is Reynoldsburg native Chad Roberts, who wants the opportunity to bowl
in front of friends and family.

Although his goal is to qualify for match play on Sunday, he thinks his 231 average from amateur
tournaments and two top bowling leagues affords him a shot at the $10,000 prize.

“If you don’t think you can win, then you should probably just sit out and watch,” said Roberts,
24.

High averages from local leagues don’t always hold up in high-pressure tournaments, though, said
PBA commissioner Tom Clark. Columbus is a popular destination on the 16-stop tour, with Sequoia
typically selling out its 500 seats for the finals.

“The top guys almost always rise to the top, no matter the format or situation,” Clark said.

“But in every big event that we have, there’s always someone who’s a surprise.”

Roberts, who started bowling with family members when he was 4, isn’t necessarily trying to turn
professional. For now, he’s content to compete on weekends and keep his day job as an assistant
with a lobbying company.

In the future, though, “It would never be a bad thing to bowl for a living — almost playing a
game for a job,” he said.

Jason Lundquist of Groveport had a taste of the pro life in 2008, when he earned a spot among
the 64 exempt players automatically entered in pro tournaments.

But he struggled to maintain the ranking, especially after sustaining a wrist injury that
lingered most of the season. He dropped his PBA card last year because he hadn’t entered a pro
event since his exempt season.

The 35-year-old still bowls for a living, though: He manages the pro shop at Wayne Webb’s
Columbus Bowl and enters tournaments.

Noting that he earns prize money in about 90 percent of the tournaments, Lundquist said he
remains competitive enough to take on the pros again.

“They are flat-out better than anyone you bowl against in local stuff, every one of them,” he
said.

“I have to be not just physically but mentally ready.”

asaunders@dispatch.com

Article source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2012/02/16/high-scoring-amateur-aiming-to-bowl-over-pros.html