Darke County Ohio News

Cincinnati Enquirer... Ohio’s workforce aging, shrinking, By Randy Tucker and Mike Boyer
Shortage of labor likely, experts warn - Demographic shifts have left Ohio with one of the oldest work forces in the country and too few younger workers to replace aging baby boomers as they retire. Many analysts predict labor shortages and lost productivity as employers struggle to find people with the knowledge and skills to replace their most experienced workers, especially in skilled trades. “The recession has made everyone focus on job shortages, but we should be focusing on labor... read more.

Gov. Kasich, Atty General DeWine... Executive Order signed to Fight Human Trafficking
Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force Created to Coordinate Services and Treatment for Victims - COLUMBUS—Today Gov. John R. Kasich signed Executive Order 2012-06K creating the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which will coordinate statewide efforts to identify and rescue victims, create a coordinated law enforcement system to investigate and prosecute crimes of human... read more.

Darke County Commissioners… Lucas Issue still hot; Anonymous chat boxes criticized
Bob Rhoades uses ‘attack’ to make his point - Following an uneventful Monday meeting and Wednesday regular session, Darke County Citizens Karyl Parks, and Bob and Peggy Rhoades addressed the Commissioners during the Wednesday Public Attendees Comments. The questions/comments were regarding the Melody Lucas statement that was first... read more.

Gov. John Kasich... Companies expected to create nearly 1,600 jobs
Projects Account for $328 Million in New Capital Investment - COLUMBUS—Efforts by Gov. John R. Kasich and his administration to improve the state’s jobs-friendly climate continues to produce good news for Ohio families. Twelve projects that are expected to create 1,580 new jobs and retain 1,936 jobs in several communities were approved on Monday by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA). In all, these projects are estimated to result in $76.1 million in new payroll and more than $328 million in... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Portman says Congress might hold off on big issues, By Joe Vardon
Tuesday March 27, 2012 - Perhaps Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman was stating the obvious Saturday when he predicted Congress wouldn’t be able to address issues such as the country’s debt, expiring Bush-era tax cuts, Medicare reimbursements for doctors and across-the-board spending cuts triggered by the failure of the “supercommittee” until after the 2012 election. “We also have to consider doing what Congress... read more.

State Rep. Richard Adams... House Passage of Capital Appropriation Bill H.B. 482 includes funding for Miami County projects - COLUMBUS—State Representative Richard Adams (R-79th District) has announced the bipartisan passage of House Bill 482 from the Ohio House of Representatives. House Bill 482 makes capital appropriations totaling more than $1.7 billion for the fiscal year 2013-2014 biennium while also making other changes that impact the operation of state programs. The capital budget... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Obama calls for more renewable energy during Ohio visit, By Jackie Borchardt
COLUMBUS — As gas prices near $4 a gallon in Ohio, President Barack Obama used his second trip to Ohio in 10 days to call for less reliance on oil and more clean and renewable energy options to fulfill the nation’s needs. Obama challenged presidential candidates who promise lower gas prices with increased drilling, saying better alternative fuels and more fuel-efficient cars reduce American reliance on foreign oil. “We can’t simply drill our way out of the problem,” Obama said before a... read more.

Kentucky Post... Attorney General Mike DeWine looks into Beach complaints
CINCINNATI - Hundreds of season pass holders to The Beach Waterpark have been hoping to see refunds, ever since the park announced it was closing for good earlier this month. The troubled water park has now made a new offer. But some disgruntled pass holders feel it is still not enough. And late Thursday afternoon, Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine announced he is looking into the complaints. Dewine did... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Two-vehicle fatal accident near Arcanum on Hwy 49
On March 28, 2012 at approximately 1030 AM Darke County Deputies, along with New Madison Fire, Greenville Township Fire, Arcanum Rescue, Greenville Township Rescue, and CareFlight were dispatched to the 4900 block of State Route 49 south in reference to a two vehicle serious injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a white 2007 Freightliner straight truck, driven by Joshua M. Leybourne, 23... read more.

Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine... Supreme Court Arguments begin on Obamacare
March 27, 2012 - I was in the U.S. Supreme Court today as arguments began on Obamacare. Twenty-six states, including Ohio, are joined in the lawsuit challenging the act’s constitutionality. As you will recall, the first thing I did after taking office as Attorney General was to authorize Ohio to join this lawsuit. Today’s arguments dealt with whether the case was ready to be decided, which we believe it is. Judging by the questions that the justices asked, it would appear they believe that, as well. There were... read more.

Mail Magazine 24... Study shows it takes 10 units of alternative electricity sources to offset a unit of fossil fuel-generated power, by Anthony Watts
EUGENE, Ore. — Technology alone won’t help the world turn away from fossil fuel-based energy sources, says University of Oregon sociologist Richard York. In a newly published paper, York argues for a shift in political and economic policies to embrace the concept that continued growth in energy consumption is... read more.

State Senator Bill Beagle...Abbott Labs to add Jobs with Increased Funding
More Than 240 Jobs at New Tipp City Facility - March 27, 2012 - COLUMBUS— State Senator Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City) today announced Development Financing Advisory Council (DFAC) approved a $1.5 million loan for Abbott Laboratories through the Ohio Department of Development. Abbott will use the funding for the purchase of machinery and equipment at their new Tipp City facility. With this, the company has committed to create more than 240 new... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, March 24, 2012 - Friday marked the two-year anniversary of President Obama’s national health care law, and Republicans, unable to push repeal through the Democratic-controlled Senate, are now looking to the U.S. Supreme Court for relief. The high court will hold hearings this coming week on a multi-state challenge of the law’s constitutionality. Most voters continue to favor repeal of the law as they have consistently since its passage in 2010. Public opinion has been remarkably... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... BBB offers advice on using social media
Thursday, March 22, 2012 - Just about every marketing executive, CEO or small-business owner knows social media is vital for companies to help get the word out about their business and products, as well as allowing them to interact in real-time with customers. But doing something about that and figuring out how to use social media is a daunting task. Even something that seems as simple as choosing which site to use... read more.

Columbus Business First... Banks say tax cut will increase lending, By Adrian Burns
Friday, March 23, 2012 - Banks in Ohio may soon get a break on their taxes. Most banks, anyway. As part of a broader reform effort, Gov. John Kasich has proposed a shake-up that could squeeze $30 million a year more out of some big banks that are said to be exploiting loopholes in Ohio’s tax laws. The effort would save the rest of the state’s banks about 39 percent annually on their tax bills. The plan wouldn’t change the state’s total tax collections, Tax Commissioner Joe Testa said, but... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... House Speaker Boehner visits Springfield, criticizes Obama policies
by Joe Cogliano, Senior Reporter - Friday, March 23, 2012 - U.S. House Speaker John Boehner told a group of Clark County businesspeople that President Barack Obama’s energy policies are out of step with what needs to be done to keep prices down and minimize dependence on foreign sources. The West Chester Republican spoke about energy and the economy to about 320 people Friday afternoon at a Greater Springfield... read more.

Fireworks erupt at Wednesday’s Commissioners Session
Rhoades loses temper on Wednesday, apologizes - The Lucas Whistleblower complaint is not going away. In today’s lead story, Bob Rhoades addresses the issue. On Tuesday, Melody Lucas tells, in her own words, the circumstances, timeline and specific events leading up to the settlement. Last week, Darke County citizen Ms. Karyl Parks attended both Monday’s and Wednesday... read more.

Cincinnti Enquirer... Ohio rated as lax on ethics
State officials take exception to report - Mar. 19, 2012 - The year-long study (http://www.stateintegrity.org), sponsored by the Center for Public Integrity, Public Radio International and Global Integrity, researched 330 “Corruption Risk Indicators” across 14 categories of government: access to information, campaign finance, executive accountability, legislative accountability, judicial accountability, budgeting, civil service management, procurement, internal auditing, lobbying disclosure, pension fund... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Sears to shutter 62 additional stores, by Lance Murray
Friday, March 16, 2012 - Sears Holdings Corp. plans to close 62 more stores in the first half of 2012. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the retailer said it will shut 43 of its Hometown Stores, 10 of its hardware stores and all nine of its Great Indoors stores. There is more than 25 Hometown Stores in Ohio, including one in Greenville and one Great Indoors store in Farmers... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Oil, gas taxes vary widely by state, By Dan Gearino
Kasich, foes of his plan will find state variances - Monday March 19, 2012 - Several states have used taxes on oil and natural-gas production to reduce the burden on everyone else, a club that Gov. John Kasich would like Ohio to join. He lists Texas, Michigan, West Virginia and North Dakota as examples of places that have higher taxes on oil and natural gas than Ohio. At the same time, oil-industry advocates say that the absence of such a tax — as is the case in Pennsylvania — serves to... read more.

Business Courier... Kroger among U.S. grocers who use ‘pink slime’ in some products
by Tom Demeropolis - Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - Editor’s Note: Friday, March 23, Kroger announced it will discontinue using the “pink slime” discussed in this article. Almost six weeks after McDonald’s Corp. made headlines saying it would stop using a meat product that has been referred to as “pink slime,” Kroger Co. said the product is used in some of the ground beef sold at its stores. That news... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Lobbyists’ outlay on top officials soars in ’11
Lobbyists and their clients spent a record amount on Ohio executive-branch employees last year, the state’s legislative inspector general said. But a big reason for the jump had little to do with the traditional “wining and dining” of public officials: A majority came from expenses associated with a “digital learning” education conference in California in October. But it’s difficult to determine who paid for the conference and how much was spent on state employees. According to an annual report issued... read more.

Ohio Senator Bill Beagle... Beagle-Widener Workforce Resolution Given Senate Support
March 2012 Dubbed “Skilled Workforce Recognition Month” - COLUMBUS— State Senators Bill Beagle (R- Tipp City) and Chris Widener (R- Springfield) today received unanimous support from their colleagues in their effort to designate March 2012 as “Skilled Workforce Recognition Month.” Prior to its approval on the floor, Senate Resolution 198 made its way through the Senate Insurance, Commerce, & Labor... read more.

Darke County Economic Development… CNO… a different kind of start-up
Editor: County News Online was featured in the March issue of the Darke County Economic Development Office. The story… There’s a “new kid in town,” offering a new kind of opportunity to the community, local businesses and Darke County young people. The “kid” is County News Online, just a year old in January. It’s unique in that it is owned and operated by a not-for-profit, the Senior Scribes Scholarship... read more.

Attorney General Mike DeWine... Progress in Prescription Drug Abuse Battle
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine promised to push forward with the fight against prescription drug abuse as National Poison Prevention Week began. National Poison Prevention Week runs from March 19-23. “Despite the real progress we’ve made, four Ohioans still die every day from unintentional drug overdoses,” said Attorney General DeWine. “Accidental drug poisonings kill more people in... read more.

Ohio Department of Transportation... ODOT Launches Division to Identify Potential Transportation Funding Solutions - Billions of dollars could be generated or saved in the coming years - COLUMBUS (Tuesday, March 20, 2012) – By reducing agency costs, commercializing non-interstate rest areas and seeking sponsorship and naming rights for certain infrastructure projects, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) could save nearly $200 million annually and billions more... read more.

Moody Say’s Ohio now ‘financially stable’
Kasich releases statement on announcement - COLUMBUS – Today Gov. John R. Kasich released the following statement after the credit rating agency Moody’s announced that it has improved Ohio’s credit outlook to stable from negative: “Moody’s decision to upgrade Ohio’s credit outlook is fantastic news and affirms that Ohio is getting back on track. Today’s announcement marks the first time since February 2007 that all three rating agencies—Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P—have given Ohio an... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Shell chooses Pennsylvania, not Ohio, for a multi-billion dollar refinery
By Robert L. Smith - Thursday, March 16, 2012 - Drill crews like one in Carroll County have struck not only dry natural gas in the Utica shale but also wet gas like ethane, a discovery that could have helped lure a huge chemical plant to Ohio. On Thursday, Shell Oil Co. announced it has chosen a site near Pittsburgh for a world-scale refinery. The biggest prize to date in the emerging shale gas play will be going to Pennsylvania, not Ohio, but Ohioans are expected to enjoy some of the fruits of a major... read more.

National Federation of Republican Women... NFRW Affirms GOP Support of Women at Board Meeting
Refutes Democrats’ Claim of ‘Republican War on Women’ - NEW ORLEANS – More than 250 Republican women leaders from across the nation gathered at the National Federation of Republican Women’s (NFRW) spring board meeting in New Orleans on March 15-17 to prepare for the 2012 elections and to declare that the latest Democrat media strategy is just a cheap political ploy. “Democrats are running... read more.

CNS News... 65 Percent of Union Members Say Obama is More Liberal Than They Are
By Patrick Burke - March 15, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) - President Barack Obama has tried to portray himself as a champion of the average American against a wealthy elite. However, a new Rasmussen poll found that 65 percent of union members say they believe Obama is more liberal than they are. The poll also found that 59 percent of likely voters think Obama is more liberal than they are, an increase of 7 points... read more.

WHIO-TV Video… Darke Co. parents of dead soldier wanted to speak with Pres. Obama while in Dayton - By Steve.Baker@CMGOhio.com, Northern Bureau Chief - The parents of Master Sgt. William “Bub” McDaniel II, killed in a chopper crash in the Philippines ten years ago, February 22, 2002, would like closure. They wanted one minute to speak with Pres. Obama while in Dayton Monday night at UD Arena. They wanted him to ask military officials to check the shore line around some of the... read more.

Darke County Commissioners… Public Meeting Minutes on Lucas settlement posted
The public meeting minutes for Monday, March 12, and Wednesday, March 14, have been posted. These are the meetings in which there was considerable discussion regarding the County settlement with Melody Lucas, the Whistleblower who cost June Mong, Director of the Darke County EMA, her job. Darke County Commissioner Diane Delaplane and an unnamed county employee were stated as the reason... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Obstacles await Obama despite GOP foibles
WASHINGTON — Even as Republicans have damaged themselves with a bitterly divisive presidential primary, President Barack Obama must overcome a series of formidable obstacles and voter worries on the economy, gasoline prices and health care to win a second term. Obama, who along with British Prime Minister David Cameron watched an NCAA tournament basketball game last night at the University of Dayton, will campaign in the fall with the economy gradually recovering from the... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... We Are Ohio, labor-backed group that fought SB 5, will remain active in Ohio politics - COLUMBUS, Ohio -- We Are Ohio, the labor-backed organization that led the fight last year against Senate Bill 5, announced today that it will remain an advocate for middle-class Ohioans, even though the SB 5 fight is over. “That’s what we’re saying today: We’re here to stay,” Dennis Willard, a spokesman for the group, said today at a news conference in Columbus. Willard said We Are Ohio will focus its efforts on the repeal of House Bill 194 — a controversial elections bill that... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s schools bill a worry for Gov. John Kasich, By Karen Farkas - Friday, March 16, 2012 - CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Gov. John Kasich says Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson seems to be having trouble finding a legislator from the Cleveland area to step up and sponsor his schools plan in Columbus. But Jackson said he deliberately has not asked anyone to sponsor the plan yet because he wants legislators to be comfortable with what he is... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Ohio AG sues Bank of New York Mellon, by Laura Englehart
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has filed a lawsuit against The Bank of New York Mellon for $16 million on the basis it violated Ohio laws against deceptive trade practices in its handling of two state pension funds. The suit alleges BNY Mellon violated the Ohio Deceptive Trade Practices Act through a breach of contract and fraud when it facilitated foreign currency exchanges for... read more.

Gov. John Kasich... The Kasich Income Tax Cut
Key Points - Ohio’s income taxes are too high and must be lowered to create jobs. We need to lower income taxes in order to create a jobs-friendly climate in Ohio. · According to the Tax Foundation, Ohio’s combined state and local income tax burden is among the highest in the nation—in nearly the top third. Ohio’s combined state and local income tax burden per capita is among the highest also—in the top quarter. Lowering... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Missing Person: Melissa Bergman
CNO HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT AT 21:30 HOURS MS BERGMAN HAD BEEN FOUND - Here is information about a missing person from Northern Darke County. This information was posted on our Social Networking sites. At this point, we do not suspect foul play however we are concerned for the safety of the individual. We are asking our media partners for help in distributing the information to... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Postal service to suspend closings due to elections
The U.S. Postal Service announced it will suspend the closure of mail processing facilities across the country between September and January to avoid interfering with the Nov. 6. elections. The agency still plans to move ahead with closing about 223 processing facilities across the nation, including the Dayton facility at 1111 E. 5th St. that employs 432 workers. But postal officials promised to suspend closures during the election season to prevent disrupting the delivery and receipt of election-related mail... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Details of $25B foreclosure settlement filed in federal court
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - The U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and 49 state attorneys general, including Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, on Monday filed their landmark $25 billion agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers over alleged foreclosure abuses. It’s the largest industry settlement since the U.S. struck a deal... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Ohio State Sen. Nina Turner joins women across country striking back, introducing bills to regulate sex lives of men - CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Women legislators across the country are fighting back against laws that govern their sex lives with legislation of their own -- introducing bills that, among other things, would prevent men from having vasectomies or require them to undergo psychological evaluation before they can get prescriptions for Viagra.
And state Sen. Nina Turner, a Cleveland Democrat, is joining them. A week ago, Turner announced Senate... read more.

WHIO-TV... Victim in Ohio office attack from Darke Co.
COLUMBUS — One of the victim’s in the multiple stabbings incident in Columbus on Wednesday is a Columbus-area attorney from Darke County. WHIO’s Steve Baker has learned from a family member that Jeff Maloon, a Union City native, remains in the hospital after he was injured during the stabbing spree at the 25-story office building that houses Miami-Jacobs Career College and the Ohio attorney general’s office. Police say a man armed with three knives stabbed four men, the first an admissions... read more.

Dayton Business Journal… Cox Media Group Ohio to outsource newspaper delivery, by Ginger Christ
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - Cox Media Group Ohio is eliminating its internal newspaper delivery operation, a move which will impact an unspecified number of employees. The parent company of the Dayton Daily News, starting in April, will outsource the oversight of its newspaper delivery operation to independent distributors. Currently, the process is completed internally. Michael... read more.

State Rep. Richard Adams... Adams co-sponsors Bill creating Cybersecurity, Education & Economic Development Council - COLUMBUS—State Representative Richard Adams (R-District 79) has announced that the Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 331, which creates the Cybersecurity, Education and Economic Development Council. The Council’s duty is to study how the state’s Cybersecurity operations could be improved and how growth in the state’s cybersecurity... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Ohio unemployment fraud more than doubles in 5 years
The number of fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits and inadvertent overpayments has more than doubled since the recession began, according to the latest figures from the state jobs department. Ohio last year recovered $9.4 million in overpaid benefits and fraudulent claims from about 50,000 claimants. In 2007, the state recovered about $7.2 million from about 22,000 claimants. The dramatic increase in fraud stems from an unprecedented rise in jobless workers claiming... read more.

Celina Daily Standard... Whole lake to get alum
GRAND LAKE - The entire Grand Lake will be treated with aluminum sulfate beginning April 1 to help combat blue-green algae blooms this summer. The state this morning announced it has come up with the $5 million needed for the treatment. Roughly $1.6 million in Ohio EPA Water Pollution Control Loan funds were left over from last year when the state spent $3.4 million to treat just the center of the lake with alum. The additional funds for this year’s whole lake treatment will come from... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Ohio’s mass layoff up 55% in February
Thursday, March 8, 2012 - Ohio layoffs continued to rise last month, as the rest of the nation saw a slight drop. Employers in Ohio announced 5,566 job cuts in February, up more than 55 percent from the 3,577 cuts in January. Nationwide, job cuts declined to 51,728, down from 53,486 in January, according to the latest report on downsizing activity from Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., a global... read more.

Partnering for Progress... Greenville Recognized Nationally for Project Development
Site Selection Magazine Places Area Near The top for Micropolitans - DARKE COUNTY - The Greenville Micropolitan area has been recognized again as one of the top areas in the country for development of business projects. Site Selection Magazine, the premier national economic development publication, placed Greenville 21st out of 576 Micropolitan areas in the country for 2011. Greenville was unranked in... read more.

Columbus Dispatch...State switching to new system of grading academic performance
Ohio is about to lose nearly 95 percent of its “excellent” schools. Last year, 382 school districts and charter schools received an A, or excellent rating, on state-issued report cards. If a new evaluation system the state plans to start using this year had been in place, only 22 would have gotten an A — just one in central Ohio (Granville). In Franklin County, 11 of the 12 districts that earned A’s on last year’s report cards would drop to B’s, and one, South-Western City Schools, would fall to a C.... read more.

CNS News... Federal Debt Has Already Grown $700B in FY12; $40 Per Day Per Full-Time Worker
By Terence P. Jeffrey - March 8, 2012 - So far in fiscal 2012--which began on Oct. 1--the federal government has borrowed more than $700 billion, according to the official debt numbers posted by the U.S. Treasury. That means that since Oct. 1, the debt has been increasing at a pace of approximately $40 per day per each full-time worker in the United States. The federal debt is growing at a faster clip this fiscal year than it did in.... read more.

Secretary of State Jon Husted... Did you know? Interesting facts about Ohio’s election process
Earlier this week, Ohio held its Presidential Primary. As we work towards certification of the official results, I thought it might be helpful to provide some information on the process and timeline for tabulating those results, as well as some information on recounts. Certification of Election Results: All unofficial results are in with 100% precincts reporting, these numbers do not include provisional ballots or absentee ballots received after Election Day.... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Following Super Tuesday, the perception is growing that Mitt Romney will be the Republican presidential nominee. By week’s end, Romney had moved ahead of the president in head-to-head polling. In Alabama, the GOP Primary race is essentially a three-way tie, while Romney leads by eight in Mississippi. Nationally, Romney now leads Rick Santorum by 12 points. Regardless of who they want to win, 80% of Republican Primary Voters believe Romney will be the party... read more.

CNS News... GOP Congressmen: Gov’t Should Stop ‘Picking Winners and Losers’ In Energy Sector, By Patrick Burke - March 2, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) – Several Republican leaders in the Senate and House spoke about their legislation to repeal all tax subsidies to the energy industry on Thursday, stating that government should not be in the business of “picking winners and losers” but should instead seek to ensure a level playing field for all competitors. At a Capitol Hill press conference with Sen. Jim DeMint... read more.

Whistleblower claim costs Darke County over $60,000, By Bob Robinson
P4P business partner Jim Ward asks Delaplane for her resignation - GREENVILLE - “This breach of confidentiality has put a stake in the heart of our economic development program,” said Jim Ward, Fry & Co., and business partner to Darke County’s Partners for Progress program, Monday at the Darke County Commissioners meeting. He said when they work with companies they... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Department... Motorcycle injury accident on Eidson Rd
On March 11, 2012 at approximately 1256 PM Darke County Deputies along with Greenville Township Fire, Greenville Township Rescue and CareFlight were dispatched to the 300 block of Eidson Road in reference to an injury accident involving one motorcycle. Preliminary investigation revealed a blue 2006 Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, driven by Dave W. Smith, 55, Greenville, Ohio was eastbound on Eidson Road when he was approaching a vehicle that was stopped in traffic. Smith applied his... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Kasich plans energy-tax hike to offset tax cut, By Joe Vardon
Thursday March 8, 2012 - State tax collections running ahead of last year; State income-tax cut may be on its way - HOUSTON — Gov. John Kasich traveled to one of the world’s most-prestigious energy conferences this week with a basic message. “Right now, (Ohio has) a 20-cent tax on a $107 barrel of oil,” Kasich said yesterday at the IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates’ 31st annual conference. He confirmed his plans for a new severance-tax structure related to shale drilling that will... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Dayton’s jobless rate nudges up to 8.8%, by Ginger Christ
Darke County at 9.2 percent, up from 7.7 percent in December and down from 10.5 percent in January 2011
Friday, March 9, 2012 - After reaching its lowest level in three years in December, the Dayton-area unemployment rate slightly climbed in January. The January jobless rate for the Dayton metropolitan statistical area was 8.8 percent, according to Friday data from the Ohio Department of Job... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Candidate: Kasich allies offered a deal if he quit race, By Joe Hallett
Friday March 9, 2012 - The chairman of the Portage County Republican Party says that allies of Gov. John Kasich offered him special influence over gubernatorial appointments if he agreed not to run for the state GOP central committee, which Kasich has been trying to take over. Andrew Manning sent a notarized affidavit to state and federal law-enforcement officers yesterday, asking them to investigate whether laws were broken in the alleged effort to get him to drop out of the committee race... read more.

CNS News... Top U.S. Bishop to All Bishops: ‘We Did Not Ask for This Fight, But We Will Not Run From It’ By Terence P. Jeffrey - March 4, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) - Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, sent a letter on Friday to all the Catholic bishops of the United States reasserting the conviction of the Catholic Church that it will not yield to the Obama administration’s command—issued in the form of a Health and... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Lack of oversight, increased number of nonprofit groups complicate giving to veterans’ charities - CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Our troops have been fighting for more than a decade in far-off lands. Many come back wounded and maimed. You want to help -- more than just hoisting the flag or slapping on a patriotic bumper sticker. A charitable donation may come to mind. But be advised that “trying to find a good veterans group is like walking through a minefield,” according to Daniel Borochoff, president of CharityWatch, a group that has monitored and rated nonprofits for... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Wright State wins patent for analyzing text messages, by Laura Englehart
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - Wright State University has been assigned a patent for core analysis methods used by the Twitris system, a Web-based application, designed to extract information from posts to social media sites. Twitris was developed at Kno.e.sis, the Ohio Center of Excellence in Knowledge-enabled Computing. The patent, titled “Methods and Systems for Analysis of Real-time User... read more.

Darke County's Most Wanted... David Woodrow McCowan, Jr.
CAPTURED 3-8-12 - Law enforcement apprehended Most Wanted fugitive, David McCowan Thursday in the Chillicothe area. He was wanted for Darke County Adult Probation Warrant: on Violations of: Failing to Report as Ordered, Failure to Comply with Child Support Enforcement Agency; Failure to Comply with Payment Towards Financial Obligations. Original Charges: 2 Counts of Non... read more.

Mail Magazine 24... Carbon Regulation a Case of Too Much Government?
Hundreds of industries, groups, and even some states have taken the Environmental Protection Agency to court in an attempt to block it from regulating carbon dioxide. Since the EPA declared CO2 a harmful pollutant, by law it must treat it like other toxins, meaning the agency may have to regulate more than 6 million sources of CO2. Heritage Foundation economists predict such a move will cost the economy almost $7 trillion by the year 2029, in some years more than $600 billion... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Report: Medical device makers to face sluggish growth
by Laura Englehart - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - Medical device makers should not expect to see much growth in the next year or so, according to a recent industry outlook by Moody’s Investors Services Inc. Though the credit ratings agency has given the industry a stable outlook, it said that medical device manufacturers would receive pressure from hospitals to slash prices on products... read more.

Dayton Daily News... State plans to stop human trafficking
State officials and lawmakers vow to crack down on human trafficking in Ohio by devoting more law-enforcement resources to uncovering the criminal activity and enlisting the help of commercial truckers to report suspicious behaviors. During his State of the State address on Feb. 7, Gov. John Kasich called human trafficking a “scourge” and said it is hard to believe that 1,000 children in the state are victims of the “slave trade business.” “You know we got a war on drugs? We’ve got to have a... read more.

Greenville Fire Department... Structure fire at Colonial Trailer Park
Call was dispatched at 1241 hours as a reported trailer fire at 5438 SR 49, Lot 14 (Colonial Trailer Park). Upon arrival of Greenville Fire Department Quint 2 & Engine 3 at 1247 hours, units found heavy smoke and fire conditions present. A male resident of the trailer was transported to Wayne Healthcare by Greenville Township Rescue for evaluation and treatment of possible smoke inhalation. The fire was under control at 1309 hours. After investigation, the cause of the fire was determined to be of electrical origin on the underside of the trailer. The loss from the fire is estimated at $35,000.

CNS News... Sebelius: Decrease in Human Beings Will Cover Cost of Contraception Mandate
By Fred Lucas - March 1, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) – Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told a House panel Thursday that a reduction in the number of human beings born in the United States will compensate employers and insurers for the cost of complying with the new HHS mandate that will require all health-care plans to cover sterilizations and all FDA-approved contraceptives, including.... read more.

Primary Election 2012... The Winners, By Bob Robinson
GREENVILLE – Darke County Commissioner Diane Delaplane arrived at the Elections Board a little after 9 p.m…. with the next ten minutes spent receiving and giving hugs to supporters and others who offered their congratulations. She was all smiles. “The final votes aren’t in yet,” she said, grinning. With the count at that time showing a strong lead and most of the precincts in, she acknowledged that she was... read more.

Rasmussen...What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, March 03, 2012 - Seven primaries, three caucuses. No wonder they call it Super Tuesday. Is it also Santorum’s last stand? Three of the states are gimmes as far as Mitt Romney’s concerned – Massachusetts, Vermont and Virginia. Rick Santorum was miles ahead in Oklahoma less than two weeks ago. But back then he was also 18 points ahead in Ohio, probably the biggest prize of the day. Now the Buckeye State is a tossup - Santorum 33%, Mitt Romney 31%. Romney’s been... read more.

Global Post.com...Ohio senator to propose state law banning secret compartments in vehicles
March 5, 2012 - Ohio Sen. Jim Hughes, R- Columbus, plans to propose a state law in the next few weeks that will make it a fourth-degree felony to own a vehicle that has secret compartments, Ohio Gov. John Kasich said Friday, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The legislation is designed to deter interstate drug smuggling, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Owners of cars with hidden compartments added after the vehicles were purchased, even if they weren’t filled with drugs, would face... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Report: 1 in 4 Ohio homeowners ‘underwater’ on mortgages
Friday, March 2, 2012 - Nearly a quarter of homeowners in Ohio were underwater on their mortgages at the end of last year, according to new data from a California research firm. The share of homeowners in the state who had negative equity in their homes grew to 23.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, up from 21.6 percent a year earlier, said a report released Friday by CoreLogic Inc. Ohio’s rate was higher than the national average.... read more.

Primary Election 2012... Delaplane, Aslinger and Pike retain their seats
Greenville City Schools Renewal passes, Tri-Village fails, Versailles Schools passes
With 40 of 43 precincts reporting, Darke County Commissioner Diane Delaplane has retained her seat over challenger Aaron Ward with 64 percent of the vote, 4582 to 2625. Sitting Juvenile Probate Judge Jason Aslinger has retained his seat over challenger James Detling with 65 percent of the... read more.

WHIO-TV update... Greenville pedestrian critical after collision with car
GREENVILLE, Ohio — A man hit by a car in a Greenville neighborhood Saturday night is in critical condition. A spokesperson from Miami Valley Hospital confirmed the condition of Dallas Turner, 64, Sunday afternoon. Turner was taken to the hospital Saturday at about 8 p.m. after he was hit by a car near the intersection of Main and Locust streets. Verna Garland, 51, was driving the white Pontiac that collided with Turner when he attempted to cross one of the streets, the Greenville Police Department said. Garland is not facing charges. See this and other articles at WHIO-TV

WHIO-TV... Downed tree blamed for power outage
GREENVILLE, Ohio — Just over 500 Dayton Power and Light customers were without power for about four and a half hours Saturday evening in Greenville. DP&L said a tree came down in the Greenville City Park, and knocked down power lines around 6:30 p.m. Power was restored around 11 p.m.

Dayton Business Journal... Ohio unemployment falls to 7.7%
Friday, March 2, 2012 - Ohio’s unemployment rate fell again in January as the number of employed people went up, the state reported Friday. The unemployment rate dropped to 7.7 percent in January, down from a revised 7.9 percent in December, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services . In January 2011, the unemployment rate in Ohio was 9 percent. January’s improvement... read more.

Attorney General DeWine... Traveling Contractors Following Clermont County Tornados
Editor: Information for anyone seeking assistance from storm or other damage - (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Following the violent storms in southern Ohio this weekend, Attorney General Mike DeWine today offered a warning to residents to beware of traveling contractors who try to take advantage of homeowners in need of assistance. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by the tornado and storms... read more.

Gov. John Kasich... National Guard deployed to So. Ohio to expedite storm efforts
Federal Inspectors Will See if Families Are Eligible for Aid - COLUMBUS – Today Gov. John R. Kasich deployed Ohio National Guard units to southern Ohio to help expedite clean-up efforts after last Friday’s tornados and severe storms. On Saturday the governor declared a State of Emergency for Clermont County and dispatched crews from the Ohio Department of Transportation to help local officials with debris... read more.

Darke County Red Cross... Local Volunteer Responds to area Tornadoes
John Wright working Disaster Operations Center since Saturday - March 5, 2012 Darke County, OH— Across the country and here in our backyard, the American Red Cross has been on the scene providing relief to those in need. Emergency shelters have opened in Northern Kentucky, Eastern Indiana and Southwestern Ohio to help those affected by offering a safe place to stay, a hot meal... read more.

WHIO-TV... CareFlight called after pedestrian hit in Greenville
GREENVILLE, Ohio — A person was hit by a car in the middle of a Greenville neighborhood Saturday night.
The Greenville Police Department said that a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Main and Locust streets around 8 p.m. CareFlight was called to remove the person hit by the vehicle, Greenville police said. The incident remains under investigation. See this and other articles at WHIO-TV

Columbus Dispatch... Close margin again predicted in GOP primary voting
Here’s an out-of-state political expert’s view of what the next few days in Ohio will be like: “It’s going to be a helluva week, and you’re going to be the epicenter.” Larry Sabato, oft-quoted political scientist from the University of Virginia, joins such non-Ohio observers as George W. Bush “architect” Karl Rove and Quinnipiac University pollster Peter A. Brown in proclaiming the Buckeye State as the crown jewel of Super Tuesday. Another virtual certainty: Ohio’s delegation to the Republican... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Mitt Romney wins Michigan and Arizona, and race now heads to Ohio
Mitt Romney pulled off a hard-fought win in Michigan and easily won Arizona on Tuesday, providing momentum he hopes will extend next week to Super Tuesday, when the Republican presidential nominating race reaches Ohio. The former Massachusetts governor, who grew up in Michigan, will waste no time before cozying up to Buckeye State voters. He plans to appear at an event this morning at a Toledo factory, then head to Capital University in Bexley, near Columbus, where he will hold a town hall... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Kasich will propose comprehensive overhaul of Ohio’s energy policies
By John Funk - Wednesday, February 29, 2012 - Gov. John Kasich is preparing a top-to-bottom overhaul of the state’s energy policies affecting everything from shale gas to power plants and energy efficiency. The governor and his top policy mavens gave a preview to about 50 of the region’s heaviest energy users, energy producers and companies involved in energy efficiency technologies Tuesday at the Greater... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Sheriff warns of thefts, break-ins; report suspicious activity
The Darke County Sheriff’s Office has received information that surrounding counties are experiencing a rash of burglaries. Darke County has also experienced a few thefts and break-ins recently. Suspicious activity and persons have been reported in East Central Darke County in the past two weeks. This criminal activity has been occurring primarily during the daytime. The method of operation for most... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Dayton gas prices creep toward $4 mark, by Ginger Christ
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - Gas prices in the Dayton area are edging closer to the $4 per gallon mark. Prices at the pump on Tuesday reached as high as $3.79 per gallon at various stations in the Miami Valley. The average price locally was $3.67 for a gallon of regular unleaded gas, up five cents from a day ago and 22 cents from a week ago, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report. “Recent weeks have seen crude prices surge higher on geopolitical tension with Iran, signs of... read more.

WHIO-TV video... Man accused of sex with 13-year-old
HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio — A Huber Heights man has been arrested on accusations that he engaged in sex with a minor. Scott Messer, 22, is accused of having sex with a 13-year-old boy in Greenville in July of last year. Messer was 21 at the time of the alleged allegations, according to reports. Messer was indicted by the Darke County Grand Jury for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. His bond was set at $10,000. See the video at WHIO-TV

Six candidates square off at forum, By Bob Robinson
Considerable sparring occurred in Commissioner debate - Voters received an education on Juvenile Probate Court operations, as well as the activities of the Clerk of Courts; while major differences were debated for Commissioner. Six candidates for three Republican spots on the November ballot squared off at the League of Women Voters Candidates Forum Monday evening at the American... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Ohio’s 1st casino shaping up
CLEVELAND — A former Cleveland department store that once had a starring Hollywood role showed off some new glitz last week as backers of Ohio’s first casino promised the restored art deco surroundings would be ready for a grand opening before Memorial Day weekend. Principal Jeff Cohen of Rock Gaming LLC, a partner with Caesars Entertainment Inc. in the $350 million joint-venture casino development, said the Horseshoe Cleveland casino will be ready for opening day in the week of May 14... read more.

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