FRIDAY, 10-05-12
ONE OF SPRINGFIELD’S FORMER MAYORS HAS STARTED A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO HELP REVITALIZE THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF THE CITY. THE SoDOWN CDC HAS ALREADY RAISED NEARLY $25,000 OF ITS $50,000 GOAL TO CREATE A BLUEPRINT FOR GROWTH FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BASED ON INPUT FROM RESIDENTS. THE NEWS SUN REPORTS THERE ARE 3,200 RESIDENTS LIVING IN APPROXIMATELY 50 BLOCKS WITH BOUNDARIES OF WEST LIBERTY STREET, SOUTH YELLOW SPRINGS STREET, JEFFERSON STREET AND SOUTH LIMESTONE STREET. 1977 NORTH HIGH SCHOOL GRAUDATE TIMOTHY AYERS WAS CITY COMISSIONER FROM 1984 TO 1990. HE BEGAN THE DEVELOPMENT GROUP TO REVITALIZE THE AREA, IMPROVE SAFETY, CREATE RESIDENTIAL, RECREATIONAL AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND DRIVE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. AYERS SAYS, “I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE DOWN ON ONE’S LUCK, AND THAT’S HOW I VIEW THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. IT’S A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT’S BEEN DOWN ON ITS LUCK – ALL NEIGHBORHOODS IN SPRINGFIELD HAVE.” AYERS CONTINUES, “WE’VE EXPERIENCED IT THROUGH THE RECESSION, ALL OF US, AND SOME NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN HIT HARDER THAN OTHERS. AYERS BELIEVES SoDOWN AND THE NEARBY PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN HELP MAKE THE AREA SAFER AS THE NEW AG-SCIENCE STEM SCHOOL PLANS TO OPEN NEXT YEAR AT THE FORMER SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. IN THE SoDOWN AREA, 23 PERCENT OF ALL HOUSING UNITS AND LAND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE VACANT OR ABANDONED HOMES. IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE POOREST AREAS IN SPRINGFIELD WITH 43 PERCENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD’S POPULATION MAKING LESS THAN $50,000 AND 10.4 PERCENT OF FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY, ACCORDING TO THE SoDOWN WEBSITE. A BOARD OF MORE THAN 20 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS ARE MEETING REGULARLY TO DEVELOP PLANS FOR THE AREA. THE ORGANIZATION IS IN THE PROCESS OF LAUNCHING CLEANUP AND REPAINTING PROGRAMS NEXT SPRING.
THE CLARK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WITH OVERTIME FUNDS AVAILABLE FROM A GRANT FROM THE OHIO TRAFFIC SAFETY OFFICE, WILL PLACE ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES ON COUNTY ROADWAYS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER TO ENFORCE OHIO TRAFFIC LAWS FOR THE AREA SCHOOLS AND THEIR HOMECOMING EVENTS. THE FOCUS OF ENFORCEMENT WILL BE IMPAIRED OPERATORS OF MOTOR VEHICLES, SPEEDING VIOLATIONS AND SEAT BELT ENFORCEMENT. DEPUTIES WILL ENFORCE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR THESE VIOLATIONS. PLEASE ENJOY THE HOMECOMING SEASON, BUT ALSO BE VERY CAREFUL DRIVING!
OVER 130 CONTESTANTS WILL BE COMPETING TO BE THE NEXT BIG STAR DURING SPRINGFIELD’S GOT TALENT CONTESTS ON OCTOBER 6TH, 13TH AND 20TH. THIS ANNUAL EVENT FEATURES LOCAL TALENT IN MUSIC, COMEDIC OR OTHER UNIQUE TALENTS! THE CONTESTS WILL BE HELD AT THE UPPER VALLEY MALL IN SPRINGFIELD ON THE FOLLOWING SATURDAYS, OCTOBER 6TH, 13TH AND 20TH. JUDGES FOR THE EVENT WILL BE RON STEPHENS, ARTIST AND FATHER OF RECORDING ARTISTS JOHN LEGEND AND VAUGHN ANTHONY, NANCY WILSON, K99.1 FM RADIO PERSONALITY, CLARK COUNTY COMISSIONER JOHN DETRICK AND SPRINGFIELD NEWS-SUN EDITOR, BEN McLAUGHLIN. COMPETITION TAKES PLACE AT THE CENTER COURT OF THE UPPER VALLEY MALL BEGINNING AT 12:30PM EACH SATURDAY.
A FIRE IN DONNELSVILLE YESTERDAY MORNING KILLED A FAMILY’S PETS, BUT THE THREE PEOPLE INSIDE THE HOME MADE IT OUT ALIVE. A MAN ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF BURNS AND SMOKE INHALATION. THE FIRE AT THE HOME ON U.S. 40 IN DOWNTOWN DONNELSVILLE WAS SPOTTED BY A BETHEL TOWNSHIP AMBULANCE CREW RETURNING TO SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER AND THEY ALERTED FIREFIGHTERS. NO CAUSE HAS BEEN DETERMINED AND THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL IS INVESTIGATING.
OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER – ARTHUR G. JAMES CANCER HOSPITAL AND RICHARD J. SOLOVE RESEARCH INSTITUTE IS LIGHTING THE UNIVERSITY AND COLUMBUS PINK! SEVERAL OHIO STATE BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS AND AROUND THE CITY WILL BE ILLUMINATED WITH PINK LIGHTS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS THE ATTENTION OF THE NATION TURNS TO COLUMBUS THIS SATURDAY WITH THE NATIONALLY TELEVISED OHIO STATE-NEBRASKA FOOTBALL GAME AT 8PM.
MONDAY, 10-08-12
MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS UNITED ACROSS DENOMINATIONAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL DIFFERENCES ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7TH AS PART OF THE DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM. FROM OVER 175 NATIONS, BELIEVERS GATHERED TO PRAY IN WORSHIP SERVICES, IN HOMES AND ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AS WELL AS IN REGIONAL GATHERINGS AND ON A 24 HOUR PRAYER CONFERENCE CALL.
THE CELEBRATE KIDS EVENT WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13TH FROM 5-7PM AT MAIDEN LANE CHURCH OF GOD IN SPRINGFIELD. JACKSON, LYTLE AND LEWIS LIFE CELEBRATION CENTER AND THE SPRINGFIELD CHRISTIAN YOUTH MINISTRIES ARE ENCOURAGING OUR LISTENERS TO DONATE NEW OR GENTLY USED CHILDREN’S BOOKS TO BE GIVEN AT THE EVENT! YOU CAN DROP THESE BOOKS OFF ANYTIME AT JACKSON, LYTLE AND LEWIS, 2425 N. LIMESTONE STREET IN SPRINGFIELD OR BRING THEM ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE PURPLE RIBBONS IN THE TREES ON THE ESPLANADE IN DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD? THEY WILL BE THERE THROUGHOUT OCTOBER AS PART OF THE LOCAL OBSERVANCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. LAURA BAXTER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH PROJECT WOMAN, SAYS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A BIG PROBLEM LOCALLY, POINTING OUT THAT SPRINGFIELD IS NUMBER 1 PER CAPITA FOR INITMATE VIOLENCE CASES IN OHIO. BAXTER STRESSES IN THE NEWS SUN ARTICLE, THAT VIOLENCE “DOESN’T HAVE TO BE TOLERATED. THERE ARE OPTIONS.” THERE IS A 24 HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE THAT CAN BE CALLED FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 1/800/634-9893, PLUS AROUND-THE CLOCK SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS IN LOCAL HOSPITALS, SUPPORT GROUPS, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS. THERE ARE ALSO SHELTERS AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR VICTIMS.
CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO SEE ITS ENTROLLMENT REACH RECORD NUMBERS! THIS YEARS ENROLLMENT IS AT 3,465…CONTINUING THE UPWARD TREND FOR THE 125-YEAR CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY. OFFICIALS AT THE SCHOOL SAY THREE YEARS AGO THEY SIMPLIFIED AND INCREASED FINANCIAL AID. CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY ATTRIBUTES MUCH OF ITS CONTINUING INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT TO ITS NEW DEGREE OFFERINGS, AS WELL, INCLUDING THE PROFESSIONAL PHARMACY PROGRAM BEGUN THIS YEAR, AND THE FACT THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS CHRIST-CENTERED. STUDENTS AT CEDARVILLE MUST PROFESS THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO BE ADMITTED. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO BEGAN OFFERING A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING LAST YEAR, AND A FULLY ONLINE MASTER OF EDUCATION LAUNCHED IN JUNE.
AFTER SHUTTING DOWN FOR A FEW YEARS, ANTIOCH COLLEGE WELCOMED ITS CLASS OF 2016! 75 STUDENTS MAKE UP THE SECOND INCOMING CLASS AT ANTIOCH. THE YELLOW SPRINGS CAMPUS IS GROWING CAREFULLY AND SLOWLY. LAST YEAR THERE WERE 35 STUDENTS…THIS YEAR 106. ANTIOCH IS RETURNING WITH STRONG BACKING FROM THEIR ALUMNI. ANTIOCH COLLEGE IS NOW SEPARATE OF ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY WHICH IS ALSO LOCATED IN YELLOW SPRINGS. THE FIRST FOUR INCOMING CLASSES AT ANTIOCH COLLEGE ARE MEMBERS OF THE HORACE MANN FELLOWSHIP, WHICH COMES WITH A FULL-TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR FOUR YEARS, DRAWING THE INTEREST OF 3,100 APPLICANTS FOR THIS YEAR’S 75 ADMISSION SLOTS. ALTHOUGH STUDENTS RIGHT NOW DO NOT PAY TUITION, THEY DO PAY FOR ROOM AND BOARD. COLLEGE PRESIDENT, MARK ROOSEVELT, TOLD STUDENTS THAT THE COLLEGE IS “…A WORK IN PROGRESS. IT’S WHAT WILL MAKE THIS EXPERIENCE FOR YOU BOTH REWARDING AND CHALLENGING.”
A YOUNG MAN WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A TRAIN AT THE ENON ROAD CROSSING IN MAD RIVER TOWNSHIP AROUND 4:13 FRIDAY AFTERNOON. 17 YEAR OLD AUSTIN GILBERT OF SPRINGFIELD WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. THE CLARK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND CLARK COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE ACCIDENT.
MOTORCYCLE THEFTS IN OHIO HAVE DECLINED FOR THE FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR! THE NUMBER OF THEFTS HAVE BEEN CUT IN HALF SINCE 2007 ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL INSURANCE CRIME BUREAU. MOTORCYCLES ARE AN ATTRACTIVE TARGET FOR THIEVES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT VERY LARGE OR HEAVY AND CAN JUST BE PUT IN THE BACK OF A VAN OR A TRUCK. MANY THIEVES STEAL THE MOTORCYLES DURING THE NIGHT AND THEY ARE OFTEN STRIPPED FOR PARTS.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN GREENE COUNTY WILL HOLD A PUBLIC WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY REGARDING THE MERGER OF GREENE COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICES WITH THE COUNTY’S JOBS AND FAMILY SERVICES AGENCY. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OHIO JOBS AND FAMILY SERVICES DIRECTORS’ ASSOCIATION, JOEL POTTS, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION OF OHIO AND THE PUBLIC CHILDREN SERVICES ASSOCIATION OF OHIO WILL BE AT THE 10AM WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS. THE MERGER IS PLANNED FOR NOVEMBER 19TH, HOWEVER COMISSIONERS WILL HAVE TO VOTE BEFORE THE MERGER CAN BECOME OFFICIAL.
EVEN THOUGH MANY AREAS OF OHIO AND THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES HAVE A PUMPKIN SHORTAGE, CLINTON COUNTY SAYS THE BERGEFURD’S PUMPKIN CROP IN WILMINGTON WILL BE PLENTIOUS! MARCIA BERGEFURD SAYS THAT IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE FARM RAN ABOUT 15 INCHES BELOW NORMAL RAINFALL THIS SEASON. THE FARM IS LOCATED IN WILMINGTON AT THE CORNER OF SOUTH U.S.68 AND STATE ROUTE 350 WEST.
ON THIS COLUMBUS DAY, MONDAY, OCTOBER 8TH, WE HAD SUNNY SKIES THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON! SKIES SHOULD REMAIN CLEAR TONIGHT…BUT COLD, WITH LOWS DROPPING TO 35. WE COULD SEE PATCHY FROST BEFORE 9AM ON TUESDAY, OTHERWISE SUNNY WITH HIGHS NEAR 62. WE MIGHT SEE SOME RAIN OVERNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY, BUT ONLY A 20-30 PERCENT CHANCE. LOWS TILL BE AT 45 TUESDAY NIGHT, WITH WEDNESDAY’S HIGHS PEAKING AT 55. IT WILL BE COLD AGAIN WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS LOWS DIP TO 34 DEGREES AND WE SEE PATCHY FROST DEVELOP OVERNIGHT INTO THURSDAY. SUNSHINE WILL BE THE WORD FOR THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WITH HIGHS NEAR 60 ON FRIDAY, GOING UPTO 69 FOR SATURDAY. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON SUNDAY, WITH HIGHS AROUND 70.
