The Times Recorder from Zanesville, Ohio • 1

Check out ivww.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com for updates every day after 7 p.m. Saturday Times April 5, 2002 Serving Zanesville and Southeastern Ohio since 1852 loday: Cloudy, cold High near 45 Tcrjshfc Cold Low near 26 ecord: ER JLVJ -1 0' Details on Page 5A I Perry Co. school for at-risk kids to close Dramatic ceilings can give rooms a new dimension Todav's TR By TONYA SHIPLEY TR Staff Writer NEW LEXINGTON The Perry county Learning Center, a school for at-risk students, will close less than two Education years after it opened its doors. The Perry-Hocking Educational Service Center Governing Board voted Wednesday night to close programs throughout the. state" said Dale Dickson, ESC superintendent.

He said he is unsure whether those TANF funds are now being used to assist the needy now that they have been transferred. The center, which has been open since August 2000, serves as an alternate school for at-risk students in grades one to 12 in the Crooksville Exempted Village, New Lexington City, Northern and Southern Local school districts. Cur- the center at the end of the school year due to a lack of funding. An informational session for parents will be held Monday. "The fact of the matter is that when the Ohio General Assembly transferred $300 million dollars in Temporary Assistance to Needy Family federal funds from the State Jobs and Family Service Department to the state general fund, they sealed the fate of this and many other quality ing out hope that a solution would be found.

"This has been a tough time. We're working with the local school districts to prepare the students and talking to them about returning to their home Byers said. A couple of principals from the home schools have come in this week to introduce themselves to students who will be at their schools next year. Byers said teachers have been giving the stu Ifyougo What: An informational session for student's parents. When: 7 p.m.

Monday. Where: Perry County Learning Center on Ohio 345. rently, 52 students from those districts are enrolled. Chuck Byers, center director, said he and the rest of the staff have been hold dents more homework, so they can adjust to the workload. Typically, a lot of hands-on learning takes place at the center instead of a lot of homework.

The center is even changing the way students are disciplined. When a student is in trouble, they use language like "detention," instead of "of which is the behavioral modification system they were using. This way Byers said when students return to XetxcHoouPBgTm QUE ffleo roast Gov. Taft offers partial solution to budget crisis SCOTT MACDONALDTimes Recorder Author Denise Chavez reads from her book loving Pedro Infante" at Ohio University-Zanesville Thursday. Chicana author bridges ancestral landscapes Page 4B RUSTY WALLACE No wins in nearly a year, but still near the top Index Comics 13B Community 3A Dear Abby 11A Financial 7A Horoscopes 1 1 A Opinion 12A Puzzles 12B Lottery Buckeye 5 6-11-30-31-36 Pick 3 (N) Pick 4 (N) 3-3-4 2-9-7-1 Pick 3 (D) Pick 4 (D) 8-1-5 3-9-1-8 Super Lotto jackpot is $43 Million n.i.A Obituaries on DSatflS Page4A Lillian J.

Fouse Flood Leta M. Houston John Allen Lupton Robert Maxwell Fred C. McGee Harold Junior Nutt Julia M. Pierce Donald Price Dorothy N. Rambo Dorothy L.

Smith Rev. James H. Thomas Frieda L. Willison Corrections Women of Achievement In the Women of Achievement supplement to Wednesday's Times Recorder, the story about award-winner Mary Ellen Wein-gartner gave the mistaken impression that she founded the business in New Concord. The business was founded in 1953 by her parents, William F.

and Mary Waltz in 1953. When her mother became ill in 1 977, Weingartner took over the business and moved it to the new location in 1979. She has operated the business for 25 years, not 35. It was the reporter's error. A typographical error occurred in the story about Sharon Goubeaux.

Her comment about the award should have read: 1 donl work for recognition, but whenever someone does, it's nice. This is a tremendous honor." The TR regrets the errors. Perry fairgrounds COBseunC In Thursday's story on the Perry fairgrounds coliseum, Dan James was misidentified as Glen James. The TR regrets the error and any inconvenience it may have caused. 35503u00460' By SPENCER HUNT and JIM SIEGEL Gannett News Service COLUMBUS Faced with a billion budget deficit, Gov.

Bob Taft offered a plan Thursday that covers $500 million now and leaves the rest for later. Taft wants to spend $350 million in rainy day funds, $50 million in budget reserves and cut $100 million with a freeze on new hires, equipment purchases and state contracts. That would balance the state's two-year $44 billion budget only through the next three months. T.h.e governor said he doesn't i 9' 1 Taft know yet how he will work out a solution for the remaining $750 million shortfall expected by June 30, 2003. While some lawmakers have talked about raising cigarette taxes to bridge the gap, Taft preferred to talk about what he wont do.

"I oppose any across-the-board increase in the sales or income tax," said Taft, who is running for reelection this year. The governor said he opposes any funding cuts to higher education and economic development programs. He also won't approve video slot machines without a vote of the people. This is the state's second budget crisis in four months, the result of an economic recession that's sent tax revenues plum- overwhelmingly in agreement that we need to enforce it, to cut down on the parking problems," Bailey added. "If that's the case, I intend to introduce legislation to that effect." Bailey and Hallowell said that there is already an existing ordinance pertaining to the parking time limit.

One of the business owners strongly in favor of better enforcement is Ginny Bond of Ginny's Flower Shoppe on Main Street. "If business owners and office workers park in all of the spots, there is no other parking immediately in front of a business," Bond said. "I mean, when court is in session, and there's a trial Denise Chavez file Hometown: Las Cruces, N.M. Education: Bachelor's degree in drama from New Mexico State University; master's degree in drama from Trinity University in San Antonio; master's in creative writing from the University of New Mexico. Books include: Loving Pedro Infante, The Last of the Menu Girls, Face of an Angel, The Woman Who Knew the Language of the Animals.

Plays include: Language of Vision, Novena Narrative, The Flying Tortilla Man, Women in the State of Grace (one-woman show). Other work: Presents readings and workshops; contributor to New Mexico Magazine, Latina Magazine and other publications; artistic director of the Border Book Festival. Awards include: New Mexico Governor's Award in Literature; Luminaria Award; Women of Distinction Award; American Book Award and Premio Aztlan (awarded to a ChicanoChicana writer). Where to get her books: www.amazon.com and Ohio University-Zanesville Coming Saturday Increasing the cigarette tax by as much as SO cents a pack could be a serious option for state lawmakers looking to fill a $750 million deficit in next year's budget. meting.

In December, lawmakers cut spending, raised some taxes and let Ohio join a multi-state lottery to erase a $1.5 billion deficit. The fiscal crunch also comes after years of spending increases driven by a robust economy that created billions in surplus taxes. JNow.Taft and incumbent lawmakers face the politically tough prospects of election year tax hikes and cuts to social services. The governor didnt rule out raising the state's 24-cent tax on a pack of cigarettes. He again plans to push for an income tax on trusts, a sales tax on toll-free phone numbers, and a suspension of business' net loss deductions, to raise up to $200 million or more.

Senate Republicans led by President Richard Finan, R-Evendale, rejected those increases last year. More cuts to state spending are also likely. Medicaid, the state's medical safety net for the poor and uninsured, may lose some services and programs. Neither Taft nor Budget Director Tom Johnson would offer details about what Medicaid services might be on the chopping block. or something, all of the spaces are full." Bond admits that her business is not as affected as others, since customers can call on her to deliver flowers.

But she said she feels for the other businesses around the town square. Bailey said the best thing to do is take the time to consider everyone's feelings before jumping into a decision. "I feel like if we educate the people on what we're doing, then they will go along," he said. "We want to find out what's best for the businesses and for the people." bgaddnncof3nnett-coni 450758 By MAGGIE DOWNS TR Staff Writer ZANESVILLE Fraya Framp-ton, an administrative assistant at Ohio University-Zanesville, prayed for an angel. She found one when she met author Denise Chavez.

In October 2000, Frampton boarded a plane from Kansas to Texas. "It was just one of those days. I was in a hurry there was almost this physical push for me to leave. Then I couldn't get ahold of any of my friends, my phone card wouldn't work. And so I started praying for an angel," Frampton said.

"It wasn't 10 minutes later that I saw Denise in front of me." The two sat together Frampton in need of a friend; Chavez afraid to fly. blossomed. "Our childhoods mirrored each "Fraya was the hand that I gripped," Chavez said. From that point, the friendship Businesses want tighter enforcement of parking limits i By BRIAN GADD TR Staff Writer Enforcing time limits on parking around the Mc-Connelsville town square has become an issue with some downtown businesses. So the village council and Mayor David Bailey have 73 just need to come to the village offices to pay their water bills, they shouldn't have to drive around looking for parking." Bailey said he prepared and sent 57 questionnaires to local businesses after the last council meeting, to gauge the pulse of the community on the issue.

Of the 31 responses they have received so far, 18 have come back saying strict enforcement of the two-hour limit would be beneficial; 10 business owners have said no change is needed; while three have indicated enforcement is needed, but didnt specify whether that involved a two-hour limitation. "I think the people are together. The meters were removed for a short time during sidewalk and curb work. It was discussed whether to put signs up noting the two-hour limit "We were doing the downtown improvements, and the question was raised," Hallowell said. "But we decided to keep the meters." Hallowell noted that the situation is particularly troubling for older folks who have a hard time getting around.

"Places like the senior citizens building, those folks have to park a couple of blocks away and walk, and its tougher for them," he said. "And people who Bailey said. "Enforcing the two-hour limit was suggested to alleviate the all-day parking. So we're faced with two questions: Do we maintain the status quo, or do we enforce the Currently, there are signs posted noting the two-hour limit, but nothing stops people from using their two and dropping more coins into it Councilman Tim Hallow-ell said the question of the parking meters came up about a year ago, when the village was deciding whether or not to do away with the parking meters al Community Ulc" to the meter hours then going set out to clear up in that enforcement Bailey said some businesses owners recently approached council about cars parked in front of their businesses all day. "People are constantly feeding the meters, going past the two-hour limit," oui iu ciedi up any shortcomings.