Chillicothe Gazette from Chillicothe, Ohio • 3

LocaJl and stbaitte eew Gere McClellan, local news editor, 773-2111, extension 66 Night number: 773-2114 Tuesday, May 30, 1 995 Chillicothe Gazette 3 A Briefs School foindiitig change eyed. The Associated Press More per pupil Part of the Ohio Senate's school funding plan calls for increasing per pupil funding to $3,330 for the budget year that starts July 1 and to $3,526 the following year. Currently, the state basic aid formula amount is $3,035. budget year that starts July 1, and to $3,526 the following year. Currently, the state basic aid formula amount is $3,035.

A vote on the two-year budget is expected June 6 in the Senate. Judge Linton Lewis of Perry County Common Pleas Court ruled July 1 that the state-local system of financing education was inequitable and inadequate. The case is pending before the 5th Ohio District Court of Appeals in Canton. State money to pay for a total 12.5 percent reduction on local real estate bills now goes back to each county based on the cost of the tax break. The proposed Senate change would essentially cap state reimbursement to schools for the tax rollbacks at amounts they currently receive.

Cost of the reimbursements increases annually. Instead of sending money to cover growth in future reimbursements directly to counties, the state would pool the money and channel it through a formula used to distribute basic state aid to all schools. Sen. Robert Cupp, R-Lima, said the change would pump $25 million more into the basic aid formula in first year of the budget, and about $49 million the second year. "It grows rather rapidly.

That will allow us to reduce the funding disparities among school districts more rapidly and over the long term, not just a short-term fix but a long-term solution," Cupp said last week. Taxpayers would continue to receive the full 12.5 percent re- COLUMBUS Senate Republicans have proposed an overhaul of the state's school funding program intended to respond to a Perry County court decision that declared the current system unconstitutional. The changes were outlined in the Senate Education Committee last week for inclusion in the Senate version of Gov. George Voin-ovich's state budget. Included were proposals to: Change the way the state pays for local real estate tax breaks that would not affect taxpayers but would trim money for wealthier schools in the future.

Increase the cost-of-doing-business factor to increase amounts schools receive through the formula used to distribute basic state aid. Include in the formula a factor that takes into account the income of district residents. Increase amounts paid to small, low-property-value school districts. Increase per-pupil funding under the formula to $3,330 for the Walk in the park duction on their bills, and schools would continue to get tax at current levels. James Betts, a lawyer for an al-: liance of the state's wealthier disi tricts, welcomed some parts of the Senate proposal but urged modifi cation of others.

"It was so comprehensive and-' there are so many new provisions'-that it was very difficult to anticipate exactly what the impact would be on an individual school district', unless it was in a very, very high wealth category, Betts said. "We have asked the senators! not to accept the existing program but will encourage them to to look toward a way in which could be modified so a prehensive solution can be put into permanent law," he said. State tax cut no closer The Associated Press COLUMBUS The House and Senate have sent Gov. George Voinovich a clear message favoring a cut in the state personal tax. But the governor's top officer cautioned against cutting too much too soon.

State representatives included tax cuts worth up to $180 million in their version of the state budget bill, now pending in the Senate. The reductions would occur only a projected state budget surplus' reached about $1 .2 billion in July. Republicans who control the-, Senate said their version of budget, due for a vote June 6,. would include an income tax cut worth almost $70 million. It would take effect regardless of the budget, surplus.

Voinovich said last week he had'r not spent much time on details of. the two proposals. "I think there's still a lot work that's got to be done. And until we've had a chance to really discuss it fully we're not going td be able to comment on it," he said. R.

Gregory Browning, Voin-. ovich's top financial officer, advised a wait-and-see approach. i 'V i I J. i a v-'. I I 4 -il VV' r.rcZf'A 1 -i, Sheriffs car stolen; man nabbed A True Hollow Road man was out on bail this morning after being charged in connection with the theft of a Ross County Sheriff's car Monday afternoon.

A man jumped into a running, unlocked cruiser at Charleston Pike and Ginger Hill Road about 1:20 p.m. Monday, according to sheriff's department reports. Ben Abbott, 32, of 2932 True Hollow Road, was arrested on a charge of grand theft. Deputy Rick Torchick left the car running and was inside Abbott's home using the telephone. Torchick had driven the man there after Abbott was reported knocking on doors on Charleston and Ginger Hill, asking for a drink of water.

The sheriff's cruiser was heavily damaged. Abbott was not handcuffed and had not been charged with any crimes when being transported to his home, sheriff's officials said. Barn fire destroys farm implements Straw piled inside a barn is believed to be connected to a fire that destroyed the structure on Higby Road Sunday afternoon. Charles Dresbach, 61, owner of the barn at 5246 Higby Road, told Ross County Sheriff's Deputies he also had stored farm equipment in the building. He reported the fire to authorities just before 4 p.m.

No one was reported injured in the fire. Veterinarian uses acupuncture on pets COLUMBUS (AP) Donn Griffith received acupuncture treatments for a knee injury and when he found out how well they worked, he began using them on his own patients. "I don't do anything to a pet I wouldn't do to my own body," he said. That's right, Griffith is a Columbus veterinarian who also offers alternative treatments including acupuncture, chiropractic care, homeopathy and Chinese herbs. People should have as many health-care options for their pets as they do for themselves, he maintains.

Pilot dies in crash; cause not known DAYTON (AP) The pilot who died in a single-engine airplane crash was described by a colleague as an experienced, cautious flier. Bernard A. Hegman, 56, of Centerville died Monday morning when his Piper 181 crashed into a field in Jefferson Township in Montgomery County. Federal authorities were investigating. Hegman, an engineer at Danis Industries had flown for more than 25 years and was a past officer of the Dayton Pilots' Club.

Park ranger for the National Park Service Rebecca Jones leads a nature walk through the Hopewell Culture National Tori1 starmerGazette Historical Park Monday. Jones pointed out native and non-native plants to visitors and explained how they were used by native peoples for food and medicine. Park officials said they hope to offer similiar walks throughout the summer. Extended summer hours for the park are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Class of 1995 Cruising the interstates in the name of science Eastern High School Graduation 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, high school gym Valedictorian I Salutatorian Ramblin' fever The number of full-time RVers in North America has been estimated at 250,000. '1 Crystle Heather Wiseman 1 iThornsberry "And they were about to climb the mountain." The Countses bought their own RV and traveled throughout North America in 1993-94. They interviewed those whose only home had four wheels. "We're not interested in people who are on vacation," Counts said.

"We're interested in anyone who, when in their RV, it's home." They began their new study about 10 years ago. The Countses said 25 percent of the RVers they surveyed said their health had improved since they took to the road. The Associated Press COLUMBUS Anthropologists often take to the field when doing research. Few, however, travel by RV. David and Dorothy Counts used their own recreational vehicle to study Americans who criss-cross the country in theirs.

The couple, professors of anthropology at universities in Ontario, stopped in Columbus Friday on a tour sponsored by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. They said their trip has yielded as many cultural nuggets as their voyages to villages in New Guinea. "Sometimes we were as- fa tonished by places, sometimes by people," said Dorothy Counts, 58. She told of a couple in their 80s who had been living in RVs or boats for 50 years, working as itinerant fire lookouts at national parks and forests. "We met them at Lost Dutchman Park in the Superstition Mountains (in Arizona)," she said.

Parents: Roger and Trish Wiseman Plans: Will attend Rio Grande College Parents: Steve and Wanda Thornsberry attend Shawnee State University Embezzler says she stole for her family Ohio Lottery Monday's drawings: Pick 3: 2-0-0 Pick 4: 5-3-7-7 Buckeye 5: 6-18-21-27-31 Wednesday's Super Lotto jackpot is $4 million. audit on Julv 17, 1980. Mrs. Strub The Associated Press I was surprised. I had almost forgotten they were looking for me.

I thought nobody cared about me any more. Phyllis Jean Strub had never told her husband, Earl Strub, about her embezzling, never told Johnson about her past. U', Her health began deteriorating in the mid 1980s cervical canceri kidney problems and a nerve disi.j order that makes it difficult to stand, or walk. Iv The television program "Unf solved Mysteries" was her undof ing. The FBI got a tip that i ittnn Hi Tif rt Anf Mam Hrlnnn Agenda excused herself to make a "quick trip" to the bank.

"I ran because I didn't want to embarrass my family," she said. "I felt they would hate me for what I had done. I wanted to avoid it. Over the next 3V2 months, Mrs. Strub said she drove 20,000 miles.

"Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, up the east coast to Pennsylvania, over to Nevada and California," she recalled. "I slept in those $8 motels and sometimes in the car." She ended up in New Orleans, where she met and married bartender William Johnson. Just as she CINCINNATI After 14 years on the run, Phyllis Jean Strub is resigned to serving time for embezzlement. "I wanted to help my family do a little better," she said. "Better school clothes for the kids, a little more groceries on the table.

Help on the mortgage, help on the car payment. But never anything extravagant." As the treasurer of the Neth-erland-Terrace Credit Union, Mrs. Strub found it easy to dip into the company's money. The amounts were small, but in five years she had a big problem. ouuu was uvmg ncai itw wiicanaj and on Dec.

2 she was arrested, am now. It wouldn't have happened." Federal investigators said they cannot find any sign that the embezzled money was spent on luxury items. Mrs. Strub knew she was about to be found out when a federal examiner showed up for a surprise She couldn't repay what she had taken and couldn't continue to fool auditors. Prosecutors contend that Mrs.

Strub embezzled about she said she stole about $60,000. "I regret it all," she said in a Cincinnati Post story Monday. "I wish I had been as smart then as I She returned to Ohio and. pleaded guilty to lying to federal hanlr pvaminprc QVia Vino KfT sentenced to 41 months in prison i Today Concord Township EMS, business meeting, 7:30 p.m. in the squad house.

Zoning Appeals Board, 4 p.m. in the municipal building conference room. Zane Trace Board of Education, special meeting, 7:30 p.m. in high school cafeteria. Springfield Township Board of Trustees, 7 p.m.

at-95 Musselman Road. Wednesday Community Improvement Corporation, 4 p.m. at BancOhio National Bank. United Way of Ross County Board of Trustees, 3:30 p.m. in downstairs conference room of Columbus Southern Power.

Child endangering charged against man arrest Saturday night on welfare fraud charges. Linda Lawson, 48, of 7 E. Second is accused of failing to report to the Ohio Department of Human Services that a member of her household was no longer living there, acting Ross County Prosecutor Scott Nusbaum said this the child's condition, the case was reported to Ross County Children's Services and the county sheriff of fice Nusbaum said If conviqted of the charge, Miley faces 1V2-5 years in jail and a $2,500 fine. A Chillicothe woman also was in custody this morning following her week-old girl from serious physical harm while in his home, acting Ross County Prosecutor Scott Nusbaum said. The girl was taken to Children's Hospital in Columbus in August, where she was diagnosed with multiple fractures.

When no satisfactory explanation was given for morning. Lawson had received $600 in Aid to Dependent Children payments-; and food stamps as a result of the-alleged reporting error, Nusbaum said. Lawson faces 1V2-5 years in jail and a $2,500 fine if convicted of charges. The Gazette staff An Adams Avenue man was in the Ross County Jail following his arrest this morning on child endangering charges. Todd Miley, 21, of 759 Adams was indicted by a Ross County grand jury Friday.

Miley is accused of failing to protect a 4-.