Lancaster Eagle-Gazette from Lancaster, Ohio • 1

50 cents ANCASTER -GAZETTE EAGLE B-CGRAD SCORES FOR PACERS Sports, 6 AUBURN WINS BCS TITLE Sports, 6 A-C school board still weighing levy options BY JEFF BARRON Eagle-Gazette Correspondent AMANDA With less than a month to get a possible levy on the May ballot, Amanda-Clearcreek's leadership is still undecided about how much to seek. That's largely because the district won't find out how much state funding it stands to lose until later this year. The levy request is in response to an expected state funding cut of at least $1.6 million before the start of the next school year. It would be the fifth attempt to pass a levy in recent years. The previous four were for 1 percent.

"We can levy anything between 0.4 percent and 2 percent," Amanda-Clearcreek Superintendent Mike Johnsen said after the board's regular meeting. "So it's going to be somewhere between those two. Two percent is certainly not desirable. It's pretty unlikely it would be that high. There is no number set in stone." Johnsen said the school board is not taking a serious look at a 2-percent levy request to deal with less state funding.

School officials will find out on March 15 how much the cut will be. "We knew from Gov. Strickland divided over this," McFarland said. "We have to watch out about making slaves out of a certain segment of our society." Board president Patricia Willard said she is aware of the controversy the proposed levy is generating. She said a levy attempt in 1989 also split the community, but that it eventually recovered.

"This is for the kids," she said. "We can't lose sight of the fact that we're all here for the kids. That's what's important." Willard also said the state tax revenue is slightly higher now A-C, 5 that we could count on an 8 percent to 10 percent cut," Johnsen said. "But Gov. Kasich's folks have said a 15 to 20 percent cut.

That's what's caused the concern and consternation on the part of the board." Johnsen said the levy "would hold the wolves at the door with the state funding." The board must register the levy with the Fairfield County Board of Elections before Feb. 4 for the levy appear on the May 3 ballot. It must submit its plan to the state tax board before Jan. 21. The board held little discussion on the topic during Monday's meeting.

The most recent 1 percent levy attempt ended in a tie in the November election with 1,579 for the levy and 1,579 opposing it. District resident Mike McFar-land still opposes a tax levy. "I believe that the tax system is flawed in that it makes one part of society fund the schools," he said. "We need other ways to get revenue." McFarland said school officials should meet with state legislatures to discuss options such as using property and sales taxes to deal with the state cut. "I hate to see the community NEW OHIO GOVERNOR TAKES OFFICE "When one part of Ohio hurts, we all hurt.

And when one part of Ohio succeeds, we all succeed. OHIO GOV. JOHN KASICH a Republican, after being sworn into office Monday Bremen couple gets probation for illegitimate deer-meat sales in -o -i Ci C' I i AP in Ohio Gov. John Kasich takes the oath of office during the ceremonial swearing-in Monday. He officially was sworn in during a midnight ceremony.

-lasadi swotm says state' must stick together BY CARL BURNETT JR. The Eagle-Gazette Staff LANCASTER The Bremen couple whose meat processing operation was raided in 2010 pleaded guilty to the illegal sale of wildlife Monday and were sentenced to probation. Kenneth L. Rienschield and Kathleen Jo Rien-schield were charged in October with three counts each of illegal sale of wildlife. Kenneth Rienschield also faced a theft charge.

Fairfield County Common Pleas Judge Chris Martin dropped the theft charge after a request by prosecutors. The Rienschields then pleaded guilty to the three remaining counts against each of them. Martin sentenced each to 12 months in prison on the remaining three fifth-degree felony counts of illegal sale of wildlife both were charged with. He ordered the sentences to.be.,served concurrently and then suspended the sentences for two years' probation. They were ordered to pay court costs, but no fine or restitution was ordered.

The Rienschields embraced each other after the sentencing. Fairfield County assistant prosecuting attorney Erin R. McLaughlin said prosecutors were satisfied with the sentence. "It's a real tragedy," said Rienschields' attorney Andrew Stevenson. "They were trying to operate a small business in a tough climate." Officials at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which investigated the Rienschields, said the couple might have sold deer meat that was intended for food pantries.

State wildlife officials said they received tips in PROBATION, 2 BY JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press COLUMBUS Newly sworn in Republican Gov. John Kasich called on Ohioans not to be selfish if they want to help him restore economic prosperity to the ailing battleground state. "When one part of Ohio hurts, we all hurt," he told a near-capacity crowd of about 2,500 at his inauguration ceremony Monday at the elegant Ohio Theatre. "And when one part of Ohio succeeds, we all succeed." The 58-year-old Kasich, who defeated Democrat Ted Strickland in November's election, said the state's biggest enemy is not its cities, its farms or its vibrant suburbs it's the status quo. He called it "the dark side of human nature that shuts down dreams and basks in fear." "Our enemies are those that selfishly look out only for themselves, the last gasp of air in a coal mine; 'I want he said.

"They forget that we are all in this together. Don't be selfish." nitaries including U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, of Ohio; celebrity zookeeper and TV host Jack Hanna; former Republican Gov. Bob Taft; newly elected Republican state officeholders; and hundreds of others. Kasich took his formal oath of office at a 12:01 a.m.

ceremony that he moved to the Statehouse and opened to the media after protests last week. Newly elected Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor administered both oaths. Kasich was accompanied at both events by his wife, Karen, and 10-year-old twin daughters, Reese and Emma. The Bible he used for the midnight ceremony was given to him by a friend after Kasich's parents were killed by a drunken driver in 1987. At the noon event, his daughters' fifth-grade class led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Ohio State University Glee Club concluded the event with "Carmen Ohio," the university's alma mater that ends with a harmonious "O-HI-O." KASICH, 5 Kasich delivered the message to a hall filled with many Republicans whose political careers were thrown off track when Democrats staged a near sweep of statewide nonjudicial offices four years ago.

The lone Republican officeholder to survive the 2006 defeats was Mary Taylor, the former auditor sworn in Monday as Kasich's lieutenant governor. Their new administration faces an estimated $8 billion budget deficit and a state unemployment rate that was 9.8 percent in November. A former congressman, Fox News commentator and investment banker, Kasich has pledged a businessman's approach to policy he hopes can restore economic security and add jobs. He campaigned on the idea of eventually eliminating Ohio's personal income tax and has suggested he will explore privatizing areas such as the Ohio Turnpike, prisons, workers' compensation and liquor sales. The ceremonial swearing in of Kasich and Taylor was peppered with dig (, i.

Abigail S. Fisher, Eagle-Gazette Kathleen and Kenneth Rienschield plead guilty Monday to three counts each of illegal sale of wildlife. The couple was sentenced to 12 months suspended and will be on probation for two years. Union, city far apart in negotiations Watts said a central problem in the negotiations is minimum staffing at the fire department. The current fire union NEGOTIATIONS, 2 a.

A A 1 r- fl i i in iiwm ii i BY RICK ROUAN The Eagle-Gazette Staff LANCASTER The city of Lancaster and its firefighters union are so far apart in contract negotiations that a binding ruling from a conciliator likely will be necessary, the lead negotiator for the International Association of Firefighters Local 291 said. "This time we met impasse in that they wanted to structurally change our department," said K.J. Watts, a Lancaster firefighter and 5th district vice president for the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters. 3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW PREDICTED TODAY The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for much of Ohio today. 10TV chief meteorologist Chris Bradley forecasted heaviest snows in central Ohio for this afternoon into evening.

Predictions today range from 3 to 6 inches of snow with a high of 28 degrees. Be Mire to check out LancasterEagleGazette.com for the latest in cancellations, delays, school closings, road conditions and more. Remember, you can contribute to our coverage on Twitter by using the hashtag egsnow when you post road conditions. Abigail S. Fisher, Eagle-Gazette Lancaster city firefighters and paramedics Adam Hetterle and Scott McCullough check equipment in an ambulance at Engine House No.

1 this past Thursday. Because of budget shortfalls, the city was forced to layoff four firefighters Monday. INDEX Read current Information affecting the globe STATE NEWS Congressmen, Including Steve Austria, give thoughts after Arizona shooting PAGE 3 Advice 9 Lottery 2 Comics 8 Obituaries 5 Food 10 Opinion 4 LocalState 3 Sports 6 PAGE 5 0 4 For All Those little In the Pood! UMLER AUTOMOTIVE 2313 E. MAIN ST. LANCASTER UMLER COLLISION 2313 E.

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