Springfield News-Sun from Springfield, Ohio • 9

News-Sun Monday, February 10, 2014 LOCAL STATE News: 937-328-0346 Delivery: or 1-800-441-6397 Complete. In-Depth. Dependable. NEW DETAILS CLARK COUNTY By Michael Cooper Writer SPRINGFIELD TWP. A local auto and recreational vehicle dealership temporarily closed because of its zoning cation was recommended for a rezoning by the CEDA zoning board last week.

Toys, Boats, RVs and Trucks, 925 Upper Valley Pike, located at the former Forest Hills Par 3 golf course, cannot sell vehicles on the property unless it is rezoned from a residential district to a business district, according to Spring Twp. The CEDA zoning board, a cooperative economic development agreement board consisting of members from the township, county and city, unanimously approved rezoning 7.13 acres of the 14.39-acre property from residential to business district, according to Allan Neimayer, senior planner for the Clark County community development department. The recommendation is the step in the business being able to reopen, Neimay er said. The Twp. Zoning Commission will hear the request on Feb.

25 at 6 p.m., while the Twp. Board of Trustees will also hear the case on April 8 at 5:45 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the township 2777 Road. say the rezoning case was previously turned down because the business is located in the The business tried twice to have all 14 acres rezoned, but opted to use half of the property, keeping the portion in the as a residential district. we heard this, what our comments were from the level along with the CEDA Nei mayer said.

Jim Peifer, the attorney for business owner Tom Owens, said they decided to reduce the footprint because the CEDA and Spring Twp. indicated be more inclined to make a positive recommendation for the rezoning. was the reason for Peifer said. The parcel was originally zoned residential when the township began its own Board approves dealership rezoning Twp. business has been closed during dispute.

Dealership continued on 3 While some people enjoyed my last column about squirrels, others were quick to remind me that I left out something locally important, the white squirrels in Enon. The village has been home to white squirrels for as long as anyone can remember. It seems like they have always been there, and they are found from one end of Enon to another and the surrounding area. A few white squirrels have been noticed in Bethel Twp. Doris Pearson Dressel notes seeing one as she was growing up.

However, the white squirrel population seems to be centered around Enon. Some folks think the white squirrel should be the town mascot as it is in Olney, and Marionville, Mo. Such local color variations are generally caused by a population of squirrels carrying the white gene being isolated from other major gray squirrel populations by something that hampers their movement from tree to tree like and interstate highways. It seems that most Enon residents have a white squirrel story. know that there were about of them within a four-house block said Denise Bockelman, who lives near Indian Valley Middle School.

thought they were all gone, but I saw a young one right before it turned Mad River Twp. Trustee Kathy Estep has a white squirrel in her front yard in Houck Meadows. The squirrel centers activities around a tree in her front yard to the joy of the Estep cats, who watch from the front window. Estep has a photo of the cats and white squirrel virtually nose to nose through the front window. I know who was the most curious about the other.

There was one white squirrel that regularly ran across Rebert Pike next to the Indian Valley soccer until that Pam Cottrel My Opinion White squirrels worthy of story Cottrel continued on 3 CSU, schools partner to train By Chris Stewart Writer Central State University and the City Schools District may partner next school year on a program to train student teachers. Superintendent David Estrop said the agreement will help Central in training teachers and in turn improve the likelihood of quality teaching candidates entering the district. worked with Central State over the last two years to help improve the education Estrop said. will enlarge our pool of potential The district began a pilot program three years ago, entering a agreement with Wittenberg University. Since then, the made similar agreements with Wright State University, Cedarville University and Urbana University.

Estrop said the district has between 60 and 70 student teachers at a given time and all come from those universities with the district. Stacey Tipler, the human resources director, said the district takes as many student teachers as it can match with cooperating teachers in the district. have a good deal of who are nearing retirement within the next two to three years and being able to hire individuals who have been student teachers with our district, individuals who know, enjoy and excel at working with our students, creates a smooth transition in our overall said Tipler. CSU Provost Charles Wesley Ford Jr. is still considering the details of the partnership.

The City Schools Board of Education voted unanimously for it in January. The with Central State is an exchange of ideas, not money, Estrop said. Both institutions have agreed to uphold a number of responsibilities so Central State students gain practical teaching experience without diminishing the instruction of students, he said. Student teachers focus of learning program. SPRINGFIELD By Steven Matthews Writer The Ohio Department of Agriculture is in the process of issuing permits to exotic animal owners who applied for them.

The goal is to complete the process by the end of March, according to a state spokesperson. The state has received 72 whole or partial applications for dangerous wild animal permits, department spokesperson Erica Hawkins said. Nine permits have been issued. Of the 63 remaining applications, some are incom plete while others are completed and undergoing the review process, she said. The new Ohio Dangerous Wild Animal Act took full effect Jan.

1. The department is reaching out to exotic animal owners who registered their animals but did not apply for a permit. During a two-month registration period in late 2012, 150 owners private citizens and zoos registered a total of 888 dangerous wild animals, according to the Department of Agriculture. 72 whole or partial requests submitted; 9 permits issued. State processing exotic animal applications Sean Trimbach of Bethel Twp.

operates Best Exotics LLC and has more than 300 snakes plus lemurs, a serval cat and a Syrian brown bear. He wants to continue to breed and sell exotic animals and is seeking government approval to do so. MARSHALL GORBY STAFF Applications continued on 3 CONTINUING COVERAGE UNMATCHED COVERAGE The News-Sun has covered the issue of exotic animals extensively. We will continue to follow the issue closely and bring you the latest news as it develops. Few choices slated for ballot By Matt Sanctis Writer URBANA Voters in Champaign County face a May 6 primary election that will include only a handful of issues plus several races that are uncontested.

Republican incumbents are unopposed for county commissioner, auditor and two ju venile and probate judge positions. The lone contested race on the primary ballot is for representative for the 85th District. John Adams, the incumbent, has already served four terms and will not be allowed to run for re-election due to term limits. The seat serves Champaign County, as well as portions of Logan and Shelby counties. Nino Vitale, of Urbana, has a petition to run for the 85th District along with C.

Douglas Chamberlain of Bellefontaine and Robert J. Luck ey, III, of Sidney. All three candidates are Republicans. Dave Easton, a Constitution Party candidate from Sidney, has also to run for the seat. All local races are uncontested.

Republican Bob Corbett is running unopposed for Champaign County commissioner, while Karen Bailey will run unopposed for Champaign County auditor. Lori Reisinger and Brett Gilbert are running unopposed for their current roles in the Champaign County Common Pleas Ohio representative for 85th District only contested race. ELECTION 2014 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY Primary continued on 3 Legislator address youth concussion risk. B2.