Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued March 22 at 5:43PM EDT until March 23 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 73 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES
IN EAST CENTRAL INDIANA
FAYETTE UNION WAYNE
IN SOUTHEAST INDIANA
DEARBORN FRANKLIN OHIO RIPLEY SWITZERLAND
IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 3 COUNTIES
IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
BOONE CAMPBELL KENTON
IN OHIO THIS WATCH INCLUDES 32 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL OHIO
DELAWARE FAIRFIELD FAYETTE FRANKLIN HOCKING LICKING MADISON PICKAWAY UNION
IN SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO
ADAMS HIGHLAND PIKE ROSS SCIOTO
IN SOUTHWEST OHIO
BROWN BUTLER CLERMONT CLINTON HAMILTON WARREN
IN WEST CENTRAL OHIO
AUGLAIZE CHAMPAIGN CLARK DARKE GREENE HARDIN LOGAN MERCER MIAMI MONTGOMERY PREBLE SHELBY
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ABERDEEN, ADA, ALEXANDRIA, AURORA, BATESVILLE, BEAVERCREEK, BELLEFONTAINE, BELLEVUE, BLANCHESTER, BRIGHT, BROOKVILLE, BURLINGTON, CAMDEN, CELINA, CHILLICOTHE, CIRCLEVILLE, COLDWATER, CONNERSVILLE, COVINGTON, DAY HEIGHTS, DAYTON, DELAWARE, DILLSBORO, DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, DOWNTOWN DAYTON, EATON, ERLANGER, FAIRBORN, FAIRFIELD, FLORENCE, FORT THOMAS, FRANKLIN, GEORGETOWN, GREENDALE, GREENFIELD, GREENVILLE, HAMILTON, HIDDEN VALLEY, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, HILLSBORO, INDEPENDENCE, KENTON, KETTERING, LANCASTER, LANDEN, LAWRENCEBURG, LEBANON, LIBERTY, LOGAN, LONDON, MANCHESTER, MARYSVILLE, MASON, MIDDLETOWN, MILAN, MILFORD, MINSTER, MOUNT CARMEL, MOUNT ORAB, MOUNT REPOSE, MULBERRY, NEW BREMEN, NEWARK, NEWPORT, OAKBROOK, OSGOOD, OXFORD, PEEBLES, PICKERINGTON, PIKE LAKE, PIKETON, PIQUA, PLAIN CITY, PORTSMOUTH, RICHMOND, RIPLEY, RISING SUN, SEAMAN, SIDNEY, SPRINGBORO, SPRINGFIELD, ST. MARYS, SUMMERSIDE, TIPP CITY, TROY, URBANA, VERSAILLES, VEVAY, WAPAKONETA, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, WAVERLY, WEST COLLEGE CORNER, WEST JEFFERSON, WEST UNION, WHEELERSBURG, WILMINGTON, WINCHESTER, WITHAMSVILLE, AND XENIA.

Tuesday, May 15th, 2007

Marion board OKs contract with teachers

By Margie Wuebker

MARIA STEIN - The Marion Local Schools board of education unanimously ratified a two-year contract with the Marion Local Education Association on Monday night. The agreement comes after just two days of bargaining.

The contract, which runs from July 1 of this year through June 30, 2009, increases teacher salaries 2.75 percent during the 2007-2008 school year and 2.9 percent for 2008-2009.

Superintendent Carl Metzger said the salary increase will boost the starting salary of a teacher with no experience from the current $30,275 to $31,108 the first year and $32,010 the second year.

Education Association members will pick up an additional 2 percent of medical insurance premiums during the next two years.

Rising insurance costs continue to plague school districts as well as business and industry. Treasurer Paul Gagel said earlier in the meeting those costs rose at the rate of 17 percent.

Metzger said the district used compressed bargaining to reach an agreement like his predecessor, Andy Smith, did during previous negotiations.

Each side comes to the bargaining table with five issues rather than bringing multiple concerns as is done in traditional negotiations. There were no mediators or attorneys involved in the process.

In addition to the superintendent and treasurer, other members of the bargaining team included board members Larry Reichert and Ron Winner and teacher representatives Charlie Mescher, Dan Koenig, Angie Leugers, Tim Goodwin and Treva Fortkamp. They met twice in April.

"We had an opportunity to spend more time on fewer issues," Metzger said. "We've got a great group of representatives who cooperate well and see the big picture in terms of school finances and funding."

The current three-year agreement expires June 30.

Archive of May 15th, 2007

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Additional online stories on this date

Businessman criticizes law director over restaurant power

ST. MARYS - It's absurd there's no power on at Jaqua's downtown restaurant a resident told city council at Monday's regular meeting, after also asserting one city official is obstructing downtown progress. [More]

Cavaliers polish off Rangers in five innings

COLDWATER -The Coldwater Cavalier baseball team took care of some unfinished business as they completed their Midwest Athletic Conference schedule by run-ruling the New Knoxville Rangers, 13-2, in five innings Monday afternoon on Senior Day at Veterans Field. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Local MR/DDs likely to get funding control

Auglaize superintendent among lobbyists for state bill

NEW BREMEN - The recent passing of Ohio's biennial budget by the House brought shock and smiles to the faces of officials of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD) agencies statewide.

First step to utility bill hikes

Celina City Council members unanimously favor the creation of a storm water utility to generate money to deal with existing and future drainage problems.

Resident questions TIF policy

A Celina resident questioned city officials Monday about their plans to borrow nearly $1.1 million that is to be largely paid back through a trio of tax increment finance (TIF) districts.

Disaster policy approved

COLDWATER - Village council members approved a finance office disaster minimization policy for the village Monday evening.

The plan would allow the village to operate financially in an effective manner in the event of any disaster, such as tornado, fire, earthquake, etc.

Finances looking good for future

MARIA STEIN - Treasurer Paul Gagel had reason to smile as he revisited the five-year financial forecast for Marion Local Schools board of education members Monday night. The report indicates a more positive outlook than initial figures released last fall.

New assistant fire chief hired in village of Coldwater

Brent Forsthoefel will replace retiring assistant chief Steve Sutter

COLDWATER - Brent Forsthoefel has been hired as assistant fire chief, replacing Steve Sutter who retired after 30-plus years of service to the department.

Council OKs funds for historical publication

ST. HENRY - Village council members unanimously approved donating $100 to help finance a forthcoming publication by Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce L. Alig.

Celina man charged with stalking

A 22-year-old Celina man has been charged with stalking a former girlfriend whom he once lived with in Van Wert.

David Lear, pleaded not guilty las

Sinclair CC finishes off great season

Sinclair Community College completed a stellar season on Sunday, losing to Kellogg Community College 1-0 in the loser's bracket final of the NJCAA Region 12 Tounament in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Ausland staying close to home at D-III Bluffton

While in search for her choice to go to college, Sarah Ausland wanted to experience the small-school atmosphere after attending Celina city schools, the biggest school in the Grand Lake area.