INSIDE TODAY iN75 • Check out all the summer festivals in this week’s issue of iN75. Inside
June 19, 2013
Vol. 123 No. 121
TODAY’S
NEWS
TODAY’S WEATHER
75° 55° For a full weather report, turn to Page 15.
INSIDE TODAY
Sidney, Ohio
www.sidneydailynews.com
End of Afghan war? Taliban, U.S. to start talks to find solution BY PATRICK QUINN The Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban and the U.S. said Tuesday they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan, as the international coalition formally handed over control
of the country’s security to the Afghan army and police. The Taliban met a key U.S. demand by pledging not to use Afghanistan as a base to threaten other countries, although the Americans said they must also denounce alQaida. But President Barack Obama cautioned that the
process won’t be quick or easy. He described the opening of a Taliban political office in the Gulf nation of Qatar as an “important first step toward reconciliation” between the Islamic militants and the government of Afghanistan, and predicted there will be bumps along the way. Obama, who was attending
DEATHS Obituaries and/or death notices for the following people appear on Page 3 today: • The Rev William Albert Hines • William E. Schulenberg • Sharon L. Mabes • Sandra J. Deal • William “Bill” Arthur Sieberg • Robert A. Jones
Levy committee busy as August election nears BY MELANIE SPEICHER mspeicher@civitasmedia.com
INDEX For photo reprints, visit www.sidneydailynews.com
TODAY’S THOUGHT Free thinkers are generally those who never think at all. — Laurence Sterne, English author (1713-1768) For more on today in history, turn to Page 5.
NEWS NUMBERS News tips, call 498-5962. Home delivery, call 4985939. Classified advertising, call 498-5925. Retail advertising, call 4985980 Visit the Sidney Daily News on the Web at www.sidneydailynews.com
the G-8 summit in Northern Ireland, praised Afghan President Hamid Karzai for taking a courageous step by sending representatives to discuss peace with the Taliban. “It’s good news. We’re very pleased with what has taken place,” U.S. Secretary of State See AFGHAN/Page 5
Getting ready for the vote
Relish • New American farmers are profiled in this month’s issue of Relish. Also, get your tastebuds working with a recipe for plum pie. Inside
Business ...............................8 City, County records..........2, 4 Classified .......................16-19 Comics................................11 Fort Loramie........................14 Hints from Heloise.................6 Horoscope ..........................11 Localife ..............................6-7 Nation/World.........................5 Obituaries..............................3 Opinion..................................9 Sports............................12-13 State news ............................4 ’Tween 12 and 20 ...............20 Weather/Sudoku/Abby/Out of the Past/Dr. Roach ........15
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SDN Photo/Luke Gronneberg
Fresh fruit Connie Bostick (right) of Sidney, hunts for the right watermelon as Sarah Cordonnier, of Russia, tends to the Cordonnier Farms produce stand set up in the Walgreens parking lot Tuesday. The stand sells a variety of fruits and vegetables. The stand is open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Commission approves request for zoning change BY TOM MILLHOUSE he is seeking to open JB Outtmillhouse@civitasmedia.com doors gun shop at 550 Folkerth Ave., Suite B. Current A Sidney man’s plan to zoning regulations only allow open a gun shop in the city gun shops, with no shooting cleared a hurdle Monday range, in the B-5 Court night when members of the Square Business District. The Sidney Planning Commission Folkerth Avenue location is in voted to recommend approval a B-2 Community Business of a zoning change to facilitate District. new business. The resolution passed by James “Dustin” Bray said the Planning Commission rec-
ommends Sidney City Council add “gun shop, with no shooting range” to the B-2 district principal uses. Council will consider the proposal at a future meeting. Bray, 1363 S. Main Ave., who currently operates a small gun shop at his property, assured planning commission members that his shop would See CHANGE/Page 4
Sidney BOE prepares for end of FY2013 BY MELANIE SPEICHER mspeicher@civitasmedia.com As fiscal year 2013 comes to an end, the Sidney City Schools Board of Education dealt with several housekeeping items to close out the books on the year. The board, during its Monday night meeting, authorized Treasurer Mike Watkins to make appropriation/budget modifications, which include advances and transfers, to close the financial books for FY2013 following approval by Superintendent John Scheu.
The board also gave approval to Watkins to increase-decrease appropriation accounts as needed. Temporary appropriations for FY2014 in the amount of 25 percent of FY2013 appropriations were also approved. The board also adopted the employer STRS pickup contributions for teachers to be: salary reduction pickup, current rate in effect; pickup paid by employer, 0 percent; and total STRS Ohio contribution, current rate in effect. See BOE/Page 4
The momentum for the Aug. 6 special election for the Sidney City Schools 1 percent income tax levy is building. “We have given many presentations,” said Renee Davis, one of the levy chairmen, reported to the Sidney City Schools Board of Education during its Monday night meeting. “Last week we gave three presentations.” Two presentations were held at Amos Memorial Library and “2 1/2 people” were in attendance, she said. “One person came before the meeting, got his questions answered and left before the presentation,” said Davis. “He was the half person.” Another presentation was held at Maplewood and was attended by 30 people. “We were thrilled with the response,” said Davis. “The people who organized it apologized that there weren’t more people there.” Davis said there is still some confusion about the 9.9mill property tax levy. The presentation has been tweaked to clear up the confusion. The Positive Voter Committee is preparing for the caller groups to phone area residents about the levy. “We have ordered the yard signs and they should be here the first week of July,” said Davis. “All the steering committee members will have signs in their cars and they will also be available at the Board of Education office.” The first district-wide See LEVY/Page 4
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INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
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