The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2002-01-16

              New school treasurer on job — Page 12   I Donato's night helps kids — Page 3
Amherst News-Time
W I DNISDAY. JANUARY  1f». ?
AMMI RSI". OHIO
Turnpike
sees no
problem
in land
purchase
'    by ERIK YORKE
News-Times reporter
According to officials on both
sides of negotiations that could
bring an Ohio Turnpike interchange
to RL 58, talks are still in progress
and both sides are optimistic.
The addition of a turnpike interchange has been in the works for
some time with construction being
thought to have started last summer
at one point The Ohio Turnpike
Commission is interested in purchasing land along Rt. 58 that is
owned by a group of investors
called the Consolidated Investors
Group.
"It was something that was proposed by the turnpike," said Lauren
Hakos, spokesperson for the Ohio
Turnpike. "It's just a matter of moving forward with the process."
Hakos dismissed the possibility
that the turnpike had reached an impasse with the investors as to what
price the land should cost the
turnpike.
"We're being as accommodating
as possible with the group of property owners," she said. The turnpike
is a state entity and has eminent domain powers which would allow
them to buy the land they need at its
current value. Since much of the
land is not developed, that cost
would be low. Hakos said that, as of
now, she is not aware of any intention by the turnpike to exercise their
eminent domain power.
"We haven't even received a formal acceptance or rejection letter regarding our first offer," she said.
Steve Luca, the leader of the Consolidated Investors Group, dismissed allegations made in another
local newspaper that talks between
his group and the turnpike were
stalled.
"(Their) story was totally inaccurate,'' Luca said. "I think the negotiations have improved over the last
30 days."
He continued, speaking about the
cost of the land his investors hope to
sell to the turnpike. "We are communicating with the turnpike in trying to negotiate a number. At this
point we are proceeding in a very
, positive fashion. I am very optimistic about it"
CONTINUED on page 5
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by ERIK YORKE
--V I
Above, Lu Anne Abahlzi shows Anna Traut how the judges will
look over her little shettie in competition and below, one of the
smaller breeds in the class runs through the routine.
It's a dog's life
at Dog Zope
Learning to be good
just the start here
by DIANA HOUGLAND
News-Times reporter
Over the railroad tracks on Dewey Road in Amherst behind another business, is the place to be on Wednesday and
Thursday nights.
Especially if your name is Conan, or Whitney, or Han-
nabal, or if you sit bark, and stay.
Actually it doesn't matter what your name is only that you
love your dog and what to show him, or train him, and are
looking for professional help in doing so.
The place to be is the Dog Zone, which is run by
LuAnne Abahizi and Darnell Deiterich.
All businesses appreciate their customers, but Abahizi and
Deiterich have feelings that go beyond the usually customer
appreciation. They have a real love for those who patronize
them. They train dogs of all breeds, sizes and ages to be
good boys and girls in their obedience classes, and in the
conformation classes they teach dogs how to be winners al
dog shows. They also have kindergarten classes for puppies.
CONTINUED on page 2
News-Times reporter
The Ohio Department of Education released district report cards
last week and the Amherst schools
are up two points from last year,
scoring 23 out of a possible 27
points.
The score puts Amherst in the
range the state considers "effective,"
meaning they scored between 21
and 25 points. Schools that score 26
or 27 points are considered "excellent" a ranking that school superintendent Robert Boynton said Amherst will not stop striving for.
"(The 23 point score) was good,"
Boynton said "We're pleased with
that but we want to get all 27."
The scores are indicative of proficiency scores in the district The report cards consider the proficiency
test scores from fourth, sixth, ninth
and twelfth grades. The report cards
looked at ninth grade test scores in
two groups, the scores of eighth and
ninth graders who took the test and
the scores of eighth, ninth and tenth
graders who took the test
Each test is broken into five parts,
citizenship, mathematics, reading,
science and writing. For each test
school districts either met or failed
to meet standards in each of the five
areas of study.
Amherst met the state standards
in all but four cases, the citizenship,
mathematics, reading and science
portions of the fourth grade proficiency test All other grades met the
standards in all five areas of study.
The report card also includes
standards for student attendance and
high school graduation rates. The
Amherst schools met each of those
standards as well.
Boynton said that he attributes the
district's two-point jump to successful incentive programs, especially at
Shupe Middle School
"I was very pleased with the improvement at Shupe," he said.
Shupe teachers, Boynton continued,
used both intervention and incentive
programs to help the district meet
state standards for all five study
areas in the sixth grade proficiency
test For instance, they gave every
student who passed all five portions
of the test a chance to win a mountain bike.
Boynton said he hopes to continue those programs  at Harris
CONTINUED on page 3
Snow with a message
Laura Piar displays the snowperson the made with her son, said her family wanted to build to show their support for Operation
Brandon, 6. The snowperson Is a patriotic angel of peace that Piar Enduring Freedom.
First bride, then
bridal magazine
model for cover
by DIANA HOUGLAND
N-T reporter
In June, 1993, Juliet Rivera
was walking across the stage
to receive her high school
diploma during the graduation
exercises at Marion L. Sleek
High School. Now she is
walking across runways modeling fashions and has recently appeared oo the cover of
a bridal magazine.
For the former Amherst resident who resides in southern
California with her husband
of almost two years. Grant
Rkkhoff, modeling and performing has always been a
dream, but was not her first
career choice after graduation.
*1 lowed performing when I
was growing up," Rivera said.
"But I wanted to be a
doctor."
Following graduation, Rivera continued her education in
Michigan at Kalamazoo College snd majored in biology.
Every day she had lo pass
through die performing arts
building on her way to her
classrooms, and each day she
slopped and dreamed.
"About halfway through
college I realized that my
hem was in the aits," Rivera
admitted. "But I didn't want
to change majors. I wanted to
finish what I started. Plus, it
would give me something to
fall back on."
Imreediatdy after graduating
from Kalamanoo. Riven
moved to Chicago where she
several diffe-
CONTINUBD on pages
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