Farm Service offices roll back

Dept. of Agriculture is closing offices and consolidating others.

BROOKVILLE —

Proposed consolidation of five Farm Service Agency offices in Ohio — including the one here on Amity Road — will proceed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said this week.

Offices affected were told Tuesday and public notification was made Wednesday.

“The secretary has decided to move ahead with closing 125 out of 131 offices (out of 2,400) across the nation,” said Dan Ennist, county executive director of the Montgomery County office in Brookville and the Preble County office in Eaton. “All the ones in Ohio that were proposed to be consolidated are going to move forward.

“It is going to be a change. It is going to be a little more of a drive. But I don’t think it’s excessive,” said Ennist

Criteria for closing the offices included those with two or fewer workers and those no more than 20 miles apart.

Early estimates in savings are $25,000 for the Montgomery County office.

The Montgomery County office had two workers (who will be able to move to other locations) and while it is 23 miles by road from the Preble County office, it is just 20 miles in a straight line, which meets the closing criteria. The Preble County office has five full-time and one part-time employee.

The Montgomery County office services about 1,500 farms while the Preble County office has about 2,000, although not all of them are working farms.

The offices administer farm service programs such as crop subsidies, helps with farm insurance and with farm improvements such as water lines.

Other offices closing in Ohio include those in Clark, Carroll, Meigs and Perry counties. While the Preble County office is closest to the Montgomery County office, that doesn’t mean it is closest to all the farmers in Montgomery County. Farmers may also choose to use offices in Xenia, Troy, Greenville, Lebanon or Hamilton.”

Ennist also said most business done at the office locations can also be done online.

Bruce Kettelle, who farms in Trotwood and is a city council member, said, “All of us that have been working to halt this closing are disappointed by the news. We are not sure what our next step will be.”

Kettelle said his farm is about two miles from the Montgomery County FSA location, and 22 miles from Eaton. WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE

The only marathon on a BASE — U.S. Air Force base has sold out in record time with the most runners in the history of the event, a spokeswoman says.

The Air Force Marathon on the grounds of Wright-Patterson expects 15,000 runners — up 2,000 over last year — when participants line up for the marathon, a half-marathon, and 10K races Sept. 15.

A 5K run will occur the day before at Wright State University’s Nutter Center.

“The bigger it gets, the more word of mouth we get,” said Nikki McLaughlin, a marathon spokeswoman.

The Air Force Marathon, a full 26.2-mile race, is the only one on a military base, she said.

“They get to run around an Air Force base, which is truly a unique experience,” she said. “It’s definitely a draw.”

Last year, organizers capped the number of runners at

Another $52,000 was heaped onto the debt owed to taxpayers by embattled former area charter school treasurer Carl Shye with the release Thursday of the final audit New City Community School in Dayton.

This is the 18th state audit in which Shye is accused of mishandling public funds, putting the total owed to $819,369, according to state data. He was indicted last month on federal charges of embezzling $472,579 from four Ohio schools, including New City and another Dayton school.

His arraignment in Columbus is scheduled for June 21.

The New City audit released Thursday named Shye as responsible for $23,350 in improperly documented expenditures and jointly liable for another $28,320.

“Though the numbers are still rolling in, Carl Shye’s free rein with taxpayer dollars is over,” 13,000. But with interest growing, 2,000 spots were added this year. The final 50 spots for the marathon sold out May 18, said Daryl Mayer, a Wright-Patterson spokesman, weeks earlier than last year’s sellout.

In 2011, the final spots were filled in mid-July for the 5K run, McLaughlin said.

This year’s marathon has attracted runners from all 50 states and 15 countries, such as Japan and the Federated States of Micronesia, she said.

Runners are allowed to transfer their registrations through June 8.

As the countdown clock ticks, organizers have geared up with a call for 2,100 volunteers, McLaughlin said.

Those who want to volunteer time may log onto www.usafmarathon.com to pick the time and activity in which they’d like to participate, she said.