Times Recorder www.ZanesvilleTimesRecorder.com 5 a Saturday Dec. 13, 2008 The World Authority on Zanesville and Southeastern Ohio 500 Sheridan uses 14-3 second-half tun to get past visiting John Glenn 1 fl fW Sports, Page IB FINANCIAL MELTDOWN lasi-oncn auto industry rescue i sassk CTF- -J 3 cue option under consideration involved billions of dollars originally ticketed for the bailout of the financial industry. President George W. Bush had earlier declared that money off-limits to the beleaguered automakers. General Motors Corp.
and By DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent WASHINGTON With Congress gridlocked and the economy floundering, the Bush administration declared Friday it would step in to prevent the "precipitous collapse" of the U.S. auto industry and the disastrous loss of hun dreds of thousands of jobs sure to follow. A day after the sudden demise of rescue legislation in Congress, carmakers were talking with the administration and the Federal Reserve about how they could still get the billions of dollars they say they need to survive. The talks included conditions that automakers would have to meet, said GM spokesman Greg Martin. The administration said no decisions had been made on the size or duration of the new bailout plan, or what type of concessions might be demanded from the struggling automakers, their workers, stockholders or others.
In a reversal, the most likely res AP Photo Pontiac G6's are shown at the General Motors Orion Assembly plant in Orion Township, Friday. GM said it will temporarily close 20 factories across North America cutting 250,000 vehicles from Its production schedule for the first quarter of 2009, which includes a cut of 60,000 vehicles announced last week. nl 01 Home for the ights ays 3 CHRIS CROOKTimes Recorder istmas so tip stage mil Chr J) Doug and Connie Fink run Douglas and Connie Firs Christmas tree farm near Zanesville. Christmas tree purchases strong despite economy By LEEANN MOORE Staff Writer ZANESVILLE As the lights dimmed across Secrest Auditorium, the crowd of hundreds got silent Friday night. The stage lit up to a wintery Christmas scene with dozens of Home for the Holidays cast members dressed in boots, coats, scarves, gloves and hats.
Pine trees, street lamps and wreaths were the back drop as the cast opened the annual show to "We Need A Little Christmas." "We come every year," said Kathy Smith of Zanesville. Since the show began, she and her mother, Sue Johnston, also of Zanesville, have come together every year. "There's a lot of entertainment in this town and it is usually a beautiful, beautiful Christmas show," Kathy said. The show, offered again at 7 p.m. tonight, is directed this year by Sarah Browning.
Greg Peyton served as artistic director, Terah Chris man served as choreographer and John Kunkel served as the technical director. The show is sponsored by the Times Recorder and WHIZ Media Group. WHIZ also recorded video messages to troops from audience members, a service that will be available tonight too. Proceeds from the show go to the Muskingum Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army. Browning said she was hoping for a large turnout, but was nervous because of the state of the economy this holiday season.
But as the auditorium steadily filled up as the 7 p.m. show time approached, her CHRIS CROOKTimes Recorder for the Holidays show on Friday at Secrest Auditorium. Tonight's show starts more photos, visit www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com. See RESCUE, Page 5A Toy soldiers perform during the Home at 7, with doors opening at 6:15. For nerves eased.
"People still come out to support the troops, the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army," she said. "We want the community to leave with a sense of what Christmas is all about and get everybody in the Christmas spirit. A lot of people tend to lose the feeling of what Christmas is all about and the story line reminds people that not everybody is as lucky to have their families together for the holidays." Erin Beane of Zanesville is usually on the stage performing in the show, but this year, due to a scheduling conflict, she said, sat in budgets by as much as 25 percent. How such cuts would affect infrastructure projects is not clear, but County Commissioner Brian Hill, said it was important for the TID board to communicate to local state legislators the importance of the funding Mayor Howard Zwelling noted that the area appreciates the leadership of ODOT officials in providing matching funds for such projects as the Sixth Street Enhancement and the upcoming Maple Avenue Safety project. The county, city of Zanesville and Port Authority have benefited to the tune of $1 million over the last four years, money which has been used on numerous projects, Nolder said.
The $119,530.88 has yet to be committed to specific projects by the TID, but Nolder said he would have a list of suggested projects compiled by next month and present those to the board at their February meeting. fib) farm looking for a tree and price checking. Doug and Connie Fink, who run Douglas and Connie Firs Christmas Trees on Fawn Lane, said business has been about the same. "Business has been good, about what it has been in the past," Connie Fink said. "A lot of the same customers year after year, and we get new customers through word of mouth and online." Doug Fink said several factors go into people purchasing live trees.
"People buy the trees for the freshness, it is a family activity, a tradition," he said. Dave Reese, president of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association which is based near Frazeysburg, said he and other tree fanners were concerned they would see a drop-off in their choose-and-cut business due to tough economic times. But most are seeing even more interest in sharing the experience with family. "What I've seen over the last few years is that it's kind of recession-proof," said Reese, who has approximately 22,000 trees on his Kaleidoscope Farms near Mount Cory in Hanco*ck County. "The choose-and-cut business See PURCHASES, Page 5A Start time Doors for tonight's 7 p.m.
Home for the Holidays show open at 6:15 p.m. at Secrest Auditorium. time with her, but every time you do a show like this you start off not knowing anybody and by the time the show comes around, you've become a family," Steve said. "It's so much fun and these things are always for great causes." leemoorenncogannett.com 740-450-6758 ject's cost, with the receiving entity to provide a 25 percent match. The state stimulus is in addition to federal aid package expected to be among one of President-Elect Barack Obama's top priorities after he is inaugurated next month.
The Ohio Department of Transportation has already developed a plan to make use of federal stimulus funds, with $1.8 billion to be invested in state and local road, bridge and safety projects in every ODOT district, Nolder said. While the proposed Ohio 93U.S. 22 connector or Dillon FallsAJ.S. 40 connector probably wouldn't be ready for this funding, something like the resurfacing of Northpointe Road between Zanesville and Dresden could be. bgaddnncogannett.com 740-450-6752 HI By BRIAN GADD Staff Writer ZANESVILLE The economy has weighed heavily on many minds this holiday season, but one area that is surprisingly not feeling the economic pinch is in Christmas tree sales.
While Christmas tree growers focus on the tradition of sharing the choose-and-cut experience with family, there are benefits to purchasing an artificial tree as well. Dick Sorg of Sorg's Yule Time Pines near Mount Perry, said his sales numbers the first couple of weeks into December compare to last year's. But he's also seen several new faces in addition to regular customers venturing out for fir trees. "I have seen several new faces this year, with families making it their Christmas tradition," Sorg said. "Our prices are the same as the previous two years, and we only offer Canaan Fir some people have visited us looking for pine and not wanting fir." Sorg has had customers from as far away as Columbus and Marysville, who have "remarked on our lower prices for choose and cut trees." And he said he's only had one person this season visit the Obituaries on Page 4A Deaths John Arnold Janice Carpenter Dana Clemens Betty Daw Curtis Dupler Col.
Edward Fowler Alice Hampton Emma Holdsworth John James Rosetta McGee Alma Rowe Agnes Smith Carlos Sohrenssen "'itovursurur- 7 2008 Newspaper Network of State, federal stimulus could help road and infrastructure projects the audience with her daughters, Cambria, 6, and Hannah, 3. "We wanted to come out and enjoy watching the performance. We know a lot of people in the show and wanted to come out and enjoy it as spectator," Erin said. Steve Zemba not only enjoys performing in the show as a vocalist and actor, but also enjoys the time he gets to spend with his 12-year-old daughter, Payton Zemba, who also performed in the show Friday. Steve, who has four children, said performing in the show with Pay-ton has allowed him to spend quality time with his daughter.
"It gives me a little one-on-one But other avenues of funding might be about to open at the state and federal level. Nolder presented information on the state's Logistics and Distribution Stimulus program, which is part of the $1.57 billion stimulus adopted by the legislature in June. A partnership between the Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Rail Development Commission and the Ohio Department of Development, $100 million in low-interest, forgivable loans will be available to public and private projects over the next three years, $50 million in Fiscal 2009 and $25 million each in 2010 and 2011. The state will start looking at project recommendations next month and are tentatively scheduled to award the first round of funding decisions in March and a second round in June. The loans will be for up to $10 million or 75 percent of a pro Index Calendar 8A Classified 3C-8C, 10C Comics 9C Community 2A DearAbby 1C Horoscopes 1C LocalState 3A NationWorld 2C Opinion 7A Sports 1B-3B Corrections Our promise: If we make an error, we want to correct it.
Please call the newsroom at 450-6750. Corrections will be printed on Page 1A. Central Ohio I A Gannett Newspaper By BRIAN GADD Staff Writer ZANESVILLE The Muskingum County Transportation Improvement District (TID) still has about $120,000 in its project fund to use before June. But it will be up to state lawmakers to make sure the TID gets another round of appropriations to do local road studies and projects in the next budget cycle. Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority Director Jerry Nolder told TID Board members Friday that he has received no word on whether the $250,000 grants for 2009 and 2010 will come through.
"Right now, it has not been discussed, it is part of the state's budgeting process," Nolder said. It comes at a time when Gov. Ted Strickland has just issued a worst-case scenario for the state budget, saying state agencies might be forced to cut the 2009 ...2009 SENIORS-BRING IN THIS AD! lcrMittsum Senior Collection, and if 1 opportunity never offered before! r.Cobrfu don't wait-book your time! 00.421.0956 www.murolivbeadllno.com....
