E Foreclosure

TODAY’S D PLUS: Ohio’s John

I Prevention FORECAST Boehner writes of creating S Helping Hands Community jobs through tax relief.

N Outreach Center workshop. GAZETTE I Page 1 2A ® Page 5A ® Light Snow,

FAST FACT

This year’s Cup race at Las Vegas IRLS ASKETBALL Motor Speedway (March 1) is the G B Shelby 427. In honor of the sponsor, high of 20˚ NASCAR has agreed to lengthen the race from 400 to 427 miles.

Weather, 14A TEAMS LOOKING AT TOP SEEDS NASCAR management, race teams working through challenging economic climate

Money concerns cast long shadow ited Cup schedule, Nemechek said, adding that he already has teams and tracks. has indicated he’ll secured the services of veteran crew chief “Despite the fact that there are no major over annual Charlotte Media Tour enter every race. Philippe Lopez. changes, the NASCAR management team Undefeated Xenia aiming for No. 1 seed in The latest to an- “We have a lot of exciting things happen- has been extremely busy this winter work- By RICK MINTER nounce plans is Joe ing at Nemco. Having Philippe join us is a ing with teams and tracks to face the chal- Cox News Service Nemechek, who is huge plus for our program. We were also lenges of the economy and keep our sport hoping to run a full able to acquire excellent equipment and moving in the right direction,” Chairman EWS-CURRENT The makeup of the starting fields for Cup schedule with are in position to run an economic yet com- said in his address to the Sprint Cup races this year is starting to his own Nemco petitive program.” media. N shape up as the season opener nears. While Motorsports team, Nemechek, who drove for Furniture Row “One of the key areas we’re zeroing in on girls Division I basketball tournament. there have been concerns about getting a which has primarily Racing last year, said he also plans to run is helping the teams develop a new busi- full 43-car field for every race, there also run Nationwide the full Nationwide Series. ness model to fit today’s ever-changing have been numerous new teams emerging Series races in the NASCAR NASCAR typically has used the annual economy,exploring ways to manage costs to fill the gaps left by teams that dropped past. Media Tour in Charlotte to roll out new much smarter, working with our media THURSDAY cars or dropped off the circuit altogether. Nemechek, in an- BRIAN FRANCE programs and announce changes in rules partners to explore additional ways to take Veteran crew chief Tommy Baldwin has nouncing his plans, at Media Tour and schedules. But this year’s tour came in our product to our fans, meeting with our announced plans to field his own No. 36 touted the fact that his is a lean company the middle of an economic crisis, so the tracks to brainstorm new promotions for with driving. There are that can give sponsors a lot of bang for the news from NASCAR was more subdued. ticket opportunities for our fans and con- reports that plans to start buck. The most newsworthy part of the NASCAR tinuing our efforts in diversity,working his own team. Phoenix Racing owner “We want to race and put people back to presentation involved the sanctioning hard to facilitate opportunities for minori- January 29, 2009 , who has been running a lim- work in these tough economic times,” body’s effort to help its struggling race ties and females on and off the track.” ® Rick Minter’s Page 1B OBSERVATIONS Key story lines this week in NASCAR. Junior not pleased with Shootout changes 75 Cents NASCAR has expanded the field for the Budweiser Big Picture, Local Focus. Shootout at Daytona to 28 entries, putting, among others, veteran driver and former Shootout winner in the field. Unlike recent seasons when the starting field was comprised of pole win- ners from the previous year, this year’s race will fea- single copy ture the top six teams from each of the four manufac- turers in the sport. The rules recently were amended to allow each manufacturer to add a seventh team, crosses the finish line during recent Goodyear tire testing at Atlanta Motor Speedway. with the slots going to either a past Cup champion or to the driver from the next highest teams in owner points. Jr., who is as staunch a sup- porter of tradition as any driver in the sport, doesn’t like the changes at all. “I just like all the history,and I like all the cool things about the history,and I like looking back on the guys who were in this race in the ’80s and ’90s and why they were in it and how they got in it and Vol 2 No 120 who missed it the next year and made it the next year,” he said. “Maybe there’s nothing wrong with this new format. Maybe I just hate change, but I don’t Track time like it. I like the old format.” By RICK MINTER full and just everything that Cox News Service Amid new testing ban, teams get creative you’ve taken for granted.” Waltrip: A year of self-evaluation ahead in getting cars, personnel ready for season The consensus in the Could this season be ’s last as a ith NASCAR’s ban garage is that the bigger full-time Cup driver? At the least it’s going to be a on testing at tracks teams will fare better with year of self-evaluation for the veter- Wthat host its major with I think down to diagnosing how the the ban because they have an driver who also owns the cars he races, race teams have adopt- and and maybe balance of the car is, that’s more resources to test compo- drives. ed various strategies to pre- a couple others.” extremely important.” nents in the shop with com- “My goal is to go win some races pare their cars and to build , Juan Pablo There has been consider- puter simulators and such. this year, run up front so that I don’t I I I I I I I chemistry in situations Montoya, Sam Hornish Jr. able debate over whether And the drivers and crew have to say this is my last year,” where drivers are working and tested at teams should test at all since chiefs who have been togeth- Waltrip said. “But if I don’t do those XENIA BEAVERCREEK JAMESTOWN CEDARVILLE YELLOW SPRINGS SPRING VALLEY BELLBROOK WILBERFORCE with new teams or different Atlanta Motor Speedway last NASCAR’s intention with the er for a time should gain an things, if I can’t compete at the level crew chiefs. week, with Biffle turning a ban was to save teams money. advantage, too. that [teammate ] Many have tested at best lap at 187.045 mph while said it’s , who is does or [sponsor] NAPA expects, WALTRIP , getting to run numerous con- good for the teams to get on a moving to the No. 43 at then I probably won’t get to do this again in 2010.” which no longer hosts secutive laps as Goodyear en- track somewhere to get back Motorsports, He said that a decision to quit driving won’t come NASCAR races and is not af- gineers worked to see how in shape, see that everything counts himself among those easy. fected by the ban. Greg Biffle the tires reacted to long runs. is in order to go racing and getting the short end of the “This is a real important year for me because I still has been to Texas World Ryan Newman has tested make sure everyone on the deal. love it,” he said. “I’m still emotional about it. That’s a Speedway,which hosted its his Stewart Haas Racing team is comfortable in his or “It’s definitely hurting us great feeling. I’m glad I have that. I’m glad I feel the last Cup race in 1981. Several at Rockingham her role. not to be able to have a day or way I do, and I’m also glad that I own my car because Chevrolet teams went to the and New Smyrna, which “I think a lot of it is the days where we can work to- if this is my last year, then I’m fine because that manufacturers’ proving weren’t part of a Goodyear bonding, the fact that every- gether and get a feel for what means I got somebody faster or better than me to grounds in Arizona and still test but still proved helpful. body just needs to get back in I feel in the car and what drive my car in 2010, and that’s how it was supposed others ran at New Smyrna “It served two purposes, re- the swing of things and real- changes our crew chief to be.” Speedway in . ally just to get some more ex- ly kind of get in sync …” he makes and what it does,” he ’s team went to perience with the crew and said. “I don’t want to call it said. The good and the bad for ’09 debuts the proving grounds, with with the cars because they training, but we do have a Two Cup drivers had vastly different results as David Green driving the No. are a good bit different, more couple of new guys on the they returned to the Late Model ranks this past 24 Chevrolet, but Gordon has- so from the people stand- team, just make sure they fit weekend. Sprint Cup standout started n’t tested anywhere himself. point,” he said. “The second in the right spot and that you his 2009 racing season off with an impressive win in He said there’s little to be part was to get some informa- have everything in the new the SpeedFest 200 at Lanier National Speedway in learned during a test at an tion for our sake, meaning pit boxes and the trailer is Braselton, Ga., using a skillful move to the outside outside track. Stewart Haas Racing’s sake groove to take the lead. “Right now what you’ve got to be able to compare set-up After testing at Atlanta On the other side of the country,Cup rookie Joey to do is you’ve got to take ad- notes for the 14 [Tony Logano failed in his last-lap bid to win the Toyota vantage of trying to get a Stewart’s car] and the 39 Motor Speedway, Greg All-Star Showdown in Irwindale, Calif. Goodyear tire test, because [Newman’s], which is ex- Biffle said that he was Logano made a move on leader Peyton Sellers rem- those are actually on the tremely important … just to impressed with the new iniscent of the one Carl Edwards tried on Jimmie tracks that we’re racing on,” understand our language of Johnson at last year, but ran into he said. “You hope that you communication as far as talk- Goodyear tire. “They have a new left-side compound that Sellers and took the leader out of the race. get invited to do that, which ing about the car. Logano was moved to 40th place as punishment for did in “We can talk about racing puts a lot of driveability into rough driving, and Matt Kobyluck was declared the December in Vegas along all day,but when it comes the car,” he said. winner. Special full color page NASCAR New home at RCR gives Mears a warm, comfortable feeling

By RICK MINTER there] when we have gone thought that was special on some things and we saw Casey Cox News Service and tested. We’ve been about Richard.” much more competitive. quick. So I’m really opti- But that’s not to say that “If you could have taken that team Driver Casey Get all of the details about Sunday’s big It was assumed by many that mistic about this year, Mears wasn’t made wel- rolled into the season, I think he Mears (left) gets when moved from and I think that the come at Hendrick. would have been in the hunt. In my Ganassi Racing to Hendrick chances of us having a lot “I have a lot of good opinion, a lot of it is taking high praise from Motorsports prior to the 2007 season, of success this year is friends at Hendrick, and time to gel with the former teammate he had found himself a NASCAR very high.” the guys on the team all treated me team.” Jimmie home. After all, his best friend, Mears also said that team owner well,” he said. “I had a really,really And Johnson has Johnson, who , worked there, and has made him feel good time.” no doubt that calls him an he had a longstanding relationship special, and that began long before Mears’ friend Johnson said that Mears, the with team owner Rick Hendrick. he ever joined the payroll. not having a stable situation for long nephew of four- “amazing game with our special page on 2B. But now he’s moved on to Richard “When I first started in the Cup at Ganassi and Hendrick has ham- time Indy 500 driver.” Childress Racing to drive the No. 07 side of things, I had a lot to learn the pered Mears, who has just one Cup winner Rick Chevrolet, and he says he actually first couple years,” Mears said. win, at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Mears, has the Are You Ready? feels more comfortable there. “Even if I was running for seventh- 2007. driving skills “The first indications of every- or sixth-place position, [Childress] “[Mears] has lacked a little bit of necessary to be a thing that I’ve gotten so far working was one of those guys that really continuity with the team,” Johnson regular winner in the little bit that I have with [crew watches the race … said. “If you look at his crew chief the Sprint Cup se- chief ] and the guys, “He really watches his guys, but situation every year, it’s been a new ries. NASCAR spending time around the shop, it’s he also watches the whole race be- crew chief from the days at Ganassi “I think he’s an just a good fit, it really is,” Mears cause I don’t know how many times and switching things around over amazing driver,” said. “I thought I was comfortable I’d be walking down pit road or there. Johnson said. last year, and now I’m over here at walking through the garage and he’d “He got to Hendrick, and before RCR and I’m working with Gil and stop me and he’d say,‘Man, that race the season started, I think there was these guys, and I’m realizing that I you had with that guy the other day at least one or two crew chief wasn’t as comfortable as I should was a heck of a race.’ changes made in his first season and have been last year. “It was neat to know that he was then last year going over with Alan “These guys have really made me kind of keeping tabs on me and see- [Gustafson], so I think as the year • Log onto www.greenecountydailies.com for previews, behind-the-scenes videos and much more! feel at home, and the has [been ing what was going on, and I always went on, he and Alan started hitting

Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate for Cox News Service. (800) 255-6734. *For release the week of January 26, 2009.

NASCAR I NSIDER MANAGEMENT , RACE TEAMS WORKING THROUGH Winter TOUGH ECONOMIC CLIMATE Page 8B ® finally NOTEWORTHY arrives

By AARON KEITH HARRIS Staff Writer [email protected] XENIA — Xenians woke Wednesday morn - Bradley J. Fryman ing to icy, dangerous road conditions and sev - Navy Seaman Recruit Bradley J. eral inches of snow after a night filled with Fryman, son of Linda S. and Thomas H. freezing rain, snow and sleet. Fryman of Dayton, Ohio, recently com - pleted U.S. Navy basic training at Xenia Community Schools were closed for Recruit Training Command, Great the second day in a row, as were several busi - Lakes, Ill. nesses throughout the city whose employees During the eight-week program, would have had a tough commute. Fryman completed a variety of training which included classroom study and The freezing rain turned back to snow practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and See Snow, Page 2A survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. Charles Caperton/Greene County Dailies The capstone event of boot camp is "Battle Stations". This exercise gives Above: A tree reflects light with its ice-encased branches as a snow plow recruits the skills and confidence they pushes frozen slush at the Sugarcreek Plaza in Sugarcreek Twp. need to succeed in the fleet. "Battle Right: Snow falls after the frozen rain pounded the area. A snow plow works Stations" is designed to galvanize the along Wilmington Pike in Bellbrook. basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical appli - cation of basic Navy skills. Power outages climb in Ohio Fryman is a 2005 graduate of Bellbrook CINCINNATI (AP) -- Snow on top of ice on top of snow is pulling down power lines in Ohio, High School of Bellbrook, Ohio. leaving more than 100,000 electric customers without service. To suggest a Outages have been most severe across southern and central Ohio. Noteworthy candidate, email American Electric Power reports more than 80,000 of its customers are out, primarily in [email protected] those parts of the state. South Central Power Co. has more than 15,000 outages in southern and central Ohio. Duke Energy is reporting more than 30,000 outages in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky, AT A G LANCE with more than 24,000 in Ohio. Community ...... 3A Dayton Power & Light spokeswoman Mary Beth Weaver says at least 1,800 customers are Get your Beavercreek update. without power, primarily in Fayette and Clinton counties. There are few outages in northern Ohio, which got mostly snow. County ...... 4A Check out Poor Will’s Almanack. Levy fliers in water bills a necessary step DEATHS I James Edward Dyer, 91, Huber By GERY L. DEER the response from Xenia City Manager ing the fire and police divisions as well homes valued at $100,000. The Heights For the Greene County Dailies Jim Percival when asked about the tim - as parks and recreation operation. increase is designed to compensate for I Joe Francis Phillips, 78, Enon XENIA — “In my opinion, if we ing of the upcoming replacement levy The 3.5-mill replacement levy inflation and other cost increases. I William “Bill” H. Pitzer, 81, know a critical situation is coming and vote set for Tuesday, Feb. 3. The funds includes a 1.5-mill increase which “Without an increase,” said Percival, Chandler, Ariz. don’t do anything about it ahead of collected from the levy would go amounts to a $10 per month raise in I Billie L. Paul, 70, New Carlisle time — that is irresponsible.” That was toward general public services includ - city property tax for residents who own See Levy, Page 2A I Pauline Anne (Makley) Flahive, 61, Centerville Calling mentors Governor ® Page 6A for 2009 Wright proposes INDEX Scholar Program Business ...... 13A Classifieds ...... 7A-9A WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR schools Comics ...... 5B FORCE BASE — The deadline to Lifestyle ...... 6B-7B accept mentors for the Wright Lottery ...... 4A Scholar Research Assistant Program, Movies/TV ...... 10A a program established to foster the overhaul NASCAR ...... 8B education of promising young scien - Opinion ...... 5A tists and engineers in a hands-on COLUMBUS (AP) — Gov. Ted Record ...... 6A atmosphere, is March 9. Strickland proposed a dramatic rein - Sports ...... 1B-3B For seven years, the WS program vention of Ohio’s public schools Super Bowl ...... 2B has brought the brightest post-juniors Wednesday, from classroom learning Weather ...... 14A and seniors, who are interested in to teacher preparation to the way dis - science and engineering, from area tricts are funded. high schools to the Air Force The plan he laid out in his third Charles Caperton/Greene County Dailies Years Research Laboratory each summer. State of the State speech to the Ohio During the 10-12 week program, the Legislature will be accompanied by a 50Ago in students work with Wright- Free coffee on a snowy day $925 million increase over current estimated education spending levels in Patterson’s world-class scientists and Nancy Sidebottom-Stoops takes in the aroma of the new style brewed the budget Strickland rolls out Greene County engineers on a research project. coffee that was introduced Wednesday at Panera Bread on Wilmington Monday, said his spokeswoman Some of the projects include: testing Pike in Sugarcreek Twp. The bakery-cafe was introducing two new coffee Jan. 29, 1959 Amanda Wurst. materials, tracking data, creating brews, light and dark roast, and samples of their three grilled breakfast Newton Hoffman, who is in sandwiches. See Program, Page 2A See State, Page 2A charge of vocal music at Woodrow Wilson School at the OSSO Home, attended ® Why Pay HIGH Gas & Oil Prices?!? Join The EdenPURE Revolution! the winter concert of the Evanston, Illinois This Powerful, Portable and Patented Heater could save you money on your heating bill. Advanced Symphony Orchestra and Specs: Width 13”Height 17”Depth 18.75”Weight 26 lbs. AMPS: Low 8.12 High 12.5 As heard on Infrared heard his own composition, Paul Harvey Technology “Pastorale” performed. Xenia: 67 W. Main St. (937) 708-0319 News! • Comfortable Heat OPEN Saturdays 11am- 4pm New GEN3 Model 1000 • Leaves in Moisture Eden $ • Child & Pet Safe Yellow Springs: 253 Xenia Ave. (937) 546-EDEN Only 397 • Uses Standard OPEN Tuesday-Sunday 12pm- 4pm 3-Year Warranty 3-Prong Outlet World 1153931 6 74825 82201 9 For Home Delivery or to advertise, call 372-4444