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75 cents Public Notice Highlights Notices begin on 12 Page 15 Auction for contents of self-storage units Nuisance abatement at Columbus property Page 15 Public hearing ESTABLISHED 1896 • VOL. 172, NO. 52 for rezoning of Columbus property Wednesday, December 27, 2017 Page A22 Tougher penalties for sex traffickers sought Columbus First Bank purchased By KEITH ARNOLD repeat offenders as well as those found to Daily Reporter Staff Writer be committing additional offenses.” by Cincinnati-area LCNB Bank He explained the legislation aims to de- By BRANDON KLEIN with 34 full-service branches in 10 Ohio A Republican duo in the Ohio Senate crease the high levels of human trafficking Daily Reporter Staff Writer counties, started its Columbus operations wants to crack down on pimps and other reported throughout the Buckeye State. after it opened a loan production in June. human sex traffickers making the associ- “By providing the means to adequately A southwest Ohio bank has announced “We are very excited to announce this ac- ated penalties tougher on these offenders. penalize offenders, these increased penal- it will purchase will purchase Columbus quisition. Columbus First Bank, its board of Sens. Matt Dolan and Gayle Manning, ties are necessary changes the justice sys- First Bancorp Inc. to expand its presence in directors and staff have a great reputation respectively of Chagrin Falls and North tem needs to counter this cruel industry,” central Ohio. throughout the Greater Columbus market Ridgeville, introduced last week Senate Bill the lawmaker added. LCNB Corp., based in Lebanon and the as a ‘service first’ organization supported 244 as a means of amending penalties for In the event an offender has previously holding company of LCNB National Bank, by dedicated and experienced personnel,” promoting prostitution. been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a will add Columbus First Bank’s one full- said Steve Foster, president and chief ex- “The purpose of this proposed legislation violation of this section, the penalty is service location in Worthington and about ecutive officer of LCNB. is to increase the penalties for those found increased from a fourth-degree felony to a $333.4 million in assets, $290.5 million in The transaction is anticipated to close in to be guilty of (the offense),” Dolan wrote to third-degree felony, according to the bill. loans, $269.9 million of deposits and $32.3 the second quarter of 2018. Senate peers in a cosponsor request. “This million in consolidated equity as of Sept. 30. legislation levies increased penalties on (See Penalties, Page 8) LCNB, a 140-year-old community bank (See Bank, Page 8) In the heart of Trump Country, his base’s faith is unshaken By CLAIRE GALOFARO He doesn’t mind his Twitter “All the other politicians, Repub- Associated Press battles with foreign leaders, celeb- licans and Democrats before him, rities and senators, and he dis- they’re interested in one thing only SANDY HOOK, Ky. (AP) — For misses everybody up in arms over and that’s theirselves. And Donald the first time in its 147-year his- Trump not being “presidential.” Trump seems to be more inter- tory, Elliott County, Kentucky, That’s what he liked about him in ested in the American people,” he abandoned its Democratic roots the first place. says, and shrugs. “Unless he’s fake, to help send Donald Trump to the “It wouldn’t bother me a bit if a and he ain’t been in there long White House. guy ran that was dressed like me, enough to see yet.” Almost a year into his presi- and I look like a heathen,” he says, ——— dency, despite dismal approval gesturing to his camo pants tucked “THEY’RE REALLY ratings and few legislative achieve- into his boots, his wrinkled T-shirt, OUT TO CRUCIFY HIM” ments, Trump remains profoundly his five o’clock shadow. “I don’t be- Dwight Whitley has never met popular here in these mountains, lieve in all that suit-and-tie, hold- Rush Limbaugh. But he spends so a region so badly battered by the your-fork-a-certain-way stuff.” much time behind the wheel of collapse of the coal industry it Still, Ferguson doesn’t consider his truck listening to his radio talk became the symbolic heart of himself among Trump’s base of show, it almost feels to him like Trump’s white working-class base. supporters who will follow him no they’re friends. Here are voices of voters who matter what. The president must He doesn’t trust much other helped put him in office. make good on his promises, he media. ——— said, and that list is long: He has He turns on Fox News in the “A DEAL IS A DEAL” to build the wall, bring back coal, morning, but sometimes even (AP Photo/David Goldman) Dale Ferguson wanders the finish tax reform, repeal the health that seems too liberal. He believes Terry Stinson, left, talks with Deborah Harmon at the Frosty Freeze restaurant in aisles of his store, a 9 mm gun care law. the news media is in cahoots with Sandy Hook, Ky. Stinson, a retired construction worker, comes to the Frosty Freeze loaded with hollow-point bullets almost every evening for dinner since his wife died. “He has to prove he’s real.” the Democratic Party, and if they tucked into the back of his camou- He was mad when Congress had their way he thinks they’d try flage cargo pants, just in case. He failed to repeal and replace the to control society and round up sells just about everything here: health care act, like Trump and everyone’s guns. much, and neither has Ferguson. have many friends because I’m not fresh meat, banjos, fishing poles, other Republicans had promised. “Oh, don’t shake your head at He has three priorities in life and politically correct.” guns, selfie sticks. He pays the penalty, because he me, Flo,” he says to his wife. in politics, in this order: God, guns, He studied Donald Trump’s “This is like Walmart,” he says, thinks it’s un-American for the “I’m just trying real hard to keep “except way smaller and poorer.” family. ascent for years, and he always government to force him to do my mouth shut,” she says. For four generations his family Like it used to be, he says. And pulled for him to run for the White things like buy insurance or wear “I’m more fanatical,” he con- has owned Ferguson’s Market and now he sees himself reflected in House. So far he gives him two a seatbelt. But he didn’t blame fesses. Hardware in Isonville, Kentucky. America’s pugnacious president. thumbs-up, mostly for fighting the Trump; he blamed all the other The business hasn’t changed “I tell it like it is,” he says. “I don’t culture wars. politicians. (See Trump, Page 8) Florida, Texas may attract Connecticut school disconnects from athletes after tax law change online learning program after parents revolt By RONALD BLUM The $10,000 limit also includes By MICHAEL MELIA AP Baseball Writer deductions for property and sales Associated Press taxes — large numbers for the most NEW YORK (AP) — Teams in prominent athletes. CHESHIRE, Conn. (AP) — The Texas, Florida, Nevada and Wash- At the same time, the top tax rate fast-growing online platform was ington state may have become has been lowered to 37 percent built with help from Facebook more attractive destinations for free for single filers earning more than engineers and designed to help agents following the enactment of $500,000 and married couples filing students learn at their own speed. tax law changes. jointly earning more than $600,000. But it’s been dropped because Deductions for state and local That is down from 39.6 percent parents in this Connecticut sub- taxes are capped at $10,000 in the for single filers earning more than urb revolted, saying there was no year starting Jan. 1 for married cou- $418,400 and married couples filing need to change what’s worked in a ples filing jointly. That has a huge jointly earning more than $470,700. town with a prized reputation for impact for athletes with seven- and For baseball, the AL West be- good schools. eight-figure salaries. comes the most attractive for tax The Summit Learning program, “Obviously, the zero income-tax status. The World Series champion developed by a California charter states have now more of an advan- Houston Astros, along with the school network, has signed up tage than before,” said baseball Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, over 300 schools to use its blend agent Scott Boras, who is negotiat- all have no state income tax. of technology with go-at-your- ing big-money deals this offseason That means a player on one of own-pace personalized learning. for free agents J.D. Martinez, Eric those teams would play 99 or 100 of Cheshire school administrators Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Jake Ar- 162 games in states with no tax. and some parents praised the pro- rieta and Greg Holland. Rangers President of Baseball gram, but it faced criticism from Geography, family comforts, play- Operations Jon Daniels calls the tax others who said their children (AP Photo/Michael Melia) ing time and winning remain the advantage “more of kind of a side were spending too much time The exterior of the board of education headquarters in Cheshire, Conn. Schools in most important factors for many. benefit than a feature.” online, some content was inap- the town have suspended use of the Summit Learning program, a go-at-your-own-pace “I understand the tax differential “Some players and some agents propriate, and students were not personalized online learning platform built by a California charter school network with issue but have rarely thought it was getting enough direct guidance.

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