Tagged: Springfield

A newspaper investigation has found a western Ohio state senator authored a 2009 budget amendment that financially benefited an agricultural nonprofit he co-founded and financially backed.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Senate Finance Chairman Chris Widener's ties to the Ohio Equine and Agricultural Association Tuesday. The nonprofit was launched to build a livestock exposition center in Clark County, a project Widener's architecture firm designed and managed.

Clark State Community College President Karen Rafinski, has announced her retirement. She will end her 16-year tenure with the college next June.

During Rafinski's time as president, Clark State’s enrollment has grown to nearly 9,000 students from the 4,000 mark it was at when she took over in 1997.

The college's board of directors says Rafinski helped the school raise more than $100 million through the Clark State Foundation. Officials say the Foundation ranks first among all Ohio community colleges in its endowment funds per student.

Tonight Clark County will join communities across the nation for the 2012 National Night Out. The annual event is designed to promote good relationships between police, emergency services and the community.

City Hall Plaza in Springfield will get underway between 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Smith Park in New Carlisle from 6 to 9 p.m., the Bethel Township Firehouse in Medway, 6 - 9 p.m.and in Enon, the Indian Valley Middle School will host between 6 to 9 p.m.

The Clark County Sheriff's Office will provide information packets about crime prevention at the Night Out events.