EDGERTON - Tough decisions have paid off, the Edgerton Local Board of Education learned Monday evening. Treasurer Margie Rinkel reviewed her five-year financial forecast with the board, which she noted was a much healthier projection than in previous years. Rinkel cited decisions in recent years - personnel cuts, the resulting reductions in benefits, a change in insurance and the closing of the middle school building - as all having a huge effect on where the district is now. Expenses now are running less than revenues for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. from page 3.

PIONEER - A program for cutting trees was questioned during Monday's Pioneer Village council meeting. Resident Joanne Spangler voiced concern over the tree removal, noting 92 trees have been removed and 111 more are to be removed. She said the village should have done a better job of notifying residents of the tree removal. Councilman Richard Schmucker referred to the removal of the trees as the "rape of the village." Mayor Ed Kidston said that once the arborist of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources turned in her report detailing diseased and rotten trees, the village had to act or be responsible for them. l   from page 3.