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February 6, 2014

District’s calamity days used up during icy weather By LORI WINCE THISWEEKNEWS.COM

Jordan Gambill, who works for the New Albany service department, inspects a plow blade on a city truck Jan. 31. The city’s service workers say this winter has been challenging, but they still strive to provide good service. CHRIS PARKER/THISWEEKNEWS (2)

Snow crews push for ‘top-notch service’

By LORI WINCE THISWEEKNEWS.COM Sixteen New Albany service department employees have worked diligently to keep the city’s streets clean this winter, which has been challenging, they say. “Obviously when it’s this cold, it’s harder to get the nice, clean black roads we like,” said Jordan Gambill, a service worker. Brian Strayer, the maintenance supervisor, said city crews try to keep the streets as clear as possible, but this winter has presented some challenges. “This year, the biggest issue we’re having is salt,” Strayer said. Last winter, New Albany used almost 1,900 tons of road salt, said city spokesman Scott McAfee. The city averages about 2,000 tons per winter, he said.

SNOW CREWS >> A3

New Albany’s snowplows have seen so much use this winter that their blades are wearing out more quickly than usual, according to mechanic Steve Saunders (not pictured).

The New Albany-Plain Local School District used its fifth allotted calamity day Jan. 28. District spokesman Patrick Gallaway said four of the school days were canceled due to extreme cold. Students, especially younger children, standing outside waiting on a bus for more than 10 to 15 minutes during the cold weather is unsafe, Gallaway said. He said district officials also must consider students who walk between school buildings because of the open campus. Middle school and high school students have to enter a separate building for lunch and many have to walk between buildings when changing classes. Even though the district is out of calamity days, some options remain for the rest of the winter. Gov. John Kasich has asked the state legislature to consider adding calamity days to this school year. Gallaway said the district will wait to see if the legislature accepts Kasich’s proposal. The New Albany-Plain Local school board agreed Jan. 27 to study the Ohio Department of Education’s alternative to makeup days: the “blizzard bag.” The blizzard bag allows districts to send assignments home with students or have students access assignments online to avoid missing a day of school work. “The board entertained the idea and gave us the go ahead to look at the potential and to discuss it with staff,” Gallaway said. Next year, the Ohio Department of Education will change calamity days to hours. Schools will be given a minimum number of hours for instruction, according to the ODE

CALAMITY DAYS >> A2

Director: Healthy New Albany will continue popular initiatives By LORI WINCE THISWEEKNEWS.COM A new director will help guide Healthy New Albany this year as the nonprofit organization prepares for the opening of the city’s community health center. At the end of 2013, Healthy New Albany hired Tracy Ingram as exec-

Inside

utive director. Ingram has a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and chemistry and a master’s degree in health-care administration. She said her position is funded by Healthy New Albany and the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, which will lease space in the new Philip Heit Center for Healthy New

Police beat >> A2 Schools >> A4

Albany. Ingram joins four other Healthy New Albany staff members: marketing director Kristin Ferguson and farmers market managers Kristina Jenny, Jackie Krebs and Marianne Troutman. The four are considered part-time, Ingram said. Though Ingram jokes she currently does not have an office, she and oth-

Commentary & opinion >> A6 Sports >> A8

ers expect to work in the Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany when it opens in November at the corner of Village Hall and Johnstown roads. Ingram said Healthy New Albany’s community programming is expected to increase when the Heit Center opens. “There is much to accomplish between the beginning of the year and

Classifieds >> A13

the anticipated grand opening on Nov. 1,” Ingram said. “The (health center) will serve as a community anchor for health and wellness.” While few details are available on the new programming, Healthy New Albany will continue many of its previous initiatives this year, she said.

HEALTHY NEW ALBANY >> A2