About Preble County, OH

Agriculture. Really, it wouldn't be the right start to any blog about Preble County Ohio without fair mention of what makes the world go-round here, and that is a strong agricultural base.

Broken down demographically, about 19% of Preble County is considered "urban", while the remaining 81% is rural. Below were the statistics regarding agriculture in Preble County as of 2007, so of course some numbers have changed since then, but this does give a good picture of what we are all about...

Agriculture in Preble County
Average size of farms: 186 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $54611
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $198.84
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $58937
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 82.32%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $70035
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 92.21%
Average age of principal farm operators: 54 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 8.42
Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 9.93%
Corn for grain: 60306 harvested acres
All wheat for grain: 6784 harvested acres
Soybeans for beans: 85633 harvested acres
Vegetables: 72 harvested acres
Land in orchards: 74 acres

Main crops grown in Preble are corn, wheat and soy bean. Main livestock raised is pork. The annual Preble County fair offers opportunity for the "City folk", such as me to take a look at the form and function of the agricultural process, from open class judging to livestock judging to crop display, and lets not forget 4-H.

4-H is very popular in Preble County, with over 56 4-H clubs. 4-H gives the kids the responsibility to raise and care for their own animals. But it doesn't stop at animals. 4-H projects also include sewing, cooking, photography, woodworking, dog training and showing, fishing, gardening and much more.

Agriculture is just a natural way of life around here, and I like how it keeps things at a leisurely pace. Its not uncommon to spot a tractor making its way thru town, or watch the livestock trucks roll thru town on the way to the local auctions. Gently rolling hills scattered with bails, the smell of fresh cut hay, the annual September tradition of the Preble County Pork Festival. Life in the slow lane.

Sound good? I might be a city girl but I'd be happy to provide you all the information you need about agcriculture or just life in general here in Preble County Ohio.

Help for Ohio Countrywide Mortgage Customers

Are you a CountryWide customer? Are you having trouble keeping up with that monthly mortage payment? There might be a light at the end of the tunnel.

In October 2008, Bank of America announced a home retention program that will provide an estimated $8.4 billion in permanent payment reductions to help an estimated 400,000 Countrywide customers nationwide. Meaning? In many states, Ohio included, help could be on the way to people who are in financial hardship with their mortgages and you may * be eligible for a loan modification (new loan terms, new loan rates).

Here are some of the facts about the Countrywide National Homeownership Retention Program:

• On December 1, 2008, Countrywide began to proactively contact potentially eligible borrowers under the new program.
• Countrywide has not initiated or advanced foreclosures for potentially eligible borrowers during the time necessary to determine borrowers' interest in staying in their homes and their ability to afford the new terms.
• Countrywide will retain, for at least one year...., a minimum of 3900 personnel to assist with loan modifications and other foreclosure and home retention measures.
• Countrywide will continue to proactively contact delinquent borrowers and offer streamlined loan modifications...

So who is eligible?

1. You must have recieved a qualifying subprime mortgage or Adjustable Rate Mortgage prior to 2008, and the property must be a 1-4 unit owner -occupied residential property (you gotta live in it!). Additional requirements include:
2. The borrower (you) must be 60 days or more delinquent and the curent loan-to-value(percentage figure of loan amnt. in relation to the market value of the home) must be 75% or above.
3. The borrower becomes seriously delinquent at any time prior to June 30, 2012, and the loan-to-value at the time of the modification is 75% or above.
4. The borrower is current on the mortgage but is likely to become seriously delinquent as a consequence of rate reset..., and the loan-to-value ratio at the time of modification is 75% or above.

Confusing? The government has provided a website for you to visit to find out if you are one of the 7 to 9 million homeowners who may
be able to benefit from Making Home Affordable. Visit here.

Need urgent help? Contact the Homeowner's HOPE^TM Hotline: (888) 995-HOPE

* My disclaimer: I am NOT an attorney or a tax professional. I am a licensed Realtor. I simply write it as I see it. If you are facing financial hardship or have ANY questions regarding your mortgage, do not rely on what I write. Please consult an ATTORNEY or TAX ACCOUNTANT!!!

Thanks for reading!

Kelley A. Weimer

a house "SOLD" name!

www.buypreblecounty.com

Professional Real Estate Services for Preble County OH and beyond; including Eaton, West Alexandria, Brookville, Lewisburg, Germantown, Camden and Lakengren.

Published Tuesday, May 05, 2009 12:17 PM by Kelley Weimer

Namely: The children.

Back in the day, going to school meant many things. It meant a solid education. It meant learning to work with and respect different types of authority figures. It meant developing social skills with others.

Today, school still means something. But I'm afraid the focus isn't where it should be. The focus now is on test-taking. Or should I say, test-passing? I'm refering to the Ohio Achievement Tests, required for grades 3-8. My son started taking the OAT's a few years back. His first year of testing...a few days before the test, he came home to me and said "Mom, my teacher told me if I dont pass the test, I cant go to fourth grade". WHAT? This is a straight-A student. He cant go to fourth grade if he doesn't pass? What if he just isn't a good test taker? What if, like many folks young and old alike, he doesn't do well under pressure?? Well then, telling him he wont pass his grade should certainly help a bunch (insert sarcasm here).

I'd love to say this was a one time occurance, but apparently, scare tactics are not all that uncommon. Case in point, a 7th grader that my family knows, in a school in Preble County, was told just last week that "if you kids dont pass the OAT tests, the school might have to shut down".

What kind of thing is that to say to a child? Children have no concept of "empty threats" vs. facts. You tell a child the school will close if they dont pass a test and what that child hears is "If you dont pass, you will not see your friends anymore".

I guess while I'm on my soapbox, here's another gripe....getting all the letters and phone calls the week before the OAT tests, reminding parents to have their children get a goods nights' sleep and eat a good breakfast before they come to school. Gee, good thing they told me. Otherwise I'd just stick with our usual school night routine of a 1am bedtime and Mountain Dew for breakfast.

Why is it so much more important to have a sensible school routine on OAT test week than any other week of the year? Why is it so much more important that kids show up for school and do the best they can during OAT test week vs any other school week? And who is laying so much pressure on these teachers that they feel the need to threaten children regarding the passing of a test?

It just makes me afraid of where the focus has gone in our school system....

do your best, learn your best? or Do or die.

Thanks for reading!

Kelley A. Weimer

a house "SOLD" name!

www.buypreblecounty.com

Professional Real Estate Services for Preble County OH and beyond; including Eaton, Brookville, West Alexandria, Camden, Germantown, Lewisburg and Lakengren.

*** This blog is entirely my opinion and does not represent the opinion, fact or view of any other individual.

Hmmm...no one really knows at this point if there is a future left at this company. Lets start with a little history first:

Founded in 1984 as a subsidiary of Nihon-Plast Co, Ltd. (Japan), Neaton Auto,located in Eaton OH, has been a top supplier of products to the automobile industry. Neaton supplies such products as:

Steering wheels

Air Bags

Instrument panels and related parts

Ventilators

Interior and exterior trim parts,

all for top producing Auto Manufacturers including Honda, Saturn and Nisson.

Back in the day, Neaton Auto was THE company of choice to work for in the Preble County area. Well, at least one of them. Neaton offered perks including an excellent retirement program, company-wide week long shut downs at Christmas and over July 4th week, yearly cost-of-living raises,excellent vacation plans, attendance bonus, shift premiums, state-of-the-art working enviornment, as well as unheard of extras like tickets to the Beach Waterpark, Kings Island tickets, a company Holiday party, company summer picnic, kids holiday party with Santa and gifts, and much more.

Of course, back in the day we all had opportunities that we took for granted. Opportunities and perks that most of us would kill for now! Neaton Auto employees included. Because, just like GM, FORD, and many other auto manufacturers, Neaton is feeling the pinch. And employees are getting scared.

Cut backs began in December of 2008. All temporary associates were let go. January hit, and raisies were taken back. Attendence bonuses and the like were erased. Then, third shift was deemed "non-essential", and all third shift employees had to make the switch to second or first shift. And all of the sudden, you've got people tripping over each other and the musical chairs game begins. The janitory dept. is scaled back, so now instead of making a part, some folks at Neaton are cleaning the restrooms. But hey, a paycheck is a paycheck in this economy.

"Black Thursday" came up soon enough. Approximatly 30 people were "let go". Call it a lay-off, call it "firing", call it what you want. Around 30 people lost jobs. People with seniority. People with good attendanace and good work history. But, they were all deemed "non-essential". That word seems to come up a lot. Non-essential. Sort-of an umbrella term for whatever or whomever needs to be taken care of.

Last week, word came around the plant that approx. 100 people still need to go. Options are few:

A. Quit now and take a severance. At first sight, a lump sum looks pretty attractive. But believe me, it runs out all too soon. If you dont need or want another job, if you dont need the insurance coverage, if you haven't worked 20 years and racked up more vacation than you'll ever realize anyplace else, this might be the option for you. If not..

B. Take the "voluntary" lay-off. Expect to see 80% of your take home pay in unemployment benefits. 80% ain't bad. EXCEPT: its based on your last 26 weeks of work. And for the majority of Neaton workers, the last 26 weeks of employment has been 32 hours a week. So, 80% of a 32 hour week. Ouch.

C. Ride it out. If Neaton doesn't get enough volunteers for the first two options, the last option will be to fire what is needed to complete the "100 number". Word has it, this will be based upon work performance, as well as overall attendance. So those folks who are good workers and actually SHOW UP to work should have no worries.

My husband is an employee of Neaton Auto. He has been since 1991. So we have seen the heyday of Neaton, and we have seen the bad times now as well. The belt tightening has had an affect on our family, and an affect on our wallet. But he is resolved to ride it out. Because like most things in the world, its all cyclical. Real Estate. Wal-Street. Politics. Gas prices. Crop values. Manufacturing. Its the roller-coaster of life folks.

Neaton Auto has always made wise business decisions. I think the company as a whole has a great head on its shoulders, and the dark time will pass. Maybe that's my own little pipe-dream. It seems like the hope and dream of many in this community though. Time will tell.

Thanks for reading!

Kelley A. Weimer

A house "SOLD" name

www.buypreblecounty.com

Professional Real Estate Services for Preble County OH and beyond; including Eaton, Brookville, Lakengren, Germantown, West Alexandria, Camden and Lewisburg.

Take a look at some of the fabulous Lakengren Architecture!

Spectacular Waterfront Estates...

Secluded and peaceful...

Pretty Cape Cods...

Beautiful Bi-Levels...

Cutting edge contemporaries...

And rustic log homes...

Looking to make a move to Lakengren? Whether its just a summer home in mind or all year resort-living is more your style, contact me today for the best that Lakengren has to offer!

Kelley A. Weimer

a house "SOLD" name!

www.buypreblecounty.com

Professional Real Estate Services for Preble County OH and beyond; including Eaton, Lakengren, Brookville, Germantown, Lewisburg, Camden and West Alexandria.