DeGraff Mayor Gary Comer has called a special council meeting for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building.

Council members will discuss an application to be submitted to the Logan County Engineer’s Office for Ohio Public Works Commission funding for a new traffic light and looping accessories to be installed at the intersection of State Route 235 (Miami Street) and State Route 508 (Main Street).

The next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, October 6th at 7 p.m.

DeGraff Council just met on September 15th. You can see more at http://www.peakofohio.com/2009_09_15_archive-news.html

The annual Dredge Day was held Friday afternoon at Fox Island near Russells Point.

Local and state leaders reiterated how important Indian Lake is to our region.

Regional Park Manager Frank Giannola served as the emcee.

He said Indian Lake has seen many improvements over the last several years, including the ongoing dredging of the lake.

Giannola said the shoreline improvements are evident around the lake, too.

Despite the sluggish economy, millions of visitors continue to enjoy the lake and the state park.

The Indian Lake State Park Campground was sold out for eight consecutive weekends this summer.

Environmentally, the lake is doing very well; EPA tests show that the lake is free of algae and other harmful contaminants.

The featured speakers included State Senator Karen Gillmor, Logan County Commissioner Dave Knight, Stokes Township Trustee Dustin Wickersham, Indian Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Pam Miller, and Indian Lake Watershed President Frank Dietz.

Finally, Giannola formally recognized volunteers of the state park campground.

Marietta and Merrill Geyer of London (above) were presented a plaque for their volunteer work. The couple has been volunteering at the campground for 20 years. Giannola praised the Geyer’s for their selfless effort to make Indian Lake a better place.

Giannola spoke with Bill Tipple about Dredge Day and the value of Indian Lake.

Listen to his comments.

The afternoon concluded with boat tours around the lake.

The Indian Lake State Park is one of the state’s six original parks. The state park system is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Kids from Benjamin Logan, Riverside, Indian Lake, and Calvary Christian all had a chance to go to local farms as a part of the Top of Ohio Ag Tour Friday morning.

The first graders made the same stops that community members can make on Saturday.

Farms on the tour are Stoneyfield Farm, Meadowbrook Farm, and Ledley Dairy.

Dwight Hansen, owner of Stoneyfield Farm, had the elementary students participate in activities that taught them about apple orchards. The activities included a Johnny Appleseed Tour, apple crafts, a beehive, and an economics lesson about apples.

“Today the kids don’t have any chance to get out to the farm unless somebody takes them. We have a lot of people who are growing up in urban society, and they don’t get to see what farm life is like; where their food comes from.” Hansen said.

Listen to Mr. Hansen’s comments on the Ag Tour, the activities that the students participated in, and why he thinks it’s important for them to experience the tour.

Riverside first grade teacher Kim Cline says that these trips are more interesting for her students. “They love getting out  like this because it’s something that’s a tangible thing to them instead of just in the classroom. It doesn’t mean as much in the classroom as it does out in the open.”

Listen to Kim Cline’s comments on how it’s good for the students to have a hands-on experience at the orchard and how they enjoy expanding their lessons outside of the classroom.

The Top of Ohio Ag Tour is Saturday for community members, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the farms, stops will include the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center and the Logan County Farmers’ Market (the Farmer’s Market is open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.). The tour is free to all participants.

The Logan County Farm Bureau will also be having a Farmer’s Share Breakfast at the Rushsylvania Church of Christ from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

A local teen has been charged for a rash of recent break-ins.

The Russells Point Police Department arrested Brandon Risner, 18, early Wednesday. He was charged with six felony counts of breaking and entering. 

The Russells Point Police Department responded to over ten vehicle break-ins and three business break-ins over the last month.

Low Bob’s Discount Tobacco and the Indian Head Road House were both victimized in late August. The Indian Lake Roller Arena was broken into on September 9th. All three businesses report damages and/or losses of over $1,000.

During the same time period, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office also responded to several break-ins and attempted break-ins in the Belle Center area. The Presbyterian Church, the Roundtable Restaurant, the Village of Belle Center Municipal Building, and the K&K Dairy Isle were all businesses who reported damages or losses.

The Russells Point Police Department used evidence collected at the scenes to track down Mr. Risner as a potential suspect. However, it wasn’t until Mr. Risner stole $30 from a confidential informant during a controlled drug buy that he became the primary suspect. The investigation took another leap forward when deputies tied Mr. Risner’s girlfriend and girlfriend’s vehicle as the suspect vehicle in the Belle Center break-ins.

A focused investigation between the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and the Russells Point Police Department resulted in Mr. Risner’s arrest. At the time of his arrest, Mr. Risner was out on bond for safecracking and theft from a business, both felony counts.

The Marysville Post of the State Highway Patrol responded to a hit-skip motorcycle injury accident near West Liberty Thursday afternoon around one o’clock.

Troopers report that Ronald Hunsicker, 53, of 7095 Township Road 163, West Liberty, was driving an ‘05 Honda Shadow southbound on County Road 28 just north of State Route 287 when he swerved to miss a school bus that pulled out from a private drive.

Hunsicker, who was wearing a helmet, suffered minor injuries in the crash.

He was transported to Mary Rutan Hospital by West Liberty EMS.

Hunsicker’s bike suffered minor damage.

The accident remains under investigation.

Restructuring and reorganizing was the order of the day when the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities met in regular session Thursday.

The board approved a restructuring of its Early Intervention Program, which focuses on the developmental stages of children birth to three years of age. In the past, the program ran full-time during the school year, and part-time during summer months. The newly implemented strategy will allow full access year round and will align the Early Intervention Program with state and national best practices.

Also, the resignation of the Adult Services Director caused the board to announce a plan for reorganization that will not fill the vacant position. Instead, the board has agreed to upgrade two current positions.

The Habilitation Coordinator will become the Vocational Services Manager and the Production Team Leader will become the Production Manager. In order to provide the necessary programmatic support 1.5 full-time equivalent habilitation specialists’ positions will be added.

According to the board, the restructuring project aims to shift resources in an effort to optimize program effectiveness and contain expenses.

The board also announced it will open a search for its vacant business manager position, as required by state law. The business manager oversees the financial operations of the board and affiliated boards.

In addition, the board has applied for the Pathways to Transition Grant. Under this grant, each dollar put in by the board will be matched by $3.69 by the State of Ohio and is designed to assist those with developmental disabilities find jobs after graduation.

The 22nd Annual Chicken BBQ is slated for October 1st; the BBQ serves as the annual fundraiser for the Logan County DD.

Listen as Superintendent Joe Mancuso talks about the Pathways grant and chicken BBQ.

Finally, the board will hold its Annual Public Forum on Thursday, November 19th at 5:30 p.m. This forum allows interested members of the community to provide feedback to the boards regarding its services and programs, as well as the Annual Plan of Action for 2010.

The forum will be held at the board office, which is located at 1851 St. Rt. 47 West.

The board will meet again on Thursday, October 15th at 5:30 p.m.

WPKO and Kevin F. Jennings Funeral Home are proud to announce the first Community Hero recipient – Jerry Jones of West Liberty.

Jones has dedicated his life to taking care of others; he’s been a nurse for 38 years.

He’s been a paramedic for 17 years with West Liberty EMS, where he is the chief squad leader.

Jerry has been an emergency room nurse at Mary Rutan Hospital for 19 years.

In addition, Jones is the county EMS coordinator and a part time death investigator for the Logan County Coroner’s Office.

Jerry was nominated by his wife, Sharon.

They have four children.

Jones said winning the award is rewarding and meaningful.

Listen to his interview with Bill Tipple.

If there is a Community Hero you would like to nominate, go to http://www.peakofohio.com/heroes/

We salute Jerry Jones for making Logan County a better place to live!!!

A number of defendants appeared before Logan County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark O’Connor recently.

Amy Cavanaugh, 32, of Bellefontaine, pled guilty to endangering children.

She was arrested in early April after deputies discovered a meth lab at her residence on Township Road 46 west of Bellefontaine.

A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing is scheduled for October 12th.

Jerry Birt, 44, of Bellefontaine, (above, left) was sentenced to eleven months in prison for non-support of dependents.

Edwin Ford, 33, of Lakeview, (left) admitted to a community control violation and was sentenced to ten months in prison. His original charge was forgery.

Chanc Carter, 20, of Bellefontaine, admitted to a community control violation and was sentenced to the West Central Community Based Correctional Facility. His original charge was burglary.

Rashad Brantley, 27, of Springfield, pled guilty to possession of drugs, Shawn KJ Clem, 26, of Bellefontaine, pled guilty to burglary, and Christopher Hoge, 20, of Bellefontaine, pled guilty to breaking and entering and falsification.

Presentence investigations were ordered and each of them will be sentenced on October 19th.

Stokes Township Trustee Dustin Wickersham, 25, of Lakeview, announced his intentions of running for the Republican nomination for Logan County Commissioner next May. Current Republican Commissioner Dave Knight is not seeking re-election.

Wickersham graduated from Indian Lake (‘03) and has his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Ohio Northern University (‘07). He is currently employed by COMSTOR in Huntsville and is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Stokes Township Trustees. He used to work at the Ohio House of Representatives, Honda Manufacturing, and Spend-A-Day Marina.

Mr. Wickersham was elected to the Stokes Township Trustees in 2007, defeating a 20-year incumbent.

Wickersham is a trustee of the Sean Carmen Memorial Scholarship Fund Inc., a member of the Logan County Farm Bureau, Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce, Logan County Historical Society, the Indian Lake Watershed, the Huntsville United Methodist Church, Bellefontaine Kiwanis Club, Bellefontaine Exchange Club, Indian Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Huntsville-Indian Lake Lions Club, and the Logan County United Way.

Listen to Mr. Wickersham talk about his candidacy for the Republican nominee for Logan County Commissioner.

Bellefontaine native and professional snowboarder Louie Vito has taken on another responsibility as he prepares for this season’s “Dancing With the Stars” -  he’s blogging on People.com!

This allows Louie a unique opportunity to frequently engage with the public. This podium will enable Vito to be an ambassador to the sport and expose snowboarding to millions and millions of people.

Courtesy of People, you can see his most recent blog at http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/09/15/louie-vitos-dwts-blog-im-improving-everyday/

Here is a picture of Louie and partner Chelsie Hightower.

A community picnic was held Wednesday afternoon at the Logan County Courthouse to kick-off the pacesetter campaign for the Logan County United Way.

Nine companies in the area were part of the pacesetter campaign, raising $156,329. This is 21% of the United Way’s goal for the year to raise money for 24 local health and human service agencies.

Most of the companies reported an increase from last year’s results and surpassed their goals for this year. Steve Austin’s Auto Group and National City Bank both had 100% employee participation.

AcuSport won the traveling trophy this year with each employee raising just over $200.

Pacesetter results were:

Steve Austin’s Auto Group-$4,490
Belletech Corporation-$19,395
Honda Transmission Manufacturing-$61,410
Logan County Coop-$3,300
Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities-$8,195
Mary Rutan Hospital/Logan View-$31,950
Nash Finch Company-$15,389
National City Bank-$2,602
World Class Plastics-$9,598

One in three families in the county is affected by the funds that United Way raises every year. The pacesetter campaign will run through November 30th. If you are interested in assisting call the United Way office at 592-2886. You can also send contributions to the United  Way of Logan county, 122 N. Main, Bellefontaine, 43311 or visit the website uwlogan.org.

Listen to pacesetter campaign co-chair Mike Minnich(right) talk to Ashleigh Klinger about how many people are affected by the United Way and the Traveling Trophy that was given to AcuSport.

The Bellefontaine Fire Department responded to a couple of small fires over the last day.

Firefighters were sent to Dr. Maxwell’s office, 325 North Hayes Street, Tuesday afternoon around one o’clock when a sterilizer caught on fire.

No one was injured, but the fire did about $6,200 worth of damage.

Fire crews were on scene for about 45 minutes.

The fire department responded to a structure fire at Jeff and April Schertzer’s 305 East Sandusky Avenue home around 2:30 Wednesday morning.

An electric service failure caused the exterior of the rear wall to catch on fire.

Mrs. Schertzer awoke to the smell of smoke.

Firefighters were able to quickly contain the blaze, which did about $5,000 worth of damage.

Some siding was lost in the fire.

No one was injured, and the fire department was on scene for about two hours.

An extra shift was brought in for station coverage.

The success of the village’s annual country fair headlined the DeGraff Village Council meeting Tuesday night.

According to members of the council, the fair, which took place September 10-12, received much positive feedback and was widely considered as one of the most successful in recent memory.

In fact, the fair was so successful that members of council elected to adopt and pass a resolution solely to thank the Fair Committee and those involved for all their hard work not only during the fair, but the days leading up to the festival as well.

Mayor Gary Comer announced Tuesday a renewed commitment to clean up some of the run-down and abandon properties that spot the village’s landscape. Comer’s commitment also entails more closely enforcing open-burning laws which explicitly state that only clean firewood may be burnt under adult supervision only.

Tamela Idle, 105 Church Street, addressed the council for the third consecutive meeting regarding the illegal fires. Idle suffers from severe asthma and claims the smoke resulting from the fires leave her trapped in her own home; she could hardly speak as she spoke to council Tuesday night.

Listen as Fiscal Officer Linda Harford talks about Tuesday's meeting

Harford announced upon the meeting’s conclusion the previously scheduled demolition of the town’s old water tower was postponed because of a “setback.” Harford said the demolition will take place in a couple weeks.

The council will meet again on October 6th at 7:00 p.m.

With the taxpayers in mind most of the night, Benjamin Logan’s Board of Education met Tuesday night in regular session.

The board took it’s first step in approving the 2-mill levy that is set to go onto the ballot in this year’s November election.

Benjamin Logan’s Treasurer Robert Kuehnle explains how this will effect the taxpayers.

The school board also approved a resolution for membership in the Coalition for Fiscal Fairness in Ohio, which is a group of schools in the state that is asking the legislature and Governor Strickland not to phase out the personal tangible property tax reimbursements that were a part of House Bill 66.

The top 20 schools in the state that will lose the most in personal tangible property tax were invited to join the coalition, Princeton City in Cincinnati would be losing the most at $25 million. Benjamin Logan will lose around $2 million if the program phases out.

The board also accepted the resignation of Logan County Education Foundation Trustee Terry Hartley, who was replaced by Karen Goff.

Benjamin Logan also welcomed five new teachers to the district:
Matthew Green-High School Business
Melissa Widman-High School English
Dai Yamamoto-High School Japanese
Marice Straker-Middle School Language Arts
Shi, Jing-Elementary School Chinese

The board’s next meeting is October 19th.

The Logan County Engineer’s Office reports that the bridge on Township Road 164 in Monroe Township will be closing for waterproofing next week.

The bridge is located on 164 between Township Road 178 and County Road 28.

Work is scheduled to begin Monday, September 21st and will continue through Friday, September 25th weather permitting.

The road will be closed for the duration of construction.

One of Logan County’s most famous landmarks has received a facelift.

About two dozen community leaders and citizens gathered downtown Tuesday morning for the dedication of Court Avenue - America’s Oldest Concrete Street.

The 118-year-old street was refurbished this summer.

LeVan’s Excavating from West Liberty was awarded the $153,000 ODOT project.

Bellefontaine Mayor Adam Brannon and former mayor Bob Notestine both reflected on the historical importance and longevity of the street.

Brannon (left) noted that inventor George Bartholomew promised that the street would last five years.

Notestine said the street is a glowing part of our local history.

He noted that foreign countries have visited Bellefontaine to learn from our nation’s original concrete street.

Service-Safety Director Jim Holycross (above, left) praised local artist Joanne Ritter for designing the archway that was recently installed at the corner of Court and Main.

Contractor Jeremy LeVan said about 60 percent of the original concrete remains on Court Avenue.

The project started in July. It was a collaborative effort between ODOT, LeVan’s, and the city.

Listen to Mr. Notestine talk with Bill Tipple about the history of Court Avenue and its importance here and abroad.

Listen to Jeremy LeVan discuss the project.

Court Avenue is now open for travel, including parking.

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office recently arrested two Sidney men for a rash of thefts in the DeGraff area.

Josh Conaster, 18, of 228 1/2 North Main Street, and Harley Lewallen, Jr., 37, of 325 1/2 West North Street, were each charged with two counts of breaking and entering and one count of theft.

The men were charged with breaking into Wren’s Marathon, the DeGraff Water Department, and stealing a four-wheeler from a residence on Township Road 24 in the last several weeks.

Detectives recovered two dirt bikes stolen from Miami County, a four-wheeler stolen from Shelby County, and a variety of tools.

Authorities located the property in storage units in Piqua and Sidney.

Good news aplenty when the Bellefontaine School board met for its first regular meeting in the month of September Monday night.

The meeting began when Kristine Mount, the faculty advisor for Bellefontaine’s Youth to Youth program, and three student leaders offered to the board an informal presentation about the school’s Youth to Youth program, a student-led organization designed to help steer students away from “tobacco, alcohol and other harmful drugs.”

The students discussed some of the activities taking place at the school and also discussed a weekend Youth to Youth retreat the group attended in Columbus last summer.

Dennis Showalter outlined for the board the district-wide 2008-2009 School Year Report Card which assigned the Bellefontaine School District the designation of an “Effective” school district.

The district met 21 out of 30 state indicators based on test scores of students ranging from third to 11th grade. The district also earned a Performance Index of 92.2 out of a possible 120 points. The index is a weighted average that includes all tested subjects and grades and untested students. A district’s Performance Index is based on a formula which aims to reflect the achievement of every student enrolled for the entire academic year.

The board also approved a slew of housekeeping issues including the appointment of Joanne Aburto as National Honor Society Advisor, salary adjustments for additional training of teachers, the approval of professional staff substitutes and approving leaves of absence for three staff members.

In conclusion, the board approved a resolution to allow the Ohio School Facilities Commission to allocate $21,352,310, approximately 61% of the total cost, for the purpose of funding the building of two new school buildings.

The remaining 39%, $13,651,477, would be paid through a bond issue by local taxes; the bond will be on this November’s ballot.

Listen as Superintendent Harman talks about the November Bond Issue

The board will meet again on September 28th at 6:30 p.m.

Nearly a million dollars of marijuana was seized in Logan County late last week.

Sheriff Smith reports that deputies and agents from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification located 940 marijuana plants throughout the county.

Authorities used a helicopter to locate many of the plants.

No arrests have been made, but deputies continue to investigate these cultivation efforts.

According to detectives, each marijuana plant is worth an estimated $1,000.

The Marysville Post of the State Highway Patrol responded to a minor injury crash at the intersection of Route 33 and County Road 57 Sunday night just after seven o’clock.

Troopers report that an ‘08 Honda Fit driven by Mary Owen, 69, of 2058 County Road 130, Bellefontaine, was struck by a 2000 Honda Odyssey operated by Larry Krietemeyer, 39, of Worthington.

Authorities report that Owen was southwest bound on 57 when she pulled into the path of Krietemeyer’s van, which was eastbound on 33.

Owen was transported to Mary Rutan Hospital by Huntsville EMS.

Krietemeyer was not injured.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.

Both vehicles suffered heavy damage.

Bellefontaine Fire and EMS assisted at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.

Area high school juniors, seniors, and their parents are invited to participate in the 29th annual Logan County College Day from 8:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15th, at Bellefontaine High School.

Representatives from 60 colleges, universities, and the US military will be available to meet with students between the hours of 9:15-11:15.

Each county school will attend during a pre-arranged time block. Parents are invited to attend and should check with their student as to their allotted time frame.

Speakers from two-year, four-year, private, and technical schools will speak to the students to describe what each has to offer. Representatives will also provide a short question and answer session prior to students meeting with admission counselors.

For more information, please contact Heidi Reser of the Logan County Educational Service Center at 599-5195.