courier, jan. 5, 2012

10
75 CENTS Periodical’s Postage Paid THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS, INC. CHRC Valentine Celebration - See page 2A King Leonidas guards CHS. - See page 7A Rebecca Holdson is Student of the Month - See page 7A VOL. 21 NO. 1 T HE C OURIER T HE C OURIER Conneaut Conneaut Conneaut Conneaut Conneaut’s Home T s Home T s Home T s Home T s Home Town Ne own Ne own Ne own Ne own Newspaper wspaper wspaper wspaper wspaper PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHAN Snows that arrived in Conneaut early this week were almost welcomed by Mill Street good Samaritan Corky Erdman, who, when snow falls, bundles up in cold weather gear, including yellow goggles, and fires up his snowblower to clean the walks and driveways for six or seven neighbors, some of them elderly. “If I’m going to do my own, I might as well do theirs, too,” said Erdman, who counts on about an hour to clean the walks and driveways. “I don’t mind it.” Conneaut missed the brunt of a two-day New Year’s snowstorm that left a half-foot of snow in the southern parts of Ashtabula County. Before the week is out, temperatures are predicted to be back into the 40s. Thar She Blows! by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - Balancing the city’s 2012 budget came, in part, on the back of the Conneaut Health Depart- ment. Starting Jan. 6, the Health Department, at 327 Mill St., will be open just half-days on Fridays, from 8 a.m. to noon. Other weekday hours, from Monday through Thursday, will be unchanged at 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Friday afternoon closing was approved by the board as a way of cutting Health Department costs at the request of Conneaut City Council. Health Commissioner Sally Kennedy said that clos- ing on Friday afternoon was logical, since the Conneaut Human Resources Center building in which the Health Department is housed also closes on Friday afternoons. “It was logical to do that and easier rather than hav- ing to explain to why we weren’t open,” she said. Obtaining copies of birth Health Department Cuts Friday Afternoon Hours PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHAN Matt Stouffer of Kingsville received his annual TB test Tuesday afternoon at the Conneaut Health Department by Conneaut’s co Director of Nursing Jodi Slayton, R.N. and death certificates, and TB testing will be affected the most by the closing, Kennedy said. Copies of Ohio birth and death certificates cannot be obtained when the Health Department is closed. Because TB tests are read 48 hours after they are ad- ministered, persons who are tested on Wednesday after- noons will have to wait un- til the following Monday for results to be read. Otherwise, services by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - Just as city administrators feared, the Ohio Highway Patrol no longer has jurisdiction over felony investigations at Lake Erie Correctional Insti- tution (LaECI) in Conneaut. Effective with the State of Ohio’s Dec. 31 sale of the prison to the Corrections Corporation of America, the responsibility for felony in- vestigations occurring inside prison walls falls on the Conneaut Police Depart- ment or the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Depart- ment. Conneaut Law Director David Schroeder was in- formed on Dec. 27 via phone call from a State of Ohio At- torney General’s representa- tive. “The sheriff is not willing State Reneges; OHP Out At LaECI by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - Conneaut’s brand new 2012-2013 City Council unanimously accepted Council President Tom Udell’s recommendation that Ward 4 Councilman Tom Kozesky be named Council President Pro Tem, and elected him to that po- sition at Council’s 2012 Or- ganizational Meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday evening in Council chambers. Udell explained that upon Robert Naylor’s resig- nation from Council two years ago, he had appointed Ward 1 Councilman Dave Campbell as President Pro Tem. With Campbell’s loss at the polls in November, the position came open again. “I asked Tom if he were interested, and he was re- ceptive,” said Udell, who said he felt fortunate that good health has kept him from missing a single City Council meeting since elected president two years ago. Once Council voted in fa- vor of Kozesky, Udell then joked, “Now, here’s my res- ignation.” The biggest discussion of the meeting was whether to do away with regular work sessions, held the first and third Mondays of each month. Some have been ar- gued they be replaced by committee meetings. Udell also had a list of new committee assign- ments. Heading up Public Works will be former Public Works Director John Roach, while Phil Garcia will take Parks & Recreation. Neil LaRusch will continue with Finance & Ordinance, Kozesky will City Council President Tom Udell (right) recommended Ward 4 Councilman Tom Kozesky (left) as Council’s President Pro Tem for 2012-2013. Council unanimously elected him to that position at Tuesday evening’s 2012 organizational meeting of City Council. Tom Kozesky Is Council’s President Pro Tem by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - Teachers from Lakeshore Primary School huddled on the floor against the cafeteria wall Tuesday morning at Conneaut High School to demonstrate how they had been taught to respond if an armed gunman were to come into the school building. Though they could only describe how their students would be on the floor with them, how the classroom door would be locked and the shades drawn, it took Kent State University law en- forcement officer Lt. Joseph Hendry only a few seconds to show the 150-member audience the futility of their actions if they wanted to stay alive. Hendry simply rushed over and raised his arm as if holding a pistol. Then, explaining that mass murderers are inter- ested in high body counts, he showed how a gunman can kill more people more quickly if they are huddled together than if they are spread out singly around the room. But even better advice he had for the teachers was to get out. “If you’re hiding, the gun- man knows you’re in there,” he said. “Why are you sitting there waiting for him?” Turning to the audience, he asked, “Do these people look like they’re ready to do anything?” For nearly two hours, speaking without a micro- phone, Hendry held his au- dience of educators, admin- istrators, city officials, law enforcement and school board members, and a few concerned citizens, in the palm of his hand by encour- aging them to use common sense, not fear, in dealing with incidents that have be- come far too common in the last 20 years: senseless ran- dom killings by madmen in- tent on killing large num- Staying Alive: Teachers Learn Lock-Down Alternative bers of innocent victims be- fore turning the guns on themselves. Advocating a response method known as “ALICE,” an acronym for “alert, lockdown, inform, counter and escape,” Hendry said he was encouraged to teach the program begun by Greg Crane and Allen Hill, who were upset about the futile lock-down procedure that ended up costing lives dur- ing the student attacks at Columbine High School. Hendry pointed out that though a door to escape was just 20 feet from many stu- dents, they had been told by trained teachers to stay in- side. Yet he noted that any law enforcement officer will ad- PHOTOS BY MARTHA SOROHAN During a program on the “ALICE” response to armed in- truders in schools, former Marine Corps sergeant Joseph Hendry demonstrates how a chair may be used as a weapon against an armed introducer Lt. Joseph Hendry points to a door at Conneaut High School to emphasize that when confronted by an in- truder, escape is the best option. See PRO TEM page 3A See LaECI page 3A See ALICE page 4A See HEALTH page 8A

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Page 1: Courier, Jan. 5, 2012

75 CENTS

Periodical’s Postage Paid

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS, INC.

CHRC ValentineCelebration- See page 2A

King Leonidasguards CHS.

- See page 7A

Rebecca Holdson isStudent of the Month

- See page 7A

VOL. 21 NO. 1

THE COURIERTHE COURIERConneautConneautConneautConneautConneaut’’’’’s Home Ts Home Ts Home Ts Home Ts Home Town Neown Neown Neown Neown Newspaperwspaperwspaperwspaperwspaper

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHANSnows that arrived in Conneaut early this week were almost welcomed by MillStreet good Samaritan Corky Erdman, who, when snow falls, bundles up in coldweather gear, including yellow goggles, and fires up his snowblower to clean thewalks and driveways for six or seven neighbors, some of them elderly. “If I’mgoing to do my own, I might as well do theirs, too,” said Erdman, who counts onabout an hour to clean the walks and driveways. “I don’t mind it.” Conneautmissed the brunt of a two-day New Year’s snowstorm that left a half-foot of snowin the southern parts of Ashtabula County. Before the week is out, temperaturesare predicted to be back into the 40s.

Thar She Blows!

by MARTHA SOROHANGazette Newspapers

CONNEAUT - Balancingthe city’s 2012 budget came,in part, on the back of theConneaut Health Depart-ment.

Starting Jan. 6, theHealth Department, at 327Mill St., will be open justhalf-days on Fridays, from 8a.m. to noon.

Other weekday hours,from Monday throughThursday, will be unchangedat 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Friday afternoon

closing was approved by theboard as a way of cuttingHealth Department costs atthe request of Conneaut CityCouncil.

Health CommissionerSally Kennedy said that clos-ing on Friday afternoon waslogical, since the ConneautHuman Resources Centerbuilding in which the HealthDepartment is housed alsocloses on Friday afternoons.

“It was logical to do thatand easier rather than hav-ing to explain to why weweren’t open,” she said.

Obtaining copies of birth

Health Department CutsFriday Afternoon Hours

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHANMatt Stouffer of Kingsville received his annual TB test Tuesday afternoon at the ConneautHealth Department by Conneaut’s co Director of Nursing Jodi Slayton, R.N.

and death certificates, andTB testing will be affectedthe most by the closing,Kennedy said.

Copies of Ohio birth anddeath certificates cannot beobtained when the HealthDepartment is closed.

Because TB tests are read48 hours after they are ad-ministered, persons who aretested on Wednesday after-noons will have to wait un-til the following Monday forresults to be read.

Otherwise, services

by MARTHA SOROHANGazette Newspapers

CONNEAUT - Just ascity administrators feared,the Ohio Highway Patrol nolonger has jurisdiction overfelony investigations atLake Erie Correctional Insti-tution (LaECI) in Conneaut.

Effective with the State ofOhio’s Dec. 31 sale of theprison to the CorrectionsCorporation of America, theresponsibility for felony in-vestigations occurring insideprison walls falls on theConneaut Police Depart-ment or the AshtabulaCounty Sheriff ’s Depart-ment.

Conneaut Law DirectorDavid Schroeder was in-formed on Dec. 27 via phonecall from a State of Ohio At-torney General’s representa-tive.

“The sheriff is not willing

StateReneges;OHP OutAt LaECI

by MARTHA SOROHANGazette Newspapers

CONNEAUT -Conneaut’s brand new2012-2013 City Councilunanimously acceptedCouncil President TomUdell’s recommendationthat Ward 4 CouncilmanTom Kozesky be namedCouncil President Pro Tem,and elected him to that po-sition at Council’s 2012 Or-ganizational Meeting 6 p.m.Tuesday evening in Councilchambers.

Udell explained thatupon Robert Naylor’s resig-nation from Council twoyears ago, he had appointedWard 1 Councilman DaveCampbell as President ProTem. With Campbell’s lossat the polls in November,the position came openagain.

“I asked Tom if he wereinterested, and he was re-ceptive,” said Udell, who

said he felt fortunate thatgood health has kept himfrom missing a single CityCouncil meeting sinceelected president two yearsago.

Once Council voted in fa-vor of Kozesky, Udell thenjoked, “Now, here’s my res-ignation.”

The biggest discussion ofthe meeting was whether todo away with regular worksessions, held the first andthird Mondays of eachmonth. Some have been ar-gued they be replaced bycommittee meetings.

Udell also had a list ofnew committee assign-ments.

Heading up Public Workswill be former Public WorksDirector John Roach, whilePhil Garcia will take Parks& Recreation. Neil LaRuschwill continue with Finance& Ordinance, Kozesky will

City Council President Tom Udell (right) recommendedWard 4 Councilman Tom Kozesky (left) as Council’sPresident Pro Tem for 2012-2013. Council unanimouslyelected him to that position at Tuesday evening’s 2012organizational meeting of City Council.

Tom Kozesky Is Council’sPresident Pro Tem

by MARTHA SOROHANGazette Newspapers

CONNEAUT - Teachersfrom Lakeshore PrimarySchool huddled on the flooragainst the cafeteria wallTuesday morning atConneaut High School todemonstrate how they hadbeen taught to respond if anarmed gunman were to comeinto the school building.

Though they could onlydescribe how their studentswould be on the floor withthem, how the classroomdoor would be locked and theshades drawn, it took KentState University law en-forcement officer Lt. JosephHendry only a few secondsto show the 150-memberaudience the futility of theiractions if they wanted tostay alive.

Hendry simply rushedover and raised his arm as ifholding a pistol.

Then, explaining thatmass murderers are inter-ested in high body counts, heshowed how a gunman cankill more people morequickly if they are huddledtogether than if they arespread out singly around theroom.

But even better advice hehad for the teachers was toget out.

“If you’re hiding, the gun-man knows you’re in there,”he said. “Why are you sittingthere waiting for him?”

Turning to the audience,he asked, “Do these peoplelook like they’re ready to doanything?”

For nearly two hours,speaking without a micro-phone, Hendry held his au-dience of educators, admin-istrators, city officials, lawenforcement and schoolboard members, and a fewconcerned citizens, in thepalm of his hand by encour-aging them to use commonsense, not fear, in dealingwith incidents that have be-come far too common in thelast 20 years: senseless ran-dom killings by madmen in-tent on killing large num-

Staying Alive:Teachers Learn Lock-Down Alternative

bers of innocent victims be-fore turning the guns onthemselves.

Advocating a responsemethod known as “ALICE,”an acronym for “alert,

lockdown, inform, counterand escape,” Hendry said hewas encouraged to teach theprogram begun by GregCrane and Allen Hill, whowere upset about the futile

lock-down procedure thatended up costing lives dur-ing the student attacks atColumbine High School.

Hendry pointed out thatthough a door to escape wasjust 20 feet from many stu-dents, they had been told bytrained teachers to stay in-side.

Yet he noted that any lawenforcement officer will ad-

PHOTOS BY MARTHA SOROHANDuring a program on the “ALICE” response to armed in-truders in schools, former Marine Corps sergeant JosephHendry demonstrates how a chair may be used as aweapon against an armed introducer

Lt. Joseph Hendry points to a door at Conneaut HighSchool to emphasize that when confronted by an in-truder, escape is the best option.

See PRO TEM page 3A

See LaECI page 3A

See ALICE page 4A

See HEALTH page 8A

Page 2: Courier, Jan. 5, 2012

2A • GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012

TOWN TALK

GSLC CommunityS.E.N.I.O.R.S

People ages 50 and up arewelcome the first and thirdThursdays of the month atGood Shepherd LutheranChurch, 876 Grove Street.Health checks 9:45 a.m., 10a.m. devotion, exercise andlunch the first and thirdThursdays The next gather-ing is Jan. 5.

Jan. 5 - “Safety FIRST,”featuring EMS demonstra-tions to start new year insafety.

Jan. 19 - “It’s SleepyTime,” wear your PJs day,Expert on eye health andsleep apnea.

CHRC SeniorsTogether

Weekdays 11 a.m. at 327Mill Street. Free. Specialprograms Tuesdays andThursdays.

Daily walking 7:30 a.m.

Jan. 5 - Special Bingowith Denise from LakePointe Rehabilitation

Jan. 10 - Craig fromAshtabula Wound Center

Jan. 12 - Corn HoleJan. 16 - CENTER

CLOSED(No birthday dinner at

Perkins this month.)

SeniorCalendar

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHANConneaut Human Resources Center Director DebbieNewcomb holds up a flyer and pink tickets for the CHRC’sValentine’s Day celebration benefit, “Live, Laugh, Love,”8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11. The evening fea-tures Stand-Up Comedy, provided by out-of-area en-tertainers, at 8:30 p.m., followed by DJ Anthony Evans’“Virtual DJ Show” 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Hot food (ox roastsandwiches) will be available at the BYOB event, alongwith ice and soft drinks. A 50/50 drawing and ChineseAuction will be part of the fun. Doors open 7:30 p.m. Tick-ets, $10, are available at the CHRC (593-5273), ConneautArea Chamber of Commerce, 235 Main St., and the Burn-ing Stone Cafe, 218 Washington Street.

“Live, Laugh, Love”Valentine Celebration

An All-You-Can-EatPasta Dinner is beingsponsored 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.Jan. 14 at the MonroeUnited Methodist Church,4302 Center Road, to ben-efit five girls from Troop80671 who will be receivingGold Awards in the spring.Adults $6, Seniors (60+) $5,Children 3 & under, free.Hosts are the Gold Awardrecipients’ parents. This isalso the time of year to or-der Girl Scout cookies.Cookie information will beavailable at the dinner.Boxes are $3.50.

If you would like to helpthe Animal ProtectiveLeague, eat at Bob Evanson Jan. 15, and 15 percentof your bill will be donatedto the APL. Pick up a cou-pon from the APL, or thewebsite since a coupon mustbe handed to the server

upon placing your order.

At Monroe TownshipTrustees’ organizationalmeeting on Jan. 3, ChuckRiley was elected townshiptrustee chair and JohnGriggs vice chair. Takinghis seat as trustee for thefirst time was Ed Kirch,elected in November. Thetrustees’ next meeting is7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at theTownship Garage, 5578 S.Monroe Center Road.

Artwork by the Har-bor Artists will be dis-played this month at theConneaut Community Cen-ter for the Arts, 1025 Buf-falo Street. An opening re-ception will take place 2 to4 p.m. Jan. 7.

Speaking of theConneaut Community Cen-ter for the Arts, Amanda

Latva is the new part-timereceptionist/administrativeassistant/Jill of all trades,replacing Jennifer Simpson,who is continuing graduatestudies in Youngstown.

Lisa Howe will be ac-companying paralysis victimTim Taylor to the DominicanRepublic in a few weeks forhis second stem cell trans-plant to help him continueto regain feeling in his armsand legs. Thanks to commu-nity generosity, funds wereraised for Taylor’s secondtrip — he had his first trans-plant a year ago. A teendance hosted by the Ameri-can Legion softball team sev-eral weeks ago helped putTaylor over the top and pro-vided extra funds so he couldrecuperate in the hospital aday or two longer than he didin 2011. The pair will be fly-ing from Cleveland.

PHOTO BY ALLAN MONONENWith F, G and H docks removed by the Port Authority, the end of the Lagoon area at the Public Dock looks cold andlonely as the new year begins. Replacements for the three docks will go in well before the official boating seasonbegins in May. The Conneaut Port Authority will meet in special work session 9 a.m. Saturday at Basil’s Cafe on ParkAvenue.

Though the city’s High-way Adoption Program hasfallen by the wayside, itwould appear, City CouncilClerk Pam Harper saidshe still has forms forgroups or individuals whowould like to adopt a high-way, or a portion of a localhighway.

City Council PresidentTom Udell also noted atCouncil’s 2012 Organiza-tional Meeting on Tuesdayevening that board and com-mittee chairs should notifyCity Manager’s Administra-tive Assistant Pat Beckwithof changes in board mem-bership, such as resigna-tions and new members sothat lists at City Hall areup-to-date. Chairs shouldalso contact Beckwith tomake sure roster informa-tion is up to date.

Cold, Empty at Lakefront Lagoon

by MARTHA SOROHANGazette Newspapers

CONNEAUT - Thelong-awaited segment ofthe August, 2011, D-DayEvent taped by a DiscoveryChannel crew will be airednext week.

Air time, announced onTuesday, is 10 p.m.Wednesday, Jan. 11.

Details have not beenreleased, but early reportswere that the footagewould be part of a pilot fora show whose title hasnothing to do with whatConneaut residents under-stand as a “D-Day Event.”

One member of thethree-man film crew, HughDaley, originally from Brit-ain, had participated in D-

D-Day Segment to Air on Discovery Channel Jan. 11

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHANThe D-Day Event will make national television at 10 p.m. Jan. 11, when the DiscoveryChannel uses in a 30-minute program footage shot in Conneaut last August as part ofa show about young men who travel the re-enactment circuit searching for militaryparaphernalia. This picture was taken of a re-enactor last August at Township Park.

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHAN

Back for the sixth year is the Winter Sock Hop, coming to the Conneaut HumanResources Center, 327 Mill St., from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. March 9 and 10. Entertain-ment on March 9 will be “Blast from the Past,” featuring vocalists Steve Poros,Phil Sneary, Keigh Bartlett, Colleen Serni and Buddy Scoville. Saturday eveningwill belong to the Kingpins. Committee chairs Darlyene Brisley (left) and LisaHowe hold up “records” being made up for BYOB event sponsors ranging inlevels from $50 to $200. Both nights, baked goods, hot food, soft drinks will beavailable. Bristly holds the soon-to-be t-shirt logo.

A 50/50 drawing, Chinese auction and $50 Lottery ticket shirt will be available.Contests include the favorite bubble-gum blowing, hula hoop, best-dressed 50s,and more. Tickets are $10 for each night or $18 for both nights if purchasedtogether. The event is geared for all ages, and does sell out. Call Brisley fortickets at 599-8561.

Day as an Allied U.S.Ranger in 2004, andpitched the filming conceptto Discovery. Thanks inpart to the event’s web site,the concept was approved.

He said last summer thesegment would be aired aspart of a pilot for a seriesabout young military para-phernalia collectors look-ing for military items.

The camera will followthem and watch their ad-ventures at military re-en-actments, and what theyfind and plan to do oncethey purchase the items.

They said that the entireepisode will be aboutConneaut’s D-Day Event,but the segments of thesale, where the men arefinding and buying items,will be staged. They willhave located materials thatpeople want to purchase,and the sale will take placeat the D-Day Event.

Daley — said to have‘charmed’ D-Day Ohio,Inc., chair Betsy Bashore

about coming last summerto film at the event — saidthe crew’s goal was topresent the D-Day Eventin the best light possible.

“We are here to showhobbyists honoring thevets and demonstrating anaffinity for history,” Daleysaid.

Last summer, the triosaid they had expected thehalf-hour segment to beaired around Thanksgiv-ing.

“We hope it’s a big hit,”Daley said last summer.“We are going to give it ex-tra energy to make it a bigevent.”

Winter Sock Hop is March 9, 10

Page 3: Courier, Jan. 5, 2012

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • 3A

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PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHANNancy Guthrie was honored as Conneaut’s SeniorCitizen of the Month at Council’s Dec. 27 meeting.Nominated by Pat Laughlin, Guthrie is a native ofMilton, Pa., who graduated from Indiana Universityof Pennsylvania and taught elementary music from1985 to 2005 with the Conneaut Area City Schools. A20-year piano teacher at the Conneaut CommunityCenter for the Arts and a member of a piano quartet,Guthrie is past choir director and current director ofhand bell choirs at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.Good Shepherd’s Pastoral Assistant since 2009,Guthrie leads the church’s Community Seniorsprogram, locally coordinates Northeast OhioLutheran Marriage Encounter, and was instrumentalin the church’s bringing the Kelly Miller Circus to townfor three years and the Teen Serve program in 2010.A harpist, driver for Faith in Action, and a member ofConneaut Area Ministerial Association, Guthrie in herspare time enjoys slow-pitch softball, her scooter andthe outdoors.

She called her nomination “touching” and “ahumbling experience.” When Conneaut City CouncilPresident Tom Udell noted that she enjoys a whirlwindof activities, Guthrie said the point in life is to havefun. She and her husband, Duffy, have three childrenand four grandchildren. They have attended GoodShepherd Lutheran Church since 1980.

Nancy Guthrie isSenior of the Month

Civic MeetingsConneaut Port Authority work session, 9 a.m. Jan. 7

at Basil’s Cafe, Park AvenueConneaut City Council, 7 p.m. Jan. 9Conneaut Planning Commission, 7 p.m. Jan. 10Board of Health, 8:30 a.m. Jan. 11 at 327 Mill StreetConneaut Area City Schools Board of Education,

5:45 p.m. budgetary meeting, 6 p.m. work session 7 p.m.meeting Jan. 12 at Southeast Building, 400 Mill Street

Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m. Jan. 12Conneaut Public Library Board of Trustees, 5 p.m.

Jan. 23 at 304 Buffalo Street

Monroe Township Trustees, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at 5578S. Monroe Center Road

Kingsville Township Trustees, 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at FireHall, 3130 Main Street

PRO TEM From page 1A

to accept that responsibility,so it has defaulted to theCity of Conneaut,”Schroeder announced duringhis Law Director’s report atTuesday evening’s CityCouncil work session. “Nowwe are obligated.”

Schroeder gave his reportafter the City Council Presi-dent Tom Udell opened themeeting at 7 p.m. andpromptly announced thegroup would move into ex-ecutive session for the pur-pose of litigation.

Forty minutes later, thelegislators returned, andSchroeder’s news was deliv-ered in short order, alongwith a statement that thecity will take “any and allsteps to protect the city fi-nancially.”

The dreaded news, andimplications of a pendinglawsuit, came as no surprise.

But the fight to returnOHP to its original capacityis far from over, according toLaw Director DavidSchroeder.

Ever since the state’sSept. 1 announcement thatthe 1,500-bed medium secu-rity prison would be sold toCorrections Corporation ofAmerica on Dec. 31, city ad-ministrators were awarethat the OHP would nolonger have jurisdiction overfelony investigations insidethe prison once the sale wentthrough.

That meant the respon-sibility would fall on theConneaut Police Depart-ment, which did not have$150,000 in its 2012 budgetto pay to hire two additionalofficers needed to replaceOhio Highway Patrol troop-ers at the prison.

Though left out of stateconversations regarding theprison sale, the city has notstood idly by.

Schroeder took councilalmost step-by-step throughthe city’s relationship withthe state vis-a-vis theprison, starting with a Dec.30, 1997, agreement inwhich the city donated land,several million dollars, and

applied for grants for wet-lands mitigation projects forprison property. The prisonwas constructed for $35 mil-lion dollars.

Most important, how-ever, was a section of thatagreement stating that theproject would always bepart of the Ohio Correc-tional System and that thestate would remain the soleowner.

That sentence will likelycome into play as Schroederfights to keep the city’s headabove water financiallywith this latest outcome.

Even if the city receivesproperty taxes from the pri-vately-owned prison, theywould hardly offset the costof hiring additional policeofficers.

Without additional offic-ers, Schroeder believes thatthe entire community is atrisk.

“The citizens have a rightto have police protection,”he said.

Throughout the lastthree months, city adminis-trators have met with pow-ers-that-be at the state levelon three occasions to discussthis issue, and came out op-timistic each time.

Though State Rep. CaseyKoslowski (R-99) appearedto be playing a politicalhand when, appearing at aspecial meeting of CityCouncil’s Finance & Ordi-nance Committee, he toldthe city that it should beglad the prison was remain-ing in Conneaut, and thatthe city will gain propertytax revenue, he neverthe-less returned to Columbusto meet with Department ofCorrections officials. A fewdays later, he was part of ameeting in Columbus withCity Council President TomUdell, Ward 4 CouncilmanTom Kozesky and At-LargeCouncilman Neil LaRuschwith Department of Reha-bilitation & Corrections(DRC) Director Gary Mohrand DRC attorney GregTrout, along with represen-tatives of Sen. Capri Cafaro

(D-34).Though councilmen

found out about the meetingat the 11th hour, they cameaway optimistic, butLaRusch said some ele-ments of the conversationthey were not at liberty todiscuss.

“The city is still lookinginto what’s fair and what’sright, and we’ll try to repre-sent the citizens of this com-munity as best we can,”LaRusch said.

Fast forward about 25days and a large state con-tingent convened at a spe-cial meeting at Kent StateUniversity Ashtabula toagain discuss particulars ofthe sale. That conversationwent well, ending 30 min-utes ahead of schedule, withparties again optimistic.After that meeting, an OhioHighway Patrol representa-tive said the OHP had bud-geted to serve Lake ErieCorrectional Institution in2012, even though Cafaroappeared to be the only oneat the meeting who ham-mered home the point thatstatutorily, the OHP wouldno longer be in control at theprison once the sale to CCAwent through.

The conversations be-came quiet, however, follow-ing a meeting in Columbusin early December, whenseveral councilmen and thelaw director again drove toColumbus, this time to talkto Gov. John Kasich, whomade the decision to priva-tize five state prisons to bal-ance the state’s budget. Butnews from that meeting wasslow in coming.

Lake Erie was the onlystate prison sold.

Cafaro and Kozlowskicontinued to maintain thatthey were working to re-solve the felony investiga-tion jurisdiction issue andCafaro was the only one tosuggest that Ohio’s Bureauof Criminal Investigationhandle the investigations.Both legislators had talkedabout a Mutual Aid agree-ment with the OHP, since

there was no time beforeDec. 31 for the state legis-lature to draw up legislationmandating that the OHPretain jurisdiction after theprison was sold to a privateowner. Kozlowski had saidhe was working to introducesuch legislation.

Schroeder told Councilon Tuesday night that theAttorney General’s officesaid that the state was re-luctant to enter into anagreement with the OhioHighway Patrol for fear ofits inability to defend troop-ers civilly should they besued.

Thus, the OHP would, hesaid, not be conducting in-vestigations at the prisonunless it was an emergency.

Schroeder said the citywould do the right thing andaccept its legal responsibil-ity at the prison, but he saidthat legal recourses areavailable.

Rumors had surfaced inthe past months that thecity would file an injunctionto block the prison sale ifthe situation were not re-solved.

Schroeder said Tuesdaythat the city will keep trackof the costs of the prisonfelony investigations, ofwhich there are two to fiveeach month.

He said council was“united” behind him as hecontinues to do the rightthing.

“We didn’t ask for thesale,” he said.

At-large CouncilmanNeil LaRusch, instrumentalin planning the meetings inColumbus, said he was sur-prised at the outcome, butremains optimistic that “in-dividuals will keep theirword to make it happen.”

Udell said he was alsosurprised at the outcome,since he had felt progresswas moving well after eachmeeting.

“But we have no ill feel-ings toward CCA,” he said.“This is the city versus theState of Ohio. We will con-tinue on.”

LaECI From page 1A

day night, and leave it openfor a “relaxed” committeemeeting that is not tele-vised.

Law Director DaveSchroeder noted that Rulesof Council states that allmatters of Council “shall”be referred to StandingCommittee unless other-wise ordered.

“We should abolish thisrule, change this rule, oradopt and implement it,” heexplained.

But he added that whilecommunities handle the“work session” differently,there is no master rule.

“It’s what works best,” hesaid, and At-Large Council-man Neil LaRusch said hefeels that Council commit-tees are the best solution towhat is going on in the city.

Kozesky recalled thatyears ago, committees metregularly but held few worksessions. He said that leg-islation always went to com-mittees, then to council, andthat Finance & OrdinanceCommittee met to discussthe majority of legislationcoming before Council.

But At-Large Council-man John Roach said shortmeetings are a result ofeveryone’s being informedahead of time.

“There is less bickeringand arguing,” he said, which

prompted Udell to remindCouncilmen that if theychange their minds aboutan issue following a com-mittee meeting in whichthey indicated how theywould vote, they shouldalert their fellow council-men prior to Council’s vote.

“There is nothing wrongwith changing your mind,”he said. “but don’t let itcatch us off guard.”

He also asked council-men to let him know if theyplan to miss a meeting,since lack of a quorum maystall legislation.

Council also discussedpublic speaking at Councilmeetings. LaRusch haspushed for more controlover public comments afterone local resident spoke outagainst his business in Oc-tober.

“We seem to have peoplespeak for three to fourmonths before an election orto degrade someone. Thereis no wealth of policy ad-dressed. I want Council tobe seen as a professional en-tity,” he said.

LaRusch went so far asto ask if public commentcould be edited out of theaired council proceedings,since derogatory statementssuch as those made againsthis business were thenaired 21 times the following

week. Schroeder warnedthat curtailing the right offree speech, and the right toair proceedings, is difficult,and that people have a rightto comment on the city.

“It’s hard to make ajudgement call,” he said.“On the other hand, it can’tbe a personal attack. But ifwe televise a meeting, wetelevise a meeting.”

LaRusch said that nottelevising the public portionof the meeting does not vio-late the Sunshine Law.

“When it downgradesyour livelihood, what canCity Council do?” he asked.

Udell suggested the mat-ter go to a committee. Hesaid Council has the powerto eliminate all cable TVcoverage by passing an or-dinance.

“But sometimes if there’sbeen a tiny technical glitchin the broadcast, no one’sfault, people will call andask what’s missing. It’s atough situation,” he said.

Schroeder promised tolook into the legality of ex-cising a “derogatory” por-tion of a public meeting.

The meeting endedshortly before 7 p.m. Udellhad announced at themeeting’s outset that theCity Charter mandates anorganizational meeting ofCity Council by the thirdday of the month everyother year.

head Public Safety, RichMcBride will head PublicUtilities, and Doug Hedrickwill be charged with theEconomic DevelopmentCommittee.

Udell will be in charge ofthe City Revitalization &Clean-Up Committee, intowhich the road AdoptionProgram will be absorbed.

Kozesky will remain liai-son to the Conneaut PortAuthority, LaRusch liaisonto the Conneaut Area CitySchools Board of Education,Garcia liaison to the Boardof Tourism, and McBride theCable Advisory liaison,which he said is a logical off-shoot of the Public UtilitiesCommittee.

“You don’t have to go toall these committee meet-ings, but you should keep intouch,” Udell told them.“And report on them once ortwice a month. That makesthe people who serve onthem feel that they arethere for a reason.”

Once Udell had men-tioned doing away withwork sessions, council foundit impossible not to discussit, even though Udell saidwork sessions would con-tinue as scheduled “untilotherwise noted.”

Udell said the elimina-tion of regular work ses-sions would “save” a Mon-

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHANAt-large Councilman Neil LaRusch (left) chats with new Ward 3 Councilman Rich McBride at Tuesday’s 2012 CityCouncil organizational meeting. At left facing the camera is Ward 2 Councilman Phil Garcia.

Page 4: Courier, Jan. 5, 2012

4A • GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012

vise his children in such asituation, to run — run un-til they cannot see the build-ing, and then to run evenfarther.

Hendry said that mostpeople have no comprehen-sion of what happens duringa real attack. WhenConneaut Police ChiefChuck Burlingham said itwould take Conneaut policefive minutes to respond to anincident at Conneaut HighSchool, Hendry replied thata shooter fires every four totwelve seconds.

As minds raced to do themath to comprehend howmany students could diewhile waiting for the police,Hendry went on to say thatpolice rarely stop shooters.

“Shooters usually surren-der, or they commit suicide,”he said.

When Hendry asked theteachers and administratorswhy they have been told tohide together should an in-trusion occur, no one couldexplain.

“It makes no sense,” hesaid. “Spread out. If you’reall bunched up, you are ob-serving and not acting. I asan intruder have to think ifyou’re not all in a bunch.”

A video from Columbineand statistics from the Vir-ginia Tech shootings showedthe common sense in theALICE method.

Hendry said many peoplefail to respond to warningsigns of demented people oreven to sounds of gunfire.That failure to act extendsto the “lock down” procedure.

“Why sit on the walls andwait for someone to come tothem?” he said. “This is com-mon sense, but not commonknowledge.”

Attempting to negotiatewith a shooter is pointless.

“They are suicidal andthey want to take peoplewith them,” he said.

If those in the audiencethought they were too petiteor untrained to take on anintruder, Hendry convincedthem otherwise. He showedtwo young, slenderLakeshore Primary Schoolteachers them how to grabhis arms, take him to thefloor, and keep him down. Hehanded out empty waterbottles and asked teachers tofling them first below hisshoulders and then straightat his head, showing how anintruder will be caught offguard when items — of anykind — are flung at his face.

“Why do we let gunmencome in and shoot?” heasked. “Why do we wait toget shot? The attackers arenot usually highly skilled.One gunman should not beable to shoot so many peoplebefore he is stopped.”

Hendry said that any-thing, especially a woman’shandbag, can be used as aweapon.

With Conneaut HighSchool Athletic Director JoelTaylor as his assistant, heshowed how two peoplestanding on either side of thedoor inside a room, holdingchairs which they will use asweapons, can perhaps bringdown a gunman.

“Gunmen are not incharge. They have to react toyou,” he said.

He reminded that gun-men come without warning.

“They don’t arrive andsay, ‘Hi, I’m here,’” he said.“There is no alert other thanthe gun.”

Hendry also advisedschools to alert staff and stu-dents to the gunman’s loca-tion.

“Get on the PA and say heis in the front hallway, or sayhe has moved to the back ofthe building,” he said.

Discussing the lifelongpsychological impact of guiltdue to inaction— the“shoulda-coulda-woulda”turmoil — Hendry alsotalked about what happenswhen police arrive, armed,shouting orders in an effortto gain control.

Conneaut Area CitySchools SuperintendentKent Houston was instru-mental in bringing Hendryto speak on a “Waiver Day,”a day free for students whenteachers and administratorswere required to attend themeeting. It is no secret thatHouston, who had heardHendry’s presentation at anadministrator’s meeting inAugust, would like to imple-ment the ALICE response inthe district.

That would require hisrecommendation and theapproval of the school board,he said.

After the program,Hendry said that the com-mon “lock-down” model usedin most schools originatedduring prison riots of 40 and50 years ago.

“It was a national modelwith them for years, so theycould keep track of the in-mates,” he said. “The schoolshad nothing else to grab ontoand there were no new con-cepts.”

Schools in Texas andOhio have the highest ratesof ALICE training in thenation, he said, but teach-ing it remains an uphillbattle.

Hendry had to take a va-cation day to come toAshtabula County fromKent on Tuesday. A presen-tation in Jefferson on Tues-day afternoon had been can-celled.

“I’d love it if someone

Lt. Joseph Hendry (left) shows how one can use a fountain pen, a belt and shoelacesto create a tourniquet to stop bleeding in a shooting victim. His volunteer at Tuesday’sprogram at Conneaut High School was City Manager Tim Eggleston.

ALICE From page 1A

Conneaut teacher Courney Case (right) and Lt. JosephHendry carry Conneaut teacher Missy Heinonen asHendry demonstrates how to carry an injured person overa long distance.

Along with Lakeshore Primary teachers, Conneaut AreaCity Schools Board of Education member Mike Kennedywas pressed into service during Lt. Joseph Hendry’s pre-sentation on subduing an armed intruder Tuesday morn-ing at Conneaut High School. Hendry was the “intruder.”

The Conneaut HumanResources Center Presents

A V alentine

LIVE ❦ LAUGH ❦ LOVECelebration

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BYOB • Baked Goods • Hot Food • Ice • Soft Drinks Available

50/50 Drawing • Chinese Auction

Doors Open 7:30pmStand-Up Comedy Show 8:30pm

Anthony Evans Virtual DJ Show 10pm-1am

Tickets $10.00Available at the CHRC, Burning Stone Café

and Conneaut Chamber of Commerce

To Benefit the

Conneaut Human

Resources

Center

would pay me to do this fulltime,” he said.

Also in Tuesday’s audi-ence was Jefferson VillagePolice Chief Dave Wassie.Wassie made the 22-mileone-way trek because theprogram scheduled forJefferson later that after-noon was not open to thepublic. He was impressedwith what he saw.

“My concern is to savelives,” he said. “It imple-ments things I hadn’tthought of.”

Wassie added, however,that if one county school sys-tem adopts the program, theothers should, too, so that allare on the same page.

Roll-Over Victims Need No Aid

PHOTO BY JORDAN WISERAround 3:45 p.m. Dec. 28, Conneaut Fire Station #1 and Conneaut Police Departmentwere dispatched to the 400 block of Center Road for a van that had rolled over into afield. Upon their arrival, the Conneaut Police confirmed no one was trapped in thecars. Paramedics from Station 1 assessed the victims and no one was taken to thehospital. The road conditions were very icy, and Conneaut Police advised theConneaut Fire Station to use extreme caution.

OVER200 HOMES

BUILT!

NEW HOMES

& KITCHENS

PoliceBeat

At 1:19 a.m. Dec. 15, aMadison Street residentreported his tires had beenslashed.

At 12:40 p.m. Dec. 15, anon-injury traffic accidentwas reported on MillStreet.

At 3:14 p.m. Dec. 15, aSandusky Street residentreported harassment.

At 4:40 p.m. Dec. 15, adomestic situation was re-ported on Daniels Avenue.

At 5:24 p.m. Dec. 15,Gary Ratliff, wanted forwarrants through theConneaut MunicipalCourt, was arrested onRoute 7 by an Ohio High-way Patrol trooper. Hewas transported to the jailfacility and booked in.

At 2:07 a.m. Dec. 16, afight was reported at theGolden Anchor bar.

At 9:28 a.m. Dec. 16, awheelbarrow and a shop-ping cart were reportedstolen from a LibertyStreet residence.

At 5:51 a.m. Dec. 17,shoplifting was reported atLove’s Travel Center.

At 8:52 a.m. Dec. 17, anon-injury traffic accidentwas reported in the area ofRoute 7 and I-90.

At 11:53 a.m. Dec. 17, adomestic situation was re-ported on Harbor Street.

At 3:01 p.m. Dec. 17, anattempted break in was re-ported on Harbor Street.

At 11:44 p.m. Dec. 17, a15th St. resident reportedan attempted theft.

At 12:59 p.m. Dec. 18, anon-injury traffic accidentwas reported in the Route7 and Gateway Avenuearea.

At 9:21 a.m. Dec. 19, theowner of a Main Street carlot reported a tire and rimwere stolen off one of hisvehicles.

At 10:47 a.m. Dec. 19, apackage that was deliv-ered through the mail wasreported stolen from theporch of a Harbor Streetresidence.

At 11:47 a.m. Dec. 19, adoor was reported stolenfrom a Main Street resi-dence.

At 2:07 p.m. Dec. 19, aBroad Street resident re-ported harassing text mes-sages

At 3:39 a.m. Dec. 20,shoplifting was reported atCircle K Store.

At 7:38 a.m. Dec. 20, abreak-in was reported atan abandoned Main Streetresidence.

At 4:31 p.m. Dec. 20,Conneaut Police were no-tified by Ashtabula policethat Timothy Hughart wasincarcerated at AshtabulaJail. Since Conneaut police

had several arrest war-rants for Hughart, theydrove to Ashtabula andtook custody of him andbooked him into the jail.

At 4:56 p.m. Dec. 20, avehicle reportedly struckthe building at True NorthShell Station.

At 6:15 p.m. Dec. 20, abreak in was reported at aMill Street residence.Nothing was reportedtaken.

At 12:22 a.m. Dec. 21, adomestic situation was re-ported on Harbor Street.

At 4:52 a.m. Dec. 21, adomestic situation was re-ported on Harbor Street.

At 6:10 a.m. Dec. 21, adomestic situation was re-ported on West Main Road.

At 8:08 a.m. Dec. 21, adomestic situation was re-ported on Old Mill Road.

At 9:07 a.m. Dec. 21, ajuvenile male was arrestedat Conneaut High Schooland transported to YouthDetention Center after analtercation at the school.He had allegedly been in afight with another student,then punched a teacherseveral times while theteacher attempted tobreak up the fight.

At 10:29 a.m. Dec. 21, adomestic situation was re-ported on Dorman Road.

At 2:42 a.m. Dec. 22, adomestic situation was re-ported on SanduskyStreet.

At 10:48 a.m. Dec. 22, aWest Street resident re-ported a fraud.

At 11:49 a.m. Dec. 22, anon-injury traffic accidentwas reported in the area ofRoute 7 and I-90.

At noon Dec. 22, abreak-in was reported atan unoccupied PoplarStreet residence.

At 5:18 p.m. Dec. 22, anassault was reported onHarbor Street.

At 6:23 p.m. Dec. 22, adomestic situation was re-ported on Whitney Road.

At 3:13 a.m. Dec. 23, aState Street resident re-ported the theft of medica-tions.

At 4:11 a.m. Dec. 23,Gary Ratliff was arrestedon Harbor Street for war-rants through theAshtabula CountySheriff ’s Office. CSO. Hewas turned over to theircustody.

At 12:10 p.m. Dec. 23, adomestic situation was re-ported on 15th Street.

At 12:39 p.m. Dec. 23,copper was reported stolenfrom a Harbor Street resi-dence.

At 4:10 a.m. Dec. 24, adomestic situation was re-ported on Cleveland Court

At 1:30 p.m. Dec. 24, atire was reportedly stolenoff a vehicle on CenterStreet.

At 10 p.m. Dec. 24, dam-age was reportedly done toa fence and a vehicle onGrove Street.

At 12:51 a.m. Dec. 25, abreak in was reported at aBroad Street business.

At 12:43 p.m. Dec. 25, aHayward Avenue residentreported harassment.

At 3:01 a.m. Dec. 25, ahit-skip traffic accidentwas reported on LakeRoad.

At 9:27 a.m. Dec. 25, adomestic situation was re-ported on Depot Street.

At 1:08 p.m. Dec. 25, acustody dispute was re-ported on Grifton Avenue.

At 6:25 p.m. Dec. 25, aWest Main Road residentreported harassment.

At 7:50 p.m. Dec. 25, aTV and X-Box were re-ported stolen from a Har-

bor Street residence.At 9:01 p.m. Dec. 25, a

fight between two maleswas reported on HarborStreet.

At 3:46 p.m. Dec. 26, adomestic situation was re-ported on Madison Street.

At 7:34 a.m. Dec. 26, aMentor resident suffered abump on her head after atraffic accident in the areaof Route 7, and I-90.

At 9 a.m. Dec. 26, a cus-tody dispute was reportedon Salem Street.

At 1:50 p.m. Dec. 26, theowner of a Culver Road.property reported metalsand vehicle parts were sto-len from his land.

At 1:54 p.m. Dec. 26,jewelry was reported sto-len from a residence onNickel Plate Avenue.

At 8:14 p.m. Dec. 26, aneighbor dispute was re-ported at a Harbor Streetresidence.

At 11:03 p.m. Dec. 26, adomestic situation was re-ported on Cleveland Court.

Page 5: Courier, Jan. 5, 2012

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • 5A

Pharmacy & Health

by Kerry GerdesGerdes Pharmacy

245 Main St.593-2578

Vickie Marcy

At Home With.... Vickie Marcy

SUBMITTED PHOTOChuck Herb (right) of Herb’s Towing prepares to load theplayhouse for winner Matt Kitchen (left) as ConneautArea Chamber of Commerce President Hattie Barnardlooks on. The playhouse, constructed by inmates at LakeErie Correctional Institution, was raffled immediately fol-lowing the Annual Christmas Parade on Nov. 25. Herbgenerously agreed to assist in moving the playhouse to itsnew home.

Another New YearAnother year has passedOur threadbare illusionscrumple by the wayside.Dreams, hope, wishescast up to a disinterested heaven,trickle to Earth, unrealized.Whether we aim too high or too often,needs are not met.Another year approaches;another chance to make amendsfor any slights, real or imagined.

Oh, Christmas TreeOh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree,how bare now are your branches!The cats have all discovered youknocking off a ball or two.Oh, Christmas tree,oh, Christmas tree,how bare now are your branches!The tinsel is now on the floor,The angel rests beside the door.Oh, Christmas tree,oh, Christmas tree,how bare now are your branches!The tabby lays amid the messof several presents, more or less.Oh, Christmas tree,oh, Christmas tree,How bare, now, are your branches!The little tom sits on a limbThere’s nothing now to persuade himthat he should leave the Christmas treewhile it still has some branches.

Christmas Blows !!It happened once again, this year,I swear by Rudolph’s nose!I’m becoming Mrs. Scrooge!I tell you, Christmas blows!I wrapped all the presents bought,but, I guess it showsI’m giving up the Christmas Ghost.I tell you, Christmas Blows!Each person gets a present.(I’m giving, heaven knows)Naught for me beneath the tree.I tell you, Christmas Blows !I made cookies, brought the ham,(That’s how it always goes).Tonight, I fed the multitudes.I tell you, Christmas Blows!When Christmas season comes next year,I’m going to thumb my noseat every “Merry Christmas” wish.I tell you, Christmas Blows!

Hi everyone! Winter ’shere and wow, what a coupleof cold snowy days we’vehad. I don’t know about allof you out there but I’m re-thinking my stand on likingwinter and the snow; now Iknow why bears hibernate.Let’s see, curl up and sleepin a nice warm cave all win-ter while the bitter cold windhowls outside as I snuggledeeper into the warmth ofthe cave or be exposed to theelements and try to foragefor food in the frozen tundrawhile the wind howls aroundme and snow is pelting mein the face...hmm, I’ll takethe nice warm cave and along winter’s snooze, and oneextra blanket please.

When the weather is coldand snowy, I like to stay in-side and get chores done thatI haven’t had a chance to getto during the holidays, butafter a few days everything’scaught up and then I pull outcookbooks and sit for hoursreading and putting newrecipes together in my mind.I found a cookbook from the50’s and it had some reallygood reading in it. It not onlyhad recipes that I’ve nevertried, there were some I’venever heard of, and some I’dnever fix; it also had tips forfine dining at home.

Fine dining, wow! Thecookbook looks like it shouldbe in June Cleaver’s kitchenbecause every other pagehas a picture of a lady inpearls and heels with a tinylittle frilly apron on bakingor serving a meal. Uh, I don’tthink I own any pearls, letalone heels and my days ofwearing cute little frilly any-thing, let alone aprons, havelong since passed

Anyway, I’m going to trysome of the recipes and I’mgoing to share a few with youtoday. I can pretty muchguarantee that I’ll be wear-ing jeans, sneakers and an

old apron while I’m cookingso I won’t ruin my pearls,heels and tiny ruffledapron...right! Did people re-ally dine like that over halfa century ago?

Lace tablecloth, litcandles and fresh flowers onthe table and everyone indress clothes to eat lunch;um, ok, I may have dinedlike that once at a formaldinner but never at lunch!Kind of makes you wonderwhat they did for breakfast,doesn’t it? Duh, silly me,here’s a breakfast sectionthat I overlooked: all I cansay is, you’ve got to be kid-ding!

I’m a pretty good cook/baker but to the best of myknowledge I’ve never servedbroiled grapefruit, softboiled eggs in fancy egg cups,butter that’s been carved toresemble tiny flowers, toastpoints, creamed salmon overwaffles, or dozens of otherbreakfast items in the book.Hey, here’s a thought, whynot open a box of oatmealand have a quick breakfastof oatmeal, toast and juice?Or better yet, grab a frozenwaffle, frozen sausages andfrozen orange juice and havebreakfast ready in ten min-utes??

OK, I’m joking...kind of.Maybe people did eat thatway long ago, but today it’snot something you seeeveryday...unless you wereborn into the lap of luxury,which I definitely wasn’tunless you count the fewtimes I sat on Santa’s lapwhen I was little. Hey! He’sgot all the toys, so sitting onhis lap was sort of like being

in the lap of luxury wasn’tit?? No? Doesn’t count somove on? Well, ok, time toget to our recipes.

Have you ever had a han-kering for hot fudge any-thing? Yeah, me too! I founda recipe for hot fudge saucethat is so simple and so goodit makes my mouth waterthinking about it. It’s notjust for ice cream anymore.You can pour hot fudge sauceon cakes, cookies, mytongue, puddings or a hostof other things. Personally, Icould take a spoon and eatit plain but I’ll refrain fromthat since I heard hot fudgesauce COULD lead to weightgain if eaten in excess. Mod-eration, that’s the key; wouldsomeone pass the hot fudgesauce and the jar of peanutbutter please??

THE BEST HOT FUDGESAUCE

1 cup heavy whippingcream

1/4 cup sugar8 oz. finely chopped

unsweetened chocolate1/3 cup corn syrup1/4 cup unsalted butter2 tsp. vanilla

Combine whipping creamand sugar in heavy saucepan. Over medium heat,cook, stirring constantly un-til sugar dissolves; stir inchocolate, corn syrup andbutter. Cook over low heat,stirring occasionally untilchocolate dissolves and mix-ture is well blended. Removefrom heat and stir in vanilla,set aside to cool to room tem-perature. Place sauce in jarswith tight fitting lids, storein refrigerator. To serve hot,spoon into microwave safebowl, heat for 20 - 25 secondsuntil warm. Yields about 21/2 cups fudge sauce.

CHICKEN, BROCCOLI ANDCHEESE CASEROLE1/4 cup melted butter3 cups cubed day old

bread (sourdough isgreat, but any will do)

1/2 cup fresh gratedparmesan cheese, or youcan use from jar

1 cup small broccoliflowerets

3 cups canned chickenbreast

1 jar Alfredo sauce1/2 cup sour cream

In large bowl, placebread cubes. Drizzle butterover bread cubes, sprinklewith cheese and toss tocoat. Combine broccoli andremaining ingredients, addto bread mixture and tosslightly. Spoon into 8x8 bak-ing pan that has beenlightly sprayed; sprinkleadditional parmesancheese over top if desired,bake at 400 degrees for 25- 30 minutes or until bub-bly and browned slightly ontop. For a spicier dish, addfour ounces shreddedJalape–o cheese to mixture;delicious!

That’s going to do it fortoday, so until next time,stay safe and happy!

QUICK TIP OF THE WEEK:Put those Christmas cards from friends and fam-

ily to good use after the Holidays are over: glue ortape the bottom and sides and use for CD’s or, betteryet, let the kids and grandkids use them for craftprojects.

Salvation Army Thanks CommunityDear Editor:

The Conneaut Salvation Army Service Unit wouldlike to thank everyone who rang a bell for Salvation Armythis Christmas season. Your time and effort helped raisea total of $6917.03.

We would also like to extend a “Resounding Thank-You” to those who supported the Salvation Army throughtheir giving. Without your generous hearts, we could nothelp those in the community who are in need. The peoplein this community showed the generosity not only withSalvation Army but also the Conneaut Food Pantry. Youare amazing!

In our effort to work together for the good of our com-munity, I encourage you to continue the support to boththese organizations throughout the year. As a reminder,all the monies raised through Conneaut Salvation ArmyService Unit stay in our community and help those inour community.

Thank you from all of us on the board of SalvationArmy!

May God Bless you this New Year.

The Rev. Franklin J. Gore, PresidentConneaut Salvation Army Service Unit

(Serving Conneaut, N. Kingsville,Kingsville, Monroe, and Pierpoint)

Letter To The Editor

Kremer HomeWould Like To Cordially Invite You To Join Us

455 Main Street, Conneaut • (440) 593-6380

January 8th, 2012 • 2-4pmBOOK SIGNING

Dennis Hale, Author of Shipwrecked: Reflections of theSole Survivor, speaking of his experience as sole survivor

of SS Morrell Freighter on Lake Huron 12/29/1966.LIGHT REFRESHMENTS

Treatment forAbnormalHeartRhythm

Atrial fibrillation (AF) isan abnormal heart rhythm.With AF, the upper heartchambers (atria) do notpump blood adequately,leading to the risk of bloodclot formation. Personswith heart diseases such ashigh blood pressure orheart failure are at an in-creased risk of developingAF.

Other types of condi-tions can also increase therisk of AF include sleepapnea, and emphysema.Although some personsmay not experience anysigns or symptoms, somemay experience chest pain,shortness of breath, dizzi-ness, and fainting. An elec-trocardiogram can be usedin the diagnosis of an AF.

Treatment for AF isaimed at preventing astroke. Antiarrhythmicmedications that may beprescribed include a betablocker, such as esmolol(Brevibloc), calcium chan-nel blocker, such as

diltiazem (Cardizem), ordigoxin to control the heartrate. Alternatively, use ofa pacemaker or implant-able atrial defibrillatormay be used to control theheart rhythm or rate.

Anticoagulant medica-tions may be prescribed toreduce the risk of forma-tion of blood clots andtherefore reduce the risk ofa stroke. Warfarin(Coumadin) anddabigatran (Pradaxa) areanticoagulant medicationsthat may be prescribed.Persons who take warfarinrequire monitoring with ablood test on a regular ba-sis, while Pradaxa does notrequire regular blood tests.

Conneaut’sCreative Writing

Kingsville PublicLibrary Events

Four-week session of adult Woodcarving classes, withinstructor Terri Schultz, begins 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 5 and con-tinues Thursday evenings through Jan. 26. Supplies fur-nished for beginners. Fee $28 non-members and $25.20CCCA members.

Instructor Paula Knepp begins a new six-week sessionof Zumba 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 2. Classes held 7:30 to8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

A seven-week session of “PM Workout,” with SallyMucci begins the week of Jan. 9. Classes 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.Mondays and Wednesdays.

A new four-week session of Middle School Illustra-tion Drawing classes, with instructor Kathryn Ford,starts 5 to 6 p.m. Jan. 9 and continues through Jan. 30.Classes are geared to drawing techniques such as cartoondrawing, character drawing, illustrations exploring beyondwhat is offered in school. Ford has a BFA from EdinboroUniversity with emphasis in graphic design and illustra-tion.

Intermediate Quilting Class with Evelyn Boeson be-gins a five-week session 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 forquilters who have taken a beginning quilt class or are ex-perienced quilters looking for a refresher class. Learn newpatterns and techniques in this wintertime class offering.

Conneaut CommunityCenter for the Arts

1025 Buffalo St. (440) 593-5888

“Basic Computers” is offered 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays,starting Jan. 10. Call 224-0239 for more information.The classes are free.

A free four-week adult course in ConversationalGerman, taught by Bonnie Ahola, will be offered 10 to11 a.m. Fridays starting Jan. 13. No prior experiencewith German is required.

Kingsville Public Library will show “MisterPopper’s Penguins” at its next Movie Matinee 2 p.m.Jan. 16 the Simak Welcome Center, 3205 School Street.Free popcorn for those with Kingsville Public Librarycards. Friends of the Kingsville Public Library will sellother refreshments.

- Meryl Taylor

Matt Kitchen Wins Chamber Playhouse Raffle

Page 6: Courier, Jan. 5, 2012

6A • GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012

ASSEMBLY OF GOD

First Assembly of God389 W. Main Rd., Conneaut, 599-8852The Rev. George Fink, Pastor9:30 a.m. Sunday School10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Worship

BAPTIST

East Conneaut Baptist Chapel393 Jennie St., Conneaut, 599-7665The Rev. Terry Kern, pastor9:45 a.m. Sunday School11 a.m. & 7 p.m. Worship

KIngsville First Baptist Church (Am.)6003 St. Rt. 193, Kingsville, 224-1081The Rev. David Hines9:30 Sunday School10:45 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Worship

First Baptist Church of Conneaut370 State St., Conneaut, 593-5120The Rev. Jonathan Singer9:45 a.m. Sunday School/Children’sChurch11 a.m. Worship

Lighthouse Free Will Baptist Church248 Buffalo St., Conneaut, 593-5260Pastor Tim Byers10:30 a.m. Sunday Worship

Old Time Baptist Church809 Furnace Road, ConneautRichard Elliot, pastor10 a.m. & 6 p.m. Worship

South Ridge Baptist Church924 Center Rd., Conneaut, 593-1481Dr. Roger Hogle, pastor10 a.m. Sunday School11 a.m. Worship Services

CATHOLIC

St. Frances Cabrini Church744 Mill St., Conneaut, 599-8570The Rev. Philip MillerMasses: 11:00 a.m. Sunday5 p.m. Saturday (April - Sept)Morning Prayer 7:30 a.m. Wed-Thurs

St. Mary Church744 Mill St., Conneaut, 599-8570The Rev. Philip MillerMasses: 8 a.m. Sunday (April - Sept)4 p.m. Saturday (Oct.-Mar.)Morning Prayer 7:30 a.m. Mon-Tues

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Church of Christ448 W. Main Rd., Conneaut, 599-7401Tim Kraus, pastor9:30 a.m. Sunday School10:30 a.m. Worship

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

First Congregatinal United Churchof Christ of ConneautMain & Buffalo, Conneaut, 599-8744Joyce Shellhammer, lay pastor10:00 a.m. Sunday School11 a.m. Worship

CHURCH OF GOD

Conneaut Church of God5327 Center Rd., Conneaut, 594-7136Carson Robson, pastor9:30 a.m. Sunday School10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m Sunday Worship

FOURSQUARE GOSPEL

Family Fellowship641 Mill St, Conneaut, 593-3095Bob Tarasiak, pastor9:45 a.m. Prayer10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Sunday Worship

LUTHERAN

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church876 Grove St. (@Lake Rd.),Conneaut 599-8908The Rev. Franklin Gore8:30 a.m. Contemporary worship9:45 a.m. Sunday School11 a.m. Trad. worship, nursery avail.

MESSIANIC JEWISH

Beit Lechem Congregation593-4518Trudy Hazen, pastorSat. 10 a.m. Shabbat

METHODIST

Amboy United Methodist Church554 W. Main Rd., Conneaut, 593-5901The Rev. Elaine Turner10 a.m. Worship & Sunday School

New Leaf United Methodist Church283 Buffalo St., Conneaut, 593-2525The Revs. Scott & Jan Walsh, pastors9 a.m. Contemporary Service11 a.m. Traditional Service

Gageville United Methodist Church4063 St. Rt. 193, Kingsville, 224-0165The Rev. David L. Blood, pastor11 a.m. Worship

KelloggsvilleUnited Methodist Church4763 North Monroe Center Rd. ConnThe Rev. Elaine Turner9 a.m. Worship9:15 a.m. Sunday School

Monroe United Methodist Church4302 Center Rd., Conneaut, 594-1165Jeremy Roseberry, pastor9:30 a.m. Worship11 a.m. Sunday School

State LineUnited Methodist Church7321 Bushnell Rd, Conneaut, 594-4267The Rev. David L. Blood, pastor9:30 a.m. Worship Services10:30 a.m. Sunday School

Wesleyan Methodist Church313 E. Main Rd., Conneaut, 599-7228The Rev. Wesley McIntire, pastor9:30 Sunday School10:45 & 7 p.m. Worship Service

NAZARENE

Kelloggsville Church of the Nazarene4841 St. Rt. 84, Kingsville, 224-1415Pastor Les Bolen9:30 a.m. Sunday School10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m. Worship

NEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH

New Apostolic Church264 State St., ConneautThe Rev. William McNutt9 a.m. Sunday School10:30 a.m. Sun8 p.m. Wed Worship

NONDENOMINATIONAL

1st Azusa ChurchApostolic Faith Church of GodBuffalo & Jefferson Sts., Conneaut593-1576Elder Robert Lyons, pastorSunday worship: 11 - 11:45 a.m.Morning worship: Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Edgewood Alliance Church3137 E. Center St., N. Kingsville224-2111Senior Pastor Gary Russell9 a.m. Sunday School10 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Worship

Open Door Community Church5802 Cemetery Rd, Kingsville224-2675The Rev. Greg Evans, pastor9:30 a.m. Sunday School10:30 a.m. Worship

Victory Fellowship253 Liberty Street, Conneaut593-2182The Rev. Barry Todd10:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m Worship

PRESBYTERIAN

Kingsville Presbyterian Church3056 W. Main St., Kingsville224-102310 a.m. Worship and Sunday School

North KingsvillePresbyterian Church6546 Church St., Kingsville,224-1491Ken Ayers, CLP, pastor10:00 a.m. Worship11:00 a.m. Sunday School

Pierpont Presbyterian Church71 St. Rt. 7 S., Pierpont577-12189:45 a.m. Sunday School11 a.m. Worship

Church Directory

At 8:30 contemporary and 11 a.m. traditional worshipJan. 8, Baptism of the Lord, at Good Shepherd LutheranChurch, Grove Street at Lake Road, greeters are KyleVidmar and Jack and April Sabo. Jan. 8 is Mission Sun-day. Bring in Food Pantry items and capital campaign of-ferings.

Worship at 9 a.m. (contemporary in the Worship Cen-ter) and 11 a.m. (traditional in the Sanctuary) Jan. 8 atNew Leaf United Methodist Church, 283 Buffalo Street.Free brunch served 8:45 to 11 a.m. All welcome.

Greeters for 11 a.m. worship Jan. 8 at First BaptistChurch, 370 State St., are Nancy Batchelor, LynnetteO’Baker, Kathy Drew and Ken and Ruth Powell.

CHURCH MEALSNew Leaf United Methodist Church, 283 Buffalo Street,

will serve its free Friday dinner, prepared by Dave Jones,from 5 to 6 p.m. Jan. 6.

Hot soup-and-sandwich lunch will be offered 11:30a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 6 at First Congregational United Churchof Christ, Main & Buffalo Street. Donation $6.

Community Men’s Prayer Breakfast will be held 8:30to 9:30 a.m. Jan. 14 at New Leaf United Methodist Church,283 Buffalo Street. All men of the community are welcome.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Grove Street at LakeRoad, will host a Chicken & Biscuit Dinner 4 to 7 p.m.Jan. 21. Carry-out available. Adults $7, children 10 andunder, $4. Menu includes mashed potatoes, green beans,applesauce, dessert, beverage.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Youth Group are tak-ing orders this month for its Super Bowl Sunday SubSale. Call 599-8908.

Religious Briefs

Church Sign of the Week:Happy New Year!

- New Leaf United Methodist ChurchBy MARTHA SOROHANGazette Newspapers

CONNEAUT - Who saysthat LEAF community ser-vice projects must be con-fined to eight days in July?

Adults and youth fromNew Leaf United Method-ist Church so enjoyed par-ticipating in the annualLEAF (Loving Equally AllFamilies) community assis-tance project last summerthat they expressed toyouth group leaders SaraWade and Debbie Tisdale adesire to help others in thecommunity during the holi-day season.

What better way to showoff a community thanthrough Christmas lights?

Thus was born theirproject to helphomeowners decorate theirhomes’ exteriors forChristmas. Called “ShineHis Bright Light,” theproject consisted of youthputting up and takingdown homeowner-supplieddecorations and extensioncords at no cost.

“We set up a booth ev-ery Sunday in Novemberbetween the 9 and 11 a.m.services at New Leaf whereadults could ask questionsabout our mission and signup for our assistance,”Wade said. “For homeown-ers, it meant they did nothave to be out in the coldor carry heavy boxes or getup on ladders, often tryingto do the work alone.”

In the end, a group ofabout 25 youth and adults

worked together to decorateone home, after severalother homeowners tooktheir names off the list, forunknown reasons. Thedecorating took one hour.

At the home, youth car-ried several heavy boxes upfrom the basement, and thehomeowner directed themas to what she wanted.

“We placed some woodenfigures on the porch,wrapped lights on the porchpoles and around the porch,and wrapped more lights onthe deck on the side of thehouse,” Wade said.

The teens replaced someburned-out bulbs, put littlelights out on holly bushesin front of the house and as-sembled and placed alighted tree in the frontyard.

The best part of theevening for the youth deco-rating may have been thebig bowl of popcorn pre-sented when the task wasdone.

The project is not quitecomplete.

Though the group deco-rated just one house, theyreceived two more housesto “de-decorate” in lateJanuary or early February,at the homeowners’ re-quest.

Youth also spreadChristmas cheer in otherways that that same night.

“As a youth leader, youalways have to have a PlanB, and since we had hadsome cancellations, weknew we did not want tosend everyone to this one

LEAF Generosity Continues Into Christmas

SUBMITTED PHOTOSCarly Kay, MacKenzie Powell and Michelle Tisdale par-ticipate in the Live Nativity at New Leaf United MethodistChurch.

Alex Williams and India Davis

The Courier will publishyour wedding,

anniversary, birth andengagements at no charge!

[email protected]

Becca Tisdale and Amber

house,” Wade said. “So, sixyouth and one leader deco-rated the house that we hadon our list, and the rest ofthe group baked cookies forour live nativity scene (onDec. 18) and decorated ourYouth Bulletin Boards inthe church as a Christmascard from the youth.”

Overall, Wade andTisdale believe the pro-

gram is off to a good start.It was restricted this yearto the New Leaf churchfamily because it is new.

“The homeowner washappy because the househad not been decorated fora few years because ofhealth problems, and sowhen she saw the sign upat the church, she wasglad,” Wade said.

Here is the route of the new bus service that AshtabulaCounty Transportation System (ACTS) is bringing toCnneaut residents weekday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m.Fare is just $1.

Times and locations indicate actual Bus Stops of 2 min-utes each (Times may vary by a minute or two)

1:00 Sunrise West Apartments

:03 Highland Apartments

:06 Save-A-Lot- Rent-A-Center- Family Dollar- Perkins Restaurant- Rte 20 East

:10 UH Conneaut Medical Center- Rte 20 East- Dairy Queen- Right (South) on Mill Street (Rte 7)- (Demand only to Conneaut Human

Resource Center)

:20 Kmart- Rte 20 North- Right on Main Street- Golden Dawn- City Hall- Right on Broad Street South- Right on Liberty

:30 Rear of Golden Dawn- Left on Liberty

Bus Route BeginsWeekday Afternoons

- Left on Washington- Key Bank- Right on Main- Left on Rte 20

:35 Conneaut Manor- Rte 20 West- Clark Gas Station- Conneaut Phone Co.- Right (North) Broad Street- Quizno’s Subs- Lake Road

:40 Moose Lodge- Broad St. South- Rte 20 West- Post Office- Mill St. Conneaut Human Resource Center

(On Demand only)- Conneaut Public Library (On Demand only)- CVS Pharmacy

:48 UH Conneaut Medical Center

:53 Save-A-Lot

:58 Highland Apartments

:60 Return to Sunrise West Apartments(On Demand Only)

Bus will stop anywhere along the route if requested.Passengers requesting rides to Conneaut from Ashtabula

or Conneaut to Ashtabula can call the ACTS OperationCenter at 440.992.4411 or 800.445.4140 for more informa-tion on availability.

Your Local IndependentPharmacy for 50 Years

HOME DELIVERY AVAILABLE!

Kerry Gerdes, Ticey Czup &Dave Turner, Pharmacists

ERDESPHARMACYG245 Main St., Conneaut

593-2578 • 1-800-445-2537Monday-Friday 9-8 • Saturday 9-6

www.mygnp.com/gerdesrx

Jan. 6 - Soup and sandwich luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Main& Buffalo Streets. Donation $6.

Jan. 7 - AUCE Breakfast, 8 a.m. to noon at KingsvilleMasonic Temple, Route 193 and Creek Road.

Jan. 10 - Bingo 6 p.m. at Conneaut Optimist Club, 514Harbor Street. Held every Tuesday.

Jan. 14 - AUCE Breakfast, 8 a.m. to noon at ConneautOptimist Club, 514 Harbor Street. Donation $6.

Local Events

Page 7: Courier, Jan. 5, 2012

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • 7A

My Day in Courtby Rashad al-Araibi

“My Day in Court” wasa great learning experi-ence for me. Throughoutmy session of observation,I learned many things,such as judicial systemregulations, policies andthe duties of judicial offic-ers, along with the school-ing and training qualifica-tions that must be met inorder to become a judicialofficer.

Some of these officersare the court reporter, who types out everything that issaid in the courtroom on a stenograph; the deputy clerk,who handles all papers for the judge to read and pa-pers that are held for processing; the bailiff; and theclerk, who accepts payments such as fines that must bepaid.

The officer who is said to have the highest authority inthe courtroom is the judge himself, which in my case, isthe Honorable Judge Thomas Harris. He is required to weara black robe that represents authority in the courtroom.This authority was demonstrated as we all rose for his en-trance to the courtroom, and that’s when I realized thatmy experience had just begun.

As everyone was seated, the session in the court be-gan. Judge Harris then read the rights to all people whowere ordered to attend court that day. After this was com-pleted, people were called up one-by-one. The chargesagainst that person were stated and they had the right toplead guilty, not guilty or no contest. If they plead guilty,they were prosecuted and penalized for the crimes theywere convicted of, which usually involved a jail sentence,a fine, or both.

If they plead not guilty, they were scheduled for a courttrial by jury and would be considered innocent until provenguilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If they plead no contest, they were obligated to state thetruth about what happened and were scheduled for a trialto prove that there was no evidence against them.

The range of penalty was determined by what crime theycommitted, how they reacted to the arrest and charges, andthe background records. The two types of penalties I wit-nessed were felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies usuallycall for a prison sentence, while misdemeanors only callfor a sentence at a local jail. The two types of cases I wit-nessed were regular criminal cases and traffic cases. Thesecases were presented separately and the arraignments wereread before each type was presented.

One recurring pattern I noticed was that almost everycase was drug- or alcohol-related in some way. This provesto me that an easy way to stay out of trouble is to avoidthese harmful substances. I believe this healthy life choicewill provide for a longer, safer, happier life for not only me,but also my family as I mature.

Overall, I believe that this program is a great learningexperience. It has really opened my eyes to the judicialsystem and has provided a sense of encouragement to leada safe, healthy life.

I hope this program has the same effect on my peersand the rest of the younger generation in a way that couldpossibly change the future of the town. I would like to thankConneaut Schools and also Judge Thomas Harris for thisexperience.

And that’s my Day in Court.

Al-Araibi’s is one of six winning essays written byConneaut Middle School eighth-graders following the “MyDay In Court” field trip to Conneaut Municipal Court.

PHOTO BYMARTHA SOROHAN

Gateway ElementarySchool fifth-grade teacherPam Greenfield (left) intro-duced Student of theMonth Rebecca Holdson(center) to the ConneautArea City Schools Board ofEducation at its Dec. 21meeting. Greenfield se-lected the honor roll stu-dent as this month’s recipi-ent because of her excel-lent academic and inter-personal skills. Holdsoncompletes assignments ontime, looks on the positiveside, and is a good rolemodel. “I enjoy having herin class,” Greenfield said.Watching Holdson receivethe award were her father,Wesley (back) her mother,Shelly; sister, Avery; andher grandmother, Liz Po-land (right, rear). The

Conneaut Area Chamber of Commerce and ConneautTelephone sponsor the Student of the Month Award.

Rashad al-Araibi

Alumni Calendar

CHS Class of 1964Conneaut High School Class of 1964 will meet 6

p.m. Jan. 6 at Pat’s Fireside Lounge.Spouses and guests are welcome.

Rowe High School ‘58Rowe High School Class of 1958 will meet 12:30

p.m. Jan. 18 at Kay’s Place, I-90 and Route 193.Spouses and guests are welcome.

Adults, Enroll Now For:

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT—CALL NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION

440-576-6015 extension 1009

1565 State Route 167, Jefferson, Ohio 44047 . 440-576-6015 . WWW.ATECH.EDU The Ashtabula County Technical and Career Center Board of Education and its staff are dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal

employment opportunities without regard to sex, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, pregnancy, handicap or disability.

Learn more about what your Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus has to offer to start a new career, help you

advance your current career or continue your education. Enroll now in one of our Adult Career Technical Education

Programs and start your career soon!

Find out everything you need to know about classes by visiting us 24/7 online @ WWW.ATECH.EDU

BUSINESS OFFICE SPECIALIST

Develop business training & educational competencies for entry-level

office careers.

Days: Monday - Thursday Time: 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Class Begins: 01/09/12

CNC—Computerized Numerical Controls

The Industrial Welding program offers training in stick, MIG, and

TIG processes.

Days: Mondays & Wednesdays Times: 6:00 p.m. - 10:15 p.m.

Class begins: 01/23/12

Microsoft Word I & II

Introduction to processing computerized documents such as letters,

newsletters, flyers.

Days: Mondays & Wednesdays

Time: 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Class begins: 03/14/12

Microsoft Excel I & II

Introduction to processing computerized spreadsheets

(i.e. building, setup & format)

Days: Mondays & Wednesdays Time: 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Class begins: 05/14/12

SolidWorks

A 60-hour integrated course in SolidWorks Essentials,

Drawing Creation and Advance Part Modeling.

Days: Mondays & Wednesdays Times: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Class begins: 04/16/12

Online Ed2go

Online learning anytime, anywhere … just a click away!

Informative, fun, convenient and highly interactive online courses, most running for only six weeks and only cost $95.

Just a sample of courses: Navigating the Internet, Learning to Buy and Sell on eBay, Discover Digital Photography, Lose Weight and Keep it Off, Grant Writing, Creating Web Pages, Going Green at Home

Visit our Online Instruction Center to find more courses!! www.ed2go.com/ATech

Medical Readiness Class

A FREE course to help you prepare for success in any health-related educational program!

36—Hour Class Beginning January 9, 2012

You must attend an ABLE Orientation session prior to the first day of class.

TO ENROLL CONTACT THE ABLE OFFICE @ 440-576-5599

By MARTHA SOROHANGazette Newspapers

CONNEAUT - Thelarger-than-life Spartanwarrior that has stood guardover the main lobby ofConneaut High School thepast three months is no Mar-tin the Spartan.

He is King Leonidas - sonamed by Conneaut HighSchool students who hadanticipated his arrival sincelast spring.

Even before they saw himfor the first time at the un-veiling during Homecomingweekend, they voted on hisname: Leonidas, King of theSpartans. They were famil-iar with Leonidas from themovie “300,” about the Spar-tans’ famous battle againstthe Persian army.

Making the high schoollobby more friendly to visi-tors, and visually linking theschool to its mascot, hadbeen a goal of the SchoolPride committee since it wasformed in 2005.

But turning the goal intoreality might not have hap-pened without a commit-ment from the Class of ’58,along with CHS art teacherBob Cox, who spent about ayear researching the cloth-ing and gear required for awarrior mannequin. Hehelped secure its clothingand purchased his armorand weaponry.

Much of Leonidas’ gear isauthentic.

“It took a lot longer thanI had hoped, but I wanted itto be realistic,” he said. “Iwould contact one company,and it would guide me toanother.”

The process also becamemore complicated than Coxhad anticipated.

After the first mannequinarrived, and proved to be toomuscular to be covered by

the armor, Cox ordered a sec-ond mannequin and inter-changed some of the parts -namely, swapping the oldtorso for a new one - - a laDr. Frankenstein’s creature.

“We had to have some-thing the armor wouldcover,” he said.

The two-color blue andgold plume on the helmetsignifies that of a high-rank-ing military officer, Cox ex-plained.

“It is proper for a leader,”he said.

The statue’s sandalscame from a costume com-pany.

“I didn’t know anythingabout the size, and justhoped they’d fit,” Cox said.

The real sword held in themannequin’s right hand is ofGreek design. A hole wasbored through themannequin’s hands so thesword and shield could beattached. Both were propswere made in California fromthe movie “300,” and whichCox acquired over e-bay.

“That movie had a lot ofcomputerization, but theprops were real,” Cox said.

The armor - often used byRoman soldier re-enactors -is real, most coming fromarmor companies.

Even so, the sword andthe shield had to be the rightsize for the mannequin.

“There were othershields, but some of themwere too small. I had to de-termine the size of the case,”he said, referring to the glasscase in which the Spartan isprotected. The case was con-structed by Matt Pape andMike Clancy, using glass do-nated by Corporate Glass ofErie, Pa.

Cox said that purchasingthe clothing was not diffi-cult, since costume compa-nies frequently make “over-runs” on costumes for mov-

ies and are willing to sell offthe excess.

The cape was designedand sewn by Jen Krenisky ofJen’s Sewing.

“We had lots of volunteerhelp,” Cox said.

Behind the mascot, insidethe case, is a mural paintedby Cox, an acrylic piece on agold background.

How did Cox come upwith it?

“I looked at a lot of battlepictures,” he explained.

Once the mural was done,Leonidas was placed insideand the case was pieced to-gether.

“[Athletic Director] Joel

Taylor and I came up withthe idea of protectingLeonidas with a glass case,”Cox said.

The eye-catching statue,definitely worth seeing, costthe public nothing.

“It was basically all dona-tions, all $3,000 to $4,000,”Cox said.

Donors included theClass of 1958, the SchoolPride Committee, and otherstaff donations.

At the statue’s unveilingover Homecoming weekend,CHS Principal DawnZappitelli thanked the Classof 1958 for volunteering withthe project.

No Martin the Spartan

The committee that helped bring Spartan King Leonidas to the lobby of Conneaut High School included (group atleft) (front, left) Stephanie Burnett, Peggy Taylor, Bonnie Watts; CHS Athletic Director Joel Taylor (middle) and CHSArt Teacher Bob Cox; on opposite side of the statue case are (front, from left) Bob Cox, Sandy Dombrowski and RitaVendetti, all CHS ’58; (back, left) CHS Principal Dawn Zappitelli and Matt Pape.

Rebecca Holdson is Student of the Month

Hoop Shoots Jan. 7, 14The Knights of Columbus Hoop Shoot, for boys and girls

10 to 14 as of Jan. 1, will be held Saturday at St. MaryHall, State & Chestnut Street. First-place trophies will beawarded. District competition for first-place winners willtake place in February. The Elks Annual Hoop Shoot is 1p.m. Jan. 14 at Conneaut Middle School for boys and girlsages 8 to 13 as of April 1, 2012. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.Trophies will go to first, second and third place in eachgender and age group. District competition for first-placewinners will be held Jan. 21.

For times and other information, call Linda Polshosky(440) 599-8741.

Page 8: Courier, Jan. 5, 2012

8A • GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012

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CONNEAUT:

Bushnell Store - 5915 Rt. 7

Conneaut Rite-Aid - 364 Main St.

Shell Station - 281 State St.

Circle K - 306 Mill St.

Mooney Bakery - 231 Broad St.

Conneaut Courthouse

Golden Dawn - 281 Main St.

City News - 214 Washington St.

Gerdes Pharmacy - 245 Main St.

Clark Station

Broad St. Mini Mart - Broad St.

Basil’s Café - 182 Park Ave.

Harbor Beverage - 985 Broad St.

Anthony’s - Lake Rd.

M & R Food - 1033 Lake Rd.

Ron’s Meats - 926 Main St.

UH ConneautMedical Center - 2nd Flr

Quality Cleaners

Perkins - 348 W. Main St.

Conneaut Save-A-Lot350 W. Main St.

Burger KingRt. 7 & Gateway Ave.

Amboy Mart - 512 W. Main St.

City Center Garden Market

Crazy Dave’s Sugar Bowl518 Mill Street

KINGSVILLE:

Village Food Mart - Rt. 193

Orlando’s Golden DawnRt. 193

Grab & Go

ASHTABULA:

Grumpy Grandpa’s3300 State Rd.

Perry Park News4910 Main Ave.

PENNSYLVANIA:

BP - Stateline - W. Springfield, PA

Country Fair2 W. State St., Albion, PA

Deli Mart - Rt. 20 E.

Enhanced Performance/Sunoco7078 Rt. 215, E. Springfield, PA

Lights of Love 2011In honor of Carol Chandler - Mary Kaye CallahanIn memory of Amy Karhu - Mary Kaye CallahanIn memory of Jeff White - Mary Kaye CallahanIn memory of Patrick White - Mary Kaye CallahanIn memory of Ronnie Williams - Kathy TempleIn memory of Imelda Novinski - Kathy TempleIn memory of Edward Fiala - Elsie FialaIn memory of Leonard Roscinski - Shirley Roscinski &

FamilyIn memory of Jeanette & Ellsworth Marteeny - Hazel

Phillips & FamilyIn memory of William H. Phillips - Hazel Phillips & GirlsIn memory of Sharon Lacy - Alice MarthallerIn memory of Charles Rose, Sr. - Ronald RoseIn memory of Bertha Vignal - Ronald RoseIn memory of Mal Warren - Ronald RoseIn memory of Marie Sabo - Ronald RoseIn memory of D2 - Megan, Kelsey, & Matt MunsonIn memory of Robert Arndt - Cyndy ArndtIn memory of Lois Lebzelter - Jeff LebzelterIn memory of Donald Campbell - Joan CampbellIn memory of Ronald Gonda - Fran GondaIn memory of Ronald Gonda - Family of RonaldIn memory of Bernard Stanley Wincik, Sr. - Marian

WincikIn memory of Ferdinand & Bertha Urban - Marian WincikIn memory of Michael Beals - Grandparents Harry &

MarthaIn memory of William & Naomi Bogan - Kathleen WrightIn memory of Roy & Mary Wright - Bill & Linda HarkabusIn memory of Roy & Mary Wright - John & Barb WrightIn memory of Roy & Mary Wright - Tom & Kathy WrightIn memory of Alberta “Sue” Siders - Children, Grandchil-

dren, & Great-GrandchildrenIn memory of Fran Blickensderfer - Chris & Paula Siders

& BoysIn memory of My Dad, John D. Stump - LorettaIn memory of My Husband, Larry Tratar - LorettaIn memory of Jeff Stump - Loretta -In memory of Herb Waters - Waters Catering

In memory of Herb Waters - Waters CateringIn memory of Anthony V. Colby - Wife, Josephine ColbyIn memory of Hank & CeCe Poore - Your FamilyIn memory of Milt & Charlotte Rudler - Your FamilyIn memory of Bob Osborn - JeanneIn memory of Russell Goodiel - Your FamilyIn memory of Ann Goodiel - Your FamilyIn memory of Sherry Sawdy - JeanneIn memory of Son & Father, Mikey Lemmo - Mike, Pam, &

McKenzie LemmoIn memory of Shelva Craig - MarianIn memory of Fred Kercher - Carol KercherIn honor of Marijane Pettijohn - Nancy RungIn memory of Shelby Girl - Nancy RungIn memory of Robert W. Hensel - Katelyn FrenchIn memory of Walter Thayer - Bunny ThayerIn memory of Cecil Thayer - Bunny ThayerIn memory of Michael Joseph Jury - Kevin Jury/Lori JuryIn memory of Nancy Heasley - Angel RodgersIn memory of Alec Moorhead - Jeanne MooreheadIn memory of Marvin & Esther Kreiling - Dave & Sherri

KreilingIn memory of Juanita & Ervin Hinebaugh - Dave & Sherri

KreilingIn memory of Nellie Schlaich - Dave & Sherri KreilingIn memory of Pauline & Shorty Taylor - Dave & Sherri

KreilingIn memory of Roxy Kreiling - Kathy WrightIn memory of Trouble Wright - Kathy WrightIn memory of Kiff Wright - Kathy WrightIn memory of Harold Fredrickson - Kathy WrightIn memory of Dawn Kelly - Kathy WrightIn memory of Jeff Weise - Kathy WrightIn memory of Edwin Sr. & Mary Kamppi - Lisa StilesIn memory of Joseph Gerics - Lisa StilesIn honor of Justice Beckett - Louann BeckettIn honor of Jesse Beckett - Louann BeckettIn memory of Bette Meola - Anthony Meola, Sr.In memory of Doc (Mark) Meola - GrandchildrenIn memory of Bob & Elna Roach - The FamilyIn memory of Roach Family - The FamilyIn memory of Anthony & Santa Rapose - Patty & Paul

Palagyi & Ranae PalagyiIn memory of Joseph & Pauline Palagyi - Patty & Paul

Palagyi & Ranae PalagyiIn memory of Sue Simpson - Lori SimpsonIn memory of Sue Simpson - Larry SimpsonIn memory of Sue Simpson - The Brecht FamilyIn memory of Charles & Jennie Bortz - The Brecht FamilyIn memory of Janice Kalil - The Brecht FamilyIn memory of Robert Maier - Katie MaierIn memory of Lucy M. Tuttle - Marjorie WilliamsIn memory of Helen L. Williams - Marjorie WilliamsIn memory of Janey Schultz - Lindsay BurlinghamIn memory of Grandma Helfinstine - Nikos Burlingham,

Sr.In memory of Morgan Benjamin - Amber RoseIn memory of Matthew DiBease - Amber RoseIn memory of Maurice Simons - Michael SimonsIn memory of Arloiene Simons - Michael SimonsIn memory of Richard Simons - Michael SimonsIn memory of Louise Bartone - Nichole ColbyIn memory of Anthony Colby - Nichole ColbyIn memory of Anthony Rossetti - Nick RossettiIn memory of Rodney Luta - Cindy LowerIn memory of Lillian Luta - Cindy LowerIn memory of Edward Luta, Jr. - Cindy LowerIn memory of Frank Lower - Jerry LowerIn memory of Larry Lower, Sr. - Jerry LowerIn memory of Jeffrey Stump - Christi LowerIn memory of Chase Cummings - Rob & Rayah Spencer

In memory of Andrew Crofoot - Rob & Rayah SpencerIn memory of Vincent Crofoot - Rob & Rayah SpencerIn memory of James & Pansy Facello - Teresa Facello &

TomIn memory of Thomas J. Edwards, Sr. - Scott, Michelle,

Scotty, & A.J. EdwardsIn memory of Bette Rae Edwards - Scott, Michelle, Scotty,

& A.J. EdwardsIn memory of Leo & Barbara Dahlkemper - Michelle

EdwardsIn memory of Grandma & Grandpa Edwards - Scotty &

A.J. EdwardsIn memory of Art & Zona Weeston - Randy & Wilma

WeestonIn memory of Eli E. English - Randy & Wilma WeestonIn memory of Geraldine & Robert Maray - Kori ZappitelliIn memory of Lucille Campbell - Jane MichielsIn memory of Glenn M. Benedict - The Downing FamilyIn memory of Donne Benedict - The Downing FamilyIn memory of Nevaeh Grace Dudas - Ken VorseIn memory of Wayne Palmer - Kris PalmerIn memory of Scott “EZ” Barnes - Nate, LeAnna, & PamIn memory of Chad Keenan - Nate, LeAnna, & BoysIn memory of Doug Abbey - Mary Lou & FamilyIn memory of Grandpa Abbey - Rex & LaciIn memory of Russell Merlene - Linda, Sonny, Brian,

Tracy, Cale, Chase, Brett, Julie, Landon, Sarah, Jillian,& Erik

In memory of Russell Merlene - Wife, Penny Merlene &Family

In memory of Wallace Heinonen - Sonny, Linda, Brian,Tracy, Cale, Chase, Brett, Julie, Landon, Sarah, Jillian,& Erik

In memory of Bob & Lois Shumake - Jerry, Susan, Eric,Jodie, Lilly, & Joey

In memory of Margaret Palagyi - Jerry, Susan, Eric, Jodie,Lilly, & Joey

In honor of Michael Palagyi - Jerry, Susan, Eric, Jodie,Lilly, & Joey

In memory of Rose & Mike Best - Darwin GurtoIn memory of James Todaro - Arnesta TodaroIn memory of James Winteringham - Darwin GurtoIn memory of James Todaro - Julie GriswoldIn memory of Michael Petz - Your FamilyIn memory of Elizabeth Petz - Your FamilyIn memory of Clem Gestwicki - Daniel Gestwicki &

FamilyIn memory of Charles & JoAnn Beaver - Charles & Eloise

BeaverIn memory of Charles & JoAnn Beaver - Dominic & Mary

PalmerIn memory of Howard C. Dolak, III - Debbie, Howard, &

Tisha DolakIn memory of Patricia Brozell - Tisha Dolak & FamilyIn memory of Parents Stephen & Helen Colucci - Angie &

Larry Moore & FamilyIn memory of Parents Edgar & Myrtle Moore - Angie &

Larry Moore & FamilyIn memory of David Lawrence - Iola & FamilyIn memory of Arlo & Marian Lawrence - Iola & FamilyIn memory of Olive McDonald - Iola & FamilyIn memory of Angelo & Gaetanina Reo & Paul Reo - Anna

Marie ReoIn memory of Angelo & Gaetanina Reo & Paul Reo -

Oakey, Carmela, Joe, & Ashley EmeryIn memory of David Sharp - The Griswold FamilyIn memory of Loved Ones - Darlene MeaneyIn memory of Sam & Bev Simone - Lynda Worley &

Karen, Kellie, Laura, & FamiliesIn memory of R.J. Yesso - Lynda Worley & Karen, Kellie,

Laura, & Families

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Gavin Nesbitt, a Lakeshore Primary School pre-school student, received a $50 U.S. savings bond fromStacy Aunger, Conneaut Key Bank Branch Manager,after selling the most Lights of Love ornaments at hisschool this year. Lights of Love is a fund-raiser for theConneaut Area Chamber of Commerce in which “lights”are sold for $5 in honor or memory of a loved one.

The lights illuminate the tree at downtown ConneautSavings Bank throughout the holiday season. Studentshelp sell lights each year, and the top seller is rewardedwith a savings bond donated by Key Bank. Gavin isthe son of Eric and Stephanie Nesbitt.

Lights of Love Top Seller

should be unaffected.The department’s two di-

rectors of nursing, JodiSlayton, R.N., and LouiseCleveland, R.N., are flexible.

Blood pressure screen-ings are done Mondays andWednesdays.

Immunizations are of-fered all day Tuesdays andThursdays.

Children’s physicals are byappointment only 1 to 4:30

p.m. Tuesdays. Call the HealthDepartment at 593-3087.

Because Health Depart-ment hours have been cut,all staff members havetaken a pay cut, includingHealth Commissioner SallyKennedy.

Kennedy said her depart-ment will monitor public re-action to the new hours.

“We will evaluate theirimpact,” she said.

HEALTH From page 1A

Conneaut Health Department Co-Director of Nursing JodiSlayton, R.N. (left) takes a blood pressure reading ofHealth Department Clerk Dolly Sherman. Both women’shours have been reduced.

Page 9: Courier, Jan. 5, 2012

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • 9A

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3 Seminars To Be HeldTuesday, January 10th at 2 PM & 6 PM • Jefferson Community Center

11 East Jefferson Street, JeffersonSaturday, January 14th at 11 AM & 2 PM • Williamsfield Community Center

5920 US Route 322, WilliamsfieldMonday, January 16th at 2 PM & 6 PM • The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake

4888 North Broadway (State Rt. 534), Geneva-on-the-Lake

SEATING IS LIMITED Please RSVP to Attorney Trey Peterson(740) 282-1911 or (866) 807-5199

If you are unable to attend, please call our office for more information.

By MARTHA SOROHANGazette Newspapers

CONNEAUT - The year2011 ended on a sour notefor a local driver involvedin a hit-skip crash early

Saturday morning on Har-bor Street.

Officers were notified12:38 a.m. Dec. 31 of an ac-cident, with possible in-jury, in the 800 block ofHarbor Street. En route,

they learned the suspectvehicle, a white SUV, hadfled the scene southboundon Harbor.

Another office on an-other call in the vicinityradioed that he had spot-ted a white SUV south-bound on Harbor, in thearea of 16th St., strike thebarrier on Harbor Street.

When the first officerarrived there, he saw awhite SUV traveling fromHarbor Street, west on16th St., with heavy front-end damage. Officers acti-vated emergency lightsand blocked 16th Streetfrom Broad Street, thennoticed that the vehiclewas stationary.

As one officer began toexit his marked unit totalk with the driver, thedriver began driving di-rectly toward the cruiser.The officer was able tojump back into the cruiserand remove it from thepath of the SUV as theSUV continued past theunit and turned south ontoBroad Street.

The officer then posi-tioned his unit behind thesuspect vehicle, but thedriver failed to stop by theemergency lights. As theofficer notified dispatch ofwhat was happening, in-cluding the vehicle’s statusand direction of travel, thesuspect made an ex-tremely wide right turn,west onto Depot Street,

Disorderly ConductCostly ToDisruptive Malesby MARTHA SOROHANGazette Newspapers

CONNEAUT - A fight inprogress sent officers to176 Hayward Avenue at10:45 p.m. Dec. 31, and ledto the citation of severalmen on disorderly conductcharges.

Police called to a Hay-ward Avenue fight involv-ing “several people” arrivedto find six to eight malesubjects standing in theroadway, yelling at one an-other. Upon spotting police,they took off running intothe yard north of theofficer ’s location, yelling,“The police are here!”

When exiting his patrolcar, the officer noticedabout 30 people yelling andseveral males involved in afight. They refused to stopfighting when police or-dered them to do so, so po-lice grabbed one of them,later identified as CoreySigley, and pulled him off ablack male.

As he did so, the officerwas struck in the face byanother male who was stillfighting.

Not knowing if thestrike was intentional, anddue to the high number ofintoxicated people in the

area, and wondering if hewould be struck again, thelone officer unholstered hisM26 Taser and trained it ontwo male subjects who ig-nored his commands andcontinued to fight.

The officer warned themthat he would deploy histaser, training it on a blackmale, identified as GrantReynolds, who had placedEric Sigley in a head lockand struck him severalmore times.

Fearful that one or bothof the subjects would re-ceive serious bodily harm ifthe fight continued, the of-ficer issued a few morecommands, then deployedthe taser as the men con-tinued to disregard them.

The parties then com-plied and were handcuffedfor everyone’s safety.

It was later determined,according to police reports,that Reynolds and Sigleyhad been involved in a fistfight and Cory Sigley hadtried to break it up. Noneof those involved claimed tohave been aware that theofficer had been assaulted.

Sigley and Reynoldswere issued citations fordisorderly conduct by fight-ing, and released from thescene.

nearly striking the streetsign and driving over thesidewalk into the yard ofthe southwest cornerhouse at Broad and DepotStreets.

The suspect continuedwest on Depot, ignoringthe emergency lights, andthen making a wide left-hand turn south onto Buf-falo Street, this timenearly striking a tree.Only after the officer wasable to position his cruiseron the driver’s side of thesuspect vehicle, essen-tially pinning the suspectbetween the tree, anotherparked car and his cruiser,did the suspect finallystop.

Though the officer is-sued several commands tothe driver, seated solo inthe vehicle, the man ap-peared incoherent andmade no attempts to coop-erate. When the officeropened the driver ’s sidedoor, he was overpoweredwith the odor of an alco-holic beverage emanatingfrom the person. Identifiedas Fernando F. Lopez, hehad bloodshot and glossyeyes, and, during laterquestioning, was unable torecall the events that ledto his being in police cus-tody.

He was transported toUH-Conneaut MedicalCenter for a blood draw,then transported toConneaut City Jail.

Hit-Skip Lands Drunk Driverin Jail Before New Year’s Eve

Site SolverGuess the location

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHANDo you know the interior location of this Site Solver?

Be the first to call its location to The Courier (440) 576-9125, ext. 116, starting 5 p.m. Jan. 5, and you will winan oil change (cars only) from Osburn Tire & Automo-tive, 4804 Caleb Ave., Kelloggsville. (Please note thatSite Solver responses are not considered before 5 p.m.)

Last week’s Site Solver was the piano inside theConneaut Pizza & Sub Shop on Broad Street. Winnerwas Linda Lynch.

Get sports, news and more atwww.gazettenews.com

Page 10: Courier, Jan. 5, 2012

10A • GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012

Courier Year in Review: Jan - March, 2011Weigh Station Back in Business

The new year brought a new outlook in terms of cityfinances with the Jan. 3 ribbon-cutting at the remodeled I-90 Weigh Station in the westbound lanes of I-90, with com-puter-monitored “weigh-in-motion” scales which sendtrucks weighing more than 80,000 pounds to the next “staticscale.” Truck drivers found to weigh more than 1,000 poundsover the limit are cited. They may not leave the area with-out resolving the overload issue and paying the fine to theConneaut Municipal Court. During the Weigh Station’s 40-month closing, the city lost about $40,000 in overload fines,according to Finance Director John Williams. Conneautboasts the state’s only upper-level weigh station design. Itis run by the Ohio Highway Patrol. In the photo taken lastJanuary, City Council President Tom Udell (center) cutsthe red ribbon at the Weigh Station.

Council Okays Schaumleffel’sSeverance Package

The saga of former City Manager Robert Schaumleffelofficially ended Jan. 3, when City Council approved a$32,859.71 severance package to bring to a close his stormytwo-year tenure. Council had tried initially to terminateSchaumleffel’s contract in April, 2010, but it was eight moremonths before the parties parted ways. Councilman CharlieLewis was unhappy that Law Director David Schroederwas on vacation Jan. 3, and unable to answer his ques-tions about the package. Councilman Dave Campbell alsohad misgivings, since Schaumleffel remained eligible forunemployment compensation. The package covered threemonths of Schaumleffel’s wages, car allowance, health in-surance and a portion of vacation pay.

Planning/Zoning ManagerLuciana Raterman Gone

When 2010 City Council voted on the recommendationof the Finance & Ordinance Committee to reduce the Plan-ning/Zoning Manager’s position from full- to part-time,Luciana Raterman said good-bye Dec. 31 after serving fornearly four years. She left so quietly that until Council-men questioned it, no one knew her office was vacant. TheCity did not immediately replace her because of a proposedplan at the county level to hire Raterman as a part-timeliaison to Conneaut and other communities. The city couldthen rehire her part-time. But the plan failed to material-ize. Deanna Gates was hired to replace Raterman a fewmonths later. The city had budgeted in 2011 $30,000 fortwo part-time P&Z managers.

Carly Prather Joins City Law Department

The city hired one of its own when Carly Prather ac-cepted the Assistant Law Director’s position in January.Prather had clerked in the office of former Assistant LawDirector Luke Gallagher in the summer of 2009 and wasinterested when she heard Gallagher was leaving to re-turn to full-time private practice. Born in Erie, Pa., and agraduate of Ohio Northern College of Law, the daughterof Rick and Cindy Prather describes City Law DirectorDavid Schroeder as a “good mentor and teacher.”

Lori McLaughlin Named 2010Citizen of the Year

Calling herself an “ordinary person,” Lori McLaughlinwas named Conneaut Area Chamber of Commerce 2010Citizen of the Year Feb. 8 at the Chamber’s annual dinnerat the Conneaut Community Center for the Arts. A formerfactory and retail worker, McLaughlin became involved incivic committees, enrolled in Ashtabula CountyLEADERship and eventually went back to school follow-ing a serious auto accident in 1991 that left her wheel-chair-bound for three months and unable to continue work-ing in retail. McLaughlin remains involved in local andcounty causes, most notably chairing for the past 15 monthsthe local D-Day Re-enactment Committee that led to herelection to the D Day Ohio, Inc., board, which overseesConneaut’s premiere tourist event.

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Conneaut City Council on March 31 approved a$2,797.80 reimbursement in legal fees for CouncilmanDave Campbell (left) after he was sued by former PublicWorks Director Bob Howland in late 2009. Howland hadsued Campbell for the name of a Public Works employeewho sent an e-mail questioning Howland’s decision to usean outside firm to install a Keefus Road guard rail where acar had gone off the road. Council originally deniedCampbell’s reimbursement request, saying he had goneagainst advice of former Law Director Lori Lamer by notproviding the name to Howland. Campbell claimed doingso would be a breach of confidence, Lamer’s replacement,Dave Schroeder, and a different City Council helpedCampbell resolve the matter, even though Campbell hadsigned a paper releasing the city insurance company andthe City of Conneaut “from all claims arising out of thepublic records request or the litigation.” Shown withCampbell in picture above is Ward 2 Councilman CharlieLewis.

Reimbursed at Last: Campbell Paid forLegal Expenses Incurred by City Lawsuit

Two Significant Resignations at CBOEFirst it was Conneaut High School varsity football

coach Ken Parise, and then Conneaut Area City SchoolsTreasurer Mary Gillespie who resigned their positionsabout two weeks apart last winter.

Unlike Gillespie’s resignation, submitted after 14months on the job so that she could become treasurerof the Ashtabula County Educational Service Center,Parise’s was unplanned, and left the door open for theschool district to hire a new coach in hopes of buildinga winning team.

JD’S Pizza family members Laurie Janek (left), ownerMichael Morgan, and Morgan’s sons, Moses (front) andNoah were all smiles after learning their pizza was chosen“Best of Conneaut” by judges Tom Udell, Phil Garcia andDebbie Newcomb at the Conneaut Music Boosters’ firstPizza Competition on March 20. People’s Choice winnerwas Anthony’s Pizza. The event is expected to be repeatedthis year.

Nothing Beats a Pizza Competition

Twenty-Three Apply for City Manager’s JobCity Council opened up the search for a new city man-

ager in late January and within a few weeks, received ap-plications from 23 hopefuls — including local applicantsTerry Mosio, Jr., Bill Kennedy, Dan Allds and John Ericksen.

Debbie Newcomb Hiredto Head CHRC

About two months after EdSomppi announced he was retiringfrom his 18-month position as Ex-ecutive Director of the ConneautHuman Resources Center, theCHRC board hired DebbieNewcomb, who had lost her bid forre-election to the Ohio House in No-vember. Somppi said he wanted thefreedom to enjoy life with his wife,Luann, who retired in 2011 as ad-ministrative assistant to theConneaut Police Chief. Newcomb’s grant-writing exper-tise, along with her substantial managerial and budgetingskills, helped land her the part-time position. Her interestin senior citizens — she was a nine-year member of theAshtabula County Senior Services Levy Advisory Board —also prompted her to apply for the job. She was formallyintroduced to the CHRC staff on March 17.

Post Card Water Bills ReturnIn yet another move to revert to “pre-Schaumleffel” prac-

tices, Conneaut City Council on March 14 unanimouslyagreed to go back to billing city water customers via postcard. The former City Manager had recommended the citymove from billing water customers via post cards to busi-ness-size letterhead, saying the move was more professionaland that the bills would have room to convey city informa-tion to residents. The city saves $15,000 annually by usingthe post card method after an initial $850 software pro-gram purchase. Williams said a machine purchased to foldthe paper bills, on which it was paying $1,000 annual main-tenance fee, could be used in another department. Will-iams said water billing department employees as well asconsumers preferred the post card bills.

Charter Review Committee Offand Running in February

Per a City Charter that calls for seven-year reviews, theCity Council-appointed Charter Review Committee heldits first meeting Feb. 17 and scheduled bi-monthly meet-ings in order to wrap up its work by June 30 so any charterchanges could be certified by mid-Augut for the Novemberballot. Chaired by Deborah Newcomb and co-chaired byDick Showalter, the committee was comprised of MikeBambarger, Marty Landon, Pat Williams, Susan Allshouseand Dave LeVesque. Allshouse replaced original memberMike Sherman, who resigned due to “time constraints” af-ter the first meeting, where he suggested reverting to anelected mayor form of government because the currentmethod is “dysfunctional.”

In a not-so-good year for the Conneaut Planning Com-mission, its announcement at the Feb. 9 City Council meet-ing that Pizza Hut had been given a green light to build a“Pizza to Go” restaurant at the southeast corner of Mainand Mill Streets was cause for rejoining. Offering specialtypizza, pasta and wings, the restaurant opened in early sum-mer.

Pizza Hut Coming To Conneaut