Early estimate: Merger would be costly in Year 1

By Jeremy Kelley | Monday, November 9, 2009, 03:04 PM

Merging the governments of Bellbrook and Sugarcreek Twp. might add an extra $512,000 in staffing costs for the first year, according to a preliminary study from a consulting firm.

Jim Mercer of the Mercer Group, which was hired by the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Merger Commission, told commissioners Nov. 4 that most of the increased costs are in areas where townships receive services from Greene County at no direct cost. Those include engineering, planning, legal services and road maintenance.

If Bellbrook and Sugarcreek merge, the new entity would be a city, not a township, and therefore would have to hire people in those roles or contract the work out.

The Merger Commission asked Mercer to look at the staffing estimates in more detail before their next meeting Dec. 2.

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Council to fill vacancy after election

By Christopher Magan | Friday, November 6, 2009, 01:52 PM

FAIRBORN — The election of Councilwoman Joan Dautel as the city’s next mayor means council members must appoint someone to fill her unexpired term.

Applicants for the post should submit a letter and resume to City Manager Deborah McDonnell at the city building, 44 W. Hebble Avenue, by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, said Katie Lewallen, city spokeswoman. The applicants will be reviewed by council members in early December and the appointment will be made by the end of the year, Lewallen said.

The new council member will hold the post until the next municipal election in 2011. The city’s charter allows council members to keep secret applicants for the post and to conduct interviews in closed session.

Dautel was elected to replace Mayor Gary Woodward over Councilman Frank Cervone. Voters picked also newcomers Daniel Kirkpatrick and Robert Wood and sitting councilman Stuart Snow from a field of six candidates.

Dautel, Kirkpatrick, Wood and Snow were all endorsed by the Future of Fairborn political action committee that stressed economic growth as a necessity for the city’s future.

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Police: Man tried to lure student into his car

By Christopher Magan | Thursday, November 5, 2009, 11:57 AM

XENIA — Police are warning parents and school children of a man who tried to lure a Cox Elementary student into his car Nov 4.

The man, described as six feet tall with dark hair and a mustache, tried to convince a female student that her mother had asked him to pick her up from school about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. He asked the student to get into a black car he was driving near Cox Elementary, 506 Dayton Avenue.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 937-376-7209.

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Another flu clinic announced

By Christopher Magan | Monday, November 2, 2009, 04:23 PM

XENIA — The Greene County Combined Health District will hold another H1N1 clinic after thousands flooded the county fairgrounds last week for the vaccine.

The clinic is 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the county fairgrounds assembly hall. The clinic is open only to those most at risk. The Center for Disease Control Priority Groups are:

• everyone age 6 months to 24 years old (children under 10 years of age will need a 2nd dose of vaccine in 4 weeks or longer);

• pregnant women;

• people age 25-64 years with chronic health conditions:

• people who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age;

• health care and emergency medical services personnel (who work in Greene County).

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Local distributor for Mexican cocaine gets 20 years

By Christopher Magan | Friday, October 30, 2009, 05:14 PM

XENIA — The bar owner who authorities said was the local cocaine distributor for a Mexican drug cartel will spend 20 years in prison after a judge found he didn’t fully cooperate with police.

Sheldon Smith, 32, pleaded no contest and was found guilty in June of 13 felony charges that involved the seizure of 121 pounds of cocaine from an East Main Street home by police in 2008. Police said it was the largest amount of drugs seized in county history.

Smith hired drug cartel members Ismael Gonzalez, of California, and Carlos A. Tartida-Villalba, of Mexico, to guard his drugs that were stored at 1594 E. Main St. Both men have pleaded guilty to charges and received eight years prison terms.

Police raided the home in May of 2008, but Smith and his girlfriend Kelly Brown, 28, were not arrested until Christmas Eve. The two were arrested outside LA’s Sports Bar and Grille in Xenia, a business they ran. Brown pleaded guilty to money laundering and received five years probation earlier this year.

Jeffrey Hunter, Greene County prosecutor chief trial counsel, wouldn’t say exactly why it took so long for Smith and Brown to be arrested. “Generally, suspects are given time to cooperate with law enforcement,” he said.

After several days of testimony throughout the last two months Judge Stephen A. Wolaver ruled Friday, Oct. 30, Smith did not fully cooperate with police and had not secured the promise of a reduced sentence in exchange for his help, according to Hunter and court records.

Jeffrey Hunter, Greene County prosecutor chief trial counsel, wouldn’t say exactly why it took so long for Smith and Brown to be arrested. “Generally, suspects are given time to cooperate with law enforcement,” he said.

Smith forfeited $600,000 in cash and more than 40 other items including cars, jewelry, weapons and framed photographs of sports legends like Jim Brown, Dick Butkus and Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

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Thousands turn out for vaccine clinic

By Christopher Magan | Thursday, October 29, 2009, 03:29 PM

XENIA — Bellbrook sisters Bridget Hilgeford and Chris Connor thought they’d be first in line for their children to get the H1N1 flu vaccine when they came to the fairgrounds two hours before a clinic started Thursday, Oct. 29.

“I thought we’d be first, but there were a couple hundred people in front of me,” said Connor, who brought her sons Colin, 16, and Tristan, 4, along with Hilgeford’s 11-month-old son Wyatt.

Robert Downer, a Beavercreek Twp. resident, wore a mask to fend off germs as he waited to get the H1N1 vaccine at the Greene County health district clinic that drew thousands to the fairgrounds.

They joined more than 2,000 others who waited in a line that snaked through the Greene County Fairgrounds parking lot to get the vaccine now only available for children and those most at risk. “His age and I’m pregnant,” was reason enough for Hilgeford to endure the wait. The line was heavily populated by families with young children.

Jon and Stacey Shampton, of Xenia, brought their sons, Stephen, 7, and Jonathan,10. Neither were excited to get a shot, but mom and dad were insistent. “I’ll just feel safer if they’re protected,” Stacey said.

Sara Pappa, spokeswoman for the Greene County Combined Health District, said they planned to keep the clinic open until 7 p.m. or when the few thousand vaccines the health district has run out. It took about 80 people, 30 staff and 50 volunteers, to hold the clinic, Pappa said. Others will be announced as soon as the county receives vaccine. It’s unclear when that will be.

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Peterson picked to fill school board seat

By Christopher Magan | Monday, October 26, 2009, 03:49 PM

BEAVERCREEK — School board members picked the managing partner of a local human resources company to fill the vacancy left by Mike Verlingo who resigned last month.

Leif Peterson, a retired civilian from Wright Patterson Air Force Base who’s now a consultant, was chosen from 12 applicants for the term that expires in 2011. The board voted to appoint Peterson in a special meeting Saturday, Oct. 24.

Leif Peterson

“I thought it was an opportunity to give something back to a school system that has treated us very well,” Peterson said. Peterson hasn’t decided if he will run for the post in 2011 when his appointment expires, he said.

Peg Arnold, school board member, said Peterson will make a good board member. “I think Leif will make a fabulous addition to the board,” she said. “He’s, in temperament and in training, very similar to Rich.”

Richard Eckhardt, board president, decided not to run for re-election to a third term for personal reasons. “His leadership experience and analytical strengths will serve the board well as it sets goals for the future and updates the district’s long-term strategic plan,” Eckhardt said in a district news release about the appointment.

Verlingo resigned from the board Sept. 30 and relocated to the Columbus area. He served six years on the board.

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