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March 2009
Ohio Supreme Court denies new trial for man who tried to have sex with teen
XENIA — The Ohio Supreme Court has rejected the request for a new trial for a man who allegedly traveled from Cincinnati to Xenia to have sex with a 14-year-old girl.
Jose Rivas, of Cincinnati, was convicted of importuning and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in 2005 after he arranged in an online chat room to meet a 14-year-old girl named “Molly” at a Xenia hotel for sex. The teen was actually a Xenia police officer and Rivas was arrested when he sent a pager message directing “Molly” to his hotel room, according to the Ohio Supreme Court.
At trial, Rivas claimed the transcript the state providde during the evidentiary discovery process was inaccurate and requested a copy of the police department computer hard drive, the court said. Rivas’ request was denied because police said the hard drive contained evidence for other cases that had not been prosecuted.
After his conviction Rivas appealed to the Second District Court of Appeals in Dayton. He won that case and his conviction in Greene County Common Pleas Court was thrown out and a new trial ordered. The Ohio Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling overturns the appellate court’s decision to give Rivas a new trial.
In the majority opinion Justice Terrence O’Donnell wrote that Rivas did not sufficiently prove to the court that the transcript of the online chat provided by police was inaccurate. “The defendant bears the burden of showing that the state acted in bad faith by destroying potentially useful evidence,” O’Donnell wrote. “Mere speculation does not meet the accused’s burden to show that the withheld evidence is material.”
Two justices, Robert R. Cupp, Paul E. Pfeifer and Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer, dissented from the opinion writing that the police computer hard drive was material to the Rivas’ defense.
Rivas’ attorney Marc. D. Mezibov, of Cincinnati, called the decision “troubling and unsettling” because he believes it could jeopardize future defendants’ rights to challenge evidence supplied by the prosecution. Mezibov said he could ask the court to reconsider its split decision in the next 10 days or appeal the case to the United States Supreme Court.
Elizabeth Ellis, appellate counsel for the Greene County Prosecutor’s office, said police had to protect investigative methods that would have been compromised had they given the defense a copy of their hard drive. She also noted Rivas destroyed his own hard drive which would have held a copy of the online chat. “In these particular cases, there is always going to be two copies of the information,” Ellis said. “If this was your key to freedom if you were wrongfully accused why would you destroy your own hard drive?”
Rivas, who was sentenced in 2005 to six months in jail and required to register for 10 years as a sex offender had the execution of his sentence postponed until the appeal was complete.
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TweetSearch for new superintendent already underway
BEAVERCREEK — School board members will start a search immediately to replace a superintendent many consider as one of the district’s biggest cheerleaders.
Dennis Morrison announced last week he would retire from his post July 31 after seven years in Beavercreek. He’s credited with helping keep the state’s highest ranking and bringing financial stability to the district.
Board members believe they can find Morrison’s replacement in the coming months and have someone ready to step in to lead the district before his retirement. To do so the board hired David Raish, who is affiliated with the education department at the University of Dayton, to lead a nationwide search for superintendent, said Richard Eckhardt, board president.
Eckhardt believes Raish will winnow applications down to 10 or so candidates in the coming month. Board members will then further narrow the field and eventually interview the top five applicants.
Whoever the board picks they’ll have their hands full as soon as they arrive in the district, which is beginning a $84 million renovation and construction project after voters approved a tax measure last year.
Morrison said he decided to retire before the project got well underway to give his successor a chance to make a mark on Beavercreek. “Who wouldn’t want to come to Beavercreek?” Morrison said.
Eckhardt agrees that now is a better time for Morrison’s retirement than half-way through the project. “I hate to lose him, but we all retire sometime,” he said. “Now is better than a year and a half from now.”
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TweetAppraisal challenges due 4 p.m. Tuesday
XENIA — Greene County Auditor Luwanna Delaney said Monday that all complaints about home valuations must be filed in her office by 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 31.
Delaney said state law requires appeals of property re-valuations be filed in person at her office at 69 Greene Street in downtown Xenia.
The auditor’s office was swamped with calls, e-mails and visits last fall from residents who received tentative reappraisals.
Homes are revalued every three years for tax purposes and last year many homeowners saw appraised values climb while selling prices for homes nearby fell.
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TweetScouts to remember girls killed in train collision 50 years ago
BEAVERCREEK TWP., Greene County — Girl Scouts will gather at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 29, to remember eight scouts and two leaders who were killed when a train hit their car 50 years ago.
The scouts will plant flowers and lay wreaths at the Community Park memorial of what is now known as Angels Pass. The Girl Scouts lost two leaders: Jeanette Randall and Lucille White along with eight girl scouts, Connie Laprise, Patricia Lipinski, Cynthia Moorman, Anne North, Paulnetta Randall, Linda Ward, Sharon White and Anna Wilvert. The scouts were killed March 18, 1959 when a train hit the station wagon they were traveling in near Factory Road.
Family and friends of the victims are expected to attend. Read more about the Angels Pass tragedy here.
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TweetCounty sewer rates to jump 4 percent
XENIA — Greene County sewer customers will see a 4 percent jump in rates beginning April 1 to offset the expense of upgrades to the system.
County Commissioners approved the rate hike with a 2-0 vote Tuesday, March 24. Commissioner Marilyn Reid was absent.
“This is a result of upgrades at the Sugarcreek and Beavercreek treatment plants,” Sanitary Engineer Jeffrey Hissong told the commissioners.
A $40 million expansion of the Sugarcreek treatment plant is nearly completed. Sixty percent of those costs are being paid by Montgomery County residents who also will use the plant. The county also recently completed a $10 million upgrade of the Beavercreek Twp. plant.
The 4 percent jump in sewer rates will translate to about $2 per month on the bill of an average family of four using 8,000 gallons of water per month, Hissong said. There are no plans to increase water rates as customers in Beavercreek and Sugarcreek Twp. prepare to enter the third summer of voluntary odd/even watering restrictions based on street addresses.
The county sanitary engineering department has millions of dollars worth of projects now underway to improve drinking water treatment and distribution. “I’m always impressed with how much forward planning has gone into it and the use of state programs,” said Commissioner Alan Anderson.
Building a distribution system in an existing community, and maintaining and improving it, are the main reasons Hissong has given for the county having some of the highest water and sewer rates in the region.
A Greene County water and sewer customer’s combined bill averages about $257 quarterly, according to a rate survey compiled each year by the city of Oakwood. Fairborn and Xenia residents pay about average rates at $192 and $177, respectively, and the lowest combined water and sewer costs are in Miamisburg with $113, the survey found.
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TweetMeetings added, canceled, promoted this week
Here’s a quick rundown of government and school meetings the next three days in Bellbrook and Sugarcreek Twp.
Monday, March 23: Bellbrook City Council canceled its scheduled meeting due to a lack of business. The next meeting is scheduled for April 6.
Tuesday, March 24: Sugarcreek Local Schools hopes to draw as many residents as possible to the public forum on its May 5 property tax levy. Tuesday’s session will be at 6 p.m. at Bellbrook Middle School.
Wednesday, March 25: The Sugarcreek Twp. trustees have added a special session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to take another step toward building the Clyo Road extension. The session at the township building, 2090 Ferry Road, will involve conveying easements for the project to Greene County.
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TweetLess than a month until Sugar Maple Festival
As families in Bellbrook and surrounding communities start to enjoy the warmer weekends, it’s time for a reminder that the annual Sugar Maple Festival is only four weeks away.
The April 17-19 event in Bellbrook will have live music, children’s activities, crafts and food vendors. There’s also a dog show Friday night, a 5K run and parade Saturday morning, plus a Saturday night concert at the high school stadium.
With Main and Franklin streets closed, free shuttles will run from Bell Creek Intermediate School (3777 Upper Bellbrook Road) to Bellbrock Park during festival hours.
As always, authentic Sugar Maple Syrup will be available for purchase in Bellbrock Park.
For more information, visit www.sugarmaplefestival.com
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TweetDistrict to pay $1.27 million for middle school site
BEAVERCREEK — School officials are close to purchasing a 50-acre site owned by the Nutter family to build the district’s next middle school.
The $1.27 million deal is contingent on a zoning change and environmental assessment of the land at the corner of Dayton-Xenia and Ankeney roads, according to district officials.
The district plans to build a new middle school on the land as part of an $89-million district-wide building and renovation project. The work is possible because voters approved a tax request in November after two defeats at the ballot box.
The current Ferguson Middle School will be used to house students from the now overcrowded high school, according to the plan. New middle and elementary schools will be constructed.
District officials have been searching for a middle school site north of U.S. 35 since paying Beavercreek Twp. $1.9 million for about 90 acres at the corner of South Alpha Bellbrook and Indian Ripple roads in August 2007. That site will be saved for future expansion.
Richard Eckhardt, school board president, said the district estimates the new middle school site could save $70,000 annually on transportation costs. District officials are in the midst of designing the two new schools and preparing for remodeling across the district.
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TweetSugarcreek approves $7.65 million budget
Sugarcreek Twp. trustees on Monday, March 16, approved a 2009 budget of $7.65 million, although the eventual total could rise by $1.5 million if the Clyo Road extension goes through as scheduled.
The township’s police ($2.43 million), fire ($1.78 million) and roads and services ($850,000) departments account for two-thirds of the budget. The police department is due for a $77,000 increase in spending over the 2008 budget, and Sugarcreek Administrator Barry Tiffany said that is due to personnel, vehicle and equipment costs.
The road and fire departments saw their budgets shrink slightly from 2008, with projected cuts of $61,000 and $73,000 respectively. While most township departments are in solid shape according to Tiffany, the fire department has been making cuts since voters narrowly rejected a levy in November.
Elsewhere in the budget, the township has lowered its projection for purchased services, which includes legal fees, from $315,000 in 2008 to $185,000 in 2009. And Sugarcreek expects much lower capital projects spending in 2009 after using more than $500,000 in 2008 to expand the township administration building and buy and renovate a home on South Alpha Bellbrook Road.
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TweetTom’s Mulch retail store open
SUGARCREEK TWP., Greene County — Tom’s Mulch, a long-established landscaping company and supply yard, has opened its new retail store at 2113 Ferry Road.
Company staff began moving into the new building in January, and it is now open for customers.
Owner Judd Powell has said he hopes to turn Tom’s Mulch into a one-stop shop, with the retail store’s tools, seed, garden ornaments and more adding to the existing business, which includes landscape design, property maintenance and a supply yard for contractors and others.
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TweetManager’s review shows split support from council
FAIRBORN — City Manager Deborah McDonnell’s performance review was released this week six months after a probe was launched to uncover what happened to her last evaluation.
The latest evaluation, which consists of reviews by individual council members and a composite of those opinions, illustrates McDonnell’s continued split support among her seven bosses on city council.
Three council members, Frank Cervone, James Hapner and EJ Griffith appear unhappy with her performance while Mayor Gary Woodward and council members Joan Dautel, Fred Pumroy and Stuart Snow gave her favorable reviews.
Comments in the individual reviews range from “reflects strong leadership” to lacking “personal integrity.” McDonnell is praised for her perseverance on the effort to build a disaster training center in the city and scolded for using the “F word” with staff and having an ego.
Last September in private session council asked McDonnell to take a leave of absence and appeared ready to fire her, but she returned to her post two weeks later. An examination of her city personnel file at the time found little more than her employment application and original contract.
Council members Frank Cervone, James Hapner and EJ Griffith demanded an investigation and Mayor Gary Woodward later admitted to destroying individual reviews prepared by council members claiming they were nothing more than personnel notes. He then gave McDonnell an oral review leaving no record of how her performance was judged.
Cervone has repeatedly said his and other council members individual reviews are public records and should be released. “I’m glad council is now recognizing that and making it available for review,” he said. “If they had before, we wouldn’t have had the problem last time around.”
Woodward and McDonnell hired Michael Murman, a Cleveland attorney, to investigate what happened to the last review and he concluded because city officials held multiple meetings in violation of Ohio Open Meetings laws that the records created at those meetings and later destroyed were not public records.
Council members are now negotiating a new contract with McDonnell and they are expected to vote on the deal at a special meeting March 25.
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TweetMemorial fund, funeral set for GCCC student killed in crash
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XENIA — A memorial fund has been established to cover the burial expenses of the Greene County Career Center senior killed in a single car crash Friday, March 13.
Jennifer Berry has created the Matt Berry Memorial Fund at Wright Patterson Credit Union to help pay for the funeral for her son. The 18-year-old left school about 12:50 p.m. and was driving on Hilltop Road when he lost control of his 1985 Chevy Camaro and smashed into a tree.
Berry was a Xenia student studying auto body and planning to work with cars after graduation, his mother said. “He really enjoyed hanging out with his friends and working on his car,” she said. “This is the worst thing you’ll ever experience.”
Berry is survived by his mother, Jennifer Berry, father Bobby Graham, his sister Emily Berry and brothers Harley, Bobby and David Graham. Funeral services are 1 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at McColaugh Funeral Home, 826 N. Detroit St. in Xenia. Visitation is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday March 18 at the funeral home.
Jennifer Berry said she is accepting contributions to cover funeral expenses in lieu of flowers.
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TweetMiddle Schoolers win science awards
Ten Bellbrook Middle School students received high ratings and awards for their science projects at the Greene County Science Day on March 7 at Wright State University.
The projects done by Sam Kohlhepp, Will Schmitt and Vincent Tong received “excellent” ratings. Receiving “superior” ratings were Hannah Collins, David Giffin, Noah Glinski, Andy Hulett, Sydney Schultz, Christopher St. Pierre and Ali Trimbach.
All seven “superior” projects also won awards, ranging from $50 cash to graphic calculators, books and $100 scholarships to science institutes. Hulett led the way with four awards, while Schultz and St. Pierre each grabbed three.
Bellbrook Middle School will have 16 students competing at the District Science Day, which will be held Saturday, March 21 at Central State University. The district event usually draws about 500 student participants from several counties.
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TweetSchools’ coach, adviser contracts vary in value
BELLBROOK — Sports have value for kids. As a former athlete, you’ll get no argument from me there.
But a look at the supplemental contracts Sugarcreek Schools is cutting for next year makes some people wonder if our priorities are out of line.
Two single-season middle school head coach contracts that are being eliminated average $3,000 per year. Several high school assistant coach spots were higher than that, and a freshman boys basketball coach was listed at $4,469.
Meanwhile a middle school drama adviser who works 10-12 weeks per play is listed at $1,164. The high school academic team advisers, Power of the Pen writing coaches and student council advisers are all below $1,000. Most of these coaches and advisers are teachers or school staff.
Granted, different jobs require different time investments, and Sugarcreek is not alone in this situation.
Are the coaches overpaid? Are the academic, drama and music advisers underpaid? Or is this the way it should be?
What do you think?
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TweetFormer Xenia assistant prosecutor faces theft charges
XENIA — Police believe money trouble may have caused the former Xenia Assistant Prosecutor to steal nearly $50,000 from two clients of his law practice.
Craig Saunders, who left the city law department in October, faces two fourth-degree felony counts of theft, according to police and Greene County Common Pleas Court records.
The first case dates to 2005, when Saunders was still working as prosecutor. He allegedly stole $45,000 from a Florida client that was supposed to be used to pay estate taxes, said Capt. Dan Donahue, Xenia police. “He deposited the check in his own bank account and spent the money for personal use.”
Police became aware of the alleged theft about three months ago and while investigating learned of a client who said Saunders stole $2,400 from her that also was supposed to pay an estate bill, Donahue said. “Mr. Saunders had no legitimate explanation what happened to the money other than he was having financial problems at the time,” he said.
Donahue declined to comment about whether Saunders had already confessed to police, but he did call the case “cut and dry.” Police are not aware of any other victims, but are asking anyone with information about other thefts to contact them.
Chris Kinsler and Dan Carey, members of the Clark County prosecutors office were called in as a special prosecutors on the case because of Saunders’ connections to the local legal community. They presented the case to a grand jury this week, which returned the two-count indictment.
Saunders has served on the local fair board, bar association and as a leader in the county Republican party. He ran in the Republican primary for the 84th state house district seat and lost to Madison County Commissioner Robert Hackett, who went on to win the general election.
It is unclear why Saunders left his post as assistant city prosecutor in October. His former boss Ronald C. Lewis declined to discuss the case or the reasons for Saunders’ departure. A phone message left with Saunders’ Dayton law firm requesting comment was not returned. He is free without bond and is set to be arraigned April 3.
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TweetBreast cancer fundraiser Sunday in Bellbrook
BELLBROOK — McIntosh’s Pub & Grub will host a fundraiser from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 15, to help three local women who plan to participate in a 2-day, 39-mile walk for breast cancer.
Karen Kurtz of Englewood, her sister-in-law Barb Singleton of Sugarcreek Twp. and Karen’s daughter-in-law Jayne Kurtz of Kettering will participate in the Avon 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer in Boston May 16-17.
The women must raise at least $1,800 each to participate, and the money will be used for breast cancer education, screening, treatment and research.
All three are well on their way to the fundraising goal, but Sunday’s benefit at the 6 E. Franklin St. tavern could push them over the top.
All three women will have breast cancer victims and survivors in mind when they walk.
“When you’re walking and you’re hurting and your feet are aching, that reminds you of what the breast cancer patients are going through,” Singleton said. “This is the least we can do.”
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TweetLocal city clue in popular crossword puzzle
What’s a five letter word for bicycle capital of the Midwest? If you did the New York Times crossword or live in Xenia you’d likely know the answer.
A New York Times cruciverbalist, one who develops crosswords, has honored the Greene County seat by using its name in the March 11 puzzle for the 1 across clue: “Ohio town called the Bicycle Capital of the Midwest.”
City Planner Nimfa Simpson spotted the clue and sent out a copy of the paper’s puzzle today. The NYT crossword is known for increasing in difficulty each day of the week ending with the toughest puzzle on Sunday.
For a Wednesday puzzle this seems to be a pretty tough one for those not from the immediate area. How many of you knew Xenia’s claim to fame?
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TweetLocal city answer in popular crossword puzzle
What’s a five letter word for bicycle capital of the Midwest? If you did the New York Times crossword or live in Xenia you’d likely know the answer.
A New York Times cruciverbalist, or someone who develops crosswords, has honored the Greene County seat by using it’s name in the March 11 puzzle for the 1 across clue: “Ohio town called the Bicycle Capital of the Midwest.”
City Planner Nimfa Simpson spotted the clue and sent out a copy of the paper’s puzzle today. The NYT crossword is know for increasing in difficulty each day of the week ending with the toughest puzzle on Sunday.
For a Wednesday puzzle this seems to be a pretty tough one for those not from the immediate area. How many of you knew Xenia’s claim to fame?
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TweetCommissioners against return of E-Check
XENIA — The possibility that emissions testing could return to Ohio has Greene County Commissioners fuming about losing money.
Commissioner Marilyn Reid asked for Tuesday, March 11, a resolution opposing the return of E-Check. The commission is set to vote on the measure later today. Reid said Greene County was forced into the program that aimed to reduce ozone and other air pollution causing vehicle emissions in Southwest Ohio.
The E-Check program was halted nearly four years ago. Many of the former sites are still vacant. Reid said her concern is the county could lose license, registration and other fees if the program returned to the county. She said residents would register vehicles in other counties if they could to avoid the test. “It’s not affective, not equitable and it doesn’t work,” Reid said of the test.
Her fellow Commissioners Alan Anderson and Rick Perales agreed. “With all the buildings gone. What a boondoggle that would be,” Anderson said of bringing back the testing. Perales said each community should be judged on its own if the test was needed.
They appear to have support from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Ohio EPA officials recently testified in Washington D.C. against the return of E-Check saying the region had made significant strides toward improving air quality.
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TweetBellbrook plans to repave 8 streets this year
BELLBROOK — Residents of eight city streets can expect to see roadwork and fresh pavement this summer through two different projects.
Bellbrook hopes to resurface seven roads this summer in its annual street program, which will go out for bid through Greene County on April 22.
Three are off Washington Mill Road (Hess, Lower Hillside and Belair), three are in the south plat (Cornish, Eckworth and South Linda between Portage and Cornish) and the last is South Main Street, from the South Street intersection to the city limit.
On the other project, Bellbrook and the state will share the cost of repaving Franklin Street (Ohio 725) from Vemco Drive west to the city limits at Lakeman Drive.
Information about lane closures or detours on Franklin won’t be available until after a contractor is hired and sets a schedule on the project.
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TweetCommunity theater gets donation from medical group
XENIA — A local theater group is getting a big shot in the arm from the Kettering Health Network. Xenia Area Community Theater, or XACT announced Monday, March 9, a $40,000 grant from the health group that will pay about half of a loan taken out by the acting company to renovate new performance space on East Second Street.
The new theater is behind the Second Act Thrift Store inside what was a former Harley Davidson dealership. The finishing touches are being put on to give the theater group it’s first true home since it’s found a handful of years ago. Until now the company has performed in vacant spaces around town, including the municipal court, organizers said.
The new space almost didn’t happen. Code requirements forced the company to spend $75,000 on a new firewall and heating and air conditioning equipment for the performance space. That debt will be repaid with the help of Kettering’s and other donations. The first XACT performance in the new theater, Cinderella Waltz is set to open March 13.
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TweetCounty, cities hopeful for stimulus money
Officials across Greene County are scrambling to put together applications that could bring some of the more than $700 billion in stimulus money home for local projects.
Beavercreek, Fairborn, Xenia and the county commissioners all submitted road work and other requests to the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission and the Ohio Department of Transportation. The planning commission received nearly $90 million in requests and has only $16 million to give out.
Despite the number of hands out, local officials are hopeful they’ll see some dollars for local projects. “I hope we’d get one or two projects approved,” said Russ Bergman, Fairborn city engineer. Bergman applied for almost $1 million in funding for four projects through the regional planning authority. They include repaving and a bridge rehabilitation.
Fairborn is also asking the state for millions in stimulus for downtown improvements and other road construction.
They’re not alone. Beavercreek submitted eight requests locally and Engineer Dave Beach also hopes one or two will get approved. Additional requests were in the works last week. “We have major highways due to be resurfaced, bridge work that needs to be done, signal projects,” Beach said. “It be nice to get some of them done that we wouldn’t otherwise have the funding.”
Xenia also hopes for dollars for downtown, roadway and projects including improvements for the Xenia Station bikeway hub. The largest Greene County request comes from the county commissioners, who are asking for $3.2 million to finish Innovation Way in Xenia. The street is a halfway funded access road through the county’s newest business park that now only has one tenant, Cornerstone Research Group, which is building it’s headquarters there. “It is absolutely shovel ready and that is one of the requirements,” Administrator Howard Poston told commissioners last month.
Miami Valley Regional Planning Commissioners are expected to pick the projects that will be funded in early April. On the Web: See the complete list of requests on-line here.
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TweetMerger study proposals have very different costs
The Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Merger Commission is evaluating proposals from two consultants interested in performing a merger study of the two communities.
GEM Public Sector Services of Dayton bid $39,900 on the project, while The Mercer Group of Georgia set a project cost of $162,360.
In their Wednesday, March 4 meeting, several commission members described the GEM proposal as too vague or general. The Mercer proposal was considered much more thorough, but there were concerns about cost.
Under Ohio law, Sugarcreek Twp. and the city of Bellbrook will share any costs the merger commission incurs on a nearly 50-50 basis.
A four-member subcommittee of the merger commission plans to compile a list of concerns for each group and ask them to resubmit their proposals.
Those resubmissions would be considered at the commission’s April 1 meeting.
For more information on the Merger Commission, visit www.mergerstudy.com.
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TweetBeavercreek city accounting earns high marks
BEAVERCREEK — The city and finance director Bill Kucera have earned top marks for bookkeeping.
The Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada recently recognized Kucera and the city with its highest honor, according to a city news release. To win the excellence in financial reporting award a panel judged the city’s annual comprehensive financial report, the release said.
The city was recently recognized for its 2007 financial statements, but has won the award 17 years straight. Kucera said in the release that residents should be proud of the finance department’s commitment to continue to maintain high standards. The city’s financial report can be found on-line at www.ci.beavercreek.oh.us under finance.
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TweetBellbrook theater puts on winter play this weekend
Bellbrook High School students will perform their winter play, “Titanic - Tragedy and Trial” this week.
Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the high school. Tickets can be bought at the door at a cost of $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.
BHS theater group director Chris Long said the play features an ensemble cast of about 30 students.
The play traces the events of April 14, 1912 from the perspective of ship officers, first-class passengers and those in steerage, as the massive ship Titanic hit an iceberg and sank. The second act focuses on the U.S. Senate inquiry just days after the tragedy.
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TweetPolice search for clues in string of car break-ins
FAIRBORN —Police need help finding the thieves who broke into more than a dozen cars at an apartment complex over the weekend.
Thirteen cars in the Red Deer Apartments on Roseanne Court were burglarized either by breaking windows or “punching” locks overnight Saturday into Sunday morning, March 1, said Sgt. Matt Ricketts, Fairborn police. Stereo equipment and other electronics were taken from the vehicles. Police have no suspects or witnesses.
It is unclear if two other reported break-ins, which occurred miles away, are connected. Contact Fairborn police at (937) 754-3000.
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TweetSugarcreek hires police chief from West Chester
Sugarcreek Twp. trustees hired Gilbert A. Flick as chief of police on Monday, March 2, filling a position that was vacant for a year.
Flick, 54, retired in December from the West Chester Twp. police department, where in 30 years he progressed from patrol officer to assistant chief for the past seven years.
More than a dozen officers and employees from the West Chester department made the drive to Monday’s meeting in Sugarcreek to show support for Flick. They were joined by a large crowd of Sugarcreek Twp. officers.
Sugarcreek trustee Mike Pittman said Flick stood out for his willingness and ability to mentor and teach Sugarcreek’s existing staff, which Pittman said had excelled in the past year since Chief Kenny McCloud retired in March 2008.
Flick, who will be paid $68,000 per year, will begin work Monday, March 9.
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TweetCounty transit to get $1.7 in stimulus money
XENIA — The Greene County Area Transportation Service, or Greene CATS, will get a boost from the federal stimulus bill recently signed by President Barack Obama.
Rich Shultze, executive director, told county commissioners last month his agency expects to receive $1.7 million in stimulus funding. The money can only be used for capital expenses, Schultze explained, meaning it can’t help the agency where it needs the most assistance: operations costs.
But the money can help solve another difficulty for the agency. Board members have mulled how and where to build a needed vehicle storage, maintenance and office facility for more than 18 months. With the stimulus money, and the strict timeline that comes along with it, the agency will fast track plans for a stand alone facility, Schultze said. “We don’t want to leave the money on the table,” he said. “We will be moving ahead with the new facility as quickly as possible.”
Greene CATS also is looking to expand services as demand rises in tough economic times. Nearly 150,000 residents used the service last year — that’s three times the riders from when the service was started in 2002. The Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and Greene County Department of Job and Family Services contract with the agency and are its biggest clients.
“Most systems are not in a position to even contemplate adding service,” Schultze said. “We are adding services just when they are needed most.” Greene CATS carries riders 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Rides are available by appointment or on “flex routes” through Xenia and Fairborn. New “flex routes,” including through Beavercreek and between Xenia and downtown are also in the works, Schultze said.
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