REVIEW TIMES

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011
REVIEW TIMES
B1
2011
COMMUNITY
St. Wendelin
energized
by merger | B2
Fostoria Schools
eye renewal levy
| B3
City seeking
stability in new
year| B4
B2
COMMUNITY UPDATE
FOSTORIA REVIEW TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011
St. Wendelin energized by school merger
School ‘family’ living under
one roof gets larger in move
By ALLISON WINGATE
quickly, we had to act fast.”
By closing the Wood Street
One would expect St. Wende- building, St. Wendelin Schools
lin High School principal Angela estimates a savings of approxiJoseph to feel exhausted, maybe mately $160,000. The amount
over-extended after the system includes staff reductions and
combined its two facilities into savings on utilities, cafeteria
expenses and equipment such as
one.
Instead, she is quite relaxed telephones.
But the transition didn’t end
and described the transition as
smooth, bringing with it an “elec- there, as plans to combine the
tric” energy she said has revived age groups in one building while
not sacrificing the value of student
her and her administration.
As part of the system’s stra- education began to take shape.
To keep the school groups
tegic plan, Fr. Nicholas Weibl
announced in May plans to shutter somewhat distanced from one
the North Wood Street elementary another, students in grades
school and bring those students K-6 enter the facility through a
to the North Countyline Street separate entrance and occupy
campus for the 2010-2011 school the second floor of the building.
There they have use of lockers
year.
without comIn
the
binations and
plans, Joseph
“It’s like there’s a buzz
have access to
was named
the art room,
in energy here.”
as the junior
music room
high and high
and gymnaschool prin- ANGELA JOSEPH,
sium.
cipal while
SWHS PRINCIPAL
To make
Cathy Krupp
rooms used
was named
by
both
as the elemenyounger and older students accestary school principal.
While the idea of consolidat- sible to all, it took a little creative
ing the schools into one facility scheduling on the part of adminwasn’t a new one, the transition istrators.
“I just knew it would be a lot of
itself arrived quickly, prompting
administrators to employ a plan work with logistics,” Joseph said.
As for the effect of the move
of action to get the schools in sync.
And Joseph was just the person on staff and students, Joseph said
to be charged with organizing the merger has rejuvenated them.
“It’s like there’s a buzz in
such an effort, as she oversaw the
transition of the junior high to energy here,” she described,
the high school campus when she adding collaboration between
became principal four years prior. staff and students for curriculum
“And that worked out extremely and extracurricular activities has
well,” she said in a previous brought a distinct sense of cominterview, adding other Catholic munity to the school.
“What they’re learning is it
schools preparing to make similar transitions have come to St. doesn’t matter what age their
Wendelin to observe what they’ve students are, they just need to be
taken care of and they need to help
done.
To get through the physical them find out what they are being
part of the moving process, St. called to be by God,” she said of
Wendelin depended on volun- the school’s teaching staff.
While the age groups are kept
teers to help pack up and move
the contents of the elementary largely separate from one another
school on June 26. Volunteers during the school day, Joseph said
also de-constructed and moved it is when those groups interact
the playground equipment to the that some of the most valuable lessons are learned.
new campus on July 17.
She described an incident
“It came together the quickest I’ve ever seen,” Joseph said, during which seniors were throw“Because the decision came so ing snowballs at one another on
campus and a group of fifth gradSTAFF WRITER
ALLISON WINGATE / the Review Times
ST. WENDELIN HIGH SCHOOL senior Andrew Cockie and kindergartner Allison Faber join in the hallway of St. Wendelin School. The
Catholic school system merged its campuses in 2010 as part of their strategic plan to save $160,000.
ers watched in awe.
“We had them go and explain
their bad behavior to those students,” she said, adding the
younger students look to the
seniors as role models. “It just
reinforces that message.”
The same idea was the source
of one of the first projects the
school undertook when the school
year began Aug. 18. To foster fellowship between the different age
groups in the building, Joseph said
they established “family groups.”
The mentor program assigns
students in grades K-12 to a family-like unit, guided by an adult
leader who is referred to as the
groups “shepherd.” These students participate in service projects with one another and attend
mass together on a monthly basis.
“Its a chance for our older students to be role models,” she said.
“We expect our older students
to step up to the plate and help
others.”
The program was an expansion
of the former mentor program,
which paired seventh graders with
a high school senior.
Another program the school
introduced in 2010 was a pilot
post-secondary option program
in partnership with Terra Community College in 2010, which
allowed students to earn transferable college credit through online
courses at no cost to them.
Students enrolled in the program are registered for a class
period during which they can complete their coursework and seek
guidance from a staff member.
The school also began dualenrollment classes in partnership
with Lourdes College for $75 per
credit hour. The courses offered
at St. Wendelin align with the curriculum of classes at Lourdes and
include government, geography,
calculus I and calculus II.
“We’ve been looking at more
opportunities for students to get
college credit before graduating
high school,” Joseph said.
Also in alignment with the
district’s strategic plan, they
have expanded their newsletter
to include grades K-12 and are
in the midst of re-designing their
web site to reflect their vision.
“These are things that may
seem simple in nature, but require
some work,” Joseph said.
In line with embracing technology as a means of communication,
all St. Wendelin teachers were
required to create a “Moodle”
web page this year to be used as
an interactive tool between themselves and their students.
“Moodle,” an abbreviation
for Modular Object-Oriented
Dynamic Learning Environment,
is a free and open-source e-learning software platform.
“We’re really looking at social
media and asking ourselves ‘How
do we use that tool for education?’” she said.
Athletically, the system faced
a set-back when their high school
football team was forced to bow
out of their season Oct. 18 after
a string of injuries that began in
late September.
The team is scheduled to
return next year and will play as
an independent team recognized
by the Ohio High School Athletic
Association.
While 2010 certainly posed
challenges for the school system,
Joseph said the transition was
necessary for the survival of St.
Wendelin schools. But, she also
wanted to put to rest the rumor
that St. Wendelin will close.
“We will continue to be here
as long as our community wants
us to be here,” she said. “We are
very blessed to be in a town that
wants us here.”
Hancock County villages
tackle various projects
By ERIC SCHAADT
FOR THE REVIEW TIMES
With the aid of grants and
loans, some Hancock County villages in 2011 will be able to undertake ventures that they could not
afford on their own.
Bids will be advertised this
spring in Van Buren for upgrading
street pavement and storm sewers
in the downtown square, with an
estimated cost of $147,000.
Van Buren will chip in 10 percent while the remainder will
come from a state grant.
Vanlue Council has applied
for a grant/loan package from
the Ohio Public Works Commission totaling $400,000 to replace
a 31-year-old lift station at the
sewage plant.
Mount Blanchard, meanwhile,
will pursue grants to upgrade its
water system.
Arcadia, likewise, will hunt for
available money to better its storm
sewer system.
With the assistance of $10,000
from the Hancock Park District,
ball field renovations will be
undertaken at the village park of
Benton Ridge.
Goals in Arlington for 2011
include arranging financing for
improving downtown sidewalks
and projects at the community
park, as well as upgrading the
water and sewer systems.
McComb Council has obtained
43 acres near Park Drive South
with the intent of attracting an
assisted living center or another
business.
Rawson has obtained a funding package from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand
its sewage treatment plant, a
$407,000 project.
Mount Cory this year will
begin a three-year maintenance
program to uproot and replace
trees throughout the village.
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COMMUNITY UPDATE
FOSTORIA REVIEW TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011
CyberStorm
Computers
Fostoria schools
eye renewal levy
District faces projected $1.6M
deficit in operating expenses
FOSTORIA — Fostoria school school administration have sought
district voters will decide a 7.5 money-saving ideas from school
mill, five-year emergency levy in employees and the public.
May and will elect three board
While administrative salaries
will be frozen for 2011-2012 school
members in November.
The school levy is a renewal year, Pritts has said, negotiated
tax. It was approved in May 2007 agreements between the board
and provides more than $1.6 mil- and employees will be honored.
For instance, Fostoria Educalion annually for district day-totion Association, which represents
day operations.
Faced with a projected $1.6 mil- district teachers, and the board
lion deficit in operating expenses, reached agreement in July which
district officials made additional provides 1 percent pay increases
cuts throughout district opera- for this school year and the next
tions for this school year includ- two school years.
ing:
Meanwhile, board members
•$600,000 savings for 8 fewer Tom Guernsey, Sharon Stanteachers who left through attrition nard and Joe Sheak are up for reor retirement.
election in November. Guernsey
•More than $241,000 savings is completing his first term on
in health insurance savings from a the board and is board president.
6.75 percent in health care costs. Stannard and Sheak are complet•$88,000 utilities savings at ing unexpired terms.
the closed Field School.
Stannard was appointed to
•More than $382,000 sav- the board in December 2009 and
ings for nonwas given
renewal of
the oath
“Fostoria City School
various conof office
officials are in the early
tracts.
as a new
•$85,000
school
stages of identifying districtfor not hiring
b o a r d
an assistant
member
wide cost-saving initiatives.
superintenin JanuSadly, this is a step that
dent.
ary 2010.
•$65,000
She was
many of the surrounding
for substitute
selected
school systems ... have
teachers.
by the
•$32,000
b o a r d
had to take during these
for removal
from six
of modular
individuchallenging economic times.
classrooms.
a ls who
A difficult, but necessary
•$40,000
wanted
for centralto fill a
step.”
ized purvacancy
chasing of
on the
- STEVE PRITTS,
supplies.
board.
FCS SUPERINTENDENT
•$50,000
Stanfor reduced
nard will
building
s e r v e
budgets
through this year, according to
The district paid less than state law, and can seek the remain$85,000 for the realignment plan der of the four-year term in the
last summer for building prepa- November election.
Board members Pat Grine
rations. The expense included
employee salaries, equipment, and Anthony Thompson, were
unopposed for four-year terms in
materials and painting.
The district also gained November 2009, but there were
$30,000 in Medicaid reimburse- three board seats available. So the
board selected Stannard to fill the
ment payments.
About 78 percent of district vacancy.
Sheak was named to the board
expenses are earmarked for
employee salaries and benefits, last month to replace board Presiaccording to information from the dent Tim Masel, who resigned
school district.
in December. Sheak retired last
The school board was expected year as Fostoria High School band
to discuss the financial conditions director.
and expense reductions during its
Pritts, former Elmwood schools
regular board meeting this month. superintendent, was named FosGov. John Kasich will present toria superintendent in March. He
a two-year budget in March to began June 1, 2010 and was given
offset a projected $8 billion deficit. a contract through July 31, 2013.
School districts, public libraries His salary is $110,000.
and other agencies rely on state
Former Superintendent Cynfunds for a majority of their oper- thia Lemmerman left the district
in November 2009 after seven and
ating money.
“In an effort to continue to be a half years to take a job with the
financially responsible, Fostoria state Department of Education.
Richard Heintschel served as
City School officials are in the
early stages of identifying dis- interim superintendent prior to
trict-wide cost-saving initiatives,” the hiring of Pritts.
Pritts said in a prepared statement
Also this year, the vacant Field
last month. “Sadly, this is a step Elementary School will be demolthat many of the surrounding ished.
school systems, and many school
The building, constructed in
systems across the country, have 1908 with additions added over
had to take during these challeng- the years most recently in 1993,
ing economic times. A difficult, was closed last June.
but necessary step.”
A realignment of school build“Unfortunately, even with cuts ings allowed the district to vacate
to non-personnel services, the only the building. Second grade stuway to meet the reduction target dents, previously housed at Field,
is to reduce staff,” he said.
were moved to Riley Elementary
Since November, Pritts and the School. First graders were moved
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to Riley, too. Third graders were
moved to the former middle
school, now intermediate elementary school, which houses grades
3-6.
Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students are housed at
Longfellow Elementary School.
Seventh and eighth graders
were moved into a portion of the
high school building, which is
now the junior high/high school
building.
With the changes, students
will have fewer building transitions during their careers, Pritts
has said.
Also, the school district projects a savings of $250,000 annually on utility and maintenance
costs with fewer buildings to
maintain.
Also new this school year was
a dress code for junior high school
students. High school students
have been covered by a dress code
since the 2009-2010 school year.
Junior high school students were
added this school year and intermediate elementary students will
adhere to the dress code beginning with the 2011-2012 school
year.
The policy mandates colors and
styles of student clothes including shirts, pants, skirts, blouses,
sweaters and belts.
There are no plans to implement a dress code for pre-kindergarten through second grade
students, Pritts has said.
Financial assistance is available for families who meet district
guidelines.
Two police officers are serving as full-time school resource
officers in the district this year.
The officers being in the schools
resulted from an agreement
between the schools, the city and
the police department.
One officer is in the junior
high/high school building and the
other officer splits time between
the intermediate elementary, Riley
and Longfellow schools.
Other district happenings:
•The district website: fostoriaschools.org has been redone.
•The district has undertaken
a billboard campaign, with assistance from area businesses, which
promotes students as “Faces of
Fostoria.”
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COMMUNITY UPDATE
FOSTORIA REVIEW TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011
City seeking stability in new year
Officials: Fresh ideas needed
to get Fostoria back on track
By CHANDRA NIKLEWSKI
the economic future of Fostoria.
Droll said there may be a bit of
The economy has not been an economic upturn in 2011, but a
strong, but Fostoria has been “few bright spots on the horizon”
working hard to attract and retain won’t replace what the city has lost
during the recession.
jobs.
Droll said getting through this
Honeywell International sold
its automotive Consumer Products next year will take fresh ideas and
Group, which includes Fostoria’s explained the city needs to “take
Autolite spark plugs plant. Mayor the blinders off.”
“We simply don’t have the
John Davoli said he is not sure
what that means for the city right funds and we’re not going to have
now until he can find out more the funds to operate like we always
have,” Droll said.
facts about the company’s plans.
Droll said there are significant
John Bones bought the Atlas
building and has started to par- changes that need to take place if
tition it off. Part of the building the city wants to survive. Howwill go to Blanchard Valley Farm- ever, he said many people aren’t
ers and the building will take on willing to look at making those
the name of Fostoria Technology changes due to how things have
always been done.
Center.
“I think people still believe that
Davoli said the building will
operate as a technology and everything is going to magically
go back to how it was and it can’t.
energy incubator.
But, the city is looking at It’s a different world,” Droll said.
Infrastructure is the city’s best
another large shortfall this year.
Cuts in the police and fire bet to crawl out of the economic
departments were severe in 2010, hole most communities are in,
but one officer came back to work though, Droll explained.
He said there needs to be a
due to the Community Oriented
Policing Services grant, two came better pathway to Fostoria from
back and are having their salaries Interstate 75 and that if projects
and benefits paid for through come up, the city needs to be preFostoria Community Schools and pared to pay its portion.
But, Droll said he does not
the other officers came back to
the police department due to con- think the city has enough money
cessions taken by the bargaining sitting around to handle the projects the city knows about.
units.
“If we use all of our money to
The Fostoria Fire Division also
lost eight people to layoffs in all, maintain day-to-day operations,
but in January of this year, the then we’ve just cut our throat,”
division was awarded the Staffing Droll said.
Investing in infrastructure is
for Adequate Fire and Emergency
Response grant in the amount of for the long-term health of the city
$1.2 million, enough to bring back and the most important thing that
all eight firefighters and pay their can happen for Fostoria is for the
salaries and benefits for two years. groundwork to be laid down for
Fostoria Fire Chief Keith the future, Droll explained.
“
I
Loreno is
t hink it
still look“I think it can be better, a
can be
i n g i nt o
better, a
lot better, but it’s going to
the details
lot better,
of
the
be different than we’ve ever
b ut it ’s
grant, but
going to
hopes to
known. It’s got to be.”
be differhave staff
ent than
numbers
- JOE DROLL,
we’ve ever
up soon.
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
known.
Davoli
It’s got to
w il l st ay
be,” Droll
on as Park
and Recreation director to cut said.
down costs to the city. He said
more than 11,000 people used the Iron Triangle Rail Park
pool in 2010, but is still looking at
The city now has a minor preoptions which will allow the pool
liminary engineering study report
to open again this year. The ecoon the Columbus Avenue project
nomic condition of the city might
meant to bring train enthusiasts to
not allow it, though.
the city. The work in 2010 allowed
“We’ve made some progress,
the city to compile that report and
but we’re still facing a large defiit was submitted in January, but
cit,” Council President Joe Droll
there is still plenty to do.
said.
“The plans are still not 100
The 2010 municipal budget
percent complete,” Dan Thornton,
deficit was $568,908 while the
city engineer explained.
general fund deficit was $184,486.
Thornton said Stage II plans
However, $350,000 from the conshould be completed in March
tingency fund was put into the
and submitted in April. Stage III
general fund at the beginning of
plans should be completed in June
the year.
and submitted in July. Finally, the
“Fostoria was a lot better at
drawings should be completed in
being broke than a lot of our surSeptember, submitted in October
rounding neighbors,” Droll said.
and approved by December.
The collection of income tax
“The entire project will go
receipts in Fostoria was approxidown to the central office (of the
mately $4.5 million and 2011’s
Ohio Department of Transportanumbers show a reduction of
tion) next February,” Thornton
$500,000.
explained.
“I’m optimistic, but I’m also
If everything goes according to
realistic,” Droll said regarding
schedule, officials hope bids to go
STAFF WRITER
File photo
PICTURED IS A drawing of the proposed Iron Triangle Rail Park. The city now has a minor preliminary engineering study report. The
work in 2010 allowed the city to compile that report and it was submitted in January. If everything goes according to schedule, bids may go
out in June 2012 and awarded by August.
out in June 2012 and awarded by
August.
There has been at least
one snag in the project. It was
decided the entrance to the park,
which was supposed to be off of
Columbus Avenue, was too dangerous due to the lack of gates
between the tracks on either side
of the entrance and the proposed
entrance.
“It was decided to have (the
entrance) go off Poplar Street,”
Thornton said.
But, a tract of land would have
to be secured by the city which
would allow cars to enter off of
Poplar Street and continue on to
a parking area in the park.
“It’s going to take the bulk of
the next 3-4 months to get that
resolved,” Thornton explained.
Those are legal issues which
are being handled which city officials hope does not interfere with
the current schedule for the park.
“That’s the biggest hurdle we
have right now,” Thornton said of
the park plans.
For 2011, Thornton said the
final goal is to have the final drawings completed and approved by
the end of the year. While some
dates may be able to be moved
up, the city is at the mercy of
ODOT because ODOT monies
are involved in the project.
“Their timeframe isn’t necessarily ours,” Thornton said.
orders in the construction in 2010.
“Those were mostly due to
water and sewer issues,” Thornton said.
Now that construction has
moved above ground, Thornton
said he expects there to be less
change orders, some of which
could be city costs and others not.
“Hopefully everything will
move forward and be on schedule
for this year,” Thornton said.
As for Stearns Road, Thornton
said engineering will continue on
that project in 2011.
“That’s pretty much all that’s
going to happen this year,” Thornton said.
Thornton said a town hall
meeting will take place at some
point regarding the project and
the bidding time will not happen
until 2014.
Fostoria Metropolitan Airport
projects
The Fostoria Metropolitan
Airport runway extension project
was completed in 2010. Although
the majority of work took place in
2009, the official completion was
in 2010.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony
was in June 2010 and the project
added 805 feet to the pre-existing
4,200 foot runway. That project
extended the length of the runway
to a total of 5,005 feet.
The American Council of
Engineering Companies of Ohio
presented the Honor Award in
the 2010 ACEC Ohio Engineering
Excellence Awards competition for
the runway extension project.
The airport is still the source
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There have been a few problems, mostly regarding trucks getting where they need to go while
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“I sent maps to businesses to
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However, Thornton said not all
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“Everything is open out there,
but it’s a little bit tricky if you
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Owner
Jeff Long
General Manager
Pratt Robinson
Sales
Tony Flood
Sales Mgr.
Charlie Flechtner
Sales
Ed Miller
Finance Mgr.
Dave Wooddell,
Sales
Chad Miller
Service Manager
Ken Kepling,
Sales
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419-435-7741 800-531-2613
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COMMUNITY UPDATE
FOSTORIA REVIEW TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011
B5
Police force to do more with less
Quality Precision Tooling
Department has eight positions open
By CHANDRA NIKLEWSKI
STAFF WRITER
For Fostoria Police, it’s all
about doing more with less.
For another year, the FPD is
continuing to do what it can to
provide the best possible services
with the money and items available, Fostoria Police Chief John
McGuire said.
Five officers were laid off
in June 2010, but all have been
brought back. Additional funding
has been obtained and one officer
is being paid through monies from
the Community Oriented Policing
Services (COPS) grant and two
others are funded by the Fostoria
Community Schools. Those officers primarily work as school
resource officers.
“Certainly, it’s given us
the renewed partnership and
increased safety throughout the
schools,” McGuire said.
However, when one of those
officers left for another position
elsewhere, there were issues
through the police department
regarding adequate staffing. There
is only one full-time resource officer in the schools while a second
is at the schools when available.
The department was forced to cut
down school programs to 21 from
City
Continued from page B4
of projects, though.
Thornton said work began in
2010 on the west apron, but had to
be stopped due to weather.
“It will be completed this
spring,” Thornton said.
A few years ago, snow removal
equipment was bought for the airport and this year, Thornton said
a storage building will be constructed to house the equipment.
Other Projects
Thanks to Community Development Block Grant and Community Home Improvement Program
grants, 13 homes received assistance through mortgage payments, seven were benefited by
private rehabilitation, 14 houses
37 due to budget constraints.
“Shilo Frankart is basically
wearing two hats,” McGuire
explained. “If he’s not on a call or
doing an investigation, he’s in the
schools.”
Safety Service Director Dennis
Fligor said there was a necessity
for the officers in the schools, but
the city could not afford it.
“It was a win-win situation
for both of us,” Fligor said of the
school system paying for the two
officers.
The department began using
a Dodge Charger and a Ford SUV
in 2010. Due to vehicle replacement programs, the department
was able to get newer vehicles and
be cost-effective. Fuel expenses
dropped by $9,113 and vehicle
maintenance costs dropped by
$8,905.
Officers handled 11,459 calls,
in addition to 2,015 non-crime
related calls in 2010. Non-crime
related calls include calls such
as citizens asking questions or
reporting an animal in their
home. The overall crime rate has
increased 1.09 percent in 2010,
as McGuire predicted due to the
economy and the lower manpower,
but serious crime has decreased by
3.6 percent.
had home building rehabilitation,
one rental house received rehabilitation and one house was given a
down payment assessment and
rehabilitation. The total amount
of grants received was $500,000.
There were 20 homes demolished in 2010 due to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
A total of eight houses are set to
come down in 2011.
The First Step men’s shelter house on Columbus Avenue
received CDBG monies in the
amount of $71,000 for a new fence
and a repair of the parking lot. A
sidewalk was also built which
comes into the city from Fostoria
Eco-Village.
Mayor John Davoli said it was
much safer for the people walking
into town with their children now
that there was a sidewalk and parents did not have to push strollers
on the side of the street.
The city had $222,000 to spend
Delivering some of the industry’s
highest standards of precision
grinding, machining, and finishing
of close tolerance tooling.
File photo
RPM Inc. est 1967 - Arcadia, Oh.
OFFICER CLAYTON MOORE displays one of the Fostoria Police
Department’s new cruisers, purchased in 2010.
5HXQLWHZLWK\RXUIDPLO\DWKRPH
“(The officers) are going to
do everything they can do to
investigate and make an arrest,”
McGuire said.
But, that takes time and paying
fewer officers to do the work with
the number of people available is
becoming costly due to overtime.
In 2009, the police department
had an all-time low in overtime
costs, but those costs have begun
See POLICE, Page B6
for the street program and eight
streets were resurfaced in 2010.
The park shelter at the City
Park was completed as part of
a five-year program. Plans for a
kitchenette may come into play
in the future, but the shelter does
have a good restroom facility,
which was part of the original
plan. There are also garage doors
on it to close the building to the
outside if needed. If a private party
is taking place, the restrooms can
be accessed from inside the shelter
only. Otherwise, they can be used
for anyone in the park.
Although the lack of a kitchenette means food can’t be prepared
there, food can be brought in
and there is a sink present in the
kitchen area.
The skate park was completed
in 2010 due to a grant from the
Greater Fostoria Community
Foundation and a grant from the
Hancock County Park District.
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FOSTORIA ROTARY CLUB
“CELEBRATING OVER 90 YEARS
OF COMMUNITY SERVICE”
Please support
these groups &
organizations.
They are proud
to be an
important key to
our community
First Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
255 W. Center St., Fostoria
419-435-2341
Fostoria VFW
Post #421
112 W. Tiffin St.
Fostoria, OH
419-435-2282
Pastor Tress Hodkinson
9:30a.m. Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. Worship
[email protected]
AMVETS POST #69
155 E. Tiffin St., Fostoria
419-435-6909
American
Red Cross
Fostoria Chapter
115 South Main Street • 419-435-5360
www.fostoriaredcross.org
“A Fostoria Tradition”
DayBreak of Fostoria
Adult Day Center for persons with
Alzheimer’s Disease & Memory Loss
Caring for a Loved One...Need
a Break? Try Our Safe, Loving Environment.
“Dedicated to displaying
glass made by Fostoria glass industry artists”
Closed January & February
March Thurs – Sat. 10-3
April – December: Tues – Sat 10-4
109 N. Main St. Fostoria, OH 44830
www.fostoriaglass.com
Financial Assistance Available For Those
Who Qualify
419-435-2114
419-435-4022
Fostoria
A
Agency
American
Legion
Post #73
550 E. Zeller Rd.
Fostoria, Oh.
419-435-3335
Fostoria Glass
Heritage Gallery
Fraternal Order of Eagles #430
725 Columbus Ave.
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
If you are interested in becoming a Rotarian, contact
Kurt Dauterman @ 419-435-9273, or Arlen Lowery @ 419-435-1211
Wesley United Methodist Church
1200 Van Buren St.
419-435-8551
Sunday School....9:15 a.m.
Worship....10:30 a.m.
First Day Free... Come check us out
$30 per day
M-W-F 8:30 am to 2:30 pm
For more information contact: Terri Faeth
• Continuing Scholarships- $6,000 awarded annually to Fostoria area
students
• Loyal Agency Support- Thousands of dollars donated to support area
groups
• Mesa- Medical Equipment shipped abroad, supporting third world
countries
• Holiday Parade- Organize annual holiday tradition and reward area
participating bands.
• Golden Apple Programs- Recognition and financial award to top
Fostoria and St. Wendelin teachers.
• Literacy Programs- Age appropriate books supplied to local school
libraries.
• Community Beautification- Upgraded and continued beautification at
Risdon Square Center
• Student Honors- Two students from Fostoria & St. Wendelin honored
monthly throughout the school year.
1049 N. Countyline St., Fostoria, OH
free entertainment every Fri eve. for members
Proud to support LOCAL charities
and organizations in Fostoria through
various fundraisers.
Always Accepting Men’s Aerie & Women’s
Auxiliary Members. Call for Details.
“Changing The World, One Child
& One Community At A Time”
Fostoria Kiwanis Club
What we do:
Provide Shoes for children in need • Team up with
Fostoria Community Hospital to perform car seat safety
checks • Mentor elementary students • Conduct Punt,
Pass & Kick competition • Visit patients in nursing
homes • Purchase food baskets for low-income families
• Help with Meals on Wheels
• Highway clean-up • Put up U.S. flags on holidays
• Provide funding for various local non-profit agencies
The public is always welcome at Kiwanis!! We
meet at noon every Tuesday @ Good Shepherd
Home (basement meeting room). Call
419-435-6641 ext. 240 for more information.
B6
COMMUNITY UPDATE
FOSTORIA REVIEW TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011
FEDC looks ahead to a better year
Reinhard has sights set on
rehabilitating former TKA building
By ALLISON WINGATE
STAFF WRITER
While the new year is often
considered a time to reflect, Fostoria Economic Development
Corp. executive director Joan
Reinhard is looking ahead.
More specifically, she has her
eye on a Clean Ohio Assistance
Fund grant, for which the city
is applying to rehabilitate the
Brownfield Building, or former
ThyssenKrupp (Atlas Crankshaft)
factory, 901 S. U.S. 23.
The building was purchased
for $1 million by John Bones of
Industrial Asset Recycling, who
originally toured the site several
months ago in consideration of
dismantling and scrapping it.
But, his plans changed once
he realized the potential of the
facility.
“He visited the site and said ‘It
would be a grave injustice to scrap
this building,’” Reinhard said.
Renamed the Fostoria Technology Center, the facility will serve
as a “technology and energy incubator” for start-up businesses.
Reinhard said she hopes the
facility will “attract fresh startups who may be eligible for DOE
grants and low-interest loans.”
Bones has begun to partition
the building off, with part of
the building going to Blanchard
Valley Farmers. The facility will
ultimately be comprised of 4-5
units and office space up to 5,000
Police
Continued from page B5
to creep up again as the department has been forced to cut down
on other expenses and manpower
in an effort to push costs down
across the board.
“It’s a double-edged sword,”
McGuire said.
Regardless of the more
demanding work hours, McGuire
said officer complaints have
decreased. There were nine in
2009 and seven in 2010.
“I attribute that to accountability, professionalism and retraining
measures,” McGuire said.
Training has changed since
McGuire took the position of chief.
Officers used to go to two training
classes, one they picked and one
the chief chose for them. Officers
now only take the state minimum
required for certification due to
the cost-cutting measures taking
place. If the money was there,
McGuire would prefer to have
more training for the officers.
“I believe a highly trained officer makes a more professional
officer,” McGuire explained.
The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team is fully operational, McGuire said. There were
seven serious incidents in 2010
that required the team to respond.
“Each one of those went off as
planned with no injuries to officers
or suspects,” McGuire said.
The block watch program is
still operational and the Seneca
County Drug Task Force — METRICH Enforcement Unit also has a
full-time investigator on it at this
time. However, when the layoffs
first occurred, McGuire did pull
that investigator back into patrols
at the department to make sure he
square feet.
The units will be leased from
the back of the building to the
front as environmental work
must be completed on the front
end before the space is occupied.
Reinhard said the first company is expected to move in by
March, but that the deal is still in
the planning stages.
The project, which FEDC has
been working on for the past six
months, has been made possible
through the partnership with several state agencies and the City of
Fostoria.
“The city engineer (Dan
Thornton) has been a wonderful asset and wealth of knowledge as to what we do next,” she
described. “It takes all of us working together to get this project
moving forward.”
Contractors Burgess and Niple,
whom the city has also consulted
for the Iron Triangle Rail Park,
will work on the job.
The application for the Clean
Ohio Fund grant is viewable at
the Kaubisch Memorial Public
Library, 205 Perry St., until April
1. A public meeting and discussion
on the grant application will be at
4:30 p.m. March 31 at the library.
Any questions regarding the
application may be referred to
Mayor John Davoli at 419-4358282.
Business Loss
had the manpower to answer calls
for service.
There were 157 drug arrests by
the FPD and 69 METRICH drug
cases/investigations in Fostoria
which led to 58 arrests/indictments.
Currently, there are eight
unfulfilled positions within the
department. Those numbers
include office support staff and
dispatchers.
This year promises a change in
the way calls come in to dispatch
with an updated 911 public safety
answering point (PSAP) system.
“We hope to have that up and
running hopefully by March,”
McGuire said.
The system will go into place
thanks to funding through Seneca
County and will allow 911 calls
in Fostoria to go directly to the
department dispatcher. Currently,
the calls are received by the Wood
County Sheriff’s Office and then
patched over to the FPD.
“It will not have to be transferred from Wood County to us,”
McGuire explained.
This new system will shorten
response times, McGuire said, and
will provide a mapping system so
dispatchers can have an exact location of the call’s origin.
McGuire said there are numerous open positions in the police
department McGuire would prefer
to have filled sooner rather than
later as the year begins.
“(The financial situation) does
leave me without a full-time investigator here,” McGuire said.
Gabe Wedge was the detective at the police department
during the September 2010 trial
of Michael Dodson, a man convicted and sentenced to 40 years
in prison for the attempted murder
of Shanna Long at Subway on
North Countyline Street and the
aggravated robbery of the busi-
The industry outlook in Fostoria over the past year hasn’t been
so bright.
While many businesses have
left the area, including Uniboard
and the Ohio BMV in 2010, Reinhard said closure of those facilities
largely came externally.
“All of those decisions were not
local ones, the decision was made
with the larger corporations,” she
said.
Such was the case when Canadian-owned Uniboard Fostoria
Inc. announced the closure of its
North Main Street facility, resulting in the loss of 30 jobs locally.
The company owns facilities in
Quebec and North Carolina that
both manufacture and laminate
particle board. Local production
was moved to those facilities after
the plant’s closure became effective Oct. 1.
Also closed in 2010 was the
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle
Deputy Registrar agency, 304 N.
Main St.,, which announced its
permanent closure on June 26,
resulting in the loss of four jobs
locally.
The closure was the result
of an examination by the Ohio
Department of Public Safety of the
number of transactions the agency
handled, the population of the area
the agency is in and the proximity
of other agencies.
Now Fostoria residents must
visit Ohio BMV agencies at 1457
E. Market St., Tiffin, which is
more than 14 miles from Fostoria;
8210 CR 140, Suite A, Findlay,
which is more than 20 miles from
Fostoria; or 500 W. State St., Suite
C, Fremont, which is more than 23
ST. CATHERINE’S MANOR
miles from Fostoria.
The closure of these businesses
impacted the sustainability of
smaller, local businesses, as well.
“When you have a company
that employs 100 people close,
those employees that lose their
jobs, they’re not able to go out
and spend as much money,” she
described. “The mom and pop
stores that rely on that expendable
income see that dry up.”
Changes at FEDC
Much like industry in Fostoria,
the FEDC has also seen change
internally over the past year.
Reinhard accepted the executive director position after serving as interim executive director
since James Bischof left the position in March 2009. She was formally assigned to her new position
April 1.
Prior to her time with the
FEDC, Reinhard assisted upper
See FEDC, Page B8
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ness.
“That was one of the highlights of 2010. It was a cold case
that Gabe (Wedge) solved,” Fligor
said.
The crime, which occurred in
January 2004, was one of three
considered a cold case. While
there are unsolved cases in Fostoria, McGuire said there are now
only two which currently meet his
qualification for a cold case.
The first is the murder of Tina
Snyder. Her body was discovered
in her East Fremont Street apartment Dec. 3, 2004. The second is
the murder of Jamie Jones, who
was shot to death at the corner of
Crocker and Poplar streets in July
1994. While McGuire would not
give details regarding the investigation of either case, he did say
there may only be one cold case in
Fostoria by next year.
“I’m very confident we’re on
the verge of solving one of the two
cold cases,” McGuire said.
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“Serving Fostoria For 54 Years”
That’s the only prediction he’s
able to make for 2011 as he plays
the waiting game with this year’s
numbers, though. At the time of
this interview in mid-January, he
had not received his budget for
2011 and had no final figures for
2010.
“It makes my job, which
is tough, that much harder,”
McGuire said.
For now, he said his department has continued to do more
with less and has done a consistent job.
“It’s become my job to make
sure we continue to do that, but
it’s become increasingly difficult
to provide the services the citizens
expect and deserve with the issues
we’re facing,” McGuire said.
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FOSTORIA REVIEW TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011
COMMUNITY UPDATE
B7
2011 off to a hot start for Fostoria Fire
Grant helps bring back eight
laid-off firefighters
By CHANDRA NIKLEWSKI
STAFF WRITER
The Fostoria Fire Division has
had its ups and downs in 2010.
There has been scandal, a change
of chiefs, extensive layoffs and contract negotiations in the previous
year, but this year has already
started an upswing with the
announcement of a $1.2 million
federal grant to bring firefighters
back to work.
“It’s been a rough year,” Fire
Chief Keith Loreno summarized
of 2010.
Loreno was brought in as
chief in August 2010, taking over
from Acting Chief Jim Walters.
Although there was no more revenue coming in, Safety Service
Director Dennis Fligor said he
had to make a decision regarding
the fire chief position.
Walters had taken over the
position from then-Interim Fire
Chief Brian Anderson. Two
domestic violence arrests and an
internal investigation later, Anderson was bumped down to the rank
of captain and Walters stepped in,
but was not eligible for the chief’s
position. Anderson was not convicted on the two domestic violence counts, but did plead guilty
to a reduced charge of disorderly
conduct. After a citation for operating a vehicle while intoxicated in
Bowling Green in January, Anderson resigned from the department.
Many people applied to take
on the permanent position of fire
chief, Fligor said, but a committee
narrowed the field down to 10 and
Fligor interviewed the top three.
“All three were top notch, however I felt that Keith was the logical choice because he had diversity
in his training,” Fligor said.
Loreno said when he took the
job, he was told it would be difficult, but the city wanted to move
forward with more efficiency.
“The city of Fostoria needed a
man of his experience and we’re
happy that he is here,” Fligor said.
Loreno said 2010 has brought
some improvements to the department, including the increased use
of electronic media. A server
located within the department has
IS
allowed for better records management, Loreno explained.
A stair chair was also required
to assist transports of patients by
EMS personnel. The chair reduces
risk of injuries to the firefighters
who are bringing patients down
stairs during the transport, where
a lot of injuries occur, Loreno said.
“All of the burden and weight
is not put on the rescuer,” Loreno
explained.
Loreno cited transport over
steps, walks and porches, especially in the winter months, as a
prime location for injuries. Fortunately, Loreno said any injuries
regarding slipping on snow and
ice did not require compensation
claims be filed.
A new roof is planned for the
fire station in 2011 and Fligor said
there is a possibility of a newer
replacement ambulance. Loreno
also said the department is able
to use a utility vehicle with a snow
plow on it to help with calls in the
winter.
There were 361 fire responses
in 2010 and 11 structure fires.
Loreno is also looking at an
improved billing system for EMS,
which would bring in more revenue for the city.
“This is not an attempt to make
more money off the citizens. It’s
to maintain services we have
while offsetting the cost,” Loreno
explained.
For instance, payments that
now take up to 60 days to arrive
in the department’s coffers could
take as little as 14 days with a new
system.
In 2010, there were 1,408 EMS
responses and Fostoria EMS produced $318,000 in revenue for the
city.
But, that wasn’t enough to
keep firefighters working and,
with eight people laid off, the
department was operating with
little staff.
Loreno said the department
is designed to have four men per
shift now, but that does not include
the mandated time off, vacation
days and sick days that can occur
throughout the year.
“I would prefer to have more
per shift, but it’s not an option at
this time,” Loreno said.
Loreno applied for the Staffing
for Adequate Fire and Emergency
Response grant and asked for
$1.2 million which would pay for
the salary and benefits for eight
laid-off firefighters to come back
to work for two years, the life of
the grant.
Grant recipients were awarded
beginning Christmas Eve 2010
and Fostoria was passed over
numerous times.
“You don’t want to be jealous,
but you’re extremely disappointed
because, in my heart I believe this
department is the exact type of
department for this grant,” Loreno
said.
Since that interview, though,
the federal government agreed
and the grant was awarded to
Fostoria. Loreno is still looking
into when firefighters can begin
reporting to duty again.
“I did not want to lay off
people, but there are times you
have to reduce that head count if
you don’t have the revenue,” Fligor
said.
Fligor said he did not foresee
any more layoffs, but could make
no promises. With the grant
award, the city has gained breathing room while new policies and
cost-saving measures are explored
so, at the end of the two years, the
department does not find itself
immediately eight people fewer.
Working with fewer firefighters
has had its challenges and Loreno
explained the personnel numbers
go “hand in hand” with response
time. However, off-duty personnel
have been vital to the continued
operation of the department without outside help. Loreno said the
only option during certain emergencies requiring a set number of
people is to recall someone who is
not scheduled to work at that time.
“Fighting fires takes manpower. There is no simple way
around it. We are always in the
public eye and if something
doesn’t go well, there is nothing
worse than being judged for your
split second decision by those who
have years to evaluate you on an
incident afterward. We are always
trying to bring a sense of calm to
chaos,” Loreno said.
Fligor said contract negotiations will probably start in March
and Loreno explained he knows
his firefighters are looking out for
the citizens, but they also expect
File photo
THE FOSTORIA FIRE DIVISION has had its ups and downs in 2010. This year has already started an
upswing with the announcement of a $1.2 million federal grant to bring firefighters back to work.
to be paid fairly.
“Firefighter/medics go through
a lot of training since their jobs are
dangerous. It is reasonable that
their pay is reflective of this. They
run into burning buildings while
everyone else’s brain tells them to
get out,” Loreno said.
As for being a firefighter,
payoff, in the end, is the hope of
a solid pension system. Time will
tell how the negotiations will work
and how the grant will affect the
manpower issue and the financial
issue which is still facing the city.
“I simply hope that everyone
keeps in mind the budget issues so
that we all succeed,” Loreno said.
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B8
COMMUNITY UPDATE
FOSTORIA REVIEW TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011
City flows through projects
sufficient, but Thornton said after
three cleanings, the lines were still
half full of sediment.
“It may take 10 times. It may
take 15 times,” Thornton said.
However, Thornton said
regardless of how many times it
takes, the lines will be completely
clean before crews move on. The
cost of cleaning out the systems
is $250,000.
“It’s a good investment for the
city to clean out the system and
gain back some lost capacity in our
sewer lines,” Thornton said.
Once the system is completely
clean, there will no longer be a
By CHANDRA NIKLEWSKI
need to clean the lines every year,
STAFF WRITER
Water and sewer efforts are but maybe every five to seven
taking up a big bulk of the projects years instead.
While cleaning, spots where
which were completed in 2010 and
that are being looked at for 2011. repairs are needed have also been
One of the largest and longest found. Although that means more
projects is the Combined Sewer work, Thornton put it into perOverflow Long-Term Control Plan spective and said the lines were
for the city. The plan is to allow “not in very bad shape” considerFostoria to bring its system into ing some of the lines are 100 years
compliance with the Clean Water old.
There were more water main
Act.
“It’s still out there,” Thornton breaks than last year, but Thornsaid of the mandates set down by ton said he believed the issue
the United States Environmental was resolved and may have had
something to do with the north
Protection Agency.
“We’re trying to develop con- water tower being down while it
trol alternatives,” Thornton said. was being painted, another comThe consent decree entered pleted project in 2010. A train logo
into by the city requires it to was also painted on the tower.
improve wastewater treatment To complete the project, the city
plant operations. It also requires paid $188,000 while the other
the city to take steps to control $188,000 was received from the
the combined sewer overflow dis- Ohio Public Works Commission.
Fifty percent of the money was a
charges.
Thornton said Fostoria is also grant and 50 percent was a loan.
Although the city applied for
finishing up the completion of new
the
money for the south tower,
and updated water maps. The
Federal Emergency Management they did not get it for that project
Agency flood maps go into effect and the tower will have to wait.
“Hopefully we can get it next
June 2.
y e a r,”
C u r Thornton
rent ly,
There
were
more
water
main
said.
the Ohio
But, the
Departbreaks than last year, but
city
did get
m e nt of
the money
Thornton said he believed the
Natural
for a difResources
issue was resolved and may
ferent projis reviewect , one
have had something to do
ing the
t he c it y
m ap s to
with
the
north
water
tower
is under
make sure
ordinance
they meet
being down while it was being
from the
at least
Environpainted, another completed
minimum
mental
compliproject in 2010.
Protection
a n c e .
Agency to
Thornton
complete.
said he should have something
Thornton
said
this
year
the city
before Council to approve by the
first March meeting and said finally got the money from the
FEMA is not fond of things being Public Works Commission to
passed as emergency so three complete it.
On North Poplar Street, south
meetings are needed.
Thornton explained if the city of Culbertson Street and between
does not get the maps in order in the railroad tracks, Thornton said
time for the June 2 deadline, Fos- there is a “little section” that has
toria could be suspended from the no sewer lines and the homes in
program, which can cause prob- that section along Culbertson
lems for some residents near the Street have no water lines.
A remedy to that problem will
Portage River. Approximately six
take
place in a project that is set
houses are considered to be in the
to begin this year. Sixteen houses
flood plain area.
“People won’t be able to get will finally have the ability to hook
up to the sewer and water lines in
flood insurance,” Thornton said.
Reinstatement to the program the city and stop relying on wells
can take up to six months or more. and septic tanks.
“That’ll take care of an issue
However, Thornton said that
is why he got everything in order we’ve had for a long time,” Thornwell in advance and he doesn’t ton said, explaining the EPA had
anticipate any problems staying issued the mandate on the area in
2002.
with the program.
The project will cost $409,000
A bulk water station is going
with
the Ohio Public Works Comup at the service garage on Permission paying half of the total.
rysburg Road.
“Anyone who needs bulk water Half of the money they give will
sales can go out there and get be a grant and the other half is a
loan, the same as the water tower
water 24/7,” Thornton said.
The idea is for farmers to get project monies.
The city will pay roughly
their water from there with a
minimum of about 100 gallons of $205,000.That project should be
water, Thornton explained. The completed later in the fall of this
station would make transactions year.
Th
i t i on
d
a
r
eT
o
Continued from page B6
management at First Ohio Credit
Union in accounting and operations, according to a press release
issued by the FEDC.
While involved in the FEDC,
she is also actively involved in
professional organizations such as
the Ohio Economic Development
Associations, Northwest Ohio
Regional Economic Development
and North Central Ohio Regional
Development Association. Locally,
Reinhard is a member of the Fostoria Rotary Club, Vision 2020
Board and the St. Wendelin Parish
Choir.
Reinhard said as part of her
position, she continues to visit
between 2-5 local businesses
per week and speak to business
owners about any concerns they
have.
“I try and see if they’re running
into problems and see if they need
anything from us,” she said.
While she tries to maintain
communication between herself
and local entrepreneurs, she said
many local businesses who have
shuttered their doors didn’t come
to her until it was too late.
She said in the case that a
business is foundering, she can
refer business owners to agencies
that offer low-interest loans to
refinance debt and make it more
manageable.
FEDC has also hired a parttime grant writer, Gaye Winterfield, who formerly wrote grants
for Seneca County Regional Plan-
Water, sewer
efforts take
up a bulk of
Fostoria’s
plans in 2010
and 2011
go quickly because the consumer
would not have to deal with anyone
while making the purchase.
“It will be sold right there.
Press what you want, put in your
money and then get your gallons,”
Thornton explained.
The unit should be up and
running by late spring or early
summer of this year.
As for the water and sewer systems, Thornton said the digester
was cleaned and coated with
epoxy. A digester “digests the
sludge,” Thornton explained.
Sewer cleaning has continued
and the large-diameter lines were
cleaned last year and will continue
this year in March. Large-diameter lines range from 36 inches
across to 72 inches.
“I think it will have a large
impact on our system,” Thornton
said.
Due to technology which gives
crews an accurate picture of the
lines during cleaning, Thornton
said the work has been able to
be completed more thoroughly
than if the city did not have the
video technology. The technology
is basically a camera on wheels.
Thornton said sometimes those
wheels even have treads and
the units go into the lines along
with the hose so workers can see
exactly what they miss as they
clean.
“They kind of have to work
together,” Thornton said of the
camera and the jet nozzle.
Usually three cleaning with
a jet nozzle would be considered
FEDC
ning.
Winterfield will write grants
for the FEDC, the City of Fostoria
and the Fostoria Area Chamber of
Commerce.
Chamber changes
The Fostoria Area Chamber of
Commerce has seen its own shakeup in staff in 2010.
It was announced Sept. 20
executive director Sheri Fleegle’s
position was eliminated, with the
Chamber citing economic concerns.
Fleegle was hired in April
2009 after Sarah Stephens-Krupp
stepped down from the position.
Before coming to Fostoria,
Fleegle was program and marketing director for Boys and Girls
Club of Pleasants County, near the
Ohio River in West Virginia. She
previously served approximately
20 years as director of public information for Washington State Community College, Marietta.
The Chamber has since begun
to advertise for a part-time chamber coordinator position, according to Reinhard who serves as an
ex-officio and the Chamber’s official web site.
Also departing from the Chamber was administrative assistant
Darcy Kidwell-Foos, who accepted
a position with Welty Financial in
Fremont. Fostoria resident Aymee
Flores has since accepted the position.
For more information on the
Fostoria Economic Development
Corp., call 419-435-7789, the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce,
call 419-435-0486, or visit www.
fostoriaohio.org.
File photo
CREWS WORK on painting the city’s north water tower. In addition
to a fresh coat of blue, a train logo was also painted on the tower. To
complete the project, the city paid $188,000 while the other $188,000
was received from the Ohio Public Works Commission. Fifty
percent of the money was a grant and 50 percent was a loan.
The Sandusky Street pump station was also completed in 2010. It
was the last upgrade on the pump
stations and the oldest is now from
1990.
“Hopefully we shouldn’t have
any issues with any of them,”
Thornton said.
The sewer project at the East
Park Drive subdivision began in
September 2010 and the majority was completed by Christmas.
Putting in 850 feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer lines affects 11 homes
and the Seneca County Board of
Health has reported a lot of failed
systems in that area. Once the
homes hook into the lines, those
failures should cease.
Phase I of a small sewer system
project on High Street, between
Sumner and Fall streets should
be completed this year, Thornton
said.
The city also acquired a $1.8
million lime sludge press and
received $800,000 of that money
from the American Reconstruction and Reinvestment Act. The
rest is a 20-year zero percent loan
which the city is paying back at a
rate of $50,000 per year. The use
of the lime sludge press saves the
city $100,000 per year, Thornton
said, which makes the total savings for the city after payment on
the loan $50,000 per year.
The city will keep one small
lagoon for the lime sludge when
the press shuts down for 7-14 days
for maintenance and cleaning.
As for the existing lagoons,
Thornton said there are ideas for
that space.
“If we can clear that whole area
out and level it off, it would make
a nice open area,” Thornton said.
There are no definite timeframes for that project, but Thornton said there could be funding to
look into from the Hancock Parks
ce
n
e
l
l
e
f Ex c
in u
c on t
and Recreation grants. The cost
would be worth it because of the
use the area gets now, he said.
“There are a lot of people who
walk around there so why not?”
Thornton said of the idea.
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FOSTORIA REVIEW TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011
COMMUNITY UPDATE
B9
Record harvests
Grain farmers
seeing higher
prices
By JIM MAURER
FOR THE REVIEW TIMES
An early planting season for
corn and soybeans helped produce record harvests for farmers
last year.
However, the region’s winter
wheat crop was damaged by disease and hot weather, reducing
2010 yields.
This year, corn and wheat
planted acres are expected to
increase because of higher prices
caused by worldwide demand.
So, soybean acres are expected
to decrease.
While grain farmers are enjoying solid prices, milk producers
and livestock farmers are caught
between high feed costs and notso-high prices for the commodities
they produce.
Dairy farmers have had to pay
$400 per ton for soybean meal,
which is fed to cows, according to
agriculture reports.
For all milk, the price of about
$16 per hundredweight at the end
of January was down 50 cents
from December.
Hog prices are improving,
though. The January hog price
of about $54 per hundredweight
was up $2.30 from December and
$6.20 from January 2010, according to a United States Department
of Agriculture report.
Hog farmers are growing as
much corn as possible for feed,
because that is cheaper than
buying it, agriculture officials
said.
Wind farms
Some farmers may receive
income from land leases for wind
turbines, between $2,000 and
$5,000 annually per turbine.
Several companies are conducting tests in Putnam and northern
Hancock counties for possible
wind farm sites, said Gary Wilson,
Maumee Valley extension educator, agriculture and natural
resources, at the Hancock County
office of Ohio State University
Extension; and Glenn Arnold,
director of the Putnam County
Extension office.
Developers require about a
half-acre to an acre per wind turbine. Each turbine will generate
2 megawatts of electricity. The
turbines are 500 feet high and
can operate with winds as low as
9 miles per hour.
Iberdrola Renewables, a Spainbased company, has proposed
installing 75 wind turbines near
Leipsic to generate 150 megawatts of electricity. The company
has land under lease in Van Buren
Township, which includes Leipsic,
in the northeast corner of Putnam
County.
The company has not released
specific plans for a Hancock
County wind farm.
Megafarms
A dairy megafarm has not
located in Hancock County yet,
but there are several large hog
operations.
There were 34,800 hogs and
pigs being raised in the county as
of December 2009, according to
the latest information from the
state Department of Agriculture’s
annual report.
Most of the big hog farms are
located on the western side of
the county, but there is one near
Arlington.
In August, the state Department of Agriculture issued both a
“permit to install” and a “permit
to operate” for Lucky 7 Farms,
which plans to house 4,000 hogs
northeast of Findlay at 16280 Cass
Township 215, Arcadia.
The farms will be owned by
Cass Township farmer Cecil
Boes and operated by York Swine
Management, Bellevue. It will be
the first large-scale hog farm in
the eastern portion of Hancock
County.
The permit to install authorizes
construction of a farrowing barn,
where female hogs give birth,
with a capacity of 1,723 hogs, and
a gestation barn to house pregnant
hogs with a capacity of 2,352 hogs.
Corn crop
The 2010 corn harvest in Hancock County was more than 11.8
million bushels, down about 4 percent from more than 12.3 million
bushels in 2009. But the 2010 harvest was up more than 40 percent
from more than 8.4 million bushels
in 2008; and up from 11.1 million
bushels in 2007.
There were 74,744 acres of
corn planted in Hancock County
last year, down 5 percent from
78,901 in 2009, and lower than
the 78,064 acres planted in 2008
and 90,423 acres in 2007.
The estimated average corn
yield was 159 bushels per acre, a
record amount and up from 156
bushels in 2009. The yield was 108
bushels in 2008 and 123 bushels
in 2007.
Yields across the county ranged
from 121 bushels per acre to about
222 bushels.
Corn yields were similar in
other area counties.
Soybean crop
More than 6.3 million bushels
of soybeans were harvested in
2010 in Hancock County, up more
than 3 percent from 6.1 million
bushels in 2009 and more than 80
percent from 3.5 million bushels
in 2008. There were 5.3 million
bushels harvested in 2007.
A total of 132,176 acres of soybeans were planted in Hancock
County in 2010, up from 127,333
acres planted in 2009, 126,196
acres in 2008 and 120,508 acres
in 2007.
The average soybean yield was
48 bushels per acre last year in the
county, the same as 2009, but up
from 28 bushels in 2008 and 44
bushels in 2007.
Yields across the county ranged
from 20 to 62 bushels per acre.
Wheat crop
More than 2.5 million bushels
of soft red winter wheat were harvested in 2010 in Hancock County,
down nearly 29 percent from more
than 3.5 million bushels in 2009.
Last year’s harvest was less
than the 3.2 million bushels in
2008, but more than 2.2 million
bushels in 2007.
A total of 43,756 acres of wheat
were planted in Hancock County
in fall 2009 for harvest in summer
2010, down about 2 percent from
44,697 acres planted in 2008.
There were 46,671 acres planted
in 2007.
The 2010 county average yield
was 58 bushels an acre, down from
79 bushels per acre in 2009, 70
bushels per acre in 2008 and 56
bushels per acre in 2007.
Yields ranged from 40 to 70
bushels per acre across the county.
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A TRAIN BRINGS in waste to the Sunny Farms Landfill. The landfill receives mostly construction debris and unloads the waste from the
rail cars into the large trucks which carry it into the landfill. Sunny Farms Landfill had the first fully enclosed construction and demolition
debris unloading building in the state of Ohio.
New day dawns for Sunny Farms
Landfill changes ownership, keeps same management
By CHANDRA NIKLEWSKI
STAFF WRITER
The more things change, the
more they remain the same.
Sunny Farms Landfill changed
ownership at the beginning
of 2010, but all management
remained the same.
John Walker, the director of
projects for WCA Waste Corp. of
Ohio, which acquired the landfill
from Live Earth last year, said the
transition has gone very smoothly.
Walker said the change came
about because WCA wanted to get
into the waste by rail business.
“It was a natural fit,” Walker
said.
There were some minor
changes, such as computer software, but Walker said the minor
learning curve needed gave way to
greater accounting checks and balances that are required for publicly
traded companies.
Walker said Sunny Farms,
located at 12500 W. County
Road 18 just south of Fostoria,
is constantly reinvesting in the
company. The transfer station
floor was replaced and a flare
was installed to cut down on any
odor from the landfill. Also, other
pieces of equipment have been
replaced throughout 2010, more
equipment is set to be replaced in
2011 and another landfill cell was
created.
“It has the required recompacted clay liner and, more
importantly, the plastic liner and
geocomposite on top of that three
feet of clay. It is also equipped
with a leachate collection system
to ensure all rain water that comes
into contact with the garbage is
pumped into one of two onsite
dual contained storage tanks,”
Walker said.
The landfill business has come
a long way from simply digging
a hole and throwing trash into
it and Walker said the construction of the cells is only one of the
changes made over the years.
Now, landfill use is highly
planned, engineered and regulated.
“This is a good thing for our
generation and future ones to
follow,” Walker said.
Landfills now have location
and design restrictions and operational requirements and constant
monitoring requirements. Also,
closure of cells and post-closure
care is monitored. Each restriction
and requirements has a specialist
in that specific field for the business. Walker said there are two
on-staff Ohio licensed professional engineers and consulting
firms that specialize in design
and monitoring requirements are
also utilized.
Walker said the landfill regularly monitors groundwater
through a system of wells, underground gas levels and air quality.
“We have specialists, whether
on staff or from a consulting firm,
that specialize in those areas,”
Walker said.
In the future, Walker said
they’ll look to cap a cell, meaning they’ll put all the protective
liners used when opening the cell
and do the opposite. The area will
also have grass seed put down to
make the cell more visually appealing and also to give it strength to
prevent erosion.
Walker said the company has
not changed how it interacts with
the surrounding community,
either.
“We’ve continued to grow our
business by continuing to provide
high levels of customer service to
all that we serve,” Walker said.
Sunny Farms Landfill has
offered Fostoria and Loudon
Township residents a free disposal
day. Fostoria promotes Take Your
Trash to the Landfill Day annually.
The company also tries to utilize
local vendors whenever possible.
Two accounting professionals
were hired in 2010 as employment
levels increased.
Tours are also given at Sunny
Farms for local service organizations such as Kiwanis or Fostoria
Chamber of Commerce members.
“It’s so much fun, not to mention everybody leaves with a
different outlook, a positive outlook, about not only our landfill,
but other present-day landfills,”
Walker said.
Tours are also given to students from Kindergarten all the
way through college. Heidelberg
University has been visiting annually with students.
“We have a very open-door
policy here and enjoy giving tours
of the facility,” Walker said.
Walker explained the company
also values community involvement and support.
“We want to be a part of the
community. We don’t just want to
do business here, we really want
to be a part of this community,”
Walker said.
Supporting Hopewell-Loudon
and Fostoria schools are one
way to be involved and Walker
explained the company supports
signs at the stadiums of both
schools. Sunny Farms is a member
of the Fostoria Area Chamber of
Commerce and has made donations to the Bascom Fire Department, Kiwanis, YMCA, Rotary,
United Way and the American Red
Cross. The company also makes
donations for toys at Christmas for
local organizations.
This year, like previous years,
Sunny Farms is donating $25,000
to the city of Fostoria to pay for
the Fourth of July fireworks. It is
also where the company has its
annual picnic and one member of
the staff always sits as judge for
Fostoria Idol.
Sunny Farms has helped sponsor the Fostoria Easter Egg Hunt,
the Halloween Parade and the
Latino Festival and is a Pro-Am
Tee sponsor for the Fostoria Community Hospital.
Walker said the company
also makes donations to Seneca
County 4-H, the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library, Seneca County
Junior Fair, Fostoria Historical
Society and Cub Scouts.
“Some businesses may think,
‘We can just hide behind the hill,’
so to speak, but we want to be out
there as part of the community,”
Walker said.
Since 1983 The Tiffin Charitable Foundation
has assisted individuals, families, businesses
& organizations achieve their charitable
goals conveniently, effectively, and with
maximum tax benefits.
Over $500,000
$995,000
grants were made during 2010
2008 to support
education, the arts, health and human
services and other valuable charitable
community activities in Seneca County.
For more information contact the office
located at 68 S. Washington Street in Tiffin
(419) 448-1791
www.tiffinfoundation.org
B10
COMMUNITY UPDATE
FOSTORIA REVIEW TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011
Hospital addresses physical, financial health
Wheels clients being taken on by
the Seneca County Commission
on Aging and the CommuniVan
clients using SCAT services. Both
agencies were issued monetary
donations on behalf of the hospital
to sustain the increase in clientele.
“It was a tough time, but it
was something we needed to do,”
Schwanke said, noting the hospital
By ALLISON WINGATE
has since gained fiscal strength,
STAFF WRITER
and the plan ultimately reigned in
Fostoria Community Hospital $1.2 million in expenses.
is on a mission to get healthy.
The hospital’s budget wasn’t
Over the past year, the hospital the only target for improvement
has introduced several initiatives in 2010. They also joined a systo improve its overall health physi- tem-wide initiative to hire only
cally and fiscally.
tobacco-free employees effective
Among the initiatives meant to Jan. 1.
pump some life back into the hospiNew job applications inquire
tal’s budget was a plan announced about the applicant’s tobacco use
in March that would save the hos- and new hires must submit to a
pital $1 million through the per- post-offer nicotine screening. If
manent layoff of eight employees the applicant’s screening result is
and the scaling back of services.
positive for tobacco use they will
“We were affected by the not be hired, but may reapply for
economy just like everyone else. a position after 90 days.
It wasn’t unusual for hospitals to
Applicants who declare they
scale back,” said hospital presiuse tobacco
dent Dan
on
their
Schwanke.
New job applications
appl ic at ion
will not be
The layinquire about the
h i red , but
offs impacted
may also
several job
applicant’s tobacco use
reapply for a
classificaand new hires must
position after
tions includ90 days.
ing support
submit to a post-offer
services,
T h e
nicotine screening. If
h o u s e policy does
keeping,
not impact
the applicant’s screening
radiolog y
c u r re nt
technicians
result is positive for
ProMedica
a nd select
H e a l t h
tobacco use they will not
nursing perS y s t e m
sonnel.
e m ploye e s ,
be hired, but may reapply
as they have
Most of
for a position after 90
been grandthe employfathered in.
ees laid off
days.
found posiHowever,
tions else since institutwhere or retired, while some were ing the tobacco-use ban, ProMedoffered positions at other ProMed- ica Total Wellness director Laura
ica Health System hospitals.
Ritzler said she has noticed a trend
Programs impacted included of current employees trying to
departments such as Cardiac kick the habit.
Rehab, The Center for Wound
“We have seen an upsurge
Care, OccuHealth, CommuniVan, of employees working with our
Meals on Wheels, ProMedica Total tobacco cessation specialists,”
Wellness, Diabetes Education and she said.
the Parish Nurse Program.
The hospital has four special“When we looked at those ists who were certified through a
programs, we transitioned them 32-hour, four-day course and must
to local agencies,” Schwanke get re-certified every two years
said, referring to the Meals on and complete 16 hours of tobacco-
FCH takes look
at budget issues,
physical concerns
of employees
File photo
WORKERS RENOVATE the Auxiliary Gift Shop in December, one of several construction projects at Fostoria Community Hospital in 2010.
The gift shop now occupies the space of the former lobby near entrance 2.
related continued education.
The initiative was among
several ProMedica launched
to support employee health,
including benefit incentives for
employee participation in ProMedica Employee Wellness Program activities, and healthy food
options in hospital cafeterias and
vending machines.
New faces were also a highlight
of 2010, as Drs. Michael and Jill
Badik opened their medical practice at the hospital in August.
“They have been embraced by
the community. The number of
patients they’re seeing is growing
each week,” Schwanke said.
The hospital plans to re-locate
the practice from its current location in the hospital basement
to the Norton Building, 455 W.
Fourth Street, in March.
The building was donated to
FCH in December 2009 by SMI
Crankshaft.
Prior to the donation, the facility had not been in use for approximately 4-5 years.
Schwanke estimated construction for the project would take
between 3-5 years to complete and
will ultimately house 6-7 doctor’s
offices and two physician’s suites.
The construction is funded by the
hospital’s Capital Fund Program.
The Badiks aren’t the only new
faces at FCH.
The hospital also recruited
ENT physician Maher Abu-Hamdan, MD, and certified audiologist
Patrick J. Brand, Au.D. CCC-A.
They see patients on Thursdays
at the Graystone Medical Building, 506 Van Buren St.
“Having an ENT is something
the community hasn’t had available for 3-4 years.” Schwanke
explained. “We’ve gotten a lot of
positive feedback from the community about having these services.”
An addition to the new faces,
FCH received a somewhat of a
face-lift in 2010.
The FCH Auxiliary renovated
the Auxiliary Gift Shop, which
now occupies the space of the
former lobby near entrance 2.
“That was something we’d
talked about for years to improve
patient accessibility,” Schwanke
said.
While the project was funded
by the auxiliary, hospital architects were consulted to ensure the
plans fit “within the environment
of the hospital and how it looks,”
Schwanke said.
Another construction project
the hospital undertook in 2010
was the transformation of the
oncology and infusion center.
The new location will be more
accessible for patients, who currently have to go through the hospital to the third floor to get to
the unit.
“When you’re getting that kind
of treatment, you don’t want to
have to go through the hospital
to get there,” Schwanke said.
Funds for the project were
raised through the 2010 Fostoria
Community Hospital Pro-Am
Charity Auction, which raised
$ 54,000, and also through
employee contributions.
In other fundraising news, the
11th annual Walk for Diabetes
raised approximately $9,000 for
the hospital’s diabetes education
program in 2010.
“Its one of the more beneficial
programs for that patient population,” Schwanke said.
A promise from
300
of your neighbors.
Excellence. Quality. Service. Every one of us at Fostoria Community Hospital has signed a pledge to you, our neighbors. It’s a promise to deliver true
compassion along with expertise and the latest technology – not only in cancer care, orthopaedics and diagnostic imaging, but everywhere we serve
our community. Exceptional care has always been our signature. And now you have it in writing. To learn more, visit www.promedica.org/promise.
© 2011 ProMedica Health System