Carelessly caused fires a hardship on firefighters

BY LINDSAY MCCOY
Times Bulletin News Writer
lmccoy@timesbulletin.com

VAN WERT - Van Wert County remains locked in drought conditions with no meaningful precipitation over the spring, and little to none expected in the foreseeable future. With the dry conditions the risk of fires has greatly increased with each passing day.
The county has already experienced some of these widespread fires due to the dry conditions. On Wednesday, a field fire broke out near the intersection of U.S. 224 and Pancake Rd. Fire damage spread from the roadside throughout much of the unharvested wheat field. Firefighters from both Wren and Willshire fire departments rushed to the scene to extinguish the flames.
Along the borders of the fire were two homes and a corn field, any of which could have been easily subject to the flames due to the high winds had the departments not responded immediately. Thick smoke blowing across the road left traffic at a standstill for nearly 20 minutes until visibility returned.
While the cause of the fire still remains under investigation, Willshire Fire Chief Dwight Sheets speculated that the fire probably originated in the side ditch from a discarded cigarette, but a clear cause may never be found.
“These small fires take away from our responders' normal jobs and from the department's usual responsibilities,” said Sheets about the recent field fire. “Basically, people should halt all burning activity whether it is burning trash or cooking on a charcoal grill versus a burning pit.”
With such dry conditions, even farm equipment such as balers can cause a small spark and ignite a fire. Sheets, who is also the representative for the county fire chiefs, noted that these small fires have not been too bad yet in Van Wert County, but that Mercer County recently saw between six and seven of these fires just in a matter of hours.
However, fires in the county have been increasing over the past week. Last Saturday, the east side of Van Wert County experienced a grass fire on this side of the road. Later that same night, the Ohio City Fire Department responded to an unwatched campfire left burning. The department extinguished the fire before any damage was done.
On Tuesday, a grass fire broke out east of Willshire, and the next day a second fire broke out on Rader Rd. A township worker was able to put out that blaze with an extinguisher, but the Middle Point Fire Department still responded to make sure it would not reignite.
The National Weather Service released a statement on their website which said, “Chances for any needed rainfall looks minimal through the period as a dry airmass settles in Indiana. This will leave the area in No Man’s Land with dry conditions anticipated.”
With these fire accidents in Van Wert County increasing just within the past week, Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy is wary that fires will continue to break out with dry conditions worsening throughout the area. McCoy also noted that he has never experienced the National Weather Service using such drastic language as no man’s land.
Earlier this week, McCoy consulted with the county commissioners about a possible county-wide burning ban as more than half of Indiana counties have already adopted, including Allen and Adams counties which border Van Wert County at the state line. While no county-wide ban was enacted, county officials and local fire chiefs are monitoring the situation carefully, and fire crews will be on the job continuing to attempt to stop any carelessly caused blaze from causing major damage.

Wright St. reports to community

VAN WERT - Each year, the area has the opportunity to hear about the progress of Wright State University, both the main campus at Dayton and the Lake Campus. On Wednesday, WSU President Dr. David R. Hopkins presented the university's Annual Report to the Community at a luncheon at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. Billing himself as Wright State's biggest cheerleader, Hopkins had no problems singing the praises of his institution.
First he recognized Dean Bonnie Mathies of the Lake Campus for her leadership.
"The Lake Campus is thriving, and that's not by accident. There are a lot of people in this room I know work so hard looking out for the faculty and staff, but it takes great leaders who have a vision for what we can do to serve the community. At Wright State University, that's all we think about -- how do we produce the talent that you need for your local businesses and industry and whatever non-profits, and how do we spur the economy for your region, and how do we make sure we are providing the services that you need."
Mathies herself stated that Lake Campus is "growing by leaps and bounds" in her remarks starting her remarks. At the Celina facility, new permanent student housing has opened and is full for the upcoming fall semester.
She went on to note that despite a recent expansion, "We're out of space! That's a good thing, I guess because it means we are very successful. It just makes it difficult for staff and students."
Along with a list of popular and successful degree programs at WSU-LC, Mathies said she is looking forward to having even more programs available at the Lake Campus to allow students to earn Bachelor's and Associate's degrees.
Also speaking at the event was Vantage Career Center Adult Education Coordinator Pete Prichard who talked about the programs at Vantage and the association of the school with both Wright State and Northwest State Community College. The nursing coordinator at Northwest State, Stacy Hohman also shared with the audience about her program.
In his remarks, Hopkins stressed the need to increase the rate of Ohio students attending college and then remaining in the state. To help accomplish this goal, Hopkins also touted the importance of cooperation between tradional colleges and universities, community colleges and career centers.
He stated, "Everyone has to work together to meet the needs of this great state. We're here to serve the citizens of Ohio. That's why we exist. The best way we can do that is to understand the needs and make sure we don't have to duplicate... We need to figure out ways to work with each other, and we're doing that unlike we've ever done in the state. And I think Wright State is one of the models for a four-year university for how to do that."
Hopkins also took time to present a gift of thanks to Dee Whitcraft for her work with the West Ohio Educational Foundation (WOEF). That group is celebrating its fiftieth year of existance. Over that time, WOEF has given approximately $7 million in scholarships for students to go to college.

City gets grant for West Main second phase, super site

VAN WERT - The City of Van Wert has received another grant to help pay for reconstruction of a major artery into the city. In addition, the first portion of funds to make improvements to the Van Wert Super Site has finally been received from the state.
Van Wert Mayor Don Farmer was obviously excited to have a great deal of good news when he spoke with members of the media on Wednesday.
"Tuesday we found out we do have, electronically transferred, $500,000, ten percent of the five million, is now in our checking account," he announced. "So we'll be asking the auditor to advance the additional $500,000 from the general fund rainy day account as passed by council."
The first payment of money from the $5 million Job Ready Site Grant has been a long time coming. It took a special request to delay the running of a natural gas line from the Convoy area to the 1,600-acre industrial site in order for the state to finally agree to release the money.
"We're there. We are there," Farmer emphasized.
The first portion of funds will go to extend the purchase options on the land at the site northeast of Van Wert. According to Farmer, checks will be ready no later than next week which will be given to landowners through the Community Improvement Corporation and the Port Authority.
Farmer and Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming met with representatives from the state, the railroad, the rail commission, and engineers to start putting together bid packages for the work. The packages should be ready to advertise for bids before the end of the year with construction slated to begin next spring. The improvements should be complete by the end of 2013.
"That is great news for the mega site. We are just pleased to be where we're at," beamed Farmer.
Beyond the news about the Job Ready Site Grant, the city received more good news. This announcement involved a second phase of a street reconstruction project on the city's west side.
Farmer revealed, "We got word through a the filing of the Small Cities Grant, that we were awarded another grant for the Small Cities and that will enable us to continue with W. Main St. from the Orchard Tree on out to the city limits."
The West Main Street Phase 2 project will take place either in 2014 or 2015, depending on when the state schedules the work. The first phase of W. Main St. reconstruction is slated for 2013 between Shannon St. and Fisher Ave. That project is also mostly funded by a Small Cities Grant with a total price tag of around $3 million.
According to Fleming, the estimate of the entire second phase is $2.4 million, of which the Ohio Department of Transportation is covering $1,685,000. Not all the details have been finalized on the engineering, but Fleming did say that curb and gutter will be replaced. A water main will also be replaced due to age and the opportunity to replace it during the construction. The street will not be extensively widened, although there may be places where the width will be slightly changed.
"That will make a nice corridor," Fleming noted. "It probably completes the last of our Small Cities eligible arteries. That was the last street that we have that was eligible by their criteria that they can help us with."
Previous grants had made reconstruction possible on Washington St. and Shannon St.
"That will give us another main entry into Van Wert because that is a total reconstruction," remarked Farmer.
Both Fleming and Farmer explained that the opportunity to receive the large grant awards involved needing to use funds budgeted to the street fund as matching funds. That ties up money that some residents are hoping is used for secondary city streets.
Farmer acknowledged that less work is being done on the smaller streets since the funds are going to the bigger projects.
"We are leveraging that money to get the most bang for the dollar," Farmer shared. The addition of nearly $1.7 million to improve a Van Wert street was too great of an opportunity to pass up.
Lastly, Farmer did announce that the demolition of the recently-acquired house on Wayne St. should begin on Tuesday with equipment showing up at that address sometime this weekend.

garwood cutline

Jeffrey Garwood rises from his seat after his change of plea hearing Tuesday in Van Wert County Court of Common Pleas. Garwood pleaded guilty to a pair of drug trafficking charges. He was one of a dozen persons making court appearances Tuesday morning. (Times Bulletin/Ed Gebert)

Drug cases again dominate court hearings

BY ED GEBERT
Times Bulletin Editor
egebert@timesbulletin.com

VAN WERT - A Delphos man was sent to prison for a year for trafficking in drugs. Phillip Cross, 23, was sentenced Tuesday to 12 months prison by Van Wert County Common Pleas Court Judge Charles D. Steele. on a charge of drug trafficking, a felony of the fifth degree.
Cross was arrested during a roundup of drug suspects by the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force in March. Cross was granted 32 days credit for time already served in jail awaiting disposition of the case.
Also in court on Tuesday, Jeffrey Garwood, 49, Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty on two counts of trafficking drugs of three charges against him, each a felony of the fourth degree. A third charge of trafficking was dismissed by the state in exchange for his pleas.
Garwood was charged for selling morphine to two separate occasions in August of 2011. He faces up to three years in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 1.
A Van Wert man is facing up to two years in prison on theft and forgery charges. Steven Parsons, Jr. 33, entered guilty pleas to both charges on Tuesday. Both counts contained a specification that he used a 1999 Jeep Cherokee in the commission of the offenses.
He was accused of taking a debit card belonging to another man, and using it to make a purchase by forging the victim's name. Sentencing for Parsons was set for Aug. 1.
Corey Robinson, 33, Van Wert, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of attempted having weapons while under disability, a felony of the fourth degree. Robinson was arrested and charged based on his actions on May 13. He will be sentenced on Aug. 1.
Tina Means, 44, Cincinnati, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted forgery, a misdemeanor of the first degree. She will be sentenced on Aug. 1.
Stephanie Farmer, 31, Van Wert, was sentenced to 60 days of electronically-monitored house arrest and 30 days in jail as a part of three years of community control. Farmer was found to have violated the terms of her probation by being unsuccessfully terminated from the WORTH Center treatment program in Lima. Farmer must also complete a substance abuse treatment program. A two-year prison sentence was deferred pending the successful completion of community control.
Kyle Caldwell, 32, Van Wert, admitted to violating the terms of his probation by consuming alcohol while on electronically-monitored house arrest. Steele resentenced Caldwell to three years of community control with an additional 90-day jail sentence. An 18-month prison term was deferred pending the successful completion of community control.
John McGinnis, 30, Convoy, denied violating the terms of his work release from jail. A hearing will be held on the matter June 25.
Sam Whisman was in court to answer to a bond violation for failing to appear at his pretrial hearing. Whisman was released on bond with electronically-monitored house arrest. His pretrial will be rescheduled.
Three persons were granted treatment in lieu of conviction on Tuesday by Steele. Christopher N. Blue, 29, Van Wert pleaded guilty to fifth-degree felony possession of drugs, Keri Hines, 29, Delphos, pleaded guilty to two fifth-degree felony counts of trafficking drugs, and Christopher Longstreth, 37, Paulding pleaded guilty to one count of fifth-degree felony drug possession. The three each have one year to complete treatment. All further proceedings against these three were stayed until successful completion.

No burn

VAN WERT - Van Wert County could be looking at possible burning restrictions if rain does not arrive. Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy met with the county commissioners Tuesday morning to talk about the drought conditions which are worsening every day.
With the excessive heat, low humidity, gusty winds, and lack of adequate rainfall, city and county governments could be facing some tough decisions. McCoy went to mayors in the county last week to consider outlawing open fires until the drought is over. At least two villages -- Convoy and Willshire have already acted. But the commissioners were not ready to pull the trigger on such a ban county-wide, although all agreed that residents needed to be warned about the real potential for serious fire in these conditions.
Much of the county is running behind in rainfall for the spring from 5.5-6.5 inches. Similar conditions just across the state line in Indiana have caused 29 Hoosier counties to enact bans on open burning, including Adams and Allen counties. The City of Fort Wayne has even suggested that the Independence Day fireworks are in jeopardy of cancellation if soaking rains do not materialize.
In Van Wert County, conditions only seem to be getting worse, and forecasters at the National Weather Service are not providing much hope. That means the idea of a ban on open fires throughout the county could be an option.
"We need to start looking at long-term effects if conditions don’t change and discuss the possibility that a county-wide ban could be forthcoming," McCoy told the commissioners Tuesday morning.
He went on to say that without some really big, prolonged rains, the county is in real danger from a potential fire, especially with wheat harvest underway. Both the commissioners and McCoy agreed to meet weekly to take a fresh look at the situation and continue to monitor the dangers.
In the meantime, the commissioners wanted to emphasize to the public the seriousness of the drought and recommend precautions to take. They also wanted to make sure that if the area gets to the point that a burn ban is necessary, that the fire chiefs and township trustees were all on board with the decision.
Here are a few specific warnings for the drought conditions that local officials are stressing:
• Camp fires should not be left unattended, and it is recommended that it be enclosed in a fire ring and that some buckets of water are available to use should it begin to get out of control or to extinguish it when leaving the site.
• When burning household trash in the country, it should be enclosed in a fireplace structure, avoid burning during windy conditions, do not leave it unattended, and have water available if it begins to get out of control.
• The discarding of any smoking material that is not extinguished from a vehicle window or by throwing it on the ground can easily ignite a fire. Enclosed fireproof receptacles should be used.
• Farmers should check fire extinguishers in combines and farm equipment and confirm that they are fully operational in the event of an equipment fire as wheat is harvested.
• Be careful not to get overheated or dehydrated during the heat wave and pay particular attention to animals and pets as this weather can be particularly hard on them.

County aggregation notices go out next week

After an unexpected delay, information about the Van Wert County aggregation program is finally ready to be mailed next week, according to Clerk of the Van Wert County Commission Larry Clouse.
"All residents who are not contracted with alternate electric providers in political sub-divisions that passed the question of electric aggregation on the ballot should receive the letter and information," Clouse said.
Those recieving the information have until July 12 to send in the card to opt out of the aggregation program. Those participating in the county's aggregation program are guaranteed a price of 5.85 cents per kilowatt-hour for electric generation service through March 2014. This program is being offered through FirstEnergy.
In the time between the introduction of the concept of electrical aggregation to area residents in 2011 until the present time, area residents have been bombarded with similar offers from competing companies. Usually the competing offers have managed only to confuse residents while touting smaller discounts.
Those going along with the county's electrical aggregation program will see the discounted rate effective 30-45 days from the date each customer's switch is finalized. Those wishing to opt out of the county's aggregation program after deciding to join will have to pay a $25 fee to switch back.
Customers who join the program will receive a letter from their current electricity supplier to confirm the switch. These residents will also be given the opportunity to join the program again every three years.
Residents with questions should contact FirstEnergy Solutions Customer Care at (866) 636-3749.

Conveying Convoy

Around 200 years ago, the area where the village of Convoy now stands was nothing but swampland. The property located near the edge of the Black Swamp began to be purchased in the late 1830s. Transient settlers began to arrive and depart shortly thereafter. One of those early visitors were Mr. and Mrs. John Morse who walked from Defiance to build a log house along Ridge Rd. It was Mrs. Morse who gave the township it's name, borrowing from her hometown of Tully, New York.

The first permanent settler was Robert Nesbit. Sent to Ohio by the Pennsylvania Railroad, he built a log cabin in the woods in 1848. Eight years later Nesbit and James Pettit laid out the town which Nesbit named Convoy after his hometown in Ireland, Conmhagh (Convoy). These are the only two towns in the world with this name.

Businesses began to appear, spurred on by the presence of the railroad. Acre after acre of swampland was drained and much forest was cleared to discover prime farm ground beneath. The area was also known for its wild animals. In 1886, a railroad was purchased by George Marsh, G. M. Salzgaber, and L. H. Wise which brought passengers from Van Wert toward the Indiana state line, hoping to see the thick woods and the wild animals.

Convoy itself was incorporated in 1874 with 400 residents led by Mayor A. B. Penny. Lumber was the first real industry of the area. By 1872 there was a stave factory and a hoopmill nearby. But it was the rich farm ground that soon took over. A milling center and associated shops were soon the center of activity.

Two large fires devastated the village in the early part of the 1900s. In August 1900, the south side of the business district was completely destroyed. Residents armed with large blankets and pick poles tried to prevent the blaze from spreading to even more of the structures. The first Convoy fire department rose from the ashes of that disaster.

However in 1906, the north side businesses burned for several days before the blaze was extinguished. These fires caused the replacement of the mostly-wooden storefronts by block buildings.

The first school in the area was located about a half-mile west of town. The first teacher, D. R. Bonnewitz, taught students in all eight grades. The first high school graduates were awarded diplomas from Convoy High School in 1887. An eight-room schoolhouse was built on E. Tully St. in 1918. By 1921, Convoy and Tully Schools merged to form what was then the largest school in Van Wert County. Nine more rooms were added to the building in 1923 and Convoy-Tully School opened that fall with 145 students. Students from Union High School were also arrived in 1952. In 1960 Convoy-Union consolidated with Wren to form Crestview Local Schools.

The village continued to make improvements over the years. A sewage system was installed in the 1930s and a water system was added in 1943. A wastewater treatment facility was built, and streets and sidewalks were continually improved. The latest set of improvements included reconstruction of E. Tully St., then W. Tully and the downtown area which concluded this year.

Edgewood Park, on the village's north side was dedicated in 1980. The park grew out of the Convoy Centennial Celebration of 1974. Proceeds from the event provided seed money for the park. In 1975, 22 acres of land were purchased and work began. The name was chosen by contest with Brian Duncan coming up with the winner. The first ball game at Edgewood Park took place in 1979.

Businesses have continued to flourish in Convoy. Hall Lumber Company, U. S. Bank, and others have been a part of Convoy life for many years. Convoy Care Center was opened in 1983. Even today, new businesses like Baked Nostalgia, Yard Sale Time, and The Secret Garden make Convoy a wonderful place to live.

A new post

Nothing much to say, I guess.

Here it is.