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Local News

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

City pays legal bills over protest suit

Streicher's
By JOHN GRABER

STAFF WRITER

The bills resulting from the city's disagreement with a pro-life group last summer are coming due.

Findlay City Council voted 9-0 Tuesday night to pay $6,791.96 in legal fees toward the city's fight with the Milwaukee-based Missionaries to the Preborn.

The group was displaying graphic images of aborted fetuses at the intersection of Tiffin Avenue and Bright Road on July 31, when police told the demonstrators they had to leave because they did not have a permit. City officials later said they were opposed to the demonstrators because they were creating safety problems with their photographs and by running out into traffic, not because of the content of their message.

The group then filed a restraining order against the city in U.S. Northern District Court in Toledo, claiming their rights to free speech and due process and equal protection under the law were violated. The group claimed they were told they needed a permit to demonstrate and said they were then given the runaround when they asked how to obtain a permit.

City officials then relented and allowed the group to return to the intersection on Aug. 10.

However, the group is still seeking about $15,000 in legal fees. City officials are fighting that, which means, even if they are successful, there will be more legal fees coming from their attorney.

“There's further litigation scheduled later this month so (the $6,791.96) will not represent the entire amount,” Safety Director Jim Barker said Tuesday afternoon.

The incident occurred during former mayor Tony Iriti's administration, not current mayor Pete Sehnert's.

Missionaries to the Preborn have traveled to more than 450 locations around the country spreading its pro-life message. Members were touring Ohio and had conducted similar demonstrations in Defiance, Toledo, Lima, Springfield, Kettering, Dayton and Cincinnati before coming to Findlay.

While the group's Web site does tout the fact that demonstrators who face criminal charges intend to “respectfully plead their cause before the courts,” group leader Pastor Matt Trewhella said they do not purposefully seek out lawsuits.

Separately, council voted 9-0 to join the Northwest Ohio Flood Partnership. The partnership was created by seven major corporations to speed up flood reduction efforts, after Findlay and Ottawa flooded several times in the last 14 months.

“I don't think we can do this ourselves ... This is just such an enormous problem that everyone needs to band together,” said 2nd Ward Councilman Randy Van Dyne, who, along with 6th Ward Councilman Bill Schedel, represents council on the partnership.

The city is not committing any money by joining the partnership, Van Dyne said.

He also noted the partnership is tentatively planning to have a public meeting to discuss what steps are being taken to ease flooding.

In other flood-related business, council accepted the deed to the property at 714 E. Sandusky St. in order to convert it into green space. The owner of the property donated it to the city because he no longer feels he can keep up with flooding on the site, which is located next to Lye Creek.

Contact staff writer John Graber at: (419) 427-8417

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News Briefs Crime Of The Week
Findlay/Hancock County Crime Stoppers wants information about a break-in at the Liberty Convenience store, 607 S. Main St., Mount Blanchard, at 11:30 p.m. March 14.

Entry was made after a window was broken. Several packs of cigarettes were taken before two male suspects fled.

One suspect wore a black-hooded coat, blue jeans and white tennis shoes.

People with information about this or any other crime that leads to an arrest or indictment will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Crime Stoppers can be called weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 419-425-TIPS or 419-425-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.

The Web site is www.hancockcrimestoppers.org.


Litter cleanup planned April 17
OTTAWA -- The Putnam County Solid Waste Management District will host a litter cleanup around the closed Putnam County landfill on April 17.

The cleanup will include the area between Road H-11, Ohio 15, Road H, Road 11 and Road 12.

The management district will also hold a tire collection at the landfill the same day. Up to nine tires from a residence will be accepted at 50 cents per car or light truck tire, and $3 per large truck tire.

Volunteers are being sought including civic clubs, agricultural societies, 4-H youth groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and church youth groups.

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Hospital board to hold meeting
Blanchard Valley Health System will host its annual board of trustees meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Marathon Oil Auditorium at Blanchard Valley Hospital.

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McComb offering open enrollment
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Applications may be picked up at the superintendent's office between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Completed applications must be returned to the superintendent's office by May 7.

Parents whose children already attend McComb School through open enrollment must apply each year.


Van Buren plans kindergarten registration
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Parents or guardians of children who will be 5 years old on or before Aug. 1, and who plan to attend kindergarten in the 2010-11 school year, need to register by calling the school office at 419-299-3416. Registrations will be taken between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on school days.

An appointment time will be set for kindergarten screening, which will be held on April 19 at the school.

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At the screening, children will move through stations or centers designed to evaluate speech, hearing, language and vision development.


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At the open house, adults can gain information about master's degree programs in business administration, arts and organizational management and education. The graduate programs are made for working adults, with classes one night a week on the Bluffton campus and at other regional locations.

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"The Blind Side" will be shown at 1 p.m. and the family movie "The Princess and the Frog" will be shown at 7 p.m.

Admission is $1 for each movie, which includes a pop and popcorn.Doors for the family movie open at 6:45 p.m. and attendance is limited to 75 people.