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Local News

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

City pays legal bills over protest suit

Ewald Furniture - Tiffin
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 Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
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Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.