The Courier Electronic Edition
Saturday, February 4th, 2012GOP primary opponents spar Republican primary candidates on Friday traded subtle barbs about government collaboration and public trust, during a GOP lunch that was one of the first forums of the election campaign season. more >>Cooperatives consider mergerBlanchard Valley Farmers Cooperative is discussing a possible merger with another cooperative, Luckey Farmers of Woodville. more >>6 people face drug chargesSix people from Putnam and Paulding counties were charged with drug offenses after a lengthy investigation by the Multi-Area Narcotics Unit, Putnam County Sheriff's Office and Continental Police Department. more >>Social media connections don't guarantee happinessChris Oaks spoke with leadership consultant Anthony Silard, author of "The Connection." more >>Public RecordDocket more >>GOP presidential hopefuls are turning to Ohio primaryBy DAN SEWELL more >>Wrong number call saves Ohio womanCUYAHOGA FALLS (AP) -- A woman who called the wrong number when she suffered a stroke still found help a couple of time zones away. more >>Local News GOP primary opponents sparBy JOY BROWN STAFF WRITER Republican primary candidates on Friday traded subtle barbs about government collaboration and public trust, during a GOP lunch that was one of the first forums of the election campaign season. Touting their leadership strengths were state Rep. Robert Sprague and his primary opponent, Kevin Rettig; Mark Gazarek and Tom Shindledecker, who are competing for Hancock County Commissioner Emily Walton's seat; and Hancock County Commissioner Ed Ingold and opponent Brian Robertson. Taking questions, Rettig and Sprague disagreed about state government involvement in Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.'s labor dispute. Rettig said he thinks legislators should help facilitate an agreement that will end the lockout of union members and get them back to work at the Findlay factory. Legislators "have the ear of the management of the company, and of the union," said Rettig, who owns and operates Yucatan Liquor Stand, a Tiffin Avenue nightclub, and oversees rental properties. "I see no reason for them not to be out there talking to these people often to get some type of resolution," he said. But Sprague, Findlay's former auditor who was appointed to the Ohio House seat about a year ago, said that's not the government's responsibility. "It's a private company. It's a union dispute. They need to resolve this themselves. As state officials we have no leverage," Sprague said. Sprague said he's "reached out" to the company for the sake of retaining jobs. "They said the dispute is ultimately about wages, not about moving the plant yet," he said. Rettig and Sprague both said they support a proposed bill that would make it illegal to text while driving, and favor Ohio adopting a "right to work" law that would give employees the choice of whether to join or financially support a union. Less state funding to Ohio towns will have to be endured, Sprague said. "There unfortunately will be no bailout," he said. "There's simply no money there." Rettig said he'd have to be elected to understand the full state financial picture. County commissioner candidates criticized the incumbents for what they claimed is scant collaboration and poor planning that resulted in little progress in recent years. Shindledecker, who went by the name Tom Sheldon while working as a newsman for WFIN, WKXA and The Fox before retiring in May 2011, said relations between city and county governments have been neglected, and trust has eroded. The city-county divisiveness has gone on for eight years, said Robertson, who co-owns Findlay-based MBDS and ran unsuccessfully for mayor last year. He said collaboration isn't evident based on the inability to figure out how to use Central Middle School once students relocate, the lack of a city and county health department merger, and the squabble a year ago about whether the private or public sectors should lead economic development efforts. Gazarek, an accountant and Marion Township trustee, said he doesn't care who gets credit for economic development or other successes, "as long as they get done." Shindledecker said officials need to work to resolve disagreements between urban and rural communities about flood control planning and projects prior to their inception, "instead of waiting for lawsuits to happen." He also wants to see decrepit North Main Street buildings, initially bought by the Northwest Ohio Flood Mitigation Partnership, torn down. Ingold said funds being collected for flood control efforts can only be spent on property purchases and the Army Corps of Engineers' eventual flood reduction plan for the Blanchard River watershed. Gazarek also pointed out that the corps limits what the region can do on its own, at least until plans for a project are solidified. Robertson said "there's a tremendous sense of distrust" among city and rural residents that can be alleviated with "more (government) transparency and communication" as planning for flood projects progresses. Taking questions, Robertson and Gazarek were asked to speak on how often they have voted in primary elections in the past. Gazarek admitted he had "not voted in all the primaries." Robertson said he votes "pretty religiously," but might have missed a primary when he was recovering from surgery in 2009. He said he thought the question was "a little jaded." Rettig said a 2011 Courier story about a lack of candidates for public offices incited him to run against Sprague in the state representative contest. He said his "life experience as a small business owner" has given him the financial and leadership background to represent the area in the Ohio House. "I want to try to get folks involved in the political system. People are starting to drop out," Rettig said. Sprague countered with a volley of legislative activities since his appointment to the House. He said they show the state is getting back on track financially and morally. A balanced state budget, audits of state agencies, elimination of the estate tax in 2013, lowered income taxes this year, the shuttering of "pill mills" in southeast Ohio, and criminal justice reforms have happened during his tenure, Sprague said. The Ohio House has also championed legislation upholding Second Amendment rights, and voted for legislation that would make it illegal for a woman to have an abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. State legislators are asking residents of the Blanchard River watershed to fill out a flood control survey that will help with lobbying for more funding, Sprague said. "We are very close, I believe, to getting some (financial) help from the state" to help pay for flood control measures, he said. The county commissioner candidates said their experiences would help them on the job. Gazarek said his accounting experience, professionally and with a school board, would help him be a good county commissioner. He noted his success in organizing an effort that got the speed limit reduced on a portion of U.S. 224 East, from 55 mph to 45 mph. Shindledecker said his 45 years in the news business gave him a wealth of government, civic and business knowledge and earned him the trust of former and current community leaders. He said he's "seen an erosion of the spirit of working together, city and county, over the years. "Perhaps not entirely, and perhaps by accident, but it's happened," said Shindledecker. He said he can help bring entities back together to accomplish things. Robertson cited his international business expertise and his "stewardship," which has involved forming a nonprofit and helping in many ways at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. If elected, Robertson said he would distinguish between "wants and needs" of county government, and spend money accordingly. "We've bought a lot of wants," Robertson said. "Needs require a plan," he said, and one that is clearly defined and publicly stated. Ingold said the current county commissioners showed leadership after the 2007 flood, and have taken over local responsibility for flood control efforts. He also pointed that much of what the commissioners do, and spend money on, is mandated by the state. He also cited energy updates undertaken by the county government, which he said have saved $600,000 over the past three years. Online: Mark Gazarek: www.markforyou.com Ed Ingold: www.edingold.webs.com Brian Robertson: www.robertsonforyou.com Tom Shindledecker: http://tom4commish.com Robert Sprague: www.house.state.oh.us Brown: 419-427-8496 joybrown@thecourier.com Twitter: @CourierJoy Cooperatives consider merger Blanchard Valley Farmers Cooperative is discussing a possible merger with another cooperative, Luckey Farmers of Woodville. A committee of eight, four from each cooperative, has been meeting to discuss the issue since last fall. Members of the two cooperatives will vote later this year on a merger. Each organization would have to approve the merger for it to be effective. A merger would be a "positive move" for both cooperatives, said Mitch Welty, Blanchard Valley Farmers grain manager. It would enhance service, improve the availability of products, and make the combined cooperative a larger participant in the grain business. Both companies are solid financially, Welty said. "We are in the investigative stages of this merger process with the goal of helping our two cooperatives remain competitive and financially healthy," said Jerry Silveus, general manager of Blanchard Valley Farmers, in a letter to members posted on the organization's website. During planning meetings, several trends have materialized, according to Andy Swerlein, general manager of Luckey Farmers. Swerlein has been with Luckey Farmers for three and a half years, and was previously the grain manager at Blanchard Valley Farmers and a 15-year employee of the Findlay-based cooperative. "Our industry is experiencing tremendous growth by utilizing technology to produce more with fewer resources," Swerlein said. "This growth hasn't come without some growing pains. As our customers enjoy better yields at higher prices, the farm revenue has allowed many to buy bigger and faster equipment to plant and harvest the crop. "This has put an extreme amount of pressure on our facilities to handle the same or more bushels in a shorter time frame," he said. Luckey Farmers has tried to keep up, he said, but "the amount of capital required makes it tough to keep up at the same pace of our customers and continue to pay and revolve patronage at the same time." Another trend is there are fewer farmers covering more acres, Swerlein said. For instance, "if 100 individuals farmed 50,000 acres 15 years ago, today the same acres are farmed by 50." It makes it difficult for the company to make investment decisions because there are fewer customers, he said. "Do we add it to one location or do we duplicate the same investment over several locations? What is more cost-effective? That scenario is very common and the trend is continuing." Competitors are combining resources and aligning with suppliers to "allow them to grow their product and/or introduce new products," Swerlein said. "So our competition is becoming larger in scale and acquiring strategic locations to give them an advantage. This is one reason for discussing a possible merger with Blanchard Valley Farmers." If approved, the new organization would have about $500 million in annual sales. But neighboring cooperatives have sales of more than $700 million, he said, and private companies have sales in the billions. "The best time to consider a merger is when both companies are healthy financially," Swerlein said. "Having experience with both organizations ... cultures and philosophies are very similar," Swerlein said. "Both cooperatives are intensely focused on taking care of the customers and bring the best possible service to the farm." According to its website, Luckey Farmers, established in 1919, is a grain marketing and farm supply cooperative with operations in Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood counties. It has about 2,000 members. Luckey Farmers resulted from several mergers, consolidations and acquisitions. It offers grain marketing, plant food, seed, feed, general farm supplies and petroleum products. The cooperative has nine grain locations, eight agronomy operations, a feed manufacturing plant, seed processing plant, three petroleum stations, and four fuel delivery trucks to service farm, home and light industry. Blanchard Valley Farmers Cooperative, founded in 1989, is based in Findlay. It has about 1,700 members. It has 13 locations including four agronomy stations, a farm and garden store, and two petroleum locations as well as two seasonal locations. Online: bvfcoop.com luckeyfarmers.com 6 people face drug charges Six people from Putnam and Paulding counties were charged with drug offenses after a lengthy investigation by the Multi-Area Narcotics Unit, Putnam County Sheriff's Office and Continental Police Department. According to the sheriff's office, those charged and ordered to appear for arraignment in Putnam County Municipal Court are: • Terry Clark, 51, of Continental, who was charged with fourth- and fifth-degree felonies of trafficking in drugs, and a fourth-degree felony charge of sale of prescription pills. • Richard Miler, 53, of Oakwood, was charged with fourth- and fifth-degree felonies of trafficking in drugs, and a fifth-degree felony charge of permitting drug abuse with a vehicle. • Brandy Miler, 30, of Oakwood, was charged with one count of permitting drug abuse with a vehicle, a fifth-degree felony. • James Sulfridge, 32, of Continental, was charged with two counts of trafficking in drugs, fourth- and fifth-degree felonies. • Joseph A. Klett, 35, of Continental, was charged with one count of trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony. • Margarita L. Dule-Cereceres, 45, of Continental, was charged with fourth- and fifth-degree felonies of trafficking in drugs. The trafficking offenses occurred in Continental, according to the sheriff's office. Social media connections don't guarantee happiness Chris Oaks spoke with leadership consultant Anthony Silard, author of "The Connection." Q: Facebook filed for an initial public offering this week which could net $5 billion. It seems everyone is caught up in the "social media" craze, but does all this virtual socializing come at a cost to the real-life human connections we have? A: It's a real question people are asking now. There's no doubt that there's this addiction to social media, if you will. For that matter, the Internet itself has consumed us. Certainly, it makes us more efficient in many ways, but there is the real question of whether we're truly happier. It's already rare to find people that are both successful and happy, and to no small degree, this can compound that problem. Q: Hardcore fans, these "social media addicts" as you call them, make the argument that we've never been connected to so many people as we are today. A: Numerically, that's true. But "being connected" doesn't mean that we are closer to those people on a personal level. For many years, researchers at Cornell and the University of Chicago have studied human friendships. Twenty-five years ago, the average American adult said they had three close friends, which they define as someone with whom you can confide in and discuss important matters. Now, the average response is down to two. And the number of adults who responded that they had no close friends has more than doubled to about 25 percent in that same time span. Q: Yet, there are so many people who are reconnecting with long-lost friends and classmates, people they've lost track of over the years, getting to know family members they have never met before, even making new business contacts they never would have been able to find were it not for sites like Facebook. How can that be a bad thing? A: I'm not going to argue that's a bad thing at all. There's no doubt there have been a lot of benefits of technology in general. What the Internet does best is bring together groups of people with similar interests, be they business interests, fans of a sports team, alumni of a particular school, or whatever. Where we get into trouble is in substituting these connections for the human bonds we have with other people, instead of using these connections to augment them, which is what we should be doing. I'll give you a perfect example. We've seen protesters use Facebook and Twitter to organize political uprisings around the world, but no tyrannical government was changed by people sitting in front of their computer. That only happens when people take action in the real world. Q: What you're really saying is not that we should unplug, but rather that we should keep social media in perspective. A: Exactly. In my seminars, I ask people to go around the room and share something about their lives with someone they've never met before. They talk about their kids' accomplishments, the time they spend with their family, things like that. What they almost never mention is the time they spend on the computer or something they saw online. Social media can help us find deeper connections with people and things we are passionate about, but it needs to be integrated and aligned with our lives in the real world. To put it another way, we need to control our technology, not the other way around. Q: So, are you on Facebook and Twitter and all those sites, too? A: I am. You know, they say we teach what we most need to learn, right? "Good Mornings!" with Chris Oaks airs from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. weekdays on WFIN, 1330 kHz. He can be reached by email at chrisoaks@wfin.com, or at 419-422-4545. Public Record Docket From the public records of the Findlay Police Department and the Hancock County Sheriff's Office: Police Department A Findlay High School student found an empty hypodermic needle Thursday near the intersection of Howard Street and Broad Avenue. A domestic disturbance was noted Thursday on Sterling Hill Drive. Two motorists were arrested for possessing drug paraphernalia, including a suspected crack pipe, in the 900 block of Lane Avenue on Thursday. A man was cited for possessing marijuana after running a red light Thursday in the 300 block of South Main Street. A woman, stopped in the 500 block of North Main Street on Friday, was wanted on an active warrant. Sheriff's Office A rock caused about $140 in damage after being chucked through a window at 820 W. Bigelow Ave., apartment 47, on Thursday. A jukebox and arcade machines were ransacked Thursday at Jac & Do's Pizza, 1201 W. Trenton Ave. Three firearms and a camera were reported missing from 9548 Moulton Drive on Friday. Courthouse From the public records of Hancock County Common Pleas Court: Jason A. Anderson, 29, of Findlay, pleaded guilty to domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. Anderson caused physical harm to a family member on Dec. 11 in Findlay. He was previously convicted of domestic violence in Bowling Green Municipal Court in May 2006, according to his indictment. Judge Joseph Niemeyer will sentence him on March 15. Robert J. Leatherman, 26, of Findlay, pleaded guilty to trespassing in a habitation when another person is present or likely to be, a fourth-degree felony. Leatherman trespassed Nov. 18 at 2231 Jennifer Lane, apartment 5. Niemeyer will sentence him on March 22. Marriage Licenses Rolland D. Kain, Arlington, self-employed, to Jill A. Risner, Nevada, Ohio, licensed practical nurse. Christopher D. East, Gahanna, firefighter/emergency medical technician, to Alisha Ann Hernandez, 944 Lima Ave., STNA. From the public records of the Hancock County auditor's office. No money changes hands in some real estate transfers between family members, in some bank repossessions, and in some other transfers. Real Estate Transfers Jill M. Heidlebaugh to Kyle D. Heidlebaugh, Township 130, 72.478 acres, Findlay, and 3329 Hancock County 86, Findlay. Hancock County sheriff and Ronald D. Wells to Huntington National Bank, 1504 Bliss Ave., Findlay, $57,847. Hancock County sheriff and Michael D. Taylor to FV-I Inc., 6210 Township 254, Arcadia, $106,000. Hancock County sheriff, Douglas A. and Grace J. Liston to Federal National Mortgage Association, 1430 Sycamore Drive, Findlay, $108,000. Brian A. Coppus to Robert A. Coppus, 448 College Ave., Findlay, $34,745. Robert H. and Margaret LaLonde to Anthony J. and Stacy A. Settlemire, 302 Rector Ave., Findlay, $88,000. Roxie A. Emahiser to Allen and Jennifer Emahiser, 140 Larkins St., Findlay. Jason Olmstead to Russell and Michelle Postelwaite, 653 W. Summit St., Fostoria, $73,140. R. Michael and Jennifer Pritchard to Fostoria Hospital Association, 530 Gray Park Drive, Fostoria, $116,500. Dorothy I. Van Der Veer to Robert J. Van Der Veer, Township 59, 40 acres and 46.58 acres, Jenera, and Township 29, 120 acres, Jenera. Fire Calls From the public records of the Findlay Fire Department: Thursday 6:02 a.m., 1932 Queenswood Drive, overheated motor. 5:38 p.m., 450 Winthrop Drive, emergency medical service call. 7:50 p.m., 100 S. West St., good intent call. 8:38 p.m., 212 Orchard Lane, medical assist. Friday 10:17 a.m., 929 Fox Run Road, emergency medical service call. 12:09 p.m., 1103 W. Trenton Ave., motor vehicle-pedestrian accident. GOP presidential hopefuls are turning to Ohio primary By DAN SEWELL Associated Press CINCINNATI -- Republican presidential campaigning in Ohio is starting to warm up after months of little activity, while polls have indicated a volatile race. Ohio, with 66 delegates at stake, offers the second-most behind Georgia among 10 states with a primary or caucus on March 6, dubbed "Super Tuesday." Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is booked for a county Republican Party's Feb. 16 dinner in suburban Cleveland, while former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is speaking Feb. 18 at the Ohio Christian Alliance in Columbus and to the county GOP in Akron. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul also will compete for Ohio delegates. Polls in recent months have shown Romney and Gingrich seesawing for the lead in Ohio, with Santorum making a charge. Paul has consistently trailed, but has a loyal base of supporters across the state. Miami University political science professor Philip Russo sees Ohio as "a big prize" and key test for those trying to become the nominee against Democrat Barack Obama, who carried the swing state in 2008 after George W. Bush carried it twice. Besides the delegates, "Ohio is also a microcosm of national politics -- the economic issues facing Ohioans, high unemployment, the polarization between parties, as well as infighting among the parties. We've got it all here right now," Russo said. Gingrich supporter Chris Lowe is looking forward to seeing the candidates focus on Ohio. The 28-year-old Gallipolis resident thinks Gingrich has a clear message and likes his background with the Contract With America, the policy agenda he pushed through Congress in his first 100 days as House speaker in the 1990s. "I hope to see more campaigning, more signs, more involving Ohio in the discussions," said Lowe, who has been connecting with other Gingrich supporters in the state through social media. Georgia, where Gingrich built his congressional career, and its neighbor Tennessee also vote March 6, as he tries to rebound from Romney's lopsided victory in Florida and what's expected to be a rough string of February contests. Russo thinks Ohio is particularly important for Romney, who grew up in neighboring Michigan where his late father was governor. Romney also got an early endorsement from U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, one of the state's three leading Republican officeholders. Portman said Romney's Florida victory shows he has the diverse appeal to reach independents and other swing voters who will decide states such as Ohio in November. Wrong number call saves Ohio woman CUYAHOGA FALLS (AP) -- A woman who called the wrong number when she suffered a stroke still found help a couple of time zones away. Loretta Smith, of Cuyahoga Falls near Akron, felt her right side go numb and fell to the floor at her home last weekend. The 70-year-old Smith said she was able to grab the phone with her left hand and thought she was calling her son. Instead, she was one digit off and reached a man in the Denver area who was originally from northeast Ohio and had kept the same number after he moved. "It was a woman, and she said 'I may be having a stroke,'" said Kenny Crater, 28, a sculpture major at Metropolitan State University in Denver. Crater asked for her name and address and offered to get help. His 911 call was answered by Broomfield, Colo., police, who transferred his call to Cuyahoga Falls. Smith was taken to Summa Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, where it was determined that she had suffered a mini-stroke, said Dr. Joseph Nienaltowski. Smith said Crater saved her life. "I want this kid to be praised to high heaven," she said. Crater said Smith had done her part, too. "I do not feel like I have done anything special," he said. "I didn't save her," Crater said. "She found me." |
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