Archive - 2011 - News Article
December 20th
A drug sweep of the area Monday by local law enforcement officers ensnared more than a dozen people on a myriad of drug-related charges.
Auglaize-Mercer Grand Lake Task Force members started early Monday arresting 13 people in Wapakoneta, St. Marys, Celina and Lima.
A Buckland woman was injured as she tried to save her dog from a fire that engulfed her home early this morning.
The dog perished in the fire and Becky Krites, 45, suffered burns from trying to save him. She was transported by Cridersville EMS to St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima and then transferred to Columbus for further treatment.
“It looks like she was injured trying to get back in to get the dog out,” Buckland Volunteer Fire Department Chief Todd Vorhees said of the former Buckland Village Council member.
Wapakoneta city administrators moved three street projects closer to realization Monday when three ordinances received their first reading during the Wapakoneta City Council meeting.
Safety-Service Director Bill Rains can advertise for bids, negotiate a contract for design plans and develop specifications for repaving West Mechanic Street from South Blackhoof Street to West Auglaize Street as well as a section of Short Road from newly constructed Progress Drive to County Road 25A, if the two ordinances gain council approval on its third reading.
December 19th
For deputies, police officers and troopers, they pursue a career in law enforcement to protect and to serve — those duties are not always isolated to stopping law breakers.
For a group of 55 members of law enforcement from police officers to dispatchers, from probation officers to victim’s advocates, they felt it was important to help make Christmas for 103 families more enjoyable and to bring smiles to children’s faces.
Cost-of-service studies on utility rates charged to Wapakoneta consumers should help city elected officials determine future increases to deal with higher costs of business and mandated projects.
Wapakoneta City Council Councilor-at-large Steve Walter, who also chairs the Utility Committee, told city administrators he would like to have rate studies completed on water, wastewater, electric and refuse to help his committee set future rates.
A local student unexpectedly broke a school record for a sport that he has competed in since his freshman year of high school.
Wapakoneta High School senior Ryan Kremer broke the school’s record in the 200-meter individual medley this year during a swim meet — and said setting the record was one of his most memorable moments so far during his senior year.
“I wasn’t really expecting it,” Kremer said. “It was sweet because everyone was cheering for me at the meet.”
Kremer broke the record this season, at the beginning of December, in a swim meet against Marion Local and Bath.
December 16th
The only increase expected in the Auglaize County coroner’s budget for 2012 is an increase in autopsy fees.
Coroner Dr. Thomas Freytag requested an increase of $3,000 to $28,000 in contract services for fees paid for autopsies which are sent elsewhere.
A contract with the Lucas County Coroner’s Office for autopsy services during 2012 charges $1,200 per autopsy including routine toxicology, travel reimbursement at the current IRS standard mileage business rate, and responsibility for transportation to and from the Lucas County facility.
After winning a monetary prize through the local library, the only thing on a 7-year-old’s mind was to use the winnings to help needy families have a nice Christmas meal.
Wapakoneta Elementary School first-grader Macy Schmelzer took prize money she won for placing second at the Auglaize County District Public Library, for a gingerbread house she made for an annual holiday contest, and bought canned goods to donate to the school’s food drive for the Christmas Cheer Program.
Concerned parents, grandparents and students at Wapakoneta City Schools approached the board of education during a meeting this week to ask about forming an anti-bullying committee.
Three mothers spoke about situations in which their sons had been involved and for which they felt they were punished unfairly after they stood up for themselves against alleged bullies.
“I’m here as a voice for my son and all children who have been bullied and harassed,” said Kim Wright.
At an invitation-only meeting, Wapakoneta City Schools administrators explained the school district’s financial situation and an impasse with the teacher’s union on a new contract resulting in the school board offering its “last, best and final offer.”
Approximately 50 business people and government officials attended the meeting at Wapakoneta High School ascertain information concerning what has been offered to the teachers through contract negotiations and the district’s financial situation.
