 |
August 2008 |
 |
|
|
|
|
County Solid Waste Department needs more money for gasoline and propane
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
Increased fuel, propane and natural gas prices are causing departments and offices within the county to find other sources for extra money to cover costs.
Last week, increases in diesel fuel, but largely propane, have contributed to the need for additional funding in the Solid Waste supplies budget, District Coordinator Dave Reichelderfer said. Reichelderfer is the latest county department administrator to request a budget transfer to address high fuel costs.
Reichelderfer requested $7,000 additional from his cost allocation budget, which is typically set aside for unanticipated operation costs, be moved to the Solid Waste fund supplies line item. Commissioners, who approved the change, said he is just one of several department administrators facing that situation mid-year. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Wednesday, 21 May 2008 |
Rash of rural garage, vehicle break-ins continue in area
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
Suspects in a rash of break-ins near Fryburg are thought to be coming up from Dayton to take the items and then transporting them somewhere to be sold.
All the vehicles taken from rural driveways, outbuildings and garages have been recovered, while none of the property has, Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Jerry Sawmiller told the Wapakoneta Daily News this morning.
“We believe it’s a group coming up from the metro Dayton area,” Sawmiller said.
He said they are taking mostly large tools and power tools, air compressors, welders, ATVs, dirt bikes and other larger items, which would require more than one person to lift, and somehow turning those items into cash.
Six vehicles also have been taken during the break-ins, but the five pickups and one Chevy Suburban were all thought to have been used just for transportation purposes. All the vehicles had keys in them when they were taken.
One was recovered in a field a mile from where it was taken while the others were abandoned in the west end of Dayton, Sawmiller said.
Cars were stolen from Dayton to drive to the area and then left behind for the larger vehicles to transport the stolen goods.
The break-ins, which target rural outbuildings and garages, began May 8, with one incident, and have continued with at least five incidents occurring both May 13 and more recently on Monday. All of the break-ins, of which at least 11 have been reported, occurred between midnight and 4 a.m.
While some of the break-ins have been to locked outbuildings and garages, some have not been locked. Sawmiller said he suspects that more buildings may have been attempted but the suspects were detered when they were found locked.
“These are thieves looking for an easy way,” Sawmiller said.
Chief Deputy Mike Eberle with the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office said the break-ins remain under investigation. Similar crimes have been reported in Shelby County.
Patrols have stepped up at the times and in the areas where the break-ins have occurred, but deputies also are alert that they could happen at other times and in other places as well. Sawmiller said some personnel movement has been made to better cover overnight shifts.
Sawmiller said he doesn’t know where stolen items are being taken once they leave Auglaize County, but that the thieves are finding an outlet somewhere to sell them, whether it be a flea market, shop in Dayton, or even farther away.
“It’s hard to say how far they are transporting these items,” Sawmiller said.
He advised residents to secure their items and call if they see or hear anything suspicious no matter what it is or what time of day it occurs. He said it’s also important to communicate with and know neighbors, too.
“We’ve never seen anything of this nature in this neighborhood,” Sawmiller said. “We hope we’ve seen the last of it, but I can’t speculate on that.” |
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 22 May 2008 )
|
|
|
|
