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November 2008 |
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By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
A former Wapakoneta law enforcement officer’s future is now in the hands of seven state Supreme Court justices.
Former Wapakoneta Police Chief Dave Harrison’s 6-year-old sex crime case reached the pinnacle in Ohio’s court system Wednesday, as justices heard arguments from Harrison’s attorney Dean Boland and state prosecutor Scott Longo.
Each party had 15 minutes to present their case to the justices. After both attorneys argued their cases, a single word in Harrison’s sentencing entry and a grilling delivered to Longo by justice Maureen O’Connor left Boland optimistic about his client’s future.
In June, 2003, Harrison plead guilty to a six-count bill of information after child pornography was found on his computer. After entering his plea, the man who served as police chief from 1988 to 2002 was sentenced to one year in jail.
Seven months after he completed his sentence, it was discovered by county prosecutors that Harrison should have been sentenced with an additional five years of mandatory post release control, or probation.
During a court hearing, Harrison was given the option to either be re-sentenced or withdraw his plea. Harrison chose the latter, taking things back to square one.
With the plea withdrawn, the state of Ohio slapped Harrison with a 23-count indictment which he was ultimately found guilty of and sentenced to six years in prison.
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Monday, 16 June 2008 |
W’field holds ‘Music Man’ auditions
By KRISTIN REICHARDT
Assistant Managing Editor
WAYNESFIELD — Standing in an impromptu performance area edged by rectangular white plastic tables, Sarah Neal defends her secret relationship to her parents.
“Stop it, Papa,” the 21-year-old said, plucking at her orange T-shirt and hiding a self-conscious smile.
Neal joined a handful of Waynesfield residents Sunday evening at the first round of auditions for the W-G Muchinippi Community Theater’s production of the musical “The Music Man.”
“I always loved musicals,” Neal said. “I was in musicals in high school and I just wanted to do it for fun.”
The 2005 Waynesfield-Goshen High School graduate said she hopes to be given the part of Zaneeta Shinn, the daughter of Eulalie (MacKencknie) and Mayor Shinn who is secretly dating teen heartthrob Tommy Djilas.
“I just like how she acts — sneaking around behind her father’s back and dating a troublemaker,” Neal said. “It seems like how I used to act.”
Neal attended the auditions with her mother, Tess Neal, who at one point read for the part of Zaneeta’s mother, Eulalie (MacKencknie) Shinn.
“We’re best friends,” Sarah Neal said. “It will be a good bonding experience to have fun with my mother.”
Tess Neal said she would like to play any role in the musical, just for the chance to participate.
“I just love music,” Tess Neal said, adding that she helped with the set and costumes during musical productions while in school during the 1960s at Waynesfield-Goshen High School.
She said creating a community theater should bring the community together and allow those who participate to show the talent hidden in the community. It also should give her a chance to spend quality time with her daughter.
“I almost died of cancer a few years ago, and this time with her is just precious,” Tess Neal said, swallowing hard. “God has given me many blessings to spend more time with my children.”
Stephen Hayes, 10, auditioned for the part of Winthrup Paroo, a young boy with a lisp who sings and dances.
He said his favorite songs from “The Music Man” are “The Wells Fargo Wagon” and “Gary, Indiana.” He explained playing a role in the musical will teach him how to act, and help keep him busy this summer, in addition to attending 4-H camp as a member of the Nail Benders 4-H Club, and attending church camp.
His mother, the Rev. Katie Hayes, also hopes to gain more quality time with her son by participating in “The Music Man” with him. She also hopes to break out of her trend of playing character roles by playing lead Marion Paroo, or Eulalie (MacKencknie) Shinn.
“I’ve always had a character part, and they’re fun and I’m good at them,” Katie Hayes said with a chuckle, “But I’ve never gotten to sing the pretty songs, and Marion gets to sing the pretty songs.”
The pastor at the Waynesfield Methodist Church said forming a community theater group should pull people out of their social clichés to participate in a common goal.
“It’s a community unifying project, and I like that,” Katie Hayes said.
Director Christopher Butturff said he was pleased with the turn out for the first day of auditions.
“If this is any indication of the talent in Waynesfield I am very pleased,” Butturff said during a break in Sunday’s auditions. “There is a lot of good talent in Waynesfield, a lot of vocal talent with the churches, but I never thought there would be much interest in theater beyond high school.”
The 1988 Waynesfield-Goshen High School graduate began participating in Lima’s Encore Theater and plays with the Wapakoneta Theatre Guild in 1996, and said he is looking forward to becoming involved in Waynesfield’s pilot project.
“I thought it was great Waynesfield was starting something I am passionate about, and I wanted to be involved in anyway I could,” Butturff said. “I welcome the opportunity and I am proud to do it at Waynesfield.”
He had directed plays, such as “Drop Dead,” “45 Seconds from Broadway” and “Any Wednesday,” although this is his first musical to direct, he has appeared in productions of “Man of LaMancha,” “Sweeney Todd” and “The Sound of Music.”
“Community theater embodies cooperation, community spirit and the talent of the community, whether acting or singing and dancing,” Butturff said. “ ‘The Music Man’ encompasses the values of family and community, and being there for one another.” |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 June 2008 )
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