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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With the plea withdrawn, the state of Ohio slapped Harrison with a 23-count indictment which he was ultimately found guilty of and sentenced to six years in prison.
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Wapakoneta’s anniversary parade keeps in step with history |
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Monday, 23 June 2008 |
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 a M4-A3 Sherman Tank sits at the intersection of Blackhoof and Auglaize streets seconds before its 76 mm cannon fired Staff Photo/ Matt Nichols
Staff Writer
The rumble of the 1944 M4-A3 Sherman tank could be heard in downtown Wapakoneta minutes before it made the curve around Auglaize Street just before the Blackhoof Street intersection.
The 64-year-old war machine seemed to obey traffic laws as it ground to a halt at the stoplight, before its 76-mm cannon suddenly began to pan up and away from the crowd. To the screams of the crowd, the cannon suddenly emitted white smoke and a deafening boom — the Wapakoneta 175th Anniversary Parade had begun in eye- and ear-popping style.
The parade, which was the highlight of the Wapakoneta Anniversary weekend, kicked-off as scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday, as more than 125 entries began at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds and wound their way down Auglaize Street to the Park Street intersection.
parade began, people and lawn chairs began to dot the edge of Auglaize Street and by 1:45 p.m. a huge sea of humanity clustered itself along each side of the parade route. After the Sherman tank, which was provided through donations by the Allen County Historical Society, made its way down the street, the festivities never let up.
From the Wapakoneta High School Marching Band to drumlines to bagpipes, a variety of music emanated from the downtown during Saturday afternoon as other parade standbys like fire trucks, clowns, floats and candy for the children were all included.
Sentimentality was also a large factor in Saturday’s festivities. Several former Wapakoneta homecoming queens were included in the parade as was the 1958 senior class at Blume High School — the last graduating class at the school. This year marks the classes 50th reunion.
Local public officials and other well-known figures in the community were a part as well.
Historian Vern Doenges served as grand marshal for the day and a bus filled with members of the Marie Louise and Elmer Neumeier family — Wapakoneta’s largest with 20 children, 60 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild — also passed by to the cheers of the crowd.
Complete with their souped-up lawn mowers and unique style of entertainment, the Wapakoneta Breakfast Optimist Precision Drill Team brought laughs and cheers with their coordinated and slightly unorthodox dance moves.
Minutes before the Sherman tank fired off its cannon, approximately five Model-T’s puttered down the parade route. The cars were provided by the Bluffton Model-T Club and had to run prior to the parade to save the car’s transmissions.
While the parade began under bright, sunny skies, darkening clouds began to roll in approximately 20 minutes before the parade’s conclusion. Fortunately, the rains and wind held off until just seconds after the last parade unit made its way through the downtown. The rain did eliminate any hope for the evening entertainment behind the downtown afterward.
Wapak-oneta 175th Anniversary Committee Chair Rachel Barber said the storm affected some sound equipment and forced the three bands to cancel their shows.
Barber said she still felt fortunate the rain held off as long as it did and added she was very pleased with the Saturday’s activities.
“I thought it was really heartwarming parade,” Barber said. “There was a lot of community connection and a lot of people really seemed to enjoy it.
At the conclusion of the parade and minutes before the rains came, Stacey Applegate stood laughing as she watched her young son, Damon, play with a toy fire truck on the sidewalk. Damon’s ultra-realistic siren sound was actually stopping pedestrians in their tracks as they apparently expected an emergency vehicle to speed by.
“Today was really nice,” Applegate said as she chuckled at her son. “Damon loves the fire trucks so I’d say there were the biggest thrill of the day.”
Wapakoneta resident Mike Steinke said the anniversary parade reminded him of the great things his city provides and why he is proud to be in a city that has thrived for 175 years.
“It’s nice to have a community where you can trust the people, know the background of everybody and have a great place to raise you kids,” Steinke said. “It really is a great place.” |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 June 2008 )
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