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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With the plea withdrawn, the state of Ohio slapped Harrison with a 23-count indictment which he was ultimately found guilty of and sentenced to six years in prison.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 church getting a facelift |
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Friday, 25 July 2008 |
By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
In keeping with the pride that is running through the veins of this city on its 175th anniversary, one local church is springing for a 21st century facelift.
In a multi-year project, St. Paul United Church of Christ has been and will continue to be renovated both inside and out, thanks to the donations of the 600-member congregation.
Constructed in 1871, the church has been an institution in Wapakoneta for nearly 140 years. As other buildings have come and gone, the church continues to be a mainstay on South Perry Street. While the church has had two additions to it — one in 1901 and one in 1966, it is the 1871 wing that now is in need of repair.
To insure the original wing survives another 140 years, the church congregation decided it was time to renovate and give new life to the long-standing structure.
The Rev. Dr. Alex Gondola, pastor of St. Paul United Church of Christ, said the largest part of the multi-year renovation project will be a complete renovation to the outside of the original 1871 wing.
Gondola said all of the brickwork will be tuckpointed and sealed and work will also be done on the high sanctuary.
The paint over the wooden cornices and dental molding has pealed away, rotting the wood in some spots. The wood molding is to be removed and replaced with a painted metal, which Gondola said will still look identical to the original wood trim. The work on the church’s exterior began July 14 and be completed by Wellman Brothers of Coldwater, Gondola said.
While the renovations on the outside walls remain, other projects have already been completed. Six power doors have been added to the church as well as an additional handicap ramp.
The office of the Rev. Elaine Mikesell, associate pastor and minister of Visitation, is being converted into a nursery, moving her office to a new location. In a classroom next to the nursery, a giant mural has been painted, depicting a scene from the biblical story of Noah’s Ark.
Even more work has been completed between the church grounds and the streets. Sidewalks were installed last year and approximately 10 volunteers placed red paving bricks along the perimeter of the church.
Gondola said the volunteers worked three weekends to complete the task.
“They did a wonderful job on (the bricks),” Gondola said. “It really looks like it was professionally done.”
Other renovation projects are planned for next summer.
On the itinerary for 2009 is the replacement of the church parking lot and some work on the sanctuary’s stained glass windows — although Gondola said he is not sure how much will be done. Two of the windows are bowing in and will need to be taken out and releaded, but the remaining windows may or may not need work.
The efforts to spruce up the church have not been inexpensive. Estimates have ranged as high as $270,000 for the entire project, but Gondola said the congregation has voluntarily contributed all of the funding through a 3-year pledge. Money from those pledges is still rolling in.
Mikesell said she was impressed at the congregation’s ability to raise the money and added that the renovations are neccessary to provide a better place of worship.
“One of the ways we can further welcome people joyfully is to have a joyful building,” Mikesell said.
Gondola said the project fits in with other work that is being done to restore Wapakoneta’s downtown.
“I know they’re going to be doing work on the courthouse in the future and we’re all happy about the Wapa Theater re-opening and there’s a downtown development group striving to make Auglaize Street a nicer place,” Gondola said. “This all folds into that. We’re just doing our part.” |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 28 July 2008 )
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