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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With the plea withdrawn, the state of Ohio slapped Harrison with a 23-count indictment which he was ultimately found guilty of and sentenced to six years in prison.
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Thursday, 28 August 2008 |
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
A detailed estimate of construction costs for the new Wapakoneta Elementary School is official.
Wapakoneta City Board of Education members approved project schedules, cost estimates and design development documents for the new kindergarten through fourth-grade elementary school to be built near the existing Northridge Elementary School during Tuesday’s meeting at Wapakoneta High School.
Construction of the school, which will be funded as an Ohio School Facililities Commission (OSFC) project, is estimated at more than $23.8 million, more than $20.7 million of which is for hard costs, according to the resolution. Estimates include design, bidding, materials, equipment, component systems and types of construction, and takes into account possible price escalation.
A project schedule outlines milestone dates for different phases of construction at the new building.
Superintendent Keith Horner said the next phase of the building project for the elementary school is bid authorization.
He said development and design work continues to move forward as scheduled on the district’s Ohio Schools Facilities Commission Project, which includes building two new elementary schools and renovations to the middle and high schools.
Board members also approved revisions updating a policy regarding staff use of cell phones.
Board members decided, because of new IRS regulations forbidding any personal calls from the phones used by half a dozen school officials, that it would be better to no longer own cell phones and instead pay those required to carry them a stipend for their use.
Board members also approved the following unrelated business items at Tuesday’s meeting:
• Employees 403(b) plan would be through The Hartford with 35 options available from aggressive and nonagressive plans to savings accounts. The change was made based on IRS requirements with annual reviews expected, Treasurer Susan Rinehart said.
• Purchase a 2008 GMC Sierra four-wheel drive truck to replace the oldest truck used for snowplowing and other maintenance issues in the district’s fleet. The new truck will be purchased from low bidder Mike Swaney Pontiac Buick GMC for nearly $22, 400, including a $1,100 trade-in allowance and a $900 cash back incentive. Swaney’s bid was several thousand dollars less than the next lowest bid, Operations Director Mike Watt said.
• Resignation of Watt, as former athletic director, from the Wapakoneta City Recreation Board effective July 31 and the appointment of new Athletic Director Brad Rex to the board to fulfill the term through Dec. 31, 2010. Traditionally the district’s athletic director has served on the board, Horner said.
In personnel matters, board members:
• Recognized Marcella Schlesselman upon her retirement from the Food Service Department. She started full-time with the district in 2000. “We appreciate all her service,” Horner said.
• Kelly Maurer as a high school special education teacher on a limited, one-year contract for the current school year with a salary of $47,089 — on the master’s scale. The former Celina teacher replaces Nikki Rettig, whose late resignation also was approved by the board at the meeting effective the end of the previous school year.
• Ann-Christine Talowsky as a second-grade teacher at Northridge Elementary School on a limited, one-year contract for the current school year. Her salary is $34,391 — on the bachelor’s schedule.
• Resignation of Vickie Partin as a bus driver and Tracy Nance as a cafeteria worker.
• Supplemental contracts were filled for fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade Quiz Bowl, Middle School Student Senate, and Middle School team captains for fifth-, sixth- and seventh-grades. Horner said all the positions are typical supplementals for the district.
• Abby Snider as a volunteer girls’ soccer coach for the 2008-09 school year.
• Leaves of absence for Deb Rostorfer, Cheri Brandt, Jason Brandt, Carolyn Schneider and Karen Ruck.
• Employment of seven substitute teachers, two substitute paraeducators, a substitute secretary, substitute bus driver and substitute cafeteria employee.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 30 August 2008 )
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