News-Journal from Mansfield, Ohio • 3

On the Web Mansfield For the latest sports, wire reports, News Local weather and breaking news, go to Journal NEWS JOURNAL Wednesday, Gov. Ted Strickland has selected Mansfield resident Cynthia O'Neal as a member of the State Commission on Minority Health. She replaces Cora C. Munoz, a registered nurse whose term expired. O'Neal's term began Dec.

2 and ends in 2009. O'Neal is retired as Richland County's director of central purchasing, and formerly was a caseworker with the Richland County Department of Human Services, and a secretary and paraprofessional in the Madison Local Schools. She has served as president of the Mansfield NAACP and treasurer of the Ohio conference of the NAACP, president of the American Red Cross board and on the boards of The Rehab Center, Richland County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, New Beginnings, the Richland County Foundation, Mansfield Playhouse and Mansfield Symphony. She has been active with Friends of Community Health Access Project. O'Neal ran for county commissioner in 2006.

Mansfield Columbus O'Neal lands role on state health panel Local housing authority passes state audit Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor's office released the July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007, audit for the Mansfield Metropolitan Housing Authority's major federally funded programs Tuesday, There were no findings for recovery. The audit may be reviewed online at www.auditor.state.oh.us or at the News Journal Data Center Web site at MansfieldNewsJournal.com. Galion School board's records panel meets Thursday The School District Records Commission of the Galion school board will meet at 3 p.m. Thursday in the board conference room at 470 Portland Way North to review record retention schedulas. Crestline Spiderwick fans, here's a coloring contest for you Crestline Public Library is sponsoring a Spiderwick Chronicles coloring contest through Feb 15 for children in fourth to eighth grades.

The library will be closed Feb. 18 for President's Day. Jeromesville Education futures topic of session at Hillsdale Hillsdale High School will have a meeting for students interested in post-secondary enrollment options at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 in the auditorium.

Representatives from Ashland University, North Central State College and The Ohio State University will present information about post-secondary options for high schoolers. The meeting is for students in grades 8 through 11 and their parents. Those unable to attend who need details may call Scott Call at 419-368-6841 or e-mail Madison Township Senior citizen lunch scheduled for Feb. 14 Madison Comprehensive High School will have a senior citizen luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Feb.

14 in the cafeteria, 600 Esley Lane. Cost is $3. For details and reservations, call 419-589-2600 ext. 1103. News Journal staff reports Call reporter Lou Whitmire at 419-521-7223 or e-mail February 6, 2008 PAGE 3A Mansfield schools seek handle on staff travel BY MARK CAUDILL Under proposed guidelines, be filled out ahead of time.

"The way we've been teaching Afterward, board President News Journal staff members must get advance In addition, staff must com- has been so low level, they never, Sondra Asher gave the idea of approval. They also must not ex- plete a "rationale for attendance" ever catch up," he said, express- having work sessions before the MANSFIELD Mansfield ceed $120 per night at a hotel with the conference request and a ing a need for acceleration. City Schools doesn't want another without advance approval. Staff professional plan for the activity. "It should be very rigorous and regular board meetings a thumbsCarlos Bowers situation.

will not be able to stay overnight Upon return, staff members must very focused and meet the needs up. The idea is to give the public The board of education is ex- if the conference is within 100 submit a report. of each individual student." more time to ask questions. pected to vote a professional miles except for extenuating Superintendent Lloyd Martin Business Manager Randal "I personally have found this leave policy at dits Feb. 19 meet- circumstances such as bad weath- said there had been "too many er- Bradford addressed rumors of meeting very informative," Asher ing.

far reac discussed that er and won't be approved for rors," prompting the need for overcrowding at Prospect and said. "Hopefully, our community Members more in a work ses- air travel if the conference is such a policy. Woodland schools. He said the will become aware of it." sion Tuesday. within 300 miles.

The board also reviewed a pro- schools have "uncomfortable conBowers, a former assistant Also, staff members must com- motion, retention and accelera- ditions," but not overcrowding. The next school board meeting principal at Mansfield Senior plete the necessary forms at least tion policy for students during a Bradford plans to look into the will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 at Woodc High School, went to his home- 30 days before the conference presentation by Executive Princi- purchase of modular unit class- land Elementary School, 460 town of Jacksonville, in Octo- and obtain the signatures of their pal Jody Nash. Martin expressed rooms to ease the situation.

Mar- Davis Road. ber to attend a conference for immediate supervisors. No signa- concern about those in special ed- tin said he will not close Newman which he had not registered. He ture stamps will be accepted. ucation, who make up 18 percent or Prospect schools or reopening later resigned.

Budget account information must of the student population. Simpson Middle School. 419-521-7219 FAT TUESDAY CELEBRATION Kelly Mollet, co-owner of Fat Daddy's and catfish nuggets Tuesday at the Things BY LOU WHITMIRE News Journal MANSFIELD -It wasn't a party in the French Quarter, but Ohio State Central State College students celebrated Mardi Gras just the same. A lively atmosphere, spicy Cajun fare and jazz juiced the third annual Fat Tuesday Celebration in the Eisenhower Student Union. Terry Melton, of Mansfield, was intrigued by internationally acclaimed flutist Galen Abdurrazzaq House of Bones, serves Sylinda Fat Tuesday celebration at The get spicy, and his band.

Marcus Coffee, 14, a Malabar Middle School student, liked the music and tried the traditional dish of red beans and rice, too. "It's really good," Coffee said. Plenty of students also attended the free event, sponsored by the campus Arts Lectures Series. Mardi Gras is the end to the pre-Lenten Carnival season in Louisiana. It falls on the eve of Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

Students Gwen Arnold, LOU JOURNAL Hood and her grandson Camryn, 2, some Cajun popcorn shrimp Ohio State Central State College campus. jazzy on campus Billy Haynes and Sara Fish- "Who was the greatest er sampled chicken and vocalist in all America?" shrimp jambalaya, special- the flutist asked, providing ties at the local restaurant, hints including a song the Fat Daddy's. Haynes said vocalist sang called, "What the evening was refreshing. A Difference A Day "And it didn't cost Makes." money," he said. "Her initials are D.W.," The audience also partic- he said, as guests shouted ipated in CD giveaways based on music trivia.

"This is hint No. 5. His first name is Art," Abdurrazzaq said with mocked exasperation. A guest soon correctly named the jazz pianist from Pittsburgh, Art Tatum. out guesses of Dionne Warwick before someone correctly answered, Dinah Washington.

The event is part of Black History Month. 419-521-7223 Crestline appoints temporary police chief News Journal staff report CRESTLINE Lt. Todd Rudd was appointed acting police chief in Crestline by Mayor Pete Dzugan. Dzugan made the move, effective Sunday. "We felt like we needed to do something," said Mark Milliron, assistant director.

Crestline Police Chief Edward "Butch" Wilhite, 36, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors in Crawford County Common Pleas Court in December. He can not return to his position as chief for now, because of a probation Renegade Classics owner says he won't move to Grotto hall BY LINDA MARTZ downsize." News Journal In other action Tuesday, council: MANSFIELD Rene- Endorsed renewal of gade Classics owner Eric the 0.4-mill, five -year levy Holmes is no longer inter- for Dayspring, the Richested in the Baku Grotto land County home. DirecHall on South Main Street tor Trish Lane said the as a site for his shop. levy costs the owner of a Illness prevented $100,000 home $12 annualHolmes from attending ly. Tuesday night's Mansfield I Listened as the MansCity Council meeting, but field Human Relations he asked clerk of council Commission's 2007 annual Mary Heminger to pass award was presented to along his decision.

the Martin King Holmes told Heminger Recognition Committee. the uproar from nearby Mayor Don Culliver said residents who objected to the group was instrumenhis business relocating in tal in a 10-year effort to their neighborhood, and complete a memorial to an impending deadline to King across Diamond rezone, finished the idea. Street from the municipal Fifth Ward Council- building, in Central Park. woman Pat Hightower "I don't know any cities said Economic Develop- other than this that has ment Director Tim Bow- such a great monument, ersock will help Holmes that stands for all the find another site for his things that Dr. Martin shop, which is in Johnny Luther King aspired to Appleseed Shopping Cen- and that we aspire to.

I ter. know there's still some Steve Metcalf, repre- work to be done. Together, senting the Baku Grotto, we'll get it done," he said. group uses the I Authorized the servhall on South Main Street, ice-safety director to seek but would like to sell the bids and enter into conbuilding because of a de- tracts totaling $3 million, cline in membership. The for development of the Baku Grotto participates Reid Industrial Park (the many parades a and events, former Miller Farm).

including the Miss Ohio Approved rezoning Scholarship Pageant, But- 11.365 acres on the south ler Old-Fashioned Days side of Sites Road, near and the Special Olympics the U.S. 39 interin Columbus. change, from general "We started in Mans- business to limited impact field in 1921. We're still industrial. Mansfield Cehere today.

We're planning ment Flooring, of Lexingon being here in 2021," ton, plans to build on 3 or 4 Metcalf said. "At one time, acres, and develop the rewe had 1,000 members. mainder of the site for Now we have less than other companies. 400. We need a smaller facility.

With the utility costs, we just need to 419-521-7229 firearm. Wilhite admitted falsifying records "The biggest thing is stability. We for a defendant who is related to him wanted stability in the department," while the defendant was sentenced to Milliron said Tuesday afternoon. serve community service. Wilhite falMillion said under Ohio law the sified the number of hours served.

mayor can appoint an acting chief for He was to have started back to up to 120 days. work Dec. 31. His attorneys filed a "We felt we needed to put someone motion for him to return to his post, in the position. Lt.

Rudd has 10 or 12 but the court has not ruled on it. years service," he said. Wilhite remains on unpaid adminisWilhite pleaded guilty to one count trative leave until matters are settled of tampering with records, a first-de- in court. gree misdemeanor, and dereliction of He has been with the Crestline Poduty, a second-degree misdemeanor, lice Department since 1991 and was in a plea agreement with the Craw- appointed chief by Dzugan in March Toddler out of hospital after two-story plunge News Journal staff reports MANSFIELD Ashland Jacobs, 3, who fell from a second-story window Monday night, was discharged from eld Hospital on Tuesday. Police said a relative opened an upper floor apartment window at Park Avenue West, after the kitchen area became hot.

The child fell out the window after apparently leaning on the screen. The daughter of Ashana Jacobs landed in a grassy stipulation that he can not carry a ford County Prosecutor's office. 2002. area. This new gadget on my belt might make sure I don't miss good stories an you hear me? Probably I'm but it's the way I am.

ways a good thing for those of us If it works, I may get better my not, tance kitchen that considering exists and the wherever between dis- with them a Hearing, ran sorry, limited out like for me warranty. vision, years comes Both ago. of an, doing Now my an and buddy, interview then News when with I Journal a would veter- pho- be with ficial I really just guilty the like same. those consciences, devices, but bene- and It stories because will than he also can ever. make see that Dave I am, happy, at happen to be sitting now.

When I was a and a fre- tographer Dave Polcyn, would use them at every mass. least, making an pup, effort. you I can guarantee that I can't quent visitor to noisy taverns, it get a tad irritated with me. He Then I began to wonder if I don't know if this device is hear you. always amazed me that people just knew I had missed some gem there were any of these things going to work for me in places I've been could converse in low voices and that our veteran had offered up.

out there in the market. where there is a lot of commotion wearing hearing still hear each other through all "Did you hear that?" asked And behold! There were. I going on. In that case, all it may aides since the that confusion. That wasn't hear- Dave, also a veteran.

found one of these neat devices at do is amplify unwanted noise. It late 1980s, but ing. That was some kind of sonar. Well, sometimes yes and some- a local drug store one evening is still a mystery to me how some haven't really But there came a time when times no. while walking the aisles in search people can pick out another perused them since my late wife, Victoria, began to Some of the older gentlemen of my favorite after shave.

son's voice in noisy disorder. I retired. object to my problem. I wasn't we've talked to have had very This is a device that claims it If this device works, it may Which irri- pretending I couldn't hear her low or very soft voices. That's can turn ordinary hearing into travel with me the way my waltates a lot of peo- when she wanted the lawn hard for me and hard for Dave, extraordinary hearing.

I hope to let, keys, change purse and pockple when I don't mowed or the garden hoed. I real- who puts the interview on video. at least reach the ordinary level. et organizer do. It will join my respond to their RON ly didn't catch her voice.

No wife Not too long ago, the folks at The thing comes with a belt cell phone on my belt. I will start greetings or SIMON likes that. my church came up with these clip, a battery and two of those looking like a wired-up guy. Or, questions. I just STUFF So off we went to a hearing little boxes that amplify sound.

little ear plugs. I hope I can get let's say, a wireless sort of guy. don't hear them. specialist and before long I was They hook into your belt and you by with just one. Then maybe you can hear me Now a lot of fitted with a pair of expensive put a single receiver in your ear.

The device is much smaller and, better yet, I can hear you. this is due to the hearing aides. And not all the way in, which than what I use at church. I imag- I know you have something constant racket going on all I hated them. But they worked.

would be irritating. Just part way. ine you could use it anywhere. worth hearing to say, and now I'll around us. There's music playing; When Victoria wanted something, Far more comfortable for me.

So, the next time I go to inter- know what it is. other people talking loudly and a I had no excuses. I turned up the sound to a vi- view a veteran, I'll pack my new Ain't progress great? zillion other noises in the way of But last year I simply stopped able level and, for the first time, little device in my pocket and put your voice. wearing them. Dumb, of course, heard the whole sermon.

Not al- it in just before we begin. 419-756-7269.