The Akron Beacon Journal du lieu suivant : Akron, Ohio • Page 22

Bill to renovate courthouse in Wayne County skyrockets Budget able to handle higher cost thanks to hike in income from interest BY SALLIE COOK Special to the Beacon Journal WOOSTER: The price tag for renovating the Wayne County Courthouse has soared to an estimated $3.7 million, $700,000 more than the original estimate. Wayne County Commissioner Fred Cannon said yesterday the county can afford to pay the extra money without borrowing. Space in the courthouse and the adjoining Nick Amster building will be remodeled into expansions for the juvenile court, the prosecutor's office and common pleas courts. Times are good financially for the county. Interest income doubled from an estimated $800,000 to $1.6 million since January, said county Fiscal Officer Carol Poulton.

County Director of Administration Patrick Herron said the added renovation cost will be paid with excess interest income. "Quite frankly, that is where the money is," Herron said. "By midyear, we knew that it (interest income) would be over our estimate." Cannon said renovation estimates were off because more heating and plumbing work needs to be done than expected. The 125- year-old courthouse has thick walls, making the work more difficult. About 40 percent, rather than the usual 20 percent, will be spent for heating and plumbing, Cannon said.

Wiring for computers and phones is not included in the $3.7 million cost, Poulton said. The commissioners allocated $5,000 to most department heads for merit raises yesterday, the first time bonuses have been given to employees. Commissioner Cheryl Noah said department heads requested the money to reward some workers. But commissioners did not offer bonuses for workers employed by Auditor Sue Ann Fouche, who has been in a running dispute with commissioners for three years over salaries. Fouche pays her employees more than a commissioner-subscribed salary survey.

Department heads will decide who gets the raises. Commissioners required an evaluation of each employee before the raises were offered. The commissioners also approved an agreement between the county Department of Human Services and the Wayne County Career Basic and Literacy Education for a program to put welfare clients to work. Twenty welfare recipients will take a three-month course to learn job and educational skills. ABLE will provide support services for three months after a client has taken a job, said Sue Steingass, human services director.

College, high school in Wooster to team on science program who are conducting the JASON Desire is to encourage science education as career curriculum. Beacon Journal stall report student Susan Kost was one of the David Estrop, superintendent WOOSTER: The College of Wooster JASON Project's on-site student of the Wooster City Schools, called will researchers at Yellowstone Na- the plan a project," and "win-win and the Wooster City Schools collaborate in teaching the science tional Park. For this school year's said, "We are happy extremely of the JASON Project, an curriculum, Wooster High fresh- with this collaboration." courses program that in- man Matt Long and biology teach- During the opening weeks of volves students in the spring school semester, the international experiments er Todd Patterson will be among with a crew of explorers led by the team going with Ballard's ship students will begin educational earth scientist and oceanographer to Monterey Bay, in the units showing beconnections Robert Ballard. spring. tween and cultural asscientific pects of the areas that will be The purpose of the collabora- The study, which will culminate studied during the two-week, intion is to encourage college sci- in the California kelp beds diving teractive, online expedition in ence students to consider elemen- in March, is titled "Oceans of March.

tary and secondary science Earth and Beyond." Schmidt said it is often rare for education as a career The college will supply students public school teachers to have while simultaneously offering the perspec- from its geology and education de- time to collaborate with another tive of the college students as role partments as role models for the person and talk about what they models for the public-school stu- high school student scientists, ac- might want to teach or how to cording to an announcement yes- present information. dents. This is the second year that the terday by Lori Bettison-Varga, as- "There is growing concern Wooster district has taken part in sociate professor of geology. She among educators that college and Ballard's project as one of 32 Pri- is coordinating the college's par- university faculty don't stress elemary Interactive Network sites ticipation in the project, along with mentary and secondary education around the world, allowing stu- associate education professor Ali- as a career possibility for some of dents to follow the research via son Schmidt. our mathematics and science masatellite video and Internet hook- The college students, in turn, jors," said Bettison-Varga.

"Many ups. will receive mentoring from the of our top students should be Last year, Wooster High School public school classroom teachers thinking about such careers." BINGO Low attendance, competition end Bingo Continued from Page D1 man, Joe Pertl, remembered being called. "I need a volunteer," Hoey told them. "It's only temporary." That was 26 years and two months ago. "We're closing because of the lack of attendance and competition with other bingos," said the Rev.

Ronald Klingler, the current pastor. "We had to determine if it was profitable to continue and decided after more than a year of study that it was best to close." Joliat blamed declining attendance on competition from games with bigger pots. "Also hurting us is the enormous progressive instant games that build to $5,000 and $20,000, and we won't do that. We are against just bleeding the people, and that's what I think those large instant games do." St. John's last bingo night brought out several families, in- CHIEF About a dozen officers attend ceremony Continued from Page D1 been sworn in as police chief.

The former police chief in Riverside near Dayton, Herdt replaces Philip Paar, a popular chief who was demoted to the rank of lieutenant in August. And while trustees never did state publicly why they removed Paar, they've hinted that Paar did not always abide by the policies of the trustees. Paar was not in attendance yesterday, but about a dozen police officers were. Also there for the formal swearing in were members of the screening committee that helped hire Herdt and the township's public safety advisory committee. Also absent were the dozens of township residents who so vociferously protested Paar's demotion 2 cluding four sisters in their 70s and 80s.

Three came by bus almost weekly to play and socialize. Longtime church members Jean and Louise Farres and their sisters, Josephine Abdulla of Canton and Elizabeth Hilber of Cleveland, had as much fun talking as playing the game. "This closing is sickening," Farres said. "We've been coming all these years. Where am I going to go on Tuesday? I loved this Mary Jane Plott, who for 10 years has been in charge of food services for the Ladies Guild, had the same sinking feeling as she prepared to close the kitchen after intermission.

"I don't know what not coming here on Tuesday is to mean to me because on Tuesdays I don't do anything else but bingo. I just don't know what I'm going to do," said Plott, whose Tuesdays usually meant 12-hour days at the church. Steve Gill, who just turned 18 and was a first-time player, was sharing a pot with aunts Becky Gill and Shirley McAdow. "I like it," he said, and obviously liked it even better when he got to shout "Bingo!" with the winning number in the 13th game. For 14 months, Edwin Page had been playing with a portable oxygen unit at his side because of asbestos poisoning.

"It kinda hurts, knowing tonight's the last night for bingo here. I like it here, and the people have accepted me and even made a nonsmoking area for me in front of the kitchen so I could bring my oxygen and keep playing. I'm really going to miss the volunteers because they've been so good to me." Despite the sadness of ending the game, two families were overjoyed to be able to yell "Bingo!" on the final $1,000 jackpot and split the payoff with huge smiles. "Thank you, dear Jesus," said Barbara Simpson as husband Gary Simpson, a Union Metal employee, received his share of the cover-all jackpot. The Simpsons have been St.

John's bingo regulars for years. At the other end of the hall, Pat Mitchell could not control her glee over sharing the jackpot. She had used part of her monthly house payment to play while praying, "Jesus, let it be, please let it be." "You think Jesus doesn't answer prayers? He, sure did tonight," said Mitchell, who kept repeating, "Thank you, Jesus," as she headed home to prepare the payment due two weeks ago. MATT Journal Peter Herdt (left) is sworn in by Trustee Dan McKimm as the new Jackson Township police chief during yesteday's ceremonies. though two of those residents ing in from happening, and obvihave gone to court in an attempt ously they didn't succeed," to reinstate Paar and throw out McKimm said.

"But we'd at least Herdt's contract, which gives him like to get that contract settled. job security in the form of $65,000 The new chief has enough to worseverance pay. ry about without having to worry "The tried to stop this swear- about that." LL THE REGION Shooting suspect surrenders to police A 27-year-old shooting and robbery suspect surrendered to police yesterday after a threehour standoff. Anthony Secessions was wanted in connection with a Nov. 23 shooting outside the Tropicana Lounge on North Howard Street and a Nov.

24 carjacking. Akron Police Capt. Lynn Callahan said police received information on Secessions' whereabouts about 4 p.m. yesterday. The suspect was found at his aunt's apartment on East Lods Street in the Elizabeth Park housing project in North Akron.

After evacuating 15 to 20 people from nearby apartments, the officers tried to communicate with Secessions by telephone and bullhorn. Finally, around 7 p.m., he walked out to the front steps and surrendered without a struggle, Callahan said. Secessions, who was unarmed, was alone in the apartment. His aunt was away at work. Police were interviewing a cousin and his girlfriend last night.

According to court records, Secessions has 47 prior arrests by Akron police, mostly for crimes of violence. COVENTRY TWP. Former area educator finalist for district post A former Summit and Stark educator is one of the top three candidates for the job of superintendent at Coventry Local Schools. The school board this week narrowed the field of candidates to Larry G. Roberson, who was principal at Springfield High School in Springfield Township until 1994, when he accepted a job as superintendent of the Mount Gilead district, south of Mansfield; Gregg R.

Reink, superintendent at Edgerton Local Schools in northwestern Ohio; and Thomas D. Gay, a former assistant superintendent of Springfield City Schools in Springfield. The board and its search committee considered 13 candidates from around the state. Board member Gary Nero said all are well-qualified candidates. Roberson has 26 years of experience in education.

He began as a teacher in the Aurora district and worked his way into administration, which included two years as principal at GlenOak High School in Plain Township as well as being principal at Springfield High School. His wife, Sue, is a principal at Jennings Middle School in Akron. CANTON Firefighters rescue dog from house fire A house fire yesterday in the 1800 block of Edwards Avenue Northeast caused $35,000 in damage to the home and $10,000 to its contents, fire officials said. The residence was completely in flames when firefighters arrived, said Battalion Chief Steve Rich. Firefighters rescued a small dog, revived it and held the animal at the scene until it could be transported to the Stark County Humane Society.

Rich said fire officials are trying to locate Vertie Ramsell, the occupant and owner of the residence, who was not home when the fire broke out about 10 a.m. Investigators from the city's Fire Prevention Bureau have not determined the cause of the blaze, Rich said. Humane Society officials were unavailable for comment about the condition of the dog. The society's Stark County office was closed yesterday. DALTON Police investigating robbery of pizza shop Dalton police are investigating several leads in a robbery of Krauss Pizza on Lincolnview Drive.

A man fled Tuesday night with an undisclosed amount of money, police said. No description of the suspect was reported. Dalton police, assisted by Wayne County sheriff's deputies and Mount Eaton police, searched the area after the robbery at 7:46 p.m., but nothing was found, police said. AKRON State, firm to pay fine for asbestos offense The Ohio Department of Transportation and a Medina County firm have agreed to pay a $12,480 fine to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for violating federal asbestos laws on an Akron bridge repair project.

The state and the Ruhlin Co. of Sharon Township have agreed to the fine for the violations discovered in June 1996, at an Interstate 76 bridge at East Market and General streets, the EPA said. The state agency also agreed Page D6, Thursday, December to spend $91,924 on three supplemental environmental projects. It must install energy-saving lights at its central maintenance garage in Columbus and conduct two studies to determine whether it can add alternative-fueled vehicles to its fleet. Ruhlin and the state were cited for violating federal asbestos standards and for failing to give proper notice before beginning the work.

Asbestos is a known cancer-causing substance that can cause breathing problems. COLUMBUS Environmental pact to protect wetlands Ohio's wetlands and rivers will get more protection under an agreement between 11 environmental groups and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The pact provides added protection to small wetlands and Ohio's scenic rivers, and it decreases the size of Ohio wetland tracts that can be destroyed without public review. The environmental groups were opposed federal provisions followed by the state that had allowed the filling in and destruction of up to 3 acres of wetlands and 500 linear feet of streams with little review and no public comment. Conservationists said that practice was the biggest threat to Ohio's remaining wetlands.

The 11 groups had appealed Ohio's decision to follow the federal system. The deal ends the appeal without the issue going to the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission. MEETINGS Transit service hears residents complaints More than 25 people, mostly Canton residents, came to a Stark Area Regional Transit Authority meeting last night to complain about bus service within the city limits. Since the service went countywide on Dec. 1, riders say several routes are either late or have inconvenient schedules.

A half-dozen people gave accounts of experiences with the new system. Canton Councilman William Smuckler, D-9, and Art Cirelli, D- 4, spoke of constituents' calls. "There are rough edges, we know that," SARTA board President Dick Mertes said. SARTA Executive Director Sharon Eslich said routes would be continually improved, but some routes might not be changed until March. Several people accused SARTA of abandoning Canton.

"Take care of Canton first before the other cities," said rider Kevin Thompson. Eslich said 365,000 residents are paying the 0.25 percent countywide sales tax to fund the bus service. "We are going to meet the needs of the entire county because they are paying the bill," she said. JANET FRANKSTON PLAIN TWP. District approves field trips, program which will participate in a festival in Kettering in January.

The board also approved field trips for Taft Middle School seventh- and eighth-graders. The board will accept bids for one or more buses to be purchased in 1998. Members also agreed to have the district participate in the Amer-I-Can program, founded by Jim Brown. Plain Local is using a grant from the Timken Foundation to pay for the program, which aims at increasing students' self-esteem. BETTY O'NEILL-RODERICK WORTH NOTING COLUMBUS Timken Co.

honored for reducing pollution The Timken Co. of Canton has been honored by the state for its pollution prevention program. The company's efforts at its Canton and Wooster mills reduced releases of hazardous wastes by 4.1 million pounds and its solid waste by 32 million pounds. It also successfully recycled some acids used in the company's operations. The company was one of seven saluted by Lt.

Gov. Nancy Hollister on behalf of Gov. George Voinovich and the Ohio Environmental Protection The Plain Local Schools Board of Education has approved field trips for the GlenOak High School speech and debate team, 18, 1997 The Beacon Journal AREA DEATHS Summit Debski, Luke Stephen, 14, of Bath Township. Tuesday. Dunn-Quigley Ciriello Carr funeral home.

Fuller, Cecil Elmer, 84, of Akron. Sunday. Arnold funeral home. Tutwiler, Clara 102, formerly of Silver Lake Village. Wednesday.

Billow funeral home. Stark Bechtel, June 84, of Massillon. Tuesday. Arnold-Lynch funeral home. Ford, Cynthia, 80, of Canton.

Saturday. Brogdon funeral home. Heim, Nancy Lou, 54, of Massillon. Monday. Heitger funeral home.

Heintzman, Elsie 92, of North Canton. Sunday. Reed funeral home, Canton. Hill, Edmond, 79, of Canton. Rhoden funeral home.

Kandel, Harry 73, of North Canton, Tuesday. Spiker-Foster-Shriver funeral home, Canton. Lehberger, George 98, of Canton. Sunday. Reed funeral home.

Pisoni, Leno, 85, of Alliance. Tuesday. Sharer-Stirling-Skivolocke funeral home. Schirack, Mildred 93, of California, formerly of Canton. Monday.

Williams funeral home. Stinchcomb, Dorothy 65, of Canton. Tuesday. Reed funeral home. Stinson, Whitney 68, of Alliance.

Tuesday. CassadayTurkle-Christian funeral home. Medina Dobson, Clara, 92, of Valley City. Wednesday. Bauer funeral home.

Echle, Eleanor, 96, of Valley City. Wednesday. Bauer funeral home. Zsarnay, Esther 76, of Medina. Tuesday.

Waite Son funeral home. Zweifel, May, 73, of Medina. Wednesday. Waite Son funeral home. Wayne Petrik, Nellie, 87, of West Salem.

Tuesday. Matteson funeral home. Portage Andresh, Ann, 76, of Streetsboro. Wednesday. Shorts funeral home.

Wetshtein, Katie, 94, of Ravenna. Wednesday. Shorts funeral home. Other Davis, Frances, 73, of Punta Gorda, formerly Hudson. Friday.

Kays- Ponger Royal Palm funeral home, Punta Gorda. Vincent, James, 73, of Fraser, formerly of Akron. Saturday. Faulman Walsh funeral home, Fraser. Nicolette Larson, 45, a recording artist who lifted Neil Young's song Lotta Love to the top of the pop charts in December 1978, died Tuesday in Los Angeles of complications from cerebral edema brain swelling caused by abnormal fluid accumulation, said her husband, drummer Russell Kunkel.

He released no further details of her illness. Larson performed with Jimmy Buffett, the Beach Boys and Willie Nelson. She had hits including Rumba Girl, Fool Me Again and That's How You Know Love's Right. Lillian Disney, 98, the widow of Walt Disney and a leading patron of the arts, died Tuesday at her home in Los Angeles from complications following a stroke, said family friend Michael Broggie. The former Lillian Bounds was married to the studio chief for 41 years.

CLASSIFIED Death Notices Cheryl L. Daily Schneider Aller Cheryl L. Daily Schneider Aller, 51, of Greentown, passed away Dec. 16, 1997. She was employed by First Merit First National Bank of Ohio for 28 years, and was a member of the North Canton Eagles.

Preceded in death by her father, Harold L. Daily, in 1996, she is survived by her daughters, Stephanie L. Schneider of Perrysburg, Ohio, and Andrea M. Schneider of the home; mother, Maxine R. Daily; sister, Judy E.

McMasters, both of Greentown; brother, Stanley (Leslie) Daily of Lynnwood, Wash. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and special friends. Funeral services will be Saturday, 11 a.m., at Booth Funeral Home in Greentown, where friends may call Friday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The family requests that memorials may be made to Greentown Park or Stark County Hospice. (Booth, 499-7234.) Continued on next page.