Chillicothe Gazette from Chillicothe, Ohio • 3

Local and state news Tuesday, November 12, 2002 Chillicothe Gazette 3A Briefs Collectible bell features first statehouse To purchase The collectible bell can be purchased for $30 by calling Don Dixon at 775-8803. and those wishing to have a complete set of bells with the same serial number can do so by contacting the place of their original purchase. The bells are guaranteed at the original price and in the original form and color until the entire set is complete. Only the featured design will change. The next bell will be of the Wright brother's cycle shop in Dayton.

The last bell will be of the statehouse in Columbus. All bell sales will raise money for charitable activities by the Ohio Lions Club. With the money they raise, the Chillicothe Lions Club will help purchase eyeglasses, finance eye exams and give scholarships to students interested in optometry. "Any time you have something that is dated like this and is a limited edition, certainly, it can appreciate in value and become a collectible. Plus, it's for a good cause," said Rita Long, who bought a bell this weekend.

By KIRRAN SYED Gazette Staff Writer Ohioans can ring in the Bicentennial with a collectible bell featuring the first statehouse. Only 3,000 collectible Fenton Art Glass Company bells will be available for sale for $30 each. Of those, only 144 are scheduled for sale in Chillicothe. "We just started selling this past Saturday, but we sold a lot," said Don Dixon, secretary of the Chillicothe Evening Lions Club. "Right now, we have about 125 left" "We think it's going to be a very good item because it's the first of 12 bells and has a Chillicothe landmark on it," he said.

"It's significant because Chillicothe was the first capital" The 2003 bell, with a drawing by Ohio artist Mike Bick, is the first in a series of 12. One bell will be released every year until the set is complete. Each bell has a serial number "I bought the bell because I thought it would be a nice, commemorative piece for the Bicentennial celebration," she said. "It's attractive." Long said she is still deciding whether she will purchase the remaining 11 bells. However, she said, because the first bell features Chillicothe, it is a worthwhile investment in itself.

Karen McElwee, chair of the Lions Club fund-raising bell project, said she does not expect to have any problem selling the 3,000 bells available. She said she is delighted the club is able to raise needed funds while participating in the Bicentennial. "I think there are collectors around who will want it," she said. Martin S. LermanGazette Don Dixon, secretary of the Chillicothe Evening Lion's Club, showcases the first of 12 Bicentennial bells.

The bells, which are made by Fenton Art Glass cost is $30 each. "It's a nice bell and it's part of a chase the bells as Christmas and historical series." holiday gifts. She said the group deliberately (Syed can be reached at began public sales in November 772-9364 or via e-mail at because they expect people to pur- ksyednncogannett.com) Hunteiveducation classes set to begin this week A hunter-education class will be offered this weekend at the Liberty Township Community Building, 4923 Vigo Road in Londonderry. The free class is geared toward first-time hunters. It's being sponsored by the Ohio Division of Wildlif e.

On Friday, the class will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. On Saturday, it will be held from 8 am. to 4 p.m. Registration is required. To register, call (740) 887-2202.

Mediation session set for Wednesday BEAVER School board members and striking employees are scheduled to meet for a mediation session 3 p.m. Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to the meeting," said Cheryl Selbee, spokeswoman for the Eastern Local Classroom Teachers Association. "(We're) hoping we can get something resolved." Last week's mediation session in Cincinnati was canceled because school board members were reportedly unable to attend. The strike began Sept.

26. Insurance costs continue to be an area of disagreement in the contract negotiations for teachers and support personnel. Beauty supply store damaged, burglarized Thieves escaped with almost $1,800 in cash after breaking into Sally Beauty Supply, 70 Consumer Center, Sunday evening. The Chillicothe Police Department reported that the rear door to the business had been pried open and was damaged beyond repair. The thieves pried open a lock box, which contained $1,795.39 in cash and $589.42 in checks.

Officers were unable to retrieve any fingerprints and had no suspects. Council discusses labor contract City Council met in executive session Monday night to discuss labor negotiations. Council met for about an hour Moviegoers survive tornado in bathrooms Theatre takes direct hit 4, 3 Martin S. LermanGazette Rocky Brown, Mayor of Beaver, helps his daughter Robin, 13, with algebra. Robin is home schooled.

Brown is concerned the school strike is taking its toll on the village. lag woes houses, had just ended, and the three others playing weren't very crowded, Shaffer said. He decided to send everyone for cover after hearing warnings of the approaching storm on the theater's weather alert radio. "There's no doubt in my mind that he saved many lives," said Lt Gov. Maureen O'Connor who surveyed the damage Monday.

As three employees and moviegoers helped him round people up, Shaffer opened the front door and waved others back inside from the parking lot That's when he saw the tornado. "I could just see it coming through that field. It was the whole sky," he said. Shaffer crouched with others in a hallway with his arms over his head. "I could hear glass breaking, ceiling tiles dropping and a lot of rumbling.

For a few seconds, it got ear-piercing," he said. Liz Hoersten, 43, didn't make it to the hallway when sirens interrupted "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." She huddled with her mother, daughter and others in one of the theaters, listening to the roar as the walls and floor shook. "There was a Me baby who was sleeping, who had no idea what was going on," she said. "Everyone was huddling around the baby. "It was after it was completely passed that we really realized how severe it was." The tornado had winds reaching 207-260 mph in this city about 10 miles east of the Ohio-Indiana state line.

The theater took a direct hit "The Lord was looking out for us and our customers," said theater owner Jim Boyd, whose home next door was destroyed. "Our entire life went away in a matter of five minutes," he said while picking through his clothes covered with insulation in a bedroom closet His bedroom, which faced the theater, was torn away. By JOHN SEE WER Associated Press Writer VAN WERT Scott Shaffer had just five minutes to move everyone in a movie theater into bathrooms and hallways and away from a tornado bearing down on the building. Authorities say he likely saved a lot of lives. "I was too scared to panic," Shaffer said Monday.

Shaffer and other employees of the Van Wert Cinemas herded about 50 people into the brick hallway and restrooms during a storm that killed five across northwest Ohio on Sunday. The tornado was among killer storms that hit more than six states. No one inside the theater was hurt seriously. The storm ripped away part of the steel-framed theater's walls and roof, tossing three cars into the front of a theater that had just been filled with children watching "The Santa Clause 2." Rows of blue-cushioned seats were left open to the sky and littered with wood and plaster. Children and teenagers were screaming and crying.

Mothers were clutching their children as the winds ripped the roof off the women's restroom. Paul Roddy, 27, lay on top of his wife, Tracy, in the hallway. "I was trying to protect her," he said. "I was trying to give her a chance to survive." When it was over after about 30 seconds, Roddy stood up with debris and dust covering his back. "It was even in my pockets," he said.

The tornado scattered shards of glass across the lobby, leaving only a popcorn machine and three arcade games untouched. Two movies at the theater, surrounded by farm fields and a few Beaver mayor concerned with school strike fallout Town meeting Beaver Mayor Rocky Brown has called a town meeting for 6:30 p.m. tonight. It will be held at the Beaver Firehouse. The school employee strike will be discussed.

"We're just going to try to get everybody together and do something," Brown said. "We want to know what's going on. Why are (the employees) still out on strike? Why won't (the board) give them what they want?" All interested parents and residents are invited to attend. By LIZ PECEK Gazette Staff Writer BEAVER As a school employee strike continues into a 48th day, Mayor Rocky Brown watches the village of about 460 people start to crumble. Families and neighbors some who are backing the employees and others who are on the school board's side seem increasingly divided.

The Brown family is no different. Rocky has known the superintendent and all the school board members for years. People like board president Stephanie Knipp have always been nice people, he said. Two of his wife Rachel's brothers are bus drivers for the Eastern Local School District A hurting village Some area businesses have already reported experiencing a decrease in business since the strike started. Rachel, who works at Mathews Family Foods, said a customer objected to the store waiting on a security guard for the schools.

"It's tearing up homes," Rachel said. "People are arguing because there's no money. What do you do?" Rocky does not think the board was justified in giving Superintendent Treva Harmon all decisionmaking powers during the strike. Harmonjs supposed to be working for the board, just like he works for the village, he added. "It's unbelievable," said Rocky, who has been mayor for about five years.

"You see all these people you know on the street They could lose their whole life over (the strike) homes, cars, divorces. and a half to discuss a contract with the American Federal State County and Municipal Employees union The union previous contract expired at the end of August The union employs 110 people in different city departments. Event set to assist striking personnel BEAVER On Sunday, residents are invited to the Beaver Firehouse to share cakes, pies and drinks. The event will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Those who bring five non-perishable food items will receive an extra chance at the door prize.

All proceeds will go to the Eastern Local School District employees who are on strike. Non-perishable food items are needed for striking Eastern teachers and support personnel. Call (740) 226-1449 for more in-formatioa Ohio man wins screwdriving contest PHOENLX (AP) An Ohio man has picked up $1 million for screwing around. Jonathan Smith of Delaware won the money Sunday by using a cordless screwdriver to put five screws into a piece of wood to win a national contest. Smith, 27, a contractor, beat 15 other contestants over the weekend to capture the "King of the Drill" title and $10,000.

Then, to win the $1 million, he had to drive five more screws in less than seven seconds in front of more than 100,000 people at the Phoenix International Raceway before the Checker Auto Parts 500. Smith did it in 6.77 seconds. Two dead after car hits deer, utility pole GALUPOLIS (AP) Acarhit a deer early Saturday, starting an accident that killed a couple from this southeast Ohio town. The car's driver, Ronny Evans, 43, of Gallipolis, was in serious condition at St Mary's Hospital in Huntington, W.Va., a nursing supervisor said The State Highway Patrol said Evans was driving north on state Route 7, about four miles from Gallipolis, when he hit a deer. The car then struck a guardrail, flipped over and hit a utility pole, the patrol said.

Passengers Robert Martin, 33, of Gallipolis, and his wife, Tracy, 31, were killed, the patrol said. "You see all these people you know on the street. They could lose their whole life over (the strike) homes, cars, divorces. One woman should not be able to control that." Mayor Rocky Brown One woman should not be able to control that" After attending last month's board meeting, Rocky said he thinks the school board is not fulfilling its duties. A few hundred residents and parents attended, although their issues were not directly addressed by the board.

"That's not how you treat the taxpayers," Rocky said. "They own that place, the building and the land." Feelings of helplessness As mayor and as a father, he said it is difficult knowing he cant do anything to help end the strike. "I feel totally helpless as far as the school situation," Brown said. "It's out of the village's hands. I'm just a parent and I'm just like all the other parents aggravated." Their son Thomas is still attending his classes at Vem Riffe Career Technology Center, where he is a junior in the welding program.

But their daughter Robin, an eighth-grade student, has not attended class at the Eastern school since the strike started Sept. 26. "We put (Robin) in home-schooling, which I hate," Rocky said. "She's scared to go to school. It's not fair that those circumstances exist that she would feel that way.

She has the right to go to schooL" "(The district) tells you not to be afraid, but they have armed guards," Rachel said. "What does that say to kids? Is there something to be afraid of?" Besides studying from textbooks each day, Robin attends tutoring sessions offered by striking teachers twice a week, Rachel said. The longer the strike goes on, Rocky said, more and more students are being lost He estimated about 200 students have left. Some, like his daughter, have gone to home-schooling. Others have gone to nearby districts.

Both Rocky and Rachel said they hope the strike is over soon. Yet when it is over, Rachel said she expects tension will be present for a long time. The teachers will just have to go back for the kids and deal with the rest she added. "I would like to see them get this thing settled and get this community put back together the way it should be." (Pecek can be reached at 772-9367 or via e-mail at epeceknncogannett.com) ft -V AP A crane removes part of the roof of a building in an industrial park Monday in Van Wert that was destroyed by a tornado Sunday. Breakdown ol storm damage Officer charged in infant's death because the baby had a head in eral injured.

The city of Fostoria has no power. Sandusky. Seven homes destroyed, two damaged. Power Is out in northwest section of the county. Summit: Several homes damaged.

Shelters at Macedonia Recreation Center, Twinsburg High School. Union: Four homes damaged, trees and power lines down. State Route 47 is closed. Van Wert Two people killed, 19 injured, 22 houses destroyed, 1 2 houses with major damage, 13 houses with minor damage, six businesses destroyed. Shelter at Trinity Fields Church.

Wayne: Six structures destroyed. Wood: Four homes destroyed, Jerry City lost its municipal building. Ashland: More than 30 homes damaged, about 20 barns destroyed. Hancock: At least two homes damaged, one rail car overturned. Henry: Rail cars knocked off tracks, some damage to homes.

Lorain: Roof blown off school. Ottawa: Windows shattered at Magruder Memorial Hospital, some homes destroyed and schools closed. Assistance from the Ohio National Guard has been requested for debris removal. No electricity in Port Clinton. Shelter at Danbury High School.

Paulding: Church destroyed, multiple structures damaged, 12 homes damaged. Putnam: Two people killed, one injured. U.S. 224 and U.S. 127 are closed.

Trees down throughout county. Seneca: One person killed, sev-. said that the baby may have drowned, but he has since confessed that he shook the child, Greenan said Sunday. The officer had been home alone with the baby while his wife worked. The baby was taken to Brown County General Hospital and then transferred to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, where she died Nov.

3, a nursing supervisor at Children's Hospital said. Martin told the medical staff that his daughter slipped underneath the water in the infant bathtub, but doctors were suspicious The Associated Press GEORGETOWN A police officer has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child endan-germent in the death of his 3-month-old daughttr, a prosecutor said. Randolph Martin, a police officer in this Brown County village, was being held Sunday at the Clermont County jail in Batavia. Martin, 29, was arrested Friday, said Brown County Prosecutor Thomas Greenan The baby, Emme Magdalyn Martin, was buried Saturday. Martin called 911 on Nov.

1 and jury, Greenan said. Martin changed his story Wednesday after an autopsy concluded the baby died as a result of hemorrhaging to the brain, the prosecutor said. "That's when he said he shook the child and the story about drowning in the bathtub was made up," Greenan said. "He did not explain why he shook the child." Greenan said Martin was stripped of his police powers and placed on administrative leave Friday. Correction The Adena Area Artists concert was conducted Nov.

4. There is no concert tonight Incorrect information appeared on Page 2B of Monday's Gazette. .1.