Today is Thursday, May 8 | The 129th day of 2008
Daily Chief-Union/Alissa Paolella
Growing family
Becky Greene (right) of the children's services unit of the Wyandot County Department of Job and Family Services presents the Lucky Ducks Award to Mandi and John Baldwin for opening their home and hearts to children and taking "lost ducklings" into the nest to give them a permanent home. The couple later was surprised by being named the foster parents of the year.
Baldwins honored as county's foster parents of the year
By ALISSA PAOLELLA
Staff writer
Even in hard times, many people in Wyandot County have made sacrifices for the betterment of the lives of abused, neglected and needy children in the county. Many of them were recognized Wednesday evening at the annual foster parent recognition dinner at Special Occasions Catering.
This year's foster parents of the year, Mandi and John Baldwin, were given a special tribute by Court Appointed Special Advocates supervisor Luanne Hufford after they inspired her to write a story entitled "There's No Days Like Snow Days."
The couple was surprised with the award after Hufford read the story, which happened last October at the Baldwins' home.
The couple has legal custody of two foster children, 16-year-old Veronica and 13-year-old Tyler. They also have two biological children, ages 4 and 1, and another one on the way, expected Aug. 2.
Hufford said she went to the Baldwins' home for a visit and was met at the car by the children, laughing and saying, "Hurry!"
(Refer to page 1 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
Daily Chief-Union/Aaron Korte
The bridge to nowhere
It took some rearranging of some street signs and some nifty driving to manuever the bicycle bridge around the corner of Third Street at Bigelow Street. The route caused some traffic to be diverted for about two hours as a plan of attack to get the two sections of the 129-foot-long bridge into Stepping Stones Park.
Bridge connecting parks installed
By AARON KORTE
Editor
Upper Sandusky Mayor Scott Washburn took his first day off Wednesday since taking office Jan. 2, joining his son Isaiah and the rest of the first grade class on a field trip to the Columbus Zoo.
Little did he know he was going to return to a zoo when he came back to town around 3 p.m.
On Wednesday, the controversial walking bridge connecting Stepping Stones Park to River's Edge Park was installed but not without some problems.
Originally, the 129-foot-long bridge, which was constructed in two pieces, was going to be brought in from the River's Edge Park side.
"Our original plan on was to bring it on East side, but with the way the weather's been, we couldn't rely on the weather conditions to get the crane and the bridge in on the East side.
Area job-seekers look for work at county job expo
By BRANDON DRAKE
Staff writer
Leeann Keister was one of many local residents strolling through the Bingo Hall on Wednesday looking for work.
Like many of those who visited the Wyandot County Career Expo, Keister, of Wyandot, knows the hardships of being without a job in today's tightening job market. She has been unemployed now for two months and has become frustrated with filling out applications and searching for jobs.
"I bet I've put in ... over 50 applications (in the last two months), and there's nothing," said Keister, who left her position with Pilot Travel Center after six months because of medical conditions. "The Dollar General store in Bucyrus is taking applications. They're hiring for four hours a week. That's four hours a week. That tells you how hard (it is)."
And as the days continue to pass, things only get tougher for Keister and her husband.
"I was telling (a person here) this is the first time in my life that I never had a job, and I've been off two months now, and things are getting really tight," she said. "I had to go get food stamps. ... I mean, it's not that it's a bad thing that you had to do that. There's a lot of people just like me."
WEDNESDAY MAY 7, 2008
Daily Chief-Union/Aaron Korte
Looking at history
Rebecca Lautermilch studies one of the family trees hanging in the Union Middle School library while Joe Meeker (left) and George Kreachbaum have a conversation in the background. Seniors were invited to Union on Tuesday as the middle school students made them dessert and provided ample entertainment as part of an outreach project.
Seniors pampered by students
By AARON KORTE
Editor
When Rebecca Lautermilch decided to join some friends for a trip to Union Middle School, she was not expecting much to be made of the invitation.
So she was a bit surprised when she arrived and students came out to greet her and welcome her to the library, where eighth-grade work and family life students had made desserts. While seniors drank their coffee, they looked at the placemats made by the sixth-grade art students and the favors by the seventh-grade math students.
"I didn't know we'd have all this," Lautermilch said. "The kids have been so enthusiastic."
She said she really was impressed by the family tree projects the students did that detailed the lineage of their families.
"That's really something," Lautermilch said. "It helps them realize who some of their relatives are."
(Refer to page 1 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
Kirby may look at new parking law
By LONNIE McMILLAN
Sports editor
KIRBY — If a parking issue at the intersection of Main and South streets is not resolved soon, the Kirby Village Council may take steps toward a parking ordinance.
For a few months now, council has discussed how tenant parking at an apartment building on the northwest corner of that intersection creates a dangerous situation for drivers. Anyone approaching the stop sign on South Street must pull out halfway into the intersection to see beyond the parked vehicles.
Mayor Tim Stansbery said he has spoke to the landowner on a few occassions, but little action has been taken. It seems the tenants have begun pulling up further onto the sidewalk, Stansbery said, but that gives little relief to the problem and creates a new problem of blocking the sidewalk.
Parallel parking could be an option, but because of a post, it is unlikely both vehicles that normally park there would fit. Council also discussed the possibility that angled parking would resolve the problem. Another solution would be to have the tenants simply park elsewhere.
Safety has to take precedent over convenience, council member Doug Snyder said.
(Refer to page 1 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
Daily Chief-Union/Alissa Paolella
Life flight called
At least three people were hospitalized after a two-vehicle accident Tuesday at about noon at the intersection of Ohio 53 and CH 108 in Salem Township. Anthony M. Timm, Upper Sandusky, was taken to Wyandot Memorial Hospital and later life flighted to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo. Passenger Erica J. Cloud, no address given, was taken by life flight to the St. Vincent's, where they both were listed in fair condition this morning. The driver of the other car, Arlene Dillion, Upper Sandusky, was transported to a Columbus hospital, but no more information was available. Cloud's 1995 Honda Passport, which Timm was listed as driving, sustained severe damage and was towed. Dillion's 1995 Mercury Villager sustained disabling damage and also was towed. No more information was available this morning. The Wyandot County Sheriff's Office and Upper Sandusky Police Department responded to the scene after the crash was called in at about 11:38 a.m.
(Refer to page 1 of today's Daily Chief-Union)