News Briefs Week of 3/1/2021

By: 
Staff Writer

Wood County Humane Society to close for HVAC upgrades

The Wood County Humane Society (WCHS) will be closing temporarily from mid-March through early May to allow for the installation of new HVAC systems.
This project, which has been in the works for over a year, will involve the installation of three new, individual HVAC systems for the shelter, located at 801 Van Camp Rd. in Bowling Green.
One system will be for the cat rooms, another will be for the dog kennels, and a third will be for non-animal areas.
The new HVAC systems are expected to significantly reduce exposure to airborne pathogens and to reduce annual utility expenditures by roughly 20 percent.
The existing HVAC system at the shelter is original to the building, dating to the mid-1980s. According to Building & Grounds Chair John Aleksander, the current system no longer meets the building code and is extremely inefficient. Aleksander also noted that, due to the age of the system, replacement parts are very difficult to locate.
The current renovation project also involves the installation of new ductwork throughout the building, new LED lighting fixtures and dimming light switches, new ceiling grid and tile, a new electrical panel in garage, emergency lighting, motion sensors, a sound reduction wall above the ceiling in specific areas, and a secure roof access ladder on the outside of the building.
During the period of temporary closure, WCHS will be operating from a satellite location and will provide limited services to the community. Animal intake will be limited during this time, given that the organization will be relying on fosters and adoptions to house animals needing a home.
Other services that will continue to be available during the temporary closure include: responding to calls of animal cruelty, neglect and abandonment; requests for pet food/community cat food assistance.
To stay up-to-date with what’s happening at WCHS, follow the organization on Facebook (wchsohio) or visit its website (wchumane.org).
WCHS is a private, non-profit, managed admission shelter providing care for homeless and abused or neglected pets. The organization receives no funding from national humane organizations for daily operations, instead relying on earned revenue and the generosity of individual donors and businesses to fund programs such as Humane Investigations, Safe Pets, food assistance programs, low-cost spay/neuter opportunities, and educational presentations.
The WCHS provides care for over a thousand animals each year – from dogs and cats, to the occasional pocket pet or farm animal. All animals admitted into the adoption program are housed and cared for as long as it takes to find their adoptive home.

Terra State offering
COVID antibody tests
Terra State Community College began offering COVID-19 antibody testing to students and employees as of Feb. 25.
Testing will be offered every Tuesday and Thursday from 9-11 a.m. and from 3-5 p.m. Tests are open to any student or employee and are free of charge. Antibodies are tested by a finger prick and results are returned within 15 minutes.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid COVID-19 tests will continue to be available. Any student or employee looking to receive a PCR, rapid or antibody test can email COVID19testing@terra.edu to make an appointment.

Bill to increase
transparency in
judicial elections
State Senators Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and Jerry C. Cirino (R-Kirtland) on Feb. 23 introduced Senate Bill 80, which would require the party affiliation for certain judicial candidates to be listed on a general election ballot.
The bill applies to judicial candidates for the Ohio Supreme Court and Appellate Courts.
“The current judicial electoral system in Ohio is flawed, mainly because we are the only state in the country where judges run in a partisan primary and a non-partisan general election,” Gavarone said. “Voters deserve to have the full picture about candidates on the ballot, and this is just another piece of information they will have to make an informed decision.”
Under current Ohio law, judicial candidates' party affiliation is not designated on the general ballot, which can lead to unnecessary confusion when voters are making their selection at the polls.
“Voters deserve maximum transparency in the election process, and this legislation will help Ohioans have a better understanding of which judicial candidates represent their core values,” said Cirino. “While I encourage voters to do in-depth research into all candidates on the ballot, this bill ensures that basic party affiliation is readily available at the polls.”
Companion legislation is also being introduced in the Ohio House by Representatives D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) and Brian Stewart (R-Ashville).
For more information on SB 80, visit www.legislature.ohio.gov./

Kindergarten
Screening set
Genoa Elementary will host its annual Kindergarten Screening May 12 and 13, with May 14 set as an overflow day.
Parent information and registration forms will be 100 percent virtual this year, and must be completed prior to the screening date. In order to be eligible for kindergarten screening, a child must be 5 years old by Aug. 1. All kindergarten students must be screened and registered in order to begin the 2021-22 school year.
Parents/guardians can call the elementary office to set up an appointment date and time beginning March 22. There will be five appointment slots per day – 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., with a limit of 10 students per sessions. Appointments will be based on a first-come, first-served basis.
Call 419-855-7741, ext. 41203 to make an appointment.

Pre-trial hearing set
A pre-trial hearing in the case of a Lake Township man accused of rape has been set for March 9 in Wood County Common Pleas Court.
Steven Finch, II, was indicted by a Wood County grand jury on 30 counts alleging he committed rape, assault and kidnapping against his wife going back to August 2019.
Bond for Finch was set at $500,000 and he was ordered to have no contact with the victim.
The charges also include specifications alleging Finch is a sexually violent predator.
Finch has been held in the Wood County Justice Center since his arrest.

Commission
to consider
zoning matters

The Wood County Planning Commission will consider a request to amend sections of the Troy Township zoning resolution during the commission’s March 2 meeting
The township is proposing to change the requirement that all applicants for a zoning permit must file a statement of intended use with the zoning inspector prior to the inspector issuing a permit. The other proposal would clarify whether zoning permits are needed for fences, pools, ponds, outdoor furnaces and signs.
The planning commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the county office building in Bowling Green.

Crash under
investingation
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal, two-vehicle crash that occurred Feb. 19 on Toussaint Portage Road, South of Genzman Road, in Carroll Township, Ottawa County.
Antonio Guerra, Sr. age 61, Port Clinton, was operating a garbage truck and sustained minor injuries and was transported to Magruder Hospital in Port Clinton.
Robert Tarbuskovich, 71, Oak Harbor, sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash. He was not wearing his safety belt at the time of crash.
The truck was stopped northbound on Toussaint Portage Road collecting garbage and was struck by the northbound Tarbuskovich vehicle in the rear.
Alcohol and/or drug use are not suspected to be a factor in the crash.

Toledo bar
cited by state
Agents of the Ohio Investigative Unit on Feb. 21 and issued a citation after witnessing alleged violations at Frankie Goes to Town LLC., known as Chevy’s Bar, Toledo.
The establishment was cited for improper conduct – disorderly activity. At 12:10 a.m., agents observed approximately 100 patrons standing and consuming alcohol with little to no facial coverings worn or social distancing measures in place.
Agents also observed security at the door allowing patrons to enter without controlling the capacity of the permit premises. Agents previously cited the liquor permit in October for improper conduct – disorderly activity.
The case will go before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission for potential penalties, including fines and/or the suspension or revocation of liquor permits.

Republican Club to meet
Oregon Republican Club has resumed in-person meetings, with the next meeting set for Thursday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at in the conference room at Holiday Inn Express, 3154 Navarre Ave.
The guest speaker will be Ohio State Sen. Theresa Gavarone. A Republican, Gavarone was first appointed to the senate in 2019 after serving in the Ohio House of Representatives since 2016.
The meeting will also include a discussion of plans for upcoming races in Oregon.
For more info, call Lynn at 419-481-2442.

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