Our Town 2017: Under the Radar by The Advertiser-Tribune

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2017

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Under the Radar

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About this edition

Most organizations ... if they are lucky ... have someone whose work behind the scenes helps the entity function. The stories that begin on page 3 are just examples of the people in our town who fill crucial roles within such organizations. There are many, many more individuals whose efforts often go unnoticed due to the fact they fill their roles so well. They are like the officials at a sporting event — when they do their job right, you barely are aware of their presence, yet the show could not go on without them. We can’t really call them unsung heroes, because what they do often is appreciated by those touched by their efforts. Yet their contributions are invaluable in keeping aspects of our society running, even though they do their jobs under the radar. — Rob Weaver

Index

Under the Radar

Librarians Bailiffs

Sports information directors

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

3 4 7

Church secretaries

Assistant city engineer

Dispatchers

Ditch maintenance crew Lifeguards

Hospital housekeepers

Information technology staff

15 18

30 34

School support staff

Clerk of council

Press operators

Master Gardener Volunteers

Park maintenance volunteer

Wastewater plant technician Humane Society volunteers

40 43

48 51

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Under the Radar

Junior Library Manager Connie Cole is seen getting ready to talk to donors at the Marathon Classic tournament kickoff. This year, Connie secured a grant from the tournament to benefit our Playtime at the Library program for children and parents.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Librarians’ duties are more than meets the eye BY NICOLE WALBY

Staff Writer nwalby@advertiser-tribune.com

Whose face do you see when you first enter your local library? The answer is simple: a librarian’s. But, what do you really know about librarians? For 21 years, Connie Cole has worked at Tiffin-Seneca Public Library, where she started in the junior department in 1999, working evenings and afternoons. Cole now is the junior library manager. She has a master’s degree in information and library sciences.

Cole said her first involvement at T-SPL was after a friend had asked her if she could put in a few hours at the library each week. Accepting, Cole worked at the circulation desk for a year and a half. Over the years, Cole said, she would fill in here and there. Cole began her career at T-SPL when the library was switching over to the online — digital — catalog. In a typical day, Cole answers the phone; shares information with two part-time staff members; oversees volunteers in the junior department; prepares work

schedules; schedules meeting rooms for junior activities; reads book reviews and meets with book salesman; makes display signs for programs; records statistics for program attendance; straightens materials in the early literacy center; prepares public relations materials for children’s programs and other events; covers the public desk when needed; and attends staff meetings. In addition to those duties, Cole also orders books and cleans toys in the junior library. What Cole says she enjoys most is talking with children who frequent the library and their

parents. “It is interesting and sometimes eye-opening to notice what children get from books,” Cole said. “Always fun to talk about a book, no matter what age.” Cole has also been responsible for initiating toys and early literacy activities in the junior library. The public, according to Cole, is key to the library. The library is hoping to incorporate a “maker space” for people to create, explore and learn. “Much of the knowledge utilized in these areas or needed to further the activities comes from books,” she said.

Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Under the Radar

Bailiffs are ready to serve ‘There’s never a dull moment’ according to these officers of the court BY JILL GOSCHE

Online Editor jgosche@advertiser-tribune.com

Beside judges stand bailiffs, ready to serve the public. Seneca County Common Pleas Court Judges Michael Kelbley and Steve Shuff each have three bailiffs. In Kelbley’s courtroom, Lisa Russell is the court administrator and civil bailiff, Donna Reiter is the criminal bailiff and Amy Allen is the domestic relations bailiff and jury commissioner. “I feel privileged to have this job,” Russell said. Reiter said she has enjoyed her job, and it is her honor to work for Kelbley and be his bailiff. The judge’s staff described him as considerate and consistent. “He is just so calm,” Reiter said. Kelbley brings jurors doughnuts, muffins, cookies and fruit that he pays for on his own. He brings each of the bailiffs a dozen roses on his anniversary of being a judge, Allen said. “I cry. ... He’s a wonderful person to work for,” she said. Reiter said every day is a learning experience, and she gets to see the other side of court now. She previously worked on motions and now works on judgment entries. “My favorite part is no two days are the same. ... No two days are alike, that’s for sure. No two cases are alike,” Russell said. Russell started as an independently contracted court reporter and then worked as a law librarian, Reiter worked in a public defenders office and in an attorney’s office, and Allen worked for a judge in Crawford County before raising children. “I always wanted to come back to the court,” Allen said. The bailiffs in Shuff’s courtroom are Lori Brickner, court administrator and civil bailiff; Melissa Aldrich, criminal bailiff; and Denise Stephens, domestic relations bailiff. Stephens had worked in a prosecutor’s office, with Shuff in private practice and in Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court.

“ I feel privileged

to have this job.” Lisa Russell, court administrator and civil bailiff

PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE

On the opposite page, Bailiff Kyle Daugherty works in Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court in July.

“Nothing about domestic (relations) did I know,” she said. Stephens works on arranging jury information, divorces, dissolutions, civil protection orders, child custody, child support and visitation. She works primarily with a magistrate. “I love (my job). ... You have to not let yourself get caught up in all the bad,” she said. Brickner, who has been working with Shuff for 24 years, said the court staff does care about people in court. She said she enjoys her job and always has. “It took me a long time to let things roll off my back,” she said. It is an interesting field to go into, Brickner said. “(It’s) something new every day,” she said. Aldrich also said she enjoys her job. She said her favorite part of the job is working with the same people every day, and she looks forward to her hearings. “There’s never a dull moment,” she said. Seneca County Common Pleas Court bailiffs are to be joined in TiffinSeneca County Justice Center by Kyle Daugherty, bailiff for Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court. Daugherty, who originally is from Fremont and has lived in Tiffin for about seven years, had aspirations to be a police officer. About 10 years ago, Daugherty went through Terra State Community

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College’s police academy. He was hired as a police officer at Tiffin Developmental Center and worked there for four and a half years. An adult probation position opened at TiffinFostoria Municipal Court, and Daugherty applied. “(I) got lucky enough to get the adult probation officer job,” he said. Daugherty spent four and a half years in the position before getting the bailiff position when the past bailiff retired. He has been the bailiff for the court for three years and no longer has aspirations to be a police officer. The bailiff works Monday through Friday with weekends and holidays off. “The hours are perfect for a family. ... Every day’s different,” he said. Daugherty said he loves what he does. He tells people, “I got the best job in Seneca County.” Daugherty said a big part of his job is making sure court runs smoothly.

Under the Radar

“We ultimately work for the public,” he said. Daugherty is Judge Mark Repp’s right-hand man, protects him and works with him to ensure paperwork is signed. He gets arraignments started in the morning, checks people in for court, serves subpoenas, takes care of evictions, seizes property and arrests people when necessary. Daugherty said his favorite part of the position probably is that every day is different, and no two days are alike. He said he likes that court staff breaks up the time by going to Fostoria. Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court covers the entire county and serves a “huge” area, Daugherty said. “We do a lot (of serving) around the county,” he said. Daugherty said he sees himself making a career out of the bailiff’s position and can’t imagine himself doing anything else.

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE

Six bailiffs work in Seneca County Common Pleas Court and are to move, along with Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court’s bailiff, into Tiffin-Seneca County Justice Center in a few months.

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Under the Radar

Anonymity and immediacy key aspects of the job for sports information directors BY ZACH BAKER

Sports Editor zbaker@advertiser-tribune.com

Jeff Garvin calls it the “expectation of immediacy.” Many people don’t know his name, but they’ve seen his work. If there’s a game going on at Heidelberg University, the school’s director of athletic marketing and sports information and his staff are on it. It’s what his job demands. “It’s the nature of beast now,” Garvin said. “People want immediacy. If we don’t have live video, they want live audio; if we don’t have live audio, they want live stats. There’s an expectation of immediacy that adds stress to our job, but forces us to be on our toes a little bit.” If you go to Heidelberg’s website after a

football game, for instance, you’ll find statistics and a recap. It’s the work of an all-day long effort. Garvin was asked to explain his football experience. It turns out, preparation for a game on a Saturday really begins the previous Sunday. That’s when Garvin and his staff go over stats from the previous day’s game.That leads in to putting together the game program for the next week’s game. Those have to be to the vendor by Monday. Game notes for the media have to be ready by Wednesday. As for Saturday, it’s a full day thing. The games usually start at 1:30 p.m. But Garvin’s day begins way before that. It starts early in the morning. And it starts with a scoreboard. “I try to be first one there and last one to

leave,” Garvin said. “I don’t like last-minute surprises. I park my car, go right to stadium, turn the scoreboard on, make sure that works.” Then it’s checking to make sure the press box is ready, making sure the media has everything they need to do their jobs. “Home radio, road radio, newspapers,” Garvin said. “My most peaceful hour of the week is the hour before people show up. We’re showing the visiting team (coaches) where their box is. We make sure we have pizza at halftime, hot dogs and popcorn before the game.” Sounds hectic, right? “It’s fun,” Garvin said. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously.” Maybe not, but once the football game starts, someone needs to monitor every play and keep statistics. That falls on Garvin and his staff. “Once kickoff goes, I settle into a stat

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTO BY ZACH BAKER

Jeff Garvin, Heidelberg University’s director of athletic marketing and information, talks with graduate assistant Marisa Smego — a former standout softball player for Heidelberg — at the Ohio Athletic Conference’s Football Media Day at the Pro Football Hall of Fame July 27 in Canton.

Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

mode,” Garvin said. “After game, it gets a little hectic. We are wrapping up stats, make sure we have participation done.” “Participation” is the section of the stat book which lists all the players for both teams who got into the game. “It’s known that (Heidelberg starting quarterback) Tyler Stoyle played, but did that third string lineman get in?” Garvin said. Then, Garvin and his staff finish the stat book, get it to opposing teams and the media. And then they write a recap for the Heidelberg website. He said the recap takes work. “We try not to do a cookie cutter (story), that’s not my style,” Garvin said. “I take a Heidelberg-heavy slant on things because that’s my role, but what are key moments to the football game.” Garvin usually sends a graduate assistant down to get quotes from football coach Scott Donaldson. Donaldson was asked about the importance of Garvin’s role. “It’s invaluable,” he said. “For a small school, getting our exploits out to major markets and nationally is huge for recruiting.” Heidelberg Athletic Director Matt Palm said Garvin has a big responsibility. “Jeff does a great job and I’m not sure people know how much work goes into it,” Palm

“

I like being behind the scenes.” Jeff Garvin, director of athletic marketing and sports information, Heidelberg University

said. “Jeff does it with a great personality. Everything that he’s doing is representing Heidelberg University and it’s on the front line.” Garvin’s staff includes one graduate assistant. This year, the GA is former softball standout Marissa Smego. Garvin also has others helping him out. “I have about 10-15 students under my employ; they do stats, spotting, that kind of thing,” Garvin said. “A lot of times, it’s student athletes who love sports.” And that’s important, because Garvin and his staff write up information for all of Heidelberg’s athletics. “The way I look at it is that, the football players’ parents, they’re paying tuition,” Garvin said. “So are the cross country kids, the baseball kids, they all deserve attention.” “Everybody deserves their due,” Garvin said.

“We try to post that information as soon as we get it.” Heidelberg offers 10 men’s sports and 10 women’s sports. Over the course of a school year, that’s a lot of events to cover. “We’re fortunate we do have people committed to jobs. (Fellow OAC school) Marietta only has one guy, they have their work cut out for them.” The work of a sports information department often goes on without recognition. Unlike a newspaper or magazine, there is no byline on the website to tell you who is responsible for the copy. Garvin said that suits him. He has been in the position since the fall of 2012, and during a normal week during the school season, he said he puts in 55-60 hours. But he’s not looking for credit. “One of the fun things, people don’t know who I am or what I do, but they compliment the work that you’ve done,” Garvin said. “I don’t need people to think Jeff Garvin is producing the information, if it comes from HU or part of the brand, that’s what I want. If I’m not in the position, the next person should be pushing that boat as well. People shouldn’t notice (the person who does it) unless they’re connected to the university. “I like being behind the scenes.”

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Under the Radar

Marty Aiello takes a phone call at First Presbyterian Church in Tiffin.

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTO BY MARYANN KROMER

Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

BY MARYANN KROMER

Correspondent mkromer@advertiser-tribune.com

Make a phone call to any church in the area and the voice you hear likely is that of the church secretary. The voice alone can make a distinct impression, be it good or bad. Typically, the secretary will answer questions and direct the caller to the connection needed. Secretaries have adapted to improved methods of technology to streamline their load, but the work remains basically the same. They keep track of activities at the church and elsewhere and put out weekly bulletins to alert the congregation. They post events on the calendar, compose letters and handle mass mailings. Many clean their own offices. In a 1992 article for “Christianity Today,” author Kenneth Quick calls the church secretary “the crucial, hidden link in the chain of most church projects.” Quick also credits the secretary for dealing with impatient and rude church members and “shielding” pastors from those unpleasant behaviors. On occasion, secretaries act as social workers, giving advice and listening to problems, while maintaining confidentiality. Beyond the duties of communication, church

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secretaries have multiple record-keeping duties that are vital to the life of the church. Writing on www.pskcpa.com, accountant Verne Hargrave explains that church records “serve as measuring rods” of the size and status of the faith community and are a way of “giving an account” to the congregation. Also, genealogists often consult church offices for details to complete their family histories. Church secretaries keep the archives of the past and coordinate current business in their churches. Some of them also update their church’s websites. Working at the church office may seem to be a blessing, but many secretaries admit they struggle to fulfill expectations and undertake unexpected tasks. Unless something goes awry, their important work often is done quietly and with minimal recognition.

Challenges of a large congregation

At Sts. Patrick and Andrew Parish in Bascom, full-time secretary Cindy Brickner keeps tabs on 410 households. She takes phone calls and emails, maintains records, sends in bulletin articles and stays in touch with Pastor Tim Kummerer. Her job especially is important because Kummerer also serves as pastor to All Saints in New Riegel. Saying Mass at five different locations each week and keeping appointments can be a challenge for the nomadic priest. Regina Wagner at All Saints collaborates with Brickner to keep Kummerer on schedule and publish one bulletin for the two parishes. “We keep in close contact,” Brickner said. When a phone call comes in, she tries to be as welcoming as possible. Brickner knows the caller could be someone wanting a hospital visit, requesting the last rites or seeking some kind of assistance. Brickner said she was hired in 1996 when Catholic parishes were being combined due to shortages of priests. Liberty St. Andrew merged with St. Patrick, and the files from St. Andrew were brought over to Bascom. Some families opted to leave and join parishes in Tiffin or Fos-

toria. “It was a transition,” Brickner said. “We just combined records.” Brickner obtained a new record book and entered the families by hand. Data eventually was put into an electronic database. That process was just beginning when Brickner started her position. She and another office worker had guidance from the Diocese of Toledo to get the files into the computer. “We had help with that,” Brickner said. “Over the years, programming has improved. The diocese is

having everybody use the same program.” Keeping everything up to date remains a day-to-day process. Brickner obtains new addresses from reading realty transfers in the newspaper and sometimes from other parishioners who are friends and relatives. When a mailing goes out, address changes are requested. Obituaries also offer information on former parishioners who now live out of the area. Like most churches, Sts. Patrick and Andrew have an archive of large, fragile record books in faded handwriting. They contain records of marriages, births, baptisms and other information going back to the parish’s early years. Catholics who want to get married in the church or join another Catholic parish must have documents from their home parish to verify their membership. Brickner said she has taken calls from people looking for information from these files. “We have sacramental books that we keep. ... Some of the older ones that some of the priests

“

I am blessed to have a congregation and a pastor who appreciate me and who tell me regularly that they appreciate me and what I do ... My job is a ministry, truly.” Marty Aiello, secretary, First Presbyterian Church

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2107

have kept are hard to read,” she said. But Brickner knows how to navigate the volumes and find what is needed. She does not give free access to the books, although that may have been the practice in the past. Brickner also handles the records for St. Andrew and St. Patrick cemeteries. Posting contributions collected each weekend is another part of Brickner’s job. At year end, she can send out a statement of giving for tax purposes, if someone requests it. The day of this interview, Brickner was preparing for the parish’s annual chicken barbecue. Volunteers grill the main course on the grounds outside the church. Others prepare side dishes and desserts. The dinners are served in the parish hall, at outdoor tables and in boxes for carry-out meals. Brickner orders supplies for the barbecue, sends out a letter to line up workers and sells tickets. She recalled one year when she broke her ankle shortly before the barbecue. Did she stay home? No. Her husband loaded a recliner into the family’s van and brought Brickner to the church. She could not do her usual running around, but she could sit and take tickets while orchestrating the event. That’s dedication.

Small churches also struggle

Pastor Jan Kucera founded Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tiffin and dedicated the church’s worship center July 30, 1967. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, volunteers from the congregation helped to locate past members and invite them to the festivities. They also compiled booklets and constructed photo displays. “It’s been fun remembering names and making phone calls,” Kucera said. The church is relatively small, with 60 or 70 worshipers each Sunday. For years, Kucera’s wife Diane handled secretarial duties, but she died two years ago. Now, he must manage the office himself and rely on church members who are willing to help out when the files are “all over the place” and need to be organized. “We have (people with) good attitudes around here and that really helps me,” the pastor said.

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

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14 Wearing many hats

First Presbyterian Church in Tiffin has about 110 members, which does not include children who are not yet confirmed. Martie Aiello serves as secretary and administrative assistant to Pastor Kathryn Treadway. “I come from a ministry background, so it’s easy for me to support the pastor and the ministries that go on here,” Aiello said. Part of her job is to be present at the church 40 hours a week so Treadway is free to do ministry away from the office. A “session,” or council of people, runs the church. Aiello said the clerk of session keeps the meeting minutes and sends out correspondence, while the treasurer keeps tabs on financial matters. She works on some tasks under their direction. For the treasurer, Aiello helps count the collection and keeps track of accounts receivable and payable; however, she does not sign checks. “I work with the record books under the clerk,” she said. “We have a lot on the computer. Our basic records are in books because they go back prior to computers ... The books are what we have to keep updated.” The secretary records marriages, births, deaths, confirmation dates and other data. Difficulties may arise when a member changes an address or email contact and forgets to notify the church. People dropping their land lines and switching to cellphones also need to contact their place of worship with updates. “Keeping records updated is probably one of my biggest challenges,” Aiello said. Once a year, the congregation receives a list of contact information, and members are asked to verify their information. Aiello edits and mails a monthly newsletter and needs to have current addresses. Sometimes people call with changes when mail is forwarded to their new residence. For special celebrations, Aiello said, certain members of the church help to locate past members and compile church history. “For the 125th anniversary, Dr. Ken Davison, who is a historian, worked a lot with the history book they put out for the anniversary. There are tons of old records and data,” Aiello

Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2107

said.

One of Aiello’s weekly duties is the church bulletin. As the “keeper of the calendar,” she knows the dates and times for activities at the church. If someone calls to schedule a meeting or event, Aiello does not approve the request, but she can tell the caller what dates are open. Like the “blood flowing through the body,” Aiello keeps tabs and makes connections to keep the church running smoothly. The organ and piano tuners, window washers and other service providers know to contact her. The cleaning person informs Aiello if the plumbing backs up or if supplies are running low. Aiello then contacts the appropriate committee. “The buildings and grounds committee, I in-

teract with regularly,” she said. “There’s a lot going on, but I am not actually doing it.” She considers her own job to be a ministry, especially when people call to say, “I’m having trouble (with rent, transportation, etc.).” The church’s location on South Monroe Street makes it accessible to a variety of people walking in, looking for for assistance. Aiello connects them with agencies that can help. The Presbyterian Women collect food for the local pantries and donations for Sisters in Shelter and other local organizations. “We also are big supporters of First Call for Help and The Salvation Army. ... This church helps generously — on a regular basis — the agencies that have the ability to fairly distribute help,” Aiello said. On a larger scale, members support missions affiliated with Presbyterian Church (USA). Aiello said the congregation is welcome to suggest other worthy causes for First Presbyterian to consider. The church has a special fund that grants money to places such as Morrison House and the Youth Center. She understands that Christian ministry goes beyond the walls of the church. First Presbyterian makes an effort to “engage and interact” with the community. A Take Off Pounds Sensibly program and a 12-step group meet at the church every week. The church also participates with other churches for vacation Bible school. During the school year, youth of all faiths are welcome to attend Wednesday night church activities at the church. Sundays, Aiello has the unusual duty to oversee the nursery while parents of small children go to the worship service and/or Sunday school. The most she has supervised is seven children. That role started when Treadway had a child and needed someone to watch her daughter while she presided at the services. Aiello has continued ever since. Although she is not a member at First Presbyterian, Aiello finds her varied job a good fit. “I feel like I am a ‘sung hero’ here, because of the appreciation that I get,” Aiello said. “I’m going to say this out loud. I am blessed to have a congregation and a pastor who appreciate me and who tell me regularly that they appreciate me and what I do ... My job is a ministry, truly.”

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

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Help is on the line

“

It’s an important job. Being good at it, obviously, you’re an asset to the department.” Candie Cunningham, dispatcher, Tiffin Police Department BY JILL GOSCHE

Online Editor jgosche@advertiser-tribune.com

PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE

Dispatcher Christine Rumschlag talks on the phone in Seneca County Sheriff’s Office’s dispatch center.

It’s about 11 p.m. on a Thursday, and a storm is brewing outside. An alarm goes off at a school, and a Seneca County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher lets a deputy know a keyholder is on the way. The dispatch center learns the alarm probably is related to the weather. A dispatcher is given information about a person’s driver’s license, and a test to determine impaired driving is ordered. Dispatchers Christine Rumschlag and Scott Rosenberger work together on the night shift at Seneca County Sheriff’s Office. “She trained me,” Rosenberger said. Rosenberger started as a dispatcher at Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office in 1977 and has worked at Seneca County Sheriff’s Office for four years. Rumschlag has been a dispatcher for a total of 20 years. She started at the sheriff’s office 12 years ago. In the late 1990s, she worked on an ambu-

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

lance crew and had to work in a dispatch center when she got pregnant. The dispatch work was not a position she wanted, and she said she went in with a chip on her shoulder. “(I) had no respect for dispatch whatsoever,” she said. But, she realized, “These people aren’t as dumb as I thought they were.” Rumschlag said she learned fast that dispatching is a misunderstood position. “(I had) a whole new respect for dispatch. ... There’s so much more to it than radios and phones,” she said. After giving birth, she worked in EMS and dispatching. She would spend 24 hours on an EMS shift and eight hours in a dispatch center. Rumschlag has spent 10 years of the 12 years she has worked at the sheriff’s office on the midnight shift. It’s the shift she prefers. Rumschlag said her favorite part of the job is when the center gets a call and has a good outcome. “I love this job,” she said. There usually are two to three deputies on duty in Seneca County at any given time. Crews dispatch for 15 fire departments and work with 10 EMS departments. They also work with Tiffin Fire Rescue Division, the county’s Echo unit and occasionally with Life Flight. “Multi-tasking is a must with this job,” Rumschlag said. Dispatcher Candie Cunningham works the midnight shift at Tiffin Police Department. She had gone through a police academy, obtained an associate’s degree and worked at Seneca County Jail as a certified officer. She was trying to be hired as a police officer. “Where I wanted to be was here (at the po-

PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE

Above, Dispatcher Candie Cunningham of Tiffin Police Department checks bench warrants at the department. At left, Rumschlag of Seneca County Sheriff’s Office pushes a button to communicate with an officer.

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

lice department),” she said. Cunningham had had an internship at the police department while in college and spent a lot of time with third-shift workers. “They mentored me,” she said. Cunningham went to Tiffin Police Department to be a dispatcher in February 1998 and has given up her police certification. “It’s an important job,” she said about dispatching. “Being good at it, obviously, you’re an asset to the department,” she said. Cunningham takes care of the department’s warrant records, is the secretary for the Harold J. Fraley Sr. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 128 and serves as the chairwoman of The Salvation Army’s advisory board. She was honored for her calm and reassuring voice when she took a call about alleged sexual abuse of a youth in 2012. Cunningham said she enjoys coming to work. “I like the busyness of the radio. ... I’m not answering phones all day long,” she said. PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE

Dispatcher Scott Rosenberger takes a 911 call in Seneca County Sheriff’s Office’s dispatch center.

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PHOTOS BY VICKI JOHNSON

Bob Clouse of Seneca Conservation District inspects the sprayer on the back of a tractor.

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

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Drainage network This crew from Seneca Conservation District keeps the Great Black Swamp at bay by maintaining ditches BY VICKI JOHNSON

Staff Writer vjohnson@advertiser-tribune.com

Most people rarely think about ditches and drainage during the normal course of life in Seneca County. That’s because Joe Rumschlag, Dawn Mizen and the rest of the Ditch Maintenance Program crew at Seneca Conservation District think about it pretty much every day. Draining the Great Black Swamp in the 1800s to create farmland in northwest Ohio was a large undertaking by early settlers that took decades to accomplish. It’s the ditch maintenance crew’s ongoing job to maintain a network of 240 miles of ditches and 60 miles of tile engineered in the 1800s to make sure the land continues to drain. Rumschlag inspects ditches and works with his crew to make sure needed work is done, while Mizen handles the intricate work of making the sure the work gets billed properly. In addition to scheduling and

planning dip-outs to remove silt and sediment from ditch bottoms, work includes spraying ditches to remove woody material, erosion control and working with other entities that are planning projects that impact the ditch network such as construction of pipelines, road and buildings. “Since the ditches are often beside the roadways, I don’t think many people understand this service and necessity of maintenance,” said Beth Diesch, SCD’s team leader. “It’s vital to every house, farm and building in Seneca County to have drainage. While they’re not all our Ditch Maintenance Department’s responsibility, we try to still help everyone we can.” She said ditches in the ongoing maintenance plan receive regular inspections while ditches outside of the program are dealt with separately on request. Mizen has been keeping track of the bills and collections for the program for 15 years. “It’s not an easy task,” she said. There are about 300 ditch groups in the county, and each

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Dawn Mizen handles the billing for the Seneca County Ditch Maintenance Program.

ditch has its own base of land parcels that must be billed. “Each one is charged according to how much they own of the base,” she said. “Everybody’s unique.” Also, she and Rumschlag keep track of ownership changes and land divisions. “We have parcel splits, so every year we have to go in and figure out which parcels have changed,” Mizen said. When land is sold, she adds and subtracts owners as needed. Landowners include not only individuals but school districts, townships, the county and other public and private entities. She works on a fiscal year of July 1-June 30, and coordinates billing with the county auditor’s office to be placed on tax bills. No payments are taken in the office. “That would be a nightmare,” she said.

In addition the ditch maintenance program, Mizen handles accounting for Seneca Conservation District, accounting for the northwest Ohio Manure Nutrient Management Program, and payroll and finances for other aspects of SCD. Rumschlag said the goal is to return a ditch to its original size and function. Each ditch was engineered to drain land and move water. Over time, he said, ditches fill with silt and are overgrown by woody vegetation unless they are maintained regularly. Work that began in the 1800s continues today. “It’s a history thing, too,” he said. His job often requires researching old documents and doing some detective work to find out what the original engineers intended. He looks through old, and sometimes fragile, documents outlining specifications from the

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTO SUBMITTED

1800s, when most ditches were dug to drain the Great Black Swamp. Sometimes the names of ditches have changed over the years, so Rumschlag’s 20 years of experience help him find what he’s looking for. “It’s kind of like genealogy,” Diesch said. “Searching through historical records.” Placement in the program was voluntary, but once in the program, maintenance has been handled regularly — many for more than 100 years. Each landowner who benefits from the ditch shares in maintenance costs. The maintenance program is perpetual, and the associated fees are passed from one landowner to the next. Rumschlag said the fees are most people’s least favorite part. Within his job with SCD, Rumschlag works 75 percent of the time on ditch maintenance and

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Don Hovis Excavating dips out Peeler Ditch in the northeast corner of Jackson Township last February.

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTOS BY VICKI JOHNSON

Above, Joe Rumschlag reviews old documents to make sure ditches are being maintained at the original size and shape as determined by engineers in the 1800s. Below is a close up of an older documents.

25 percent of the time on other district work. He works on ditches year-round, and Bob Clouse and Brad Eddington are seasonal employees who help with warm-weather needs. The program has separate equipment — tractors, sprayers and such. “We do an annual inspection to check what needs to be done,” Rumschlag said. In the winter, he determines which ones need attention and prioritizes projects. He looks for woody brush in the ditch on its banks, makes sure tile outlets are clear and allowing water to run into the ditch, and adds rip-rap stone in areas where erosion is a problem. He said ditches don’t follow a regular schedule, and some require maintenance more often

than others. Among the determining factors are soil type and location and land use. Farmers who plant grass strips along streambanks allow the grass to catch much of the sediment before it reaches the stream, which means it needs to be “dipped out” less often. There are federal programs that assist farmers with the cost of planting filter strips. If the ditch maintenance program was no longer in place, Diesch said landowners and everybody else would think about drainage a lot more often. Not only farmland, but all land needs the drainage system. “We’re still in the Great Black Swamp,” she said.

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

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PHOTOS BY VICKI JOHNSON

Joe Rumschlag, Beth Diesch and Bob Clouse pose for a photo at a job site.

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

‘It’s all about bettering the community’

Assistant city engineer is working to improve Tiffin, on and off the job BY JIMMY FLINT

Staff Writer jflint@advertiser-tribune.com

When Tiffin Assistant Engineer Matt Watson left Tiffin for Ohio State University’s Civil Engineering program in 2004, he knew he would find his way back home. Watson, who graduated from Columbian High School in 2004 alongside Mayor Aaron Montz and council members Rich Cline and Tyler Shuff, finished his engineering degree in 2009. He said he is a licensed professional engineer and said he is in the process of becoming a licensed professional surveyor. Watson said he took a job with Contractors Design Engineering, a small consulting company in Norwalk, after college. “It was a great experience,” he said. “I worked there for four-and-a-half years. They invested in me.” Watson said the job took him all over Ohio, including some jobs in Tiffin. He said he worked on the Saurwein Health and Wellness Center and the adjacent pond that is located on Heidelberg University’s campus. He said doing jobs in Tiffin made him proud and reminded him that he wanted to come back home. “I always wanted to come back to Tiffin,” Watson said. “You take more pride in jobs in your hometown.” Watson said he learned a lot about privatesector engineering, but when a job opened up with the city of Tiffin as assistant engineer, he jumped at the opportunity. He knew he wanted to be an engineer the summer before his senior year of high school when he took a temporary job with Hank and Associates in Tiffin, but he said being able to

PHOTO BY JIMMY FLINT

Associate City Engineer John Scherger (left) and Assistant City Engineer Matt Watson take measurements of the sidewalk and curb at Hall and North Washington streets.

come back home after about nine years to do what he loved was special. “Tiffin has always been home,” he said. “Even when I was at OSU, I thought about it.” Watson started his job with the city Sept. 30, 2013. “It was the right time,” he said. “I had pride and passion for the city and for my work.” Watson said there is never a typical day at the engineer’s office, but this summer he has been overseeing the construction of the street pavement project and the sidewalk pavement project. He said his job is on his mind 24 hours a day and seven days a week. “You wake up not knowing what’s going to happen that day,” he said. “I’m a detail-oriented person, so I try and finish milestones each day.” Watson said he makes himself available to contractors working on city projects. He said he takes calls at any time of the day to answer questions or help contractors to be sure they are completing jobs correctly. Watson said although he spends a lot of time in the field, he also has to manage paperwork in the city office. “I get involved heavily with economic development work,” he said. “I work with (Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp.) nearly every day, helping them out. They are

doing a great job.” SIEDC Development Coordinator Bryce Riggs said Watson and the entire engineer’s office is a great resource that SIEDC utilizes on a daily basis. “(They are) working with companies that are looking to grow and invest in the city of Tiffin,” he said. “When speaking with businesses, one of the first things they point out is how responsive and customer-friendly Matt is to work with throughout the entire process.” Watson said he tries to give the best public service to companies looking to expand or locate in the city. “You try to give comfort to them to help them come to Tiffin,” he said. “It’s exciting being involved in those projects, it’s a reward in itself.” Watson helps with zoning requirements, Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility, sewer and utility hook-ups and site plans. “They come with more of an idea and I help with site plans and help with feasibility,” he said. Watson said new companies can’t locate in the Tiffin without an OK from the engineer’s office, but he said economic development is a team effort. “The law director, SIEDC, the mayor and the city administrator, they are all involved,” he

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

he said. Watson said the city has seen positive economic development partly because of the relationships between the aforementioned. “Everybody here has a great relationship inside work and outside of work,” he said. “We have the same goal in the end.” Watson thanked City Engineer Mario Livojevic for passing on his experiences and knowledge. “Coming from a private contractor, there was a learning curve,” he said. According to the city’s website, Livojevic earned his engineering license in 1996. “He has experience, I might have the same problem that he experienced 15 years ago,” Watson said. “Mario is great to learn from.” Watson said he enjoys his job, but also enjoys getting involved in the community outside of work. He is a member of Seneca County Young Professionals, a member of the SIEDC Downtown Design Committee and Eden Township’s zoning inspector. Watson also has served as a judge for Downtown Trivia Night and has participated in the Seneca County Opportunity Center Celebrity Basketball Game. “I try to get involved and do stuff to get out and about,” he said. “It’s all about gaining people’s respect in the community.” Watson specifically tries to get involved with

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Tiffin Assistant Engineer Matt Watson (back left) poses for a photo after a Tiffin recreation league volleyball game last winter.

sports teams through SCYP. “Matt has been a dedicated member of Seneca County Young Professionals since around the start of the organization,” Riggs said. “He’s been an active member with events and has participated on the summer and winter volleyball team. Side note: He’s got the best serve in Tiffin’s recreation league.”

Watson said he is honored to be involved with organizations outside of work and projects for work. For example, with the help of the SIEDC Downtown Design Committee, he has completed designs for an alley beautification project. He said he is working to obtain grant funding for the project, which he is hopeful could be completed in 2018. Project plans include stamped asphalt ground to match downtown crosswalks, string lighting and improved drainage systems. Watson said he stays motivated because of his pride and passion for his work and for the city. “I never want to be content,” he said. “Tiffin’s on the rise, but I want to try and help it to keep getting better and better. It’s my hometown, I love it and I’m here to stay.” Watson said when Livojevic retires, it is his goal become city engineer. His path could be similar to Livojevic’s, who was assistant engineer from 1996-2013. In 2013, he was named interim engineer shortly before being named engineer. “It’s all about bettering the community,” Watson said. “If you lose pride and passion for the community and for your work and you lose interest in the work, then you aren’t providing the taxpayers the service they deserve.”

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PHOTO BY NICOLE WALBY

Lewis Salmons, a lifeguard at the Tiffin Community YMCA, watches over the Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day camp.

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Lifeguards teach and ensure water safety BY NICOLE WALBY

Staff Writer nwalby@advertiser-tribune.com

Looking over the pool are those who are there to help in case of emergency: the lifeguards. You may not think of them as people who live and breathe behind the scenes, but you don’t really know how much you need them until you do. To become a lifeguard, there is a 40-hour course divided between classroom training, online courses and water skills training. Lifeguards are trained in CPR, first aid, emergency oxygen care and basic lifeguarding. Ever since she was young, Becky Hoople has enjoyed swimming and has been a lifeguard at Tiffin Community YMCA off and on over the years. Hoople enjoys working with children and the water and interacting with all kinds of people. One of her favorite parts of being a lifeguard, Hoople said, is seeing the improvements people have made throughout swim lessons. “Our job is very important, especially for people to learn water safety,” Hoople said. “I get a good feeling, seeing the swimmer’s journey.” Alexis Dsjardins has been a lifeguard and swim instructor for the past four years. She is in her

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Students practice treading water during one of the Tiffin Community YMCA’s swim classes.

first year as the Y’s swim team coach. Dsjardins, too, enjoys working with families and seeing them spend time together. “If we are not here, there will be accidents that occur,” Dsjardins said. “Some adults are unsure of what to do. People need to take water and swim safety seriously.” One challenge Dsjardins said is that some people argue with the lifeguards on duty. “We are here for a reason,” she said. “People feel like we may ‘kill the fun,’ and possibly feel we don’t do anything, just sit around the pool, but our role is very important.” The number of lifeguards on duty is based on the amount of people who are in the pool at the YMCA or the Tiffin City Pool. There is a guard on duty for every 25 people in the pool. Lewis Salmons, newest to the YMCA team, has been on duty as a lifeguard for two months. He is going into his senior year at Seneca East High School. Salmons is looking to pursue a career in the health field as a personal trainer. He said he has enjoyed working with his personal trainer while on the football team and sees the benefits of what he has learned. “I like the social interaction and I like to help people,” he said. Salmons said he enjoys seeing the children come in and play.

“They get a little rowdy at times, but they are fun to watch,” he said. Salmons said his first day, a child slipped and injured his nose, but said there hasn’t been any major incidents. The children, Salmons said, he

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTOS BY MARYANN KROMER

Jeni Balliet, team leader for the day shift housekeeping crew at Mercy Health - Tiffin Hospital, adds a gown and mask over her regular cleaning attire.

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

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Hospital’s housekeepers clean, sanitize on daily basis A sign serves as a reminder of cleaning protocol at Mercy Health - Tiffin Hospital.

BY MARYANN KROMER

Correspondent mkromer@advertiser-tribune.com

The word “housekeeping” usually evokes thoughts of dust cloths, sponges, buckets, mops, brooms and cleaning products. Despite their importance and necessity, housekeeping chores typically are not a favorite human activity. They often are put off, making the mess even bigger. In a hospital setting, procrastination is not an option. The health and safety of patients, staff, volunteers and visitors depends on proper sanitation. With about 15 years of experience at Mercy Health - Tiffin Hos-

pital, Jeni Balliet is the team leader for the day shift housekeeping crew. Her supervisor is David Recker, facility operations supervisor, who oversees the conditions at the hospital. The pair described some of their responsibilities. “The day shift normally takes care of the patient care areas. Second and thirds do the offices and after-hours areas,” Balliet said. “You want your infection control to stay down.” Employees are required to get flu shots every year and to keep up to date on tuberculosis tests and immunizations. Every supply cart is equipped with a tube of hand sanitizer that is used before and after entering a patient’s room.

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Tough germs to control

PHOTO BY MARYANN KROMER

Patient rooms get a thorough cleaning, including switches, handrails, doorknobs and handles.

MRSA and C. diff (see sidebar) are two especially serious infections that easily can spread to other patients. Balliet said occasional cases of TB also come into the hospital. For these and a few other diseases, the crew covers their usual scrubs attire with personal protection equipment, including gloves, masks and booties. “They wear Tyvek suits sometimes. Sometimes they wear gowns. It depends on the situation,” Recker said. Once a patient vacates a room, it is sanitized “from top to bottom,” a process that takes at least 45 minutes for Balliet. Walls, floors and fixtures all get a thorough cleaning. The curtains are taken down and sent to the hospital’s linen service, along with bedding, towels and gowns. If bedbugs become problematic, the staff uses chemical products followed by treatment with steamers to eradicate the pests that have come in with the patients. Balliet said the emergency department is the most likely site to find bedbugs. “People kind of get freaked out when you tell them what you do and all the things you come in contact with. If you’re taught how to be protected, you shouldn’t be contracting anything,” she said. A special cleaning solution is needed to follow up after C. diff., and the room must sit for a

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

period of time before sanitizing after a tuberculosis patient. Balliet said someone “gowns up” for one or two patients each week. “Everybody gets their chance at wearing a gown,” she said. “You don’t get out of it.” The housekeeping staff now includes 13 people. With the exception of changes in cleaning products, Balliet said their routine has remained basically the same during her tenure. Mercy gives out instruction booklets, but does not require any formal training. “Most of it is hands-on. You learn as you go,” she said. The hallways and computer stations for the nurses also get regular attention. Someone from the housekeeping staff is available at all times for whatever tasks need to be done. Balliet said housekeepers work an eight-hour shift, but they come in at staggered times to have multiple hands available, especially when the inpatient census is at 20 or more. “It’s a 24/7 operation. We’ve got people here every day, so we’ve got to have somebody here cleaning, no matter what time of day or night,” Recker added. “The patients are discharged at all hours anymore. It could be 2 in the morning when a person is discharged.” Recker has worked at the hospital for 34 years. He was involved the design process for the hospital’s new building. Because construc-

Clostridium difficile is a bacteria found in the colon. Information from www.webmd.com explains the bacteria causes no problems in normal amounts; however, when patients take antibiotics, the drugs may wipe out beneficial bacteria and allow “C. diff.” to multiply. Resulting symptoms include cramping, nausea, diarrhea and dehydration. Hospital workers and care givers must avoid direct contact with patientsʼ feces, or they risk spreading the bacteria to other patients or contracting the infection themselves. Frequent hand washing and sanitizing is crucial when one is exposed to C. diff. MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Most “staph” infections can be treated with antibiotics, but MRSA especially is a tough germ to control. The Centers for Disease Control website (www.dcd.gov/mrsa) states MRSA can cause skin infections, especially at surgical sites, pneumonia, sepsis and bloodstream infections. A MRSA diagnosis can be made by culturing the bacteria in the lab. MRSA patients need aggressive treatment, and care givers need to wear protective garb and use special cleaning products to prevent further contamination. Again, hand washing and sanitizing is the basic form of prevention.

tion can generate plenty of dust and debris, he said the move required a lot of preparation. “We had everything clean and ready when we moved into the building,” Recker said. That was in 2008. Since then, finishes have worn off, and damaged wall coverings have been patched up. Recker called maintenance a “continuous process.” The housekeeping staff often are the first to notice and report to Recker when repairs are needed. He had high marks for the housekeepers. “Their scores are pretty good,” he said, in reference to patient evaluations. “We use those as a tool to determine where we have to work on improving our process.” Balliet explained more interaction with patients has resulted in higher scores on patient satisfaction surveys. “We introduce ourselves to our patients and put our names on the board ... we never used to at the old hospital,” Balliet recalled. The Joint Commission is due to inspect the hospital later this year. The independent, nonprofit organization comes every three years to accredit and certify more than 20,000 facilities and programs in the United States (www.jointcommission.org). “I work with them directly. I’ve got the whole facility ... all the building maintenance, the grounds maintenance,” Recker said.

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Servers and access points in the information technology department at Heidelberg University, located in its central server room, are seen above.

PHOTO BY NICOLE WALBY

Unseen hands, invisible tech Information technology workers keep computers, servers and networks humming at universities

Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

BY NICOLE WALBY

Staff Writer nwalby@advertiser-tribune.com

Picture this: You’re sitting at your desk, working hard on your latest deadline, when — at the most inconvenient moment — your computer crashes. Now what do you do? “Ideally, no one notices we are even here, until there is trouble,” Kurt Huenemann, associate vice president for information resources at Heidelberg University, said. There are aspects about information technology departments that are not seen. “There are layers that are less visible,” Huenemann said. Those layers include managing the servers and Wi-Fi, helping set up special events, repairing and upgrading computers, setting up new computers, preparing new faculty offices, making sure phones are working and upgrading servers into a new system. Huenemann said the university is in the process of a three-year IT improvement plan to transition to faster-working servers and establishing a disaster recovery system — which would be in place in case of any severe weather damage, such as the recent flooding the area has seen this summer. “We did not see any equipment damage in the flooding, but if it would have occurred in the wrong spot, we would have been in severe trouble,” he said. The servers also would help to establish a more concise online learning platform for students to offer more online learning options. During the school year, Huenemann said, they have people staffing the help desk and helping to complete tickets — work orders — throughout the day. The IT staff also helps with anything that would need changed or upgraded, while helping students with their own devices on upgrades or repairs, working on operating systems, web pages, setting up meetings and other tasks. Huenemann said students really appreciate the department when they are far from home and need a place to go for help.

“

If we are doing our job right, you won’t even think about us. But, we play an essential role in every aspect of the college’s operations.” Jason Marson, user service manager, Tiffin University “We want to provide what students get when they are at home, such as phone, cable, TV and the internet,” he said. Huenemann said they work in 35 buildings which are serviced by an underground system of fiberoptic cables that filter through a central server room. There are multiple access points. The servers they are in the process of switching over to are to be compressed into a smaller space. They also will be working on extending the fiberoptic cables, he said. Huenemann is a 1983 Heidelberg graduate and attended graduate school at Bowling Green State University. He was employed with Heidelberg and witnessed the transition the campus took from the 1970s to present day with technology. “We are always working on making everything newer and faster and to operate in better ways,” he said. To keep up, Huenemann said, they stay up-to-date on reading and what the state is doing in regards to higher education. “We constantly network with our peers to stay informed with what is going on and what other schools are doing,” he said. “We don’t want to reinvent the wheel.” Huenemann said he attends conferences and workshops throughout the year and said new faculty members have even come in and shared their ideas. As an educational aspect,

Heidelberg and Tiffin University use student workers in their help desk service centers. “We have about 10-20 student workers manning our help desk,” Jason Marson, user service manager at TU, said. “Their responsibilities are to help work with staff, faculty and other students who may need help.” TU also offers a free fix-it service for students similar to Heidelberg on student’s devices when they are away from home. “We help repair their devices if there are any viruses, download appropriate software and help with printing larger projects,” Marson said. Marson has been employed with TU for three years through Ellucian, a company TU contracts through for software and services for higher education management. “We are here to enhance students’ environment,” Marson said. Marson said TU also is in the progress of an IT improvement plan to make classrooms more

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Ideally, no one notices we are even here.” Kurt Huenemann, associate vice president for information resources, Heidelberg University mobile and incorporate an interactive model for students to work in groups. “If we are doing our job right, you won’t even think about us,” Marson said. “But, we play an essential role in every aspect of the college’s operations. Marson said 10-15 years ago, you wouldn’t see the information technology department as important, but it is “very crucial now,” he said.

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Terrie Johnston, principal secretary at Columbian High School, works at her desk.

Supporting roles Support services staff gets, and keeps, schools ready for students and teachers

BY NICOLE WALBY

Staff Writer nwalby@advertiser-tribune.com

Custodians, maintenance workers, secretaries, technology technicians, transportation staff and food service personnel all make up the support services staff at many local school districts, including those at Tiffin City Schools. “Teachers are in charge of education; these people handle everything else that goes on in a kid’s life while at school from keeping them safe to feeding them and everything in between to have a good learning environment when not in the classroom,” Scott Daniel, director of operations at TCS, said. Maintenance and custodians are responsible for the daily cleaning throughout the district in each building. This includes taking care of the lawn or removing snow, depending on the season, cleaning all aspects of the building, changing ballasts, repairing desks and chairs, cleaning up after 400-500 students, and dropping off student lunches at the elementary buildings.

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Dan Sherman has been employed with TCS for 27 years. He now is the head custodian serving the Tiffin Middle School building. Sherman began his career in food service, dropping off student meals for about nine years. He then went on to a custodian position, where he has remained for 17 years. During a work day, Sherman starts before 6 a.m., unlocking the doors and checking the alarm and boiler room. He then continues throughout the building on a walk-through, making sure everything is in working order for the teachers, staff and students to start their day. Sherman also takes care of any special event preparation. At the end of the day, Sherman and the rest of his staff at TMS head to one of the 12 wings and clean it. Over the summer, Sherman and his staff clean every visible part of the building. Everything is wiped down, the furniture is moved out of each room and the floors are re-waxed. Lightbulbs are replaced, and the gym, cafeteria, corners of the ceilings, tops of the boards, the library and cafeteria all are cleaned, he said. “It is quite a task,” Sherman said. Sherman said he enjoys his job and all the people he works with, including working around the students. “Each kid has their own personality,” he said. “They come and stop you to tell you what

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Teachers are in charge of education; these people handle everything else that goes on in a kid’s life while at school. ...” Scott Daniel, director of operations, Tiffin City Schools they accomplished that day. It is very neat.” Lyn Frontz, too, has been with the district for decades, serving in the food service department for 38 years. She began working in the bread department and now is a department head. Frontz also spent time as a substitute, filling in wherever she was needed. “You have to be very flexible,” Frontz said. She and the other department heads rotate jobs each day, preparing breakfast and lunch and pre-packing 600-700 grade school lunches to be sent out. “I love interacting with my fellow workers and it is nice to see the kids at lunch each day,”

Frontz said. Operating a school is not just about cleaning the building and feeding the students. Technology throughout the building needs constant attention, and the technology department makes sure teachers have the proper resources to teach their students. Tim Webber has been an information technology technician for 13 years with TCS. He and his staff spend time working on software updates, replacing broken equipment, upgrading equipment, checking sound equipment, prepping teachers on new equipment and “putting out fires where needed,” Webber said. Webber said the district is in the midst of a two-year project connecting all the buildings to a main server and upgrading the servers at TMS, which has not been done since the building was built 15 years ago. Webber said he wishes he would have more one-on-one time with the teachers and staff to make them more comfortable with the technology and find out what other needs they have. “I enjoy helping people and help them out of their fear of technology,” he said. “We can’t do without it, and I want to help teachers get more across through their lessons to have a more productive way with students.” Terrie Johnston. Who serves various roles with the district, will be starting her 21st year

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Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Dan Sherman, head custodian at Tiffin Middle Schools, mows the lawn around the building, one of his many tasks.

with TCS. Johnston started in 1997 as a classroom aide at Washington Elementary School. She later went on to serve as a technology aide at the former Clinton Elementary School part time and was the technology aide at Columbian High School from 1999 to 2004. From there, Johnston became the Columbian principal secretary, a role she has had ever since. Typically, Johnston said, her day starts before students arrive. Johnson is responsible for securing substitutes for staff members who are out of the building, gathering lesson plans, issuing keys to the proper classrooms and signing the proper paperwork for payroll. “Communication plays a larger part of my job responsibilities each day,” Johnston said. Johnston also handles meeting with Principal Doug Hartenstein regarding his schedule, “making sure the building schedule flows as smoothly as possible.” Johnston also is in charge of the calendar and works with the other building secretaries, counselors and staff members on timelines to accomplish tasks by their due date. In addition to serving her daily responsibilities as a principal’s secretary, Johnston also in

charge of three major programs and works in collaboration with many others. Johnston works to help put together the district’s Academic Letter Breakfast, which brings more than 300 students and parents together. “I am responsible for every aspect of organizing the event — sending letters to parents, bringing the awards and even designing the program,” she said. The same can be said for the Senior Excellence Dinner, which honors the district’s top 10 ranking seniors with a dinner and salutes the significant contributor in each of their lives. The biggest event, according to Johnston, is the Recognition Night, where students receive awards and scholarships from outside agencies. “I am responsible for the accuracy of the awards, the balloting to staff members, the money for the scholarships, designing programs and printing individual award certificates,” she said. Over the years, Johnston has overcome different challenges, including recently having four bosses in three years. “Principals bring in their own areas of focus and leadership style,” she said. “It takes time to learn their likes and dislikes. Change is not always a bad thing; it just takes time to get the building moving forward again.”

PHOTO BY NICOLE WALBY

Saying goodbye to staff members also is a challenge for Johnston. “Each year, we lose outstanding educators and support staff due to advancement in their careers or retirement,” she said. “It’s hard to see quality people leave the district.” It is not just other staff members Johnston enjoys, but the students as well. “Even though my job responsibilities keep me in the office, I love interacting with our young people,” Johnston said. “We are extremely lucky at Columbian to have wonderful students. Seeing their education growth and potential gives me a very positive feeling about life.” Overall, Johnston values her job very importantly throughout the district, as every staff member at TCS. “We each have a responsibility that directly affects the general welfare of our staff, students and community,” she said. “It is up to each of us to be good ambassadors of our school district. Schools are the foundation of a community.” Johnston never stops learning. “I love to learn,” she said. “I enjoy being challenges with new software and programs. For me, that adds excitement to my job.”

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

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Quietly excelling For second year in a row, Ohio State University Extension Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer is from Seneca

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BY NICOLE WALBY

Staff Writer nwalby@advertiser-tribune.com

Seneca County Master Gardener Volunteers have many members they can count on, but there is one that has been deemed exceptionally dependable. Charles Huth has been a Master Gardener volunteer since 2011 and he recently was awarded the 2017 Ohio State University Extension Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer, the second consecutive year a Seneca County volunteer has earned the award. Huth was nominated by Janet Cole, education chairwoman of Seneca County Master Gardeners. “This is quite an achievement, especially us being a small group competing with other larger counties,” Cole said. Seneca County Master Gardener Volunteers are people who enjoy learning about aspects of gardening and sharing that information with the public. It is a 501(c)3 corporation that is a branch of the Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, also known as OSU Extension. Cole said Huth spends much of his time and energy volunteering throughout the county, including managing the Resource Line for Seneca County, presenting educational talks on composting, pesticides and bumblebees, being a regular guest on the WTSC internet radio station, volunteering with children during Earth Day projects, handling activities at Miller Conservation Farm, judging 4-H horticulture projects at the Seneca County Fair and participating in the statewide Ask-A-Master-Gardener program. “Charlie is a wealth of knowledge,” said Tim Mannas, the 2017 president of the Seneca County Master Gardener Volunteers’ executive committee. “He takes the time to research the topics he presents and the questions he receives on the Resource Line.” Mannas said Huth’s work is done “all behind the scenes, without any fanfare.” “You can always count on Charles,” Mannas said. Huth said he was “taken aback” when he found out he was this year’s recipient. “It really gives me satisfaction and compensates all the time I’ve volunteered and worked for the organization,” he said. Huth said he learned to enjoy gardening from his parents and decided after seeing an advertisement for Master Gardeners Volunteers in the paper to go for it. On the opposite page, Charles Huth assists a girl with a project.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

This is quite an achievement, especially us being a small group competing with other larger counties.” Janet Cole, education chairwoman, Seneca County Master Gardeners

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Charles Huth (center) helps out in a rhubarb garden.

“I just saw the ad and thought, ‘What the heck,’ ” he said. Huth said he enjoys working the Resource Line helping answer people’s questions. Huth has served on the executive committee three out of his six years he has been a volunteer — serving twice as vice president and once as president (Huth now is the vice president and is to serve again as president in 2018). He served as the chairman of the scholarship committee twice. For the past five years, the organization has been without an OSU ag educator, which is an individual who provides support and guidance to the Seneca County agricultural community

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

and Master Gardener Volunteers. According to Cole, 66 out of the 88 counties in Ohio are without an educator and most programs have, unfortunately, disappeared. Mannas said it is Huth who has stepped up to help wherever he is needed, and most of the other volunteers do the same. “Seeing Charlie win this award is very empowering to people,” Mannas said. “We have great volunteers.” Another way Huth helps is by volunteering during the Master Gardener’s plant sale in September, which is its yearly fundraiser. “Charlie is always there helping out,” Man-

nas said. “There are always people asking, ‘Where is Charlie?” Huth helps by composting the weeds and debris and provides a home in his garden for plants that are not sold. “Charles Huth has the full support of the Seneca County Master Gardener Volunteers to be recognized as the OSUE Outstanding Master Gardener Volunteer,” Cole said. “He has given much time and effort to the organization and the public as a MGV. He leads by example, and quietly behind the scenes. We know that if there is an activity going on, he will be there to participate and help, if at all possible.”

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Under the Radar

PHOTOS BY VICKI JOHNSON

Charlie Gaitros uses the park districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tractor for a larger mowing job.

Meet Charlie Gaitros, one of the volunteers who maintains county parks

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Gaitros works to remove a fallen tree near one of the bridges at Steyer Nature Preserve.

BY VICKI JOHNSON Staff Writer

vjohnson@advertiser-tribune.com

People who enjoy hiking at Steyer Nature Preserve might see Charlie Gaitros hiking the trails now and then. Or on the lawn mower. Or on the tractor. Gaitros works behind the scenes making sure the park east of Fort Seneca, at 5901 N. CR 33, remains well maintained and easy to use. “In the summertime, I end up out here sometimes two or three times a week, three or four hours at a time,” he said. “I mow around the parking lot and picnic areas, around the cabin and the maintenance building.”

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTOS BY VICKI JOHNSON

Most of the park grows naturally. “We like to keep it as wild as possible,” he said. “I keep all the trails mowed and cut up downed trees and keep them open for the people,” he said. And he does anything else that needs doing. “When I hike the trails, I’m basically looking for trees that need to be removed,” he said. “And I look for wildlife, too, just like everybody else.” Gaitros, who lives in Old Fort, said he retired 14 years ago and wanted something new to keep himself busy. He had worked as a production manager at a plant in Fremont. “This is one of the things to do,” he said. He also works in his yard and garden at home. “I enjoy being out there, too,” he said. “I like being outside, and this

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

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PHOTOS BY VICKI JOHNSON

Gaitros takes a short break near the cabin at Steyer Nature Preserve.

gives me a chance to be outside. I enjoy the park and I enjoy making it look nice.” During past years, Gaitros said he and many other volunteers — notably Larry Barto — were even more active. “We were putting in bridges and stuff like that,” he said. “After we got all the bridges and stairs and all that put in, there haven’t been a lot of changes.” During the park’s early years, volunteers developed more than four miles of hiking trails and built eight bridges over ravines. The park joined the Seneca County Park District system in 2003 through a gift of land from Tony and Kathy Steyer, which provided matching “funds” for a grant from the state’s Clean Ohio fund. More acreage was added a few years later with funding from Clean Ohio and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. Today, the park contains 141 acres. The northern 71 acres is a nonhunting area, and is entered at the Abbott’s Bridge Scenic River Access parking lot off CR 33 at the Sandusky River. The southern 70 acres is open to hunting in season and is connected to Sugar Creek State Wildlife Area, with access off Pleasant TR 148. At times other than hunting season, the hunting area is open to hiking. Use of the park has increased over the years, Gaitros said. “We have a lot of people on the trails, people who walk the trails,” he said. “We have a little bit of everything — families, retirees, dog walkers. “We have some cross county people who come out to run the trails,” he said. “Of course, some of the older people like the flatter trails. It’s a challenge if they walk all the trails.” Other people use the canoe access to enjoy the Sandusky River. “I will say the people who come out here are very good at taking their water bottles and papers with them,” he said. “I appreciate that they do.”

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PHOTO BY JIMMY FLINT

Tiffin City Council Clerk Ann Forrest (left) receives a recognition award and gift basket from Anthony Ramos of Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council. Ramos said the award was given to Forrest for her hard work and dedication.

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The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

It does not go unnoticed by us. It’s a job that is not recognized by the public, but she spends many hours weekly doing city business.” Councilman Steve Lepard

Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Clerk helps council function BY JIMMY FLINT

Staff Writer jflint@advertiser-tribune.com

Several Tiffin City Council members said they couldn’t do their job as efficiently without the help of Council Clerk Ann Forrest. Forrest maintains records, minutes and legislation. She also prepares legal notices for meetings and extensive council agenda packets for city administration, council members and the media. Forrest, who has been clerk since 2012, said she spends about 10-12 hours per week on the job. She said wanted the job, which she had to apply and interview for, because it connects her to her hometown. “I have always, because of my background in international sales, I’ve always worked out of town,” Forrest said. “I wanted to stay connected. This was really a good opportunity to do it.” She said scheduling around meetings can be challenging because, in most cases, there’s no backup person to do her job. She said Law Director Brent Howard has stood in for her once or twice when absolutely needed. Forrest, who lived in Madrid, Spain, for 20 years, said she recently retired from her privatesector job. Before retirement, she said juggling her day job with council duties could be tough. “But, now that I’ve retired from the day job, I’ve shifted my focus more on this job, which I truly love,” she said. “I’m still trying to get used to retirement.” Forrest said although the job has its challenges, she looks forward to it because she likes the people she works with.

“I think it’s just a great group, it’s great to be a part of this atmosphere we’ve got going in Tiffin,” she said. Forrest, who is bilingual, said being detailoriented and understanding policies and procedures keep her prepared to do the job well. She said she loves working with a proactive group of council members. Councilman Jim Roberts, who babysat Forrest when she was 3 or 4 years old, said she was and still is “a good kid.” “She is top notch,” he said. “You know Ann today and that was Ann back then.” “I just think I raised her right,” he said, joking. Roberts said Forrest’s attention to detail makes her a good fit for the position. “She dots her i’s and crosses her t’s,” he said. “She’s very careful to make sure that everything we get is right.” Roberts said Forrest not only does the job well, but she brings a good attitude to it. “She just does everything in a pleasant manner,” he said. “She does a lot of work.” Councilman Steve Lepard agreed, adding that Forrest always greets council members with a smile. “Ann really keeps us well informed,” he said. “She provides us with the council packets for upcoming meetings in a timely fashion so we have all the information in front of us long before we enter the meeting.” Lepard said Forrest completes many tasks “behind the scenes” and doesn’t always get recognition for it. “It does not go unnoticed by us,” he said. “It’s a job that is not recognized by the public, but she spends many hours weekly doing city business.”

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Lepard said Forrest helps keep all members of council organized. “It’s almost like she is a secretary for seven of us,” he said. “She’s aware of our aches and pains, probably more than she wants to be.” Lepard said he enjoys working with Forrest. “It’s like having a friend you can talk to,” he said. “That means a lot to all of us. We can trust her with comments or information. That’s what you need in this business sometimes. It’s a pleasure having her, she just brings a lot to the table.” Roberts said Forrest is a nice person who does the job well. “She’s a face that a lot of people see, she represents council,” he said. “I can’t think of a better person that I’d like to have represent me. She gets a five-star rating.” Although Forrest has spent many years living out of the country, she said she is happy she’s found her way back home. “I grew up, I moved away, but I came back because I love the city,” she said. “I’m very pleased to be part of it now. It’s great watching Tiffin’s growth, it’s been exciting. I’m very proud to be working with everybody on council.” Roberts said Tiffin benefits from Forrest’s move back home. “I just think she never forgot her roots,” he said. “She’s one of those people who does her job, does it damn well and doesn’t really expect a pat on the back. That’s the shame of it, we don’t pat her on the back enough, we take her for granted, that’s a true shame.” Roberts called Forrest a “workaholic.” “If she left, we’d miss her,” he said. “It’s a genuine thing, there’s no doubt about it. I don’t know how she does it, I really don’t.”

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Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Nick Borer, pre-treatment technician at Tiffinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Water Pollution Control Center, performs tests on samples in the wastewater plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lab.

PHOTO BY VICKI JOHNSON

Third-generation wastewater plant worker helps keep the facility, and the environment, healthy

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

BY VICKI JOHNSON

Staff Writer vjohnson@advertiser-tribune.com

As pre-treatment technician at Tiffin’s Water Pollution Control Center, Nick Borer’s job is to make sure local business and industry comply with rules about sending wastewater to the plant to be processed. “I don’t want to say I’m the wastewater police, but that’s kind of my job,” he said. “My job is really about going out into the different industries and making sure they’re complying with the sewer use ordinance.” The ordinance is in place to protect the collection system and wastewater plant from harm. Regulations ensure the city is complying with the Clean Water Act of 1972, which established the basic structure for regulating pollutant discharges and gave the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency authority to implement pollution control programs, such as setting wastewater standards for industry. “We want to keep out hazardous waste and keep out blockages and obstructions,” Borer said. Regulations are set by the EPA, and it’s his job to make sure industries are following them. Industries have various types of pollutants, he said, and he periodically monitors them. “I’m safeguarding the collection system of the plant here, and the plant, in turn, safeguards the community and community health,” he said. Borer collects samples at industrial plants and tests them in the center’s lab. “We basically use the test results to calculate a real sewer bill for them that’s fair and accurate,” he said. In the lab, Borer uses a highpowered microscope to monitor microbiology, and he performs tests daily, weekly or sometimes less often. “I didn’t realize when I was in high school I had a wonderful chemistry teacher,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d ever use that in my life. All those things he taught me I use on an almost daily basis. “You think life is going to go

Under the Radar

“

I’m safeguarding the collection system of the plant here, and the plant, in turn, safeguards the community and community health.” Nick Borer, pre-treatment technician, Water Pollution Control Center one way, but life takes different turns,” he said. Borer graduated in 2007 from Calvert High School, and in 2009 from Terra State Community College with a business degree. During that time, he worked full time for 10 years as general manager of A.J. Heavenly Pizza. He then went on to earn a Class 1 operator’s license a year or two after he graduated from Terra, and last year earned a Class 2 license. He’s been in his current job a little more than a year. “I’m technically a third-generation wastewater worker,” Borer said. “My grandpa did lab work in the ’60s and ’70s, and my dad, Brad Borer, was superintendent for a while and worked at the plant.” His brother, Chris, also works in the lab. Following the family tradition is only part of the reason he likes his job. “They were some of the motivation,” he said. “But it’s also being able to go outside and enjoy nature and enjoy the Sandusky River. Working here is the motivation to try to make sure everything that comes into the collection system isn’t going to be negatively affecting the environment around us.” Borer said between 2 million and 4 million gallons of water flow through the plant every day. “On average, a human uses 100 gallons of water every single day,” he said. “Multiply that by 20,000 people in town.” Another aspect of his job is to make sure industries are complying with payment of sewer use surcharges as defined in the ordinance. “We apply them to our different industries in town,” he said. “We

are able to use those surcharges to bill the correct amount.” Borer also reviews industry procedures for waste materials the local plant can’t handle. “To make sure there are prevention and protection measures in place,” he said. “I check where the waste goes and what happens to all the different liquids to make sure they’re going to the right place. Some are trucked-out solvents and oil and petroleum products.” Sometimes, industries are dealing with unresolved issues. “It’s nice to work with the indus-

49 tries to help them solve their problems,” he said. “I try to help them troubleshoot to see what will work for them and us at the same time.” EPA issues permits that state the wastewater plant’s requirements. “I have to make sure we can make those with everything the industries are giving us,” he said. For example, if an industry is sending the plant wastewater that causes the plant to exceed permit levels, it’s Borer’s job to schedule a pre-treatment inspection and to review policies and procedures with plant personnel. He said he hasn’t had any real problems. “Everybody really wants to do the right thing and protect the environment,” he said. “Just being able to enjoy the environment, being outside, is the motivation for me to enforce some of these laws.” Another aspect of protecting the plant involves the microbiology used to break down waste. “We have living bugs that help eat our wastewater,” he said. “It’s

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Under the Radar

Borer (left) talks with plant superintendent Kevin Hughes.

my job to make sure anything that comes in won’t affect the microbiology.” Borer also makes decisions on requiring wastewater permits for business and industry. “I decide if it’s necessary for them to have a city-issued permit,” he said. He contacts business owners or managers with a questionnaire. “I determine the nature of the business, what kinds of products and services, and then whether they have wastewater involved in their process,” he said. “If they do, I ask specific questions about MSDS (safety) sheets to determine what’s in the wastewater.” He said some plants don’t discharge their

wastewater at all. “They would much rather have an outside hauler come in and take that away to an industrial plant set up to handle pollutants and that kind of material,” he said. “We have to make sure they’re in compliance.” He said it’s a small, but important, part of caring for the city. “I’m just a little cog in the wheel, but this great wheel is the great community we live in,” he said. “There are good side effects of getting to be in this position,” he said. “A really awesome part is to get out into the community and visit. You get to see how things are actually made.”

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTO BY VICKI JOHNSON

For example, he didn’t realize how big Webster Manufacturing is. “It was just a factory,” he said. “And it seems like now I realize how big and how many shifts and how many projects are going on all under one roof. “It’s a perk of the job to get to go out and see the different industries and people and the different products and services they create.” And to make sure the wastewater they release meets standards. “This isn’t just a job,” he said. “This is a service to the community and environment we live in.”

Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTO BY JIMMY FLINT

Seneca County Humane Society Executive Director Jennifer Fox talks on the phone at the shelter.

BY JIMMY FLINT

Staff Writer jflint@advertiser-tribune.com

The Humane Society of Seneca County, with a small staff, finds a way to help animals with the genIt’s a great opportunity to erosity of volunteers and donors. Jennifer Fox said she work with animals and began working at the shelter in June 2016 and was help them get adopted. I named executive director about a month ago. She said she has made love animals and I love some changes to volunteer policies to get more volunteer help. working with them.” Fox said volunteers used to have to attend an orientation that was held only once Tyler Eisenhower, a month. She said she has done away with the orientaHumane Society worker tion and volunteers can show up and help out the day they come in. She said in years past volunteers were asked to focus on cleaning and might not have gotten much interaction with the animals. Fox said under the new system, volunteers will have more interaction, including taking the dogs on walks or playing with the cats. “We’re always looking for more people,” she said.

“

Humane Society relies on volunteers to operate

Fox takes Drake for a walk at the shelter.

Staff member Tyler Eisenhower, a recent Columbian High School graduate who has worked at the shelter for about a month, said when volunteers come in, he shows them around the facility and shows them the standards expected. “We take them out and have them play with the dogs and cats,” he said, adding that they have to fill out paperwork before beginning. Fox said it can be fun for volunteers and it helps not only the organization but the animals themselves. “Socialized animals are far more adoptable than a dog or cat that isn’t great with kids or animals,” she said.

Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

PHOTO BY JIMMY FLINT

Fox said by having volunteers spend time with the dogs and cats, it can get the animals a step closer to finding a permanent home. Eisenhower agreed. “It’s good to have people to socialize with the animals. They don’t always get that human interaction,” he said. “They come in and they are shy at first; they need the interaction.” Fox said the shelter has three or four employees. “Everyone does a little bit of everything,” she said. Eisenhower said he talks to people who come in, sets up and cleans cages and works with animals.

“I’m wherever they need me to be,” he said. “It’s big to have help from volunteers.” Fox said if volunteers don’t complete daily tasks, those tasks fall to the staff. “I don’t think people understand the amount of cleaning we do,” she said. “We sanitize everything, every cage, each day. That’s on top of feeding and walking the animals.” Eisenhower said having a small staff makes the job very challenging. “We have to have good time management,” he said. “With about four people on staff, 200300 cats and about 80 dogs, it’s hard. We have to make sure we get the job done quickly and efficiently.”

Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Fox said there is no age limit for those interested in volunteering and added that, sometimes, parents come with their kids. Fox said she grew up around animals, and said she took the job and enjoys it because she gets to work with animals. She said she likes the job, but said there can be days she ends up in tears because it is physically, mentally and emotionally taxing. “I sometimes question why I do it,” Fox said. “But, there are days where it’s all happy tears. When a dog goes home or a cat goes home. Most of the time, the good days outweigh the bad days and the good days are really good.” Eisenhower agreed. “It’s a great opportunity to work with animals and help them get adopted,” he said. “I love animals and I love working with them.” Fox said the job is most rewarding when an animal finds a good home or is rescued from a dangerous or bad situation. Eisenhower said there aren’t many better feelings than seeing a dog or cat who has been in the shelter for a while find human companions to take them home, but he said it can be difficult because of the bond he has formed with the animals while working at the shelter. “I was really close to this one cat, I was happy and really sad at the same time when the cat was adopted,” he said. Fox said as executive director she wants to continue to make the shelter a family- and community-oriented place. “Any and all donations are always accepted, we never turn away donations,” she said. Fox said the organization tries to give special deals for adoptions each month. This month, because the dog cages are completely full, all dogs are $50, which is 50-percent off the usual cost. She said senior dogs and dogs who have been in the shelter the longest cost $25. PHOTO BY JIMMY FLINT

Fox poses for a photo with Darla at the shelter.

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Under the Radar

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

Dan Rinaman (left) and Tony Martinez, press operators for The Advertiser-Tribune, discuss the job of printing newspapers.

PHOTO BY JIMMY FLINT

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in charge of putting the ink on the newsprint

The Advertiser-Tribune, Tiffin, Ohio Saturday, August 19, 2017

BY JIMMY FLINT

Staff Writer jflint@advertiser-tribune.com

Readers of The AdvertiserTribune may be aware of its reporters, editors and carriers, but there is another group of employees readers may be less familiar with because the nature of their work keeps them behind the scenes. All of the employees at The A-T have a role in producing the newspaper, but without staff to operate the printing press, the paper couldn’t make it to the doors of readers. Press operators may have a job that flies under the radar, but A-T News Editor MJ McVay said they are an important piece to the puzzle. “Without them, everybody else’s work would be for naught,” she said. “If they don’t do their job right, nothing is lined up and you can’t read anything, you can’t see the pictures and you can’t see the ads because they’re all blurry. That right there makes them very key.” McVay said the operators perform a job that some people may take for granted. “It’s not an easy thing to do,” she said. “It involves a lot of being able to make very minor adjustments. It’s not just a ‘push the button and the press runs all on its own,’ it’s very far from that.” Tony Martinez, who is in his sixth year as a press operator, said the printing press is a unique machine. “I’ve worked on machines for 20-plus years,” he said. “There’s no other piece of equipment out there like it.” Martinez said the press, which was built in the 1970s and is about 60 feet long, works like a giant rubber stamp. “You’re transferring the pages from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the newspaper,” he said. “It’s really simple to work on once you are familiar with it, but it’s a complex machine.” Dan Rinaman, who has been a press operator for The A-T for 21 years, agreed. “The moment you think you’ve mastered it, you might still have

Under the Radar

something go wrong and have you wondering what happened,” he said. Martinez said each night, press operators work with several rolls of paper, which could weigh as much as 1,300 pounds. He said one roll of paper is about 7.5 miles long, adding that one roll could reach from The A-T press room to Meadowbrook Park in Bascom. Martinez said each day is different, as press operators also print for local school papers and handle commercial jobs, such as The Beacon, out of Port Clinton. He said the constant is the daily printing of The A-T. “We get down rolls of paper, check our ink and water levels and take a quick look at the press,” he said of the process. Martinez said once the pages are submitted from McVay and the editorial department, a computerto-plate system uses a laser to burn the page design into a plate. He said the plate is then used to mass produce the newspaper. Martinez said about 7,500 copies of the AT are printed daily during the week with about 8,000 printed on weekends. He said the print typically takes 30-35 minutes. Bryce Bloomfield, who has been a press operator for the company for about three years, said his favorite part of the job is the content that is printed. “Even though it’s always doing the same technique, we’re always printing something different,” he said. “It’s not like a regular factory job, where you’re looking at the exact same thing.” Rinaman agreed. “For the most part, we never print the same thing twice,” he said. Rinaman said press operators don’t proofread the paper, but he did say they still try to catch mistakes in headlines. “We are the last line of defense before the paper is printed,” he said. Martinez said he and others take pride in the job. “To me, this is an art because of the fact that you have to have everything lined up right to make it look good,” he said. “It’s definitely a skilled trade.” Martinez said anyone can take a

picture with a camera, but it is much harder to make it look good in the newspaper. “To make it right, it’s harder than people think. We have to have everything lined up, we are using small dots of ink,” he said. “You have to have the right amount of ink and water and the plates have to be lined up. It’s a combination of a bunch of things that have to be exactly right.” Rinaman said levers are rotated in order to have the correct settings. He said there are some benchmarks on pages that help, but he also said he tries to look at the photos to be sure they are not blurry or discolored. Martinez, Rinaman and Bloomfield each said one negative of the job is how dirty they get after a shift. “The last time I worked was three days ago, and I still have some ink under my nails,” Bloomfield said. Although the job can get dirty, Rinaman said that is just the nature of working with the printing press. None of the operators knew the weight of the press, but if there is a tornado, company protocol states gathering under and holding onto the press could be the safest place in the building because of its weight and because it is built into the ground on concrete slabs. “It’s not going anywhere,” Martinez said. Bloomfield said he’s been told if a car were to crash into the building, it would likely not be able to budge the printing press. Press operators work on the machine in two-person shifts for about 11 hours a day.

Martinez puts his expertise as a mechanic to use by doing maintenance work on the press and on the building. He said he is proud that about 95 percent of maintenance work is handled by A-T employees. “It’s a very simple, but complicated machine,” he said. Martinez said large issues were not frequent. “You’ve got to maintain it, every week greasing it, every day looking at rollers,” he said. “You treat it like you’d treat a vehicle. Make adjustments as needed.” Martinez said since he has worked in the press room, he has noticed many improvements. “Our shop is totally different than where it was five years ago,” he said, referencing a fresh coat of paint and a cleaner environment. McVay said the press operators at The A-T are a good group of people. “They are conscientious about what they do and they know that how they perform their job has a great bearing on people’s satisfaction with the newspaper,” she said. Martinez said he is happy to do the job. “Generally speaking, I like what I do, I really like my job,” he said. “You get to meet decent people, you build relationships with a lot of people you work with, everyone I work with is a decent person.” Rinaman said people may not notice the press operators unless something went wrong and he is OK with that. “It’s the nature of the job,” he said. “We want to run early and get the job done right.”

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8ย ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย 3ฦฌ34ย ย ย 37ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อด อท 8ย ย ย ย ย ย วฏย 3 ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ศ ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อณ อท 8ย ย ย ย ย ย 3ย ย 3 ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อท อณ 8ย ย ย ย วฏย 39ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อป

9ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 35ย ย ย 3ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วคอต 3อป

ย ย 3 ย ย ย 3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วควค33วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3อด อบ

ย ย ย ย 36ย ย ย ย 3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วควค33วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3อถ อป

ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อณ อท ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อด อต

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อด อบ วก 3อต อตอณ

ย ย ย วฏย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย 3ฦฌ3 ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อท

ย ย ย ย วก37ย ย ย ย วก36ย ย ย ย วก3 63วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3อต อต

ย ย ย ย วฏย 36ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย 3ฦฌ3 ย ย ย ย 3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3อด อบ ย ย ย ย ย ย 38ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อด อป

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อณ อต ย ย ย วฏย 3 ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อต อป ย ย ย ย 36ย ย ย ย ย ย 38ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 36ย วฆย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อณ อน

ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย วค3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อณ อณ

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 38ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วคอต 3อต 8 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อท อท ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย 36ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อด อบ

ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อด อน ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ศ ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย วก36 3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วคอด 3อป ย ย ย ย วฏย 3 ย ย ย ย 3ฦฌ3 ย ย ย ย 3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วควค33อต อต

ย ย ย ย ย 36ย ย ย ย ย ย วค3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อณ อต ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วค3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อท อต ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วก37ย วค3 ย ย ย ย ย 3 วค3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อด อบ ย ย ย ย ย 35ย ย ย วค3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อน

ย ย ย ย วก3 ย ย ย 377 3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3วค3อด อป ย ย ย ย ย 39ย ย ย วฆ ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค35 ย ย ย 36 6ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย 36ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อด อณ ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3 ย ย ย ย ย 39 9 ย ย ย ย 36 6ย ย ย ย ย ย ย วฏย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อต อน ย ย วฆ ย ย 3 ย ย ย ย ย 3 ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อณ อณ

ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3วค3วควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควควค3อถ อต

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