TOMORROW
COMING Johnston Farm expansion
Commitment To Community INSIDE: Chance of showers, high 82, low 63. Page 3.
INSIDE: Secret conversations. Page 5.
INSIDE: Lisicki rolls on at Wimbledon. Page 9.
W E D N E S DAY, J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 3
VOLUME 130, NUMBER 131
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Guilty Graduates receive diplomas Plea on robbery BY WILL E SANDERS Staff Writer wsanders@civitasmedia.com
Government academy concludes in success
TROY — A second man has been convicted in the May 28 robbery of Tim Hortons, 700 W. Main St., Troy, following a common pleas court hearing Tuesday morning. Brandon J. Brumbaugh, 20, of Troy, entered a guilty plea to felony robbery and is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 9. His accomplice, Quontes J. Atkins, 20, of Troy, entered a plea of no contest and was found guilty of the same charge in court Friday. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 19. Both men were originally charged with aggravated robbery but those charges were later amended to robbery, a second-degree felony that carries a prison sentence of between two to eight
BY BETHANY J. ROYER Staff writer broyer@civitasmedia.com PIQUA —The third government academy members assembled in near-full force at Tuesday’s commission meeting along with their leader Bill Lutz, development program manager. Those graduating individuals included: Viola Ault, Alex Bar-
lage, William Carter, Jim Chrisman, Jesse Dotson, Ralph Green, Jean Hale, Kristin Jones, Ted Jones, Mike McGonagle, Cathy Oda, Tracy Quinter, Ralph Quinter, Juanita Ventura and Kazy Hinds. “We’re very happy, really glad to have them graduating,” said City Manager Gary Huff who thanked Lutz for his continued outstanding work on the popular
program and cited its continued success. As the three-hour, one night a week for 11- to 13-week program offers a very unique opportunity for attendees to visit city departments and speak with city leaders behind-the-scenes. While Mayor Lucy fess announced graduate names, Lutz handed out diplomas to the See Graduates/Page 8
S TA R S AND STRIPES MIKE ULLERY/STAFF PHOTO
Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and a number of homes in and around Piqua, like this home at the corner on Downing Street belonging to Scott and Mary Ann Rodriguez, are dressed for the occasion. Piqua’s Fourth activities are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Fountain Park on Thursday.
See Guilty/Page 2
Wolters waives grand jury BY WILL E SANDERS Staff Writer wsanders@civitasmedia.com
TROY — A former member of the fire department in Tipp City entered a guilty plea to a lone count of theft in office at a hearing in common pleas court Monday where he waived a grand jury’s consideration of his felony case. Brandon E. Wolters, 26, made the plea in an agreement with prosecutors that stipulated no further criminal charges will be filed in the case. Wolters stole seven pagers from the city’s volunteer fire department and later sold the stolen items through an online website, police reports and court documents state. See Jury/Page 2
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Brant voted in as probationary firefighter BY AMY MAXWELL For the Daily Call pdceditorial@civitasmedia.com COVINGTON — Covington Council met Monday evening and voted on several pieces of legislation. Council voted an ordinance into place making it illegal to improperly dispose of hazardous materials and construction materials. They also approved the purchase of recycling containers, lids and a tipper for the recycling truck. This purchase is funded in part with a recycling grant from
the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. “I would also like to purchase an additional 50 yellow recycling lids for our 96 gallon containers,” village administrator Mike Busse said. “The reason for the request is that Greenville Village Apartments has expressed interest in using the 96 gallon containers instead of the smaller 48 gallon containers.” Brice Schmitmeyer, professional engineer with FanningHowey, was present to inform council on the status of pending Ohio Public Works Commission applications. Busse also informed council of developments on the current Spring Street project. “Brice and I discussed the engineering for Spring Street and agreed the first step is to record
accurate data on existing profiles of structures and utilities,” he said. “I have a quote from Robert Cron & Associates to complete the profiling work and to provide this data to Fanning-Howey for the design work and I recommend we enter into an agreement for the surveying services.” Council was in agreement. During Busse’s administrator’s report, he updated council on the Safe Routes to School Grants. “We had our kick off meeting with the Ohio Department of Transportation,” he said. “Covington has been awarded a $240,000 infrastructure grant for sidewalk installation in the areas of Ludlow, Chestnut and East Broadway streets. We have also been awarded a $6,730 non-infrastructure grant for enforcement
and both grants were awarded at an 80/20 match.” Council also voted to accept Thomas Brant III as a probationary firefighter. Fire Chief Bill Westfall was present to request the hiring of Brant. “We’ve had some changes at the department such as a retiree and I think he would be a great asset to add to the department,” he said. “He’s a third generation firefighter and has been around the field his whole life.” A representative from McGohan Brabender held an Insurance Workshop prior to the meeting to discuss the Employee Healthcare Plan and Council plans to vote on the plan at their next meeting. Council made some See Grant/Page 3
Mohler faces potential six to 18 mos. prison sentence
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Council given update on Safe Routes to School grant
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BY WILL E SANDERS Staff Writer wsanders@civitasmedia.com TROY — A former youth pastor at a Troy church originally charged with felony sexual battery pleaded guilty to the amended charge of aggravated assault Tuesday morning in common pleas court. A conviction of aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony, will not require Michael “Mic” D. Mohler, 26, to register as a sex offender. However, as a part of the same plea agreement, Mohler, formerly of Troy and now a resident of Athens, must relinquish his minis-
ter’s license. He faces between six to 18 months in prison and a fine as high as $5,000 at his sentencing hearing Aug. 26, though he could also receive probation instead. A presentence investigation was ordered. Mohler is free on a recognizance bond until that sentencing hearing, but must abide by a no contact order involving the juvenile female victim, a 15-year-old who attended the church where the defendant worked. The man’s case was dismissed in municipal court in February after the victim refused to testify at a preliminary hearing. Court documents disclose
Mohler allegedly engaged in the inappropriate contact with the victim at his home in Monroe Township on Aug. 1. Mohler, a former “resident pastor” with First United Methodist Church in Troy, was charged after authorities began investigating alleged inappropriate sexual conduct with the victim. Those allegations were first reported to Miami County Children’s Services, and the agency subsequently brought the matter forth to investigators with the Troy Police Department and the Miami County Sheriff’s Office. According to the church’s website, Mohler’s position as a youth
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pastor involved assisting with and coordinating youth events for children. The head pastor at the church, the Rev. David Leckrone, said MOHLER Mohler was removed from his position as soon as he learned of the accusation in February. The reverend added church officials were “shocked and deeply saddened” by the allegations, which he said church officials took “extremely seriously.”