Gazette The Delaware
195TH year
Delaware County’s only daily newspaper
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2013
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Guilty plea expected in hit-skip STACY KESS
skess@civitasmedia.com
A court date has been set for the motorist accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist with her vehicle before leaving the scene in September.
Mary Kathryn Paul, 36, of Westerville, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to stop in the death of Robert Lennon, 64, a science teacher and cross country coach at St. Frances DeSales High
School, who was found dead on Miller-Paul Road a mile from the suspect’s family home Sept. 15. Both charges are thirddegree felonies and would carry up to a combined six years in prison. Paul is expected to
plead guilty when she goes before Judge John W. Kessler, a visiting judge assigned to the case by the Ohio Supreme Court, 1 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. “These court proceed-
ings will be the first opportunity for Ms. Paul to formally waive her right to a Grand Jury indictment and to thereafter enter pleas to those charges,” said Special Prosecutor Kenneth Oswalt in a statement
Saturday only
Wreaths remember
released Friday. “In the event that Ms. Paul carries through with her counsel’s representation that she will enter guilty pleas to the two charges (and I have no reason to See PLEA | 3
City board OKs YMCA contract GARY BUDZAK
gbudzak@civitasmedia.com
Delaware’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) approved renewal of the YMCA’s contract with the city and its proposed fee increases at a meeting on Nov. 19. The one-year contract extension will be considered as an ordinance at the City Council meeting on Nov. 25. If approved, the city would pay the YMCA of Central Ohio $187,000 to provide recreational services and programs in 2014. The fee would be
unchanged from 2013. This is the second year the Y has run Delaware’s rec program. The contract adds four new terms – the YMCA will provide program reports twice annually; a PRAB member will work with YMCA staff on new programming and brochure design; a PRAB member will attend weekly operational meetings; and a YMCA staff member will attend all PRAB meetings. A YMCA report given at the PRAB meeting said, “While some See YMCA | 3
Christmas breakfast fundraiser scheduled DUSTIN ENSINGER STACY KESS | GAZETTE
Surrounded by law enforcement officials and Delaware County leaders, Amy Bean and two of her children help dedicate the wreaths used in a display on the southwest corner of Sandusky and William streets to recognize lives lost by impaired driving. Bean lost her husband in a drunk driving accident.
Ceremony recognizes lives lost to impaired drivers IMPAIRED-DRIVING TRAFFIC FATALITIES IN DELAWARE COUNTY Twenty-five fatal motor vehicle crashes with 26 total fatalities over five years. • 2013 — 1 crash/1 fatality • 2012 — 6 crashes/6 fatalities • 2011 — 3 crashes/4 fatalities • 2010 — 5 crashes/5 fatalities • 2009 — 10 crashes/10 fatalities Of the 26 fatalities • 4 were passengers • 22 were the impaired drivers who caused the crash • 5 were motorcyclists • The youngest victim was 2 • The oldest victim was 65
STACY KESS
skess@civitasmedia.com
Law enforcement officials and community representatives gathered into the lobby of Delaware City Hall Friday morning to dedicate a display of wreaths on the southwest corner of Sandusky and William Streets. The display, created by the Delaware County Safe Communities-Safe Kids Coalition, uses wreaths to represent lives lost to traffic accidents involving impaired drivers. “On the surface, this looks like a pretty holi-
day display, not uncommon for this time of year,” said Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O’Brien. “But think about it, these wreaths represent loved ones that won’t be celebrating with us this year.” O’Brien said that she is committing that all the law enforcement in Delaware County would do everything possible to keep people safe, but noted that law enforcement can only do so much, a message shared by all who spoke at the dedication ceremony. “Anyone of any age See WREATHS | 3
densinger@civitasmedia.com
John Freeman began his annual holiday breakfast as a way to give back to the customers of his service station. He continues it to give back to the people of Delaware County. This year will be no different at the annual “Whatever You Think It’s Worth” Christmas breakfast. The proceeds of the event will go to a local family with two children with major medical issues. The remainder of the proceeds will be spread to local charitable organizations. “If you really like good food and want to kind of get in the Christmas spirit and help some needy children, this is the place to go,” Freeman said. Last year’s event drew
about 1,000 people who consumed 100 pounds of sausage, 140 pounds of bacon, 30 hams, 200 dozens eggs among many other breakfast foods. About $15,000 was raised, and Freeman hopes to raise around the same amount again this year. “We look for the same amount,” he said. “The economy hasn’t really seemed to hurt us the last few years.” This year’s menu includes all the breakfast staples, plus seafood bisque and bananas foster. “If you can’t find something there you like, you’re in trouble,” Freeman said. It takes about 40 volunteers to pull the event off, many of whom begin See BREAKFAST | 3
Scioto juvenile facility scheduled to close in May DUSTIN ENSINGER densinger@civitasmedia.com
Citing lower incarceration rates among youths across the state, the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) announced ºThursday the closure of another Delaware County juvenile correctional facility. The Scioto Juvenile Correction Facility, located at 5993 Home Road, is expected to close by May 2014. The facility houses just
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38 youths, who will be transferred to other DYS facilities. “As the number of youth served in our facilities continues to decrease, it allows us to reduce our costs and facility needs,” DYS Director Harvey Reed said in a statement. The population of incarcerated youths in DYS facilities has fallen 23 percent over the past two years. Spokesperson Kim Parsell attributed the drop to treatment reforms
DYS has implemented. Parsell said DYS has focused on supporting communities to treat lowrisk youths, while reserving DYS facilities for high-risk juveniles. The facility currently has 247 employees, all of whom will be offered other positions within DYS, Parsell said. “We will be offering every single impacted employee a position within DYS,” she said. For those that choose not to transfer, DYS will
INDEX
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Weather.................................. 2 Opinion................................... 4 Obituaries.............................. 5 Calendar................................. 8 Comics................................... 9 TV ...................................... 7, 10 Classifieds............................. 11 Sports ................................... 14
work with them to find employment with other agencies. Once the building is shuttered, it will make the second closure of a Delaware County juvenile correctional facility in the past five years. The Freedom Center, located at 8101 Dublin Road in Concord Township, closed in July 2009 due to budget constraints. SUBMITTED DYS currently operates four juvenile correctional The Scioto Juvenile Correction Facility, located at 5993 Home Road, is expected to close by May 2014. facilities.
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