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The lesser of two gas stations Page 4 Visit www.dailycall.com to learn more about the Virtual Costume Contest. Volume 130, Number 209 saturdAY, October 19, 2013
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Phase I of city’s stormwater project reviewed
Bethany J. Royer Staff writer broyer@civitasmedia.com
PIQUA — Half-fixes won’t do when it comes to tackling issues related to the city’s stormwater system, as evaluation, careful planning and knowing what one is working with takes precedence. These were just a few of the items emphasized at a recent open house to review Phase I of the
stormwater master plan, held in the commission chambers at the government complex. “First we did a GIS map, showing the storm system,” explained David Burtner, director of utilities, of steps already taken in Phase I. The idea behind the open house was to not only review the first phase, which includes the western section of the city, but high-light the reasons for bringing in URS Corporation, an engineering,
construction and technical services firm. Who will consult the city of Piqua through the development of a master plan (Course of action) to address concerns related to the stormwater system. What is stormwater? •Water that originates during precipitation events •Snow-melt that enters the stormwater system •Stormwater that does not soak into the ground and
becomes surface runoff Burtner was joined by Devon Alexander, stormwater coordinator, Shane Johnson, underground utilities supervisor, and many other city leaders and URS consultants, with a variety of maps on display including the GIS map or geographic information system. A pivotal step allowing for an assessment to be made of the multiple components making up the stormwater system, one that consists
of some 130 miles of pipes. From this vantage point the city now knows what they are working with, can gauge both current and potential problems, and implement the best course of action. “We don’t want to throw money away,” said Burtner of the need for proper evaluation and the time it will take for such so the city doesn’t end up See STORMWATER | Page 2
PHS play tackles grave subjects Belinda M. Paschal Staff Writer bpaschal@civitasmedia.com
PIQUA — In an unusual format, in a decidedly different setting, the stories of those who have passed on come to life — as do the narrators themselves. Edgar Lee Masters’ “Spoon River Anthology” features a parade of characters narrating the epitaphs of the residents of fictional Spoon River, Ill. Told in free-form poem style, an abridged form of the work will be performed by the Piqua High School Speech and Drama Club at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 in Forest Hill Cemetery. “(The characters) come back and tell a story from their life that was kind of the pinnacle of their life,” said director and PHS social studies teacher Dustin Hornbeck. “I’ve taken selections from the play and sectioned them into four categories: serious, dark and sad, comical and love stories.” To paraphrase the introductory poem, characters in “Spoon River” range from “one killed in a brawl,” to “one (who) died in shameful childbirth,” with a host of ill-fated residents in between. Many of the characters are based on real people that Masters knew or heard of in the Illinois towns where he grew up, Petersburg and Lewistown. “Masters’ mother was a big gossip, so he heard all these stories about different people. Some people were mad when they recognized themselves in his poems,” Hornbeck said. Indeed, legend has it that Masters’ unflattering portrayals of some residents caused much aggravation and embar-
Piqua High School cast members rehearse for the upcoming performance of “Spoon River Anthology” at Forest Hill Cemetery on Oct. 18.
rassment in his hometown. This is given as an explanation for why he chose not to settle in Lewistown or Petersburg. “Spoon River” is a bit challenging because the cast isn’t working from a traditionally formatted script, Hornbeck said. “It’s taken a ton of legwork to work out the kinks,” he said. “When you don’t really have a script, the play runs on creativity.”
The PHS cast of 13 includes seniors Layne Patrizio and Emily Wenrick, both of whom are first-timers to stage performing. “Mr. Hornbeck is such a fun person and he made the story sound interesting,” Patrizio offered as her reason for joining the cast. She plays Zipha Marsh and Minerva Jones, the latter of which she said is interesting because she was the village poetess who was
murdered. Wenrick portrays four characters including her favorite, Lucinda Matlock. “She lived a very sweet life. I find her very inspiring,” Wenrick said. Like Patrizio and Wenrick, several of the students play two or more roles. The other cast members are Kenny Lyons, Dakota Rench, Luke Hanes, Devon Parshall, Matt Patrizio, Danny Rudy, Ryan Burch, Randy Crabtree, Caitlin
Mike Ullery | Daily Call
Cromes, Olivia Barhorst, Courtney Bensman, Corrine Crawford and Tejah Davis. Daniel Klosterman accompanies the cast on guitar during a hymn at the beginning and end of the show. Tickets for “Spoon River Anthology” are $3 and can be purchased in advance at the high school’s main office or at the cemetery on the day of the show. For more information, call 773-6314. For another photo see page 2.
Index
Covington BOE votes to go ahead with new Wednesday policy
Classified.................... 12-13 Opinion.............................. 4 Comics............................. 11 Entertainment................. 5 Public Record.................. 6 Milestones....................... 7 Local................................. 3 Obituaries........................ 2 Sports........................... 8-10 Weather............................. 3
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For the Daily Call pdceditorial@civitasmedia.com
COVINGTON – At their October meeting Thursday, the Covington Exempted Village Board of Education voted three to two to move forward with proposed changes to the district’s Wednesday evening policy with the exception of freshman basketball. The vote followed much debate.
“I think the policy we have is working now and there’s no need to change it,” board President Dr. Dean Pond said. He added that he thinks the change should have come from the Athletic Council. “I think the Athletic Council needs reevaluated. I think it’s a do-nothing board,” said board member Alex Reck, who is also a member of the Athletic Council. Reck said that he followed the
appropriate “chain of command” when he first brought up the idea two years ago but nothing was done. Reck stated that students feel pressured and won’t ask to be excused from a practice if there is a family or religious affiliation need. Pond disagreed. The idea for revising the current policy came at the board’s August meeting. Reck spoke of
concern that students feel obligated to spend their Wednesday evenings at practices rather than with their family or at religious events. Revisions were then created. These revisions include mandating that practices be completed by 6:30 p.m. rather than 7 p.m. and what Superintendent Dave Larson calls “making the policy more hard line” thus eliminating some of the loopholes.
Law states that board policies must have two readings before a vote. The first read came at the board’s September meeting. Following the second reading at Thursday’s meeting, members made their opinions known. At the September meeting, Athletic Director Roger Craft shared what the consequences would be for changing the See BOE | Page 2
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