INSIDE
Inside This Week... Local News Police Reports Classified Sports
Page 2 Page 5 Page 7 Page 9
SPORTS
70/75 Corridor primed for logistics growth See page 10
Aviators honored with postseason awards See page 9
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Vo l . 49, Is s u e 6 - $ 1 . 0 0
Local News Unhappy Walmart workers rally at Miller Lane store DARRELL WACKER Drummer Editor
Vandalia Christmas Tree lighting set for December 1 VANDALIA — The City of Vandalia will hold it annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Sunday, December 1 at 6 p.m. at the Vandalia Recreation Center on Stonequarry Road. There will be cookies and hot cocoa, entertainment by the winners from the Vandalia’s Got Talent contest, holiday crafts for children, and an opportunity to tell Santa Claus your Christmas wish. The winners of the Vandalia Coloring Contest will also be announced. There will be raffle prizes from Bunker’s, Subby’s, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Digital Cowboy Computers, The City of Vandalia, and the Recreation Center. Mayor Arlene Setzer will flip the switch to turn on the lights and there will be a candle lighting during the singing of Silent Night. A special thanks goes out to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sullivan for donating this year’s Christmas Tree and also to Sandy’s Towing for transporting the tree. The event is sponsored by the City of Vandalia, the Vandalia Recreation Center, Digital Cowboy Computers, and Sandy’s Towing and Recovery.
BUTLER TWP. — Dozens of unhappy Walmart employees gathered in front of the Miller Lane store on Monday afternoon to rally in support of better work conditions. The workers claim that Walmart has retaliated against employees who have spoken out against the company. Scott Stringer, 27, has worked at Walmart for five years, three of which have been at the Miller Lane store. He said he would be delivering a letter to store management on Monday afternoon notifying them of his intention to strike. “There are about 20 local employees on strike,” said Stringer. “The retaliation has to stop.” Stringer claims that management retaliated against
him after he began speaking up about his concerns. “They retaliated against me, and kept me away from all the other employees,” said Stringer. Stringer and other employees are part of a national group called OUR Walmart which stand for Organization United for Respect at Walmart. The workers also called on Walmart to pay its Associates a minimum salary of $25,000 per year and to offer more full-time work. Not all employees joined the rally. Jared Lee has worked at Walmart in various positions for 22 years and says he doesn’t understand why other workers are unhappy. “I’m happy with my job,” said Lee, an overnight shift manager. “I don’t have any issues with the company at all. I can support my family, and if any of that had been
an issue I would not have been here as long as I have been.” Lee, who began as an hourly employee, has worked his way into management and doesn’t understand why workers rallied publicly instead of trying to deal with issues in the store. “When an Associate goes outside the store to raise concerns, it makes me wonder why they didn’t come Darrell Wacker I Civitas media to management inside the Striking Walmart workers rallied outside the Miller Lane Walmart on store to address whatever Monday afternoon to protest alleged company retaliation as well as to the issue is,” he said. “Had seek higher pay and more full-time work. any of the Associates outside came to me I would is not the easiest thing in were behind, and I needed have tried to resolve their the world and you have to something right then. I was issues the best I could.” work at it and put forth a grateful for everything they Amber Callentine is lot of effort. Maybe they are gave me. a merchandise supervi- feeling the job is too hard, I Callentine says her bensor who also started as a don’t know.” efits are affordable for her part-time, hourly employee Callentine said that she and her family. about two and a half years was laid off when she was “With all the other jobs ago and has since been pro- hired at Walmart. I have ever had, these are moted into management. “When I started I had the best benefits I have ever “It is not an easy job what been out of a job for a while,” had,” said Callentine. “I am we do,” said Callentine. “It said Callentine. “My bills very happy.”
Tri Cities Wastewater Authority honored
Follow the Drummer on
Busy? Check us out online at www.vandaliadrummernews.com and @ VandaliaDrummer on Twitter.
Contributed photo
The Tri Cities North Regional Wastewater Authority recently received the Auditor of State Award with Distinction for excellence in financial reporting. The Authority is shared venture between the cities of Huber Heights, Tipp City, and Vandalia. Pictured above (left to right) are John Green, Tipp City Finance Director, David Heckler, Tri Cities General Manager, Brenda Gossett, Vandalia Finance Clerk, David Miller, Western Ohio Liaison for Auditor of State Dave Yost, Jim Bell, Huber Heights Finance Director, Bridgette Leiter, Vandalia Finance Director, and Kevin Baker, Vandalia Finance Supervisor.
Deaths
City Council hires consultant for City Manager search DARRELL WACKER
Patricia Ann “Pat” Goubeaux
Drummer Editor
James Clell Flannery See page 5
We apologize
Due to a production error, last week’s story on the Vandalia Veteran’s Day observance was inadvertently cut off and not continued on page 7 as indicated. As such, the meanings of the folds in the flag were not completed. We have placed this story on page 2 in its entirety. We apologize for this error.
6
7 4 8 2 5
3 2 8 0 7
Vandalia police have issued a felony warrant for the arrest of Dejarvus L. Richardson in connection with the theft of a vehicle from Evans Motorworks.
8
Surplus fire engine donated to MVCTC
VANDALIA — The Vandalia City Council began the search process for a new City Manager at Monday’s meeting. The city will engage the services of Don Vermillion, the Fitz Center Director of Public Projects at the University of Dayton. Vermillion was instrumental in the City’s hiring of Jeff Hoagland as City Manager. Mayor Arlene Setzer said that the City hopes to have someone in place within six months, but that time is not the most important factor in the selection process. “We are not interested in punching a time card or a certain date,” said Setzer at Monday’s meeting. “We want to get the right person.” Vermillion served as City Manager in Miamisburg from 1976-79 and as Montgomery County Administrator from 1988-1997. He has been teaching in the University of Dayton’s Master of Public Administration program since 1992. The city is looking for a City Manager after the resignation of Rob Anderson in early November. Doug Knight, the city’s Police Chief, is currently serving
as Interim City Manager. In other action the Council approved an ordinance in its second reading setting appropriations for 2014 totalling $36,251,974. Council also approved a resolution to donate a surplus 1987 fire engine to the Miami Valley Career Technology Center. In a memo to Council, Fire Chief Chad Follick said that the cost of maintaining the vehicle has surpassed its useful value to the department. “…the engine is starting to create some significant maintenance issues for us,” said Follick. “These maintenance and upkeep costs could be saved and better used to extend the useful life of our ‘front line’ apparatus…” Follick’s memo states that the engine could be sold for $3,000 to $3,500 but asked the Council to donate the vehicle to the MVCTC’s firefighting vocational program in which the City is a partner. “We believe that this program (MVCTC) could greatly enhance the ‘pool’ of future public servants,” said Follick. The measure passed unanimously. The Council also approved a variance
for a highway sign for the Longhorn Steakhouse that is being built at I-75 and Benchwood Road; amended the Joint Economic Development Zone with Butler Township to encompass the Vandalia Rental property on Enle Road; authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Montgomery County Public Defender’s office for public defender services; and approved a bid of $14,360 from Sign Dynamics to move the Hock’s Pharmacy sign out of the new right-of-way created by the Dixie Drive widening project. Council also received a bill listing in the amount of $2,489,471.70 for the month of October. Items over $50,000 included tax collections for the cities of Brookville, Clayton, and West Milton; $114,472 for right-of-way acquisition for the Dixie Drive widening project; water and trash service; retirement contributions; $67,568 to Sturm Construction for the Buttercup/ Gabriel improvements; health and dental insurance claims; and payroll. The Vandalia City Council will meet on Monday, November 18 at 7 p.m. The workshop will begin at 6 p.m. and is open to the public.
Identity, cause of death not determined in Vandalia park death DARRELL WACKER Drummer Editor
VANDALIA — The body found in Art Van Atta Park on Monday will require further investigation to determine the identity and cause of death. Ken Batz, Director of the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, said that the condition of the body had deteriorated so much that more investigation is necessary. “We are ‘pending’ the death certificate at this time,”
said Batz. “Additional testing, toxicology, and investigation will be necessary to determine the cause of death.” Batz confirmed that the remains are that of a female, but age and race are to be determined. A Montgomery County employee found the body in a wooded area of the park near Kingman Drive where they were working on a sewer line. In the 911 call, the employee indicated that the remains may have been there some
time based on his description. The body has been turned over to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office where an autopsy was conducted on Tuesday. Vandalia police are talking to neighbors who live near the park to determine if they had seen anything suspicious. Anyone with information is asked to call the Vandalia Police Department at (937) 898-5868. Police say it is too early to tell if the body is that of a woman who disappeared in late September. Aria Maria
Spradling, 20, was last seen in Harrison Township in the 5000 block of Dixie Drive where she was leaving the Harem nightclub. Spradling is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing around 130 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She also has several tatoos including the name “Maleigha” on her left arm, the name “Timothy” on her right thigh, the word “Family” on one of her legs and “Life/ Death” on the other. She also has a large flower/skull tattoo on her upper right arm.
Vandalia PD seek car theft suspect DARRELL WACKER Drummer Editor
VANDALIA - Vandalia police are searching for a man suspected of stealing a vehicle from Evans Motorworks in August. Police found the vehicle at the Meadows of Catalpa Apartments in Dayton after a tip was received. That same tip named the suspect, Dejarvus L. Richardson, as the person who stole the vehicle. A felony warrant has been issued for Richardson’s arrest. When police saw the vehicle at the apartment complex, Richardson was driving the vehicle but fled on foot and was not captured. A subsequent search of the vehicle large amounts of evidence was found that indicates that Richardson may be involved in other financial scams and criminal activity. Police believe other people may have been unwittingly involved in Richardson’s crimes. Richardson is also known as Dr. Dejay Richardson, DJ Richardson, and Dejarvus Richardson. Based on evidence in the vehicle and Richardson’s prior criminal history it is possible that Richardson may impersonate local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel or military personnel. According to Montgomery County court records, Richardson was convicted of receiving stolen property in 2004, 2005, and 2010. Richardson is described as a 28 year old black male, 5 feet, 5 inches tall and about 124 pounds. Any person with information on Richardson or his whereabouts are asked to contact Detective Jennifer Childs at the Vandalia Division of Police at (937) 415-2274.
40524342