P
The
Since 1972
Honoring Vietnam Vets See page 9
Freeze-thaws perfect brew for potholes
RESS March 16, 2015
FREE
Serving More Than h 33 33,000 000 H Homes & B Businesses i iin 4 C Counties ti
Cecil named Player of the Year See page 9 M
By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com
Continued on page 2
Q
uote
of The Week o
Your mind listens to what it’s told. Always feed it positive directions. Bryan Golden See page 8
“Guys and Dolls” Chris Klett as Sky Masterson, rolling for the “Save-A-Soul Mission” as fellow actors (right to left) Karter Converse, Devin Toflinski, and Jared Draeger look on. (Above) Emily Barringer as Adelaide and Autumn Converse as Sarah Brown express their boyfriend woes. See story, page 4. (Press photo by Stephanie Szozda)
Rivera leaving
New supt. could be named Monday By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com The Oregon school board may name a replacement for the superintendent’s position when it meets March 16. The board is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. in the Clay High School media center to discuss a successor to Dr. Lonny Rivera, who has accepted the position of Associate Superintendent with the Ohio Department of Education. He will begin his new duties April 27. “If all goes right, we should know who our superintendent will be by the end of that meeting,” board vice president Jeff Zivisky said Thursday. “Whoever assumes that position has some huge shoes to fill. Lonny was the perfect fit for this community and had many accomplishments during his short time in the position. My thought is that the person coming in has to do their research and homework so they can start performing and contributing from day one. We have too many positive items happening right now as a district. We cannot afford to slow down or take a step backwards while a new person learns.”
“
...I will continue to work on behalf of the community in Columbus. I will always be an Eagle.
“
The recent freeze-thaw cycle of weather is contributing to the perfect brew for potholes. As of last week, however, fewer than 10 complaint/claims had been filed about potholes causing vehicle damage on state roads in the eight counties that comprise Ohio Department of Transportation’s District 2. In 2014, there were 62 complaint/ claims filed in the Ohio Court of Claims, which handles claims filed through the department. “So far, none of them have gone completely through their cycle of submittal-investigation- review by the court,” Theresa Pollick, an ODOT spokesperson, said recently, adding a majority of complaints this year are in contractors’ work zones and the contractors are responsible for handling those cases. “Last year, the pavement on I-75 in downtown Toledo was in poor condition,” she said. “This year, that area is under construction but repairs have been made and conditions are improved at that location. This year, a large (damaged) area like that does not exist. We have also been extremely pro-active to prevent smaller potholes from becoming large.” In 2014, the 62 cases handled by the court resulted in motorists being reimbursed for a total of $31,400. In 2013, the court handled only 17 cases for pothole damage and paid out $3,700. To file a claim with the Court of Claims drivers must determine if ODOT has jurisdiction through its maintenance of the highway in question. In some cases, ODOT contracts with political subdivisions (cities or townships) to maintain interstates within their boundaries, for instance. Next, drivers must prove that ODOT received notice of the existence of a pothole and that ODOT’s failure to repair the pothole in a timely fashion led to the vehicle’s damage. Claim forms can be downloaded from the court’s website. Williams, Fulton, Lucas, Henry, Wood,
The announcement of Rivera’s departure was made last week in Columbus. “I have seen the challenges faced by Oregon schools and other districts like ours,” Dr. Rivera said in a prepared statement. “This new position will allow me to work on behalf of Oregon and other communities like ours which are facing difficult times in areas ranging from funding to unfunded mandated educational requirements. While I am physically leaving Oregon, I will continue to work on behalf of the community in Columbus. I will always
be an Eagle.” Carol Molnar, President of the Oregon board, called it a “bittersweet moment for Oregon City Schools.” “We’re disappointed to lose a leader of Dr. Rivera’s stature, yet at the same time recognize that this opportunity would not have presented itself without the success of his efforts on behalf of Oregon schools,” she said. In a letter to the board, Dr. Rivera called his role as the district’s superintendent “a life-altering event” for him. “Looking back on my short tenure, it is my hope and prayer that some good was done that will impact our children for the years to come,” the letter said. The Oregon Schools Foundation was developed while he was superintendent and the district established programs with input from local businesses that were designed to meet the needs of employers. He’s been Oregon superintendent since August 2013. A 1991 graduate of Clay High School, he’s also held administrative positions with Toledo and Maumee schools. Continued on page 2
WE’VE SOLD MORE USED CARS THAN ANYONE in NW OHIO THERE IS A REASON!!! “GREAT USED CARS AT A FAIR PRICE” 419-698-4323 419-693-3000 300+ USED AT WWW.DUNNCHEVY.COM I 280 Lot Main Lot