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The Empty Nesters See Second Section
September 23, 2013
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Investigation pending
Woodmore suspends a football coach By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com
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The Statue of Liberty had shrapnel blown through it. Michael McMaster See inside
Honor plaque rededicated The Lucas County Board of Commissioners rededicated the Medal of Honor plaque during a ceremony at the Lucas County Courthouse. The Medal of Honor is the highest award for personal valor in the U.S. military. At right, standing in front of the rededicated plaque is Linda Schwartz, great, great granddaughter of 2nd Lt. Wilson Brown, an East Toledo resident and Civil War hero. Top left, Don Newman of the Sheriff’s Auxiliary, played taps. Bottom left, Marine Corp. Color Guard members Bob Baker, and Mike Corrigan of the Lou Diamond Detachment. (Press photos by Ken Grosjean)
Oregon
Mayor: No worries about water plant By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com In the aftermath of the recent shutdown of a water plant in western Ottawa County due to the detection of high levels of microcystin, a toxin connected to harmful blue green algae in Lake Erie, Oregon Mayor Mike Seferian wants it known that Oregon’s drinking water is sparkling clean. Councilman James Seaman asked city officials at a meeting earlier this month about testing procedures at the city’s water plant in light of toxic levels of mycrocystin found near the intake of Carroll Township’s water plant. The growing algae in Lake Erie, which is partially connected to runoff of phosphorus fertilizer from farms, has long been a concern to environmentalists in Oregon. “It closed down a water plant,” Seaman said of the high level of microcystin found in Carroll Township. “It was excessive. I know they came to us to have the testing
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That is the beauty of having our own equipment and being certified. We can adjust our treatment right then and there.
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Woodmore assistant football coach Todd Bringman has been suspended after a practice incident left a 16-year-old player with a concussion. Parents allege that Coach Bringman was abusive in disciplining the players and that the team should not have been wearing pads while practicing in excessive heat. Woodmore Local Schools Superintendent Linda Bringman, the sister-in-law of the assistant coach, says that the district is conducting an investigation. Parents say head coach Britton Devier was on the practice field at the time of the alleged incident. The parents told The Press they are seeking the suspension or complete removal of Coach Bringman and not necessarily other coaches from the staff. A small group of parents and family members appeared at the school board meeting in the Woodmore Elementary cafeteria Tuesday evening intending to speak about the incident, but remained quiet when they heard about the suspension and because it was too late to place the item on the board agenda. Supt. Bringman said the district is trying to get to the heart of the matter and find out exactly what happened at the practice. “Unfortunately, as you know, parent and community members don’t always have all the information, but investigations are confidential,” Supt. Bringman said. “We as a school cannot go out and say, ‘That’s not a fact, or this is not a fact.’ They are probably talking amongst themselves, but they probably don’t have all the information.” Parents told The Press that after practicing in the record 97 degree heat on Sept. 10, the sophomore was unresponsive and showing signs of paralysis when he arrived home and on the way to the hospital. They were told by coaches that their son took a hard hit in practice and received the attention of a trainer. A senior football player drove the 16-year-old, who has his temporary license, home from practice. The parents drove their son to St.
done because we have the equipment to do it for the blue green algae. I’m sure ours is well within range.” Microcystin, which can damage the liver, was found at levels of 3.56 parts per billion in samples taken from the township plant, which is 3.5 times higher than the level for drinking water set by the World Health Organization.
Seferian said there has been no detection of toxic levels of microcystin in Oregon’s water plant. “We are well within the range. We’re at zero. It can’t get any better than that,” said Seferian. “We are taking in larger quantities of algae on our intake, but we have taken steps to be prepared if a situation like that occurs. So for us, it’s a bigger deal only because we have to use more treatment. And we have that equipment, so we’re testing at our intake all the time so we’re prepared for situations like that. Carroll Township wasn’t as prepared as we were, therefore, they fell into that situation. We believe that is a situation we will not fall into because we have taken steps to prevent that. We can prove that’s the case because when we were taking in 20 parts per billion, we are putting out zero parts per billion, which if course is well within the range.” “That’s very encouraging,” said Seaman. “A few people have asked me
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