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Coach resigns, investigation continues By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com Woodmore assistant football coach Todd Bringman, accused by parents of abusing players, has resigned. Parents of a 16-year-old say their son suffered a concussion and may have nerve damage after the team practiced in excessive heat on Sept. 10. They describe a drill allegedly conducted by the coach in which the sophomore was told to stand with his hands behind his back while teammates were instructed to hit him, but the coach’s supporters say those parents may have the facts incorrect. The school board announced Bringman’s resignation during a special meeting Wednesday. “We had a meeting afterwards in executive session and talked about where we are going to move on from here and what we need to get done,” school board member Steve Huss said. “We talked to some parents afterwards last night. That investigation, I’m afraid, is still going to be ongoing because there are other factions involved now, and I don’t know what is going to happen. Hopefully, we can get this to rest sooner than later.” At the conclusion of the executive session, Huss read the following statement issued by the board — “The district is continuing its review of the events surrounding the varsity football practice on September 10, 2013 with a view to implementing any needed changes and/ or adopting any new and improved policies and practices. “The board has instructed the high school principal and the athletic director with the responsibility to engage the football coaching staff to undertake a comprehensive review of any such modifications or improved practices. The board remains committed to the district’s over-arching objective that all studentathletes can participate in athletics that are safe, enjoyable and fulfilling, and promote the ideals of good sportsmanship and teamwork that will assist our students in
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Street fair The Genoa Street Fair featured rides, food, live music, a chili cook-off, and plenty of vendors. At right, ice sculptor Doug Corcoran uses a chain saw for his work. Top left, Corcoran’s son Liam admires one of his dad’s creations. Bottom left, Grayson Baltzell, age 3, gets a spoonfull of snow cone from his mom. (Press photos by Ken Grosjean)
Bihn says: Algae in lake ongoing threat By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com Oregon Councilwoman Sandy Bihn expressed concerns about the increased threat of harmful blue green algae in Lake Erie, particularly its connection to microcystin, a toxin recently found near the intake of Carroll Township’s water plant. The toxin, 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. The plant was shut down for days as a result. The growing algae in Lake Erie, which is partially connected to runoff of phosphorus fertilizer from farms, has long been a concern to environmentalists. “It’s somewhat alarming,” Bihn, a western Lake Erie waterkeeper, said at a council meeting last Monday. “The life of it seems to be longer than we thought. We thought it was just with the algae, but it appears to stay longer. I know we’re treating it, I know we’re doing everything we can. Oregon has been a leader in that. But it is a serious matter. And at some point, we have got to start turning the corner, if you will,
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Anytime that subject comes up, I take it every seriously.
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Bears-Cardinals Game of the Week See page 18
September 30, 2013
from the problems that we’re having because it’s a continuing threat.” She read a quote from a story in an Akron newspaper that described algotoxins as being as “harmful as cobra venom or cyanide.” Although there has been no detection of toxic levels of microcystin in Oregon’s water plant, Bihn said there is still reason for concern. “We really don’t know sometimes what exactly this will do in the future to a shallow body of water like Lake Erie. As I look at the foam and the suds out there day after day in the green water, it’s pretty sobering,” said Bihn, who lives on Bay Shore Road. “I just want to make sure we continue to do everything we can and we continue to
support programs that will help out. Looks like banning fertilizer, manure and biosolids on frozen ground might be one way to help in the short run. But it’s a pretty serious threat.” In 2010, the city acquired its own testing equipment to quickly detect algae toxins in the water after the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) conducted tests and found very low levels of microcystin in the finished (treated) water in Oregon and Carroll Township. “Mrs. Bihn is correct,” said Councilman James Seaman. But he said the city is doing its best to maintain the quality of its drinking water. “It’s daunting the number of groups that are working to keep Lake Erie clean,” said Seaman. “It just seems like it’s going to be a very difficult battle. We need to be as proactive as we can.” “Anytime that subject comes up, I take it every seriously,” said Mayor Mike Seferian. “It’s such a big regional problem. We do in the city set the trend for others to try and address that issue. When we came before council in 2010 to request the funding for the equipment to do the testing, and put it into service, it’s because we anticipated
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