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October 7, 2013
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Calvin celebrates 110th Calvin United Church of Christ celebrated its 110th anniversary last Sunday. The East Toledo church was started by Hungarian immigrant protestants in 1903, forming the Magyar Református Egyház—The Hungarian Reformed Church of Toledo. The celebration included two church services and a dinner at Bayside Boardwalk. Above, Sunday school children sing during the service. At right, violinists Mark Minnich and Sally Williams-Minnich performed music by Bartok, as well as other classical pieces. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean)
Dispatch center cost too high? By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com Joining a proposed regional dispatch center may be too costly for Northwood. A study was conducted to determine the feasibility of a regional dispatch center for Northwood, Lake Township, Rossford and Walbridge. “The study showed feasibility costs, and what would be necessary to establish and join a regional dispatch site,” said Northwood Administrator Bob Anderson. “It came down to two existing sites: The old Ohio Highway Patrol site on Lemoyne Road in Lake Township, or Northwood’s dispatch center, which is in our police department on Wales Road.” Poggemeyer Design Group has conducted a cost benefit analysis for the Lake Township site, and planned on doing the same at the Northwood site last Thursday, said Anderson. “Which site will be the most cost effective, and which one will we get the most benefit out of? Once we get that report from the Northwood site, we’ll see where it goes from there.” A combined emergency dispatch cen-
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That would be a hard sell to city council.
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The Oregon Police Department has been fielding complaints and taking reports weekly concerning telephone scams, which aim to trick residents into handing over their hard earned money. Oregon Police Chief Mike Navarre said there are currently two different telephone scams being perpetrated on residents in the last few weeks. “We have many senior citizens who are getting calls from someone saying they are their grandson or granddaughter and they are in jail and need bail money,” Navarre said. “The person will tell them they do not want their parents to know about their situation. Many times these people make arrangements to pick the money up or take the person to the bank so they can give that person the money to help their grandchild out. Sometimes, the person will just give them their credit card number to cover the cost.” The other scenario may seem like an old, worn out one, but is just as effective as it ever. “It involves the person winning a sweepstakes,” Navarre said. “The criminal tells them they have to send a deposit in order to get the prize or money they have won. It is rare that people fall for this one, but it still does happen.” In August, a resident reported being scammed out of $5,463.40 after he was told he had won a sweepstakes. On Sept. 9 and 16, police also filed reports on the same scam, though the victims did not fall for the ruse. Officers also filed a report from a resident stating they had received a call from a male claiming to be a relative in jail. “We get calls weekly from residents complaining about these types of calls,” Navarre said. “This is a very widespread problem and it is happening everywhere. It is a huge problem and many times elderly people fall victim to these scams. The FBI is inundated with calls concerning these
ter, some believe, would streamline information and improve emergency response times. A committee consisting of representatives of those communities has met monthly to discuss the proposal. “I think we all want to do it,” said Anderson. “But so far, from the figures I’ve seen, it’s going to cost Northwood more money to join a regional dispatch center compared to what we’re doing now.” Preliminary figures show it would cost Northwood substantially more, he said. “That would be a hard sell to city council. I don’t want to recommend we join with the other communities if it’s going to cost us $100,000 more per year. It probably
is not going to fly.” The Lake Township site would have to be remodeled, and more staff would have to be hired, he said. “If we’re doing it together, you’d think it would cost less. But after looking at preliminary figures, it looks like it’s going to cost Northwood more. Our existing dispatch in Northwood operates pretty efficiently. We’d almost have to start all over again.” Once the site analysis is completed, Northwood will have a better idea of whether it is feasible to join, he said. “Right now, we’re still in the study phase and looking at costs. If we can save money and provide the service, maybe even improve the services for residents that would be great.” The establishment of a council of governments is also part of the proposal, he said. It would include representatives from each community to run the facility. “The center wouldn’t be under any particular jurisdiction. We talked about that just briefly how we would set it up. Everyone would be represented somehow. It’s not even in draft form yet. I think all of
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