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Basketball Preview
National Spotlight See Sports A supplement to The Press Newspapers December 4, 2017
Jacob Plantz Cover photo: Genoa junior guard by Russ Lytle) p ((Press file photo
Sewer study
RESS January 8, 2018
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Asian Carp
Federal effort is underway
Four entities partner
By Kelly J. Kaczala News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com
By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com
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It might seem like one of those “Captain Obvious”-type statements... Frederick J. Garcia, PT, CWT See Health
World War II veterans Andy Horvath and Chris Grevis at the Christ Dunberger Post. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean)
Vets ask
“Who will salute me?” By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com According to the members of the Oregon’s Dunberger American Legion Post 537 Color Guard, one poem says it all. Lawrence Vaincourt’s classic “Just a Common Soldier” is commonly referred to as “A Veteran Died Today” or “A Soldier Died Today.” It was first published in his 1987 Remembrance Day newspaper column, but for the purpose of Dunberger’s Color Guard, “A Veteran Died Today” best serves the purpose. It describes a veteran who has sacrificed, but as he nears the end of his life, all that he asks for is “homage at the ending of his days.” “That poem pretty much sums it up,” said Dunberger Color Guard member Jim Ernsthausen. As World War II and Korean War veterans continue to pass away, membership at approximately 14,000 American Legion posts nationwide continues to decline. At Dunberger, the Color Guard membership is also in decline, and only two WWII veterans, Andy Horvath and Chris Grevis, remain. Who will pay “homage” to them when they pass away, they ask? Andy Horvath served in the Mediterranean Sea on the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea and the USS Leyte and then the Naval Reserve Seabees for a total of 24 years. Andy has three sons, Eric, Carl
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That was their big question — ‘Who is going to be there to do theirs, and the rest of the guys?’
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Four entities are jointly funding an engineering study of providing sanitary sewer service in portions of Jerusalem Township in Lucas County and Allen Township in Ottawa County. The townships and counties have agreed to contract with Poggemeyer Design Group for $23,500 to conduct the study. Gino Monaco, administrator of the Ottawa County Sanitary Engineering Department, said health departments from both counties have conducted water testing and have confirmed there were “wastewater concerns impacting streams.” “We’ve had meetings to discuss what needs to be done and the end result is Ottawa County will be the lead governmental entity. The study is going to look at extending sewers throughout that area and then we’ll be determining whether we pipe it to Oregon, Genoa or build a new wastewater treatment plant. Or do we take no action,” he said. Kelly Frey, sanitary engineer, said the study will determine what areas now served by septic systems and package plants may need the sewer extensions. “We’ll be outlining an area where there is first of all a need. And second, has a population density to make it cost effective,” he said. Monaco called the study a first step in what will likely be a multi-year process, noting the engineering plan may take a year to complete before it can be submitted to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. “Based on the recommendations of the plan, well look at putting together a financing package, and then have a design based on the specifications put together,” he said. “The plan will include a count of the number of structures out there and look at the impact of the receiving streams. Preliminary cost estimates for serving the
Classic Restoration See page 2
State Rep. Michael Sheehy (D. House District 46) recently expressed support for a congressional effort to stop the spread of Asian carp in the Great Lakes. Sheehy, whose district includes Jerusalem Township, Oregon and parts of Toledo in The Press circulation area, introduced similar legislation in the House Michael Sheehy in 2014. His support for the federal legislation comes after some members of Congress from both parties are calling on the Army Corps of Engineers to close an artificial connection between the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes – a thoroughfare for the invasive carp to enter the Great Lakes basins. Sheehy called the spread of Asian carp an “environmental crisis.” “Our Great Lake is facing an environmental crisis on several fronts. While I’ve been working with colleagues to address these issues head-on at the state level, we need all the help we can get,” said Sheehy. “Now that our experts have identified the sources of these threats, we must pursue fact-based policy solutions to combat them.”
and Kurt whom all served in the Navy. Chris Grevis served in the Pacific on the destroyer USS Daly which saw action at the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa where it was attacked and hit by kamikazes. He had two brothers who served in WWII. His brother Andy was dropped in over Greece and fought with the Greek resistance until he was captured by the Bulgarians. His brother George landed in France on D-Dayplus one and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Chris has a son, Steve, whom is a retired Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam and a grandson, Calvin, whom is active Army with 16 years and two tours in Iraq. “That was their big question — ‘Who is going to be there to do theirs, and the rest of the guys?’” said 78-year-old Dunberger
Hydrologic separation Congress’s latest effort is similar to a resolution Sheehy sponsored in the House in 2014 that called on Congress to work toward total hydrologic separation of the Great Lakes to stop the invasive Asian carp. “Taking proactive steps to prevent the spread of invasive species of carp is certainly the most cost-effective strategy in preserving the agricultural, economic and cultural value in our Great Lake,” said Sheehy. “I’m encouraged to find that Lake Erie’s allies in Congress are standing with us to protect the Midwest’s most precious economic resource.” Due to their large size and rapid rate of reproduction, Asian carp could pose a significant risk to the Great Lakes ecosystem and the economies of the Great Lakes states, which has a fishing industry valued at $7 billion annually. They can dominate aquatic ecosystems by out-competing native fish for food and habitat, like perch, bass and walleye, which are fish found in Lake Erie. “As they feed near the base of the food chain, they can cause an entire system to become unstable. This is particularly concern-
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