Suburban 09/02/13

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The Antique tractors coming

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September 2, 2013

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Rangers-Flyers Game of the Week See page 18

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Jerusalem Twp. appeals ruling on fire chief By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com

German American Fest Top left, Dylan Dumkow, age 7, Toledo, rides a log as part of the Woodchoppers dance as his cousin (top right) Mary, and her daughters Layla and Reis Lengel look on. Dylan’s family have been GAF members since 1957. Bottom left, the Woodchoppers carry on their dance tradition. See story on page 14. (Press photos by Ken Grosjean)

Auto Industry

Manufacturing steadily returning While we take time to celebrate the American worker this Labor Day, The Press looks at trends in the manufacturing sector, including interviews with local business owners, economic development officials, educators and others who see a resurgence in the sector. Also in this special section, Joel Joseph, chairman of the Made in the USA Foundation who was instrumental in getting the American Automobile Labeling Act passed, offers a list of products made in the U.S. for consumers to consider. We’ve also included a list from some local retailers. We hope you find some value in this special package of stories and we wish you a happy Labor Day. By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com The Regional Growth Partnership saw 11,526 jobs created or retained in Northwest Ohio during 2012, which equates to $1.7 billion of investment, says Gary Thompson, RGP vice president and director for JobsOhio Northwest Ohio Region.

Within the 17 counties of Northwest Ohio that Thompson oversees, the RGP completed 90 manufacturing projects. In Northwood, Johnson Controls invested $3 million for an addition to its existing building and Fed Ex Freight constructed a new $15 million facility on the city’s west side. In Oregon, Oregon Clean Energy is committed to hiring local contractors and union labor to build a new plant, which will be located on a 30-acre parcel on N. Lallendorf Road. Oregon Clean Energy has

an option on an adjoining parcel if there is a need to expand the plant in the future, he said. Developers of the planned natural gasfired electric power plant expect to start to the construction of the $860 million project by the spring of next year. A construction schedule of 32 to 34 months is likely, will require 475 to 525 workers and about 1.5 million worker hours. They expect the plant to be operational by May 2017. In Troy Township, a new project was announced in a sister sector to manufacturing — retail distribution. A plat to establish a new road and dedicate additional right-of-way along Pemberville Road in Troy Township for public use has been approved by the Wood County Planning Commission for a Home Depot warehouse and distribution center. According to JobsOhio, Ohio has emerged as one of the top job creators in the nation over the past two years with companies committing to invest more than $13 billion. Ohio’s unemployment rate is below the national average and lower than

Jerusalem Township trustees on Wednesday voted unanimously to appeal a recent court decision to reinstate ex Fire Chief Harold Stanton to his former position. Trustees met with the township’s attorney, John Borell, of the Lucas County prosecutor’s office, to consider their options at a special meeting on Wednesday. “We simply discussed with our counsel what are options are at this point,” Trustee Joe Kiss said after the meeting. “We weren’t sure we were going to make a decision today, but after speaking with our counsel for over an hour, we decided to appeal the judge’s decision.” Stanton filed a lawsuit against the township after trustees fired him on March 19 for allegedly permitting an individual who was not a member of the fire department to actively participate on emergency calls. Trustees initially suspended Stanton, who had been part-time fire chief since 2008, then later decided to dismiss him following a hearing. Trustees had stated in a letter to Stanton that they had repeatedly instructed him to not permit individuals to assist in the fire department during emergency situations unless they had been lawfully appointed Jerusalem Township firefighters. “This action is potentially dangerous to the individual, significantly increases the township’s potential liability and violates Ohio law,” trustees stated in the letter. “You have failed to follow the instructions of the township trustees. Your conduct and failure to follow instructions constitutes misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, and misconduct in the performance of your official duties as chief of the Jerusalem Township Fire Department.” Stanton insisted he never had invited the individual, Jim Gray, to fire scenes and that he would just show up. He also said he had informed Gray in the past that trustees did not want him responding to calls. Stanton believed his dismissal was politically motivated because Gray is the brother of former Trustee Joe Gray, whom Kiss was often at odds with when both served on

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