THE BG NEWS
ESTABLISHED 1920 A daily independent student press serving the campus and surrounding community
Tuesday
‘Ozone Days’ tell of risks to environment
July 3, 2007
Volume 101, Issue 156 WWW.BGNEWS.COM
PULSE
Are you an online addict?
The Pulse answers the tough questions and gives you the chance to determine if you too are an addict | Page 7
By Jillian Roach Reporter
Pulse Lifeline: Mobile Before you go to hear the award-winning band this Saturday at Howard’s, check out our exclusive interview with Mobile singer Mat Joly | Page 8
Nobody asked us, but...
ONLINE
Check out the Pulse review sections for the latest on movies and music!
DAN WHITE | THE BG NEWS
Speaking of addiction, need a comedy fix?
Old wells, new worries
Miss the Not News section? Never fear, we’re just online! Check out the Not News blog.
Oil leaks can contaminate soil, water in area
See more online: http://www.bgnews.com/
By Megan Armentrout Reporter
OPINION
War prisoners deserve more rights
The Supreme Court takes first steps in bringing fairness to the highly debated issue | Page 4
Segregation, a thing of the past?
Minority schools receive unjust treatment | Page 4
WEATHER
PEOPLE ON THE STREET
SPORTS
Men’s soccer schedule announced On the calendar, the men play three teams that qualified for NCAA tournament action | Page 8
Wood County profited from oil in the late 1800s, and although the thousands of oil wells that once dotted the land are gone, they’re still having an environmental impact to this day. Orphan wells — oil wells which are not currently being used — pose a small concern for the community because of the chance they might begin to leak out onto the ground surface. Most of Wood County’s orphan wells are located on farm land in this area. The oil wells sometimes leak and there is concern over oil mixing into the ground and the water. When crude oil seeps into the ground it is difficult to grow anything in that area. The oil kills the nutrients in the soil and even weeds will not grow. Water with crude oil in it would be damaging to those who ingest it, said Brad Espen, director of environmental health for the Wood County
JAMES DINARDO, Junior, Eduation
“‘300,’ I like graphic novels so it was pretty [great] to see on the screen.” | Page 4
TODAY Partly Cloudy High: 84, Low: 63
TOMORROW Scattered T-Showers High: 85, Low: 66
Brad Espen | Director of Environmental Health, Wood County Health Department Health Department. “More than likely, the contaminated area would be surface and ground water,” Espen said. “The water would have a sulfur odor and hopefully people would notice that before they drank it.” The affected water would severely damage a person’s nervous system, kidneys and organs. The extent of the damage would depend on how much contaminated water the person ingested over a period of time, Espen said. Dina Pierce, district media coordinator for Ohio’s Environmental Protection Agency, said from time to time there are oil leaks in this area because there are a
lot of old oil wells in farm fields. The abandoned wells that pose a problem should be capped so they don’t leak into a water source, such as the Portage River. Capping is the process where special cement is poured into the leaking well. The last oil leak in this area was in August 2006 in Portage Township on a farm owned by Ed and Betty Kern. The Kern’s have owned the 117-acre farm since 1963. Betty Kern said when they purchased the land there were 40 wells on the
See OIL | Page 2
See OZONE | Page 5
Goodwill expansion aims at offering more space and services By Amanda Hoover Managing Editor
What was your favorite summer movie?
“More than likely, the contaminated area would be surface and ground water. The water would have a sulfur odor and hopefully people would notice that before they drank it.”
Keeping cool isn’t the only thing a person needs to be concerned about during hot summer days — keeping the environment safe is still a top priority for cities worldwide. That concern is in part what sparks an Ozone Action Day, like on June 18, when the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments asks the public to do a number of things to keep the emission of harmful vapors in the atmosphere to a minimum [see factbox, p. 5]. Particpation in Ozone Action Days is essential, said Stephanie Rizor, project manager for Share A Ride, a Council of Governments program to promote carpooling in northwest Ohio. “These alerted days are designed to help reduce ozone levels on days that are conducive for elevated ozone levels,” Rizor said. “The more people cooperate and participate the better it is for our environment,” Rizor said. The city of Toledo’s Department of Environmental Services monitors ozone levels in the region and decides when to implement Ozone Action Days. “Ozone Action Days are typical when the temperature reaches about 90 degrees and higher, with little to no wind,” Rizor said. “The reason high temperatures go hand in hand with Ozone Action Days is because when fumes enter the atmosphere under intense sunlight the vapors can actually begin to cook,” Rizor said. Adam Newsom, a city employee and University junior, has no problem complying with the suggested guidelines. “It’s actually great for me when there is an Ozone Action Day, I don’t have to mow any lawns or paint anything,” Newsom said. “It gives me a break from my work and at the same time the city, as well as myself, gets to do its part to help the environment,” Newsom said. The Toledo Area Regional
Goodwill customers and supporters will soon be able to celebrate a brand new addition to the Bowling Green retail location. The new addition is expected to add nearly 10,000 square feet of space to the existing Goodwill store at 1058 N. Main St. And while much of this space will be used to expand the sales floor, the bigger change will be the addition of a complete donation center and training office. According to Mark Harris, the marketing director for Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio,
with the new donation center people will be able to bring donations right into the center where they can be sorted and prepared for sale in Bowling Green or transported to other Goodwill stores. The training center, however, will more directly help some of the citizens of Bowling Green. “It will provide training and vocational rehabilitation for those who have barriers for employment,” Harris said. This training is one of the main functions of Goodwill stores, as stated in their mission statement:
See GOODWILL | Page 2
SHAWNDA HESS | THE BG NEWS
IMPROVING: The new additions to Goodwill includes expanding the sales floor and also a complete donation center and training office.
Restaurant has a cure for Munchies By Justin Rutledge Reporter
Toledo natives Mike Szymczak and Chuck Abde plan to bring fresh taste and a number of options to the area with their new sandwich shop, Munchies. Munchies is located on East Wooster Street, behind Circle K, a location the two owners chose after searching in a Toledo newspaper, according to Szymczak, who is familiar with the Bowling Green area. The two don’t think the location will limit them either. Szymczak said that Munchies
won’t just be a place to go after the bars, though they will be open late. Szymczak and Abde believe that their meats, breads and cheeses, which will be imported from other parts of Ohio and sliced daily, will set them apart from the competitors in the area. Szymczak and Abde said their roast beef and corned beef will be their best sellers. “Nothing is frozen,” Szymczak said regarding their meats and cheeses. “I’ve always wanted to own a sandwich shop,” Szymczak
“I’ve always wanted to own a sandwich shop.” Mike Szymczak | Munchies said. “We are trying to serve all kinds of people,” Szymczak said. He also said that in order to make sure they get a large client base the co-owners plan to hand out and fax flyers of
See MUNCHIES | Page 5
New home on South Main for a shop with European flavor By Kristen Schweitzer Reporter
University students and city residents have plenty of unique options when it comes to eating. The Naslada Bistro, which serves authentic European foods as well as some traditional American dishes, is no exception. The bistro opened in November 2003 in Woodland Mall. Mariana Mitova, part owner of the bistro, believes the restaurant’s new down-
town location will increase customer awareness. “We opened just a few months ago [at the new location] and we’ve already seen a difference with more people and a lot better response than in the mall,” Mitova said. Now with a new location, Mitova is hoping for more success. “We’ve been trying to move out of the mall. We were looking at spots in Perrysburg as well as
VISIT BGNEWS.COM: NEWS, SPORTS, UPDATES, MULTIMEDIA AND FORUMS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
See BISTRO | Page 5