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Community reacts to sign removal Yard signs and T-shirts with an inspirational message that mentions Christ are a common site in the Genoa area as residents express support for the message and for a high school principal who had the message on a sign hanging on her office wall before being asked to take it down. Residents have purchased about 600 T-shirts and about 200 yard signs bearing the message: “Be Kind, Speak Truth, Love Others, Show Grace, Work Hard, Be Grateful, Follow Christ,” according to Angela Bradfield, a 1995 graduate of Genoa High School and an organizer of the effort. “It’s nice to see how our community stood up for something with a positive influence,” she said last week. “Our initial order was for 200 T-shirts. We were overwhelmed by people asking for them and by the people who stepped up and helped.” A sign in the high school caught the attention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation when Cari Buehler, high school principal, was interviewed at the school by a local television station about the accidental death of a student. The foundation in April sent a letter to the school district administration claiming the sign was religious in nature and shouldn’t be displayed at a public school. “It is unconstitutional for Genoa Area Local Schools to encourage its students to ‘Follow Christ,’ in effect, encouraging non-Christian students to convert,” said FFRF Legal Fellow Ryan Jayne. School Superintendent Michael Ferguson informed the foundation in early May the sign had been removed. Bradfield said when word of what happened spread through Facebook and other social media, it became obvious there were many residents who were upset the sign couldn’t remain in place. Buehler has a great deal of support throughout the school district. “This community really appreciates her. They love Cari,” she said. “She is very well thought of around here.” Bradfield said she understands the school system wanting to avoid a legal
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dispute over the sign but she questions whether it offended anyone. Still, the breadth of the reaction has been inspiring. “The community seemed happy to make a peaceful protest,” she said.
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Our initial order was for 200 T-shirts. We were overwhelmed by people asking for them and by the people who stepped up and helped.
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By Press Staff Writer
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of The Week
But I am in the minority politically and not everybody feeds into the issues with the basin.
State Rep. Mike Sheehy See page 4
The Genoa community continues to show support for high school principal Cari Buehler by displaying these yard signs. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean)
So many lighthouses Ella Bowman, Kent, Ohio, stops to take a look at entries in the Toledo Lighthouse Photo Contest at Maumee Bay State Park. This year's categories included Traditional, and Sunset Scenes and are on display in the lodge lobby. The contest is held in conjunction with the annual Lighthouse Waterfront Festival to be held July 9 and 10. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean)
Another dog shooting By Melissa Burden Press Contributing Writer news@presspublications.com For Carolyn and Michael Kobasher, Sunday, June 12, seemed like the perfect evening to spend at their Lakeway Drive home. Carolyn was relaxing with her dog Macy, an 8-year-old black Labrador Retriever, by her side. She was enjoying the lake and quilting. That is when everything went terribly wrong. “We relocated here in December from our hometown thinking that we were moving to a quiet, relaxing community,” Carolyn said. “I never could have imagined that my first day sitting out by the water with my quilting frame would have turned to this tragedy.” According to Michael, at around 8 p.m., he was inside of the home when he heard what sounded like a gunshot. He went outside and heard another shot. That is when the couple’s dog yelped. “I know the sound of a .22 when I hear it,” said Michael who is a retired police officer. “That bullet can travel over a mile. Macy was laying across my wife’s legs. My wife could have been shot.” Michael said he looked in the direction of where the shot came from and noticed two guys. “I saw one of them go to a truck and take off. The other guy went into the house,” he said. “I do not know if whoever did this meant to hit my dog or not. They may have been trying to shoot over the lake. The point is, it was stupid and careless. Another 10 inches and my wife would have been shot.
Macy, a black Labrador Retriever, continues to recuperate from gunshot. Whoever did this should have to pay my vet bills.” Macy was shot on her side with the bullet exiting her body and going through her earlobe. The veterinary bills are close to $1,500. According to the police report, Carolyn was sitting at a picnic table facing the lake. The shots came from behind her. “While Victim I (Carolyn) was explaining where she was sitting at, I could see that there was a low wall and brush to the east of her,” according to the report. “I could see that the dog had two open wounds on his left side; one near the lower area of the back and the other near the upper part of its left shoulder. I also observed that there appeared to be a wound in the dogs left ear. During the time that I was standing near the dog, I could clearly see blood coming from both the wounds on its side and also from Continued on page 4
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