C o n t i n u i n g To P r o u d l y S e r v e C a r r o l l C o u n t y S i n c e 1 8 3 1 $1.00
Thursday, January 2, 2020
freepressstandard.com
Mickley to reduce office hours, board hears park district’s request for funds By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent
Center Twp. trustees at impasse on filling vacancy, fiscal officer resigns By GEORGETTE HUFF FPS Contributor About halfway through the meeting of the Center Township trustees before a standing-room only crowd on Monday, Dec. 23, township resident Rick Weals spoke out, insisting that trustee Matt Manfull reproach fiscal officer Pam Berardinelli for posting on her personal Facebook site her opinion that attendees at previous trustees’ meetings resembled a “mob.” Weals was interrupted by Berardinelli’s husband, Joe, who shouted that Manfull should “shut down” Weals as he had done to Mr. Berardinelli at a previous meeting. Following additional heated exchanges between the two men, Manfull, who had explained that he would not comment on anyone’s exercising their free speech rights in a public forum such as Facebook, finally had “enough,” and said so, loudly and firmly. Though brief, the incident was in keeping with the tone of the meeting which included attendees chattering among themselves while official business was being handled as well as outbursts from attendees following the reading of the minutes of the previous
meeting at which Manfull and trustee Mark Walters stated the final regular meeting of the year would be moved from Christmas Eve to Dec. 23, and that a special meeting would be held on Thursday, Dec. 26, to consider candidates to replace former trustee Kenny Skinner, who resigned on Nov. 26. Notice of the Dec. 23 and Dec. 26 meeting dates had been faxed to The Free Press Standard. Some attendees objected, saying that because Manfull had previously stated that he would not be available on Dec. 26, their understanding was that a decision would be made on Dec. 23. Amid several ongoing conversations, Manfull seemed to indicate he could be available on Dec. 26. However, in response to continued agitation, he and Walters agreed to cancel the later meeting, and went into executive session at Monday’s meeting to discuss the vacancy. At the conclusion of the executive session lasting approximately 25 minutes, Walters and Manfull announced they had not come to an agreement and will discuss the next step with the Board of Elections. Township residents who have submitted letters of interest in filling the vacancy include Zeb Casper, Robert Champer, Andy Gonda, David House-
holder, Kevin Keyser, Matt Miller, Rich Mitchell, Scott Nicholas, Larry Tasker, Rock Tolaro and Rick Weals. As the next order of business, Pam Berardinelli handed a letter to Mark Walters stating that she would resign as fiscal office effective at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, three months prior to the expiration of her term. No reason was given and there was no further discussion on the matter. On another matter, Tim Thompson, a Union Township resident and owner of Carroll Asphalt, then demanded that Walters explain why he was stalling on giving Thompson information he had requested about Wood Road and Fisherman Road. Walters explained that he had brought the information to the Dec. 10 meeting, which Thompson did not attend, but did not have it on hand on Dec. 23. He asked Thompson several times why he needed it. Thompson refused to answer. During a telephone conversation on Dec. 26, to clarify the content of the material Thompson had requested, Walters explained it included an estimate of the cost to pave Wood Road
See CENTER, PG. 3
Carroll County Commissioner Lewis Mickley informed commissioners Robert Wirkner and Jeff Ohler during the Dec. 26 meeting, that he would only be in the office for the regular meeting days of Mondays and Thursdays throughout 2020. Mickley’s term will expire at the end of 2020; he will not seek re-election. Mickley had already told the commissioners’ office clerks not to schedule anything for him on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Fridays. Mickley explained his reduced office hours at Thursday’s meeting saying, “On Jan. 1, I am going back to school.” He explained that he has enrolled in Walsh University’s accelerated degree completion program that “is designed to complete a Bachelor’s degree in about one year and a half.” He said he has completed an accounting certificate program at Stark State University that transfers into the Walsh program as a “kick start” to a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in accounting. Both Wirkner and Ohler said that commissioners are required to attend 52 meetings per year. However, the Ohio Revised Code states that boards of commissioners must hold at least
50 meetings per year and that individual commissioners must attend at least one meeting every 90 days. Ohler questioned Mickley about the committee responsibilities that are divided among the three commissioners, asking whether he and Wirkner would have to assume Mickley’s responsibilities, which in previous years included overseeing the dog pound, the Airport Authority Board, Carroll County Transit, Golden Age Retreat and Harcatus, as well as representing the board on statewide councils. Mickley said he would still maintain those meetings. “Well, when we decide responsibilities, we will have to take that into consideration,” Ohler said on Thursday. In a call on Friday, Ohler said he feels Mickley will attend meetings regularly. “I’m stunned. I am just stunned,” said Wirkner after Mickley’s announcement on Thursday. He reiterated the comment on Friday, saying that since “we don’t have a county administrator, all three commissioners have to work. The clerks can do some things, but only the commissioners can make certain decisions, and to be truly effective, commissioners must do more than the minimum requirement.”
See PARK, PG. 3
Arrest made following Amsterdam house fire By GEORGETTE HUFF FPS Contributor Chief Tyler Yoho of the Amsterdam Police Department confirmed on Dec. 26, that Merrideth Wright has been charged with aggravated arson following a fire in the early morning hours of Dec. 20 that destroyed two houses on Front Street in the village. A spokesperson for the Jefferson
County Sheriff’s Department said that, although the incident is still under investigation, further charges are not anticipated at this time. Officials could not confirm who owned either of the structures. It was indicated that Wright was living in the home where the fire started. Donations for residents who were displaced by the fire are being accepted by the Red Cross and the Urban Mission, located at 432 North Street in Steubenville.
Remember to recycle your Christmas tree
Submitted Photo
Carrollton graduate Mike Sowko was recently honored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the Silver Sherman Award for distinguished performance during Hurricane Dorian.
Carrollton graduate receive NOAA’s Silver Sherman Award for work during hurricane Mike Sowko, a 1997 graduate of Carrollton High School, was recently honored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the Silver Sherman Award for distinguished performance during Hurricane Dorian. Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas and threatened the Southeast United States this past August. Sowko, who was acting operations division chief at the time, was in charge of agency-wide operations and faced the complex challenge of messaging while there were political side-stories going
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on. The Silver Sherman Award was created in 2016 to recognize individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to NOAA’s mission, with only one award bestowed each year. Sowko’s certificated stated, “As team lead of the National Weather Service’s Operation Center, Mike Sowko distinguished himself by leading all command and control actions conducted by the center during Hurricane Dorian. With his division chief and meteorologist-in-charge on leave, Mike filled the breach ensuring the
classified pg. 11
If you bought a live Christmas tree there are many environmentally friendly uses for your tree. The Carroll – Columbiana – Harrison Solid Waste District has announced that Christmas trees will still be accepted through Jan. 31. All live trees will be accepted free of charge; however, the tree must be free of all decorations and stands. There are five drop off points where county residents may leave their Christmas Trees. They are at the fairgrounds in Carrollton, Ohio Street in Dellroy, Lake Mohawk at the Maintenance Garage Parking Lot, the village park at Malvern, and the village building at Leesville. These trees can be used as a resting place or shelter for birds and animals
in your back yard. You can also place trees in ponds or lakes to act as a fish habitat. But they must have weights attached to weigh them down and to keep them from floating. Cinder blocks could be used. They can also be used to stop erosion washouts. Each available site will be posted with a sign saying “Recycle Your Live Christmas Tree Here”. Trees will be chipped or used for habitat. Trees will not be accepted if they are wrapped in plastic, plastic bags, or have tinsel or ornaments. Butch asks that residents remember to recycle wrapping paper, Christmas cards and boxes from Christmas too. For more information about recycling, visit www.cchenvironmental.org or call at 330-627-7311.
continuous flow of critical information and uninterrupted decision support across the agency.” Sowko, whose parents still like near Leesville Lake, is a 2002 graduate of The Ohio State University and a 2017 graduate of the American University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a master’s degree in public administration and policy. He has been employed by NOAA since 2002 and is currently a manager and the Team Lead at NOAA’s National Weather Service headquarters in Silver Spring, Md.
obits pg. 4
opinion pg. 4
sports pg. 7