The Free Press Standard March 14, 2019

Page 1

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

14 Pages

Thursday, March 14, 2019

freepressstandard.com

Sneak Peek - Carrollton’s new school is taking shape By DON RUTLEDGE FPS Staff Writer

FPS Photo / Kimberly Lewis

The cafeteria and dining area for both high school and middle school students still has equipment (as shown) to be installed. The photo was taken from the second floor of the new school.

Construction on the new Carrollton schools is on schedule with an official dedication date set for Aug. 3. That is the latest update given by Carrollton school officials regarding the $42 million plus complex for grades 6-12 being constructed on boardowned property on state Route 332, south of Carrollton. The complex for middle school and high school students in grades 6-12 will officially open in August when classes resume for the 2019-20 school year. According to Ed Robinson, director of programs for the Carrollton Exempted Village School District, the owner occupancy (school district) is set for mid-June for the new Carrollton High School-Middle School and for mid-July for the new Field House being constructed on the site of the former barn. A dedication for the new state of the art facility, along with building tours, will be held Saturday, Aug. 3, at 10 a.m. with guided tours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the school’s new site on state Route 332, just south of town. A moving date for teachers and school

employees is tentatively set for the last week of June, Robinson said. The total cost of the complex being constructed on ground purchased in 1989 by the Board of Education is $42,752,000. Of that amount, Carroll County Energy, located on SR 9, just north of Carrollton, is providing $1.3 million for 30 years – totaling $39 million through an Enterprize Zone Agreement. The remaining 41% of the total is provided by the Ohio Facility Construction Commission, which amounts to approximately $16,071.036. Building Overview The new 1,033 student Carrollton High School – Middle School is Phase I of a two-phase PK-12 project designed by Lesko Architecture and built by Shook-Touchstone Construction. The Carrollton Exempted Village School District has partnered with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) to share the total cost of the project and has added LFI’s (locally funded initiatives) for a new Performing Arts Center and Field House. The building plan is organized around a central core that includes a

See SCHOOL, PG. 3

Man faces indecency charges for allegedly exposing himself By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent

FPS Photo / Nancy Schaar

Firefighters from six fire departments, along with the Carroll County Emergency Management Agency and Carroll County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a tanker truck accident Thursday evening, which kept state Route 332 closed until Monday. The driver, David William Ross of Pennsylvania died in the crash.

Tanker driver dies in crash State Route 332 re-opens to traffic By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent State Route 332 re-opened to traffic Tuesday, March 12, after being closed throughout the weekend near the site of a tanker truck accident. Drivers are asked to please use extra caution in the area. Ohio Department of Transportation officials were examining the roadway to determine what repairs need to be made and to replace the guardrail damaged in the crash. Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams said the call came in to 911 dispatch at 5:50 p.m. Thursday, March 7, that a tanker truck had crashed, rolled and was on fire on state Route 332, south of Carrollton. The truck was owned by Farmers Propane and had just received a full load at the Scio gas plant. It is estimated the truck held 10,000 gallons of propane. The driver of the truck, David William Ross, was 48 years old and lived in Meadville, Pennsylvania with his wife and children ages 12 and 18. Ross did not survive the crash. Ross’ wife told authorities she had received a text message from her husband at 5:36 p.m. while his truck was being loaded at Scio. Williams said Farmers Propane had tracked the rig until Penny Road where they lost contact with Ross. “This appears to have been an accident. A terrible accident. I have spoken with Mrs. Ross and we will do everything we can to find the answers regarding this crash. Anytime a life is lost, it is one life too many,” stated Wil-

more inside

A 45-year-old Harrison Township man is being held in the Carroll County jail on a $100,000 cash or surety bond set Monday on charges of public indecency. Following an investigation regarding a man who was allegedly exposing himself to small children, Carroll County deputies arrested Gary Dean Lee Jr. of 2011 Jasmine Road NW, Carrollton. He was taken into custody at his residence without further incident and taken to the Carroll County jail. Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams said that information was provided to resource officers and Carrollton school officials. Williams directed a plainclothed deputy to ride the school bus Friday, March 8. Deputies followed the school bus in an unmarked vehicle. Deputies reported Lee was observed by officers pulling down his pajama pants and exposing himself to a young child. He was immediately arrested by officers and taken to jail for processing. Lee later admitted to officers that he had committed the act and had done so on other occasions as well. An arraignment hearing was held Monday afternoon in Carroll County Municipal Court before Judge Gary R. Willen. Willen presented Lee with three counts of public indecency, all second-degree misdemeanors. All three charges include up to 90 days in jail and a maximum $750 in fines. Lee told Willen he does odd jobs for a living.

GARY DEAN LEE, JR. Lee was given a $100,000 cash surety bond without the 10% option since the alleged crime involved a sevenyear-old girl. Lee entered a not guilty plea to the charges, involving incidents on March 5, 6 and 8. Willen ordered that Lee, if released on bond, have no contact with any child under the age of 18 and will be placed with a GPS monitor, at the defendant’s cost. He must also remain at least 1,000 yards away from any child under the age of 18. Lee will have his pretrial hearing Wednesday, March 20 at 10 a.m. His trial is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26 at 9 a.m. Lee remains in the Carroll County jail.

Sunday, March 17 FPS Photo / Nancy Schaar

Crews spent nine hours Sunday, March 10, working to remove the tanker truck from a lake off of state Route 332.

liams. The investigation is on-going and not complete according to Williams, but at this time it appears the truck went off the right side of the road on the crest of a small hill and the truck jackknifed as it slid down the hill off the side of the road and into a small lake. As the truck jackknifed and slid down the side of the hill into the lake, it damaged 275 feet of guardrail and three utility poles. The fire and intensity of the heat of the burning tanker prohibited rescue

classified pg. 13

workers from removing Ross. The deceased was removed from the scene by Carroll County Coroner Dr. Mandal B. Haas. The autopsy will be performed in Cuyahoga County. The accident scene is being re-structured by officials in order to determine exactly what happened. From evidence at the scene, it appears an inside tire may have had a blow out and the ex-

See TRUCK, PG. 3

obits pg. 4

opinion pg. 5

sports pg. 7


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
The Free Press Standard March 14, 2019 by Harrison News-Herald Archive - Issuu