The Free Press Standard March 7, 2019

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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

16 Pages

Thursday, March 7, 2019

freepressstandard.com

Justice is served for Mocha with conviction By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent

Mocha supporters said they feel justice has been served following the sentencing hearing for Quin Markins in Judge Michael Repella’s Common Pleas Court room last Thursday, Feb. 28. Markins was charged in January with two counts of prohibition concerning companion animals (Goddards Law) with the first charge being a fifth-degree felony for causing serious physical harm to a companion animal. The second charge was a first-degree misdemeanor for knowingly torturing, tormenting, needlessly mutilating or maiming, cruelly beating, poisoning, needlessly killing or committing an act of cruelty of a companion animal. The investigation by Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams began in November of 2018. Markins was indicted by the Carroll County Grand Jury on Jan. 9, 2019. Jason Cooke of Brooksville, Trumbull County, rescued Mocha and adopted her following the incident that led to Markins arrest. “On Nov. 13 my life changed forever. Through social media I learned of Mocha’s abuse. I traveled an hour and a half to pick her up and took her to a vet. When I saw the x-rays, I was mortified. The vet said her injuries were consistent with a dog that has been hit by an automobile. I then took her to Akron for treatment,” said Cooke during his testimony on behalf

QUIN D. MARKINS on Mocha. “No dog deserves to have this happen to them. This dog should be here right now. He didn’t have to have Mocha. He didn’t have to do this, but he did and he admits it,” said Cooke to Judge Repella. Cooke asked Repella to include in Markins sentence being prohibited from ever owning or having a companion animal ever again in his lifetime. Mocha had multiple fractures, numerous injuries to her legs and other areas of the body as well. She also had a fracture to her elbow joint and previous pelvic fractures, according to

Cooke. Cooke continued to say that the vet was outraged at the amount of internal injuries, as well as numerous broken bones from previous beatings. The veterinarian recommended to Cooke that Mocha be euthanized the next day because with her new injuries and the chronic injuries she had endured, her quality of life would have been greatly affected. Mocha was given a soft blanket and tender care in those final hours, according to Cooke. He also bought her a big hamburger before having to say goodbye. “She wasn’t my dog for very long, but she was mine. Even if only for less than 24 hours. I surrounded her with love. It might have been the only time in her life she had that,” said Cooke. Markins has been in the Carroll County Jail since Dec. 28 when Carroll County deputies arrested him in Minerva. He was also found to have an outstanding warrant out of Massillon Municipal Court. Judge Repella thoroughly explained the charges and the legal consequences and what they would mean to Markins life. Markins flatly answered the Judge’s questions. Markins had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges but upon the advice of his legal counsel, Steven Kandel, Markins changed his plea Thursday to guilty. Kandel told the court that Markins was ready to take responsibility for his actions and admitted to his drug use.

See MOCHA, PG. 3

FPS Photo / Nancy Schaar

Jason Cooke of Trumbull County was pleased Carroll County Common Pleas Judge Michael Repella gave a harsh sentence to the man who abused Mocha. Cooke brought Mocha’s ashes with him to the hearing.

Commissioners honor emergency service personnel

FPS Photo / Nancy Schaar

Carroll County Commissioner Robert Wirkner (from left) recognized Carrollton Police Chief Robert Ellington, sheriff dispatcher Amber Williamson, Carrollton Police Patrol Officer and School Resource Officer Taylore Trsinar and Mike Ruby of the Carrollton Fire Department, as well as every emergency responder, for their service to their communities.

Carroll County Commissioners honored Carroll County emergency service personnel Monday, March 4. “Our emergency services personnel are charged with saving lives and protecting property 24 hours a day, every day of the year,” stated Commissioner Bob Wirkner. Wirkner continued to say that emergency personnel can never be adequately compensated or sufficiently recognized for the sacrifices made for their communities. Commissioners passed a proclamation honoring police, sheriff, fire, and ambulance personnel for their dedication and for the sacrifices made every day. Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams and deputies were scheduled to be included in this ceremony, but were called to the scene of an accident at that time.

Commissioners support proposed fuel tax increase By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent Carroll County Commissioners passed a resolution supporting House Bill 62 which is an increase in motor fuel tax that would provide more funds for the county to use to repair and replace roads in the county. The resolution includes support in part to help Carroll County fund the significant clean up and repair costs that resulted from the heavy rains during the last year. Numerous issues of flooding, landslides, and road slips challenge the current budget for road repairs. Commissioner Robert Wirkner stated that the people that will be hit the hardest by the fuel tax increase are truck drivers, who pay 40% of the tax collected. The State of Ohio has not had an adjustment to the fuel tax since

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2005. Funding for roads and bridges is decreasing an average of $250 million per year. This is in part due to the conclusion of two state bond issues. For more information regarding the current and future situation of roads in the state you may visit the website: FixOurRoadsOhio.com. Carroll County Engineer Brian Wise informed commissioners that he has been instructed by the Ohio Department of Transportation to reject all bids that had been submitted for the guardrail replacement project. Wise said the bids did not meet the full requirements of the project in all aspects. Bids will be accepted up to April 1, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. in the commissioners board room. Commissioners accepted the resignation of Commissioners assistant clerk Tyra Warrington. They agreed to advertise for a new assistant clerk for 32 to 40 hours per week and beginning pay of $12 per hour.

classified pg. 15

Please contact the commissioner’s office in you are interested in the position. In other business commissioners: - APPOINTED Linda Davis to the Carroll County Library board for a seven year term through December 31, 2025. - RECEIVED the February report for the Golden Age Retreat with nine males and 36 females in residence. - FILED the February report for the jail with 1,580 meals served and 164 washings done. - ACCEPTED the bid of John Stewart, LLC for $12,500 for one septic replacement system through Community Development Block Grant funds. - AUTHORIZED a hauling permit for Miller Transfer on Azalea Road in Orange Township. - RECEIVED the dog pound report with two impounded, zero adopted out, one redeemed, zero destroyed and one citation for no license and one citation for running at large.

obits pg. 4

Sunday, March 10 Remember to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you move your clocks forward one hour this weekend. The official time change is at 2 a.m. Sunday.

opinion pg. 5

sports pg. 7


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The Free Press Standard March 7, 2019 by Harrison News-Herald Archive - Issuu