The Free Press Standard, May 7, 2020

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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

Thursday, May 7, 2020

freepressstandard.com

Hiring freeze in effect for county offices Sikon family files By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners held a lengthy discussion Monday, May 4, regarding a hiring freeze in most departments. With the exception of the Board of Elections, which will hire temporary workers for the November election, Commissioner Jeff Ohler said money will not be available to any department for newly-hired employees until this financial crisis has been resolved. Commissioner Bob Wirkner said that

if an employee is essential and must be replaced, the department head must provide written provisions as to why a replacement must be hired. “I like the idea that we recommend empty positions be filled,” said Commissioner Lewis Mickley. Ohler and Wirkner said they have been in communication with the governor’s office and state representatives regarding the timeline for local governments, including counties, townships and villages, to receive stimulus funds. In other business commissioners: - AUTHORIZED County Transit Director Sonja Trbovich to apply for

grants from the Ohio Department of Transportation. - HEARD applications will be accepted for the essential position of operations manager at Carroll County Transit. - ADOPTED a resolution permitting the county treasurer’s office to accept credit card payments. - FILED the Golden Age Retreat report for April with nine males and 27 females in residence. - RECEIVED the dog pound report with two impounded, none adopted out, three redeemed, none destroyed and no citations issued for having no license or running at large.

Dellroy crochet club stitches ear protectors for frontline workers By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent When two Dellroy women saw a need, they found a way to help. Connie Mackie and April Shue attend the Dellroy Church of the Nazarene and are members of the crochet club. The women became concerned when they saw the damage to ears and faces of doctors, nurses, police officers, sheriff deputies and other frontline workers, caused by wearing face masks. Connie and April began crocheting ear protectors and headbands for medical and emergency personnel. Their children and grandchildren helped sew on the buttons for the ear protectors and headbands, which help to relieve the pressure on wearers’ ears. The group has made over 400 ear savers and headbands that have been distributed to the Carroll County Sheriff’s office, Carrollton police department, county health department, Carroll Health Care Center, and the Adult Day Care center. They also shared the supply with Connie’s daughter-in-law, who is a nurse at a prison in Dauphin Coun-

FPS Photo / Nancy Schaar

The basket overflows with ear savers and headbands donated by Connie Mackie and April Shue for the Carroll County sheriff’s department.

ty, Pennsylvania, and her son, who is stationed at a naval base in Texas, and have sent 100 ear protectors and headbands to Akron Children’s Hospital.

“It was just something we wanted to do. It was needed and it was a way we could help,” said Connie. Pastor Damon Spurgeon said, “We have some special people at our church. They have huge hearts and are ready to help on a moment’s notice. When there is a need in the community, they are there ready to help however they can.” Sheriff Dale Williams accepted a donation of ear savers and headbands, and said, “I can’t thank them enough for making these for us. It helps so much. Our deputies are out there and this helps keeping them safe a bit easier. This is a wonderful thing to do for us.” Connie and April attach a message to each ear saver saying, “A prayer was said with every stitch. We hope you enjoy your ear savers. Thank you for all you do. God Bless You.” Donations of yarn of any color, buttons larger than a dime, or cash, may be mailed or dropped off at the Dellroy Church of the Nazarene at 75 Liberty Street, Dellroy. If anyone has questions or wishes to share your talent with a crochet hook, please call Connie at 570-418-0429 or April at 330-801-1845.

FPS Photo / Nancy Schaar

Ear savers and headbands made by members of the Dellroy Church of the Nazarene crochet club were delivered to Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams by (left to right) Zoey Shue, April Shue, Alyssa Ebie-Shue, Connie Mackie, Kirstie Mackie, and Braiden Wilson, grandson of Connie.

wrongful death lawsuit against deputy, county

The father and daughter of a 41-yearold man shot and killed last November in New Harrisburg have filed a wrongful death suit in Federal District Court in Akron. The complaint, which includes a jury trial demand, was filed March 30 by a Cleveland law firm Spangenberg Shibley and Liber LLP and attorneys Jeremy A. Tor and Nicholas A. DiCello for the man’s father Robert Sikon and eldest daughter Melissa Ford, who are the co-administrators of the Estate of Robert Stanley Sikon III, the deceased. Named as defendants are Carroll County, c/o Carroll County Prosecutor Steven Barnett, Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams and Jacob Baker, a sheriff’s deputy who is accused in the complaint of shooting and killing Sikon following a traffic stop Nov. 16, 2019, in New Harrisburg. In the 13-page complaint, the plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages in six claims for relief as a result of a ruling by the Stark County Coroner declaring the manner of Sikon’s death a homicide. In the first claim for relief, plaintiffs claim defendant Jacob Baker used excessive force on Sikon during the traffic stop. The second claim for relief accuses Baker for alleged deliberate indifference to serious medical needs of Sikon in violation of the 14th amendment. In the third claim, the plaintiffs seek compensatory damages, including medical bills, against Sheriff Williams for failure to train and supervise and for unconstitutional customs, policies and practices causing constitutional violations. The fourth, fifth and sixth claims allege assault and battery, intention-

ROBERT S. SIKON III al infliction of emotional distress and wrongful death, all against defendant Jacob Baker. The plaintiffs seek unspecified amounts of compensatory damages, including medical bills, in an amount that will fully and fairly compensate the Estate of Robert Stanley Sikon III for the injuries, damages and losses suffered by Sikon prior to and leading up to his untimely death, plus punitive damages, in the first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth claims for relief – all against Baker. In the third claim for relief, the plain-

See SIKON, PG. 2

Special prosecutor requested to review Sikon investigation Carroll County Prosecuting Attorney Steven D. Barnett is requesting a special prosecutor to review the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation’s finalized investigation of the officer-involved shooting and death of Robert S. Sikon III. Barnett made the announcement Tuesday morning, May 5, in a press release. “Late in the work day on Friday, May 1, our office received the completed investigation from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) regarding the officer-involved shooting incident and death of Robert S. Sikon III from last November. BCI has concluded their investigation and they have forwarded that investigation to us for review,” he stated. “In light of the circumstances and to avoid the appearance of any conflict or potential conflict of interest, I have requested and received an order today (Tuesday) from the Court of Common Pleas appointing a special prosecuting attorney in the matter.

The Court has appointed Canton City Prosecutor Jason P. Reese as the special prosecutor. The Court’s order also includes an appointment of any of his assistant prosecutors,” Barnett continued. “With this appointment, the matter is no longer within the purview of our office. I cannot speak for the special prosecutor as to how or in what manner the special prosecutor will proceed. “By having a special prosecutor appointed, our involvement is now limited to providing clerical assistance from our staff should the special prosecutor request it. This practice is common and is a courtesy to a special prosecutor. We will arrange to have the investigative materials we received submitted to the special prosecutor and inform BCI. “Going forward, we will not be in a position to comment further since we will not be involved and the process continues. As is always the case, no conclusions or inferences should be drawn from this appointment since the matter is on-going,” he stated.

COVID-19 by the Numbers These statistics are as of presstime Tuesday, May 5. Ohio - 20,072confirmed cases; 20,969 total; 3,956 hospitalized (1,123 ICU admissions); and 1,135 deaths. Median age is 51. Carroll County - 21 total cases; 18 confirmed cases in Augusta (1), Brown (2), Center (4), Harrison (3), Loudon (1), Monroe (1) and Rose (4) townships; 3 probable cases (l each in Center, Loudon and Rose townships); 6 hospitalized; and 1 death. Recovered: 13. Of those cases, there were 4 that are 80 or older (1 hospitalized, 1 death); 2 that are 0-79; 4 that are 60-69 (4 hospitalized); 4 that are 50-59; 2 that are 40-49; 3 that are 30-39 (1 hospitalized); 1 that

more inside

classified pg. 7

obits pg. 4

opinion pg. 4

is 20-29 and 1 that is 0-19. Ten are females and 11 are males. Columbiana County - 292 confirmed cases; 106 hospitalized; and 28 deaths. Jefferson County - 46 confirmed cases; 14 hospitalized; and 1 death. Harrison County - 6 confirmed cases; 2 hospitalized; and 0 deaths. Stark County - 414 confirmed cases; 102 hospitalized; and 57 deaths. Tuscarawas County - 133 confirmed cases; 13 hospitalized; and 0 deaths. It is now being recommended for residents to wear masks when they are out in the public or in stores. For more information about COVID-19, please see coronavirus.ohio. gov or carroll-lhd.org.

sports pg. 5


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