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Thursday, August 23, 2018
Sherrodsville Community Fire Rescue Dep. Disbanded This is not an easy decision. I have dreaded making this decision. Mayor Ken Moffat
By NANCY SCHAAR
FPS Correspondent
With a unanimous vote, four members of Sherrodsville village council agreed to disband the fire department known as Community Fire and Rescue. This department sits in the heart of the village of Sherrodsville. Due to the lack of funding, the lack of volunteers, and no one stepping forward to head up the department, council closed the long time fire department. The village had been approached by the Sherrodsville Volunteer Fire Department with an offer to provide
fire protection for the village of Sherrodsville at a cost of $500 per month for a five-year contract. The village fire department split into two departments many years ago. The department, located within the village limits of Sherrodsville, was named Community Fire & Rescue. The second department formed was Sherrodsville Volunteer Fire Department, which is located on SR 39 just outside the village, also known as Station 20. In addition to the $500 per month, Station 20 will also be permitted to acquire any equipment that Community Fire & Rescue has that
could be used at their department to serve the village. "This is not an easy decision. I have dreaded making this decision. I had a long conversation with Station 20 and I realized I was dwelling in the past. I am a person who can admit my wrongs. The people leading 20, I can trust. Maybe not before, but I can now. I can trust the present and I can trust the future too. I know we won't have a fire department again. We don't have the money," said Mayor Ken Moffat. Moffat continued to say that he doesn't like to fail at anything but they needed to move on. "With Station 20 we will have ample fire protection," stated Moffat. As for the equipment owned by Community Fire and Rescue, whatever equipment Station 20 needs, they will receive. Moffat assured council that Station 20 will not take more than they actually need. The remaining items will be sold at auction or perhaps
transferred to another fire department in the area that can make good use of the equipment. A question was raised regarding the equipment that was purchased with grants and if the village could dispose of that equipment and not violate the terms of the grant contracts. Village solicitor J. J. Ong said that as long as the equipment is being used to protect the village there would be no problem. Ong asked if Station 20 would be in need of the fire department building or the EMS building, but the village said they will keep those buildings for village use. Station 20 president Mike Booth said they will only take what they can use and will be available to help determine the value of what is left that the village can sell. Council member Michelle Higgenbotham said the village can't support a fire department any more.
All Smiles
And said she felt that Station 20 does things right and council should sign the contract. Lila Booth, council member, and wife to Station 20 fire chief Bill Booth, and sister in law to president Mike Booth, said that Station 20 had a lot of young ones on it and one of them was her son. With the motion made, and unanimously approved, council members Higgenbotham and Bud Newell signed the five-year contract for fire protection with Station 20. Council members Joe Walters and Lila Booth signed as witnesses. Bill and Mike Booth signed on behalf of Station 20. When the Free Press questioned Ong after the meeting if there was a conflict of interest with Lila Booth signing the contract as well as her husband and brother in law, Ong said he wasn't aware of the relationships.
Deputy Stabbed During Arrest Scuffle By NANCY SCHAAR
FPS Correspondent
Elementary kids enjoy first day of school The first grade class of Carrollton Elementary were excited for their first day of school. Their teacher, Mr. Travis Ledford, had just asked them what was their favorite thing they did over the summer.
Health Department Continues to Stabilize By NANCY SCHAAR
FPS Correspondent
The Carroll County General Health District Board of Health continues to heal and grow as it recovers from the unstable environment from last winter. Dr. Wendy Gotschall was named Interim Health Commissioner in April of this year worked well with staff members and three new board members. Gotschall continues to streamline reports and matters of finance and the department is being restored. From meetings lasting almost five hours every month, last week's meeting was under 90 minutes. They weren't going for speed, but with better reporting practices and guidelines in place, the meetings are also reflecting the hard work of Gotschall and the staff. In January, the department had several new employees including the former fiscal officer. That officer created chaos in the department by trying to change how everything was done or reported. She also declared she was "throwing out" the budget that had been approved for 2018. That action was not allowed and caused numerous heated meetings involving residents, county officials and board members trying to understand what was going on.
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Following the resignation of the former health commissioner, Leanne Cline, the fiscal office, Hether Hawk, also resigned. The result of those actions is why Gotschall was brought in to head up the department. Gotschall holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) and serves as adjunct faculty for Aultman College and Walsh University. She is Senior Vice President at Aultman Hospital with 18 years of executive experience and is responsible for budgets of more than $50 million. Department officials remain concerned regarding the lack of water for a resident. Mary Passwaters received a grant through commissioners and the CHIP (Community Housing Improvement Program) to pay for the drilling of a new well at her home American Drilling and Plumbing of Stone Creek was contracted to drill the well. The company did begin to drill a well but the driller did not follow proper rules and regulations. He also did not file the proper forms with the health department. The first hole drilled failed and collapsed and a second well was drilled very close to the first one. Once again, it was not done properly and the pump fell into the well and the driller abandoned the project. He has not been
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seen or heard from despite numerous attempts by Passwaters, officials from the county health department and the State of Ohio Health Department. The county has been working with the state trying to resolve the issue, but state officials are baffled because they have not experienced an incident quite like this and there are few, if any, rules and regulations to go by. An attempt was made to hold the $10,000 bond posted by the driller and use it to drill a proper working well for Passwaters. The driller would not be permitted to do any other drilling work until he repaid the $10,000 bond. But that has met with paperwork and glitches with the state health department too. The county health department and Passwaters, did meet the filing deadline of July 31 for documentation in the matter. The driller was also required to file his documentation, but the state or the county has still not heard from him. County and state officials continue to work on a resolution but state wheels of government turn slowly as Gotschall advised the board. Passwaters does have a tank of water at her residence and is making do until the matter is fixed. With the change in requirements for
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See STABILIZE, PG.2
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Carroll County Sheriff Deputy James Lemonte was attacked with a screwdriver by a second suspect while trying to apprehend a man fleeing the scene of an accident. Lemonte was driving on SR 43 about 1 a.m. on Thursday, August 16, when he spotted skid marks on the roadway. He went back to check the area and found a car had crashed in a wooded area. As Lemonte approached the vehicle he saw a topless female sitting in the back seat with her feet hanging out of the car door. Lemonte heard brush breaking behind him and found a man near the car. Lemonte brought the man to the front of his car but the man kept pacing, saying he wasn’t driving, and kept bending over. The man, identified as Bobby Francis, 34, of 1416 3rd St. SE, Canton, was being questioned by Lemonte about the accident but suddenly started walking down the road. Francis was told over and over by Lemonte to stop and come back. Francis then charged at Lemonte and was tased by the officer. Francis did not respond immediately but then turned and fell to the ground. Francis tried to get up again and refused to follow the orders issued by Lemonte. Francis was tased again. Lemonte still had to subdue Francis and handcuffed him. Lemonte walked Francis back to the front of the deputy’s car. With his hand in sterile gloves, Lemonte removed the taser barb from Francis’ stomach and checked for injuries but found none. The second probe was not found on Francis. Lemonte was double locking the handcuffs when the female from the
car came up behind him and jabbed him in the back of the arm with a Phillips screwdriver. The woman, identified as Shawna Young, 37, of 1119 4th St. NW, Apt. 2, Canton, was then kicked in the foot by Lemonte and she fell on the roadway. Francis again charged at Lemonte and was shoved to the ground by Lemonte. Young was still trying to get up, but Lemonte was able to hold her to the ground with his knee in the small of her back while at the same time grabbing and holding Francis by the handcuffs. Lemonte stayed in this position holding onto both suspects until additional help arrived. It was learned the car, a 1996 four door Honda Accord, had been stolen from a parking lot on SR 43. After other deputies arrived, Francis and Young were placed in separate cruisers. EMT ambulance checked both of them and Francis was transported to Mercy Medical Center for evaluation. Lemonte was also checked by EMT’s but did not require medical attention. “I received a scratch on the back of my right arm,” said Lemonte. Lemonte remained on duty and took no time off. Young was transported to the Carroll County Jail where she was held on a $500,000 bond. Francis was also transferred to the Carroll County jail where he was held on a $250,000 bond, according to Sheriff Dale Williams. Facing Municipal Court Judge Gary R. Willen Monday morning, Francis was charged with receiving stolen property and resisting arrest, both 4th degree felonies. Charges against Young were felonious assault, F1; receiving stolen property, F4, and resisting arrest, F4. Both remain in the Carroll County jail and separate preliminary hearings are set for Aug. 23 at 9 a.m. in Carroll County Municipal Court.
This is the car that skidded off the road during the early morning hours of Aug.16. Deputy James Lemonte arrested the driver and the passenger after the passenger stabbed him in the back of the arm with a screwdriver.
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