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| Toledo City Council not in on $80,000 Erie Street Market revamp Almost $80,000 has been spent to renovate space for concerts and other events at the Erie Street Market - all without Toledo City Council approval, according to Finkbeiner administration records. The expenditures came as a shock to Councilman D. Michael Collins, who blasted the administration for ordering the work without first asking council. "They are cutting the work into pieces in order to avoid the scrutiny of council," Mr. Collins said. The mayor, according to the city charter, doesn't need council approval for anything costing less than $10,000. So far, the work at the market building, 237 South Erie St., totals $79,879, which was split into 13 contracts - all less than the $10,000 threshold. The work done and the costs or estimates are: •Move metal retail racks/booths from Bay 4 to Bay 2, $9,875. •Exterior public wood deck expansion, $8,913. •Security cameras for Bay 4 concerts, $6,740. •Interior counters/fascia for food and drink booths, $8,969. •Exterior east wall and historic stage restoration, $9,000 •Interior painting, new security pit, moving estimate, $9,000. •Interior flooring restoration, $5,000. •Phone communication improvements, stage power, $6,000. •Floor cleaning and wax, $2,400. •Welding of security wall, plumbing estimate, $6,000. •Basement stairwell fencing, $2,500 •New glass door at east wall, $2,500 •Refrigeration cases, $3,000 "You don't need council approval for everything," Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said last night, noting that there's an allocation in the general fund operating budget allocation to cover the cost of improvements made to city structures. The mayor accused Mr. Collins of "taking cheap shots" and trying to grab attention for himself. "We are on the verge of making a huge breakthrough with the Erie Street Market," Mr. Finkbeiner said. "I would assume any smart person would expect that it would take some expenditures to do what we said was going to be done there." The mayor last month announced that local concert promoter Robert Croak, of the Verso Group, had been given the go-ahead to hold concerts and other events at the market, marking the first time in almost a decade that the city-owned venue will have public shows. There is a "Metro Mixer" public party planned for tomorrow, and the first concert will be Saturday. "So now we are 48 hours before an opening and all of a sudden everyone wants to go negative, and I think that's unfair," Mr. Finkbeiner said. The city expects to make between $10,000 to $15,000 a month, but could get as much as $10,000 in profit per event, the mayor said. "We are going to concede the defeat of Toledo if people don't begin to see there is a lot of good strong positive things being done and all we are hearing about is the negative," Mr. Finkbeiner said. Last year at this time, the market building, which was being operated by the now-defunct CitiFest, was running a deficit of about $50,000. Since Jan. 1, while under control of the Finkbeiner administration, it has generated more than $26,000. In April, Mr. Finkbeiner announced a plan to sell 25 parcels of property - including the market - for $4.2 million to Tetra Tech Inc., of Pasadena, Calif. The firm has plans to develop the area near Swan Creek downtown into a $300 million mixed-use riverwalk development. The Tetra Tech purchase agreement lets the company evaluate the property and determine whether the development is feasible. Mr. Finkbeiner said the $79,879 in renovations fit in with plans the firm has for the area. Mr. Collins, an increasingly vocal critic of the mayor, said he was more concerned about how the administration handled the project. "Don't pull the wool over my head. I knew those dirty, rotten, sleazy [people] were keeping all these contract bills under $10,000," he said. "The truth of the matter is he could have gotten away with it if I hadn't followed up on it." Mr. Collins said he also has a problem with who the mayor selected to run the concert venue. Croak was convicted on one count of forgery and has been arrested for but not convicted of underage alcohol sales, according to court records. The forgery conviction stems from accusations that Croak falsified records to obtain a liquor permit. Mr. Finkbeiner acknowledged that Croak is "not squeaky clean," but said he was selected for the job because of his connections and experience with bookings and promotions. Croak said last night that he would not respond to Mr. Collins' concerns about his criminal history. Croak founded the River East Entertainment District on Main Street - Club 128, the Main Event, and Frankie's Inner City Lounge. All three nightclubs at one time or another were under scrutiny from state liquor control and city police for problems that included noise, drugs, underage consumption of alcohol, unruly juveniles, and public indecency. In 2001, Croak was arrested and accused of allowing underage drinking at the Main Event and operating a business where alcohol is sold or furnished in violation of the law. He pleaded not guilty; the charges eventually were dismissed. Because of his convictions, Croak is not allowed to be associated with alcohol sales at the market, said Robert Reinbolt, the mayor's chief of staff. The Erie Street Market building is divided into four sections, or bays. The bay on the north side of the building houses Libbey Glass Factory Outlet. Bay 2, formerly an antiques marketplace, was vacant. A third bay, Civic Center Promenade, is used for private parties. Bay 4, which people often think of as the market itself, was cleared of its antique and food vendors and has undergone the renovations in question. That bay, which has the building's original stage, was known as the Civic Auditorium. Contact Ignazio Messina at: imessina@theblade.com or 419-724-6171. |
| Man in critical condition after Wednesday crash in Huron County BELLEVUE, Ohio A 28-year-old man was in critical condition Thursday morning after being hurt the day before when his sport-utility vehicle crashed in Huron Countys Sherman Township, authorities said. Dustin C. Jones, of Crawford Countys North Robinson, was listed in critical condition in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, a hospital spokesman said. Mr. Jones was northbound on State Rt. 4 north of Highway 269 about 6:34 p.m. Wednesday when he lost control of the SUV, causing it to go off the left side of the roadway and strike a ditch, Trooper Matt Davis, of the Ohio Highway Patrol, said. Another driver had seen Mr. Jones drive erratically shortly before the accident and reported him to the patrol, so troopers were already on the way when the latter crashed, the trooper said. A preliminary breath test showed Mr. Jones was not drunk. He was disoriented and throwing up before he was transported by an ambulance, Mr. Davis said. Bellevue is about 45 miles southeast of Toledo. |
| U.S. links farm's water to salmonella outbreak WASHINGTON - The salmonella strain linked to a nationwide outbreak has been found in irrigation water and in a sample of serrano peppers at a Mexican farm, federal health officials said yesterday. Dr. David Acheson, the Food and Drug Administration's food safety chief, called the finding a key breakthrough as did another health official. "We have a smoking gun, it appears," said Dr. Lonnie King, who directs the center for food borne illnesses at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The FDA advised consumers to avoid raw serrano peppers from Mexico, in addition to raw jalapeno peppers from Mexico. The outbreak sickened more than 1,300 people across the country and cost U.S. tomato growers more than $300 million. Dr. Acheson told a subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee that the same strain of salmonella Saintpaul that caused the outbreak was found in irrigation water and serrano peppers on a Mexican farm. A contaminated jalapeno pepper had been traced previously to the Mexican grower. Lawmakers on the House panel questioned Dr. Acheson and Dr. King about why it has taken since May to track down the source of the food poisoning and whether they were mistaken all along in associating the illness with tomatoes. The warning from the federal agencies led to a mass removal of tomatoes from groceries and restaurants and cost the industry more than $300 million, subcommittee chairman Dennis Cardoza (D., Calif.) said. He asked Dr. Acheson if a single contaminated tomato was ever found. "No," Dr. Acheson said. But he refused to completely clear tomatoes. He said tomatoes as well as jalapeno and serrano peppers were grown on the Mexican farm with contaminated irrigation water and that tomatoes were processed through the same packing center so it is "plausible" that some illnesses were caused by tomatoes. Mexican officials rejected the latest FDA findings and said the sample was from stagnant water in a tank holding rainwater, not water used to irrigate peppers. "What they took was a sample from soil after the harvest. That is not scientifically valid in any part of the world," said Enrique Sanchez, the Agriculture Ministry's director of food health. The Mexican Embassy in Washington earlier said the Mexican government had taken the precautionary measure of suspending exports of produce from the suspected company. Mexican officials had repeatedly denied that the outbreak, originally blamed on tomatoes but later traced to peppers, could be traced to Mexican farms. U.S. congressional investigators have accused the FDA of mishandling the case. The probe was slowed partly because FDA investigators were unfamiliar with the workings of the tomato industry and were reluctant to share information, industry representatives told the House panel. "For weeks and weeks, investigators were on the trail of the wrong product," Thomas Stenzel, president of the United Fresh Produce Association told the House Agriculture Committee. Lawmakers are considering a range of reforms including improving communication between investigators and the industry, imposing standards for good agricultural practices, and improving traceability. "You could describe our current food safety system as 'outbreak roulette,' " Mr. Cardoza said. "One spin of the outbreak wheel, and your industry may be bankrupt, your loved ones sickened." |
| Stevens faces arraignment in corruption case WASHINGTON - Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens is due in federal court to answer charges that he lied about hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts from an oil services contractor. Stevens is the Senate's longest-serving Republican and has been a dominant figure in congressional politics for a generation. After being indicted on seven counts of lying on Senate disclosure forms, Stevens was ordered to surrender in federal court and appear before a judge Thursday. Stevens has said little about the corruption investigation that has dogged him for more than a year. Thursday's court hearing was expected to be no different. He was expected to plead not guilty, but initial appearances are usually brief affairs. The indictment is a blow to the senator's re-election bid. Once a seemingly invincible political figure, he now faces both Democratic and Republican challengers who hope his legal woes make him vulnerable to defeat. Though some GOP colleagues have distanced themselves from Stevens, he has steadfastly maintained his innocence, and his campaign has pledged to continue. To do so, he would have to ask U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan for permission to travel. Stevens was expected to remain free while he campaigns and attends to Senate business, but Sullivan was to decide what rules the senator must abide by while he awaits trial. Stevens, 84, is accused of concealing more than $250,000 in gifts and home remodeling services he received from VECO Corp., a once powerful contracting firm. Two top VECO executives have pleaded guilty to bribing state lawmakers. The executives cooperated with the FBI and provided information about Stevens. |
| Doctor tells Allen County jury Wilson wasn't standing when shot in drug raid LIMA, Ohio - A forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy of Tarika Wilson said the petite, 5-foot, 2-inch woman was hunched over or on her knees in an upstairs bedroom when she was fatally shot by Lima police Sgt. Joe Chavalia. Dr. Diane Barnett, a Lucas County deputy coroner, told the jury hearing evidence in Sergeant Chavalia's trial the two bullets that pierced Wilson's neck traveled from front to back in a downward path, although the police officer who fired at her was on the stairway below her. "Ms. Wilson was in a position where she was down. She was hunched over or she could've possibly been on her knees," Dr. Barnett said. "If she was standing and received these wounds, they would've gone upward." Her testimony prompted John Foy, a firearms instructor, to conclude that Wilson was in the process of complying with commands to "get on the ground" when she was shot. "It would seem to me the deceased was probably complying [with the order to get down] at that point," Mr. Foy said. Sergeant Chavalia's attorney immediately objected. Visiting Judge Richard Knepper sustained the objection, meaning jurors were to disregard the statement. The prosecution rested its case about 3:45 p.m. yesterday after two full days of testimony in Sergeant Chavalia's trial in Allen County Common Pleas Court. The 52-year-old is charged with misdemeanor counts of negligent homicide for Wilson's Jan. 4 death during a drug raid at her Third Street home and negligent assault for the wounding of Wilson's 1-year-old son, Sincere, who was in her arms at the time. Autopsy photos and a discussion of her wounds prompted Wilson's mother and some other family members to leave the courtroom. Dr. Barnett said the bullets struck major veins and arteries that would have caused her to "immediately" bleed profusely. She said toxicology tests showed that Wilson, 26, had neither alcohol nor drugs in her system when she died. Mr. Foy, a law enforcement training officer at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London, Ohio, testified that he believed Sergeant Chavalia had "insufficient target identification" when he fired his fully automatic Colt rifle from the stairs at what has been described as a shadowy figure that leaned in and out of a bedroom door on the house's second floor. He was looking through a stair rail at the time. "From that angle, there's not much to see," Mr. Foy said. While Sergeant Chavalia is expected to take the stand in his own defense, his attorneys and some officers who took the stand have said the 31-year police veteran believed he was being fired at after he saw the shadowy figure duck in and out of a doorway upstairs and heard gunshots. The shots actually were fired at two pit bull dogs set loose on SWAT team members from a downstairs bedroom by the target of the drug raid, Wilson's boyfriend, Anthony Terry. Lt. Chris Protsman, commander of the SWAT team, said soon after the team entered Wilson's house the night of the raid, he had his eye on a door off the kitchen when the door opened and he saw Terry peek out and release the dogs. He shot one of the dogs, while Officer David Gillespie shot the other. Soon after, he said he heard another shot from somewhere else Upon questioning by Special Prosecutor Jeff Strausbaugh, the lieutenant said Terry presented a threat to the officers, although the dogs, which he could see clearly before shooting, were a more immediate threat to their safety. After the dogs were shot, he said he ordered Terry to lay down in the doorway and show officers his hands. Terry, who is now serving seven years in prison for his conviction on drug charges, complied after the order was given "two or three times," Lieutenant Protsman said. After Terry was secured, he said he heard a commotion from upstairs and saw officers bringing children downstairs. The commander proceeded upstairs where he found Sergeant Chavalia in the hallway. "I said, 'Joe, what happened?' He said, 'They were firing at me from the bedroom and I shot back,'•" Lieutenant Protsman recalled the sergeant saying. In the bedroom down the hall, he said he saw an obviously deceased Wilson slumped against the wall and saw another officer administering first aid to a child on the bed. When he encountered Sergeant Chavalia again in the hall, he said the sergeant grabbed him by his vest. "It appeared to me he had just been through a highly stressful and emotional event," Lieutenant Protsman said. Special Agent Karen Rebori, who investigated the shooting for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, said Sergeant Chavalia cooperated with investigators after the shooting, telling them he aimed and fired at what he described as "a partial target that was moving," a figure he believed to be an adult. "He said normally you do identify a target before you discharge a firearm, but said bullets can come through drywall, bullets penetrate objects, and he was in fear for his life," Ms. Rebori said. Like other officers who have testified in the trial, Lieutenant Protsman said SWAT team members are trained to return gunfire when fired upon. "If an officer is presented with the use of deadly force, they are justified in the use of deadly force," he said. The defense is expected to begin calling its witnesses when the trial resumes at 9 a.m. today. Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-353-5972. |
| Kirk - Deficit |
| Patriotism is the lesson not to be lost On June 25 an editorial titled "A lesson lost" appeared on The Blade's Pages of Opinion. The editorial was about a principal at Shasta High School in Redding, Calif., who closed down the school newspaper for running a front-page photo of a student burning an American flag along with an editorial defending the protest as free speech. The Blade defended the student's First Amendment rights and closed by saying it was a lost chance to enhance their education. I believe in free speech to a degree but not when you publicly desecrate the flag of the United States when our country is at war and then defend those actions in print. When I was in Vietnam, we heard about fellow Americans burning our flag along with their draft cards. What kind of message do you think this sends to our troops in Iraq? It does not matter if you agree or disagree with this current war, the fact remains that we are there and we must send the right message to our troops. As I watched the fireworks in downtown Toledo on July 4 and listened to the patriotic music, which included the Star Spangled Banner. I felt proud to be an American. I am also proud of our flag and what it stands for. My thanks to The Blade and local businesses that financially supported "Red, White, KaBoom." My thanks also to The Blade for running the photo of Boy Scout Troop 329 and American Legion Post 455 of Woodville. They hosted a flag-burning ceremony to help educate the public about the proper way to dispose of an American flag when it becomes worn and tattered. These are the "lessons that should not be lost." Bernie Welniak Whitehouse McCain's heroism is unquestionable In response to the July 17 letter writer who asked why anyone would vote for John McCain, I want to point out that the writer has to be one of the most ungrateful people I have ever read a letter from. Everyone has his or her own opinion about the candidates running in the 2008 election, but to question whether or not Mr. McCain was a war hero is uncalled for. If the letter writer had done his research, he would have known exactly why Mr. McCain is considered a hero. Mr. McCain was shot down over Vietnam and when he ejected he received a broken leg, two broken arms, and nearly drowned. After being pulled from the lake where he'd landed, he was beaten by a crowd, had his shoulder crushed by a rifle butt, and was bayoneted several times. He was taken to the "Hanoi Hilton" and denied medical treatment. He was kept in solitary confinement for two years and was a POW for a total of 5 1/2 years. During this time, he lived by the standards taught in the military and never talked about plans held by the allies. Mr. McCain negotiated with the North Vietnamese to have men who were taken prisoner before him released instead. This is true bravery and true heroism. It doesn't matter who one decides to support in this election, no one can take away the fact that Mr. McCain was prepared to give up his life to save those around him. One last thing: The comment about staying home on election day? That is never going to happen. Laura Simmons Provincetowne Drive Spin the other way will cure dizziness In response to the recent contributor to the Readers' Forum who wrote that John McCain has been changing his positions with "dizzying speed," I suggest that he read Sen. Barack Obama's positions from five months ago and his positions today. Trust me, his head will be spinning the other way so hard that it should solve any of his dizzy symptoms. David Ringenbach Northwood Woodward deserves equal school facilities The construction of the new Woodward High School has begun, but it will not have the same athletic facilities as other recently built high schools (Rogers, Start, and Bowsher). Most notable is the absence of a track. The budget needs to be increased more than $650,000 to match the other new high schools' athletic complexes. Toledo Public Schools has never built a football stadium or a competitive track for WHS. The existing football stadium was built from student and private fund-raisers in the late 1960s. The new school will have a stadium but no track. The building budget has already been reduced from a three-story structure to a two stories because of declining enrollment. Many of these students simply transferred to the newer high schools because of the lenient TPS enrollment policy. With inferior athletic facilities, this population trend may continue. Certainly, athletics are not the only consideration when building a new school, but all can agree that a successful athletic program boosts student morale and pride. Why should students of this central-city school have less of a physical structure than the students of other areas? I wonder if TPS thinks it can shortcut the north-end community and no one will notice. Lots of media attention has been given to the Scott High School boosters and their quest to renovate the existing school instead of constructing new. Where's the cry about the continued inequities at Woodward? Public pressure on local politicians and TPS will help assure that Woodward students will not be treated like second-class citizens. A Woodward athletic complex matching Rogers, Start, and Bowsher is the least TPS can do. Ed Johnson Manchester Drive Levy calculator is helpful to taxpayers We are constantly being bombarded with advertising telling us to vote for "this or that" and it will only cost "X" amount for a $100,000 home. Would you like to see exactly what "X" will cost you per year on your home's evaluation? A lot of people who pay their taxes with their mortgage payment don't pay attention to the new dollar amount. You can get an accurate look at what you will be hit with by going to the Lucas County Auditor's Web site, clicking on "Areis," and following the instructions to pull up your property. When that is done, click on "levy calculator" and it will show the exact amount of your new tax if the next levy (or levies) pass. It will be an eye opener. Glenn Campbell Waterville Don't waste my time, taxes on E. Toledo I read a story recently regarding East Toledo improvements and how East Toledo residents will pay for them. Let me rephrase that: East Toledo homeowners and business owners - taxpayers. I cannot afford to pay more taxes and do not want to put more money into a neighborhood that has been forgotten by the city and state. I'm sure city officials know how bad crime is on the east side. If we dump money into fixing the neighborhood, will the police force double in East Toledo to protect our investment, or will we sit idly by and watch the people who don't pay these taxes destroy everything we have accomplished? The city needs to do more than it is doing, and as long as it cannot afford to help keep the neighborhoods free of crime and violence, I don't want to waste my time or money. I already pay for the crime and violence in my neighborhood. I pay higher insurance premiums for my home and autos. I pay more money for fixing the damage caused by people who have nothing better to do other than damage or steal my property. My friends are being murdered and robbed. I can no longer walk down these streets safely. I think we would be better off donating the east side to the drug dealers, prostitutes, thieves, and gangs. After all, they make more money than we do. Maybe the city can find a way to tax them. The bottom line for East Toledoans is to get out now, while you are still able. Paul Ieson Butler Street 'No' means 'no,' not 'maybe' Regarding the levy the trustees of COSI want to put on the November ballot again, just what part of "no" do they not understand? The levy has been on the ballot twice now, and twice the voters have rejected it. Isn't it about time they quit wasting our money by putting this issue on the ballot and quit beating a dead horse? "No" means "no," not "maybe, try again next year." Brenda Steinfurth Madeleine Street |
| Deficit debacle MORE bad news from Washington: the Bush Administration now projects the federal budget deficit for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 will be a heart-stopping $482 billion, far and away the worst deficit in U.S. history. A lot of knowledgeable people believe it will be much higher, possibly exceeding $500 billion - half a trillion dollars. As a percentage of the nation's economy, the projected deficit may not be especially large, but the billions in interest costs it will require will do the damage in the future. This nightmarish news follows closely the revelation last week that, as a result of the government bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (whose CEOs earn $11.6 million and $18.3 million, respectively), Congress feels obliged to raise the ceiling on the national debt to $10.6 trillion. This new ceiling would put the debt - which has doubled during the Bush years - into the 14-digit category for the first time. The budget deficit projection, meanwhile, is most notable for upcoming government spending it does not include. Among these items is the $80 billion that the administration estimates for the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan next fiscal year, an estimate that is probably only about a third of the actual total. Failing to include the war costs is, first of all, preposterous. It's like making out the family budget for the next year and not including the mortgage payment. But this omission is fairly typical of the budgetary shell game the administration has been playing for the past eight years. The tax cuts of the first Bush term were supposed to magically stimulate the economy and increase federal revenue, but they haven't. Now the economy is tanking, and the administration is blaming declining revenues for the ballooning deficit. Talk about circular reasoning. Profligate spending by the Democratic Congress also is being blamed, but that's another smokescreen. Mr. Bush was only too willing to allow Republicans, who controlled Capitol Hill during most of his tenure, to jack up spending. His veto pen was cleverly hidden. In effect, the Bush economic program has been predicated on charging off Mr. Bush's ideologically driven tax cuts and disastrous wars to the next generation, which will find itself buried under a mountain of deficit and debt. |
| The $500 million smoke-out IT USED to be that cartoonists pictured tycoons smoking big cigars as a symbol of their power and affluence. Today that image needs to be reworked, as Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg demonstrated with their announcement that they will spend $500 million in an attempt to rid the planet of smoking. The Microsoft founder and the New York City mayor and businessman have chosen the worthiest of goals, one with the potential to save tens of millions of lives. The World Health Organization estimates that smoking will kill as many as 1 billion people in this century, 10 times more than it did in the 20th century. As much as good health and humanitarian impulse are met by this grand gesture, it also completes a neat historical and geographical circle. Tobacco use was the gift of the Americas to the world's people. Centuries later, two American billionaires are putting up their money to rid the world of this exported vice that seemed at first a blessing. As the New York Times reported, Mr. Bloomberg's foundation plans to commit $250 million to the cause over four years on top of a $125 million gift announced two years ago. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is allocating $125 million over five years to follow all the billions they have given to combat AIDS and malaria. The $500 million will be deployed in a multifaceted program dubbed Mpower and will include urging governments to take steps to raise taxes on tobacco, to prohibit smoking in public places, to ban advertising to children and cigarette give-aways, and to start anti-smoking advertising campaigns. It is going to be a very tough challenge. People in the United States are much more concerned about tobacco's dangers than in many other parts of the world. In poorer countries, where life is cheap and cigarettes are a fleeting pleasure, persuading people of smoking's proven long-term ills will be a tough sell. But there's money now to make that point - and it can make a real difference. |
| Pudge sent to Yankees; Tigers get Farnsworth to bolster bullpen CLEVELAND - In the thick of a pennant race, the Tigers traded their starting catcher - a future Hall of Famer - to the New York Yankees yesterday. Detroit sent 14-time all-star Pudge Rodriguez to the Big Apple in exchange for reliever Kyle Farnsworth, who pitched for the Tigers in 2005. Dave Dombrowski, Detroit's general manager, said the surprising deal was sudden - developing during an afternoon phone conversation yesterday with New York GM Brian Cashman. The deal was announced about 24 hours before today's non-waiver trade deadline expires at 4 p.m. Brandon Inge, who in spring training openly hoped to be traded, is Detroit's regular catcher for now and the future. Also, Dane Sardinha was recalled from Toledo to be the Tigers' backup catcher. Rarely, if ever, does a club in contention trade a key starter, especially one batting .381 over his last 31 games. But Dombrowski said the trade does nothing to hurt Detroit's chances of surpassing Chicago and Minnesota in the American League Central. "We think it gives us probably a better chance because we don't take much of a step down catching," Dombrowski said. "And it's a situation that we help our bullpen." Tigers manager Jim Leyland said the trade was a "win-win for everybody," but stressed the club wasn't "better" without Rodriguez. "When you say 'better [team],' I don't think it's probably necessary to say 'better' because it's different," Leyland said. "You have somebody who plays that position. You don't have another quality - what we think is a top, quality bullpen guy - so we added that." Rodriguez, 36, is batting .295 with five homers and 32 RBIs this season. He is in the final year of his contract, and waived his no-trade clause to join the Yankees. In 18 seasons with Texas, Florida and Detroit, Rodriguez has hit .302 with 293 homers and 1,214 RBIs - and accumulated 13 Gold Gloves. The signing of Rodriguez in 2004 is widely considered the beginning of the Tigers' rebirth as a formidable franchise. The year before, Detroit lost a team-record 119 games and three seasons later reached the World Series. "He helped us in the very beginning, and we are forever thankful," Dombrowski said. "As I told him, I will be in Coopers- town the day he's inducted." Rodriguez was beloved by Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, who OK'd the club picking up its $13 million option on him last winter. Rodriguez spoke with Ilitch by phone after the trade was made yesterday afternoon. "I never expected to leave the Tigers," Rodriguez said. "I always believed I'm going to be a Tiger until I retire. But I guess five years is enough. It's time for me to move on." On that point - Rodriguez being a Tiger past this year - Leyland didn't see things the same way. He said it was already "99.9 percent certain" Inge was going to be Detroit's main catcher next season and that Rodriguez probably wouldn't be back. Inge, 31, ceased being Detroit's primary catcher when Rodriguez arrived, and lost his third base job in December when the Tigers acquired Miguel Cabrera. But an injury to Vance Wilson forced the team to keep Inge as a back-up catcher rather than trade him earlier this season, even though Inge made it clear during spring training that he didn't want to catch. A slow start to the year for Rodriguez caused Leyland to use Inge more behind the plate, and he entered last night's game having started 22 games there. Seeing that Cabrera and Carlos Guillen - Detroit's current third baseman - were mainstays, and recognizing Rodriguez's upcoming free agency, Inge sensed that his best option to return to the Tigers' lineup as a regular was behind the plate. He conveyed to Leyland and Dombrowski in May his newfound fondness of catching. "It's been a long road with many bumps in it," said Inge, who entered last night's game batting .227 with eight homers and 30 RBIs. "It's kind of funny how things work out if you just let things run its course and stay persistent." Farnsworth, a 32-year-old right-hander, is 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 45 appearances this year. Also a free agent at season's end, Farnsworth told the Tigers he hoped to arrive in Cleveland for today's game. Leyland said he didn't know how he would use Farnsworth, but it's clear he'll pitch late in games along with Fernando Rodney, Joel Zumaya and Todd Jones. Leyland and Dombrowski both stressed that the bullpen was the Tigers' chief area of concern. "With due respect to everybody, I don't think that catching Pudge or catching Brandon Inge will be the decisive factor whether we win this year or not," Leyland said. Contact Joe Vardon at: jvardon@theblade.com or 419-410-5055. |
| Tebow could join Buckeyes' Griffin as double Heisman winner COLUMBUS - There are not many one-man clubs around. Eventually, somebody comes along and duplicates an accomplishment, matches a record, or just takes it away. For the past 33 years, Ohio State's Archie Griffin has been the "only" player to "ever" win the Heisman Trophy twice. It is a necessary redundancy to group those words together while acknowledging Griffin's matched set of college football's highest award. But in 2007, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman, setting him up for possibly two shots at equaling or surpassing Griffin's long-standing mark. The Gators have been ranked as high as No. 1 in some of the early preseason magazines, so in his quest Tebow again will have the strong supporting cast. Griffin, now the president of the Ohio State Alumni Association, said earlier this week that his profound respect for the award prevents him from either pulling for a second Heisman for Tebow, or hoping that the membership in the ultra-exclusive club of two-time winners remains at one "I want the person who is deserving of winning the Heisman Trophy to win the Heisman Trophy," Griffin said. "I've always said that I'm sure somebody else will win it twice, so if this is the year and Tim Tebow deserves it, I'll be the first to congratulate him. I don't cheer or hope for it not to happen." Since Griffin's second Heisman in 1975, 11 juniors have won the award, and set up the potential scenario for matching the Ohio State tailback's bookend Heismans. Some of those players left early for the NFL, and some just did not duplicate the dream-type season it takes to even have a chance at winning the prized statue. "This could possibly be the year," Griffin said, "but each and every year presents different challenges. Tebow has to be the front-runner, having won it last year, and with the fact he is playing on an outstanding football team." Griffin, who was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986, had 5,589 yards rushing in his career, and had a string of 31 straight 100-yard games in his OSU career. He played professionally for eight seasons before returning to Ohio State, where he has held a number of positions, including associate athletic director. In his playing days, Griffin was regarded as possessing outstanding character as well as being a gifted athlete, qualities he shares with Tebow, and ones that Griffin said have to enhance Tebow's standing with the Heisman voters. During the three breaks Florida football players have had since spring ball, Tebow did mission work on three continents. "Tebow is an outstanding young man who is doing terrific things," Griffin said. "I think people will give the Heisman Trophy to the person who they feel deserves to win it, but I think Tebow is the front-runner because of the way he is. His citizenship is admirable." Griffin said Tebow and Florida coach Urban Meyer are likely aware of the off-the-field demands placed on the Heisman Trophy winner, an issue Ohio State coach Woody Hayes was very direct about when it became a distraction for Griffin. "All the people that want a piece of him - that's the distraction Tebow has to deal with," Griffin said. "When I was going through that, Woody called me in and said 'you can't do everything for everybody, and all this stuff you are doing right now is going to make you soft.' When he told me that, it really, really hit a nerve." The three-time All-American said that in this era of media saturation, Tebow's name is everywhere and winning the Heisman only added to his notoriety. "Winning the Heisman, it does change things. At the time when Tebow came into college he was very well known, and now after winning the Heisman, the target is really on him," Griffin said. "On the field, you are a marked man, people take a little extra effort, and when they hit you, they hit a little harder, and they even make comments. He'll get quite a bit of that. We used to run that option play a lot at Ohio State, and whether I got the pitch or not, I got hit." Contact Matt Markey at: mmarkey@theblade.com or 419-724-6510. |
| Tigers score twice in 13th to top Indians 14-12 CLEVELAND Kelly Shoppach was too tired and disappointed to celebrate his record night. Clevelands catcher tied a major league mark with five extra-base hits, including a game-tying homer in the ninth, but the Indians lost 14-12 to the Detroit Tigers in 13 innings Wednesday night. I dont know about any records and Im too tired to think about it, Shoppach said after the grueling game that went 5 hours, 33 minutes, used 16 dozen baseballs and had 526 total pitches. Detroit manager Jim Leyland called it one of the most memorable wins in his long career. It came on a day the Tigers traded veteran catcher Ivan Rodriguez to the New York Yankees, fell behind to All-Star Cliff Lee 8-1, and got out of bases-loaded jams in the ninth, 10th and 12th innings. It was one heck of a freak win, Leyland said. Shoppach had two homers, three doubles and drove in three runs as the eighth player to get five extra-base hits in a game. Hall of Famer Lou Boudreau was the only other AL player to do it, with a homer and four doubles on July 14, 1946, for Cleveland at Boston. Shawn Green of the Los Angeles Dodgers last accomplished the feat with four homers and a double on May 23, 2002. Shoppach had a chance for a great ending to his big game, but struck out on a 3-2 pitch from Casey Fossum with the bases loaded and no outs in the 12th. I cant take personal gain in a loss like this, Shoppach said, adding that he thought he swung at a bad pitch in the 12th. It would be a lot different in this clubhouse if we had won. Fossum (2-0) then got Andy Marte to hit into a double play. The left-hander allowed one runner in the bottom of the 13th before getting the final out at 12:41 a.m. It was a huge win. It seems we were meant to win this game no matter what, Fossum said as teammates danced to blaring music in the clubhouse just 11 hours before having to take the field for the fourth game of the series. Carlos Guillen singled with one out off Juan Rincon (2-3), the Indians seventh pitcher, in the 13th. Guillen took third on Curtis Grandersons fifth hit, a single to right. Placido Polanco grounded to third, scoring Guillen, and Granderson later scored on a throwing error by first baseman Ryan Garko. Detroit had 22 hits and the Indians had 19. Both teams stranded 14 runners. We battled hard, but had opportunities late and have got to push across a run there, Indians manager Eric Wedge said. The Tigers traded Rodriguez for reliever Kyle Farnsworth then showed why they needed bullpen help. Fernando Rodney, who has one career save and is now the Tigers closer, gave up the tying homer to Shoppach with one out in the ninth. Brandon Inge, who took Rodriguezs spot at catcher, homered for the Tigers. Ben Francisco had four hits, including two homers for the Indians, and Grady Sizemore hit a three-run shot, his 26th. The Tigers fell behind 8-1, but rallied against Lee, who was seeking to become the major leagues first 15-game winner. The Indians led 11-7 in the eighth and reliever Edward Mujica got the first two outs before Detroit scored four runs to tie it. After Marcus Thames had an RBI double and Magglio Ordonez singled home a run off Mujica, Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run double high off the wall in left to make it 11-all. Polanco hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth to give Detroit a 12-11 lead before Shoppach tied it in the bottom half. After Detroit pulled to 8-7 in the sixth, Francisco and Shoppach both hit their 10th homers in the bottom of the inning off Aquilino Lopez to put Cleveland up 11-7. Lee gave up 10 hits and six runs in five innings. The left-hander remained 14-2 as he tries to become Clevelands first 20-game winner since Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry went 21-13 in 1974. Notes:The Tigers purchased the contract of C Dane Sardinha from Triple-A Toledo. Detroit will need to make another roster move when Farnsworth reports to the club. ... Leyland said RHP Todd Jones may go on the DL. He told the trainer he felt something, Leyland said. ... Indians 2B Asdrubal Cabrera had his first four-hit game. ... It was Franciscos first multihomer game. ... Tigers starter Nate Robertson gave up eight runs and nine hits over three innings. He is 0-2 in seven starts since beating San Diego on June 21. ... Fossum also got out of a no-out bases-loaded jam in the fifth against the Indians on July 9 in an 8-6 win. |
| Shoe Bowl goes on road to BGSU The annual Shoe Bowl football classic is a preseason showcase - with a cause. The latest installment - featuring five schools, including four from the City League - will occur Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. at Bowling Green State University's Doyt Perry Stadium. "The Shoe Bowl is an excellent kickoff to the start of the high school football season as well as a reminder to the community of what the Old Newsboys are about as a charitable organization," said Laurie Renz-Gast, this year's Old Newsboys Goodfellow Association president and the third member of her family to hold the position. "We are extremely proud of the tradition that the Shoe Bowl represents and are thankful to BCSN and Columbia Gas for their leadership roles in making this event the success that it is." Start, Woodward, St. John's Jesuit, Scott and Northwood are competing in this year's offering, which will be held for the first time at BGSU. The pairings are Start-Northwood, Start-Woodward, Northwood-Woodward and Scott-St. John's. As in previous years, each game will last one 15-minute quarter. Normal game rules will be in effect and the only adjustment to the rules is the defensive units will not be allowed to rush the kickers or punters. The Old Newsboys, which was founded in 1929, is one of the Toledo area's longtime charitable organizations. Its focus is to provide shoes and coats for children in need. The Old Newsboys have raised $7 million for kids and families in need in northwest Ohio. The Shoe Bowl has been an annual high school event dating to 1942. After roughly a 15-year lapse without hosting the event, the Old Newsboys resurrected the Shoe Bowl three years ago as a preseason affair. "The Shoe Bowl, along with our annual high school football player of the year award and girls high school basketball player of the year award, is a great opportunity for us to generate awareness for our organization while recognizing some of our area's athletes for their accomplishments in their sport," said Jay Gast, co-chairman of this year's event. "High school sports are so popular in our community and the Old Newsboys sponsorship of these types of activities allows us to get the message out about our charity relief efforts as well as attracting new membership." Admission is free, but donations will be accepted at all entrances to the stadium. - Donald Emmons |
| Mud Hens too aggressive on bases in loss to Indianapolis The new aggressive offense of the Mud Hens came up short in a 2-1 loss to Indianapolis at Fifth Third Field last night. Toledo put nine men on base against starter Tom Gorzelanny and the Indians' bullpen, more than enough to score more than once. But several assertive baserunning moves backfired, and a 1-for-12 effort with runners in scoring position sealed the Hens' sixth loss in the last nine games. "We got some guys in scoring position," Mud Hens manager Larry Parrish said. "But we had a couple of times where we had runners on third and we couldn't get them in." One of those times came in the bottom of the first, when Freddy Guzman reached on an error and quickly stole second before Clete Thomas popped out. Guzman stole third and, with the infield in close, was thrown out at the plate on Brent Clevlen's slow roller to second. "I told [Guzman] to read the ball," Parrish said. "If it was hit hard I wanted him to stay, and if it was hit soft I wanted him to go. "It was hit off the end of the bat, but it was hit right to [Josh Wilson]. If [Wilson] had to take one step to the right or left, it would have worked." Wilson admitted that he didn't think he would be able to throw Guzman out. "[Guzman] is really fast, so I knew my release would have to be quick," Wilson said. "[Indians catcher Carlos] Maldonado did a real nice job with the tag to keep that run from scoring. "It wasn't a textbook play, but I'm fortunate things worked out to our advantage." Guzman's speed gave the Hens a run in the sixth. With one out he singled, then stole his way to third on Gorzelanny's first two pitches to Thomas. Guzman, who finished with four stolen bases on the night and is tied for the International League lead with 39, trotted home when Thomas doubled into the left-center gap. But when Clevlen hit a grounder to third, Thomas was thrown out trying to advance in what Parrish called a questionable baserunning decision. "It was just the wrong time to go," Parrish said. "The third baseman caught the ball moving toward [Thomas] and pushed him back towards third. "The old saying is, you don't make the third out at third base." The Hens had chances in both the eighth and ninth, getting two runners on base in both innings. But Toledo hitters struck out in four of their last five at-bats with runners in scoring position. The only reason the game remained close was because Indianapolis was struggling to mount any offense against Toledo's Yorman Bazardo. The Indians' first run came in the fifth, when Wilson launched his fifth home run of the season just over the fence in left-center. The Tribe's winning run came in the seventh, when Bazardo gave up a double off the right-field wall to Wilson with two outs, and Wilson scored on a single by Luis Cruz. "[Bazardo] had two outs, and instead of getting the ball away from the batter he overcranked and instead threw it up-and-in," Parrish said of Wilson's double. Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com or 419-724-6481. MIAMI - A deal that would send Manny Ramirez to Florida may be a long shot, but Marlins president David Samson didn't rule it out yesterday, less than 24 hours before the trade deadline. On his weekly radio show, Samson addressed reports the Marlins are discussing a trade to acquire Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox. "The Marlins always seem to be in the middle of everything," Samson said on WAXY-AM. "It takes two to tango. We're looking everywhere. We're making calls. We're getting calls. But we're not going to be stupid." Asked specifically if a deal for Ramirez was possible, Samson said, "I've always told you everything is possible. There are all sorts of crazy things. There's no way to say which trades are going to happen." Ramirez makes nearly as much as the Marlins' entire roster - he's in the final guaranteed year of his eight-year, $160 million contract. The Red Sox have options for each of the next two seasons at $20 million. The Marlins' payroll of $22 million is by far the smallest in the majors. They've been one of the most surprising teams in the majors and went into yesterday's play only two games behind the NL East-leading New York Mets, and 1 1/2 games behind second-place Philadelphia. Ramirez's often turbulent relationship with the Red Sox took a new twist Sunday when he said, "I'm tired of them. They're tired of me." But there's a good chance the Red Sox will keep him. And Samson said the Marlins may stand pat with confidence they have "as good a chance to win the division as the Mets and Phillies." |
| Wathan penalty leaves bench thin Mud Hens infielder Derek Wathan was suspended for two games by the International League yesterday as a result of an incident that took place in Toledo's win over Indianapolis Tuesday. Wathan was not on the bench for last night's contest and also will not be available for today's game after his "aggressive behavior and contact with an International League umpire," according to the IL. The ejection was sparked by Wathan's at-bat in the seventh inning Tuesday. Wathan pulled a pitch down the right-field line into the Roost that originally was called fair by first-base umpire David Rackley, a call that was overruled by home-plate umpire Pete Pederson. "I know it was a tough call, because I was at first base at the time and I couldn't tell," Wathan said of the call. "The first-base ump had the best view, and he was closer than anyone, so I thought it would stand. "They overturned it because apparently the guy at home plate had a better view, and that doesn't make any sense at all - he's about 100 yards further away from the play." But Wathan wasn't ejected then; the play that caused the ejection came with the Hens in the field in the eighth. Toledo pitcher Clay Rapada picked Andrew McCutchen off first, and first baseman Jeff Larish forced the runner towards second. Larish threw the ball to Wathan, who tried to sweep-tag McCutchen as he ran past, but third-base ump David Uyl ruled McCutchen safe. "After that, I lost my cool and it was a mess," Wathan admitted. "I didn't think the ump [who made the call] had the best view, because I was between him and the runner." Wathan is the second Mud Hen suspended this year. The first was manager Larry Parrish, who received a four-game suspension for arguing a home-run-ruled-foul-ball in mid-June. But Wathan said he thinks the number of ejections these days is fewer than in years past. "When you see the old clips of the '70s and '80s, I think it [ejecting players] was more predominant then," Wathan said. "Earlier in the year it was the same kind of deal - they overturned a call when the guy who made the call had the best angle. "I can understand it if there's a circumstance where an ump said he was blocked by a player or something like that, but to overturn it in this circumstance doesn't make sense." EMPTY BENCH: An unintended result of Wathan's ejection was the Mud Hens were left with no one on the bench yesterday. Before the game the parent Tigers promoted catcher Dane Sardinha to replace Pudge Rodriguez following the trade with the Yankees. Wathan was suspended, and shortstop Danny Worth was not available because of continued shoulder problems. "Obviously I regret [the suspension] - especially now, since we're thin," Wathan said. "The last thing I want to do is make our team thin. Hopefully we can get through it." Parrish said Worth will have an MRI on his shoulder today, and his status is uncertain. Parrish said that pitcher Chris Lambert would have been used had the Hens needed another hitter or position player, and that outfielder Freddy Guzman would have caught if Max St-Pierre had been injured. Batting practice pitcher Joe Hall, a former Mud Hen, served as the team's bullpen catcher yesterday. The Mud Hens will get catcher Dusty Ryan from Double-A Erie today to replace Sardinha. Ryan has hit .251 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs in 82 games for the SeaWolves. THREE-DOT DATA: Timo Perez singled in the ninth to extend his current hit streak to 12 games. Last night's crowd of 8,981 was the 200th sellout in Fifth Third Field history. The full house was the Hens' 25th this year. Oak Harbor's Wade Ishmael claimed the title in the finals of the Mud Hens' home run derby following yesterday's game. |
| Lima engine plant wins 2 new models; to add jobs LIMA - Ford Motor Corp. will add more than 200 jobs to its 50-year-old engine plant in Lima as it ramps up production of sedans and crossovers like the Edge and Flex. Plans call for the plant to begin producing so-called D35 engines for the Dearborn, Mich., automaker in the fourth quarter. Ford spokesman Angie Kozleski said the jobs would be offered first to workers laid off from other Ford plants. "We're working through the details right now but expect our plans to be in place in the fourth quarter," she said. "We do have an excess work force right now. We are offering buyouts to employees in many locations, so we'll pull employees from other plants to add to this location." The plant will build two engines, a 3.5-liter V6 for the Ford Edge and Taurus and the Lincoln MKZ and upcoming MKY, and a 3.7-liter V6 for the new Ford Flex and Lincoln MKS crossovers. Currently, the 2.4 million-square-foot plant produces Ford's Duratech 35 and Vulcan V6 engines. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority on Monday approved a seven-year, 60 percent tax credit for the automaker to add 219 full-time jobs on a third shift at its engine plant in Allen County's Bath Township. Built in the mid-1950s, the plant originally produced V8 engines for the Ford Edsel. It currently has more than 750 employees. According to the Ohio Department of Development, the new jobs would have an average wage of $25 an hour. A spokesman for United Auto Workers Local 1219, which represents hourly workers at the plant, could not be reached for comment. The plant won the additional work despite its productivity dropping 34 percent during 2007 to an average of 4.03 hours per engine, according to respected industry analyst Ron Harbour, whose annual Harbour report measuring auto industry productivity was released last month. Contact Larry P. Vellequette at: lvellequette@theblade.com or 419-724-6091 |
| Fiberglass reinforces Owens Corning earnings in quarter Strong overseas demand for fiberglass from makers of windmills, bridges, and other products helped insulate quarterly financial results at Owens Corning from turmoil in the housing market. To help meet growing world demand for fiberglass, executives said they will double capacity at a Gous-Khrustalny, Russia, plant. "I am pleased with our second-quarter performance," Mike Thaman, chairman and chief executive officer, said in a written statement. Profit rose to $31 million, or 24 cents a share, in the three-month period ended June 30. That was up from $29 million, or 22 cents a share, at the same time last year. The average of five analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg News Service was for earnings of 21 cents a share. Quarterly sales grew to $1.6 billion from $1.3 billion in 2007 in a development largely attributed to the purchase late last year of fiberglass production operations of France's Saint-Gobain SA, a longtime rival. That move helped offset a continuing slump in sales of products supplied to home builders. Executives now say the company will make at least $265 million before interest and taxes in 2008, compared with a previous forecast of $240 million. The firm's shares rose $2.14, or 9 percent, to $26.64 in trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Nearly 4.5 million shares, or three times usual volume, exchanged hands. Sales of insulation fell 6 percent to $413 million during the second quarter from $441 million in the prior-year period. Pre-tax profit, excluding interest payments, plunged to $7 million from $42 million. Faux stone took an even bigger hit, with sales slipping 21 percent to $69 million from $87 million. The unit booked a pre-tax loss, excluding interest, of $5 million, compared with a profit of $7 million in the second quarter of 2007. Roofing and asphalt-product sales climbed 15 percent to $475 million in the period from $414 million in 2007 as a result of higher prices and more storm-related home repairs. "Weakness in the U.S. housing market will continue to affect demand for Owens Corning's residential insulation products throughout 2008," executives warned. In contrast, fiberglass sales- mostly as a result of the acquisition- climbed 70 percent in the quarter to $660 million from $389 million. Pre-tax profit, excluding interest expenses, nearly tripled to $71 million from $26 million. Work at the Russian plant, formerly part of Saint-Gobain, is to begin this year and be completed in 2009. Demand for fiberglass is growing more than 10 percent a year in the nation. The factory also supplies other nations in Europe and the Middle East. In another development, officials said the company repurchased 1 million shares of its stock at an average price of $23.55 each during the second quarter. That leaves nearly 131 million shares outstanding. Contact Gary Pakulski at: gpakulski@theblade.com or 419-724-6082. |
| Owens Illinois profits rise 54% in quarter Owens Illinois Inc. said yesterday that higher prices helped boost profits from bottle sales by 54 percent in the second quarter. The Perrysburg firm, which is a major supplier to breweries and distilleries worldwide, said it made $231 million, or $1.33 a share, in the period. That compared with $150 million, or 92 cents a share, in the prior-year period. Quarterly sales increased to $2.2 billion from $2 billion. The firm conceded that it sold fewer bottles. The revenue growth was largely attributable to price increases, sale of more high-end bottles, lower interest payments, and the weakness of the U.S. dollar against currencies where O-I operates, it said. Al Stroucken, chairman and chief executive officer, said officials expect 2008 to be a record year. "Our strong results this quarter and for the first half of 2008 are further affirmation of the validity of our strategies " he said in a written statement. Increased raw-material costs and a slowing world economy will make the second half of the year challenging, he added. The firm released the financial results after the close of stock markets. Shares closed at $48.06, up 23 cents, in trading on the New York Stock Exchange. |
| The Andersons boosts years profit forecast The Andersons Inc. raised its earnings forecast for 2008 yesterday, saying it expects to make $5 to $5.40 a share. That compares to previous expectations of $4.40 to $4.80 a share. The increase is mostly attributable to improved performance of the Maumee agribusiness firms fertilizer unit, officials said. The company is to release its second-quarter earnings Aug. 7. Also that day, executives will discuss the results and profit trends in a conference call with analysts and investors. |
| GM to cut 5,000 jobs from salaried ranks DETROIT - General Motors Corp. plans to cut its U.S. salaried work force by 15 percent, eliminating about 5,000 jobs by year's end as part of a plan to cut costs by $10 billion by the end of 2009, company officials said yesterday. The company already has announced significant cuts toward its restructuring. On July 15, the company disclosed a plan to save $10 billion. Part of the plan was suspension of its quarterly dividend. GM has lost money the last three years, and record gasoline prices and a weakening economy may extend that streak this year. Also part of the July 15 announcement was the plan to cut its white-collar costs by more than 20 percent including eliminating health care coverage for salaried retirees eligible for Medicare and raises for salaried employees through 2009. Those moves will save the company $1.5 billion. In total, the Detroit Three automakers are trimming nearly 10,000 white-collar jobs this year in addition to the more than 25,000 eliminated since 2000 in North America. GM has about 32,000 U.S. salaried workers. It also plans to cut 15 percent of its Canadian salaried work force and plans to complete those job cuts also by the end of the year. Offers to leave the company voluntarily are expected to be made in the next month or so, with a probable decision deadline of October. GM sales fell 18.5 percent in June and are off 16.5 percent for the year. The company is to report second-quarter earnings tomorrow. |
| Alyson Stoner goes upside down and straight to DVD "...as human beings we are capable of making sense of situations based on the thinnest slice of experience." Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point. THURSDAY, JULY 31 WHERE'S ALYSON: Toledo actress Alyson Stoner has a new straight-to-DVD movie that was released yesterday - Alice Upside Down. Luke Perry and Penny Marshall help the effort. Check out Ryan E. Smith's review. (RL) GIRLIE MEN? With Ultimate Fighting and even the women of the WNBA duking it out, is baseball losing its grit? Some die-hard baseball fans are begging the powers that be to dump the pitch count. Let the big guys go ahead and finish their games.Sign the petition. (KC) TWO-FACED: Totally Looks Like will take two photos and without mercy reveal some pretty funny combinations. Bono and Robin Williams, Sisqo and Donkey Kong, James Hetfield and Cowardly Lion. (KC) WEDNESDAY, JULY 30 BOOM-DE-AH-DAH, BOOM-DE-AH-DAH: Can't get going this morning? Get some . . . I Love the World with the Discovery Channel and Stephen Hawking. Then find Mike Rowe, Bear Grylls, the Deadliest Catch captains, Mythbusters, and Cash Cab's Benjamin Bailey sing their version. (KC) WHO CAN RESIST a band named Natalie Portman's Shaved Head ? They'll be at Frankie's Inner City on Friday night in Toledo showing off their quirky blend of pop and alt-rock. (RL) TUESDAY, JULY 29 WHEN WILL THEY LEARN? Another radio "shock jock," another offensive comment, and more controversy: this time it's Michael Savage yammering about autism that has sponsors pulling their ads. (RL) WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: El Caminito Del Rey (The Kings Pathway) is the pathway above the El Chorro gorge, near Alora in Malaga, Spain. Intense. The construction of this walkway was finished in 1905 and not much maintenance has been performed since. See if you can get through this 6:25 video without grabbing the arms of your office chair. (KC) IF YOU'RE BORED WITH THE OLYMPICS: Wife Carrying leads this list of the World's 10 Silliest Sporting Events. Goat Polo and Dog-Surfing failed to make the Top 5. (RS) START MAKING SENSE: Alternative rock granddaddies David Byrne and Brian Eno are back together for a new album and tour, which should bring some fresh sounds to a music scene that's been a bit stale. (RL) MONDAY, JULY 28 TRACK HOW Brett Favre and his suitors are screwing up the odds for Super Bowl XLIII. The Detroit Lions will probably remain 80-1 regardless of how the Favre sweepstakes turns out. (KC) BE THE FIRST on your block to sport the new GPS with Knight Rider, which includes the stylings of voice actor William Daniels from the 1980s TV show. You will be tempted to begin getting lost on purpose, just so you could hear KITT make an announcement. (RS) WHO SAID IT: Bush or Batman? Can you guess which of these quotes - provided by Philadelphia sketch group, Secret Pants - belong to our president, George W. Bush, and which belong to Batman from his 1960s TV series? (RS) BARACK OBAMA's warmup acts at his recent Berlin speaking engagement were reggae artist Patrice and Reamonn, two very popular acts in Germany. (KC) THIN SLICING Have some Thin Slices to contribute or comment on? Rod Lockwood Kevin Cesarz |
| Restaurant review: Del Taco '' Most Toledoans likely remember Krispy Kreme, the national chain that served delectable glazed doughnuts on Secor Road in the Westgate area from 2003 until financial problems forced its closing in 2006. But does anyone recall G.D. Ritzys Restaurant, which flourished for a short time in the mid-1980s? How about Top Hat burgers in the late 80s? T. J. Cinnamons Bakery & Yogurt in the early 90s? Or Friscos Delicatessen in the mid-90s? These were chains that set up shop in the same Secor Road building that Krispy Kreme occupied. They, too, hoped to settle in for the long run, only to fold amid the thriving shopping area that surrounded them. Now comes Del Taco, a national Tex-Mex chain that seeks to break the spell. A fast-food operation that opened last March on the same Secor Road plot, the taco-burrito-burger eatery certainly has its work cut out. Not only is metro Toledo teeming with popular local Mexican cantinas, but Del Taco is bumping up against Taco Bell, which easily withstood previous challenges from the likes of Kokopelli and Sol Caliente, two fast-food Tex-Mex chains that seemed to close in less time than it takes to say Vamos! With 500 U.S. outlets, the 44-year-old Del Taco calls itself the countrys second largest Mexican restaurant chain, the first obviously being Taco Bell, which claims more than 5,800 restaurants and franchises. The food at both places is similar fair to middling, inexpensive, and quickly prepared. The menu differences at Del Taco include several breakfast dishes such as egg and cheese burritos and bacon and egg quesadillas, along with a choice of three cheeseburgers and crinkle-cut fries. As with so many fast-food restaurants, orders at Del Taco are placed and paid for at the counter where, more likely than not, the order-taker will ask, What meal would you like to try today? in hopes of getting you to spring for one of a dozen somewhat more expensive combo meals among the tacos, burritos, nachos, salads, and shakes. On our visits, we found the double Del cheeseburger to be good for the price ($2.59), though ordering it medium-rare seemed laughable in retrospect the patties are too thin for such cooked-to-order nonsense. The beef tacos ($0.69-$1.99), hard or soft, arent bad, and the 99-cent soft chicken taco with mole sauce had a nice tang. The first fish taco I ever tried was in Mexico, and it was awful two or three pinches of minced fish so Del Tacos $1.79 crispy fish taco was a feast in comparison, with a small fillet seasoned with salsa over shredded cabbage, cream sauce, and lime. I wanted to try the shrimp taco but was told its been discontinued. Among a bakers dozen of burritos, the one-pound macho combo ($3.99) offered up beef and the restaurants much-touted slow-cooked beans in a soft taco, which was filling enough. But the too-finely ground beef, mixed with beans that are mashed in the manner of refried, robbed the burrito of texture and all-important mouth-feel. Contact Bill of Fare at fare@theblade.com |
| DVD review: Alyson Stoners movie formulaic but charming I have to fess up: The first thing I thought when I saw the DVD cover of the new tween comedy Alice Upside Down was, Hey, Luke Perrys still working! Adults out there might have the same reaction for Penny Marshall of Laverne & Shirley fame, who joins the former Beverly Hills, 90210, heartthrob with a supporting role in this independent film that was released on DVD Tuesday by Anchor Bay Entertainment ($19.97). For young viewers, though, the draw will be two promising young actors, Lucas Grabeel of the smash hit High School Musical and Alyson Stoner, a Toledo native who has steadily made a name for herself in Hollywood. The 14-year-old girl with a cherubic face is already an old pro, having appeared as a dancer in music videos for Missy Elliot and Eminem and having acted in several high-profile movies, including Cheaper by the Dozen and the recent Disney Channel musical Camp Rock . Alice Upside Down is Stoners first real chance to play the star. She is the center of attention here as she portrays Alice McKinley, a pratfall-prone sixth grader who cant seem to get anything right at a new school. The story is drawn from the Alice book series by Newbery medalist Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Over the years, those books have found themselves on the American Library Associations list of most frequently challenged books for sexual content and offensive language, but theres not a trace of anything objectionable here. This is family-friendly fare with lots of laughs mixed into a tale about trying to fit in and maintaining a family unit after mom is gone. When Alice moves to a new town with her widowed father (Perry) and brother (Grabeel), she not only has to figure out the awkward challenges of tween life, including how to deal with her notoriously stern teacher (Marshall), but shes forced to face the prospect of dad dating again too. The movie approaches all of this with bubble-gum charm, and Stoner leads the way with her Bambi eyes and zest for the role. Her characters faux pas, most notably as a singer and dancer in the school musical, are made even more enjoyable because of the actress real-life talent she sang the movies opening song and has danced for the American Music Awards and The Tonight Show. Some of the sequences where Alice imagines a more confident, glamorous version of herself are a little clunky, and the plot can be formulaic and Disneyesque, but Alice Upside Down will no doubt find a happy fan base. Stoner has fun throughout, Grabeel steals a number of scenes and laughs with his goofy charisma, and Perry does his best to seem cool. There are a few extras on the DVD too, including an interview with Stoner in which she comes off well-spoken and mature, even if its too short to provide much depth. Maybe thats the way it should be, though, leaving at least a little mystery for when this local girl really makes it big. Shes got a great start. Contact Ryan E. Smith at: ryansmith@theblade.com or 419-724-6103. |
| Julie Roberts second act: Country singer plans to put her heart in new album Every once in a while life smacks you upside the head. Julie Roberts got smacked upside the head. Amazingly, shes OK with that. Roberts was one of the most talked about new artists in Nashville in 2004 after releasing Break Down Here. The hit was a spark for her self-titled debut album, sending it to gold status with sales of more than 500,000 copies. The song was special, but it was her story that captivated country fans. She was the assistant to Mercury Records label head Luke Lewis, who didnt even know she could sing. When he heard a demo of a female singer, he fell in love with her voice. Turns out it was Roberts voice. Unfortunately for Roberts, the momentum generated by her first album didnt carry over to her sophomore album, Men & Mascara, which failed to chart a single. I feel like I did what I could do. Sometimes your stars line up, she said in a telephone interview. I try not to get down about it. In my mind, I made a great record. I have a lot of faith that this is what Im supposed to do. Shes not blaming anyone. You always want to be at the top of the charts, especially when this is your life, and its what you live for, she says. You might not know now, but a year from now, something great might happen, and it will all make sense. If anything, stepping back from the spotlight has had some benefits. Shes been able to catch up with her family, which was almost impossible a couple years ago. Shes been working out a lot and taking acting lessons. She hints that there could be something breaking on the acting front in the near future. Right now you can see her on the front of Red Baron pizza boxes. The company is sponsoring a sweepstakes and a private concert with Roberts is the grand prize. More importantly, the slowdown in her career has allowed her to focus on what she really loves to do write music. Im working really hard on my next album. Im writing most of it and making sure its something I can be proud of. This time around, shes working with producer Marcus Hummon, whos best known for writing Rascal Flatts No. 1 hit God Bless the Broken Road. If the schedule works out right, she should have a new song on radio by the end of the year, and the album should be in stores by the first part of next year. Shes particularly excited about Mamma Said Dont, a song she wrote that can be heard on her MySpace page, www.myspace.com/julieroberts. I always have a mama song on my records because shes so close to me. Its a true story about mama telling you not to do something and you do it anyway. In the second verse, it talks about this guy I dated in high school. She said he was wrong for me. She was right. Is she a little anxious about getting back on radio? Sure. Is the South Carolina native losing sleep over it? Nah. I just think the music is going to speak for itself. If you know of a book that has guidelines for the 10 ways to get on the radio, let me know, she said, chuckling. I really believe this is what my destiny is. Im going to do my part and work hard. I dont see myself doing anything else. This is why I moved to Nashville. Julie Roberts will be performing at 8:45 p.m. tomorrow at the Smoke on the Water Ribs for the Red Cross event at Promenade Park. Local and national BBQ vendors will be on site. Admission is $3. Children 12 and under are free. Admission on Friday is free before 5 p.m. Contact Brian Dugger at:bdugger@theblade.com. |
| Movie review: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Empire ' The third Mummy installment dutifully sends its characters to China where they participate in international competitions of zombie fencing, yeti vaulting and synchronized senselessness. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which opens at midnight tonight in Toledo, finds Rick OConnell (Brendan Fraser) and wife Evelyn (Maria Bello taking over for Rachel Weisz) heading East in hopes of recapturing the adrenaline of adventure. Theyre retired following World War II, apparently living richly off of the $800 million worldwide box office of the first two Mummy films. The OConnells are British aristocrat-adventurers who have retired too young and are begging to get back in the mummy-slaying game. The film, directed by Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious) who takes the franchises reins from Stephen Sommers, opens with our historical backdrop: a ludicrously extravagant tale of a mythic battle between good and evil played out in ancient China, as a narrator informs. Egypt, it appears, no longer has the trademark on mummies. Jet Li plays the Dragon Emperor, an emphatically bad dude who in 200 B.C. as this film tells it built the Great Wall of China on top of thousands of servants worked to death. In his search for immortality, hes tricked and he and his army are mummified in a giant tomb. A few thousands years later, enter the OConnells grown son Alex (Luke Ford). Its been seven years since The Mummy Returns and fans will surely be surprised that their hero (Fraser, whos 39 in real life) has already ceded ground to a younger actor. (Harrison Fords archaeologist action star has yet to cede to this progeny.) Alex is just as intrepid as his parents. He uncovers the tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which has been styled on a real archaeological find: Chinas Teracotta Army, the thousands of clay soldiers found in 1974. Theyve here been reimagined as mummies frozen in time, complete with mummy horses. If this sounds absurd, it is. Like recent films such as 300 or the new Indiana Jones, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor uses history like a prop a loose costume for ludicrous plot lines. These movies revel in telling ancient tales, but dodgy history doesnt lead to anything but myths. Younger generations are going to have some funky ideas about the past. Alexs big find, as you might imagine, leads to considerable trouble that eventually unlocks further mysteries, such as a trio of yetis (theyre actually kind of cool) and Shangri-La. Theres an impressive chase scene through nighttime Shanghai and a giant battle sequence between thousands who have been raised from dead. (It looks a lot like the climax of the 1992 cult fave Army of Darkness without the comedy.) The action is so relentless that Fraser has little room for any real comic work, which is a shame. He has to utter at one point: Here we go again! With the jawline of a matinee idol but the geeky clumsiness to make him interesting, Fraser seemed poised for a more mature career after his performances in 1998s Gods and Monsters and 2002s The Quiet American. But this summer, hes packed the double whammy of the 3-D Journey to the Center of the Earth and this third Mummy a combination that deserves a penance of at least a dozen indie films. Ford may have the bangs to be Frasers heir apparent, but he has nothing else to supply. Isabella Leong is relatively forgettable as his love interest. Ultimately, theres something fitting to todays Hollywood about a 9-year-old franchise devoted to raising grotesques from the dead. One of Frasers upcoming projects, after all, reunites him with Sommers for G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra. Hollywood could learn from the Mummy series: better to leave it buried. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, a Universal Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for violence and gore, and for some language. Running time: 112 minutes. |
| Black Keys resists star status Dont always believe what you read about the Black Keys. Since the Akron-based duo Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney first started jamming together in high school, theyve risen to reign over the indie rock scene with their trademark gritty blues-based recordings that play like dusty 1970s B-sides. Theyve resisted rocks ultimate sin of selling out by avoiding major record label manipulation. Until their fifth and latest album, Attack and Release which was recorded in Painesville, Ohio, and coarsely polished by producer Brian Danger Mouse Burton of Gnarls Barkley the pair defended their affinity for recording in basements and warehouses by producing their own cuts. Maybe thats why they get a kick out of faking out the mainstream media. Prepare to be laughed at if you ask about the piles of retro jogging suits they told Maxim magazine in June they collect on tour. We like to make up stories when we talk to the magazines. Usually when we do interviews together, we totally lie, Auerbach said in a recent solo phone interview. Theyll stop at Toledo Civic Theatre at the Erie Street Market downtown Saturday, on a tour that has them selling out clubs in New York City and Chicago and playing major summer music festivals like Lollapalooza. Tickets for their Toledo show are $25 at the door. Their story began when Auerbach was 15 years old and the pair started playing together. Auerbachs uncle had just taught him to play guitar, and he would tote his instrument and amplifier around the corner to Carneys house. With Carney on drums, they would capture jams on a cassette four-track in his basement. I knew I loved it, but I didnt know I could actually do it, Auerbach said of playing music. I was completely enamored and completely in love, but it wasnt until I picked up one of my uncles guitars that I actually thought about doing that, you know? Auerbach sent 13 demos to independent record labels before finding a taker. They put out their first digital label-backed record, The Big Come Up, in 2002. One of the only ones that even responded to us said, We dont even need to hear you guys play, just send us your songs and well put out your record, he said. The album got a mention in Rolling Stone, and the rest is history. Its all a blur. The 2003 follow-up, Thickfreakness, was recorded in 12 hours and earned the Black Keys a mention in Time magazine as one of the years best bands. Rubber Factory, released in 2004, was recorded as a digital-analog hybrid in an abandoned tire factory in Akron. After another digital album, Magic Potion in 2006, with a video of the digital track Your Touch as the album single, the duo found themselves with consistent commercial opportunities. The single later became a Lee jeans commercial. Girl is on My Mind was used in a Sony Ericsson cell phone commercial and a Victorias Secret commercial featuring Heidi Klum. When we came back from our tour and we werent in the red (laughs) thats how we knew wed made it, Auerbach said of their worldwide commercial success. Its really weird, being in the airport in London and getting recognized or to be in Australia or Los Angeles and get recognized. I dont know, I guess its OK. He praised the work of Burton, who goes as Danger Mouse for his part in the hip-hop group Gnarls Barkley, who produced Attack and Release Hes creative, but hes a musician, really. So it was great, a musician turned tricks musically, Auerbach said. Having Brian really was great. Because certain bands need certain different levels of production, you know what I mean? I think Pat and I really have a good sense of who we are, what we like, what we need to sound like. We kind of know when weve got to take the controls. The disc was recorded at Suma Recording Studio on a console the studios owner built with his dad in 1973. The studios acoustics seem to capture Auerbachs vocals more fully than any other previously released recording and though the album still feels gritty, the duo sounds better than ever with background vocals and minimal affects. As more of their songs showed up on movie soundtracks and video games and even as rock legends joined the growing chorus of praise the iconic Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin fame has told Rolling Stone he digs the band the Black Keys still encourage fans to make bootleg recordings of their live shows and are now using their popularity to bolster other indie acts as producers. Carney has his own label, Audio Eagle, as Auerbach wrangles new talent such as the Buffalo Killers or Black Diamond Heavies into his own recording studio, Akron Analog. One of his acts, Jessica Lea Mayfield, who he describes as a sort of dark southern gothic songwriter from Kent, Ohio, sang the background vocals on the only track Auerbach wrote solo, the soulful Things Aint Like They Used to Be. She will tour with the band in September. But dont forget those jogging suits. Auerbach still resists rock star status with dripping sarcasm. Revealing nothing about plans for The Black Keys next album expected to begin recording this year, he wont hint whether the act will return to self-production or continue to lay tracks in Ohio. Im not going to give that away. His favorite song to play live? The Star Spangled Banner. The Black Keys will play at the Toledo Civic Theatre at the Erie Street Market downtown Saturday. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 at the door and $20 in advance at all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone 419.474.1333, www.ticketmaster.com, and Culture Clash and Ramalama Records. Contact Bridget Tharp at btharp@theblade.com or 419-724-6061. |
| 5 bands named Blade 'Battle winners Five bands have been selected as winners in The Blades inaugural Battle of the Bands contest including two that will open for Ted Nugent and Bo Bice at The Andersons Northwest Ohio Rib-Off next weekend at the Lucas County Fairgrounds in Maumee. There were co-winners in the pop/rock category: Chris Shutters and the band Empire Drift. Rodney Parker & Liberty Beach were the winners in the country category; Its Essential, in the R&B, jazz, blues category, and Katie and Pat in the solo/duo contest. Shutters will open for Nugent on Aug. 8 of the Rib-Off, and Empire Drift will open for Bo Bice on Aug. 7. Rodney Parker was set to open for Gary Allan at the Rib-Off, but had to cancel because of a scheduling conflict. A total of 111 musical acts participated in the Battle of the Bands, said Dan Gallerno, The Blades marketing manager. The number was narrowed to 21 semi-finalists; a seven-judge panel picked the winners. The winners and some of the top bands will be featured on a compilation CD. In addition, a showcase concert for the acts that are on the disc will be scheduled at a later date, he said. Gallerno said hed like to take some of the things he learned from this first-time contest and apply them to another one next year. We have some bugs to work out, he said. Wed like to do it again and improve on it next year. |
| Jazzman finds musical voice in tenor sax Call it swing or bebop, or swinging bebop, but Ernie Krivda said such labels really dont tell the story. Its safer to call it jazz, because thats a term big enough to cover the diversity of musical styles this tenor saxophonist from Cleveland will perform. Krivda, who will be in concert tomorrow and Saturday night at Murphys Place, started studying the clarinet at age 6, switched to alto saxophone at 16, and found his instrument of choice with the tenor sax at age 18. He was the leader of the house band at Clevelands famous Smiling Dog Saloon in the early 1970s, where he performed with many of the top names in jazz. We were playing opposite everybody Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Elvin Jones, Cannonball Adderly, Stan Getz, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, I could just go on naming names, Krivda said in an interview this week. His playing caught the attention of Miles Davis, who tried to coax Krivda to join his group. It was a heady offer but Krivda turned it down. It just didnt seem like a good move at the time, he explained. I was in this incredible situation [at the Smiling Dog] and thats when I also started having a group and writing music for it, and that was, like, heaven, he said. Then Miles comes through and this particular band he had was not my favorite, and he was not in really good shape physically, and so all things being as they were, I declined. Krivda said that Adderly, a renowned jazz saxophonist who had become his friend and mentor, advised him to keep an eye open for the right opportunity because as good as the gig was at the Smiling Dog, nothing lasts forever especially in jazz. When Quincy Jones invited Krivda to join his group in the mid-1970s, he accepted and moved to Los Angeles. Krivda later moved to New York City and was quickly signed by Inner City Records. In 1980, Krivda returned to Cleveland, saying it was a place where I could be myself. He now leads groups ranging from the Art of the Trio to the 19-piece Fat Tuesday Big Band. He also serves as artistic director of the Cuyahoga Community College Jazz Studies program and is a clinician for Yamaha saxophones. Although hes not based in the jazz meccas of New York and L.A., living in Cleveland has not slowed Krivdas recording career. He has enjoyed a longtime association with Cadence/CIMP Records and has released a total of 25 albums as a leader since 1977, including eight CDs since 2003. Among his recordings is a 1984 live album taped at the former Rustys Jazz Cafe in Toledo. Ernie Krivda will perform with the Murphys Trio at 9 and 11 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday at Murphys Place, 151 Water St. Admission is $10 and $15, or $6 for students. Information: 419-241-7732 or online at www.murphysplacejazz.com. Contact David Yonke at:dyonke@theblade.comor 419-724-6154. |
| WOOD COUNTY FAIR FOCUSES ON FUN Ava Joy Bowen, 7, of Columbus tries the bungee ride at the Wood County Fair, which runs through Monday at the county fairgrounds on West Poe Road in Bowling Green. Admission to the fair is $5 for adults and children 10 and older, with children under 10 admitted free. Parking is free as well. Hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. today through Saturday and Monday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the concert at 8:30 Saturday night featuring Billy Currington and Jason Michael Carroll is $30 for track seats and $25 for the grandstand, and tickets are available from the fair office. VIEW WOOD COUNTY FAIR |
| Petition filed to change occupancy law in Bowling Green BOWLING GREEN A petition seeking to change the citys occupancy law that limits to three the number of unrelated persons who can live in a single-family home has been filed with the city. City Finance Director Brian Bushong said yesterday the petition will be available for public inspection in his office until Aug. 6. At that time, the petition will be turned over to the Wood County Board of Elections, which will have 10 days to verify the signatures of registered voters and make sure there are at least 805 valid signatures before the initiative can be placed on the November ballot. Organizers of the petition drive, which was led by the Undergraduate Student Government at Bowling Green State University, said they believe the current law unfairly targets college students. Under their proposal, the law would be amended to allow one person to occupy each bedroom in a house provided the total number of unrelated persons in any home is a maximum of four persons. |
| Adrian library closing for electrical upgrades ADRIAN Work to upgrade electrical service at the Adrian Public Library will cause the library to close to the public from Monday through Aug. 9. Library officials expect the building will reopen at 10 a.m. Aug. 11. Canceled during the closing are the Terrific Tuesday program on Tuesday and Summer Storytime on Wednesday. Other summer reading programs have been relocated. Information is available by calling the library or visiting its Web site, www.adrian.lib.mi.us. |
| 11-tenant strip center under consideration in Perrysburg The Perrysburg Municipal Planning Commission tonight will review plans for a commercial development with space for 11 tenants at Eckel Junction Road and Dixie Highway. Rudolph/Libbe Properties Inc. has proposed a 24,700-square-foot strip center anchored by a 10,000-square-foot market. The developer also is seeking approval to build a free-standing Tim Hortons restaurant on the site. Both proposals have been submitted under the name Shoppes at Dixie Junction. The drive-through restaurant is the only tenant named, said Rick Thielen, Perrysburg's planning, zoning, and economic development administrator. The strip center would include space for retail stores and restaurants. The size of its anchor store is appropriate for a specialty grocer, such as a Whole Foods Market, but would be too small for a Kroger or a Wal-Mart, he said. Mr. Thielen has recommended approval for the project. In a report to commission members, he called the design of the proposed strip center "attractive," with varying roof lines, architectural details, and high-quality building materials which includes a mix of brick, cast stone, and split-face block. "It's not just a box," he said. "It meets or exceeds all the design standards for Perrysburg." Vetter Design Group of Toledo is the architect. With convenient access to I-475 and State Rt. 25, developers hope the Shoppes will serve not only the surrounding community but travelers as well as, said Kenneth Hicks, Jr., vice president of retail development for Rudolph/Libbe Properties. The company has an option to buy 12 acres at the southwest corner of the intersection, behind the BP gas station. "What we're trying to do is really create a neighborhood location with access to the freeway customer," he said. As recommended by a traffic study, the developer will add left and right turn lanes on Eckel Junction. That improvement, and others the developer has agreed to, are expected to improve traffic flow, Mr. Thielen said. The proposal being reviewed tonight represents the first phase of a six-part development plan Rudolph/Libbe is pursuing for the property, Mr. Hicks said. The cost for the total project is expected to be about $10 million, and the company hopes to break ground on the first phase in the spring, Mr. Hicks said. Contact Angie Schmitt at: aschmitt@theblade.com or 419-724-6104. |
| Even without Tiger, Bridgestone Invitational not a yawner Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:26:00 EST The undisputed God of Golf is missing, but the Bridgestone Invitational, which begins today on the South course at Firestone Country Club, is still very much a world-class event. |
| Resilience Capital makes key additions Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:06:00 EST The private equity firm has added the former CEOs of Oglebay Norton Co. and Lamson and Sessions to its executive team. |
| D-A-S Construction says it's not target of fed probe Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:47:00 EST The construction company said the Justice Department had advised it that it isn't the subject of the government's investigation into possible corruption in Cuyahoga County government. |
| Center for Community Solutions seeks new chief Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:55:00 EST The center's executive director of four years has stepped down as part of a "mutual agreement" with its board, says interim director John Begala. |
| L.A. officials want to crack down on paparazzi LOS ANGELES The paparazzi keep taking their shots, but not always the kind they're after. Lately it's a jab from a star's bodyguard - or his surfer pals - or the metallic pinch of handcuffs slapped on... |
| Cheech and Chong put aside feud, reunite for comedy tour WASHINGTON Now that their feud is up in smoke, Cheech and Chong are high on plans to reunite for their first comedy tour in more than 25 years. Cheech Marin told AP Radio that he and Tommy Chong "look... |
| 38 Special on target delivering hits CANTON 38 Special vocalist Don Barnes set the scene for the National Ribs Burnoff crowd Wednesday night at the Stark County Fairgrounds. "It's 1984," he said. "You're watching MTV, you've got your par... |
| Layoffs possible for 22,000 California state workers SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The California Department of Motor Vehicles, infamous for its long lines, recently cut in half the wait to get a driver's license. The agency accomplished the feat largely by hiri... |
| At rest while on the way to Timken This 200-foot-long truck had its final rest in a Jackson Township road construction zone Wednesday morning. The journey for its cargo began in Germany and ended a day later than anticipated at Timken ... |
| Timken has a record quarter for sales, earnings CANTON Timken Co. said Wednesday that strong sales in global industrial markets more than offset weak automotive demand and reported record sales and earnings in the second quarter. Sales increased 14... |
| Nissan offering buyouts to Tennessee employees NASHVILLE, Tenn. Nissan North America said Wednesday it will offer buyouts to about 6,000 employees at the company's two Tennessee plants and eliminate a night shift at one plant because rising fuel p... |
| Without fanfare, Bush signs mortgage relief bill WASHINGTON President Bush signed a housing bill Wednesday intended to rescue about 15 percent of the cash-strapped homeowners in fear of foreclosure in the next year or so. Early in the morning and ou... |
| Sauce is boss: Sweet, spicy, smoky samples please palates in taste test CANTON History was made Wednesday at the National Ribs Burnoff at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. For the first time since the event began in 1984, rib sauce was judged on its own... |
| Crime report, July 31 Information for the crime section comes from reports that area law-enforcement agencies provide and Repository staff members collect. CANTON ARREST Bryan K. Boyd, 27, who has no permanent address, was... |
| Woman pleads guilty to role in aggravated murder CANTON Porche Sweet had dinner with the retired financial analyst. She went to his home. She left a door unlocked. She got into his bed. She sent text messages to a friend. All according to plan, her ... |
| Washington left WVU team in May The West Virginia University football program and Kendall Washington parted ways before his arrest last week. The St. Thomas Aquinas High School graduate left the program in May, according to the univ... |
| Cleveland suburb urges patios, not homes SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio - City officials have urged residents looking to buy empty lots around this Cleveland suburb to build gardens, gazebos or patios rather than new homes. Shaker Heights officials ha... |
| Patrol: Ohio highway assaults down 19 percent COLUMBUS, Ohio - By one measure, road rage is on the decline in Ohio. The State Highway Patrol says 156 assaults were reported on state-owned highways and at rest areas during the first half of this y... |
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