Pages of the Press

: Written by Kelly Kaczala; September 02, 2010; Hits: 3163

Oregon will conduct real time tests of its drinking water to monitor results of samples taken by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency last month that showed low levels of a toxin that can cause damage to the liver and nervous system.

“We take this very seriously,” said Oregon Administrator Mike Beazley. “We think our practices appropriately deal with it, and our water has been, and continues to be, safe.”

The Ohio EPA last month conducted three rounds of sampling at 11 public drinking water systems whose source water is drawn from Lake Erie’s western basin, where a large blue-green algae bloom is present. Laboratory analysis last week found very low levels of microcystin, a common algal toxin that can affect the liver, in the finished (treated) water in Oregon, and Carroll Township in Ottawa County.

Microcystin was present in finished water at 0.23 parts per billion (ppb) in Oregon, and 0.16 ppb in Carroll Township. Both are well below the 1.0 ppb drinking water guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO).

: Written by J. Patrick Eaken; September 02, 2010; Hits: 2317

Shane Baumgartner first served in Iraq with the Marine Corps, returned as a civilian contractor and then made his

Marine Corps soldier Shane Baumgartner
with his wife Elizabeth (Wasserman), a Clay
High School graduate, on their wedding day.
(Photo courtesy of Noel Donnell)

third deployment working for the U.S. state department.

On his final excursion, he survived being kidnapped by the enemy and being locked in the trunk of a Humvee.

Baumgartner was a Reconnaissance Marine who recently graduated from the police academy. Today, the veteran is a Northwood firefighter and paramedic. However, Baumgartner does not necessarily like to be called a “hero.”

Baumgartner spoke to over 200 people during the Northwood VFW Post 2984 Veterans Appreciation Day celebration August 21. The event was organized by the post’s appreciation day co-chairpersons Mike Myers and Audrey Caligirui.

In attendance were Baumgartner’s wife Elizabeth (Wasserman) and her grandfather, Noel Donnell, a World War II vet. Donnell was impressed with Baumgartner’s message.

: Written by Kelly Kaczala; September 02, 2010; Hits: 1690

A recreational use water quality advisory posted on the beach of Maumee Bay State Park last month due to high levels of microcystin in the water on Aug. 18 was still in effect by press time last Thursday.

Microcystin is one of several toxins produced by blue green algae blooms. It can affect the liver and nervous system if ingested.

The algae problem plaguing a number of inland lakes across Ohio is primarily the result of runoff from farm field nutrients.

A sample of the water at Maumee Bay State Park on Aug. 18 showed microcystin levels at 577 ppb (parts per billion), almost 29 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation of 20 ppb, according to Dina Pierce, northwest district media coordinator for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. For recreational water, WHO considers microcystin levels of 20 ppb or higher to be a moderate to significant health risk.

“The beach is not closed,” said Pierce. “The algae bloom in the lake and the algal toxin levels can fluctuate greatly day-to-day, even during the course of a day.”

: Written by Tammy Walro; September 02, 2010; Hits: 2000

In the hours after the June 5 tornado, Tom Cluckey was relieved and thankful when he learned that his sister Angie

Lake Athletic Boosters are
conducting a raffle for a
hand-carved white gold and
diamond “Tradesman”
anchor pendant designed
by jeweler Tom Cluckey
and donated by Alan Miller
Jewelers. (Press photo
by Ken Grosjean)

and her family were safe.

The Fisher family, who live just a stone’s throw from where the twister crossed Millbury Road, had some light damage but nothing too bad. “They were very lucky – they had friends who took a direct hit,” said Cluckey, a jeweler at Alan Miller Jewelers in Oregon.

Like many in the tornado’s path, his sister and many of her neighbors had children in Lake Local Schools. “After getting involved in some of the fundraising efforts that were going on, she asked me if there might be anything I could to do to help the Lake district in their efforts to rebuild,” he said.

Cluckey, who had designed a line of jewelry pieces offered at Alan Miller’s to raise funds for restoration of the Johlin Cabin at Pearson Metropark, offered to create a piece to help raise funds for Lake.

“I suggested Angie come up with a design idea, so she and my niece did some research and came up with an anchor because it is a symbol of hope,” Cluckey said.

In an effort to tie the anchor into the theme of Lake’s rebuilding and reconstruction, he deconstructed the shape into different components – the shaft and the chevron.

: Written by Kelly Kaczala; September 02, 2010; Hits: 1577

Oregon City Council recently approved an agreement with Quality Control Inspection, Inc., for $49,146 to provide construction management and inspection services during the construction of the Pearson Park Connector Bikeway Project, which is currently underway.

The 5,300-foot long, 10-foot wide asphalt surface path will extend from Lallendorf to Wynn roads on the north side of Starr Avenue on Pearson Metropark property, according to Public Service Director Paul Roman. The project is funded with a Transportation Enhancement Grant, which pays for 80 percent of construction. The city and the Toledo Area Metroparks will each pay half of the local share for the project. Estimated construction costs for the project is $380,000.

The scope of the project includes a “zig-zag” railroad crossing of the Norfolk Southern Railroad, drainage, pedestrian ramps, pavement markings, storm culverts, grading, seeding, pavement markings, signage, and maintenance of traffic.

“We asked ODOT [Ohio Department of Transportation) if they would allow for construction inspection services to be part of the grant because our bids came in lower on the construction side. ODOT agreed to that,” said Roman.

Council accepted the bid of Diversified Road & Pipe, Inc., Whitehouse, for $288,807.65 last January to construct the path.

The city also has the Municipal Complex Connector bike path, and the Stadium Road bike path.