Is Telflon cookware bad for you?, Local standings, p3 p6 The DELPHOSTelling The Tri-County’s Story Since 1869HERALD 50¢ daily www.delphosherald.com Thursday, February 21, 2013 Delphos, Ohio Upfront Delphos’ first female Relay team sets annual Trivia police officer to retire Challenge The Delphos Union after 33 years of service Bank Relay For Life team will host the 11th annual BY NANCY SPENCER Trivia Challenge at 8 [email protected] p.m. on March 29 at the Delphos Eagles Lodge. DELPHOS — This week Teams consist of eight marks the last for Delphos’ to 10 members who put first female police officer and their heads together to most senior in the depart- answer on paper 10 rounds ment. of questions in a variety of Bev Cross-McNeal has categories. A $10 donation announced her retirement per person is collected. after 33 years of service. To register or for more Police Chief Kyle Fittro Investigator Benjamin Becker detailed information, said she will be greatly contact Doris Neumeier missed at the department. at 419-692-3382; Margie “After more than 33 years Fittro names Becker Rostorfer at 419-692- of personal and profession- 5106; or call the bank al trials, tribulation and tri- at 419-692-2010. umphs, Bev has proven to 2012 ‘Officer of the year’ be an exceptional officer and Information submitted an exceptional human being,” he said. “She is constantly DELPHOS — Investigator Benjamin Becker of the Delphos Sports striving to make the Delphos Police Department has been named 2012 Officer of the Year community a better place to by Delphos Police Chief Kyle Fittro. It is the second time Tourney tickets on sale live and work. She is an indi- Both St. John’s and Becker has been so honored, having also been chosen in 2010. vidual who is strong enough “If it were not for Becker’s unrelenting efforts over the past Jefferson are selling tick- to put the bad guys in jail ets for girls sectional few years, Delphos would be a different city, for the worse. but compassionate and caring Becker personifies what it means to engage in proactive polic- games Saturday night at enough to support the com- ing for the betterment of the community he serves,” Fittro Van Wert and St. John’s munity in numerous other Sgt. Bev Cross-McNeal declared. is playing Crestview in ways.” dard police work of ‘putting hours volunteering in the Becker joined the department as an auxiliary officer in game 1 of Saturday’s girls Cross-McNeal began her the bad guys in jail,’ Bev public school system to help 2002, then transitioned to full time in 2005. Four years later he sectionals (6:15 p.m. tip), career with the police depart- wanted to find other ways to tutor and mentor children was assigned to the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force as a while Jefferson takes on ment as a dispatcher on June further assist the communi- who needed her assistance. narcotics investigator. Since that time, Becker has spearheaded Lincolnview in the nightcap. 18, 1979, while she was com- ty,” Fittro said. “It didn’t take “Bev found this to be many drug investigations to help combat the drug problem It is not a split session and pleting course work at the her long to find her niche. especially rewarding and and all the associated crimes like theft, burglary and domestic gates open at 5:15 p.m. police academy. On Aug. 10, During the early ’80s, she beneficial, even from a police violence. Pre-sale tickets ($6 for 1979, she graduated and nine began volunteering her time standpoint,” Fittro said. “She In 2010, Becker’s investigative work resulted in the arrest adults, $4 for students) will days later was made an auxil- with the Delphos Community found that if she could make of 22 people on 67 felony drug-related charges and four drug be sold for the game in iary patrol officer. She was on Christmas Project. She has positive impacts within houses raided. Last year, his work caused the arrest of 21 the St. John’s High School the auxiliary force from Aug. assisted with the project for younger peoples’ lives, they people on 59 drug-related charges and 12 drug-house raids. Office or at the Jefferson 19, 1979, to Nov. 3, 1979. the last three decades and were less likely to become “These types of drug cases are incredibly time-consuming High School/Administration On Nov. 4, 1979, she made plans to continue helping ‘clients’ of hers as they grew and labor-intensive,” Fittro continued. “Becker made many Building through 1 p.m. history when she was hired with the effort after retire- older.” personal sacrifices in order to accomplish these tasks. [Today] Friday. All children regard- as the first full-time female ment.” Due to her numerous acts Investigator Becker is continuously striving to keep the pres- less of age must have a police officer in Delphos. During the 1990s, Cross- sure on individuals who elect to sell drugs within the City of ticket for tournament games. “In addition to the stan- McNeal spent countless See RETIRE, page 2 Delphos.” On the boys side, Jefferson is selling tickets for its sectional boys game at Wapakoneta versus Allen East (7 p.m.) until noon Tuesday at the high school or Administration Building. St. John’s is selling tickets for its boys game Friday at Parkway until 1 p.m. Friday and its open- ing tourney game at Van Wert versus Fort Jennings (6:15 p.m. Feb. 27) until 1 p.m. that day. Tickets will also be sold from 7-7:30 p.m. Monday. Fort Jennings is also selling tickets for its game versus St. John’s at halftime of the boys varsity game vs. Leipsic Friday (front lobby), during normal office hours Monday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. All tickets will be $6 at the door. Parking is $2. Forecast Kalida names 2013 Homecoming Court Cloudy The Kalida High School 2013 Homecoming Court presided over Saturday’s victory against Van Buren. The court includes, back from left, Ken Friday with Reed, Sarah Verhoff, Joel Zeller, Bailey Dangler, 2012 Queen Erica Brinkman and 2012 King Neil Gerding, Kristi Honigfort, Austin Horstman, Becca freezing Brinkman, Devin Kortokrax, Allison Siebeneck and Grant Unverferth; and front, 2013 Queen Casey Unverferth and 2013 King Dustin Rosselit. The drizzle pos- dance was held on Sunday evening. (Submitted photo) sibly mixed with snow Former student thanks school board and rain in Jennings adapts door buzzer system the morning, for support of science fair project then chance BY STEPHANIE GROVES the resignations of Vanna Abbott effective of drizzle and rain in the after- BY NANCY SPENCER Metabolic Insights. [email protected] at the end of the school year and Coach Jim noon. Snow accumulations [email protected] Her letter states: Buettner from the girls elementary basketball generally less than one half ” … All of the support FORT JENNINGS — The Fort Jennings program. Principal Nicholas Langhals praised inch. Light ice accumulation OTTOVILLE — A former that you, the Ottoville School School Board members addressed an array of both Abbott and Buettner for their enduring possible. Highs around 40. Ottoville Local Schools stu- Board, the Ottoville Local business matters Wednesday. contributions to the school. Mostly cloudy Friday night dent sent a letter of apprecia- High School staff and most In financial news, the board approved “Ms. Abbott will be greatly missed by all,” with a 20 percent chance of tion to school board members of Putnam County gave me to real estate tax advances of $320,000 dur- Langhals spoke with empathy. “The major snow showers. Lows in the for their support with her high continue the progress on my ing the months of January and February. part of her life was spent in this school, at upper 20s. See page 2. school science fair endeavors. science fair project was just Members also were in favor of accepting a basketball games, football games, she will be Ashley Hoehn, now in what I needed to make the variety of donations, including: $210 anony- missed by the students. Coach Buettner gave her third year as a pharma- difference. …” mous donation to the Cheer Fund; $326.58 a lot of years to this school and he will be Index cy major at Ohio Northern Hoehn’s article can be to the Elementary Activities from Box Tops missed. We want to thank him for all he has Obituaries 2 University, was successful in read at www.la-press.com. for Education; $193.85 for Ellison Dies done.” State/Local 3 getting a paper published that The board also accepted from F.J. Community Women’s Club; $50 Approval of the tentative list of seniors Politics 4 was based on her high school the following donations and each to the Building Fund in memory of for graduation was discussed in new busi- Community 5 science fair project on the awards: Cecelia Vorst and Alvera Sakemiller; $115.53 ness. Langhals complimented the soon-to-be Sports 6-7 effects of cinnamon on blood — $250 from Chase Bank to the Elementary Activities from Meijer graduates. Farm 7 glucose values. Her paper, – Ultimate Rewards Program; Community Rewards; $50 to the Athletic “We have 34 seniors graduating and each Classifieds 8 “The Effect of Cinnamomum — $700 from Scholarship Fund from Frank and Denise Sukup in mem- are on track. It’s a very good class that has Television 9 Cassia on Blood Glucose America; ory of Alvera Sakemiller; $35 from Delphos done very well,” he stated enthusiastically.