72º 56º Bellefontaine Examiner
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BELLEFONTAINE EXAMINER Vol. 128 • No. 250 Wednesday, October 9, 2019 75 CENTS BIG WIN FORECAST Tomorrow Raiders clinch at least a share of 72º 56º Mad River title ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE @ www.examiner.org BELLEFONTAINE CITY COUNCIL Replacement of failing tennis court surfaces, addition of pickleball courts being pursued by city parks department for Mary Rutan Park BY NATE SMITH replacement initiative, he said. EXAMINER STAFF WRITER Between tennis and pickleball, Mary [email protected] Rutan Park would have up as many as seven courts under the tentative plans dis- An all-inclusive playground may not be cussed Tuesday. Myers went on to say that the only new addition coming to Mary the process of obtaining estimates for new Rutan Park. surfacing for the tennis courts has begun. A six-figure expansion of recreational Council’s finance committee will begin opportunities including new tennis courts, meeting with department heads Oct. 17. and the addition of pickleball courts will be Other challenges described Tuesday by the discussed as part of next year’s budget parks superintendent included the need to process, Bellefontaine Parks and replace outfield fencing on ball field num- Recreation District Superintendent Kris ber four at Ratleff Park. More, a slide on the Myers reported Tuesday to a regular ses- Ratleff Park playground has been deemed sion of the city council. unsafe, was removed and needs replaced. Myers presented an update on the pub- Surfacing for the handicap-accessible lic green spaces, discussing recent Play at the Peak playground at Mary Rutan improvements to the parks, as well as some Park is slated this week for installation, “challenges we face moving forward,” he Myers said. said. In fact, city council members during the Severe cracking of the concrete surface meeting accepted on second-and-final on the tennis courts at Mary Rutan Park reading an ordinance accepting an Ohio will necessitate a complete replacement of Department of Natural Resources the surface, and that is among challenges Natureworks Grant to expedite the installa- Myers outlined during Tuesday’s meeting. tion of that playground surface. Additionally, the parks superintendent Cost to install that surface on the play- said that “bar none,” the most phone calls ground is estimated to cost about $88,000, he receives are from residents requesting and the ODNR grant reimburses 75 percent installation of a pickleball courts at the city of that expenditure. EXAMINER PHOTO | MANDY LOEHR parks. Up to four pickleball courts could be Severe cracking can be observed at the tennis courts at Mary Rutan Park, 500 E. installed as part as part of the tennis court See PARKS on Page 3 Williams Ave., as pictured this morning. Court denies convicted school shooter's appeal of sentence DAYTON (AP) — An appeals court has denied a con- victed school shooter's sentencing appeal and affirmed his convictions. A three-judge panel of Ohio's Second District Court of Appeals found the trial judge acted properly in Ely Serna’s sentencing. Serna pleaded guilty to charges including attempted murder in the 2017 shooting at West Liberty-Salem High School and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. One teen survived critical injuries. Another had minor injuries. The now 19-year-old Serna’s attorney argued the judge erred in researching a prescription drug Serna used and didn't take his age into account for sentenc- ing. The panel ruled the judge permissibly relied on basic information about the medication and wasn’t required to consider Serna's age. Serna’s attorney, Stephen Hardwick, declined to comment on whether they would appeal further. Halloween Campout planned at Indian Lake State Park BY THE EXAMINER STAFF Costume contests, a movie night, trick-or-treat fes- tivities and more are part of the Indian Lake State Park’s Halloween Campout, slated for Friday, Oct. 18, and Saturday, Oct. 19, at the state park campground, 13156 State Route 235, Lakeview. The schedule for the weekend activities are as fol- lows: PHOTO | OHIO HI-POINT CAREER CENTER Friday, Oct. 18: • 7:30 p.m. Night Hike, meet at the amphitheater and Picnic area installation take a short hike with a naturalist and try to find the Ohio Hi-Point outdoor careers students work towards completion recently of a paver project at the Logan County creatures of the night. Bring a flashlight and wear closed Solid Waste District, 1100 S. Detroit St., which will serve as a patio picnic area once completed. The project is nearly toed shoes. completed, with a picnic table and bike rack to also be added. See CAMPOUT on Page 3 Former city resident releases new studio single Song’s 3-generation collaboration also included BCS orchestra director BY THE EXAMINER STAFF for Marianne’s grandson, Hunter Kesler, Singer-songwriter and former city resi- a 2019 Bellefontaine graduate and a son dent Marianne Kesler released a new stu- of Jerah and Lucinda Kesler of dio single Oct. 1 that features a collabora- Bellefontaine. tion with her son and grandson, along The song was recorded at Red Pill with the Bellefontaine City Schools Studios in St. Louis, Mo. orchestra director. “ I played acoustic finger-style guitar While usually recording her own origi- on a vintage Martin and sang all the nal material, she decided to try her hand vocals,” the musician said. at a cover tune.While My Guitar Gently Marianne’s son, Ben Kesler, a 1998 Weeps written by George Harrison of the BHS graduate, produced, mixed, and Beatles, is a song she has always loved. mastered the song, created the beat “As an acoustic guitarist, I never felt track, and added the swirling ambient adequate to really do this song. Then I sound as well as the lead electric guitar. heard the rendition by Regina Spektor for “Three generations of Keslers in the the animated film Kubo and the Two mix; it was a wonderful experience,” said Strings (2016) and thought perhaps I the former city resident who grew up in could put a unique spin on the song,” she Columbus and played with the Columbus said in a release. Youth Symphony as a teen. With help from BCS orchestra director Laura Mitchell, they wrote a violin part See SONG on Page 2 2 • BELLEFONTAINE EXAMINER • Wednesday, October 9, 2019 eMail: [email protected] Local & State ONLINE @ www.examiner.org n LOCAL NOTES Raider royalty City school board calls special sessions to BELLEFONTAINE EXAMINER interview treasurer candidates HUBBARD PUBLISHING CO. PO Box 40 • Bellefontaine, OH 43311 The Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education has An independent daily newspa- called special sessions for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, per Founded in 1891 and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the board office, 820 by E.O. & H.K. Hubbard Ludlow Road, for the purpose of conducting treasurer Issued daily except Sunday at interviews. The board will convene in executive session 127 E. Chillicothe Ave. during the meetings. MEMBER OF THE: Ohio Newspaper Association Election letter deadline is Nov. 1 and the Inland Daily Press Association • The Associated The deadline for Letters to the Forum of the Press • Ohio League of Home Bellefontaine Examiner regarding the Nov. 5 election is Dailies Friday, Nov. 1. Letters may be submitted in person at the Examiner’s PUBLISHER: JON HUBBARD GENERAL MANAGER: T.J. HUBBARD 127 E. Chillicothe Ave., office, by mail to P.O. Box 40, ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: BOB CHAPMAN Bellefontaine, OH 43311, or via e-mail to news@examin- CIRCULATION MANAGER: JILL THOMAS er.org. SUBSCRIPTION RATES Board of DD’s chicken barbecue is Thursday Delivered by carrier, per week ...$2.40 The Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities By motor route, per week...........$2.40 Foundation’s 32nd Annual Chicken Barbecue is slated for Price of single copy.......................75¢ 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10. By mail R.F.D. in Logan and adjoining Counties, per year postpaid ...$125.40 The menu consists of the Port-A-Pit half barbecue By mail outside of Logan and chicken, applesauce, chips, cookie, roll and butter. The PHOTO | JEFF ROSE meal is $9, and tickets can be purchased from any LCBDD surrounding counties..............$147.40 Benjamin Logan High School has announced its homecoming court members who will ONLINE Edition or RTC Industries, Inc. employee or board member. be honored during festivities this week. Pictured are, from the left, first row: seniors Five weeks .................................$9.50 Orders of five or more meals can be delivered. For Caylin Houser, Emma Wenger, Bailey Shope, Ryann Beaschler and Hunter Deickert; Thirteen weeks.........................$24.70 more information, contact Becky Robison at 292-3008 to Twenty six weeks .....................$49.40 second row: seniors Vance McClanahan, Mason Hammer, Steele Boysel, Ammon Miller purchase tickets or Lori Barber at 292-3002 to schedule a Fifty two weeks-(1 year)...........$98.80 and Landon Roberts; and third row: Juniors Tucker Munz and Olivia Hall; sophomores delivery. Lesser periods by mail slightly more than propor- Junette Ly and Caleb Epp; freshmen Alanna Gibson and Kam Allen. The homecoming Purchases can be made the day of the event with a tionate cost of yearly rate. Mail subscriptions will football game is Friday evening, Oct. 11, when the Raiders take on the Urbana not be accepted from territories served by an credit card. Checks can be made out to the LCBDD Examiner newspaper courier or motor routes. Hillclimbers at the high school football stadium. There will be a parade beginning at 5:30 Foundation Committee. All subscriptions for papers delivered p.m. Friday in the elementary school parking lot, and the king and queen will be crowned by carrier are payable in advance at prior to the game.