Red Cross honors volunteers, p3 Wildcats win road game, p6 The ELPHOS ERALD D Telling The Tri-County’s Story Since 1869H 50¢ daily www.delphosherald.com Friday, April 11, 2014 Delphos, Ohio ODOT kicks off 2014 orange barrel season Herald Staff Reports area of the Interstate 75 inter- includes the reconstruction of the [email protected] change has been shifted to the Breese Road and Ohio 65 inter- south side of the roadway to allow changes as well as the replace- Ohio Department of pavement work to take place in ment of the Hanthorn and McClain Transportation District 1 kicked the westbound lanes. Traffic con- Road bridges over Interstate 75. off the 2014 road construction tinues to be one lane in each direc- The overall project is scheduled to season Thursday at Lima Harley- tion through the interchange area. be completed in 2016. Davidson. Highlights were pre- The Ohio 117/309 interchange Beginning Monday, Breese sented of the overall construction is in full operation and all ramps Road over Interstate 75 will close program slated for 2014 state- are open. for 150 days, with the north- wide and within the eight coun- The I-75 Project bound entrance and exit ramps ties of ODOT District 1, which Project 2 will reconstruct the closing 90 days later. Then 30 are Allen, Defiance, Hancock, existing lanes of Interstate 75 days following the closure of Hardin, Paulding, Putnam, Van from Fourth Street to just north the northbound ramps, the south- Wert and Wyandot. of Ohio 81 in Lima. This phase bound entrance and exit ramps ODOT’s 2014 construction also includes the reconstruction will close. season includes 936 different of the Fourth Street, Ohio 81 The entire interchange will be projects throughout the state and Ohio 117/309 interchanges; closed for the last 30 days of the totaling $2.5 billion. a safety upgrade to Ohio 309 150-day closure. For area motorists, work will east of the Interstate 75 inter- Also beginning Monday, continue on the Ohio 117/309 change; and the reconstruction restrictions on I-75 both north- interchange on the east side of and realignment of Ohio 81 from bound and southbound will occur Lima and Project 2 and 3 on Neubrecht to Stewart Road. This during daytime hours while con- Interstate 75 will affect traffic phase is expected to be complet- crete is trucked in and poured on from the Auglaize County line to ed in 2015. the deck of a new bridge struc- just North of Ohio 81 in Lima. Project 3, from the Auglaize ture over the CF&E railroad. Ohio 117/309 interchange County line to Fourth Street, will Traffic on Ohio 117/309 in the begin in 2014. This phase also See ODOT, page 10 Upfront Studies show PrEP Easter Egg reduces HIV infections hunts set BY STEPHANIE GROVES There will be three egg Staff Writer hunts offered to children in [email protected] Delphos in the coming weeks. First Assembly of God The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that will hold its Easter Egg people who have STDs (sexually transmitted disease) such Hunt from 2-3 p.m. Sunday as gonorrhea, herpes, and syphilis are more likely to get HIV at Jack and Peggy Adam’s compared to people who are STD-free. The same behaviors home, “the Peltier House,” that put people at risk for acquiring STDs can put them at risk at 327 Bredeick St. for getting HIV. The hunt is for children in Each year, April marks the observance of STD Awareness preschool through grade 5. Month and it is the time for individuals, health care providers, There is no registration. and community-based organizations to encourage and bring a All children and adults renewed sense of enthusiasm and focus to STD awareness and are welcome. Free hot dogs, prevention efforts throughout the month. music and other activi- PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is one of the newest treat- ties will be offered. ments being studied for the prevention of HIV infections. The A community Easter Egg CDC reports that several studies showed that PrEP was effec- Hunt will be held at 10 a.m. on tive in reducing the risk of getting HIV infection. April 13 at St. John’s Annex Allen County Health Department Director of Nursing soccer fields for ages 0-12. Becky Dershem said the research of the PrEP medication is in The Optimist annual Easter the preliminary stages. In 2013, the county documented nine Egg Hunt will be held at 1 p.m. new HIV/AIDS cases. April 19 at Waterworks Park. PrEP is a prevention option for people who are at high risk Children ages 2-9 will find of getting HIV. It’s a pill that contains two HIV medications eggs filled with candy and slips — used to stop the virus growing in people who are already of paper for special prizes. infected — which must be taken everyday and used with other prevention options such as condoms. • Among men who have sex with men who were given PrEP medication and said they took most of their daily doses, PrEP reduced the risk of HIV infection by 73 percent or more, up to Sports 92 percent for some. TODAY • Among coupled men and women where one had HIV Baseball (5 p.m.): infection and the other did not and said they took most of their Jefferson at Pauld. daily doses, PrEP reduced the risk of HIV infection by up to (NWC) (from April 17); 90 percent. Lincolnview at Ant.; • Among men and women who entered the studies as indi- Elida at Celina (WBL). viduals and who said they took most of their daily doses, PrEP Softball (5 p.m.): reduced the risk of HIV infection by up to 85 percent. Cont. at Lincolnview; In one study, only about 1 in 4 women had PrEP medication Celina at Elida (WBL). Filling the holes winter left behind found in their blood when it was checked and that study found Track and Field: St. Winter has taken its toll on the roadways this year and Delphos’ streets no protection against HIV infection. John’s/Jefferson/Columbus are no different. City employee Jeff Stockwell works on a pothole at First Dershem cautions people about the “cavalier” mindset that Grove at Spencerville Relays, and Pierce streets Thursday afternoon. Stockwell said he was working on predominates society, which is, there’s a pill or medication 4:15 p.m.; Elida/VW at Bath a long list of the pits left behind after weeks of plowing and salting and for everything. She said they are only kidding themselves and every person has to be accountable. Ehresman Inv., 4:30 p.m. many days of sub-zero temperatures. (Delphos Herald/Nancy Spencer) SATURDAY Baseball: Fort Jennings See PREP, page 10 at Ft. Rec. (DH), 11 a.m.; VW/Nap. at Elida (DH), 11 a.m.; WT at Lincolnview (DH), noon; W-G at SV (DH), 1 p.m.; Jefferson at DAAG presents first-ever Spring Show Bath (DH), 2 p.m.; Kalida at CV (DH), 2 p.m. Softball: W-G at SV (DH), 1 p.m.; Ottoville at Leipsic (PCL), 2 p.m. Forecast Partly cloudy today and mostly clear tonight. Highs in the mid 60s. Lows in the lower 40s. See page 2. Index Obituaries 2 State/Local 3 Politics 4 Community 5 Sports 6-7 Classifieds 8 TV 9 The DAAG first Annual Spring show had 20 local stylists, artist and vendors offer a runway show with more than 20 models showcasing World News 10 artistry from the local salons and artists. Above left: Jefferson high-schooler Ashley Quinn, left, was the Lucky Dream Prom winner. She was nominated by her teacher, Missy McClurg. She will receive products and services to make her prom special. DAAG President Shauna Smith congratulates her. Above right: A model styled by Maureen Teman shows Teman’s Spring Urban Chic design. (Submitted photos) 2 2 – The Herald Friday, April 11, 2014 www.delphosherald.com For The Record VAN WERT COURT NEWS OBITUARIES The Delphos The following individuals appeared plea to guilty to a reduced charge of domestic Rita M. Byrne- Wednesday in Van Wert County Common violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Lewandowski Herald Pleas Court: He was previously charged with domestic Vol. 144 No. 214 Arraignments violence, a felony of the fourth degree. HOLLAND — Rita M. Joshua Kessler, 25, Hamilton, Ind., The Court ordered a pre-sentence investi- Byrne-Lewandowski, 80, Nancy Spencer, editor entered a not guilty plea to a charge of carry- gation and set sentencing for April 30. of Holland and formerly of Ray Geary, general manager ing a concealed weapon, a felony of the fourth Timothy Schlatman, 32, Van Wert, Ottoville, died at 5:26 a.m. Delphos Herald, Inc. degree. entered a plea of guilty to two counts of pos- Thursday. Lori Goodwin Silette, He was released on a surety bond and session of drugs, each a felony five. He then Visitation will be from circulation manager ordered to appear for a pretrial on April 30. requested and was granted treatment in lieu of 2-8 p.m. Monday at Love- Tyler Mohr, 19, Van Wert, entered a not conviction and his case was stayed pending Heitmeyer Funeral Home, The Delphos Herald guilty plea to grand theft, a felony of the third completion of the counseling. Jackson Township. Her funer- (USPS 1525 8000) is published degree. Terry Warren Jr., 27, Van Wert, entered al will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday daily except Sundays, Tuesdays His bond was set at $50,000, with 10-per- a plea of guilty to theft, a felony of the fifth and Holidays.