WHS Tigers Go to 9 & 1

Friday - January 15: Reaching the mid-point of the season the Tigers go to 9 & 1 on the season defeating visiting Jackson Milton 82 - 60. Their only lost of the season was a heart breaker by only two points to McDonald and that was at the buzzer.

Although Wellsville never trailed in the game the Blue Jays kept within a respectful distance through three quarters of the game. They were only trailing by four points at the end of both the first and second quarter. Coach Thompson remarked after the game he was not holding them back. From our vantage point from what we saw in the first half Jackson Milton was slowing things down to take the Tigers out of their game. It worked for three and half quarters and then, as WHS SS announcer Joe Surace said, the Tigers put on a basketball clinic in the last half of the fourth.

The Tigers only had five turn overs for the night but Thompson remarked there was no pressure from Jackson Milton. Trying to get them out of their zone defense Thompson had the orange & black freeze the ball in the closing minutes of the second quarter. The Blue Jays wouldn't bite and just sat back around the key waiting. With five seconds to go Mike Johnston missed a three pointer only to have Dalrymple tip it in for two at end of the half.

Wellsville had five players to score in the double figures. Mike Johnston was high point man for WHS with 21, followed by DeSarro with 19. Getting into foul trouble early Jeremy Carter rode the bench for nearly two quarters. Nunzio Lombardozzi & Johnston had two three pointers a piece and DeShon Pullie had another one. All three are listed in the Area 3-point Leaders.

Thompson said the Tigers "got to want to do it. They're better athletes than anyone they played". We agree and believe the Tigers do want to do it. They're awesome when they want to be and we think they want to be.

ole nib

P.S. Forgot to mention the Reserves also won against the Blue Jays 53 - 33. The Tigers return to action next Wednesday, January 20, traveling to Beaver Local.

Pullie Is Winter Homecoming Queen

Friday - January 15: With the luck of the draw WHS student Christina Pullie is crowned the 2010 Winter Homecoming Queen. Other members of the court were Celeste Hanselman, Britne Thomas, Rachel Vallera, Taylor Buzzard and Jean Wilson.

The selection and crowning ceremony took place during half-time of the Wellsville - Jackson Milton basketball game. After each member and their escort was introduced they were handed a box containing one long stem rose. One of those boxes had an orange colored rose and the others had white ones.

Queen Christina reigned over the Homecoming dance Saturday evening at the high school. The theme of this year's Homecoming was "A Whole New World".

Congratulations Christina...

ole nib

Wellsville Council's Property, Equipment & Cemetery Committee

Friday - January 15: Wellsville's Property, Equipment & Cemetery Committee also met yesterday at Village Hall. Present were Committee Chairwoman Susan Haugh, Committee Member Rosie Goss, Mayor Joe Surace, Councilmen Joe Soldano & Tony Cataldo, Acting Administrator Rick Williams and Cemetery Caretaker Mike Lombardozzi. Committee member Randy Allmon sent word he could not attend yesterday's meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss cemetery issues.


Chairwoman Haugh stated she just recently learned that the Cemetery Board has been considered dissolved as of the first part of January. Haugh related she contacted a former member of the Board to ask for an introductory meeting only to be told the Board no longer exists. The former Board was made up with three Wellsville residents. Haugh stated she has learned that a letter of resignation needs to be submitted by each former member. The letter will be kept on file and the Mayor will not appoint new members. Then it will be considered dissolved.


The Mayor advised the former Board members did not realize what they were responsible for under Ohio Revised Code and decided it was too much. Surace went on to suggest a Cemetery Advisory Board be formed which will have no legal authority in the operation of the Cemetery but will be able to make suggestions on the up-keep and improvements. Councilman Cataldo said that the Village Administrator is responsible for the cemetery. Members of the Committee present stated they liked the idea and would seek the approval of full Council. Councilman Soldano stated that although he was not a member of the Committee he would support recommending that a Cemetery Advisory Board be formed.


Discussion then moved on to the Cemetery House. Up until this past summer it was the residence of the caretaker and his family. With the Village unable to make needed repairs the insurance carrier advised they would have to drop the coverage on the house. That forced the caretaker's family to move out and the house has been vacant since then. An office and bath room at the back of the house is the only part that is being used.

Haugh stated that she has been told the house is not being heated. Lombardozzi responded that the house has been winterized with water drained from the lines and anti-freeze put in the commodes. Currently the only part being heated is the back part. With no heat runs a hanging heater has been installed. Previously it was heated with kerosene floor heaters.

A furnace that was removed to make room for a privately owned wood burner is in the process of being restored as per an agreement made at the time. Lombardozzi added it will be put back in working order and reinstalled. Lombardozzi cautioned the Committee that the gas company advised him the monthly budget would be $780 before the wood burner was installed.

Mayor Surace inquired what is going to be done with that house. Haugh responded she would like to see it stay in Village hands and possibly be used for functions related to funerals. She further stated that she would hate to see it deteriorate back in to the condition it was in before the Lombardozzis refurbished much of the house. Lombardozzi stated doing that would bring them back to the insurance issue and Soldano stated he would only support it being repaired if it was to be used a caretaker residence.

With limited space left in the cemetery Lombardozzi advised the Committee that they are in the process of making additional grave space available by putting in a new road and clearing land behind the Memorial Section. That is located behind the chapel and is restricted to flat grave markers only. Stating that many families want upright grave memorials and plots of four or more graves sites the new area would allow for that. It would have to be surveyed but Lombardozzi is estimating the new area would provide enough space for 150 lots with 12 grave sites in each lot. Today's price is $500 per grave.

Lombardozzi advised the Committee that there are four pieces of equipment that are not being used that could be sold off. Hopefully there would be enough proceeds to pay for a new truck for the Village and the cemetery can get one of the ones the Street Dept. is currently using. On the list of equipment is a grader, a 1972 dump truck, a 1982 dump truck and a 1997 flatbed truck. Soldano suggested maybe the Village Administrator can look into selling it with Council's approval. Sealed bid would be tried first.

Haugh suggested the Mayor form a Christmas Decorating Committee stating she was disappointed plans fell through this past year. Her thinking is that an inventory can be made of what is on hand and then be ready for next Christmas. The Mayor responded that plans for this past Christmas was a little to late with not much help. He said some of the decorations were rewrapped already but time ran out. Stating that the Chamber-of-Commerce bought many of the decorations plans are being made to start in July to get them ready for the next Christmas Season. Haugh stated that the Village can be beautifully decorated and all that is needed is a group of dedicated people.

Haugh went on to discuss cleaning up the appearance of the town especially along Main. Surace said he would like to see that happening especially with the All-Class Reunion taking place this summer. Haugh responded she agreed but would also hope that it would possibly attract some new business. Surace remarked not much of that will happen until Baard gets started and Haugh countered saying we have to pretend Baard is not coming and move on from there. It's been done in other communities up and down the valley. Goss commented she would at least like to see the empty store fronts being used for storage to be covered in black & orange window coverings in time for the reunion. Soldano inquired about the proposed Town Hall meeting. Details are still being worked out for that. Haugh wrapped things up saying once some of these places get cleaned up, if the owners were interested in renting them, she would offer to take pictures of available spaces and advertise them for free on the Wellsville web site. She later remarked she would make the same offer to anyone who already keeps their storefronts clean & professional looking. In our opinion it's a win/win situation - free advertising hopefully attracting a new business to locate in the village. It certainly shows members of Council are willing to work with the owners.

Council meets next Tuesday at 6 P.M.

ole nib

Wellsville Council Claims, Rules & Ordinance Committee

Friday - January 15: Wellsville's Claim, Rules & Ordinance Committee held the first committee meeting of the New Year yesterday at Village Hall. Present at the meeting was Chairwoman Rosie Goss, Committee Members Joe Soldano & Susan Haugh and Acting Administrator Rick Williams.

The first order of business was to review a Money Damage Claim submitted by Meadow Woods apartment resident Betty Farnsworth. Farnsworth submitted a claim for medical bills saying she broke her left foot by falling in a pot hole at 10th St. & Commerce she didn't know was there. The accident occurred on November 30, 2009 and Goss said a Police Report was filed. The claim was turned into Village officials on December 16 and on January 3 Farnsworth furnished copies of medical bills.

Goss reported she talked to Farnsworth and asked her how much the claim was for. Goss said she was told $2,073.40 and when asked where she got that amount Farnsworth replied it "was off the top of her head". Goss also advised Farnsworth told her some bills were "paid by the state" and no insurance claims were filed. Farnsworth supplied copies of bills totalling $1,362 related to the broken foot and additional bills for $775 for cat scans on the abdomen and pelvis and related expenses dated 9/24/09.

Goss proposed the Committee recommend Council deny the claim at the next regular meeting. Member Joe Soldano agreed advising he's not saying she didn't fall but there were no witnesses listed on the claim. Haugh agreed stating the submitted bills didn't match up.

Susan Haugh announced that the Committee is going "to start pushing for the enforcement of ordinances regarding unkempt properties around the village, starting with the most serious of violations. The laws are on the books, we just need to encourage and support the Administrator in enforcing them". Haugh remarked that in all fairness many are not aware of the existing ordinances. To correct that she offered for Haugh Designs to publish a copy of the ordinances, free of charge, on their web site http://www.wellsvilleohio.net/. Developed a few years ago the site has no ties to Village government or any other organizations. It is an excellent reference source of just about everything Wellsville and the surrounding area, compliments of Haugh Designs. The Building Regulations are already on there. Just click on the words "Building Regulations" a couple of times and it will take you to the six pages of ordinances that are part of Wellsville's code.

Haugh went on to Village Ordinance 30.03 entitled Preference For Local Contractors For Village Contracts. It was approved by Council 9-21-2004 establishing a special preference for local contractors, provided no state or federal funds are involved. Haugh stated she understands not many local contractors bid on local projects and would like to invite them to take part in the bidding process for Village projects. Doing so would keep Wellsville money in the village or at the very least in the county. Haugh stated that would benefit everyone involved.

Summing up the meeting Haugh said she would like to see the Committee look into lowering the $25,000 maximum allowed to be spent by Village officials without Council approval. Haugh stated that with a Village the size of Wellsville with limited income it is a recipe for financial trouble. It is entirely too much and feels $3,000 to $5,000 is an ample amount to handle routine emergencies. If a higher amount is needed a Special Council Meeting can be called to deal with those situations.

Soldano agreed that $25,000 is too much but stated it is Ohio Revised Code and believes it can't be changed. Haugh responded that she believes the amount can be lowered but can not be increased by the local authority. Goss stated she likes the idea. That way Council will have a better idea of what is being spent before the funds are committed. Haugh will research the legalities with the Village Solicitor as the next step in the process.

ole nib

Amato Accepts Plea Deal

As announced in this past Thursday's newspapers a deal was reached with the prosecution and J.C. Amato and his defense team. A troubled man with a fascination for guns Amato admitted to authorities that he shot and killed his wife in their Wellsville home the morning of July 1, 2007. Amato claimed it was in self defense, saying his wife shot at him.

According to Mary Ann Greier's newspaper report Amato plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting of his wife Tonia. Special Prosecutor Lynn Grimshaw was quoted in that account saying the Prosecution will recommend an eight year sentence and a lifetime ban from ever owning another gun. If the judge accepts that recommendation at the scheduled March 5 sentencing date Amato will not be able to apply for judicial release or appeal the conviction per the deal made according to Greier's report. Amato has been held at the County Jail since September, 2008, following a second arrest for additional charges while being released on house arrest. The plea deal reached will cover all charges filed against Amato.

The March 5 sentencing will bring an end to two and half years of drama going back to the shooting. Will justice be served? Who on earth can say? There are some that will say no with comparison to the Eric Dillard case. Some will say Amato is privileged. However, they have to remember that Dillard turned down a similar deal.

We'll probably never know all the details of this tragic death. Even though we want to know everything maybe it wasn't meant to be. It will bring additional closure to the Brundage family. Tonia's parents were quoted in the papers saying "Nobody can make up for the loss of Tonia" but both Kathy and Rick said they forgave J.C. God bless them. We don't know if we could be as strong as that.

ole nib

WHS Lady Tigers Reach .500

Thursday - January 14: The Wellsville Lady Tigers Basketball team continue to show improvement with each game. Thursday evening they hosted the Jackson Milton Lady Jays. By the end of the evening the Lady Jays didn't consider the Tigers as being very gracious hosts.

The Lady Tigers put in a strong first three quarters. At the end of one it was Wellsville 13 - 9. In they second quarter they went on a tear out scoring the Jays 23 - 9 to take a 36 - 18 lead into the locker room for the first half. The dominance continued in the third with the Tigers ringing up another 10 points with only one for Jackson Milton. With the score at 46 - 19 going into the fourth the Lady Jays come back was a little too late. They outscored the Tigers 13 - 10 in that frame but when the buzzer sounded it was all Wellsville with a final 56 - 32.

Mikyla Tipton almost outscored the Lady Jays with her game high of 30 points. Tipton had 14 field goals and was two for two from the foul line. Senior Sarah Drysdale and Freshman Francesca Colella both had eight rebounds a piece. Irene Kiser recorded six assists in the Varsity action. The win moves the Tigers to 5 & 5 for the season.

The J.V.s also had a win beating the Lady Jays reserves 57 - 29. Sarah Drysdale had game high honors with 14 points in that contest. Colella collected seven rebounds and Dawn Johnson grabbed five steals.

Good going Ladies. We knew it was only a matter of time. We're proud of you. The Lady Tigers travel to Beaver Local this coming Tuesday, January 19. With three wins in a row they're on a roll. Good luck...

ole nib

WHS Sports Station Changes

After the crowning of the Winter Homecoming Queen at half time at the basketball game we were running out of space on our photo card. Some dummy forgot to bring the extra card. With a newspaper photographer and a reporter being there we left to come home and listen to the second half on the Wellsville Alumni web site.

That's when we discovered Sparky has changed things around a bit. All in all it is a very impressive change, if you know how to find it. We liked what we saw and think you will too. We wanted to take you through a step-by-step on how to pull it up.

Step 1 - go to www.wellsvillealumni.com
Step 2 - on the left side of the web page scroll down Sparky's menu column. It's right under today's date. You'll see some gray boxes with black lettering that are links to other sites or pages.
Step 3 - Click on the box that says "Sports Menu". That will take you to a page entitled 2009 -2010 Season, Wellsville Tigers Sports Menu.
Step 4 - The third line of the titles says 'Live Audio "Only" Broadcasts'. Click on that. That will open another page on top that says Wellsville High School Sports Channel. In the middle of the page there will be a large black box with a white tri-angle in the middle when they are broadcasting.
Step 5 - Click on that tri-angle and you should quickly hear the guys broadcasting the game. If you don't, double check that you're computer speakers are turned on.

If you have a sound card in your computer you'll experience some of the finest internet broadcasting in the world. The announcers have really stepped up to the plate and do an outstanding job. It's all free thanks to the generous sponsors listed. If you can't get to the game it's an excellent alternative.

We didn't know about the changes until we got home last night. Those rascals didn't give us a heads up. It took us a few panicky moments to find it. As mentioned above we think you'll like the improvements. Sparky did a first class job.

Now back to our regular reports...

ole nib