Notes From Last Week

Saturday's newspapers reported that while serving a search warrant at a Broadway residence police were led to a methamphetamine lab in Salineville last Friday. This morning in a Tom Giambroni story we learned that the lab was moved from the Wellsville residence to that location in Salineville after the alleged operator got a tip about the search warrant. Methamphetamine is bad news all around from the hazards in its manufacturer to the mind altering effects this illicit drug has on the users. Right now I'd say the bigger problem the Drug Task Force has to address is the leak of information that tipped this guy off. Somewhere in that chain of authority is someone that definitely should not be part of that operation. Someone is "dirty" and is defeating the effectiveness of all the law enforcement personnel trying to clean up our drug problems.

The vicious dog attack on the three year old lass in the Highland Avenue area last week has generated a lot of newspaper print and comments on here too. Even Channel 9 came around for a follow-up story. As one commenter just observed most were more concerned about the treatment the dog got rather than the welfare of the unfortunate child who is undergoing the series of rabies vaccinations. I'm as much an animal lover as the next but I have to wonder where some people's priorities are. If it wasn't for the owner's negligence that child would never have suffered the attack and trauma associated with it. I'm not sorry when I say my sympathy is for that young lady in this case. This incident should never have happened. Hopefully that child will be okay both physically and mentally.

From what I learned yesterday village officials are not letting this go by the wayside. The ACO is getting some much needed equipment and they are even looking into classes to get her certified for a tranquilizer gun.

Even though they ended the month of May with an ending balance of $2.7 million the Wellsville BOE is worried about the cost of pending legislation in Columbus. Seems the state is trying to shift some costs of education from state funds to local school districts in addition to other changes on the drawing boards. It all adds up to additional financial burdens on the districts if it goes through.

In an AP story in the MJ last week it was reported that the State Supreme Court reversed residency requirements for local governments in Ohio. This means that towns can not forced their employees to reside within the town's limits. It's been a while but I sort of recall that was an issue in Wellsville several years ago. I can't remember if it was just being kicked around or if there is an ordinance on the books requiring village employees to live in town. The Claims, Rules & Ordinance Committee should check out to see if we're in compliance.

WFD Chief Bill Smith advised me that the flood wall exercise scheduled for June 27 will start with a couple of hours of classroom work before getting started on the actual putting up of the gate. It's a refresher for the firefighters that have gone through it before and an introduction for the ones that have never had the experience. Smitty said it will probably be around 10 A.M. before they get up to Lisbon Street.

Nice feature on the pie making ladies at the Riverside Presbyterian Church that Jo Bob Gilbert had in last Sunday's MJ. Those ladies started that fund raising project 12 years ago. Through their efforts they have been able to raise a lot of money for various church projects. People come from far & wide to get their pies. You can't find a better pie crust than what Martha Ralston mixes up. I got her recipe but I have trouble duplicating it. Pat Ready tells me they are done for the summer. Those ovens generate a lot of heat. Pat says they plan to be back at it in the fall.

The down turn in the economy has affected a lot people world wide but your heart has to go out to the retirees of Canadian beer maker Molson. As part of their retirement package from that brewer was a free lifetime supply of the brew made from barley & hops. Saying that benefit costs the company around $900,000 a year Molson is turning off the tap. Things are tough all over.

Finally, I would like to offer my condolences to EL resident Tom Greenwood. Tom turned 65 this year and was looking forward to getting a reduction on his real estate taxes that can be had with the Homestead Exemption rule. Seems Tom ran head on into some bureaucratic razzle dazzle from county officials with the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. Seems he called the County Treasurer's office in January and was told he had to call the County Auditor but had to wait until June to apply. Come June he called the right office only to be told he was too late. Now he has to wait until next January to apply for the reduced rate. To top it off the Auditor Office employee he talked to was rude. That ain't right. Whatever happened to common courtesy? As Tom noted they are tax payer's employees. An exception should be made for this one.

ole nib