The Cincinnati Post, Tuesday, July 15, 1975 Eastern Hills 20 Williamsburg firemen quit in village hassle TOM FORTNEY are now without a fire department," a Williamsburg. volunteer fireman told Council last night as 20 of the 22 members of the organization resigned. The mass resignation came after Mayor Donald Hiler read a statement explaining his position in a disagreement with Fire Chief Wendell Cowdrey and the chief was beginning to respond. The firemen earlier had obtained assurances from the Williamsburg Township turstees that they wanted them to continue service. Village solicitor John L.
Watson interrupted Cowdrey to say he felt the matter was closed and that if the department wanted to pursue the matter, "you can go to court and we can fight it out." WHEN WATSON SHOUTED "there is no way the fire department is going to run this village," Cowdrey began reading a prepared resignation statement signed by himself and the firemen. The action came on the heels of the mayor's announcement at the end of his statement that the apparent major point of disagreement, his demand for the combination to the lock on the firehouse door, had been resolved. Mayor Hiler had written a letter to Cowdrey reminding that he had asked for the combination on Jan. 3, that the chief had not complied, and warned that if he did not do so within 72 hours, he would start dismissal proceedings against the officer. He also listed specific points, including written monthly reports to the mayor and attendance at Council meetings except when excused by the mayor, expected the fire chief to adhere to.
Cowdrey noted that the mayor had been given the combination, said department meetings coincide with Council meetings and was questioning the basis of required attendance in the state code when he was interrupted and handed in the resignation. WATSON REITERATED HIS position several times after the firemen left, adding that if Council allows any group or department head to dictate to it, "there will be chaos you can't have a democracy if you allow anyone to dictate" to elected representatives of the people. "If they think for one minute they can run a town of 2000 by the threat of resignation, they are wrong," Watson said. The mayor commented that "you can't resign something you haven't been appointed to." He explained later that he believes members of the department have not been legally appointed because the appointments did not come before Council. Hiler said, "if it's necessary, I will help run that fire truck.
He added that while he hoped obtaining the combination had resolved the matter and that the firemen yet might reconsider, nevertheless he felt that he would be able "to find qualified people to fight fires if necessary." HE POINTED OUT later that he needed the combination because the firehouse contains the fuse box for the electrical service to the village offices next door plus the control valves for water. "There are vital connections between the various parts of the building and the breakdown of one part, without the availability of entrance, can completely disrupt and stop operations of the village, and the same can apply to township, which shares expenses of the fire department," Hiller said. The firemen changed the lock combination and limited its availability an effort to solve a series of pertly thefts, a member said. Councilman Bob Wilson, one member of the department who did not resign, agreed that the mayor should have access to the building, but disagreed with Councilman Herb Curry's suggestion that all members of Council should have the same right. Councilman Robert Vice said immediately following the resignation that the matter should be considered "a dead issue tonight." He added that he felt "we have a fire department." Both Hiler and Watson agreed with Vice in his praise of the efficiency of the department.
"The department is one of the greatest," Hiler said. "I'm proud of the department," added the solicitor. FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION State Rep. Harry C. Malott (D- District 87) angrily threatened Council with legal action if the police department puts any more chalk marks on the tires of his car.
"As long as the police department is not down there helping with traffic at the bridge, I want them to keep their hands off my car," Malott said. The Main Street bridge is being rebuilt and one-way traffic is being maintained, but Malott said he felt there could be some relief if the police would direct traffic "like (police chief) Nobby Ward did at Batavia" when an identical situation existed. The mayor said he was unaware of chalk marks being applied to tires for parking violations and said he would look into the matter. Councilman Vice, former police chief here and now chief in Miami Township, pointed out that marking tires is illegal. Lois Hanco*ck, manager of Malott's district office here, asked if Council would pave part of the alley next door "so I won't have to run out every hour and move his car" during what she described as the current "police crackdown." Council recessed for a few minutes to inspect the alley and Hiler said the matter would be considered after property lines are determined.
In other action, Council received a letter of resignation from one of its members, Glenn Greene, who has purchased property out of the village. The mayor urged citizens of the community interested in serving on Council to apply for the vacancy. A OBITUARIES Homer Shiveley WEST UNION- Homer Shiveley, 74, of West Union, died yesterday in Deaconess Hospital, Cincinnati. Services will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Lafferty Funeral Home, with burial in Manchester Cemetery.
Visitation will be 4 to 9 p.m. today. Retta: Linville BETHEL Retta Linville, 75, of Charity Street, died Sunday at Brown County Hospital. She leaves her husband, Robert; three daughters, Mrs. Hilda Case, of Chester, Mrs.
Doris Vestner, of Dayton, and Mary Linville, of Bethel; five sons, James and Kenneth Linville, both of Bethel, Johnny Linville, of Lexington, Robert Linville, of Chillicothe, and Allen of Cincinnati; and two sisters, Ida Johnson, of Ripley, and Myrtle Cooper, of Felicity. Services will be at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Kennedy- Funeral Home, Bethel, with burial in Shinkles Ridge Cemetery. Visitation is 4 to 9 p.m. Rhoda Barger HAMERSVILLE-Mrs.
Rhoda Barger, 77, of Lucas Road, Hamersville, died yesterday at Epp Memorial Hospital, Cincinnati. She leaves six daughters, Mrs. Maudie Couch, of Saul, Mrs. Elsie Riley, of Hamilton, Mrs. Bertie Barger, of Austin, Mrs.
Cassie Nelson, of Fairfield, and Mrs. Vergie Taylor and Mrs. Daisy Stivers, both of Cincinnati; three sons, Chester, of Miskawaka, Curt, of Bethel, and Farmer Barger, of Felicity; and 51 grandchildren. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Kennedy-Stevens Funeral Home, Bethel, with burial in Laurel Cemetery.
Visitation is 4 to 9 pim. tomorrow. Photographer: MELVIN GRIER County's first park Sycamore Park, named for the many beautiful sycamore trees on the nearby river banks, was dedicated recently by the Clermont County Park Board. The 23-acre facility on Ohio 132 near Batavia, complete with shelterhouse, restrooms, grills, picnic tables and space wander, is the first park developed by the board. Standing in front of the shelter house are park board chairman Bill Stearns, right, a Batavia attorney, and board member Ken Stewart, an Amelia High School teacher.
UC to make new study of 'tick capital' GOSHEN- Several years ago a team from the University of Cincinnati surveyed the Goshen area of Clermont County, and as a result this section unoffically obtained the title of "tick capital of the world." One road in particular, a lowlying area with drainage problems, was found to have the heaviest infestation of the insects which can carry and spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever. There has been a number of reported cases over the years, and the Clermont County health department issues an annual warning about the insects. Now a new study to determine why there is such a high incidence of tick bite cases in the Goshen area is being undertaken by the UC medical department under the guidance of Dr. Calvin Linnemann. For comparison purposes, ticks from the Tate Township area of Clermont County also will be studied.
The Goshen PTA is cooperating in the study. Information is available from Sandy Graham, Mrs. Marsha Bacon and Mrs. Ann Body. Husband is in Goshen BATAVIA-John F.
Fenner, 30, of 1401 Stella Drive, Goshen, was arraigned yesterday in Clermont County Court on a charge of voluntary manslaughter in the June 30 shooting death of his wife, Connie, 28. Judge Chris Rosenhoffer set next Monday as the date for a preliminary hearing in the case. The death first was described as an apparent suicide after Fenner reported finding the body of his wife in a bed- charged shooting room with a automatic pistol at her side. Fenner told investigating officers that he at first thought she had taken an overdose of medication. Mrs.
Fenner died a short time later at Bethesda North Hospital, Montgomery, where she was taken by the Goshen Life Squad. Fenner was arrested late Friday by Clermont County Sheriff Donald Watson. Two brothers held in beating of youth Two Arizona broth- they were arrested also is being held HILLSBORO have been returned here from Rockford, to face charges in connection with auto theft and the severe beating of a Hillsboro area youth. They are identified as Ricky Lawrence Moore, 23, and Timothy Wayne Moore, 18, both of Phoenix. Charges of felonious assault and auto theft are on file against them and they are in the county jail under $11,500 bond each.
The Moores appeared in Hillsboro Municipal Court but hearings were postponed so they could obtain lawyers. A 15-year-old girl with them when Miami trustees award road paving contract MULBERRY--Miami Township trustees have awarded the contract for paving specified township roads to Clermont Asphalt Paving Co. The contract was awarded at a special session Saturday and announced at last night's regular scheduled meeting. The township agreed to pay at least $76,000 on completion of work and the balance when money becomes available at the next county tax settlement. Trustees also reported decisions on two zoning issues.
They agreed to a request by Albert and Celeste Riehle for a zone change from agricultural to light industry on 6.43 acres located on the east side of U.S. 50, just south of Heiserman Road. The Riehles had sought the chance to permit the conversion of a barn on the property into a job machine shop. To change road name BATAVIA-A public hearing will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24, on a proposal to change the name of Monterey-Newtonsville Road to Monterey Road.
Written objections or endorsem*nts will be received by the commissioners for five days following the date of the hearing. Roy Watson MILFORD. Services for Roy Watson, 90, of Modest, who died Sunday in Kenwood Terrace Nursing Home, will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Stonelick Church of the Brethren. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery, Newtonsville.
Visitation will be 4 to 9 p.m. today at Noakes Funeral Home. Lowell Steward WILLIAMSBURG-Services for Lowell Steward, 81, of 134 S. Front Street, will be at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Maham Funeral Home.
Visitation is from 6 to 9 p.m. today. Burial will be in Flag Spring Cemetery, Newtown. Mr. Steward died of an heart attack Sunday while driving on Ohio 133, near Jackson Pike.
He leaves his wife, Cora; three daughters, Mrs. Mary South, of Edenton, Mrs. Ella Barnes, of Dayton, and Mrs. Marlene Howell, of Williamsburg; three brothers and two sisters. Roush clan to gather for 264th time WEST UNION--The Roush (Rausch) and Allied Families of America Inc.
will hold their 264th anniversary, reunion Aug. 15-16 Village, Dearborn, Mich. The banquet will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in Lovett Hall, and the annual picnic will be Saturday in Suwanee Park in Greenfield Village. Details regarding the reunion may be obtained from Eldon Herbert Roush, 516 E.
WalnutStreet, West Union. The Roush (Rausch) Families organization is one of the oldest, largest and most closely knit families in America, Roush said. The Roushes have been incorporated since 1926, and each year. the association elects a board of directors and other officers. The family started in America when John Adam Rausch, a German immigrant came to Philadelphia in 1736, and later, moved to Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
The association under the direction of the late Dr. L. L. Roush, of Gallipolis, has published three volumes of family history, plus numerous pamphlets and bulletins. A fourth volume is now being prepared for publication.
Son's suit challenges $1 inheritance BATAVIA-James Durbin, of Wolfpen- Hill Road, Milford, has filed suit in Clermont County Common Pleas Court contesting the will left by his father, Martin Durbin, who lived on Branther Lane, Mt. Carmel. Durbin died July 23, 1974, leaving a- paper dated April 5, 1960, which was admitted to probate last Jan. 14 as his last will and testament. The will leaves $1 to son, James; half of the estate to son, Roy; a fourth to grandson, Robert Wade, and another fourth to granddaughter, Shirley Anne Wagner.
James Durbin contends the "paper writing is not the last will and testament" of his father. Named defendants in the action are Robert Wade, Silverton; Shirley Ann Wagner, Winchester; Bessie Durbin, Airpeka, Dolores Bach, Cincinnati, and Carolyn Gable, 559 Brantner. Lane, Mt. Carmel, executrix of the estate. by order of Juvenile Court.
Mitchell Ray Shelton, 19, of RFD 3 Hillsboro, remains hospitalized at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, Mariemont. He was found by two fishermen in the Fallsville Wildlife Area on July 4. He had been severely beaten. He had been seen earlier with the two men and the girl. The three were in Shelton's car when they were picked up by the Winnebago County sheriff's department in Rockford, sheriff deputies said.
Shelton had been beaten severely about the head, officers said. As a result, he has been unable to provide any direct information on the case, pending recovery. Father, son held to jury in drowning HILLSBORO Two men have been bound over to Highland County Common Pleas Court on charges of aggravated following a hearing vehicular, Municipal Court. The charges stem from a recent drowning. Held for grand jury action under $5000 bond each were Robert Penwell, 59, of Leesburg, and his son, Robert David Penwell, 28, also of Leesburg.
They are being held in the county jail. The Penwells entered pleas of innocent, but after hearing several witnesses, Judge James Hapner held that there was sufficient evidence to turn the case over to the higher court. The two defendants allegedly were operators of a boat which sank in Paint Creek Lake on Saturday, June 21. A 10-year-old passenger, Mark McKeever, of New Petersburg, was drowned. The boat mishap occurred about 100 yards from a boat launching ramp near the Rattlesnake Creek Bridge, off of Ohio 753, near New Petersburg.
The two Penwells and Elsie McKeever, 6, sister of the victim, were rescued by other boaters. Mrs. Mary Coonrod, 31, mother of the victim, swam to shore. The boy's body was recovered the next day. Felicity and Franklin to hold budget hearings FELICITY been -Public scheduled hearings on tax by the Village of Felicity and the trustees of surrounding Franklin Township.
The township will hold its hearing at 10 a.m. Friday and the village's will be at 10 a.m. Saturday. The budgets are available for inspection at the offices of the clerks. Church delegate BATAVIA-Mrs.
Georgeann Hilbert, Batavia, was a delegate to the recent 10th annual Synod of the United Church of Christ in Minneapolis. BULLETIN BOARD specializing in small precision parts. The other zoning decision involved 257.78 acres owned by Land-del and located along the north side of U.S. 50, 3500 feet east of I-275. The change was from agricultural to planned unit development (PUD), with certain limitations imposed by the Miami trustees.
Land-del had sought a density of 5.1 units per acre on the tract for a residential area to be call "Windwood," a development of single family cluster homes, townehouses and garden apartments. However, trustees allowed only three units per acre in the PUD and specified that if the state buys any of the tract for relocated U.S. 50 it could not be included in any density calculations. Southern Hills to offer special farm training GEORGETOWN-A new program entitled "Intensive-Specialized Agriculture" will be offered this fall by the new Southern Hills Joint Vocational School. School officials said the class is the first of its kind in Ohio, will emphasize fruit and vegetable production, roadmarketing, utilization of greenhouse opportunities and production of specialized crops.
Southern Hills will offer the course to high school juniors and seniors from Brown County and Bright Local School District in Highland County. Special arrangements would be arranged for any interested student outside the Southern Hills Joint Vocational School District. Cable bids passed BETHEL Council has approved an ordinance giving the Board of Public Affairs authority to purchase electrical power cable without competitive bidding. The action was taken because of the need to purchase cable, but insufficient time to seek competitive bids. ST.
MARTIN--A workshop on kiln building will be offered Friday and Saturday at Chatfield College. Sessions will be at p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday under direction of William Bracker, head of the ceramics department at Purdue University, and Glenn Rand, ceramics instructor at Chatfield. RIPLEY--The Virginia Reed Singers, of Covington, will present a program at 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 20, at First Baptist Church. It is sponsored by the Usher Board, of which Mrs Sylvester Rolley is president. SARDINIA-The Sardinia. life squad and rescue unit will sponsor a fish fry from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, July 21, at Highland South Restaurant.
BATAVIA-Vacation Bible School at the Batavia Church of Christ will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. through Friday. Bus transportation is being offered within a reasonable distance of the church. Jessie Gates SARDINIA-Mrs. Jessie Gates, 78, of Sardinia, died yesterday at Brown County Hospital, Georgetown.
She leaves a daughter, Mrs. Martha Jones, of Dayton, and two sisters, Mrs. Emma Fender, of Taylorsville, Ohio, and Mrs. Laura Miller, of Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Gus Beam Funeral Home, Sardinia, with burial in Sardinia Cemetery.
Visitation is after 4 p.m. tomorrow. Ora A. Ruscher -Services for Mrs. Ora A.
Ruscher, resident of Blanchester who died Sunday at her home in Forest Park, will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Hannah Funeral Home. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Vorhis Funeral Home, Springdale.
She leaves her husband, Richard; a daughter, Mrs. Diane M. Grossmann, of Fayetteville, N. five sons, Richard A. of Blanchester, Ralph and David, both in the Army, Donald C.
and Joseph her mother, Mrs. Mabel Suttles, of Blanchester; a sister, Mrs. Ruth Carter, also of Blanchester, and four brothers, Robert Suttles, of Harrisburg, Arthur, Charles W. and Lonnie B. Suttles, all of Blanchester.
Dr. Irmgerd Gebauer WILMINGTON- Services for Dr. Irmgerd Gebauer, 62, who died Saturday at her home at 61 S. Mulberry Street, will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Marsh Funeral Home.
Dr. Gebauer was a pediatrician. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Heart Fund or Children's Hospital, Cincinnati.
Three Clermont youths at state conference MILFORD-Scholarships have been awarded by the Clermont County Farm Bureau to three young people to attend the Southwest Region Farm Bureau Youth Conference at Westerville this week. They are Paul Burdsall, of Batavia, Tim Shumate, of Williamsburg and Kathy Napier, of Felicity. Neil Bruynis, president of the local Farm Bureau, said more than 100 teenagers from more than 20 counties are attending the conference. Tuesday TV-Radio Schedules Hamilton, Middletown WKEF-TV WPBF-R Channel 22 510 ke. WPFB-106 TUESDAY Wild West Country and Western, Choice Religion, News, Talk.
7:30 Candid Camera of Life Movie Marcus Welby American W'ld Mystery WPFB-106 WEDNESDAY America Modern Gospel and Movie Contemporary Soul Gospel, Nun German Bunch Music, Sat. and A.M. UPI Audio News or the Hour. MOR. 12:30 My Children Hope 1:30 -Make a Deal Reason 3:00 -Clubhouse 22 in Space 5:00 -Star Trek Wild West Choice My Mama Movie: 11:00 -Love American World WMOH-R 1450 News and Sports 8 a.m.
-Noon and 6 p.m. Music Around the Clock..
