By BRIDGET CAMPBELL

STAFF WRITER

Summer vacation has just begun, but Fostoria Community Schools is already looking to the start of next school year.

Two additions will be made to the FCS administrative team, joining the effort to lead the students to reach new academic heights next fall.

During a special meeting Monday evening, the Fostoria Board of Education approved the hiring of new principals at Fostoria High School and Riley Elementary.

Jude Meyers has been chosen to fill the head principal position at FHS, a vacancy that became available following the resignation of former principal Jeff Shaw at the close of the 2003-2004 school year.

Tom Grine, assistant principal at FHS, acted as interim principal for the 2004-2005 school year, and will return to his former role.

At the elementary level, FCS has found a familiar face to replace Riley Elementary principal Greg Vay who announced his retirement in May.

Current Riley Elementary multi-age class teacher Barbara Peterson will step into the role of principal at the school to which she has already dedicated the past five years.

Peterson was chosen out of 40 applicants for the Riley Elementary opening, and Meyers was selected from more than 30 candidates for the FHS position.

As for the district's selection of the two new principals, School Board President Linda Anderson said she's excited to see what the upcoming school year will hold.

"It's exciting to bring in people who are full of energy," Anderson said Monday. "We are looking for great things to come from the administration this year and the two new additions will only enhance the current group of administrators."

Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Lemmerman is happy to see the candidate search end successfully.

"We definitely did a thorough search and I believe we have the best qualified candidates in both positions," Lemmerman said following Monday's board meeting. "I know that they will help us reach the level of academic excellence that we're expecting in both areas -- they are both proven educators and leaders."

Meyers comes to the district from Genoa schools where he has worked for the past six years. Most recently he was principal for Genoa's third through fifth grade building.

"Previously I served as assistant principal and athletic director for the high school," Meyers said of his educational career in the Genoa school district. "Because of budget problems, I was asked by the superintendent to go down to the elementary building."

Prior to his six years in Genoa, Meyers was a teacher at Woodmore High School where he taught in areas ranging from freshman social studies to advanced placement to U.S. history, as well as serving as the high school's head basketball coach.

"This is where I'm comfortable," Meyers said of returning to the high school level.

The new FHS principal has already put together letters for the staff and parents, and is looking forward to begin meeting the goals of the district.

"It's important to me to extend a hand to the parents and the community," Meyers said. "If we work together as a team the kids will be the ones to benefit."

Meyers currently lives in the Lakota school district with his wife Jolene and 10-year-old son Marcus.

While he and his family have no immediate plans to relocate to Fostoria, the new principal said he is open to the idea.

"Right now it's just a short drive -- while I may rest my head somewhere else at night, I know where I'll be spending my days," Meyers said.

Meyers' contract is effective Aug. 1, 2005 through July 31, 2007, with all insurance benefits beginning July 1, 2005.

Becoming a part of the district administration hadn't crossed Peterson's mind until she watched her former colleague Melissa Depinet make the transition from teacher to principal this past school year.

Depinet, former Riley Elementary teacher, is the current principal at Longfellow Elementary.

"I worked with Melissa for three years prior to her becoming a principal -- I've listened to her talk about the different level of impact you can make," Peterson said of her reason for pursuing the career move. "There is so much potential at Riley."

With her familiarity to the students and staff, Peterson is confident that her transition into the leadership role at the schools should go smoothly.

The new elementary principal loves the fourth- and fifth-grade age group, and plans to continue encouraging the service learning that is already used at Riley.

"This year the students did the fitness trail and they spent time at St. Catherine's Care Center," Peterson said. "Children at that age love to help and it teaches them so much. (Service learning) is a perfect fit."

Peterson's contract begins August 1, 2005 and is effective until July 31, 2007.

By EMILY HOIS

Staff Writer

KANSAS -- When St. James Catholic Church was listed as one of 17 parishes recommended for closing by Bishop Leonard Blair in February, the letter writing began.

Four months later, heated and disheartened fingers are still typing in protest, praying that their church community may be spared.

"The Bishop came in September and we had to prove we were a viable parish and asset to the community and diocese," said Ginny Hull, a member of St. James for 43 years.

The church noted its 79 percent weekly attendance compared to the 34 percent average of the entire Toledo Dioceses. Parishioners pointed out the 200 members St. James reaches through its weekly Mass, requiring a priest for only one hour per week.

"Our budget is in the black," said Steven Johnson who attends the small church and is actively working to preserve its longevity. "Our church is thriving. It doesn't make sense to close down a church that is thriving."

Johnson noted the abundance of active members who manage the parish on a volunteer basis with the exception of a paid part-time secretary.

"We're very self-sufficient," Hull affirmed.

During a September meeting, the Bishop and directors of Pastoral Planning and Pastoral Leadership told the congregation in light of its successes their decision "isn't about that, it's about the priest shortages," Hull recalled.

St. James Catholic Church was ordered to close its doors July 1.

In order to officially mandate a parish closing, an official Decree of Suppression was issued April 21. Under the Canon protocol, a priest or its members have up to 10 days to petition for recourse.

Hearing that other churches forced to close were sent the decree along with an option to appeal, Hull hired a lawyer.

The lawyer contacted the diocese, requesting they fax a copy of the Decree of Suppression for St. James members to rightfully see.

The original decree was sent to the church's priest Father Ted Miller, who disclosed the official document to parish council at their May 25 meeting -- nearly a month after receiving it.

"It didn't look like it would have made any difference," Father Miller said, regarding the petition for recourse. "(Members) were not happy, but that's the way it is."

"Many, many of the parishes did not know they could appeal," Hull said, including St. James. "The priests don't want to fight this because they're employed by the Bishop," she said, so the congregation took it upon themselves.

After the decree was faxed May 6, a group of 125 members supported a petition for recourse. The appeal was sent to the Bishop seven days later.

St. James members backed their church with statistics, financial data and suggestions on how to free up priests' time, such as Mass every other week, or communion led by deacons when priests were unavailable.

"The Bishop read the appeal and said he'd seen 'no new evidence worthy of changing his decision,'" Johnson revealed.

"It was like they had their minds made up," Hull said. "There was never any dialogue between the parish and the diocese."

Messages left at the Toledo Dioceses had not been returned by presstime today.

"When you live in a democracy you feel like your religion shouldn't be ruled by communism. The rule comes from the top and the little people have no stand."

But St. James parishioners refuse to grow fainter as the light of their congregation becomes dim.

"Kansas as a community needs that church there," Johnson said.

"Some people are sixth generation members," Hull noted. "We're not ones that are going to just roll over ... we're putting our hearts into doing everything we can."

Since May 1, nearly 100 members have been participating in a silent prayer vigil at the church. "There's someone in there praying every hour of every day," Johnson said, taking shifts from one to four hours.

"We have come so much closer through this prayer vigil. Our spirituality, our praying has just touched everybody," Hull said.

The parish's final service is slated for June 26, though Hull said there's a chance Father Miller will change the locks June 20.

"We're planning on being in there praying ... if he forces us out, we'll be on the steps praying."

The next course of action for St. James will be to administer recourse through the pope later this week.

Hull encourages other parishes to petition in the hopes they might be reconsidered.

"We may not be able to help ourselves, but if we can help the next parish ..." Hull said in a hopeful tone. Local parishes are invited to a prayer meeting at St. James June 9 at 7 p.m.

"We think miracles happen by prayer," Hull said.

By BRIDGET CAMPBELL

STAFF WRITER

A house fire on the outskirts of town erupted just before 8 p.m. Monday with three area fire departments responding to the scene.

At 7:42 p.m., the Bascom Joint Fire District was called to 12036 TR 112 after home owners Samuel and Suzanne Cunningham reported heavy smoke in the house.

"The homeowners were waiting for us in the front yard when we arrived," Bascom Assistant Fire Chief Garry Ruble said this morning, adding that the pair made it out of the home safely.

New Riegel and Washington Township fire departments were called to assist.

Kansas Fire and Rescue was called to the Bascom Joint Fire House while Bascom firefighters were at the scene about a half a mile outside of Fostoria.

While the fire appears to be accidental, Ruble said the actual cause has yet to be determined.

"We're hoping that the insurance company may be able to shed some light on it when they come in to assess the damage," the assistant fire chief said today.

Ruble estimated the total damage to the home at $30,000.

The Monday evening fire originated in the attic area of the TR 112 home, Ruble said.

"The fire started in the enclosed breezeway between the garage and the house," he said. "The fire also extended up the south wall of the home."

Most of the fire was knocked down in the first 20 minutes on the scene, Ruble said.

Firefighters from Bascom, New Riegel and Washington Township took turns fighting the blaze.

"We called two other departments because of the heat and humidity factor," Ruble said. "We could rotate (the firefighters) without anyone getting overheated or injured."

Firefighters fought the fire from the roof of the garage, pulling in the ceiling on the breezeway to expose the flames, Ruble said.

"We worked the ceiling off to open the south wall and had to tear away the siding and sheeting to get into the wall channel," he said. "There was a lot of prying and pulling."

The only structural damage was to the breezeway and the wall, with light smoke and heat damage throughout the home.

"The (homeowners) will be displaced for awhile, but it was not a total loss," Ruble said.

The Cunninghams spent Monday evening at the home a family friend.

By TIM SOSTER

STAFF WRITER

The summer months means boating fun for many people.

That fun could also lead to mishaps, which often result in someone losing their boat.

Proper registration can help boaters reclaim their vessels and even help save lives.

One Fostoria resident can attest to that after his 9-foot Zodiac raft was recovered from the ocean off the coast of Florida during the weekend. A Zodiac is a rubber inflatable raft with an outboard motor.

According to Ensign James Collins with the U.S. Coast Guard said that the boat's updated registration enabled them to locate the craft's owner in a timely manner. The raft's owner, Anthony Douglas, 95 N. Ohio 587, was not in any type of life-threatening situation, according to the Collins.

"Because the owner had the registration up-to-date, we were able to get identity and we were able to accomplish our mission," Collins said. "Keeping the paperwork up-to-date on a boat can help us save lives."

Collins said the operator of a pleasure craft found the 9 foot inflatable raft drifting in open waters of the Atlantic Ocean at approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday. He said the call put his Coast Guard Station into detective mode.

"Another mariner found the craft approximately 25 nautical miles off shore, east of Jacksonville," Collins said.

The Coast Guard ensign said his staff began efforts to find the owner to see if someone used the craft or if it was reported missing or stolen. That information helps determine if a search needed to be conducted. He said because the boat was not damaged and the bow rope appeared frayed, they determined it to be just a lost raft.

"Many people tow these rafts behind other, larger boats," Collins said.

Because of the location of the boat -- in open water along the western edge of the Gulf Stream -- Collins said a search, if one was needed, would be almost impossible. He said the area to be covered would include waters surrounding Key West and all the way up the Florida coast.

Instead, the Coast Guard, called the Seneca County Sheriff's Office and asked them to dispatch a deputy to the Douglas home. The deputy reported that a neighbor of Douglas had not seen him in a while and he had a daughter who lived in Florida.

"We do a lot of detective work," Collins said. "(Douglas) should be in today to pick up his raft. He has been looking for it as well."

Jeff Nehls, area supervisor for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources division of watercraft in Sandusky County, agreed with Collins regarding the registration.

"That is the first piece of information we need," Nehls said. "If a boat comes untied, we can run the number and call the home to find out if it is missing or someone was using it."

Nehls said all boats need to be registered. Two exceptions include inflatable toy rafts with at least two separate chambers for air and boats used exclusively for commercial purposes, such as charters. All other craft -- from hand powered canoes to sail and motor powered boats -- require a registration.

If a boat is not registered, the ODNR can charge the operator with a minor misdemeanor.

Nehls said every boat comes with a hull identification number similar to an automobile serial number. These numbers can be used to help find a boat's owner, but it is a lengthier process.

Depending on the type and length of each boat, registration fees vary from $15 to $93 and the registration is valid for three years.

Applications for titling and registering watercraft can be downloaded from the ODNR Web site at www.dnr.state.oh.us or picked up at any Bureau of Motor Vehicles office.

Fostoria

arrests

Tuesday:

"¢ Alex L. Smith, 35, 216 Vickie Lane, two bench warrants.

Monday:

"¢ Lorenzo M. Contreras, 47, 251 W. North St., domestic violence.

thefts

Monday:

"¢ Stereo and speakers stolen from a South Town Street location. Under investigation.

vandalism

Tuesday:

"¢ Double paned window reported broken with a rock, and a car egged at an East Fremont Street residence.

"¢ Garage door and vehicle reported egged at a Monroe Street residence.

Monday:

"¢ A Lynn Street resident reported a tree fell on her vehicle, causing damage.

miscellaneous

Tuesday:

"¢ Caller advised of two horses in an alley of Lynn and Jackson streets. Found horses tied to the backyard of a residence. Message left to zoning department.

"¢ Complaint advised that a male subject assaulted him with a crowbar at a Stadium Drive location.

Monday:

"¢ South Town Street resident reported a fight between two males, with one suffering a broken hand.

"¢ Seneca County called, advising of a fight at a West Fourth Street location. No one found fighting, call restacked for a domestic violence incident. Male subject arrested.

"¢ Burglary alarm sounded at an East Center Street business. All OK.

"¢ Miller Avenue resident reported someone attempted to steal her windshield, as the plastic molding was damaged.

"¢ Complainant advised that an unknown male grabbed him at South Poplar Street and stole his bracelet. Under investigation.

"¢ Complainant reported his daughter was bitten by a dog on West Tiffin Street.

fire runs

Monday:

"¢ 9:39 a.m.: Called to 581 Maple St. for a downed power line and sparks in house and garage. Secured area, waited for AEP to arrive.

"¢ 11:35 a.m.: Called to 300 Court Place for fire in one of the machines. Disassembled machine and extinguished fire. Fire was caused by a piece of material which got caught in the machine, overheating it.

Seneca County

vandalism

Monday:

"¢ An employees at Meadowbrook Park, Bascom, reported extensive damage done to a pop machine.

miscellaneous

Monday:

"¢ Caller reported a fight between two men behind a North Street business. Call turned over to Fostoria Police Department.

"¢ West TR 116 woman reported something went through the intersection of TR 43 and TR 116 and pulled down the cable line. She called the cable company. Sheriff's Office reported it to North Central Electric.

"¢ Man reported a white Pontiac messing with people on Ohio 12. Call turned over to Ohio State Patrol.

"¢ North Ohio 587 woman reported a maroon truck parked in her driveway. Owner was contacted and moved his vehicle.

fire runs

Monday:

"¢ 7:46 p.m.: Kansas Fire Department personnel were called to stand by at the Bascom firehouse while Bascom Joint Fire District was on a call.

"¢ 7:45 p.m.: New Riegel Fire Department called to a house fire on West TR 112.