The Kenton Times

Century of memories at Jackson Township farm
By DAN ROBINSON
Times staff writer
FOREST — When the Ohio Department of Agriculture considered the farm of Corda and Pauline Spearman for status as a “century farm,” it had proof in the owner. Corda Spearman was born in the house where he lives on July 8, 1908.
As Corda stands outside his farmhouse in Jackson Township near Forest, he surveys 100 years of memories at the farm which has been the home to three generations of his family.
“The farm belonged to my grandpa and he gave it to my mother,” said Corda.
Like most small farms, he said, the family raised hogs, cattle, chickens and sheep, but only enough to keep food on the table. From an early age, Corda learned to work, helping feed the chickens and pigs.
When it was time to attend school, he set off on the half-mile journey to the Hazel Branch one-room house.
“They started me in the second grade,” Corda recalled. “The teacher said, ‘you don’t need the first grade, I’ll start you off in second’.”
By the time he reached the eighth grade, Corda was nearly a fixture at the school. He arrived an hour before the teacher and other students arrived to carry coal to heat the classroom.
(Refer to page 1 of the Kenton Times)

FRIDAY MAY 2, 2008

Times photo/Dan Robinson
Display expanded
Sullivan-Johnson Museum Director Linda Iams prepares some Kenton Toys for the expanded display at the museum for Sunday's open house. The museum increased the number of Kenton Toys to two rooms, said Iams. The museum will be open 1-3 p.m. Sunday for the open house to showcase the expansion. The museum is open 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment.
(Refer to page 1 of the Kenton Times)

Former Dunkirk fiscal officer accused of taking $145,600
By DAN ROBINSON
Times staff writer
DUNKIRK - The fiscal officer for the village of Dunkirk was arraigned Tuesday on charges he took nearly $150,000 of the village funds.
Tom Foltz resigned from office last month after failing to appear for work when auditors came to the village to inspect the books. He has been charged with two counts of theft in office and one charge of theft beyond the scope.
According to the charges filed in Hardin County Municipal Court, Foltz took the money between Jan. 1, 2005, and April 14, 2008.
Dunkirk Mayor Pam Ruhlen confirmed Thursday to the Times that the amount missing is $145,600.
While the amount of money missing now is far greater than any previous reports, records from the Ohio State Auditor's Office indicate fiscal irregularities in the village since Foltz took over as fiscal officer in 2002.
In the audit report for his first two years in the job, the state filed for recovery of funds when amounts deposited in village accounts didn't match money collected.
Payment for shelter house fees, bank receipts, bulk water and tap-in-fees, said the report, were not represented by a corresponding bank deposit.
(Refer to page 1 of the Kenton Times)

Kenton man sent to prison for assault
By DAN ROBINSON
Times staff writer
A Kenton man was sent to prison for four years after being found guilty of one count of felonious assault.
According to Hardin County Common Plea court records from Prosecutor Brad Bailey's office, Matthew L. Peddicord, 204 N. High St., was also fined $50 and is to pay restitution in the case of $5,080.53 in medical bills of the victim.
Peddicord was also found guilty of one count of domestic violence and sentenced to 90 days in jail, to run concurrently with the assault sentence.
In other recent cases, Tina M. Klingler, of Trotwood, was placed on three years of community control and fined $100 when she was found guilty of tampering with evidence. Klingler was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.
(Refer to page 1 of the Kenton Times)

THURSDAY MAY 1, 2008

Prom "crash"
High school students from Upper Scioto Valley watched as friends try to comfort Megan Hollon, victim in the mock crash sponsored by the Armentrout Funeral Home as part of the school's prom week. Following the crash and response by law officers, firemen and EMTs, Hollon was pronounced "dead" by the county coroner and placed in a body bag. She was taken from the scene in a hearse while the students went to the Alumni Fieldhouse for a mock funeral, complete with closed casket and eulogies.
(Refer to page 1 of the Kenton Times)

Times photo/Christina Hoy

Thriller of an effort
Eight boys from the Ada High School Choral Department, with the help of one of the directors, on Wednesday practiced their version of Thriller for the school's Spring Fever Follies, set for 7 p.m. Friday in the auditorium. Singing lead is director Bill Ruhlen (middle back), with help from students (from left, front) Shaun Laubis, Corie Vaughn, Trevor Kline, Garrett Oestreich and (back) Doug Smittle, Zach Simon, Myles Johnson and Michael Reese. Thriller is just one of the performances in the show. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens and will be on sale at the door. Rhonda Bargerstock and Jeff Oestreich are also directing the show.
(Refer to page 1 of the Kenton Times)

Kenton man dies in crash
A Kenton man was killed in a one-vehicle accident in southern Hardin County early Wednesday morning.
Cody Alan Trent, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hardin County coroner, according to the Findlay post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Trent was driving a Dodge pickup southbound on Township Road 133, about 5:50 a.m. According to the patrol, his truck went off the right side of the road, across a private drive and overturned several times, ejecting Trent. He was not wearing a seat belt.
A cause for the accident has not been determined. It is still under investigation.
Assisting at the scene were the Hardin County Sheriff's Office and Logan County fire and EMS. LifeFlight also was at the scene.
(Refer to page 1 of the Kenton Times)

WEDNESDAY APRIL 30, 2008

Victim Identified
Cody Trent, 19 of Kenton, was killed in a one-vehicle accident in southern Hardin County about 5:50 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Findlay post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. His pickup truck went off the right side of Taylor Creek Township Road 133 and overturned. Trent was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
Times photo/Dan Robinson
Fatal crash
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was not releasing the name of the victim in a fatal accident early this morning pending notification of his family. The driver of the pickup truck was southbound on Taylor Creek Township Road 133, south of Kenton, when he went off the right side of the road about 6 a.m. The vehicle struck a driveway and rolled through a fence, throwing the driver from the cab of the truck. The driver was the only person in the truck at the time of the crash.
(Refer to page 1 of the Kenton Times)

Times photo/Christina Hoy

OSU history
Raimund Goerler, Ph.D., assistant director of Ohio State University libraries and university archivist, spoke about the rich history of several of the buildings located on the OSU main campus. He was the guest speaker Tuesday evening at the annual dinner of the Ohio State Alumni Club of Hardin County.
(Refer to page 5 of the Kenton Times)