FROM THE 1450 WJER NEWSROOM
FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 9TH, 2010
LOCAL:
New Philadelphia fire fighters say they’re
saddened that a 19-year-veteran is retiring under a dark cloud of crime. 53-year-old former fire fighter Rick Wigfield pleaded guilty Monday to theft of a dangerous
drug. He was permitted to resign
and retire in January. Wigfield admitted to stealing an IV bag of an anti-nausea
medication from an ambulance to treat his adult daughter who was sick in
December. He then took an IV bag
from Union Hospital to replace it. Fire Chief Jim Parrish calls Wigfield a good person who made a bad decision. Wigfield was
referred to a diversion program for low risk offenders instead of a conviction.
If completed successfully, his case
will be dismissed and his records sealed.
New Philadelphia officials will make a final attempt to reach a new
contract with the city’s clerical staff before having a fact-finder
settle the deal. City council
rejected a three-year deal for the 14 clerical AFSCME
workers by a 5-to-2 vote Monday.
Mayor Mike Taylor says council will meet Tuesday in an effort to avoid
that step. Council members cited the expense of 1.5% raises in rejecting the deal, others cited the expense of a fact finder in accepting
the last of four city union contracts.
Former UNLV and St. Louis basketball
coach Charlie Spoonhour entertained the crowd at Kent
State Tuscarawas Campus during his Voices of Distinction appearance Monday. The current Oklahoma broadcaster says humor and a
positive attitude has helped him achieve his goals and beyond. He says he grew up in an area in Arkansas similar to the Tuscarawas Valley.
STATE:
Ohio State
University says one of its employees was
killed and two were wounded in an overnight shooting at a campus maintenance
building just east of Ohio Stadium. University police say a suspect was taken
into custody after the 3:30 am incident. One
of the wounded employees is in critical condition and the other is in stable
condition. Ohio State
says no students were involved and classes will be
held as normal today.
NATIONAL:
There's
a key test vote today on extending unemployment insurance for the long-term
jobless. The measure before the
Senate would provide weekly unemployment checks averaging above $300 and extend
health insurance to people whose core 26-week benefit package has run out. Democrats need 60 votes to move forward.
Defense
Secretary Robert Gates is in Afghanistan,
where he told a hard-hit battle unit that its heavy losses have helped the US begin to
push back against the Taliban. The
unit from Fort Lewis, Washington
has lost 22 men and another 62 have been wounded since arriving in Afghanistan
last summer.
SPORTS:
NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers
97 – San Antonio
Spurs 95 (LeBron James misses a second game with sore ankle)
WEATHER:
TODAY: Mostly sunny, Hi 55;
TONIGHT: 50% chance of rain, Lo 37;
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY:
50% chance of rain, Hi near 60
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REGISTRATION LOCATION IN DOVER
IS THE HOME OF THE BIGGEST & FASTEST TAX RETURNS ALLOWED BY THE IRS.
BE READY TO CALL IN WITH THE ANSWER THIS AFTERNOON ON
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