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Marine To Walk In Graduation

2013-05-25T08:29:08-04:00

ST. MARYS — After completing coursework a semester early to go to boot camp last February, senior Priscilla Dodson will return on Sunday to walk in commencement with her graduating class at Memorial High School, but set apart, in her dress blues, as a Marine.

It’s not the first time Dodson will feel different from her classmates.

“Growing up in St. Marys was really hard for me,” she said. “A lot of people don’t accept individuals. In a small town, it’s hard when you’re not an athlete. I was bullied a lot in junior high. I definitely wanted to prove to myself and others I was strong.”

When Dodson left in February, she said she knew that in some ways she would be stand out in the military as well. Less than 6 percent of Marines are women, she said.

“So far, they stress sexual assault prevention,” Dodson said. “They teach us in the boot camp we’re all the same, all equal. Yeah, you have some people criticize you for doing what they consider a man’s job. But boot camp taught me how to deal with that.”

When Dodson first went to camp, she said it was hard on some of the women, who wondered early on whether the decision was right for them.

“For me, I never felt like that,” Dodson said. “I never forgot why I was there. I knew it was where I was supposed to be.”

Dodson graduated basic training on Friday having learned combat and survival skills along with core values.

She did physical training four to five times per week, learned map reading, what to do if she’s dropped in the desert without help.

“We also learned a lot about psychology,” Dodson said. “How people will react to things, and how you should react.”

Though she’s graduated boot camp, she will continue training in a 16-day warrior training that will involve weapons and field environments. She will also train for her specialty in combat engineering, where she will learn how to construct buildings and work with explosives to demolish structures. With her specialty, Dodson said she will probably be deployed often into combat zones.

Dodson said she looks forward to walking in uniform to accept her diploma.

“It’s just feeling I did something very few women do before most people graduate high school,” Dodson said. “I’ll be able to see the people who bullied me graduating.”

Dodson said she thinks those people will be surprised by her transformation in the Marines.

“I carry myself differently,” she said.

Dodson said that for other students who are bullied, she would recommend the military or doing something out of St. Marys.

“After you go, you experience being part of something bigger than MTV Friday nights or football games,” she said. “We need responsibility. I think of how far I’ve come from a kid that used to get picked on to a strong woman defending our country.”

Martin Pleads To Murder Charge

2013-05-24T11:38:22-04:00

CELINA — The man charged in the shooting death of a Rockford woman last year has pleaded guilty to the charge.

In a plea agreement reached on Friday, Daniel C. Martin pleaded guilty to murder, with a gun specification, in the death of Melinda S. Shinn. Martin shot and killed Shinn at 509 North St., Rockford, on Nov. 8.

Martin now faces 15 years to life in prison with an additional three years because of the gun specification. Martin is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m. June 27.

Arrest Made In MCSO Vehicle Break-in

2013-05-24T10:13:26-04:00

CELINA — An arrest has been made in connection with the break-in of a Mercer County Sheriff's car earlier this week.

In a news release, Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reported his office is in the process of updating policies on firearms that are stored in office vehicles. The sheriff’s office does not disclose the types of weapons deputies have at their disposal as it is a risk to deputies for criminals to know what resources are available and what resources are not available.

Firearms in marked patrol vehicles are kept in the passenger compartment for easy access when needed. They are secured by locked storage racks, making their theft difficult. Unmarked vehicles carry firearms in other locations in an attempt to be as accessible as possible, but without compromising the covert nature of the vehicle.

“We believe that the detective’s car that was broken into was a random theft from a vehicle and the suspect did not know at the time that it was a detective’s car,” Grey said.

Sheriff cars, both marked and unmarked, carry many tools needed for the performance of law enforcement duties, many items that are needed in an instant. These tools, which include self-defense weapons, are stored in the cars even when the cars are not within surveillance of the deputy/detective.

It takes hours to equip the cars — it would be impractical to completely unload the vehicle whenever the vehicle was not in a protected area, much like a contractor or plumber, who does not unload the work truck every night. The sheriff’s office is now reviewing the cost of securely mounting gun safes in the trunks of the unmarked vehicles to deter future thefts. Until safes can be acquired and installed, firearms have been removed from all unmarked vehicles and are being stored in the sheriff’s office armory.

“We regret that this theft occurred,” Grey said. “And we will address the storage of firearms in the vehicles in a policy format in the near future. We own our mistakes, we learn from them, and then we take steps to prevent a reoccurrence. That is about all we can do at this point. No excuses, just striving to be better.”

The investigation into the theft is ongoing. The firearm was recovered shortly after noon on Thursday and an arrest was made shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday. Sheriff’s Detectives arrested Paul Michael Hiser, 37, last known address in Celina, for allegedly receiving stolen property. He is being held in the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility awaiting review of the case by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and the filing of formal charges.

Hiser has a long history of theft offenses his most recent incarceration was in February for theft and again in March of this year for contempt of court. As the investigation continues, more charges may be filed against Hiser.

House Fire On Rolling Hills Drive

2013-05-23T18:44:26-04:00

ST. MARYS — Fire crews from two local departments battled a house fire on Rolling Hills Drive Thursday night.

The St. Marys Fire Department and St. Marys Township Fire Department responded with trucks and manpower to a fire call at 610 Rolling Hills Drive. As firefighters battled the blaze, flames shot through the roof and heavy smoke poured from the fire. Approximately 10 vehicles responded to the scene. A St. Marys electrical department truck also responded to the scene.

Officials at the scene told The Evening Leader all occupants of the home made it out safely. More details will be published when released by fire officials.

New Principal Hired

2013-05-23T09:23:20-04:00

ST. MARYS — The St. Marys City Schools Board of Education met for a special meeting Wednesday evening to pass several items related to personnel, including two retirements, several resignations and one appointment — Bill Ruane as principal at Memorial High School.

“He’s a proven commodity and we’re happy to bring him back home to continue his good work,” Superintendent Shawn Brown said.

Current Principal David Lewis will be stepping down at the end of the school year, Brown said, and will be taking a position at Miami Trace in Fayette County.

Ruane is a familiar face in the district; he was a teacher for St. Marys City Schools from 2004 to 2012, and spent the last year working as an administrator for the Coldwater school system.

Sheriff's Office Car Broken Into

2013-05-22T15:47:58-04:00

CELINA — Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports that his office is investigating a theft that occurred in the parking lot of Zuma Automotive, 314 S. Main St., Celina. An unmarked vehicle, assigned to a detective from the sheriff’s office was entered sometime between Monday and Tuesday and items were stolen.

Stolen from the vehicle were a sheriff’s office winter jacket with a metal breast badge, a sheriff’s office rain coat with a metal breast badge, a bullet resistant vest, a sheriff’s office Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun with extra ammunition in a green case, two Glock .40 caliber handgun magazines and extra ammunition, a sheriff’s office stocking cap, a black briefcase with evidence collection materials, an emergency throw-rope and loose change.

Anyone with information regarding this theft should contact the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at 419-586-7724.

Recount To Be Conducted In Race

2013-05-22T15:42:31-04:00

ST. MARYS — There will be a recount for the final council-at-large seat in the St. Marys Republican primary next week.

An automatic recount was triggered for the final spot between Dan Uhlenhake and Russell Bailey. The official vote ended in favor of Uhlenhake by a tally of 590 to 583. According to a state formula, a recount must be conducted if the difference between candidates is eight or less.

The recount is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. May 30 in the board office in Wapakoneta.

Local Happenings

2013-05-22T13:17:26-04:00

May 22: Stop by FJ Stallo Memorial Library in Minster today for information on the 2013 Summer Reading Club and a free ice cream cone.

A weekly divorce support group will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today at Wayne Street United Methodist Church in St. Marys.

Roughrider Seniors prepare for graduation set for Sunday at 2pm

2013-05-22T11:35:52-04:00

Roughrider Seniors prepare for graduation set for Sunday at 2pm

2013-05-22T11:35:52-04:00