News Herald from Port Clinton, Ohio • 3

Friday, August 24, 2001 Ott aw; County A3 a. track travels of Lake Erie water snakes Portage Twp. Construction of center back on track Continued from A I won't hazard any more guesses she'll wait for the OK before setting a date.The majority of the delay, though, has been with getting federal agencies to work together and approve all the funding, she said. The Federal Aviation Administration helped with initial costs, and the USDA provided a $950,000 direct low interest loan, which the visitors bureau can pay off over 40 years, Huntley said. Along with that, the visitors bureau secured up to a $1.2 million loan from the First National Bank in Bellevue, which will be enough to pay for the rest of the building if no other money comes in.

Huntley said she's already talked with some businesses about corporate sponsorship to help decrease the amount of loan needed. On top of that, $500,000 has been secured from the Ohio capital budget, $70,000 from a Coastal Management Grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and $75,000 from an undisclosed corporate sponsor. And now that the formalities of funding and leases is aging, and sometimes choose hibernation sites that are far inland. "This year, 37 additional snakes on Kelleys Island and the Bass Islands received transmitters. These snakes will be tracked through June 2002 or beyond.

Besides providing information on movement patterns, the tracking will help researchers update population estimates. last summer, which yielded some very useful information," said Dr. Richard King, assistant professor at Northern Illinois University and leader of the research project. "We learned that the snakes travel long distances from April through October, seem attracted to some human-made structures such as rock-filled crib docks for daytime shelter during for Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The snake was listed as federally threatened in 1999 and state endangered in 2000.

Surveys conducted from 1996 through 1998 suggest that only 2,000 adult snakes existed at that time in Ohio waters. A subspecies of the northern water snake, the Lake Erie water snake is Vets day at similar to its relative except that a pattern of cross-bands is pale or completely lacking, according to the ODNR. The general coloration is gray or brownish. It may grow to a length of 42 inches. In the current study, researchers surgically implanted miniature radio transmitters into adult water snakes and re-released the snakes in their shore the fair rjwr'-u-awww t.i.iippp; -pnsmm wmm zij h.

-I jj I i in i Hi 1, 'inHf-A 1 iM Hnnfr tlr YlH JltJ 1 1 1( llll i. I j- -I News HeraldBEN FRENCH From right, William Baker of Green Springs, William Dinam of Clyde and Ed Keegan of Clyde watch the demonstrators make lumber with a 1940s sawmill near the antique tractors during veterans' and senior citizens' day at the Sandusky County Fair Thursday. All the men are World War II veterans. Mickey Johnson Executive editor Cynthia L. Jacoby City editor PeteGroh News editor -Call 734-3141 Radios SANDUSKY Researchers are using radio tracking devices to learn more about the habits and habitat of the federally and state protected Lake Erie water snake Previous studies indicate that the population of the snake, which is only found near the western Lake Erie islands, has decreased dramatically over the past 100 years, according to the For the Record Police Log Man accused of theft asks for court delay PORT CLINTON -A Mason resident accused of theft asked a judge Monday to continue his arraignment until Aug.

27 to secure a defense lawyer. Joseph Dorchif 43, of 109 E. Circle Drive, is charged with one count each of theft of more than $500, theft of less than $500 and passing bad checks worth more than $500." The alleged offenses occurred between April 18 and 22 this year, according to Ottawa County Common Pleas Court records. He is scheduled to return to court at 1 p.m. Aug.

27. Ottawa County Sheriff's Office Detention Facility Thursday Dawn M. Plez, 28, 14895 W. Toussaiht North Road, Graytown, arrested by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, charged with domestic violence, no bond. Shawn L.

Farris, 19, 414 N. Lake Pine Drive, Marble-head, arrested by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, charged with probation violation, no bond. Port Clinton police Thursday 12:14 a.m. Three juveniles drinking and throwing chairs into the pool in 800 block of Lakeshore Drive; no signs of drinking, told to go in for the night. 1:31 a.m.

Man and woman arguing in 200 block of Buckeye Boulevard; area checked, gone on officer's arrival. 1 :38 a.m. Large fight in 200 block of Madison Street, no charges filed. 7:28 a.m. White car in 600 block of Monroe Street that hasn't been moved in two weeks.

7:33 a.m. Disabled car in 100 block of West Second. 8:37 a.m. Woman in 200 block of Madison Street asked about filing a restraining order against person who is harassing her. 9:25 a.m.

Woman reported someone climbed on top of her car in 100 block of Driftwood Lane. 10:31 a.m. Accident reported at Ohio 2 and Ohio 163. 12:34 p.m. Report of people crossing Monroe Street, walked in front of traffic.

1:59 p.m. Squad requested in 300 block of Ash Street for a person who fell and was not able to get up. 1:59 p.m. Civil complaint in 700 block of Edison Street. 4 p.m.

Loud music coming from 200 block of Lin: coin Drive; all quiet on officer's arrival. 6:47 p.m. Juvenile shooting a BB gun at Riverview Cemetery. 7: 1 5 p.m. Request officer's assistance to get wheelchair inside residence in 300 block of Ash Street.

7:29 p.m. Woman reported someone writing on her mail in 600 block of Monroe Street; neighbor saw who did it. 7:32 p.m. Squad requested in 300 block of Ash Street to assist someone into residence. Body found, authorities search for more line habitat.

Each transmitter produces a signal with a unique frequency that can be detected with a receiver from a distance of more than 500 yards. The two-year project is funded by the ODNR Division of Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "With the implanted transmitters, we were able to track the movements of 20 snakes on Kelleys Island we can today," Abdalla said Friday. Moorehead and Fred Horner, 38, of Steubenville, are charged with murder in the death of Becky Mitchell, 33, of Steubenville.

Her burned body was found Wednesday near Fernwood State Forest, about five miles from Steubenville. "He shot her after he had sex with her. She was shot in the back of the head," Abdalla said. He said Moorehead admitted that he and Horner took Mitchell's body to the state forest and set it on fire. He also said Moorehead told him details of the other two alleged killings.

"He said all three women Drive were both given citations and released, according to Port Clinton police reports. Police were called just before 7:30 p.m. to break up a fight, and when officers arrived, they found Havens injured. out and hit his head while at the top just after 4:30 p.m., Marblehead police reported. He was bleeding and needed medical attention, and a Marblehead Fire crew extended the ladder to the top and pulled him out Others named are Oak Harbor Police Chief Larry St.

Clair, Ottawa County Prosecutor Mark Mulligan and his wife, Susan, Oak Harbor resident Kathy Druckenmiller and Oak Harbor lawyers Alan and Pam McKean. She claimed in the law Associated Press STEUBENVILLE -Two men arrested in Indiana were in the Jefferson County jail Friday on murder charges in the death of a woman whose body was found in a state forest. Sheriff Fred Abdalla said one of the two, Steve Moorehead, 39, of Brilliant, told him that he also had killed two other women. He said he had dumped one of the bodies in the Ohio River and placed the other body in an oil drum in an unspecified location. "We had a hard time searching the river yesterday because of the weather, but we'll resume the search for both bodies as soon as out of the way, visitors bureau employees can con centrate on the fun part getting ready to move.

The staff of around eight people are cramped in a downtown Port Clinton of fice, with boxes piled high in a storage room, and an office in the conference roomkitchen. But office space will only take up a portion of the welcome center. The rest will be exhibits designed to attract the eyes of visitors and entice them to either spend more money at more locations or even stay another day. Losing the downtown spot on Madison Street doesn't bother Huntley, either. She said people visiting her offices now are obviously already downtown.

At the new welcome center site, she can direct people to Port Clinton or Marblehead who would normally be heading straight to a boat line to the Lake Erie Islands. And by being right on Ohio 53, she's hoping the visibility will bring in those who might not have even stopped in Ottawa County. "Not only will we have people traveling on (Ohio) 53, but we'll have the visibility frofn (Ohio) 2," she said. Huntley's research shows that of people who visit a welcome center, 68 percent will spend more on restaurants in the area, 58 percent will spend more on gasoline and 38 percent will extend their length of stay by a day. "It's time we put an entrance, a gateway that is the caliber of what we are," she said.

The exhibits in the new welcome center will feature the historical and cultural nuances of the region, including winemaking, sport fishing, the state parks, mil-' itary history and lighthouses within a day's drive, among other things. Some of the exhibits are directed toward children, as well, including a possible model of the Lawrence, the ship first used by Oliver Hazard Perry before the Battle of Lake Erie. The catch is this exhibit will be shown through the eyes of Perry's younger brother, designed to appeal to the younger crowd. "The goal is to keep them in the area as long as we can through stories of the history of the region," Huntley said. Contact Jennifer Funk at (419) 734-7504, or public officials have covered up financial wrongdoing in the past, and has filed several affidavits and criminal complaints over the last two years, including a 30-count complaint last November against 10 public officials and one Oak Harbor woman.

Arrest made in break-ins at apartments CLAY TOWNSHIP -Evidence from three break-ins in the past two days at Blue Moon Apartments on Ohio 51 led authorities to their suspect, who lives in the same complex. On Thursday Clay Township Police arrested Allen M. Rutkowski, 18, who lives in apartment 8 of the Blue Moon Apartments. Rutkowski is charged with three counts of burglary and one count each of carrying a concealed weapon and receiving stolen property. He was being held this morning without bond in the Ottawa County Detention Facility.

Rutkowski allegedly entered a Blue Moon apartment Wednesday and took a $20 bill and some loose change, said Clay Township Police Chief Roger Schultze this morning. Then Thursday, authorities say he entered the same apartment again, collecting more loose change, then entered a third apartment. It was unknown this morning if anything was taken from the third apartment, and investigators were still waiting to hear from the tenants, Schultze said. Clay Township Police Sgt. Harry Mitchell investigated the break-ins, and found that evidence from the scene led to Rutkowski's apartment, where the stolen items were found, Schultze said.

Police charge pair following fight PORT CLINTON Two city men were charged with disorderly conduct Wednesday evening after a fight in the 400 block of Garfield Drive. Jose Sanchez, 21, of 848 Erie Lane and Bradley Havens, 21, of 321 Garfield were prostitutes and that he had sex with them before he killed them. He didn't give any other reasons for the killings," Abdalla said. Moorehead and Horner also are charged with aggravated assault and felonious assault in the shooting of another woman outside Mingo Junction on Friday, said Richard Ferro, an assistant prosecutor. That woman survived.

The two men were arrested Monday in a bar fight in Putnam County, Ind. Abdalla went to Green-castle, on Wednesday to pick them up after they waived extradition. They returned to Steubenville about 12:30 a.m. Friday. He He was treated at Ma-gruder Hospital, reports showed.

Neither Sanchez nor Havens wanted to file charges against each other in relation to the fight, reports showed. lighthouse and down to the ground, police reported. The man, who is from Cleveland, was taken to Magruder Hospital for treatment. It was unknown this morning what caused him to pass out, police reported. suit that on separate occasions she and her husband, a B-C-S board member, were called "mentally unstable" and "evil." She is asking for a judgment of more than $25,000 for punitive damages, as well as legal fees and economic losses related to her said both had been cooperative in answering questions.

The sheriff had said earlier that one of the two men said he had shot a woman to death on Aug. 17 near Mingo Junction, an Ohio River town of 4,300 people just south of Steubenville. The man also admitted killing two other women. Authorities estimate that the slayings happened within 24 to 36 hours. "These are cold, calculated murders," Abdalla said.

"I guess you can classify this man as a serial killer and someone who kills for thrills." Fire truck in accident Associated Press LIMA A firefighter rushing to a fire at his new house trailer lost control of his fire truck Thursday and struck a vehicle that pulled to the side of the road, authorities said. Richard Shaefer, 37, was cited for failure to maintain control, said Allen County Sheriffs Lt. Paul Basinger. The trailer was vacant and there was little damage, Basinger said. Shaefer wasn't speeding, but the pavement was wet from rain and when he hit the brakes to turn, the truck slid into the Jeep, Basinger said.

businesses in the amount of $750,000. She is a lawyer for a Cleveland company, but also is a partner in two downtown Oak Harbor businesses. Elsebeth Baumgartner has claimed the B-C-S board and Ottawa County Man rescued from inside Ottawa County Common Picas Court MARBLEHEAD Mar-blehead Fire used the ladder truck Thursday to rescue a man who passed out inside the top of the Mar-blehead Lighthouse while taking a tour. The man, who police would not identify, passed who is representing herself and husband Joe, names the following Benton-Carroll-Salem School officials in the suit: Kelley Smith, Bev Rust, Steve Rhodes and Charles Burns, all of whom she has accused of financial wrongdoing during their time at B-C-S. Baumgartners charge B-C-S officials, others with libel, slander News Herald reports PORT CLINTON ELse-beth Baumgartner filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday afternoon against nine people she says libeled and slandered her and her husband, Joe, in the past two years.

Baumgartner, a lawyer.