Local News

LaFayette vs. Brown lawsuit update

lafayetteA status hearing was held on October 5 in the case of LaFayette verses Brown, which simply meant that both the plaintiff and defendant attorneys updated Judge Stuart Borden about the progress each side has made concerning this lawsuit.
During the brief court appearance by attorneys of the case Mr. Brown’s attorney, Justin Raver, filed for a summary judgment of the case. According to LAW.COM a summary judgment is: “A court order ruling that no factual issues remain to be tried and therefore a cause of action or all causes of action in a complaint can be decided upon certain facts without trial.” Judge Borden did not rule on this motion.
Village of LaFayette attorney, David Cover, requested that the temporary restraining order be continued and was granted such by Judge Borden. This order prevents Mr. Brown from continuing to farm the ground in dispute that lies within Village limits.

County recieves first check from electrical aggregation

countyJust one of the four municipalities in Stark County will ask its residents if they want to be a part of an electrical savings plan that is already benefiting the county financially.
After failing to file the paperwork promptly in the spring for the primary ballot, Toulon will have the question of electrical aggregation on the general election ballot this November. Bradford and LaFayette have never addressed the issue and Wyoming, despite stating in their July meeting they would wait until now, also hasn’t taken any action.
In April, voters in the unincorporated areas of Stark County passed the measure, 253 to 169, which provided the county to seek bids for an energy supplier as part of a larger buying group.

Toulon council takes a sharp turn over TIF

toulonIn what was playing out to be the most organized and formal meeting of the Toulon city council in years, Mayor Rick Collins rather sternly changed the tone with one swift bang of the gavel.

The discussion was on the last item on the agenda, TIF appropriations. The council had previously approved $70,000 a year for a three year park renovation project. The discussion Monday night was whether or not to continue with that commitment or adjust it.

Following a motion by Misty Turnbull to continue with the $70,000 and spend the remaining funds on the library’s request to help with its retention pond, TIF administrator Teresa Macy was answering questions from council members including Debbie Wyant who asked “but if we do the $70,000 for the park, we won’t be able to pay [back money owed to the general fund], is that correct?”

Baby Mia found alive after 11 hours

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Mia Graci Thomson, 3 week old infant, was found alive and well after being reported missing. This story from our small town of Toulon has made local, state and national headlines. What started as an abducted child Amber Alert, ended with criminal charges filed against the child’s mother.

It all began shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday, September 27 when Kendra Meaker, 19, of Toulon contacted the Stark County Sheriff’s office reporting that her child was missing from her car after she had returned from the post office in Toulon. Meaker said she had gone to the post office with Mia Graci and her 11 month old sister to mail a package. She left both girls in the car, to find Mia Graci missing when she exited the post office and returned to her vehicle. Stark County authorities began to question possible witnesses near the post office and determined that an unknown person had been sighted in a gold or tan car; a white female with brown hair wearing yellow sweat pants with the back seat loaded with items. An Amber Alert was issued which was later canceled.

Trash contract in question for LaFayette

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What appeared to be a simple process of changing contractors for Village trash collection has become clouded by questions about the current contract with Murphy’s. According to President Pro Tem Greg Bartley, “We don’t know if there is a current contract out there with Murphy’s.”

 

Should there happen to be one, it would expire in April of next year, with the supposition it was signed in 2008 for five years. There is a contract clause which stipulates that the Village may give a 90-day notice of cancellation in order to terminate services with Murphy’s.