plus 3, Saratoga Springs City Council looks at possible solutions to $2.2M ... - Saratogian

Saratoga Springs City Council looks at possible solutions to $2.2M ... - Saratogian
Longtime art teacher inspired for decades - Charleston Daily Mail
Ex-teller gets jail for stealing $286,000 from ATM in Hamburg - Reading Eagle
Michael Martin, 40, Indianola - Daily Freeman Journal

Saratoga Springs City Council looks at possible solutions to $2.2M ... - Saratogian

Posted: 09 Mar 2010 10:36 PM PST

By PATRICK H. DONGES, The Saratogian

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Raising licensing fees, bonding operating costs and increasing sales tax were just a few of the solutions proposed by the City Council at a public hearing Monday night to close the city's $2.2 million budget gap.

The meeting at the Canfield Casino was originally scheduled as the second public workshop on four parking management proposals being considered by the city. Last Tuesday, the council dismissed the plans and discussed several options to close the gap, including renegotiating the city's contract with Time Warner Cable and pursuing parking ticket scofflaws.

"We're going to face this deficit every single year," Mayor Scott Johnson said.

Johnson spoke to about 60 residents assembled for the workshop. He dispelled the previously stated notion that renegotiating the city's contract with Time Warner Cable would produce windfall revenue. By his estimates, a new contract and the addition of non-subscription services would raise less than $20,000 in additional fees.

"(Increasing sales tax) could be a significant source of revenue if the community wants it," he said.

Johnson also said he was in the final stages of reaching an agreement with city unions to avoid up to $500,000 in healthcare costs. He said an announcement would be made as soon as within the next two weeks.

Public Works Commissioner Anthony "Skip" Scirocco suggested raising several city fees including dog licenses and on- street "sandwich board" fees. He also proposed a series of new registry requirements, with fees, for landlords and property owners.

"I know we could raise them by a dollar, two dollars, 10 dollars," he said.

Scirocco also mentioned raising sales tax, early retirement incentives for senior city employees and contracting the use of city-owned buildings for alternative uses.

Public Safety Commissioner Richard Wirth agreed that the city should consider increasing sales tax with input from residents and merchants. He suggested the council think of "one-time situations" to produce revenue, such as bonding operating costs.

Wirth also suggested charging ticketing companies like LiveNation and Ticketmaster for city services at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, a provision in Gov. David Paterson's executive budget proposal.

"To not come up with cuts or talk about bonding our way out of this is insanity," Accounts Commissioner John Franck said.

Franck outlined the percentages and amounts each department would have to cut to fill the gap and offered to meet with Finance Commissioner Ken Ivins Jr. to discuss cuts in his office. He noted the fiscal peril of the New York State Racing Association and questioned the future of the city's racing season.

"We have to stop talking about revenue and start talking about expenses," he said.

Several residents offered up their ideas as well.

Kyle York, of Railroad Place, came prepared with seven revenue ideas, including increased enforcement of cell phone driving violations and motorcycle exhaust noise.

Former city building inspector Lauritz Rasmussen suggested a series of permit fees for building renovations not currently charged by the city. Resident Phil Diamond asked the Downtown Business Association what they planned on doing to help the city.

Mark Lawton, of the Citizen's Budget Committee, was applauded by the crowd for his plan to decrease expenses by cutting non-essential services and consolidating management.

"You have the tools, you just need the guts," he said to the council.

Further public hearings will be scheduled to discuss budget amendments expected to be proposed by the council.

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Longtime art teacher inspired for decades - Charleston Daily Mail

Posted: 09 Mar 2010 09:31 PM PST

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Olivia Turner, a longtime George Washington High School art teacher, died Sunday after a long battle with breast cancer.

Barbara Tinnel, a retired GW math teacher, said Turner lived with the disease for more than 10 years after being diagnosed with cancer in August 1999.

Tinnel said her colleague had a couple of surgeries but doctors mostly used chemotherapy to treat her disease.

Although the treatment left her feeling terrible, Tinnel and other GW staff members said Turner rarely missed work. Near the end of her 30-year teaching career, Tinnel said Turner went to chemotherapy every day after school.

"It was an incredible thing," she said.

Tinnel, who started teaching at GW a semester after Turner, says she considered the art teacher one of her best friends.

The two were hired at the high school in 1977, and both retired in 2007.

"I got to beat her on retirement because I was four months older," Tinnel said, laughing.

Tinnel says Turner was an "extremely strong person" with a wonderful sense of humor she kept all through her illness. She said her friend was a very supportive and loyal person as well.

"As a teacher and as a person, if she believed in something, no matter what the consequences, she stood by her belief," Tinnel said.

Jim Vickers, a former GW principal who now leads the Garnett Career and Technical Center, said Turner inspired such loyalty from students that many spent their mornings, lunch periods, and other free time in her classroom working on projects.

"That's pretty tough, to inspire your students to spend all their extra time in your classroom," he said.

Kathy Casdorph, a former George Washington guidance counselor, said Turner was an "incredible teacher."

"She taught students that excellence expanded to all areas at GW, not just academics," Casdorph said. "We were always amazed at what she could get out of kids."

Josh Banks, who studied art under Turner from 1992-95, said he wasn't even considering college until he took her class.

"She basically was the person who shaped my decision on going to college and pursuing art as a career," he said.

Now Banks is a freelance artist and professional designer. He has worked to design professional motorcycle racing uniforms and toys for Hasbro.

Banks drove from his Rhode Island home through the recent snowstorms to sit by Turner's bed for her last few days. He said he had the opportunity to show his former teacher his post-high school art and it was a moving experience for both of them.

"She helped me find focus in my life, and that focus was art," he said. "When I look back at my career and everything I've accomplished . . . it all started with her."

Pete Corbett, a former GW vice principal, said the art teacher had a unique ability to engage and interact with students to "bring out and develop the best of their artistic skills."

Corbett said Turner organized an annual art show in the school's gym for community members, students, parents and staff.

"It was absolutely phenomenal every year," he said.

Corbett said Turner had a never-ending desire to see her students achieve.

"That was her passion; that was her life," he said.

Turner is survived by her husband, Paul; daughters, Elizabeth of Scott Depot and Meredith of Charlotte, N.C.; father, Bert Ash of St. Albans; and brothers, Bob of Rock, Mercer County, and Bill of Huntington.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Cunningham Memorial Parks Upper Mausoleum Chapel, St. Albans. Friends may call one half hour prior to the service at the mausoleum chapel.

Donations may be made to Hubbard Hospice House, 1001 Kennawa Dr., Charleston, WV 25311 or to the CAMC Cancer Center Foundation.

Cooke Funeral Home, Nitro, is in charge of arrangements.

Contact writer Zack Harold at 304-348-7939 or zack.har...@dailymail.com.

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Ex-teller gets jail for stealing $286,000 from ATM in Hamburg - Reading Eagle

Posted: 09 Mar 2010 09:03 PM PST

A former teller at a Wachovia bank in Hamburg has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for stealing $286,000 over six years from an automated teller machine that she oversaw, federal authorities said Tuesday.

Tonya Marie Lord, 39, of Hamburg was also ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Joel H. Slomsky to pay the balance of $284,190 in restitution and serve five years of probation. She already has paid some money back.

A street address for Lord was unavailable.

Lord used the money to live an extravagant lifestyle, federal authorities said.

Lord worked at the Wachovia branch at 26 S. Fourth St. and at a drive-through location at 555 State St.

Slomsky also ordered that while Lord is on probation she not take a job that would give her access to money via a computer; not acquire any new debt; and not liquidate any assets without permission from federal probation authorities.

Lord was indicted in September and pleaded guilty in November to embezzling the money from 2003 to 2009.

Lord carefully plotted and concealed her thefts, U.S. Attorney Michael L. Levy said in a memo submitted for a sentencing recommendation.

He said Lord was the only person with oversight of the ATM and had authority to balance the account from which she embezzled.

"Had someone been responsible for checking Ms. Lord's handling of the ATM account at the Hamburg branch, her embezzlement would not have gone undetected for so long, and she would not have been able to steal as many times as she did," Levy said, referring to the more than 100 incidents.

Wachovia spokesman Jim Baum said he could not comment about whether changes had been made.

"Whenever we have a situation of this nature, we conduct an audit of our procedures to see if the system can be improved," Baum said.

Levy said Lord and her family used the funds to live lavishly.

"The defendant's family was living well beyond its means, with money spent on drugs, maintenance expenses on a boat, three automobiles, two motorcycles (one now sold), a go-cart, hunting equipment and three overdrawn credit accounts," Levy said. "Ms. Lord made many extremely irresponsible decisions to steal in a misguided effort to continue chasing a life her family could not afford."

He also said there was an investigation into whether Lord had tried to conceal a 27-foot boat in Maryland as an asset during the federal investigation.

While the title for the boat lists the sole owner as Lord's husband, whom Levy did not name, Levy said the financial transactions regarding the boat's purchase raise more questions than they answer.

A stiff sentence was needed to deter future thefts because embezzlement by bank employees is an all-too-common crime, Levy said.

"In fact, the same branch from which the defendant stole money was again the victim of a theft of tens of thousands of dollars in mid-2009," Levy said. "Although no one has yet been charged in that case, the sentence in this case will no doubt be the subject of discussion in the Hamburg and Wachovia communities."

Baum said he can't comment on ongoing investigations.

Contact Jason Brudereck: 610-371-5044 or jbrudereck@readingeagle.com.

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Michael Martin, 40, Indianola - Daily Freeman Journal

Posted: 09 Mar 2010 08:20 PM PST

Michael Martin, 40, Indianola

Michael James Martin was born on November 4, 1969, to James and Jean (Hesebeck) Martin at Ellsworth Hospital in Iowa Falls, IA. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Hubbard, IA. and graduated in 1988 from Hubbard High School. After graduation he attended Grandview College in Des Moines, IA and earned an Automotive Tech Degree from DMACC in Ankeny, IA. He was currently working towards a Bachelors Degree in Business from William Penn College in Oskaloosa, IA.

After college Mike was employed by Hemmingway Racing in West Des Moines and had been with Martin Marietta, Inc. since 1993. During his years with Martin Marietta he was night shift maintenance and lead man, Ames Plant; assistant plant manager, Oskaloosa Plant; plant manager of Martin Portable, Southwest Iowa; and currently plant manager of Durham Mine, Harvey, IA.

He married Bobby Jo Vinsant at St. Petri Lutheran Church in Story City, IA on September 11, 1999. They became parents to Colby James in 2001, Reece Hadley in 2005 and Emma Kate in 2009. Mike also had a daughter, Malayna Marie, from a previous marriage.

Mike was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Indianola and a cub scout leader. He loved riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, working on cars and being with family and friends.

Mike died following an accident at home on Monday, March 8, 2010.

He is survived by his wife, Bobby; children, Malayna of Phoenix, AZ, Colby, Reece, and Emma at home; parents, Jim and Jean Martin of New Providence, IA; a brother, Steve (Rachel) Martin of Hubbard, IA; a sister, Rachel (Chris) Isebrand of Story City, IA; three nephews, Hank Martin, Marty Isebrand and Dash Isebrand; in-laws, Abe and Donna Vinsant of Webster City, IA; brother-in-law, Chad (Anne) Vinsant of Omaha, NE; and other relatives.

Preceding him in death were his grandparents, Wallace and Reba (Clampitt) Martin and Henry and Orlyle (Winter) Hesebeck.

Memorials may be directed to the Mike Martin Children Education Fund at Hardin County Savings Bank, Box 402, Union, IA 50258 or Mt. Calvary Lutheran Preschool, Box 174, Indianola, IA 50125.

Services will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 12 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Indianola with graveside services held 3 p.m. Friday at the Honey Creek Cemetery, New Providence, IA. Visitation will be held 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 11 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola where family will be present to greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m.

Thanks be to God for the life and memory of Michael James Martin.

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