The Marion Star from Marion, Ohio • 3

Local News The Marion Star Saturday, March 30, 1990 Page 3 Saga of missing Rheas continues By DAVID SCHOLZ a Id In I I i I his search would finally end. A report had the two wayward Rheas within 500 yards of their backyard pen at his Waldo home. The fog-horn sound being made by the male Rheas still in Hunt's possession were apparently luring the birds, both females, back home. However, in the last 24 hours, it was learned that several others of his nine total Rheas had also gotten loose. But, Hunt's luck changed for the better Friday.

With five of Hunt's Rheas enjoying their freedom, Steve and Kathy Brake, 3315 Mautz-Yeager Road, observed a pair of Rheas in their yard. Shirley Marshall, an aide at Waldo Elementary, called The Marion Star after Steve Brake came to the school thinking the owner of the birds worked, there. "I didn't know who else to call, but I remem bered reading about the missing birds in The Star, so I decided to call the newspaper," Marshall said. To say the least, Hunt expressed frustration about the whole ordeal when contacted at home Friday. "When I get them all back, they are never going to get out again, he said.

In the wake of the most recent escapes, Hunt said he taken appropriate steps to resolve that aspect of his headaches once and for all. The other solution that he hopes will end this situation is a tranquilizer gun. "As soon as we get a report of a sighting, we go out and get the birds," Hunt said. He hoped to have this all put behind him by Monday. The score now for Hunt is six Rheas in the fold, and three somewhere in Marion County.

Staff Writer The search and rescue mission for a Waldo man's missing Rheas appears to be taking more twists than Alfred Hitchcock's thriller "The Birds." Initially, three of the exotic, South American ostriches flew the coop while owner Todd Hunt, 25, was transferring them from one pen to another March 1 1. Nearly three weeks later, his Rheas have managed other successful escapes. In the days that followed the initial exodus, Hunt recaptured one of the Rheas. And, additional sightings were coming in almost daily about the whereabouts of the other two birds, producing still more hope for him. In fact, one week ago, Hunt was confident that No garbage pickup would affect only three merchants in county 'If our prices were out of line, you would have a hauling company outside of Marion set up an opera-tion here' Connie Home, Sims Brothers By GREG RAYBURN Staff Writer Fears about the city stopping garbage pickup for county businesses isn't countywide.

It's limited to three merchants, said Connie Home, vice president of Sims Brothers Inc. "There are only three businesses in the county that the city is considering discontinuing service. There are only three businesses in the county that the city provides commercial sanitation service," Home said. County businesses that use the city's service are: Asphalt Materials 184 Marion-Williamsport Road DOG TRAINING Dog owner and trainer Mike Brewer spends a moment with his dogs, Amy, left, and Sabre. Former operator of Northeast K-9, Brewer recently opened Brewer's School of Dogs in the former Grand Prairie Elementary School, 577 Marseilles-Galion Road East A variety of classes and services are offered at the school.

(Star Photo By Mary McKnight) School offers dogs obedience training firm views it as an indication that county businesses are satisfied with Sims' service. "If our prices were out of line, you would have a bigger hauling company outside of Marion set up an operation here. The business is very competitive. There are too many big companies across the nation that would come into town if they thought we were charging way too much. They Manuel 'survives' first days in new job ducted before training is begun.

The dog also is given an aptitude test to determine its attention span and train-ability. Brewer said an obedience program can be designed to meet the owner's needs. Because Brewer believes each dog has individual needs, group classes are not offered. Brewer said his school occasionally offers AKC-registered puppies and trained dogs for sale and it also offers a breeder referral service. Brewer also operate a boarding kennel with facilities for 25 dogs.

Boarded dogs are walked twice a day, he said, and fed and given medication in accordance with owners instruction. He said dogs that have been trained by Brewer's or Northeast K-9 reeieafrce refresher training when boarded a( the facility. Brewer also sells pet supplies including leashes, collars and crates. Brewer, who previously operated Northeast K-9, said he has been training dogs in the Marion area since 1989. He also has trained dogs in surrounding counties including Crawford, Union and Delaware.

The school is open 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays or by appointment.

Training and boarding information is available by calling the school at 383-4496 or at the toll-free number, 1-800-752-3362. Brewer said because much of the training is conducted outside, away from the telephone, callers should leave a message if they reach a recording. Marion Village Apartments, 1543 Southland Parkway; and Arthur Treacher's Fish Chips, 1270 S. Prospect St, she said. Currently, Sims is the only hauler that handles commercial trash, since its only competitor discontinued the service last year, she said.

Home denounces fears that a one-company operation here would mean out-of-hne bills and poor service. Instead, the neuvering that currently exists in his new role has put him on the "catbird seat." It wasn't that long ago the tables were turned, and he, like his colleagues, were all asking the state the same question: "Why can't you do more to help local MRDD agencies." Manuel hasn't changed his tune, though. "I still don't think that the state has done as much as it could," Manuel said, in assessing what's available beyond state and local funding sources. With state funding at a premium, he believes MRDD support has to come locally in the form of voting for levies for the time being. Like his recent endorsement of Wyandot County's levy, a similar release is forthcoming calling for support of Marion County's issue, Manuel said.

"The support for Wyandot is a blanket statement (supporting iArea Digest! Alumni banquet By MAMIE BALDINGER Martel Correspondent The Martel Alumni Banquet is set for April 20 at River Valley High School. A social hour begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meal will be served at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Members of the Class of 1941 will be honored as the 50-year class.

Class members include Marjorie Burkhart Bachelor; Jane Hickman Bihlmeir, Ralph Downs, Pauline Hofstettcr El-lisor, Charles Kellogg, Serge Kelly and Kathleen Loyer Sharrock. Class members who are deceased are Mildred Lyon Shumakcr and Harriet Rinehart Griffiths. Entertainment for the banquet will be presented by alumni members. Alumni association members are Everett Douce, president; Walter Rinehart vice president; and Lois Pangbom Snare, secretary-treasurer. By MARY McKNIGHT Morral Correspondent Brewer's School of Dogs recently began operations in the former Grand Prairie Elementary School, 577 Marseilles-Galion Road.

Owner Mike Brewer said the school offers individual obedience training programs for all breeds of dogs as well as advanced specialized training for qualified dogs and owners. He said advanced training include personal, home and vehicle protection, area guard, K-9 security, tracking and search and rescue. Brewer said obedience training helps eliminate a dog's bad habits, which generally result from die owner not knowing how to effectively communicate with the dog. It also establishes a line of communication between the owners and dog, said Brewer, and helps eliminate undesirable behaviors such as jumping up, biting, chewing, digging, barking and running away. Brewer said because poor behavior can be caused by a variety of reasons, Brewer's provides free problem-solving counseling to dog owners.

He said only proven, widely accepted professional training techniques are used at the school. Through the positive reinforcement method of motivation, correction and praise, each dog is taught the individual basic commands, said Brewer. Once the dog learns the commands, then the owner is taught handing techniques, according to Brewer, and owner participation is stressed throughout the training program. Brewer said obedience programs available range from basic on-lead voice commands to off-lead training using commands or hand signals. Dogs can be left at the facility during their training with the owner receiving handling lessons upon completion, or both can be trained in private lessons.

Brewer said a free initial evaluation to determine a dog's history, personality and behavioral problems is con would establish business here," Home said. Home did not comment much on the city's price to Village Apartments for trash pickup, $200, compared to Sims' offer of $345. "You have to compare apples to apples. I do not know what type of service the city is providing to Village Apartments," Home said. In addition, she said Sims has not had complaints from its customers about its prices or service.

Tipping fees at the Marion landfill have raised twice since May 1, 1990, while the firm has not raised its sanitation rates attrition, would also produce needed savings. "That's a definite indication," he said. Manuel hoped that tapping more sources for funding, like Medicaid, personnel restructuring and addressing more rapidly the problems affecting his department would spur headway toward his desired objectives. Bodies created within the department in the last month to meet his goals have included a Director's Ad-vispry Council to improve communications wiihin his department bn a month-to-month basis and a Medicaid Task Force. Overall, he hoped to change the image of his department as "a static giant just standing around," and the in the process reduce the bureaucracy hindering its effectiveness for the people it was established to serve.

For spring quarter. Skills for Success will be offered Wednesdays noon to 2 p.m. and Tuesdays or Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. The class also will be offered summer quarter. Spring quarter begins Saturday.

For more information, call the MTC Admission Office at 389-4636. Late registration is noon to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Parenting classes Free parenting classes arc being offered at Marion General Hospital. Funded by a grant from the Ohio Bureau of Maternal and Child Health, the classes arc free to anyone who wants to register.

Topics range from mother care to grandparcnting. A class called Mother Care teaches new moms how to care for themselves following delivery. Class topics include self-care, post partum blues, body image, exercise, sexuality, role changes and family planning. Spring Mother Care classes are scheduled 7-9 p.m. Wednesday and May 1.

A class called Infant CareBottle Feeding teaches future parents how to care for their newborn, with topics ranging from formulas to bathing. The next classes arc scheduled 6-9 p.m. April 10 and May 8. In the Breast Feeding class, participants learn the techniques of nursing and a host of hints for success. The pros and cons of breast feeding arc also taught in this program.

Spring classes are planned 7-9 p.m. April 17 and May 15. Techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for small ones arc taught during an InfantChild CPR class. The next class is 7-9 p.m. April 25 and May 22.

To register, call weekdays at By DAVID SCHOLZ Staff Writer "I have survived." That is how Jerry Manuel, the former MARCA School Industries superintendent, now the new director of the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmentally Disabilities (MRDD), described his first month at his state post in the. Gov. George Voinovich administration. "It's been one of the most exciting and rewarding months of my life, o. both onega-tively and positively," Manuel said, who started in his new job Feb.

25. Still residing in MANUEL Marion, Manuel termed the challenges already presented to him, and what he expects to encounter down the road, as "awesome." "I thought I knew a lot of things coming into the job, but I soon learned there were so many more issues I was not aware of," he said. Manuel estimated he has come in contact with 65 to 85 new and unresolved issues in just his first month on the job, which has seen the average day last from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Yet, he has muddled through, he said, and even found time to address the top priority for all of Voinovich's directors, the budget.

Manuel acknowledged that while his position brings with it so much opportunity to make a difference for the special population his agency serves, his "hands are tied" when it comes to funding. "I'm in charge of a budget that over two bienniums is $500 million," he said. "But, the flexibility of what I can do with it is very limited." Manuel gave his first budget testimony before the state finance committee last Thursday. Manuel said the little room for ma MRDD issues statewide)," he said. Through an improved partnership with not only the local agencies, but the state office of budget management and the Ohio legislature, Manuel is optimistic of making the most of his resources in the future.

Part of "bringing about that partnership," Manuel said, is changing the image of his department He emphasized that his department can no longer tell those at the local level there isn't anything the state can: do to help, but what can be achieved. "We have to look at the long term, and work more In unison, as opposed to being forces in opposition to each other," Manuel said. With the legislature, specifically, "(We have to) bring about harmony to help them look more favorably upon our department," he said. Manuel hoped restructuring within his department, through layoffs and Board to meet MOUNT GILEAD The Human Services Advisory Board for Morrow County will meet April 24. Voting members of the board are Joyce Winand, Iris Jenkins, Regan James, Darlcne Kunzc, Glenn Spra-gue, John May, Dorothy Houpt, Phillip DeVol and Tag Loudcrmilk.

Ex-oficio, non-voting members arc William Crawford and David Mathews. The board has one vacancy among its voting membership, which will be appointed by Morrow County Juvenile Court, a Human Services spokeswoman said. Skills offered Marion Technical College is offering Skills for Success, a course designed to help students make the most of study time, for those considering going to college for the first time or returning, or for those who are concerned about how well-prepared they are. The course helps develop practical techniques that improve study skills such as taking better notes, reading more effectively and coping with test anxiety. It also helps develop all-around skills including goal-setting, time management, stress management and communications skills.

MTC offers a grant to students registering for Skills for Success, available to any first-time student enrolling in the skills course. The $75 grant is applied to the cost of the class. The two-hour course meets once a week and is offered on a passfail basis. Registration is open to 12th grade high school students and to the general public TAX TROUBLE? Howard-La wson Tax Insurance 137 W. Center St Specializes in all tax forms wttn While-You-Walt or Drop Off Stnkt AT LOW RATES! Scheduling it your convenience with evening or Saturday noun available! SPECIAL! 2 DAY SERVICE ON ELECTRONIC FILING THROUGH THIS AD CALL 3877676 For appointment Family Life Insurance Protection Life insurance and annuities from Modern Woodmen can give your family future security plus immediate living benefits.

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Center 378 Hane Ave. 298 E. Center Marion, Oh 43302 Marlon, Oh 43302 Marion, Oh 43302 614-382-2100 614-382-2100 614-382-2100 Post 368 celebrates 72nd birthday Automobile Accidents: Injury and Death Claims Have you or one of your loved ones been involved in an automobile accident that resulted in injury or death? CALL for FREE CONSULTATION. Daniel E. Shifflet L.P.A Attorney And Counselor At Law 4947 Prospect-Upper Sandusky Prospect (614)528-2602 MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA A RATtRNAL lilt INSURANCE SOCIETY HOMlOfflCt ROCK ISIAND.

tLUNOIS' Clarence McMahon, left, and Clarence Pelfrey, second from left, were awarded life memberships, and Larry Newsome, second from right, Legionnaire of the Year Award by Commander Wayne Tomlin, right, when members of Verne I. Mounts American Legion Post 368 met to celebrate its 72nd birthday Thursday. Also recognized with certificates of appreciation but not pictured were Kendra Martin and James Cast. Newsome was awarded his recognition for outstanding leadership and service. Ralph Petty, first vice commander and membership chairman, who made the presentations, said this is the fifth year of the awards.

(Star Photo By Brenda Donegan).