Will DP&L Twitter During Emergencies?

By Bruce Kettelle

A friend lost power in New Hampshire during this week's big storm now being called a Snowicane because of the high winds and associated coastal tides. He like nearly a million in the storm's path lost their power.

Unlike Ohio's 2008 experience with outages from the wind remnants of Hurricane Ike, New Hampshirites were kept up to date with power restoration updates via Twitter. Public Service Company of New Hampshire is still providing Twitter updates today as they work through the widespread outages.

Dayton Power and Light (DP&L) should take note of PSNH's success. Without power, homeowners have few choices to get info. Cell phones recharged with automobile adapters are often their only link with the outside world. Twitter updates can be monitored on those phones.

Hats off to PSNH for finding ways to keep their customers informed. Lets hope DP&L can get on this technology bandwagon.

See for yoursel by scrolling through the PSNH posts http://twitter.com/psnh

Trotwood Mayor Resigns

Trotwood Mayor Resigns, Vice Mayor Cameron To Fill Term

By Bruce Kettelle

Following a hastily called special city council meeting tonight, Vice Mayor Joyce Sutton Cameron announced that Trotwood Mayor Darreyl Davis has resigned. Cameron will be sworn in on March 1st to complete the unexpired portion of his term through the end of 2011.

Davis has been under fire since the release of a January investigation report from the Ohio Inspector General. The investigation revealed that Davis had conducted city business for Trotwood while on the clock at the Ohio Department of Transportation. Davis worked for ODOT for 30-years before his resignation last fall after the allegations came to light.

"City council will accept the resignation at the regular meeting in March and swear in the vice mayor to fill the remaining time of his term," said Cameron in a prepared statement. The resignation letter did not give any reasons for his decision.

"We will interview and appoint someone to fill my seat," Cameron said. By the city charter the city council has 60-days to make that appointment.

Cameron said the investigation has only had one negative impact on the city causing a delay in the next phase of design work for the Salem Mall site.. The investigation revealed that the city's design contractor for the mall site had given a friend of Davis a $5,000 finders fee for helping to land the contract. Davis himself did not receive any of that money.

"We want to come out from this as a whole council," said Cameron optimistically. "We intend on moving ahead together." She hopes the residents will have more confidence in their elected officials as they move forward.

Davis did not return phone calls for comment. His letter ended "I wish the City of Trotwood much success in the future."

Trotwood resident Janice Chinn said, "It's sad that this change had to happen this way." Chinn, a critic of the Mayor and unsuccessful city council candidate thinks the citizens will get behind the new mayor.

Bring Your Easter Baskets March 27

The annual Trotwood Easter Egg Hunt is Saturday March 27th in Madison Park at 10am. Children 10 and under should bring their own baskets to collect candy and prizes hidden around the park. Come early and gather at the pavillion to find out about special prizes hidden in the eggs for each age group.

Madison Park is located at 301 South Broadway next to Madison Park Elementary School. For more information contact the Trotwood Recreation Division at 854-7227..