More Snow - March Coming In Like A Lion?

The newest 192 hour forecast from the Euro which also forcast the NY blizzard that never happened is suggesting we will get 10-18" of snow from storms on Sunday and Tuesday. I wouldn't count on it but it is fun to see these computers going nuts.

March 2nd 2014 Snowstorm Breadcast

A novel way to view the upcoming late winter snowstorm. Trotwood could see 4-8 inches ending late Sunday night.

Hearing Under Way For Ohio Early Voting Squabble

By Bruce Kettelle

Suspended Montgomery County board of elections officials arrived in Columbus where over 200 supporters gathered in front of the building where a 9am hearing would decide on their continuance in office. Board members Dennis Lieberman and Tom Richie Sr. told the crowd they believed in fighting to keep early voting accessible to all voters.

Supporters gather in Columbus to hear Dennis Lieberman and Tom Richie Sr before their Monday morning hearing at the Ohio Secretary of State offices. Photo By Conor O'Leary

Secretary of State John Hustead suspended the board members Friday after they refused to rescind their motion to open Montgomery polls on two weekends prior to November’s Election Day. Hustead cited their nonfeasance in office as the cause for the suspension and possible removal depending on the outcome of today’s hearing.

The small hearing room only has room for 20 observers leaving the remaining supporters on the sidewalk which was quickly cleared by police. As of 11:30am the hearing is still in session.

The early voting issue came to a head recently when Hustead issued a directive to all of Ohio’s counties to standardize voting hours statewide. The mandate did not include any weekend hours which were previously approved for Montgomery County. Lieberman, citing high weekend voter turnout, voted Friday with Richie to reinclude the weekend hours in the county.

Supporters claim Hustead’s directive is politically motivated to reduce voter turnout in Ohio’s mostly democratic cities. Hustead is republican.

Ohio State Representative Roland Winburn who was also denied access to the hearing said Republicans are trying to disenfranchise African American voters.

UPDATE: The hearing lasted two hours and the mediator expects to issue his ruling at the end of the week.

(This author was denied admission to the hearing due to space limitations)

2012 Trotwood Barbecue Set For September 8

In its second year the Wolf Creek Smoke Sizzle and Sounds will be back at Trotwood's Madison Park on September 8 from 11am-7pm. Last year's contest drew over a dozen fierce competitors vying for the top pork and chicken barbecue recipes in Trotwood.

Early entries are being accepted now for this year's contest. Expect an announcement soon on the music lineup for this great post Labor Day celebration. For more information and an entry form call 854-7217.

Wolf Creek Smoke and Sizzle Coming September 10

The inaugural Wolf Creek Smoke Sizzle and Sounds Barbeque Contest has added bluesman Michael Locke and the Repeat Offenders to headline the Saturday, September 10th affair, at Madison Park in Trotwood. Amateur barbeque aficionados will compete with best chicken and best pork ribs receiving cash prizes of; 1st-$500, 2nd-$250, 3rd $175.

Entertainment will be offered throughout the day including local musicians, dancers, and a Karaoke open mike beginning at 3pm. Michael Locke and the Repeat Offenders deliver original blues with hints of jazz and a smattering of rock. They tour nationally but are from right here in the Dayton area. You might have seen them warm up for BB King, The Fabulous Thunderbirds or Chuck Berry.

Judging begins at 4:30 and prizes will be awarded at 6pm. Last minute contestants are welcome.

Presented by the City of Trotwood. Admission is free. Gates open from 11am to 7pm. Food and beer is available. Madison Park is located at 310 S Broadway. For entry forms, please pick up at the City Government Center, 3035 Olive Rd.. For more information, please call 854-7217.

Picket In Front of Trotwood Post Office Saturday

The grassroots group ‘Save The Trotwood Post Office’ will hold an informational picket in front of the post office on Saturday August 27th from 9:30-10:30am. The group will be raising awareness within the community about the possibility of closing the Trotwood Post Office.

The USPS recently announced a list of 3,700 post offices being considered for closure. Trotwood is one of 6 area post offices included in that list. Post office officials are expected to select as many as 2,000 locations to be closed sometime this fall.

Information will be distributed to let residents know how they can help in the fight to save the office from closing. The demonstration coincides with the launch of a petition drive by the city to collect signatures to be delivered to the post office and elected officials in Washington DC. Copies of the petition will be available during the picket. Beginning next week residents desiring to sign the petition will be able to do so at many area businesses.

The group welcomes anyone wanting to join in. Participants may start gathering at 9am in the vacant parking lot at the corner of Main St and Beardsley. Do not park on Beardsley or in the Post Office parking lot so customers will not be impeded. Picketers should be careful not to block the drive entrances to the Post Office for the same reason. Signs will be available. Information will be distributed about the closing study with addresses to mail comments.

Save The Trotwood Post Office spokesman Bruce Kettelle said, “We just want to keep the Trotwood Post Office Open.”

For more information contact Bruce Kettelle at 837-6401.

Trotwood Post Office May Close

If the United States Postal Service has its way Trotwood residents will be driving an extra 5 to 7 miles, one way, to find a post office next year. The USPS released a list of over 3,600 post offices this week they are studying for permanent closure. Trotwood made this dubious list.

For the next three months the post office will conduct a study to see which of the post offices will be recommended for closing. By closing post offices the USPS hopes to trim costs as they face declining revenues lost to competition like the Internet and other delivery services.

After the final list comes out the Post Office will hold a community meeting for public comment and will accept written comments for 60 days. The earliest any of the offices might actually be closed is December.

Trotwood’s Post Office has experienced a drop in traffic over the last few years and is evidenced by a reduced number of tellers. The local office could not release their actual counter sales figures.

Trotwood like the rest of the country has experienced the effects of the economic recession. It is estimated there is over 200 fewer businesses in town than existed in the late 1990s. Since the 2010 census the city has lost 2,989 residents.

The Trotwood post office is the only post office in this 4th largest city of Montgomery County with a current population of 24,431. Covering nearly six square miles it has the second largest land area in the county.

This is not the first time a post office has closed in Trotwood says Regina Klinehanz of the Trotwood Madison Historical Society. The Taylorsburg Post Office on Salem Av near Gettysburg closed in 1915. Prior to that there were also offices in Hays Corner, Air Hill, Amityville, and Mummasville.

Since the late 1800’s the Trotwood post office has occupied space in several grocery stores, from a boxcar on a siding at the Trotwood Depot, and then in 1936 it occupied part of the Farmers Citizens Bank (now 5th/3rd Bank) at Main and Broadway. In 1975 the USPS built their present facility on Beardsley.

The Trotwood City Council has indicated preserving the Trotwood branch is a high priority. A local citizen’s group is also working to fight the closing. Readers can participate with that group by joining the ‘Save The Trotwood Post Office’ Facebook group.