Three years ago, Tammy Bowlin-Macrae was packing her belongings to leave her abusive boyfriend’s apartment. She had called the police said he was keeping her from getting away.
“Go ahead and get your stuff out,” he told her after she made the call, according to Robin Bowlin, Tammy’s sister.
The couple’s relationship had been volatile. Tammy’s boyfriend, Lawrence Jameson, was verbally and emotionally abusive, but Tammy was patient with him.
“She believed he was going to change and gave him every opportunity to do so,” Bowlin said.
“The promises were always there, and the apologies were always there,” she said.
Tammy did not tell her family about the extent of the abuse. They knew the two argued and he threatened to hurt her if she left, but Tammy never mentioned any violence.
But when she turned her back, packing her things, Jameson shot her once in the head and once in the heart.

Tammy Bowlin-Macrae

When the police arrived, he refused to leave the apartment, threatening to bomb it. After a standoff that lasted several hours, they arrested him. He is spending his life in prison.
“Losing a sibling is terrible,” Bowlin said. “But losing one like this is unforgettable. It’s not something that goes away, ever.”
A widespread problem
Lynn Jacquot, the director of the Battered Women’s Shelter at the YWCA, said one-third of American women are targets of domestic violence. Of women murdered by their abusers, about 80 percent are killed while trying to leave.
When women facing domestic violence say they are afraid of leaving their abusers, Jacquot said that fear is usually justified.
“We should never assume that domestic violence survivors don’t want help,” Jacquot said. “We should assume that they don’t know how to do it in a way that would keep them safe.”
Jacquot said victims’ friends should not order them to leave the situation.
“Remember, that’s what he does,” Jacquot said. “He’s telling her what to do, he’s telling her she’s stupid.”
Instead, friends should give them a safe place to call for help, since this is when women are most likely to be killed.
In memoriam
Bowlin and her family started Tammy’s Walk in her memory.
“It’s something so devastating that we made something positive out of it all,” Bowlin said. “I mean, we had to. The grief was tearing our family up.”
At last year’s walk, one woman said after hearing Tammy’s story, she left an abusive relationship. If not for Tammy’s Walk, she said she probably would have been seriously injured or killed.
The annual event raises money for Advocates for Victims and Justice Inc., a nonprofit that helps people escape domestic violence and supports the families of victims, including Tammy’s family.
Tammy’s niece, Lisa Grady, said the organization gave her family invaluable emotional support through the trial of Tammy’s killer.
This year, the walk will take place Aug. 28. Registration will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Walbridge Park gazebo on Broadway Street. The walk is about 2 1/2 miles. Participation is free, but the organizers encourage people to bring donations.
Bowlin said the walk helps fight domestic violence by raising money for the charity and by helping women in abusive relationships find shelter.
Michelle Muñoz, who volunteers for the walk, said the shame many victims face often keeps them from getting help.
“If you’re in this kind of situation, other people have been in this situation, too,” Muñoz said. “It’s not something to be embarrassed about and keep hidden until something tragic happens.”
She added many targets of domestic violence underestimate the danger of their situations.
“It might start out as something small, but it can become something huge very quickly,” she said.
Jacquot said economic challenges often make domestic violence harder to escape since women may have trouble finding new jobs and residences. The economic decline also creates financial challenges for shelters.
Bowlin said Tammy would be proud of the walk.
“To know that her face was posted everywhere, she would just be loving it,” Bowlin said. She said the picture does not adequately depict Tammy.
“It doesn’t do her justice, how pretty she was,” Bowlin said. “She was pretty freaking amazing.”
Once when Bowlin was wearing a T-shirt advertising Tammy’s Walk, a man she did not know came up to her and said he used to be friends with Tammy.
“I knew Tammy very well,” he said. “She made you feel great.”
Bowlin described Tammy as vivacious, caring and “the life of the party.”
“She was always smiling, she was always laughing,” said Muñoz, Bowlin’s niece on the husband’s side. “My mom still says, ‘Aw, I remember when Tammy did this.’”
Getting help
Toledo-area residents can call the YWCA’s Battered Women’s Shelter any time at (888) 341-7386. The line’s operators can help targets of violence, as well as their friends and family members.
Jacquot said people who want to help can give toiletries, including shampoo, soap and deodorant, to the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter.
“We need to have those things available so we can say to survivors, ‘Don’t worry about that stuff, we have it,’” Jacquot said.
Donations may be dropped off at 1018 Jefferson Ave., at the corner of 11th Street.

Students are taking advantage of a new associate degree program in Systems Security Information Assurance at Owens Community College in the newly renovated Heritage Hall.
Owens is the only college in Northwest Ohio to offer an accredited associate degree program in System Security Information Assurance, known as information or network security in the business world.

Mazhar Anik and Denise Pheils of Owens help student Michael Davis in a new classroom lab in Heritage Hall.

The two-year program in the School of Business and Information Systems recently received formal approval by the Ohio Board of Regents.
“The need for highly skilled information security specialists is greater than ever before as more and more businesses are relying on information technology. Maintaining and securing these systems is vital to ensure that security threats, ranging from damaging computer viruses to online credit card fraud and identity theft do not occur,” said Mazhar Anik, chairman of Information Systems and Office Administration at Owens.
Four new students are enrolled in the degree program with many more students who have been taking classes in preparation for the program’s accreditation. It requires 65 credit hours of computer and network security courses offered at Owens.
“It’s been needed for a long time. We have been working on getting this degree program for five years,” said Denise Pheils, professor of Information Systems at Owens and the lead instructor for the system security program.
“We have two students who could be ready to graduate with the degree after taking two new classes required for it,” Pheils said. “The demand for graduates with such a degree is great.”
Pheils said the bachelor’s program at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) has placed 100 percent of its graduates. Owens is a “feeder school” for the bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate programs at EMU and is working with the University of Toledo to do the same there, she said.
“There is a significant lack of security-trained professionals needed in today’s business as people with the right background are extremely hard to find,” said Tom Olzak, a former director of information security at HCR Manorcare in Toledo.
Olzak said that security analysts need to understand the importance of protecting data with some sense of risk management in his response to a questionnaire from Owens about the new associate degree program. He now teaches enterprise security classes online for the University of Phoenix and is the author of two books about information security for businesses.
“There is a strong need for people with that skill set and there would be plenty of opportunities for them in the public and private sector,” said Eric Zatko, director of the Lucas County Integrated Justice System that provides IT support for the county courts system.
Zatko serves as president of the Toledo chapter of InfraGard, a public-private collaboration established by the FBI for infrastructure protection. He is an adjunct faculty member at Owens who has taught security courses.
Two sections of Introduction to Network Security offered at Owens this fall are filled with a maximum of 24 students, plus a waiting list. Pheils said the program has attracted more nontraditional students including unemployed persons coming back to school for new training. Michael Davis, age 31 of Toledo, is a nontraditional student who attended his first class Aug. 16. He plans to take the Advanced Security course next semester, graduate in May with an associate degree in Information Systems, and find a job to support his family.
“Security is critical for all computer networks, to protect the company and its systems. It’s good to have actual knowledge and apply it in the real world,” Davis said. “The quad pods with four computer stations allow students to interact with each other in the class.”
Pheils said Owens said the most advanced computer equipment in the classroom labs at Owens for educating the students in network security. The classroom labs are part of the renovated Heritage Hall that opened this week on the Toledo campus.
The $2.9 million renovation of Heritage Hall serves as the home to Owens’ School of Business and Information Systems and the School of Nursing. It features six experiential learning classrooms for instruction and hands-on laboratory learning with the latest in academic resources and technology.
“This educational facility was designed with the goal of providing students with innovative academic resources at the highest level. The opening of Heritage Hall represents this institution’s commitment to academic excellence,” said Renay Scott, interim executive vice president and provost at Owens, in a news release.
The School of Business and Information Systems and School of Nursing will utilize three learning classrooms each in Heritage Hall. It also features 65 offices, one conference room, an employee lounge, a large student lounge and restroom.
Heritage Hall was designed with energy efficiency in mind by The Collaborative Inc. of Toledo and MDA Engineering of Maumee. Comte Construction Company of Toledo served as the general contractor. Warner Mechanical Corp. of Fremont handled the plumbing and fire protection. VM Systems Inc. and Lake Erie Electric, both of Toledo, handled the mechanical and electrical contracts.
Heritage Hall was formerly known as the Penta Career Center Skill Center purchased by Owens for $6 million in 2008.  The purchase included 325,530 square feet of classrooms, offices, educational labs and parking lots on 56.38 acres located adjacent to the college’s Toledo-area campus.

Weighing in at 8 pounds and standing 3 inches tall, a high-school chemistry book can pack a punch greater than any six-foot, 200-pound linebacker.
Like an injury, poor grades can sideline a student athlete for weeks and requires a labor-intensive process to get a student ready to retake the field. Avoiding such problems requires prioritization.
“They’re students before they’re athletes; they have to toe the line in the classroom before they can participate in extracurriculars,” said Tim Erickson, athletic director for Ottawa Hills High School.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) reinforces this notion through academic performance guidelines that must be met before students can add “athlete” to their resume. OHSAA requires students to pass five one-credit courses in the previous grading period to maintain eligibility.
The last term of the 2009-10 school year will be used to determine eligibility this fall. Students will become eligible again on the fifth day of the next grading period if the failures have been corrected.
Students must be cautious, though, as not all classes are one-credit courses.
“Some classes are worth more than others,” said Chuck Cox, athletic director at Rossford High School. “A phys ed. class that lasts for nine weeks is not the same as an algebra class that lasts the entire year.”
In addition to OHSAA standards, local school districts enforce their own set of eligibility guidelines. Most schools Toledo Free Press contacted had a minimum GPA of 1.5 for eligibility while several drew a line at 1.7.
Toledo and Springfield Public Schools (TPS) have slightly lower parameters for eligibility, but require students to attend study sessions when their GPA approaches the cutoff mark. TPS students with a GPA between 1.0 and 1.7 must attend a half-hour study table with a teacher or tutor three times a week. Students with an average between 1.0 and 1.5 may play, but are placed on academic probation, which is only allowed once during a student’s time in high school.
“We strongly suggest that freshmen and sophomores do not use that academic probation,” said Terry Reeves, athletic director at Bowsher High School.
Reeves said upperclassmen who struggle in a class or two might miss valuable playing time if their probationary period is exhausted earlier in high school.
At Springfield, students must attend two study tables a week if their GPA falls between 1.25 and 1.5.
St. John’s Jesuit and Rossford high schools do not allow students to participate if they are failing more than one class, no matter how many classes they are taking.
Many districts also have drug and alcohol use policies with implications for athletic eligibility.
Most have a three-strike policy with more severe consequences when students repeat the offense.
Sylvania Public Schools employs a four-strike policy, where students lose eligibility for 20 percent of athletic contests upon their first offense and the entire season after their second, provided they undergo a drug and alcohol assessment program each time. Students lose a year’s eligibility after their third infraction and are prohibited from participating when the fourth offense is discovered.
Whitmer and Perrysburg high schools allow students one self-referral for substance abuse.
“Our policy is all about education. We don’t want to throw them out on the street. We want to help them,” said Ray Pohlman, athletic director at Perrysburg High School, which also does random drug testing among athletes.
Some area high schools also apply their policies to nonathletic extracurricular activities as well.
Athletic directors agree that no policy is capable of addressing every situation perfectly.
“There’s always something that comes up, a situation that’s kind of a gray area,” said Chris Irwin, Northview High School athletic director.
He said OHSAA presents changes to its guidelines to athletic directors across the state every year.
The variety of scheduling formats among school districts makes statewide conformity difficult, Irwin said.
For example, schools operating on a block schedule offer four classes per term, while others allow for as many as eight or nine.
“We use those OHSAA standards as kind of our warning track,” said Bill Axe, athletic director at Central Catholic High School. “The best way to address this is in a positive way, not a negative way.”

When you first meet Bill Hancock, executive director of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), he might strike you as someone who might be teaching quantum physics rather than guiding college football’s multimillion dollar postseason program.
The soft-spoken avid outdoorsman is not the personality one might associate with the BCS, but Hancock has guided some preeminent sporting events. Hancock has spent 26 years on the United States Olympic Committee and was the director of the Final Four for 13 years.
“I have been really lucky for all of the opportunities I have been afforded over the years,” Hancock said. “I have been able to travel all over and be a part of so many things.”
Hancock took the top job with the BCS in November and he has wasted no time getting to work by singing the praises of the system.

Hancock

“I really do think it is the best system available to college football,” he said. “I always tell people to look at the whole spectrum that is college football, and the BCS makes the regular season the best in any sports.”
The current hot button issue that faces Hancock is the growing support for a playoff setup for college football’s postseason. But he said there is little support for a playoff at this point in time, and a vast majority of college football’s brain trust actually prefers the current bowl system.
“As long as these coaches, commissioners and university presidents don’t want a playoff, there won’t be one,” he said. “The BCS is contracted for four years and each time we ask everyone involved what their opinion is. Right now, they like things the way they are.”

Hancock is also quick to point out a playoff doesn’t solve all of college football’s problems.
“You are always going to have the same problem creep in, which is there are never enough spots. If you take four teams, then the fifth team is upset. If you take eight, then the ninth team is upset. No amount is satisfactory.”
Detractors of the BCS have said that a playoff would be fairer to smaller schools and conferences such as the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University and other Mid-American Conference members. But Hancock does not see it that way.
“We have plenty of support from the smaller conferences, and the support is for the bowl system that is in place. The access to the major bowl games is so much better for these smaller conference schools than it was years ago.”

Hancock pointed to the recent success of schools, such as Boise State and Texas Christian University (TCU), who have “crashed” the BCS party the past few years.
“Their success has been great for college football. I think the BCS is the best thing to ever happen to Boise State football,” he said with a chuckle. “We have provided them a platform to show that they can compete at the highest level, and the same goes for TCU and Utah.

“The BCS has put some of these teams on the map. It is rare that you see teams like some of these smaller schools come out of nowhere and become as popular as they are. The BCS has sped up or enhanced the process.”
Hancock said there are things the series could improve, such as helping people understand the point system.
“It has been pretty evident to me that fans don’t understand the points system, and we are working to make sure they know everything we are doing and why we are doing them. When they tune in to college football games, we want fans to know what they are watching, and that is an important issue for the BCS.”
That is one of the reasons the BCS signed a new television deal this year to broadcast the BCS games on ESPN. The deal, worth $125 million annually, allows the BCS to promote the system year-round.
“We love all the platforms that ESPN can offer the BCS,” Hancock said. “They will be talking about the BCS all season and they have so many different promotional opportunities. We are very happy to be back with ESPN.”
Like most college football fans, Hancock can’t wait for the kick off of the 2010 season.
“We have the best system and the best fans, and I am so excited for football to kick off,” he said. “It should be an exciting year.”

Being a Buckeye means everything to Archie Griffin.
“I was born at the university hospital. Most days of my working life have been spent at Ohio State, either at the athletic department or alumni association,” Griffin said. “It’s been everything to me.”
The former OSU running back and the only two-time Heisman Trophy recipient visited Sylvania on Aug. 14 for the grand opening of the Buckeye Store & More to sign autographs and meet with fans.
Griffin, who is president of The Ohio State Alumni Association, was optimistic about the Buckeye’s upcoming season.
“I think they will have a great year. Ohio State has a good team, we really do,” he said. “If we can stay healthy and play up to our potential and play up to our ability, we have a chance of winning the Big Ten and then maybe even playing in a national championship.”
This season is extra special for Griffin because his son Adam Griffin committed to the Buckeyes football team in February.

Archie Griffin signs autographs at the Buckeye Store & More on Aug. 14.

“I feel pretty good about it. He’s always dreamed of playing for Ohio State and the opportunity has presented itself. I know he is looking forward to going out through the tunnel for the very first time, and I’m looking forward to a good four or five years,” he said.
During the past few football seasons, Florida’s Tim Tebow and Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford have had the chance to join Griffin as a two-time Heisman winner, but fell short. Alabama’s Mark Ingram has the chance this season to join Griffin.
Griffin said he’d like to see someone else win the Heisman a second time and thinks Ingram has a good chance.
“I’ve been saying for a very long time that somebody else will win it twice. I’ve always believed that if I could do it, I know somebody else out there can. It’d be terrific,” Griffin said. “I’d try to be the first one to congratulate the person that does.
“I really believe somebody will do it three times. Mark Ingram is one of those kids that has the chance, just like Tim Tebow had the chance. It’s not easy to do; obviously, a lot of things have to go right for you,” he said.  “Ingram is in the position where he’s going to be on an outstanding football team this year, they’re rated No. 1 in the country right now. And that’s part of it — being on an outstanding team, being with a great group of guys that make you look good. He’s part of that. He has a real good chance.”
Griffin, who played under Woody Hayes from 1972 to 1975, said his late coach taught him the idea of paying it forward.
Griffin is active in numerous charities and scholarships, donating his time and money.
“I believe in helping young people … providing scholarships for young people is something that I try to do as much as I can. It’s one of the reasons I love working with the alumni association. We have alumni clubs around the country that are doing just that. Providing scholarships to kids in their areas is huge for Ohio State and certainly huge for those kids who are receiving the scholarships,” he said.
Griffin believes there is “no question” head coach Jim Tressel could have a legacy at OSU like Hayes. Tressel knows how to get his players fired up for a game and has done a wonderful job already, Griffin said.
Tressel has won one national championship, and Griffin thinks he’ll win at least one more in the future.
The Buckeye Store & More is located in the Starlight Plaza in Sylvania. The store offers collegiate apparel for OSU, Michigan, Michigan State, the University of Toledo, BGSU and Notre Dame.
“We basically want to be the destination store for college apparel in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan,” said owner Jim Damschroder.
The store had more than 15,000 people visit during the grand opening to see the store and meet Griffin, Damschroder said.
For more information about the store’s products, visit the website www.buckeyeblazer.com.

At the end of this year, the Bush tax cuts are scheduled to expire.  The current tax brackets range from 10 percent to as high as 35 percent and will revert to brackets ranging from 15 percent to 39.6 percent, which were in effect during the Clinton presidency. There has been talk about the lawmakers doing something before the cuts expire to retain at least some of the middle-income rates and letting the higher brackets expire, thus helping those in middle-income America, but at this point nothing has been done.
Is it a good thing to let these tax cuts expire?  It probably depends on a person’s point of view and political leanings. Many Republicans and those who lean to the right think that letting the tax cuts expire is not a good idea.  They tend to believe in what is called supply side economics. According to Investorwords.com, supply side economics is “An economic theory which holds that reducing tax rates, especially for businesses and wealthy individuals, stimulates savings and investment for the benefit of everyone. Supply side economics has also been referred to as trickle-down economics.”
According to this theory, lower taxes will make it easier for businesses to produce more goods and services at lower prices for the consumer and, thus, will stimulate the economy in a positive way.  Those on the supply side say that the deficit increase is a direct result of out-of-control government spending on politicians’ pet projects and unnecessary programs.
Many Democrats and those leaning more to the left would argue that all supply side theory does is allow those who are rich to get richer by paying lower taxes and it does not really help the economic conditions. They would also say that under the theory of demand side economics, if taxes are lowered they should be lowered on those in the lower-income brackets.  The idea is that those in these lower brackets will spend all of their income and this money will go into circulation and stimulate the economy in a positive way because of this consumer spending. Those in favor of demand side economics would further argue that a reduction in taxes on the rich will drive up the government deficit.
If the tax rates are allowed to expire, how else may it affect you? As mentioned earlier, tax rates for nearly everyone are set to go up. Other effects are higher capital gains tax rates and higher taxes on dividends. The current maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends is 15 percent. Starting next year, the maximum rate on capital gains will go up to 20 percent, and the maximum tax rate on dividends will climb to as high as 39.6 percent. This will be quite an impact on taxpayers who are in these categories. Also, the current standard deduction for married couples filing jointly is twice the amount for singles.  When the Bush tax cuts expire it could force married couples to pay more in taxes than those who are single. Thus, what is called “the marriage penalty” is reinstated. Other changes will be the phase out of itemized deductions such as mortgage interest and charitable donations for those in higher brackets.
One of the fears for many retirees is that if tax rates go up to help pay down a deficit fueled by war and the bailouts, they will have to worry about making their retirement income go further. This could increase the risk of running out of money. Much of the wealth in our country is located inside retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s, IRAs, etc.  If taxes go up, many Americans need to realize their retirement accounts are right in the cross hairs of many of the government’s tax increases because that is where the money is.
Since tax rates are probably lower now than they will be in the future, it may be time to deal with some of the taxes this year no matter which way you lean.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 p.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysradio.com. Securities are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC.  The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537.  NEXT Financial Group, Inc. nor its representatives provide tax advice.  Seek the advice of an Accountant.

Scanning the horizon of the investment world, it is becoming increasingly easy to distinguish a coming wave of inflation and economic growth, which should be arriving in the not-so-distant future. Though many academics and “market experts” have lately debated the likelihood of deflation, they seem to be chasing the train’s caboose.
As many will [hopefully] come to learn, the United States has been in undergoing deflation (defined as shrinking money supply, in this case M3) for the past year. This has been the result of demand for loans drying up as businesses refuse to carry the burden of added debt. Money simply hasn’t been turning over in the U.S. economy; not even the billions of dollars the government created in response to the 2008 financial crisis.
After all, the government fed money to so many troubled banks, and then offered to pay them interest if they held that money in the Federal Reserve System as excess reserves. Why, then, would the banks ever want to walk away from riskless interest income to lend out money, when it might not be paid back? Where’s the incentive?
Despite this apparent lapse in judgment, the market has been responding well lately as anti-business rhetoric has calmed down substantially. Corporations are beginning to form a clearer picture of the world they now face, and their investors seem to be gaining confidence for their prospects going forward, as evidenced by stock prices.
In fact, many corporations have lately begun issuing high-yield, or so-called “junk” bonds. As many investors fear a double-dip recession, these risky instruments that pay higher-than-average interest rates have been flying off the shelves in recent weeks.
Many corporations have been using cash raised from these issues to pay off debt they had outstanding at higher interest rates, while others are simply stockpiling cash for future expansions projects. In either case, the decision for many of these companies to issue such debt has been wise. Unfortunately, the decision for investors to buy such debt will have terrible results.
As we’ve detailed in previous articles, the odds of our economy seeing a double-dip are low, and falling every day, making this protection unnecessary for investors. Even more important, however, is the fact that interest rates are at long-term lows. Investors buying bonds will see the value of their bonds decline substantially once interest rates begin to climb.
Even investors looking to hold their bonds until they mature (these investors wouldn’t be unaffected by rising interest rates) will find themselves exposed in high-yield bonds. That’s because junk bonds are a form of subordinated debt. As creditors, junk-bond-holders will find themselves rather far down on the totem pole. In fact, they’ll probably be the first creditors to get stiffed if their companies ever run into financial difficulty.
As stated above, we see inflation as being much more likely going forward than its counterpart. This does not mean, though, that we are calling for the end of the dollar. In fact, we doubt people will suffer as a result, at least not any more than people are suffering today, despite the fact that the dollars they hold are worth only a tiny fraction of what they were more than a century ago.
Unfortunately, the biggest hindrance to most investors today is not a lack of information, but a surplus. Few realize that just as education does not inherently bestow intelligence, more information does not necessarily import more knowledge. Never before in history has information been more widely available than it has been for the past 10 years or so; and yet the markets as a whole have declined in value during that time. The average investor, despite so much information at their fingertips, is worse off.
Investors need to be careful to do their own research, but to avoid exposing themselves to so much information that they (a) obscure the nature of the markets, or (b) grow arrogant. Either of these results is extremely dangerous financially, but both of them together can be catastrophic.
Dock David Treece is a discretionary money manager with Treece Investment Advisory Corp. (www.TreeceInvestments.com) and a stockbroker licensed with FINRA. He works for Treece Financial Services Corp and also serves as editor of the financial news site Green Faucet (www.GreenFaucet.com). The above information is the express opinion of Dock David Treece and should not be construed as investment advice or used without outside verification.

As the city of Bowling Green prepares for the 2010-11 school year, several major construction projects on and off campus may cause inconvenience for the thousands of students returning to the area.
But Steve Krakoff, associate vice president for capital planning and design at Bowling Green State University, said the $200 million net worth of projects on campus represents great progress at the university.
“This is a record amount of work at BGSU and obviously a huge amount of work for a university this size,” Krakoff said.

East Wooster Street

The university has been busy since September when construction started on the new Stroh Center.  The Stroh Center will replace Anderson Arena as the host of BGSU basketball and volleyball and will seat about 5,000 people.  The $36 million facility will also host student convocations, graduation ceremonies, concerts and other campus and community events.
In a news release on the Stroh Center groundbreaking, BGSU President Carol Cartwright called the project, “One of the most significant building and remodeling programs in our history.”
Krakoff said construction on the Stroh Center will most likely finish up by summer 2011.
Another new building under construction is the new Wolfe Center for the Arts which will be located along Ridge Street. The Wolfe Center will have some music and art classes, but will mainly support the department of theatre and film. Krakoff said the Wolfe Center is expected to be completed by fall 2011.
Also one year from now, the university expects to open two new dining centers and two new residence halls that are  under construction.
While some of these projects won’t cause a huge hassle for students, road construction on Ridge Street in the heart of campus may force students and traffic to take detours. Krakoff said Ridge St. will be repaved and widened with work continuing into the start of the fall semester.
“We’re even adding some sculptures along the side to give the area a new look,” he said.  “You’ll never recognize it when it’s done.”

Stroh Center

Krakoff said once classes start there will be limited access in the areas around Ridge Street but the university will work to give the best alternate routes to students.
“The result will be a far better academic experience,” he said.  “At the end, it’s worth it.”
Another major project going on off campus is road construction on East Wooster Street. The entire road west of the railroad tracks up to about Prospect St. is being repaved and is completely closed off.
City of Bowling Green Public Works Director Brian Craft said the contractor has until Oct. 15, weather permitting, to finish construction on East Wooster Street. Along with paving, sidewalks will be updated and new light poles will be added, but all curb lanes will stay the same and the road will not be widened.
Craft said the city is definitely expecting an increase in traffic, especially as thousands of people begin to return for the fall semester.
“We know it causes some grief and hassle, but I don’t think anyone would argue the benefits that come from having new roads,” he said.
Bowling Green Police are urging people to stay out of the construction zone on East Wooster Street for safety purposes and to avoid citation.

It’s 7:20 in the morning. Roll call at Station 5 is complete. You’ve begun your daily rig and equipment checks. As you’re restocking supplies, the tones go off: A “difficulty breathing” run off Collingwood.
Your partner, paramedic Waltino, navigates the daily commute, careful to stop completely at red lights, ensuring other motorists see him. The proper response to lights and sirens is to cautiously pull to the right and stop. Please do not stop abruptly in the middle of the road or drive to the left. Emergency vehicle drivers are trained to go left when passing.
Upon arrival, Engine 16, consisting of three firefighters and a captain, is already inside. We enter the home. Two teenagers play Xbox. There is no sign of the other crew. We ask the teenagers where the other crew is. One shrugs, one points upstairs with indifference; neither set of eyes leaves the TV screen.
Upstairs, the crew from E16 has just completed its assessment. It relays the elderly patient has a rapid pulse, elevated blood pressure, sweaty, pale skin and pronounced wheezing with increased respiratory rate. The patient used her rescue inhaler five times in the last hour prior to our arrival. She has been in respiratory distress for some time. E16 has her on oxygen.
The patient loses consciousness as she goes into respiratory arrest. A crew member puts into place a mask and bag that, when squeezed, forces air into the lungs in the absence of respirations. Another crew member assesses for a pulse and finds none. He starts CPR. This is the situation you see on those hospital dramas when the patient crashes and code blue is called. Only now you are in someone’s home and not a hospital.
The officer calls for another responder, spikes an IV bag and talks to a distraught daughter who has just arrived. The third firefighter places EKG patches on the patient to monitor the heart rhythm. Effective CPR dictates compressions for two-minute cycles, rotating firefighters to prevent fatigue. While this transpires, Waltino attempts an IV and you prepare to secure an airway.
As you ready a KING airway, which is a tube placed in the trachea to ensure a stable airway, Waltino fails at his first IV attempt due to collapsed veins. He quickly grabs an EZ-IO, a drill that puts a large needle into the shin, creating a stable drug administration platform. This is quick and successful.
Airway placement is successful. A ResQPod is attached, connecting the KING airway and bag/mask providing oxygen. This device increases the distribution of drugs and oxygenated blood within the body. The EKG shows a ventricular fibrillation rhythm. That is a wild firing of the heart’s control system. A shock is necessary to reset the heart.
CLEAR! Shock is delivered, the patient jolts, not as pronounced as on TV, but definitely noticeable. Two minutes of CPR. Administer 40 units of Vasopressin IV. This drug improves circulation to the heart’s coronary arteries. Check rhythm … still in V-fib.
CLEAR! Another shock is delivered. Two minutes of CPR. Administer 300mg amiodarone. This drug helps regulate the heart’s rhythm. Reassessing the EKG shows a normal rhythm, which indicates the patient’s heart is beating on its own. Quick check of the carotid confirms perfusion. Patient continues to require assistance with breathing.
Engine 3 arrives on the scene; its manpower is quickly utilized to bring the stretcher. It is positioned at the bottom of the stairs. The patient is then carried down with care taken to maintain the IV and airway. E3 and E16 work together to load the patient and collect equipment from the area.
It is decided E3 will return to service while E16 will assist in transport. One firefighter will drive the life squad, another assists with respirations. The driver and officer will follow in the engine. Because the patient’s pulse has returned, Waltino initiates the ICE protocol. Ice bags are placed on patient’s armpits and groin, cold saline is administered in IV and 100mcg of Fentanyl given to relax patient during this chilly process. You call in the assessment to St. Vincent’s and let them know what they’re going to have on their hands in five to seven minutes.
After transferring your patient to the ER, you prepare the patient care report as Waltino restocks the rig and cleans. When back at St. V’s after another run, you inquire how this patient was doing. Hospital states she’s doing OK now, her asthma inhaler was out-of-date and, therefore, ineffective. She is uninsured and is unable to afford new meds, which is not an uncommon situation faced daily by EMS nationwide.

Michael Nicely has been a firefighter for 18 years. He is a paramedic and certified in confined-space rescue. Tom Bartley has been a firefighter for 10 years. He is an EMT, registered nurse, rescue diver and is certified in confined space rescue.

Tiffin University is looking at moving a location into Toledo, a project expected to create approximately 100 jobs. The Libbey Glass project is a $12 million dollar expansion that will create 50 new jobs.
The city of Toledo wanted to offer both projects a 30 percent municipal income tax credit that would be paid at the end of each year of the agreement, by opening up the Toledo Expansion Incentive (TEI) to the entire city. Neither project would qualify for TEI as it is currently written. Both projects are receiving incentive offers from other governments.
The discussion at the Aug. 17 Economic Development Committee expanded beyond the topic of the proposed legislation to make the TEI citywide. Councilman Joe McNamara asked Brad Peebles, commissioner of economic development, “Why are jobs good?”
McNamara wasn’t being obtuse or sarcastic; it was an attempt to see if  the city’s economic development goal was the same as his.
Peebles said from his personal perspective, “Every job we can attract to the city  of Toledo does two things for us. It works to establish what we consider to be a  positive atmosphere that would ultimately create an interest to have more jobs. It also creates a sense of wealth, or a wealth for our community that will ultimately generate disposable income that will support service industries within our community … Jobs are the heart of growth and the stabilization of our community.”
His view was that the jobs did not necessarily have to be held by Toledoans. McNamara said tax incentives are not always effective.  He said the primary focus should be on alleviating areas of concentrated poverty. McNamara cited research by several leading economists including Timothy J. Bartik of the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo, Mich. Bartik believes the primary goal of economic development in older urban areas is to increase the earnings per capita of the original local residents.
It was agreed increasing the per capita income for Toledo residents was a laudable goal.
Councilman George Sarantou asked if Peebles and Dean Monske, deputy mayor for external affairs, had done any research as to other cities doing similar citywide tax incentive projects. Monske said he first wanted to make a big umbrella comment, partly in response to McNamara.
Monske said, “I would love to get rid of every single incentive to business, period.
“I am not a proponent of incentives for business in anyway, shape or form. But, until all 50 states in the union decide to do that, you can talk about it all you want, but it doesn’t change the reality that we have to work in today. So, I am against them, but until everyone else is against them, and it’s a level playing field, that is not even a discussion to have, because that’s not reality.
“So, stick your head in the sand, you’re never even going to get in the game, no one will ever come knocking on your door again … That’s what business does, it’s in the business to make money … It all comes down to being competitive, it’s that simple.
“With this program, we saw a program that was there and we saw two opportunities … It might allow us to get these jobs in and right now we’re not going to lose out in anything  different than what we have now.  Today, we have zero with Tiffin University, if we don’t bring them in we still have zero; if we bring them in and offer this, we have more than zero. That’s simple math to me. I don’t need statisticians to tell me is that good or is that bad.”
Monske said he would love to discuss what role the city of Toledo should play in incentives with other area economic development agencies, “where is the gap, where are we losing out, but we’re not there yet.”
It was agreed that McNamara’s suggestion that the proposals for the Libbey Glass project and Tiffin University would be submitted as separate legislation and would be adopted. The larger economic development discussion will be continued.
It should also be pointed out there are 25 packages for which documents are being executed under the current TEI and three that are nearing completion.  We may not be “there yet,” but we are on our way.

Toledo Free Press contributor Lisa Renee Ward operates the political blog GlassCityJungle.com.