NEWS STORY

National Park Service debunks volcano rumors

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona -- When pictures emerged last week of what appeared to be steam plumes coming from Sunset Crater just across the Utah state line in northwestern Arizona, it had geologists scrambling.
A series of very minor earthquakes shook southern Utah June 3-4, but the last time Sunset Crater erupted was in the year 1085.
If the dormant volcano located within Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument really was coming back to life it could be a cataclysmic event for northern ...

 

NEWS STORY

Two Utah national parks raising fees

ZION NATIONAL PARK -- With the passing of Memorial Day, so begins the traditional start of summer, but it will cost just a bit more at three of Utah’s favorite destinations -- Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument.
The National Park Service has announced that maintenance and improvement projects within the parks have made it necessary...

NEWS STORY

Springville's Bartholomew Park nears completion

SPRINGVILLE -- Wayne Bartholomew Family Park is nearing completion and is expected to open on June 13 with a Duct Tape Regatta as part of the Art City Days celebration.
The park was built as a water storage facility for irrigation and to improve fish habitat ...

NEWS STORY

Warm weather returns for the weekend

PROVO – Forecasters are calling for summer through the weekend.
The National Weather Service said Utah Valley residents will see temperatures near 80 Friday and near 90 on Saturday and Sunday.
Skies will clear and sunny ...

EDITOR’S NOTES: Tourism a major industry in Utah

This column was originally published April 28, 2015 in the (Provo) Daily Herald

By David Kennard

A few months ago, I was walking through downtown Salt Lake City with my son, Noah.

We had taken the FrontRunner up from the Orem station to go see a movie at the theater at the Gateway Mall. It was a Saturday afternoon and he was up for an adventure.

After the movie we walked over to Temple Square, on our way passing behind the Salt Palace, which was just tearing down from the Outdoor Retailer Show. We had to dodge dozens of fork lifts, which were working to move literally thousands of Buick-sized wooden crates from inside the show floor to stacks that lined at least two city blocks.


Each crate was labeled with the brand of some outdoor equipment manufacturer: Patagonia, The North Face, Camelbak, Salomon, Yakima, and countless more.

Crates stacked 20 feet high made it feel as if we were walking through some slot canyon in southern Utah.

We were both amazed by the volume of merchandise and the number of different band names brought in for the show.

During the last few decades, Utah has firmly established itself as a leader in outdoor recreation, the number one sector in the state’s tourism industry.

From branding campaigns such as “Greatest Snow on Earth” to “Life Elevated,” Utah has done an excellent job of telling its outdoor recreation story to the world.

On page A6 of today’s Daily Herald, you’ll find a story by reporter Karissa Neely who reports on recent numbers released about our state’s tourism industry.

She learned that tourists spent a record high of $7.5 billion during 2013, with $6.4 billion of that spent by out-of-state visitors.

Those are big numbers.

Those are also good numbers for our local economy because of the compounding effect of those dollars in the form of related jobs and local businesses.


We hear complaints from time to time that Utah has done too good of a job marketing our peculiarity. It is getting harder to find places where you can get away because too many people have discovered our secret places.

A few years ago my boys and I created a Google map that labeled some of our favorite places, places where we had been hiking or camping or fishing or just hanging out. We’ve got a spot on Morro Bay in northern California where we spent an afternoon poking star fish in the tide pools, another on Rehoboth Beach on the southern coast of Delaware where we threw french fries to sea gulls as they hung in mid-air in the ocean breeze.

But most of our spots are here in Utah. From Bear Lake to the Four Corners, we’ve been lucky enough traverse the Beehive State and see many of its wonders.

We’ve not quite made it to all of the “Mighty 5,” but we have checked off Zion, Bryce and Canyon Lands, although to be honest we only saw a piece of Canyonlands National Park from the bottom of the Labyrinth Canyon during a canoe trip along the Green River. And the trip to Bryce Canyon National Park was marred by an impromptu alternator repair job in the campground. The kids got to see the park while I spent several hours under our Dodge van swearing at various engine parts.

One of my favorite trips was a weekend backpack trip I made with my then 8-year-old daughter into some high mountain lakes in the Uintas. We still have the bright pink backpack that she had to have before we left the sporting goods store.

I can’t tell you how much money I’ve contributed to the billions of dollars collected each year by the tourism industry, but I will say I’ve done my part.

Daily Herald executive editor David Kennard can be reached at 801-344-2530 or dkennard@heraldextra.com or on Twitter @davidbkennard.

EDITOR’S NOTES: Journalist caught in middle of breaking news

This column originally appeared in the April 21, 2015 edition of the (Provo) Daily Herald


Veteran Daily Herald reporter Genelle Pugmire found herself in the middle of a breaking news situation Tuesday night in Provo when the City Center was locked down by police and SWAT members.

Our key editors had just dismissed from our daily afternoon news meeting to finalize what news stories would go online and what would be in print the next day when we heard police dispatchers talking about a man with a gun.

If you’ve ever visited our offices — and you are always welcome to come in — you’ve heard the police scanner squawking away. Mostly its conversations are about minor traffic crashes or other non-emergency situations.

As journalists, we screen out most of the chatter. I’m pretty sure I’ve honed those skills from an early age. While growing up my mother would listen to her little battery-powered transistor radio that she carried in her apron while she puttered around the house. It was always tuned to talk radio, Denver Broncos game analysis or chart-toppers such as Glen Campbell, Dionne Warwick and other easy listening favorites.

But when we heard the words "gun," "bomb" and "mayor’s office" in the same sentence, almost in unison everyone in the newsroom said, “Did you hear that?”

A quick call to the Provo Police yielded only a busy signal. We immediately sent a photographer and a reporter to Provo’s City Center.

I sent a text message to Genelle asking where she was at that moment. A minute or two later she called and said police were locking down the third floor of the City Center after a report from police that there was possibly a man with a gun and a bomb in the building.

Genelle was covering the regular Provo Municipal Council work session when all of this started happening.

“I was on the phone with you when an officer with an AK-47 came in and said we needed to evacuate the building right now,” Genelle later told me.

I told her to stay safe and record everything that was happening.

Another call came in from Barbara Christiansen, who was the first reporter on the scene outside the building. She reported that crews were shutting down streets about two blocks in every direction — including the streets around the Covey Center for the Arts, where a group of young children was attending a dance class.

I then got this email from Genelle, who was still sitting on the third floor of the City Center taking notes, “Provo police notified the city council during Tuesday work session there was a man claiming he had a bomb and a gun on the third floor of the building. The council meets on the third floor. The Mayor’s office is on the opposite side. We are evacuating.”

By that time we had already had an initial news story posted to heraldextra.com and were working on updates as fast as possible.

Genelle (@gpugmire) was tweeting as rapidly as possible, despite being assisted out of the building by police and Mayor John Curtis.

After the first 15 minutes or so, the chatter on the police scanner begin to take a less excited tone, indicating things were beginning to come under control. We began to think maybe it was a prank call. It later turned out it was actually a false alarm and police are now investigating the caller.

By early evening we had crafted a fairly detailed story about the situation. The question then became, “How do we play this in the newspaper?”

The advancement of the Internet as a breaking news tool is fabulous, but we are reminded every day that once we post the news of the day, we then prepare it for print.

Typically we don’t report false alarms as news items because it encourages attention seekers, but it is hard to ignore when the City Center is evacuated because of death threats on the city’s entire elected body.

That’s why you’ll find Genelle's and Barbara’s story — accompanied by Sammy Jo Hester’s photos on A1, above the fold today. You can find more content online in the form of video shot by videographer Casey Adams.

As journalists, we rarely find ourselves in the middle of news situations as Genelle was today; but when it happens it reminds us what it must be like for the people we write about.

My thanks go out to all those who were involved in Tuesday’s incident and to those who helped our staff be safe and get timely information to the people of Provo.

Daily Herald executive editor David Kennard can be reached at 801-344-2530 or dkennard@heraldextra.com or on Twitter @davidbkennard.

Notes from an Angels Landing rookie

By David Kennard
Daily Herald

ZION NATIONAL PARK -- The Angels Landing Trail in Zion National Park is the roller coaster of outdoor hikes.
The 2.5 mile trail to Angels Landing takes hikers on a very aggressive, but mostly paved trail 1,488 feet above the Virgin River, which quietly winds its way through Utah’s first national park.
There are two numbers there that are important: 1,488 feet and 2.5 miles. Any fifth-grader putting that on a graph will understand that that’s a steep hike, really steep. Imagine going on a two-mile walk then taking the stairs to the top of the Empire State Building (1,250 feet) or the The Willis Tower in Chicago (1,451 feet), and back again.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE 

Kennard: World Trade Center opening a significant news event

This column originally appeared in the Daily Herald

By David Kennard

People around the country remember where they were when they first heard about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that leveled the World Trade Center.

It’s been just a little more than 13 years now, but on Monday One World Trade Center opened for business to become America's tallest building at 104 stories.

Any journalists you talk to will remember that day as one of the longest of their careers. It was one of those surreal stories that just continued to get worse and worse as the hours progressed.

No one enjoyed covering the news that day.

Even the most cynical journalists will tell you they were rocked by the horror of the events of that Tuesday morning. Perhaps that is why, after weeks and weeks of continued coverage, news organizations continued to try and find new ways of reporting the horror.

So many questions about the attack continued to plague reporters around the country, but even months and now years later we are still asking the biggest question: Why did this happen?

Reporters are good at answering the “who, what, when, where and how” questions. It’s the “why” questions that are the hardest to answer in this job.

I can tell you as a journalist watching the horror unfold that day, that question still haunts me.

I had moved from Provo to work for a sister paper in Ohio two years previous and still remember that incredibly long day 13 years ago.

I was working in the newsroom when the first reports of a fire at the World Trade Center began to break. It was an afternoon delivery paper with a 9 a.m. press start, so the presses had just started rolling, when we learned that early reports were that a plane had actually slammed into the North Tower.

We immediately turned on the television, which had pre-empted “The Price is Right” to cover the weird story.

In those first few minutes, terrorism wasn’t even a thought. Pilot error, instrument malfunction, misdirection from traffic control. All those ideas were the first to be floated out there by news organizations.

I remember quickly searching online for some historical context. I found a story about a small plane that had hit the Empire State Building some years prior.

And then the unbelievable happened.

I watched the live footage as a news camera caught a second plane making a wide circle in the background as it targeted the North Tower.

That was one of those “stop the presses” moments.

Everyone on staff paused for moment to again try to understand what they were watching. And then the phones began ringing as readers, reporters and anyone sitting at a computer began compiling information.

The photos, of course led the day. Images from every source started filing in. The arguments about what to lead with became heated. Editors were shouting and the press crew wanted to know when they could have material to begin running again.

We held the presses for three hours so we could get an edition out the same day. Paper carriers were upset because they had to wait, but we were among the first to have news of the event in the same day.

Other papers across the country printed an extra edition, but most dailies had to wait until Wednesday morning to get the news in their regular editions.

Journalist still consider the event one of the most significant breaking news stories of all time.

Today, 13 years later, I consider the opening of One World Trade Center a remarkable end to a story that I’m glad I was around to report on. I hope I never have to report on anything like it again.

Daily Herald executive editor David Kennard can be reached at 801-344-2530 or dkennard@heraldextra.com or on Twitter @davidbkennard.

EDITORIAL

OUR OPINION: Tough Mudder a good deal for city

The City of Mansfield deserves praise for securing the return of the Tough Mudder event next year.

This year’s two-day event brought nearly 20,000 people to Mansfield to challenge themselves on the 12-mile extreme obstacle course.

More importantly, the event pumped $5.3 million to our local economy in the form of spending by organizers and participants. Part of that came from indirect or induced spending, a multiplier that pumps dollars into our economy from suppliers or others peripherally connected to the event.

Last year’s Tough Mudder challenge was hailed by participants and visitors as a huge success, nearly selling out despite several issues beyond the control of organizers.

When nearby parking fell through, organizers reacted quickly to find a suitable solution, using rented school buses and parking lots at the Richland Mall and the former GM plant.

Mother Nature also brought a rainstorm on the second day of the event, making the run through the mud even muddier.

After planning began for the event more than a year ago, Tough Mudder and the city entered a five-year agreement that located the course on city-owned land near Mansfield Lahm Airport. Tough Mudder agreed to pay the city $30,000 each year— even if the event were to be canceled.

Last month that became a very real possibility when Tough Mudder raised major issues about parking and— believe it not— too much mud.

Turns out Mansfield’s mud run was the muddiest run of Tough Mudder’s 52 venues this year. It was so muddy, in fact, that construction of the course nearly held up the race.

However, organizers came together to work out a deal that would provide nearby parking for 6,000 vehicles and allow for an access road for course construction. There is no question that Mansfield has many assets that can be leveraged in ways that benefit our community financially. One of those assets is our location between two of Ohio’s major metropolitan areas. This was a key element in Tough Mudder’s decision to bring their wildly popular extreme obstacle course here. The city’s ability to find a way to accommodate the needs of this business shows what can be done when local leaders work together.

This is the kind of action we expect from our elected leaders and we encourage similar behavior in the future.

Published June 16, 2013, in the Mansfield News Journal

Pick up a paddle:

Explore Ohio from network of waterways

By David Kennard
News Journal

MANSFIELD -- The soft gurgle of clear water as it whirlpools around moss-covered stones is the siren call to Ohio’s canoeing enthusiasts.

From the earliest days when American Indians began building wood-framed boats covered with the bark of birch trees, held together with sinew and pine sap, people have explored the waterways that snake across Ohio.

Stepping into a canoe is stepping back in time.

Virtually unchanged in design, canoes continue to carry modern-day explorers seeking adventure through remote areas of our state otherwise inaccessible to humans.

And, as the warm summer months bring more people to the water’s edge, more explorers will answer the call of the streams and rivers that push through deep forests, majestic cliffs and historic areas.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, recreational paddle sports — canoeing and kayaking — account for 20 percent of all watercraft registrations. However, only within the last 10 years has the state committed serious resources to help paddlers discover Ohio’s river systems.

The State Water Trail program began in 2003, and in 2006 the Kokosing River in east central Ohio became the first river with the designation.

Explorers can put in at Mount Vernon and travel the nearly 28-mile, mostly-wooded river east though Knox and Coshocton counties. The trail includes a good variety of paddling experiences, including deep water and short rapids.

The Kokosing and its sister to the north, the Mohican River, are the epicenter of Ohio’s inventory of canoe-able waterways.

“Thousands of visitors come here every year, if you include all the commercial liveries in the Loudonville area,” said Kim Marshall, director of the Knox County Park District.

Marshall is well acquainted with central Ohio’s popular water ways.

“This whole area is rich in Ohio history,” Marshall said. “I know the Delaware tribes used these waterways. Before that, very early woodland Indians also were in this area.”

Putting in on the Mohican River at Mohican State Park south of Loudonville, paddlers will push their crafts under the dense forest canopy south and soon begin to see remnants of Ohio’s earliest residents — sandstone bridge piers from vacated railroad grades, stone foundations from early settlement long abandoned.

At the point where Holmes and Knox counties meet, boaters will float past the Greenville Treaty line that in 1795 established the boundary between the United States and American Indian land. Drawn after the end of the Northwest Indian War, the line marked land open to settlers to the south, and northern lands that remained American Indian territory.

Any one of Ohio’s nine designated State Water Trails is a good way to introduce yourself to canoeing or test your ability level the same as early Americans did so many years ago.

Nearby: Mohican State Scenic River

Loudonville has built an industry around a tourist destination that has — for years — drawn visitors to the forests, rivers and trails of southern Ashland County.

Six canoe liveries operate in the Loudonville area, including the oldest livery in the state, Mohican Adventures, which began shuttling paddlers along the Mohican River in 1961.

“This is an essential part of the local economy,” said Bob Yun, executive director of the Loudonville-Mohican Convention and Visitors Bureau.

This year’s canoeing season, which traditionally begins in April or May depending on water levels, shows all the signs of an excellent year, he said.

“It’s looking pretty good,” Yun said. “Interest in the area is up. We’ve had more phone calls and requests for information. Our website traffic is up.”

The commercial liveries rent canoes, kayaks, tubes and rafts for floating the river system. Detailed information about the services provided can be found at the visitors bureau website, www.loudonville- mohican.com/river-report.

The liveries are full-service operations designed to provide everything you need to float the river.

If you bring your own canoe and need shuttle service, call ahead to arrange transport. Each livery operates a little differently.

If you are planning your own trip, the best place to put in is near the entrance to Mohican State Park on Highway 3. Park at the Mountain Bike Trail parking lot. A short day trip — about 11 miles on the river — will take you through Amish country to Greer, near the Wally Road Scenic Byway.

A longer trip will take you further south toward the confluence of the Kokosing River.

Take plenty of water and always wear a life jacket, as the last 17 miles of the trail take you into a very remote natural area.

Getting started

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has detailed information, including maps and descriptions, on the nine waterways designated as State Water Trails.

East Sandusky Bay Water Trail: This is the only open water trail in Ohio and provides scenic views along Sandusky Bay on Lake Erie. (15.3 miles, circular route)


Great Miami River Water Trail: This is the longest trail in the state, connecting Indian Lake to the Ohio River in Cincinnati. In Dayton, the Great Miami is joined by the Stillwater and Mad rivers, which make up the Great Miami River Watershed Water Trail, collectively offering 265 miles of waterway. (157 miles, north to south)

Kokosing River Water Trail: The trail passes through historic areas in Ohio and includes long lengths of remote river with no human population. (28 miles trail, west to east)

Mad River Water Trail: From Bellfontaine to Dayton, this trail includes sections of fast water as it moves paddlers south toward its confluence with the Great Miami River. (65 miles, north to south)

Mahoning River Water Trail: The trail winds through wooded, rural and urban areas in Trumbull County in northeast Ohio. It’s location near the Western Reserve Greenway Trail and Bicycle Route J make it a nice paddle/pedal destination. (23 miles, south to north)

Mohican River Water Trail: The state’s premier paddling destination, The Mohican State Scenic River is a must-visit for anyone serious about canoeing. The trail provides a true wilderness experience through Ohio’s Mohican backcountry. (28 miles, north to south)

Muskingum River Water Trail: The trail connect Coshocton to the Ohio River along the longest navigable river wholly in the state. It includes the hand-operated locks of the Muskingum River Parkway and passes through the historic communities of Dresden, Zanesville, Malta-McConnelsville, Beverly and the port town of Marietta. (112 miles, big river paddling, shared water ways with power boats)

Stillwater River Water Trail: This trail begins in remote Darke County on the west side of the state. The meandering river flows through several small farming communities before merging with the Great Miami River in Dayton. (65 miles, west to southeast)

Vermilion-Lorain Water Trail: This unique trail begins in northern Ohio and includes both river and open water travel on Lake Erie before going back inland toward the town of Lorain. (27 miles, south to north)

Find a canoe

Like most outdoor sports, equipment can be the difference between a great trip or a soggy failure.

Consumers can purchase a decent river canoe for $400 to $2,500. Used canoes also can be purchased for much less. Add to that the expense of paddles and life jackets, and the cost can get pretty high, pretty fast.

A good alternative is renting, especially if you are planning to only occasionally venture off shore or would like to get a taste of the sport.

A simple online search will point to any number of canoe liveries that will quickly get you onto Ohio’s back country water ways. These companies offer every variety of services you may need on your adventure, from equipment to shuttle services.

What to know before you go

There are a number of things you should know before you set off into the wild. Here’s a short list:

• Wear your life jacket: Water seems cool and inviting, but canoes tip easily, putting you and hard rocks within close proximity.
• Mind the weather: A little rain won’t sink your canoe, but wind, heavy rain and lightning can be deadly. Seek shelter when necessary.
• Stay off private property: You’ll see the signs posted.
• Pack it in, pack it out: Carry a litter bag. Don’t bring glass and if you find some, pack it out. Canoes can haul a lot; do your part to keep our water ways clean. 
• Wear shoes or sandals at all times: Foot injuries are no fun on a canoe trip.

Resources

Ohio has many resources to help canoeing enthusiasts travel the state’s waterways.

A good place to start your adventure is with information from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. You can find just about anything you need to know at watercraft.ohiodnr.gov.

Talking to experts at sporting goods stores or a visitors bureau also will point you in the right direction.

dkennard@centralohio.com
Twitter: @davidbkennard

2012 Awards

Mansfield Awards in 2012

AP: 12 total

Kennard, Best Editorial Writer

Kennard, Best Graphic Artist

Kennard, Best Informational Graphic

Spencer, Best Sports Writer

Spencer, Best Sports Columnist

Staff, Best Sports Section

McCurdy, Best Sports Enterprise

Whitmire, Best Business Writer

Durbin, Best Business Writer

Polcyn, Best Photo Essay

Ramaley, Best Full Page Layout

Staff, Best Community Service

Gannett: 3 finalists, 2 firsts

Q1 Finalist, Jon Spencer, Iditarod

Q2 Finalist, Staff, Fire coverage

Q2 Finalist, Staff, storm coverage (shared with MNCO)

Q3 First Place, Staff, Jobs package

Q4 First Place, Mark Caudill, Kidnapping

Q4 Finalist, Kennard, Twig Beetle graphic

Bucyrus Awards in 2012

AP: 3 total

Chandler, Best Sports Writer

Messerschmidt. Best Sports Writer

Tobias, Best Photo Essay

EDITORIAL: Explore options to pay for city’s rising costs

A number of seemingly unrelated things happened this week that should illustrate a call to action for city leaders.

First, the county announced the beginning of a process to remove many of the abandoned homes around Mansfield. Secondly, firefighters responded to even more suspicious fires in
some of those same abandoned homes in the downtown area. Finally, Mayor Tim Theaker stressed the importance of voters passing a proposed income tax to offset the cost of running the city.

The city seems to be caught in a sort of catch-22 situation that should
have been handled years ago.

The failure to enforce city codes and allow homes to become so dilapidated that they are now dangerous is simply unacceptable.

These eyesores are far more than just a blight on our city, they are a serious threat to members of our safety services who have to chase out vandals and drug users. Firefighters put their own lives in jeopardy when they are forced to work in these crumbling homes.

“If there’s one good reason for the demolition of the vacant houses in Mansfield, it’s this right here,” Mansfield fire Capt. Guy Daly said last week. “This is going to get a fireman killed.”

The reality, though, is that code enforcement takes time and personnel, something the city is extremely short on these days.

In his plea to voters last week, Theaker said people should understand the city has cut expenses all it can.

“We have kept cutting and kept cutting,” Theaker said. “We’re trying to match our revenues.”

He compared the city to a wageearner who is not bringing in enough income.

“We either have to go back and get a second job or live within our means,” he said. “We (city employees) are trying to go out for another job.”

Here’s the thing, if the city had forced homeowners to keep up their properties when it had the resources to do so, it may have reduced the need for such drastic measures. Mansfield, like many municipalities, uses code enforcement as more than just a beautification tool. It can be used as a revenue stream when enforced properly.

However, these homes that are going up in flames now have nearly no value to any homeowner. The city is caught in a downward spiral that will stop only when every eyesore is gone, or when the city decides it will begin enforcing the property codes.

“We’ve got to keep the services that we’ve got at a level our citizens are expecting,” Theaker said last week.

Going to the taxpayers for more money is just one idea. We encourage the city to explore other options as well as it seeks to pay for rising costs.

EDITORIAL: A few questions for the president

We have no doubt that when President Barack Obama visits Mansfield on Wednesday, it will be a highly scripted event.

Any president who has occupied the White House has been saddle with the heavy burden of protocol.

As it should be.

We hope, however, that when the president visits our community, he will take the time to get to know us a little.

We also hope to learn more about him and how another four years in office might benefit Mansfield and Richland County.

If we had the chance, we’d ask a few questions.

Our first question to the president would be: What about the C-27J program at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport?

The Air National Guard base where Air Force One will land remains threatened by Obama’s proposed cuts to the military budget.

With no replacement mission for the 179th, the cargo planes that served so valiantly in Afghanistan could be scrapped next year.

The cost to operate these planes — and staff the Air National Guard unit — is far lower than any alternative aircraft operated by our full-time military. We have proven the cost effectiveness of the 179th, yet the president’s military budget has proposed eliminating the aircraft and ending the 179th’s mission in Mansfield.

Beyond the threat to national security, Mansfield stands to lose nearly 1,000 jobs if the president gets his way.

So, Mr. President, please explain to the people of Mansfield why the U.S. government wants to eliminate such a worthwhile part of our community and nation.

Next, Mr. President, we are looking for any insight you might have regarding the sale of the former General Motors plant in Ontario.

The once-vital part of our community provided several thousand jobs.

When the plant was idled, the jobs vanished, but the workers remained in our community, ready for whatever might take GM’s place. To date, nothing has. The federally managed trust overseeing the sale of the plant continues to say a sale is close.

We are assuming the president has some idea of what is going on about the pending sale, and we would like him to tell us what it might mean to the future of our community.

Finally, whatever happened to the war on drugs?

In a News Journal report last month, we learned there are almost 80,000 job openings across the state, but not enough drug-free applicants to fill them. As many as 10 percent of all applicants locally are not passing their pre-employment drug test.

Even more alarming, up to 20 percent of active employees involved in accidents fail post-accident drug tests. Across the county line, 84 percent of those incarcerated in Crawford County are there because of drug-related charges.

This is unacceptable. We need help.

Mr. President, how can you help us slow the growth of drug use that is devastating our local economy?

We are certain other communities across the United States have similar problems.

We look forward to the president’s visit and hope that we will receive more than boilerplate campaign answers to these and other questions that our residents might have.