Saturday, May 8th, 2010

Judge drops inducing panic charge

By Margie Wuebker
CELINA - A first-degree misdemeanor charge of inducing panic filed against a 95-year-old Montezuma man was dismissed Friday morning in Celina Municipal Court.
James H. Dalton told Judge James Scheer he was only jesting when he made a comment to poll workers at Franklin School Tuesday afternoon that he might come back with a couple guns on his hips.
He reportedly felt the polling place where he had previously voted did not have adequate marking, telling authorities he drove around several times before going inside.
Mercer County Sheriff's deputies responded after being notified of the threat. The site was initially placed on lockdown with a deputy assigned to ensure the safety of poll workers, as well as people coming to vote.
Dalton was located at his home a short time later and taken to the Mercer County Adult Detention Center. He posted a $225 bond before being released into a son's custody on the condition he not be left alone before 8:30 p.m. Sheriff Jeff Grey said the timeframe allowed for the polls to close and workers to leave.
About a year ago, the sheriff's office received a report Dalton threatened a man fishing along a channel on his Windy Point property with getting a gun if he did not leave.
"I got a .22 pistol in a drawer," Dalton told the judge. "I put it in the drawer 40 years ago and I've never taken the thing out."
Scheer listened carefully to the man who reportedly has a heart condition, a pacemaker, two artificial hips and hearing aides.
"I think this is all a misunderstanding but it is probably not wise to say you're going to use a gun on somebody," the judge said. "I am going to dismiss the charge but maybe you should think more clearly before saying something about getting a gun."
A first-degree misdemeanor carries the possibility of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine upon conviction.
Additional online story on this date
Mercer County Knights of Columbus Track Meet
COLDWATER - The racing was so exciting at the annual Mercer County Knights of Columbus Track and Field Meet that the lights went out as the race wrapped up, although stormy weather was the true culrpit. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
ST. HENRY - With a westerly wind at his face, Moe leaps over a set of double bars like a graceful ballerina.
He eagerly runs in the shadow of his master, focusing on her commands as he picks up speed through a bright red, U-shaped tunnel.
CELINA - The aroma of mouth-watering barbecue wafted across the Mercer County Fairgrounds Friday as the fourth annual Ribfest kicked off.
The food
NEW BREMEN - Michael Staton lost his father to cancer before he had a chance to really know him as an adult. In the early 1990s it became the young man's quest to learn more.
ST. MARYS - A 20-year-old St. Marys man was injured when the ATV he was operating struck a car at 6:11 p.m. Tuesday on Southway Road in St. Marys.
ROSSBURG - Joey Saldana loves Eldora Speedway.
Saldana, a two-time Kings Royal champion, picked up his seventh career World of Outlaw feature win at the high-banked, one-half mile oval on Friday night.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Mitchel Poeppelman homered and drove in five runs as Ross Heitkamp and Chase Paxson kept St. Henry in check, allowing Minster to take over second place in the MAC by themselves with a 8-5 win at the Wally Post Athletic Complex.