The 2013 Area 10 Spring Games for Special Olympics was held on Saturday, May 4th at Medina High School. The Portage County Board of DD took athletes for Bocce, Track and Field, Volleyball, and Powerlifting. The day began with the opening ceremonies, the running of the torch, and the reciting of the Special Olympics oath, “let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

 

 

 

Bocce (Doubles): 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons!

Athletes: Michele, Jean, Carley, Richard, Jim, Jason, Calvin, Maria, Sylvia, Danny, Scott, Joey, Shawn, and Deanna

 

Track and Field: 1st – 5th place ribbons!

Events: Softball throw, shot put, 50/100/400 walks, runs, relays, wheelchair race

Athletes: Chrissy, Brandon, Joe, Danielle, Kathy, Eric, Miranda, Adam, Allison, Kristin, Deanna, Kendra, Mason, Dawn, and Ryan

 

Volleyball: 2nd place ribbon!

Athletes: Donald, Mike, Brandon, Shawna, Logan, Jerry, Kenny, and Gerald

 

Powerlifting: 1st and 2nd place ribbons!

Athletes: Donny, Becky, Michael H, and Michael M

 

 

 

 

At the April 17, 2013 Board meeting, representatives from two KSU Fraternities presented donations to the Board's Special Olympics Program from fundraising events the fraternities sponsored in early April.

 

 

Max Druiz and Vince DeCrow, representatives of The Beta Tetarton Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa, presented a check in the amount of $1,000 to Board President Ralph Kletzien. The fraternity had sponsored a Knockin' Pins with Olympians fundraiser at Bill White's Twinstar Lanes in Ravenna Township on April 8, 2013. Brothers Druiz and DeCrow indicated that the event was highly successful with many positive comments from those who attended and that is was the Fraternity's intent to make this an annual event. John Gargan, current Board Member and former member of the Beta Tetarton Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa presented, on behalf of the full Board, a certificate of recognition and appreciation to Brothers Druiz and DeCrow.

 

 

Bryan Hujar, Michael Gillies, Shaun Thomas, and Neil Kyser from The Iota Chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma were also in attendance and presented a check in the amount of $896.00. The Fraternity had sponsored Battle of the Greeks: A Competition to Benefit the Special Olympics on Saturday, April 10th. Brother Kyser stated that The Iota Chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma was also committed to make this an annual event. Megan Rothermel and Chrissy Motz, members of the Special Olympics team who attended the Sigma Tau Gamma event, presented the Sigma Tau Gamma brothers a certificate of appreciation and recognition from the Board.

 

 

 

 

The Portage County Commissioners, at their weekly meeting on April 30th, took unanimous action approving placement of two renewal levies on the November 5, 2013 general election ballot which had been requested by the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities (i.e., the County Commissioners’ are the authorizing entity for placement of Board levy issues on the ballot).

 

Superintendent Pat Macke attended the Commissioners’ meeting, along with Diane Cotton, Director of Business Management and three Board members, Sandra Craft, Tom Cochran, and Tim Moran. Commissioners Kathleen Chandler, Maureen Frederick, and Tommie Jo Marsilio were most positive in their support of these renewals and highly complimentary of the services and supports provided by the Board.

 

One levy request is for a five-year, 2.0 mills levy that will run from tax years 2014 to 2018 and the second request is for a ten-year, .9 mill levy that will run from tax years 2014 through 2023. The funds generated by these two levies represent approximately 43% of total Board levy revenues and 31% of total annual Board operating revenues. As renewal issues, there will be NO INCREASES in taxes.

 

The next step in the renewal process will be to constitute the levy renewal committee and if you are interested in either being part of the committee or involved in levy activities, please email Superintendent Macke at: patm@portagedd.org.

 

 

 

The Board took action in February certifying the necessity of placing two renewal levies on the November general election ballot of November 5, 2013 in the amounts of 2.0 mills for tax years 2014 through 2018 for one levy and .9 mills for tax years 2014 through 2023 for the other. The Board further directed the Superintendent to submit a request to the Portage County Commissioners asking them to take action by resolution certifying the need for the renewal of these two levies and their placement by the Portage County Board of Elections on the general election ballot of November 5, 2013. The Superintendent and several members of the Board will be meeting with the Commissioners in late April regarding the levies’ renewals.

 

The renewals of these two levies will NOT increase current tax rates. The Portage County Auditor has estimated that renewal of the 2.0 mills levy would produce approximately $3,325,477.00 annually and the .9 mill levy approximately $2,863,670 annually. These two levies account for approximately 43% of total annual Board levy revenues and 31% of total annual Board revenues. Please look for the posting of regular updates about the status of these levies and levy facts over the next months.