Dogs matter more than Connecting Point clients and employees…
Neither Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop, who was an actual board member on the Connecting Point, or the daily newspaper focused much on the huge mismanagement issues that took place at the Connecting Point, allowed/ignored by the Mental Health Recovery Services Board. The final solution was a review committee and that process was allowed to work it’s way through the system without any of the Commissioners or the daily newspaper making it their mission for those involved to be fired or demoted, long after Connecting Point was closed. How long it took was little consolation to the employees of the Connecting Point who lost their jobs, or the clients who had to navigate a less than helpful system to find a new place to receive services.
A similar process has been set up to look into changes that a panel recommended needed to be taken with the Lucas County Dog Warden, rather than to see if these recommendations are put into place and if they do address the concerns of some in the community, the calls for Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon to be fired or demoted have increased.
Logic dictates if we were supposed to not demand terminations or demotions and wait for the panel to make their recommendations when it comes to those who needed mental health and other services, the same train of logic should follow when it comes to the Dog Warden’s office. Why even bother to go through the process, where it was clearly stated by those involved that they were not advocating for Skeldon to be fired?
It’s hard to ignore the selectivity factor when it’s compared to the attention given to Connecting Point clients and employees, it’s impossible to not notice the hypocrisy involved in how the two scenarios both involving questions of mismanagement are being handled. It’s impossible to not wonder how the process of selection takes place to decide who is made a monster and who is given a free pass and it’s impossible to not wonder where was the outrage when it was another part of our community who needed someone to stand up for them…
Obviously The Blade isn’t going to step up to the plate, so perhaps it’s time for the Toledo Free Press to do a full investigation on the Connecting Point saga?!?
November 10th, 2009 at 12:20 pmDogs sell more papers……
November 10th, 2009 at 12:44 pmI wouldn’t know, I buy wee wee pads….
November 10th, 2009 at 12:47 pmThe Blade and the Konop are, once again, so far off-base on the dog-warden issue. It’s just another Blade witch-hunt with the ever-populist Konop clammering for put-bull justice.
The more Konop flaps his yapper, the more he displays his complete lack of management expertise in this manner. Ben–a bit of management 101 for you broken down into kibbles that you might even understand:
1. Any organization (take the Dog Warden’s department, for example) has a finite amount of resources. Those finite (finite=limited, not limitless) resources include manpower, time, and space to house dogs.
2. Therefore, if you have limited resources to house dogs, as the department leader (let’s stick with Dog Warden, just for the sake of the discussion), you have to budget those resources, and work within those budgets. That means you also have the responsibility of prioritizing department needs. I think Mr. Skeldon is doing the best he can with the resources he has. If he had more time, money, and space, more dogs could be housed for longer periods of time. Since he doesn’t, he works with agencies to get the most adoptable pets adopted. Vicious dogs are not adoptable, and therefore, euthanized.
The difficult situation is when there are adoptable pets that are not adopted by an agency or individual– space constraints and the increasing costs of housing the abandoned pets leave the Warden no choice but to take the next step.
Local politicians like Konop and Stainbrook aren’t looking to help the situation–they just hear that ‘puppies’ are being euthanized, and want a piece of the spotlight…
The problem with these a$$hats is that if they were in charge of this department, they wouldn’t last a day due to the difficult nature, the scope of the job, and limited resources.
As for the Blade, it’s just more of the same good ol’ boy manipulation. If you look at today’s articles and letters, another slandering witch-hunt. Halloween’s over boys and girls, how about some substantive news?
November 10th, 2009 at 1:20 pmLisa said:
“It’s impossible to not wonder how the process of selection takes place to decide who is made a monster and who is given a free pass…”
Not so impossible Lisa. Imagine a tyrannical, maniacal coward, bullied as a child, inheriting a newspaper when he grows up. He makes those selections in a different city and state to repay those who mistreated him in his youth. He hides behind the ink he buys by the barrel and calls it journalism.
November 10th, 2009 at 1:29 pmThe true wonder is the lack of courage of those in THIS city and state that have allowed it to go on…when all we have to do is stop buying the lies and distortions of the facts meant to destroy those who live in this, our community.
Thanks for you saying an printing these
words because I have been thinking
and having the very same thoughts.
The same was with the YMCA and
Alexander there was people coming
out from every where on that situation
and issue.
The only large outcries and statements
regarding Mental Health is when an
actual Mental Health Consumer does
something wrong.
A year or so ago a Mental Health Social Worker shot and killed people and
November 10th, 2009 at 1:46 pmWith all the news about the shooting
that just happened where the Psychiatrist has shot and killed all
those in the military why are there
not all kinds of people wanting to
know how and why and insist upon an investigation of
all military and public mental health
systems and the so-called mental
health administrators and professionals practicing in it!
You’re not going to hear anything about Connecting Point because Ben Konop was a board member.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:51 pmThe sooner Ben Konop and the rest of block’s little minions leave Toledo the better. Konop should take Chabler and Stainbrook with him and spare us any further…what’s your word? “Asshats”.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:09 pmFunny how konop and the blade always seem to come out at the very same time with personal attacts against citizens.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:15 pmNot Again,
By funny do you mean odd or peculiar?
Konop will do whatever is asked of him by the publisher, as will Fedor most recently. And always will Stainbrook and chabler abide by any request made of them. Watch the silly puff pieces on Stainbrook or read chabler’s letters to the editor. In no other city in the country would a respected news outlet print anything those two had to do or say. Smarmy is the word that comes to mind to describe those two and Konop is just plain sad. The boy has sold himself cheap to the publisher and is already suffering the consequenses– his political career is over as a result.
Someone once said, “when you sleep with the devil you lose your soul”. I say as well they should!
November 10th, 2009 at 3:46 pmTo Mr. Common Sense:
I must disagree. No matter how much revenue Tom Skeldon had, he would still kill as many dogs as possible. From his point of view, that is his mission in life. I’ve seen him in action. He hates
November 10th, 2009 at 3:50 pmanimals, especially dogs, and he will kill as may as possible until the citizens of this county force him to stop. For a change, the Blade and Ben Konop have it right.
Carol,
How do you know how someone feels, if he “hates” animals, especially dogs? How do you know his point of view or his mission in life? Is that ALL dogs you determined he hates or the vicious dogs that rip into children’s faces or chew off their fingers or toes? I am sure Mr. Skeldon has seen the very worst of what vicious animals, especially dogs have done to innocent people and other animals. I for one would rather have him permit the death of hopelessly sick or vicious animal in a painless way than allow
a killer dog hurt one of my children or grandchildren or anyone’s children.
Just out of curiosity, this knowledge of Mr. Skeldon you have obtained…could the source of that knowledge be the daily paper?
November 10th, 2009 at 4:21 pmRegardless of whether you approve/disapprove – like/dislike this dog warden I do find it remarkably striking that there was such a disparity in the coverage of the two stories.
Are dogs really more important in these peoples’ minds than at risk children? Seriously?
It would appear to be the case. And its disgusting. I’m going to be sure and mention it to the uh – what is it, maybe two people left around here who still take the Blade and see what they think of it.
November 10th, 2009 at 6:25 pmMaybe those in administration and
November 10th, 2009 at 7:35 pmemployed within the mental health
system have many things to keep
secret and hidden for certain people
in local government postions and/or
the public!
Another things is that dogs are unable to speak our language and they do give
November 10th, 2009 at 8:16 pmunconditional love and protect
while humans can communicate with
words and writing with many keeping
silent to protect themselves to keep
others from possibly leaking out
information they do not want others
to learn about them even at the expense
of other humans.
Ask your two friends, Kateb, let’s see if the block spin machine is still working. And convince those two to read their news here.
Who needs the daily at all when their reports are not news, their reports are fictional stories. And the national news is easier to get on line than to search their lousy website…
Let there be an end to them and soon.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:55 pmTo Lisa’s main point, it is very troubling that the levy-supported MRDD has not yet seen public discussion of the review committee report completed in the last 6 weeks or so. This report directly challenges the executive leadership of MRDD as well as that of the board and staff of Connecting Point. These multi-million dollar agencies are responsible for service delivery to thousands of Toledo people and families, and yet the very avoidable collapse of Connecting Point, overseen by the disinterested MRDD staff has resulted in virtually no comment. Why? And by the way, I understood that Ben Konop was joined on the Connecting Point board by Anita Lopez. We all can remember when Anita rushed to offer her superior financial acumen to the errant YMCA leadership.
Lisa can no doubt do an analysis of the report by the review committee appointed by the commissioners to assess the causes of the Connecting Point fiasco. Once she does, it becomes our job to raise it to the public for attention, perhaps through the Free Press or other balanced media.
November 11th, 2009 at 8:17 amWhat amazes me is the editorial decision to print front page stories for 5-6 consecutive days about a dog warden!
November 11th, 2009 at 8:40 amJust getting caught up on my tabloid reading (ie; the blade, one of Americas great newspapers), this story and its placement is so ridiculous! Indeed you are correct Lisa Renee (again!) dogs are more important than people.
Interesting that the blade went to “dog owner” Jon Stainbrook. I am a dog owner as well but do not consider myself an expert on the running of the dog pound but it looks like I must be! And they are comparing us to “neighboring counties” which are all rural, maybe a good journalist would compare us to another urban center where things like dog fighting is more prevalent.
As far as Mr. Skeldon’s disdain for pit bulls, could that come from his years of experience as dog warden and the horrors of what these animals have done to actual humans and to each other? But then again, dogs matter more than humans.
Another interesting thing in all of this is that all of these dog lovers, Konop, stainbrook, etc. are all pro choice. They are so concerned with the killing of innocent puppies but not for the killing of innocent babies. Humans are cute and cuddly too
November 11th, 2009 at 9:27 amThere are many many stories out there to cover. Dog Warden, Connecting Point and lots more. The newspaper, like any organization, has only so much in the way of resources. It has chosen to cover the dog warden, probably because of the widespread criticism that has surfaced over the past 15 years over the way he has operated his office. Is Connecting Point important? Sure, and there are others. But Skeldon has been an ongoing issue for years that is now coming to a head.
That said, I agree that the lenghty, repeated, front page above the fold coverage is probably excessive. And I agree that calls for Skeldon’s firing are premature – that decision should wait until Serchuk’s committee completes its work, makes its recommendations.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:41 amMike,
The dog warden’s actions are a reflection of how he feels. And no, the daily paper is not the source of my opinion on the dog warden. I have personally seen him and listened to him in meetings. I know for a fact that he refused for many years to scan dogs for microchip ID’s so they could be returned to their owners. Local vets offered to donate the necessary scanning equipment free of charge. Skeldon refuse. He would rather kill a dog that reunite it with it’s owner.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:49 amConnecting Point had problems before and the Mental Health Recovery Services Board gets millions of dollars in tax payer dollars and is responsible for serving some of our most fragile residents. That should be more important than anything…
November 11th, 2009 at 10:50 amRub is right, I do have the information, it’s in my growing pile of projects to finish now that the election is over…
November 11th, 2009 at 10:51 amCarol that is very hyperbolic. He did not refuse the scanners because he wanted people’s dogs to die – it is not allowed for in the ORC. Dislike him for not wanting to go above what the actual legal duties of the job entails but to imply he wants people’s pets to die is not accurate. The real solution to that would have been to make that a requirement, it could have been done and in place years ago.
I’m sure you know exactly how many people even attempt to reclaim their dogs that have received a certified letter.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:55 am#17 Rub of the Green says:
“Lisa can no doubt do an analysis of the report by the review committee appointed by the commissioners to assess the causes of the Connecting Point fiasco. Once she does, it becomes our job to raise it to the public for attention, perhaps through the Free Press or other balanced media.”
Rub of the Green, Thanks for calling on my number one source of public/local and regional information sites (GLC) to help clear up or at least give one a different view on issues that are of major concern to the public. Although I receive the Blade, my sources of information do not even begin to stop there.
I listen to and or read CSPAN, NPR, MSNBC, WSPD, the far right groups, various local, regional, national and international bloggers and a number of local and national African American media outlets. I read TFP, TCP and all local African American Papers I then form my opinions. If it is local, I immediately click on GLC to get others views and to see the questions raised. All of these sources only give me a small talking point view of the real issues but they satisfy me. Sometimes ignorance is not bliss…it is ignorance.
Although my input on this thread has nothing to do with the dog/Skeldon issue, it does support my contention that GCJ is a real media source, and that if some of the main media were as socially and morally conscious as some of the readers on GCJ and applied some of their logic on issues… dogs, Connecting Point and other pressing local issues would receive more logical considerations and solutions. Take away the blogs and what outlet would we have for conversational intercourse. (At my age this might be the only intercourse that I get!)
WEAR THE CROWN LADY!
November 11th, 2009 at 11:48 amwwforlife –Right on! (except for the fact you’re still paying for the daily, but all else is dead on!)
November 11th, 2009 at 11:57 amInstead of doing real work, I decided to review Ohio’s dog warden statutes. Admittedly, I have not spent a great deal of time reviewing the laws, but I find nothing about county dog wardens operating dog adoption agencies.
To the contrary, the statutes seem to emphasize the destruction of impounded dogs that have not be redeemed by their owners. Even the time limits that dogs have to be held are specified by Ohio law.
Based on what I see, the dog warden’s priorities seem to be consistent with those created by Ohio law. Perhaps the “problem” is not the dog warden, but the state legislature.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:20 pmThat’s been one of my points as well Jenny and one I previously pointed out to those criticizing him for not scanning for microchips. The current law only allows for notification to owners of dogs that are currently registered. Those areas that are not following the ORC are doing so outside of the law, which they can apparently do if they want to, but the only real solution is through the General Assembly. If one was interested in a real solution as opposed to a tar and feather party.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:32 pmMike, if scanners aren’t allowed by Ohio law (how stupid) then how did Konop broker an agreement 6 months to a year ago that required the dog warden to scan for microchips. Who in their right mine would destroy a dog rather than scan to see if it had a microchip and return it to it’s owner?
November 11th, 2009 at 1:45 pmCarol, was there really an “agreement”, or just some suggestions that the warden was asked to consider? There is a difference, you know.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:06 pmI don’t know Carol, “who in their right mind would destroy a dog rather than scan to see if it had a microchip and return it to it’s owner”? I think you need to remove the emotion and concentrate on the facts. Skeldon is not guilty of your or the Blade’s charges. Read Jenny’s and Lisa’s factual comments in #’s 27 and 28. This entire reporting is merely another witch hunt by the daily.
You take liberties you should not; you don’t know what Mr. Skeldon thinks, what he hates or what his motives are in any specific or general circumstance as he does his job day in and day out. I doubt his wife would assume to know him as much as much as you have stated you do. Give the guy at least the benefit of the doubt–maybe, just maybe, he’s protecting the community from vicious or unadoptable dogs.
Here’s a suggestion for you: You and the publisher of the daily rag go over and pick up all the dogs from the pound — save them from that “mean, hateful” dog warden. Keep them for 30 days, keep ‘em around your kids and family members you hold dear, feed ‘em, water ‘em and walk ‘em. If none of you ends up in the hospital for reconstructive surgery or worse, then you can talk about what a bad guy the dog warden is.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:07 pmThe Dog Wardon Skeldon keeps his position for the time being at least
which at this point I believe is the
best decision at least for now; however, Skeldon is Wozniak cousin
and even though the legal department
told Wozniak that it is not a conflict
of interest for her in this decision
process I myself believe that YES IT
IS DEFINITELY A CONFLICT OF INTEREST
ON HER PART AND SHE NEEDED TO EXCUSE
HER SELF FROM THE ISSUE!
In this day and age evidently no one
November 11th, 2009 at 2:22 pmbelieves there is a conflict of
interest which not only applies to
the Dog Warden issue but also the
Lucas County Mental Health & Recovery
Board and local Mental Health Agency
Boards who year after year have members
on their boards with huge conflicts
of interests!
I agree with you Sue, Skeldon shouldn’t be judging Skeldon. It just gives the appearence of rubbing our noses in the sleaze that is toledo and lucas county politics.
Even if skeldon had recused konop had no chance to fire the warden.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:41 pmMike, for your information, I’m not especially fond of dogs. I’m a cat person, but I don’t want to see any animal mistreated, and dogs are definitely mistreated by the dog warden. Common sense says that if scanning for a microchip ID will return a lost dog to its owner, then it should be done. If you disagree with that, then no reason for further discussion.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:57 pmCarol:
As I said, you take many liberties with your statements:
“No matter how much revenue Tom Skeldon had, he would still kill as many dogs as possible.”
“From his point of view, that is his mission in life. I’ve seen him in action.”
“He hates animals, especially dogs, and he will kill as may as possible until the citizens of this county force him to stop.”
“I know for a fact that he refused for many years to scan dogs for microchip ID’s so they could be returned to their owners. Local vets offered to donate the necessary scanning equipment free of charge. Skeldon refuse.
“He would rather kill a dog that reunite it with it’s owner.”
“…dogs are definitely mistreated by the dog warden.”
And now you know me well enough to assume I disagree with microchip ID scanning to return dogs to their owners.
Look at the facts stated above:
The current law only allows for notification to owners of dogs that are currently registered. Those areas that are not following the ORC are doing so outside of the law, which they can apparently do if they want to, but the only real solution is through the General Assembly.
And as Lisa said: “If one was interested in a real solution as opposed to a tar and feather party.”
Don’t be a hater and part of the tar and feather party…
November 11th, 2009 at 3:43 pmJen and Lisa Rneee (#27 and 2
– You continue to miss the point by praising Skeldon for performing the bare statutory minimum. In no other context would you be satisfied with the bare minimum. (Would you go to a doctor who finished last in his unaccredited Caribbean medical school class?) Why should you be here? As the Serchuk committee has established so far, and as dog wardens practically everywhere else have shown by example, we can do better. A lot better. Again, this isn’t a call for Skeldon’s immediate dismissal. It’s a call to wait for the final Serchuk set of recommendations and to go from there. But at least as of now, it’s not looking too good for Skeldon.
And, yes, Tina Wozniak should recuse herself. John Borell’s legal advice to her was not reduced to an official prosecutor’s opinion and thus lacks any credibility. As a county official, Tina is entitled to an official written prosecutor’s opinion (not merely a phone call or email from an assistant prosecutor) on the issue of whether she should recuse herself from this issue. Those opinions are also published and, unlike most other forms of attorney-client communications, are matters of public record for all the world to see.
But even if Tina doesn’t legally have to recuse herself, she should still do so. It just doesn’t smell right, or instill a lot of public confidence, when an elected official is deciding matters directly involving her first cousin.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:29 pmSujay, you like to make comparisons that have no valid comparative value. The point made was that that the criticism leveled on the microchipping was not one of Skeldon supposedly hating dogs and wanting them to be killed. Nor was any excuse made for his decision, merely the factual aspect of he, like it or not, follows the legal requirements of the job. Surely if the real desire of all of this was motivated based merely on the well being of animals, the daily newspaper and the rescue organizations could have easily pressured the General Assembly to address this…They did not…
We have established we agree on the aspect that the panel should be allowed to do it’s job.
I find the calls for Skeldon-Wozniak to recuse herself interesting since Skeldon has had the position prior to her election and she has never been asked to recuse herself when voting on things that related to the Dog Warden’s operation before. A ruling was made on that, there was found to be no reason to recuse, and with the current system of three commissioners, that would just create a scenario where there was a tie since Gerken is not going to fold to the pressure of the Blade or Konop and if Gerken was inclined to agree with Konop? It’d be two to one and it would have no bearing….
November 11th, 2009 at 10:37 pmPolicies concerning how the Dog Warden’s office runs, etc. are one thing; however,
November 12th, 2009 at 8:46 amAt this point Skeldon’s employment and
source of income for himself was in
guesion and as a relative to Wozniak
she needs to excuse herself from this
decision!
Mike, since you don’t know me at all, calling me a hater is like the pot calling the kettle black. You are using the same methods towards me that you accuse me of using towards Skeldon. I do not hate Skeldon. I find his methods abhorant. I intensely dislike his behavior and methods where the dogs are concerned. He makes no effort to adopt out dogs. Read the article in today’s paper (and by the way, I am no fan of the Blade, but do you think the woman in the article is lying about her experiences with the dog warden).
November 12th, 2009 at 9:42 amBasically, I have no dog in this hunt (pun intended), I just hate to see needless pain and suffering. It’s readily apparent that other dog wardens perform differently. There is no excuse for
our county to treat dogs this way.
The Blade dredged up one person from fremont to base their “story” on. Seems like another blade con job to me carol, and you have been conned by the blade, once again.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:51 amThe Blade article states that the
woman from Fremont asked Skeldon to
let you know if and when he got a
certain breed of dog and she would
adopt it.
With all the dogs and people in Ohio
what Dog Warden or a person in any
position or department for anything are going to
remember and call a specific person
when a particular dog or whatever
happens to appear??
If the woman from Fremont wanted
November 12th, 2009 at 10:00 amto adopt a certain breed of dog
she needed to on a regular basis
call and check herself!
Sue, I believe Skeldon-Wozniak was allowed to vote on raises and other actions that would directly relate to the Dog Warden’s office. She also was involved in the decision to create the panel that’s not being given time by some to do it’s job.
Which realistically since the Dog Warden is not currently facing termination it’s a moot point beyond trying to raise questions of ethics directed at Skeldon-Wozniak that at this point have no foundation.
The local daily paper did not take issue when Council members voted on contracts that directly impacted the unions they worked for, this is designed to try to create the impression that Skeldon-Wozniak is doing something wrong. If it were a direct relative, such as an aunt, or a brother, sister, child, spouse, etc., it would merit a bit more attention. Or if she were strongly advocating for him to keep his job in the face of some illegal behavior, which has also not happened.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:18 amNo, Skeldon is not threatened with
his employment termination at this
time but it could possibly come up again in the
near future.
If you were in the position to decide
November 12th, 2009 at 10:40 amwhether your first cousin was to keep
their employment or be terminaated
wouldn’t you be swayed to decide one
way or another?? Would you want some
of your relatives upset with you
because of your decision in the matter??
Sue, I’m the wrong person to ask that question. I’d be harder on anyone related to me as far as expectations and they’d probably not even want to work under me.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:49 amListen to Not Again, Carol.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:09 amYes, Lisa Renee, but many relatives
November 12th, 2009 at 11:13 amare a lot easier on those related to
them in some way than they are other people.
Knowing Tina, if there was a reason to fire her cousin, she would. Especially with the scrutiny she is under. Everybody knows what the paper is doing and hats off to Gerken and Tina for not succombing.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:37 amI do not believe Skeldon need to be
terminated at this time.
The point is Any County Commissioner, City Counci, or whatever
needs to excuse themselves regarding
the employment of a relative in public service.
If I would have ever had to chance to
decide if my one first cousin was
employed or terminated from a position
I would have terminaated that cousin
the first time I could have done it.
However, other people would keep
November 12th, 2009 at 11:57 ama relative because of blood ties.
The bottom line is Skeldon has done nothing wrong to deserve termination. And as this thread started, dogs, according to the skilled liars at the daily, matter more than the mentally challenged people in our community. The truth is they don’t give a damn about dogs or people, they just want to destroy another community fellow that makes less than $70k a year. That is the publisher’s agenda, don’t mistake that point for any other you read in those repeated articles, day in and day out. This newspaper “creates” stories while others report them.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:37 pmGreetings All,
I have a comment and question.
Comment: We all seem to agree…it’s a sad day when a good dog is put down, we agree it happens way too much in Lucas County. Perhaps folks need to remember that spaying/neutering your pets might just reduce the occurance of this situation.
Question: What has become of the clients of Connecting Point? Were they all able to be absorbed in the system elsewhere and continue to receive treatment? How impacted was the course of the treatment by changing facilities? Has there been negative client outcome brought on by the change?
What happened to all the employees? Were they able to find similar employment in the area?
As a helath care provider, I am more concerned about the people than the dogs, not that I don’t most days prefer the company of those with 4 feet as opposed to those with 2 feet.
Thanks for your responses.
mj
November 12th, 2009 at 1:10 pmI have been wondering the same things
Mindy.
The Blade and/or TV news have not
and do not following up at all with the
types of questions and answers we have concerning
Connecting Point or Mental Health Issues!
Why is that, because they are not
November 12th, 2009 at 1:46 pminterested or they fear the Mental
Health Administrators and/or Mental
Health Professionals??
Maybe they are just covering up for someone. If so, could it be BK?
November 12th, 2009 at 1:58 pmMike, I found Skeldon’s behavior towards dogs unacceptable many years ago, long before the Blade ever did a story on him. Please accept the fact that my opionion of Skeldon may be reinforced by information in the Blade, but my initial opinion of him does not stem from anything I read in the Blade.
November 12th, 2009 at 2:47 pmI have formed my opinion based on his behavior and actions, which I have observed or the course of many years.
Could be Not Again, but possibly a few others come to mind too!
November 12th, 2009 at 2:48 pmMindy, those are questions I hope to see answered soon. Thank you.
Carol, you do have the right to have an opinion on the dog warden, you can base it on what you’ve personally experienced with or without the daily paper. Mike has the right to agree or disagree with your opinion.
Where the problem comes in generally is when blanket statements are made, and when comments turn personal, which is why that’s always a good thing for everyone to avoid.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:42 pmThis witch hunt is another example of how the daily makes their “kill” of a community member. They begin with a contrived issue that drags the reader in, they spin it and build it and put it on the front page making it into something that looks similar to a murder case. And not just any murder, “small puppy murders” as on today’s front page. If someone murdered a small child, viciously, they’d be on page 3, one paragraph lost in the bottom of the left side of the page. And just after the court decides the sentence, one more paragraph, page 3, top right. But the dog warden?Front page, day in, day out, top of the fold! You would think the publisher would occupy his time better printing something news worthy than attacking some guy that works in a dog pound for 60 some thousand a year.
The way they play with people’s careers and reputations is petty, ridiculous, disgusting and criminal.
And Carol, I didn’t call you a hater, I said: “don’t be a hater”. Don’t let them suck you in…this is what they do. And it’s done by and for the mere pleasure of the publisher.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:47 amHave you guys seen this?
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091113/LOG01/911139994/-1/LOG
November 13th, 2009 at 1:59 pmYes, read article.
Really ridiculous and misplaced
November 13th, 2009 at 2:05 pminterests to print on the Toledo
Blade daily log the list of dogs
killed and or adopted when they
never even follow up on if the
Connecting Point children received
placement or services or any
mental health issues.
A dog log.
A dog log.
A dog log.
I had to say it and type it to believe it.
a dog log.
I still don’t believe it.
Is it just me or has this publisher lost his mind, or what is left of it??
Someone please stop the Twilight Zone music…
November 13th, 2009 at 2:14 pmMike, you’re still missing the point. My opinion is based on personal knowledge and has nothing to do with what is printed in the Blade. No one is
November 13th, 2009 at 2:51 pm“sucking me in”.
Carol is right. Although this issue is certainly Blade-hyped, it’s not Blade-generated. People have been complaining about Skeldon for at least 15 years for, for the very reasons that the Serchuk committee now cites. Nothing was done because of a lethargic board of county commissioners (Isenberg, Barlos, Old Man Copeland – not exactly the most active trio you’ll ever come across). That changed when Ben jumped on board. Sure, the newspaper has been going over the top (its “dog log” is reminiscent of the ridiculous and short-lived “plea bargain log” that it put in place after the Jeffrey Hodge/Melissa Herstrum case), but that doesn’t detract from the overall issue that has been simmering for a long time. It is not a Blade-generated issue. The Serchuk committee was formed for a reason. Let them complete their work, and let the chips fall where they may.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:55 pmNo Sujay,
Carol’s not right. And the blade began the witchhunt we are still witnessing today. Skeldon did his job or the committee and the commissioners would have been forced to weaken to the daily’s demands. Note the essential word: “demands”. This paper makes demands instead of reports and the ignorant doesn’t know how to distinguish between the two.
Because of you two they live another day to destroy our community and those within.
I rest my case.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:16 pmI think it was a sad day when Connecting Point closed their doors.Children are very important too!
November 14th, 2009 at 12:25 pmI expected to be taken to the woodshed for that last post…too personal, but I just couldn’t help myself. So frustrating sometimes!
Sorry.
M
November 14th, 2009 at 2:36 pmI agree your last sentence was a bit strong, it was a close call, but I hoped for the best as far as you’d come back and clarify.
November 14th, 2009 at 4:49 pm