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Breaking news at limaohio.com

Issue 36, Volume 132

Friday, February 5, 2016 $1

Housing market good, should get better

By Danae King

dking@civitasmedia.com

LIMA The Lima area

housing market is healthy
right now, and sales are
better than other areas in

Ohio fails to
control smoking

info@limanews.com

LIMA Charlie Thomas looked

through the list of bands booked
for the Rally in the Square last
season.
Of the 17 weeks, he saw one band
of African-Americans. He said he
questioned organizers about the
lack of diversity.
I was told that, as a free concert,
the money is made by selling beer
and that black people do not buy as
much beer as the people who come
for the other bands, said Thomas,
a former radio personality who
went by The Raven on his Sunday
evening jazz show. I said, You
cant have it both ways. You cant
say that there are issues with drugs
and alcohol and then not bring in

Local business grows

Childers Media Group recently
purchased Signs Ohio and will add
it to its group of businesses and
services. The multimedia company
owns five local radio stations, a
direct mail company, the Town
Money Saver, Ideal Images and
more, according to a release from
Childers Media Group.
Page 7B

See ENTERTAINMENT | 5A

LIMA

in black and white

Land bank prep work

About this series:

Work is continuing on getting the

Allen County Land Reutilization
Corporation, or land bank, up and
running, with county commissioners
passing two resolutions Thursday
to help get the framework in place.
Commissioners approved a motion
to place two commissioners on
the land banks board of directors,
as required by Ohio law. Jay Begg
and Cory Noonan will serve in that
capacity.
Page 1B

Lima in Black and White is

an eight-day series that begins
a discussion about the stark
differences between Limas black
and white populations when it
comes to income levels, jobless
rates, poverty levels, crime rates
and education attainment.
The disparities were cited last
fall in a study done by 24/7 Wall
St., an internet financial research
company. It rated Lima No. 7
among the Top 10 worst cities for
blacks.
The series looks at why the
disparities exist and what can be
done about them.
Sunday, Jan. 31: The gap
Monday: The job market
Tuesday: Challenges facing
schools
Wednesday: Police and trust
Thursday: Who are leaders?
TODAY: Entertainment
vacuum
Saturday: Young and black
Sunday: Midwest new South

GET THIS

The Strangelove Suite

BALLYMENA, Northern Ireland
(AP) It has no windows but
offers unrestricted views of Armageddon.
Northern Ireland is selling its
Cold War-era nuclear bunker, an
underground installation with room
for 235 beds that sellers imagine
could be transformed into a tourist attraction or blast-proof storage
facility.

CIVITAS MEDIA

2016 Published at Lima, Ohio

80 pages, 5 sections

See housing |8A

By Janet Ferguson

TALKING POINTS

Whats your take on

todays news? Go to
limaohio.com and visit
us at facebook to share
your thoughts.

the housing market, 2016 is

expected to be even better.
The total houses sold
increased from 2014 to 2015,
according to statistics

Not enough venues,

not enough support

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)

Ohios efforts to prevent and control
smoking and other tobacco use got
another failing grade in an antismoking groups latest national
review.
The American Lung Associations
State of Tobacco Control report
gave Ohio an F for prevention and
control program funding and for its
tobacco tax structure. But the group
said Ohios doing a better job helping people quit.
Ohios smoking rate stands at seventh highest in the nation. The state
has increased its cigarette tax by
35 cents a pack, but the association
says the tax must go higher to be an
effective disincentive.

Facebook f Logo

grounded, everything (with

the recession) hit us a bit
early so we didnt have as
huge of a fluctuation as the
nation did. We didnt have
the big bubble.
Though 2015 was good for

Entertainment Catch-22

TOP OF THE NEWS

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

the state and the state as a

whole.
Were pretty stable here,
said Tim Heinz, a real estate
agents with Yocum Realty
and the association board
president. Were well-

Craig J. Orosz | The Lima News

Chuck Summers entertains during the 21st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast held at Veterans
Memorial Civic Center in January.

Democratic debates And then there were 2

ers on Thursday of subjecting her to an artful smear
Associated Press
while Sanders suggested
the former secretary of state
was a captive of the political
DURHAM, N.H. (AP)
Fireworks flying in their first establishment.
It was a markedly more
one-on-one debate, Hillary
Clinton accused Bernie Sand- contentious tone than the
Nancy Benac
and Lisa Lerer
CMYK / .eps

Facebook f Logo

A NEWS
People & More: 2A
Nation: 3A
Editorial: 4A
Weather: 8A
B REGION & OHIO
Region News: 1B

CMYK / .eps

Obituaries: 2B
Comics: 4B
Puzzles: 6B
TV: 6B
Business: 7B
C SPORTS
Sports: 1C

Second Quarter: 2C
Classified: 6C
D 360
ENTERTAINMENT
MP REAL ESTATE
MARKETPLACE

two candidates set when they

last debated before the presidential voting began in Iowa,
and it signaled how the race
has tightened five days ahead
of the first-in-the-nation primary next Tuesday.
The two argued over ideas,

Lottery

DAILY (Thursday):
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night
Pick 5: 4-0-6-5-4 day, 7-6-21-4 night
Rolling Cash 5: 7-8-21-23-35

over tactics and over who

has the liberal credentials
to deliver on an agenda of
better access to health care,
more affordable college and
more.

CLASSIC
(Wednesday):
4-25-31-32-39-48
KICKER: 590463
Jackpot: $2.5 Million
POWERBALL
(Wednesday):
26-28-31-60-67

See debate | 8A

Powerball: 23
Power Play: 3
Jackpot: $136 Million
MEGA MILLIONS (Tuesday):
7-13-25-51-70
Mega Ball: 9
Megaplier: 4
Jackpot: $71 Million

LOCAL

The Lima News

Friday, February 5, 2016 5A

LIMA

in black and white

Addiction creeps up on many

There is help
EDITORS NOTE:
The abuse and addiction of
legal and illegal drugs crosses
all social backgrounds. It can
be particularly devastating
to people living in poverty as
it robs them of the chances
of seeking a better life.
As part of this series, The
Lima News is providing the
following column about how
to recognize drug abuse
and addiction, and where a
person can turn for help. The
column is written by Michael
Schoenhofer, executive
director of the Mental Health
and Recovery Services Board,
located at 529 S. Elizabeth St.,
Lima, Ohio 45804.

By Michael Schoenhofer
Special for The Lima News

An addiction to substances
is a chronic illness. Lets be
clear about that. It is not a
moral failing. It is not just a
matter of will power and saying no. It is does not involve
being sent away to rehab or
residential where a miracle
cure will be performed.
Recovery from addiction is
hard work. It is a lifelong pursuit that often entails failure,
sometimes lots of failures. And
it is liberating and life giving
and full of joy. We say: Recovery is Beautiful. Its a second
chance at happiness.
Lets blame addiction on
brain chemistry and the brains
pleasure center with its master
hormone called dopamine. A
powerful surge of dopamine
not only contributes to the
pleasure we experience but
is also linked to remembering the pleasure and learning
to want more of it. Recovery
entails relearning pleasure
and how to have fun; finding
new rewards that are healthier
and for many, rewards that are
legal. The purpose of recovery
from an addiction is not just
living in deprivation, lacking all joy and pleasure. No!
Recovery is a matter of rediscovering a new life and a new
way of living that feels clean.
Ask anyone who has quit
smoking (me for instance),
stopped drinking, or experienced withdrawal from pain

Craig Kelly | The Lima News

Michael Schoenhofer of the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board addresses Allen County business representatives at the Lima/Allen County Chamber of
Commerce Connections event.

pills or heroin! The change to

a different way of life doesnt
happen overnight. It happens
in slow, progressive steps,
with lots of support, including
someone who picks you up,
dusts you off and helps you
get back on the road again. We
are so fortunate because it can
all happen right here, close to
home.
It is always a shock to learn
that a loved one suffers with
an addiction or to wake up to
discover not only chronic pain
but also an addiction to pain
pills. Most people dont set out
to become addicted, for many
it creeps up on them.
We ask ourselves: What
now? Where can I get help?
How long does it take? Will
I ever get better? What do I
do? Many of us feel so embarrassed about the situation
or fearful of what others will
think that we dont seek help.
We try to hide it. Others are

Entertainment
From page 1A

bands for this community because

not enough alcohol is purchased.
Blacks make up a quarter of the residents of Lima, it would seem logical
to have more entertainment geared
toward the demographic, Thomas
said. Looking at the schedule of
events in the area for 2016, it does
not show much that would draw specifically African-Americans or even
radio stations that would play music
to cross racial preferences, he said.
Its true of most entertainment venues. Save a handful of R&B acts at
the Upper Lounge at Old City Prime
in downtown Lima, there just isnt
much for the black community, said
Sharetta Smith, a Perry graduate who
relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Lima has an offering of movies,
bowling, skating and the mall for
young people but not the entertainment young black people want to see,
she said.
I think that culturally and socially,
Lima is not a very friendly place to
African-Americans, Smith said. A
lot of times, some of the movies that
we want to see dont come there. The
concerts are not there. Even the Rally
on the Square is not really music wed
listen to, along with acts at the Allen
County Fair. So culturally, I think
African-Americans are ignored.
Attracting the acts
Cindy Wood, the CEO of Veterans

afraid of the legal ramifications.

Signs of drug abuse
Here are some common
signs of drug abuse:
Youre neglecting responsibilities.
Youre using drugs under
dangerous conditions or taking risks while high.
Your drug use is getting
you into legal trouble.
Your drug use is causing
problems in your relationships.
Signs of addiction
Here are some common
signs of drug addiction:
Youve built up a drug
tolerance.
You take drugs to avoid or
relieve withdrawal symptoms.
Youve lost control over
your drug use.
Your life revolves around
drug use.
Youve abandoned activi-

Memorial Civic Center, understands

the concern. The public venue in the
heart of the city relies on outside promoters to rent the space and schedule
events, limiting what genres come
through the doors.
We have promoters who come
from Chicago, Nashville, L.A., etc.,
and unfortunately Lima has been
labeled as a classic rock and country demographic, so there are many
genres such as R&B, hip hop and
pop, to name just a few, that are
unfilled.
Thomas asserts the demand is
here, though, as he saw with a jazz
show downtown years ago.
We used to sponsor programs on
the rooftop of the downtown parking garage, and we had almost 1,000
people, Thomas said. We did it as
benefits for schools and stuff like
that. I would bring in local artists,
have a stage and some tables set up,
and the people loved it.
Wood also stressed that its not just
a matter of getting an artist and a
date.
When a community puts in an
offer for X thousands of dollars,
they are at the mercy of the management and agencies that are managing those tours, she said, So say
if John Smith isnt available on
the date were asking for within a
four- to six-hour drive, hes not coming. Agencies also consider market
size demographic, ticket prices of a
certain artist, advertising and then
look to see if a bigger city can give
them a better offer. The demand for
dates and artists is much greater than

ties you used to enjoy.

You continue to use drugs,
despite knowing its hurting
you.
Finding help
Right here in Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin Counties
help is available for anyone
suffering with an addiction,
even an addiction to opiate
based pain pill or heroin. Medications, intensive therapy,
recovery coaching, housing,
and even detox is available
even for those without insurance. There are four easy ways
for anyone to find out more:
1. Go to www.wecarepeople.org where you can find
resources including agencies
who provided substance abuse
and opiate abuse recovery programs.
2. Call the HOPELine
1-800-567-4673 and talk to a
mental health and addiction
professional.

the supply, and it is a chemical mix

almost of the right ingredients of so
many things.
Reluctance to travel
Nearby venues havent had much
success capturing the black demographics interest either.
Jerica Humphrey, interim director of the Freed Center for the Performing Arts in Ada, is black and
said shes willing to bring AfricanAmerican talent and perspective to
the Freed. Last year, she received a
$10,000 National Endowment for the
Arts grant to help pay for three outside productions, one of which, Raisin Cain, was a one-woman show
about the Harlem Renaissance.
She said even these kinds of productions dont draw blacks from
Lima.
They dont come to Ada because
its too far for them, she said. My
church is in Lima and Im very active
in my church, and thats what they
say. And historically the area has not
been very inviting.
Executives at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center say offering
family-friendly entertainment that
inspires, entertains and educates is
their primary mission. The diversity
that they are seeking comes in the
artistic programs they offer, and if
that brings in black performers, all
the better. But racial diversity is not,
in itself, a goal there.
We dont go into our programming
saying we need different (colors) of
skin, said Tafi Stober, marketing
director of the 1,200-seat Niswonger

3. Text 741741 to connect

with a mental health and
addiction professional.
4. Go to Coleman Professional Services, 799 S Main
Street in Lima 7 days a week
to the walk-in access center
or the crisis center to get an
immediate screening and talk
to someone about your addiction.
Resources abound right
here to get you on the road
to recovery. Already over 400
people have sought and found
recovery from an opiate addiction and hundreds more from
substance abuse and other
addictions like gambling right
here, close to home. You can
too!
Dont wait any longer.
Michael Schoenhofer
Executive Director
Michael Schoenhofer is the executive
director of the Mental Health & Recovery
Services Board of Allen, Auglaize, and
Hardin Counties.

You cant say there

are issues with
drugs and alcohol
and then not bring
in bands for this
community because
not enough alcohol
is purchased.

Charles Thomas,
Lima

Performing Arts Center in Van Wert.

We are picking genres of music, so
they (black performers) fit the genre
we were seeking.
Weve stuck to our guns, say, with
jazz, said executive director Paul
Hoverman, noting that jazz is not
as popular as Christian or country
music in the Van Wert area. In fact,
weve got a lot of comments from a
lot of people in the Lima area that
say, We love to come to Niswonger
because you get some things that we
enjoy and they dont do this in Lima.
And I dont know why they dont do
it, but were happy to come over and
support what you do.
The 2015-2016 season at NPAC
is all-white, but the previous two
years have had appearances by black
musicians such as The Temptations,
The Spinners, R&B legends Marilyn
McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., pianist
Leon Bates and the comedian Sinbad.
Reporters Amy Eddings and Craig Kelly contributed
to this story. Janet Ferguson is a regular contributor
to The Lima News. Reach her at info@limanews.
com.