Canal Winchester Messenger - September 4th, 2022

Security steps after shooting
www.columbusmessenger.com September 4, 2022 - CANAL WINCHESTER MESSENGER - PAGE 5
By Rick Palsgrove
Managing Editor
Groveport Madison Schools officials will
take steps to improve security at upcoming
football games and extracurricular events
following a shooting incident outside Groveport
Madison High School’s Cruiser Stadium
on Aug. 19.
Groveport Madison Deputy Superintendent
Paul Smathers said that, prior to the
Aug. 19 football game against Canal Winchester,
officials from Groveport Madison
and Canal Winchester schools, as well as
law enforcement and security personnel,
prepared a safety and security plan, an
evacuation plan, and established safe space
hiding spots.
“The plan worked, but it can be improved,”
said Smathers.
In an official review of the Aug. 19 shooting
incident (see related articles on pages 3
and 4), Smathers said things to be addressed
include improving the electronic admission
ticketing system, more training,
eliminating excessive loitering, and marking
exit gates more clearly. He said some
positives from the incident included successful
communications, quick responses by
first responders and school staff, and the
press box announcer staying calm to help
give fans instructions.
Smathers laid out these future actions to
improve security at future football games
and events: not allowing backpacks or large
bags; increasing the number of special duty
police officers; extending the safety check
zone at the gates; eliminating loitering; allowing
no entry to the stadium starting
after the end of the second quarter of football
games; restricting student tickets to
only Groveport Madison students and students
from the visiting school (alumni and
community members can still enter); removing
troublemakers; removing vehicles from
the fire lanes; and issuing school radios to
personnel. Other potential actions would be
to add lighting to the high school’s north
parking lot, using security scanning wands
at entry gates, and checking vehicles as
they enter the school grounds.
Groveport Madison Superintendent
James Grube said other security measures
will remain confidential.
“Many of the loiterers outside the stadium
were from outside our school district
community and the person arrested was
also not from here,” said Smathers. “The
people fighting weren’t from here. We have
to make sure our games are community
events.”
Groveport Madison Board of Education
President Chris Snyder, who was at the
Aug. 19 game said, “We have good people
doing good things to work together to care
for each other and keep everyone safe. I’m
saddened and upset by what happened, but
proud of our community and how everyone
helped each other.”
Members of the Groveport Madison
Board of Education all mentioned how
proud they were of the first responders,
school staff, and community for their efforts
during the incident.
Faith and
Hope, both
4 - m o n t h s -
old, came
from a feral
cat colony.
Both girls are
quite shy but
should warm
up once they
get settled
into a new home. Faith would like to be
adopted with her sister, Hope, or with existing
pets for her to bond with. Hope would be a
great companion for someone who likes to
enjoy life’s quiet moments. These kittens are
available for adoption through Friends for Life
Animal Haven.
FYI: fflah.org
Clara is a sweet girl
who is looking for
someone to love. Her
owner died and left her
heartbroken, but this 3-
year-old is learning to
love again.
She is a little shy but
warms up quickly. She
enjoys pets, treats, and a warm area to rest.
Meet Clara at the Colony Cats cage-free
adoption center.
FYI: colonycats.org
Ginger Mae is an independent cat who likes
pets of the week
her alone time, but will
let you know when she
would like you to pet her.
She is docile and gentle,
and since being moved
to the busy adoption
center, is usually hiding,
often in a litter box.
She’s a beautiful Maine
Coone mix. Adopt her
through Colony Cats.
FYI: colonycats.org
Sweet Pea is a very
sweet girl who is quiet,
likes car rides, and
would love a home as
your one and only so
she doesn’t have to
share her people’s attention.
She does have
allergies but her skin has improved since starting
her allergy medication. She is available for
adoption or foster through the Franklin County
Dog Shelter.
FYI: franklincountydogs.com
pets of the week
These furry friends are available for
adoption at local rescues and shelters.
Foster a dog
The Franklin County Dog Shelter and
Adoption Center offers individuals in
Franklin County the opportunity to foster
shelter dogs while they are still available for
direct adoption. While fostering a dog, it is
possible to learn more about how that dog
will act in a home setting, increase the dog’s
network of potential adopters, and give
them time out of the shelter to decompress.
Many dogs enter the shelter as stray dogs,
so virtually nothing is known about them.
Foster homes provide the opportunity to
learn important details about dogs in the
shelter’s care.
“Fostering is an important and rewarding
experience,” said Kaye Persinger, director
of the Franklin County Dog Shelter. “We
don’t know the history of so many dogs in
our care, and foster families can help fill-in
the blanks, letting us know how these dogs
will behave around people, children, other
dogs and pets, and how they generally exist
in a home setting.”
Thee dogs also become Instagram and
Facebook stars, and the shelter can learn information
that will help find the dog their
perfect forever home.
“The shelter has been working on our foster
program for months and we are excited to welcome
interested parties to join with us in support
of the dogs in our care,” said Persinger.
Those interested in learning more about
the program, and possibly participating,
should visit the shelter website,
www.franklincountydogs.com. To speak to
someone directly about the program, email
foster@franklincountyohio.gov.
The shelter is beginning the program by
offering long-term resident dogs (at the shelter
for over a month) initially to interested
homes. Foster candidates at the shelter include
both dogs with medical issues and
those who would benefit from time outside
the shelter environment.
CW City Council meetings
Canal Winchester City Council meetings
are held on the first and third Monday of
every month. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. The
meetings are open to the public.
Canal Winchester City Council meets in
work session at 6 p.m. prior to each city
council meeting to discuss legislative items
and other issues of the city prior to being included
on a city council agenda. Council
work session consists of all members of
council with the vice-president serving as
chair. The work sessions are divided into
two areas of focus. The first work session of
the month focuses on finance/economic development
items and the second monthly
work session focuses on service/safety items.
While each work session includes specific
areas of focus, other items may be brought
before council as needed. Council work sessions
are open to the public.
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