Telegraph-Forum from Bucyrus, Ohio • 1

.1 ir mm Telegraph Friday February 5, 2010 50 Cents FINAL WORK' DAY sJ'i MISSISSIPPI BOUND GENERAL MOTORS FACILITY IN -sm STANDOUT RUNNER FROM CHI flNFI HRAWFORI i i GENERAL MOTORS FACILITY IN STANDOUT RUNNER FROM COLONEL CRAWFORD MANSFIELD SHUTS DOWN PASE 2A HEADED FOR THE MAGNOLIA STATE FADE tB i 1 1 Hanylskander gets years Page 2A CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN CRAWFORD COUNTY BiniiLordler Bedl to Sum 1 mm As Davenport lay bleeding from his wounds, he did-manage to get off one shot, hitting Walter Ralls in the shoulder. Just as Stuckert reached the mortal chickens were stolea Vogel named Walter Ralls as the culprit Davenport tracked the poultry through Crestline merchants and confirmed Ralls committed the 1 i. I I 4 7 it jt J- lKt It I I i Jv About this series The Ohio Supreme Court announcement that Crestlihe's Kevin Keith will be executed Sept. 15 marks the third capital punishment case in the history of Crawford County. I Thursday: Reaction to the case of Kevin Keith, convicted of a 1994 triple murder in Bucyrus.

I Today: In 1931, Walter and Blanton Ralls for the murder of Crawford County Sheriff George Davenport. I Saturday: In 1930, Mans-fielders Kenneth McCartney, Earl Sites and Fred Massa were executed for kidnapping, rape and murder. fendant, Elijah Ralls, a stay of execution was granted, and finally the death penalty was executed. It all began when Davenport received a complaint from Crestline resident Fred Vogel that 15 of his Walter Ralls crime. The sheriff discovered Ralls was hiding at the home of his brother, Elijah Ralls, who also lived in Crestline.

Expecting trouble, Davenport was accompanied by several deputies and two Crestline policemen when he went to Elijah Rails' home about 9:30 p.m. Authorities were told Walter wasn't there. When Davenport asked for permission to search the home, he didn't realize the three Ralls were hiding upstairs in a bedroom Each was wielding a gun. Walter was carrying a 12-gauge shotgun, Elijah held a repeating rifle and Blanton had a handgun. Davenport climbed to the second floor while deputy Art Stuck-ert was searching the ground level When Davenport turned into the bedroom, he took a shotgun blast to the stomach from 10 feet away.

THEY'RE OFF 'Iheuiiffs By Dan Clutter Telegraph-Forum BUCYRUS It has been more than 78 years since capital punishment was administered for a crime in Crawford County. The Ohio Supreme Court announced Tuesday that former Crestline resident Kevin Keith would be executed on Sept 15 for a triple murder in Bucyrus in 1994. The last time a county resident was put to death happened 30 years before the state began a moratorium on executions. The date was Nov. 13, 1931.Two Crestline residents, Walter Ralls, 32, and his nephew, Blanton Ralls, 19, died in the electric chair at the old Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus.

The two men were convicted of murdering Crawford County Sheriff George Davenport on Jan. 23, 1931. The murder occurred as Davenport was investigating a theft case involving chickens. The case ignited passions in the community, extra security was brought in to quell a lynch mob mentality, an escape attempt ended in the shooting death of a third de- Trooper involved in 1-car accident Telegraph-Forum staff report BUCYRUS Andy C. Baldridge, a trooper with the Bucyrus post of the Ohio Highway Patrol, was involved in a one-vehicle crash on Thursday night, according to a patrol spokesperson.

The crash happened on a county road west of Carey, near Ohio 103. Officials from the Columbus headquarters of the highway patrol were called into action to handle the investigation. No further details were available Thursday night. Baldrige graduated from the Highway Patrol Academy on Dec. 16.

His first day at the Bucyrus post was Dec. 21. Baldridge graduated from Carey High School in 2002 and is a village resident As details become available, look for more on this story at BucyrusTelegraph Forum.com. A AND if flock i I i Blanton Walls ly wounded Davenport, the sheriff (barely alive) reportedly toldStuck-ert: "I got shot, Art" "Who shot you?" Stuckert asked. "Walter Ralls," Davenport said.

"Don't shoot him, Art. Take him to jail." Davenport was transported to Crestline hospital but died three hours later. Stuckert and me other officers arrested all three Ralls, and Walter was treated for his gunshot wound. Stuckert immediately questioned the three men. At first, Walter Ralls denied any shots were fired, before finally admitting there were shots.

Elijah and Walter told Stuckert the other one fired the fatal shot. Meanwhile, the scene around the Crawford County Jail was tense hours after the murder of the popular Davenport. X. photo by Rob Hardin) giving and the corporate match," Sparks said. "The average per capita gift is $166, which shows a real dedication to the United Way at the corporate level that is reflected at the employee level" The Creativity Award went to the Bucyrus City Schools administration and staff, which had a competition among the buildings.

"The result of their creativity was a donation of over $2,800 from administration, staff and students," Sparks said. "Their efforts resulted in a 100 percent increase in staff giving as well as a 133 percent increase in total donations." The Thanks A Million award went to A-l Printing for their printing of brochures and other campaign materials. "The in-kind donations are gratefully appreciated," Sparks said. The 100 percent Participation Award went to Peoples Savings and Loan because all of its employees contributed to the campaign. krlewisnncogannett.com 419-563-9226 '4-.

XT) 1 ft iM nmni.niiiiMIN Gordon Bullion dismantles the electric chair at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville in 2002. Death by electrocution is no longer permitted in Ohio, but 315 inmates were executed in the chair before the moratorium. (AP photo) According to the Telegraph-Forum: "Threats of angered citizens with the word 'lynch' on their See EXECUTION, page 3A eyeing ta levy By Terricha Bradley Telegraph-Forum BUCYRUS Sheriff Ron Shawber has never asked voters to pass a levy. This year, he may have no choice. The sherifffaces $1.5 million in cuts from the county jail and enforcement funds.

"I have to fill the gap in the budget, and I'm already five people short in the enforcement side," Shawber said. Shawber is consulting with the county auditor to discuss the millage before approaching Crawford County Commissioners to place a safety service levy on the May ballot The Jail Operating Levy, funded by sales tax revenues, has suffered because of the poor economy. According to the county Financial Forecast the levy fund will continue to have a negative balance through 2011 because of dropping sales tax revenues. "The $200,000 stimulus grant for (10) vehicles is gonna help the enforcement side stay at the level they're at for most of this year," Shawber said. "But on the jail side, $1 million dollars is hard to make up." The $600,000 state sales tax refund for the next two years doesn't help the situation either, Shawber said.

A growing elderly population has prompted the Council on Aging to ask the Board of Commissioners to submit a levy on the May ballot, a replacement tax of .6 mill and an increase of .2 mill to help fund services. "For Crawford County, over the next five years, folks between 25 and 54 years old are decreasing in numbers and See SHERIFF, page 2A Homestead exemption Seniors and disabled Ohioans must apply with their local county auditor in order to take advantage of the homestead exemp- tion. In 2010, county auditors will accept applications until June 7. 2A 2A 2A 3A 5A Litestyie TV Listings School News Sports Comics 43 of European starlings take to the air Uoi itod Way sanirpasses local goa Thursday near Gallon's Amick's Reservoir. (T-F Sparks and Snyder recently presented awards to businesses for their success in raising money for the campaign.

"IB Tech and Bucyrus Precision Technology were gracious enough to start us off with a friendly competition. IB Tech generated over $26,000 in their various fundrais-ing events," Sparks said. "We thank both companies for a job well done." IB Tech and BPT were the campaign's pace setters. Pace Setters are asked to run their campaigns in the summer, before the official campaign begins in the fall. The Outstanding Corporate and Employee Support Award went to Ohio Mutual Insurance, which contributed more than $62,000.

"This total includes employee "It is apparent that the general public has a giving heart, even in these dire economic times." ERIC SPARKS United Way co-chairman By Kimberly Gasuras Telegraph-Forum BUCYRUS The rising unemployment and slumping economy couldn't derail the generosity of the local citizenry this year. The Bucyrus Area United Way surpassed its goal of $180,000. "We are at $198,200. 1 am pleased to report that we have reached 110 percent of our goal," said Eric Sparks, the co-chairman, along with Cindy Snyder, of this year's campaign. "Of course, there are many good things about this.

It allows us to fund the allocations and promises that we made last May. "It also allows us to set aside monies for emergencies within our city that do not fall within the scope of the agencies we fund." Sparks attributes the campaign's success to numerous factors. "We can look to our many volunteers who took their time to distribute and collect our packets," he said. "We can look to the office personnel in the various companies who completed the forms. We can thank members of our participating agencies who helped get the in- formation out and worked to generate support for our cause.

We can see that there are men and women in management positions who truly believe in the United Way and send that message to their staff. "It is apparent that the general public has a giving heart even in these dire economic times." Catherine Cory, interim director of the Crawford County Chapter of the American Red Cross, knows the importance of the Bucyrus Area United Way and the people who contribute. "The United Way funding we receive is over 50 percent of our budget, so it's an essential part of the funding we receive to operate," Cory said. "We are extremely grateful to the United Way and those who contribute." TODAY'S WEATHER Cloudy, snow mostly in afternoon. Forecast 2A A Gannett newspaper Reach more than 149,000 readers with a classified ad.

On the Web, go to CentralOhioClassified.com, or call 419-524-3545 or 800-472-5547. i Obituaries Lottery Lights Sirens Weekly Planner Dear Abby 5.