subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Thu, Nov 26 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


TRACY BIDWELL of Kingsville Township puts up balloons in preparation for a rally in support of Fire Chief Chip Laugen who is under suspension with pay.
WARREN DILLAWAY


Published October 05, 2008 11:03 pm - Jennifer Swiger has seen tragedy and tears.

Many firefighters to quit if Kingsville chief fired
Gazebo scene of rally for Chip Laugen

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

KINGSVILLE TOWNSHIP — Jennifer Swiger has seen tragedy and tears.

In her 15 years as a firefighter and paramedic, Swiger has delivered more bad news to people than she cares to remember. On Sunday, Swiger was experiencing what she called, “a tragedy in my fire family.”

A crisp breeze blew the first colorful leaves across the gazebo in Kingsville Township Sunday as Swiger, a former firefighter and paramedic for the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Department, spoke to 40 supporters of Fire Chief Chip Laugen.

Swiger, who is Laugen’s niece, resigned in support of her uncle.

Laugen remains on paid administrative leave until 14 allegations are investigated including charges of inadequate maintenance of fire apparatus, personal use of department equipment, misuse of payroll, allowing drinking in the fire department, and yelling profanities at employees.

“We are a family in that building and they are trying to tear us apart,” Swiger said.

The public will have the opportunity to provide testimony for and against Laugen Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Hall.

Fire department auxiliary member Tom Burris said Laugen’s supporters hoped to convince residents to attend the meeting.

Firefighter and emergency medical technician Mary Martin Stouffer said more than half of the department’s roster will resign if Laugen is not reinstated.

“We are here to show the cohesiveness of our brotherhood,” Stouffer said. “I can’t imagine who will lead this department if Chip isn’t reinstated. I want to make this clear: We are not making threats. We just don’t know how our department will run without (Laugen).”

Stouffer said she feels the charges, which were made by a fellow firefighter, are, “an act of retaliation after disciplinary action.”

“All of these allegations are issues that should have been brought up in our department meetings. The complaints were months or even years old and they should have been brought up at the time they happened,” she said.

Assistant Chief of EMS Angie Cliff was reinstated Sept. 21 after she was placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation. Investigators found there were no basis for the allegations against her.

Burris said the township needs its fire department as a whole.

At the advice of his attorney, Laugen didn’t attend the rally but sent a letter to be read to the crowd.



print this story    email this story   






autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

PREMIUM JOBS

MDS COORDINATOR
MDS Coordinator
Experienced long term care RN with supervisory skills to direct MDS and electronic documentation pr
...>MORE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Eastern Ohio P-16 Partnership
The P-16 Partnership, a new program to foster postsecondary success and career readin
...>MORE

APARTMENT MANAGERS

Mature Couple
Experienced. To live in nice newer Northeast Ohio Complex. Good personality for leasing. Free r
...>MORE

Mechanic
Muscle Cars Light Mechanic,
detail, PT, Geneva (440)466-1011
...>MORE

Assembly & Press Operators
For Girard, PA.
Plastics Manufacturer
15 openings. (814)833-6722
...>MORE

CLERICAL
Collections $12-15/hr
Customer Service $10-15/hr
Office Asst $10-1
...>MORE

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

WEK Industries is looking for an experienced maintenance tech with a background in machine controls, industrial el
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM AUTOS

1999 Chevrolet Conversion Van
106k, nice shape $4500 obo. (440)951-9705...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM HOMES

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE
Oakwood MHP East Side Ash. Buckeye Schools. Starting $350/mo. Rent to Own Available.
Call Stacy 440-812-2404
...>MORE

RENT TO OWN
Geneva very nice, very large
3BR, new carpets & much more $250/mo. Credit problems ok. 440-673-1955
...>MORE

Kingsville Home for Sale
3-4BR/2ba Home for Sale;
2.25 ac., 2.5 car gar., 2bay carport,
shed, $85,000; Will consider land contract....>MORE

OPEN HOUSE
Sundays 11/22 & 11/29
2pm-5pm, 2114 E. 42nd St. 2BR/1ba Ranch, full bsmt,
2 car det. gar. $79,300. (440)812-
...>MORE

Ashtabula House for Sale
3BR home “as is” $25,000 obo
Call M-F 9-5, Ash. 440-992-9582
...>MORE

House for Rent
Highly Efficient remodeled East side 2BR 1BA laundry area $550+sec. 440-992-9120 ...>MORE

Mobile Home for Sale
1967 Globemaster 14x70
decent condition $1,000, new furnace
440-466-7885
...>MORE

OWNER FINANCING
Ashtabula 2BR, 1BA, C/A, vinyl siding, new roof, carpet, plumbing & paint $30,000. 10% down & $324.05/mo. 5312 Madison A...>MORE

2008 Mobile Home for Sale
2BR 2BA Like New,
Owner Financing Avail. No Dogs. Driftwood Acres 440-466-7777
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM EXTRAS

Cemetery Lots
2-lots Garden of Christus, Greenlawn.
$400/both. 440-391-3795
...>MORE

LAWN & GARDEN
9hp Craftsman 2 stage snow blower 29” path elec. start $650; Torro 5hp 2 stage snowblower elec. start $300; John Deer tr...>MORE

WANTED TO BUY
Immediate Cash for unwanted items.
Call for details 440-319-4274
...>MORE

MACHINERY & TOOLS
SAFES- Large & small, Forklifts, extra forks, Pallet Jacks, air compressors, (1-20HP), complete torch sets, welding gass...>MORE

SEASONED FIREWOOD FOR SALE
Mixed Hardwoods. Cut & split approx 16” $225.00 cord (+) or Slab wood, cut $150.00 cord(+). Delivered within 15 miles of...>MORE

BUYING JUNK VEHICLES
WE PAY SCRAP OR BETTER
Budget Auto Parts,
6015 Woodman Ave. 992-1111
...>MORE

"WE NEED LAND!"
Paying top prices for farms or acreage in OH, W. Virginia and PA. Call Bruner Land Co. at (740) 685-8138....>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM RENTALS


Fully furnished efficiencies $185 & up + tax. (440)992-8527...>MORE

Unfurnished Apartments in Ashtabula
Ash 2BR up, appl, heat incl, $450+sec.
Also Ash lg 2BR up, appl incl. E.6th $400+sec (440)224-2368
...>MORE

Houses for Rent
4 Possibe 5BR 2BA avail. 12/15 $800; 3BR 1BA $675. Rent incl. sewer. (440)992-0163/ 228-3619...>MORE

Geneva Duplex
Geneva 3BR/2BA dplx $575/mo
350 W. Main St. (440)478-9343
...>MORE

Remodeled Apartment in Ashtabula
Ash. Remodeled 2BR/1.5bath laundry $350 +dep. Some utils.pd. OPEN: 1-4 Fri./Sat. 519 W. 38th or call for an appt. (440)...>MORE

Apartments for Rent
2BR Jefferson/Rome/Orwell Heat furn. No pets. (440)563-5952...>MORE

Apartment for Rent
Avail Again! After 22 years. 2 room effic. $300+elect. & refs. Call 440-964-3483...>MORE

PLEASANT VIEW ESTATES, CONNEAUT
1BR suite Maple Ave, Conn, nicely decor, priv patio, quiet area near hospital, on site laundry, spacious parking, stove/...>MORE

Orwell House for Rent
Orwell nice 3BR, newer, clean, ranch dplx
$545/mo. 440-364-8130
...>MORE

Conneaut Apartment
Conn 3 BR up w/deck $600/mo
AC all utl pd.  Ref/sec. 812-5547
...>MORE

See all ads



 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index