WMOA News

Property Taxes Due; Caldwell Sailor Dies; Marietta Crash Blamed on Drunk Driver

Posted on: 03/01/2013

Local News Briefs:

Washington County Treasurer Dorothy Peppel wishes to remind property owners that first half 2012 real estate taxes and 2013 mobile home taxes are due no later than 5:00 p.m. today, March 1.

A Postal Service postmark of today is acceptable. Peppel says there’s a 5 percent penalty effective for the first 10 days after the due date, and a 10 percent penalty thereafter.

For more information, call the Treasurer’s office at (740) 373-6623 extension 256.

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A Navy diver from Noble County died this week in a training accident at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. The Navy says Diver First Class James Reyher, age 28, of Caldwell, died along with a colleague from Missouri during routine diving operations. The facility has been closed until an accident investigation is completed.

The men belonged to an elite diving unit that has taken part in major operations around the world, including the salvage of space shuttles and airliners, as well as recovery missions in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

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Traffic was snarled at Marietta’s busiest intersection late Thursday afternoon, and the driver who allegedly caused the crash was arrested.

Police Captain Jeff Waite says officers responded to a five-vehicle traffic crash at Pike and Acme streets at 5:42 p.m. They arrested 58-year-old David Schafer of Victory Place for operating a vehicle while under the influence (OVI) and failure to yield when turning left.

Waite says Schafer’s blood alcohol tested 0.14; the legal limit is 0.08. Schafer allegedly admitted to officers that he drank several beers on top of prescription pain medication. He was released to a friend, pending a court appearance.

The fire department dispatched an engine and rescue squad to the wreck, based upon initial reports of injuries, but they quickly determined that nobody was hurt in the pile-up.