Vandalism at pub leads to arrest

MacDiggers, whose owner claims has been the targets of repeated vandalism, fought back with video surveillance that led to criminal charges.

Robert Willis, 67, is accused of spraying bug spray on a vehicle at the pub, 29 E. Franklin St., according to court documents. He’s charged with two counts of criminal mischief and a single count of criminal trespassing, court records show.

“We found it on video,” said Scott Leen, owner of MacDigger’s.

Leen said the incident happened two weeks ago and was the last straw in what he called repeated vandalism at his establishment. Willis was previously trespassed from the bar’s property Sept. 28, court records shows.

Leen also suspects Willis may have been involved in other vandalism at the business, but no charges have been filed in those cases.

Willis has been a customer at Leen’s bar since Leen’s family became owners in 1991, Leen said. Staff Writers

Lebanon teachers LEBANON — have a new contract that includes $1.9 million in raises over two years, making them the last local teachers union to resolve their expired contract from last year, according to union officials.

The Lebanon Board of Education approved the new agreement this week, retroactive to July 1, including combined raises of 5.25 percent over two years for the district’s 300-plus teachers.

Superintendent Todd Yohey called it “a very fair and responsible contract.”

The agreement calls for the teachers to get extra pay retroactive to the beginning of the current school year “by the first checks in December 2018.”

For the teachers, each 1 percent of salary and associated benefits is projected to cost the district $231,000, according to Sotzing. So the district expects $693,000 in salary and benefits expenses this school year, slightly more than $1.2 million in 2019-2020.

It was signed by school officials and union representatives on Oct. 16 and approved by local teachers on Oct. 23.

The teachers are to get a 3 percent base pay increase this year and a 2.25 percent raise in 2019-2020. The district would switch to a calendar of 24 paychecks beginning in 2019-2020. New teachers would get 25 paychecks in their first year and 24 in subsequent years.

Treasurer Eric Sotzing said the reduction from 26 annual payments simplified work for the treasurer’s office and in planning, and followed a trend for school districts area-wide.

Both sides agreed to withdraw unfair labor practice filings with the National Labor Relations Board and supplemental contract terms were part of the agreement.

The district is still negotiating with non-teaching workers, according to Sotzing.

This year teachers unions across the region pursued new contracts. The contracts typically run for two or three years and expire on June 30.

Many districts, including Springboro, avoided labor issues by reaching settlements before the school year began in August. The Springboro teachers agreed to 2 percent raises in each of the next two years, while secretaries, bus drivers, aides and other classified employees were to get 2.25 percent over the same period.