The President then gave a personal shout-out at Chrysler's Jefferson North plant to William Shanteau of Curtice in northwest Ohio, who bought that winning ticket for himself and his coworkers at the plant.

Before recognizing the lucky lottery winners - Mr. Shanteau wasn't fortunate enough to be in the crowd - President Obama touted his $60 billion bailout of the auto industry as a success, exemplified by the U.S. automakers' recent economic growth and job creation.

"I placed that faith in you and all of America's autoworkers, and you've vindicated that belief," he told more than 1,500 employees at the plant, who raised cameras, cell phones, and cheers as the President took the stage in the middle of the floor.

The two other options the administration considered two years ago - giving federal assistance without asking for changes or letting the automakers flounder - would have resulted in 1 million jobs lost, a huge blow to the economy, he said.

The industry has improved since Chrysler and GM were nearly liquidated in 2008.

The auto industry has added 55,000 jobs in the year since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, making it the strongest year of job growth in the industry since 1999. White House officials estimate that Detroit automakers could add 11,000 jobs before the end of this year.

President Obama said it was the first time since 2004 that the automakers were operating at a profit.

Chrysler Group reported a $143 million operating profit for the first quarter of this year, after receiving $15 billion in federal assistance. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne announced yesterday the addition of nearly 900 jobs at a plant in Sterling Heights, Mich., which was designated to close in 2012.

President Obama's visit took place on the same day it was announced that the nation's economy grew at a 2.4 percent rate in the second quarter. The President said the auto industry and the nation still have a long way to go completely recover.

After taking a tour of the Chrysler plant and greeting workers, the President made a similar visit to a General Motors plant in Hamtramck, Mich., one of nine plants kept open during a scheduled summer production shutdown.

There he buckled himself into a battery-powered Chevrolet Volt and drove it about 10 feet, then called it a "nice ride" and one of the "cars of the future." Manufacturing fuel-efficient technology, such as battery-powered cars in the United States would create more jobs and further stimulate the economy while reducing the dependence on foreign oil, he said.

At each plant, he signed his name in permanent marker on the hood of a vehicle.

Despite the bailout's success, many in Washington originally were not on board with his plan to assist the industry, the President noted. The audience loudly booed as he described the "just say no" crowd who thought the idea would result in failure and who would have to retract those statements if they could see the plants themselves.

Unlike those "naysayers," Mr. Obama promised he would "bet on the American worker any day of the week."

The American workers who formed his audience in Detroit were eager to show their gratitude and excitement. During the two-hour wait before the President finally took the stage after noon, the workers organized several waves from one side of the floor to the other.

Many wore shirts that emphasized their patriotism and support for the President.

Angel Gomez, an employee from Detroit, said his hands were shaking and sweating from excitement throughout the whole speech.

Without the bailout, Mr. Gomez, 47, said he would have "been living with a relative or been homeless."

The President is expected to visit Columbus Aug. 18 to give a public speech about the economy and participate in a fund-raiser for Governor Ted Strickland and the Ohio Democratic Party.

Information from The Blade's news services was used in this report.

Contact Aliyya Swaby at:
Aswaby@theblade.com or 419-724-6050

While it sounds like the cast of a children's movie, the situation was much more dire for these animals, just seven of 46 that the Wood County Humane Society rescued from unsuitable living conditions this week.

The organization acquired the collection of animals, which included dogs, cats, horses, and pigs, in three incidents across the county. In two situations, the owners surrendered their animals. But the third case, which included 34 animals, will be challenged in court. Their owner, Bowling Green resident James Southwick, 51, was charged with cruelty and neglect.

The humane society had received seven complaints since April regarding Mr. Southwick's 18004 Haskins Rd. home; callers cited horses that were covered in excrement and confined to just one, small stall.

But when the organization's employees, accompanied by law enforcement, approached the home on Sunday, they came away with more than they had anticipated: Along with four horses, Mr. Southwick kept nine dogs, eight cats, three guinea fowl, two roosters, two pigs, and one each of a mule, hen, raccoon, turtle, and tropical fish.

The animals are being housed at the humane society facilities at 801 Van Camp Rd. and at foster homes. Mr. Southwick's pretrial hearing was Monday, and his next court appearance is scheduled Aug. 11.

The society responded to two more complaints Tuesday, rescuing seven dogs, a cat, and a parrot from a mobile home in Friendly

Village east of Perrysburg, as well as three horses from a home in Walbridge. The owners' names in those cases are not public record.

In the Perrysburg case, humane society cruelty investigator Erin McKibben said the environment wasn't suitable for humans.

The humane society, in conjunction with the health department, is working with the owners to make their home safe for humans and animals.

There is a chance that the animals, which were suffering from fleas, tooth decay, and skin conditions, could be returned to their original owners if conditions improve.

"A lot needs to be removed," she said. "They have a lot of cleaning to do."

Ms. McKibben said that while people may have a choice to live in an unsanitary, unsafe environment, animals do not.

"I'm not certain what goes through the mind of the owner," she said, adding that, while the Friendly Village residents did not voluntarily give up their animals, she believes they were aware the conditions were unappealing.

Of the three horses rescued in Walbridge, Ms. McKibben said one was in good condition.

The other two, a mare and a colt named Vandy and Shey, respectively, had been living in dirty and wet conditions, were underweight, and suffered from health issues, including hoof decay and dental problems that prevented them from eating properly.

Ms. McKibben stood with the three horses, which are being housed at Faith View Farm in Pemberville, yesterday afternoon.

Vandy has a medicated pad wrapped around one of her hooves to help with the pain of an abscess in the bone.

Shey is a beautiful cream-colored horse, but his ribs and spine were visible throughout his torso.

"You shouldn't be able to see any ribs," Ms. McKibben said. "The spine should not be this prominent."

But the horses seemed calm, and Jan Wilcox, who owns the farm, said they have been doing well.

"They seem to be in pretty good spirits," said Ms. Wilcox, 59.

She added that the three horses are eating well. Ms. Wilcox has three horses of her own on the farm, and cares for seven other horses whose owners don't have barns of their own. She said it can cost up to $150 per week to properly care for a horse, a bill the Wood County Humane Society is, in some part, footing.

But Ms. Wilcox said she does not mind the extra expense.

"I care about the animals," she said.

Ms. McKibben said she gets up to five calls reporting animal cruelty every day. She said this has been the busiest week she has experienced in her year as an investigator for the county's humane society.

But 46 animals is certainly not the most that this society has seized in such a short time period.

In February, 2008, the society confiscated 126 animals - 107 dogs, 17 cats, and two birds - from two owners who, while well-meaning, had become unable to properly care for the many strays that had accumulated at their Perrysburg Township home.

Kay Chapman, executive vice president of the board, said 179 ponies were seized from an area ranch "sometime in the 1990s."

Nevertheless, the expense of caring for the newest additions is sizeable, and Ms. McKibben said people can help the agency by donating money, which will help pay for feed, medical expenses, and other miscellaneous costs.

She added that, even though the economy is not necessarily ripe for adopting animals, she hopes people will want to help these animals in need.

"It takes a kind heart," she said. "But I think there's plenty of that around here."

Contact Greta Stetson at:
gstetson@theblade.com or 419-724-6050.

The $64 million, I-475 widening and modernization project in West Toledo gets under way this weekend, and already there's a schedule change, one that slightly helps drivers who enter eastbound I-475 at Monroe Street.

The eastbound entrance at Monroe now is scheduled to close Wednesday night, rather than Monday, the Ohio Department of Transportation said Friday. The ramp will be closed for more than two years while E.S. Wagner Co. of Oregon rebuilds I-475 between Rushland Avenue and I-75.

Dignitaries broke ground for the project yesterday morning near the Central Avenue eastbound freeway entrance, which will close during the second half of August, to be replaced by an entrance from a new ProMedica Parkway interchange.

Speakers cited several major benefits from the project that include improved access to nearby parts of West Toledo, construction jobs, and - in the longer term - replacement of single-lane, bottleneck ramps at I-75 with two-lane ramps.

"This is so important, to show some positive energy," Mayor Mike Bell said. "It allows for more economic development inside our city. Projects like this take us to the forefront of where we need to be going."

"Time is money, and access is important," said state Rep. Matt Szollosi (D., Oregon), adding that the interchange project could be central to a jobs announcement he expects soon. He did not elaborate.

Lucas County commissioner Pete Gerken said the rebuilding of the I-75/I-475 junction had been on area drawing boards since mid-1990.

"It's been a long time coming. For 1,000 days, this is going to be a pain in the [rear]," Mr. Gerken said.

But the jobs and resulting highway improvement will be worth the inconvenience when it's all done, he said.

Through late 2013, E.S. Wagner and its subcontractors will rebuild I-475 between Rushland, just west of Douglas Road, and I-75, including a new flyover ramp to northbound I-75 from eastbound I-475, a wider ramp from southbound I-75 to westbound I-475, and the new ProMedica Parkway interchange to replace a hodgepodge of ramps at Central and Upton avenues and Jackman Road.

"This is going to be a tremendously improved access for us," said Barbara Petee, the chief government relations officer for ProMedica. "Especially for our Emergency Center, it's very critical to have easy access."

The biggest inconvenience will affect motorists trying to enter eastbound I-475 east of Secor Road.

For at least 10 months starting late this fall, and possibly more than a year, all eastbound entrances east of Secor will be closed for the construction.

Wagner crews were on parts of the site clearing trees for the future ProMedica Parkway, an extension of the former Oatis Avenue that will arc from Central to Upton avenues through a vacated neighborhood south of the former DeVilbiss High School.

Starting tomorrow night, the contractor plans to close the left lane of westbound I-475 between I-75 and Douglas Road to pave over rumble strips in the shoulder and paint lane stripes for a traffic shift needed for construction.

Similar work will begin on the eastbound side after Monroe on Wednesday evening, which is why the Monroe entrance will close. The Monroe exit from westbound I-475 will not be affected by the project.

Some nighttime lane closings are also likely on I-75 between Detroit and Berdan avenues during the project's set-up.

Project officials said it will be two to three weeks before construction gets into full swing. When that happens, Sherbrooke Road will close at I-475, the eastbound freeway entrance at Central/Upton will close, and the I-475 ramps in the Jeep-Willys interchange will close. At least two lanes of traffic will be maintained each way on I-475 except between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

ODOT expects most major work to be done by late 2012, but the contractor has until 2013 to finish up, including final paving, bridge painting, and landscaping.

The widened ramps linking I-475 with I-75 north of the two freeways' junction won't be used to full capacity, however, until ODOT widens I-75 through the area, a project for which funding remains to be assigned.

John Wagner, the vice president of E.S. Wagner, said two shifts will work on many days, and construction will be scheduled for Monday through Friday with Saturday as a make-up day for bad weather.

While scheduling Sunday work could speed up the project, Mr. Wagner said, "it's almost impossible to get materials delivered on Sundays."

Sean Wade, the company's project manager, said it's "good for workers to have a day of rest," because otherwise mistakes and accidents increase.

Contact David Patch at:
dpatch@theblade.com or 419-724-6094.

This week, the girl's mother said their family was shocked to learn evidence that put Gould in prison for life was determined to be illegally obtained.

Described as a "friend of the family," Gould was found guilty Sept. 11, 2008, of two counts of rape, one count of gross sexual imposition, six counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, and five counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

He was sentenced in October, 2008, to two life sentences for rape and an additional 13 1/4 years and for child pornography.

"She remembers going to court for Dennis, she knew that Dennis was in prison for bad things, but she didn't exactly know everything," said the mother of the victim, who is now 15. "We decided it was in her best interest to let her know about what was going on and what happened, and to give her the family support she needed and counseling she needs."

Gould was convicted after a three-day trial of possessing images of child pornography on a hard drive his mother gave to police. Also found on the hard drive were photos of Gould engaging in sex acts with the victim.

The Sixth District Court of Appeals reversed Gould's conviction when it determined the hard drive was not "abandoned property" and the images had been illegally searched. This week, the prosecutor's office filed a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Filed this week was a motion asking that the appellate court's ruling be put on hold pending the appeal. If granted, the motion would mean Gould would stay in prison pending the outcome.

During his trial, his mother testified that she gave a hard drive to police in 2006 because she said she was concerned about its contents. His court-appointed attorney filed a motion to suppress, but the trial court ruled the hard drive was "abandoned property."

The appellate court disagreed. Attorney Deborah Rump said while the crimes involved are unpleasant, the issue is about the nature of the investigation. "There really is no such thing as a technicality," she said. "It really is something egregious that would get the Court of Appeals to overturn on a suppression hearing."

The stop is part of an Ohio tour for Ms. Gibbs and members of her Center for Health, Environment and Justice group in northern Virginia that she founded after being among the Love Canal evacuees.

"People are willing to get involved. They just don't know how to do it," Ms. Gibbs told a group of 20 people at the Needmor Fund on South St. Clair Street.

She recalled the events that led her, at age 27, to give up a comfortable suburban life in an "American-dream community" for a decades-long fight of what she perceives as injustices across the national landscape, many of them pollution-related.

The same woman who admittedly became a government agitator was feted by Lucas County commissioners with a proclamation for "effective grass-roots environmental activism." It was presented to Ms. Gibbs by Lucas County Administrator Peter Ujvagi, who said he has admired her tenacity.

Love Canal was a planned community in eastern Niagara Falls where dozens of homes and a school were built in the late 1950s after the city had purchased the land from the Hooker Chemical Co. for $1 in 1953.

Myriad health problems, including birth defects and miscarriages, occurred because the homes were built too close to a canal that had been turned into a municipal and chemical dump. It leaked hazardous industrial chemicals, including cancer-causing benzene, resulting in an evacuation of dozens of families. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on its Web site calls it "one of the most appalling environmental tragedies in American history."

The Love Canal saga also led to congressional passage of the U.S. EPA's Superfund Act. That law is intended to make polluters pay for their messes even if that means reimbursing the government over many years. Sites designated for cleanup under the Superfund Act are considered many of the nation's worst toxic dumps.

Ms. Gibbs has visited Ohio on other occasions, including a rally she led in the late 1990s when residents of Marion, Ohio, raised questions about the leukemia cluster at the former River Valley Middle School complex. It eventually was replaced.

She is an aficionado of Toledo politics, occasionally checking in on the career of former Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner. She has been in the area for various functions in recent years, including a three-day visit in 2007 in which she stopped off at Warren AME Church, visited residents of Wauseon, delivered a lecture at Maumee Valley Country Day School, met with some people in Toledo's central city, and visited residents of Harbor View, the town near Oregon that claims to be Ohio's smallest village.

The fund-raiser she attended yesterday was for her center and an offshoot of it, called Ohioans for Health, Environment and Justice.

Contact Tom Henry at:
thenry@theblade.com or 419-724-6079.

This week, the girl's mother said their family was shocked to learn evidence that put Gould in prison for life was determined to be obtained illegally.

Described as a "friend of the family," Gould was found guilty Sept. 11, 2008, of two counts of rape, one count of gross sexual imposition, six counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, and five counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

He was sentenced in October, 2008, to two life sentences for rape and an additional 13 1/4 years for child pornography.

"She remembers going to court for Dennis, she knew that Dennis was in prison for bad things, but she didn't exactly know everything," said the mother of the victim, who is now 15. "We decided it was in her best interest to let her know about what was going on and what happened, and to give her the family support she needed and counseling she needs."

Gould was convicted after a three-day trial of possessing images of child pornography on a hard drive his mother gave to police. Also found on the hard drive were photos of Gould engaging in sex acts with the victim.

The Sixth District Court of Appeals reversed Gould's conviction when it determined the hard drive was not "abandoned property" and the images had been illegally searched. This week, the prosecutor's office filed a notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Filed this week was a motion asking that the appellate court's ruling be put on hold pending the appeal. If granted, the motion would mean Gould would stay in prison pending the outcome.

During his trial, his mother testified that she gave a hard drive to police in 2006 because she said she was concerned about its contents. His court-appointed attorney filed a motion to suppress, but the trial court ruled the hard drive was "abandoned property."

The appellate court disagreed. Attorney Deborah Rump said while the crimes involved are unpleasant, the issue is about the nature of the investigation. "There really is no such thing as a technicality," she said. "It really is something egregious that would get the Court of Appeals to overturn on a suppression hearing."