Latest news with #WapakonetaPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wapakoneta Walmart celebrates 20 years
Apr. 11—WAPAKONETA — It all began in 2005 when Walmart, 1257 Bellefonatine Ave., Wapakoneta, opened its doors to the community. Two decades later, the store manager, employees and community celebrated a significant milestone during an event Friday at the store. "It means so much to me and to have all the associates that have been with us for 20 years and to be in this community," store manager Gerry Goulet said in an interview. Goulet began as a store manager in Lima and relocated multiple times, including to Cleveland and Mansfield, before finding his way back home. It all lined up for Goulet to return to his stomping grounds. "My wife's from Waynesfield, I graduated from Bath up in Lima, so it was a perfect fit for us to come back and be close with family again," Goulet said. Goulet's favorite part about his job is working with the associates. "We have 257 associates in the store right now and they're just good people to work with," he said. "They really do take care of each other." Wapakoneta Mayor Daniel Lee celebrated the many employees in attendance during Friday's celebration. "I'd like to thank you for all that you do for all your hard work," Lee said, "making sure the shelves are stacked and making sure the floors are clean." Lee's favorite memories of Walmart include the community showing up for Black Friday shopping. "It wasn't neccesairily about the deal; it was about the community," Lee said. "We need these third spaces that we can come together and see people." Throughout its two decades in operation, the Wapakoneta Walmart store has prioritized giving back to the community. "Just through grants, we've been able to give $175,000 (since opening)," Goulet said. Walmart has also participated in Fight Hunger by donating meals with the West Ohio Food Bank. "I can only go back 10 years, but we've been able to help donate 662,000 pounds of food. That's 57,000 meals," Goulet said. The store also announced a $3,000 donation to the Wapakoneta Police Department for its annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351 Featured Local Savings
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Wapak man who suffered stroke while driving to serve jail time
Mar. 14—WAPAKONETA — A 71-year-old Wapakoneta man who caused a fatal car crash when he suffered a stroke while driving last February will spend seven days in jail. David H. Lavallee pleaded no contest to a single count of vehicular manslaughter, a second-degree misdemeanor, in Auglaize County Municipal Court Friday for his role in causing a five-car crash that killed Joseph Ingram. Prosecutors dismissed one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor, in exchange for Lavallee's no contest plea. Defense attorney Rafael Villegas called it a "complicated" and "tragic" situation as he alleged his client suffered a stroke shortly before the crash. Assistant Prosecutor Laia Zink agreed the case is "difficult," but asked the court to "balance" those considerations against Ingram's death and Lavallee's speed at the time of the crash — nearly twice the posted speed limit. The five-car crash occurred on Bellefontaine Street in Wapakoneta at the Interstate 75 overpass on Feb. 26, 2024. A crash report from the Wapakoneta Police Department alleges Lavallee was traveling westbound on Bellefontaine Street when his 2008 Cadillac sideswiped another vehicle. Lavallee reportedly then failed to stop for a traffic signal at the intersection of Bellefontaine Street and Apollo Drive, striking the rear of a vehicle driven by Joseph Ingram, who succumbed to his injuries. Ingram's vehicle pushed into the rear of another vehicle, which in turn struck another car. Lavallee suffered no injuries, but his wife and an occupant from another vehicle were transported to local hospitals. Tricia Lavallee told the court she unbuckled her seatbelt and tried to turn off the car's engine when she noticed her husband unconscious behind the wheel, but Lavallee's foot was on the accelerator. Lavallee is "incredibly remorseful," Villegas said as he asked the court to sentence Lavallee to house arrest in lieu of jail so Lavallee can monitor his health and watch after his wife, who broke both her arms and legs in the crash and now struggles to sit or walk. Zink reduced her sentencing recommendation from 30 days to one week of jail time followed by house arrest at the request of Ingram's family. She asked the court to suspend Lavallee's license for one year as well. Judge Andrew Augsburger called the case a "tremendous tragedy," but said he could not ignore Lavallee's speed — almost double the posted speed limit at the time of the crash. "I have to look at all of the facts," he said. Augsburger sentenced Lavallee to seven days in the Auglaize County Correctional Institution followed by three weeks of house arrest and one year of unsupervised community control. Lavallee's sentence includes a 90-day suspended jail term if he violates probation, as well as a $250 fine and one-year suspension of his driver's license. A civil lawsuit is pending to determine Lavallee's restitution to Ingram's family. Featured Local Savings
