PROFILE 2019 • THE TRIBUNE

Profile 2 0 1 9

Citizen of the

Year

Braylon Lewis

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PROFILE 2019

Table of Contents 8

46 26

20

10

14

30

54

Business Honor Roll.............................. 4

Bringing Opportunity...........................34

Citizen of the Year................................ 6

Church Directory................................. 40

Katimali’s: The Next Phase................... 8

Beating the Odds................................ 42

Cutting Edge.........................................10

On the Forefront.................................. 46

Ro-Na: Moving Forward....................... 14

Moving Forward.................................. 50

Showcasing Talent.............................. 20

Dedicated to the Job........................... 54

Reaching New Heights........................ 26

Helping Schools Work......................... 60

Heart of a Community........................ 30

Index of Advertisers............................ 62

5

Citizen

6 PROFILE 2019

Year

of the

Ironton Elementary student Braylon Lewis recognized for act of bravery STORY, PHOTOS MARK SHAFFER

B

raylon Lewis is just nine years old. But that didn’t stop him from having the bravery of a full-grown man and becoming one of the youngest Lawrence County citizens to get a proclamation from the Lawrence County Commissioners.

Lewis was at an Ironton High School home football game in September when he saw a situation he knew was just wrong.

The Ironton Elementary student was playing with his friends when he saw a man yelling at a woman in Tiger Alley, behind the stadium seats.

“This teenage boy was banging her against the wall and slapping her,” Lewis said. “People were walking by and not doing anything. It made me really mad. I saw it and went to get a

sheriff, like I was taught to do.”

He told himself that he was going to do what was right, saying “And I was confident that the girl would be so happy and live on with a happy life. I wasn’t scared at all.”

Lewis ran to get a uniformed deputy, who was on duty to provide security for the football game and told him what was happening.

The deputy kicked everyone out of Tiger Alley.

The teenage boy ran off.

Lewis said the woman thanked him.

“She was crying,” the boy said.

Braylon Lewis

PROFILE 2019

7

His mother, Beth Bell, said after the incident, Lewis ran up and told her the story of what happened.

“I was speechless,” she said. “It just warmed my heart. I am very proud of him. He did it because he knew it was right, not because he thought he was going to get a bunch of attention.

Bell, a shelter advocate with the Lawrence County Domestic Violence Task Force, said she taught her son to be aware of his surroundings and that you don’t put your hands on other people and you don’t let them do the same to you.

“He knows it is not acceptable and that if he ever saw it, or if it happened to him, to go get help,” she said. “And he listened and I was very proud of him. He recognized that it wasn’t healthy.”

Lewis did get attention for this actions.

In October, Lewis was recognized at Lawrence County Domestic Violence Task Force’s 10th annual Domestic Violence Awareness Program at Ohio University Southern.

The Lawrence County Commission issued a proclamation for his bravery in helping the woman in need.

Bell said

“

It just warmed my heart, I am very proud of him. He did it because he knew it was right, not because he thought he was going to get a bunch of attention.

that the commissioners heard about Lewis’ actions after she posted on Facebook about how proud she was and that she couldn’t believe he actually took her advice.

“Commissioner DeAnna Holliday saw it and texted me and asked what his address was because she wanted to send him a thank you letter,” Bell said. Then, Lewis sent Holliday a video thanking her for the letter.

“She said that the letter didn’t seem to be enough and that he was weighing on her mind and the mind of all the commissioners. And that’s when they decided to give him the proclamation.”

Lewis said he was a little nervewracked to get up in front of all the people in the Bowman Auditorium at the Domestic Violence Awareness Program.

“I was kind of nervous talking in front of the commissioners but the

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other people, it was like talking in front of family members,” he said.

“I’m not that nervous talking in front of people.”

And WSAZ-TV made Lewis their “Hometown Hero” on Oct. 26 for stopping the violent situation. He said he thought it was pretty neat to be on TV. “I thought I would never be on TV, so it was a dream come true,” he said, adding that after the story ran, he went to his music class. “One of the

music teachers came up to me and said ‘This kid right here, he was on TV because he did such a good thing.’”

He said it was kind of embarrassing and kind of cool because everyone started clapping for him.

When asked if he would do the same thing again if he saw a similar situation, Lewis said, “Yes. Because it looks wrong that someone would beat up another person. And I was just doing what I was taught by my mom.” a

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The next phase Italian bistro to offer alcohol sales with food STORY, PHOTOS HEATH HARRISON

I

t’s been two and a half years since Jim and Kathy Lundy opened Katimali’s in Proctorville.

The restaurant, located at 97 State St., specializes in dishes baked in a wood-fired oven.

The centerpiece of their menu is pizzas, with the restaurant offering standard and specialty gourmet pies, as well as sandwiches and salads with homemade dressing.

Jim said business has been good, with the restaurant opening strong, followed by the expected dropoff as the newness faded, but then rebounding into a steady customer base.

“We have a lot of regular customers,” Kathy said. “And lately, we’ve been really busy.”

The Lundys, village residents who have also owned and operated Specialty Systems Electric for 35 years, gutted the building, the site of a former Mexican restaurant and a Subway, and renovated it after purchasing.

The stove, which was purchased in pieces and then assembled, gives them the opportunity to offer something to the village, other than traditional fast food.

PROFILE 2019

9

The restaurant’s name is made from a combination of the couple’s names, as well as the word “Italian,” which is the overall flavor of the bistro’s offerings.

Kathy said they have expanded their menu since opening.

“We have new pastas, pizzas, desserts, appetizers and soup,” she said of the menu, on which many of the items are named for family members.

In warm weather, the building has an outside patio and the Lundys said they are planning a build-out of the location, doubling its indoor seating with an additional room. They said the banquet space will allow them to host parties.

In addition to dine-in, Katimali’s also offers pick-up for customers.

Kathy said they hope to expand their business hours. The restaurant is currently open from 4-9 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday.

But, most significantly, the Lundys are getting ready for the addition of alcohol to their menu. The business

was approved by Proctorville voters last fall for the sale of drinks.

“There will be a two-drink limit, and they can only buy a drink with food,” Jim said.

Kathy said they had to clear up any misconception people may have had that they were hoping to operate a bar.

“They can’t just come in and drink,” she said. “They have to order food.”

“And no alcohol will be allowed outside the premises,” Jim said.

They said, in preparation for the sales, the location’s staff of 15 will all be properly trained in accordance with state law.

Jim said the village was declared a dry area several decades ago, when the governor stepped in, and they are, as far as he knows, the first to sell alcohol there since the 1940s.

“We’re really excited that people had enough confidence and trust to allow us to do this,” he said.

For more information on the restaurant, visit www.katimalis.com. a

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Cutting Edge Waller keeps technology at forefront of education STORY, PHOTOS DUSTIN MELCHIOR

C

OAL GROVE — Dawson-Bryant is one of the leading districts in Lawrence County when it comes to technology, largely in part because of high school computer tech instructor Tyler Waller, who said it is one of the most important things to know about in today’s day and age.

“I absolutely believe technology is an important part of education today. Students are spending more and more time dealing with technology daily, and if we aren’t preparing them to use it to benefit them, we are doing them a great disservice,” he said. “I feel like it is imperative that we prepare the students to be as well-rounded as possible when it comes to careers in the future. I’m passionate about letting students learn as much about as many topics in my classroom as possible. In my honest opinion, I believe we are rapidly approaching a time where specialization in one field will be a thing of the past. Employers will soon be looking for a candidate who can fill the duties of many positions adequately, as opposed to many people who are excellent at only one job. Having the ability to dive into many different career options

PROFILE 2019

11

also may help the student make a more informed decision about their future.”

Technology that Waller has available to his students right in his classroom includes a Shopbot Desktop MAX CNC router, a Boss 2436 100-watt laser cutter/engraver, a Makerbot replicator 2X 3D printer, a Newtek tri-caster mini live video broadcasting system, a Canon large format printer, a Jaguar IV 48” vinyl cutter/plotter, a plethora of video production equipment, such as HD video cameras, a green screen, lighting, microphones, tripods and a DJI Inspire 1 video drone, as well as 30 personal computers.

“I have been working hard the past few years to transform my technology lab into a ‘maker space’ for the students. I have a lot of support from the administration at Dawson-Bryant, and they trust my decisions when it comes to technology purchases, which has allowed me to acquire some

amazing technology,” he said. “I want to build a classroom where students can enjoy the learning process and can have a great amount of room for their imagination to run wild. I want them to be able to learn as many topics as they can before they leave high school, all to make it easier on them to succeed, no matter what they choose to do in life.”

In addition to Waller’s regular classes, he also began a STEM guitar-building program last year as an extracurricular for interested students.

“We are getting ready to get underway for year two, and I have learned a lot from the previous year that will allow it to continue to blossom. We had seven students complete the program last year and it was an outstanding success,” he said. “I had the opportunity to watch several students take an advanced topic like guitar building and expand it to learn the intricacies of building the instrument with STEM principles.”

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Through the program, students are asked to build their own guitar from scratch, and have to understand many topics, including geometry, trigonometry, two-dimensional design, physics and computer numerical control (CNC), just to name a few.

“They designed the body and neck of the guitar from scratch, and we encountered many obstacles along the way. The students quickly found ways around their barriers and wound up with seven playable guitars that, in my opinion, were works of art for their efforts,” Waller said. “We took topics that I had learned the previous summer through guitarbuilding.org’s summer institute and expanded upon their design to allow students to build the entire guitar. This is something that I have recently learned is a great accomplishment.

There are several thousand teachers employing the knowledge gained through the summer institute

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12 PROFILE 2019

across the nation to incorporate guitar building, but only a small amount of them are allowing students to design the neck as well. I’ll take that as a great accomplishment considering this was our pilot year.”

Waller added that one of his greatest returns from the program was that one of his students, Trevor Deere, was able to use the guitar he manufactured in the program as evidence to obtain an engineering scholarship to Otterbein University.

“Technology has evolved in a way that most people wouldn’t think of it for the STEM guitar building program. We are learning to pair new technologies with the old,” he said. “For example, we are requiring students to learn new technologies like CNC routing and three-dimensional design, but they also must understand how to combine that knowledge with the use of a piece of sand paper to complete the process. We have also recently purchased a few woodworking tools, as our campus does not have woodshop, that will allow us to broaden the horizons of the program to allow the manufacturing of acoustic instruments in the future.”

Waller said that what he he really enjoys the most, not only being a technology teacher, but being a teacher in general, is that he can see students succeed first-hand.

“In just four short years, I get to watch a student transition from a shy freshman, unsure they are even in the correct building to one of the proudest moments of their lives when they finally receive their diploma,” he said.

“I like the fact that, in my classroom, I can watch a student take an idea for a project and turn it into reality through hard work, determination and the use of technology. They can see real-world applications of the STEM topics they are learning at Dawson-Bryant and this, in turn, helps the student retain the information. They can not only understand the material, but they can also see where it’s applicable in their daily lives.” a

BUILDING momentum

Only Hospital in Tri-State to be Among the Top 5% in America!

Cabell Huntington Hospital (CHH) is the only hospital in West Virginia and the Tri-State region to be named to America’s 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades.

Healthgrades, the leading online resource for information about physicians and hospitals, released the recipients this week of the America’s 250 Best Hospitals Awards™— which represent the top hospitals in the nation. These hospitals demonstrate superior clinical outcomes across the majority of common inpatient

conditions and procedures and sustained this performance for at least five consecutive years. This award recognizes the top 5% of 5,000 hospitals in the nation for clinical excellence.

“I am proud of our entire team’s passion and dedication to the highest levels of patient care.

This is evident in their performance, commitment and excellence,” said Kevin

Fowler, president and CEO of CHH. “This award validates our hospital’s mission to provide quality outcomes and clinical excellence to those we are privileged to serve. It is another example of why Huntington, West Virginia is becoming the regional destination for quality healthcare.”

Not only do America’s Best Hospitals demonstrate superior clinical outcomes and sustained performance, they also prioritize collaboration across the organization.

For a complete listing of Healthgrades awards presented to Cabell Huntington Hospital, visit us on the web at www.cabellhuntington.org.

14 PROFILE 2019

PROFILE 2019

15

Moving T Forward Ro-Na has gone from movie house to community center

STORY, PHOTOS MARK SHAFFER

he Ro-Na Theater has had an interesting history.

It opened up in 1949, promoting not only that it had movies, but a logo promoted that it had air conditioning, which was not a common thing back in the day.

It was popular enough that it even had a restaurant. But, by 1973, the theater was closed down. Eventually, an auto parts store used the space until that too closed down in the mid 1990s.

When that went out, the building’s roof began to leak and that lead to the loss of the murals that generations of moviegoers remember so fondly.

In December 2007, following years of interest, Ironton City Council passed legislation to take ownership of the Ro-Na theater at the bequest of former owners Beverly Nance, Carol Jean Destocki and Rosemary Mitchell, in the hopes that it be used for commercial development or a performing arts center for Ohio

University Southern. It was officially deeded to the city in February 2008.

Rich Blankenship was mayor of Ironton when the city council took the deed for the Ro-Na. Now, vice mayor, he said there was a lot of conversation before the city accepted the deed.

“The council said they would accept the building as it was and it was not in great shape,” he said.

“They accepted it because it is such an icon here in the city of Ironton.

It was the last theater left and we thought it could be a focal point for revitalizing downtown.”

Katrina Keith, who once co-chaired the Ro-Na Restoration Committee and is now mayor of Ironton, said major changes took place since the city got possession of the old theater.

“I remember holes in the roof, gaping holes. Water dripped down the walls so all the plaster was coming off and we lost the murals,” she said. “To see the transformation was amazing. And a lot of work.”

1950

16 PROFILE 2019

2008

2018

In July 2008, members of the Ironton City Council began the cleanup of the theater by spending a whole Saturday hauling out decades of junk, including metal shelves, old paper records, auto parts, appliances and other items left in the building.

Then-councilman and now-Ironton Municipal Court Judge Kevin Waldo spent July 12, 2008, enthusiastically running a Bobcat through the main seating area where rows of seats once held moviegoers.

“It was one of my most enjoyable experiences,” he said at the time. “I’ve spent 28 years in an office trying to use my mind rather than my muscle. It felt good to get on heavy equipment and move stuff around. It was a lot of fun.”

The goal of the city’s purchase of the old theater was that it could be a focal point of renovating the whole of downtown Ironton.

Restoring the Ro-Na became a community project with money coming in from local businesses and fundraisers to cleanup the building, put on a new roof and restore the building.

Grassroots organization Friends of Ironton was formed and began the push to renovate the Ro-Na in 2009.

The Friends of Ironton have spent years fixing the building up. By 2011, the roof had been replaced and the walls had been stripped of plaster, but there were tours to help people see the potential of the restoration. And the Friends of Ironton began using the building

for events during the annual Rally on the River. There were film festivals, breakfasts with Santa and other events to raise money for the theater’s restoration.

One highlight came in May 2014 when, for the first time in decades, the neon lights of the Ro-Na shined over downtown Ironton again.

Keith said she was in awe of seeing the neon shine again.

“I took a second and I just stood there, taking it all in,” she said. “We worked very hard on it and the Friends of Ironton did such a good job. It literally lights up downtown.”

She said, since the restoration, the RoNa has been used on a monthly basis by various groups from Rally on the River, FTC Wrestling and has even been turned into the site of the first Wizardfest which celebrated the world of Harry Potter. In July 2014, the neon lights and marquee was ablaze as people came to the Ro-Na to see the premiere of Ironton native Mickey Fisher’s sci-fi television drama “Extant” on CBS. “It is so great to have so many events here in Ironton,” Keith said. “What an asset to our downtown.”

Blankenship said one of his favorite memories is seeing Pedro country singer Bobby Bare perform on the stage in 2014.

“It was a great night,” he said, adding that he got to play in the band that opened for Bare.

“It was a privilege. And it was a great night, not just for Ironton but Lawrence County.” a

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Showcasing Ashland Youth Ballet offers outlet for Tri-State dancers STORY, PHOTOS HEATH HARRISON

D

irector Maria Whaley says it was 30 years ago when organizers came together with the idea of starting the Ashland Youth Ballet.

“We first met in fall 1988 and talked about putting together a civic dance program for youth to build preprofessional skills,” she said.

Whaley said the group, which has a staff of 12 and tends to have about 45-60 dancers between the ages of eight and 20, had its first show in December 1989.

“We provide the Paramount with a resident company and do annual holiday shows like ‘The Nutcracker,’” she said.

Whaley said the Ashland Youth Ballet was initially set up through the Foundation for Tri-State Community and they borrowed money from the Paramount Woman’s Association for costuming expenses.

“And, as we built things, the budget grew and we came out from under the foundation in the late 1990s,” Whaley said, adding that the group is now a standalone 501c3 organization.

The ballet is open to students from across the Tri-State, who audition to take part in it.

“

Talent

They aren’t coming without experience.

They come with a spirit that is exciting and fun to work with.

”

— Maria Whaley, director

PROFILE 2019

She said it provides an outlet for those who are serious about pursuing dance.

“Our kids — most have had two to three years of dance training before,” she said.

“They aren’t coming without experience.

They come with a spirit that is exciting and fun to work with.”

In 2012, the ballet moved to its current home, located on Carter Avenue behind the Paramount. The ballet’s shows have allowed the theater to offer a live experience unique to the area.

For the most recent performance of “The Nutcracker,” the show included live orchestral accompaniment, organized

by Dr. Scott Woodard, of West Virginia

21

State University, taking advantage of the opened orchestra pit from the theater’s last remodel.

Whaley said the musicians came from throughout the Tri-State, including the Huntington Symphony and West Virginia Symphony and rehearsed once before joining the show.

Whaley, a teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in Ironton, has been teaching ballet in Ashland for 38 years.

She said she has seen many students who have taken part in the

22 PROFILE 2019

Ashland Youth Ballet go on to pursue dance professionally, such as Courtney May, who graduated from New York University with a degree in American ballet theater and now teaches in New York City schools, Krissy Johnson, who is retired from the Nashville Ballet after 12 years and now teaches as well; and Nathan Andary, a Flatwoods, Kentucky native who is now tenured with Ohio University’s Department of Dance.

“He comes back to us and brings students and will do choreography,” Whaley said of Andary.

In addition to their own shows, Whaley said the group has worked with the Paramount to bring in

performances such as dancers from the Moscow Ballet and have provided dancers for Paramount Players theater shows such as “Peter Pan.” Regionally, they have also worked with the Jesse Stuart Foundation on community ballets based on the author’s novels, and with the Highlands Museum for events such as “Dancing with Our Stars.”

She said the program is supported financially from their dance shop, located in their building, where proceeds go toward the ballet, as well as scholarships.

Of her students, who practice and rehearse every Saturday, Whaley said

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they must maintain a proper grade point average and she routinely checks on their academic progress.

“They’re highly motivated kids and focused,” she said.

And she said they are completely committed to their discipline and will take away much.

“They’re open to trying new things and pursue dance as an art with no promise of reward,” she said. “They’re not performing for a trophy. I believe dance benefits all.

It teaches poise, time management and life skills.”

For more on the ballet and Ashland Regional Dance Theater, visit www.danceardt.com. a

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Reaching New Heights Technology helps LCDD students excel in education

PROFILE 2019

27 STORY, PHOTOS DUSTIN MELCHIOR

F

or students with autism or other disabilities, learning in school can often be challenging.

However, the use of technology can make that process easier.

“There’s a whole list of things that kids with learning disabilities can have now using assisted technology,” Kendra Heim, principal at Open Door School, Lawrence County Developmental Disabilities’ (LCDD) local school, said. “Especially in today’s day and age, where, with the younger generation, all they know is technology.”

Heim added that many games and apps for phones, computers and iPads help children in a variety of ways, including turning text to speech, helping children write using pictures and more.

“All of our classrooms here at Open Door School have smart boards, we have iPads in all of our classrooms, Elmo devices, which project lessons plans and things larger for the students to see, and some of our students have communication devices,” Heim said.

“And, in the past, we’ve had adaptive toys for children with more significant needs to play with where they can press buttons for the toys to do different things.”

Open Door School provides special education to more than 60 students in Lawrence County, and the opportunity for advanced technology is a big reason the school is set to move to another location in the

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coming year or so. Its current building, located on Lorain Street in Ironton, is over 90 years old and has three floors, making it difficult for many of the students to get around. A more modern look and the potential for technology is why LCDD is moving the school to the current location of Person Centered Services at the former Tri-State Industries site in Coal Grove.

“LCDD has heard for years that Open Door needs a new facility, and we’ve known that our adult services need to be more accessible to the people,” Julie Monroe, LCDD superintendent, said, adding that Person Center Services is relocating to two locations on opposite ends of the county prior to Open Door moving in.

“This is our big chance to make these changes and improve our programs to reach full potential.”

PROFILE 2019

29

Aside from being a better setup for students to get around the school, the building has the potential to incorporate technology better than Open Door’s current building.

“Just by being on one floor, it will make it easier for all of our students to get around in that aspect,” Monroe said. “And we will have more enhanced technology at the location.

Just recently, we had fibers installed at the building, which will mean quicker uploads and internet services.” a

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30 PROFILE 2019

PROFILE 2019

31

Heart of a

Community St. Joseph Catholic Church started in 1865

STORY, PHOTOS MARK SHAFFER

S

t. Joseph wasn’t the first Catholic church in Ironton, that distinction belongs to St. Mary’s in Pine Grove which opened in 1851 and St. Lawrence O’Toole which opened in 1852. However, St. Joseph has become the center of the Ironton Catholic community with its schools and now its Parish Life Center.

The first St. Joseph church was built in 1865 in Ironton after immigrant German Catholics paid ironmaster John Campbell $450 for three lots on Third Street. Three years later, the church was expanded and a rectory built. The gothic-inspired

church stood until it was rendered unusable by the 1937 flood. A new church was built on the corner of South Fifth and Chestnut streets and opened its doors in 1949.

Father David Huffman has been at his current assignment in Ironton since July 2008 and not only leads mass and other services at St. Joseph, but St. Mary’s and St. Lawrence O’Toole Church in Ironton.

The reason there were two Catholic churches built in Ironton was because they were built by immigrants who came to the region to work in the iron industry and on the railroads. St. Joseph was built by and for the German Catholics. St.

Lawrence O’Toole was built by and for Irish immigrants and named for an Irish saint.

Father Huffman explained that, if you came from another country, you wanted to worship with a group of people you could identify with, speak a common language and they wanted a priest who understood their language for homilies and confessions.

“They wanted a priest that understood them,” he explained.

He said the churches were built big because they gave everything to God. And each church had its own school. The churches were the center of life for the congregants.

32 PROFILE 2019

“

Before materialism and all those explosions came about, people went to Mass all the time. People would hear the ringing of the bell of the church in their neighborhood about 10 minutes before Mass.

”

— Father David Huffman

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“Before materialism and all those explosions came about, people went to Mass all the time,” he said. “People would hear the ringing of the bell of the church in their neighborhood about 10 minutes before Mass.”

One hangover from that time is the tradition of people sitting in the same pew as their grandparents.

Father Huffman explained that the church didn’t take up a collection; rather there was a pew fee. So people literally had their own spot.

“You’d pay, say $1, and that was your pew. That has hung on, that’s why people won’t slide over because that’s where their grandparents sat,” he said. “It’s a tradition.”

Father Huffman said the reason there are still three churches, despite being one Catholic community under the leadership of one priest, is that people support their church.

“The churches were maintained with their identity because the people had such an ownership of their church,” he said. “It was where they were baptized, it was where they were married. People didn’t want to give up that history. It makes up the fiber of their being.”

The schools eventually combined into the Ironton Catholic Schools, with St. Lawrence school being used for pre-school and elementary students and St. Joseph for junior high and high school students.

In 1952, Father Phillips conceived of building the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, which is 8 miles outside of Ironton, after a visit to the Fatima Shrine in Portugal. The local shrine was built in honor of three shepherd

children who had a vision of the Virgin Mary in October 1917 in Fatima, Portugal. The shrine features statutes of Our Lady of Fatima and the three children kneeling before her. There are also 15 mosaics and a reflecting pond.

The most recent addition to the Ironton Catholic Community is the Parrish Life Center, which had its grand opening in the fall of 2018.

Father Huffman said the building is for the community.

“The main thing we needed was a place that was handicapped accessible, a place for youth, all the way up to senior citizens, and a place where the three churches could come together and say ‘we own this,”’ he said.

And it was a place for the school’s teams to play since the gym at St. Joseph’s is too small to play league basketball games. And it also has rooms for the bereaved to use after a funeral.

Father Huffman said he wanted the Life Center to have the look of a church. He woke up one night remembering the Annunciation Church in Mingo Center that had burnt down and wasn’t rebuilt. There were 29 stained glass windows that had been sitting unused in storage for 25 years. So, he called up his counterpart and bought them.

“We had enough pieces for a cross on both ends and then at the entrance is the seven sacraments,” Father Huffman said. “The reason for it was a place to have meetings, a place for the youth, and there is a bereavement room. We have about 30 funerals a year and this gives them a place to gather afterwards.” a

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34 PROFILE 2019

Katrina Keith

Jeff Gaskin

Rick Dunfee

Bringing Opportunity Mayors discuss economic development for region

LAWRENCE COUNTY

STORY, PHOTOS HEATH HARRISON

W

ith the need for good-paying jobs always a factor in discussing Lawrence County’s future, we spoke with three mayors from the region to get their thoughts on economic development, in terms of what is currently taking place and what is needed for coming years.

Ironton Mayor Katrina Keith pointed to the development of the Gateway Project in her city during her first term.

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites is now open at the location and work began in 2018 on a Mariott hotel. Work is also under way on the Armory Smokehouse, the latest restaurant for the project, which will occupy the former Ohio National Guard Armory building.

“We went so many years without a hotel,” she said. “And now we’re at the place where we have two hotels and are growing in restaurants there.”

In the village of South Point, Mayor Jeff Gaskin had an easy answer for growth since he took office in 2016.

“Of course, I would say The Point — our 800-acre industrial park,” he said. “In the past few years, it’s grown to 800 jobs and it’s getting bigger every year.”

HarbisonWalker International opened its new refractories plant at The Point in summer 2018.

Gaskin also pointed to the completion of the roundabout at the interchange of Solida Road and U.S. 52, which opened in January and also serves traffic for Commerce Drive.

“It will be a catalyst for growth, not just for that neighborhood, but for The Point and South Point,” he said.

PROFILE 2019

35

In the village of Proctorville, Mayor Rick Dunfee could tout much economic growth over his time in office.

“Over the past seven years, we’ve had eight new businesses go in here in Proctorville,” he said, naming Katimali’s Italian restaurant, Brickhouse Cardio, Dollar General, Auto Zone and China Wok among those opening. “And Holzer Medical recently moved back to the village and Village Flooring is back, too.”

When asked what made her city unique and an attraction for incoming businesses, Keith cited the potential for more tourism.

“We do have property that could help us in the tourism industry,” she said. “We have a riverfront that could be developed for possible recreation, lodging, retail and eateries.

And we are very close to Wayne National Forest, that we could help promote for tourism, when you’re dealing with boating, fishing, archery, horseback riding and outdoor stuff.”

She also said the city’s historic nature could be a draw.

“We do have one of the first semipro stadiums, and that helps in tourism,” Keith said. “It’s at the high school — It started out with the Ironton Tanks, which then merged with Trojans here, which is the Detroit Lions today.”

Dunfee said something he could point to is the effectiveness of village government in Proctorville.

“I have a reliable police force,” He said of the department, on which Bill Murphy serves as chief. “And I have a good governing council to work with.”

36 PROFILE 2019

Dunfee said the village has seen its finances put back in order, going from a position where the state of Ohio needed to step in to now being in the black.

Gaskin said one of the biggest accomplishments over the past few years is work on infrastructure within the village, making it more energy efficient.

“Today, we hope, is the last day for incandescent light bulbs in South Point government and we’ve changed things to LED lighting,” he said. “And all of our pumps are all soft starts now. We invested $14,000 last year in that, as well as LED and it paid for itself in the first year. That investment saves us money for use for other things, like economic development.”

Keith said infrastructure is also a top priority in Ironton.

“We have spent more time doing infrastructure projects,” she said of her time in office. “And I use this analogy: When you build a home, you have to have a strong foundation. If the foundation’s not strong, it’s not going to support the house.”

PROFILE 2019

37

She said this is key to the city’s operation.

“If a city’s infrastructure’s not sound — that means mandates from the EPA, our streets, water system, wastewater; and it also means the structure of how the city operates, like our H.R. policies — if that’s not strong, we can’t go anywhere,” she said. “So my first term has been about strengthening the makeup of the city.”

The mayors also had similar views on the challenges they face for economic development.

“Our biggest challenge is money and our tax base,” Dunfee said.

Keith’s concerns echoed his.

“Land,” she said. “And, to be honest, I would have to say our tax base.”

And Gaskin’s answer was the same.

“Money — and getting grants,” he said. “30 years ago, my father was mayor and grants were easier to find.

The federal government is giving out less money in grants and the state has given us mandates but don’t fund them — we have to.”

He said the village prefers grants, rather than having to pay back loans, but that the process for obtaining them is getting more difficult.

“When we go looking for money, it’s very hard to find,” he said. “And there’s more competition for it.”

When asked what they would like to see government at the federal, state, and county level do to help them, the mayors had differing answers.

Gaskin said it comes down to the grants.

“I’d like to see more money

freed up,” he said of state and federal agencies.

While Dunfee focused more on officials at the local level.

“I think the county commission needs to look more at the small villages,” he said. “We could use the help financially.”

Keith said she would like to see the re-establishment of reimbursements back to the city of Ironton.

“We’ve lost approximately $300,000,” she said.

She also said she would like to see them address concerns of regions like hers.

“I’d like for them to understand our needs — and that being a rural community, that we are different from a metropolitan community,” she said.

As for the future, all three mayors saw more developments on the horizon.

Dunfee said he expected more businesses to open and is hearing about the possibility of a new restaurant on State Street, which was also discussed in a recent meeting of the county commission.

Keith said the biggest developments will be at the Gateway, while she is optimistic about other possible projects as well.

While Gaskin saw more growth from The Point and roundabout. He also pointed to the 9,000-square foot stip mall on Commerce Drive near the post office. Construction began in summer 2018 and is set to open in mid-February with Bellacino’s Italian restaurant as its first tenant.

“And I hear more are interested,” Gaskin said. a

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Tri-State Baptist Temple

Calvary Baptist Church 824 S. Fifth St. •Ironton, Ohio • 532-3498 Sunday School...................................................9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship ...............................10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service ....................................6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study ....................................7:00 p.m.

Matt O’Bryant - Pastor www.cbcironton.org

Church of the King 801 S. Fifth St. • Ironton, Ohio 740-418-1318 Sunday School...............................................10:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship Service ...............................11:30 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Study ..................................7:00 p.m.

“Teaching the Jewish roots of Christianity” People with a passion for Jesus and a love for you!

Pastor - Butch Deer

1300 Co. Rd. 60 • South Point, Ohio 377-4739 Sunday School........................................9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Service ......................10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service ........................6:00 p.m..

Patch the Pirate - Wed ...........................6:45 p.m.

Youth Group - Wed.................................6:45 p.m.

Wednesday Evening Service..................7:00 p.m.

Pastor - Tim Jenkins

Your local guide to houses of worship Ironton First Nazarene

SUGAR CREEK

Missionary Baptist Church “Fellowshipping in the Truth since 1889”

2318 S. Fourth St, Ironton, Ohio • 532-3413

Pastor: Mike Long • Home of...

SUGAR CREEK CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

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“Live - Laugh - Learn” Ages 3-5 Open All Year Call 533-2215 for details or

visit www.sugarcreekmbc.com

Ice Creek Missionary Baptist Church 5121 St. Rt. 243 • Ironton, Ohio Sunday School............................................... 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship ........................................ 10:45 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service ................................ 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study ................................ 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday AWANA & Teen Meeting ......... 7:00 p.m.

Minister - Todd Warner

Zoar Baptist Church 1009 Marion Pike • Coal Grove, Ohio • 532-4028 Sunday School.................................................9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship .............................10:45 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship ................................6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Night Service .............................7:00 p.m.

Awanas (Wednesday) .....................................6:30 p.m.

Teen Bible Study (Wednesday) .......................7:00 p.m.

Pastor - Jim Beals Youth Pastor - Jeremy Dillon

Jeffersonville Missionary Baptist Church Washington St. • Coal Grove, OH • 740-532-0434 Sunday School............................................ 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship ..................................... 10:45 a.m.

Sunday Evening .......................................... 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study ............................. 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday Youth Group ........................... 6:30 p.m.

www.jeffersonvillembc.com

South Point United Methodist Church 202 Third St. E. • South Point • 377-4690 Sunday School........................................9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship ....................10:45 a.m.

Children’s Church .................................11:00 a.m.

Wed. Night Bible Study (Aug.-May) ......6:00 p.m.

Pastor - Jamie Mosley

Sunday Morning Worship ..................10:40 a.m.

Sunday Bible Classes ...........................9:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service .......................6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study .......................7:00 p.m.

Wednesday Youth and Children’s Programs ........................7:00 p.m.

Special Needs Services ..............Tues. 7:00 p.m.

Open AA Meeting .......................Tues. 6:00 p.m.

Like us on Facebook

Lead Pastor .............................................. Rob Hale Assistant Pastor ...............................Brian Taylor Youth Ministries Pastor ............. Paul Ferguson Special Needs Pastor ....................Mark Fonner

Children’s Ministries Director..Kelli Ferguson

901 Solida Rd. • South Point, Ohio 740-523-0231 www.tswc.org Sunday School............................................ 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship ..................................... 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service ............................. 6:00 p.m.

Journey Youth ........................ Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday Service ................................... 7:00 p.m.

Royal Rangers K-8th grade .........Thursday 6:00 p.m.

Encourage The SAINT...Help The HURTING...

Embrace ALL People!

We also have Addiction Recovery Program, Grief Counseling and many other ministries

Your local guide to houses of worship

Real Life Ministries 1717 Reynolds St. Ironton, Ohio

First Tabernacle Church

1301 S. 10th St. • Ironton, Ohio 740-646-0826 Sunday School......................................10:00 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship ....................10:45 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service .........................6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Evening and Youth Service...6:30 p.m.

Pastor - Chad Pemberton Like us on Facebook

Senior Pastor - Rick Sturgill, Associate Pastor - Casey Hilde Assistant Pastors: Sandra Christian and David Hill Service Times are SS 10:00 Worship 11:00 Mid-Week Service 6:00 (Fifth and Center Street FUMC)

St. Joseph Church 501 Chestnut St., Ironton

St. Lawrence O’Toole Church 611 Center St., Ironton

St. Mary Church Pine Grove, Ohio

MASSES: Saturday 5:15 p.m. (even months: Feb., April, etc. at St. Joseph Church) Saturday 5:15 p.m. (odd months: Jan., March, etc. at St. Lawrence) SUNDAY: 9 a.m. (St. Joseph Church 12 noon (St. Lawrence Church) 7 p.m. (St. Mary, Pine Grove)

First Baptist Church

304 S. Fifth St. • Ironton, Ohio 532-1240 Sunday Morning Worship ......................9:45 a.m.

Sunday School......................................11:00 a.m.

Small Group............................................7:00 p.m.

Family Night .......................Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

Eric Barnes - Pastor

Woodland Chapel Freewill Baptist Church

116 Twp. Rd. 108 • Ironton, Ohio • 533-2602

Sunday School ................................10:00 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship ...............11:00 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service....................6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Night Service ................7:00 p.m.

Wednesday Youth Meeting ..............7:00 p.m.

South Point Church of Christ

Third and Virginia Streets • South Point, Ohio 740-377-4846 Sunday Bible Study........................................ 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Service............................... 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Service.................................. 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study.................................. 7:00 p.m.

Pastor - Dave Schug

Mark Aites - Minister

Coal Grove Nazarene

Leatherwood Missionary Baptist Church

The Love Center

111 Lincoln St, Coal Grove, Ohio The Love Center - Where you experience God’s love in action.

Sunday Morning Worship ..................... 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Children’s Service..................... 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Bible Study ................... 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday Evening Celebrate Recovery ..... 6:00 p.m.

Love Outreach food and clothing distribution Third Saturday of each month.

Family and addiction recovery counseling and life coaching services are provided through professional counselor Steven Stuhlreyer and Associates, Inc.

Pastor - Darrell Ford

City Mission Church

710 N. Fifth St. • Ironton, Ohio • 532-5041

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42 PROFILE 2019

Beating the Odds

Three examples of success stories from the Nexus Recovery Docket

STORY, PHOTOS DUSTIN MELCHIOR

L

awrence County Common Pleas Judge Andy Ballard knew there was a drug epidemic when he was first elected to the seat in 2016, which is one of the reasons he ran because he knew he wanted to make a difference.

Last year, Ballard began his drug court, called the Nexus Recovery Docket, which has helped the lives of several individuals who have participated in the program.

The drug court is only for low-level, non-violent offenders with either fourth or fifth-degree felony charges, or first-degree misdemeanors, and for those who truly want to get their lives back on track for themselves.

The first session met in April of last year, and the court received its final certification from the Ohio Supreme Court in September.

Here are three examples of local peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success stories that have overcome their addiction through the help of Ballard and his drug court recovery team.

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43

BRIANA MILLS Twenty-four-year-old Briana Mills, of Ironton, said her addiction to drugs began about seven years ago, which was the start of a downward spiral in her life.

“My addiction started about seven years ago when I got with my son’s dad. From there, I started getting charges and going to jail,” she said. “Last March, I got busted for possession of methamphetamine, and I realized that this life wasn’t for me anymore. Chasing drugs and money wasn’t getting me anywhere in life, and I wanted to try to grow up, be a mom and take care of my kid.”

Mills added that her addiction to heroin evolved from drinking and smoking marijuana when she was younger, to eventually experimenting with harder drugs, such as cocaine, meth and eventually heroin.

“I was the kind of person that was like ‘everyone else is doing it, I should too,’” she said. “And I didn’t realize how much I was hurting my family until I got that possession charge.”

Mills’ possession charge put her in front of Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Andy Ballard, who then asked her to be a part of his drug court, as it was just starting out at the time.

“When my addiction was at its worst, even losing family members to heroin overdoses didn’t stop me,” she said. “Nothing stopped me until

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I realized that my life wasn’t going to end any other way than either spending my life in prison or dying if I continued.”

Mills said that heroin use is in her family’s history on her father’s side, and that his family has been in the court systems.

She said that being in Ballard’s drug court, as well as attending outpatient treatment at Mended Reeds, really helped her turn her life around.

“It made me realize that nothing will make me want to get high unless I want to,” she said. “And with my life right now, I don’t want to. I’m spending time with my family and my son, and I’ve been clean for nine months now. It’s the best feeling in the world.”

Mills, who just recently got married and has another son on the way, said that since being clean, she spends as much time as she can with her son, 4, adding that it was something she wasn’t able to do during her addiction. She has also held down a job at Burger King in Ashland, where she currently works.

“I love spending time with my kid and just living in the moment,” she said. “And Judge Ballard’s drug court has really made a difference in my life because talking to people who are also having issues or have gone through similar things as I have really helps. People who are just like me that I can be myself around and not be judged.”

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44 PROFILE 2019

JARROD MCKNIGHT Jarrod McKnight never thought he was going to be a drug addict.

McKnight, 35, was born and raised in Ironton, and graduated from Ironton High School.

“Like a lot of people in Ironton, or high schoolers in general, I was drinking and just doing a lot of things that would be considered socially acceptable to high school kids,” McKnight said. “I first became an alcoholic, and everything for me started with alcohol.”

He said he began drinking in high school, and his drinking habits eventually “steamrolled into a heroin addiction.”

“I was doing everything, anything I could get my hands on; weed, cocaine, prescription pain pills, heroin, everything,” he said. “It started off with my drinking, but I just liked the way that different substances made me feel.”

McKnight said that drinking and smoking marijuana moved on to using pain pills, cocaine, heroin and other hard drugs, where he added that he and the people he would hang out with would gradually increase their usage.

“It went from using every now and then, like on special occasions, to using once a month. Then, it went to just using on the weekends, then it went to using three times a week,” he said. “It’s just the mind of an addict.

Addicts want as much as they can get, and 1,000 is never enough.”

He said that he noticed his addiction kind of early on with alcohol, but that when he started abusing pain pills was when his life “really became unmanageable.”

“When I was addicted, I didn’t want to live, but I didn’t want to die either. It was like I was in a ‘no man’s land,’” he said. “When you’re hardcore in addiction, you only think about yourself. You don’t think about your parents, your family or anything else. I was waking up in the morning thinking about drugs and what I was going to do to get them before I even got out of bed. And when you start using heroin and other hard drugs, at first you use them because of how they make you feel, but you continue to use them because you have to to keep from getting dopesick.”

He added that there was also a period of time that he was staying

in a completely gutted, abandoned house and sleeping on a pool float, something that he was not proud of.

He also said that he has overdosed on multiple occasions, and had to be revived with Narcan.

“Addiction doesn’t discriminate,” he said. “It doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, what race or nationality you are, where you graduated in your class, nothing.”

In May 2017, McKnight was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, which landed him in jail for four months and then

STAR for four months.

“When I got out, I was arrested just three weeks after that, in January last year, for possession of meth again,” he said. “Jail sucks. But Judge Ballard invited me to be in his drug court and said that he wasn’t going to give up on me, and would give me all of the tools needed to help me get through this.”

McKnight said that he has a lot of respect for Ballard for “abandoning the cookie cutter approach” and realizing that this is a problem that isn’t going to get fixed by jail.

“People need treatment and people need drug courts. I’ve accepted the fact that I am an alcoholic and a drug addict, and there are certain things that I just can’t do and that’s OK,” he said. “You put a drink in me today, and by next week, I’ll be shooting heroin. Ballard’s drug court and treatment have really changed my life. But, in order to make recovery work, you need to hit your rock bottom, have desperation and that willingness that you will succeed.”

He said he was also thankful to his parents, who stopped enabling his addiction by not bailing him out of jail and continuing to feed his habits.

“You don’t get better unless you have to,” he said. “My parents drew that line and stopped enabling me. As long as you have someone enabling, the problem doesn’t get better.”

He said when he finally made the decision for himself to turn his life around, he immediately stopped contact with the negative influences in his life and surrounded himself with really good, supportive people.

“Recovery is about dealing with life. Just quitting drinking and using drugs is just the beginning,” he said.

“And Judge Ballard has helped so much, because having somebody who really believes in you and believes you’ll get better, that’s not family, makes so much of a difference. He really is genuine and sincere.”

Since being clean, McKnight said he is all about recovery, adding that he attends three or four self-help group meetings a week in addition to his drug court sessions and treatment. He said he also sometimes sits in on Judge Kevin Waldo’s drug court sessions at the Ironton Municipal Court as well.

“I love it so much, because it’s saving my life,” he said.

McKnight, who has now been sober for one year, currently works for the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization’s (CAO) Ohio Means Jobs Recovery to Work program, where he himself can help people who are struggling to recover and turn their lives around like him.

He said his faith also grew stronger since becoming clean, and he attends church at St. Joe or St. Lawrence every Sunday. He also said he enjoys spending time with his four-year-old son, Brody.

PROFILE 2019

45

JOSH HARMON Josh Harmon, 35, of Ironton, hit his one-year sober mark last month after dealing with drug addiction since he was in the Army.

“I was born and raised in Ironton, and went to college at Rio Grande first, but ended up getting my girlfriend pregnant,” Harmon said.

“After that, I quit college and decided I was going to go to the Army in 2005.

I was stationed in Fort Drum, New York, and in 2007, I was deployed to Iraq and was over there from August 2007 until November 2008.”

He said while in Iraq, he got injured and was prescribed pain pills, adding that that was the point where his addiction began. After abusing prescription pain pills, he eventually turned to heroin.

“I was released from the Army in November, and a few weeks later, I was in the county jail waiting to go to prison,” he said. “It wasn’t for anything to do with drugs, but I was writing bad checks, stealing copper and doing anything that I could to be able to get drugs.” He said that when his addiction was at its worst, he was using pain pills, heroin, Xanax and methamphetamine.

Harmon said that he has been in prison twice, with the second time coming from a probation violation, and that he knew he needed to make a positive change in his life.

On Jan. 10 of last year, Harmon said he lost his older brother to a heroin overdose, and five days later, he checked himself into the Chillicothe VA. In addition, he deals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has spent time at the PTSD clinic in Cleveland.

“I was glad when Judge Ballard invited me to be a part of his drug court, and for one thing, they still let me continue to get treatment at the VA, which was a big thing for me,” he said. “And Judge Ballard really does care. He called me just to check in on me on my brother’s one-year anniversary. He really does have your back. He won’t pull any punches, and you can tell that he genuinely cares about us.”

Harmon is still getting treatment at the VA, however now in Huntington instead of Chillicothe, and is a fulltime student at Ashland Community Technical College (ACTC) working toward getting a degree in social work.

“I had a 3.5 GPA last semester,” he said. “Which is the first time I’ve gotten any kind of As at all.”

He said that since getting clean, he has gotten custody of his youngest daughter, 7, and gets to see his other two kids every weekend.

“I can just be a dad to them today,” he said. “Which I enjoy more than anything.” a

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46 PROFILE 2019

Ohio University Southern keeps nursing program focused on technology, training

On the Forefront

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47

STORY, PHOTOS MARK SHAFFER

O

hio University Southern began in 1956 to help train people to be teachers. As the decades rolled by, it offered more and more programming to help train area residents to have the job skills needed by Tri-State businesses.

In the 1980s, the school began focusing on the medical field with a nursing program that has expanded to more than just that, as well as making sure its nursing classes are on the cutting edge of technology and medical training.

Mishawna Hamilton, the associate director/ associate professor of nursing at OUS, said that OUS began with an associate degree in nursing, which was expanded from the Zanesville OU campus, and then OUS added a track for going from a licensed practical nurse to registered nurse.

“Then we saw the need to prepare BSN nurses and so that program started in Athens in 2009 and we wrote a proposal and we were successful so we started to offer the traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in nursing degree in 2012, with the first class graduating in 2016.”

So now, OUS offers ASN, the LPN to RN and the four-year BSN program.

Hamilton said that having five medical centers in the Tri-State has driven the expansion of the nursing programs.

“There has been a long-term nursing shortage in our area,” she said. “So we felt that OU Southern could help meet that need. And that need still remains.”

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48 PROFILE 2019

OUS Dean Nichole Pennington, who has been a nurse since 1993 and was once the director of nursing at OUS, said that the demand for nurses has been driven locally and nationally by the aging Baby Boomer generation.

“There are a lot of Baby Boomers who are nurses and are retiring or nearing retirement age,” she said.

“And people are living longer, so health care needs are changing,” Hamilton said. “You have more people needing in-home care than before, more people needing longterm residential care than you’ve had before.”

Hamilton said another aspect is that you have bedside nurses getting more education and advancing their careers, which leaves their former

positions open.

Pennington said that traditionally, nursing has always been an indemand job sector in Ohio.

“I saw a recent poll of in-demand jobs and the top 10 were all in the medical field,” she said.

One of the more interesting devices at OUS is something that looks like a mannequin, but is actually about as close to a real life patient as a dummy can get, with sensors to simulate medical maladies.

“We’ve had simple mannequins that had no technology,” Hamilton said. “So students have had those for a long time. But as technology advanced, the mannequins do more things. They talk, they have vital signs. Students can give them IVs

or do CPR. They are just so much more advanced.”

One of the first advanced mannequins was Noel, who simulates childbirth. The nursing lab at OUS now has several mannequins with sensors to simulate medical maladies.

“So, it really gives students a more real-life simulation to be better prepared when they go into a clinical setting,” Hamilton said. “It’s a safe area to practice, to make a mistake without harming a real person.”

The mannequins even have sensors so they can tell the student nurse they are having pain so the student has to respond to that.

“And when the students are here in the lab, they can make the mistakes here, so they don’t make the

mistakes in the health care setting,” Pennington said.

Hamilton said there are plans for more medical nursing programs.

Recently, OUS got a grant to purchase more simulation mannequins. The ones they have were state of the art but require lots of maintenance and upkeep to keep them working.

“We usually have 200 nursing students a semester that are rotating through those labs,” she said. “So we are always thrilled to get funding to purchase new ones.”

“We have always been really invested in technology,” Hamilton said. “When Nicole was the director of nursing, she really led the charge.

We realized that the nurses not only need the technology for training but

PROFILE 2019

49

they need to be comfortable with it from the time they start nursing school because they are going to utilize it at the bedside.”

Hamilton pointed out that where previous generations used books; the current generation of nurses uses apps on their phones or computers.

“Those are updated every 24 hours,” she said. “So, by the time a pharmacology book is printed, there are a handful of medications that have already been pulled off the market, but they are still in the textbook. So, they use an app, they are getting the most up to date information on a variety of aspects.”

OUS nursing students also use a simulated electronic health record system.

“So, our students are learning from day one how to document like they would at a health care facility,” Hamilton said. “It may not be the same, but they are all very similar.

So, when they have a high comfort level here, it takes the facilities less time and money to train them. So, everyone is happy with that.”

OUS has a long tradition of working with businesses to help guide what their students are learning.

“We have an advisory group and we have someone from every major medical facility in the Tri-State area,” Hamilton said. “We meet with them and discuss what we have here, how we are utilizing it to train our students and then get their input on how we can better utilize that training and where they are seeing weakness in the workforce.”

She said it is a necessary thing because a nurse doesn’t stop learning after they leave the classroom.

“The nursing student are told on day one that the medical field changes on a day to day basis and they are making a lifelong commitment to education,” she said. “So the facilities have a need to train their staff on new technologies, on new procedures.

So we are looking at ways to work collaboratively with the agencies so they can also benefit from our technology here at OUS.” a

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50 PROFILE 2019

Moving Forward Copley focused on economic development, future STORY, PHOTOS DUSTIN MELCHIOR

D

r. Colton Copley, the newest face on the Lawrence County Commission, said he plans to move the county forward through economic development and making the county a better place for future generations.

“This is an exciting time for me. I initially ran in January because I felt like I wanted to help make a difference in our county and to serve the people of the county in the role of commissioner,” he said. “It was definitely an unfortunate circumstance that I was able to be appointed on, but I’m excited to work with the current commissioners and add some of the things that I have in mind for the county as well.”

Copley said he wants to work with current commissioners Freddie Hayes Jr. and DeAnna Holliday to continue growing economically and bringing more jobs into Lawrence County.

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51

“The county’s been really good at bringing industrial jobs into the county, but I want to look at more revenue-generating businesses as well,” Copley said. “Bringing places into the county that people can go and buy goods, and recruiting those businesses and finding out what they need from the county to open up shop.”

He added that most of the county’s budget comes from sales tax, and having places where people can buy things in the county, rather than going to Ashland, Kentucky or Huntington, West Virginia, is what is needed to move forward.

“I want to be able to increase that without having to have levees and things like that,” he said. “When you look around Lawrence County, there are a lot of great people and a lot of great locations to be able to make that happen. Instead of people from

Lawrence County going out to those other places, we need to tap into getting people from there to come spend money in Lawrence County.”

Prior to being appointed to the Lawrence County Commission, Copley spent three years on the South Point School Board and has worked as an ER doctor at CabellHuntington Hospital for the past three years.

In addition, he said he has volunteered in the community on different projects and has coached youth sports, helping develop young people in the county.

“Part of the reason I want to be involved is to shape the county into a place that my kids and other children want to work in and stay,” he said.

“I want to have a booming economy locally by the time they are at job age, so we can all be successful here in Lawrence County.”

He added that getting involved in local politics at a young age is something he strived to do instead of waiting until later on to try and make a difference.

“A lot of people wait until they are older to get involved and try to do something,” he said. “But I wanted to

make a change now instead of waiting until down the road to be able to make a difference when it may be too late.”

Copley was born and raised in Lawrence County, South Point specifically, and lives in the village with his wife, Stephanie, and their five children. a

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54 PROFILE 2019

Dedicated to the Job Teachers serve many roles STORY, PHOTOS HEATH HARRISON

W

hile teachers have one of the jobs seen by the public, with nearly everyone sitting in a classroom during their lives, yet for many, it is not known just what goes into that job, the extent of commitment to the position and the issues educators face.

We sat down with four teachers of Symmes Valley’s high and middle schools for a conversation about education.

At the high school, we spoke with Anthony Martin, who teaches science to 10th through 12th grades. A Missouri native, he is in his fifth year of teaching and his third at Symmes Valley.

He was joined by Lisa Bryant, of Ironton. She has been in the profession for 24 years, spending all but three of them at Symmes Valley and teaches health education and college and career prep to 9th through 12th grades.

At the middle school, we spoke with Leslie Walker, who teaches 8th grade math and Algebra I and is in her 10th year of teaching, and Lance Humphrey, who has taught 6th and 8th grade science for 19 years at the school. Both are graduates of Symmes Valley’s school system, which recently scored the highest in the county on the annual report cards from the Ohio Department of Education.

PUBLIC PERCEPTION When asked what the biggest misconception by people about their work is, all gave similar answers about the amount of work and dedication that goes into it.

“They think maybe teachers have an easy job,” Bryant said.

“Kids say, ‘I want to be a teacher. You all get summers off.’ But it’s a constant education for us. We’re constantly figuring out new and innovative ways to keep our kids motivated.”

Walker agreed, stating, “I think a lot of people think we have an 8-3 job, with summers off.”

“But if they looked at this parking lot, they would definitely see Lance’s car here at all hours of the day,” she said. “Our hours are definitely more than the regular person might think we have.

(ABOVE) Science teacher Anthony Martin and health education and college career prep teacher Lisa Bryant of Symmes Valley High School.

(BELOW Eighth grade math teacher Leslie Walker and sixth and eighth grade science teacher Lance Humphrey of Symmes Valley Middle School.

PROFILE 2019

55

And we care for their kids so much. I don’t know if they see that side of us outside these wall.”

“Sometimes, people don’t realize we care for there kids as much as they do,” Humphrey said.

Walker said it was natural, given the amount of time they are together.

“If you think about it, we spend more hours of the day than they do with their kids,” she said.

“And my kids’ teachers spend more time with my kids than I do.”

Martin said the view of many may be limited to their own experience as a student.

“The only perception is when they were in student seat,” he said. “They don’t see the eightto-ten hour days teachers put in. You’ve got to prepare, do it, and then the aftermath. Those are the steps every day for each class. When you have four classes, you’ve got to do that, and make the kids confident that you’re not stressed out.”

Bryant said the teachers’ duties go beyond education.

“What they don’t see is what we do for kids, from K through 12,” she said. “We try to help — if they need help financially, if they need food, if they need clothes. You wear a lot of hats.”

CHALLENGE We asked the group what they felt was the biggest challenge or most difficult task involved with the job.

“I’m probably going to say consistency,” Martin said of curriculum requirements. “Consistency is law, because I feel like things are always changing.

This is my fifth year and, just in the five years I’ve been in education, I’ve seen it. Every year, it seems

something’s taken out and something’s added.

We’re constantly making adjustments.”

Bryant agreed.

“That’s the challenge,” she said.

For Walker, she said it was helping students get over what could be an intimidating subject matter.

“I teach math, so I think the motivation is getting kids to get engaged in math is sometimes hard,” she said. “Getting them over the ‘I hate math’ mentality.’”

For Humphrey, it was trying to meet students’ needs, which can sometimes involve situations beyond his control.

“The hardest thing about being a teacher is knowing something’s wrong in a student’s life and absolutely nothing I can do to fix it,” he said. “That is the most frustrating thing. You can call child services, but not being able to solve problems for everyone is the biggest for me.”

56 PROFILE 2019

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES The teachers were asked about the biggest changes in learning over their time in the schools, and they said technology has made the biggest difference.

“The world of technology would be the biggest change and adaptation,” Walker said.

“I think now we have a generation of kids who have always had entertainment at hand — iPhones, iPads — we’re definitely in a screen world here.”

She spoke of the district’s move in the last school year to issue each student a laptop.

“We have Chromebooks here trying to incorporate that,” Walker said. “When I got here, we had two smart boards and I got to use one. It was amazing now everyone has one.”

Martin pointed to how colleges are offering most textbooks online and that this is beginning to take place in high schools, too.

Bryant said the digital world has led to further innovation.

“Not only textbooks,” she said. “But in how assignments are turned in. Google Office Suite — a lot of teachers are utilizing that. It makes it nice and students who miss can turn it in at home.”

The teachers were asked if digital communication had impacted students’

attention spans and changed the way they learn.

“I’m going to say students are in constant state of entertainment,” Martin said. “And, if you are not entertaining to them, that’s where the disconnect happens. I hate to say it, because we’re not entertainers, we’re teachers, but they have to find it interesting.

But if you entertain their mind — it can be something like a group activity — that’s still entertaining their mind. I will say this (points to phone) being in their hands, it does build constant entertainment. If they’re no longer entertained with Instagram, they’re going to jump onto another social media site.

They get this instant gratification when they move to something else — It’s constantly back and forth from one to another.”

Bryant said technology gives teachers a chance to adapt to these changes.

“Technology has caused a lot of adaptation in how teachers do things, like preparation and so forth,” she said. “I think that’s the huge point. But I think you’re still implementing what they need to do, whether it is from the textbook or the computer. I have kids who prefer to do things through a book, but they also like the idea of a computer so they can use Internet. It’s not a big deal to adapt.”

PROFILE 2019

57

SCHOOL TESTING AND CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS The group was asked about statewide standardized testing, and whether it is a help or hindrance to them. The Ohio Department of Education releases the results of testing each year in the form of school report cards.

“I think accountability is really important,” Walker said. “Knowing what you need to get accomplished with standards is a good thing. As far as kids go, that day they’re taking tests is kind of difficult.

While Bryant said her subject matter is not part of the testing, she said the constant changes to the testing requirements can be frustrating for instructors.

“There’s always going to be some testing to evaluate our kids,” she said. “But, every year or every other year, they want to change things.

I don’t think that is fair.”

And she said the report cards

alone do not give a clear picture of just what takes place in a school.

“It doesn’t give the true value of any school district and they change it too much,” she said.

Martin said the focus on testing has increased over the years.

“There was testing when we were in school,” he said. “But there wasn’t a whole lot of emphasis. I think, with so much emphasis, a lot of schools have lost sight of what’s important. They put emphasis on grading schools mostly on these standardized tests, when, in actuality, they don’t see what goes on inside these walls on a daily basis.”

As for curriculum requirements, none of the teachers said they felt constrained in their job and that they were free to innovate.

“Knowing what I have to have to cover this year helps focus me,” Humphrey said. “Even though we have state standards required to

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cover, as far as how we teach them, it is completely left up to us,” he said.

He spoke of ways they try to keep students engaged.

“We use a lot of online resources,” he said. “And (Walker) does a lot more hands-on activities, where students get up and are walking around the building, rather than just using textbooks or worksheets.”

Walker said they have a lot of independence to back away from textbooks and that she often does lessons on “basic knowledge,” such as how to manage money.

“I try to do it,” she said. “One year, we did a project on buying a car and and the math involved — how many months pay it off, what I pay a month, what I put down, comparing two cars and seeing what is the better deal. I look, when I’m doing lessons, to try to make it practical and to motivate them. It helps.”

While Humphrey said his subject, which focuses on earth science, such as earthquakes and volcanoes, may not have a practical application in every life in this region, he gave an example of how he motivates students.

“I do a lot of where I use a lot of video in class,” He said. “For example, I show the 1989 San

Francisco earthquake during World Series.”

He said he brings up the collapse of a section of multi-deck freeway, in which dozens were killed.

“I ask them, ‘If you have a job building a freeway in this area, in a place so close to tectonic plates, how would you build it?’” he said.

Martin said some of the science he teaches may not be used by students in every day life, either, but the larger purpose is teaching skills and allowing students to understand how they learn.

“There might be only a handful of students that ever use biology in life,” he said. “It’s a tested area I teach and it’s important to be a focus, but they need to learn life skills.”

He said he emphasizes with kids what makes them different.

“I tell them at the beginning of the year, ‘I don’t care. You will learn by doing. You get a homework assignment. Do it,’” he said. “That’s self discipline.

And the skills you will learn are study skills. You might be a driver for ODOT someday and you have to take a test to drive. Are you going to study for that? Definitely. I want you to focus on how you are learning. You can take that everywhere.”

He said the biggest thing is to “learn about them” and take that onto later life.

“Learn what works best for you,” he said. “Lets

find out what works best for you and you will learn more about yourself. How are you going to learn?

You can take to any class. However you learn best, that’s what you need to focus on.”

Bryant says she often hears from past students who have retained things she taught them.

“I have kids who say they took a college course and tell me ‘I remember you doing this’ — things like the pathway of blood through body,” she said. “And they tell me “I knew that and professor asked, ‘How did you know this?’ And she told him ‘I learned it in Ms. Bryant’s class.’ That keeps you passionate about it.”

OUTSIDE ISSUES One of the difficulties teachers are beginning to face is the opioid epidemic, which has gripped the region.

Humphrey said he sees the effects on students and families every day.

“Last year, in one of my 6th grade classes, I did a random poll,” he said. “I didn’t collect names, but three-fourths of the people in class, out of 18 students, said they have someone in their family who is addicted, has overdosed or is in prison. I know, just from talking to students, there are those issues.”

Walker said the opioid issue has become more

PROFILE 2019

prevalent in the last few years, to which Humphrey agreed.

“The last school year, especially,” he said. “Before that, we didn’t really see it.”

Walker said it has led to changes in family structures for many students.

“We have a lot of kids living with grandparents, because parents are deceased or in treatment,” she said.

The panel was also asked about school safety concerns and how it impacts them, and how it has changed the classroom environment over the years.

They said it has not impacted daily lessons, but has led to safety measures, particularly at school entrances and in the hiring of a resource officer for the district.

Bryant said the school has also emphasized readiness.

“It has changed things, but I asked kids today if they felt safe,” she said.

“The majority said yes. I think our district has done so much through drills, lockdowns, talking about first responders and what would happen here, active shooter drills and doing things in our building to keep us safe.

All our staff talks to kids about that.

Our administration has done well.”

Martin said communication is key.

“Just recently, we had a drill and had a substitute in the building,” he said. “The substitute had no idea

59

what the to do, but the kids, and this is the part that amazes me, jumped in and knew exactly what to do and got everything done in a very timely fashion. Just proves these kids know what to do to be safe and know to do it.”

MOTIVATION Each of the teachers summed up their enjoyment of their profession and what keeps them going, year after year.

“I love my job and I can’t think of anything else I’d want to do,” Humphrey said. “I come to school every day and see my students.

They’re excited to come and tell us things happening in their lives. I just like being a part of their lives. That, in itself, is motivating to me. I try to be a person I needed when I was in school. That’s how I try to be for my students.”

Walker said she similarly

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“I really do,” she said “My husband’s a teacher, too. One year, we were sitting in car on summer break and we asked each other, ‘What would you do if you were not a teacher?’ And there was literally nothing that I thought was a better idea.” The kids are definitely motivating. My kids started school last year, and it’s a whole other motivation. You realize that everyone is someone’s kid and it’s a different perspective.”

Bryant said she remains passionate two decades into her career. She said the 15-minute drive to the school

gives her time to reflect each day.

“I love to teach and I love kids, she said. “And I love the high school level. We have great kids at Symmes Valley. It’s a blessing to be here and teach them. This staff, I would put up against any staff in the county — they’re professional and care about each other. We may disagree with each other sometimes, but have each other’s backs. It’s family oriented here and we put our kids first and foremost.”

For Martin, it is a matter of seeing the effects of his work.

“One of my highlights is every day seeing that light bulb go off,” he said.

“When someone walks in your room and doesn’t know something and, then, all of the sudden, they get it.

That keeps me going.”

He said he loves the interaction with students.

“I love coming to work,” he said “For some kids, this is the highlight of their day. Just having that sense and knowing your making a difference is great.” a

60 PROFILE 2019

Helping Schools Work

Jeff Saunders

Educational Service Center provides support to local school districts

T

STORY, PHOTOS HEATH HARRISON

hose driving past the offices of the Lawrence County Educational Service Center on North Third Street in Ironton may have only some idea of what is provided by the staff who works there.

The ESC is perhaps most visible in the activities and competitions they organize throughout the area, such as the county science fair and spelling bee, but the services offered by its staff of 45 cover far more aspects of education for Lawrence County’s 9,000 students.

“A lot of people have no idea of how

much we do,” Superintendent Jeff Saunders says of their work.

Saunders, a former teacher and Symmes Valley superintendent and high school principal, has been involved in education for 39 years and has been head of the ESC for two years.

“People know us more as the county office,” he said of the predecessor that became the ESC in the late 1990s.

One of the ESC’s biggest duties is in the field of health insurance for employees for all of the county’s school districts through the Lawrence County Insurance COG. “All schools are part of the same health

Julie Walters

PROFILE 2019

school education unit, which evaluates students with learning disabilities and provides education for them, while the Joint Cooperative program, which takes the place of the former Lawrence Academy, focuses on students who are in jeopardy of dropping out.

“It’s blended learning,” Saunders says of the cooperative. “They go to Collins Career Technical Center one day a week. We had 28 students graduate last year, and many would have possibly dropped out if they weren’t in the program. It’s been a huge success.”

The Alternative School is housed at the Lawrence County Juvenile Detention Center, under director David Rumley.

“A student is sent there instead of out-of-school suspension,” Saunders said. “It’s usually one to five days. It’s short term.”

The ESC also provides services, such as attendance officers for five districts and CCTC, speech services for multi-category handicapped students and psychological services for four districts.

“We have two therapists who work with county M.C. students,” Saunders said.

The school resource officer program, which puts a member of law enforcement in Lawrence County schools, is also coordinated by the ESC. “They come through us,” Saunders said. “We’re the fiscal agent.”

Leadership is provided by the ESC in the form of a Business Advisory Council for the county.

“This is something new we started last year,” Saunders said. It’s required by the state of Ohio and all districts are part.”

He said this helps districts do job shadowing for students with local businesses, as well as internships.

On March 15, they are planning a career symposium at Ohio University Southern, in which Saunders says 600 students will take place in a halfday session.

Other services for districts who contribute to the ESC include clerical matters, such as ordering grade books and record books and emergency medical cards, as well as providing a county staff and service district to employees of each district.

Also provided by the ESC, at

no additional cost to districts are BCI and FBI background checks, maintenance of bus driver information and bus driver in-service at the beginning of each school year, monthly meetings of districts superintendents, paraprofessional testing for teacher’s aides, tutoring for students housed at the juvenile detention center and summer academy professional development for teachers.

Saunders said they are continually looking to expand services, based on needs in the county.

“We continue to look and ask districts what they need,” Saunders said. “If there’s something out there where the ESC can be involved, it’s part of our service.” a

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insurance group,” Saunders said. “We act as the fiscal agent for the group.”

Saunders said one of the biggest challenges in the job is keeping up with changes in the states requirement for curriculum and special education services.

Its supervisors serve as a liaison between the Ohio Department of Education and State Support Team Region15 and interpret and disseminate research, best practices and current trends related to instruction, program development and implementation. Curriculum supervisors include Becky Bowling, Johnna Lunsford, Julie Mayo and Beverly Tillis.

Other duties of the supervisors include attending local and national conferences to bring resources to the region, partnering with universities in providing professional development to college education majors, providing guidance regarding updated material to meet Common Core standards and promoting college readiness and career paths for students.

Another area is student services, where coordinator Julie Walters organizes events like the science fair and spelling bee, as well as Quiz Bowl tournaments for the county’s high and middle schools and the Model United Nations.

The ESC also operates the Lawrence County Special Education Cooperative, the Joint Cooperative Program and the Alternative School for the county.

The Special Education Cooperative is based in the middle and high

61

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