SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021
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Dollar Tree confirmed for Cadiz By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com CADIZ – The retail store coming to Cadiz that’s been talked about recently was confirmed at the last Cadiz council meeting when Village Administrator Costa D. Mastros revealed that a purchase agreement had been signed between the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) and a prospective buyer for the old ODOT property on Lincoln Ave. Mastros said the buyer is requesting the mayor sign a “comfort letter” stating the mayor is consenting to the sale of that property. The exact location is in front of the Tractor Supply building along Lincoln
Ave. “To basically say that they want the mayor on behalf of the village to — consent if you will — to the sale of the property and user, which is the Family Dollar Tree and they’re going to be selling general merchandise and food and beverage…” Mastros explained. Mastros said he had no problem with Migliore signing it as long as it was “conditional because you never know what’s going to happen.” Mastros was concerned expressing his notion for the company to follow through with village ordinances or state laws that they would initially agree to, for example. “…We want this to go through and we
want to sell this last piece of property; we don’t want to bind ourselves…I want to make sure that we never box ourselves in,” he told council while noting that he was sure everyone wanted this sale to go through. Also, proceeds from the Auto Zone property that was sold years ago was majority owned by the CIC and they recouped that money, according to Mastros. He said the auditor’s office was not comfortable with that but after some research he stated that it was legal for the CIC to receive those funds. “The ordinance that I drafted so that we can make specific findings so that when this last sale goes through, that money can
just be transferred to [the] CIC and that will end our obligation…” Mastros explained after using the Auto Zone property sale as an example. A motion for Mastros to draw up that ordinance was approved. A third topic for discussion that Mastros raised concerned the issue of the school wanting to take over the lease of Mazeroski Field, which was debated at the prior meeting. He said after speaking with Harrison Hills’ attorney he understood what they ultimately wanted, which was a long term lease and to put a “couple million dollars into this park.” Mastros explained that if and when the lease would be terminated there would be
a buy-back agreement, which would include the improvements spent on the park. Mastros said after more talk a threeyear lease would be negotiated where the school would just maintain the property and not heavily invest as was initially mentioned. “But it’s going to be a three-year lease and then they’re going to go get their own field,” Mastros told council. Next discussed was how much of the property would actually be up for sale if the village decided to go that direction. Mastros said he told the school to give him a “map” in exactly what they’re looking to buy and he would relay that back to council for further discussion.
COVID cases decline for third consecutive week By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – With just six recorded cases reported last week one would think it difficult to improve on that but that’s just what happened when Harrison County Health Administrator Garen Rhome reported on Wednesday to the commissioners that just five cases were reported since last week. This brings the total case count to 1,030 with presumed recovered up to 999, just four above last week’s 995. The number of deceased remained at 24 and active cases are at seven, up just one from last week. Rhome noted the fact that the county had moved from Red to Orange in the advisory system since last week, which he said was expected with cases dropping each week. He said the county was also close to tripping only one indicator but for now, remains at two indicators being triggered. “It’s a good indication that the spread is certainly decreasing… relative to recent months…” Rhome explained. He said last week the Johnson & Johnson vaccines were used as a first and only dose, which came to 300 doses. He said just over 700 doses were given out in Harrison County with 400 of them being a first dose. Of that total 300 were given their second dose.
“And just as we’ve done the entire time, we’ll be able to gather these people’s names as best we can and offer the vaccine to anyone who’s eligible and interested,” Rhome explained. He said that some additional medical conditions were added to the list of eligible people beginning last Friday. This includes anyone with cancer, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary and heart disease and obesity. “That is a large chunk of medical conditions that are included beginning on Friday,” which are among the initial list of conditions that have already been in place. Next up for the state is anyone 40 years of age and older in Ohio, which is regardless of medical condition. The 40 and older group will be eligible on Friday, March 19, though, Rhome emphasized that those people may not necessarily receive the vaccine on that day but it is the beginning of their eligibility. Rhome said for March 29, any Ohio adult will be eligible for Phase 2B. He said the product would dictate if eligibility is in the 16 or older group, or if it’s to be 18 and older. He said the Pfizer product was for the 16 and older group with Johnson & Johnson and Moderna consisting of the group 18 and older. Rhome also briefly addressed the
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Rollover in Bowerston results in no injuries By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
BOWERSTON – A two-vehicle crash that took place early last Friday morning surprisingly resulted in no injuries as one vehicle was flipped onto its roof. Two females riding in a black Subaru Legacy could not avoid Allan Wilkin,
who was driving a black Chevy Cobalt LT left of center. The two vehicles struck on the front sides of each other causing the Subaru to flip over. A trooper for the Ohio Highway State Patrol (OHSP) stated that Wilkin said he had some mechanical issues but could not find any evidence of that. He said it appeared to the driver of the Subaru that Wilkin was attempting to
pass another vehicle when he drove completely over the center line where his left front tire was seen leaving a skid mark on the shoulder of the other lane. All parties refused medical treatment on site. Bowerston and Scio fire and rescue responded, as well as the OHSP. Wilkin was cited for driving left of center and for driving while on OVI suspension.
Jewett police talk policy updates, unkempt properties BY BONNIE RUTLEDGE JEWETT — The Jewett Council meeting on March 17 focused largely on the changing requirements for police and the never-ending cycle of warnings and summons issued to property owners for their lack of maintaining their properties. Federal and state mandates have required all
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police officers to agree to new procedures, creating an abundance of paperwork and re-training for local cops. Chokeholds are now considered to be “extreme deadly force”, the same level of seriousness as a shooting as it pertains to an officer’s abuse of a suspect. “I’ve been working on a new policy [to comply with] federal and state
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guidelines for use of force,” stated Chief Carter. “We had to take choke holds out and put a bunch of other stipulations in for use of tasers, mace, etc. ...All the officers have signed off on it.” Included in the updated regulations on police are heightened requirements for storing evidence. Chief Cater requested a new safe that will need to
be bolted to the floor in order to comply. “For years we’ve talked about this, but now with the new guidelines we will have to obtain a large safe for evidence, things like weapons, narcotics, and money. Our setup will no longer be sufficient with the new guidelines. Currently in our evidence we have crack, coke, heroin, meth, guns, knives,
a meth lab that was decontaminated, and sexual assault kits that all must be kept under lock and key.” Council members and officers alike expressed their disdain for the amount and frequency of unkempt property offenders. Carter noted that the repeated warnings and summons for
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Grace Louise Grimes Cadiz, Ohio Mary L. Markley Cadiz, Ohio
Bids announced for trail paving | PG 3
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Upcoming Easter events | PG 5
HC cheerleaders place third in competition | PG 6
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