$1.25
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020
harrisonnewsherald.com
Harrison Hills prepares to open in phases
“
Until there is a cure, vaccine, or effective treatment is readily available, social distancing and other preventative measures will be the ‘new normal’ during any aspect of sport in Ohio.
“
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine
By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – As things attempt to return to normal with the opening of bars, restaurants and other fun things the public has been deprived of, sports is also on the menu for wetting a hungry public appetite. At the May Harrison Hills Board of Education (HHBOE) meeting held last Thursday the school announced the opening of their sports apparatus via three phases. Phase one would include pre-workout screening for all coaches and students for COVID-19. It was noted that the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) “will continue to work in collaboration with
Governor DeWine,” as well as the department of health for state orders and recommendations. The limitations on gatherings still restrict it to 10 people or less (indoors or out), which include participants and coaches. Locker rooms are not to be used during phase one. Workouts will be conducted in what is described as “pods” involving five to 10 students with less gathering for weight training. Also, if the six-foot distancing cannot be maintained then the number of individuals in the room should be decreased. And along with the usual sanitary provisions and requirements no athletic equipment is to be shared, which include towels, clothing or “sport
specific equipment,” for example. Balls and equipment, clothing and machinery are to be washed down after every practice. For phase two there is really not much difference when it comes to caution except for the 10 individual gathering limit for indoors, now up to 50 people can gather for outdoor workouts. For physical activity, “Lower risk sports practices may resume” with modified practices beginning for moderate risk sports. Phase three includes, along with recording all individuals present at workouts, but more importantly “Vulnerable individuals can resume public interactions, but should practice physical distancing…” Also, now up to
50 people may gather for not only outdoor workouts but indoors as well. The continuation of pre-practice screening as was done in phases one and two is noted as well. Included in the summer guidelines were some notes of do’s and don’ts, which include Wagner Field, the track facility and the weight room for screening purposes. Athletic Director Ray Hibbs said things were slowly getting back to normal with football already underway. He said boys and girls soccer was to follow with some of that going on as well, then volleyball. “We’re kind of slowly moving back… ” he said of preparations for the coming
See PHASES PG. 3
BASEBALL IS BACK!
Second week of no new virus cases in Har. Co. By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – For the second consecutive week no new COVID19 cases have been reported according to Harrison County Health Administrator Garen Rhome. His report, delivered at Wednesday’s commissioner’s meeting, included only one still hospitalized. Rhome said nine of 10 confirmed cases in the county have now recovered fully. He acknowledged to the board that 10 cases is not the best sample size but he said of those 10 cases, it does seem to accentuate that the virus hits the elderly “much harder.” Regarding Ohio the numbers are still producing around an average of 530 new cases per day. “All those statistics in Ohio…it’s still very much in that plateau phase,” Rhome explained. “It doesn’t seem to be specifically trending in one direction or another.” Rhome said the new health advisory, which now extends through July 1 places all protocols into one location. “I think one of the big things that it did was it lifted the official restriction on private gatherings at a private residence…those are no longer limited in capacity,” Rhome explained. He said public gatherings are still limited to 10 people, though. Also, bids were opened for County Home and a road paving project. Commissioner Paul Coffland read the first bid openings, which was for the County Home wastewater sewer upgrades. Two bids were announced with one being James White Construction out of Weirton, W.Va., with a bid of $167,300. But the low bid came from Border Patrol at a significant distance, which was announced as $120,891. Coffland’s motion to table the bids for further review was approved. Bids for the Harrison 29 paving project consisted of three bidders and were also revealed. The low bidder being Shelly and Sands of Zanesville with a price of $681,558.88. NLS Paving of St. Clairsville came with a bid of $729,777.35. The high bid was from Cast and Baker Corporation of Canonsburg, Pa., with a price of $802,156.42. These bids were also tabled for review. Also presented for approval was the Victims Of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Victim’s Advocate Jessica Norris said that last year’s requested match was $13,336.95 with a current match being $19,940.01. The requested match for 2020 is listed at $13,619.64. “This year they’re doing things a little different,” Norris told the board. “We had to explain what makes our organization different, what services we provide. I think being a prosecutor’s office will be at the top of the list as far as priority, as to who they give funding to.” When Coffland asked her if she assumed her position was safe in the face of budget cuts, Norris said she could have the chance to amend the budget in October when the grant runs out (Oct. 1 through Sept. 30). She explained later that the state is looking to cut positions that either have more than one advocate or provide the same services, but since she is the only advocate in Harrison County she feels she is at the top of the list, as far as being protected. When asked Norris said domestic violence is the number one
See CASESPG. 3
HARRISON
NEWS-HERALD
NH Photo | ED BANKS
On Monday night a crowd of onlookers was present at Mazeroski Field to witness the return of Harrison Central sports for the first time during 2020. The contest was a baseball game between the Huskies and visiting St. Clairsville. The game ended with a late surge by the Huskies that ended with a close loss and a final of 7 - 6. Pictured during the contest was Harrison’s Kobe Mitchell as he opened the game for the Huskies.
Huskies open up baseball season with loss to St. C By ED BANKS
NH Sportswriter
CADIZ - On Monday night in Cadiz the Mazeroski baseball complex was full of spectators, as the seal on ‘no sports’, was at last broken. The long-lasting drought took to the wind when Harrison Central opened the summer league with a baseball contest against the visiting Red Devils of St Clairsville. Harrison’s Kobe Mitchell jogged to the hill for the home standers after getting the nod from Head Coach Mike Valesko. It would not take many pitches to get the crowd into the game, and less pitches before the visitors knocked-in the opening score. But the
Area
night was not about all of that, instead there was an overwhelming feeling of content and redemption, as the crowd settled in. “It was so good to be around the kids,” said Valesko. “We look at the game as an opportunity for the kids, and the youth will always come first. It has been a very special week getting ready for this game. Watching the kids play was like a vacation! I had told the coaches we may have a crowd tonight and did we ever. Harrison County is very special place for me. I grew up here and I can say that the fans love their sports,” Valesko added. Mitchell would work the first two innings of the game before being moved to shortstop, and Kaleb Blawut went to the hill. By the end of three innings, St.
Sports
Region
Clairsville was up 5 - 1. The Huskies would work their way back into the game, and had a shot of tying the score, while down 7 - 6. “St. Clairsville is a good team,” Valesko went on. “Neither of us have played a game in over a year, and both teams made mistakes. Our older guys competed well and swung the bats early and good. Tonight, we begin the process of getting ready for next year. We will also be in an upcoming game with Big Red this week,” Valesko concluded. The Huskies did not pull off the win but lost by the score of 7 - 6. All in all, they did have a victory on Monday; they were able to shed some rust and showed that they can battle back when needed.
Obits Leroy Eugene Harris New Philadelphia, Ohio
Ronald Myers Hewitt Scio, Ohio
Protests make their way into Cadiz | PG 3
harrisonnewsherald.com
Conotton’s Lyon signs with Kent State Tusc. | PG 6
Coronavirus food program available for farms | PG 8
facebook.com/harrisonnewsherald
newsroom@harrisonnewsherald.com