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SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2018
Up and away
harrisonnewsherald.com
Commissioners pave way for sheriff to move on Armory By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – Harrison County Sheriff Joe Myers brought forth a resolution (20-18) at Wednesday’s Harrison County Commissioner’s meeting, seeking permission to submit the sheriff’s office request to occupy the Armory on U.S. 250 in Cadiz. Myers said he’s been working on the project for the past few years but now has to contend with the village of Cadiz, which talked openly in a meeting last month of also wanting to occupy the Armory building. “We’ve been working with [the] CIC (Harrison County Community Improvement Corporation) in order to get this done and get it in to be considered for that as far as a sheriff’s office and a jail,” Myers explained. He said the move would likely cut costs they are spending outside the county because of a lack of jail space, as well as currently having no women’s facility in Harrison County, and transportation costs. The Armory is officially called the SSG George J. Conaway U.S. Army Reserve Center and the resolution, read by Commissioner Dale Norris, states that the resolution’s purpose is for a “Law Enforcement/Correctional Facility.” The resolution states that the county sheriff’s office was built back in 1925 and is one of the oldest jails still in use. “The jail does not meet ADA requirements and the two-story structure impedes
monitoring and tracking of inmates,” the resolution states as read by Norris. “There is boiler heat with no central air conditioning and no sprinkler and fire alarm system due to the age of the structure.” The resolution continues by adding that a feasibility study conducted back in 2014 concluded that the “renovation and expansion of the existing facility not fiscally responsible due to compliance issues, efficiency, renovation costs and expansion limits.” Norris continued reading stating that the current facility, which holds eight beds is always full with more serious suspects, females and juveniles having to be incarcerated elsewhere, hence the extra costs to the county. “Twenty percent of incarcerations alone in 2017 were female inmates with forty-seven percent of the Sheriff’s Office budget spent on out-of-county transportation and housing. Deputies spend hours transporting prisoners instead of patrolling the county.” The resolution concludes with renovations at the new facility that could include a booking/holding area, padded cell, medical segregation, video arraignment/visitation, a vehicle sally port, outdoor recreation and program classrooms among the numerous possibilities. Commissioner,Don Bethel asked about an asbestos study for the Armory but Myers stated he wasn’t aware of one being done. Bethel said he didn’t want to see the building
See SHERIFF, PG. 2
Our Question of the Week:
Should the sheriff’s office be moved to the armory? vote at: harrisonnewsherald.com
Stewart pleads guilty, receives 4 years in prison for fatal crash By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com NH Photo | MICHAEL SIEBER
A crew from Coon Restoration Specialists spent the better part of Thursday afternoon removing the securing cables and the internal support to free the Lady Justice statue and remove it for a muchneeded restoration.
Lady Justice removed for her makeover By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – Thursday morning a massive crane pulled into place between the sheriff’s office and the Harrison County Courthouse. The mission, by Coon Restoration Specialists was to bring down Lady Justice, who occupies the highest point atop the building. Sean Bremkamp of Coon explained that what’s in store for the lady is a complete cleaning, which is now green with age. When that happens it is called patina that forms on the surface of copper if it is not treated and coated. The treatment will be the same as was performed on the statue of John Bingham several years ago. The Bingham statue has a nice, bright copper shine and will stay that way because it has been coated and now Lady Justice will get the same treatment.
Also, some windows that are a part of the base will be replaced and the rest cleaned up as well. Asked why they couldn’t just clean the statue in place without taking it down he cited the new roof, Bremkamp said, “It’s easier getting it down on the ground and getting it done.” He said he feared the chemicals used to clean the statue might damage the roof if they cleaned it in place. A steel rod is the main hold on the statue that had to be undone with other steel emplacements but the job did not take that long once they had the statue secured. Bremkamp said it may take two weeks to a month to get the actual cleaning and restoration job done depending on circumstances for the approximately 2,000 pound statue, though he was only guessing at the weight, which ladies usually like to keep secret. “It will be shining like the one out front,” he said of Bingham’s statue.
Sports
Events
Area
Harrison Central fall sports gets underway
Picnic, concert to be held in New Rumley
The Harrison Central golf, volleyball, and soccer teams started their seasons this past week, which kicked off the fall sports season. See Page 6
The band Sugar Creek Bluegrass is performing during the annual community picnic at the New Rumley UMC on Sept. 1. See Page 13
CADIZ – What was intended to be a final pre-trial hearing turned out to be a guilty plea on the part of Logan S. Stewart, 26, of Jewett, for the charge of aggravated vehicular homicide. Stewart’s February night of drinking and driving led to the death of his passenger, Shane Shook, also of Jewett. Judge T. Shawn Hervey read the sentence, which followed his explanation in handing down four years of prison, and included Stewart’s moderate Ohio Risk Assessment (ORAS), his lack of criminal history, though it did include one DUI arrest, his taking responsibility for his actions and a prior case he cited as one precedent for his decision. The case cited involved a defendant facing a DUI charge, and while out on bond and high on heroin, struck another vehicle also causing the death of another person. That individual received only five years in prison and as Hervey noted, had a more significant criminal history than Stewart. The early afternoon resolution to the case took place in front of a nearly packed courtroom of family and friends supporting both Stewart and Shook’s families. Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Bruzzese stated the obvious when he told the court that Stewart’s prior
DUI paled in comparison to his vehicular homicide charge he was now pleading guilty to. “Certainly that phone call that this young man’s family had to receive on Feb. 9th is any parent’s worst nightmare…and I don’t believe I have the words to offer this court to bring any perspective to this family’s loss…,” Bruzzese said. Bruzzese then turned matters over to Victim’s Rights Attorney Christopher Woeste who introduced Shane’s mother Kristy who read a prepared statement on behalf of her husband and herself. Kristy recalled how they received a call from Stewart telling them he’d been in an accident and that her son Shane was being taken away in an ambulance. He did not tell them Shane had died. “He was extremely careless and did not care about anybody’s feelings,” Kristy said relating her husband’s thoughts. “He put so many family’s lives in danger.” She continued reading about how much Shane meant to them, how young he was and was “never a nobody,” and how he affected many lives and what a big heart he had. Kristy said Shane had big plans, had a good job and “once he established himself was going to take over his dad’s garage and the family
See CRASH PG. 2
Question of the week
Bowerston hires new village administrator
Last week’s question
Next week’s question
Are you ready for back to school time?
Question
The Bowerston Village Council hired Jeramiah Warner as a full-time employee and Village Administrator. See Page 2
YES 60% (9 VOTES) NO 40% (6 VOTES)
Should the sheriff’s office be moved to the armory? YES • NO
Vote@HarrisonNewsHerald.com
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