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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2018
harrisonnewsherald.com
High yield drug arrests alarm law enforcement We are not going to sit back and let this take over our community. We are actively working Cadiz Det. Sgt., Ron Carter on this problem. By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – Recent arrests stretching back to last month have resulted in suspects facing third and fourth degree felony charges respectively.
Sean Blanton, 33, of Cadiz was arrested on Sept. 6 when he was stopped at approximately 1:30 p.m. during a routine traffic stop, according to Cadiz Det. Sgt., Ron Carter. When Blanton was pulled over police discovered an infant sitting in the
passenger’s lap with no safety seat. When marijuana was detected, a K-9 unit was called in, but before arriving, Blanton had voluntarily exited his vehicle and gave permission for a search where a large amount of crystal meth was found. Carter called the find “substantial” and Blanton now faces aggravated trafficking in drugs, a third degree felony. The passenger was not charged with anything but child services were called in as a precaution. Blanton’s bond was
set at $100,000. Another drug bust, the most recent of which occurred Tuesday evening at approximately 6:30 p.m. in Cadiz. Lewis Whited, 31 of Cadiz was arrested after a routine traffic stop. A K-9 unit was called in and alerted police to the passenger side where Whited was sitting. Carter stated only that a “large amount of meth” was discovered plus a digital scale and a “substantial” amount of cash as well. The recent drug arrests have alarmed
officials considering the amounts found on the suspects and the police are sending out a warning. “We know that there is meth in the area and we are cracking down,” Carter said adding that he hoped this recent arrest would send a message to anyone else trafficking through the area. “We are not going to sit back and let this take over our community. We are actively working on this problem.” Whited’s bond was set at $125,000 and he is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 18 at 2 p.m.
Cadiz waterline projects hindered by contractor issues By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – The village of Cadiz’s waterline and paving projects have been intertwined and during last week’s meeting, Cadiz council discussed several issues that have been ongoing. Some of those include work being done but taking then taking too long to re-pave the street or gas lines being severed. Council Member Mike McPeak raised the issue of waterlines being shut down by the contractor, identified as Mike Enyart & Sons Inc., while giving little or no notice to either the residents or the water department. McPeak said two valves were shut off sending the water department on a wild goose chase where they, at first, did not know what the problem was. Village Administrator Charley Bowman said he was aware of some of the problems, especially ongoing the past week. “There has just been some carelessness on the
See ISSUES, PG. 5
NH Photo | ESTHER McCOY
More drilling could be in Bus trip pays visit to 103-year old farm Harrison County’s future By ESTHER MCCOY The Mercer extended family gathered together for the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation bus tour with a focus on the southern part of the county. From left, front are: Rylee Mercer and Shelby Robinson, granddaughters; Shelly Vahalik and Kim Robinson, daughters; McKenna Carter; Jody Mercer, daughter; and Mckenzie Carter. Back, Terry Lynn Andrews; Bud Mercer, son; Larry Mercer, farm owner; Gage Robinson, grandson; Henry Carter and Kevin Robinson, son in law.
NH Contributor
A bus tour, sponsored by the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation, took its passengers to a farm outside of Richmond on Sept. 8. It was here that an outdoor lunch was served and provided a "farm to table" experience as most of the meal consisted of locally-grown and raised produce. An amazing story of longevity can be told of the farm as it has been in the Mercer family for 103 years and designated an Ohio Century Farm in 2015. It got its start with Ross Mercer envisioning a farm of his own close to the land of his family when he was young, When he and Docia, his wife, became owners of his prized land in 1915, his dream came true.Larry Mercer, grandson to Ross, told that the elder gentleman built
Sports Huskies go down in mud bog Mother Nature decided to join the game between the Huskies and the Bellaire Big Reds. The result was a soupy mess of a field that saw the Huskies sent to the cleaners. See Page 6
up a dairy operation selling heavy cream, the ingredient that rises to the top of unpasteurized milk, and the skim milk was fed to the pigs who thrived on the unwanted milk. The cream was shipped in 10-gallon milk cans in a truck that was driven by Merle Cline, Doria's brother, to Spahn Dairy in Steubenville. The tall milk cans were used until about 1957 when farmers went to milk tanks that held the product until ready to be shipped, according to Larry. By 1964, Lowell Mercer, his dad, had 18 milking cows and 40 head of sheep. Larry was born in the big farm house in 1946. He and his wife, Carolyn, now reside on the smaller residence on the farm land and their daughter, Jody, occupies the big house with her prized dogs and a cat. Bud, their son, resides in a trailer with the three families all within shouting distance of each other."We could not live without Jody next door," Carolyn said. The other children are Kim Robinson of Wintersville and Shelley Valhalik of Richmond.
There are three grandchildren, Gage and Shelby Robinson and Rylee Mercer. The whole family was present at the JSWD bus tour of Central Jefferson County including. Ed Vahalik and Evan Robinson, son in laws; Henry Carter, Jody's boy friend; Makayla and Martina Marko and their mom, Lori; Terry Lynn, Bud's girl friend; Shirley and Bill Fithen; Kevin and Amy Browning and daughter, Grace. “My dad raised pigs and sheep along with the milk cows and when I graduated from high school in 1964, I started doing the milking until 2011. It was at this time that we stopped dairy farming”, he noted. The Mercers started raising and selling hay and switched to doing round bales to make it easier, as the machines did all the work. “The square bales took lots of time," Mercer said. Also grown are soy beans, corn and hay, it was noted. Bud had written to the Ohio Department
CADIZ – The Harrison County Community Improvement Corporation (HCCIC) held its monthly meeting downstairs at the Puskarich Library in Cadiz Tuesday. Among the items addressed was a little tidbit from Board Member Bob Hendricks on the acquisition of Chesapeake Energy (Ohio interests) by Encino Acquisition Partners. He stated that the new owners are “much more financially solvent than Chesapeake was” and said people should expect more drilling in the near future, at least in this area. He continued by noting the nearly $10 billion of debt, as reported by Chesapeake, as the reason for liquidating their shale play in this area.
See FARM, PG. 3
See DRILLING, PG. 5
Events
School
Coal Miners reunion to be held at Coal Museum
Harrison Central announces Homecoming Court
If you’re interested in sharing some memories of when Coal was King in Harrison County, check out the reunion to be held Sept. 22 at the Coal Museum See Page 2
In two weeks, the Huskies face off against the Purple Riders of Martins Ferry — a game which marks the homecoming for the Huskies. See Page 7
By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
Question of the week Last week’s question
Next week’s question
Should 4-wheelers be banned from village streets?
Question Should Lakeland Academy get any of abatement tax funds that HHSD is receiving from the power plant? YES • NO
YES 82% (22 VOTES) NO 20% (5 VOTES)
Vote@HarrisonNewsHerald.com
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