Harrison News Herald 09-19-20

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

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COVID outbreak continues with 13 new cases By JD LONG

jim@harrisonnewsherald.com CADIZ – There have now been 30 cases of COVID-19 reported just in the past two weeks for Harrison County. All but five are Harrison County residents with 19 being residents of The Meadows care facility and seven staff members, according to Harrison County Health Administrator Garen Rhome. Thirteen of those new cases were reported this week (Monday) with nine being residents of the facility and four staff members. Two of those staff members are residents outside the county, according to Rhome and apparently only one case was reported that had nothing to do with The Meadows from the past two weeks. “Symptoms vary,” Rhome began to explain at the Harrison County

Commissioner’s meeting on Wednesday. “We do have residents with symptoms [and] there are a few hospitalizations still and we have residents who are asymptomatic.” He said it’s the same for staff when referring to symptoms and asymptomatic as well. The total cases reported for the county now stand at 60 with 30 “presumed” to have recovered and active cases stand at 29. Rhome did offer that many are still being quarantined that have come in close contact with someone who has come down with the virus. Rhome also cited a situation that so far, has not produced any active cases but called it a “testament to these mitigation efforts.” He described it basically as what to do and not to do where an individual attended a party who was eventually tested positive for COVID.

WHEN YOU’RE iN PUBLiC, BEHAVE AS iF YOU’RE SHEDDiNG THE ViRUS SO THAT WE CAN CONTiNUE TO SLOW iT DOWN. GAREN RHOME “And it’s resulted in positives in other counties,” he explained where it has caused 12 to be quarantined in the county. He said some tests are still pending for those people. Rhome again stressed to people to not go out in public if it’s not necessary if

Jewett getting much-needed gas station By JD LONG

jim@harrisonnewsherald.com

JEWETT – For location, one couldn’t ask for anything better as far as a new business going up in the village of Jewett. Activity has been slowly building at the corner of Ohio 9 and 151 near those white crosses next to the New Rumley sign commemorating General George Custer’s birthplace. Council Member Paul Prevot and wife Bobbie are the ones behind a new gas station-convenience store opening up, hopefully in early December after some COVID-19 related delays. Prevot said the location, especially for getting gas, is perfect because other locations are a bit far in between such as, Cadiz, Scio or Hopedale for example. But that’s not all his new business is about, which he is calling Brightside Junction. Prevot plans on selling hot food with pizza and sub sandwiches included. The foundation is set and now he is waiting for the walls to go up, which is planned for sometime this week. The plumbing was inspected on Tuesday with electrician work to follow. Prevot said he plans on selling unleaded-plus, premium and with the heavy truck traffic still in the area, diesel fuel will be on the pumps as well. “We’re pushing to get it sooner,” Prevot said about his December opening, which was originally scheduled for the time of Thanksgiving but COVID got in the way of that. He said once the tanks are in then the pumps and a canopy will go up. But the store itself will be ready and waiting before those other items are installed. Prevot said he will wait and open everything at once, though instead of opening the store without serving gas. How he came up with the name Brightside came from his youth when

feeling sick and to maintain keeping a distance from others as much as possible. “So, it’s the perfect tale of what not to do, and stay at home if you’re feeling sick can slow the spread either in isolated infected people or in quarantined people,” Rhome explained. Rhome said these recent events from the past two weeks have solidly placed Harrison County in the Level 2 or, “Orange” category of public emergency status. The directive for this category is “increased exposure and spread” and stresses a high degree of caution. The difference between this level and Level 3 (Red) is “very high exposure and spread” and Level 4 (Purple) states “severe exposure and spread,” where it stresses leaving home for supplies and necessities only. “We should stay orange this week,”

Bowerston Council announces annual clean up day, discusses storm drain smoke testing By JACQUIE HUMPHREY NH Correspondent

It’s not much now but Jewett Council Member Paul Prevot expects his new convenience-Marathon gas station store to be open by early December at the latest. The foundation and plumbing are in and the walls are expected to go up sometime this week or early next week. The location is next to the railroad tracks when coming down Ohio 9 next to the memorial park in Jewett.

growing up he said that side of the tracks used to be known as “Brightside,” so he felt it was a natural thing to do. It will be a Marathon station and he said that works out well with many truckers having Marathon gas cards. “It was a win-win” situation Prevot called it regarding Marathon and the location after searching for about a month. He wanted the store to be inside the village and he got what he wanted. Prevot said when growing up there were three gas stations and several stores throughout the village but then

he moved away and came back to practically nothing, and a drastically changed area. “We decided to do something about it,” he said of him and his wife’s decision. Marathon is installing the sign, which will be designed to provide information and Riley Petroleum has been helping with everything else from gas tanks, pumps and canopy installation. “They know how to build a gas station,” he said of Riley Petroleum and called working with them fantastic.

Rhome told the board. “We’re certainly not moving back to yellow based on the indicators that I could see.” In response to a question Rhome said the first step is always contact your doctor so he/she could determine if you need a test. “When you’re in public behave as if you’re shedding the virus so that we can continue to slow it down,” Rhome stated. Some of those indicators Rhome has talked of in the past include new cases per capita, which gets an area “flagged” if active cases are greater than 50 cases per 100,000. Others are a sustained increase in new cases; a proportion of cases that are not in a congregate setting; sustained increase in Emergency Department visits for COVID-like illness and outpatient visits. Also, an increase in new COVID hospital admissions, as well as Intensive Care Unit bed occupancy.

BOWERSTON - At the September meeting of the Bowerston Village Council, Village Administrator Allen Case reminded Council that the Village’s Annual clean-up day is scheduled for Saturday Sept. 19. Case said that he has ordered a total of five dumpsters and that the Village will begin accepting items at 8 a.m., at the Boyce Drive garage, and will continue until the dumpsters are full. Case said that tires will not be accepted, nor will liquid paints or hazardous materials, but old electronics are okay. In other discussion, Council President Paula Beamer reported that she had recently spoken with representatives from the EL Robinson Engineering firm and was advised that smoke testing of the Village’s storm sewer drains will need to be performed. Beamer told Council that this testing in part of the $5.1 million grant application project that the Village has entered into with EL Robinson to repair and upgrade the Village’s wastewater system, and that the cost will be rolled into that of the project. Other Action: - Approved additional expense of up to $5,000 to replace,

instead of repairing, a pump at Well #1. - Appointed Hope Hurley and Karen Donovan to vacant Council seats, expiring on Dec. 31, 2021. - Learned from Solicitor Jenna Hokes that an ordinance to vacate the alley discussed at the August meeting will be prepared for the first reading at the October meeting. - Learned from Village Administrator that there is a vast discrepancy between water produced and water billed for the Village and that his department is researching the issue in depth. - Accepted donation of two basketball hoops for use at the Village Park from Milo Baker. - Approved the purchase of five fire hydrant locks and keys. - Approved Resolution 102020, amending appropriations in the street, sewer and water funds. - Rescinded motion approved at August meeting to return donated wheelbarrow to Councilman Bob John. This donation was never accepted by Council. The next regular meeting of the Bowerston Village Council will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. in the Community Park Building.

Hoagland announces pandemic relief grants for veterans organizations across Ohio COLUMBUS — State Senator Frank Hoagland (R-Mingo Junction) announced today that the Office of Budget and Management (OBM) is now accepting grant applications from veterans service organizations in Ohio with an active post to help with

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COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses. Each active post is eligible for a $5,000 grant to assist in operating safely during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including supporting increased sanitation costs,

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maintaining social distancing, purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) and other necessary costs to comply with public health orders, local health department recommendations, and best practices. "I am pleased to see these grants

made available for our veterans organizations who have put forth sincere efforts to maintain a healthy and safe environment during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Hoagland. "I encourage each organization who needs help to apply

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for this funding." The grant program was approved by the state Controlling Board in July, authorizing $3 million in federal CARES Acts dollars for veterans.

OBiTUARiES Doris Anne Birney Burton Jewett, Ohio Charles Melvin Harris Jr. Cadiz, Ohio Ricky Tanner Cadiz, Ohio

Board of Elections installs ballot drop box | PG 2

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Huskies suffer first loss of season to Bellaire | PG 6

Fall Smokeout Truck, Tractor Pull Sept. 26 | PG 9

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Bonnie (Dessify) LaCross Cadiz, Ohio Robert Daniel Hyre Piedmont, Ohio

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