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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2019
harrisonnewsherald.com
1939 orphan wells set for plugging at Seneca Lake By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
NEW PHILADELPHIA – Two orphan wells, one discovered by accident during a Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) team are planned for plugging in the very near future. The announcement came at last Friday’s MWCD meeting held in New Philadelphia where Brad Janssen, oil and gas operations coordinator handed over most of the news for Mark Swiger, conservation administrator to announce.
Both called the plugging of two orphan wells at Seneca Lake “unique situation.” The uniqueness they referred to was that the two wells actually were in the water. “So, it’s a challenging situation in that it has to be done during drawdown,” Swiger explained. He said one well was a quarter-mile long making it a significant project and one that is being funded by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). He told the board the wells would be taken care of via a “plugging application, right-of-release” form, which has been requested by ODNR.
Board Member, James Gresh asked if there were any threats to the environment if the plugging operation were not done, considering the wells are in the lake itself. Swiger stated that it would be a problem if something was to happen while the water were at normal levels. “As far as the well itself they’re basically traditional wells but, all these orphan wells are challenging in that you don’t know,” Swiger explained, “it’s not like a producing well that has a road built to it that you know the casing history, you know exactly what’s down hole. In these cases you have old
records from 1939 that are pretty basic and you don’t know exactly, so that’s a challenge.” After more questioning Swiger continued by explaining the identification of the wells with one that wasn’t far from the shoreline but the other was discovered by an MWCD engineering team on reconnaissance for future dredging work. He said this well was in shallow water that he wasn’t previously aware of. He said people seeing it would probably not recognize what it was as just a “pipe sticking out of the lake.” Adam Schroeder, public information officer for ODNR stated that these wells
are scored for potential environmental impact. And if one is found to be a threat then the well in question would be placed at the top of the list for emergency capping. Swiger said these are the only two orphan wells on MWCD property that they are aware of. In answer to another question Swiger said the drawdown for access to these wells would be “close to standard.” He said a requested date of Nov. 1 as opposed to Nov. 15 for drawdown, in order to give a few extra weeks of work to the project. The board approved the execution of this agreement.
A Queen Is Crowned
Job & Family Services seeks additional funds By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – Wednesday, Assistant Director of Harrison County Jobs & Family Services (HCJFS), Deb Knight, came before the Harrison County Commissioners requesting to seek Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) funds. Knight opened up by explaining that they are modifying their contract with Jefferson County Community Action Council for their Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program (CCMEP). She said the contract is effective from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 of 2020. Knight explained that the CCMEP program is funded by, not only TANF but also Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and the contract is for the TANF funds. She stated that TANF and WIOA funding is different in years and they have to have two separate contracts. Jefferson County CAC’s Mike McGlumphy was also present and told the board that they served 62 youth under the TANF program last year, “and we were turning youth away because we ran out of money. So, we anticipate we’re going to get more TANF funding…” He added that most is used for their summer youth program. Knight said the funding is for $207,672. Also, Knight addressed their Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) plan, which needs reviewed
NH PHOTO | D.J. WATSON
2019 Homecoming Queen Lexi Carter (center) poses with the court and class representatives during halftime ceremonies of last weekend’s game. Check out the coverage of the homecoming game against Union Local on pg. 6.
See SEEKS PG. 3
Silent Watch for area’s veterans attracts large numbers
Scio presses on to finish LMI study By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
SCIO – The Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) study that is so crucial to villages like Scio for obtaining certain grants, is closing in on their first deadline. Income Tax Administrator Janeen Scott told council on Wednesday evening that she had received around 50 studies back from their residents. That figure had increased to around 60 by Thursday afternoon as Scott stated the deadline for the first batch of letters sent out is Oct. 4th. “It’s okay, I hope it comes together and it looks good right now,” she told council on Wednesday. Scott said a total of 190 is required to be turned in to the state but that total won’t be due until the end of the year. She said a second batch of letters she sends out would have another deadline beyond Oct. 4, as part of a process she must follow. Mayor Michelle Carpenter stressed the importance of the LMI study in conjunction with Scio’s chances of receiving certain grants.
See SCIO PG. 3
HARRISON
NEWS-HERALD
By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com CADIZ – The Silent Watch held Sunday in front of the Harrison County Courthouse from morning till late afternoon, attracted a solid number of people, according to Harrison County Veteran’s Service Officer Patricia Largent. The event was to show support for veterans who have struggled after returning from military service, especially those who have seen combat. Veterans are committing suicide at an alarming rate and Largent plans to hold a silent watch each year, though she said it might not be for the same hours, which lasted from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this year. Anyone who chose to stand in silent watch could do so and many did. Largent said the group from Tuscarawas County, “Save 22”, stood for an hour while others from the Scio, Cadiz and Hopedale Legions also stood in watch of their brothers and sisters in arms. Also, the Hopedale Legion Riders made two stands for their fellow veterans in need. Also on hand was Belmont County Veteran’s Clinic Social Worker, Kellie Conaway who spoke to many veterans who stopped by for advice and information. According to statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, shows that in Ohio for the 2017 year, 233 suicides were committed by males compared to just 14 females, for a total of 243. The national picture was enormous with a total
See SILENT WATCH PG. 3
Events
Veterans and anyone who chose could stand during Silent Watch Sunday, a vigil for troubled veterans who have returned from military service. Some veterans are so troubled they are turning to suicide, which was the reason for the event. But not all of it was symbolic as many veterans turned out for advice and information. Pictured left to right: Joe Shepherd (Piney Fork), Don Jochims (Hopedale), Brian Zack (Brilliant), Steve Cochran (Smithfield). The coffin was a symbolic figure depicting the lives lost by a veteran’s own hand.
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Evelyn Eileen Palmer Tippcanoe, Ohio
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