$1.25
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2019
Scio firefighters participate in Oilfield Emergency Response program GRANVILLE, OH – They train to protect our lives and our properties and for some Ohio firefighters, they also are trained for the rare occasion of responding to situations in an oil or natural gas field. As Ohioans benefit from the dramatic growth of oil and natural gas production, it is important to know that safety standards and special instruction for first responders keeps pace with this growth. The Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP) provides oil and gas field trainings for firefighters at no cost. Chief Brent Gates, of the New Concord Fire Department (Guernsey County), serves as the lead fire instructor for OOGEEP’s Oilfield Emergency Response Training program, along with more than 15 state- certified instructors with more than 500 years of combined experience in the oil and gas industry and/or fire service. “OOGEEP and our team of instructors offer a comprehensive training specific to Ohio’s growing energy industry,” Chief Gates said. “Participants not only learn hands-on response techniques, but they also learn about the industry itself, including how natural gas and oil are explored, drilled, produced and transported, and the importance of collaborating with the industry. Chief Gates added that as Ohio’s natural gas and oil industry continues to expand, so will the commitment to safety and preparedness for firefighters. “The Oilfield Emergency Response Training program is unique in the nation and it continues to evolve as the industry grows and safety technologies advance,” he said. During the multi-day training,
participants experience classroom presentations, virtual reality tabletop exercises and live outdoor behavior labs. Trainings are held at the Wayne County Fire & Rescue Regional Training Facility in Apple Creek. To date, the program has provided training to more than 1,600 Ohio firefighters, as well as firefighters from seven other states. “Ohio’s fire professionals have a tremendous resource with the OOGEEP field training program,” said Chief Jim Delman, Sunset Heights Fire Department (Belmont County). “The quality of this training is exceptional. Firefighters invest a significant amount of time and energy to improve their skills and grow their abilities for various situations. Oil and gas field emergencies are rare, but it is critical that firefighters know the special response techniques necessary. “Opportunities such as the OOGEEP training program benefit not only the firefighter, but also their department, and the communities they serve,” Chief Delman added. “Once they are familiarized with the oil and gas industry, they more at ease knowing how to properly and safely address any situations that may arise.” “The Oilfield Emergency Response Training program started 19 years ago,” said Rhonda Reda, OOGEEP Executive Director. “It was a pioneering effort that has grown into one of the nation’s premier emergency response programs. Ohio’s oil and gas producers are proud to offer this critical training at no cost to our emergency responders, and to support our fire professionals in a variety of ways.” The following firefighters from the Scio Volunteer Fire Department in Harrison County participated in the Oilfield
harrisonnewsherald.com
MWCD deals with questions over rate hikes By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
Reese Beasley
Kaci Edwards
Roger Bethel
Emergency Response Training session held on Oct. 5-6 at the Apple Creek facility: - Chief Roger Bethel - Reese Beasley - Kaci Edwards For more information on OOGEEP’s available programs for firefighters, please visit: https://www.oogeep.org/firefighters/.
NEW PHILADELPHIA – The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) held its last meeting of the year last Friday and leading off was a resident asking questions about the rates at the park where he is a camper at Tappan Lake. The resident with the first name of Tim, asked about the past few years and the rate increases, why and what could be done about it, though he did acknowledged the new construction going on as part of the MWCD’s Master Plan work. “But it’s getting to the point where we’re seeing some of our friends leave because they just can’t afford to camp anymore,” Tim stated that he was told there would be increases “in the next five years.” Chief of Recreation Scott Barnhart addressed those questions stating that up to now their parks have been “operating at a deficit.” He said a directive from some years ago that became a part of their master plan was to not allow the parks to be a “drain on the system.” “Our goal through our business management side is to have them operate where they’re self sufficient,” he said providing rising costs in maintaining their sewage and water systems, to other systems where costs continue to rise. Recreation Business Manager Scott Heller explained that their goal at the “high level” was at least to operate at a break-even level. “As we look at rate increases we look at our competition, we look at supply and demand, we look at our cost…” Heller stated. He said the increases were designed only to get them at the break-even point. Board Member
Joanne Limbach stated that weather would also factor in regarding the five-year forecast on whether they would be able to break even. “This year the parks did operate at a deficit, slightly,” she said adding that they would be looking closely at the rates each year before making a decision. She also said that the dedicated campers they’ve had for years has been a concern and was discussed among the board members. “But by the same token when we look around at our competition and where we are and what we’re offering, we’re hopeful that we’ll still be able to be affordable for most of the folks,” Limbach explained. Board Member Gordon Maupin asked Barnhart to give a brief rundown on how the capital expenditures into their parks has had an effect on their rate structures. Barnhart though, said the capital costs are not figured into the rate structure and explained that the initial $120 million Master Plan costs were “not being repaid out of user fees.” “Essentially the user fees are just the increased operational costs you know that we’ve had on an ongoing basis,” Barnhart explained. He said the ambition was that through improving the facilities, as the Master Plan was designed to do, it would increase occupancy thereby helping to reduce or spread the rate out over more campers instead of fewer. Barnhart said they have lost the transient campers over the years in big numbers. He attributed that to lot conditions and sizes whereas the parks that have seen completed upgrades, “we’re seeing a really huge influx of transient campers coming,” which is obviously helping the costs as they
See MWCD PG. 5
Thompson retiring from Veteran’s Service Office By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
Cadiz Mayor-elect, John Migliore, sworn in Recently elected Cadiz Mayor, John Migliore, was sworn in by current and outgoing Mayor, Ken Zitko last Wednesday morning inside the Cadiz municipal building.
HARRISON
NEWS-HERALD
Area
CADIZ – Harrison County Veteran’s Service Officer, Jim Thompson is retiring this week. After a partial day Monday he was to finish up on Friday after the Christmas holiday and that will be it for the 15 years he’s put in to serving his fellow veterans. “Speaking to veterans every day and helping them,” he said of what he’ll miss. Thompson is a former helicopter mechanic and 24 year veteran of the Marine Corps where he exited the Corps in 2002 and began his service in Harrison County in 2004. Thompson said what he’d like to see is a home for veteran’s on “this side of the state.” He said there was only two as of now, one in the Sandusky area and one in Cincinnati. He said the size of the state calls for it and the need for more care to our veterans, especially in their older years. Thompson said he’ll still be around and plans to continue working with the historical and genealogy societies, as well
Education
Christmas
Jim Thompson
as the various veterans’ organizations throughout the area. “I probably won’t be staying at home all the time,” he said with a laugh. Jeff Pesta, who has been with the veteran’s service office for a couple years now will slide into Thompson’s spot.
Obits Larry J. Patterson Scio, Ohio
Masonic lodges give back to the community | PG 3
harrisonnewsherald.com
Harrison Elementary kids compete in spelling bee | PG 6
4H club takes part in Christmas parade | PG 4
facebook.com/harrisonnewsherald
newsroom@harrisonnewsherald.com