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Harrison News-Herald E-Edition 8/27

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Saturday, August 27, 2022

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2022

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New school year, Power Plant rumors squashed new leadership CADIZ—There have been rumors circulating about the status of the County CIC and the potential power plant. Dale Arbaugh, CIC president, helped dispel these rumors. “We’re still functioning and working. Nick [Homrighausen] is working on quite a few projects at this time,” he

said. “I’ve heard the rumors from others, and I’m not sure where it originated, but it’s incorrect. We are still receiving regular email communication and our monthly deposits from them. They are holding up their end of the bargain as far as we know, and I’ll stand by the fact that the project is ongoing.”

Veterans participate at Jeff. Co. Fair

BY CORNELIA GRACE Harrison News-Herald Reporter CADIZ—After Dana Snider’s recent retirement, Duran Morgan stepped up to fill the Superintendent role at Harrison Hills Central Jr./Sr. High School. Morgan began his career as a teacher, working his way up to Dean of Students and then to a High School Principal position before settling into Assistant Superintendent for the last nine years. Morgan grew up in Cadiz and graduated from Cadiz High School. “I’m from the community, and to be able to go through that and then experience it from the other side as the superintendent and leader of the school system is very humbling,” Morgan said. He attended Kent State University before getting a Master’s degree in School Administration from Salem University. He’s now working his way through additional coursework. The education may result in more advanced degrees, but for Morgan, it’s about staying “on top of what is cutting edge in education and research-based practice.” The Superintendent is responsible for working with administrators and support staff to create an environment for students to learn. The Superintendent is “The chief officer,” Morgan said. “On the academic end, some visionary planning… designing the academic program for our students from top to bottom.” This year, exciting changes are coming to the school. “We’re serving our special education population a little differently this year,” Morgan said. The school is adding a dedicated administrator to oversee special education, focusing on helping their students on the autism spectrum. The intervention specialist is also heading an autism team. Looking at student data and success will be

an integral part of everything the school does this year. Morgan wants to keep the support of the community forefront of everyone’s minds. “Trying to find ways to support specifically our kids, our families… make sure everybody in [those] groups feels supported.” He wants to ensure that “our message is communicated well to the parents and community. And then specifically that we’re good listeners also, in trying to make sure we have good two-way communication so that we have authentic feedback from our community and from our parents. All that is taken into consideration as we design our programs.” Morgan is dedicated to the community of Cadiz, and the school is at the heart of that community. “I have a family of about 1600 kids,” Morgan laughed. He clearly admires and appreciates the proactive nature of so many of the students and youth in the area. He worked closely with Youth Education Success (YES!) on the bond issue for the new school building a few years ago and saw firsthand how the students cared for not just each other but future students as well. “I am super thankful for every opportunity that they’ve given our kids and then, in turn, me,” Morgan said. He also wanted to thank the board of education for selecting him for the role of Superintendent. The experience as Assistant Superintendent gave him the experience he needed, but it was still the board’s decision to put their trust in Morgan as he moved into the role. With school just begun, Morgan said, “We’re excited for the start of the school year. We look forward to reaching out to our school community, our students, and our parents and enhancing the way that we can support them. Making sure their children can have a wellrounded experience and education.”

Final phase of US 250 project begins The final phase of the U.S. 250 Major Rehabilitation Project will start Wednesday, August 24. This phase will require the closure of U.S. 250 from Pleasant Valley Road to State Route 151. During the Phase 2 closure, the Pleasant Valley Road and State Route 151 intersections at U.S. 250 will remain open. ODOT reminds motorists that local traffic only will be permitted to drive through the closure. Local traffic includes emergency services, residents, property owners, and businesses directly within the closure area. The official detour is SR 800 south to U.S. 22 east, U.S. 22 east back to U.S. 250, and reverse. An alternate detour route is SR 39 east to

SR 212 east, SR 212 east to SR 151 east, SR 151 east back to U.S. 250, and reverse. Please note that the alternate detour route is not signed. The 100-day closure for this project began July 6. Construction includes the removal of the 70-year-old concrete base pavement and rebuilding the roadway from the dirt up with an aggregate base, followed by new asphalt pavement. Shelly & Sands, Inc, from Zanesville, Ohio, is the contractor on this $10.2 million project. The completion date for all work is October 31, 2022. The project remains on schedule. For more information, visit www. transportation.ohio.gov/projects and find the “U.S. Route 250 Major Rehabilitation” page.

Jay Kolenc of the Jefferson County Veterans Association gets ready to advise on the raising of the gigantic American flag over Friendship Park during the 152nd Jefferson County Fair. Flags of all branches of service are raised by the veterans. The Veterans Wall is visited by many who have enscribed the names of their relatives on the bricks that constitute over 600 memorial markers, bringing the memory of them into the present. The memorial park has a tank from World War II, two airplanes, one with two new propellors due to vandalism that occurred in the spring. Many members of the JCVA attend to help raise the gigantic flag that flies over the fairgrounds for the fair and any programs going on there. Harrison News-Herald photo/Esther McCoy

Scio warns ‘frequent fliers’ on new late-payment policy BY CORNELIA GRACE Harrison News-Herald Reporter SCIO—The Scio Village Council met on Wednesday, August 24. The meeting started with Clerk-Treasurer Heide Trice going over a short list of smaller items. She had discussed insurance options for volunteers and discovered that all volunteers should be covered under their existing insurance as long as it is known that the person is volunteering. Since they recently hired a new employee, the council voted to add a new phone line so he can have a cell phone, and they voted to allow him to spend the employee clothing allowance earlier than precedent due to changing seasons. Greg Burgess visited the meeting on behalf of the Harrison County Youth Soccer League. Burgess is the coach for the Junior High League and wanted to ask the council for permission to use the football field for practice. The council debated paperwork but eventually voted to allow the usage of the field. Burgess thanked the council and left. Income Tax Administrator Janeen Scott made sure to share that the village is offering a new way to pay water bills: online through PayStar. Residents only need to visit the village website villageofscio.com, click the “Residents” tab, and select “Payment Options” to make payments online. Non-payment of water bills has been an ongoing issue for the village. Council member Carol Davy briefly talked about a recent discussion the water committee had about ways to encourage residents to pay their bills. The committee didn’t make any concrete decisions as they wanted input from the whole council, “We’re looking at seeing what the discussion is and what we can do,” Davy said. She explained that putting up late notices and sending out multiple bills to residents and landlords has become a burden. There are many people with past due bills who are considered “frequent fliers” by members of the council. “It’s the same customers over and over again,” Davy said. “It’s not somebody that has a tragedy in the

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family or had something unexpected happen.” The responsibility of the water bill technically falls to the landlord, and it is their job to pass on that information to tenants or to pay it themselves, depending on the lease agreement. Up to this point, the village has allowed many courtesies to area landlords, including sending out bills to all tenants and the landlord themselves, which takes time and money from the village. Mayor Michelle Carpenter voiced her frustration, “The landlord stuff is all written in [the ordinances]. It’s one of those things that we’ve always done it, and it’s just a courtesy.” The council discussed when it’s appropriate to shut off water on unpaid accounts. Right now, residents are given nearly a month after being served notice to pay their past due bills. Unfortunately, this often causes the bill to increase significantly because it ends up adding in the next month’s bill into past due as well, which can result in bills above $300. “It compounds,” Village Administrator Jason Tubaugh said. “Giving them that extra month just seems redundant.” While the council did not decide immediately on changing water billing ordinances, they are preparing to shorten notice times and enforce shut-offs for non-payment. The frustration among members was palpable as they talked about how much time and money it costs to send notices to 40-50 residents every month. Serving notice earlier would alleviate the cost on the village and keep residents from racking up an excessively high bill. “Anybody can miss a bill,” Council Member Trish Copeland said. “Anybody can hit situations.” “Then call!” Trubaugh said. If you regularly pay your water bill and miss a month due to extenuating circumstances, please call the village to discuss options. With online bill pay available now, residents have no excuses to pay their bill on time. “Heads up, frequent fliers,” Carpenter said. “This is getting done. We’re coming.”

OBITUARIES William “Andy” Richards A aron David Capers Helen E. Cramblett Randall “Randy” Schrickel Marilyn Cope


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