SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022
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HARRISONNEWSHERALD.COM
Community rallies around accident victims and families This week’s newsstand proceeds donated February 16: Braylen Novak, 18, and Garson Imes, 17, were en route to Conotton Valley to lift weights after their classes at Buckeye Career Center and Kent State University at Tuscarawas.
BY REBECCA BRATTEN WEISS Harrison News-Herald Reporting Journalist
Around 2:20 p.m. at Cumberland and Caddy Roads southwest between Sherrodsville and Conotton Valley school, the ‘98 Chevy Lumina veered off the right side of the road, back onto the road, spun, and slammed into trees off the left side of the road. The following vehicle continued to the school, where the driver gained cell phone service and alerted school staff members to the accident. School staff, passersby, and EMS quickly arrived and began assisting.
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Braylen Novak
long line wound around the entrance to Conotton Valley Union Local School on Monday. Braylen Novak’s funeral was held in the gymnasium, where friends and family gathered. Bleachers, chairs, and the stage were all filled, leaving only standing room. Just days prior, Braylen and Garson Imes played basketball with their team on that same court. Braylen’s family began receiving callers at 11 a.m., which continued steadily until the funeral began at 6 p.m. Braylen’s uncle Mitchell Laps, cousin Justin Higginbotham, and baseball coach Dave Didonato each spoke at the service. “Braylen’s spirit was like no other. He made everyone feel important when he talked to them. Some people take their whole life to find what they are good at, but Braylen knew his gift,” remarked Laps, “He knew it was that smile…” Braylen lived in the moment and found joy in appreciating each second of his 18 years. He professed his faith and showed love to those around him. His loss is a physical tragedy but consider the spiritual tragedy of living a life without Jesus, without hope and peace. If you’re wondering how you can honor Braylen’s life, simply act like Bray: “smile — and love like he did.” Coach Didonato told stories of the two friends, each memory packed with examples of the enthusiasm and leadership they showed during their games. The duo grew up together, tag-teaming nearly every sport at Conotton Valley and even venturing into the drama club, too. Much could be said about their friendly antics whenever they were together. As of Thursday afternoon, Garson is still in critical condition fighting for his life. He sustained significant head and neck injuries.
Novak was pronounced dead on the scene. Imes was extracted from the vehicle, taken by ambulance to Aultman Hospital, and carried via life flight to Akron Children’s Hospital. As of Thursday afternoon, Imes is still in critical condition.
Garson Imes Of Garson, Nita Yeager, his grandmother, said, “He is the fun-lover of the family. Always the first one to tell you ‘I love you,’ and always the first to offer his help whenever you need it. We are so very proud of all of our grandchildren, Garson being a role model to all of them. He is a bright spot wherever he is; Garson seems to learn new things at every turn and talks effortlessly with whoever comes across his path. Just last month, he was visiting us, making plans to hunt for the first time, asking grandpa how the tractor works, seeing what he could get into next…” In the wake of last week’s tragedy, many
groups and organizations rose up to help the friends and families of Braylen Novak and Garson Imes. Those who stepped up to honor and support ranged from all across the Ohio Valley — and the state. Dozens and dozens of organizations have raised funds to honor Braylen and help Garson. Churches, banks, restaurants, fire departments, sports teams, villages, clubs, individuals, and businesses have all chipped in. Clothing companies, like Fashionably Flawless, Pieces with Purpose, and Tigers Den Sports Shop, have created special Conotton Valley shirts to help fundraise. Numerous schools had “green and gold”
Bowerston, Scio, Jewett inundated
days to keep Braylen and Garson in their thoughts and prayers: Carrollton Exempted Village School District, Conotton Valley Union Local School District, Quaker Academies, Dover City Schools, Sandy Valley Local Schools, Lakeland Academy Community School, Buckeye Trail High School, Harrison Central, Conotton Valley Elementary, Malvern Schools, Newcomerstown High School, Strasburg-Franklin Local Schools, Buckeye Career Center, and Kent State University at Tuscarawas. Sports groups, like Buckeye Trail Boys Roundball, Garaway Softball, Sandy Valley Cheerleading, Tusky Valley Trojans, Harrison Central Cheer, Newcomerstown Trojan Sports, Garaway Football, helped out. And several booster clubs chipped in, like the Conotton Valley Booster Club and the Buckeye Local Football Parents Club. Local restaurants also stepped up — the Venue in New Philadelphia and Knickers Bar and Grill in Carrollton, to name a couple. The Buffalo Wild Wings and Texas Roadhouse in New Philadelphia also held fundraising events that donated portions of their total sales. The Carroll County Courthouse changed its spotlight colors to green. And the Calvary United Methodist Church in Sherrodsville held a prayer vigil in remembrance. Even the village of Scio and the Scio Fire Department hung green and gold ribbons on poles and lights around town. Earlier this week, the Conotton Valley basketball team honored Braylen and Garson at one of their games: They started three players at the tip-off. Braylen and Garson weren’t there, but their teammates ensured that they were still a part of the team. The list is not exhaustive as many others have made significant contributions not mentioned. Photos provided by Jennifer Booth.
The Braylen Novak Memorial Fund & The Garson Imes Medical Fund have been created to support the families. Anyone wishing to make a donation to either account can stop by any Unified Bank location. Other donation items may be sent or dropped off during school hours at Connotton Valley High School.
BOWERSTON — Bowerston was one of several area villages to be hard hit by the heavy rains and flooding in Harrison County between Feb. 17 and 18. Village administrator Bart Busby shared with the News-Herald that while the flooding did not compromise the water plant or any of the wells, there was extensive damage to the equipment in the park building. Water got into the furnace and heater there, and they lost all their appliances and cupboards. The village also lost all the salt they had stored for winter, but they are hoping that ODOT will help them replace it. The flooding started Thursday evening, and Busby put high water signs out around 8 p.m. Busby said judging from the debris collected on the fence, the water rose to about five or six feet high. The mulch around the playground equipment washed away, same with the crushed limestone in the parking lot. Concrete sidewalks were lifted, and picnic tables had begun to float away, but Busby said they were able to collect them. Another issue was that the village lost power to the plant because of a fallen tree during the flooding. Luckily, however, the fire department was able to get a worker out — by boat — to start a generator, which ran for about 24 hours and kept the plant functional until they could regain power. The fire department also helped them get out to the water plant by boat when they needed to switch out chlorine bottles. Busby said that the fire department also had boats out doing rescues in Leesville along with Bowerston. “They were fantastic,” he said of the rescue crews. “If we hadn’t gotten to the water plant and turned the generator on, it could have got bad.” “We won’t know the exact damage yet till we get in and evaluate,” Busby said on Tuesday. But he was also concerned the village would have to go through the whole thing again, given more rain in the forecast. And as for the expense of the repairs, Busby said he was afraid even to think about what it might amount to. He expressed hope that the county commissioners would help Bowerston access desperately needed funds for recovery. SCIO — The Scio village council met on Feb. 23 with one main topic on the table: flooding — and the aftermath and assessments that came with it. Village administrator Jason Tubaugh noted that while they are used to bottom-land flooding, what they experienced last week was “the most extensive” he’d ever seen. EMA Director Eric Wilson has been assessing the damage in Scio and other villages. One main concern is the water plant, where the flooding was up to four or five feet high. Heaters, paper products, and testing equipment were lost. The generator and low-surface pumps might have been affected, and an electrical inspection will now be required for the entire facility. The park building was also flooded, and quite a few items were lost or destroyed, including weed eaters, push mowers, and heaters. The damage to the village is already estimated at around $60,000. “And that’s just the village itself, not individual homes,” See FLOODING Pg.- 7
COURT
SENIOR NIGHT
FLOODING
OBITUARIES Anthony Capers Gay Hauber Bossetti Gwen Stewart Haylnn Rose
USPS Publication No. 236-080 One Section, 10 Pages
PG - 2
PG - 4
PG - 7
Helen Kokovich