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Harrison News-Herald Local News
Defendant takes plea, another rejects
BY JD LONG jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ—For the 23-year-old Sydney Miles of Wintersville, her life will be interrupted by up to four years in prison, with the possibility of judicial release after serving two. Miles was looking at a slew of charges from 2020 and 2021, including three aggravated drug trafficking charges from last year; all three are third-degree felonies. This year’s charges included a second-degree aggravated possession of drugs, fifth-degree identity fraud, and second-degree misdemeanor obstructing official business, all tacked on to her concurrent sentences. Harrison County prosecutor Lauren Knight said she would not oppose early judicial release after serving two years. Miles had been released on her own recognizance, but Judge T. Shawn Hervey said an expected date for prison would be soon, and she will have to turn herself in.
Hervey described Miles’ behavior while out on bond as “stellar” and has been doing good to turn her life around. Miles had been looking at nine total years for the 2020 charges and another nine years and 90 days for the 2021 charges if convicted at trial — and if the sentences would have run consecutively. The 28-year-old Michael Moreland of Uhrichsville, on the other hand, rejected a plea offer from the state that would have sent him to prison for 30 months with no opposition to judicial release after serving 15 months, instead of the possible seven years he was facing if convicted at trial. Hervey stated in the proceedings that Moreland had already rejected the state’s offer, which was then withdrawn; there is now no offer. Moreland is facing one charge of possession of fentanyl from 2020, a fourth-degree felony, plus three charges for 2021: two aggravated trafficking in drugs charges (one third-degree,
one fourth-degree) and aggravated possession of drugs (fifth-degree felony). Knight told Hervey that Moreland wished not to admit to any of the charges because he had requested a new attorney. Public defender C. Adrian Pincola had been handling his case, but Moreland stated there were problems in the relationship. When Knight repeated her offer, Moreland rejected it without hesitation. Hervey then addressed his request for a new attorney, and Moreland stated, “we have a complete breakdown in communication.” He disagreed with Pincola’s advice to take the original offer. “Your honor, I’ve heard enough,” Pincola told the court. Knight didn’t object. Hervey informed Moreland that he could not reappoint an attorney just because he didn’t like what he heard, but he granted the request. Hervey informed Moreland that a new attorney would vacate the existing trial date.
Notice of Proposed Major Utility Facility
FACILITY DESCRIPTION Nottingham Solar LLC (Nottingham) a wholly owned subsidiary of BQ Energy Development LLC (BQ Energy), proposes to construct and operate the Project, a solar-powered electric generation facility in Harrison County, Ohio, with a nameplate capacity of 100-megawatts (MW) alternating current (AC), (hereinafter referred to as MW). The Project will connect to the regional transmission grid via American Electric Power (AEP) owned Nottingham 138 kV Substation. Construction of the project is anticipated to begin no sooner than forth quarter of 2022. LOCATION AND GENERAL LAYOUT The general location and planned project layout of Nottingham Solar is shown on the map below:
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Driver escapes truck rollover
BY JD LONG jim@harrisonnewsherald.com HARRISON COUNTY—An 18-wheeler that rolled over on Ohio 151 between Jewett and Hopedale miraculously resulted in only minor scrapes to the unnamed driver. The driver was able to crawl out of his cab, which was nearly completely crushed. As the driver was turning a corner, he reached for his lunch, then realized he was too far on the shoulder of the road and overcompensated. As a result, wheels dug into the road and onto the grass spilling tons of fine white fracking sand along a resident’s yard and driveway. “It was the hand of God,” he said regarding his escape. Hopedale and Jewett responded along with the Ohio Highway State Patrol.
Freeport to benefit from H2Ohio infrastructure grant BY JD LONG
APPLICATION NOW PENDING Nottingham has an Application pending before the Ohio Power Siting Board. The assigned docket number for the Application is Case No. 21-270-EL-BGN, and copies of all filings in the case can be located at the Ohio Power Siting Board website at (http://www.opsb.ohio. gov) by scrolling down to “Pending Cases” and selecting the case by name or docket number. To view the filings, click the case number for the case record. PUBLIC OFFICIALS SERVED WITH COPIES OF THE APPLICATION The following public officials were served with a copy of the Application: Paul Coffland, Dale Norris, and Don Bethel Harrison County Commissioners; the Harrison County Engineer; Keila Ferguson, District Program Administrator of the Harrison Soil & Water Conservation District; and Elizabeth Deaton, David Bratler, and Mike Saffell, Athens Township Trustees. A copy of the Application is also available for public inspection at the Puskarich Public Library, 200 E. Market Street, Cadiz, Ohio 43907. OHIO POWER SITING BOARD APPLICATION REVIEW CRITERIA The criteria the Board must use to review the application are as follows: (1) the basis of the need for the facility if the facility is an electric transmission line or gas pipeline; (2) the nature of the probable environmental impact; (3) that the facility represents the minimum adverse environmental impact, considering the state of available technology and the nature and economics of the various alternatives, and other pertinent considerations; (4) in the case of an electric transmission line, that the facility is consistent with regional plans for expansion of the electric power grid of the electric systems serving this state and interconnected utility systems and that the facility will serve the interests of electric system economy and reliability; (5) that the facility will comply with Chapters 3704, 3734, and 6111 of the Revised Code and all rules and standards adopted under those chapters and under Sections 1501.33, 1501.34 and 4561.32 of the Revised Code; (6) that the facility will serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity; (7) the impact on the viability as agricultural land of any land in an existing agricultural district established under Chapter 929 of the Revised Code that is located within the site and alternative site of the proposed major utility facility; (8) that the facility incorporates maximum feasible water conservation practices as determined by the Board, considering available technology and the nature and economics of the various alternatives. STATEMENT PURSUANT TO OHIO REVISED CODE SECTION 4906.07 Upon the receipt of an application complying with Section 4906.06 of the Revised Code, the Ohio Power Siting Board shall promptly fix a date for a public hearing thereon, not less than sixty nor more than ninety days after such receipt, and shall conclude the proceeding as expeditiously as practicable. The public hearing for this case shall consist of two parts: A local public hearing, pursuant to R.C. 4906.08(C), will be held in person where the Board shall accept written or oral testimony from any person, commencing January 6, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. The local public hearing in this matter shall be held on January 6, 2022 commencing at 6:00 p.m., at the New Athens Volunteer Fire Department, 101 Franklin Drive, New Athens, Ohio 43981. Consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines and the May 17, 2021 DOH Order, attendees must abide by mitigation measures required by the venue, and individuals who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear a face covering and socially distance. For those individuals interested in testifying at the in-person local public hearing, a sign-in sheet will be available at the facility and witnesses will be taken in the order in which they register to testify. If individuals wish to supplement their testimony with an exhibit for the Board’s consideration, a copy of the document should be provided to the ALJ during the local public hearing. Testimony to be provided will be limited to five minutes in duration. An evidentiary hearing commencing on January 26, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. An evidentiary hearing to commence on January 26, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., using remote access technology via Webex. Any person observing the hearing as a nonparty can access the hearing using the link https://bit.ly/21-270-ADJ and entering the password OPSB, or by calling 1-408-418-9388, and entering access code/event number 2339 634 8233 Petitions to intervene in the evidentiary hearing will be accepted by the Board up to 30 days following service of the notice required by R.C. 4906.06(C) and Ohio Adm.Code 4906-3-09, or November 30, 2021, whichever is later. However, the Board strongly encourages interested persons who wish to intervene in the adjudicatory hearing to file their petitions as soon as possible. Petitions should be addressed to Docketing Division, the Ohio Power Siting Board, 180 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3793 and cite Case No. 21-270-EL-BGN. The chairman of the Ohio Power Siting Board shall cause each application filed with the Board to be investigated and shall, not less than fifteen days prior to the date any application is set for hearing, submit a written report to the Board and to the applicant. A copy of such report shall be made available to any person upon request. Such report shall set forth the nature of the investigation, and the report shall contain recommended findings with regard to division (A) of Section 4906.10 of the Revised Code and shall become part of the record and served upon all parties to the proceeding. STATEMENT OF OHIO REVISED CODE SECTION 4906.08(C) The Board shall accept written or oral testimony from any person at the public hearing, but the right to call and examine witnesses shall be reserved for parties. However, the Board may adopt rules to exclude repetitive, immaterial, or irrelevant testimony. Petitions to intervene in the evidentiary hearing will be accepted by the Board up to 30 days following service of the notice required by R.C. 4906.06(C) and Ohio Adm.Code 4906-3-09, or November 30, 2021, whichever is later. However, the Board strongly encourages interested persons who wish to intervene in the adjudicatory hearing to file their petitions as soon as possible. Petitions should be addressed to Docketing Division, the Ohio Power Siting Board, 180 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3793 and cite Case No. 21-270-EL-BGN.
COLUMBUS—The Freeport wastewater treatment plant project that the Harrison County Commissioners have been assisting will be seeing additional aid in the name of the H2Ohio Water Quality Incentive Program for $500,000. Governor Mike DeWine’s office made the announcement late last week. The funds will go to the new sewer system, including a 75,000-gallon aeration treatment plant serving 229 residences and businesses. The 75,000 gallons is per day “Aero-mod extended aeration treatment plant and a conventional gravity sewer collection system.” In addition, the system will have one lift station built in the village. “Many of these systems have degraded to the point that they’re a threat to public health because improvement projects are often much too expensive for our smaller communities to handle on their own,” said Governor DeWine. “All of these projects are long overdue, and we’re excited to contribute toward improving water service and quality of life in the areas of the state where H2Ohio’s help is needed the most.” The cost has been estimated at just over $8.6 million, but Commissioner Paul Coffland said there might be more help to go along with the recent H2Ohio grant. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pitched in $1 million at the beginning of the project, and Coffland said other funding sources were being sought. He said the biggest to nail down would be the $4 million principal forgiveness through the EPA, but that is only a possibility, which is down the road. “We’ve been doing our best to keep costs to Freeport residents as low as possible,” Commissioner Don Bethel stated this week. “Building a wastewater system from scratch is extremely expensive, so we’re very thankful for the financial assistance for the Freeport project.” Coffland called the award an unexpected surprise and said it would help reduce costs moving forward. “We are still aggressively pursuing additional funding for this project and will know more by the end of this year,” he stated via text. “We thank the Governor’s office for recognizing the needs of Harrison County Villages & Townships.” “Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio plan enables Ohio EPA to extend available funding to help communities across the state address their water and wastewater needs,” said Ohio EPA Director Laurie A. Stevenson. “We are using H2Ohio funding to make a difference in these communities and in the lives of Ohioans.” Others receiving H2Ohio funds are Manchester ($500,000); Lawrence County ($250,000); Noble County Water Authority ($135,000); Washington County ($750,000); Findlay ($600,000); Bainbridge ($500,000) and Wayne Lakes ($500,000). “More than $15.3 million in H2Ohio grants have been awarded by Ohio EPA since the launch of the initiative in 2019. An announcement regarding additional funding to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water and support communities in repairing or replacing failing household sewage treatment systems is expected later this fall,” according to the governor’s statement. “H2Ohio is a collaborative water quality effort to provide clean and safe water to Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and Ohio Lake Erie Commission each have a significant role in H2Ohio through the natural infrastructure of wetlands, the reduction of nutrient runoff, and the increase in access to clean drinking water and quality sewer systems.” To learn more, visit h2.ohio.gov. The H2Ohio Year Two Annual Report is available online at https://h2.ohio.gov/h2ohio-accomplishmentsfor-fiscal-year-2021/.
