Page 3: 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 Hervey stated in the proceedings that Moreland had already rejected the state’s offer, which was then withdrawn; there is now no offer.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.

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 (jim@harrisonnewsherald.com)

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/.