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Harrison News-Herald Local News
Carothers pleads guilty in rape, sexual battery case
BY JD LONG jim@harrisonnewsherald.com CADIZ—The 56-year-old Michael Carothers of Scio pleaded guilty Tuesday to two felony counts involving a minor. It took over 30 minutes for Judge T. Shawn Hervey to read all the parameters in Michael Carothers’ case; he repeatedly explained the defendant’s options, but Carothers dragged the process out. Carothers eventually pleaded guilty to one count of rape, a first-degree felony, and a second count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony. A third-degree charge of unlawful sexual conduct involving a minor was dropped. Carothers requested a furlough to visit his “dying” mother, who lives in a neighboring state, but Judge Hervey made it clear that under no circumstances would he be permitted to leave the state of Ohio, which Carothers acknowledged. “The court will be willing to give you a limited furlough for a limited amount of time to see your mother,” Hervey explained. “But you cannot leave the state of Ohio. There is no way, no how that would ever happen.” But arrangements were made by a family member to bring Carothers’ mother to Ohio to make a visitation happen. Carothers waffled between accepting the state’s offer of eight years in prison and trying
4 bids announced for Scio’s wastewater-clarifier project BY JD LONG jim@harrisonnewsherald.com CADIZ—Scio’s multi-million dollar wastewater project is being addressed piece by piece. On Wednesday, four bids were announced at the Harrison County Commissioners meeting for the village’s wastewater-clarifier project. The low bid came from Border Patrol for $556,291, with Workman Industrial of Canton coming in second with an offer of $573,492. The other two bids came from OhioWest Virginia Excavating Co. ($696,345) and S.E.T. of Youngstown ($673,000). Ryan Schuster of the engineering firm The Thrasher Group, who is working with the village of Scio, announced the bids, and the commissioners tabled them for further review. The village has been awarded a grant for $489,100 by OMEGA, which the commissioners will oversee.
to create his own conditions, coming up with different negotiations each time Judge Hervey explained his options. He also stated that he would only accept the deal if he could see his mother. Carothers later asked if there was a way to pay for his crime (possibly financially) without serving time; the state disregarded the request. Carothers’ attorney, public defender C. Adrian Pincola, explained that Carothers needed to comply with the terms of the furlough before being sentenced, which was left to a later date. After Carothers remarked that he had told the truth about what he did and accused others of lying, Pincola explained that his client had not viewed the “videotaped confession” where he willingly took part. Judge Hervey informed Carothers that the state could reindict him and add additional charges if he refused to take the plea offer. After further explanation, Carothers told Hervey he did not want to “die in here [prison] and get stabbed.” Carothers ultimately acquiesced and accepted the state’s offer of eight years in prison and lifetime sex offender status (Tier 3). Carothers was facing a total of 11 years for the rape charge and another five for sexual battery if convicted at trial. Judge Hervey also ordered an Ohio Risk Assessment for Carothers. He is being held on a $75,000 bond.
Commissioners approve aid to Harrisville BY JD LONG jim@harrisonnewsherald.com CADIZ—Bob Allen of E.L. Robinson Engineering returned to the Harrison County Commissioners last Wednesday to share additional information on the Harrisville storm sewer issue. Allen felt two areas of concern might become a problem, with water potentially blowing out onto private property. Allen asked if there was any leftover money that could be used to take care of the issue. “It is an issue, and eventually, it’s going to be an erosion issue in the private property, so we would like to, if you’re agreeable, to use remaining funds for replacing that line,” Allen told the board. The commissioners gave their approval.
Scio discusses military banners, park bathrooms, Fowler Ave. closure BY SHARON DALTON Harrison News-Herald Staff Writer The Scio village council met on Wednesday, Oct. 13 to discuss several topics. One of the first topics they addressed was the military flags being hung in the village. There will be information provided to the citizens in the future to proceed with this project. Also discussed were several pending projects, including the annexation of the areas receiving municipal water and sewer utility services. An annexation appeal was filed on Sept. 29. A court date has not yet been set. The water line project involving Brown, Maple, Walnut, and Grandview Streets has
been partially funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission grant, while a CDBG grant is in the process. The council also briefly talked about the collection system on Fowler Avenue. A two-day street closure will be required, and a one-lane restriction will be implemented until the project is finished. Restrooms at the park have been experiencing problems, and the council decided that the bathrooms will remain closed unless the park is rented. Wrapping up the meeting, the council concluded with water line repairs, the bids received for the clarifier for the WWTP, purchasing salt for the upcoming winter, patching roads, and the auction of the old ODOT building, which sold for $19,000.
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Harrison County engineer Doug Bachman told the commissioners at Wednesday’s meeting that since Industrial Park Road is in the corporation limit, the speed is 35 miles per hour. He said as the result of accidents at the intersection of Route 9, discussions have taken place on how to make it safer. He said the limit changed because of the Ohio Revised Code.
Saturday, October 16, 2021
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, I would like to take this time to recognize and honor Dwight Busby and his family for their commitment to the youth of Jewett and the surrounding area. Dwight had a vision that he and his family turned into the Jewett Wildcat Community Center. With family and friends, Dwight came up with the haunted house that runs every weekend in October to help pay expenses for the building, give scholarships, and help others in the community in 2012. And it has continued to get better and better every year. There are still several people volunteering to work that have been there since day one: Tammy and Danny Dray, Lori and Ally Kuntz, Chris Busby, Courtney and Bill Dray, Chris and Kasey Edwards, Denise Whiteman, Twig Kaufman, Colleen Francis, Bobby and Cindy Francis, and Chuck Woods. Over the years, over 300 people from Jewett and the surrounding communities, from five to 70+ years old, have volunteered to work and decorate their own areas —at mostly their own expense — to make it the success it is today. For many years, entire families worked the haunted house every weekend together. What a great way for a family to be together. Dwight passed away this year, and daughter Tammy and Danny Dray picked up the reins to run the haunted house to keep Dwight’s
dream alive. In 2014 the Russ Arbaugh family started a corn maze to coincide with the haunted house and has donated all the money to the Jewett Wildcat Community Center — heartfelt thanks for their commitment to our community. The Community Center also hosts Biddy Basketball every year for grades four through six. This has also been done by Tammy and Danny Dray since the center opened. They actually ran the Biddy Basketball league while the building was a school. Other things that have been hosted at the Wildcat Center include movie nights, laser guns, and dances. Along with being rented out for parties and used for town meetings. It was also opened up during the winter months for people who wanted to walk for exercise. Regardless of what was being hosted, costs have always been kept down so families could afford to do things together. Thank you so much, Dwight “Buzz” Busby and family, for the dedication to the village and people of Jewett and surrounding areas. Thank you, Tammy and Danny Dray, for keeping the vision alive by taking charge and running all the activities at the Jewett Wildcat Community Center. Sincerely, RUTH BLACKBURN, JEWETT CITIZEN
New Athens looking to answer pump plant’s water flow questions BY SHAWN DIGITY twitter@DIGITYnodoubt The New Athens council met Monday for their October meeting. While other topics were discussed in old business, the water flow issues worked back into the limelight. Water flow in the sewers that travel down to the wastewater plant near the Route 9 branch-off has been a recurring theme over the past several months. But the problem gets exacerbated every time there’s heavy rain. Council member Mark Arnold had reached out to the plant’s project engineer Jeff Carr (ADR and Associates), who facilitated the Earthtek plant’s installation, to get more information. Arnold corresponded with Carr about the sewage plant. “You’re getting surface water from something,” Arnold relayed from Carr. He suggested to Arnold that the next time New Athens receives a big rain, have someone go out and “start popping manholes.” According to Carr, that’ll help isolate the problem area. Theoretically, following actual water flow could expound the location of flow interruptions. But it’s a game of chance. If the manhole idea produces the answer, it could take any number of attempts to reveal the correct cover. However, in this context (and what Carr suggested), the heavy rain that slogs down the plant could be advantageous since the inundation in the sewers could make any hindrances observable. The pump station is put to the test every time there’s heavier precipitation. “It overpollutes the tank in the plant. That tank’s clear full, and then no more can come in there. It comes up out of the ground,” Arnold revealed. But it’s more than just rainfall deluges that are overworking the plant, according to mayor Joe Petro. The biggest underlying issue is the debris that plugs up the filters in the plant’s tanks. Tiny, natural holes in the filters can easily be blocked by the insoluble debris that is getting flushed: cardboard, cigarette butts,
and tampons. It was the same issue earlier in the summer when discussing the plant, and according to Arnold, the trash is still finding its way into the tanks. When the debris backs up the filter — and consequently the tanks — it stresses the entire system’s limits, which could’ve been the cause for leaks somewhere else along the line. When the tank is full, the water must go somewhere, so it reroutes through any breaches and propagates through the manholes or the ground outside the plant’s fence. Arnold also speculated the water flow has been diverted at some point doing groundwork, and it has been accidentally redirected toward the plant, straining the pumps further and keeping public utilities supervisor Matt Litman, Jr. frequently checking in on the EarthTek sewage plant. So not only is the plant taking up manpower, but it’s nickeling and diming the village: “It’s slowly eating into us,” Arnold admitted. But Petro expressed earlier in the meeting that finding any leaks or stoppages in the sewage system will ultimately cost the village anyway if they have to do smoke tests or get a camera in the pipes. And that’s not even considering actual labor to remedy a leak. But the labor being dedicated to the pump now is tapping into time and effort that could be going toward other village projects. “We can’t keep having a guy work 30 hours a week in the plant,” Arnold expressed. But for now — and with Carr’s advice — Arnold and Petro agreed that weekly readings of the pump station could be beneficial; they ought to be watched regardless, Arnold added. “Obviously, we can’t fix this,” Arnold said. He suggested beginning to get estimates for engineering processes behind the locating and rectifying of water stoppages. But as of October’s meetings, New Athens will tabulate pump station numbers to get better data on the plant’s performance, and Arnold and Petro concluded that’s all they could do for now: monitor the pumps and its readings. “That’s all we can do,” Petro concluded.
Commissioners declare October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month BY JD LONG jiim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ—Representatives from the Tri-County Help Center appeared before the Harrison County Commissioners on Wednesday to seek approval for a resolution to recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Legal advocate for the Help Center, Shaylynn Rush, received unanimous support from the board in approving the proclamation. “The problem of domestic violence affects all citizens of Harrison County and is not confined to any particular race, gender, age, social, religious, ethnic, geographic or
economic group,” per Rush’s reading of the resolution. She stated one in three teens, one in four women, and one in seven men “will experience domestic violence during their lifetime,” and one out of every 15 children will be exposed to it. The financial impact was covered as well, with $3.6 trillion in “lifetime economic costs” involving medical, lost work, and the criminal justice system. The Help Center’s efforts in 2020 involved giving shelter to 30 people (and children) for a combined 859 nights of safety, providing another 142 with legal advocacy, counseling 547 individuals, and taking 190 crisis hotline calls. Rush said a march is scheduled for Oct. 20, starting at the St. Clairsville office.
Cadiz approves buyback for police car; East Market’s abandoned gas station discussed BY JD LONG jim@harrisonnewsherald.com CADIZ—A police vehicle that the Cadiz Police is currently leasing will be purchased after the Cadiz council approved a buyback at last Thursday’s meeting for up to $14,000. Treasurer Amy Ossman said tickets given out by police would help make the monthly payments.
In addition to the police vehicle, council member Eric Miller addressed certain properties that are not being kept up, like the abandoned gas station along East Market Street. In unrelated news, the council also agreed to remain with their insurance company, Aultra, but it comes with a 4% increase. An ordinance will be presented at the next meeting for that purpose.
Mental Health and Recovery Board meeting coming next week The regular meeting of the Mental Health and Recovery Board will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. at the MHR Board Office. Guests may attend at the Board Office (99 N. Sugar Street, St. Clairsville, Ohio).
