Harrison News-Herald |
1
Saturday, May 14, 2022
SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2022
$1.25
HARRISONNEWSHERALD.COM
Public hearing held 182 students honored in Ruritan Award return for Meagan’s Point BY KRISTI TULLIS Harrison News-Herald Staff Writer Prior to the scheduled meeting on May 5, the Cadiz village council hosted a questionand-answer session for representatives from Harrison Metropolitan House Authority and Stock Development Company, who are spearheading the development of Meagan's Point. Meagan's Point is a project that will be a permanent 38-unit tax-credit supportive housing development for transitional youth 18 to 24 years of age and adults and families facing separation and homelessness due to behavioral health challenges and lack of stable housing. Many residents were present to raise concerns about the proposed housing development. While the concept was understood to be beneficial for those in need, residents homed in on the reality of the project's success. Of those concerns, many questioned the reality of those coming here to find employment locally due to the lack of job opportunities and public transportation in the area. Also, without stable local employment as an opportunity, those moving into Harrison County with the hopes of finding recovery will be left to their own devices and old habits, which will raise additional risks for the community. Residents questioned if there would be programs to assist those in need and still doubted if it would become the success it hoped for. Lifelong resident Greta Christian stated that her two children were forced to move out of the area 20 years ago because of low employment rates, and nothing has improved
since then. The residents' concerns were based on factors that would prove the project successful or not, to which they predicted the latter. With housing units in Harrison County needing upgrades, residents would rather seek funding for those already residing in the county first and foremost. Residents also questioned the appropriation of over $10 million in funds and the oversight of those funds. After the public hearing, Cadiz council convened for its regular meeting, and Ordinance 2022-02, designated for the zoning district reserved for Meagan's Point, was unanimously denied adoption after the third reading. Those who were present were pleased with the outcome. In other matters, Sally Buffalo Park has set office hours to be more accommodating to the public. In addition, the council voted to approve the addition of two park employees. In keeping with employment, the council voted to approve a one-time $1,000 bonus for all full-time and part-time town employees; however, the vote excludes seasonal employment. In addition, the council agreed to top pay, including retroactive pay, for one. Other matters discussed included residents adhering to city ordinances: high grass and cleaning up personal properties. Council is preparing to address necessary issues as needed. May 9 construction will begin by James White and on May 16 by Border Patrol. And veteran banners will soon be hung by the street department. Anyone wishing to honor a loved one needs to provide images to a council member.
Scio village council frustrated with residents of nuisance properties BY REBECCA BRATTEN WEISS Harrison News-Herald Staff Writer
Garbage collection and nuisance properties were hot topics at the May 11 Scio village council meeting Wednesday. With the scheduled June 4 cleanup day fast approaching, council members were concerned about whether village residents who have allowed trash to pile up around their homes would take advantage of the opportunity to make their properties less unsightly. The village will be providing a dumpster for the cleanup day, but the challenge is to get the owners of the properties in question to pick up the trash around their houses and dispose of it. Scio mayor Michelle Carpenter shared with the News-Herald that this has been an ongoing — and frustrating — situation. "We have cleanup day, but people don't utilize it," she said. A state program initially funded this, but after that ended, the village opted to keep financing the annual cleanup themselves. "We get the dumpster ourselves," Carpenter said. "We draft letters to the people, the deputies hand the letters to the people in the houses, but they don't clean up, so then we have to go on and clean and mow." One issue, Carpenter explained, is that many of the houses are owned by landlords who don't live in the village — or even in the state. And the village has not yet been able to find anything in their ordinances that would allow them to fine the property owners or the residents. "If a few of these landlords could care and be called out on their practices, maybe if they started doing better, things would improve,"
she said. Carpenter's message to the people residing in these nuisance properties is that they need to consider the community they live in and the others near them. "Why would you want to live that way? Be a good neighbor. We don't want you to live this way near us. And if you need help, ask for help. Don't just live like that and expect us to drive by and not care." Two Scio residents were present at that same meeting who asked for help. For several months, they explained, they have been dealing with sewage issues in the house that they are purchasing on a land contract. Village ordinances state that the residents are responsible for sewer lines from the home to the tap. But in this case, the tap is across the road, and the pipe seems to be broken, so sewage flows under the road. To fix this, the property residents would need to start digging up the road, which would be disruptive and expensive. But for the village to do the repairs, it might entail an ordinance violation, administrator Jason Tubaugh explained. The council opted to go into an executive session at the end of the meeting to figure out a solution to the problem. Also under discussion was the new Ohio bill that gets rid of the concealed carry permit requirements for firearms. The bill also has a section deregulating firework use, solicitor Jack Felgenhauer explained, a cause for concern for villages across the state, with some opting out of that section of the new bill. The difficulty posed for Scio and other areas is that people already ignore the regulations, and now maintaining fireworks safety and keeping the community peaceful will be more difficult.
LOCAL ARTIST
USPS Publication No. 236-080 One Section, 12 Pages Vol. 55, No. 1
PG - 3
Scholarship Winners: Joenus Jones, Jenna Young, Edwin Stringer, Mathew Smith, Benjamin Puskarich, Avery Wallace, Michaela Palmer, Tristen Kovarik, Destiny Arnold, Kadence Tanner.
After a two-year COVID-induced hiatus, the 42nd Ruritan Awards Dinner, sponsored by the Scio Dining Fork Ruritan Club, was held May 3 at the Puskarich Public Library Barr Memorial Building in Scio. Scholars from Harrison Hills City School District were in attendance and were honored for their academic achievements by the Ruritan Club. The 182 students in grades nine through twelve were introduced during the evening. Many scholars were in attendance with parents, family members, and friends. Ruritan Joe Myers served as master of ceremonies and led those gathered in the Pledge of Allegiance, and members of the Harrison Central High School Choir sang "America" and also provided several vocal selections during the dinner, which was prepared by the Scio Volunteer Fire Department and served by numerous volunteers. Kate Sedgmer, president of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, was the guest speaker for the evening. A graduate of Harrison Central High School and a member of its Alumni Association, she encouraged the scholars to keep an open mind and be ready for what's to come. "You really don't know what's in the future," she said. "Keep an open mind." State Representative Don Jones also briefly spoke to the students. He praised the Ruritans for their work to honor the scholars, noting
Juniors: Cabot Arbaugh, Carly Best, Madelyn Butler, Elizabeth Clelland, Taylor Cope, Leah Cottrell, Kendra DeWees, Sean Drapp, Grace Dulkoski, Haley Dunlap, Hayden Elliott, Emma Fischer (second row), Logan Johnson, Kayln Ledger, Esther Lopez, Jace Madzia, Tyler Patrick, Logan Peeler, Paige Radtka, Hannah Ragusa, Tre Rex, Gracie Rogers, Makayla Roth (third row), Cadence Samon, Alexis Smith, James Smith, Grayden Sproull, Sierra Stull, Autumn Summers, Andrew Toth, Kayden Vich, Katlynn Wease, Alina Williams, and Skylar Wright.
Freshmen: Madison Angle, Reed Arbaugh, Kyle Bake, Kaily Banal, Avery Cash, AnnMarie Corder, Lyla Dalton, Kayden Dunkle, Brady Elliott, Annabelle Fischer (second row), Jillian Foreman, Lilian Gibbons, LeAnn Gray, Kaitlyn Greer, Brady McPeak, Caleb Miller, Taylor Nemeth, Anthony Pelegreen, Avri Puskarich (third row), Cole Saiter, Madelyn Sedgmer, TyLynn Smith, Brice Tanner, Olivia Tonkovich, Cheyenne Twaddle, Angelina Utter, and Brodie Yeager.
CHAMPIONS
PG - 4
throughout his district that he believed this gathering to be the only one of its type. He also had many words of wisdom for the students. The winners of the annual Ruritan scholarships were four-year honorees: Destiny Arnold, Joenus Jones, Tristen Kovarik, Michaela Palmer, Benjamin Puskarich, Alexys Reynolds, Matthew Smith, Edwin Stringer, Kadence Tanner, Avery Wallace, and Jenna Young. The 2022 Ruritan Scholars honored were as follows: Freshmen: Madison Angle, Reed Arbaugh, Kyle Bake, Kaily Banal, Cecilia Bellerive, Rylie Carter, Avery Cash, AnnMarie Corder, Drew Culbertson, Lyla Dalton, Charles Duffy, Kayden Dunkle, Brady Elliott, Annabelle Fischer, Jillian Foreman, Mackense Garbrandt, Lilian Gibbons, LeAnn Gray, Kaitlyn Greer, Kendal Hercules, Amilliah JonesCogar, Brady McPeak, Caleb Miller, Taylor Nemeth, Anthony Pelegreen, Avri Puskarich, Kylie Richards, Ocean Rogers, Cole Saiter, Lillyanna Scott, Madelyn Sedgmer, Caleb Shaw, TyLynn Smith, Gabrielle Stuff, Brice Tanner, Hailey Toker, Olivia Tonkovich, Cheyenne Twaddle, Angelina Utter, Shyloh Utter, Briana Williamson, Zoe Williamson, and Brodie Yeager See STUDENTS Pg.- 10
Seniors: Destiny Arnold, McKayla Dunkle, Mackinzie Ferguson, Maggie Goudy, Colton Howell, Joenus Jones, Tristen Kovarik, Mackinley Marshall (second row), Jacob Mattern, Kasey Novak, Michaela Palmer, Benjamin Puskarich, Alexys Reynolds, Emily Schmidli, Aiden Sliva (third row), Matthew Smith, Edwin Stringer, Kadence Tanner, Avery Wallace, Jenna Young, and Zane Zeigler.
Sophomores: Ryan Arbaugh, Hunter Bittinger, Hunter Boals, Katarina Carman, Ava Carson, Kadin Claring, Heath Clay, Nessa Culver, Julia Doty, Danielle Drapp, Alex Dray, Madelynn Edwards (second row), Alexander Fluharty, Nicholas Fluharty, Nathan Frye, Carys Haney, Parker Hutton, Cheyanne Lake, Nicolas Malone, Joanna Manbeck, Infinity McFarland, Jaylen Moore, Katelyn Moss, Alan Radtka (third row), Danica Rensi, Peyton Roski, Katherine Shearer, Rylee Smith, Cameron Thompson, Trista Thompson, Jessica Waid, Aubrey Wood, Amaya Wren, and Isabel Yeager.
FORGOTTEN CITY
PG - 10
OBITUARIES Deanna “Dee” Thompson William Haney James C. Stephenson Ralph Brill