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Harrison News-Herald E-edition 10/1

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Saturday, October 1, 2022

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2022

HARRISONNEWSHERALD.COM

Sally Motorcycle Defendant Scio Waterline Buffalo a go raffle a hit on thin ice Project finally BY CORNELIA GRACE Harrison News-Herald Reporter

BY ALEXIS CORDER Harrison News-Herald Staff Writer

CADIZ—The Cadiz Village Council meeting on Thursday, September 15, was a busy one with two significant updates from project representatives about the progress of the stage construction at Sally Buffalo Park and the south and center sewage projects, respectively. Mark Puskarich was the first guest to address and update the council regarding the stage progress at Sally Buffalo Park. According to Puskarich, they finally started constructing and assembling the new roof for the stage last week, and the project was going well. There were two other projects that Puskarich brought to the council that they were looking to get done to complete the stage entirely. The first was a stone veneer on the audience-facing front of the stage, and the other was a green room/backstage structure with a bathroom and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system for performers. Puskarich reported that they had sent the projects out to bid, but, unfortunately, the cost estimates they received were just too high–both projects totaled out at about $381,000. However, Puskarich did report that they had a private bid for only the stone veneer project that looked like it could be affordable, estimated at about $80,000. Since the Cadiz CIC (Community Improvement Corporation) had already agreed to a $50,000 donation, Puskarich talked to CIC President Mike Sliva, who proposed that the CIC could take on funding the entire stone veneer project with a private contractor instead of simply donating the $50,000. Puskarich agreed to the proposition. The other project, the backstage green room, had to be reworked to ensure that they could get it constructed with the funding they had already received by the time the rest of the stage was completed. Puskarich stated that they took away both the HVAC system and the bathroom elements of that project and sent it back out to bid. He also made a point that both of these removed elements could always be added in at a later date if they received more funding. Though it was stated that the project as a whole is currently a couple of months behind, Puskarich’s main goal was to try to get the job done well and done right while being as conservative with spending as possible. They are looking to officially complete the construction of the stage by spring of 2023, with plans for a potential summer concert series next year. Next to update council was Bob Allen of E.L. Robinson Engineering, who reported that the projects were currently 20% complete. Though a progress meeting was planned for September 21 to get official completion date estimates, Allen estimated that the south project was looking like it would be completed around June of 2023 and the center project sometime in early 2023. Allen also pointed out that Rural Development had given a letter of conditions for projects like this one containing about 65 to 70 items that Allen’s teams will need to meet. As of the council meeting, they were about halfway through that list of conditions, with important items like a revised water sale agreement and installation of a bar screen for the new jail at high priority to be checked off of said list next. Though Allen stated that he was waiting on the county’s response for the revised water sale agreement, the bar screen was something that he “strongly recommended” completing at the county’s expense, with the negotiations for an official agreement needing to take place in a timely manner. Allen explained that a bar screen is a type of filter that prevents items that are not flushable from getting into the sewer system and clogging it and that the county could end up in a lot of trouble with their sewer system if they decided not to have the screen installed. Before the end of the meeting, Village Administrator Brandon Ludwig updated council on plans for the village’s Trick or Treat on October 29 from 4-6 p.m.

The $11,000 bike was given a few upgrades before being raffled off. Speakers, neon lighting, a new seat, engine guards, and forward controls were all added. The raffle raised $27,000 for the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. Paul Prevot with his wife Bobby shows off the bike with officers of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Cliff Hartley, Steve Vickers, and Donald Harper. NH PHOTO/CORNELIA GRACE

BY CORNELIA GRACE Harrison News-Herald Reporter JEWETT—Brightside Tavern owner Paul Prevot feels strongly about supporting local veterans, “We do everything we can to support all of our local vets and veteran charities. It’s really important to us.” To kick off the tavern’s bike nights in the spring, he decided to do something big: raffle off a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Prevot needed to find a charity he could get behind and soon spoke with Cliff Hartley, Sergeant of Arms at Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA). “Cliff Hartley really spearheaded this. Once I met him, I knew immediately this was the organization I wanted to go with.” Prevot said. “I knew he was the guy who would work the hardest for this.” The tavern bought the bike for around $11,000 and made a few changes, adding speakers, lighting, and a new seat, among other minor upgrades. Prevot said, “We wanted to make it desirable to anyone.” They raised $27,000 through ticket sales, and all the money will be given to CVMA to hand off to charities they regularly support. Chapter 12-6 of the CVMA supports three veteran-centered charities. The Honor Flight Columbus Inc. is a nonprofit dedicated to honoring veterans with a trip to Washington, DC, to visit service and war memorials. Disabled Veterans Outdoors provides free outdoor recreational programs for any veteran who is disabled, including providing all-terrain wheelchairs. And finally, Veteran’s Outreach has the mission of respectfully honoring and serving all veterans. Program resources offer a handup, not a handout, to benefit veterans and their communities. The bike winner, Paul Sherry, said he originally bought the raffle ticket to support the cause, not expecting to win. “I never win anything, so I thought it was just a good contribution...We found out about it through some friends who are bikers who go up to Brightside. They got us involved. When they told us it was for the combat vets, I thought that was a really good opportunity to contribute. They kind of laughed about [me winning]. They said, ‘well, it might be a good place to start, but you’re probably too big for it.’ I’m over six feet, so the bike is a little bit small.” While Sherry is not a veteran, his father fought in WWII and greatly appreciates the sacrifices made by those who serve. Sherry said he hasn’t made any decisions about what to do with the bike but has considered handing it off to fundraise again, “Might be a good excuse to get another thing sponsored. Maybe do something similar. Recycle the goodness.” Prevot said he has every intention of doing another raffle next year. He’ll choose a new organization but wants to keep it centered on veterans.

CADIZ—Taite Ferrell was sentenced for receipt of stolen property, a felony in the fourth degree. Ferrell will complete the program at the Eastern Ohio Correctional Center(EOCC) before being on community-based controls for two years and serving 80 hours of community service. He is to have no contact with the victim, and a reserve sentence of 17 months will be hanging over his head. Ferrell requested that he be released while waiting for a bed to open up at EOCC, but judge T. Shawn Hervey was hesitant to allow it. "I generally find it not productive to grant time between jail and EOCC," he said, explaining that a primary point of EOCC is to seek help with drug addiction. If a defendant is allowed out before transport to EOCC, there is a chance they will relapse into drug use, making their stay at EOCC longer and more difficult. Hervey explained to the almost forty-year-old Ferrell that it was "time to grow up" and take responsibility for himself. Kimberly Ruckman appeared in court, represented by public defender C. Adrian Pincola. The state, represented by prosecuting attorney Lauren Knight, offered a plea agreement for Ruckman to complete a program at the women's EOCC in exchange for her to plead guilty. Ruckman is charged with drug abuse, a felony in the third degree, and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor in the fourth degree. After explaining the options available to Ruckman, the court addressed her recent request for a new attorney. Judge Hervey explained that he could not grant a new public defender unless Pincola had failed in his duties as an attorney. A new public defender can be given if the attorney has not been doing what is required to properly defend their client or communications have catastrophically broken down between attorney and client. Ruckman named a specific attorney she wanted to switch to in her request, but that is not something the court takes into account when appointing a new attorney. Hervey asked Pincola if there were any reasons for him to withdraw. Pincola responded there was none and made known he only had Ruckman's best interest in mind. "I would like Ms. Ruckman to get some help," he said. "I would like her to take what the court has said and make an informed decision." Ruckman said Pincola had not been in contact this month, a significant reason for her request. The judge explained this conference was for the state to make an offer and that Pincola was hearing the offer for the first time, just like she was. They had nothing to discuss between her last appearance and this one. Despite not having to do so, Pincola noted he would be more than willing to let Ruckman speak with another attorney about her case. Before accepting or rejecting the state's offer, Hervey encouraged Ruckman to accept Pincola's help. "He's going to use his knowledge and experience to tell you the most likely outcome" if Ruckman chooses to go to trial, Hervey said. He told Ruckman that another attorney would likely tell her the same things Pincola has. Ruckman eventually said she was okay with Pincola remaining her attorney.The court set a final pretrial date, and the state agreed to leave its offer on the table until then. "I only want what's best for Ms. Ruckman," Pincola said. The courts received a "less than stellar" report for Orean Sutton, who is part of the intervention in lieu of conviction program on charges of a felony in the fifth degree, aggravated possession of drugs. Community corrections officer Sarah Costine was present to explain that Sutton had a positive drug test earlier in the month and had failed to show up See THIN ICE Pg.- 3

breaks ground

Mayor of Scio, Michelle Carpenter, presenting a certificate of appreciation to village council member Trish Copeland. NH PHOTO/ALEXIS CORDER

BY ALEXIS CORDER Harrison News-Herald Staff Writer SCIO—Scio Village Council held its bimonthly meeting on Wednesday, September 28. The meeting started notably with the presentation of a certificate of appreciation awarded by Mayor Michelle Carpenter to village council member Trish Copeland. According to Mayor Carpenter, Copeland received this award “for her dedication, service, and diligence to the duties of the village for over 20 years.” In other news, village administrator Jason Tubaugh announced that the village’s waterline project, which had held its final preconstruction meeting in August, officially started work on September 19. Tubaugh reported that the project was going very well so far. The work had started on Maple Street and was moving along very quickly, with tieins on that part of the new line to be finished by the end of the week. It was also mentioned that village residents might have to deal with lower water pressure levels as this work is being done, but it should only last around three or four hours before returning to normal. Brown Street was reported to be next on the project agenda, followed by Walnut and Grandview. Tubaugh also mentioned that despite the actual waterline work moving along quite well, the repaving part of the project will not happen until spring 2023. Additionally, only limited restoration work was planned to be done before the end of this year, depending on the weather, with most of the restoration also scheduled for spring 2023. Tubaugh urged village residents, “Please keep in mind that there will be brand new blacktop come spring, and there will be some restoration work for some of the homeowners. Please bear with us, and keep in mind that there’s no sense in putting grass seed down in December [for example] when you would have to go back in the spring and redo it.” Moving on, Tubaugh reported that the Wastewater Treatment Plant was dealing with some problems due to a paddlewheel motor freezing up. Because of this, a new motor, paddle, shafts, and bearings have to be ordered, costing the village an estimated $6000-$7000. Furthermore, the wastewater sanitation project was reportedly far behind schedule (despite the already approved extension) and still waiting for funding to come in. The project as a whole was said to be between 18-24 months away from completion. Lastly, Mayor Carpenter and Administrator Tubaugh brought the council a suggestion to get rid of their credit card machine in the city hall. Since the village had recently created the option to make credit card payments for bills online, it didn’t seem justifiable for the village to continue paying to have a credit card machine in the city building. Council agreed and unanimously voted to get rid of the credit card machine. Residents wishing to use credit cards to make bill payments can do so at the village’s website, www.villageofscio.com. Residents wishing to make payments through checks, money orders, or cash can use the drop box at city hall or delivering in person during business hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

OBITUARIES Patricia Engstrom Paul Sedgmer USPS Publication No. 236-080 One Section, 12 Pages Vol. 55, No. 21

Robert “Mike” McKeever


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