Oct. 29, 2008

< Court Has New Video System

The Monroe County Common Pleas Courtroom has a new video system which enables court exhibits to be displayed on monitors (as shown above) that enable the jurers to view the evidence as it is presented. The Monroe County Bar Association, in conjunction with the Woodsfield Police Department and donors, purchased the equipment. Shown, from left, are James L. Peters, president of the Monroe County Bar Association; Chuck Hamilton, Woodsfield Police Chief; Judge Julie Selmon, Monroe County Common Pleas Court Judge; donors, Alonzo Wilson and Roger Elliott, representing Woodsfield VFW Post 5303; Lorraine Holiday, Beallsville American Legion 768 Post Adjutant; Stanley Davis, representing Woodsfield Moose; and Lewis Jackson, representing Woodsfield Eagles.    Photo by M. Ackerman

by Martha Ackerman
Staff Writer
        A new video system has been installed in the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas. The Monroe County Bar Association, in conjunction with the Woods-field Police Department, has purchased a 50 inch plasma display and three LCD monitors, one for the Judge’s bench and one for each trial table.
        The new digital technology will enable each party, through their attorneys, to display their exhibits on the plasma display above the jury box (as shown in the photo).
        “I am grateful to the Monroe County Law Library Bar Association and the Woodsfield Chief of Police Chuck Hamilton, who, with the support of generous donations from the Woods-field Eagles, Woodsfield Moose Lodge, Woodsfield VFW and the Beallsville American Legion, made this project possible,” said Judge Julie Selmon, Monroe County Common Pleas Court. “This state-of-the-art technology, which was installed by the fine employees of C.D.I. from Woodsfield, will greatly assist the lawyers and jurors in the presentation and review of documentary evidence as it is presented in court proceedings here in the Monroe County Common Pleas Court. This is just one example how we all, as members of various local community organizations, here in the county can come together and work to accomplish anything we set our minds to it.”
        According to John Yocca, court reporter, the ability to show the exhibits to the jury during trial enables a jury to better understand and receive evidence as it is presented from the attorneys and the witnesses.
        “With the great help from Control Design and Integration, and in particular, the assistance and expertise of Phillip Masters, engineer for CDI, the plasma display and monitors will become an integral part of all jury trials conducted well into the future in Monroe County Common Pleas Court,” said Yocca.
        “This system will be a useful tool for local attorneys to use in the event of jury trials or hearings to be held in the Common Pleas Court,” said James L. Peters, president of the Monroe County Bar Association. “With this system, we have some of the same technology larger counties use.”
        According to Peters, 50 percent of the $4,000 cost of the plasma display system was allocated from the law library fund. The rest was solicited by Police Chief Hamilton. Donors included Woodsfield VFW Post 5303, Woodsfield Moose, Woodsfield Eagles and Beallsville American Legion Post 768.

<Chimes Dedication Sunday

A celebration and dedication of the new Schulmerich Chimes system will be held at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Woodsfield on Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. Babe Briggs, left, and Jeanne Schwall, right, spearheaded the $32,000 project. Paula Frank, organist, sits at the 102-year-old organ to which the system is adapted.
                         Photo by Martha Ackerman

by Martha Ackerman
Staff Writer
        The beautiful sound of chimes fills the air on each hour and hymns can be heard at noon and  six p.m. The Schulmerich Carillon chimes are the newest addition to the 102-year-old 12-stop Moeller pipe organ at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Woodsfield.
        A celebration and dedication of the Schulmerich Chimes will be held Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. Music will be presented by organist Paula Frank and the Lazy River Band.
        Jeanne Schwall and Babe Briggs, long-time members of the Woodsfield church, spearheaded the purchase of the $32,000 chime system. Jeanne and her late husband Louis Egger became members when they returned to Woodsfield after his military tour. Babe and her late husband Fred Briggs were married in the church in 1946.
        “Two years ago when we had about $7,000 in our Memorial Fund, we began thinking about ways of using this money,” said Schwall. “Several years ago the Methodist Church had chimes they played every day at noon. Both Babe and I remembered how much we enjoyed them and we began looking for information on what is available today, and of course, prices.”
        “We thought about it and prayed,” they said in unison. “We didn’t start until we knew we had support,” said Schwall.
        The ladies sent letters to former members and friends informing them and the congregation what it would cost and if they would be interested in pledging to help raise the money.       “We received enough encouragement to continue our efforts and little-by-little the pledges came in.
        “We were impressed and surprised that so many people wanted to help,” said Schwall. Free will donations could be made in honor of the bells or in memory of a family member or friend. A plaque listing the donors will be displayed.
        “It’s unbelievable what the chime system can do, both inside and in the outside tower,” said Frank. “There are so many possibilities and a lot to learn.”
        Frank, a music teacher at Woodsfield Elementary, said the chimes peal, play funeral dirges, wedding bells and so  much more. She is excited to be exploring all the possibilities available with the Schulmerich Chimes system. “It plays with me or without me,” the organist said. “It’s a unique system. It has a memory card with secular and Broadway songs. We can also create our own card. We can tape music for a Christmas or other program and put it on the card and play it.”
        The system was installed by Humpe Organ Co. “They were impressed with the way the organ is built into the wall,” said Frank, who noted a new pipe organ today would cost to the tune of $250,000. “This is a great addition to the 102-year-old organ.”
        “We think the Schulmerich Chimes system is a great asset to the community as well as our church,” said Schwall, who invites the public to the celebration and dedication.

< Annual BBQ Set for Friday
 

       Kirt Sloan, manager of Woodsfield’s Riesbeck Food Market, and his employees are ready to serve their delicious ribeye steak and sausage sandwiches, along with soup beans and cornbread at the annual Warm the Children BBQ set for Oct. 30, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The meats, peppers and onions are fresh from Riesbeck’s store.
 Photo by Martha Ackerman

by Martha Ackerman
Staff Writer
        It’s that time of year again when the weather starts getting cooler and Warm the Children begins raising money to help provide new, warm winter clothing to the children of needy families in the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District.
        Riesbeck’s Food Market Manager Kirt Sloan and his staff are gearing up for their annual BBQ which is set for Friday, Oct. 30, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event benefits the Warm the Children  program and over the last eight years, Riesbeck’s has contributed almost $15,000 to the program.
        The grills will be hot and ready for the ribeye steaks, sausage, onions and green peppers. The soup beans will be cooking in open kettles and the cornbread will be freshly baked. Also on hand, as usual, will be members of the Ruritan who will be making apple butter.
        According to Sloan, Conn’s Potato Chips has been a faithful sponsor of the BBQ. Also contributing to this year’s BBQ are Caito Food Distributors, Pepsi, Nickles Bakery, Broughton’s and Superior Meats. Woodsfield Subway helps out by providing the equipment to cut the peppers and onions.
        The food is always delicious and available at the same great prices. A steak sandwich, chips and soda is only $5; sausage, chips and soda, $4; and soup beans and cornbread, $3. Where else can you get such a bargain and help children, too?
        Don’t forget Oct. 30, 7-5!

<Belmont Technical College: Higher Education Plan Advances

        Belmont Technical College (BTC) recently convened a community task force to move forward a higher education plan for Monroe County. On Sept. 24 the college held the first of several planned meetings with community leaders to solicit input.
        Leading the planning process for BTC is Dr. Lawrence Dukes, President Emeritus of Southern State Community College. With many years of experience as a community college president and direct experience in bringing higher education to rural areas of Ohio, Dr. Dukes shared his experiences with the group.
        There was lively discussion and sharing of information at this session leading to the formulation of several issues to be explored for possible inclusion in the plan. According to Dr. Dukes,” We have a great start to the planning process with community leaders who are committed to enhancing the community by expanding higher education opportunities for the residents of Monroe County.”
        Issues being researched include:
        1) Collaboration with high schools, particularly regarding shared staff to meet new CORE requirements mandated by the state.
        2) Use of grant funding for students.
        3) Formation of a P-16 Council. Originated at the state level, P-16 is a shared education reform effort designed to create a seamless education and workforce system and produce the talent base needed for the 21st century economy.
        4) Use of local or outside funding for the higher education initiative.
        5) Possible development of a pathway to an associate degree that could largely be earned in Monroe County with both onsite and hybrid courses.
        6) Creation of an “adult incentive” grant to assist more adults in enrolling in higher education.
        7) Involving the Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education (OACHE) in marketing efforts that have worked in other counties.
        The group thought it was premature to consider any permanent facilities. It will be considered for a goal in the distant future.
        Future agenda items will include:
        1) Establishing a p lan for Fall, 2009.
        2) Establishing the P-16 Council.
        3) Revisiting funding possibilities.
        4) Considering a summer pre-college program to get under-prepared students ready for college.