~ Bald Eagle Spotted April 24 ~
       

Glenda Scarbro sent the Monroe County Beacon this photo of a bald eagle she spotted April 24. The stately bird was seen on St. Rt. 565 in Monroe County, above the Bethel Community Center, Marr, just before you get to the Noble County line.

April 30, 2009

<Over $15,000 in Scholarships Awarded at Kiwanis Banquet

The first ever Oho State Land Grant Scholarship was awarded to  Erika Williams of Sardis. The award gives the River High School senior a full four-year scholarship to The Ohio State University. The scholarship was presented by attorney and Kiwanian Richard Yoss, a graduate of The Ohio State University

       

Scholarships for the highest ACT scores were sponsored by Paulus Insurance and presented by Ed and Valerie Paulus. Scholarships went to Andrew Schumacher, front left, and Cheyenne Romick. In back are Valerie and Ed Paulus.

       

Scholarship Banquet Chair Karena Reusser presents a beautiful hand painted picture of the Monroe Conty Courthouse to Richard L. Riesbeck, guest speaker at the 51st Annual Kiwanis Scholarship Banquet, which was held April 21 at Swiss Hills Career Center.                                 Photo by Arlean Selvy    

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
        “... discover what you need to do in life and be happy, help others and give continually to your community - wherever it may end up being.”
        Those words of advice were given by Richard L. Riesbeck, guest speaker at the 51st annual Kiwanis Scholarship Banquet.
        The banquet celebrated the top five percent of students in the Switzerland of Ohio School District. This year marked the most scholarships ever distributed in the history of the event with awards totaling over $15,000, including four $1,000  awards.
        The $1,000 scholarships were awarded by Cameron Coca-Cola, Citizens National Bank, and John and Lois Baker, who gave two $1,000 scholarships.
        Accepting the Baker scholarships, presented by Rusty Atkinson and Nikki Baker, were Cody Simmons and Kim Lafferre.
        Carey Bott, president and CEO of Citizens National Bank, presented the bank scholarship to Sean Smithberger, Monroe Central High School.
        Marc Ring, school administration, presented the Cameron Coca Cola scholarship to Cheyenne Romick, River High School.
        Erika Williams, River High, received the first ever scholarship sponsored by The Ohio State Land Grant. It was announced that Williams, a resident of Sardis, earned a full four-year scholarship to The Ohio State University.
        Richard Yoss was the presenter of The Ohio State Alumni Scholarship which was accepted by Derek Betts, Monroe Central High School.
        The first Barbara Conner Memorial Scholarship was awarded this year and was presented to Kelsey Krempasky.
        The Monroe County Demo-cratic Committee award, sponsored by Manifred Keylor, Richard Yoss and the Demo-cratic Executive Committee, was presented to Erika McFrederick.
        Kelsey Krempasky was awarded a scholarship sponsored by the Monroe County Republican Executive Com-mittee. Roger Claus presented the award.
        Richard L. Riesbeck and Riesbeck Food Markets sponsored a scholarship which Riesbeck awarded to Jordan Stephens.
        In addition to the Citizens National Bank scholarship,  awards were made by the following financial institutions:
        Woodsfield Savings Bank, Karlie Davis, presented by Mike Knuchel, bank president; WesBanco Woodsfield and Beallsville, Eve Linda-mood, presented by Donnie Sheller; Ohio Valley Com-munity Credit Union, Alyssa Headley, presented by Robyn McGuire; Peoples Savings Bank of New Matamoras, Derek Betts, presented by Ron Cooley, president; Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union, Chelsea Lowe, presented by Theresa Piatt.
        Lindsey Blackstone and Lesley Landefeld accepted scholarships offered by the Farm Bureau presented by Dan Greenlee and Dennis Ward.
        Ruritan scholarships were awarded to Rachael Crooks and Nicole Huffman. The awards were presented by Jeff Rich.
        Linda Josefczyk presented the Carol Austin Scholarship to Beallsville High’s Kristin Lallathin. Austin, a Wheeling resident, is a member of Woodsfield Kiwanis and an educator.
        Dr. Vince Monseau, principal at River High, accepted the Buddy Parks Memorial Scholarship for Kierstynn Clipner. Presenting the award was The daughter of Buddy Parks, Lisa Parks Godfrey.
        Two Science and Medical Scholarships were awarded, one by Wetzel County Hospital to Landyn Lucas and the other by Swiss Valley Foot and Ankle Center to Kerri Jo Thomas. Presenting the respective awards were Arlene Summers and Dr. Kenneth Cooper.
        Business and Achievement awards sponsored by Tim Blue and Modern Hardware were presented by Ruth Workman, Kiwanis secretary and manager of the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce. Awards were presented to Marc Armann, Swiss Hills Career Center, and Kristin Lallathin, Beallsville High.
        The Secrest Community Service awards, sponsored by the Secrest family, were presented to April Hehr and Desiree Piatt.
        Scholarships for the highest ACT scores were awarded to one male and one female. Sponsoring the awards was Paulus Insurance and presenting were Ed and Valerie Paulus. Scholarships went to Cheyenne Romick, who scored 31; and Andrew Schu-macher, with a score of 30.
        River High’s Landyn Lucas accepted the Yoss-Claus Scholarship sponsored by Richard Yoss and Roger Claus. The award is given to a student who plans to obtain his/her higher education at The Ohio State University.
        Judge Julie Selmon, common pleas court, recognized students honored at the banquet each of their four-years of high school. They were Cheyenne Romick and Erika Williams.
        The Kiwanis Club offered special recognition to Monroe Central Key Club members Karlie Davis and Kelsey Parks.
        The following students were recognized as representing the
top five percent of the student body:
        River High School: Kierstynn Clipner Kelsey Krempasky, Chelsea Lowe, Landyn Lucas, Cheyenne Romick, Erika Williams, Desiree Hinkle, Samantha Knowlton, Flint Postle, Jordan Ramsay, Brandon Price, Renae Riley.
        Swiss Hills Career Center: Marc Armann, Keli Boles,  Jennifer Mahoney-Howell,  Eve Lindamood, Kaleb Rush, Paul Turner, Whitney Ham-mel, Kayla Lallathin, Ashleigh Minger, Ashley Pandzik,  Leah  Winland, Whitney Urbanek.
        Beallsville High School: Kristin Lallathin, Alyssa Headley, Cammie Groves, Alexis Kanzigg, Charles Tay-lor Myers, Derek Burkhart.
        Monroe Central High: Mallory Bach, Derek Betts, Karlie Davis, Stephen Pierce, Sean Smithberger, Jordan Stephens, Nathan Ward, Kurt Zimmer, Kyle Dick, Kory Lucas, Brice Safreed, Casey Digity, Kelsey Parks, Cody Rouse, Jackie Shreves.
        Karena Reusser, program chairman, presented the guest speaker with a hand painted picture of the Monroe County Courthouse and depicting the square alive with bright yellow daffodils.
        Guest speaker Riesbeck left the audience with several little nuggets to treasure as we travel  life’s road to success:
        First, in terms of career pursuits, he said not to follow the paths of others, find a path that is yours. Do this, he said, by following your inner compass; by following your heart; by trusting your inner self. “By all means,” he said, “listen to the advice of your friends and family. By all means take under careful advisement what your academic and career counselors tell you. But where your life’s work is concerned, you need to satisfy yourself beyond all others.”
        Second, it’s never, ever too late to become what we should have been.
        Third: “It’s not as important what you do in life as much as it is how you live it. No matter what your calling is, no matter what subject gets you fired up, no matter where your career path takes you ...  always allocate a regular amount of time - whether this is daily, weekly or monthly - to spend being directly involved with whatever segment of your community contains people in need,” said Riesbeck.
        “Discover what you need to do in life and be happy, help others, and give continually to your community. If you do these things, you will become truly fulfilled regardless of what your career field is ...” he concluded.

<Woodsfield EMS Orders Vehicle
CDBG Requests to be Considered

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
        Authorization  to purchase a new emergency ambulance was given at the April 27 meeting of Monroe County Com-missioners, who also held a hearing on the 2009 CDBG Formula Grant requests. A decision on the requests will be made at 10 a.m. during the May 4 meeting.
        Dave Kuhn, EMA coordinator, met with officials along with a representative of Horton Emergency Vehicles of Columbus. The new Horton unit, on a 2009 Ford F-150 chassis, carries a price tag of $132,886.78.
        In an unrelated matter, Kuhn reported that Terri Knowlton has been hired to collect delinquent E-run bills. She will be paid 10 percent plus postage.
        Descriptions of CDBG requests totaling $249,300 were submitted by Mary Jo Westfall, OSU Extension, who administers grant monies.
        The county has $76,000 for projects. Of that amount $11,000 is used for administration and Fair Housing.
        Requests include:
        • Paving of Monroe St. in Clarington, $10,600, with no matching funds available.
        • Tables and chairs for community center in Jerusalem, $1,700, no matching  funds.
        • Paving of Mill St. in Stafford, $13,800. The village will match with $1,575 cash for the $15,375 project.
        • Paving S. Sycamore St. in Woodsfield, $14,800. Match-ing funds, $1,618 for the $16,418 project.
        • Pave various alleys in Woodsfield, $7,700. Matching funds $826 cash.
        • Benton Twp, handicapped restrooms, $8,800; $1,075 in-kind  for the $9,875 project.
        • Bethel Twp, culvert, $12,000, $1,700 in-kind.
        • Ohio Twp., handicapped accessibility to township hall, $16,000, no matching funds.
        • Switzerland Twp., street signs, $1,600, no matching.
        • Antioch VFD, 15 sets of fire jumpsuits and two Air Paks, $8,000 with a $3,625 match for the $11,625 project.
        • Beallsville EMS, new cot, $4,600, no match.
        • Monroe County EMS, 10 AEDs, $15,000, no match.
        • Sardis VFD, HVAC for community room , $8,700.
        • Woodsfield VFD, fire fighting equipment, $11,800.
        • Switzer Water Association, upgrade pipe on Case Ridge, $9,900, $3,307 cash match.
        • Switzerland of Ohio Water District, replace two hydrants in Jerusalem, $3,700, in-kind match of $1,440 for the $5,140 project.
        • Switzerland of Ohio Water District, coin bulk water station in Jerusalem, $8,800.
        • Woodsfield Sewer Dept. storm drainage separation, $6,300, $3,600 in-kind match for the $9,900 project.
        • Woodsfield Water Dept., booster pump replacement. $2,248 in-kind match for the $15,148 project.
        • Graysville Community Center, canopy between firehouse and community building, playground equipment, $8, 000. $4,500 match for the $12,500 project.
        • Bethel Community Center, two porch replacements with handrails, cement  slab for access to back of gym, sidewalk. $18,000. $2,000 match for the $20,000 project.
        • Monroe County Commis-sioners/senior center HVAC cooling tower. $24,000.
        • Monroe County Park District, playground equipment in Beallville Veterans Memorial Park, $21,000, $21,000 match for the $42,000 project.
        Commissioner, on recommendation of Denise Potts, Monroe County Transporta-tion, hired Barb L. Magyar, Woodsfield as a van/bus driver effective April 27.
        It was announced that a ribbon cutting, open house will be held at noon on May 7 for the Broadband at Graysville Community Center.

<Voters to Decide on Levy for Schools in Switzerland of Ohio

        Monroe Central High School students have attended classes in these mobile units since 1994. Shown is the walk-way between the two modulars.                   Photos by Arlean Selvy

        Voters in the Switzerland of Ohio School District will have their say as polls open May 5 and a decision is made as to whether or not the school district will have new schools.
        Due to the perseverance of State Representative Jennifer Garrison, the district’s share of the cost was reduced from 52 percent to 37 percent
        The Ohio School Facilities Commission would pay 63 percent of the total cost of the $88 million project if the district commits to new construction by June. Previously, taxpayers would have paid about 52 percent  of the cost. The current reduced percentage is a one-time opportunity - and a savings to taxpayers of $9.5 million.
        The proposed 8.19 mill school construction and renovation levy would cost taxpayers 8.19 cents per $100 of assessed property tax valuation, or 35 percent of a home’s market value.
        Each year that passes, the cost of construction increases by 4-4.3 percent.
        Residents age 65 and older could have the first $25,000 of their home’s value exempted from property taxes by seeking relief through the Homestead Exemption Act at the county auditor’s office.
        According to Janet Hissrich, district treasurer, the board of education now has an option to purchase the Johnny and Thea Workman property, a 50 acre site abutting the Beallsville corporation limit on SR556.
        “I’m excited about it!” said Larry Elliott, district superintendent. The proposed  Bealls-ville location and a site for the Powhatan Elementary were the final two to be agreed upon. The Powhatan school would be located on SR7 south of the intersection of SR148.
        Plans call for River High School to be completely renovated. “You won’t know the school,” said the architect, noting that among the renovations will be a new front entrance. All other schools will be new, including a Beallsville K-12 building; a combined Hannibal/Sardis Elementary; Monroe Central High School; Powhatan Elementary, Skyvue Elementary and Woodsfield Elementary schools.
        The oldest facility in the district was built in the 1920s and the average age of the buildings is 50 years. None of the schools have central air conditioning and most have water damage.