740-472-0734 < P.O. Box 70, Woodsfield, OH 43793 < monroecountybeacon@sbcglobal.net

Below are links to portions of this week's news articles. For the full story, pick up a paper at your local newsstand or send $1 with your name/address to P.O. Box 70, Woodsfield, OH 43793.

April 29, 2007
<Fire Claims Mans Life	An April 21 blaze claimed the life of 42-year-old Donald Tubaugh when a three-alarm fire consumed his home. The residence, located on TR2121, about one and one-half miles from Beallsville, was destroyed. Responding to the call at approximately 7:30 p.m. was Beallsville Volunteer Fire Department with mutual aid from Woodsfield and Somerton. According to reports, flames were going through the roof when the fire department arrived. According to Somerton Fire Chief Dennis Wilcox, the mans body was found on the kitchen floor about eight-feet from the door of the home. Samantha Brewer of the Beallsville Volunteer Fire Department said the fire is under investigation. The state fire marshal was expected to investigate the blaze on Monday, April 23.
<New Faces at the Courthouse i Tracy Curtis, of the Monroe County Board of Elections, watched as Betty Rousenberg, center, takes the oath of office, administered by Beth Rose, Clerk of Courts. Photo by Martha Ackerman	The Monroe County Board of Elections has two new faces, deputy directors Tracy Curtis and Betty Rousenberg. On April 23, Rousenberg took the oath of office, administered by Beth Rose, Clerk of Courts. Curtis began her duties Feb. 23. Betty J. Rousenberg lives near Jerusalem with her husband Aaron and two children, Brittany, eight, and Gage, five. She was appointed to replace Margaret Hansen, who is retiring May 31. Tracy Curtis resides in Sardis with her husband Chris and their two children, Brittany, 15, and Austin, 13. She was appointed to the board of elections to replace Ann Block, who is now employed with the state as a regional liaison.
<ReBay-Recyclers celebrated Earth Day 2007 ReBay-Recyclers celebrated Earth Day 2007 with an open house, community yard sale and ribbon cutting at the Lewisville Road, Woodsfield, recycling facility. ReBay is expanding into Washington County and will develop a curb-side pick-up program in Monroe County. Attending the open house were, from left, front: Commissioners John Pyles, Francis Block and Bill Thompson; John Curtis; John Whitaker, CEO Paul Bunning and son Gabriel and Greg Whitaker, all of ReBay-Recyclers; Misty Casto and Tina Meunier of Buckeye Hills; Rob Reiter of SouthEast Ohio Joint Solid Waste. In back are ReBay employees, Anthony Kaczor, David Huntsman, James Smith, Jordan Myers; employees standing, Lori Camden, Abby Riesbeck, Marlene Terwilliger, Penny Smith and Tracy Heskett. Photo by Martha Ackerman	by Martha Ackerman Staff Writer This is a special day for recyclers, said Paul Bunning, CEO of ReBay-Recyclers, as he celebrated an expansion project and kicked off Earth Day 2007 activities with an open house. We are helping to clean up the county and this country. Bunning had a full weekend of activities planned which included a community yard sale and a recycling contest. The CEO thanked several people for their help in the expansion project which includes a Washington County project and curb-side pick-up in Monroe County areas. Among those were: Rob Reiter, SouthEastern Ohio Joint Solid Waste District; and Misty Casto and Tina Meunier of Buckeye Hills Hocking Valley Regional Development District. John Whitaker, of ReBay- Recyclers, expressed appreciation to the over 200 businesses, 12 schools, hospitals and residents who are currently being serviced by ReBay. He went on to explain the curbside pick-up program noting there will be a small initial fee and a small monthly fee for pick-up, but it will create jobs in the community. Another benefit, he noted, is sending less material to landfills. For more information on the curbside pick-up recycling effort, call 740-472-2685, Ext. 12. Funding for the expansion is mostly credited to Tina Meunier, who helped secure the revolving loan fund award through the Economic Development Administration and the Appalachian Regional Commission. As we expand our operation, we are excited about the Washington County effort, said Bunning. Our plan includes up to 40 new jobs over the next three years as growth continues. Francis Sonny Block, Monroe County commissioner, introduced commissioners John Pyles and Bill Thompson. He read an Earth Day Proclamation, signed by the board congratulating Bunning and ReBay-Recyclers on the expansion and recycling efforts. Misty Casto read a congratulatory letter from Senator George Voinovich. Helping his father cut the ribbon was Bunnings son, Gabriel. Invited guests enjoyed an informal barbecue luncheon, hosted by Bunning. Weekend events concluded with the announcement of winners in the recycling contest, entered by 38 participants. Bringing in $60 worth of recyclable material and earning first place in the contest was Stacey Otto of Beallsville. Second was Jenny Little of SR255 with $35 worth and third was Mary Scott of SR26, with $30 worth of recyclables. For the contest, ReBay doubled the material worth and winners won $120, $70 and $60. The contest will continue on a monthly basis. According to Bunning, 16,255 pounds of recyclable material was brought in by those participating in the contest. Another 16,000-plus pounds was brought in by non-participants. If everyone continues to bring in recyclable material like they did over the weekend, that would be 768,000 pounds a year that isnt going into landfills, said Bunning. Every day should be Earth Day! If this recycling effort continues, we will need to expand this facility, added Bunning, who said they will begin paying residents for certain recyclables. For more information, call 740-472-2685.
<District Superintendent Resigns	by Arlean Selvy Publisher The resignation of Mike Staggs, who has served as superintendent of the Switzerland of Ohio school district for the past 18 months, was accepted at the April 26 school board meeting. Staggs, in his letter of resignation, said he appreciated the opportunity to have served as superintendent over the past two years. “The District is improving and I feel is very close to major improvements,” he wrote, He complimented the staff as being outstanding. His resignation is effective May 1. The school board has scheduled a special meeting for April 26 beginning at 5 p.m. at the central office on Mill Street in Woodsfield. The purpose of the meeting is listed as “Approval of GMN Tri-County program and match, approval of expenditure reduction plan and action to fill superintendency vacancy.” The board adopted a resolution to advertise for design services related to the Ohio School Facilities Commission Exceptional Needs Program project. According to the resolution, provided by Peck, Shaffer & Williams LLP, attorneys at law, Columbus, the school district expects to be “conditionally approved to receive state funding for a portion of basic project costs through the Ohio School Facilities Commission’s Exceptional Needs Program and anticipates the placement of a School Improvement Bond Issue on the November, 2007, or later ballot to fund the local share of project costs.” According to Larry Elliott, assistant superintendent, the ‘project’ involves an architectural firm doing background work to determine costs for various combinations of new school facilities. He said there is no cost for the architects unless a levy is eventually approved for school construction. The board’s agenda listed “Discussion of financial recovery plan.” However, board members agreed to hold a special meeting to consider what action they will take. According to a letter from the Center for School Finance, written over the signature of Jacalyn Osborne, fiscal consultant, the school has failed to submit a proposal for recovery from a projected “potential deficit” in 2008. In her letter, Osborne wrote, “In failing to produce a plan for reducing expenditures or increasing receipts, the [State] Board of Education is placing [the Switzerland of Ohio] district out of compliance with Ohio statute ...” Osborne said a possible outcome of the action is a “declaration of Fiscal Caution.” No date was set by the board for a special session to discuss a Financial Recovery Plan. The board approved a plan for Woodsfield Elementary to make up a “calamity day” which is the result of a bomb threat. Students will attend class 30 additional minutes per day for ten days beginning May 7 through and including May 18. According to Woodsfield Elementary Principal Sam Schumacher, students currently arriving after 8:30 are considered tardy and dismissal begins at 3:10 p.m. The time schedule for the make up time is that students arriving after 8:15 will be considered tardy and dismissal will begin a 3:25 p.m. According to school officials, this will not affect bus schedules. According to Supt. Staggs, Beallsville will make up a day on May 7. It was noted that students in Beallsville cannot add 30-minutes per day due to class time already scheduled.
<Riesbeck’s Ready for 4-H Fundraiser Riesbeck’s employees will be grilling for 4-H on April 27 at the Spring Sausage and Ribeye Sandwich Sale from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Woodsfield Riesbeck’s parking lot. Front row from left are Dorothy Elliott, Elaine Howell, Nancy Williams and Kirt Sloan. Back row, Jeff Froehlich, Pat Gibson, Janice McClelland, Chuck Given and Tom Dick. Absent was Dave Matz.	by Martha Ackerman Staff Writer It’s time to fire up the grills and once again it’s your chance to enjoy a tasty grilled sausage or ribeye sandwich at Riesbeck’s. Woodsfield Riesbeck’s will be having their Spring Sausage and Ribeye Sandwich Sale on April 27, from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Riesbeck’s employees are joining forces with the Monroe County 4-H Endowment committee to financially support the local 4-H Endowment. During 2006 the Monroe County 4-H Endowment reached a milestone and exceeded the $25,000 goal to endow the fund with The Ohio State University Development Fund. County 4-H Endowments are permanent funds made possible through individual donations, business and corporate contributions and fundraising events. Currently the fund balance is over $30,000 and funds will now begin to flow back into the Monroe County 4-H Program in the form of interest income during 2007. Plans are underway by the Monroe County 4-H Committee to spend this interest income on college scholarships, 4-H camperships, learning experiences for 4-H members, personal development scholarships and community service grants for 4-H clubs. Currently the 4-H program touches over 600 Monroe County youth through community 4-H clubs and 4-H cloverbud clubs. Riesbeck’s employees will be staffing the grills and preparing the sandwiches. Other food donations for the event have come from Conns Potato Chip Company in Zanesville, Brownberry Bakers, Pepsi and Caito Foods. Last spring the sale raised $3000 for the 4-H endowment.
< Routine Traffic Stop Yields Drugs	A Powhatan motorist and her passenger, a resident of Georgia, were taken into custody April 19 by Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies after a routine traffic stop in Woodsfield resulted in felony drug charges. Ashta Rae Harr, 21, Powhatan Point, and Amanda N. Alexander, 19, Columbus, Ga., were arraigned before County Court Judge Jim Peters last week and bond was set at $100,000. The women were transported to Belmont County Jail. According to a spokesperson in County Court, a preliminary hearing was set for April 25 at which time it was to be determined whether or not enough information was available to bind the case over the Monroe County Grand Jury. The women were traveling SR78, Eastern Avenue, through Woodsfield at about 3 p.m. when Deputy Tim Isaly stopped Harr for driving left of center. Upon further investigation, Deputy Isaly called for Belmont County Deputy Joe Kress and the Canine Unit. The dog, named Kaiser, alerted officers to a substance in the passenger side door of the 2004 Volkswagen Passant. A subsequent search was conducted and officers found 29 plastic bags suspected of containing marijuana and another bag containing what was suspected to be crack cocaine. The substances were sent to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation lab for analysis, according to the sheriff.
< Training Exercise Held at Airport Members of the Civil Air Patrol, from left, Staff Sgt. Chadon Fike, 1st Lt. Emerson Ziegler and Capt. Jason Kaufmann, manned the communications center at the Monroe County Airport as the Civil Air Patrol, in cooperation with the United States Air Force, conducted training exercises at the airport. Photo by Martha Ackerman	by Martha Ackerman Staff Writer Monroe County Airport was one of the sites chosen for a training exercise by the Civil Air Patrol. According to Captain Jason Kaufmann of Wadsworth, director of communications training office, Sortie No. 26 was played out at the airport Saturday, April 21. The main base for the training exercise was at the Zanesville Airport. Volunteer Civil Air Patrol members, 1st Lt. Emerson Ziegler, Capt. Kaufmann and Staff Sgt. Chadon Fike, all of the Medina County Skyhawks, had communications duties on the ground as several scenarios played out at the county airport. The ground “search and rescue” teams combed the airport and surrounding areas for an electronic location transmitter (ELT) which had been dropped earlier. This scenario simulated the search and rescue of a downed aircraft. According to Edgar McVay, Monroe County Airport Authority board member, one “touchdown” simulated the crash of a medical transport. This Civil Air Patrol was monitored and evaluated by the United States Air Force, noted Capt. Kaufmann. The Civil Air Patrol responds in search and rescue operations which includes missing persons and downed aircraft. Capt. Kaufmann is a ham radio operator who joined the Civil Air Patrol in 1998. The insignia which includes an airplane propeller represents three functions of the Civil Air Patrol: emergency service, cadet program and aerospace education. For more information on the Civil Air Patrol, visit www.cap.gov or www.ohwg.cap.gov.
< Obituaries (read the full obituary in the paper) denotes veteran	< NANCY C. CRAWFORD Nancy C. Crawford, 68, Fifth Ave., Sardis, died April 22, 2007, at home. She was born May 5, 1938, in Clarington, the daughter of the late William and Mae Bonar Gates. < MARY M. ATKINSON Mary M. Atkinson, 86, of Clarington, died April 20, 2007, in East Ohio Regional Hospital, Martins Ferry. She was born March 10, 1921, in Clarington, a daughter of the late Lewis and Goldie Ollom Eikey. < MARY P. ROSENLIEB Mary P. Rosenlieb, 81, Bethel Rdg. Rd., New Matamoras, died April 17, 2007, at Barnesville Hospital. She was born Sept. 23, 1925, in Washington County, a daughter of the late Cecil and Maggie Merckle Teeman. < WILLIAM A. PAULUS William A. Paulus, 77, Woodsfield, died April 22, 2007, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. He was born Jan. 23, 1930, in Monroe County, a son of the late Chester Paulus and Geneva Polen Paulus.
<Around the Burnside	A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who speaks boastfully invites disaster. On with my boring story of my kaput watch. I looked at my watch and it had flopped back to January 1, 1996. I re-set it and went on doing very little. The next day it flopped back to 1996 again. This went on several times. Although I hated to lose something I had for so long, I decided my faithful watch had bit the dust and I went to the computer to search for a replacement. Believe it or not, I found an exact replacement of my trusty watch. The only difference being my old watch had Voice Craft on it, my new Voice zone, so I ordered one. It came UPS in a little over a week. In the mean time, I remembered my old watch could have two different times, T-1 and T-2 so I switched it to T-2 and it started running perfectly. This didnt last long as sometime later everything stopped, no talking, no time, no music, just a bunch of numbers on the face. I thought the battery was shot and just for the heck of it, Id try to get a new battery. We had a trip coming up to the city on the Ohio border, south on I-77. We always have to stop in Wal-Mart any time we are near the place. Thinking the Wal-Mart was a customer service store, I would get them to replace the battery just for the heck of it. I asked the lady behind the jewelry counter if they replaced watch batteries. She said, Yes, but after looking at my watch she said, I'm sorry we replace batteries only in watches we sell. I said, That's funny, they replaced the battery in this watch a couple of years ago. She replied, This is just a new order. I said, This is quick thinking when you don't want to work on my watch, and walked away. We bought a few things and took off to exercise class I call Piddlin in the Pool. After class and getting ready to get something to eat the alarm on my stupid watch started ringing and was once again set on 1996. I re-set everything again and would you believe it that faithful watch has been correct ever since and is still going. I have it on my dresser just to see how long it keeps going. My new watch has taken over the untanned circle on my wrist. My poor old faithful watch just didn't want to give up. Before I forget, my new watch is 14 seconds fast according to my Atomic clock which is within 20,000th of a second of the correct time. It's getting harder and harder to find a courteous person who isn't trying to sell you something. I hope I didn't bore you with my problem watch. Sometimes its tough to think of something to write about and I've learned to expand a half page to a couple of pages. I really had some fun the other day. As I understand it, it was Drop Everything and Read day. A couple of boys wrote me a letter and asked me to read to the students on April 12 at 1 p.m. I never turn down a chance like this. Senator Padgett, Phil Ackerman and I had the privilege of reading to the first, second, third and fourth graders at Skyvue Grade School. I decided to tell a couple of stories before reading a story. I shared the story of my pet dog I had when I was growing up. (A tall tale) When I finished something happened that had never happened before. I have told the story to probably thousands over the years. A girl stood up, raised her hand and asked, What kind of a dog was it? I could have given her a big hug. Thinking quickly I said Beagle which was the truth as I did have a Beagle rabbit dog, it wouldn't chase a fox. One very impressive thing during our session, this was one of the best groups Ive talked with, they sat very quietly and responded to the stories as you might expect. I expect maybe the teachers had given a few instructions a bit earlier in the day. At any rate, this was an excellent group to visit with. After our reading session we all enjoyed cake and punch. Oh yes, we all got our picture taken. How fortunate it is to have an experience like this. Nothing can compare with being with such a group. Makes you think this old world aint so bad off after all. Question of the Week: What did Babe Ruth wear under his hat to keep his head cool on hot days? A cabbage leaf. Before I forget it, I understand postage, like just about everything else, is going up to 41 cents the middle of next month. I never could understand why they dont make it even money when some are thinking of doing away with pennies. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however, they plan to sell a forever stamp that will be good forever and ever no matter what the cost of postage might be. I guess it wouldnt be the best advice to buy a supply of stamps before the price goes up. A motorist got stuck in the mud hole in the country. A farmer was there with his tractor and pulled him out for $50. At these prices, I would think you would be pulling people out day and night, the motorist said. Cant, at night I haul water for the hole. The only thing that can keep growing without nourishment is an ego. Bible readings: (Mon.) Mat-thew 22:1-14; (Tues.) Revelation 15:1-5; (Wed.) Revelation 11:15-19; (Thurs.) Psalm 148:1-6; (Fri.) Psalm 148:7-14; (Sat.) Revelation 19:1-5; (Sun.) Revelation 19:6-10.