A car show was the highlight of the last Summerfest event of the season held on the square in Woodsfield Aug. 7. Two of the oldest cars entered in the show belonged to Clarence Crum, left, and Marc Ring. Crum’s vehicle is a 1931 Ford Model A Roadster.. It’s one of 10 he has restored over the years. Ring’s vehicle is a 1931 Ford Model A pick-up. It took him about one-and-a-half years to restore and paint the antique pick-up. “Clarence has been my go-to guy for technical details since my grandpa passed away,” said Ring. Car show winners included Marc Ring as Best of Show; Ron Pittman, People’s Choice; Rusty Lewis, Mayor’s Choice. Carol Hehr, Pat Lewis, Peg Beymer, Hattie Byers and Ruth Workman, of the Summerfest Committee, appreciate all the support they have received for this summer’s events. Photo by Martha Ackerman

Controlled Deer Hunt Considered for Woodsfield

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher

A controlled urban hunt and the purchase of property were major discussions at the Aug. 3 meeting of Woodsfield Council.

Dave Schott of the Soil and Water Conservation District spoke to council on behalf of village residents having problems with deer.

Mark and Margie Yoss, Eastern Ave., told council their property is overrun with deer, resulting in an estimated $1,000 worth of damages to landscaping.

“Harsh language does not work against them,” said Mark Yoss, who indicated the deer pose health hazards, such as the possibility of lyme disease.

The Yosses submitted a petition bearing 45 signatures of residents in all areas of the village.

Schott suggested a controlled hunt during a deer-archery season. He said hunters would have to adhere to hunting regulations and the hunt would take place between Sept. 26 and the end of January. “Just follow regular daylight hours and guidelines,” said Schott.

Because village ordinances ban firearms, bows and arrows, those laws would have to be amended by village council before a hunt could be permitted.

Councilwoman Carol Hehr, a resident of Green St., also expressed concern. She said she has seen up to 17 deer in her yard at one time. She indicated she is in favor of finding a way to control them.

Councilman Bill Moore, of Maple Ave., said he has watched deer come down the hill and enter on the mayor’s property as well as his. He moved that council explore a control hunt for deer and direct the solicitor to look at all legal aspects. Council agreed on a 5-0 vote. Council President Dale English did not vote as he presided over the meeting in the absence of Mayor Bill Bolon.

In another matter, Moore requested and was granted an executive session to discuss the possible purchase of property. After that session, council approved a motion by Moore to purchase the piece of ground at $22,000. The land is located on the north side of the municipal building. The property is owned by Mark Landefeld.

On an emergency basis, council passed an ordinance for ODOT to construct a right turn lane on Lewisville Road at Sycamore St.

Moore indicated he is not pleased and said he feels the state owes the village an explanation as to why the lane is being constructed. “There are a lot better ways to spend money ...” he said.

Village Administrator Jeff Woodell reported approval of a $350,000 OWDA grant which will be used in conjunction with an ARC grant received for the waterline project from Rubel Lake to the water plant. As of August 3, over a mile of the waterline was completed.

Woodell reported the lower dam was about eight-feet low prior to recent rains. He said the dam is now only two-feet down.

In another matter, the administrator reported professional tree trimmers have been hired to trim trees around power lines and to cut down trees located directly under the power lines.

Woodell asked council’s permission to continue with the project, noting he had authorized the spending of $4,800 so far and about three more weeks are needed to complete the project. It was noted that village crews are also working on the project.

Explaining the project Woodell said for the past two winters most of the power outages were due to trees in the wires.

On a motion by Councilman Mike Cox, the project will continue. Hehr suggested an appreciation day for employees and families as well as emergency and fire department personnel and families. She suggested a pool party be held. Council agreed and a date is to be set.

Councilman Cox commended volunteer firefighters and all others who helped extinguish the recent fire in an apartment building on East Court St.

Cox, a fireman, said he was leaning on a railing at the apartment building and looking down into a stairwell. He said the small area is filled with trash - beer bottles and cans “trash of all kinds,” he said. “I realize there’s been a fire there,” said Cox, noting the owner will have to clean the building, Cox said that cleaning the stairwell can be part of the cleanup.

It was noted there is a village ordinance that property is to be kept free of litter.

Woodell reported that a representative of Moore’s Music Emporium, Bridgeport, will look at council chambers with regard to replacing the current sound system. The company will recommend a system for the room and submit a quote.

Woodell said he should have the information by the Aug. 17 meeting.

In other matters, Woodell said a traffic light at the intersection of McDonald’s was broken by a tractor-trailer and two new lights have been ordered. The second light at the corner will be stored and used for parts.

Moore reported on what he called “a very humane act” after the East Court St. fire and wanted the person involved to know that at least one individual appreciated a fireman’s concern.

Moore said that after the fire was determined to be out, a firefighter had just removed his protective fire gear when two people, who apparently lived in the building, came to the fireman and said, ‘There’s a little rabbit trapped in the bathroom.’

“Without hesitating the fireman turned right around, and put his gear back on and went up into the apartment and about five minutes later, he brought a little white rabbit to these people,” said Moore. “I watched their emotions.”

Wayt Honored at Democratic BBQ

Carl Wayt, center, was honored in Columbus at the Democratic Spring Banquet for serving 57 years as a Democratic Central Committeeman. He was unable to attend because of his health. The plaque was presented to him at the Monroe County Democratic BBQ held Aug. 8 at the Union Hall in Clarington. Shown, from left, are Herman Zerger, Wayt and John Curtis.Photo by M. Ackerman

by Martha Ackerman
Staff Writer

Carl Wayt, Democratic Central Committeeman representing Green Township, was honored at the Democratic BBQ held at the Union Hall in Clarington Aug. 8.

Wayt, 93, has served as a committeeman for 57 years. According to Wayt, his brother-in-law, John McCaslin, held the position and when he accepted a state job, he recommended someone else for the position. The chairman at the time was the late Fred Williams. Wayt said that Williams was not happy with the selection and asked him to run. The rest is history. It’s been 57 years with another year or so to go in this term. Will he run again? “One day at a time. Maybe someone will decide to run against me and win,” he said as a smile touched his lips.

Wayt has voted in every election since he turned 21. His first presidential vote, he remembers, was for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s third term.

This soft spoken Laings resident was honored in Columbus at the spring banquet held in March, but was unable to attend because of his health. Presenting the plaque at the dinner were Herman Zerger and John Curtis.

The certificate of commendation from Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner reads, “ ... This certificate of commendation is tendered on behalf of the people of the State of Ohio as a small token of their gratitude and admiration for the tireless efforts of Mr. Wayt, a devoted public servant, who has commendably served the people of Monroe County with justice, integrity and care, having inspired great confidence in his ability through his exceptional record of service and for which for 57 years the citizens of Monroe County have placed their trust in him.”

Around 1933 Wayt worked in a CCC camp for a little over a year. He said it is similar to a welfare program. The worker received room and board, $5 and $25 was sent home to the worker’s family.

Wayt worked on the 24 inch pipeline during the war years, he added. He traveled to Oklahoma, Kentucky and New York. When he married Wanda McCaslin, he quit the pipeline and joined the Marietta Labors Local 639. He wears his 50-year pin on his lapel.

Wanda and Carl were married 58 years until her death in 2005. She was sick for a number of years and he took care of her and cooked for the two of them. “Wanda was a good cook,” he said. He took over those duties and found he liked to cook although he doesn’t do much of it now.

In his union days, Wayt worked on many local projects including the construction of Conalco’s bright mill. They would lay 1,100 yards of concrete in one day, he noted. The bright mill, he explained, rolled and finished aluminum foil.

He worked on the Ormet scrubber system, Remington Rand in Belpre and Muskingum Power Plant in Beverly. “I drove 70 miles to work every day,” he said.

Swiss Hills was another project. “I worked the first day and the last day,” he said. He worked as a foreman on most of the construction jobs. He retired in 1980.