Board Approves $2,000 for
Commerce Park Feasibility Study

By Taylor Abbott
Staff Writer

Monroe County Commissioners met with a full agenda on August 9 which included appropriating money in the amount of $2,000 for the Black Walnut Commerce Park roadway extension feasibility study.

During the discussion, commissioners spoke with Tom Scott, Team Monroe, about the study and what to expect in the future.

Commission President John Pyles said that the commission had given attention to the study. Pyles informed Scott that both Woodsfield Village Council and Center Township trustees voted against approving matching funds in the amount of $1,500 for the feasibility study.

Following the conclusion of the meeting with Scott, commissioners agreed to allocate $2,000 to the feasibility study. Although the county has committed money to the study, it cannot be completed due to a shortage of $1,500.

In other business, department heads of Monroe County met in the Probate Courtroom of Judge Walter Starr for a meeting with Sam Turner, Telephone Technologies, Inc. 

Turner requested that the department heads provide him with the number of telephone lines, office phones, and pertinent information regarding communications in each office. 

The meeting stems from an ongoing proposal for the county to save money by decreas-ing the current 65 telephone lines in the courthouse to 24 by way of a new phone system. The cost is expected to range between $15,000 to $25,000 depending on whether the offices require upgraded telephones. 

Turner will be meeting again with the county in the near future with more precise estimates for the upgrades.

Noted author and story teller Bob Welsh approached commissioners about land at the Commerce Park. Welsh spoke on behalf of Woodsfield’s American Legion. He said the organization is inquiring into land that they might be able to acquire for a new American Legion facility. 

Commissioners thanked Welsh for coming to them and said that the Commerce Park’s bylaws do not permit the sale of alcohol on the premises. After briefly discussing the issue, commissioners said that Prosecuting Attorney Lynn Riethmiller should be consulted for further bylaw and legal issues concerning the property.

At 11 a.m., Raymond Bauer and Mary Jo Westfall, OSU Extension, met with commissioners. During his discussion, Bauer was permitted by the commission to sign a subordination agreement with a resident of Monroe County.

Westfall then spoke, informing officials that the county’s Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) was not re-funded for the year 2011. Bauer said that the remainder of the program’s $500,000 will be gone by Oct. 31. He and Westfall both noted that any projects started using CHIP money will be completed, regardless, no later than Dec. 31. 

Commissioners said that the loss of the funding is a definite blow to families of Monroe County. Pyles asked about the county’s alternatives or options regarding this issue. Bauer said that it would be best to call the state office in Columbus and set up a meeting date or conference call to discuss the county’s application and why it was denied. Bauer also suggested that the county seek a consulting firm to handle the CHIP program instead of making it a county entity.

He said it was unfortunate that the county was denied, noting he will be out of job until the program is refunded, if ever, and families in Monroe County will suffer from the loss of funding. 

Westfall and Bauer both said that the loss of funding was not the county’s fault but was a result of many applicants in the state applying for the year 2011 and not enough money for all of them.

In unrelated business, Commissioner Carl Davis, Tom Scott, members of the United States Forest Service, Wayne National Forest representatives and other guests attended a forum meeting at the Monroe County River Museum on July 29. 

The meeting, held due to Monroe County being chosen as a possible location for an Ohio Scenic Byway kiosk, centered on possible locations for the kiosk. 

When the meeting concluded, four possible sites for the kiosk were chosen and several factors as to why Monroe County should be chosen was discussed. 

Possible locations for the byway kiosk include:

• Hannibal Locks and Dam
• Old Lock 15 in Duffy
• Fly Ferry Landing
• Rest Area below Fly

Commissioners and Scott are planning to meet with representatives and organizers of this project again on Aug. 30.

Monroe County Sheriff dispatcher and communications supervisor Maria Jones sits in front of the new 911 system. When a landline or cell phone call comes in, the digital map displays the location from where the call originates. The dispatcher can quickly see where the 911 call is from and which fire or emergency department to contact. Photo by Martha Ackerman

911 System Up and Running

by Martha Ackerman
General Manager/Editor

The latest advances in the 911 system are now installed at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. According to Matt Brake of Swiss Valley Associates, Inc., the 911 coordinator for Monroe County, 14 people have successfully completed mapping training with the improved software.

“This is an excellent tool,” said Maria Jones, dispatcher and communications supervisor. “There are a lot of phenomenal features.”

When a landline or cell phone call comes in, the digital map displays the location from where the call originates. The dispatcher can quickly see where the 911 call is from and which department to contact. Brake, who reported the information to Monroe County Commissioners during their Aug. 2 meeting, said, “This saves valuable time in dispatching emergency personnel to the scene. This map serves as the backbone to which other geographic information system information can be added, making future expansion easier.”

Swiss Valley Associates will make monthly updates to the map data. These updates will include new or revised house addresses, phone numbers and public roads. Current and correct information makes it easier to respond accurately.

Jones gives the following advice to those who call from cell phones. “It is best to stop and make the 911 call. If you are  mobile, the map won’t track the location.” So with this advice-Stop before making the emergency call.

Due to financial restraints, the sheriff’s office has one dispatcher on duty 24-hours a day. According to Jones, the dispatchers cannot give medical instruction. There are three deputies in the sheriff’s office trained for medical but the funds are not available to have two on duty at the same time.  Jones noted that a second dispatcher would be needed to give medical instruction be-cause when a medical instruction call is initiated, the dispatcher is not allowed to put the call on hold or disconnect. With one dispatcher, that would leave the other line unattended.

According to Brake, Staley Communications Inc. of Wheeling, W. Va. installed the mapping software. The back-up 911 equipment was installed at the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center at the Monroe County Airport.

The 911 project was made possible through the collaboration of many Monroe County departments including the commissioners, sheriff, engineer, auditor, EMA and health department. Other agencies included ODOT and the Ohio Statewide Imagery Program. Grant funding was awarded from the Appalachian Region-al Commission through Buck-eye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development Dis-trict and USDA Rural Devel-opment.

The $400,000 project began with an application for a $39,000 grant from USDA Rural Development in Decem-ber 2006. This grant was awarded in 2007 and was combined with $84,016 of local matching funds, $13,000 from ODOT, $47,384 from the Ohio Geographically Referenced Program. This amount was leveraged to apply for a $200,000 grant from Appala-chian Region Commission. Additional funding was awarded from the County Engineers Association of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

Digital Data Technologies, Inc. of Columbus collected the data for the program by driving all the roads in the county with GPS equipment to log the road centerlines, house address numbers and many other features along the roadways.

During the meeting Monroe County EMS coordinator David Kuhn opened discussion on the county having designated landing zones for the medical helicopters. “Beallsville has marked zones all through its coverage area,” said Kuhn.

“Monroe County has accomplished much over the last few years,” said Brake. “Working together we can continue to ensure that all citizens and visitors feel confident in the ability of our emergency personnel to respond promptly to our needs. Our beautiful rural hills are now matched with the highest levels of 911 safety ever.”

CNB Earns 5-Star Superior Rating

It is with great pride that Bauer Financial, Inc., Coral Gables, Fla., announces that Citizens National Bank of Woodsfield, has earned its highest 5-Star Superior rating for strength and stability. The past few years have been extremely difficult for the banking industry and the fact that Citizens National Bank continues to excel in such areas as capital adequacy, delinquent loan levels and profitability, clearly indicates it is one of the strongest banks in the country. In fact, only three percent of the nation’s banks can claim to have earned this top rating for 86 consecutive quarters, like Citizens National Bank has.

“With a full ten percent of the nation’s banks now on the FDIC’s problem list and even more on ours,” notes Karen L. Dorway, president of Bauer Financial, “the fact that Citizens National Bank continues to not just withstand the pressures, but even excel in this environment, indicates its management is doing things right. Bauer’s stringent 5-Star requirements haven’t changed, but the climate definitely has nd the fact that Citizens National Bank earned this prestigious rating sets it well above the competition.”

Citizens National Bank was established in 1933 and has been serving the banking needs of its neighbors and friends for 77 years. It currently operates through three conveniently located offices in Barnesville, Sardis and Woodsfield.

Citizens National Bank: “Your 5-Star Community Bank.”

BauerFinancial, Inc., Coral Gables, Fla., the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating and research firm, has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of u.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. No institution pays BauerFinancial to rate it, nor can any choose to be excluded. Consumers may obtain star-ratings by visiting www.bauerfinancial.com.

Janet Stoffel stands among some of the many items of memorabilia from the Feiock and Distler store, which served Lewisville area residents for over a century. She is the granddaughter of Charles Feiock Sr., who owned and operated the store for many years. The Red and White Store as it was later called was razed recently. 
Photo by Martha Ackerman

Landmark Store Remembered

by Martha Ackerman
General Manager/Editor

When travel was not so easy, it was a godsend for many farmers and local people in the Lewisville area. It served its people in one capacity or other  for over a century. 

The original mercantile did business under the name Feiock and Bott. The following was provided to the Beacon by John Ogden, copied from an article found in the June 11, 1896 Spirit of Democracy: “A change has taken place in the mercantile firm of Feiock & Bott at Lewisville, Mr. Fred Bott having sold his interest in the store to Mr. Will Distler. Mr. Bott has made arrangements to go into business at Nashville, Tenn., where he hopes his health will improve. He is a good man whom we regret to lose from the county, but we join many other friends in wishing him success and better health in his southern home.

“The new firm, consisting of Charles Feiock and Wm. Distler, will continue the business at the old stand under the firm name of Feiock & Distler. Both gentlemen are highly respected citizens who know how to hustle and retain patronage when they get it. They will succeed where success is possible. Elsewhere in today’s paper will be found a notice by the old firm asking all patrons to call and settle by July 1.”

The Feiock Distler Big Store continued and a 1909 souvenir plate, as well as several others, was purchased at auction by Janet Stoffel.

“Things were simple then. It filled people’s needs,” said Stoffel, whose grandfather  Charles Feiock Sr. and his brother-in-law William Distler continued running the store for many years. Wilma Denbow and Wilda Baker served as clerks. Stoffel’s mother Wilda (Feiock) DeWitt did the store’s book work.

Stoffel, who lived with her grandparents, remembers visiting the store several times a day. The store closed on Thursday afternoons.

The Feiock & Distler store was like a miniature old time Walmart. It offered everything from canned goods, fresh meat and eggs, animal feeds, Christmas toys, penny candies, fabric and even pantaloons.

It was a store where people could trade eggs and produce for needed items. It was a place where residents congregated.

Some time before 1931 as attested by a calendar Distler sold out to Charles Feiock Jr. and the store became Feiock and Son.

The upstairs of the store was the meeting place for the Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodges.

Children stopped in after school for penny candy. Stoffel shared a couple funny memories of kids at the store. Empty bottles were stored behind the mercantile. One ingenious young man picked some of them up and took them to the front of the store and turned them in for money. Another fellow picked up string and stuck it in his pocket. They followed him home trailing the string.

Tragedy struck in 1954 when a tornado leveled the store. Wilda DeWitt and Ida Feiock had exited the building from an upstairs meeting just 10 minutes before the tornado hit.

Stoffel’s aunt and uncle were in the store. The shelves fell and made a tunnel, she noted. “They were wet but not hurt.” Some of the building collapsed onto their car and caused the horn to blow. Those coming to help thought the couple was in the car.

Stoffel remembers that a little house on SR78 was picked up. The lady who lived there was placed in the road still in her rocking chair! “Mother Nature is pretty powerful,” said Stoffel. “The store was quite a tourist attraction.” 

The Lewisville school house was used during that summer to sell anything that was salvageable. Stoffel remembers each room’s items were available at different percentages off depending upon their condition. The bread man still came but there was no refrigeration for perishable items.

The store was designed and rebuilt by a family friend, Elwood Case, a carpenter living in Columbus. A grand opening was held on Oct. 29 and 30. There were balloons for the kids, door prizes and a listing of the store’s offering which included Teeters Hams and Bacon, David Davies and Armour Meats, Weber’s Home Dressed Fresh Meats, Broughton and Swiss Ohio products, Wolverine Work Shoes, Goodrich Rubber Footwear, Bakery Items and Produce.

Stoffel’s uncle passed away in 1967 and four different owners continued the store, which then leaned more toward grocery items and yard goods. Owners included Don Stimpert, Roscoe Wilhelm, Dale Kilburn and Louise Seebach Reither.

The Feiock & Distler store carried everything local farmers and residents needed at that time. Notice the horse hitching rail at the front of the building. Photo Courtesy of John Ogden

Shelves were filled at the Feiock & Distler mercantile, a Lewisville landmark. Shown in the center is Charles Feiock Sr., who with Mr. Fred Bott began the store. In 1896 the store came under the ownership of Charles Feiock Sr. and William Distler.    Photos Courtesy of Janet and Dan Stoffel

The new store had an inventory which included Teeters Hams and Bacon, David Davies and Armour Meats, Weber’s Home Dressed Fresh Meats, Broughton and Swiss Ohio products, Wolverine Work Shoes, Goodrich Rubber Footwear, Bakery Items and Produce. Some of those shown in this photo are Chuck and Shirley Feiock, Lola Feiock, Ruth Barnes, Wilma Denbow and Wilda Baker.

A tornado ripped through Lewisville destroying the Feiock store in June 1954. Stoffel’s aunt and uncle were in the store. The shelves fell and made a tunnel, she noted. “They were wet but not hurt.”

A grand opening was held for the newly built Feiock Red and White Store, which opened that October. The new building was designed and built by a family friend, Elwood Case, a Columbus carpenter.

Around the Burnside  

The only time the world beats a path to your door is when you are in the bathroom.

It’s tough to make a comeback when you haven’t been anywhere.

Where was Pappy when the lights went out? Down in the cellar eatin’ sauerkraut. Happy age of technology. If you don’t believe it, try reporting an electrical outage. In our case we get to talk with an automated something. “All our representatives are busy. If it’s this, punch one, if it’s this, punch two, if it’s this, punch three, if it’s just regular business hang up and call back later. Don’t you just love it? Please enter your 12 digit reporting number. You do and everything shuts off. You sit there wondering what happened or did they get the message? When the entrance wire to your house is pulled loose and laying across your deck and lawn you really did want to talk with someone not a computer or whatever it is.

OK, after several times getting a busy signal I finally did get to actually talk to someone. I related our problem and she said she would pass it on to the dispatcher.

Seventeen hours or more I sit wondering did it happen? I decided to try again to punch one, two or three. I ended up finally talking to a computer or whatever it is. I really didn’t get to say what I wanted to as I’m sure it wouldn’t understand what I was saying. It was about the same but it makes you feel better as you are actually talking to something as it asks questions. Finally, it tells you it will report it to the emergency department, thanks you for the call, goodbye. I guess there’s nothing else I can do except gripe.

I guess maybe I can’t complain too much. When I need medicine I just dial a number, press the speaker button and tell the computer what I want and get in the mail in a few days.

Happy day, the men are here. I know our problem will get fixed but it will just take time so I take back all I thought about the electric company. To be truthful they do a good job. Maybe it’s too easy for us to complain.

My pappy used to say, “You never miss the water till the well runs dry”. It’s the same thing with electric. Everything in our house is connected to our electric service.

Sitting around with a couple of oil lamps you really appreciate the electric service. Then it reminds yo. Many readers can remember when that was the only light they had. They didn’t complain; they just made do. If you haven’t experienced something you never miss it if you don’t have it.

I did almost have a senior moment while sitting in the dark. I thought we can’t watch the TV so I’ll turn on the radio. I started to get up from the easy chair to turn it on. Before I got up completely, I happened to think the stupid radio is operated by electricity.

I will have to admit one thing. I had one of the best nights sleep I had for a long time. Went to bed a tink early and only woke up with my flashlight a couple of times. I guess maybe getting a shot in the eye that morning had something to do with it. I complained about technology earlier but it’s sure great what they can do anymore. I’ve had a second eye shot with one more to go, I hope.

I guess it works OK but I still hate to make a phone call and get a happy voice telling me to punch one or two or three or on down the line.

All in all we are very fortunate to have the electrical service we do have. I do not remember how long it has been since we’ve been without electric and not very long when we did.

Actually, to my way of thinking too many of us fail to realize how good we have it and we start complaining when we don’t have it. It would help me feel better and maybe others if the little box or computer would tell you how extensive the damage really is and they will get to you as soon as possible. You never know without TV or radio.

I’ve complained and now we will be getting a pole with a light that will keep a storm from pulling our service off the house. Who could ask for more? This will make Esther happy as she likes more light.

Here I thought I couldn’t think of anything to write about this week. Then the storm hit and now I’m about done. I would like to mention one thing.

With the hunting season coming up soon it is important for hunters to make sure their guns are pointed in a safe direction. I read recently of a couple of men who didn’t and are not around any more. One thing we repeat maybe hundreds of times during the Hunter Education Course “Do not point your gun at anything you do not want to shoot. (safe direction)” and “the safety on a gun can fail.” Handle every gun as if it were loaded.

When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she would dye.

See you in church.

Our Readers Write

Dear Editor,
Please help our community help themselves. Our humane society does not return calls. Recently I have called and left a message and no one called me back. I live in the Beallsville area. I was going to discuss being a volunteer, but never a call back. I also wanted to report stray cats, still no call back. All they need to do is call me back. Please call me so I can help the community.

Mrs. Green used to help by placing kittens in good homes. She was a godsend for kittens in Monroe County. Mrs. Green has left this world and who will replace her goodwill?

Volunteers can be found. The Department of Jobs and Family Services have people that need service hours to become eligible for employment.

Senior Citizens programs can locate someone with placement skills.

The Internet for Adoption is a great opportunity to find homes for them. Adoption days would also be great.

Most important is spay and neuter of these animals. Rumor has it there may be a Spay and Neuter Day in the near future. This could happen if needed. This is so important and would help so much. Tues., Aug. 3, 10, I took six stray kittens to the Cambridge Humane Society. They do a great job; that is a long way to drop strays off.

Other counties do so much more for their abandoned pets. In Monroe County the cats are at the bottom of the list, next to the dogs. Great programs need to be top priority for spay and neutering. Prevent suffering and shame of the county we live in.

Monroe County has a lot of other issues that need taken care of. I wish I could hit the lottery.

L.A. Davis
Beallsville

Classifieds
■  8-12 Classifieds

OBITUARIES  

ROBERT H. STOEHR 
Robert H. Stoehr, 84, Canton, died July 24, 2010 in Aultman Hospital. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, following a period of declining health. He was born May 22, 1926 in Beallsville, a son of the late Harold E. and Adda Mae Conger Stoehr.

He grew up in Woodsfield and lived the greater portion of his life in Canton. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII, serving in the Pacific Theater. He was a retired carpenter and home builder. He was a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church.

Surviving are two sons, Lark R. Stoehr of Canton, Flek (Kathy) Stoehr of Perry Twp.; several nieces, nephews and special friend, Rose Mary Green.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Frances Lucille Stoehr in 1989; two brothers, William and Harold Jr.

Friends were received until time of services July 28 at Reed Funeral Home Canton Chapel, with Pastor James D. Zimmerman officiating. Burial followed in Melscheimer Cemetery.

Condolences may be made to www.reedfuneralhome.com

Roger D. Ewers
Roger D. Ewers, 69, Fly, died July 26, 2010 at Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born Aug. 6, 1940 in Brownsville, a son of the late Eugene and Thelma Stacy Ewers.

He was a former employee of the PCA in Rittman, and a member of the Brownsville Church of Christ.

Surviving are his wife, Geneva L. Evans Ewers of Fly, whom he married Nov. 9. 1957; three sons, Rick (Jean) Ewers of Fly, Dale (Tammy) Ewers of Fly, Ronnie (Lorna) Ewers of Lewisville; 3 daughters, Dianna Ewers of Sardis, Sandra Felton (Chuck Williamson) of Fly, Kelly (Rob) Stottlemire of New Matamoras; brother, James (Eva) Ewers of Creston; two sisters, Ellen (Ray) Ebert of New Martinsville, Evelyn (Ted) Potts of Sardis; 16 grandchildren, Jake (Heather) Felton, Jr. of Fly, Roger David Ewers of New Martinsville, Josh Ewers (Michelle Riggen-bach) of Wheeling, Brent Stottlemire of New Mata-moras, Mitchell Stottlemire of New Matamoras, Johnthan (Tammy) Broemsen of Woods-field, Joenath Broemsen (Shana) of Woodsfield, Jeremy (Patty) Broemsen of Woodsfield, Amanda Ewers of Lewisburg, W.Va., Stacie (Kevin) Arnold of Dennison, Marcia (Terry) Ridgeway of New Matamoras, Jessica (Chris) Toothman of New Matamoras, Meleah (Jonathan) Morgan of Fly, Telah Ewers of Fly, Kayla (Terry) Dunn of New Matamoras, Breanna (Wilbur) Dunn, Jr. of New Matamoras; and 22 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter Ronda Jean Ewers July 26, 1973; and a son, David Lee Ewers April 3, 2002.

Friends were received July 28 at Bauer-Turner Funeral Home, Woodsfield, where services were held July 29, with Homer Salsbury officiating. Burial was in Mehrley Cemetery near Fly.

Condolences may be expressed at www.bauerturner.com.

PHYLLIS SPENCE
Phyllis Spence, 95, Lewisville, died Aug. 6, 2010 at Monroe County Care Center, Woodsfield. She was born March 24, 1915 in Lewisville, a daughter of the late William F. Weber and Sara Ann Pickens Weber Thornberry.

She was a 1934 graduate of Lewisville High School, a homemaker and a member of Trinity United Church of Christ near Lewisville. She enjoyed doing crafts, making gifts for other people and flower gardening.

Surviving are two nieces, Lois Pennell of Clarington and Rheba (Joseph) Dupras of Fairbanks, Alaska.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Harold Spence in Feb. of 1999; a brother, Robert F. Weber; a sister, Virginia L. Pennell; and a brother-in-law, Cyril E. Pennell.

There was no visitation. Private services will be held at Watters Funeral Home, Woodsfield, with Rev. Karen Binford officiating. Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery, Lewisville.

Memorial contributions may be made to  Trinity United Church of Christ, 47345 Lewisville Northern Rd., Lewisville, OH or to the Friendship Cemetery, c/o Dana Bach, Box 111, Lewisville, OH 43754.