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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.
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January 15, 2009
<Kyle
Cox Advances to State Level in Voice of Democracy
Kyle Cox, center, displays the plaque
he earned for placing first in the Voice of Democracy District competition.
He has advanced to State level where he will compete with 12 high school
students. At left is Harry English, Chaplain, Post 5108; at right is
Department of Ohio Commander Richard Uzl, Jr.
Photo Submitted
Beallsville resident Kyle Cox was
recently honored at a banquet in Marietta for placing first in this district
for a speech he wrote for the Voice of Democracy scholarship program
sponsored by the VFW.
Kyle entered his speech originally to
VFW Post 5303 in Woodsfield where he placed first, won $300 and a
certificate. His speech then went to district competition where he also
placed first. This earned him $500 and a beautiful plaque. Since Kyle placed
first in district competition, he advances to the State level. Here the
final 12 high school students for the State of Ohio will be honored at an
all expense paid weekend in Independence, where they, along with their
parents, will stay at the Doubletree Hotel and be treated to a special
banquet in their honor along with other planned activities.
At this banquet to be held on Jan.
24, the students will find out where their speeches placed on the State
level. Sixth through twelfth places will win $1,500 each. Fifth place will
win $2,000, 4th, $3,000, third $4,000, 2nd, $5,000 and first will take the
top prize of $7,000. The winner at the State level will then advance to
Nationals and be treated to an all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C.,
where the top prize is $30,000.
Kyle is a sophomore in high school
and is home schooled, something his family has done for 15 years. He is the
son of Jeff and Laurie Cox of Beallsville. His father pastors the East
Sunsbury Baptist Church.
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<EMS
Coordinator Resigns; JFS Transfers Vehicle to Sheriff
Two new Monroe County Commissioners began learning the ropes during the Jan.
6 board meeting. The board’s reorganization meeting is held the second
meeting of January. From left are Commissioners Carl Davis, Tim Price and
John Pyles.
Photo by Arlean Selvy
by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
The resignation of the EMS
Coordinator was accepted last week by Monroe County Commissioners, who also
accepted a vehicle for the Sheriff’s Office.
A letter of resignation as EMS
coordinator was read from Carl D. Merckle. According to the
letter, Merckle’s resignation is effective Jan. 9. He listed an increase in
travel and workload at his full-time job with the Department of
Transportation. He thanked commissioners for the opportunity to serve as EMS
coordinator over the past year. The resignation was accepted with thanks to
Merckle for his service.
Jeanette Harter, director, Monroe
County Job and Family Services, told officials she has two cars which have
been utilized for JFS travel. “I would like to be able to try to help the
sheriff’s office out as well,” said Harter. “We are willing to absorb having
to travel with our own vehicles or using one of the two [fleet vehicles].”
Harter said she would like to replace the two cars but is financially unable
to do that at this time. She said that over the next few months if she is
able to purchase another vehicle, she will give the second JFS car to the
sheriff’s office. One of the cars is registered at about 58,400 miles and
the other at 51,800 miles.
Harter indicated that the two
vehicles are not fuel efficient and, therefore, the cost to reimburse an
employee for using his/her own car is about the same as the cost of fuel for
the fleet vehicles.
Sheriff Chuck Black, who sat in on a
portion of the meeting with Harter, said there are times when JFS employees
are called out and the sheriff is called at the same time. He said he has no
problem if a children’s services employee comes to the sheriff’s office and
shares a ride to the residence. “We’re going there anyway,” said Black.
“I appreciate you being able to do
that – and helping the sheriff’s office out,” Pyles told Harter.
“In return, we appreciate his
[sheriff’s] effort in helping us, and being able to transport us on some of
our calls,” said Harter. She noted there are times when they need somebody
to go along on the calls.
Commissioners voted 3-0 to accept the
vehicle.
In other matters, Harter talked to
officials concerning the JFS policy manual. She encouraged commissioners to
make their county policy manual a priority. She said if the JFS manual is
silent on a particular subject, the department would fall back on the county
policy. She reported on changes she wants to make in the JFS handbook. Most
of the items are for cost-cutting measures. Addressed also will be personal
use of computers, cell phones and the new IRS regulations which require day
trip reimbursements be added to employee W2 forms at the end of the year.
According to Harter, overnight trips will be legally reimbursed.
Harter said she will have a draft of
the JFS policy handbook in a week or two for review by the board of
commissioners.
Former commissioner Francis ‘Sonny’
Block approached the board about the RUOK (Are You Okay?) program.
The RUOK telephone system is set up
to assist senior citizens, the handicapped, and those living alone who may
need help. The system automatically dials the individual each day at a
pre-determined time. The system will automatically call three times and if
there is no answer by the third attempt, the sheriff’s office is alerted
that there may be a problem at that address. Sheriff’s personnel would then
call a designated person concerning the unanswered call, or, a deputy would
be dispatched to the residence.
Block told officials that AT&T was
expected to install the line the following day (Wednesday Jan. 7) at no
charge to the county. However, he noted there will be a monthly line charge
of approximately $30. According to Block, the Senior Citizens and the
Ruritan Club have agreed to pick up the first year’s line fee. In addition,
he said Buckeye Hills is taking care of the cost of all equipment and
training.
On a motion by Pyles, the board will
establish a separate fund through which the RUOK program monies will be
channeled.
“For the seniors in the county, I
sure appreciate your dedication to that,” said Commissioner John Pyles.
“This gives peace of mind to the
family, also,” added Block.
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<English
Elected to Serve as Woodsfield Council President
A council president pro-tem was
elected and committees named at the Jan. 5 meeting of Woodsfield Village
Council, which also adopted an ordinance to comply with the state
constitutional minimum wage law. Council also heard a report concerning Fire
Engine 42.
According to Village Solicitor Bill
Frank, the ordinance increases minimum wage employees to $7.30 per hour and
allows for proportionate increases for other employees.
A second ordinance, passed on
an emergency basis, revised the compensation for village clerk to $25,000
per year.
Dale English was elected to serve as
council president.
Council approved the temporary
appropriations ordinance on an emergency basis. Temporary appropriations
total $1,533,151.75.
Fire Chief Mike Young reported the
pump on Engine 42 must be totally rebuilt. He noted that once the pump is
rebuilt, the truck will be like new and the department plans to refurbish it
in a few years. The company rebuilding the pump will come to the station
annually to inspect the fire vehicles. According to Mayor Bill Bolon, the
truck will be considered this “will reflect well for insurance purposes.”
Village Administrator Jeff Woodell
commended members of the water and sewer crews and TV cable superintendent
for going out during the holidays to make repairs. With regard to the cable,
Supt. Sam McPeek received a call about 8:30 p.m. Christmas Eve from a woman
who reported a trampoline was blown across her lawn and knocked her cable
out. Woodell said McPeek went over first thing Christmas morning and
repaired the line. There were two major water breaks over Christmas. The
first was on Christmas Eve at 1 a.m. and repaired by 6 a.m. The second was
at 1 a.m. Christmas day with work completed at 1 p.m. “My hat’s off to the
water and sewer department crew,” said Woodell. “It was pretty nasty weather
and they were out both holidays.”
Additionally, the power plant was called Dec. 28 to a pole which had caught
fire on Sycamore Street. Woodell said a porcelain switch had cracked causing
an arc. The switch was changed. Workers were on the job from
10 p.m. until 2 a.m.
Additionally, Woodell reported a
double parking meter has been placed in front of KFC and another across from
Citizens National Bank.
Mayor Bill Bolon named the following
committees’ members, with the first named being chairman.
Street: Dale English, Vernon Henthorn,
Paul Byers; Finance: Henthorn, Byers, English; Safety: Henthorn, Carol Hehr,
English; Building: Pauline Delbrugge, Hehr, Byers; Fire Dept. Committee:
Delbrugge, English, Henthorn; Park: Hehr, English, Moore; Fire Dept.
Dependency Board: Byers, English, Moore; Cemetery Committee: Byers,
Delbrugge, Moore; Ordinance Committee: Hehr, Delbrugge, Byers; Parking, Bill
Moore, Hehr, Delbrugge; ADA: Moore, Delbrugge; Policy and Procedure: Hehr,
village administrator Woodell, Police Chief Chuck Hamilton and the
superintendents; Records Commission: Mayor Bill Bolon, Delbrugge and
Henthorn; Uniforms: Delbrugge, Woodell, Hamilton; Board of Review: English,
Delbrugge and Moore; Water advisory committee: Mayor Bolon, Henthorn,
English and Terry Comstock, water and sewer superintendent.
Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. the
first and third Mondays of each month.
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< Obituaries
MARK R. DARNOLD
Mark Raymond Darnold, 56, Union St.,
Hannibal, died Jan. 6, 2009, in Wheeling Hospital Medical Park. He was born
July 28, 1952 in Morgantown, a son of the late Earl R. and Claire Middleton
Darnold.
Sympathy expressions at
grisellfuneralhomes.com.
IRENE HIGHMAN
Irene Highman, 83, Woods-field
Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, formerly of Graysville, died Jan. 10.
2009, at the center. She was born April 22, 1925 in Graysville, a daughter
of the late John and Olive Anderson Allen. Online condolences
may be expressed at www.wattersfuneralhome.com
EUGENE WELLS
Eugene S. Wells, 93, Barnes-ville, formerly of Jerusalem, died Jan. 7, 2009,
at his home. He was born Dec. 13, 1915 in Noble County, a son of the late
James and Josephine Finley Wells.
ELVA “JO” DIETRICH
Elva ‘Jo’ Dietrich, 91, formerly of
Orchard Lake, Michigan, died Jan. 1, 2009, at Woodland Terrace in Bridgeman.
She was born Aug. 2, 1917 in Wheeling, a daughter of the late Carl and Ada
Walters Dotta.
Condolences may be expressed at
www.starks-mechinger.com.
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<Our
Readers Write:
Dear Editor,
As a patron of the Monroe County
Library, I support their efforts to provide resources to local communities
and beyond, and greatly appreciate their willingness to do so in a
professional and welcoming manner. I am in favor of educating our citizens
and making resources to all who seek them available, and I feel that our
library strives to do so every day. I am not, however, in favor of childish
bickering and baseless allegations. We are living in serious times and are
currently faced with serious problems. With so many people facing such
hardships, I believe the citizens of our county need return to reality and
put aside their idealistic dreams of a perfect world where all is right and
everyone gets what they want.
If I am not mistaken, the Monroe
County Library Board voted down a motion to take Dally Memorial Library on
as a branch at the November meeting. The motion was defeated by a 4 to 3
vote. In my opinion, the issue had been resolved. But, as usual, I was wrong
and have continued to hear gripes and groans about this issue ever since.
At the December meeting of the Monroe
County Library Board, which I attended in support of the Monroe County
Library, a webcast was shown regarding the current and future financial
situation of the State of Ohio and its libraries. The Ohio Library Council’s
Director of Government and Legal Services stated that a seven percent
decrease in revenue for every library in the State of Ohio is to be expected
for 2009. Now, let’s put this into terms that we all can understand. A
decrease in revenue means there is going to be less money to go around. Less
money means less spending. Even I understand that. I have no money myself
right now. I am a poor, post-college graduate living on a very small income.
I have recently seen a huge decrease in my personal revenue; therefore I am
spending less. I know, my decrease in revenue is not the same as the
library’s decrease in revenue, but the principle is the same; less coming in
means less going out, Economics
101. I definitely did not need to earn a college degree to understand that
concept.
In the January 1 edition of the
Monroe County Beacon there were two letters regarding the current library
situation. A comparison was made between the Ohio Valley Community
Credit Union and The Citizens National Bank and their branches to the
current library situation. I do agree that branches better serve the public
and allow both private and public institutions to better serve their
patrons, customers, clients, etc. But, comparing banks and libraries is like
comparing apples and oranges. Although they both serve the public, they in
no way do so in the same manner. I could be wrong, it happens quite often,
but I would think that a financial institution’s budget, such as The
Citizens National Bank is determined internally and is not affected by the
state’s budget, as are the budgets of public libraries. Also, the services
provided by those branches do not take away funding and resources from the
main office. I can cash a check (however small it
might be) at the Woodsfield branch of the Ohio Valley Community Credit
Union, but I can do so knowing that I have in no way put the future of the
main office in Hannibal or its services in jeopardy.
Because of the anticipated decrease
in revenue, adding a branch library would definitely take away funding and
resources from the main branch, therefore reducing services that are
currently available. Bookmobile services that are provided to so many who
are unable to drive to the library seem to be on the chopping block,
although one more year of funding has been secured.
The bookmobile makes 26 stops
throughout the area, in conjunction with the Caldwell Public Library;
including riverfront stops such as Clarington, Duffy, Sardis, Hannibal and
Hedgedale; kudos to Ms. Sylvia Bowen for addressing the bookmobile in last
week’s edition of the Beacon. Why do we need a spend money on a branch when
the bookmobile is making stops in these communities already? How can anyone
justify cutting the bookmobile, which services residents in a number of
communities throughout the county to pay for a branch library that will only
serve a very small area within the county? How about those residents living
in the Beallsville area? With no branch located in their town, no bookmobile
to service them, and no representation on the library board, I hope those
wishing to utilize the library resources all have vehicles and are
able to drive.
What about the interlibrary loan
service that enables patrons to order materials not available within the
state library system? Would that service be at risk too? The Monroe County
Library pays return postage on materials ordered through the interlibrary
loan system. I have in the past personally received textbooks from Louisiana
and Maryland, having saved myself hundreds of dollars while attending
school, thanks to the interlibrary loan system.
In another letter published in the
January 1 edition of the Beacon, it was stated the Ohio Department of Motor
Vehicles has a sort of ‘online branch’ to allow people to renew license
plates without making a trip to a central office. If I am not mistaken the
Monroe County Library provides a wonderful website
(www.monroecounty.lib.oh.us) which allows patrons to order books, renew
books, place holds on books, and access a number of other resources as well.
You might be thinking ‘it’s great that a patron can order a book online, but
they still would have to drive to a central location to pick up their
selection’. Eureka! The bookmobile saves the day.
A patron can order a book online and
choose to have the book delivered by the bookmobile at their local stop.
Simply by choosing the Caldwell Noble Extension delivery choice, you do not
have to drive to the main office. The bookmobile delivers. The website also
contains an Ohio Web Library link, which provides access to statewide
databases dealing with a number of useful research and information topics.
There is a link to local databases such as Heritage Quest, a genealogy site,
and an online auto repair reference center and magazines available through
EBSCO. The website also contains the Learning Express Library link which
provides testing preparation materials for a wide range of educational and
vocational exams.
It seems to me that the Monroe County
Library has been displaying signs of progress for quite some time, putting
their patrons, all of their patrons no matter where they come from, first.
All who seek resources, information, and a friendly atmosphere to improve
their quality of life are welcome at the Monroe County Library. It is
ludicrous to think that the Monroe County Library staff would make anyone
feel unwelcome.
I urge citizens who have never used
the Monroe County Library to start doing so. If you have never used the
library how can you really comment on what has been taking place or on how
the library is being managed? Go to the library, get a library card, see
directly how things are being done. Attend the board meetings to gain
firsthand knowledge of what exactly is going on, to see for yourself how
your library and its future are being handled. It is your right to get
involved, and to be equally represented as members of this community.
It seems that in our county whenever
a decision is made, it is said to be ‘nothing of a personal nature, just
business’, no matter what the consequences might be. In the case of the
Monroe County Library Board’s decision to not accept Dally Memorial as a
branch, I am sure it’s not personal, it’s just business.
If any of these facts have made you
think about the future of your library and its resources, get involved.
Attend library board meetings, which take place the second Tuesday of each
month at 5:45 p.m. in the meeting room of the Monroe County Library. The
meetings are open to the public.
Holly Gallaher
Woodsfield
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<Around
the Burnside
Seat belts are not as confining as a wheelchair.
How come it takes so little time for
a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out
all night?
It sure doesn’t take them long to get
the income tax forms to you. I think my U.S. one came on Jan. 3 and Ohio the
next day. If we believe what we read and hear, we are in line to get a big
tax break down the road.
Not much to write about as the new
year begins. For some it is starting out on the tough side. I’m not too
smart, but it seems as though the big boys and states who have caused the
problems are yelling the loudest for help. Why didn’t somebody stop us they
ask? Dumb?
Well, after about midnight tonight
the college football season will be over with the Championship game. I don’t
know why they don’t just have a four team play-off and let it go at that.
University presidents are against it and, on the other hand, want to lower
the drinking age. Make sense?
The Buckeyes lost the big one again.
They won it all until the last two minutes and the air came out of their
sails. Oh well, if they had won the so-called football experts would have to
select another team to pick on in the coming year. I know any number
of college teams would trade places with their success.
A little different slant on things. I
came across something the other day that takes a little different slant on
things.
A friend of Herb Grant, who works for
the Columbus Dispatch, sent him the following letter:
“As a veteran I wanted to do
something on Tuesday as a sign of respect for those who served our country,
so, I went to the Ohio Statehouse in the morning to see the display honoring
the Lima Company men killed and say a prayer. As I was viewing one of the
full size paintings of three who died when they hit a roadside bomb, I
realized a tall man stood next to me observing the same painting. I
recognized it was OSU quarterback Terrell Pryor. When I looked around
further, I noticed a large contingent of OSU football players were also
there. As Jim Tressel came to the center of the rotunda, his men gathered
behind him and they all took a knee and said a prayer of their own. They
were there about 15 minutes and then they all left together. It dawned on me
this was such a classy thing to do by the coach and team, especially
considering there was no media there to cover this. It was not their
intention to be rewarded with some kind of publicity. It was
merely a wonderful, solemn gesture on their part to pay their respects
without expectations of being recognized in some way for doing so. We always
hear about the negative aspects of a team, but seldom about the good.”
Now that the new year is upon us, we
sometimes look back. I would like for you to take a few minutes and look
back with me. I’m going to give you a 25 question test. You may have seen
this test before and I do not want you to cheat. You are to answer yes to
each question you actually remember, not just ones you have heard about.
Here goes:
Older Than Dirt Quiz.
(1) Blackjack gum. (2) Wax Coke
shaped bottles with colored sugar water. (3) Candy cigarettes. (4) Soda pop
machines that dispensed glass bottles. (5) Coffee shops or diners with
tableside juke boxes. (6) Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard
stoppers (I did this and if the bottles got frozen the stopper and milk came
right out the top). (7) Party lines on the telephones. (8) Newsreels before
the movie. (9) P.F. Flyers. (10) Butch wax. (11) TV test patterns that came
on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again
in the morning. (There were only three channels if you were fortunate). (12)
Peashooters. (13) Howdy Doody. (14) Metal ice trays with lever. (18)
Mimeo-graph paper. (19) Blue flashbulbs. (20) Packards. (21) Roller skate
keys. (22) Cork popguns. (23) Drive-ins. (24) Studebakers (Esther and I
owned one) and finally (25) Wash tub wringers.
Now count up your yes answers. the
following results tell your age. 0-5 = you’re still young. 6-10 you are
getting older. 11-15 Don’t tell your age. 16-25 you’re older than Dirt!
I might be older than dirt but those
memories are some of the best parts of my life. What was your score?
I could have made the quiz a bit
longer by adding such things as head light dimmer switches on the floor,
real ice boxes, pant leg clips for bicycles without chain guards, solder
irons you heat on a gas burner, using hand signals for cars without turn
signals and I know you can add more. We’ll never forget the little building
out back when it was about 15 degrees and the wind was blowing.
Did you have the same experience as
this person wrote? I was 13 before I tasted my first pizza, It was called
“pizza pie”. When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the
cheese slid off, swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned
that too. It’s still the best pizza I ever had.
Actually our kids Terry and Brian
would never eat pizza until they ate some at a neighbor’s house while
playing.
Growing old is inevitable; growing up
is optional.
Church Sunday? Why not?
Bible readings: (Mon.) Joshua
1:10-18; (Tues.) Hebrews 11:23-31; (Wed.) Joshua 2:8-11; (Thurs.) Joshua
2:25-21; (Fri.) James 2:21-26; (Sat.) Mathew 1:1-6; (Sun.) Joshua 2:1-4,
11-14; 6:22-25.
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