Building Project Discussed 

by Martha Ackerman
General Manager/Editor

Officials from the Switzer-land of Ohio Local School District were guests of the Woodsfield  Kiwanis. Superin-tendent Larry Elliott gave an update on the building project, which includes six new schools and the renovation of River High School.

“There is not much visible now,” said Elliott, who shared the latest schedule for the project: Monroe Central bid opening Aug. 3 with construction hopefully beginning Sept. 1; Woodsfield K-8, big opening Aug. 3 with tentative start date Sept. 1; Beallsville K-12, bid opening June 29, tentative construction beginning July 29; Powhatan K-8, early site work, tentatively July 6 and Sept. 6.

According to Elliott, traditional building projects take  18 months in the planning stages but they are taking an aggressive approach and still trying to make sure things are planned correctly so no costly change orders have to be made. He noted that there have been some issues with the building sites and with the state’s school facilities commission.

Assistant Superintendent George Richardson said that River High School will be a “mess for a while but when all is said and done, the place is going to be gorgeous.” Local construction worker Greg Ogden voiced concerns for the tentative scheduling for the opening of the schools. He had questions and asked officials to keep tabs on the project and to make sure local union workers are working on the project. Ogden noted that union locals include different areas and he would like to see as many Monroe County people working on the project as possible. The board agreed that they, too, want local people working on the project.

Questions arose concerning the student population of the buildings. Richardson said that the state gave the district a waiver which allowed planning for expanded square footage. “The schools are being built to hand an influx of kids,” said Richardson. Elliott added that with the open enrollment, they hope to get some of the students back who are going out of the district. “We’re doing everything to expand offerings including on-line classes,” said Elliott.

Tina Hogue, district food service program coordinator, told Kiwanians about a new summer food program, which will cost the district nothing. Due to demographics of the school lunches served, the district was chosen for the program. There are no income guidelines and children up to 18 can take advantage of the program, which begins June 14 at Woodsfield Elementary from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Accompanying parents or grandparents can eat for $2.75, noted Hogue. 

~ Woodsfield VFW Post 5303 Donates POW Flag to Schools ~

As Americans remembered those who have fought to keep our country free, two local schools received a reminder of those soldiers who did not make it home from war. Woodsfield VFW Post 5303 donated a POW Flag to Monroe Central High School and Swiss Hills Career Center. Vietnam veteran Dave Ricer contacted the school regarding the flag donation, which was graciously accepted. A flag raising ceremony was held May 24. Shown, from left, are: Clint Abbott, assistant principal; Jerry Calder, principal; Danny Jones, VFW outgoing junior-vice; Dave Ricer, VFW quartermaster; Alonzo Wilson, VFW commander; and Roger Elliott, VFW senior vice.

If you are into having fun, M&D Horses, Canoes and Kayaks is the place to visit. Mike and Donna Howell have opened the new business, which was welcomed to the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce last week. Shown, from left, are: Justin Howell, Carrie Moore Bunner, Donna and Mike Howell, Ruth Workman and Sam Moore of the Chamber, RaChelle Thompson with Buddy and Tracy Howell Moore with Spuds.    Photos by Martha Ackerman

M&D Horses, Canoes and Kayaks offers canoeing and kayaking on the Little Muskingum. The business, located just a mile or so up the road from Knowlton Covered Bridge, offers pick-up after the two-, four- or six-mile journey on the river.  

Little Shane Moore loves sitting atop Spuds, a registered paint, which is one of eight horses available to ride at M&D Horses, Canoes and Kayaks. The 45-60 minute main trail takes visitors through pasture fields and the scenic, forested countryside. Shown with Shane is his mother Tracy.

New Business Welcomed 

by Martha Ackerman
General Manager/Editor

You can spend the day horseback riding in the beautiful hills of Monroe County and  canoeing or kayaking down the Little Muskingum River. Mike and Donna Howell have opened M&D Horses, Canoe-ing and Kayaking, located just south of Graysville on State Route 26. The business offers visitors fun-filled days in the most beautiful scenery you can find and all for a very reasonable cost.

Mike and Donna Howell’s vacations usually included horseback riding and canoeing, which they always enjoyed. The couple decided to bring some vacation fun to Monroe County. They began by purchasing eight horses, built a large barn with stalls and a covered outside arena. Their property is just a few minutes from the Knowlton Covered Bridge, which has a ramp to enter the Little Muskingum -ideal for the addition of canoes and kayaks to the business venture.

In addition to the horses, the Howells purchased 20 canoes, 20 kayaks, oars, paddles and life vests. M&D Horses, Canoes and Kayaks became a reality and opened officially May 28. A concession stand is on the premises to accommodate visitors. They offer a variety of sandwiches, taco in a bag, homemade French fries and cold beverages.

M&D Horses is a family affair with Mike and Donna’s children, Tracy Moore, Carrie Bunner and Michael Howell, along with their nephew Justin, contribute to the daily routine. There are also nine grandchildren in this family.

RaChel Thompson is the riding instructor and horse trainer. She attended Merideth Manor, a general horse training and riding academy, in Waverly, so she brings her expertise to the business.

Safety is the name of the game  at this business. Inexperienced riders are led around in the arena until they are comfortable riding the trail. They also offer a 15 minute horse training/riding in the arena. Riders must be at least seven years of age. Children under seven may sit on the horses for photographs. Helmets are furnished and recommended. Persons 18 and under must have a parent sign a liability waiver.

Visitors who like the canoeing and kayaking will bask in the beauty along the Little Muskingum. It’s the same price if you take the two-, four- or six-mile trek. You get to decide how far you want to go and at what pace you want to travel. Every two hours, a driver will make the round trip to the pick-up points.

M&D Horses, Canoes and Kayaks is located near several campgrounds with sites available from primitive camping to full hook-ups. For more information or to make reservations, contact M&D Horses at 740-934-2575 or log onto www.manddhorses.com

This business is also the perfect compliment to Kickin’ Back Cabins, which is located near Beallsville. Visitors can relax in the perfectly-appointed cabins, drive through the beautiful countryside of Monroe County and enjoy horseback riding, canoeing or kayaking at M&D Horses, Canoes and Kayaks. There are several nice shops to visit in the Monroe County area. What a perfect vacation!

Footnote: The historic Knowlton Covered was built in 1887 as a multiple-kingpost truss and arch bridge. It was also known as Long Bridge and is a three span, 192-foot bridge.  It is one of the two longest covered bridges in Ohio . It sits high above the Muskingum River on cut-stone abutments. On the bridge’s marker more history can be found. 

Switzerland of Ohio Local School District officials were guests at the May 25 Kiwanis meeting, held at Westwood Landing in Woodsfield. Kiwanians were updated on the school building projects. According to Superintendent Larry Elliott, there is not too much visible now, but in another few months residents will see things happening at the sites. Shown, from left, are: Larry Elliott, local attorney Jason Yoss, local resident Greg Ogden, George Richardson, assistant superintendent; Tina Hogue, food service program coordinator; local pastor Wayne Clark; and Janet Hissrich, SOLSD treasurer.       
Photos by Martha Ackerman

Around the Burnside  

A bargain is something you can’t use at a price you can’t resist.

The more you count your blessings you have, the less you crave the luxuries you haven’t.

I finally figured something perhaps several of you could have some interest. Most of us have had days we would like for the time to go faster.

I have discovered how you can make the day go faster if you just try a little bit.

First of all, stay in bed until 9:30 or maybe a tink longer. Eat a light breakfast such as peanut butter and toast, don’t hurry. Delay dinner (lunch) an hour or longer. Check your E-mail, watch TV, take a nap, or all three. Watch the news at 5, 5:30, 6 and 6:30 p.m. while eating supper (dinner). Watch a couple of NCIS reruns on TV and then start thinking it’s getting near time to hit the sack. I wouldn't advise going to bed too soon because you might wake up too early the next morning. It does work. Sometimes you check out in your easy chair. 

You are getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

Hot diggity dog, they are putting black top on SR 78 between Lewisville and Noble County line. I’d guess by the time you read this there will be a lot of it down. I just hope I don’t hear anyone complain about being held up by the work, as I did when there were a couple of traffic lights below Lewisville not too long ago.

How about the warm or rather hot sunny days we had last week? It sure didn’t take long for acres and acres of hay to be cut down. I hope they get it rolled up before it rains. WTOV cannot televise a weather report without including showers or rain three of five days of the week forecast.

I ride around and see all the hay mowed down, I can’t help but think how much work it took for us to put up a little dab of hay.

We first had to ride on a mower behind a small mule and a retired race horse. It wasn’t bad when we finally got a pair of matched mules. I did have an interesting experience when mowing the pasture field.

Everything was going fine until I mowed into a nest of bees, hornets or yellow jackets. I’m not to sure which. As you might expect they did not approve of being disturbed and started letting me and the mule know about their displeasure.

The mules took off with me on the mower with the knife in the cutter bar moving at about 60 miles per hour and little stingers flying around everywhere.

I had reasonable control until the cutter bar tried to mow off a fence post. I somehow managed to get by the post but the mules took off again. We finally stopped and the bees or whatever they were, made their point and we finished mowing the pasture field. I was careful and stayed clear of one spot in the field.

After the hay was down and cured it had to be raked into windrows with what we called a dump rake. You stepped on a little bar and the rake teeth would lift and leave the hay in a neat bunch. The only problem was the dumper on our rake didn’t work too well so we had to reach back and help it work with a lever that was sticking up. The ride would have been kind of fun if it had worked.

Then I couldn't understand why we then had to do what I called “doodle” the windrows. Make little hay stacks or doodles.

We pitched it on the high wheeled wagon with the homemade hay rack, go to the barn, pitch the hay off, mow it back and we were all set to feed the old cows all winter. Wheel the left overs to a pile out back and spread it back on the hay field next spring. I’ll tell you that kids nowadays have no idea what fun really is.

I really enjoy looking at the pictures of the high school graduates in the paper. I’m acquainted with very few of them; however, when you see one who is a son or daughter of a student you had in class, it kinda makes you feel on the old side. OK, when someone goes around calling a former student grandpa you feel older. Who knows? Maybe some of my former students are called great-grandpa. That classifies you as an old you know what.

I really like the pictures of graduates sporting a big smile. Makes you feel good. I looked at my graduation picture and I was sober as a judge. I didn’t realize how handsome I was at the time.

I had little to look forward to except going into the service. I would suggest present day graduates to get some additional education in a field they enjoy. Uncle Sam helped me do this.

Anyone who thinks there’s plenty of room at the top has a lot to learn about pyramids.

There are at about 75 churches in our county; why not try one?

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OBITUARIES 

GERALDINE CARPENTER
Geraldine M. “Gerry” Carpenter, 81, Mount Vernon, passed peacefully on May 26, 2010 at her daughter’s home in Columbus. She was born June 24, 1928 in Calais, a daughter of the late William and Cecelia Hunkler Howiler.

She was a member of the Green Valley Southern Baptist Church. She was a faith filled woman who enjoyed a life surrounded by loving family, neighbors and her church community. She was a down home cook, offering simple fare to all who stopped in.

Surviving are her loving daughter, Cheryl L. Summers of Columbus; granddaughter, Michelle (Chop) Barnett of New Albany; sister, Ruth Davis of Mount Vernon; brother, Jim (Juanita) Howiler of Newark; great-grandchildren, Samuel Owen Croswell, Elizabeth Anne Croswell, Shawn Michael Barnett; and many special in-laws and close nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer J. Carpenter in 2004; three brothers, Paul, William, Marvin Howiler; and a sister, Mary Triplett.

Friends were received May 29 until time of service at Dilley-Lasater Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, with Pastor Dan Taylor officiating. Burial followed in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens, followed by a time of food and fellowship at Green Valley Southern Baptist Church.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Green Valley Southern Baptist Church, 1680 Old Delaware Rd., Mount Vernon 43050 or Unity in Community, 74 E. Wootring St., Delaware, OH 43015.

Express condolences to www.dilleylasater.com. 

ROBERT MORRIS
Robert Eugene Morris, 70, Barnesville, died May 24, 2010 at Wheeling Hospital. He was born Aug. 16, 1939 in Calais, a son of the late Ermie Morris and Louise Betts Morris.

He was retired from the Bennoc Coal Company.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy Hoff Morris; a daughter, Donna Nation of Largo, Fla.; two sons, Larry (Donna) Morris, Robert (Nancy) Morris, all of Barnesville; four grandchildren, Robin, Robert, Ryan and Brianna Morris; two step-grandchildren, Jamie and Andy Biggins; a great-granddaughter, Olivia Morris; two sisters, Sara (Dave) Lallathin of Akron, Betty (John) Crum of Cardington; and three brothers, Byron Morris of Akron, Kenneth (Linda) Morris of Johnstown, and Rodney (Linda) Morris of Columbus.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Douglas Hoff Morris.

Friends were received May 27 at Kelly-Kemp-Braido Funeral Home, Barnesville, where services were held May 28, with Rev. Andrew Woods officiating. Burial was in Crestview Cemetery, Barnesville.

HOMER KAHRIG
Homer Kahrig, 91, Barnesville, died May 26, 2010 at Barnesville Hospital. He was born Nov. 13, 1918 in Lewisville, the son of the late Philip Kahrig and Louise Pfalzgraf Kahrig.

He was a retired self-employed carpenter. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, from November of 1944 to January of 1945. He loved to travel.

Surviving are numerous nieces and nephews; and his companion, Estella Kalinow-ski of Barnesville.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Velva M. Eagon Kahrig, Dec. 16, 2002, whom he married Jan. 16, 1939; five brothers and four sisters.

Friends were received May 28 at Thorn-Black Funeral Home, Quaker City, where funeral services were held May 29. Burial was in Friends Cemetery, Quaker City.

Send condolences to www.thorn-blackfuneralhomes.com

DONALD E. ULLMAN
Donald E. Ullman, 81, 9824 Marysville Rd., Ostrander, formerly of Monroe County, died May 26, 2010 at the Delaware Court Health Care Center. He was born Aug. 25, 1928 in Harriettsville, a son of the late Earl Erwin Ullman and Blanche Elizabeth Morton Ullman Blair.

He was a retired tool and die maker for General Motors with 33 years of service; a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict and a member of the NRA.

Surviving are his wife, Doris Smith Ullman, whom he married on Jan. 23, 1982; three step-daughters, Diane (Paul) Kempf of Tulsa, Okla., Donette (David) Embaugh of Sunbury, Debbie (Jack) Long of Marysville; a brother, Larry (Ann) Ullman of Frederick-town; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Wanda Ullman of Flat Rock, Mich.; and two nieces and a nephew.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-father, Dale Blair; and a brother, John “Frank” Ullman.

Friends were received May 29 until time of service at Watters Funeral Home, Woodsfield, with military services. Burial followed in Stafford Cemetery.

Online condolences may be expressed at:www.wattersfuneralhome.com.

SHARLYN B. KING
Sharlyn B. King, 56, Sardis, died May 26, 2010 at her home. She was born Nov. 28, 1953 in New Martinsville, a daughter of the late Samuel and Jessie Marilyn Smittle Lively.

She was a member of the American Legion Post 760 Auxiliary in Hannibal for 32 years and Church of Christ by faith.

Surviving are her husband of 33 years, Donald L. King; a son, Scott King of St. Clairsville; a brother, Rick (Linda) Lively of Sardis; two stepdaughters, Terri Lynn (Ed) Henderhan of Marietta, Michelle (David) Jenkins of Pittsburgh, Pa.; a stepson, Donald Lee King of Pittsburgh; a grandson, Samuel Scott King; a niece, Kayla Lively of Columbus; and numerous stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.

Friends were received May 29 at Grisell Funeral Home, Sardis.

Graveside services and burial were held May 30 at Harter Cemetery, Hannibal, with Rev. Cathy Harman officiating.

Sympathy expressions at grisellfuneralhomes.com

Florence A. Willey Rice Long 
Florence A. Willey Rice Long, 92, Reader, W.Va., died May 26, 2010 at Wetzel County Hospital. She was born Oct. 5, 1917 in Rock Camp, Wetzel County, W.Va., the daughter of the late Jim and Susan Yost Willey.

She was a homemaker and wife, caregiver for many years at Florence Rice Nursing Home in Coburn, W.Va. and was a member of Eight Mile Church of Christ and Higgins Chapel Church of Christ.

Surviving are nine children, Tommy Rice of Clarksburg, W.Va., Earl (Angie) Rice of Woodsfield, Carl (Debbie) Rice of Burton, W.Va., Donald (Vickie) Rice of Clarksburg, W.Va., Shirley Titus of Big Run, W.Va., Doris (Herman) Moore of Spokane, Missouri, Lola (George) Sapp of Big Run, W.Va., Patricia (Homer) Hostuttler of Knob Fork, W.Va., Charlene (Bill) Williams of Pine Grove, W.Va., Carol (Jim) Allen of New Martinsville; sister, Flossie Miller of Millford; 35 grandchildren; many great and great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two husband, Edwin C. Rice, Sr. and Lester “Dick” F. Long; a son, Jerry Dale Rice; two daughters, Kathy Rice and Louise Rice Goodrich; five brothers and five sisters.

Friends were received May 28 at Williams Funeral Home, Pine Grove, W.Va., where funeral services were held May 29, with Mike Miller and David Lively co-officiating.

Burial in Mannington Memorial Park, Mannington, W.Va 

ETHEL HEFT
Ethel Heft, 91, died May 30, 2010 at Altercare of Hilliard. She was born Sept. 19, 1918 in Monroe County, a daughter of the late Charles and Nellie Orange Cree.

Friends will be received June 4, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Bauer-Turner Funeral Home, Woodsfield and one hour prior to services June 5, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Woodsfield. Burial follows in Oaklawn Cemetery. Eastern Star Services will be at 8 p.m. June 4 at the funeral home.