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May 3, 2007 Edition
<Study for Higher Education Discussed at BTC Meeting	by Martha Ackerman Staff Writer The board of trustees of Belmont Technical College held their monthly meeting at the Monroe County Senior Center April 26. The meeting was chaired by Elizabeth Gates and headed by BTC President Dr. Joseph E. Bukowski. A lengthy discussion was held on a feasibility study underway to determine the needs of additional post-secondary educational opportunities in Monroe County. The study may or may not result in bringing a higher learning center to Monroe County. The feasibility study is being funded by Belmont Technical College, the Board of Regents and the Monroe County Commissioners. BTC contributed $15,000. Monroe County’s share is coming from a $15,000 grant acquired by Misty Casto, of Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development, through the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, Ohio Department of Development and $7,500 from Monroe County Job and Family Services’ local cash. Dr. Rebecca J. Kurtz, vice-president of Learning and Study Success at BTC, gave her report on the progress of the study. She noted it is going well and coming in per schedule. Key informants from Monroe County are being interviewed. From those interviews, survey questions will be compiled and 600 residents will be randomly selected for phone interviews. According to Dr. Kurtz, when the data analysis results are compiled, The Strategy Team, a Columbus firm, will come back with recommendations. Attendees of the meeting were afforded the opportunity for questions and comments. Among those asking questions during this period were Monroe County Commissioners Francis ‘Sonny’ Block, John Pyles and Bill Thompson; Dick Sulsberger, president, Monroe County Chamber of Commerce; and Debra Haney, director, Job and Family Services (JFS). Block asked if representatives from Safe Auto and JFS are included in the 12-14 key leaders interviewed. Dr. Kurtz said Safe Auto has been included, but was unsure about JFS. Block noted that Safe Auto is considering an expansion project which may be in Monroe County or in Arizona. “It would be a real positive to economic development if we had a post-secondary facility here,” said Block. “You already have our presence in Monroe County,” said Dr. Bukowski. “Just because we don’t have a building, we’re here and we’re not going anywhere. The question is, are we going to expand in Monroe County.” Dr. Bukowski asked Block if a committee has been formed to move forward when The Strategy Team recommendations come back. Block replied that he was “the new kid on the block” with just two years as commissioner and the other two on the board are new, that they have [county] budget problems and he asked what kind of people should be on the committee. “We’re doing this together. We are acting as the administrative and fiscal agent,” said Dr. Bukowski. “Remember, the results are for this community ... You need a lot of roll-up-your-sleeves kind of people on the committee.” Sulsberger told Dr. Bukowski that he and Commissioner Block talked with Dr. Bibbins, dean of Ohio University Eastern, and felt very positive about the meeting. Dr. Bukowski said that OUE had been invited early on and they didn’t respond and the study is now underway. He said maybe down the road if they show interest, they may step forward.” Nicole Jackson, assistant director of marketing, BTC, explained efforts in marketing the study. Block suggested advertising in the newspaper, radio and TV. Haney offered the services of JFS for a mass mailing effort. “The board has committed its resources,” said Gates. “There’s no doubt of our desire ... growth takes time, like parenting. As I used to tell my children, ‘it’s not a world of instant mashed potatoes.’ Things take time to mature. That’s part of life,” she added. “Most of you know me,” said Dr. Bukowski, “I’m not going to recommend something to this board if I don’t think it is feasible.” He noted the project is a whole spectrum of education. “BTC is only a part of it. When the study is done, we’ll be just a part. There will be a lot of work to do afterwards,” said Dr. Bukowski. According to Tim Houston, dean of Student Services at BTC, 1,259 Monroe County students have taken classes at Belmont Technical College. Since 1991, 684 Monroe Countians have received degrees from BTC. BTC has been offering classes in Monroe County since 1997. “It started with small beginnings,” said Houston. “We have offered classes at River High School, Swiss Hills Career Center, Monroe Central, churches and even at the library,” he said. Evening classes in general credit and non-credit courses are offered at Swiss Hills. According to Houston, BTC has hired 26 instructors to teach classes in Monroe County. It was noted that Kellie Loudin, associate dean of Workforce Development, coordinates BTC’s workforce education and training in Monroe County. The results of the feasibility study and the residents of Monroe County will determine if higher education can be more effectively offered in Monroe County. Residents are asked to please cooperate with this survey.
<Selmon: ‘Respect and Loyalty’ Judge speaks at Annual Scholarship Banquet Robert LeCrone, left, and Vernon Cline, Ruritan Club members presented two scholarships this year. They went to Shea Groves, Beallsville High School, center left, and Amanda Blackstone, Monroe Central High School. Awards were presented at the 49th Annual Kiwanis Scholarship Banquet held April 25 at Swiss Hills Career Center. Photos by Arlean Selvy Jordan Potts, Monroe Central High School, center, was recipient of the Yoss-Claus Scholarship presented at the 49th Annual Kiwanis Scholarship Banquet held in cooperation with Swiss Hills Vocation School. From left are sponsors Richard and Marie Yoss and Phyllis and Roger Claus.	by Arlean Selvy Publisher “Wow - this is a really big deal!” exclaimed Judge Julie Selmon. “To be honored at this banquet, which is an exclusive banquet, is a grand privilege. The students honored here tonight are the best of the best.” Selmon, Monroe County Common Pleas Court judge, was keynote speaker at the annual Kiwanis Scholarship Banquet held April 24. Students in the top five percent in the high schools and career center were honored. “The top five percent is the best group of students,” Selmon noted. “If you continue down your road at this level of success, you will be controlling your destiny. You will be choosing who you want to work for. You will be choosing where you want to go to graduate school. You will be carving out your own nitch to make yourself a successful and productive citizen in this great country that we live in.” Selmon congratulated and asked for applause for the parents of honorees. “You are to be commended and applauded just as much as your son or daughter,” she said. Selmon offered a few tips ... not only for the graduates but for all honorees. Continue to work hard, she told them. It does not get easier but instead, becomes more competitive ... “you will have to step it up a little bit.” “The things handed to you on a silver platter get smaller and smaller,” she told them. Selmon told students they should respect others and be loyal to those they come across. “It’s not a good idea to burn bridges with professors, employers and co-workers. These are the people who will be a great help to each one of you.” Selmon noted that wherever their career paths lead, students will have to continue to learn. “It’s very important to do well,” said Selmon, the first female judge in Monroe County. “You also have to deal with people ... to show you can work together to solve problems ... to form relationships, gain the trust of other people. Be responsible.” Adding a touch of entertainment this year, Kiwanian Karena Reusser introduced Levi Morris, a Monroe Central senior, who presented a special musical selection on piano. Morris received three scholarships and was introduced as one of three four-year Kiwanis Scholarship honorees. Brittany Burkhart, Beallsville High, and Kirstin Repco, River High, were also introduced as four-year scholarship honorees. Repco and Burkhart also received bank scholarships. Repco was awarded a scholarship by Citizens National Bank, Woodsfield, which was presented by Carey Bott, president. Burkhart received the scholarship from Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union. It was presented by Robert Burrow, credit union president. Morris earned the Cameron Coca-Cola Scholarship, which was presented by Sharon Mallett, talented and gifted coordinator. He will receive one of two Carol Austin Scholarships, the Franklin B. Walter Memorial Scholarship, which will be presented in Columbus. Morris also received a scholarship sponsored by Ed and Valerie Paulus, Paulus Insurance, for being the male student having the highest ACT score. His score was 35. Top female ACT scholarship winner was Jennifer Masters, received a 31 on the ACT. “Anything over a 30 is very hard to achieve,” said Mallett. Jordan Libby won the Yoss-Claus Scholarship sponsored by Richard and Marie Yoss and Roger and Phyllis Claus. Winning The Ohio State Alumni Scholarship was Anthony Marcum, Beallsville High. The award was presented by Marc Ring. Amanda Forni, Monroe Cen-tral, was recipient of the Monroe County Democratic Scholarship sponsored by Manifred Keylor, Richard Yoss and the Democratic Executive Committee. Presentation was made by Yoss. Forni was also recipient of the Woodsfield Savings Bank Scholarship, presented by Mike Knuchel, bank president. Winning the WesBanco Bank Scholarship was Amanda Blackstone, Monroe Central. The award was presented by Lisa Burkhart, manager, WesBanco of Woodsfield. Shea Groves, Beallsville High, won the Ohio Valley Community Credit Union Scholarship. She will also receive a $1,000 scholarship in June from the National Hardware Association for her outstanding service to the community as well as her scholastic achievements. Derek Ensinger, River High, was recipient of a scholarship sponsored by The Peoples Savings Bank of New Matamoras. The award was presented by Ron Cooley, president, and Bud Rousenberg, board of directors. The First National Bank of St. Mary’s sponsored a scholarship with the recipient being Matt Ischy, Monroe Central High. Two scholarships were presented by the Ruritan Club. Presenting scholarships were Robert LeCrone and Vernon Cline. Recipients were Shea Groves and Amanda Blackstone. The Carol Austin Scholarship for Academic and Community Services was awarded to Tessa Liniger, River High. The award was presented by Linda Josefczyk, RHS guidance counseler. Chassidy Burkhart, Beallsville High, was recipient of a Science and Medical Scholarship offered for high achievement by Barnesville Hospital. Presentation was made by Peggy Douglass, director of education and outreach services. Matt Ischy, in addition to a bank scholarship, was recipient of the Science and Medical Scholarship II sponsored by Walter S. Burkhalter, Dr. Charles DeNunzio and Dr. Kenneth Cooper, who presented the award. Makayla Smith, River High, was recipient of the Business and Entrepreneurial Scholarship sponsored by Tim Blue of State Farm Insurance and Modern Hardware. Presenting the scholarship was Karena Reusser of Modern Hardware. Lynn Hehr, Swiss Hills Career Center, and Nicole Gallagher, Monroe Central, were recipients of the Secrest Community Service Awards, which were presented by Kiwanian Pandora Neuhart. The Secrest Scholarships go to Key Club members in recognition of dedication and service to the community. It is sponsored by the family of, and in memory of, Bill and Neva Secrest. Students in the top five percent at River High were introduced by Dr. Vince Monseau, principal, and include: Mini Clegg, Derek Ensinger, Tessa Liniger, Nathan Ramsier, Makayla Smith, all seniors. Sharon Cain, Megan Ensinger, Matthew Heinzman, Cory Ran-dall Ludolph, Kelly Maynard, Laighnell Roberts, juniors. Ashley Brunner, Kierstyn Clip-ner, Chelsea Lowe, Cheyenne Romick and Erika Williams, sophomores and Desiree Hinkle, a freshman. Introducing Beallsville High students was Ryan Caldwell, principal. They include: Chasidy Burkhart, Terence Caldwell, Tabatha Clary, Shea Groves, Adam Kanzigg Anthony Mar-cum and Kent Price, seniors. Latara Arnold, junior. Mesha Long, a sophomore, and Cammie Groves and Alexis Kanzigg, freshmen. Monroe Central honorees were introduced by their principal, Marc Ring, and include: Amanda Blackstone, Amanda Forni, Nicole Gallagher, Matt Ischy, Jordan Libby and Jennifer Masters, seniors. Lindsay Huntsman, Michael Paulus, Zach Ring, Amanda Schumacher, Alexandra Stephen and Kyle Yoho, juniors. Sean Smithberger, a sophomore and Jesse Headley, Christina Parden, Katie Parks and Kurt Zimmer, freshmen. Swiss Hills Career Center honorees, introduced by their principal, Marc Ring, included: Lynn Hehr, Chris Hinkle, Jarron Loy, Jennifer Stephens, Laura Stimpert, Danielle Weddle, and Ethel West, all seniors. Tyler Cline, Phillip Colvin, Amanda McConnell, Bradley McPeek and Aaron Winland, juniors. The banquet featured an Italian Dinner Buffet prepared by Brent Tisher and students of the Swiss Hills Career Center Food Service Program.
<Hogue Receives Purple Heart The Command Chief at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, awarded James Coy Hogue the Purple Heart on April 20. Hogue was wounded in Vietnam in 1971 but never received the medal. The family of James Coy Hogue shared the day as Hogue was awarded the Purple Heart which he earned 36 years ago when wounded in Vietnam. Shown, from left: Ryan Roberge, Andre Roberge, Hogue and his wife Centia Hogue, Carmen Roberge, Carly Roberge, Carl Roberge. Photos Submitted	by Martha Ackerman Staff Writer After over three decades since the end of the Vietnam War, former resident James C. Hogue received his Purple Heart. It was a long time coming, but “it meant more to me now,” said the Vietnam veteran. While the Air Force was doing an audit in December, 2006, the omission was discovered. Hogue was notified that he would be awarded the Purple Heart which he had earned 36 years ago. At a special ceremony at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, April 20, the command chief presented Hogue with the long forgotten medal which he had earned while in service to his country. In June, 1971, on his last day on base before returning home after completing a one year tour in Vietnam, Hogue was wounded. He spent two weeks in the hospital there before he was shipped to a hospital in San Antonio, Texas. His next assignment to Homestead Air Force Base in Florida was cancelled, but after a two-month stay in San Antonio, he was assigned to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. His records never caught up with him. After 20 years, Hogue retired from the Air Force as a tech sergeant. He also spent two years as a reservist in the United States Marine Corps. A Monroe County native, James is the son of the late Roy and Virginia Hogue. He grew up on Pleasant Ridge and has several relatives living in the county. Before his retirement, Hogue was superintendent of Monroe Water Systems for 18 years. Through his extensive travels, Hogue said he has carried the Beacon into 74 countries. After spending a number of years in Florida, Hogue and his wife Centia now live in Bellingham, Washington, near his daughter Carmen and her husband Carl Roberge. Carmen is a 1980 graduate of Skyvue High School. According to Hogue, Carmen’s husband was inducted into the Water Ski Hall of Fame in 2006. At the time of his retirement, Carl Roberge was considered one of the top 10 skiers of all time. Hogue enjoys spending time with his three grandchildren: Ryan, Carly and Andrew Roberge.
<Elliott Hired as Interim Superintendent	Board Approves Spending Reduction As the result of an executive session continuing for over three hours, action was taken last week by the Switzerland of Ohio school board to hire Larry Elliott as interim district superintendent and approve a spending reduction plan to save the district over $383,000 Elliott has served the district as assistant superintendent under Mike Staggs for the past 18 months. Elliott, who has spent 27 years in the field of education, assumed the duties as interim superintendent on April 27. “I’m very happy to be able to serve the district in this capacity,” said Elliott. “I’ll work diligently to do my best for the students and their parents - I look forward to working with the outstanding staff in the Switzerland of Ohio.” Elliott said the district will continue to move forward, to meet its challenges, and will continue to pursue the building projects. The board also approved an expenditure reduction plan which, according to Kevin Robertson, district treasurer, “should not leave anyone without a job.” The plan calls for a budget reduction of $383,803.08. The district will eliminate the position of Vocational Evaluator for a savings of $40,862. With the retirement of the current Evaluator, the duties will be reassigned. Also eliminated, based on enrollment data, will be one kindergarten teacher at Woodsfield Elementary and one 6th grade teacher at Beallsville. According to school officials, the teachers can bid on job open-
<Swiss Hills Program Gearing to More Community Service Projects The Swiss Hills Career Center’s construction trades classes have been busy this school year. One of the most recent projects is two equipment storage buildings for the Woodsfield Youth Baseball Association. These buildings were constructed by the junior class which includes, from left, kneeling: Corey Frasnelly, Dylan Robson, Vinnie Folman, Roger Summers; standing: instructor Bob Dougherty, Jared Kimble, Frank Welch, Samantha Folden, Kristy McMasters, Ryan Ogilbee and Emery Gibson. Photo by Martha Ackerman	by Martha Ackerman Staff Writer The junior and senior Swiss Hills Career Center construction trades students have been busy this school year. According to junior instructor Bob Dougherty, he and senior instructor Andy Schumacher are gearing the program toward more community service. The program is fully funded by the work done, but primarily what is earned in the senior program’s annual construction project. This year they are constructing a house on Beautiful Ridge. The school program receives 15 percent of the total cost of the house package. According to Schumacher, the house is almost completed. One of the recent projects for the junior class is the building of two storage units for the Woodsfield Youth Baseball Association. Dougherty noted that Michael Hogue, president of the association, approached him in regard to building the storage buildings. With community service in mind, the construction trades program donated half the material and no labor cost to the baseball association. “The storage buildings are well constructed and will be used for many years, said Hogue Hogue and fellow officers, Danny Graham, Bonnie Kilburn, Richele Brown and Nicole Jorris, sincerely appreciate the generosity and the fine craftsmanship exhibited by the construction trades program. The storage buildings will be placed at the ball fields at the City Park and the Woodsfield Free Methodist Church property. Another junior project close to completion is a 30 by 40 feet pavilion for Skyvue Elementary’s outdoor classroom project. The construction trades program is donating the nails and the labor. Watch the Beacon for more details on this project. Students are also working on nine picnic tables ordered by Ormet Corporation. According to Dougherty, this is a junior and senior effort. “The kids have done really well this year,” said Dougherty, who has 12 junior students. There are 16 students in Schumacher’s senior program. Samantha Folden of Powhatan is one of the junior construction trades students. She has watched her father enjoy his woodworking hobbies and became interested in pursuing a career in construction. Ryan Ogilbee, a River student, was late deciding to attend Swiss Hills. His program of choice was Agriculture, but he is enjoying the construction trades class. Kristy McMasters thinks it is a fun program. She enjoys doing work at various places and building different things. Her uncle is in the construction business. During the winter months, students keep busy building storage buildings, mostly 10 by 12 feet, noted the junior instructor. They also build picnic tables and other small projects which are for sale and help to fund the program. For more information about the construction trades program at Swiss Hills Career Center, call the school at 740-472-0722.
< Obituaries (read the full obituary in the paper) denotes veteran	< Ralph D. Lallathin, 85, West Union Rd., Sardis, died April 26, 2007, at his home. He was born June 6, 1921, in Green Township, Sardis, a son of the late Charles F. and Lena M. Bruney Lallathin. < Lionel Michael Emdin, 67, passed away April 17, 2007 at the Denver Hospice Center, Denver, Colo-rado, after a short illness. He was born in Utica, New York, May 18, 1939, the son of the late Lionel and Anne Mary Emdin. < Jackie Gale Howell, 50, Bloomfield, died April 29, 2007, at his home. He was born July 25, 1956, a son of Ruby Howell of Bloomfield, and the late Wilbert and < Andrew Erchak, 80, Bernardsville, NJ, died April 28, 2007, in Morristown Memorial Hospital. He was born Sept. 26, 1926, near Beallsville, a son of the late Michael and Mary Spontak Erchak. < Thomas Grant Thornhill, Plainfield, 42, died April 26, 2007 suddenly at home after a long battle with diabetes. He was born Nov. 29, 1964, a son of Thomas Klewin and Gloria Burelle. < Richard E. McCaslin, 76, 43036 Six Points Road, Woodsfield, (Laings Community) died April 25, 2007, at Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Woodsfield. He was born Sept. 25, 1930, at Laings, a son of the late John and Minnie Hurd McCaslin.
<Around the Burnside	The path of the upright leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe. Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Guess what? My watch I thought was kaput is still ticking away. It just does not want to give up. Its trying to make me feel bad. This reminds me: How do you prevent your pet from getting ticks? - Dont let it wear a watch. A terrible fire happened in Lewisville a short while back. Its always bad when something like this happens. Although those living in the apartments lost everything, they were fortunate to get out with little injury. Im sure folks will pitch in and help. The firemen did an excellent job preventing what could have been a major disaster. As a result they kept the damage to nearby houses to a fraction what it could have been. Had the wind been blowing in a different direction, who knows what might have happened. When the sun comes out and it warms up a bit, doesnt it just make you feel good all over? I actually feel like getting out and working, however, if I just sit around a bit longer that feeling will wear off rather quickly. Some of my buddies in grade school would be running around in their bare feet by now. Not me, I was chicken, which reminds me, I think its about time to clean out the chicken house, a job I hated along with building fence. Im not much for comic strips or funny papers, theyre called. I do read several almost every day. Outside of Peanuts I enjoy reading Crankshaft. He is a good ole boy that knows just about everything. If he tries, it ends up almost a disaster. For example, when he is demonstrating how to trim a tree to a group of ladies, the tree ends up as firewood. He is also a school bus driver and sometimes it reminds me of my four years riding a bus. We rode six miles picking up students and six miles express for a total of 12 miles. Crankshafts driving a school bus sometimes reminds me of our riding the bus. He once stopped and put a student off the bus, a reason for firing a bus driver today. Our bus driver, we called Grumpy, would stop, open the door and ask you to exit, if you got too far out of line. There was a gimmick however. There was a bread man who lived in our town whose normal route put him behind the bus going home. He normally passed the bus before we got to Fairview. He normally would stop and pick up anyone put off the bus and they would beat the bus home. A few would play the game to get thrown off the bus to catch a ride with him. Of course, if it happened to be his day off, and you had forgotten, or he finished his route early, it was a different story. Not too often a game was played, once we made up a plan. We yelled something not too pleasant to a man who we normally saw most evenings. All of us except one agreed not to yell and the victim yelled alone. You can guess what happened. Another time a trick was pulled. There was a girl who rode our bus who was somewhat larger than the rest of us. One of our wise guys did something to get tossed. This girl stood up and was fixing her coat to hide the back door as he was getting off the bus. The back door was opened and he got back on the bus and hid until we got home. This was before an alarm sounded when the back door was opened. Through the four years of riding with Grumpy, I never got tossed off the bus. Not because I was such a good boy, I knew what would happen when I finally got home. Its called child abuse now days. Riding the bus to a basketball game was a different matter. The bus did not have regular seats but rather what I called benches the length of the bus, two down the center and one down each side. When loaded your legs were like zippers down the bus. Once we picked up a player on the way to the game and we lifted him up and passed him to the back of the bus. The cheerleaders also rode the bus with us in their own little area of the bus. I think we only had four cheerleaders so keeping an eye on them was probably not much of a problem. Im not sure if its just a school bus legend or not but they said several years before I started riding the bus they rode in the bus with a short wheel-base. It was said that several of the bigger boys could pile in the back end and lift the front end of the bus off the ground. I tend to doubt this. Before I leave school buses, have you watched the TV commercial where a bus driver steps into her bus with the kids really being rowdy? She reaches up, pulls down a small screen on a DVD player and the kids are quiet instantly. I wonder who thought this up? They probably have never driven a bus full of kids. A perpetual optimist is a person who has nothing to worry about because he has nothing to worry with. Bible readings: (Mon.) Philippians 3:17-21; (Tues.) Corinthians 15:20-28; (Wed.) Corinthians 5:1-10; (Thurs.) Hebrews 11:10-16; (Fri.) II Peter 3:10-18; (Sat.) Isaiah 65;17-19, 23,25; (Sun.) Revelation 21:1-8.