< Ormet Secures Loan to Restart

Read more in the Nov. 9 edition...
Ormet announced in a press release last week that it has secured a bridge loan from majority shareholders Matlin-Patterson and Mellon Bank as a means to accelerate efforts to restart the smelter at the reduction plant in Hannibal. The loan agreement, which includes up to $16 million, was entered into after a successful hearing of the Public Utilities Commission
of Ohio, where no objections were raised to Ormet's proposed long-term agreement with American Electric Power to obtain power. These funds will be used to finance the restart until the new loan facility is in place in mid-December.
According to the press release, about 100 hourly
employees were called back to the job on Oct. 30 and were expected to report to work as soon as Oct. 31. An additional 50 employees will be added this week. This will bring the total active work force at the plant to over 3,400 which includes about 100 employees already at the cast house.

< Sardis Man Dies in Crash

Read more in the Nov. 9 edition...
A Sardis man was killed at about 9:05 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6 when the car he was driving went left of center and crashed into four parked cars along SR7 south of Clarington.
Dead is David G. Chaplin, 58, of 38571 SR7, Sardis. Chaplin was southbound in a 2001 Lincoln Continental when his vehicle crossed the highway and crashed into a 1987 Chevy Blazer owned by Delano F. Turner, 350 Eagle St., Geneva, Ohio. The Blazer was pushed down an embankment and landed on its top.

<Bomb Threat Evacuates RHS

Read more in the Nov. 9 edition...
Students at River High School were evacuated Nov. 2 after a bomb threat was reported to the Sheriff's office at 8:40 a.m. Mike Staggs, Supt., Switzerland of Ohio School District, said the threat was found in the girls' restroom at the school. He said it was written on a stall, and the sheriff's office is now in possession of that evidence. As a precautionary measure, officials conducted a search with the assistance of a canine unit from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which was contacted at the request of Sheriff Tim Price. The canine unit arrived from Columus via helicopter.

Displaying and explaining new technology for locating
missing persons are, from left, Monroe County Deputy Joe Kuntzman, Maria Jones, communications supervisor; Deputy Tim Isaly; Cathy Ash, trainer, Buckeye Hills Area Agency on Aging and Sheriff Tim Price. The group explained the equipment to the Board of County Commissioners at their Nov. 6 meeting.     Photo by Arlean Selvy

Read more in the Nov. 9 edition...
Joining the increasing number of search and rescue organizations in 20 states and three countries, the Buckeye Hills-Area Agency on Aging in partnership with Monroe County Sheriff's Office announced an exciting new program (Project Lifesaver) during this week's
county commissioners meeting.
Project Lifesaver is designed as a rapid response
search and rescue service, using state of the art
technologies and strategies to prevent or reduce the potential of harm to individuals suffering from Alzheimer's, Downs Syndrome, Autism, traumatic brain injuries and cognitive impairments. These individuals may tend to wander away from their residences and become confused or lost.

Warm the Children coordinator Pandora Neuhart accepts $3,400 cash from Kirt Sloan, manager, Riesbeck’s Food Market in Woods-field. Sloan and the staff at Riesbeck’s held the annual Warm the Children Barbecue recently and raised $3,400 for the program. “Words
cannot express my gratitude to Kirt and his dedicated staff for all that they do for Warm the Children,” said Neuhart. “I have helped with these outdoor sales, and no one realizes how much work goes into ordering all the necessary items, preparation, setting up, staffing and working all day. Not to mention all the running back and forth into the store for food and supplies ... and then the cleaning up.” The money raised by Riesbeck’s will help serve about 70 needy children. “Without the help of Riesbeck’s and all the others who donate to the program, we would not be able to serve the increasing number of children in need,” said Neuhart. “May God continue to bless each and every one of you.”   
           Photo by Arlean Selvy

< Obituaries
(read the full obituary in the paper) 

 Read the full obituary in the Nov. 9 edition...

< Stanley J. Heft, 88, Woods-field, died Nov, 3, 2006, at The Convalariam at Indian Run in Dublin. He was born Dec. 2, 1917, in Monroe County, a son of the late Lewis Heft, Jr. and the late Minnie Christman Heft.

<Eric Henthorne, 59, 3666 Secrest Rd., Apt. 202, Wooster, formerly of Massillon and St. Petersburg, Fla., died Oct. 29, 2006, at his residence, following a long illness. He was born June 28, 1947, in Bellaire, a son of the late Demming and Leola McVay Henthorne.

< Paul R. Marshall, 81, 35555 SR 260, Rinard Mills, Marr Community, died Oct. 30, 2006, at Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus. He was born near Marr on June 23, 1925, a son of the late Winfield and Clara Blanche Blair Marshall.

< Marjorie Joann Williams, 77, Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Woods-field, formerly of Martins Ferry, died Nov. 2, 2006, at the center. She was born Oct. 8, 1929, at St. Clairsville, a daughter of the late Raymond and Sarah Mary Hinkle Williams.

<Donald R. "Bob" Hughes, 77, 43680 Sandbar Rd., Lewisville, died Nov. 1, 2006, at Marietta Memorial Hospital, Marietta. He was born Jan. 18, 1928, at Cambridge, a son of the late Donald U. and Martha E. Robinson Hughes.

By: Gwynn Clifford
Staff Writer
On Nov. 14, teddy bear lovers everywhere will
celebrate National American Teddy Bear Day.
Mike Stoffel, owner of Pat's Gift Shoppe in
Woodsfield, is a teddy bear lover of sorts himself.
His shop features the well-known Boyds Bear brand collectibles. He was also recently recognized by Boyds as their National Home ReunionsT Advisor of the Month.
"With a large room devoted almost entirely to Boyds Bears, Pat's Gift Shoppe attempts to keep all current bears in stock, as well as many retired pieces. If customers are looking for a current piece that we don't have on the shelf, we'll also order it for them,"said Stoffel.
"Teddy bears are timeless, yet trendy. They're a fun way to decorate. Many customers collect the Americana bears to display in their homes year-round. Seasonal bears are always popular. Boyds also teamed up with companies such as Crayola, M&M's, Coca-Cola, NASCAR and others offering officially licensed collectibles," said Stoffel.
American Teddy Bears-A History: In 1902 President Theodore Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in Mississippi. As reported in the Washington Post, the presidential hunting party trailed and lassoed a lean, black bear, then tied it to a tree. The president was summoned, but when he arrived on the scene he refused to shoot the tied and exhausted bear, considering it
to be unsportsmanlike.
The following day, November 16, Clifford Barryman, Washington Post editorial cartoonist, immortalized the incident as part of a front-page cartoon montage.
Barryman pictured Roosevelt, his gun before him with the butt resting on the ground and his back to the animal, gesturing his refusal to take the trophy shot.
The cartoon drew immediate attention. In Brooklyn, NY, shopkeeper Morris Michtom displayed two toy bears in the window of his Stationary and novelty store. The bears had been made by his wife, Rose from plush stuffed excelsior and finished with black shoe button
eyes. Michtom recognized the immediate popularity of the new toy, requested and received permission from Roosevelt himself to call them "Teddy's Bears." The little stuffed bears were a success. As demand for them increased, Michtom moved his business to a loft, under the name of the Ideal Novelty and Toy Corporation.