Bomb Threat Halts RHS Classes on Columbus Day

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher

Classes were stopped and students sent home after a 9 a.m. bomb threat was found Oct.. 12  at River High School. 

According to Dpty. Terry Stewart, school DARE resource officer, the threat was found written on a stall in the first floor girls’ restroom. He declined to release detailed information about the note due to the ongoing investigation.

The school was deemed safe after a Parkersburg K-9 unit’s bomb sniffing dogs scoured the building under the watchful eye of their handler, J.M. Beckett. 

Also assisting at the scene were Monroe County Sheriff Charles Black Jr., Road Deputy Rick Shipp and a trooper with the Ohio Highway Patrol. Clarington fire and emergency personnel were on standby.

 Dpty Stewart said that after the school was declared safe, school officials agreed to allow the scheduled after school curriculum to take place. 

School district Supt. Larry Elliott said that immediately after learning of the threat, the school activated its All-Call system to notify parents. Some students were picked up by their parents while others were transported home via the regular bus routes.

He said the school and law enforcement are investigating the incident. Dpty. Stewart is the lead investigator.

“I’m upset that this situation happened,” said Elliott. He  added that he is pleased with the response and professional manor of those assisting in the matter. “It was handled very well,” he said.

“Any time the educational process is stopped, it’s upsetting,” said Elliott.

Director of ODH Visits Monroe

The director of the Ohio Health Department visited Monroe County Oct. 2. Shown,  from left, Jim Miller, vice-president, Monroe County Board of Health; Jimmy Stewart, State Senator, Dr. Alvin Jackson, director of the Ohio Department of Health; and Donald Miracle, Monroe County Board of Health member.                           Photo Submitted 

Alvin Jackson, director, Ohio Department of Health visited the Monroe County Health Department on Oct. 2.  He was given a tour of the facility and a light lunch before a round table discussion ensued with department employees Susan Nesbitt,  health commissioner and board members Jim Miller and Donald Miracle.  Sen. Jimmy Stewart was also in attendance.

Dr. Jackson discussed many issues facing our county and wanted to know how the Ohio Department of Health could be of help.  H1N1 preparation, staffing issues, grant funding levels, and the importance of collaboration with community partners were discussed. 

Dr. Jackson congratulated the department on receiving the Ohio Tobacco Use and Prevention Grant.  He commended Carol Hehr for her hard work on the project.

Regarding H1N1, Dr. Jackson announced that Ohio is one of the first states to receive H1N1 vaccines. Miller asked Dr. Jackson about the vaccine; Dr. Jackson discussed the need to distinguish the difference in seasonal and H1N1 flu strains and the importance of getting both vaccinations.  

The silent epidemic of unintentional poisoning was also a topic of concern.  The director stressed the fact to never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu like symptoms, especially fever.

Please call the Monroe County Health Department if you have questions about the flu at 740-472-1677. 

Our Readers Write

To the Voters of Monroe County:

Please vote “yes” on Nov. 3 for the replacement levies for the OSU Extension and the Soil & Water Conservation District.  Extension provides researched based information on agriculture, nutrition and family/consumer sciences. Fact sheets, bulletins and educational programs are a part of that service.

Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District is there to provide assistance in the wise management of soil, water and related natural resources by offering tech assistance and information to farmers, homeowners/realtors, educators, businesses, developers and government agencies. They work for our community to improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, create wildlife habitats, energy conservation and beautification.

There are many facets to both of these valuable organizations.

Again, please vote yes and continue your support for OSU Extension and the Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Sylvia Bowen
Beallsville 

An Open Letter to Citizens of Monroe and Belmont Counties:

This is a letter written in frustration. Recently the voters of Monroe and Belmont counties in the Switzerland of Ohio School District voted on and passed a school bond levy for the future of our children. When all the hype was going on before the election promises were being made about all the local jobs that were to become available and how these would be good union paying jobs with benefits.

The union crafts of these counties did a lot of work to secure this bond issue in passing. How many local people are working? When the bids were let for the Beallsville and Monroe Central/Woodsfield Elementary school sites, two bidders participated and the bid was awarded. One of these bidders was a local contractor and one was an out of county bidder. Both union companies.

In bidding this work, to my knowledge, there was no consideration given to the local contractor in the form of performance to secure local jobs. Also, my understanding is the school board offered no form of preference in the bid papers; such as a percentage preference; for the local contractors to h elp secure local jobs.

I know for a fact that this local contractor not only lives in the county, but also has children and grandchildren that live here and I’m sure pay taxes for their school system. Shame on this school board and this project’s coordinators.

Was there any consideration given beforehand to help secure these local jobs? No! 

Is this the pattern that will continue? More than likely.

I say to the board, Poohy.

How many union people have been employed? How many non-union people have been involved with the work? How many more sites will be as these two are?

These are questions we all should have answers to.

People, fellow union craftsman, get involved.

Eugene Hines
Lewisville

Lewisville Home Lost to Fire

Fire consumed this Lewisville home the morning of Oct. 7. The house, located just off SR145 in Lewisville, was recently purchased by Victor Neville from Lewisville resident Mark Stimpert. The house was unoccupied at the time of the fire.             Photo by Martha Ackerman

The dream of a Woodsfield couple went up in smoke last week.

Victor Neville closed the deal on a one-story frame house in Lewisville on Oct. 2. On Oct. 7 at 10:17 a.m., a motorist passing through Lewisville alerted officials of the fire. 

Neville was at a laundromat in Woodsfield when the fire was discovered.

According to Greg Baker, assistant fire chief, the house was fully involved when firefighters arrived on the scene. It was noted that some windows had blown out and fire was shooting from the windows.

According to a report, witnesses saw smoke coming from the chimney at least an hour and possibly up to two hours before it was seen coming from the windows. Baker made note that the house was heated with gas. 

A representative of the State Fire Marshall’s office investigated and reported the cause as “undetermined.” Baker indicated suspicion with regard to the furnace, noting the smoke which had been spotted by witnesses as coming from the chimney. “It had to be burning for awhile before it was reported,” said Baker. Woodsfield VFD was called for mutual aid.

Hillcrest Manor, a residential care facility, was evacuated for about 30-minutes due to smoke. The facility was not in danger with regard to the fire.

A family residing nearby also evacuated due to smoke.

Bob Dougherty and his Swiss Hills Career Center Construction Trades I class are building a 30x60 pavilion in Lewisville. According to Randy Smith, township trustee, the pavilion, with its concrete floor and electric, will be a great asset to Lewisville, providing a place for picnics, reunions and other social events. The pavilion is a project in Summit Township’s federally funded $300,000 grant, awarded by the Monroe County Commissioners in 2008.

Grant Money Aids Summit Twp.

Photo by Martha Ackerman

Summit Township and the Village of Lewisville have been making great use of a $300,000 community development grant awarded by Mon-roe County commissioners to Summit Township in 2008.

Projects being funded by the grant includes a 30’x60’ pavilion with a concrete floor and electricity. The work is being done by Bob Dougherty and his Swiss Hills Career Center Construction Trades I class. “We saved a lot of money with Swiss Hills doing the work,” said Randy Smith, Summit Township Trustee. “Bob (Dougherty) likes his class to do things for the community and we appreciate it.” 

In addition to the pavilion, the grant is being used for additional playground equipment. Glen Schwaben and his crew from the juvenile program, will construct the playground equipment.

The equipment is a nice addition to the pieces purchased with previous block grant funding. “There are kids here playing every day,” said  Read more in the Monroe County Beacon

Parking Change at Church and Young St. 

Parking conditions in the area where Young Street intersects with East Church were brought before Woodsfield Village Council at its Oct. 5 meeting. On a motion by Council President Vernon Henthorn, a yellow stripe will be painted and a no parking sign erected in the area.

Councilman Bill Moore commented on the proposed “controlled deer hunt” within the village limits. He referred to a report noting that statewide there were about 24,600 deer-vehicle crashes in 2008, down 6.5 percent from 2007.

Read more in the Monroe County Beacon

Around the Burnside

The happiest people don’t always have the best of everything; they make the best of what they have.

If everyone practiced an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, everyone would soon be blind and toothless.

I guess now is as good a time as any to climb on the soapbox, so here goes. As you know by all the signs over the county, an election is coming up.

Being voted on is a renewal of an Extension and Soil Conservation levy. This is not an extra or additional tax.

I think all of us know how important the 4-H program is to the youth of our county. I’m not sure what not renewing the levy will do but I know it would have an effect we would not want to see on the 4-H program.

The Extension Service and the Soil Conservation Service’s work in the county would probably be cut back. It’s up to the voters to renew the levies. We owe it to our youth.

Why do I feel so strongly about it? Since 1939 when I was a freshman in high school, I have been involved with 4-H and FFA, except for my time in the service and a little over a year when I thought I wanted a life in the big city. I’m not sorry or have any regrets. In fact, it all brings back a lot of memories. For example, I recall early one morning at our county fair I kept tickling a buddy with a straw. He really complained about the flies being so bad in the barn when he finally woke up in the morning.

I also remember taking a group of FFA members to a special activity and on the way back home we stopped at McDonald’s to eat. One of the fellows got down on the floor, started rolling and groaning. He said he was having a “Mac Attack”. It worked as he got a free Big Mac. I think his name was David. 

I know most teachers feel just a little pride or have a good feeling when they talk with or see what students have accomplished. I know I do.

Things have been going on all summer here in Lewisville. Kept a person busy trying to keep up with it. New windows and floor in the community building, a parking lot, an outside basketball court, a new sidewalk and the list goes on.

I’m sure you saw and read last week of a project the Swiss Hills Construction Trades class have completed. Well they are at it again. Monday they started  to build a large pavilion here in Lewisville. Almost covering the ball diamond where we played little league baseball years ago.

Here it is, a little over a month of school gone by and they are building a pavilion we will be proud of here in Lewisville. It’s no little thing; 60x30 I think it is.

No big thing? It is and it isn’t. I’m guessing several of the students had never driven a nail. It was interesting to see several of the students using a post hole digger. I know not many of them had ever wrapped their hands around a post hole digger. I didn’t enjoy using one when I was that age. Probably building fence was one of the things I disliked the most.

Good leadership, teaching and opportunity is what counts. I learned a long time ago you “learn by doing.”

OK I know from experience there will be something not be done correctly before the construction is completed, however, it will be done over until it is correct. Correcting a mistake is another good way to learn.

These have been a couple of things I’ve mentioned that have been and are going on at our Swiss Hills Career Center, not just now but for the last 30 plus years. We just do not hear much of what’s being accomplished. Not just Swiss Hills but the rest of our school system. For the most part we have to depend upon word of mouth passed on from person to person and that is not the most reliable. I think all of us have played the game “tell your neighbor” I call it. You start a bit of information and pass it along from person to person. When it gets to the final person it doesn’t even come close to be what started out.

The reason I’ve spent a couple of Around the Burnsides about the vocational school is I hope with all the excitement of building and starting new schools we do not forget Swiss Hills that has been turning out student after student who have gone on to a successful career. Even teachers if you can believe that. I don’t care what you say; you can develop all the technology you want but we will still need workers to get the job done. Swiss Hills is a good place for students who want this type of education to start.

Thinking about the game I mentioned above, what I hear regarding one unit is not very encouraging but it seems that it is becoming very weak.. So please, if you are a registered voter get out and vote to renew the Extension and Conserva-tion levies.

We don’t want the same thing to happen to 4-H as happened to our FFA Chapter.

While you’re at it you might as well vote for Issue 1 and 2, I am. A big no from me for three.

Now I climb down from my soapbox and go back to bed.

Experience is what causes people to make new mistakes instead of old ones.

Don’t sleep through Church Sunday.

~ Safe Auto Donates to Warm the Children ~

Warm The Children received a boost last week when employees of Safe Auto Insurance donated to the program. Warm The Children provides new, warm, winter shoes and boots to children, newborn to seniors in high school living in the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District. During Customer Service Week, employees donated $460 to Warm The Children. Shown presenting the money to Pandora Neuhart, center, Warm The Children coordinator, are Kelly Thomas, left, and Barb Carslund, of Safe Auto Insurance, which is located on Black Walnut Parkway in Monroe County Commerce Park north of Woodsfield. Neuhart expressed her appreciation for the donation and noted that the program is in dire need of donations.            Photo by Martha Ackerman

OBITUARIES

ALMA MAY HASLAM
Alma May Haslam, 92, Clarington, died Oct. 5, 2009 at Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling. She was born July 31, 1917 in Clarington, a daughter of the late Alonzo and Lillie Eikey Friesel.

She was a homemaker and a member of the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Clarington. She enjoyed reading and playing dominoes and she loved spending time with her family.

Surviving are two daughters, Lori (Roy) Rader of Claring-ton, Rose Vandruff of Woods-field; two daughters-in-law, Sue Haslam of Waynesburg, Thelma Eickleberry of Woodsfield; 15 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Haslam; three sons, Ronald Haslam, Leonard Haslam, David Eickleberry; and two daughters, Jeanette Knapp and Sally Kinback.

Friends were received Oct. 7 at Grisell Funeral Home, Clarington, where funeral services were held Oct. 8, with Rev. Richard Wilson officiating. Burial was in Clarington Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Clarington E-Squad, P.O. Box 256, Clarington, OH 43915.

Sympathy expressions at: grisellfuneralhomes.com

VIRGINIA M. IMHOFF
Virginia M. Imhoff, 84, Armann Hill Rd., Powhatan Point, died Oct. 6, 2009 at her home. She was born Feb. 13, 1925 in Clarington, a daughter of the late Merl and Vera Fankhauser Oneacre.

She was a member of the St. John’s United Church of Christ, Powhatan Point.

Surviving are two sons, Randy (Ronda) Imhoff and Doug (Starla) Imhoff, all of Powhatan Point; five grandchildren, Corey Imhoff, Ashley Imhoff, Randa Imhoff, Courtney Imhoff and Denae (Jeff) Bruner.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Imhoff, on Feb. 20, 1991.

In honoring Virginia’s wishes, there was no visitation. Services and interment will be held at the convenience of the family in Powhatan Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s United Church of Christ, 51736 Ger-man Ridge. Road., Powhatan Point, OH 43942. Condolences may be ex-pressed at www.altmeyer.com 

E. MILDRED DAY
E. Mildred Day, 96, 1254 East Main St., Barnesville, formerly of Quaker City, died Oct. 6, 2009, at Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center, Cambridge. She was born Dec. 20, 1912 near Batesville, a daughter of the late Aaron Melvin and Amanda M. Bates Gregg.

She was a homemaker; member of the Kennonsburg United Methodist Church; member of the former Order of Eastern Star Lodge, Summer-field where she held many offices including that of Deputy Grand Matron and later transferring her membership to the Order of Eastern Star #206, Barnesville; member of the Kennonsburg Grange; member of the Beaver Hills Garden Club; member of the Good Cheer Circle and was a volunteer at Barnesville Hospital.

Surviving are several nieces and nephews including Evan (Nancy) Brill of Columbus, Frank M. (Peggy) Gregg, Jr. of Lafayette, Colorado, both of whom were raised in the Day home.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Blaine Day on Nov. 5, 1990; two brothers, Frank and William Gregg; and two sisters, Nellie Ahrendt and Mary E. Somers.

Friends were received Oct. 11 at Thorn-Black Funeral Home, Quaker City, where  services were held Oct. 12, with Rev. Mark Slay officiating. Burial followed in Friends Cemetery, Quaker City.

Eastern Star services were held Oct.. 11 at the funeral home

Arrangements by Brubach-Watters Funeral Home, Summerfield.

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

CATHY L. GALLAGHER
Cathy L. Gallagher, 47, 43330 TR123, Woodsfield, died Oct. 9, 2009 at her home. She was born Oct. 11, 1961, a daughter of Robert and Eileen Anderson LaFollette, Lewis-ville and Willard Hill of Canton.

She was a former employee of Hillcrest Manor, Lewisville; a member of Bracken Ridge United Methodist Church, Lewisville. She enjoyed planting flowers, the outdoors and horseback riding..

In addition to her parents, surviving are her husband, William D. Gallagher of the home; two sons, Cody Ross Gallagher, Logan Tanner Gallagher, both of the home; three sisters, Lisa (Kenny) Oliver of Summerfield, Anita LaFollette and her fiance Jeff Schenerlein, Malaga, Jennifer LaFollette and her fiance John Hines Jr., Lewisville; two-half-sisters, Chris Hill, Canton; Tina Baker, Canton; and a half-brother Brian Hill of Canton; several nieces and nephews.

Friends were received Oct. 12 at Watters Funeral Home, Woodsfield, where funeral services were held Oct. 13, with Rev. James Porter officiating. Burial followed in the Gallagher Family Cemetery, near Woodsfield.

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

TRACEY COLVIN KNIGHT
Tracey Colvin Knight, 39, of 2649 Camelot Way, Green-wood, Indiana, formerly of Antioch, Ohio, died Oct. 11, 2009 at the Community Hospital South, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Arrangements are pending at Watters Funeral Home, 37501 SR78 West, Woodsfield. 

JOANNA B. SMITH
Joanna B. Smith, 91, of the Monroe County Care Center, Woodsfield, died Oct. 10, 2009 at the center. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa on April 24, 1918, a daughter of the late Emma Elizabeth Dilcher Cook. She was a homemaker, a member of the Woodsfield First United Methodist Church, Woodsfield, where she was active in the Thrift Shop and was a member of the Homemakers Club.

Surviving are six sons: Larry Philip (Patricia) Smith of Dallas, Texas, Gary Robert (Patty) Smith of Hannibal, Michael Lee Smith of Sistersville, W.Va., Richard Allan Smith of Washington, D.C., Thomas David (Elizabeth) Smith of Kettering, and Joe Neil (Melanie) Smith of Columbus; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her husband Phillip Devol Smith in 1979; and a daughter-in-law, Norma Jean Smith.

There was no visitation. Graveside services were held Oct. 12 at Oaklawn Cemetery, Woodsfield, with Rev. Richard Wilson officiating.

Arrangements by Watters Funeral Home, Woodsfield.

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

EUNICE F. BROWN
Eunice F. Brown, 92, of Woodsfield passed away Oct. 8, 2009 at the Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling, W. Va. She was born in Glencoe, Ohio, Oct. 19, 1916, a daughter of the late Everett James Ady and Ida Mae Palmer Ady.

She was a member of the Woodsfield Church of Christ and was a retired supervisor for the former Kegerreis 5&10 in Woodsfield.

She is survived by a son Paul Brown of Smyrna, Tenn.; two daughters: Willa (Lloyd) Goddard of Sardis; Esther Wagnild of Woodsfield; a brother Glenn Ady of Woodsfield; grandchildren: Paul Brown Jr., Julie Duncan, Lisa Bullock, Tamra Blake, Teri McKee, Trina Rockefeller, Tonja Marquetts, Derek Wagnild, Stephen Anthony Goddard, Valerie Anne Morris and Stephanie Louise Lindenmayer; numerous great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband Chester W. Brown on Feb. 1, 1993; three sisters: Stella Pittman, Amanda Ault and Bessie Pletcher; and three brothers: Henry (Hank), James and Ralph Ady.

Friends were received at Bauer-Turner Funeral Home, Woodsfield, where funeral services were held Oct. 11 with Keith Jones officiating. Interment in the Chapel Hill Cemetery near Clarington.

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

GERALDINE HEAVENER
Geraldine Heavener, 71, of Bastrop, Texas and formerly of Cabins, W. Va., died Oct. 8, 2009 at South Austin Hospital in Austin, Texas. She was born Nov. 7, 1937 in Cumberland, Maryland, the daughter of the late David and Eva Brantner.

Surviving are two sons: Leo Heavener Jr. of Laings and Ray Heavener of Petersburg, W. Va.; two daughters: Linda Clayton of Bastrop, Texas and Eva McCaslin of Cabins, W. Va.; one brother: David Brantner of Keyser, W. Va.; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; niece: Hanne Lunday of El Paso, Texas; nephew: Mark Brantner of New York; two great-nephews and a great-niece.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Leo Heavener Sr. on June 23, 2000.

The family will receive friends from noon until the time of funeral services, which will be held Oct. 15, 2 p.m., at the Schaeffer Funeral Home, Petersburg, W. Va., with Pastor Johnny Goldizen officiating. Burial will be in Maysville Cemetery, Maysville, W. Va.