<Karissa Martin Named Miss Scioto Valley
 
              

    Karissa Martin Named Miss Scioto Valley Monroe County's Karissa Renee Martin is on her way to
competing for the title of Miss Ohio.
    Martin was crowned Miss Scioto Valley 2006 on Nov. 18 in Portsmouth. She will go to Mansfield in June to
complete for the Miss Ohio title.
    The winner of the Miss Ohio competition will advance to compete for the title of Miss America in January of 2008.
    The Miss America Scholarship program is the largest provider of young women's scholarships worldwide.
     Young women ages 17-24 are eligible to compete with the phases of competition being a private panel
interview, talent, evening wear, swimsuit, and onstage question. The program also promotes community service by requiring each young woman to represent a platform
issue that enables her to reach out to the community.
     Martin's platform is "Skin Cancer Awareness for a Second Generation" with which she promotes proper prevention techniques.
     She has a soon to be released CD for which the proceeds will benefit Monroe County Relay for Life.
Persons wishing to obtain a copy of the CD or who would like to have Martin speak at any function, should contact her at 740-472-0561 or by email at primadonna88@sbcglobal.net.

<County Departments Commit  Dollars to Mapping Project

 

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
     Updating the county's policy handbook was discussed last week by Monroe County commissioners, who also reported commitments by three county departments to help fund the Enhanced-911 Mapping project.
     "It isn't a question of if we need mapping, but how soon we can get this project started," said Pandora Neuhart, county auditor.  Neuhart has committed $5,000 of her real estate fund to the E-911 Location Based Response System Mapping project. In addition, Sheriff Tim Price has committed $17,000 from the Law Enforcement Fund and Lonnie Tustin, county engineer, has committed $25,000.
     "I appreciate their willingness to help us," said Commissioner Mark Forni.
     Neuhart met with officials about IRS regulations which she said should be addressed in the county's policy handbook.

     Neuhart submitted a list of five items.
. Driving a County vehicle back and forth to work, even if the employee is on call, must be reported as taxable income on the by-weekly payroll.
. Meal reimbursement for one day travel will be considered a taxable event, unless the meal is included in the meeting or seminar.
. Use of County owned cell phones for personal use must be reimbursed by the employee or reported as employee income.
. Gifts, bonuses, stipends, turkeys, gift certificates, etc. must be reported as taxable income.
. Shirts, jackets, etc. issued by an elected official or department head must be reported as taxable income if it can be worn when not working. (Sheriff Dept. uniforms are not included because they are not to be worn when off duty).
     With regard to payroll taxes, Neuhart said all reporting is the responsibility of the Elected
Official or Department Head.
     She told commissioners the $500 gift certificates given to 28 employees of JFS must be reported for 2006. According to the IRS, since they were given in December, the auditor must redo reports and, in addition, pay a penalty because the certificates weren't reported.
     "This will take time and money," said Neuhart.
     JFS wrote a check in the amount of $14,025 to the Chamber of Commerce for [Christmas] gift certificates. Neuhart said there was no communication to her office as to what the certificates were for.
     "We need to work diligently in updating our handbooks," said Francis 'Sonny' Block, board
president.
     Neuhart said she attended an IRS training seminar in April and learned the county was not in compliance with IRS regulations. She also learned IRS does not
give warnings. She explained that fines and penalties are assessed if a county is found to be out of compliance.
     Kristi Paolina, field representative for Congressman
Charlie Wilson, spoke with commissioners about problems and priorities. Officials quickly filled her notebook with a variety of issues. One of the first conveyed was the need for roads, including construction of a roadway to link SR800 with Monroe County Commerce Park. Also discussed were the addition of passing lanes on hills and the straightening of curves, such as those on SR78 East between Clarington and Cameron.
     At the top of the list were economic development and education. Tourism, timber, forestry land and the flood plain are among the many subjects she will take back to Wilson.
     During discussion about timber, gas and oil, Commissioner Mark Forni suggested she speak with
individuals working in those fields in order to be more familiar with what the county has to offer. Paolina agreed and plans to revisit. Commissioners entered into an executive session with Bill Frank, interim assistant director, Job and Family Services, to discuss contracts. No action was taken after the hour-long session.

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
     Woodsfield Village Council last week authorized its Board of Public Affairs to adjust power costs in an effort to help solve financial problems facing the
Municipal Power Plant.
     "There's a lot of things we need to do to get our house in order," said Floyd Longwell, superintendent of the power plant.
     Councilman Dale English asked Longwell to review street lights to see if some of them can be removed without causing a safety concern. He asked that a
recommendation be brought to council.
     A number of other avenues are also being explored.
     The ordinance, which passed on an emergency basis, proposed a rate scale be established and made effective for bills rendered after the effective date of the ordinance. According to the ordinance, the BPA may not increase rates more than six percent within the rate scale without council's approval.
     During discussion, Longwell commented that some senior
citizens will probably see a reduction in their bills.

         

           

<Sunfish Creek carries its burden of ice eastward toward the Ohio River Friday, Feb. 23, as the morning sun seems determined to melt the huge chunks before it reaches its destination. The ice spilled over Salem TR-4 over the weekend. This was the county's only creek related ice problem.     A. Selvy Photo 

< Judge Peters Accepts Award
         
  Judge James Peters, center, accepts an award from
Jared Abele, left, Ohio Division of Wildlife Officer
and Jay  Abele, Wildlife Officer Supervisor     
Photo by Martha Ackerman

     Monroe County's County Court Judge James Peters was
recognized with the presentation of an award by the Ohio Division of Wildlife "for distinguished service
in conservation of Ohio's Wildlife."
     Jay Abele, Wildlife Officer Supervisor, presented the award on Feb. 22. The award was signed by the Chief of the Division of Wildlife, Steve Gray.
     "Judge Peters is always helpful and fair with the
cases that come before him," said Jay Abele. "He is very consistent and has a good understanding of what the Division of Wildlife does. It's rare nowadays."
     He went on to say that, "People don't usually understand our mission. Judge Peters is an avid hunter
and fisherman and he promotes youth hunting."
     "It's not often judges are recognized so this award is appreciated very much," said Peters.
    On hand for the presentation was Jared Abele, Ohio
Division of Wildlife Officer assigned to Monroe County.

<Ormet Tax Settled

     Ormet Corporation's personal property tax due Monroe County has been settled and should be paid within the next 60 days.
     Auditor Pandora Neuhart reported to county
commissioners last week that Ormet will pay an additional $710,611.06 for tax years 2002 through 2005. The figure includes $50,506.04 in interest.
     The plant has already paid $7,241,903 for that period.
Of the $710,611.06, a total of $77,353.05 is due from
the Rolling Mill (lower plant) and $633,258.01 from
the Reduction plant.
     Neuhart said MACO and Swit-zerland of Ohio School
District will receive approximately 80 percent of the tax payment; the county will receive about seven percent; and the remainder will be shared among entities which have voted tax levies.
     Ormet had appealed its 2002 and 2003 personal
property tax to the Board of Taxation. Talks between
Ormet's legal counsel and the Board of Taxation resulted in an agreement to not reduce the taxes for those two years - the appeal was dropped.
     A compromise was met for the 2004 and 2005 taxes.
     "I'm glad this is settled and we can move on," said Neuhart.

 <Around the Burnside


 

     A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.
     A wise person is hungry for the truth, while the fool feeds on trash.
     What do you do when it's snowing? That's easy. You let it snow. OK, I know it's easier when you are retired and do not have a doctor's appointment,
although that can be cancelled, most of the time. Meat in the freezer, bread baking in the oven, several leftovers or must eats in the fridge, electric and gas working, canned goods in the cupboard, TV and radio working, all of your necessary medicine in stock and your children out on their own, you can manage to wait out the snow. Now if you get 100 inches or more in a couple of days or so, as they did in places in Upper
New York, I'd move! Then a good neighbor comes over
and shovels your walk and deck for you, you now appreciate living in a small community.
     One thing you don't do is rob a house when an officer is close by and can follow your tracks.
I've wondered sometimes why I'm so interested in reading news of 100 years ago. I guess maybe some of it strikes my funny bone and then it's interesting to read they had some of the problems we have, even with all our technology and modern conveniences.
     Then I think my oldest brother was born 101 years ago. I realize our family actually started over 103 years ago which indicates my roots go along way back. I just hope I don't bore you with 100 year old news even if some of our young folks do not believe it.
     Amusing: On an icy morning some few days ago, Doc Trenner started for Ava with 10 dozen eggs and in crossing a footlog north of that village, the log
broke and he and the basket went into the creek with such a jar that only two eggs were saved out of the 120 that he had for market. With eggs at 25 cents a dozen, this was no small loss. Nothing was said if he was hurt in the fall, just the eggs worth two dollars and fifty cents.
     Applies today? Pauper Hill - there is general dissatisfaction in this school district in regard to
the new school books, which are pronounced entirely worthless and yet we are compelled to use them five years longer.
     Good statement applies today: A big snow, but it is far ahead of mud.
     I get my 100 year old news in the Journal-Leader, Caldwell.
     What about the gasoline price? They seem to be bouncing around like one of those little balls you get that seem to pick up speed after the first bounce. You
never know where the next bounce is going. Sometimes
the gasoline price ball bounces between trips to town.
     The other day I purchased a couple of winter tires, with the idea that if I purchased the winter tires, we would get no more snow, as it normally happens when I do something like this. Boy was I wrong! Now they tell me not to use them because of the weather. I listen to their advice. You can always put off till tomorrow what you can't do today.
     I'll bet I know something many of you will remember, Burma Shave signs along the roadway to remind us of little things we should remember and words of wisdom such as "Don't stick your elbow out so far, it may go home, in another car. Burma Shave."
     I wonder if Burma Shave is still around. I can't remember seeing it in the stores anymore. Maybe it's gone where good shaving cream goes but has left a
bushel of good advice. Just one more thing our youth are missing out on today.
     It was kind of fun tooling down the road before interstates, freeways and toll roads and spot the signs coming up: "Speed was high - weather was not - tires were then - X marks the spot - Burma Shave."
     If you happened to spot signs on the other side of the road it made it a bit tougher to read the signs. However, you were able to get them straightened out.
     I think the signs were about 100 feet apart in order for you to read them with ease. If they were along the roadways today, the signs would need to be much
farther apart because of the speed some folks travel they would not be able to read them.
     Don't lose your head - to gain a minute - you need your head - your brains are in it - Burma Shave.
     The one who drives - when he's been drinking - depends on you - to do his thinking - Burma Shave.
     I wrote earlier about staying inside during the snow and bad weather. Well, after going out only once per day to get our daily newspaper that wasn't there, staying cooped up is not the greatest thing. It soon gets boring.
     It is wonderful to have a good neighbor who shoveled your snow, brought our mail and would have done anything we needed. This was great, but it was great to be able to get out again even if the car was covered with snow and the car door frozen shut. The sun felt great.
     In some cities they tear down buildings to save taxes. They might try tearing down taxes to save buildings.
     Did you miss church last Sunday? Why?
     Bible verses: (Mon.) II Peter 1:5-11; (Tues.) Romans 12:9-21; (Wed.) Romans 13:8-14; (Thurs.) Galations 5:13-26; (Fri.) I Peter 4:1-11; (Sat.) I John 2:7-11; (Sun.) I John 2:12-17.
 

<Obituaries
(read the full obituary in the paper) 

denotes veteran

<Thelma J. Danver, 77, 47681 SR 7, Beavertown, died Feb. 20, 2007, at Marietta Memorial Hospital. She was born Jan. 21, 1930, at Hannibal, a daughter of the late Erman Henthorn and Georgiana Baker Henthorn.

<Paul Eugene Rowley, 73, 45295 Ludolph Rdg., New
Matamoras, died Feb. 21, 2007, at Marietta Memorial
Hospital. He was born April 30, 1938, in Fly, Monroe
County, a son of the late Joseph Edgar Rowley and
Viola Clutter Rowley.

<Rosalie B. McDermott, 84, of Evensville, Tenn., and
formerly of Woodsfield, passed away Feb. 19, 2007 in
the Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Fla. She was born
July 31, 1922, in Wetzel County, W. Va. to Albert and
Retta Smith Berisford.

<Charles "Floyd" Griffith, 81, of Warren Township,
Marietta, died Feb. 21, 2007, at the Arbors. He was
born April 27, 1925, at Jackson Ridge, Monroe County,
a son of the late John and Ella Craig Griffith.

<Bernice Book, 87, Beallsville, died Feb. 25, 2007 in
the Woodsfield Nursing and Rehab Center. She was born
Jan. 19, 1920 near Beallsville, a daughter of the late
William and Blanche Pugh Biles. She was a member of
the Church of Christ at Mellott Ridge.

<Dempsey H. Farnsworth, 77, of Summerfield, died Feb.
27, 2007 at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical
Center, Cambridge. Arrangements are incomplete at
Brubach-Watters Funeral Home.