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Pike County News Watchman
Courthouse to relocate in former Rite Aid building
The Pike County Commissioners announced Monday that the county is in agreement to purchase the former Rite Aid building with plans to move offices currently housed in the Pike County Courthouse into the former store. “None of us like that,” Commissioner Tony Montgomery said. “We all wish that it could stay, but it can’t.” The commissioners did say the courthouse could be “repurposed” but they were not sure by who...
Semi truck fire under US 23 overpass Sunday night
At approximately 11:56 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, Piketon Seal Township Fire Department was dispatched to the area of US 23 and state Route 32 for a fully engulfed semi truck fire. Once on scene, units found the fully engulfed semi on the state Route 32 eastbound lane under the US 23 south bound bridge. The fire was wrapping around the bridge making flames visible on US 23. With the...
Commissioners announce moving of courthouse offices
The Pike County Board of Commissioners (BOC) are in agreement to purchase the former Rite Aid pharmacy building in Waverly. The intended use is to house the Pike County Court of Common Pleas, the Pike County Prosecutor’s office and the Pike County Clerk of Courts employees. Additional offices or agencies, all or in part, may also be located at this facility pending completion of the final layout and design. The...
Two vehicle accident on state Route 104
According to a report prepared by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a two vehicle accident on state Route 104 occurred at 4:10 p.m. Monday afternoon. A Black GMC Yukon driven by Lindsay Kneisley of Piketon was southbound on state Route 104, while a green Ford Taurus was traveling northbound driven by Judy Ealey of Waverly. According to the report, Kneisely failed to yield on a left hand turn into a private drive and struck Ealey’s vehicle. One driver and one passenger were transported by Portsmouth Ambulance to Adena Pike Medical Center. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the accident.
Adena Health launches orthopedic express care service
CHILLICOTHE — Suffer a sprain, tear, or other common orthopedic-related injury and unsure whether the emergency room or an urgent care is the best place to go? There’s now a new option — Adena Orthopedic and Spine Institute Express Clinic — created specifically to provide patients suffering from common orthopedic-related injuries with fast access to specialized care targeting those injuries. “It’s express care created with the patient in mind,” said...
Super loads continue to travel through area
The twelfth of nearly two dozen “super loads” is making its way from a dock on the Ohio River near Manchester in Adams County to New Albany in Licking County. This load, an air processor known as a cold box used in the silicon chip manufacturing process, measures approximately 23’ tall, 20’ wide, 280’ long, and weighs 916,000 pounds. The move was scheduled to take more than a week. Stops were made in West Portsmouth, Lucasville and Waverly early in the week. ...
Weekly construction update
CHILLICOTHE — The following construction projects are anticipated to affect highways in Pike County next week. All outlined work is weather permitting. Projects with active or future traffic impacts are linked to OHGO.com NEW State Route 772 Culvert Replacement Work has begun as of June 19 for a culvert replacement project between S.R. 124 and...
Oklo speaks about HALEU, progress at A-Plant site
Stephanie Howe, Director of Energy Programs, Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service hosted a webinar featuring industry leaders who spoke on the importance HALEU and small modular reactor (SMR) technologies and how it affects the projects at former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site. Pike County Commissioner Tony Montgomery who also sits on the SODI (Southern Ohio Diversity Initiative) board said at a commissioners meeting on Monday, June 17 that this is a great time for SMR technology. ...
Adena Health social worker finalist for annual statewide award
CHILLICOTHE — In a filled ballroom Tuesday, July 11 during an awards ceremony event at the Hilton Columbus at Easton, Adena Health Licensed Independent Social Worker Cheryl Royster heard her named called to an abundance of applause. It was at that moment she realized she was among five finalists for the Ohio Hospital Association’s 2024 Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award. OHA’s Health Care Worker of the Year Award is presented each year to one Ohio caregiver who personifies a leader,...
Pike County receives grant for generators at Government Center, engineer's office
The Pike County Commissioners, last week, received the call that the county was awarded a grant to purchase two generators. One will be placed at the Pike County Government Center in Waverly Plaza and one will be at the county engineer’s office. The Pike County Commissioners have been actively pursuing state and federal funding to purchase a generator since a sprinkler line froze and busted during a power outage on Christmas weekend in 2022, causing thousands of dollars of damage to the building. ...
Buckeye Firearms Association applauds SCOTUS ruling on bump stocks
In a 6-3 ruling on Friday, June 14, 2024, the United States Supreme Court struck down a ban on so-called “bump stocks,” finding that the Justice Department exceeded its authority by reclassifying the device as a “machine gun.” “We’re pleased with this ruling,” said Dean Rieck, Executive Director of Buckeye Firearms Association. “For years, this device had been considered legal. Then the Justice Department, in an arbitrary move, changed its mind and exceeded its authority to reclassify the device and make it illegal.” ...
Schedule released for Pike Lake SP summer activities and special events
For those who enjoy a day in the woods listening to a variety of music, the 23rd annual Pike Lake State Park Appalachian Music Fest is scheduled for Saturday, June 22. Prior to the start of the music, there will be a dedication for a new historical marker at the graveside of the unknown Union Soldier with a cannon salute by Union Volunteers at 10:30 a.m. The John Cooper Memorial...
Heat wave expected across the region
With National Weather Service forecasts showing temperatures of higher than 90 degrees, starting Sunday and lasting through the end of the week, we need to take steps to be safe in the extreme heat. The Pike County Emergency Management has announced on Monday, June 17 there will be a cooling center that will be open from 12 noon until 9 p.m. for anyone who needs relief from the heat. The cooling center will be in the Pike Outreach building located at 306 Bridge Street in...
Ohio House passes legislation prohibiting the import of feral swine into the state
COLUMBUS- The Ohio House yesterday passed House Bill 503, legislation that prohibits the import of feral swine into Ohio, stops the hunting of feral swine, and puts an end to the risky practice of garbage feeding of swine. The legislation is sponsored by State Reps. Bob Peterson (R-Sabina) and Don Jones (R-Freeport). House Bill 503 allows landowners to kill a feral hog without a license, but the Ohio Department of Natural Resources must be notified within 24 hours. The rules for the preservation and disposal...
Yost files amicus brief in Ohio Supreme Court Case on appealability of preliminary injunctions
(COLUMBUS)-— Attorney General Dave Yost has told the Ohio Supreme Court that he agrees with the City of Columbus that it should be able to appeal a preliminary injunction the state won to block enforcement of the city’s firearm regulations. In his filing with the court, Yost’s amicus brief makes it clear that while the State of Ohio disagrees with Columbus on the merits of imposing additional firearms regulations, it staunchly defends the city's right to its day in court regarding the appeal of the...
Moose Miller performs at Chillicothe festival
Rising country music singer Michael “Moose” Miller performed at the Feast of the Flowering Moon in Chillicothe on Saturday, May 25. He is a of Pike County and he used to live in Waverly. When asked why did you choose to perform at the feast of the flowering moon? Miller said, “It is a festival in Chillicothe. I grew up coming here with my family. It is awesome that they would have me come out. So, I love coming home. Any excuse to come home...
Waverly Council discusses new sidewalk repair ordinance
Waverly Village Council met in regular session Monday, June 5 and an ordinance that received its first reading was the one that had the most discussion. The agenda for the meeting states that Ordinance #48-2024’s purpose is to amend Ordinance #33-99, the City’s Special Assessment Policy. The Ordinance reads, “Whereas the Village of Waverly wishes to to amend Ordinance #33-99 to require all sidewalk and driveway aprons to be 100%...
Weekly construction update
CHILLICOTHE — The following construction projects are anticipated to affect highways in Pike County next week. All outlined work is weather permitting. Projects with traffic impacts are linked to OHGO.com NEW State Route 772 Culvert Replacement Work is set to begin June 10 for a culvert replacement project between S.R. 220 and Strickland Road. Work...
Commissioners talk IT, network issues
Joe Corbin from Compass Integration. an information Technology and Building Maintenance services provider, who works with the Pike County Commissioners on information technology (IT) issues as well as some maintenance issues, met Monday with the Pike County Commissioners to give them updates on the progress on some of the projects he has been working on. Corbin started by addressing the generator at the Pike County Sheriff’s Office. Corbin said the new radiator should be in now and hopefully it can be scheduled by the end...
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The seed that yielded The Pike County News Watchman was planted in the early 1800s, perhaps as early as the founding of Jefferson (present-day Piketon, which served as the first Pike County government seat) in 1814, though this very early portion of Pike County history is not altogether clear. The earliest publication known to have existed is the Waverly Democrat, which was first printed in 1832 and served, as its name implies, as a staple for the early Democratic settlers in the county. In 1861 name of the publication changed from the Waverly Democrat to the somewhat conventional Waverly News. The name would remain until the early 1900s when yet another change, this time reflecting the opinion of another political party, took place. The Republican Herald served as the county's news source. In this incarnation, the paper would keep people abreast of news concerning births, deaths, and perhaps most importantly, the happening of soldiers fighting overseas in two world wars. In 1954, the publication adopted the name of the Waverly Watchman, though Republican Herald was still printed on the header of the front page. Finally, around the year 1960, a variation of the present name was set in place; the Waverly Watchman. This paper, like the current Pike County News Watchman, was published twice weekly and focused on the local news and personal interest stories of citizens of that time. The Pike County News Watchman is available online at newswatchman.com
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