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Pike County News Watchman
Truck overturned on US 23 Tuesday morning
The Portsmouth Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol was dispatched to US Route 23 in Piketon at 1:41 a.m. Tuesday morning in reference to a semi-tractor that overturned. According to Dispatcher Supervisor Saunders of the Portsmouth Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the truck was traveling southbound on US 23 when it failed to negotiate a curve, struck a guardrail and then overturned. The driver of the semi-tractor was taken to Adena Pike Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the accident. Pike County Sheriff Evans sent messages via text and email to citizens signed up for alerts on their mobile devices that US 23 was shut down because of the accident. At 9:29 a.m., Evans sent a message that said US 23 was reopened.
Pike County road construction
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 County Road 57 Culvert ReplacementWork is set to begin on August 12 for a culvert replacement project on C.R. 57 (Beaver Pike) between Meadow Run Road and Bumgardner Road. Work will occur daily for this construction. C.R. 57...
Planning Commission proposes changes to rules
The Pike County Commissioner met in regular session and one item on the agenda was a meeting with Ally Motz with the Pike County Planning Commission. Motz brought a list of possible changes that the Planning Commission Board would like to implement, following the board’s most recent meeting. Commissioner Jeff Chattin the question was posed to Prosecutor Mike Davis, “If we make amendments to the rules, are they enforceable?” Chattin...
Wilkin announces millions for Southern State Community College
COLUMBUS—State Senator Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro) announced that Southern State Community College will receive $2,575,000 from the state capital budget process to establish the Information Technology Center of Excellence. Southern State is receiving $1,000,000 in capital budget funds and an additional allocation of $1,575,000 from redirected older capital projects that cannot move forward. The funds will be utilized to renovate the space, labs, and classrooms that will make this new center a hub for students studying information technology and cybersecurity. ...
Wilkin announces millions for Southern State Community College
COLUMBUS—State Senator Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro) announced that Southern State Community College will receive $2,575,000 from the state capital budget process to establish the Information Technology Center of Excellence. Southern State is receiving $1,000,000 in capital budget funds and an additional allocation of $1,575,000 from redirected older capital projects that cannot move forward. The funds will be utilized to renovate the space, labs, and classrooms that will make this new center a hub for students studying information technology and cybersecurity. ...
Arrest made after watercraft collision on Lake White
The Waverly Fire Department was dispatched to Lake White near Rittenour Road at 9:23 p.m. in reference to boat with a person missing possibly in the water, according to a report from the WFD. On arrival, personnel met with law enforcement to gather information. Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Waverly Police Department and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources all responded to the scene. The WFD then launched a rescue boat in the lake. WFD personnel searched the water using sonar and doing a visual search...
Former leader of Scioto Valley Realtor Group indicted in embezzlement case
COLUMBUS — A former executive officer of the Scioto Valley Association of Realtors has been indicted by a Ross County grand jury on two felony counts related to theft from the organization, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today. Brenda Free, 58, of Chillicothe, was arraigned today in Ross County Common Pleas Court for allegedly using her position to steal $53,968 from the association and forging a $1,500 check with her secretary’s signature to benefit herself. The charges include one count of theft (fourth-degree felony)...
Klinker named 2024 Ohio History Teacher of the Year by Gilder Lehrman Institute
PIKETON — Andy Klinker, a teacher at Piketon Jr./Sr. High School, has been named the 2024 Ohio History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Established in 2004, this prestigious award recognizes exceptional elementary through high school teachers for their outstanding contributions to American history education. Presented annually by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 American history education, this award honors one K–12 teacher from each state, the District of Columbia,...
Ohio University leads state in several medical rankings
ATHENS — Ohio University has emerged as a leader in medical education within the state of Ohio, securing top positions in several categories in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings. The rankings, released July 23, place the Heritage College at No. 29 in the nation and first in Ohio for the most graduates practicing in rural areas. In the realm of medical graduates’ impact, Ohio University also ranks number one in the state of Ohio for producing the highest number of graduates practicing...
Area Agency on Aging District 7 named recipient of Prestigious Aging Achievement Award
The Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) is thrilled to announce that its “Fall-Free Fridays” initiative received a 2024 Aging Achievement Award from USAging, one of the highest honors presented by USAging to its members. Fall-Free Fridays, a partnership with Shawnee State University’s (SSU) Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program, was among 22 local aging programs to receive honors during USAging’s 49th Annual Conference and Tradeshow, held recently in Tampa, Florida. The 2024 USAging Aging Innovations & Achievement Awards, supported by Caregiving.com and Cumulus.care,...
PRESS and American Nuclear Activist Alliance demand Senate hearings
PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security (PRESS) and the American Nuclear Activist Alliance are urgently calling on the Senate Energy Committee to conduct hearings on the severe property contamination and alarming cancer prevalence in Pike and Scioto Counties in Ohio. “The contamination is well documented. We have the scientific studies and the documents to prove the Department of Energy’s criminal actions. Pike County has the highest cancer rate in the state of Ohio. It’s because of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant,” said...
Weekly construction update
The following construction projects are anticipated to affect highways in Pike County next week. All outlined work is weather permitting. NEW State Route 335 Slide RepairWork has begun as of July 15 for a slide repair project between Schilder Lane and Omega. Work will occur daily for this construction. S.R. 335 will be closed for the duration of the project; traffic will be detoured via S.R. 220 to S.R. 32. ...
Wagner files brief in appeal of murder conviction
Editor’s NoteAll references to “Wagner” in this article are referring to George Washington Wagner IV. On June 10, George Washington Wagner IV’s defense team filed a brief, in his appeal case citing nine assignments of error in his murder trial, with the Pike County Common Pleas Court. Wagner and his family members are charged with killing seven members of the Rhoden family and Hannah Gilley in April of 2016. ...
ODNR offers special deer hunts on eight state nature preserves
COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Natural Areas and Preserves is holding special deer hunts at eight state nature preserves across Ohio during the 2024-25 hunting season. These locations were identified as areas where deer populations pose a threat to native plant communities. The division is offering both gun and archery hunts this year. Special gun hunts will be offered at Boch Hollow and Stage’s Pond state nature preserves. Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve will offer archery, gun, and...
AAA: Gas prices climb in Ohio
The average price of gasoline across South Central Ohio is 14 cents higher this week at $3.509 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The average price during the week of July 15 was $3.361 and the average price during the week of July 24, 2023 $3.287. This week’s average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline across South Central Ohio is $3.509. Pike County comes in...
Pike Outreach holds ribbon cutting of remote work center
Pike Outreach had a ribbon cutting and opened up the new Pike Outreach Remote Work Center in the basement of the building that houses the food pantry at 306 Bridge Street in Waverly. “The Pike Outreach Remote Work Center is funded through the workforce board’s GRIT (growth, resilience, initiative, and transformation) program fund,” said Crystal Keaton, Workforce and Development Board Area 1 Director. Keaton said that the Workforce Development board...
Congressman Wenstrup tours Piketon water, sewer plant
PIKETON — Congressman Brad Wenstrup and his Regional Director Teresa Lewis were in Pike County last month to make stops at Kirchhoff Automotive, Pike County Community Action, and tour Piketon’s new water and sewer plants. Wenstrup’s office was able to get the village $2 million dollars worth of grant money for construction of the wastewater facility. “I believe this is the largest investment the village of Piketon has made in...
The Pike County Fair will be hosting its annual country concert, featuring Jackson Dean
The Pike County Fair will be hosting its annual country music concert again this year. The concert will be on Thursday, August 1, 2024. Jared Allman who is one of the members of the fair’s entertainment committee said, “So we are going to have a local guy … his name is Moose Miller. He’s actually from Pike County, and he attended school at Eastern. Then we are having a guy named River Dan, and the headline act will be Jackson Dean.” ...
ODOT Weekly Construction Update
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 335 Slide Repair Work is set to begin on July 15 for a slide repair project between Schilder Lane and Omega....
Site of former Greenbaum building commemorated with new marker
Although the brick and mortar portion of the Greenbaum building may be gone, its memory will be preserved for generations to come with a new historic marker. Pike County’s newest Ohio Historical Marker now stands on the sidewalk beside the former location of the Greenbaum building, which is now the parking lot for the Brass Monkey Bar & Restaurant. It was in that location on Tuesday, July 16 that the...
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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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