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The Jackson & Vinton Courier
Crash reported on State Route 32 in Jackson
JACKSON — Troopers from the Jackson Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a two-vehicle injury crash that occurred around 9:12 a.m. Wednesday on State Route 32 near State Route 93 in Jackson County. Dennis Pearce, 67, of Jackson, Ohio, was operating a 2021 John Deere 6110 tractor westbound on State Route 32, navigating around a bridge pillar, while he was mowing for the Ohio Department of Transportation at the time of the crash. Robert Stewart, 83, of Hamden, was operating a 2022 Toyota Highlander westbound on State Route 32. Stewart struck the rear of Pearce’s bush hog and overturned. Stewart traveled off the left side of the road, struck a guardrail, and came to rest. Stewart was transported to Holzer Medical Center with minor injuries while Mr. Pearce was not injured. Jackson County EMS, Jackson County Sherriff’s Office, Ohio Department of Transportation, and the Jackson Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Associated Press News Briefs
Tornado death raises Tropical Storm Debby toll to 7 as heavy rains keep falling LUCAMA, N.C. (AP) — Searchers found a body in a home destroyed by a tornado in Lucama, North Carolina, authorities said. That raises Tropical Storm Debby’s death toll to 7. The storm is still drenching the Carolinas after making landfall again early Thursday on its way up the East Coast. Residents as far north as Vermont could get several inches of rain this weekend. The National Hurricane Center says Debby came...
Speaker to discuss region’s prehistoric rock art
ATHENS — The Southeast Ohio History Center Lyceum Speaker Series will present the program Ancient Rock Art of the Ohio Valley at noon Aug. 15. Speaker Alex Armstrong will present information about Native American petroglyphs of our region. He will look at famous sites like the Leo Petroglyphs in Jackson County and Inscription Rock at Kelley’s Island, Ohio. Armstrong will also look at lesser-known petroglyph sites with a particular emphasis on sites in the greater Athens area that the public can visit. Petroglyphs are from...
Dicken pleads, can avoid jail time with $25K restitution
LOGAN — On the day her trial had been set to begin, former Hocking County Commissioner Jessica Dicken, indicted on several charges related to theft while serving as Hocking County Agricultural Society treasurer, pled guilty on three charges, in exchange for having four others dropped. The case, which has yet to enter a pre-sentence investigation, is being presided over by visiting judge Randy Deering; Thomas Anger of the Ohio Auditor of State’s office is representing the prosecution, and Dicken’s attorney is Katherine Clark of Samuel...
Vinton Co. Schools begin classes Aug. 14
The staff of the Vinton County Local School District will welcome students in grades 1-12 back to school on Aug. 14. Parent Meetings will be held at each school on Tuesday, August 13th at the following times: VCHS Freshman/New Student Orientation is set to welcome these students at the following times:4:30-5:25 — Take a personal...
Thurman man died from meth intoxication; No charges to be filed in death investigation
MCARTHUR — No charges will be filed arising from the death investigation of a Thurman man who law enforcement authorities said died of a drug overdose last summer. The autopsy revealed that Travis Dakota Williams, 28, died from methamphetamine intoxication, according to a joint press release issued Friday afternoon by the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, Vinton County Prosecutor’s Office, and the McArthur Police Department. Williams’ father Travis Williams has made...
Round-up: Sowers to serve as fire chief; Riepenhoff dies
A round-up of all things Vinton and Jackson counties… Congratulations to Betty Puckett Sowers who is the new fire chief for the Wilkesville Volunteer Fire Department! Puckett started out as a junior fire department member when she was only 16 following in her father Darrel’s footsteps! Puckett may be the first female fire chief in Vinton county. She and her dad Darrel may be the first father/ daughter duo to have both been chief for the same department! ...
Non-Injury Crash on State Route 349
WELLSTON — Troopers from the Jackson Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a single vehicle, non-injury crash that occurred on State Route 349, approximately one half of a mile north of State Route 93, in Jackson County at 9:06 a.m. on July 29th, 2024. Jason Bailey, 43, of Bidwell, Ohio, was operating a 2013 International, refuse truck southbound on State Route 349 when it drove off of the right side of the roadway and overturned into a ditch, spilling waste water sludge...
McArthur bicyclist injured after being hit by vehicle
McARTHUR — The Jackson Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a serious injury crash in McArthur, Ohio involving a bicyclist and a minvan. At 5:54 p.m. Monday, Damien R. Reid, 12, of McArthur, was riding a bicycle northbound on South Spring Street. A 2015 Chrysler Town and Country, driven by Hillary D. Saunders, age 49, of Hamden, was traveling west on Main Street. Reid failed to yield...
FBP and JEDISO support local infrastructure
WELLSTON — Buckeye Construction & Restoration, LLC. (BCR) has been performing masonry and restoration work in southern Ohio for more than 40 years. The small company continues to grow and with a $50,000 grant from Fluor-BWXT (FBP) and the Joint Economic Development Initiative of Southern Ohio (JEDISO), the company plans to expand with the purchase and redevelopment of an underutilized property. “This is exactly why we provide these grants,” said FBP Community Commitment Chair, Tim Poe. “We want these small businesses to continue to grow...
'I honestly didn't expect it, I was shocked'
Vinton County Fair Queen and Court were crowned Saturday at the Terry Fout Stage at the Vinton County Fairgrounds. Gabby Champion was crowned as the 2024 Queen with First Attendant being Makayla Harris, and Second Attendant as Camdyn Ackley. Other Fair royals who were crowned include as King, as Prince, 3rd and 4th Grade Attendant-Paige Robinette, 5th and 6th Grade Attendant-Olivia Case, and 7th and 8th Grade Attendant-Lily Hurne. No prince was named this year, but maybe that’ll change at the next fair. ...
As trial approaches, issues still being worked out in Moritz case
LOGAN — With his scheduled trial date less than a month away, indicted former Hocking County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Caleb Moritz may learn on Friday whether two state assistant attorneys general will continue to serve as prosecutors of his criminal case. That’s the day appointed Judge Randy Deering has set for a hearing, on the issue of whether he should grant a motion by Hocking County Prosecutor Jennifer Graham to terminate the special prosecutor appointments of Cynthia Ellison and Brad Tammaro of the Ohio AG’s...
Herrmann named Executive Director of the AAA7
Jamie Herrmann has been named Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7), according to Dr. Christine Raber, President of the AAA7 Board of Trustees. Herrmann will be joining the AAA7 from Compass Community Health where she has been serving as the Revenue and Risk Director since 2017. She is a graduate of Shawnee State University earning a bachelor’s degree in Individualized Studies, with a concentration in Healthcare Administration; and an associate’s degree in Applied Science in Physical Therapy Assisting. ...
Wellston man taken to Huntington hospital after wreck on State Route 93
JACKSON — A Wellston resident was taken via helicopter to a Huntington, West Virginia, hospital after being seriously injured in a wreck Friday on State Route 93. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, troopers responded to a two vehicle, serious injury crash at 11 p.m. Friday on State Route 93, near milepost 9 in Franklin Township, Jackson County. Donald Riffle, 52, of Wellston, was operating a 2016 Peterbilt rollback...
Associated Press News Briefs
Obama, Pelosi and Democrats make a fresh push for Biden to reconsider 2024 race ahead of convention WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats at the highest levels are making a critical push for President Joe Biden to reconsider his election bid. Former President Barack Obama has privately expressed concerns to Democrats about Biden’s candidacy. And Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi privately warned Biden that Democrats could lose the ability to seize control in the House if he didn’t step away from the race and that polls showed he...
JD Vance introduces himself as Trump's running mate
MILWAUKEE (AP) — JD Vance introduced himself to a national audience Wednesday after being chosen as Donald Trump’s running mate, sharing the story of his hardscrabble upbringing and making the case that his party best understands the challenges facing struggling Americans. Speaking to a packed arena at the Republican National Convention, the Ohio senator cast himself as fighter for a forgotten working class, making a direct appeal to the Rust Belt voters who helped drive Trump’s surprise 2016 victory and voicing their anger and frustration. ...
Jackson County Jr. Fair News
Check out these amazing photos from the Jackson County Jr. Fair! Photographer BJ Blackburn of the Jackson County Livestock Committee took these photos — top notch work! On another note, my mind turns to Sandra Jean Leonard, 77, of Jackson, Ohio, who passed away on April 21, 2024. Sandy was very active in her support...
Who will be crowned as Vinton County Jr. Fair Queen and Court?
Welcome to “Fairadise!” A new Vinton County Jr. Fair Queen and Court will be crowned Saturday at the Terry Fout Stage. Who will wear the tiara as the next queen when the pageant starts at 7 p.m? Folks, you have teen, 3rd-4th grade, 5th-6th grade and 7th and 8th grade contestants who have a chance...
Jackson Patrol Post investigating a two-vehicle injury crash in Jackson County
JACKSON — Troopers from the Jackson Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a two-vehicle injury crash around 8:13 p.m. Sunday, July 14, that occurred on Limerick Road just north of Big Rock Road in Jackson County. Regenia Lear, 62, of Laurelville was operating a black 2014 Volkswagen Passat and Haylie Johnson, 19, of Beaver, was operating a gray 2011 Toyota Camry, according to the OSHP. Lear was traveling southbound on Limerick Road and Johnson was traveling northbound on Limerick Road when she...
Round-up: Miss Vinton County crowned; Fourth of July parades
A round-up of all things Vinton and Jackson counties... Vinton County’s Fourth of July parades in McArthur and Wilkesville offered the community a chance to come together and celebrate the nation’s founding. Politicians like Vinton County Common Pleas Judge James Payne handed out candy as he walked down the street greeting folks. Sheriff Ryan Cain...
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Published each Wednesday; The Courier has a reputation for providing readers with honest and fair reporting of the community news serving Vinton and Jackson Counties in Ohio. The Courier, established in 1971, located at 103 S. Market Street, McArthur, Ohio, the county seat of Vinton County, is a multimedia news organization. The Courier began as The Vinton County Courier that was published every Wednesday and over the years has witnessed and been part of many changes in the industry. The Courier delivers with up-to-date online stories and breaking news from around the area, and can be found on racks throughout the counties and at vintonjacksoncourier.com. The Vinton County Courier launched its electronic edition, www.vintonjacksoncourier.com, in 2003 which added access to subscribers and readers 7 days per week. The Courier was purchased by Adams Publishing Group in Minneapolis, MN in March 2014 and is part of a regional group of publications that are part APG Media of Ohio. In 2018, The Vinton County Courier, expanded its coverage area into Jackson County with a consolidation of staff and subscribers from The Jackson County Times-Journal. At this time the name and paper were rebranded as The Courier. The Courier is available through the U.S. Postal Service as well as newsstands, local retail businesses and at the office, which is located at 103 S. Market Street, McArthur, Ohio.
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