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The Jackson & Vinton Courier
Athens City Council to appeal Court's plastic bag ban ruling
Athens City Council is not going to go down without a fight to preserve the plastic bag ban. During Tuesday’s meeting, council voted unanimously to appeal a recent ruling from Athens County Court of Common Pleas Judge George McCarthy that banned retailers from providing single-use plastic bags to customers. When McCarthy issued his decision in Ohio v. City of Athens, he ruled that the ordinance conflicts with state law. “The...
Highway Patrol releases Labor Day traffic statistics
COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 15 people lost their lives in 15 traffic crashes during the Labor Day reporting period, which began midnight Aug. 30 and ended at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 2. One of the fatal wrecks occurred in Meigs County, while another one happened in Hocking County. In those fatalities in which safety belts were available, seven were unbelted. Ohio’s safety belt law remains a...
Meet Laina Fetherolf Rogers: Candidate for VC Common Pleas Judge
Editor’s NOTE: As I promised to do after Labor Day when people start paying more attention to politics, the Vinton-Jackson Courier will begin publishing — as I receive them — local candidate profiles. Candidates, if you want a profile publshed — free of charge — in the Courier, send an email to mlayton@circlevilleherald.com or mlayton@vintonjacksoncourier.com Laina Fetherolf Rogers is the Democratic candidate for Vinton County Court of Common Pleas Judge. ...
Summer Crisis Program offers assistance
The Ohio Department of Development and the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) are once again offering assistance to help Ohio’s families stay cool during the hot summer months. From July 1 through September 30, income-eligible Ohioans can receive assistance in paying their electric bill, purchasing an air conditioner or fan, or making repairs to their central air conditioning unit through the Ohio Department of Development’s Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program. ...
Round' the Town: Centennial Celebration of Bloomfield School planned
We are finalizing plans for the Centennial Celebration of Bloomfield School 100 years since first graduating class, will be at the school site. No charge but donations accepted. Call President Felicia Hale, and let her know you are coming, at 740-395-4760 by September 13th to be sure we have enough chairs and tables. Time is 3-5pm. Spec building being built by Andy Graham, way back from Veterans Drive. Hopefully a production plant will want to go in there. ...
Associated Press News Briefs
Trump speaks from behind bulletproof glass at first outdoor rally since his attempted assassinationASHEBORO, N.C. (AP) — Donald Trump spoke from behind bulletproof glass in North Carolina at his first outdoor rally since last month’s attempted assassination. The focus of Wednesday’s event was national security, but he also criticized his predecessor Barack Obama as “nasty” for comments made the night before at the Democratic National Convention. Trump blamed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the deadly Afghanistan withdrawal and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, but returned repeatedly in his remarks to the Democratic gathering in...
Rural gas stations provide vital access to food
Edward Hopper’s 1940 painting titled simply, Gas, is an iconic depiction of an isolated gas station — the type that a lucky motorist happens upon just in time as the needle creeps a little too close to empty. The red pumps catch the viewer’s eye and perfectly match the Mobil sign with its red Pegasus emblem. The station is portrayed as an island of civilization in an otherwise remote, rural landscape. Growing up in a rural area five miles from any hint of “civilization,” I...
Large-scale Ohio research project to explore how solar and farming can co-exist
Research underway at a Madison County solar farm promises to shed light on how well multi-use farming can work at a large scale. The answers will help shape best practices for future projects, while addressing some concerns raised in ongoing debates over siting large solar projects in rural farm areas. Spread across more than 1,900 acres, the 180 MW Madison Fields project will be one of North America’s largest test grounds for research into agrivoltaics — essentially farming between the rows on photovoltaic solar projects. ...
Commercial rollover crash closes State Route 93
JACKSON – The Jackson Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a commercial log truck that was traveling northbound on State Route 93, and failed to negotiate a curve causing it to overturn around 2:36 p.m. Friday (Aug. 16) just south of the Vinton County line in the City of Wellston. The 2013 Kenworth semi driven by Jared Knisley, 43, of Piketon, was transporting a load of timber that covered State Route 93 when the semi overturned. The semi then went off the...
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. ...
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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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