Monthly Archives: April 2020

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The Buck Fifty Will Run in JUly 2020

The 150 mile relay footrace through the hills of Ross County with ten person teams was to step off April 17th. But, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, race organizers decided to push the event into the summer.

Race Director Dave Huggins announced the move on Facebook April 4th when it was apparent the pandemic left uncertainty and a record number of race teams were pulling out as concerns about the virus spread across the news.

“COVID-19 came up on the radar… there was a mandate that came out, you couldn’t have gatherings of 100 people” Huggins told Litter Media. “We ended up with 106 teams which is a new record for us… but we felt like we could plan around it.” Then with restaurants and schools closing Huggins reaction was “Whoa, maybe what we think we can do is not possible and with everyone’s safety felt we’d postpone the race.”

The virus touched close to home as one of Huggins’ right hand men, William Presson, fell victim to COVID-19. He and Huggins were painting the race markings for runners in mid-March. Presson, a healthcare worker for The James Cancer Center in Columbus contracted COVID-19. He’s since on the path to recovery.

“I think that’s something we need to be aware of as people who live in Southern Ohio” said Huggins “we think we’re insulated from it”.

The race, now in its fourth year, benefits the M.A.D.E. Program of the Drug Free Clubs of America Ross County Chapter. Learn more about the program and the plans for the July running of the race in the full interview with Huggins below.

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Kenny Corcoran On Coloring Chillicothe’s Walkways

Chillicothe sidewalk chalk artist Kenny Corcoran was making a new creation on the sidewalk of Crispie Creme Donuts Thursday.

Corcoran has drawn many characters on Chillicothe’s sidewalks, from Rugrats to the Simpson’s. His choice for a sunny afternoon was Squidward from the Nickelodeon cartoon series “SpongeBob SquarePants”.

Crispie Creme is a usual spot for Corcoran, who has three additional drawings near the new one. They’ve faded over time, but are still entertaining. The donut shop has been closed since the the first week of Ohio’s Stay-At-Home order, so he had little foot traffic to interfere with his work.

Hear what Corcoran has to say in the interview below, where it all started and what he hopes the artwork accomplishes for people.

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Summer 2020: Spargursville Road Repair

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Many rural roadways are regularly in need of slippage repair. But Ross County was hit especially hard in late 2018 and early 2019 with a reported 20 roads impacted.

Three roads were closed, Blain Highway, Cooks Hill Road and Spargursville Road.

Blain Highway was repaired and opened last year. Spargursville Road was opened with one passable lane in 2019 at the area which caused the road to be closed.

Ross County Engineer Charles Ortman tells Litter Media Spargursville Road is slated for repair this summer. Crews were repairing another trouble spot on Spargursville Wednesday morning.

There’s no word on when Cooks Hill Road will officially open.

Westbound travelers’ view of the lane closed by the slippage which closed Spargursville Road in 2019.
The westbound lane of Spargursville Road. Remnants of the first fix which was washed out by rain shortly after repair in 2019.
Road closure at the north end of Cooks Hill Road near Ohio 772.
The longtime troubled stretch of Cooks Hill Road. No official word on when it will open to local traffic.
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Ohio To Reopen May 1st; COVID-19 Update

***UPDATE: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections reports Chillicothe Correctional Institute has one inmate testing positive for COVID-19 and one in isolation. SEE ODRC DASHBOARD

“The world we are going to see is a different world” Governor Mike DeWine said during his Thursday afternoon news conference. “… and the world in the workplace is going to be different.”

DeWine said Ohio will begin reopening for business once the stay-at-home order is lifted May 1st. DeWine says officials are working on a plan which he will detail in the coming days towards the expiration of the order. Exactly which businesses will be reopened is yet to be determined.

Businesses that have remained open during the stay-at-home order have been in a type of trial run for how businesses will operate. DeWine said he’s talked with Ohio’s hospital leaders to report with the types of services the can resume doing and maintain safety. One of the challenges he says is “businesses putting into place” the safe guards being used by those essential businesses practiced during the order.

The Ohio Department of Health continues to advise safe distancing, wearing masks and

DeWine strongly suggested Ohioans to make wearing a mask an every day practice when in public. “It’s the courteous thing to do, it’s the safest thing to do, is to wear a mask. This is going to be the thing we do until we’re done with the virus.”

The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases has risen to 8,239 in Ohio with 2,331 hospitalizations and 389 total deaths.

As of 2pm Thursday, Pickaway County continued to lead our region with cases (196). Fairfield county was second (96). Ross County Health District reported (25) and Fayette County (12).

Ohio’s prison system has been a concern during the pandemic. Pickaway County Correctional Institute has 152 inmates in isolation with 132 having tested positive and three deaths. Marion Correctional has 92 inmates in isolation and tested positive.

As for the two prisons in Ross County, Chillicothe Correctional Institution has just one inmate in isolation and Ross Correctional has none impacted. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections COVID-19 report was updated Thursday afternoon showing CCI with one inmate testing positive. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE UPDATED ODRC DASHBOARD

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Adena to Furlough 500; Facing a Projected Deficit of $50 Million Through 2020

In a news release Wednesday, Adena Health System President and CEO Jeff Graham said “tough financial decisions” are forcing the System to temporarily furlough 500 nonclinical employees.

“This is a temporary furlough, not a layoff” Graham said in the release which added caregivers will be able to return to their current position as well as keep their health benefits throughout the furlough period.

Adena serves 400,000 people in a nine-county region of south central Ohio. “Making sure Adena remains a strong and vibrant health care organization is needed to ensure we are here for our caregivers and our patients requires dome difficult decisions” said Graham.

Adena cites the significant impact of lower operating revenues due to reductions with Ohio’s order to stop all elective surgeries and procedures, combined with overall decline in Emergency Department hospital admissionsUrgent Care visits, and normal, every day hospital census. The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed.

SEE THE NEWS RELEASE HERE

Adena announced Tuesday it would be receiving $7.9 million from the newly created Provider Relief Fund and is part of the initial disbursement of the first $30 billion from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief ad Economic Security Act from the US Department of Health and Human Services. SEE THE “CARES” ACT RELEASE HERE

Graham praised the continuing efforts of the caregivers within the Adena Health System and added “Despite our challenges, I look toward Adena’s future with optimism”.

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F.L.A.D. is Saturday

Dan DeGarmo and Greg Phillips have organized a great way to allow Chillicothe residents to show their appreciation for front line workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Front Line Appreciation Day (F.L.A.D.) is Saturday April 18th from 2p-6p.

DeGarmo, Pastor of The Church in Chillicothe says he’ll travel through the streets of Chillicothe with a camera man videoing signs of appreciation from residents. Video captured will be placed in a video slide show and released on Facebook.

Phillips, a Spanish teacher at Chillicothe High School and also First Ward Chillicothe Councilman, says appreciation goes beyond the health care workers and extends to those on the frontlines doing the little things to keep the community running.

“It’s about honoring” said Phillips. “That individual that they (residents) name wouldn’t be considered ‘front line’ in a normal era… but this isn’t normal and we feel people want to say ‘Thank you’. They can just wave.”

Phillips adds residents don’t need to make a sign, but they’re more than welcome to do so.

DeGarmo adds they’ll not be able to get into the Ross County roadways during the time frame Saturday, but says any county resident can participate by submitting a photo on the F.L.A.D. Facebook event page.

To sign up for a drive by in your neighborhood, send your address to the F.L.A.D. Event Page on Facebook (see below).

https://www.facebook.com/LitterMedia/posts/515706302435439
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201 Ross Countians Tested, 21 Positve for COVID-19

***UPDATED at 5:00pm 4-15-2020

The Ross County Health District reported Wednesday morning a the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county is 21, roughly 10 percent of those tested.

The RCHD reports 201 residents have been tested, 167 have returned negative with 13 suspected (awaiting test results). Among the positives, 13 males and eight females.

Ohio reports 7,791 cases in 87 of 88 counties (0 in Vinton County). The death toll stands at 361 as of 2pm Wednesday. Pickaway County’s number skyrocketed to 172 cases. Mostly due to Pickaway County Correctional Institution’s population.

Governor DeWine announced in his news briefing Wednesday, two more inmates at the facility have died.

At this time, the Ohio Department of Corrections is handling the numbers of COVID-19 cases for their respective institutions.

According to the state dashboard figures (Wednesday afternoon), Chillicothe Correctional Institution has two inmates in isolation, but no positive test results. There are none reported at Ross Correctional Institution. Pickaway CCI is the hardest hit thus far with 74 inmates having tested positive and 94 in isolation.

Litter Media visited with the RCHD in a special report Tuesday (see video).

RCHD encourages the public to continue to stay home with the exception for essential travel, practice physical distancing and washing hands often.

In the featured photo (above), a look at a nearly empty Water Street-Paint Street intersection in downtown Chillicothe, taken Wednesday morning which normally boasts activity on the city’s streets.

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Fairfield County Suffers First COVID-19 Related Death; Pickaway County Inmate Dies, Cases at 99

The Fairfield County Health District reported the County’s first COVID-19 related death Monday. Investigation into the cause of death is pending.

A news release reports the resident was a male in his 40’s.

The release stated “Fairfield Department of Health would like to express our sympathies to the family and friends of this resident.”

Fairfield County had been the hardest hit in the south central region of Ohio with 81 number of confirmed cases through Sunday.

During his Monday news briefing, Governor Mike DeWine reported an inmate housed at the Pickaway County Correctional Institute had succumbed to COVID-19. It’s the first inmate death in the state.

Pickaway County Public Health says they currently have 99 confirmed cases, 60 of which are inmates with 26 persons under investigation. 46 test results have been negative with 18 recoveries. Seven have been hospitalized.

Governor DeWine also reported the Ohio General Assembly has approved the spending of $76-million to purchase additional ventilators and Personal Protection Equipment for Ohio’s hospitals.

The Ross County Health District reported Monday (April 13, 2020) that 188 Ross Countians have been tested for COVID-19, with the positive cases now numbering 19.

The good news from the testing in Ross County, 142 have returned negative. Meanwhile, 27 remain on a waiting list for results.

As of 2pm ET Monday, the Ohio Department of Health reported 6,881 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 274 total deaths.

Highland County is now reporting 7 confirmed cases and adds they have three recoveries as well.

Hocking County reported its first confirmed case, bringing the number of counties impacted to 86 of Ohio’s 88. Harrison and Vinton are the remaining counties yet to report confirmed cases of COVID-19.