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Contact practice and training may resume for all sports across Ohio today, with guidelines handed down by the State last Thursday.
At this time, only intra-club/team scrimmages are permitted for contact sports and practices as well as open gyms are to be limited in the same way wherever possible. Competitive games and tournaments are permitted for non-contact sports only.
READ THE MANDATORY/RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES HERE
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Despite recently relaxed restrictions on county fairs by the State of Ohio, the Ross County Fair will remain a livestock Junior Fair.
Two weeks ago, the Ross County Fair Board voted to host only a Junior Fair in August. No rides, no grandstand entertainment, etc. That same night, it was determined to give Junior Fair representatives and barn superintendents time to devise a proposal describing to what extent that Fair would be.
Tuesday night, after hearing public commentary for more than an hour, the result remains the same. No Senior Fair.
Nearly 80 people attended the special meeting in the multipurpose building, half the capacity permitted by the Ross County Health District. 4-H club advisors and other interested parties cited recent success with exhibits at the Pickaway County Agriculture and Events Center in a plea for giving a full Ross County Fair another consideration.
Fair Board President, Bryan Bethel, while not discouraging to those speaking at the meeting, made it clear the planning is difficult. Bethel invited Pickaway County Fair Board President Von Cremeans to attend and speak at the meeting.
Cremeans told the audience after the State released guidelines for county fairs in late May, his group planned a Junior Fair with a second option should the pandemic showed signs of improvement. When Governor DeWine’s office relaxed restrictions June 9th, they voted to move forward with a full fair.
“Specific things have been addressed” said Cremeans. “If your grandstand holds 6,000, you can only have 2,500.
Cremeans added the Pickaway group will have volunteer civic groups that will help enforce social distancing and other guidelines mandated by the State. “We had a hog show and we had people from all over the state. The only people we had problems with were locals, but we had a meeting with them and after some grumbling they complied.” Cremeans noted the PAEC property is much smaller than the Ross County Fairgrounds by more than 150 acres and 1,300 camp sites which needed to be taken into consideration.
A motion by member Shaun Boggs to revisit the Ross County Fair Board’s previous decision to measure interest in holding a modified Senior Fair which would allow for camping, vendors having the midway and all following the new state guidelines. The motion failed.
4-H Extension Educator Katie Feldhues presented the Board with the requested proposal for hosting a Junior Fair. The presentation came with a caveat thanks to additional changes to the State guidelines released just hours before the meeting.
In May, the State limited the length of time livestock could be kept at the fair. With such a change, Gary Prater motioned the proposal be modified to permit a Junior Fair Livestock show with camping for livestock exhibitors and essential personnel designated by the Junior Fair Board. The motion passed, which now means the proposal will be modified including when the livestock shows will take place.
That information will be released by the Junior Fair Board over the next few days.
Another change by the state will permit harness racing with spectators. Ross County will only race on Sunday during the Fair.
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More than 70 years after high school, Neil Johnston is back home in Chillicothe.
Monday evening, the statue memorializing NBA champion and Hall of Fame Inductee Neil Johnston was placed at the north side of the main entrance to Chillicothe High School’s Ellis B. Hatton Memorial Gymnasium.
Four years ago when approached by local sports memorabilia collector Bruce Caplinger, noted sculptor Brian Hanlon jumped at the chance to create the lasting image of Johnston.
Caplinger remembers the conversation well.
“He said, Bruce, we’re gonna make this happen… it’s not a matter of is it gonna happen, but when.”
Caplinger began his campaign by presenting the idea of a statue to honor Johnston, a charter member of the CHS Athletic Hall of Fame, to the Board of Education in 2016. The project was expected to cost $50,000, which would be raised by private donations. To assist in lowering the costs, Vince Beverly Concrete donated the foundation on which the sculpture sits. Beverly was a Cavalier Basketball teammate of Caplinger’s. Many others made material and service donations as well.
The 11-foot-4-inch tall statue portrays Johnston’s patented hook shot while his crew cut, lanky 6-foot-8-inch frame bursts upward through boards of hardwood from the court.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a planned dedication ceremony was postponed in April. “We’ve had this statue since November of 20th of last year” said Caplinger, who headed up a twenty three member volunteer committee. “We’ve all agreed, let’s set it up, enjoy it and we’ll have a nice celebration later on when we can.”
SEE THE JOHNSTON STATUE PHOTO ALBUM ON FACEBOOK
After graduation from Chillicothe High School in 1946, Johnston played baseball and basketball at the Ohio State University for two seasons. He left college to pursue a pro baseball career.
Baseball didn’t pan out in the minor leagues with Philadelphia Phillies organization, Johnston was given a tryout with the NBA’s Philadelphia Warriors. It’s where he would make his mark.
After signing with the team, Johnston played 8 NBA seasons (1951-59) and won the 1955-56 NBA championship. He led the NBA in scoring three consecutive seasons (averaging 23.1 ppg), led the Warriors in rebounding five straight seasons and was a six-time NBA All-Star.
In a preview of the 1958 NBA All-Star Game, Sport Illustrated described Johnston’s famous hook shot. “He starts with his back to the basket, goes through a rhythmic series of feints to confound his guard and, just as the hoop comes in view in a corner of one eye, he releases the ball. Rhythm, instinct and flash perception make it a deadly shot for Johnston.” (Photos by Hy Peskin, January 20, 1958 edition of SI)
Just a handful of players have led the NBA in scoring at least three season consecutively: George Mikan, Johnston, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob McAdoo, George Gervin, Michael Jordan (twice) and Kevin Durant… pretty good company for a lanky kid from Ohio’s First Capital.
A knee injury ended his playing career and he was later hired to coach the Warriors, which included the first two seasons of NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain’s career. As head coach, Johnston led Philadelphia to a 95-59 record.
Johnston died of a heart attack in 1978 while playing basketball in Irving, Texas where he was an athletic director of North Lake College.
Johnston was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in May of 1990 and the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, the same season his alma mater, Chillicothe won its only Boys Basketball state championship.
JOHNSTON IN THE PHILADELPHIA HOF
JOHNSTON IN THE OHIO BASKETBALL HOF
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CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS INSIDE DOGWOOD PASS
You can travel back to the 1870s in the mining settlement of Dogwood Pass, without leaving the Buckeye State.
About seven miles east of Piketon, Mike and Sharlene Montgomery have been entertaining families for nearly a decade.
The attraction started as an Old West Saloon as a “man cave” in 2010. Now, there are 40 buildings on the site… which happens to be the Montgomery’s back yard in Pike County. After putting together a “one-time” show for a fundraiser, it became an every weekend Old West reenactment every weekend in the summer.
They’re open for tours Thursdays and Fridays with performances on Saturdays and Sundays through September. October presents Horror at Dogwood Pass and Christmas at Dogwood Pass begins November 27-December 27 each Wednesday through Sunday. See their complete schedule below.
Dogwood Pass is easy to find, too. From US 23 just south of Piketon, take Ohio 124/32 east, then south on Red Hollow Road to Adams Road. Head west 1 mile.
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While adhering to State guidelines, the Pickaway County Fair remains committed to hosting a full fair June 20-27, 2020.
With just over a week remaining, preparations continue as noted in a Facebook Live Broadcast Wednesday afternoon from Pickaway County Fair Board Secretary Christy Pence.
Many eyes will be on Circleville as other fairs will likely take notes for guiding their own events.
To learn more about the Pickaway County Fair visit www.pickawacountyfair.org.
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The Pickaway County Fair Board unanimously passed a motion to carry through with a plan for a full fair June 20th – 27th with some modifications.
In a meeting broadcast live by The Scioto Post on Facebook Saturday, Fair Board President Von Cremeans presented “Plan A, Modified” to the board at the Pickaway Agriculture and Event Center Saturday.
“Plan A, Modified” is a full fair” said Cremeans “with all the social distancing requirements, all the Governor’s guidelines… We’ve worked hard with the Health Department, we’ve had our ups and our downs, but we’ve come together.”
Thursday, Governor Mike DeWine announced amusement parks and water parks will be permitted to open for the season June 19th as long as they practice the guidelines presented by the State. The Pickaway County Fair opens June 20th.
“It’s time to m one on” said Cremeans. “But we are going to have a full fair.”
The plan includes nightly grandstand entertainment which appears to be coming together. “We might be able to do half of it – we might be able to use it all – we don’t know yet” added Cremeans.
Each week, the Governor’s reopening of Ohio broadens, which has had summer event planners such as county fairs scrambling.
The Pickaway County Fair is working on an agreement with a new company for amusement rides. According to Cremeans, the previous provider opted out of doing the fair this year.
“The whole thing is gonna look different” said Cremeans as he reminded those at Saturday’s meeting. “We’re gonna need cooperation from everybody in this grandstand, everybody on the fairgrounds, so we can get through it and have a great fair.”
The modifications for events, shows, livestock sales and more will be announced on the Pickaway County Fair’s Facebook Page, with the documents added to the fair website with each announcement.
The Fair Board will meet again at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday June 8th at 7pm.
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When Litter Media spoke with Jeremiah Johnson, Chairman of the Southern Ohio Forest Rally few weeks ago, the outlook for the 2020 event looked bleak due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A prospective date of July 18-19 was placed on the books.
SEE THE LITTER MEDIA FEATURE WITH JEREMIAH JOHNSON
But late Friday afternoon, it appears there’s new hope. The Southern Ohio Forest Rally posted on its Facebook Page Friday “The authorities have requested some revisions to our permits and plans but as of this Friday evening it seems that we will be able to host an event July 18.”
For the first time, there’ll be no spectators permitted to see the action and the annual Parc Expose and no official after party in order to stay within the guidelines for social distancing.
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The Pike County Fair will go on thanks to a plan hammered out by the Fair Board and the Pike County Health District Thursday.
The Fair made the announcement signed by Pike County Agriculture Society President Ryan Knight, Health Commissioner Matt Brewster and County Commissioners Tony Montgomery, Jerry Miller and Blaine Beekman.
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Governor Mike DeWine’s office announced additional businesses permitted to reopen providing they can follow State guidelines, beginning June 10th.
The news brought smiles to those from Aquariums to Zoos.
“As I’ve said, Ohioans are able to do two things at once. We can continue to limit the spread of COVID-19 while we safely reopen our economy. It is up to each of us to do what we can to keep each other safe and choose to keep six feet of social distance, wear masks, and maintain good hand hygiene.” said Governor DeWine. “The threat of COVID-19 remains and while it’s our responsibility to keep each other safe, business owners and employees should do their part to ensure customers visit safely, by cleaning and sanitizing surfaces regularly.”
Day camps and residential camps may open at any time. Entertainment venues listed below may open beginning June 10th if they are able to follow Retail, Consumer, Service & Entertainment Guidelines and other applicable additional guidance:
Health orders will be posted on coronavirus.ohio.gov when available.
Additional information and sector specific operating requirements can be found on the Responsible RestartOhio page coronavirus.ohio.gov/ResponsibleRestartOhio.
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Photo courtesy Cedar Point
Cedar Point released information regarding their beach along the Lake Erie coast. While visitors can’t enjoy the theme parks, they’re inviting guests to their Beach and Resort.
“The safety of all guests and associates our number one priority. We are committed to providing families with a safe environment, implementing new health, safety and hygiene protocols that have been informed by company and industry health experts and align with CDC guidelines.”
With the Sun & Fun Package, guests will enjoy a getaway and exclusive access to the Cedar Point Beach and Resort pools. “Hotel restaurants and themed dinner experiences will be available. Watersports and kayak rentals, pedicab cruises plus games and activities will be offered throughout the day.”
The package is available from June 12th through June 28th.
Access to the Cedar Point Beach, Hotel Breakers, Lighthouse Point and all activities is limited to guests who have purchased the Sun & Fun package. Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores Waterpark may not be open, as opening dates have not been determined.
