High school students from area school districts participated in the Best Of Ross County competition at the Pump House Center For The Arts in Chillicothe’s Yoctangee Park, garnering awards for students from Chillicothe, Unioto and Amanda Clearcreek.
Students were allowed to enter whatever art medium they chose, with 35 entries being accepted. Pump House Director John Payne says typically there would be well over 100 entries from students, but that number was drastically reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Major prize awards came from Atomic Employees Credit Union and the Chillicothe Art League.
The contest was judged by an artisan from Dayton, Ohio.
The winners are:
Best Of Show- Savannah Fout, CHS, “Willow”
1st Place- Lizzy Miller, CHS, “Survival”
2nd Place- Jaycey Longcoy, UHS, “Hope Through the Immigration Fence”
3rd Place- Leah Mettler, UHS, “Chained”
Honorable Mentions:
Krystian Faith Jones, CHS, “Highs and Lows”
Allison Gozy, CHS, “Bird of Many Colors”
Emma Powers, CHS, “Endless, Nameless”
Eden Stout, UHS, “Octopus”
Layla Robertson, Amanda CC, “Snakes Among Ribs”
Sarah Quanci, UHS, “Release”
Layla Robertson, Amanda CC, “Two Women”
Jessica Grey, UHS , “Fish Bowl”
Payne says the judge had very positive comments about each of the prize winners, especially Savannah Fout’s Best Of Show entry saying; “Being such a youthful artist, but being able to put together a painting like this, she could be a professional if she wanted to be.”
The exhibit will remain available for public view through the end of February.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced that he is reaffirming his commitment to improving the safety of Ohio’s roads by including provisions in his Executive Budget proposal that strengthen Ohio’s distracted driving laws.
With limited exceptions, the Hands-Free Ohio provisions in Governor DeWine’s budget proposal will make driving while handling any electronic wireless device a primary offense for adult drivers and will increase fines for drivers who habitually use devices while driving. In cases where a driver using a device causes serious injury or death, the penalties will mirror those of drunken driving.
“Ohio’s current laws don’t go far enough to change the culture around distracted driving, and people are dying because of it,” said Governor DeWine. “Distracted driving is a choice that must be as culturally unacceptable as drunk driving is today, and strengthening our current laws will lead to more responsible driving.”
Currently, using a hand-held electronic wireless device for any purpose is a primary offense for drivers under 18, and using a device for text-based communications while driving is a secondary offense for adults. This secondary enforcement prohibits law enforcement from stopping an adult driver using a wireless device to write, send, or read text-based communications unless the driver also commits a primary traffic offense, such as running a red light. There are no laws in Ohio prohibiting adults from driving while using wireless devices for other non-texting activities, such as watching or recording videos, taking or viewing photos, using apps, entering information into GPS navigation programs, dialing a phone number, etc.
“Every time you pick up your phone while driving you are putting your life and the lives of others in danger,” said Colonel Richard S. Fambro, Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent. “When you take your eyes off the road – even for just a few seconds – the consequences can be devastating.”
Provisional data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol shows that 2020 was the deadliest year on Ohio’s roads in over a decade with 1,236 people killed in traffic crashes. More than 100,000 distracted driving crashes have occurred in Ohio since 2013 resulting in more than 53,000 injuries.
Governor DeWine’s Hands-Free Ohio provisions would prohibit several actions while driving, such as:
writing, sending, or reading text-based communications;
watching or recording videos;
taking photos or looking at images;
live streaming;
using apps;
entering information into GPS navigation programs;
dialing phone numbers;
holding a device for a phone call.
The Hands-Free Ohio provisions call for a six-month warning period in which law enforcement would issue warnings instead of citations as part of an educational campaign to spread awareness about the strengthened laws. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) would also install road signs to alert drivers from other states to Ohio’s regulations.
“At ODOT we take distracted driving seriously because more than half of our workforce perform many of their job duties near live traffic,” said Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks. “Drivers who are distracted by a device while driving through one of our work zones pose a real and present danger to the lives of the dedicated men and women who work for our agency. I applaud Governor DeWine for prioritizing this much-needed and common-sense law.”
Ohio, Nebraska, Missouri, and Montana are the only states without primary enforcement laws for adult drivers using wireless devices for text-based communications or for any purpose. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, several states experienced significant decreases in traffic deaths within two years after passing and enforcing laws similar to Governor DeWine’s Hands-Free Ohio proposal.
Exemptions outlined in the Hands-Free Ohio provisions include using hand-held wireless devices for emergency calls; while in a stationary vehicle outside of the lane of traffic; in hands-free mode to talk on the phone, dictate text-based messages, or listen to received messages; in circumstances where an action can be accomplished with only a single swipe; in public safety or utility professions, as necessary for duties; or if the wireless feature is a permanent part of the vehicle. GPS devices would be permitted for navigation if destinations are entered before driving begins and if the device is not held or supported with the body.
The Hands-Free Ohio provisions mirror language announced by Governor DeWine last February as part of Senate Bill 285. The bill, sponsored by Senator Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) and former Senator Sean J. O’Brien (D-Bazetta), was introduced during the 133rd General Assembly.
Hands-Free Ohio is another step in Governor DeWine’s overall goal to improve the safety of Ohio’s roads. Upon taking office in 2019, Governor DeWine learned that Ohio was facing an impending crisis of dangerous, crumbling roadway infrastructure throughout the state, and he secured funding in the transportation budget to maintain, improve, and repair roads all over Ohio. Because unintentional motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of death for teenagers and young adults in Ohio, Governor DeWine also launched the new “Ready, Test, Drive!” virtual driver assessment program to more accurately assess new drivers’ road readiness and help identify skills needing improvement. In 2020, Governor DeWine formed the Ohio Traffic Safety Council to coordinate and monitor all statewide safety initiatives, launched a new work zone enforcement plan, and awarded grants to juvenile courts to help them give young drivers more access to advanced driver training.
To prepare for the first major cold snap of the winter, Ross Community Action has opened their emergency shelter at 400 East Seventh Street in Chillicothe.
The shelter will be open beginning at 8:00 P.M. starting February 8th, with the shelter open between 8:00 P.M. and 9:00 A.M. each day, with entry only allowed between 8pm-10pm.
Free transportation to the shelter is being offered to individuals needing shelter from extreme cold temperatures. The forecast shows the Scioto Valley could be in for single digits overnight, later this week.
Transportation will be available to the shelter between February 8th and March 31st, with walk-ins also allowed between 8pm-10pm.
Pick up times for those needing transportation to the shelter will be between 8:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. at the following locations:
Ross County Community Center at 300 East Second Street by 8pm,
Yoctangee Park Lion’s Club Shelter by 8:30pm,
Valero Station at 520 South Paint Street by 8pm,
Behind Centerpoint Church at 144 Consumer Drive by 8pm,
The vacant lot behind Holiday Inn at 1005 East Main Street by 8pm,
Behind Japanese Steakhouse/Odd Lots at North Bridge Street by 8:30pm.
Transportation will also be available back to these locations from the shelter between 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 A.M. the following days.
The shelter will provide light snacks, access to resources and shower availability. Large carts are not permitted and all items must be secured. Only trained service animals are permitted on bus.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – In conjunction with the Prospect League, the Chillicothe Paints, presented by Adena Health System, announced their 2021 schedule Monday morning. The defending champions open the season Thursday, May 27, against the Lafayette Aviators at VA Memorial Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Along with $1 draft beer for Thirsty Thursday, there will also be a postgame fireworks display to celebrate the opening of the new season.
Once again, the schedule features 60 regular-season games with the Paints playing 30 at home and 30 on the road. This season, Chillicothe will play the Champion City Kings, Danville Dans, Johnstown Mill Rats, Lafayette Aviators, REX and West Virginia Miners. The Paints will play more than half its schedule against Johnstown and West Virginia with 18 matchups scheduled against each.
“The Paints are looking forward to a fantastic 28th season and competing for a second-straight Prospect League Championship! We certainly don’t know at this point how COVID 19 will affect the season, but we, as a League, are excited to provide our towns first-class collegiate baseball once again,” said President Bryan Wickline. “This year, maybe more important than ever, we will need the support of our business community and season ticket holders after last year’s cancellation. If you or your business would like to partner with us this season, please give us a call or send me an email to paints@bright.net. The Paints are set up with a great home schedule and we are working on many giveaways and promotions throughout the summer.”
The Prospect League schedule is designed to give players a taste of life in the minor leagues with charter bus travel, night games in front of enthusiastic crowds, and numerous overnight series in opponent cities.
Having last played in 2019, the Prospect League lineup looks a bit different in 2021 with the addition of four new members and six new markets with the Alton River Dragons (Alton, Ill.), Johnstown Mill Rats (Johnstown, Pa.), Burlington Bees (Burlington, Iowa), and Clinton LumberKings (Clinton, Iowa). The O’Fallon Hoots will get to play their first season in the Prospect League after moving to O’Fallon, Mo., following the 2019 season. Additionally, the DuPage Pistol Shrimp will play in Peru, Ill., as the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp.
For the purposes of playoffs, Prospect League teams are divided into two conferences with two divisions within each conference. The Eastern Conference includes the Champion City Kings (Springfield, Ohio), Chillicothe Paints (Chillicothe, Ohio), Johnstown Mill Rats, and West Virginia Miners (Beckley, W.Va.) in one division and the Danville Dans (Danville, Ill.), Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp (Peru, Ill.), Lafayette Aviators (Lafayette, Ind.), and REX Baseball (Terre Haute, Ind.) in the other. The Western Conference includes the Burlington Bees, Clinton LumberKings, Normal CornBelters (Normal, Ill.), and Quincy Gems (Quincy, Ill.) in one division and the Alton River Dragons, Cape Catfish (Cape Girardeau, Mo.),O’Fallon Hoots, and Springfield Sliders (Springfield, Ill.) in the other.
The 2021 season also brings a return to split-season play, with division winners at the end of the first half of the season advancing to a one-game divisional championship August 5. Divisional champions advance to play a one-game conference championship August 7. Both conference champions advance to play one another in the best-of-three Prospect League Championship Series. Game one is August 9 and, after a travel day, game two and, if necessary, game three are August 11 and 12.
To advertise at VA Memorial Stadium or to schedule company outings, birthdays, team picnics or to receive group discounts, call the Paints Office at (740) 773-8326. Season tickets are also available online at www.ChillicothePaints.com, the Paints Office & Gift Shop at 11 East 2nd Street in Chillicothe, or by calling (740) 773-8326.
