Many people in southern Ohio went to bed Monday night hearing a weather forecast of between 1-3 inches of snow, but woke up Tuesday morning to much more than they were expecting.
Snowfall amounts ranged from three inches in Pike County to as much as 9.5 inches in parts of Fayette County.
Fayette, Ross, Pickaway, Highland, Hocking and Fairfield counties were under a Winter Storm Warning, which was lifted at 7am Tuesday.
Snowfall totals show:
9.5 inches in Good Hope (Fayette County)
8.5 inches in Highland County
8 inches in Washington Court House (Fayette County)
7.5 inches in Chillicothe (Ross County)
Most area schools were closed Tuesday or on virtual learning.
The National Weather Service says there is a chance of much lower snowfall totals on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday of this week, but temperatures are forecast to drop into the single digits Saturday and Sunday nights.
City of Chillicothe workers remove snow that greeted Ohio’s First Capital Tuesday morning.
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.
District athletic boards throughout Ohio released their boys basketball tournament pairings, Sunday.
In the Southeast District, divisions two, three and four have been announced, with the few Division 1 schools located in the geographic area of the district, being moved to play in the Central District tournaments.
Chillicothe and Teays Valley are among area teams that will play in the Central District tournaments.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions there will be no high school tournament basketball games at the Ohio University Convocation Center for the 2021 season.
In the Southeast District, the top seeded area teams include #2 Logan Elm, #3 Hillsboro. #4 Waverly and #7 Unioto in Division 2.
Division 3 area tops seeds include #2 Wheelersburg, #3 Eastern Brown, #4 Adena and #6 Piketon.
In Division 4, New Boston is a top seed, with Lucasville Valley #4 and Whiteoak #5.
For complete bracket pairings for each of the Southeast District teams, see the provided links below…..
For complete bracket pairings for teams in the Central District, go to the link below.
Chillicothe Boys will play at Newark in Division 1 on February 23rd at 7pm. Teays Valley will host Dublin Scioto also at 7pm 2/23 in the D-1 tournament.
(OHSAA Update) — If you recall, the Executive Director’s Office removed the regulation last spring that limited coaches in team sports from coaching students from their school teams, and removal of that restriction was extended through August 31, 2020 (coaches in team sports were previously limited to coaching for 10 days between June 1 and July 31).
Member school administrators are reminded that, to ensure students can obtain coaching from their school coach during these uncertain times of the pandemic, the Executive Director’s Office has removed the 10-day limitation between June 1 and July 31 in 2021.
That means coaches in the team sports of baseball, basketball, field hockey, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball and volleyball MAY coach students from their school teams without restriction between June 1 and July 31, 2021. This regulation is explained further on page 65 of the 2020-21 OHSAA Handbook under General Sports Regulation 7.5.1. Note that:
1.) Participation under General Sports Regulation 7.5.1 cannot be mandatory;
2.) In the sport of football, only non-contact football is permitted;
3.) General Sports Regulation 8.2.1 should be reviewed since it pertains to out-of-season instruction, which is different than the regulations pertaining to General Sports Regulation 7.5.1;
4.) The 50 percent limitation (General Sports Regulation 7.3.1) must still be observed, and
5.) A similar regulation (General Sports Regulation 7.5.3) has already been in place for the individual sports of bowling, cross country, golf, gymnastics, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and wrestling.
An altercation at a state prison in Pickaway County led to an inmate’s death and two corrections officers being injured, over the weekend.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Corrections says the incident occurred Saturday afternoon.
A department press release on Saturday stated; “The altercation occurred when the female officers were attempting to remove the inmate from his cell, and he became combative.”
The department said the officers suffered serious injuries and that one officer was treated and released, and the other officer was still being treated at a hospital, but was in stable condition.
The inmate declined a medical evaluation in the infirmary and collapsed shortly thereafter, according to a release. The inmate was pronounced dead Saturday afternoon at Mount Carmel Hospital
The incident is being investigated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
(Editor’s note: Litter Media’s Dan Ramey worked for Smith from 1983-1988)
Dave Smith, long time owner of WFCB and later WCHI, passed away Wednesday afternoon following an extended illness. Smith was 76.Smith arrived in the First Capital in 1983 moving from his native Fostoria, Ohio where he began his career with WFOB. He would also later acquire the station where he worked as a teenager. Smith was more than an owner, he was also a trained engineer and performed duties as a Chief Engineer in Toledo and was known to assist numerous other Ohio stations with his technical expertise. Bob Neal spent a good number of years working for Smith right out college in the 1980s until the stations sold in late 1999.“
Dave was courageous moving his family to Chillicothe” Neal told Litter Media. “Dave was an innovator developing a hyper local business model before anyone used the term in the industry. Dave devoted hours of airtime publicizing dozens of charities and was a true humanitarian. All this made Dave truly inspirational to me and countless others.”
Litter Media’s Dan Ramey was part of the staff Smith inherited when he purchased WFCB in ’83. “Dave created a family atmosphere for all who worked for he and Annette” Ramey said in a posting on Facebook. “For those who only know me through Cavalier Sports, Dave was the one who gave me the opportunity to become the Voice of the Cavaliers. I was small part of the broadcast team in 1982, but when Dave arrived in 1983, he turned me loose and it changed my life forever. He didn’t hold me back when I told him I was entertaining a job from Sunny 95 and rooted for me as my career appeared to be taking off to new heights.”
Smith’s station made its greatest stride in popularity when morning man Chip Arledge, aka The Rotund One, began a petition drive to bring rocker John Mellencamp to Chillicothe. The drive began in 1986 and Arledge’s campaign was rewarded in December of 1987 when Mellencamp performed two free shows at OU-Chillicothe’s Shoemaker Center. As an added bonus, toys were collected for local children’s charities. The event launched Arledge’s career to points beyond Chillicothe.
“Over the years, I had a chance to work with Dave in several markets outside of Chillicothe” Arledge told Litter Media. “I can honestly tell you that every one of those markets benefitted from Dave being involved in its radio landscape. I loved him like an older brother and will miss him more than I miss being ten years old.”
As corporate ownership began to consume radio stations in smaller markets, the focus has drifted from what many remember as local radio with the “mom and pop” style portrayed by Smith.
Buzz Perri, a 1980s Chillicothe transplant from New York City, was given a chance to operate a Saturday night show called “The Lazer’s Edge”. He recounts “Saturday nights was anything goes. Dave and Chip gave me a break. ‘Keep it clean, Buzz, keep it clean.’ Words I’ll always remember.”
Ty Tatman commented on Ramey’s Facebook post “Local small town radio was pretty amazing in the environment Dave created and nurtured here” Tatman wrote. “He was a great fella.”
Ramey adds “Smith was a fan of local music. If he and Annette weren’t at The Cross Keys for the Goosetown Astonishers, they were at The Dock at Water for live music.”
Smith was predeceased by his loving wife Annette in August of 2019. First Presbyterian Church will host a public memorial service for Dave on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 6:00 pm, streaming on First Presbyterian’s Facebook and YouTube Channels.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted on Thursday provided the following updates on Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
VACCINE UPDATE
Ohio is among the top five states for delivering COVID-19 vaccine doses to long-term care facility residents. As a result of this aggressive effort to vaccinate those in long-term care, Ohio is beginning to see a drop in cases.
Pfizer has notified Ohio that they believe they will increase their shipment of vaccine by 40 percent around mid-to-late February. Shipments could additionally increase even more by the end of March. Pfizer is currently shipping approximately 73,000 doses to Ohio per week.
Moderna doses have increased from 73,200 two weeks ago to 105,600 doses that are expected next week.
Ohio was one of the first states to draw unused doses from the long-term care program, and those 77,000 extra doses are being delivered this week to select CVS and Walgreens pharmacies.
ODJFS PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TEAM
Governor DeWine announced the formation of a new Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Public-Private Partnership Team to improve Ohioans’ experiences with the unemployment system.
Members of the team will include highly-skilled experts, most of whom are on loan from some of Ohio’s top banking and insurance companies:
Fifth Third Bank
Nationwide
Western & Southern Financial Group
Encova Insurance
KeyBank
Pat Tiberi, President and CEO of the Ohio Business Roundtable, worked with business leaders to identify the best talent for the partnership team who have experience in large organizations’ call centers, claims processes, and fraud detection.
“These experts will provide recommendations and solutions to improve the call center, claims process, and fraud detection efforts in the state unemployment system,” said Governor DeWine. “They’ll examine short-term and long-term improvements. Our goal is quick action while keeping an eye on the long-term best processes going forward, and we will continue working to improve the unemployment system so that eligible Ohioans in need can receive the financial assistance they are counting on during this pandemic.”
The team currently has around 16 members but is expected to grow.
UNEMPLOYMENT UPDATE
This week, Ohio has paid out nearly $100 million to more than 110,000 Ohioans receiving traditional unemployment. This represents some extended weeks of benefits plus an additional $300 a week, which were included with the new federal aid.
Starting this Saturday, more than 155,000 Ohioans will also start seeing benefits from this new federal aid package. This includes Ohioans who recently lost a job as a result of the pandemic as well as Ohioans who continue to be impacted due to the pandemic.
By the last week in February, all Ohioans impacted by unemployment will have the ability to claim all the weeks and supplements available under the law and receive the benefits they are owed.
OPIOID SETTLEMENT
Governor DeWine also commented on Ohio’s $24.7 million settlement with McKinsey & Co. for its role in fueling the opioid crisis. The settlement is part of a $573 million national settlement encompassing 47 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.
Settlement funds will be distributed as part of the OneOhio plan which focuses funding to programs that address prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery as well as criminal justice and public awareness costs that promote the overall health and well-being of Ohioans.
Ohio was one of the first states to file lawsuits against the opioid manufacturers and distributers that pushed millions of addictive pills into Ohio. Last year, the state developed the OneOhio partnership with Ohio townships, villages, cities, and counties that filed suit against these same companies.
“Although McKinsey was not a part of the lawsuits that brought Ohio together under the OneOhio plan, I am pleased that Attorney General Dave Yost has decided to leverage this recent settlement to start the work of OneOhio and begin the development of a statewide foundation,” said Governor DeWine. “We remain committed to holding these drug manufacturers and distributors accountable. When the settlements for those cases happen, Ohio will be ready to implement the necessary funding, programs, and services for Ohio’s communities.”
CURRENT CASE DATA
In total, there are 910,847 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 reported in Ohio and 11,509 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths. A total of 47,110 people have been hospitalized throughout the pandemic, including 6,800 admissions to intensive care units. In-depth data can be accessed by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Video of today’s full update, including versions with foreign language translation, can be viewed on the Ohio Channel’s YouTube page.
