Thirteen girls participated in the pageant for the 2021 Feast of the Flowering Moon. The Queen and court will be crowned on Friday at 6:15pm at the main stage. Pictured left to right, Abby Hammond (Zane Trace); Savannah Johnson (Waverly); Madelyn Schafer (Chillicothe); A’mya Wingfield (Unioto); Bethany McDaniel (Zane Trace); 2019 1st Attendant Anna Ackley; Makhia Tyler (Southeastern); 2019 Queen Kayla Parker; Daisey Parker (Huntington); 2019 2nd Attendant Dantasia Tyler-Withrow; Atlantis Dalrymple (Zane Trace); Kendahl Pollock (Huntington); Madison Dingess (Chillicothe/PRCTC); Rebekah Bennett (Southeastern/PRCTC); Gaby Hawk (Chillicothe); Claira Rutherford (Huntington).
The pandemic cancelled the Feast of the Flowering Moon in 2020, but the first official event took place Saturday, marking the return of the festival now in its 37th year.
The Feast of the Flowering Moon pageant took place at the Majestic Theater on East Second Street in Chillicothe. The Queens Pageant featured 13 contestants, nearly three times the turnout for recent Feast pageants.
Three finalists were selected from the contestants, which will have to wait until Friday night’s crowning ceremony to learn who will be presiding over the Feast for 2021.
Huntington High School classmates Kendahl Pollock and Daisy Parker are joined by recent Zane Trace graduate Bethany McDaniel as finalists. The Queen and her court will be announced at 6:15pm Friday on the main stage on Paint Street.
The rest of the contestants included Claira Rutherford (Huntington), Gaby Hawk (Chillicothe), Rebekah Bennett (Southeastern/PRCTC), Madison Dingess (Chillicothe/PRCTC), Atlantis Dalrymple (Zane Trace), Makhia Tyter (Southeastern), A’mya Wingfield (Unioto), Savannah Johnson (Waverly), Madelyn Schafer (Chillicothe) and Abby Hammond (Zane Trace).
2019 Queen Kayla Parker, 1st Attendant Anna Ackley and 2nd Attendant Dantasia Tyler-Withrow retained their positions through the pandemic and assisted in the pageant.
The 2021 Teen Queen finalists (12-14 year olds) are Sydney Rush (Unioto MS), Reagan Truitt (Unioto MS) and Emily Fisher (Unioto MS). The Teen Queen and attendants will be crowned Friday along with the other divisions in the Princess pageant, Baby Miss (3-4 year olds), Petite Miss (5-6 year olds), Little Miss (7-8 year olds) and Junior Miss (9-11 year olds)
The 2019 Feast Queen and Attendants. Left to right, 1st Attendant, Anna Ackley; Queen Kayla Parker; 2nd Attendant, Dantasia Tyler-Withrow. The three served not only the 2019 Feast, but were retained through 2020 during the pandemic.
Litter Media’s Dan Ramey acted as master of ceremonies for the Queen and Teen Queen pageants.
Saturday was a busy day for Southeast District Softball and Baseball tournament action.
It was district championship day for Division 3 Softball at Unioto High School, which will also host the D-3 Regionals next weekend.
In Game #1 of the day, Wheelersburg whipped Wellston 10-2 to win the upper bracket championship.
Andi Jo Howard fired a complete game on the mound for the win and went 2/3 at the plate, scoring 3 of their 10 runs. Macee Eaton was 3/4 with 2 RBI’s while Kiera Kennard was 2/3 with 2 RBI’s.
In the loss, Wellston’s Jenna Johnston was 3/3 with an RBI
Wheelersburg improves to (24-1) and advances to the D -3 Regional Semis vs East District Champ Tuscarawas Valley at 5pm May 26th at Unioto High School.
In Game #2, number 2 seed Ironton grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning over Adena, and held that lead until the Lady Warriors scored twice in the fifth to even the score 2-2.
But, the Lady Tigers pushed a run across the plate in the last of the sixth inning when Katelyn Moore put them up 3-2 with a sacrifice fly, which would hold up as the final score.
Ironton advances to the 2pm Regional Semi against Westfall, also at Unioto HS.
The Lady Mustangs advanced to the final with an 10-0 win over Portsmouth. Westfall scored three of their runs in the first inning as both teams were shutout until the Lady Mustangs broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Both teams stranded runners throughout the game, including at least twice when the Lady Trojans stranded runners at second and third.
Olivia Dumm gets the shutout win for Westfall. Delana Landefeld was one of four Lady Mustangs with multiple base hits, going 4/4.
(Division 4 District Softball Finals)
Portsmouth Notre Dame 4, South Webster 1
Peebles 11, Symmes Valley 10
Portsmouth Notre Dame will play Peebles in the D-4 Regional Semi at Pickerington Central, beginning at 5pm.
Wheelersburg beats Wellston 10-2 for D-3 District Softball Championship
In Division 3 Baseball Sectional Finals, there were a few upsets, including SVC Co-Champ Westfall falling to Meigs. Here are your scores:
(Division 3 Sectional Finals)
Meigs 1, Westfall 0
Wheelersburg 10, Crooksville 0
Adena 11, Portsmouth West 0
Piketon 9, Ironton 0
Portsmouth 6, Rock Hill 3
Minford 2, Oak Hill 0
Eastern Brown 5, Chesapeake 1
River Valley 4, Fairland 3
Adena travels to Minford May 24th for D-3 District Semi. Meigs goes to River Valley. Two winners meet May 26th at 3pm in District Final at VA Memorial Stadium.
Portsmouth goes to Wheelersburg and Piketon travels to Eastern Brown. Two winners meet May 26th at VA Memorial Stadium in D-3 District Final.
(Division 4 Baseball District Semis)
Paint Valley 5, Portsmouth Clay 1
Huntington 11, Manchester 1
Eastern Meigs 5, Symmes Valley 0
Lucasville Valley 6, Saint Joe 1
Huntington will play Lucasville Valley May 24th at 3pm in the D-4 District Final at VA Memorial Stadium, followed by Paint Valley vs Eastern Meigs at 6pm.
The Unioto Lady Shermans grabbed a much needed second place finish in the meet-ending 4×400 Relay combined with Wheelersburg’s seventh place finish to enable the Lady Shermans to leap-frog over Burg for the Washington CH Division 2 District Track & Field Girls team title with 102 points. Wheelersburg finished second with 98 points.
Order of girls team finishes after that were Circvleville 87, McClain 86, Logan Elm 60, Northwest 50.5, Waverly 45, Hillsboro 37, Washington CH 36, Westfall 23.5, Minford 18, Eastern Brown 15 and Portsmouth 3.
Tayla Tootle District Pole Vault Champ (Eric Karshner)
Northwest Boys crushed the rest of the field for the team title with 122 points, with Hillsboro a distant second with 65.
Other boys team standings were: McClain 57, Circleville and Zane Trace 53, Portsmouth and Unioto 47, Westfall 44, Logan Elm 43, Washington CH 32, Piketon 28, Waverky 25, Minford 21, Wheelersburg 19 and Eastern Brown 5.
For full details, go to our link to Baums Page. CLICK HERE:
In the Division 2 District Track & Field Finals at Meigs High School, Warren Boys and Sheridan Girls won team championships.
Warren Boys won with 118 points, followed by runner-up Fairfield Union with 104. The came Rock Hill 87, Ironton 60, Jackson 56.50, Gallia Academy 54, Vinton County 46, Alexander 29, Fairland 20, Meigs 16, South Point 16, Wellston 16, New Lexington 14, River Valley 13.50, Chesapeake 5, and Oak Hill 4.
Sheridan wins the girls meet with 126.50 points, followed by Fairfield Union with 122.50. The rest of the field was Warren 84, Jackson 58, Gallia Academy 53, New Lexington 47, Vinton County 32, Chesapeake 29, River Valley 20, Wellston 19, Ironton 19, Fairland 18, Alexander 14, Rock Hill 13, and Meigs 8.
For complete results from the Meigs District, go to our link to Baums Page. CLICK HERE:
The Adena Warriors won the Division 3 Boys District Track & Field Championship at Nelsonville-York High School Saturday, while the Lady Ceramics of Crooksville took top prize in the D-3 Girls meet.
Paint Valley was runner-up in the boys meet with Adena second on the girls side.
The Warriors accumulated 125 points for the boys title, winning 9 of the 17 events. Adena sprinter Tate Myers and field event athlete Eric Hurtt propelled their school’s championship effort- winning five of their team’s nine first place events. Myers won the 100, 200 and 400 dash races, while Hurtt won both the shot and discus.
Paint Valley came in second with 90, Huntington 82.5, Nelsonville-York 78, Southeastern 70, Belpre 67, Waterford 48.5, Trimble 22, Eastern Meigs 19, Eastern Pike 14, Federal Hocking 8 and Miller with 6.
Southeastern 4×200 Relay District Champs: (Parker George, Jacob Lennox, Aaron Evans, Connor Smith)
Girls Champ Crooksville scored 87 points, Adena 68, Eastern Meigs 67, Zane Trace 66, Waterford 64, Nelsonville-York 56, Huntington 49, Federal Hocking 48, Trimble 47, Southeastern 32, Paint Valley 24, Southern 22, Eastern Pike 13, Oak Hill 12, Belpre 4 and South Gallia 3.
Zane Trace’s Marie Souther wins 1600 run at D-3 District MeetAdena’s Sydney Foglesong won both discus and shotput
For complete details from the Nelsonville-York district meet, go to our link to Baums Page. CLICK HERE:
Coal Grove Dawson Bryant swept the Division 3 Track & Field Championships at Northwest High School, which concluded Friday.
In the boys meet, Dawson Bryant outdistanced Whiteoak 153-96. Third place was Portsmouth Notre Dame with 56, followed by Lynchburg Clay 50, Leesburg Fairfield 49, Valley 44.5, North Adams 41.33, Green 41, Peebles 40.66, South Webster 28.5, West Union 20, New Boston 17 and Portsmouth Clay 5.
In the girls meet, Dawson Bryant scored 128 points, North Adams 98, Leesburg Fairfield 81, Peebles 58, South Point 43, Piketon 37, Lynchburg Clay 34, West Union 30, Whiteoak 25, Valley 24, Portsmouth Notre Dame 24, Portsmouth Clay 21, South Webster 19, Freen 14, Saint Joe 10, New Boston 2 and Manchester 1.
For complete results, go our our link to Baums Page. CLICK HERE:
After a brief year-and-a-half as CEO of United Way of Ross County, Rick Smith says he is stepping down from that post.
Smith came on board with United Way in December 2019 and led them to a successful 2020-21 campaign, despite the limitations posed by the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic.
Rick spoke with Litter Media’s Mike Smith, saying he has enjoyed his time working in Chillicothe, but due to personal family needs, he will be returning to Louisville, Kentucky.
Smith says United Way of Ross County has been able to administer over a half-million dollars in grants for community needs, in the past year.
Litter Media received this press release from United Way of Ross County:
(COLUMBUS) – Ohio High School Athletic Association member schools passed all nine proposed revisions to the OHSAA Constitution and Bylaws, Executive Director Doug Ute has announced. Voting ended at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 15, with 795 of the OHSAA’s 814 member high schools casting their ballot (97.6 percent).
All nine of the items on the ballot were for high schools. There were no items for 7th and 8th grade member schools and there were no District Athletic Board elections this year.
The approved changes will go into effect August 1 unless otherwise noted. A simple majority approval by member schools required for a proposed amendment to be adopted. The OHSAA’s annual referendum voting and District Athletic Board election period is from May 1-15. Each member school has one vote, which is cast by the principal.
Review of the 2021 OHSAA Referendum Issues
High Schools
795 of 814 member high schools submitted ballots
Constitution Article 8-1-8, Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws, Voting (New Exception)
This new exception moves the ballot deadline to 4:00 p.m. on the next business day should the May 15 deadline fall on a weekend or a holiday. (Note: becomes effective May 16, 2021.)
Passed 782-9 (4 abstain)
Bylaw 2-2-4, Tournament Assignments (Amended for Clarity)
This modification clarifies the tiering of a student who lives within a district with a non-parent who has legal custody of the student. In reviewing past guidance, a change from “parent” to “legal custodian” more accurately reflects the intention of the Tier analysis. The alteration to the Tier 2 language is simply an editorial change to distinguish that there are two distinct ways a student in a multiple high school district can be coded as Tier 1: a.) If they live outside the district but have been continuously enrolled in the district since the start of the 7th grade OR b.) If they live inside the district but attend a school outside their assigned attendance zone. However, this proposed modification means there is NO change in application of the bylaw.
Passed 754-19 (22 abstain)
Bylaw 4-1-3, Eligibility (New Bylaw)
The new bylaw clarifies what an ineligible student is permitted or not permitted to do during her/his period of ineligibility.
Passed 741-40 (13 abstain)
Bylaw 4-3-1, Enrollment and Attendance, Exception 6 (Amended for Clarity)
This modification clarifies that non-enrolled students (specifically those who start at a public school and transfer to home education or another school where they are afforded a participation opportunity at their residential public school {i.e. community/STEM/non-public schools}) are still subject to the transfer consequence unless an exception can be met to restore full athletic eligibility. It also notes that these students must be eligible in accordance with all other areas of student eligibility (age, semesters and scholarship).
Passed 718-54 (22 abstain)
Bylaw 4-7, Transfer (Amended for Clarity)
The modification clarifies the penalty for students who do not meet an exception to the transfer bylaw. The language would be changed to reflect: a.) An ineligible transfer student shall not participate in any OHSAA tournament, and b.) It is permissible for the student to play the approved number of regular season games after the tournament has commenced. This proposed modification would also alter the note which precedes the exceptions in order to require a cause-and-effect relationship between the event and the transfer.
The first modification changes language to more closely align with other transfer exceptions and gives the Executive Director’s Office some discretionary authority to waive all or part of the period of ineligibility. Also, “transfer of participation opportunity” would be added to the first sentence to clarify that non-enrolled students are also permitted to use this exception one time to restore their full athletic eligibility (the concept has also been added to Note 3). Additionally, new language is added to Note 1 that would allow a multiple-high school district superintendent, or her/his designee, to request the application to Exception 9 at a high school outside the student’s assigned attendance zone (or at a school not closest to the parent’s residence, in districts that do not have defined attendance zones) if the transfer to the school can be supported by objective educational criteria. Examples of “objective educational criteria” include skipping over a poor-performing school or transferring to a trade-specific school. The decision on whether to apply Exception 9 to this transfer would be left to the discretion of the Executive Director’s Office and would be accompanied by requests for the student’s transcripts and/or other supporting material. (Note: becomes effective May 16, 2021.)
Passed 622-121 (50 abstain)
Bylaw 4-7-3, Transfers (Modifications)
The first modification removes the reference to the fact that the student is ineligible at the school to which the student transferred. There are occasions when a student transfers in the middle of a season and wants to resume participation at a school at which they are not enrolled in accordance with state law. However, removing this language would clarify that if a student transfers in the middle of a season, she/he is ineligible for the rest of the season regardless of where she/he desires a continued participation opportunity (unless one of the enumerated scenarios occurs).
New language added to the bylaw, regarding application of the transfer consequence for the following season for a midseason transfer, has significant implications which has led to some forfeitures when applied incorrectly. This proposed modification would move this concept to Bylaw 4-7-3 rather than refer the reader to Bylaw 4-7-2 as is denoted in a note.
Passed 710-64 (19 abstain)
Bylaw 4-9, Recruiting (Amended for Clarity)
This modification clarifies the recruiting bylaws. The new note to Bylaw 4-9-2, Exception 2, is added to clarify that the non-public school boundaries used for Competitive Balance are not the same as those referenced in Bylaw 4-9-2. The language removed in 4-9-3 #3 allows the Executive Director’s Office to approve an offsite open house even if other on-campus facilities are available. This gives schools more options when deciding where to conduct such meetings. The option is also now presented as an exception. 4-9-3 #5 would add language to clarify that congratulatory billboards/newspaper ads are permitted as long as the marketing is congratulatory in nature and not used to promote the athletic program. 4-9-3 #6 would be modified to clarify that brochures for athletic camps are solely to be used to advertise for a specific non-interscholastic opportunity (camp or clinic). These brochures are not to be used to promote the school. Likewise, 4-9-4 #8 would be added to support this notion and clarify that admissions personnel/administrators are not permitted to be in attendance at these camps/clinics to answer questions about school enrollment. 4-9-4 #3, 4-9-4 #5 and 4-9-6 are modified to provide further clarification on when a school and/or coach is permitted to have unobstructed communication with a student not presently enrolled in their school. This is intended to prevent prohibited “influence” before the student has made a final enrollment decision. 4-9-4 #8 would be added to clarify that athletic camps/clinics cannot be used as an admissions event for the school.
Passed 604-159 (30 abstain)
Bylaw 9, Contests Requiring Special Attention (Modifications)
The modifications to 9-2-1 require schools to obtain approval from the Executive Director’s Office prior to traveling to any non-bordering state for competition. This would allow staff to better track a respective team’s travel in order to comply with sanctioning requests from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) as outlined in 923. The modifications to 9-2-3 are necessary to comply with current NFHS sanctioning requirements. Some of the highlights are:
1.) Whether a contest/event is in Ohio or outside of Ohio, schools must secure a sanction through the NFHS for competition by a member school in any of the following contests: a.) Any event which includes either an Ohio or an out-of-state school that is cosponsored by or titled in the name of an organization outside the school community; b.) Events involving non-bordering states where five (5) or more states are involved; c.) Events involving non-bordering states if more than eight (8) schools are involved; d.) Events involving two (2) or more schools that includes a team from a foreign country, with the exception of Canada and Mexico. Notes: In b.) and c.) above, no sanction is required if the contest(s) only involve Ohio schools and/or schools which border Ohio. Schools desiring to participate in an event covered under the aforementioned scenarios must visit www.nfhs.org/Sanctioning in order to obtain the sanction.
